As a long time supporter of pugilist sports, I have waited for approximately 10 years (probably longer) for Mixed martial arts (UFC in particular) to come to Canada's largest city. It took quite a long time, but that time has come, and it is now. Tomorrow, 55,000 fans will partake in UFC 129 at Toronto's Rogers Centre, with hundreds of thousands more expected to attend the fan expo at the adjourning Direct Energy Centre on the CNE grounds. All in all, the whole weekend is expected to raise about $40 million for the city, which is a substantial amount of cash.
Although you don't want to hear what I think about that. I'll spare you more chatter, and just get on with my picks :
Georges St. Pierre vs Jake Shields - The main event features the best welterweight on the planet today, Canadian Georges St. Pierre, take on a man who has been the best welterweight outside of the UFC, with 4 titles in the class to show for it (the 5th is at Middleweight) in "American Jiu-Jitsu" practitioner and Cesar Gracie product Jake Shields. The oddsmakers have this fight at a 4-to-1 clip for the champion, though if you ask everybody including St. Pierre, its a lot closer than people think. St. Pierre is coming off a one handed jab heavy boxing contest against Josh Koscheck last December, while Shields is riding a 15 fight win streak and handed the title shot due to his (controversial) decision victory over Martin Kampmann last October.
Expect this fight to go the distance. Shields' 2 weaknesses are his stand up and punching power, though he might be able to hold positioning and win a round, I just think St. Pierre's strengths (including his wrestling) will be the difference, and he will simply wear out the will of the challenger. In doing so, St. Pierre will make the inevitable jump to the middleweight division.
The Pick : St. Pierre by Decision.
Jose Aldo vs Mark Hominick - The co-feature features the pound for pound king (in my opinion), Jose Aldo take on Canadian (and Ontario resident) Mark Hominick. Aldo had been nursing a back injury since retaining his WEC title against Manvel Gamburyan and subsequent awarding of the newly minted UFC featherweight title, while Hominick has won his last 3 fights in Zuffa owned promotions (4 overall) since losing to Josh Grispi, his latest victory being a one sided dismantling of George Roop at UFN : Fight for the Troops 2 in January.
Hominick's one chance to victory is to circle outside Aldo's power and use his technical boxing. If he can keep Aldo off balance with it, he might be able to win a round or 2, but it might only be a matter of time before the Brazilian's explosiveness and power have Hominick on the ground. From there, Aldo, who is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt, will finish however he pleases.
The Pick : Aldo by Submission.
Lyoto Machida vs Randy Couture - After a 2 fight losing streak at the hands of both Mauricio "Shogun" Rua and Quinton "Rampage" Jackson, The Brazilian of Japanese origin known as "The Dragon" looks to right the ship against the 47 (soon to be 48) year old UFC hall of famer Couture, who is riding a 3 fight win streak into their tilt (of course, it was at the hands of an old man, a gatekeeper and a fish out of water, but a win is a win!). Also, The man known as "The Natural" has re-iterated several times over the course of the week that regardless of the outcome, this fight will be his last (though we've also heard that before!)
Machida needs to definitely be more aggressive than he has in his previous 18 fights. He needs to push the pace early and not be the elusive, countering, "boring" Dragon we're used to seeing out there. Randy's only chance is to try to use his strength and push Machida against the cage, wear him out with shoulder punches and his "dirty" boxing. The only problem is, if Machida does make a mistake and is being too over aggressive, is Randy too old now to pull the trigger? The answer to that is yes. and Machida will be victorious.
The Pick : Machida by decision.
Mark Bocek vs Ben Henderson - Former WEC lightweight champion and excitement immaculate, "Bend it like" Ben Henderson takes on Canadian Mark Bocek. This fight will be furious from the get go, and though Bocek will have Henderson in trouble early and often, Henderson will finish the fight in the 3rd round by a slick submission as only the man known as "Smooth" can.
The Pick : Henderson by submission.
Well, those are my picks. Agree? Disagree? want to get back to me? hit me up. email me at mmarmaggeddon@gmail.com
Until next time, fight fans!
Friday, April 29, 2011
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Bellator 42 recap : Hale shows he's no "one-trick pony", advances to 205 lb. final
Richard Hale has gone from relative obscurity to having a video gone viral. At Bellator 38 last month, he secured an inverted triangle over Nik Fekete, netting over 140,000 hits on youtube (according to CEO Bjorn Rebney) and earning a spot in the semi-finals of the promotions inaugural Light Heavyweight tournament.
On Saturday night in Concho, Oklahoma at the Lucky Star Casino, Hale fought in the semi-final. During a highly contested 3 round affair, We didn't get to see any moments worthy of a highlight reel, The man known as the "Rare Breed" had a war with DJ Linderman. Hale used his power and size advantage, controlling Linderman's takedown attempts in the second and surviving a spinning backfist during it, and his counter punching and leg kicks to the body were enough to grind out a split decision victory, 2 judges having it 29-28 for Hale, with the 3rd having the same score for Linderman. Hale told interviewer Jimmy Smith that the fight "was more difficult than he expected" and he looked "forward to the finals".
Those finals will feature Hale vs Congolese prospect Christian M'Pumbu, who showed that with his grappling skills (also on display at Bellator 38), are a serious pair of fists. After roughly 2 minutes of the opening round, M'Pumbu caught his opponent, American Tim Carpenter, with a furious left hook that left the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner and Philadelphia native prone, akin to being knocked out on his feet. After another right hand that dropped him, M'Pumbu stopped to scream loudly in Carpenter's face showing his jubilation over his victory.
Other winners included Luis Nogueira (no relation to the Nogueira brothers) winning a unanimous decision over Jerod Spoon, and British product Ronnie Mann winning a unanimous decision over Josh Arocho.
Honorable Mention : Both classes featuring the lighter weights (135 and 145) were far more interesting than the light heavyweight main events. Luis Nogueira and Jerod Spoon fought to a stalemate, with Nogueira trying several different striking attacks, featuring a spinning roundhouse in the 1st. Spoon threw a few spinning backfists in the 2nd, but it wasn't enough as the Brazilian won.
Also, DW better keep his eyes on Ronnie Mann. The British (by way of Thailand) fighter controlled an overwhelmed Arocho from the get-go, getting him on the ground and holding him there. He was able to control positioning, from side control to a north south position, and had several submission attempts (including a kimura as well as an arm triangle) on the American, simply outclassing him. I know fans and critics are also calling for "more 10-8" rounds in Mixed Martial Arts, and the judges for this fight certainly obliged : Mann won on one judges scorecard 30-25, which means not one but 2 10-8 rounds.
No Bellator fights next week, but a preview of the Finals will air at an early time (7 pm ET) on MTV2. Somehow I have a feeling nothing will be next week as there's another show in Toronto going on?
Until next time, fight fans!
On Saturday night in Concho, Oklahoma at the Lucky Star Casino, Hale fought in the semi-final. During a highly contested 3 round affair, We didn't get to see any moments worthy of a highlight reel, The man known as the "Rare Breed" had a war with DJ Linderman. Hale used his power and size advantage, controlling Linderman's takedown attempts in the second and surviving a spinning backfist during it, and his counter punching and leg kicks to the body were enough to grind out a split decision victory, 2 judges having it 29-28 for Hale, with the 3rd having the same score for Linderman. Hale told interviewer Jimmy Smith that the fight "was more difficult than he expected" and he looked "forward to the finals".
Those finals will feature Hale vs Congolese prospect Christian M'Pumbu, who showed that with his grappling skills (also on display at Bellator 38), are a serious pair of fists. After roughly 2 minutes of the opening round, M'Pumbu caught his opponent, American Tim Carpenter, with a furious left hook that left the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner and Philadelphia native prone, akin to being knocked out on his feet. After another right hand that dropped him, M'Pumbu stopped to scream loudly in Carpenter's face showing his jubilation over his victory.
Other winners included Luis Nogueira (no relation to the Nogueira brothers) winning a unanimous decision over Jerod Spoon, and British product Ronnie Mann winning a unanimous decision over Josh Arocho.
Honorable Mention : Both classes featuring the lighter weights (135 and 145) were far more interesting than the light heavyweight main events. Luis Nogueira and Jerod Spoon fought to a stalemate, with Nogueira trying several different striking attacks, featuring a spinning roundhouse in the 1st. Spoon threw a few spinning backfists in the 2nd, but it wasn't enough as the Brazilian won.
Also, DW better keep his eyes on Ronnie Mann. The British (by way of Thailand) fighter controlled an overwhelmed Arocho from the get-go, getting him on the ground and holding him there. He was able to control positioning, from side control to a north south position, and had several submission attempts (including a kimura as well as an arm triangle) on the American, simply outclassing him. I know fans and critics are also calling for "more 10-8" rounds in Mixed Martial Arts, and the judges for this fight certainly obliged : Mann won on one judges scorecard 30-25, which means not one but 2 10-8 rounds.
No Bellator fights next week, but a preview of the Finals will air at an early time (7 pm ET) on MTV2. Somehow I have a feeling nothing will be next week as there's another show in Toronto going on?
Until next time, fight fans!
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Randy Couture : Will he or Won't he?
There is a report on various MMA outlets, ranging from ESPN.com/Sherdog to Sports Illustrated, that next Saturday, April 30th will see the end of a legendary career.
No, I'm not talking about Joe Rogan resigning and having Stephan Bonnar replace him.. I'm talking about the fight between Lyoto Machida and Randy Couture, with obvious implications on the current Light Heavyweight division situation no doubt in the balance.
Couture told MMAJunkie on a article posted today, that the "time has come" for him to move on to the next chapter of his life. With 2 world title victories in 2 different weight classes (the only UFC fighter to do so) as well as a budding film career and a chain of successful Mixed Martial Arts gyms, It has little doubt that regardless of what happens at Rogers Centre, he certainly doesn't need the money he gets from fighting...as he'd only do it solely for the thrill of competition.
But.....how much do we really believe that Randy will walk away? He has done so before, the first time in 1997 when he left the then SEG-Owned Ultimate Fighting Championship over a pay dispute. He returned 10 months later in 1998, in Japanese promotion RINGS, going 2-2 in the land of the rising sun before the UFC ultimately decided to pay him the money he so richly deserved.
Then, there was the fiasco in 2008, where he locked heads in a legal tug-of-war over his outright release from the promotion, so he could have the opportunity to fight Fedor Emelianenko, who's management at M-1 Global couldn't come eye to eye on a contract with Zuffa, The UFC's parent company. Again, Couture would return to lose his heavyweight title to Brock Lesnar.
Inbetween, we were treated to one of the greatest careers this sport has ever seen. Nobody will forget Randy's 3 fights with Chuck Liddell, with the penultimate tilt between the 2 stars serving as the base for the successful reality program, "The Ultimate Fighter". His single handed dismantling of Tito Ortiz where he doubled the "Huntington Beach Bad Boy" over and pounded his rear, giving the allusion of the "spanking" Tito received at UFC 44. And who could forget his comeback in 2007, where he moved up in Heavyweight to fight Tim Sylvia, and while many detractors said he wouldn't last against the bigger stronger UFC champion, Randy dropped him 3 punches in and controlled him for the next 24 minutes and 57 seconds, never backing off of position and never missing a beat. Even in his mid-forties, he is a man that defies the aging process...seeming to get better, almost as if like a fine wine.
