Well, what do you know? Its my 100th entry for the year and on the note that its a big step comes big news. You MMArmaggedists know I reported that UFC was very close to a deal with American cable outlet FOX yesterday, as reported on by various sources. Now comes the announcement the deal has come to fruition : Seven years (which in my view, is a staggering amount of time given the fact that FOX only gave an established sports entity like the NFL 5 years their first deal), with up to 4 cards per year to air on the main network in prime time, the first of which was announced today which will be November 12th (most likely to air in Anaheim, California). In addition, premium cable networks FX and FUEL TV will air the usual mishmosh of UFC programming, including "Best of PRIDE", "Primetime", "Ultimate Knockouts", as well as flagship show "The Ultimate Fighter". In addition, the first season of TUF to air on the network will feature live fights and fan voting fights for the 2 seasons expected to air yearly.
There are a few things that come to mind when I see this, including :
5) What does this means for fans North of the Border? - Obviously, The promotion had a cable deal in place up here with Rogers Sportsnet in Canada first before this news. So, it doesn't mean we'll miss anything in terms of upcoming episodes of TUF. But does this mean we'll also have the chance to vote in, to see who goes in and who goes home? Will we get to see Kenda Perez more? Will weigh-in specials air live on Sportsnet as they do on the American channels? We'll see.
4) What does this mean for mainstream exposure? - When it comes to sports programming, FOX is essentially the top dog, having the NFL to NASCAR to the BCS in recent years, But is also remembered fondly for doing nonsensical experiments like the "FOXTrak" puck for NHL games. It will be interesting to see if they can generate more interest with casual fans without having to resort to gimmicks, like for example, a "FOXGlo" point on joints so you can see exactly how the arm is snapped in an armbar. Just saying.
3) Does this mean MMA is now a weekly event? - FOX has MLB and NFL, sports that during seasons, have a weekly game to look forward to showcase their games. Same with NASCAR. In between TUF seasons, will we see a weekly showcase of lower-tier talent, a la "Friday Night Fights"?
2) What does this mean for rival promotions? - With SPIKE essentially out of the picture (The last season will be number 14 featuring Michael Bisping and "Mayhem" Miller), does this mean that Bellator will make the move to SPIKE for a 6th Season, with their deal currently being with MTV2 and being in the same umbrella (company wise) as SPIKE? Very interesting to think about.
1) Does this finally mean, that there will be sanctioning in New York? - They have the most exciting fighter, a native New Yorker (Jon Jones) as a weight division champion. They have a deal with one of, if not, the biggest sports programmer in the world. If those 2 things alone don't get the State's Congress' attention now, I suppose we'll never see the Jones vs. Velasquez Heavyweight tilt at MSG I keep dreaming about.
Comments? Questions? Leave one at the bottom of the page or email me at mmarmaggeddon@gmail.com . Also feel free to follow me on Twitter, at twitter.com/mmarmaggeddon.
Until next time, fight fans!
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Gone too soon : The passing of Shawn Tompkins.
I was at Fight Central on Sunday Night, like I usually am when I watch a UFC on Versus, and we had just settled down in our front row seats and were about to enjoy the main events when commentator Mike Goldberg announced some tragic news : Noted MMA trainer and Canadian, Shawn Tompkins had passed. Details were sketchy at the time, but I flipped onto MMAJunkie which confirmed the news.
In the days since, we have learned that Tompkins' family had a history of heart problems and the likely cause of death was a heart attack in his sleep. I have never met Tompkins, but the interviews and overture that come from everybody who knew him, from "Showdown" Joe Ferraro of Rogers SportsNet to John Morgan of MMAJunkie, show the positivity, bluntness and general appreciation he brought to the sport. Most importantly, you got the idea that he carried himself with a incredible degree of professionalism and integrity, and he taught that to his pupils, most notably Mark Hominick and Chris Horodecki. I've had the opportunity to meet these 2 gentlemen and from the brief interaction I had with them, I got that same sense of professionalism and class that Tompkins evoked.
A loser of 4 professional fights, Tompkins got into coaching with the now-defunct IFL (International Fight League) parlaying that one-time deal into a full-time gig in some of the most recognized and established brands, Xtreme Couture and The TapOut Training facility. To myself, it is a genuine nod to the fact that while this sport his still young, Canadians have certainly left their mark on it. And Shawn Tompkins was one of them.
