It seems my prediction skills have been lacking as of late.
On a brighter note, watching Diego Sanchez return to form Saturday night was exciting. He had the swagger back in his step and really came out like a pit bull. The Sanchez we saw Saturday night is the Sanchez that we saw win The Ultimate Fighter. I predict this guy will be a champion someday.
C.B. Dolloway is a cry baby. Now I know why he enjoys wearing women's sunglasses. Maybe he should switch to kids sunglasses because that is exactly what he acted like after Amir kicked his can. His protesting to the stoppage of the fight was absolutely ridiculous. Anyone who knows anything about MMA and even those who don't, would agree that he tapped. All he did was make himself look like a total jerk. If its one thing you learn watching the UFC, it is that Dana White doesn't like cry babies. I don't think we will be seeing much if any of C.B. Dolloway in the future.
On the other hand, has there ever been a more fun guy to root for than Amir Sadollah? Granted, it wasn't the greatest fight in T.U.F. history, but I think that had more to do with his opponent than anything else. Amir had a genuine "I'm just happy to be here" attitude the entire show. He doesn't seem the least bit impressed with himself. I tend to think he is a love able version of Chris Leben. At any rate, I think the right guy won the show and I cant wait to watch him in the Octagon. He is exactly the type of fighter that fans get behind and with a couple of wins against bigger names, he could be a marketing machine for the UFC.
All in all it was a pretty good night of fights. With the exception of one snoozer (Riddell vs. Rivera) the fights were action packed. It just goes to show that even with a night full of fights that would normally be an under card, the UFC can still put on a better show than Elite XC on prime time TV.
Monday, June 23, 2008
Friday, June 20, 2008
Boxing vs MMA
Back in high school our athletic department was deep in a bitter rivalry. The two opposing sides however, attended the same school. Either you played soccer, or you played baseball. The two sides hated each other. Soccer players continually questioned the intelligence of the baseball squad. The baseball squad constantly questioned the sexual preference of the soccer team. Pranks were also commonplace. One day we arrived at practice to find that someone (gee I wonder who), relieved themselves on home plate. Subsequently, later that evening, the soccer nets found themselves with a few extra holes in it. The point is the rivalry was costly to both teams, and the sad part is, we really didn't seem to care.
Boxing and MMA have found themselves in a similar situation. Boxing writers would like you to believe that MMA is human cockfighting and the fans that enjoy it are blood thirsty savages. MMA on the other hand would label boxing as boring and its fighters as "wussies" for having to wear padded gloves. I'm going to do my best to make a case for both.
As a youngster I was not a huge boxing fan. My dad loved to watch the fights on TV and I would often wander in and watch for a few minutes in the hopes of seeing a big knockout. Often times it wouldn't come and I would quickly lose interest and return to my video game system. As I got older however, my dad started taking me to the "Friday Night Smoker" at our local military base. This is where my love for the sport grew. The gym on the base was awful. The bleachers were hard and the smell of stale popcorn was stuck in the air. The lighting was terrible. The great part is though, the seats were all close. One time a guy was getting beat in the corner and the sweat flying off his head was landing on us. It was gross, but it was cool. I got to sit ringside and really grew an appreciation for the "Sweet Science." Typically, only one or two of the bouts each night featured any fighters with experience, but watching up close as two men engaged in a 10 round chess match was thrilling. Equally exciting were the fights that featured two Navy boys fresh off the boat standing in the middle of the ring and throwing hay makers until one collapsed. Sometimes the collapse was a result of a punch but more often than not it was due to exhaustion. I found myself looking forward to Friday nights the older I got.
UFC 1 was held on my 19th birthday. I didn't see it live, but a buddy and I found the videotape on the bottom row at the local video store. We had heard about it but didn't really know what we were getting into. We rented it, and within the first few minutes, I was hooked. Watching Royce Gracie dominate guys on the ground was a whole new world for me. I had never seen such skill in the way these guys were winning fights. We also say a 400 pound sumo wrestler get a tooth knocked out just 30 seconds in to his fight by a guy much smaller. Watching David vs. Goliath was thrilling, certainly something I had never seen in boxing with its weight divisions. The concept was flawed however. No time limits or rounds would sometimes produce fights that lasted over 30 minutes, most of it on the ground. Some fans labeled it as boring and not being action packed. Zuffa came along and purchased the UFC, introducing weight classes, timed rounds, and abandoning the tournament format in favor of single fighting with championship belts in each class. The sport took off and is considered to be the fastest growing sport in the world.
The biggest argument is safety. Un-educated watchers see cuts and blood in MMA and assume the worst. Turn on a boxing match after 10 rounds and usually one if not both of the fighters have at least an eye swollen shut. Boxing certainly has more fatalities than MMA even when compared on a percentage basis. I have only ever heard of one fight related death in the history of organized MMA. On the other hand, small injuries are much more liable to occur in MMA and often times fighters are injured in training and forced to withdraw from a fight. This can most certainly be attributed to the different chokes and submissions used when training for an MMA bout. I believe however that non padded gloves and choke holds actually improve fighter safety. Unlike boxing, there is no standing 8 count in MMA. Once a fighter is down and not intelligently defending himself, the fight is over. Also, the use of submission holds greatly reduces the amount of blows to the head a fighter is subjected to in a fight. Lastly, non padded gloves can easily produce cuts which can also cause a fight to be stopped early. In short, while the abuse taken by an MMA fighter is certainly high and potentially dangerous, it pales in comparison to a boxer taking shots to the head for over 30 minutes in a night. Typical MMA fights are only 3 five minute rounds and with the likely hood that some of that is spent on the ground, the damage toll is much smaller that that of a 12 round boxing match.
So which is better? Both sports have their disadvantages. While some MMA fights can drag on when the fight is on the ground and neither fighter is trying to better position, the same can be said for two boxers that throw a punch or two and then clinch. Both also provide excitement. While boxing can be fascinating while two men pick each other apart round after round, a true display of MMA skills is equally exhilarating.
As far as my personal opinion, if I know an MMA event is on at the same time as a boxing match, without question I will tune into the MMA event every time. I find the pace of the action to be quicker and more involved. I also like the fact that MMA develops its fighters and their characters, through marketing, TV shows, and fighter interviews. I feel that MMA is making a greater push to put its product out there and develop rivalries and subplots for each fight. Fight fans like to know who the underdog or favorite, the hero or the villain. This makes for a better overall watching experience.
Hopefully MMA will one day garner the same respect as the sport of boxing. The fighters are far from the knuckle dragging neanderthals that the boxing press would like you to believe. They are highly skilled athletes who put their bodies on the line to entertain the fans. If you have never seen an event, you can turn on Spike TV or the VS network almost anytime and see some fights. You will be glad you did.