Granted, his last few fights haven't been up to par : His fight with Brandon Vera in England in 2009 was left to a decision that people still dispute, He beat an antiqued wrestler in Mark Coleman and a fish out of water in James Toney. All in all though, he was able to ride the momentum and secure a shot with Machida next weekend.
The truth be told : Even if he loses to "The Dragon", I can't see him walking away. There is one more fight out there for him. While he doesn't have the skills to main event a UFC anymore, he can still put on a formidable fight against a competent foe. It showed when he fought fellow legend Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, who is also past his best years, but provided a fight that left us on the edge of our seat. The MMA fan in me hopes that Couture still agrees to the "one more fight".....and that fight is against Fedor Emelianenko. If not, I guess I'll have to wait to see if I can watch it if I get into Heaven.
-In Other news, the UFC 129 press conference at Rogers Centre is open to the public. MMAJunkie reported the the UFC made the announcement today, which will take place at the Ricoh Colosseum next Friday, April 29th.
-Bellator has come under a lot of hot water. Off the heals of the Joe Warren fiasco comes allegations of match-fixing. Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney responded by awarding Warren's foe last Saturday, Marcus Galvao a spot in the upcoming 135 lb. tournament (which will also feature Warren) this fall. I don't understand how the UFC can have several bad judged fights (Edgar vs Penn I is an absolute prime example), and yet nobody says anything about fixing fights. Somebody else does it and OH NO!!! this fight was fixed. People its a judges objective. The problem is we need better judges.
-Speaking of Tournaments, Japan's Promotion DREAM has announced a bantamweight tournament set to begin May 29th at the Mecca of Japanese MMA, Saitama Super Arena as reported by ESPN.com/Sherdog. The "Japan Grand Prix" will serve as a precursor to their World Grand Prix, set to commence in September.
-ESPN.co.uk reports that Brock Lesnar says his chin isn't to blame for his recent troubles in the cage....it has to do with his boxing. Funny, but I remember Lesnar standing and trading up until he took a shot. and its not like he took a shot and dropped. He took a shot and turtled. So it isn't either to blame...its the phobia he has when taking a punch.
-Oh, and everybody's favorite little white collar criminal, Chael Sonnen, is due in court to hear his sentencing April 27th. When he comes back...I say throw him in there agains the winner between Wanderlei and Chris Leben.
Questions? Comments ? want to get back to me? email me mmarmaggedon@gmail.com
Until next time, fight fans.
No, I'm not talking about Joe Rogan resigning and having Stephan Bonnar replace him.. I'm talking about the fight between Lyoto Machida and Randy Couture, with obvious implications on the current Light Heavyweight division situation no doubt in the balance.
Couture told MMAJunkie on a article posted today, that the "time has come" for him to move on to the next chapter of his life. With 2 world title victories in 2 different weight classes (the only UFC fighter to do so) as well as a budding film career and a chain of successful Mixed Martial Arts gyms, It has little doubt that regardless of what happens at Rogers Centre, he certainly doesn't need the money he gets from fighting...as he'd only do it solely for the thrill of competition.
But.....how much do we really believe that Randy will walk away? He has done so before, the first time in 1997 when he left the then SEG-Owned Ultimate Fighting Championship over a pay dispute. He returned 10 months later in 1998, in Japanese promotion RINGS, going 2-2 in the land of the rising sun before the UFC ultimately decided to pay him the money he so richly deserved.
Then, there was the fiasco in 2008, where he locked heads in a legal tug-of-war over his outright release from the promotion, so he could have the opportunity to fight Fedor Emelianenko, who's management at M-1 Global couldn't come eye to eye on a contract with Zuffa, The UFC's parent company. Again, Couture would return to lose his heavyweight title to Brock Lesnar.
Inbetween, we were treated to one of the greatest careers this sport has ever seen. Nobody will forget Randy's 3 fights with Chuck Liddell, with the penultimate tilt between the 2 stars serving as the base for the successful reality program, "The Ultimate Fighter". His single handed dismantling of Tito Ortiz where he doubled the "Huntington Beach Bad Boy" over and pounded his rear, giving the allusion of the "spanking" Tito received at UFC 44. And who could forget his comeback in 2007, where he moved up in Heavyweight to fight Tim Sylvia, and while many detractors said he wouldn't last against the bigger stronger UFC champion, Randy dropped him 3 punches in and controlled him for the next 24 minutes and 57 seconds, never backing off of position and never missing a beat. Even in his mid-forties, he is a man that defies the aging process...seeming to get better, almost as if like a fine wine.
Granted, his last few fights haven't been up to par : His fight with Brandon Vera in England in 2009 was left to a decision that people still dispute, He beat an antiqued wrestler in Mark Coleman and a fish out of water in James Toney. All in all though, he was able to ride the momentum and secure a shot with Machida next weekend.
The truth be told : Even if he loses to "The Dragon", I can't see him walking away. There is one more fight out there for him. While he doesn't have the skills to main event a UFC anymore, he can still put on a formidable fight against a competent foe. It showed when he fought fellow legend Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, who is also past his best years, but provided a fight that left us on the edge of our seat. The MMA fan in me hopes that Couture still agrees to the "one more fight".....and that fight is against Fedor Emelianenko. If not, I guess I'll have to wait to see if I can watch it if I get into Heaven.
-In Other news, the UFC 129 press conference at Rogers Centre is open to the public. MMAJunkie reported the the UFC made the announcement today, which will take place at the Ricoh Colosseum next Friday, April 29th.
-Bellator has come under a lot of hot water. Off the heals of the Joe Warren fiasco comes allegations of match-fixing. Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney responded by awarding Warren's foe last Saturday, Marcus Galvao a spot in the upcoming 135 lb. tournament (which will also feature Warren) this fall. I don't understand how the UFC can have several bad judged fights (Edgar vs Penn I is an absolute prime example), and yet nobody says anything about fixing fights. Somebody else does it and OH NO!!! this fight was fixed. People its a judges objective. The problem is we need better judges.
-Speaking of Tournaments, Japan's Promotion DREAM has announced a bantamweight tournament set to begin May 29th at the Mecca of Japanese MMA, Saitama Super Arena as reported by ESPN.com/Sherdog. The "Japan Grand Prix" will serve as a precursor to their World Grand Prix, set to commence in September.
-ESPN.co.uk reports that Brock Lesnar says his chin isn't to blame for his recent troubles in the cage....it has to do with his boxing. Funny, but I remember Lesnar standing and trading up until he took a shot. and its not like he took a shot and dropped. He took a shot and turtled. So it isn't either to blame...its the phobia he has when taking a punch.
-Oh, and everybody's favorite little white collar criminal, Chael Sonnen, is due in court to hear his sentencing April 27th. When he comes back...I say throw him in there agains the winner between Wanderlei and Chris Leben.
Questions? Comments ? want to get back to me? email me mmarmaggedon@gmail.com
Until next time, fight fans.
Monday, April 18, 2011
Fists of Legend : How Royce Gracie should go out on top.
On August 27th of this year, The Ultimate Fighting Championship will hold their first card in the Brazilian city of Rio De Janeiro, the promotions first under the Zuffa banner and first since the "Ultimate Brazil" card back in 1996.
Since then, Royce Gracie has come about to announce he's actively campaigning for a fight on the night's card, with Dana White confirming that negotiations are ongoing. An online poll suggested such names as BJ Penn, Chris Lytle, Matt Serra, Matt Hughes and the very conspicuous choice of "Other".
Its the choice of "Other" that makes this so interesting. Since Gracie first stepped into the Octagon and showed the world, how barbaric it might have seemed then, that ground skills are just as important as throwing a punch in a real fight, millions of people have decided to take to Dojos across the world, participating in seminars, grappling tournaments, and world championships. Though Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is still a important part of learning the "game" of MMA, it has since been downgraded to just a facade of it, along with boxing, muay thai, and wrestling.
In recent days, 2 men that have both suffered losses at the hands of the Brazilian, Boxer Art "One Glove" Jimmerson and Olympic Wrestler Dan "The Beast" Severn, have come out and made claim they wanted a shot at the legendary Brazilian. Jimmerson, if you MMA historians remember, was the participant in the first Ultimate Fighting Championship that wore one Boxing Glove (hence his name), while Severn was 3 fights in to what has become an illustrious career (all that night) when he fought Gracie at UFC 4. At 52 years old, Severn still fights 3 times a year and is nearing 100 win plateau, which is an unheard of achievement in a sport that now perhaps lasts 30 or 35 fights (if one's body and chin hold up). He told MMAJunkie that a fight with Gracie would be "all-out ground war – two legends of the octagon can thrill and amaze the UFC audience of yesterday and today, one last time."
Unfortunately, the article on Junkie also points out that with today's weight cut rules, it would be very difficult for Severn to make the 170 lb limit that Gracie would probably prefer, given his frail, light frame. If Jimmerson and Severn truly want to make an appearance at the event, I say sure. But, for nostalgic purposes, throw in another name, like say Dave Beneteau, Kimo Leopoldo or even (dare I say it) Ken Shamrock, and have a one-night "Legends Tournament".
Before you sit there and want to commit me for this idea, just hear me out. It could be single elimination, 4 men (which means the 2 victors would have to fight twice), with a catchweight at 200 lbs. Also, Dana White has long said he'd like to see the end of elbows in competition, so let's experiment with that rule, as we all know as you get older, bones become more brittle. It could be Jimmerson, Severn, Gracie and Shamrock. Pair them off and have those 2 bouts as your undercard bouts on Spike TV, with the 2 winners meeting in the co-main event later on in the night.
I know this sounds like an insane idea, but wouldn't you rather see a 44 year old Gracie lose to a 52 year old Severn than a younger, fresher BJ Penn?
Until next time, Fight Fans.
Since then, Royce Gracie has come about to announce he's actively campaigning for a fight on the night's card, with Dana White confirming that negotiations are ongoing. An online poll suggested such names as BJ Penn, Chris Lytle, Matt Serra, Matt Hughes and the very conspicuous choice of "Other".
Its the choice of "Other" that makes this so interesting. Since Gracie first stepped into the Octagon and showed the world, how barbaric it might have seemed then, that ground skills are just as important as throwing a punch in a real fight, millions of people have decided to take to Dojos across the world, participating in seminars, grappling tournaments, and world championships. Though Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is still a important part of learning the "game" of MMA, it has since been downgraded to just a facade of it, along with boxing, muay thai, and wrestling.
In recent days, 2 men that have both suffered losses at the hands of the Brazilian, Boxer Art "One Glove" Jimmerson and Olympic Wrestler Dan "The Beast" Severn, have come out and made claim they wanted a shot at the legendary Brazilian. Jimmerson, if you MMA historians remember, was the participant in the first Ultimate Fighting Championship that wore one Boxing Glove (hence his name), while Severn was 3 fights in to what has become an illustrious career (all that night) when he fought Gracie at UFC 4. At 52 years old, Severn still fights 3 times a year and is nearing 100 win plateau, which is an unheard of achievement in a sport that now perhaps lasts 30 or 35 fights (if one's body and chin hold up). He told MMAJunkie that a fight with Gracie would be "all-out ground war – two legends of the octagon can thrill and amaze the UFC audience of yesterday and today, one last time."
Unfortunately, the article on Junkie also points out that with today's weight cut rules, it would be very difficult for Severn to make the 170 lb limit that Gracie would probably prefer, given his frail, light frame. If Jimmerson and Severn truly want to make an appearance at the event, I say sure. But, for nostalgic purposes, throw in another name, like say Dave Beneteau, Kimo Leopoldo or even (dare I say it) Ken Shamrock, and have a one-night "Legends Tournament".
