waste [weyst] - squander; to fail or neglect to use

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Maniacs, this is a topic that everyone have their opinions, whether intelligent or simply retarded. Every other sport has this: a person believed to perform way above average and showcase his gifts in attaining glory squandering all those specail gifts given to him/her or turning out to be a bust. MMA is no different and here I want to hear your opinions on who do you think is the biggest waste of potential for an MMA fighter. Let me give you some of my opinions and please feel free free to voice out yours.

Melvin Paul "The Young Assassin" Guiillard Jr.

Career: W29-L10-D2-NC1

Key Wins: Marcus Davis, Dennis Siver, Gleison Tibau, Evan Dunham, Shane Roller

Key Losses: Carlo Prater, Josh Neer, Joe Stevenson, Joe Lauzon, Jim Miller

Dana White, in one of his interviews, thinks Melvin Guillard used to be the biggest waste of talent and potential in the UFC. Melvin's explosive power, freakish athleticism, and tons of MMA experience for his young age are factors to be considered why he should be performing better than what he has been showing us. He is just 28 years old with 42 MMA fights already and has fought tough competition. What distinguishes Guillard is the explosive power he packs in his punches and knees as he exhibited when he destroyed the likes of Evan Dunham, Gabe Ruediger, Waylon Lowe and Dennis Siver. His downside has been his attitude towards the fight game. He was supposed to have an advantage striking-wise with a lot of his opponents but he tends to be cocky and careless in fights where he was winning only to be choked out or submitted. With the depth of the Lightweight Division in the UFC getting so much deeper, time may be running out for Guillard to prove that he is not a waste of talent and potential that he has been possessing. For now, he is a waste of talent. Time will tell if he can prove otherwise.

Mark " The Specimen" Kerr

Career: W15-L11-1NC

Key Wins: Paul Varelans, Hugo Duarte, Enson Inoue

Key Losses: Kazuyuki Fijita, Igor Vovchanchyn, Heath Herring, Oleg Taktarov, Muhammad Lawal

Mark Kerr is indeed the Specimen. He was a Division 1 Champion at 190 pounds for Syracuse in 1992. He was also a Division 1 All-American in the same year. He first made his name on the World Vale Tudo Championships wherein he smashed three opponents. His combination of high-pedigree wrestling, brutal ground and pound and freak body athleticism made him a force to be reckoned with in the early days of the UFC. He won the UFC 15 Tournament by obliterating guys with his brutal ground and pound, fists and knees. He then fought for the PRIDE organization. His downfall began when he started getting addicted to opiates and pain killers. It is unfortunate that Mark Kerr is probably one of the best talents the UFC has had in its early days but he was not able to showcase it enough and later on he succumbed to addiction and has never recovered ever since. Sad story for Kerr and his squandered talent.

Jay Dee "B.J." Penn

Career: W16-8L-2D

Key Wins: Caol Uno, Matt Serra, Matt Hughes (twice), Renzo Gracie, Sean Sherk, Kenny Florian, Diego Sanchez

Key Losses: Jens Pulver (avenged), Lyoto Machida, GSP, Matt Hughes (avenged), Frankie Edgar

Perhaps no moniker can be more fitting to describe BJ Penn than his present one, :The Prodigy." This is a guy that is the first non-Brazilian winner of the prestigious World Jiu-Jiutsu Championship under the black belt category. This is a guy regarded by the pundits as the "most gifted martial artist" in the world. Yes this is the same guy that is only the second guy to win two different belts in two weight classes in the UFC. Known for his incredible flexibility and willingness to fight anyone regardless of weight class makes him one of the best fighters in the history of mixed martial arts. Why is he here in this conversation then? He achieved so much already, why is he considered a waste of talent or potential? Here lies the bitter truth: BJ Penn could have done more. He could have established himself as "the best mixed martial artist of all time in the same manner as Sugar Ray Robinson is for boxing." Unfortunately, his work ethic and "inner fire to compete" went downhill. He was supposed to beat Frankie Edgar, he was supposed to be competitive with GSP but he proved otherwise. His fights with Fitch and Diaz were winnable fights but his lack of conditioning and dedication caught up with him and he lost. He is now retired and who knows if he will come back. Regardless, he could have done more and yet he has failed to do more.

Murilo "Ninja" Rua

Career: W20-L12-D1

Key Wins: Joey Villasenor, Mark Weir, Daijiro Matsui, Alex Steibling

Key Losses: Dan Henderson, Kevin Randleman, Sergei Kharitonov, Benji radach, Quinton Jackson

Ninja was once considered one of the best middleweights in the world because of his all-around game that is heavy on Muay Thai and Brazilian Jiu-Jiutsu. He has fought the toughest competition and has made his name in the defunct-PRIDE Fighting Championships. It is unfortunate that he fought as high as Heavyweight and has not cared for his body the way randy Couture has cared for his. He has good Muay Thai and very respectable jiu-jiutsu game but his problem is that he fought almost everybody whether you are a taxi driver moonlighting as a fighter to Heavyweights like Kharitonov and Randleman. Eventually, all the wear and tear on his body caught up with him and he was not able to show what he is capable of as one of the strongest middleweights in the world of MMA.

Hit it up Maniacs.