Boxing and MMA have found themselves in a similar situation. Boxing writers would like you to believe that MMA is human cockfighting and the fans that enjoy it are blood thirsty savages. MMA on the other hand would label boxing as boring and its fighters as "wussies" for having to wear padded gloves. I'm going to do my best to make a case for both.
As a youngster I was not a huge boxing fan. My dad loved to watch the fights on TV and I would often wander in and watch for a few minutes in the hopes of seeing a big knockout. Often times it wouldn't come and I would quickly lose interest and return to my video game system. As I got older however, my dad started taking me to the "Friday Night Smoker" at our local military base. This is where my love for the sport grew. The gym on the base was awful. The bleachers were hard and the smell of stale popcorn was stuck in the air. The lighting was terrible. The great part is though, the seats were all close. One time a guy was getting beat in the corner and the sweat flying off his head was landing on us. It was gross, but it was cool. I got to sit ringside and really grew an appreciation for the "Sweet Science." Typically, only one or two of the bouts each night featured any fighters with experience, but watching up close as two men engaged in a 10 round chess match was thrilling. Equally exciting were the fights that featured two Navy boys fresh off the boat standing in the middle of the ring and throwing hay makers until one collapsed. Sometimes the collapse was a result of a punch but more often than not it was due to exhaustion. I found myself looking forward to Friday nights the older I got.
UFC 1 was held on my 19th birthday. I didn't see it live, but a buddy and I found the videotape on the bottom row at the local video store. We had heard about it but didn't really know what we were getting into. We rented it, and within the first few minutes, I was hooked. Watching Royce Gracie dominate guys on the ground was a whole new world for me. I had never seen such skill in the way these guys were winning fights. We also say a 400 pound sumo wrestler get a tooth knocked out just 30 seconds in to his fight by a guy much smaller. Watching David vs. Goliath was thrilling, certainly something I had never seen in boxing with its weight divisions. The concept was flawed however. No time limits or rounds would sometimes produce fights that lasted over 30 minutes, most of it on the ground. Some fans labeled it as boring and not being action packed. Zuffa came along and purchased the UFC, introducing weight classes, timed rounds, and abandoning the tournament format in favor of single fighting with championship belts in each class. The sport took off and is considered to be the fastest growing sport in the world.
The biggest argument is safety. Un-educated watchers see cuts and blood in MMA and assume the worst. Turn on a boxing match after 10 rounds and usually one if not both of the fighters have at least an eye swollen shut. Boxing certainly has more fatalities than MMA even when compared on a percentage basis. I have only ever heard of one fight related death in the history of organized MMA. On the other hand, small injuries are much more liable to occur in MMA and often times fighters are injured in training and forced to withdraw from a fight. This can most certainly be attributed to the different chokes and submissions used when training for an MMA bout. I believe however that non padded gloves and choke holds actually improve fighter safety. Unlike boxing, there is no standing 8 count in MMA. Once a fighter is down and not intelligently defending himself, the fight is over. Also, the use of submission holds greatly reduces the amount of blows to the head a fighter is subjected to in a fight. Lastly, non padded gloves can easily produce cuts which can also cause a fight to be stopped early. In short, while the abuse taken by an MMA fighter is certainly high and potentially dangerous, it pales in comparison to a boxer taking shots to the head for over 30 minutes in a night. Typical MMA fights are only 3 five minute rounds and with the likely hood that some of that is spent on the ground, the damage toll is much smaller that that of a 12 round boxing match.
So which is better? Both sports have their disadvantages. While some MMA fights can drag on when the fight is on the ground and neither fighter is trying to better position, the same can be said for two boxers that throw a punch or two and then clinch. Both also provide excitement. While boxing can be fascinating while two men pick each other apart round after round, a true display of MMA skills is equally exhilarating.
As far as my personal opinion, if I know an MMA event is on at the same time as a boxing match, without question I will tune into the MMA event every time. I find the pace of the action to be quicker and more involved. I also like the fact that MMA develops its fighters and their characters, through marketing, TV shows, and fighter interviews. I feel that MMA is making a greater push to put its product out there and develop rivalries and subplots for each fight. Fight fans like to know who the underdog or favorite, the hero or the villain. This makes for a better overall watching experience.
Hopefully MMA will one day garner the same respect as the sport of boxing. The fighters are far from the knuckle dragging neanderthals that the boxing press would like you to believe. They are highly skilled athletes who put their bodies on the line to entertain the fans. If you have never seen an event, you can turn on Spike TV or the VS network almost anytime and see some fights. You will be glad you did.
Thursday, June 19, 2008
T.U.F. Finale Predictions
Time for some fight predictions for The Ultimate Fighter Finale.
Matt Riddle 0-0 vs. Dante Rivera 10-2
This one ain't gonna be pretty folks. Riddle is younger, stronger, faster, and in my opinion tougher. He was so raw on the show but showed amazing toughness and strength. He has been training the last few months in Arizona with C.B. Dolloway and you can bet he is going to be a best in the octagon. Rivera gets the edge for experience, but that's about it.
Prediction: Riddle by knockout, first round.
Spencer "The King" Fisher 21-3 vs. Jeremy "Lil Heathen" Stevens 15-2
Fisher has had a rough go of late posting a 3-3 record in his last 6 fights. He is a well rounded fighter out of the Miletich camp in Betandorf, Iowa and boasts notable wins over Thiago Alves and Matt Wiman. Stephens is a puncher who is currently riding a 3 fight win streak. When having trouble predicting a fight, I always go with the boxer. Plus, I just cant get behind a guy who chose a bird for his nickname.
Prediction: Stephens by TKO, second round.
Diego "Nightmare" Sanchez 21-2 vs Luigi Fioravanti 14-3
Sanchez appeared to be on the fast track to a title fight following his dominating performance in The Ultimate Fighter. Losses to Josh Koscheck and Jon Fitch have derailed those plans momentarily. Make no mistake though, this guy has the goods to be a champion. He has vicious ground and pound and is a world class wrestler. Fioravanti is a striker out of American Top Team. He also saw back to back losses knock him down in the rankings. This should be a great showing of MMA skills and is my pick for fight of the night.
Prediction: Sanchez by submission, second round.
Amir Sadollah 0-0 vs. C.B. Dolloway 6-0
This is a really tough fight to call. Experience and technique heavily favors C.B., but I cant get away from a few facts. A. Sadollah finished every one of his fights on the show, B. Sadollah doesn't appear to feel pain, C. I love rooting for the underdog. Regardless of how this ends up, I think both guys are going to have great careers in the UFC.
Prediction: C.B. Dolloway by split decision.
Kendall "Da Spyder" Grove 10-5 vs. Evan "Grizzly Adams" Tanner 34-8 (OK the nickname was a joke but have you seen this guys beard this week?)