Before you sit there and want to commit me for this idea, just hear me out. It could be single elimination, 4 men (which means the 2 victors would have to fight twice), with a catchweight at 200 lbs. Also, Dana White has long said he'd like to see the end of elbows in competition, so let's experiment with that rule, as we all know as you get older, bones become more brittle. It could be Jimmerson, Severn, Gracie and Shamrock. Pair them off and have those 2 bouts as your undercard bouts on Spike TV, with the 2 winners meeting in the co-main event later on in the night.
I know this sounds like an insane idea, but wouldn't you rather see a 44 year old Gracie lose to a 52 year old Severn than a younger, fresher BJ Penn?
Until next time, Fight Fans.
Requiem For a Heavyweight : Tragedies show Fighters aren't invincible.
When Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva defeated Fedor Emelianenko on February 12th, He said that Fabricio Werdum's victory over the former #1 heavyweight showed that "Superman" in this sport, didn't exist.
How fitting that comment was. Over the past year, we have seen fighters stepping up and being "heroes" from Roger Huerta's fight outside a Dallas nightclub that thrust him into a Superfight with Bellator Champion Eddie Alvarez. Huerta was stepping in and challenging a University of Texas football player, who had allegedly struck a woman in the club. We also seen Jon Jones' make a citizen arrest on a would-be burglar mere hours before his World Championship fight against Mauricio "Shogun" Rua.
We have also seen MMA fighters meet with tragedy over the past couple of weeks, from Sergio Salcido Luna being murdered in a burglary attempt at the US-Mexico border, to the recent tragedy on Saturday night in Brampton, Ontario with Kearn Nedd losing his life while trying to attempt a robbery during a Poker tournament in which he was participating.
Why is this so important? The fact is that while Luna and Nedd aren't known fighters, their deaths show what being a Mixed Martial Artist is all about. When we meet Athletes, whether it be from the 4 major sports (MLB, NHL, NBA or NFL), we have always gotten the impression that while they shake hands and sign autographs for fans, the amount of money they are making separates them from the "norm", Mixed Martial Artists, albeit Jon Jones or Kearn Nedd, are like everyday people : They are dreamers. They aspire to be the best throughout their training, all the while going to their regular "9 to 5" routine day in and day out, having their lunch breaks and making small talk with co-workers or fellow students.
The fact that they want to make it to "The Show" (i.e. UFC, Strikeforce, DREAM or Bellator) re-iterates their dedication, and even if they do make it to the top of this sport, it doesn't guarantee millions and fame and fortune (The average UFC fighter making their debut, will only net about $5,000 for that one fight, not including win bonuses for Fight, Submission, or Knockout of the night).
Luna's friend and fellow fighter Dominique Robinson, told MMAJunkie in an interview that the Mixed Martial Arts community was partially to blame for his friends demise, claiming he "couldn't get help" and he moved frequently (he was based in Bakersfield, but worked in Mexico due to circumstance) was because there was "no help" from anybody in the business. While he may have a point, the truth is that while it might be the most entertaining sport growing in the 21st Century thus far, we glorify these fighters as they are standing on some pedestal. Like you and me, they are made of flesh and blood, and the money they make despite the spectacle that surrounds MMA is nothing.
So even though they are not going to be known other than getting murdered, We should remember Luna and Nadd for what they were : Regular human beings, pursuing a dream.
A dream that we should all be respectful and proud of.
Until next time, fight fans
How fitting that comment was. Over the past year, we have seen fighters stepping up and being "heroes" from Roger Huerta's fight outside a Dallas nightclub that thrust him into a Superfight with Bellator Champion Eddie Alvarez. Huerta was stepping in and challenging a University of Texas football player, who had allegedly struck a woman in the club. We also seen Jon Jones' make a citizen arrest on a would-be burglar mere hours before his World Championship fight against Mauricio "Shogun" Rua.
We have also seen MMA fighters meet with tragedy over the past couple of weeks, from Sergio Salcido Luna being murdered in a burglary attempt at the US-Mexico border, to the recent tragedy on Saturday night in Brampton, Ontario with Kearn Nedd losing his life while trying to attempt a robbery during a Poker tournament in which he was participating.
Why is this so important? The fact is that while Luna and Nedd aren't known fighters, their deaths show what being a Mixed Martial Artist is all about. When we meet Athletes, whether it be from the 4 major sports (MLB, NHL, NBA or NFL), we have always gotten the impression that while they shake hands and sign autographs for fans, the amount of money they are making separates them from the "norm", Mixed Martial Artists, albeit Jon Jones or Kearn Nedd, are like everyday people : They are dreamers. They aspire to be the best throughout their training, all the while going to their regular "9 to 5" routine day in and day out, having their lunch breaks and making small talk with co-workers or fellow students.
The fact that they want to make it to "The Show" (i.e. UFC, Strikeforce, DREAM or Bellator) re-iterates their dedication, and even if they do make it to the top of this sport, it doesn't guarantee millions and fame and fortune (The average UFC fighter making their debut, will only net about $5,000 for that one fight, not including win bonuses for Fight, Submission, or Knockout of the night).
Luna's friend and fellow fighter Dominique Robinson, told MMAJunkie in an interview that the Mixed Martial Arts community was partially to blame for his friends demise, claiming he "couldn't get help" and he moved frequently (he was based in Bakersfield, but worked in Mexico due to circumstance) was because there was "no help" from anybody in the business. While he may have a point, the truth is that while it might be the most entertaining sport growing in the 21st Century thus far, we glorify these fighters as they are standing on some pedestal. Like you and me, they are made of flesh and blood, and the money they make despite the spectacle that surrounds MMA is nothing.
So even though they are not going to be known other than getting murdered, We should remember Luna and Nadd for what they were : Regular human beings, pursuing a dream.
A dream that we should all be respectful and proud of.
Until next time, fight fans
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Bellator 41 recap : Warren survives, 145 lb. finals set.
In a pre-fight interview with Bellator colour commentator Jimmy Smith, Joe Warren said : "I'll tell you the truth all the time, even if you're not going to like it".
If that's the case, The University of Michigan product won't like this : He received a clear gift from the judges ringside on Saturday night.
Bellator 41, live from the Cocopah Resort and Casino in Yuma, Arizona was the first of this young 4th season to be featured outdoors. In the main event, Warren fought WEC veteran Marcos Galvao in a non-title catchweight bout at 137 lbs. Throughout the first 2 rounds, Galvao used his size advantage, stuffing Warren takedown attempt after attempt, as well as hitting the Bellator 145 lb. champ with 3 heavy knees that had Warren reeling. The final round was finally Warren's time to shine, as he used his Greco-Roman experience to impose his will on the Brazilian, and while grinding out a 10-9 third round, he did nothing in the eyes of many to have his hand raised and looked to be on track to be the first Bellator champion to lose their in season non title "Superfight".
The judges however, saw it differently, and gave Warren a unanimous decision by scores of 29-28 (twice) and 30-27. A varied reaction of shock and boos came over the crowd, as even ringside commentator Smith thought Warren had lost.
The co-main event saw 135 lb. Champion Zack Makovsky dominate Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu artist Chad Robichaux following a failed guillotine attempt by Robichaux in the first, holding his position and landing quite a few shots to take the first round. The second saw a lot of position and the 2 fighters exchanging submission attempts, with the round ending as Makovsky had Robichaux in a rear naked choke, although the bell sounded and the former Armed Forces soldier survived. At just before the 2 minute mark of the final stanza, Makovksky landed a shot that dropped Robichaux and finished off with mop up punches, as he wins via TKO at 2:02 of Round 3.
Other winners saw Patricio "Pitbull" follow his brother Patricky into the finals of his weight class with a 3rd round KO over the man he defeated in the semis in Season 2, Wilson Reis, and Daniel Straus will be facing him in the finals following his 3rd round submission victory over Kenny Foster.
Honorable Mention : The Friere-Reis match had a lot of hoopla surrounding as it was Reis' 3rd consecutive trip to the semi-finals. From the get go, these 2 guys went at it, each landing a variety of body strikes although neither was able to put the other away. Heis had a chance during the second round to end it following a rear naked choke attempt, but the younger brother and finalist of the second season (he lost to Joe Warren) showed his resilience, finally having his boxing skills get through and rocking Reis to drop him just after the 3 and a half minute mark of round 3.
Also, is it just me or are they going to give the inverted Triangle by Richard Hale overkill? He was in attendance last night, and they took the opportunity to replay the highlight over and over. I mean it was amazing, but enough is enough!
Tune in next week for the semis of the 205 lb. tournament, featuring Hale as well as Heavyweight Champion Kyle Conrad taking on UFC veteran Paul "The Headhunter" Buentello in a non-title bout.
Until next time, fight fans.
If that's the case, The University of Michigan product won't like this : He received a clear gift from the judges ringside on Saturday night.
Bellator 41, live from the Cocopah Resort and Casino in Yuma, Arizona was the first of this young 4th season to be featured outdoors. In the main event, Warren fought WEC veteran Marcos Galvao in a non-title catchweight bout at 137 lbs. Throughout the first 2 rounds, Galvao used his size advantage, stuffing Warren takedown attempt after attempt, as well as hitting the Bellator 145 lb. champ with 3 heavy knees that had Warren reeling. The final round was finally Warren's time to shine, as he used his Greco-Roman experience to impose his will on the Brazilian, and while grinding out a 10-9 third round, he did nothing in the eyes of many to have his hand raised and looked to be on track to be the first Bellator champion to lose their in season non title "Superfight".
The judges however, saw it differently, and gave Warren a unanimous decision by scores of 29-28 (twice) and 30-27. A varied reaction of shock and boos came over the crowd, as even ringside commentator Smith thought Warren had lost.
The co-main event saw 135 lb. Champion Zack Makovsky dominate Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu artist Chad Robichaux following a failed guillotine attempt by Robichaux in the first, holding his position and landing quite a few shots to take the first round. The second saw a lot of position and the 2 fighters exchanging submission attempts, with the round ending as Makovsky had Robichaux in a rear naked choke, although the bell sounded and the former Armed Forces soldier survived. At just before the 2 minute mark of the final stanza, Makovksky landed a shot that dropped Robichaux and finished off with mop up punches, as he wins via TKO at 2:02 of Round 3.
Other winners saw Patricio "Pitbull" follow his brother Patricky into the finals of his weight class with a 3rd round KO over the man he defeated in the semis in Season 2, Wilson Reis, and Daniel Straus will be facing him in the finals following his 3rd round submission victory over Kenny Foster.
Honorable Mention : The Friere-Reis match had a lot of hoopla surrounding as it was Reis' 3rd consecutive trip to the semi-finals. From the get go, these 2 guys went at it, each landing a variety of body strikes although neither was able to put the other away. Heis had a chance during the second round to end it following a rear naked choke attempt, but the younger brother and finalist of the second season (he lost to Joe Warren) showed his resilience, finally having his boxing skills get through and rocking Reis to drop him just after the 3 and a half minute mark of round 3.
Also, is it just me or are they going to give the inverted Triangle by Richard Hale overkill? He was in attendance last night, and they took the opportunity to replay the highlight over and over. I mean it was amazing, but enough is enough!