So farewell, Mr. Tompkins. We've not only lost a great coach, but a great ambassador to the sport of MMA, a great Canadian, and to a lot of people, a great friend.
-In other news, numerous outlets are reporting that the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) has secured a multi-year deal with FOX. The Fight Network is reporting that the promotion's flagship show "The Ultimate Fighter" will move from Spike to Fox cable outlet "FX" in 2012. This comes on the heels of FX jilting Bellator Fighting Championships last winter. Makes you wonder how long this deal was in the works for. Although according to Zuffa President Dana White "The deal isn't even close to being done. When its done, you guys will know its done". Hmmmm....
-MMAJunkie was the first to report that Bellator season 4 welterweight finalist and former US Judoka, Rick Hawn is out of the upcoming season 5 tourney with a knee injury. He was scheduled to face Ben Saunders in the opening round at September's Bellator 49. In the meantime, Bellator presents itself with a very awful predicament : Do they grant Saunders a bye into the semi-finals, or find another suitable opponent? Nate Marquardt could have done himself a world of favors had he just signed on the dotted line. This is also presumably, why the UFC doesn't hold tournaments. Staying on the Bellator wagon, they signed a couple prospects in the last few days, including noted BJJ specialist Giva "The Arm Collector" Santana.
-ESPN.com/Sherdog is reporting UFC 139 will feature a tilt between noted welterweights Rick "The Horror" Story and Martin "The Hitman" Kampmann set for November. Both are coming off huge losses (Kampmann has lost 2 in a row in fights he, in this MMArmaggedist's opinion, clearly won. Story pummeled Thiago Alves before dropping a fight to Charlie Brennerman). This has "Fight of the Night" prospects written all over it, to be honest.
-ESPN.uk reported that recent UFC castoff John Howard posted on his Facebook page in response to keeping Dan Hardy following his 4th consecutive defeat Sunday to Chris Lytle "OK I am not hating but the UFC keeps Hardy but let's me go. WTF is that?". Howard was recently released following losses to Jake Ellenberger, Thiago Alves and Matt Brown. I'll tell you what it is, John : You lost 3 in a row, but you're American. The sport thrives there. Hardy lost 4 in a row, is from England where MMA is still, don't get it twisted, second place when it comes to Boxing. They're trying to establish a foothold there. Hardy proves a popular draw even though people (myself included) can't stand his brash attitude or alternative style. Simple as that.
Got a comment? want to get back to me? leave a comment at the bottom of the page or email me at mmarmaggeddon@gmail.com . You can also follow me on Twitter, at twitter.com/mmarmaggedon.
Until next time, fight fans!
In the days since, we have learned that Tompkins' family had a history of heart problems and the likely cause of death was a heart attack in his sleep. I have never met Tompkins, but the interviews and overture that come from everybody who knew him, from "Showdown" Joe Ferraro of Rogers SportsNet to John Morgan of MMAJunkie, show the positivity, bluntness and general appreciation he brought to the sport. Most importantly, you got the idea that he carried himself with a incredible degree of professionalism and integrity, and he taught that to his pupils, most notably Mark Hominick and Chris Horodecki. I've had the opportunity to meet these 2 gentlemen and from the brief interaction I had with them, I got that same sense of professionalism and class that Tompkins evoked.
A loser of 4 professional fights, Tompkins got into coaching with the now-defunct IFL (International Fight League) parlaying that one-time deal into a full-time gig in some of the most recognized and established brands, Xtreme Couture and The TapOut Training facility. To myself, it is a genuine nod to the fact that while this sport his still young, Canadians have certainly left their mark on it. And Shawn Tompkins was one of them.
So farewell, Mr. Tompkins. We've not only lost a great coach, but a great ambassador to the sport of MMA, a great Canadian, and to a lot of people, a great friend.
-In other news, numerous outlets are reporting that the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) has secured a multi-year deal with FOX. The Fight Network is reporting that the promotion's flagship show "The Ultimate Fighter" will move from Spike to Fox cable outlet "FX" in 2012. This comes on the heels of FX jilting Bellator Fighting Championships last winter. Makes you wonder how long this deal was in the works for. Although according to Zuffa President Dana White "The deal isn't even close to being done. When its done, you guys will know its done". Hmmmm....