Grove is another T.U.F. champion who has hit a rough spot in the UFC with back to back loses to Patrick Cote and Jorge Rivera. To his advantage, he trains with some of the toughest guys in the sport at Team Punishment. Grove is a submission specialist who at 6'6" holds a major height advantage over his opponents. Tanner is also a submission artist and a former UFC champion. His experience is a huge advantage and Grove certainly has his work cut out for him. The T.U.F. Finale has always been about young fighters and I think this night will be no different.
Prediction: Grove by TKO, second round.
This is a very entertaining card with a lot of fights that could go either way. I think we will see Diego Sanchez and Kendall Grove with impressive victories as both begin their climb to the top of their divisions.
Matt Riddle 0-0 vs. Dante Rivera 10-2
This one ain't gonna be pretty folks. Riddle is younger, stronger, faster, and in my opinion tougher. He was so raw on the show but showed amazing toughness and strength. He has been training the last few months in Arizona with C.B. Dolloway and you can bet he is going to be a best in the octagon. Rivera gets the edge for experience, but that's about it.
Prediction: Riddle by knockout, first round.
Spencer "The King" Fisher 21-3 vs. Jeremy "Lil Heathen" Stevens 15-2
Fisher has had a rough go of late posting a 3-3 record in his last 6 fights. He is a well rounded fighter out of the Miletich camp in Betandorf, Iowa and boasts notable wins over Thiago Alves and Matt Wiman. Stephens is a puncher who is currently riding a 3 fight win streak. When having trouble predicting a fight, I always go with the boxer. Plus, I just cant get behind a guy who chose a bird for his nickname.
Prediction: Stephens by TKO, second round.
Diego "Nightmare" Sanchez 21-2 vs Luigi Fioravanti 14-3
Sanchez appeared to be on the fast track to a title fight following his dominating performance in The Ultimate Fighter. Losses to Josh Koscheck and Jon Fitch have derailed those plans momentarily. Make no mistake though, this guy has the goods to be a champion. He has vicious ground and pound and is a world class wrestler. Fioravanti is a striker out of American Top Team. He also saw back to back losses knock him down in the rankings. This should be a great showing of MMA skills and is my pick for fight of the night.
Prediction: Sanchez by submission, second round.
Amir Sadollah 0-0 vs. C.B. Dolloway 6-0
This is a really tough fight to call. Experience and technique heavily favors C.B., but I cant get away from a few facts. A. Sadollah finished every one of his fights on the show, B. Sadollah doesn't appear to feel pain, C. I love rooting for the underdog. Regardless of how this ends up, I think both guys are going to have great careers in the UFC.
Prediction: C.B. Dolloway by split decision.
Kendall "Da Spyder" Grove 10-5 vs. Evan "Grizzly Adams" Tanner 34-8 (OK the nickname was a joke but have you seen this guys beard this week?)
Grove is another T.U.F. champion who has hit a rough spot in the UFC with back to back loses to Patrick Cote and Jorge Rivera. To his advantage, he trains with some of the toughest guys in the sport at Team Punishment. Grove is a submission specialist who at 6'6" holds a major height advantage over his opponents. Tanner is also a submission artist and a former UFC champion. His experience is a huge advantage and Grove certainly has his work cut out for him. The T.U.F. Finale has always been about young fighters and I think this night will be no different.
Prediction: Grove by TKO, second round.
This is a very entertaining card with a lot of fights that could go either way. I think we will see Diego Sanchez and Kendall Grove with impressive victories as both begin their climb to the top of their divisions.
Jesse Taylor - Fallen Angel
Watching Jesse Taylor throw away a 50/50 lottery ticket last night, I couldn't help but hear one of my favorite 80's hair band songs screaming in my ear.
OK, so you have to sub out a few words but you get the picture. Seeing Taylor self destruct was a real shame. For those that didn't see it, J.T. (as he is known on the show) indulged in a few spirits the night the show was over. He got drunk, kicked out the window of a limo (see lyrics above) and made a jerk of himself in the hotel and casino. As everyone knows, cameras are everywhere in Vegas, and to top it off J.T. ran around screaming "Don't you know who I am? I'm a UFC fighter!" The security staff sent the tapes to Dana White and the handwriting was on the wall for poor Jesse. Dana White kicked him out of the finals, off the show, and out of the UFC.
After hearing about the incident my knee jerk reaction was to be upset. The source for my frustration was simple, here was just another reason for the naysayers to drag my favorite sport through the mud. The more I started to think about it though, I felt sorry for the kid. In fact, J.T. himself predicted something would go down.
Jesse is a great young fighter with tremendous skills. He is a guy the common fans can relate to with his junk food diet and quirky antics. He seemed generally well liked in the house and many fighters commented that he was a great training partner. Quite simply, he made a mistake. I for one hope that Dana White can forgive him for his mistake and give him a shot in a few months. I think he deserves a second chance.
Just like a lost soul
caught up in the Hollywood scene
All the parties and the limousines
Such a good actress hiding all her pain
Trading her memories for fortune and fame
Win big--Mama's fallen angel
Lose big--livin' out her lies
Wants it all--Mama's fallen angel
Lose it all, rollin' the dice of her life
OK, so you have to sub out a few words but you get the picture. Seeing Taylor self destruct was a real shame. For those that didn't see it, J.T. (as he is known on the show) indulged in a few spirits the night the show was over. He got drunk, kicked out the window of a limo (see lyrics above) and made a jerk of himself in the hotel and casino. As everyone knows, cameras are everywhere in Vegas, and to top it off J.T. ran around screaming "Don't you know who I am? I'm a UFC fighter!" The security staff sent the tapes to Dana White and the handwriting was on the wall for poor Jesse. Dana White kicked him out of the finals, off the show, and out of the UFC.
After hearing about the incident my knee jerk reaction was to be upset. The source for my frustration was simple, here was just another reason for the naysayers to drag my favorite sport through the mud. The more I started to think about it though, I felt sorry for the kid. In fact, J.T. himself predicted something would go down.
“I have a good feeling it’s going to hit me tonight,” he said. “It’s definitely going to hit me tonight.”
Jesse is a great young fighter with tremendous skills. He is a guy the common fans can relate to with his junk food diet and quirky antics. He seemed generally well liked in the house and many fighters commented that he was a great training partner. Quite simply, he made a mistake. I for one hope that Dana White can forgive him for his mistake and give him a shot in a few months. I think he deserves a second chance.
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
State Of The Union
Don't make plans to go camping every weekend this summer just yet. Instead of spending $4.50 a gallon to drive to the woods and get eaten alive by mosquito's, check out the line up of MMA talent that is sure to make staying home seem like a great idea. The action is really heating up this summer with a plethora of exciting events.
May 24th - UFC 84 - The return of Shawn Sherk and the dominating performance by B.J. Penn. Not to mention what was most likely the last time Tito Ortiz stepped foot in the octagon.
May 31st - Elite XC debuted on Primetime T.V. The topics have been beaten to death so I wont go there, but you cant not be excited that MMA came to live network television.