Tune in next week for the semis of the 205 lb. tournament, featuring Hale as well as Heavyweight Champion Kyle Conrad taking on UFC veteran Paul "The Headhunter" Buentello in a non-title bout.
Until next time, fight fans.
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
The Emperor is back : is Fedor's return a lose-lose situation?
When we last saw Fedor Emelianenko, He was getting mounted by Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva and having his face pummeled into the mat. We saw him wiggle his way out into a heel hook attempt, only to have the former EliteXC heavyweight champ Silva wave his finger in disapproval. We saw the ref stop their Strikeforce Grand Prix tilt due to the punishment Fedor's face took, his eye being swollen shut to the point that the mouse under his eye looked more like a plum growing out of the Russian's face.
We saw Fedor tearfully allude to retirement. We saw him say numerous times that it was "the last time" we'd ever see him in the arena of combat. Then, there were numerous reports of not only Fedor returning, but Fedor ignoring the suspension of the New Jersey Athletic Commission (NJSAC) and competing in a Combat Sambo competition (Fedor eventually gave into their request).
Both Scott Coker and M-1 head Vadim Finklestein said Fedor's retirement talk was based on "emotion", not actually what his plans were. Coker alluded to Fedor returning even before the landscape of Mixed Martial Arts changed (which if you remember, was when Zuffa purchased Strikeforce late last month). After Dan Henderson defeated Rafael "Feijao" Cavalcante for the Strikeforce 205 lb. world title last month, He called out the "Last Emperor" for a superfight. Little was known, however, whether Fedor would accept the challenge.
A report, however, from ESPN.com/Sherdog published yesterday has confirmed that talks are indeed ongoing for a fight between the two, quite possibly on the undercard of the Dallas card on June 18th. Fedor has been said that he would welcome the fight against the former PRIDE 2 belt division champion, although when looking at the bigger picture, this fight makes little to no sense.
Why? Because a "Superfight" is defined as 2 superstars, champions of their divisions or respective sports, fight with some sort of prestige on the line. Georges St. Pierre vs Anderson Silva, or even Silva vs Jake Shields, count as a superfight, amongst others. Henderson might be the 205 lb. champion in Strikeforce, but in the UFC would probably be in the top 6 or 7 in that division, due to its depth. Fedor is nowhere near the top of the heavyweight class following consecutive losses to Fabricio Werdum and "Bigfoot". If he were in UFC, he'd be battling bottom feeders and prospects such as Brandon Schaub and Pat Barry, not Junior Dos Santos and Brock Lesnar.
In MMA circles, Henderson is indeed a name. A veteran who has fought in PRIDE and the UFC, competed for titles, and established a career as a grizzled veteran not to be taken lightly. While he held 2 titles simultaneously in PRIDE, being their last 205 and 185 lb. champion, to the casual observer, he'll be best remembered as a guy who failed to win a big fight (against both Rampage Jackson and Anderson Silva for the UFC 205 and 185 lb. titles respectively, and Jake Shields for Strikeforce's 185 lb. strap).
There are far too many questions in regards to this fight : Will it be at 205 or at heavyweight? Will the title be indeed on the line? Should Fedor lose, it will just coincide with what the majority of casual MMA fans think about him : He was always overrated. Should he win, it will do little to nothing to restore the Russians credibility, as he's only 34 years old and should be "expected" to beat a 40 year old veteran of over 30 professional fights.
I know that Coker has alluded to the Russian getting back into the Grand Prix as an alternate following his loss in February. I also know that is impossible. Fedor is the great heavyweight of his era, and prolonging his career if he were to win would only tarnish what he did at Heavyweight for so long. I know this is nostalgia talking, but the only fight that would make sense at this stage of his career is Randy Couture. That, and that alone would indeed be a Superfight, although only if Couture were to lose to Lyoto Machida in Toronto.
-In other news, BodogFight and UFC veteran Nick "The Goat" Thompson has decided to call it a career, according to MMAJunkie. The interview with the site said he decided to make use of his day job as a lawyer and spend more time with his family. Somehow, I have to think his one handled dismantling at the hands of Ben Askren had a lot to do with it too.
-Bellator ratings have rebounded from a low of 150,000 to 218,000 this past weekend, according to MMAJunkie. Guess loads of people figured they'd see another inverted triangle.
-According to ESPN.com/Sherdog, there was an argument as to whether the main event between Nick Diaz and Paul Daley was stopped prematurely. Chuck Mindenhall says absolutely. I disagree. there is a thing called "Championship Advantage" which the Champ will get beneficial treatment. For example, he mentions Brock Lesnar and Shane Carwin and Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard, both instances where the champ was in trouble but given time to recover. Daley didn't have a belt; Diaz swarmed him. Fight was over. Simple as that.
Questions? Comments? Get back to me, mmarmaggeddon@gmail.com
Until next time, fight fans.
We saw Fedor tearfully allude to retirement. We saw him say numerous times that it was "the last time" we'd ever see him in the arena of combat. Then, there were numerous reports of not only Fedor returning, but Fedor ignoring the suspension of the New Jersey Athletic Commission (NJSAC) and competing in a Combat Sambo competition (Fedor eventually gave into their request).
Both Scott Coker and M-1 head Vadim Finklestein said Fedor's retirement talk was based on "emotion", not actually what his plans were. Coker alluded to Fedor returning even before the landscape of Mixed Martial Arts changed (which if you remember, was when Zuffa purchased Strikeforce late last month). After Dan Henderson defeated Rafael "Feijao" Cavalcante for the Strikeforce 205 lb. world title last month, He called out the "Last Emperor" for a superfight. Little was known, however, whether Fedor would accept the challenge.
A report, however, from ESPN.com/Sherdog published yesterday has confirmed that talks are indeed ongoing for a fight between the two, quite possibly on the undercard of the Dallas card on June 18th. Fedor has been said that he would welcome the fight against the former PRIDE 2 belt division champion, although when looking at the bigger picture, this fight makes little to no sense.
Why? Because a "Superfight" is defined as 2 superstars, champions of their divisions or respective sports, fight with some sort of prestige on the line. Georges St. Pierre vs Anderson Silva, or even Silva vs Jake Shields, count as a superfight, amongst others. Henderson might be the 205 lb. champion in Strikeforce, but in the UFC would probably be in the top 6 or 7 in that division, due to its depth. Fedor is nowhere near the top of the heavyweight class following consecutive losses to Fabricio Werdum and "Bigfoot". If he were in UFC, he'd be battling bottom feeders and prospects such as Brandon Schaub and Pat Barry, not Junior Dos Santos and Brock Lesnar.
In MMA circles, Henderson is indeed a name. A veteran who has fought in PRIDE and the UFC, competed for titles, and established a career as a grizzled veteran not to be taken lightly. While he held 2 titles simultaneously in PRIDE, being their last 205 and 185 lb. champion, to the casual observer, he'll be best remembered as a guy who failed to win a big fight (against both Rampage Jackson and Anderson Silva for the UFC 205 and 185 lb. titles respectively, and Jake Shields for Strikeforce's 185 lb. strap).
There are far too many questions in regards to this fight : Will it be at 205 or at heavyweight? Will the title be indeed on the line? Should Fedor lose, it will just coincide with what the majority of casual MMA fans think about him : He was always overrated. Should he win, it will do little to nothing to restore the Russians credibility, as he's only 34 years old and should be "expected" to beat a 40 year old veteran of over 30 professional fights.
I know that Coker has alluded to the Russian getting back into the Grand Prix as an alternate following his loss in February. I also know that is impossible. Fedor is the great heavyweight of his era, and prolonging his career if he were to win would only tarnish what he did at Heavyweight for so long. I know this is nostalgia talking, but the only fight that would make sense at this stage of his career is Randy Couture. That, and that alone would indeed be a Superfight, although only if Couture were to lose to Lyoto Machida in Toronto.
-In other news, BodogFight and UFC veteran Nick "The Goat" Thompson has decided to call it a career, according to MMAJunkie. The interview with the site said he decided to make use of his day job as a lawyer and spend more time with his family. Somehow, I have to think his one handled dismantling at the hands of Ben Askren had a lot to do with it too.
-Bellator ratings have rebounded from a low of 150,000 to 218,000 this past weekend, according to MMAJunkie. Guess loads of people figured they'd see another inverted triangle.
-According to ESPN.com/Sherdog, there was an argument as to whether the main event between Nick Diaz and Paul Daley was stopped prematurely. Chuck Mindenhall says absolutely. I disagree. there is a thing called "Championship Advantage" which the Champ will get beneficial treatment. For example, he mentions Brock Lesnar and Shane Carwin and Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard, both instances where the champ was in trouble but given time to recover. Daley didn't have a belt; Diaz swarmed him. Fight was over. Simple as that.
Questions? Comments? Get back to me, mmarmaggeddon@gmail.com
Until next time, fight fans.
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Bellator 40 recap : Askren makes good on pre-fight talk.
The big talk leading up to Saturday's Bellator 40 was Ben Askren's writing off of opponent Nick "The Goat" Thompson as all washed up and how he was going to tenderize his opponent so much that when they were back on their feet, Thompson wouldn't be same fighter. While his bark was a little more than his bite, he certainly showed a thing or two since his last fight against Lyman Good to show why he's the promotions best welterweight.
On Saturday night from Newkirk, Oklahoma, The former NCAA and US Olympian who know goes by the odd name of "Funky" got on top from the opening bell and stayed there, dominating position after position against the former BodogFight champ. While Thompson had a few chances to try a knee bar in the first 2 rounds, Askren's positioning and activity were the difference, certainly wearing Thompson out and scoring a unanimous decision victory by a score of 30-27 (twice) and 30-26. While I didn't think Askren was so dominant to score a 10-8 round, one of the judges disagreed. Afterward, he told interviewer Jimmy Smith there was certainly room to improve.
"It felt great," Askren said. "I would have liked to finish the fight. I know the fans have been on my ass about that."
The other 2 semi-finals in the 170 and 155 lb. tournaments were on tap as well. Jay Hieron and Bret Weedman fought to a stalemate, with Weedman coming out on fire and dropping the former UFC and team Xtreme Couture product only to have Hieron reverse position and go for a choke. He controlled the positioning to eek out the round 10-9. Weedman did enough to take the second round with his takedowns and submission attempts, but the 3rd was a toss up as while Weedman had several more submission attempts, Hieron certainly showed a few combinations with effective counter punching. Another submission attempt by Weedman was reversed by Hieron near the end of the final stanza, and Hieron did enough damage with it to earn a unanimous decision victory. With the win, the man known as "The Thoroughbred" punches his spot into the 170 final against Rick Hawn.
In the 155 lb. semi-final, former NCAA wrestler Michael Chandler earned a unanimous decision victory over Lloyd "Cupcake" Woodard. Chandler had several takedowns in the first stanza, while not being overly active with them. In the standup, Woodard was clearly dominating, hitting with combinations and stuffing a few takedowns of his own. A scramble and sweep in the second round ended with Chandler giving Woodard his back, though Woodard was not able to finish anything with it, and the bell sounded with nothing settled. The third round was all Chandler, earning takedown after takedown, and grinding out the victory to earn his spot in the final, facing Patricky "Pitbull" Friere.