-MMAJunkie was the first to report that Bellator season 4 welterweight finalist and former US Judoka, Rick Hawn is out of the upcoming season 5 tourney with a knee injury. He was scheduled to face Ben Saunders in the opening round at September's Bellator 49. In the meantime, Bellator presents itself with a very awful predicament : Do they grant Saunders a bye into the semi-finals, or find another suitable opponent? Nate Marquardt could have done himself a world of favors had he just signed on the dotted line. This is also presumably, why the UFC doesn't hold tournaments. Staying on the Bellator wagon, they signed a couple prospects in the last few days, including noted BJJ specialist Giva "The Arm Collector" Santana.
-ESPN.com/Sherdog is reporting UFC 139 will feature a tilt between noted welterweights Rick "The Horror" Story and Martin "The Hitman" Kampmann set for November. Both are coming off huge losses (Kampmann has lost 2 in a row in fights he, in this MMArmaggedist's opinion, clearly won. Story pummeled Thiago Alves before dropping a fight to Charlie Brennerman). This has "Fight of the Night" prospects written all over it, to be honest.
-ESPN.uk reported that recent UFC castoff John Howard posted on his Facebook page in response to keeping Dan Hardy following his 4th consecutive defeat Sunday to Chris Lytle "OK I am not hating but the UFC keeps Hardy but let's me go. WTF is that?". Howard was recently released following losses to Jake Ellenberger, Thiago Alves and Matt Brown. I'll tell you what it is, John : You lost 3 in a row, but you're American. The sport thrives there. Hardy lost 4 in a row, is from England where MMA is still, don't get it twisted, second place when it comes to Boxing. They're trying to establish a foothold there. Hardy proves a popular draw even though people (myself included) can't stand his brash attitude or alternative style. Simple as that.
Got a comment? want to get back to me? leave a comment at the bottom of the page or email me at mmarmaggeddon@gmail.com . You can also follow me on Twitter, at twitter.com/mmarmaggedon.
Until next time, fight fans!
Monday, August 15, 2011
UFC on Versus 5 : Lytle vs Hardy re-hash : Lytle puts an exclamation point on career in swansong; Henderson puts 155 lb. division on notice.
The last time the UFC provided a free "On Versus" card, we were treated to a memorable knockdown (and subsequent recovery) by one Chieck Kongo in their first foray into Pittsburgh. And while this live on Versus card didn't provide us with that much excitement, it did however provide an entertaining night highlighted by a stellar main card.
In the main event, Embattled Brit Dan Hardy took on American Chris Lytle. For Lytle, who announced during the weigh-ins on Saturday this would be his last fight be it win or lose, it would be the last time the Firefighter by trade and known in MMA circles as "Lights Out" would stand in the cage of competition, and he did not disappoint.
The first 10 minutes were dominated by Lytle, as he peppered the Nottingham, England native known as "The Outlaw" with numerous combinations, coaxing Hardy into nothing more than an glorified boxing contest. His shots to the midsection were precise and on target, and while Hardy managed to put Lytle in a awful predicament in the middle stanza, his trademark mohawk (which was dyed a bright orange) looked deflated, his face pale in exhaustion. With 5 minutes left to go in his career, Lytle kept throwing in the pocket with hooks and leg kicks to the midsection, Hardy doing nothing more than standing in front of the American taking shots to the chin both left and right. The Brit pushed the pace with about a minute left, and even after saying he'd stay standing, threw a wild combo and went for a desperate takedown. He unfortunately, fell prone to Lytle's guillotine, and made Hardy tap with 50 seconds left in the 3rd round.
Next for Lytle : Going home with his family, collecting his paycheque with the fire department for the next 15-20 years and retiring. Perhaps becoming a fire chief.
Next for Hardy : He's lost 4 in a row and would be gone if it hadn't been for the fact he's popular. Perhaps a fight with Charlie Brennerman.