June 1st - WEC 34 - Faber vs. Pulver lived up to the bill as the two best featherweights in the game squared off in a slug fest. The WEC also showed up the debacle the night before on CBS.
June 7th - UFC 85 - This event showcased the end of an era. Most are now convinced that Matt Hughes best days are behind him.
June 14th - Elite XC - K.J. Noons vs Yves Edwards. Noons defends his lightweight belt against Edwards in a fight that many, myself included, believe should have been the main event on CBS. This should be an outstanding fight.
June 14th - Adrenaline 1 - Not much interesting on this card after wrestling beast Jeff Monson came off the card, but it will be interesting to see how their inaugural event comes off.
June 15th - Dream 4 - Fear not. Even though Cro Cop had to withdraw from his grappling match due to injury, purists will love the next round of the middleweight grand prix.
June 20th - Sportfight 23 - The Matt Lindland/Mark Cuban promotion promises to deliver some great fights from the hotbed for MMA, the Pacific Northwest.
June 21st - TUF 7 Finale - Evan Tanner vs Kendall Grove is a huge match up. The winner steps up in the title picture while the loser puts himself in a huge hole to reach the top spot.
June 27th - Strikeforce - Don't let this one pass. Lots of great fights including a light heavyweight title fight between Gilbert Melendez and Josh Thomson.
July 5th - UFC 86 - Jackson vs Griffin. The UFC has done a terrible job of promoting Jackson as the next big thing. Neither fighter has fought since last September making the build up for this fight a little slow. Trust me however, these two guys are animals and this is my pick for fight of the year.
July 19th - Affliction Banned - The one we are all waiting for, Fedor vs Silvia. Affliction has gone out and signed the top heavyweight talent in the world. Even though they seem to put all their eggs in the heavyweight basket, this card should reveal an exciting night of fights.
UPDATE: July 19th - Ultimate Fight Night - To counter promote against Affliction, the UFC has added an event. Not a lot of great fights on the card but this is a good chance for up and coming fighters to make a showing. That coupled with the fact that Anderson Silva will make his debut at light heavyweight should make this a fun one to watch.
One of the best things about this sport is that there is no season. Competition breeds a better product and all of these upstart organizations will hopefully push the big boys to continue to bring the best fights in MMA. At any rate, its an exciting time to be a fan.
May 24th - UFC 84 - The return of Shawn Sherk and the dominating performance by B.J. Penn. Not to mention what was most likely the last time Tito Ortiz stepped foot in the octagon.
May 31st - Elite XC debuted on Primetime T.V. The topics have been beaten to death so I wont go there, but you cant not be excited that MMA came to live network television.
June 1st - WEC 34 - Faber vs. Pulver lived up to the bill as the two best featherweights in the game squared off in a slug fest. The WEC also showed up the debacle the night before on CBS.
June 7th - UFC 85 - This event showcased the end of an era. Most are now convinced that Matt Hughes best days are behind him.
June 14th - Elite XC - K.J. Noons vs Yves Edwards. Noons defends his lightweight belt against Edwards in a fight that many, myself included, believe should have been the main event on CBS. This should be an outstanding fight.
June 14th - Adrenaline 1 - Not much interesting on this card after wrestling beast Jeff Monson came off the card, but it will be interesting to see how their inaugural event comes off.
June 15th - Dream 4 - Fear not. Even though Cro Cop had to withdraw from his grappling match due to injury, purists will love the next round of the middleweight grand prix.
June 20th - Sportfight 23 - The Matt Lindland/Mark Cuban promotion promises to deliver some great fights from the hotbed for MMA, the Pacific Northwest.
June 21st - TUF 7 Finale - Evan Tanner vs Kendall Grove is a huge match up. The winner steps up in the title picture while the loser puts himself in a huge hole to reach the top spot.
June 27th - Strikeforce - Don't let this one pass. Lots of great fights including a light heavyweight title fight between Gilbert Melendez and Josh Thomson.
July 5th - UFC 86 - Jackson vs Griffin. The UFC has done a terrible job of promoting Jackson as the next big thing. Neither fighter has fought since last September making the build up for this fight a little slow. Trust me however, these two guys are animals and this is my pick for fight of the year.
July 19th - Affliction Banned - The one we are all waiting for, Fedor vs Silvia. Affliction has gone out and signed the top heavyweight talent in the world. Even though they seem to put all their eggs in the heavyweight basket, this card should reveal an exciting night of fights.
UPDATE: July 19th - Ultimate Fight Night - To counter promote against Affliction, the UFC has added an event. Not a lot of great fights on the card but this is a good chance for up and coming fighters to make a showing. That coupled with the fact that Anderson Silva will make his debut at light heavyweight should make this a fun one to watch.
One of the best things about this sport is that there is no season. Competition breeds a better product and all of these upstart organizations will hopefully push the big boys to continue to bring the best fights in MMA. At any rate, its an exciting time to be a fan.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Where Does Chris Leben Fit In?
Where exactly does a fighter like Chris Leben fit in the UFC 185 pound division. In my book, near the top.
Granted Leben got destroyed by current champ Anderson Silva, but who doesnt? Trust me, I know what you are going to say next. What about the back to back losses to Jason MacDonald and (gulp) Kalib Starnes?
Lets analyze those two losses for a second. First off, I believe Kalib Starnes was treated unfairly. Yes he ran, but the dude had a broken foot. A lot of guys would have quit. His strategy was to continue the fight in hopes of catching his opponent in a submission. It didnt work for him. MacDonald on the other hand has made a great showing in the UFC, losing only to former champ Rich Franklin and the only UFC fighter to beat Silva, Yushin Okami.
A closer look tells us what is even more impressive about Leben. The guy stepped into the cage 5 times in 2006. With that kind of pace, a loss or two is almost expected.
In short, Chris Leben may be one of the most exciting fighters in the UFC, regardless of whether he ever gets the chance to fight for the title again or not. Leben attacks the cage like few fighters do. Seldom does he ever take a step back. He never stops working, never stops throwing punches until the horn sounds. That is what fighting is all about. Rest assured, when I see Chris Leben on the card, I shell out the $45 to watch the fight and you should too. A fighter like him is much better suited for primetime TV than the likes of Kimbo Slice.
Granted Leben got destroyed by current champ Anderson Silva, but who doesnt? Trust me, I know what you are going to say next. What about the back to back losses to Jason MacDonald and (gulp) Kalib Starnes?
Lets analyze those two losses for a second. First off, I believe Kalib Starnes was treated unfairly. Yes he ran, but the dude had a broken foot. A lot of guys would have quit. His strategy was to continue the fight in hopes of catching his opponent in a submission. It didnt work for him. MacDonald on the other hand has made a great showing in the UFC, losing only to former champ Rich Franklin and the only UFC fighter to beat Silva, Yushin Okami.