Honorable Mention : Team Cesar Gracie members have all said they wouldn't "fight their teammates" if the opportunity presented itself. They certainly didn't tell Heavyweights Eric Prindle and Josh Burns. The 2 adversaries were announced by Sean Wheelock and Jimmy Smith as being close friends, with the winner of their tilt "buying the beers" afterward. While a premature stoppage by the doctor due to a cut, the fact that 2 friends that close could spend 10 minutes quite frankly beating each other senseless and having no ill effect about it, despite 2 low blows by Prindle shows that regardless of relationship, you can put on exciting fights. Its something those "Scrap Pack" boys should think about.
Patricky "Pitbull" has apparently become the hot ticket in the Bellator Lightweight division. Not only did Eddie Alvarez call him out last week, but Chandler was excited at the prospect of facing the Brazilian, saying "Give me him "Let's go. (I'm) two thirds of the way to the goal. The goal is to win this Bellator tournament and then get this title shot. Patricky, he's flashy. He knocks dudes out, but I can't wait for that fight."
Also, Askren never to shy away from words said to Smith that Jay Hieron "Had nothing for him". I figured Thompson would give him a fight, but he spent 3 rounds laying on the mat. We'll see if Hieron can take out the former US Judoka Rick Hawn.
Tune in next week for 135 lb. champ Joe Warren in a 137 lb. catchweight bout as well as 125 lb. champ Zack Makovsky fighting in a non-title bout.
Until next time, fight fans.
On Saturday night from Newkirk, Oklahoma, The former NCAA and US Olympian who know goes by the odd name of "Funky" got on top from the opening bell and stayed there, dominating position after position against the former BodogFight champ. While Thompson had a few chances to try a knee bar in the first 2 rounds, Askren's positioning and activity were the difference, certainly wearing Thompson out and scoring a unanimous decision victory by a score of 30-27 (twice) and 30-26. While I didn't think Askren was so dominant to score a 10-8 round, one of the judges disagreed. Afterward, he told interviewer Jimmy Smith there was certainly room to improve.
"It felt great," Askren said. "I would have liked to finish the fight. I know the fans have been on my ass about that."
The other 2 semi-finals in the 170 and 155 lb. tournaments were on tap as well. Jay Hieron and Bret Weedman fought to a stalemate, with Weedman coming out on fire and dropping the former UFC and team Xtreme Couture product only to have Hieron reverse position and go for a choke. He controlled the positioning to eek out the round 10-9. Weedman did enough to take the second round with his takedowns and submission attempts, but the 3rd was a toss up as while Weedman had several more submission attempts, Hieron certainly showed a few combinations with effective counter punching. Another submission attempt by Weedman was reversed by Hieron near the end of the final stanza, and Hieron did enough damage with it to earn a unanimous decision victory. With the win, the man known as "The Thoroughbred" punches his spot into the 170 final against Rick Hawn.
In the 155 lb. semi-final, former NCAA wrestler Michael Chandler earned a unanimous decision victory over Lloyd "Cupcake" Woodard. Chandler had several takedowns in the first stanza, while not being overly active with them. In the standup, Woodard was clearly dominating, hitting with combinations and stuffing a few takedowns of his own. A scramble and sweep in the second round ended with Chandler giving Woodard his back, though Woodard was not able to finish anything with it, and the bell sounded with nothing settled. The third round was all Chandler, earning takedown after takedown, and grinding out the victory to earn his spot in the final, facing Patricky "Pitbull" Friere.
Honorable Mention : Team Cesar Gracie members have all said they wouldn't "fight their teammates" if the opportunity presented itself. They certainly didn't tell Heavyweights Eric Prindle and Josh Burns. The 2 adversaries were announced by Sean Wheelock and Jimmy Smith as being close friends, with the winner of their tilt "buying the beers" afterward. While a premature stoppage by the doctor due to a cut, the fact that 2 friends that close could spend 10 minutes quite frankly beating each other senseless and having no ill effect about it, despite 2 low blows by Prindle shows that regardless of relationship, you can put on exciting fights. Its something those "Scrap Pack" boys should think about.
Patricky "Pitbull" has apparently become the hot ticket in the Bellator Lightweight division. Not only did Eddie Alvarez call him out last week, but Chandler was excited at the prospect of facing the Brazilian, saying "Give me him "Let's go. (I'm) two thirds of the way to the goal. The goal is to win this Bellator tournament and then get this title shot. Patricky, he's flashy. He knocks dudes out, but I can't wait for that fight."
Also, Askren never to shy away from words said to Smith that Jay Hieron "Had nothing for him". I figured Thompson would give him a fight, but he spent 3 rounds laying on the mat. We'll see if Hieron can take out the former US Judoka Rick Hawn.
Tune in next week for 135 lb. champ Joe Warren in a 137 lb. catchweight bout as well as 125 lb. champ Zack Makovsky fighting in a non-title bout.
Until next time, fight fans.
Shinya Aoki : Hero, for just one day.
I'm not going to lie. I've never been a fan of Shinya Aoki.
In the world of Mixed Martial Arts, Japanese MMA has always been regarded as a "freak show". Guys like Giant Silva and Bob Sapp can go from being "tomato cans" to being icons. The rules sometimes make no sense and leave the average North American fan confused. It as almost if every fight fought in the ring over there is improvised, with the officials making the rules up as they go along.
Yet, there was always something that stood out about Aoki. From his long leotard striped pants to his general attitude towards tradition and sportsmanship, his outstanding submission victories over the likes of Joachim Hansen and Eddie Alvarez has constantly been overshadowed by controversial moments, like his arm-breaking and "finger-waving" incident against Mizuto Hirota at Dynamite!! 2009, or his fight with Gilbert Melendez where he went 0-for-19 in submission attempts and spent the last half of the 5 rounder in a sitting position refusing to engage.
When he got floored by a knee during his fight at Dynamite!! 2010 this past New Year's Eve, I laughed. Although the loss didn't account on his record, the knee he suffered from Yuichiro "Jienotsu" Nagashima was on a grand stage and perhaps the last big card in Japan's history (due to financial difficulties) and it was fitting to get his "just desserts" the year after he danced around the ring after breaking Hirota's arm. His twitter account got bombarded with hate messages and Aoki so upset he was threatening to retire.
With the current situation in that has happened in the Japan, it seems like MMA has taken a back seat to just general survival. 2 massive Earthquakes, a Tsunami and a Radioactivity scare have clearly come to the forefront, and more than anything else, the Japanese people need no doubt a break from all the mess that has come about in the past several weeks.
What they got was Aoki, the villian, stepping up on Saturday night. In the first Zuffa produced "Arena Series" card for Strikeforce, the opening fight featured the Japanese superstar. He didn't disappoint, dominating Lyle Beerbohm from the opening bell and getting top position, forcing the American to tap at just 1:33 of the opening round.
This time, Aoki didn't jump up and wave his finger, not caring about his opponent's well being. He jumped up in jubilation, running around being generally ecstatic at what had just transpired.
Japanese fans, who were in the arena in the hundreds, screamed his name. The whole arena, who might have been booing in any other situation, cheered in jubilation with Aoki. There were Japanese flags being waved, and a general smile came across the DREAM lightweight champions face in light of the victory.
Like I said, I'm not going to lie, I've always hated Shinya Aoki. But in all honesty, for one night, he did earn my respect and brought a bright moment to a country who has had it very rough lately. He is a hero, if only for one day.
Get back to me, mmarmaggeddon@gmail.com.
Until next time, fight fans.
In the world of Mixed Martial Arts, Japanese MMA has always been regarded as a "freak show". Guys like Giant Silva and Bob Sapp can go from being "tomato cans" to being icons. The rules sometimes make no sense and leave the average North American fan confused. It as almost if every fight fought in the ring over there is improvised, with the officials making the rules up as they go along.
Yet, there was always something that stood out about Aoki. From his long leotard striped pants to his general attitude towards tradition and sportsmanship, his outstanding submission victories over the likes of Joachim Hansen and Eddie Alvarez has constantly been overshadowed by controversial moments, like his arm-breaking and "finger-waving" incident against Mizuto Hirota at Dynamite!! 2009, or his fight with Gilbert Melendez where he went 0-for-19 in submission attempts and spent the last half of the 5 rounder in a sitting position refusing to engage.
When he got floored by a knee during his fight at Dynamite!! 2010 this past New Year's Eve, I laughed. Although the loss didn't account on his record, the knee he suffered from Yuichiro "Jienotsu" Nagashima was on a grand stage and perhaps the last big card in Japan's history (due to financial difficulties) and it was fitting to get his "just desserts" the year after he danced around the ring after breaking Hirota's arm. His twitter account got bombarded with hate messages and Aoki so upset he was threatening to retire.
With the current situation in that has happened in the Japan, it seems like MMA has taken a back seat to just general survival. 2 massive Earthquakes, a Tsunami and a Radioactivity scare have clearly come to the forefront, and more than anything else, the Japanese people need no doubt a break from all the mess that has come about in the past several weeks.
What they got was Aoki, the villian, stepping up on Saturday night. In the first Zuffa produced "Arena Series" card for Strikeforce, the opening fight featured the Japanese superstar. He didn't disappoint, dominating Lyle Beerbohm from the opening bell and getting top position, forcing the American to tap at just 1:33 of the opening round.
This time, Aoki didn't jump up and wave his finger, not caring about his opponent's well being. He jumped up in jubilation, running around being generally ecstatic at what had just transpired.
Japanese fans, who were in the arena in the hundreds, screamed his name. The whole arena, who might have been booing in any other situation, cheered in jubilation with Aoki. There were Japanese flags being waved, and a general smile came across the DREAM lightweight champions face in light of the victory.
Like I said, I'm not going to lie, I've always hated Shinya Aoki. But in all honesty, for one night, he did earn my respect and brought a bright moment to a country who has had it very rough lately. He is a hero, if only for one day.
Get back to me, mmarmaggeddon@gmail.com.
Until next time, fight fans.
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Strikeforce : Daley vs Daley re-hash : "Scrap Pack" makes clear statement.
Nick Diaz has called out UFC fighters like Georges St. Pierre and Anderson Silva in the past. While most people think he's clear below that tier of fighter, he clearly made a statement Saturday night.
It included taking care of challenger from for his Strikeforce welterweight title, Paul Daley, by knockout. In the first "Arena Series" card produced by Strikeforce and Showtime since the Zuffa takeover and with UFC President Dana White and Co-Owner Lorenzo Fertitta amongst the attendees, Diaz showed a lot of patience, standing and trading with Daley, weathering an early storm from the Brit and unleashing his own flurry, peppering "Semtex" with shots and combinations. A "phantom strike" from Diaz following a scramble put Daley on Dream Street, with Diaz swarming with mop up punches, forcing legendary referee "Big" John McCarthy to call a stop to the action with just 3 seconds left in the opening round.
Afterward, a real grounded Diaz merely said "We've got to see what's up. I need to get paid."
Next for Diaz : He's won 9 in a row and is clearly on a roll. If Dan Hardy wants to prove he belongs in "The Show", please make him cross over and see what he could do against the Californian.
Next for Daley : a loss snaps what was a 4 fight winning streak. Had he won, it clearly would have been argued he belongs in the upper crust of Welterweights. Perhaps Evangelista "Cyborg" Santos.