A closer look tells us what is even more impressive about Leben. The guy stepped into the cage 5 times in 2006. With that kind of pace, a loss or two is almost expected.
In short, Chris Leben may be one of the most exciting fighters in the UFC, regardless of whether he ever gets the chance to fight for the title again or not. Leben attacks the cage like few fighters do. Seldom does he ever take a step back. He never stops working, never stops throwing punches until the horn sounds. That is what fighting is all about. Rest assured, when I see Chris Leben on the card, I shell out the $45 to watch the fight and you should too. A fighter like him is much better suited for primetime TV than the likes of Kimbo Slice.
Monday, June 9, 2008
UFC 85 Honors
The UFC has released the winners of the post fight bonuses for UFC 85.
Not only did that knee end Hughes' night, it also ended the storied career of the most dominate welterweight fighter in the history of the UFC. Hughes will fight again, and as I've stated will most likely deliver a beating to Matt Serra, but it wont be the Hughes we used to know.
Thiago Alves, Kevin Burns, Matt Wiman and Thiago Tavares received performance-based awards worth $50,000 each for their efforts Saturday at UFC 85: Bedlam in London.
As if upsetting future Hall of Famer Matt Hughes wasn't enough, Alves won the "Knockout of the Night" award for his flying knee that ended the night of the UFC's most dominant former welterweight champion.
The "Submission of the Night" went to UFC newcomer Kevin Burns, who stepped in as a little-known fighter out of the Midwest in place of the injured Ryo Chonan. Proving that mixed martial arts is more than just grappling, Burns, a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Blue Belt, tapped out Roan Carneiro, a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Black Belt, with a triangle choke.
Despite being on the undercard, Wiman and Tavares fought a technical ground battle before letting their hands fly for an incredible finish that saw Wiman leaving Tavares out cold courtesy of a right cross. The "Fight of the Night" was strong enough to air on the pay-per-view directly after the main event.
Not only did that knee end Hughes' night, it also ended the storied career of the most dominate welterweight fighter in the history of the UFC. Hughes will fight again, and as I've stated will most likely deliver a beating to Matt Serra, but it wont be the Hughes we used to know.
End Of An Era
Like it or not, (and just for the record I dont) Matt Hughes appears to be done. At the very least, his best days are certainly behind him. After being dominated by Thiago Alves this last weekend at UFC 85, there appears to be only one interesting matchup in his storied career.
To say Hughes was dominated is actually an understatement. Most glaring in this one was the fact that the skills that made Hughes so dominate, were rendered completely ineffective. Hughes made a career out of smashing his opponent to the canvas with a big slam, then pounding out a win. In his recent loses, and even in his one victory over Chris Lytle, he looked somewhat confused in the cage.
Despite these recent losses, I expect his matchup with Matt Serra will be one of the highest selling pay per views this year. Much bad blood was built up when the two were coaches on The Ultimate Fighter and their hatred for each other is no secret. I believe Matt Serra was a fluke champion who caught GSP with a lucky punch. GSP proved as much by destroying Serra in their rematch. Serra hasn't beaten anyone in his career yet he runs his mouth like he is the greatest fighter ever.
Regardless of the outcome, its time for Hughes to hang it up. Too often in professional sports we see atheletes hang on too long. Older fighters like Randy Couture are an exception to the rule. At 34 years old Hughes has had 49 professional fights. On the other hand at 45 years old, Couture only has 24 professional bouts. The punishment that a fighters body takes has much more to do with longevity than age does. It appears that the multitude of fights that Hughes has been in is taking its toll. After he destroys Serra, the best thing for Hughes to do would be to grab the mic from Joe Rogan and announce his retirement, cementing his legacy as the greatest welterweight in the histroy of the UFC.
To say Hughes was dominated is actually an understatement. Most glaring in this one was the fact that the skills that made Hughes so dominate, were rendered completely ineffective. Hughes made a career out of smashing his opponent to the canvas with a big slam, then pounding out a win. In his recent loses, and even in his one victory over Chris Lytle, he looked somewhat confused in the cage.
Despite these recent losses, I expect his matchup with Matt Serra will be one of the highest selling pay per views this year. Much bad blood was built up when the two were coaches on The Ultimate Fighter and their hatred for each other is no secret. I believe Matt Serra was a fluke champion who caught GSP with a lucky punch. GSP proved as much by destroying Serra in their rematch. Serra hasn't beaten anyone in his career yet he runs his mouth like he is the greatest fighter ever.
Regardless of the outcome, its time for Hughes to hang it up. Too often in professional sports we see atheletes hang on too long. Older fighters like Randy Couture are an exception to the rule. At 34 years old Hughes has had 49 professional fights. On the other hand at 45 years old, Couture only has 24 professional bouts. The punishment that a fighters body takes has much more to do with longevity than age does. It appears that the multitude of fights that Hughes has been in is taking its toll. After he destroys Serra, the best thing for Hughes to do would be to grab the mic from Joe Rogan and announce his retirement, cementing his legacy as the greatest welterweight in the histroy of the UFC.
Friday, June 6, 2008
UFC 85 - Bedlam
Sorry for the delay in posting my predictions. To be quite honest, only 2 fights on the card are remotely interesting to me. The juggling of the card due to injury has been disappointing. I understand that this is beyond anyone's control, but it sure makes it hard to build momentum towards a fight. Without further delay....
Fabricio "Vai Cavalo" Werdum 10-3-1 vs. Brandon "The Truth" Vera 8-1
There are so many reasons to pick Vera in this fight. The only blemish on his record is a decision loss to former UFC heavyweight champ Tim Sylvia. Vera is an explsive fighter posting 6 of his 8 wins via knockout. Verdum however is a brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt who holds a win over current UFC heavyweight champ Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. Vera at one time was the heir apparent to the heavyweight crown and he should continue on that track in this one. Expect this to be a fantastic fight.
Prediction: Vera by stoppage, 2nd round
Nate "The Great" Marquardt 29-7-1 vs. Thales Leites 12-1
Marquardt is an impressive 5-1 in UFC competition, his only loss coming to the current champ Anderson Silva. Marquardt is an all around talented fighter with the cardio to go the distance. Thales Leites is on a 3 fight win streak but has yet to fight a top named opponent. He definately appears to have the advantage on the ground if he can get it there.
Prediction: Marquardt by unanimous decision.
Marcus "The Irish Hand Grenade" Davis 19-4 vs. Mike "Quick" Swick 11-2
This one is my pick for fight of the night. Davis is a heavy puncher who seems comfortable, standing or on the ground. Swick is an all around fighter who likes to throw. Despite the fact that his last 5 fights were by decision or submission, expect Swick to keep it standing. This is set up to be a very explosive fight. Davis is on a 6 fight win streak, dont expect it to end here.
Prediciton: Davis by knockout, 1st round
Michael "The Count" Bisping 16-1 vs, Jason "Dooms" Day 17-5
Yawn. Bisping is going to kill Day. You cant help but feel like Dana White decided to throw a fresh steak (Day) into the ring for the hometown savage (Bisping) to devour in front of the crowd. I dont see how Day stays competitive.This one will end quickly.
Prediction: Bisping by knockout, 1st round.
And now for the (*sigh*) main event
Matt Hughes 43-6 vs. Thiago "Pit Bull" Alves 20-4
Dont get me wrong, Im a huge Matt Hughes fan. I just happen to think his best fights are behind him. If it werent for injuries, this fight would not even have happened let alone be put down as the top billing. Hughes is on his way out and his last real marketable fight is vs. Matt Serra especially having been beaten by twice by current champ Geroges St. Pierre. Alves has heavy hands and Hughes only real chance is to take this to the ground. Alves is nowhere near the wrestler that Hughes is. I see Hughes taking this fight to the ground and pounding out a win.
Prediciton: Hughes by TKO, 2nd round.
While there could be some interesting fights on this card, I just dont see it as being an exciting pay per view. Hopefully the Cane vs. Lambert fight makes it to the live show. Cane is a real nut job and is going to play the role as a great villian in the UFC. Trust me, you will love to hate this guy.
Fabricio "Vai Cavalo" Werdum 10-3-1 vs. Brandon "The Truth" Vera 8-1
There are so many reasons to pick Vera in this fight. The only blemish on his record is a decision loss to former UFC heavyweight champ Tim Sylvia. Vera is an explsive fighter posting 6 of his 8 wins via knockout. Verdum however is a brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt who holds a win over current UFC heavyweight champ Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. Vera at one time was the heir apparent to the heavyweight crown and he should continue on that track in this one. Expect this to be a fantastic fight.
Prediction: Vera by stoppage, 2nd round
Nate "The Great" Marquardt 29-7-1 vs. Thales Leites 12-1
Marquardt is an impressive 5-1 in UFC competition, his only loss coming to the current champ Anderson Silva. Marquardt is an all around talented fighter with the cardio to go the distance. Thales Leites is on a 3 fight win streak but has yet to fight a top named opponent. He definately appears to have the advantage on the ground if he can get it there.
Prediction: Marquardt by unanimous decision.
Marcus "The Irish Hand Grenade" Davis 19-4 vs. Mike "Quick" Swick 11-2
This one is my pick for fight of the night. Davis is a heavy puncher who seems comfortable, standing or on the ground. Swick is an all around fighter who likes to throw. Despite the fact that his last 5 fights were by decision or submission, expect Swick to keep it standing. This is set up to be a very explosive fight. Davis is on a 6 fight win streak, dont expect it to end here.
Prediciton: Davis by knockout, 1st round
Michael "The Count" Bisping 16-1 vs, Jason "Dooms" Day 17-5
Yawn. Bisping is going to kill Day. You cant help but feel like Dana White decided to throw a fresh steak (Day) into the ring for the hometown savage (Bisping) to devour in front of the crowd. I dont see how Day stays competitive.This one will end quickly.
Prediction: Bisping by knockout, 1st round.
And now for the (*sigh*) main event
Matt Hughes 43-6 vs. Thiago "Pit Bull" Alves 20-4
Dont get me wrong, Im a huge Matt Hughes fan. I just happen to think his best fights are behind him. If it werent for injuries, this fight would not even have happened let alone be put down as the top billing. Hughes is on his way out and his last real marketable fight is vs. Matt Serra especially having been beaten by twice by current champ Geroges St. Pierre. Alves has heavy hands and Hughes only real chance is to take this to the ground. Alves is nowhere near the wrestler that Hughes is. I see Hughes taking this fight to the ground and pounding out a win.
Prediciton: Hughes by TKO, 2nd round.
While there could be some interesting fights on this card, I just dont see it as being an exciting pay per view. Hopefully the Cane vs. Lambert fight makes it to the live show. Cane is a real nut job and is going to play the role as a great villian in the UFC. Trust me, you will love to hate this guy.
Mike Dolce Speaks Out About TUF
In a recent interview with MMAWeekly.comMike Dolce had some interesting things to say about his experience on The Ultimate Fighter.
Now while I agree with Dolce' statements and believe his blog is well written, I have a problem with his shock in the matter. A quick glance at any season of TUF and you know to expect a few things...
1. Drunken behavior
2. Destruction of property
3. Fisticuffs in the house
I'm not sure why Dolce was shocked. Tuf isn't about finding the next great fighter. Obviously the UFC benefits when guys like Forrest, Rashad Evans, Joe Stephenson, and Michael Bisping emerge from the shows. But if the six previous seasons have taught us anything its that the show is there to get ratings and not necessarily to produce great fights. The funny thing is, and nobody ever mentions this, but why does the UFC get a pass for this type of thing when most writers, (even yours truly come to think of it), blasted Elite XC for their dancing girls and over the top entrances? What is the difference? Does one cast any more or any less of a negative outlook over the other?
For the most part, the UFC has done a better job this season of focusing on the fights and showing much less of the antics in the house. Yet because of this, many are calling it the most boring season yet.
Make up your minds fellas, which way do you want it?
At the risk of pissing a bunch of people off, I’m going to tell you.
Personally, I knew something was seriously wrong with this production when, as a sequestered, professional athlete in the midst of a major sporting event, I could not obtain a free range chicken breast for almost 48 hours of repeated requests, but a bottle of tequila, a half rack of beer and a funnel could be delivered in twenty minutes at any time of day or night with a single belligerent phone call. All under the guise of trying to determine just who was The Ultimate Fighter…the epitome of professional athletics.
To me The Ultimate Fighter is a term that should be reserved for a gentleman-athlete who stands above his peers, not just in his ability to perform within the confines of competition, but within the confines of civility and life.
Now while I agree with Dolce' statements and believe his blog is well written, I have a problem with his shock in the matter. A quick glance at any season of TUF and you know to expect a few things...
1. Drunken behavior
2. Destruction of property
3. Fisticuffs in the house
I'm not sure why Dolce was shocked. Tuf isn't about finding the next great fighter. Obviously the UFC benefits when guys like Forrest, Rashad Evans, Joe Stephenson, and Michael Bisping emerge from the shows. But if the six previous seasons have taught us anything its that the show is there to get ratings and not necessarily to produce great fights. The funny thing is, and nobody ever mentions this, but why does the UFC get a pass for this type of thing when most writers, (even yours truly come to think of it), blasted Elite XC for their dancing girls and over the top entrances? What is the difference? Does one cast any more or any less of a negative outlook over the other?
For the most part, the UFC has done a better job this season of focusing on the fights and showing much less of the antics in the house. Yet because of this, many are calling it the most boring season yet.
Make up your minds fellas, which way do you want it?
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Rothwell To Fight Arlovski
Ben Rothwell now has an opponent for the Affliction Banned event.