Gegard Mousasi and Keith Jardine clearly was a battle for 3 rounds. Taking the fight on barely a week's notice, "The Dean Of Mean" showed a lot of grit and determination, standing and trading with the Armenian and controlling him in the takedown department, getting 4 of 5 in the first round, although he wasn't able to do much with them. With a minute left in the opening round, The man known as "Dreamcatcher" was deducted a point following a scramble with an upkick to a down opponent. With that, Mousasi knew he head to push the pace to earn the victory. The last 10 minutes of the fight, Mousasi dominated, peppering in the clinch and hurting the overwhelmed Jardine, though it wasn't enough to convince the judges of his transgression and it ended a majority draw, with the judges scoring it 29-27 for Mousasi and 28-28 twice.
Neither was satisfied with the result, Mousasi saying of the ill-timed foul "It happens. In the heat of the moment, I did what I did", and Jardine blaming his performance over the last 2 rounds as " "I got tired. I guess that's what training camp's for.", comparing the result as "like kissing your sister".
Next for Mousasi : His takedown defense clearly needs some improvement. I still think he could compete against the likes of Nate Marquardt, but he's got to improve substantially with his wrestling. That fight with Mike Kyle looks more appealing.
Next for Jardine : Showed a lot of heart and I think he deserves one more fight with Strikeforce. Either a fight with former Light Heavyweight champions "King Mo" Lawal or "Feijao" Cavalcante.
Honorable Mention : Diaz may have had the clear highlight of the card with his KO, his teammate Gilbert Melendez perhaps made the biggest statement of the night with his first round pasting of Japanese fighter Tatsuya Kawajiri. While its not a relevant top 10 lightweight, Melendez swarmed his opponent from the get-go and the former PRIDE fighter was never in the fight, as the Cesar Gracie fighter improved to 19-2 via a first round TKO. Afterward, he called out the lightweight fighters in the UFC and declared himself the "best lightweight in the world", But I wonder what might happen if he took a step up in name like a Clay Guida or a Ben Henderson. I wasn't interested in his fight at all, but that KO really did make me step up and take notice.
Also Shinya Aoki, no doubt fighting for the fans in Japan who have been through a pair of Earthquakes and the end of their age of Mixed Martial arts with a neck crank victory. While he'll never be in my good books, It was nice for him to be a hero, for just one day.
Also, did anybody else notice the ref for the Jardine/Mousasi fight looked like Yosemite Sam without the hat?
Finished undefeated for my picks, going 1-0-1, which brings me up for a 15-13-2 for the year.
Get back to me via e-mail, mmarmaggeddon@gmail.com or leave a comment on here.
Until next time, fight fans.
It included taking care of challenger from for his Strikeforce welterweight title, Paul Daley, by knockout. In the first "Arena Series" card produced by Strikeforce and Showtime since the Zuffa takeover and with UFC President Dana White and Co-Owner Lorenzo Fertitta amongst the attendees, Diaz showed a lot of patience, standing and trading with Daley, weathering an early storm from the Brit and unleashing his own flurry, peppering "Semtex" with shots and combinations. A "phantom strike" from Diaz following a scramble put Daley on Dream Street, with Diaz swarming with mop up punches, forcing legendary referee "Big" John McCarthy to call a stop to the action with just 3 seconds left in the opening round.
Afterward, a real grounded Diaz merely said "We've got to see what's up. I need to get paid."
Next for Diaz : He's won 9 in a row and is clearly on a roll. If Dan Hardy wants to prove he belongs in "The Show", please make him cross over and see what he could do against the Californian.
Next for Daley : a loss snaps what was a 4 fight winning streak. Had he won, it clearly would have been argued he belongs in the upper crust of Welterweights. Perhaps Evangelista "Cyborg" Santos.
Gegard Mousasi and Keith Jardine clearly was a battle for 3 rounds. Taking the fight on barely a week's notice, "The Dean Of Mean" showed a lot of grit and determination, standing and trading with the Armenian and controlling him in the takedown department, getting 4 of 5 in the first round, although he wasn't able to do much with them. With a minute left in the opening round, The man known as "Dreamcatcher" was deducted a point following a scramble with an upkick to a down opponent. With that, Mousasi knew he head to push the pace to earn the victory. The last 10 minutes of the fight, Mousasi dominated, peppering in the clinch and hurting the overwhelmed Jardine, though it wasn't enough to convince the judges of his transgression and it ended a majority draw, with the judges scoring it 29-27 for Mousasi and 28-28 twice.
Neither was satisfied with the result, Mousasi saying of the ill-timed foul "It happens. In the heat of the moment, I did what I did", and Jardine blaming his performance over the last 2 rounds as " "I got tired. I guess that's what training camp's for.", comparing the result as "like kissing your sister".
Next for Mousasi : His takedown defense clearly needs some improvement. I still think he could compete against the likes of Nate Marquardt, but he's got to improve substantially with his wrestling. That fight with Mike Kyle looks more appealing.
Next for Jardine : Showed a lot of heart and I think he deserves one more fight with Strikeforce. Either a fight with former Light Heavyweight champions "King Mo" Lawal or "Feijao" Cavalcante.
Honorable Mention : Diaz may have had the clear highlight of the card with his KO, his teammate Gilbert Melendez perhaps made the biggest statement of the night with his first round pasting of Japanese fighter Tatsuya Kawajiri. While its not a relevant top 10 lightweight, Melendez swarmed his opponent from the get-go and the former PRIDE fighter was never in the fight, as the Cesar Gracie fighter improved to 19-2 via a first round TKO. Afterward, he called out the lightweight fighters in the UFC and declared himself the "best lightweight in the world", But I wonder what might happen if he took a step up in name like a Clay Guida or a Ben Henderson. I wasn't interested in his fight at all, but that KO really did make me step up and take notice.
Also Shinya Aoki, no doubt fighting for the fans in Japan who have been through a pair of Earthquakes and the end of their age of Mixed Martial arts with a neck crank victory. While he'll never be in my good books, It was nice for him to be a hero, for just one day.
Also, did anybody else notice the ref for the Jardine/Mousasi fight looked like Yosemite Sam without the hat?
Finished undefeated for my picks, going 1-0-1, which brings me up for a 15-13-2 for the year.
Get back to me via e-mail, mmarmaggeddon@gmail.com or leave a comment on here.
Until next time, fight fans.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Strikeforce : Diaz vs Daley preview.
Friday. The day before Saturday in any given week. And on this particular Saturday, Us Mixed Martial Arts types will deal with another stellar card, courtesy of Strikeforce.
In the first major Showtime card since Zuffa's buyout of the California promotion (Have you ever noticed that Zuffa likes California promotions? They bought out WEC who had its roots in California as well) will take place in San Diego, at the Valley View Casino Center. Scott Coker has said that his "baby" will remain operational, so long as it makes money. So then why a small arena on a Casino's grounds? Who knows?
Onto my picks :
Nick Diaz vs Paul Daley : The main event features former UFC welterweights Nick Diaz (who's the current Strikeforce Welterweight Champ) and Paul Daley (who got kicked out of the UFC after his sucker punch on Josh Koscheck, who personally had it coming). Diaz is coming off another successful defense against Evangelista "Cyborg" Santos in his last fight, while Daley secured his title shot after a KO victory against Yuya Shirai at BAMMA 5 in Manchester, England this past February.
This fight won't last long. Daley, given his strengths in Karate and Kickboxing, will want to keep this standing. Diaz showed a lot of patience in his last 2 fights against Cyborg and KJ Noons, out boxing the Boxer Noons and weathering an early storm against Santos before unleashing his own fury. Expect the same from the get-go in this fight, as Daley will throw some early bombs and have the champion in trouble, but ultimately Diaz will weather the storm and take the fight to the ground, with Diaz ending up in a dominant position trying to pull the Brit's arm out of his socket.
The pick : Diaz by submission.
The co-main event features Diaz's teammate and Strikeforce lightweight kingpin Gilbert Milendez...but I'm not interested.
Gegard Mousasi vs Keith Jardine : In a fight that is more interesting than the originally announced fight featuring the Armenian Mousasi against Mike Kyle, "The Dean of Mean" will be the first UFC fighter (well I'm not sure if we can still call him a UFC fighter, he did get released) to make the jump over to the (now) sister promotion. Mousasi is fighting for the first time since his victory over Japanese fighter Tatsuya Mizuno at DREAM.16 last September, while Jardine is fighting since a victory in New Mexico last month.
A lot has been made over the fact that Jardine is taking this fight on barely a week's notice. That being said, his unorthodox stand up may give the former M-1 Global fighter Mousasi some problems early, but it might be only a matter of time before "The Dreamcatcher" is able to get the timing on that jab down. He'll pepper Jardine early, then finish with some mop up punches to further prove to the world that he belongs in "The Show" with the name middleweights.
The pick : Mousasi by TKO.
-In other news, All fighters made weight for tonight's Maximum Fighting Championship 29 : Conquer, which will mark the promotions first foray into the recently-sanctioned friendly confines of Ontario, at Caesars Windsor. The main event features Canadian Ryan Jimmo take on American Zak Cummings, and will be broadcast live on HDNET across North America. Other notable fighters included on the card include former UFC mainstay Marcus "The Irish Hand Grenade" Davis, former UFC #1 lightweight contender Hermes Franca, and perhaps the smartest guy in MMA (he's a candidate for a doctorate) Terry Martin (who ironically enough, I swear is somehow related to Mike Tyson, though I don't have any proof).
-Bellator welterweight kingpin Ben Askren is no doubt trying to convince people to tune into Saturday night's Bellator 40, broadcast on the Score here in Canada. Askren will be taking on UFC and BodogFight veteran Nick "The Goat" Thompson in the main event "superfight", and in an interview with Sherdog Radio made several derogatory comments towards his opponent, mentioning that he believes that the 29 year old veteran of over 50 fights is "All washed up" and that he "hasn't been training that hard". He says that Thompson has "not a lot" for him to worry about, but that he "won't get in a Boxing match with him, Like I said, if I do stand up with him, it will be after I tenderize him for a few minutes and he won’t be the same person that he was at the beginning of the fight. He’ll be a much weaker and worn down opponent.”
Obviously, this kid is trying to sell the fight. But make it be known : a 29 year old is in no way shape or form "washed up" in terms of the fight game. You may be the champ Ben and the belt isn't on the line, but Thompson is a veteran of the game and should not be taken lightly. If you don't believe me, just ask Eddie Alvarez.
Questions? Comments? want to get back to me? email me at mmarmaggeddon@gmail.com
Until next time, fight fans.
In the first major Showtime card since Zuffa's buyout of the California promotion (Have you ever noticed that Zuffa likes California promotions? They bought out WEC who had its roots in California as well) will take place in San Diego, at the Valley View Casino Center. Scott Coker has said that his "baby" will remain operational, so long as it makes money. So then why a small arena on a Casino's grounds? Who knows?
Onto my picks :
Nick Diaz vs Paul Daley : The main event features former UFC welterweights Nick Diaz (who's the current Strikeforce Welterweight Champ) and Paul Daley (who got kicked out of the UFC after his sucker punch on Josh Koscheck, who personally had it coming). Diaz is coming off another successful defense against Evangelista "Cyborg" Santos in his last fight, while Daley secured his title shot after a KO victory against Yuya Shirai at BAMMA 5 in Manchester, England this past February.
This fight won't last long. Daley, given his strengths in Karate and Kickboxing, will want to keep this standing. Diaz showed a lot of patience in his last 2 fights against Cyborg and KJ Noons, out boxing the Boxer Noons and weathering an early storm against Santos before unleashing his own fury. Expect the same from the get-go in this fight, as Daley will throw some early bombs and have the champion in trouble, but ultimately Diaz will weather the storm and take the fight to the ground, with Diaz ending up in a dominant position trying to pull the Brit's arm out of his socket.
The pick : Diaz by submission.
The co-main event features Diaz's teammate and Strikeforce lightweight kingpin Gilbert Milendez...but I'm not interested.
Gegard Mousasi vs Keith Jardine : In a fight that is more interesting than the originally announced fight featuring the Armenian Mousasi against Mike Kyle, "The Dean of Mean" will be the first UFC fighter (well I'm not sure if we can still call him a UFC fighter, he did get released) to make the jump over to the (now) sister promotion. Mousasi is fighting for the first time since his victory over Japanese fighter Tatsuya Mizuno at DREAM.16 last September, while Jardine is fighting since a victory in New Mexico last month.
A lot has been made over the fact that Jardine is taking this fight on barely a week's notice. That being said, his unorthodox stand up may give the former M-1 Global fighter Mousasi some problems early, but it might be only a matter of time before "The Dreamcatcher" is able to get the timing on that jab down. He'll pepper Jardine early, then finish with some mop up punches to further prove to the world that he belongs in "The Show" with the name middleweights.
The pick : Mousasi by TKO.
-In other news, All fighters made weight for tonight's Maximum Fighting Championship 29 : Conquer, which will mark the promotions first foray into the recently-sanctioned friendly confines of Ontario, at Caesars Windsor. The main event features Canadian Ryan Jimmo take on American Zak Cummings, and will be broadcast live on HDNET across North America. Other notable fighters included on the card include former UFC mainstay Marcus "The Irish Hand Grenade" Davis, former UFC #1 lightweight contender Hermes Franca, and perhaps the smartest guy in MMA (he's a candidate for a doctorate) Terry Martin (who ironically enough, I swear is somehow related to Mike Tyson, though I don't have any proof).
-Bellator welterweight kingpin Ben Askren is no doubt trying to convince people to tune into Saturday night's Bellator 40, broadcast on the Score here in Canada. Askren will be taking on UFC and BodogFight veteran Nick "The Goat" Thompson in the main event "superfight", and in an interview with Sherdog Radio made several derogatory comments towards his opponent, mentioning that he believes that the 29 year old veteran of over 50 fights is "All washed up" and that he "hasn't been training that hard". He says that Thompson has "not a lot" for him to worry about, but that he "won't get in a Boxing match with him, Like I said, if I do stand up with him, it will be after I tenderize him for a few minutes and he won’t be the same person that he was at the beginning of the fight. He’ll be a much weaker and worn down opponent.”
Obviously, this kid is trying to sell the fight. But make it be known : a 29 year old is in no way shape or form "washed up" in terms of the fight game. You may be the champ Ben and the belt isn't on the line, but Thompson is a veteran of the game and should not be taken lightly. If you don't believe me, just ask Eddie Alvarez.
Questions? Comments? want to get back to me? email me at mmarmaggeddon@gmail.com
Until next time, fight fans.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Searching for Jamie Varner.
When announcing the fight at UFC 129 between Lyoto Machida and Randy Couture, Dana White described the situation for the Brazilian who's lost 2 consecutive fights as a "must win". While the reaction from fans ranged from shock to just the whole "he's trying to hype up the fight" response, if you think about it, a release for Machida might not be all that surprising.
In January 2009, Jamie Varner was the World Extreme Cagefighting Lightweight Champion. A subsequent defense against Donald Cerrone was highly competitive going into the 5th and final round, but an illegal knee by Cerrone in the 5th round changed things. While the referee allowed Varner a mandatory 5 minutes to recover before continuing, Varner claimed that he sustained "double vision" due to the illegal knee, calling a stop to the fight and allowing him to retain his title. While Varner claimed a broken hand factored in his decision, more than a few fans were claiming the Phoenix, Arizona native was feigning injuries and handing out excuses, elevating him from relative obscurity to "villian" status.
You know the rest : The emergence of fighters like Ben Henderson and Anthony Pettis changed the landscape of the WEC's division, allowing more depth and bringing more fighters to front. While Varner sat on the shelf continuing a laundry list of excuses why he couldn't return, Henderson fought Cerrone in a fight that some people regard as a defining moment of the WEC for an Interim Belt. When Varner finally did return, He would ultimately meet defeat at the hands of "Smooth", with Henderson going on to defend the title against Cerrone before losing to the aforementioned Pettis.
Varner meanwhile, would draw against Iranian wrestler Kamal Shalrous in Edmonton, then lose consecutive fights to Cerrone and Shane Roller. When the WEC folded into the UFC, Varner was among the fighters lost in the shuffle, and Zuffa dropped him from the promotion, after being the champion 2 years prior.
I mention this because, while Googling Varner's name today, I found an article dated 2 weeks ago on MMA Fanhouse that announced the return of Jamie Varner. I was surprised to find that the guy he'll be fighting is 35-17-1 with a highlight of fighting at a Bushido in 2006, and it was going to be held in a 11,000 seat arena outside of Chicago on May 13th.
That's right people, after winning a major lightweight title and being arguably the best 155'er outside of the UFC in 2009, Varner is going to climb his way back up, taking the Jens Pulver route.
Its shocking that Varner has dropped this far. It completely caught me off guard that Bjorn Rebney wouldn't take a run at him and throw him in his 155 lb. tournament for this (or maybe next season) of Bellator a la Ben Saunders, but it appears Varner is content to at least give it a try. Whether he decides to bring it all together and return to the form that brought him 16 wins in his first 18 fights however, remains to be seen.
I guess we'll find out May 13th.
Until next time, fight fans.
In January 2009, Jamie Varner was the World Extreme Cagefighting Lightweight Champion. A subsequent defense against Donald Cerrone was highly competitive going into the 5th and final round, but an illegal knee by Cerrone in the 5th round changed things. While the referee allowed Varner a mandatory 5 minutes to recover before continuing, Varner claimed that he sustained "double vision" due to the illegal knee, calling a stop to the fight and allowing him to retain his title. While Varner claimed a broken hand factored in his decision, more than a few fans were claiming the Phoenix, Arizona native was feigning injuries and handing out excuses, elevating him from relative obscurity to "villian" status.
You know the rest : The emergence of fighters like Ben Henderson and Anthony Pettis changed the landscape of the WEC's division, allowing more depth and bringing more fighters to front. While Varner sat on the shelf continuing a laundry list of excuses why he couldn't return, Henderson fought Cerrone in a fight that some people regard as a defining moment of the WEC for an Interim Belt. When Varner finally did return, He would ultimately meet defeat at the hands of "Smooth", with Henderson going on to defend the title against Cerrone before losing to the aforementioned Pettis.
Varner meanwhile, would draw against Iranian wrestler Kamal Shalrous in Edmonton, then lose consecutive fights to Cerrone and Shane Roller. When the WEC folded into the UFC, Varner was among the fighters lost in the shuffle, and Zuffa dropped him from the promotion, after being the champion 2 years prior.
I mention this because, while Googling Varner's name today, I found an article dated 2 weeks ago on MMA Fanhouse that announced the return of Jamie Varner. I was surprised to find that the guy he'll be fighting is 35-17-1 with a highlight of fighting at a Bushido in 2006, and it was going to be held in a 11,000 seat arena outside of Chicago on May 13th.
That's right people, after winning a major lightweight title and being arguably the best 155'er outside of the UFC in 2009, Varner is going to climb his way back up, taking the Jens Pulver route.
Its shocking that Varner has dropped this far. It completely caught me off guard that Bjorn Rebney wouldn't take a run at him and throw him in his 155 lb. tournament for this (or maybe next season) of Bellator a la Ben Saunders, but it appears Varner is content to at least give it a try. Whether he decides to bring it all together and return to the form that brought him 16 wins in his first 18 fights however, remains to be seen.
I guess we'll find out May 13th.
Until next time, fight fans.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Thug Life : Is it right for Bisping and Sonnen to be tagged as coaches?
Ahhh, Mr. Dave Meltzer. Every time I have a difficult time searching for something to write about in this blog, The senior writer from The Wrestling Observer always gives me something new, over the top, or just plain nuts to write about.
I nonchalantly sometimes pass by his articles to see what he's got brewing when it comes to the world of Mixed Martial Arts. This week, I seen a report from him declaring the UFC was preparing to make an announcement in regards to the next season of their flagship show "The Ultimate Fighter", set to commence in September. He goes onto say the coaches have already been chosen, and those are Michael Bisping and Chael Sonnen.
While this might be a great matchup on paper for ratings, with Bisping and his comic relief and Sonnen spewing his nonsensical garbage, talking for the sake of talking. In reality, in terms of PR and an image standpoint, it is a horrible business decision.
Why? Because Dana White since his takeover of the UFC has had a long, uphill battle to climb. From day one, he's had to tangle with Government Officials from local, State and Provincial Athletic Commissions (depending on which country he's had to do his sweet talking in) and the general public, who fail to give his roster or MMA athletes in general any respect, referring to the sport as a form of "human dogfighting" and the competitors themselves as "Thugs".
The reality show is an opportunity for people to observe what the life of a mixed martial artist is. However "glorified" it might be, the reality is that it is a tough lifestyle that isn't for everyone. The competitors in every season work as hard as they can, albeit however experienced (Ultimate Fighter 4 : The Comeback) or novice (Amir Sadollah had NO fights under his belt when he won Ultimate Fighter 7) they might be. The coaches, in contrast, are on the show not only to mentor, but to essentially represent the brand of the UFC to all the "haters" and "naysayers" and show that they are indeed athletes, not "Thugs".
If this Meltzer article were to hold true to form, White is essentially allowing every non-MMA activist and casual observer to have their day : You're going to put on your flagship show that brings you fans every week an English "Thug" who has shown a complete disregard for the rules (like grabbing the fence and kneeing a downed opponent, against Jorge Rivera) as well as a complete lack of respect (spitting in the Rivera's cornermans face and getting in his opponent's face to "apologize" due to comments Rivera made on Youtube) against a man who not only just obnoxiously rambles on, But currently has been more famous for not only cheating (A failed drug test following his fight against Anderson Silva), but White Collar Crime as well (Sonnen is currently awaiting sentencing for his role in a Real Estate fraud scheme) as the leaders of possibly another promising crop of young prospects.
Since the story broke, White has refuted the article, saying that given Sonnen's legal troubles and his licensing issues with the NSAC (an article on MMAJunkie where NSAC head Keith Kizer criticized Sonnen re-affirmed this) were going to make it difficult for the former #1 middleweight contender to be one of the next coaches on the Reality show.
Let's hope it stays that way.
-In Other news, Strikeforce Challengers ratings came in from Friday night. Ratings peaked at 214,000 with the card broadcast live on Showtime. Also, Ratings for Bellator 39 were up slightly from the week before, at 174,000 tuning in to watch the World title fight between kingpin Eddie Alvarez and Pat Curran. Let's hope with Bellator 40 this week, they keep the momentum going (although with Diaz and Daley this weekend as well, that's unlikely).
-2 former lightweights, Joe Stevenson and Tyson Griffin, are making the drop to featherweight to further their UFC careers, as reported by MMAJunkie. Stevenson will take on Javier Vasquez (not the former Expos pitcher, but the guy that armbarred Jens Pulver out of WEC) at UFC on Versus 4 in June, while Griffin will face former #1 featherweight contender Manny Gamburyan on the same card.