This is an intriguing match up. Rothwell, a dominate fighter in the IFL can really put his name on the map with a win over a top ranked heavyweight. This PPV event should be very entertaining.
Rothwell's long rumored opponent was formally announced today as former UFC heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski, who phoned in to speak with Donald Trump during the Affliction press conference held at the Trump Tower in New York City.
This is an intriguing match up. Rothwell, a dominate fighter in the IFL can really put his name on the map with a win over a top ranked heavyweight. This PPV event should be very entertaining.
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Tito Ortiz Radio Interview
Tito Ortiz was a guest on the BJ Shea Morning Experience on 99.9 KISW Rock in Seattle. Unfortunately, the hosts of the show know nothing about MMA and did not ask a single question regarding his past with the UFC or his future plans. He talked about his new book, "This Is Gonna Hurt, The Life Of A Mixed Martial Arts Champion", his girlfriend Jenna Jameson, and his support of our U.S. Troops.
The full interview can be heard here.
Belfort Signs With Affliction
Its finally official, Vitor Belfort has signed with Affliction.
This is an interesting move in dropping down to middleweight. After signing some noteable heavyweights, it appears that Affliction is setting its sights on adding some name recognition to help bolster their middleweight division.
Former UFC light-heavyweight champion Vitor Belfort will fight for the newly formed Affliction promotion.
Belfort, the current light-heavyweight champion for UK's Cage Rage promotion, will drop down to middleweight for his return to the US.
This is an interesting move in dropping down to middleweight. After signing some noteable heavyweights, it appears that Affliction is setting its sights on adding some name recognition to help bolster their middleweight division.
Chuck Weighs In On Tito
Kevin Iole posted an interesting article about Chuck Liddell and his decision to travel to the UK despite not fighting due to a hamstring injury. In it, the Iceman takes a shot at soon to be former co-worker, Tito Ortiz.
I think Chuck hit the nail on the head. Ortiz and his poor attitude are much better suited for the NFL or NBA where complaining about pay and working conditions are common place.
Later in the article, Dana White sounds off about Chuck and his decision to attend the event.
Despite his obvious man crush on Liddell, White makes a great point. Liddell does understand that the fans are a large season that this is the fastest growing sport in the world.
“I know Tito for a long time and I probably know him as well as anyone and I can guarantee you this: If Tito is doing something, he’s not doing it for anyone else; he’s doing it for himself,” Liddell said. “Tito wants what he can get for himself. That’s all he’s worried about. He doesn’t care about anyone else, as long as he gets his.”
I think Chuck hit the nail on the head. Ortiz and his poor attitude are much better suited for the NFL or NBA where complaining about pay and working conditions are common place.
Later in the article, Dana White sounds off about Chuck and his decision to attend the event.
“Chuck doesn’t big-time anybody,” White said. “If anybody in the UFC had the stature to big-time someone, it would be Chuck. But he’s a guy who understands that the fans are what make this sport and they’re the ones who are helping it grow and he appreciates them for that. Chuck is one of the guys who definitely gets it. He has everything in the proper perspective.”
Despite his obvious man crush on Liddell, White makes a great point. Liddell does understand that the fans are a large season that this is the fastest growing sport in the world.
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Yamamoto Announced for Dream 5
Norifumi "Kid" Yamamoto (17-1-1) has been confirmed to fight on the Dream 5 card on July 21st at the Osaka Hall in Japan.
Yamamoto is one of the most dynamic 145 pound fighters in the world and has not lost since a May 5th 2002 TKO to Stephen Palling.
I personally would love to see Yamamoto vs Faber in the future. Both of these guys are amazing physical specimens and possess to the power to finish fights early.
Yamamoto will face Joseph Benadviez, an undefeated fighter who has finished all seven of his fights. Benadviez, out of Sacramento, California, competes for the Palace Fighting Championships promotion in Lemoore.
Yamamoto is one of the most dynamic 145 pound fighters in the world and has not lost since a May 5th 2002 TKO to Stephen Palling.
I personally would love to see Yamamoto vs Faber in the future. Both of these guys are amazing physical specimens and possess to the power to finish fights early.
Monday, June 2, 2008
Vasquez Death Reviewed
Here is an article from Sherdog.com regarding the findings of the Medical Advisory Committee of the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.
Is it time for stiff regulations regarding the cage to help protect fighters from injury? At the very least it appears that the padding, or lack there of from the ring post contributed to the injuries sustained by Vasquez.
Additionally, does this produce a black cloud over the sport just as it seems to be gaining national attention and an increased viewing audience?
I think the large organizations, namely the UFC, should do some damage control and regulate themselves before the state athletic commissions do it for them.
Vasquez competed in his third professional bout on October 20, 2007, when he faced Vince Libardi at the Toyota Center in Houston. He was knocked down with a punch in the third round and subsequently collapsed. Vasquez underwent a series of surgeries to relieve pressure on his brain and was in a comatose state for six weeks before succumbing to the blunt force trauma on Nov. 30.
Parham told the committee that a DVD of the bout was reviewed and then recounted Vasquez's performance. Vasquez's head hit one of the posts in the cage as Libardi took him down in the opening round. Vasquez could be seen squinting and blinking his eyes after the takedown but was active in punching and defending himself with upkicks.
Is it time for stiff regulations regarding the cage to help protect fighters from injury? At the very least it appears that the padding, or lack there of from the ring post contributed to the injuries sustained by Vasquez.
Additionally, does this produce a black cloud over the sport just as it seems to be gaining national attention and an increased viewing audience?
I think the large organizations, namely the UFC, should do some damage control and regulate themselves before the state athletic commissions do it for them.
WEC knocks out Elite XC in T.V. matchup
I have to admit it, I thought a lot of the online blogging community was crazy. A lot of sites were saying that the Elite XC card was not going to be a good showing for the inaugural telecast on prime time television. I was certain that by putting together a fight card full of punchers that the show would deliver. I knew they couldn't possibly screw this up. I was wrong.
The instant I saw the dancers lining the runway to the stage, I knew we were in trouble. It reminded me of the old WCW Nitro Girls. The smoke machines and dancing girls only further went to feed the stereotype that MMA fans carry. Now, not only are we blood thirsty savages who enjoy watching "human cockfighting", but we also aren't able to be entertained without seeing scantily clad woman display their dancing abilities between fights. Thanks for nothing Gary Shaw. To top it off, he came across like Vince McMahon in an interview with MMARATED. I'm not sure if anyone else caught this, but after the Joey Villasenor vs Phil Baroni fight, Shaw can be heard in the ring instructing Villasenor on his post fight interview.
What?! Why not just do the interview for him? What is next, cue cards for the fighters to answer off of? I rewound this several times on my DVR to make sure it was Shaw. I hope he realizes that for every causal fan he converted to MMA, he lost two real ones. We want to see fighting at its best. Leave the theatrics and the disco party aesthetics to professional wrestling.