-ESPN.com/Sherdog was the first to break the news in regards to fights at UFC 131 and 132. It appears TUF coaches Brock Lesnar and Junior Dos Santos will face each other at UFC 131 in Vancouver (like we didn't know that already), while 132 will be headlined with a re-match featuring bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz against "The California Kid" Urijah Faber (again, like we didn't know). What is interesting though is the fight that was also announced for 132 : It seems Chris Leben will finally get his wish to face Brazilian Wanderlei Silva on the same card.
As a longtime fan of "The Ax Murderer", let me say this : Be afraid, Chris. Be very afraid.
Questions? Comments? Get back to me. e-mail me at mmarmaggedon@gmail.com
Until next time, Fight fans.
I nonchalantly sometimes pass by his articles to see what he's got brewing when it comes to the world of Mixed Martial Arts. This week, I seen a report from him declaring the UFC was preparing to make an announcement in regards to the next season of their flagship show "The Ultimate Fighter", set to commence in September. He goes onto say the coaches have already been chosen, and those are Michael Bisping and Chael Sonnen.
While this might be a great matchup on paper for ratings, with Bisping and his comic relief and Sonnen spewing his nonsensical garbage, talking for the sake of talking. In reality, in terms of PR and an image standpoint, it is a horrible business decision.
Why? Because Dana White since his takeover of the UFC has had a long, uphill battle to climb. From day one, he's had to tangle with Government Officials from local, State and Provincial Athletic Commissions (depending on which country he's had to do his sweet talking in) and the general public, who fail to give his roster or MMA athletes in general any respect, referring to the sport as a form of "human dogfighting" and the competitors themselves as "Thugs".
The reality show is an opportunity for people to observe what the life of a mixed martial artist is. However "glorified" it might be, the reality is that it is a tough lifestyle that isn't for everyone. The competitors in every season work as hard as they can, albeit however experienced (Ultimate Fighter 4 : The Comeback) or novice (Amir Sadollah had NO fights under his belt when he won Ultimate Fighter 7) they might be. The coaches, in contrast, are on the show not only to mentor, but to essentially represent the brand of the UFC to all the "haters" and "naysayers" and show that they are indeed athletes, not "Thugs".
If this Meltzer article were to hold true to form, White is essentially allowing every non-MMA activist and casual observer to have their day : You're going to put on your flagship show that brings you fans every week an English "Thug" who has shown a complete disregard for the rules (like grabbing the fence and kneeing a downed opponent, against Jorge Rivera) as well as a complete lack of respect (spitting in the Rivera's cornermans face and getting in his opponent's face to "apologize" due to comments Rivera made on Youtube) against a man who not only just obnoxiously rambles on, But currently has been more famous for not only cheating (A failed drug test following his fight against Anderson Silva), but White Collar Crime as well (Sonnen is currently awaiting sentencing for his role in a Real Estate fraud scheme) as the leaders of possibly another promising crop of young prospects.
Since the story broke, White has refuted the article, saying that given Sonnen's legal troubles and his licensing issues with the NSAC (an article on MMAJunkie where NSAC head Keith Kizer criticized Sonnen re-affirmed this) were going to make it difficult for the former #1 middleweight contender to be one of the next coaches on the Reality show.
Let's hope it stays that way.
-In Other news, Strikeforce Challengers ratings came in from Friday night. Ratings peaked at 214,000 with the card broadcast live on Showtime. Also, Ratings for Bellator 39 were up slightly from the week before, at 174,000 tuning in to watch the World title fight between kingpin Eddie Alvarez and Pat Curran. Let's hope with Bellator 40 this week, they keep the momentum going (although with Diaz and Daley this weekend as well, that's unlikely).
-2 former lightweights, Joe Stevenson and Tyson Griffin, are making the drop to featherweight to further their UFC careers, as reported by MMAJunkie. Stevenson will take on Javier Vasquez (not the former Expos pitcher, but the guy that armbarred Jens Pulver out of WEC) at UFC on Versus 4 in June, while Griffin will face former #1 featherweight contender Manny Gamburyan on the same card.
-ESPN.com/Sherdog was the first to break the news in regards to fights at UFC 131 and 132. It appears TUF coaches Brock Lesnar and Junior Dos Santos will face each other at UFC 131 in Vancouver (like we didn't know that already), while 132 will be headlined with a re-match featuring bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz against "The California Kid" Urijah Faber (again, like we didn't know). What is interesting though is the fight that was also announced for 132 : It seems Chris Leben will finally get his wish to face Brazilian Wanderlei Silva on the same card.
As a longtime fan of "The Ax Murderer", let me say this : Be afraid, Chris. Be very afraid.
Questions? Comments? Get back to me. e-mail me at mmarmaggedon@gmail.com
Until next time, Fight fans.
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Bellator 39 recap : Alvarez retains title.
Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney has a simple motto when it comes to his tournament based product : Win, and move on. Lose, and go home.
Coming to us from Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut Saturday Night, Eddie Alvarez clearly knew what he needed to do. Win, and retain his title. Using crisp boxing technique and incredible cardio and takedowns, he simply imposed his will on season 2 winner Pat Curran. Curran, while a game competitor who got a few heavy shots in on the champ, was overwhelmed and Alvarez cruised to a unanimous decision, scores of 50-45 (twice) and 49-46. Afterward, he told interviewer Jimmy Smith that what the 23 year old Curran lacked in experience, he certainly made up for in heart.
"I wish I had the heart he has at his age," Alvarez said. "Pat's going to be a champion someday, and my hat's off to him tonight."
For mainstays Lyman Good and Toby Imada, they also knew what they needed to do. Win, and move within a victory of a title shot. However, neither did so Saturday night, and they are both coming home.
Good showed great stand up skills in his first round against Rick Hawn. By counter punching and using the clinch effectively, he was able to grind out the first round 10-9. The second round was dominated by Hawn, who used an outside trip to gain top position, and while he never had the former 170 lb. kingpin Good in trouble from that position, was able to grind out the middle stanza. The 3rd saw Good counterpunching and circling away with Hawn frustrated going forward. While he was able to score a late takedown, an upkick at the sound of the bell by Good was enough, in my mind, for Cyborg to move on. However, 2 judges saw the fight differently, and awarded the former US Olympian Judoka his 11th consecutive win as a professional. With the loss, Good has lost 2 of 3 since winning 11 straight.
As for Imada, the man who's best known for being on Bellator highlight reels due to his first season inverted triangle against Jorge Masvidal, he now knows what its like to be on the other end of the highlight package. Facing Brazilian Patricky "Pitbull" Friere and a 3rd straight trip to the finals on the line, Imada and Friere started out slow, each throwing a few punches and exchanging. A huge flying knee by Friere changed things, however, and while Imada was still standing after, it was clear he was out. Pitbull knew it too, and he swarmed right after, flooring the veteran and securing the victory at just under the 3 minute mark of round number two. .
The opening fight of the night featured Ben Saunders against Matt Sung Lee. In a bloody 3 round affair, the American Top Team product "Killa B" improved to 9-4-2, with 2 straight wins since his UFC release. He was domnant in the clinch and overwhlemed the Korean, leading to a ref stoppage at 1:24 of the final frame.
Honorable Mention : I'm all for the Bjorn Rebney backing of Alvarez as the best 155'er in the world, but seriously where did his confidence come from? There was more than one instance where he turned his back to Curran, and in the 5th he simply jumped in front of his opponent while keeping his hands down. Whether it was cockiness, confidence or his best Anderson Silva impression I'm still not sure, but he had better not do anything of the sort against Friere, should Patricky Pitbull advance to a title shot. Alvarez mentioned in his post fight interview that he'll be cheering for the brother of featherweight Patricio "Pitbull" in the finals.
Lyman Good was clearly the veteran I referred to in my preview about getting "robbed" by the judges. I could see the fight going 29-28 for Hawn, but 30-27 is a bit ridiculous. As well as the fight being given on a takedown at the end of the fight, when Hawn did nothing with it in the final 10 seconds.
Tune in next week for the other 2 semi-finals as well as Welterweight champion Ben Askren in a non-title bout.
Until next time, fight fans.
Coming to us from Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut Saturday Night, Eddie Alvarez clearly knew what he needed to do. Win, and retain his title. Using crisp boxing technique and incredible cardio and takedowns, he simply imposed his will on season 2 winner Pat Curran. Curran, while a game competitor who got a few heavy shots in on the champ, was overwhelmed and Alvarez cruised to a unanimous decision, scores of 50-45 (twice) and 49-46. Afterward, he told interviewer Jimmy Smith that what the 23 year old Curran lacked in experience, he certainly made up for in heart.
"I wish I had the heart he has at his age," Alvarez said. "Pat's going to be a champion someday, and my hat's off to him tonight."
For mainstays Lyman Good and Toby Imada, they also knew what they needed to do. Win, and move within a victory of a title shot. However, neither did so Saturday night, and they are both coming home.
Good showed great stand up skills in his first round against Rick Hawn. By counter punching and using the clinch effectively, he was able to grind out the first round 10-9. The second round was dominated by Hawn, who used an outside trip to gain top position, and while he never had the former 170 lb. kingpin Good in trouble from that position, was able to grind out the middle stanza. The 3rd saw Good counterpunching and circling away with Hawn frustrated going forward. While he was able to score a late takedown, an upkick at the sound of the bell by Good was enough, in my mind, for Cyborg to move on. However, 2 judges saw the fight differently, and awarded the former US Olympian Judoka his 11th consecutive win as a professional. With the loss, Good has lost 2 of 3 since winning 11 straight.
As for Imada, the man who's best known for being on Bellator highlight reels due to his first season inverted triangle against Jorge Masvidal, he now knows what its like to be on the other end of the highlight package. Facing Brazilian Patricky "Pitbull" Friere and a 3rd straight trip to the finals on the line, Imada and Friere started out slow, each throwing a few punches and exchanging. A huge flying knee by Friere changed things, however, and while Imada was still standing after, it was clear he was out. Pitbull knew it too, and he swarmed right after, flooring the veteran and securing the victory at just under the 3 minute mark of round number two. .
The opening fight of the night featured Ben Saunders against Matt Sung Lee. In a bloody 3 round affair, the American Top Team product "Killa B" improved to 9-4-2, with 2 straight wins since his UFC release. He was domnant in the clinch and overwhlemed the Korean, leading to a ref stoppage at 1:24 of the final frame.
Honorable Mention : I'm all for the Bjorn Rebney backing of Alvarez as the best 155'er in the world, but seriously where did his confidence come from? There was more than one instance where he turned his back to Curran, and in the 5th he simply jumped in front of his opponent while keeping his hands down. Whether it was cockiness, confidence or his best Anderson Silva impression I'm still not sure, but he had better not do anything of the sort against Friere, should Patricky Pitbull advance to a title shot. Alvarez mentioned in his post fight interview that he'll be cheering for the brother of featherweight Patricio "Pitbull" in the finals.
Lyman Good was clearly the veteran I referred to in my preview about getting "robbed" by the judges. I could see the fight going 29-28 for Hawn, but 30-27 is a bit ridiculous. As well as the fight being given on a takedown at the end of the fight, when Hawn did nothing with it in the final 10 seconds.
Tune in next week for the other 2 semi-finals as well as Welterweight champion Ben Askren in a non-title bout.
Until next time, fight fans.
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