All in all, with the exception of the main event, the fights were not all that bad. The early fights showcased a couple of knockouts that got the night started off on the right foot. The Carano/Young fight was entertaining with Young showing a great chin against a fighter that was obviously better than her. Then came two real disappointments. I thought the Lawler/Smith fight was one of the better fights I have seen in a long time. The fight doctor erred on the side of caution and stopped the fight due to a poke in the eye. I thought it was a ridiculous stoppage myself, but remember who has to answer to the state athletic commission if a fighter is injured in a fight they should not have been allowed to continue. Granted, the full compliment of MMA skills were not shown, but you had two very tough guys stand and beat each other up with kicks and punches. I thought each fighter showed tremendous grit and heart. I would love to see these two square off again.
The Kimbo/Thompson fight was good...........for the under card. The lesson here should be that just because a guy has a big name, that does not mean he should be a headliner. The fight was mildly entertaining. James Thompson showed a very effective ground and pound albeit against a rookie fighter on the ground. Kimbo was able to get reversals, but showed nothing technical, using brut force to get himself out of tough spots. Once he got tired, he was not even able to defend himself on the ground. We can argue all day about fight fixing, dirty officiating, and owner collusion. The bottom line is this fight should have never seen the light of day. Not because the fighters didn't try hard or put on a sub par show, but quite honestly because Kimbo is not ready to fight in the top slot.
I hope that deep down in his heart of hearts, Shaw knows that he dropped the ball. I hold out hope that for those of us that love this sport, the next time Elite XC runs a card on television, they produce quality match ups that expose the true art form of the sport and protect the sanctity and history that surround it.
Alternatively, the WEC event was absolutely entertaining. The two title fights delivered on every angle. The Maeda/Torres fight was incredible. I don't think I have ever seen both fighters locked into leg submissions at the same time. Both holds were deep and neither fighter would give up. Maeda was not able to answer the bell for the third round due to a swollen eye, but he certainly showed toughness and determination against a tough champion. I'm sure we will see these two fight for the title again before long.
For all accounts the Faber/Pulver match lived up to the bill. It was obvious to anyone who knows fighting that Faber won the fight from bell to bell. He ate a few punches that hurt, but he was in control of the entire fight. He displayed lightning quickness and a stiff right hand that found a home on Pulver's cheek time after time. Despite never really gaining momentum and not being able to score, Pulver showed the heart of a champion. Every time he got rocked with a punch he gave that famous "hit me again" smile and stepped forward. Pulver showed what being a fighter is all about. Any aspiring MMA fighter should watch that fight as a lesson on what it means to have the privelage of stepping in the cage. He was extremely humble and courageous in defeat, thanking the once hostile crowd and crowning Faber the greatest in the world. I hope that Pulver continues his MMA career and we get to see these two trade leather a second time. To me he is a role model, not some guy who gets paid 7 million a year to hit a fastball then goes on the DL for two weeks with a hang nail.
The instant I saw the dancers lining the runway to the stage, I knew we were in trouble. It reminded me of the old WCW Nitro Girls. The smoke machines and dancing girls only further went to feed the stereotype that MMA fans carry. Now, not only are we blood thirsty savages who enjoy watching "human cockfighting", but we also aren't able to be entertained without seeing scantily clad woman display their dancing abilities between fights. Thanks for nothing Gary Shaw. To top it off, he came across like Vince McMahon in an interview with MMARATED. I'm not sure if anyone else caught this, but after the Joey Villasenor vs Phil Baroni fight, Shaw can be heard in the ring instructing Villasenor on his post fight interview.
"If he asks you who you want to fight next, tell him........(inaudible)"
What?! Why not just do the interview for him? What is next, cue cards for the fighters to answer off of? I rewound this several times on my DVR to make sure it was Shaw. I hope he realizes that for every causal fan he converted to MMA, he lost two real ones. We want to see fighting at its best. Leave the theatrics and the disco party aesthetics to professional wrestling.
All in all, with the exception of the main event, the fights were not all that bad. The early fights showcased a couple of knockouts that got the night started off on the right foot. The Carano/Young fight was entertaining with Young showing a great chin against a fighter that was obviously better than her. Then came two real disappointments. I thought the Lawler/Smith fight was one of the better fights I have seen in a long time. The fight doctor erred on the side of caution and stopped the fight due to a poke in the eye. I thought it was a ridiculous stoppage myself, but remember who has to answer to the state athletic commission if a fighter is injured in a fight they should not have been allowed to continue. Granted, the full compliment of MMA skills were not shown, but you had two very tough guys stand and beat each other up with kicks and punches. I thought each fighter showed tremendous grit and heart. I would love to see these two square off again.
The Kimbo/Thompson fight was good...........for the under card. The lesson here should be that just because a guy has a big name, that does not mean he should be a headliner. The fight was mildly entertaining. James Thompson showed a very effective ground and pound albeit against a rookie fighter on the ground. Kimbo was able to get reversals, but showed nothing technical, using brut force to get himself out of tough spots. Once he got tired, he was not even able to defend himself on the ground. We can argue all day about fight fixing, dirty officiating, and owner collusion. The bottom line is this fight should have never seen the light of day. Not because the fighters didn't try hard or put on a sub par show, but quite honestly because Kimbo is not ready to fight in the top slot.
I hope that deep down in his heart of hearts, Shaw knows that he dropped the ball. I hold out hope that for those of us that love this sport, the next time Elite XC runs a card on television, they produce quality match ups that expose the true art form of the sport and protect the sanctity and history that surround it.
Alternatively, the WEC event was absolutely entertaining. The two title fights delivered on every angle. The Maeda/Torres fight was incredible. I don't think I have ever seen both fighters locked into leg submissions at the same time. Both holds were deep and neither fighter would give up. Maeda was not able to answer the bell for the third round due to a swollen eye, but he certainly showed toughness and determination against a tough champion. I'm sure we will see these two fight for the title again before long.
For all accounts the Faber/Pulver match lived up to the bill. It was obvious to anyone who knows fighting that Faber won the fight from bell to bell. He ate a few punches that hurt, but he was in control of the entire fight. He displayed lightning quickness and a stiff right hand that found a home on Pulver's cheek time after time. Despite never really gaining momentum and not being able to score, Pulver showed the heart of a champion. Every time he got rocked with a punch he gave that famous "hit me again" smile and stepped forward. Pulver showed what being a fighter is all about. Any aspiring MMA fighter should watch that fight as a lesson on what it means to have the privelage of stepping in the cage. He was extremely humble and courageous in defeat, thanking the once hostile crowd and crowning Faber the greatest in the world. I hope that Pulver continues his MMA career and we get to see these two trade leather a second time. To me he is a role model, not some guy who gets paid 7 million a year to hit a fastball then goes on the DL for two weeks with a hang nail.
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