The Co-main event featured top contender Jim Miller and former WEC lightweight champion "Bend it like" Ben Henderson to determine who's really a contender and a pretender. Through the first round, Miller looked to be just that, as he was dominating in the clinch and had Henderson in several predicaments, including a standing arm triangle with a body scissors and a kimura. Through both however, the man known for his long hair and god willing speeches calmly got through, and while the round was close, I gave it to Bendo 10-9. The next 10 minutes however were a testament to how powerful and durable Henderson truly is, using his clinch and ground and pound with several leg trips, elbowing and punching while Miller went desperately for heel hooks after leg locks. By the time the final bell rang, Henderson had his hand raised and left Miller a bloody mess, winning by unanimous decision by scores of 29-28, 30-27 and 30-26.
Next for Miller : first time he's lost to somebody not named Edgar or Maynard. Throw him in there with Donald Cerrone or the winner of Anthony Pettis and Jeremy Stephens.
Next for Henderson : I clearly have said it time and again I believe he is the best lightweight in the world right now, though he doesn't have a belt. He might only be one more fight from a title shot too, and I expect him to prove it against either Clay Guida or Melvin Guillard.
Honorable Mention : Its fitting that Lytle capped off his career with a submission. The man who's tied with Anderson Silva for most "...Of the night" bonuses with 8 wanted to be remembered, and a guillotine will clearly do that for you. Also, Ed Herman's knee bar on Kyle Kote was worth watching the prelims. Henderson might have been the most notable WEC alum making a statement with his victory over Miller, but he wasn't the only one. Donald Cerrone fought noted Brazilian prodigy Charles Oliveria, and dominated him via TKO. With the victory, he's now won 4 in a row dating back to his days in WEC, with his last loss being against Henderson. Smell trilogy anyone?
I went 2-0 on my picks for the night too, which brings me to 35-21-2 for the year. 60% overall isn't bad. Its not great, but its not bad. Plus, Rio is in 2 weeks.
Leave a comment at the bottom of the page or email me at mmarmaggeddon@gmail.com you can also follow me on twitter (like the Bellator girls do) at twitter.com/mmarmggedon.
Until next time, fight fans!
In the main event, Embattled Brit Dan Hardy took on American Chris Lytle. For Lytle, who announced during the weigh-ins on Saturday this would be his last fight be it win or lose, it would be the last time the Firefighter by trade and known in MMA circles as "Lights Out" would stand in the cage of competition, and he did not disappoint.
The first 10 minutes were dominated by Lytle, as he peppered the Nottingham, England native known as "The Outlaw" with numerous combinations, coaxing Hardy into nothing more than an glorified boxing contest. His shots to the midsection were precise and on target, and while Hardy managed to put Lytle in a awful predicament in the middle stanza, his trademark mohawk (which was dyed a bright orange) looked deflated, his face pale in exhaustion. With 5 minutes left to go in his career, Lytle kept throwing in the pocket with hooks and leg kicks to the midsection, Hardy doing nothing more than standing in front of the American taking shots to the chin both left and right. The Brit pushed the pace with about a minute left, and even after saying he'd stay standing, threw a wild combo and went for a desperate takedown. He unfortunately, fell prone to Lytle's guillotine, and made Hardy tap with 50 seconds left in the 3rd round.
Next for Lytle : Going home with his family, collecting his paycheque with the fire department for the next 15-20 years and retiring. Perhaps becoming a fire chief.
Next for Hardy : He's lost 4 in a row and would be gone if it hadn't been for the fact he's popular. Perhaps a fight with Charlie Brennerman.
The Co-main event featured top contender Jim Miller and former WEC lightweight champion "Bend it like" Ben Henderson to determine who's really a contender and a pretender. Through the first round, Miller looked to be just that, as he was dominating in the clinch and had Henderson in several predicaments, including a standing arm triangle with a body scissors and a kimura. Through both however, the man known for his long hair and god willing speeches calmly got through, and while the round was close, I gave it to Bendo 10-9. The next 10 minutes however were a testament to how powerful and durable Henderson truly is, using his clinch and ground and pound with several leg trips, elbowing and punching while Miller went desperately for heel hooks after leg locks. By the time the final bell rang, Henderson had his hand raised and left Miller a bloody mess, winning by unanimous decision by scores of 29-28, 30-27 and 30-26.
Next for Miller : first time he's lost to somebody not named Edgar or Maynard. Throw him in there with Donald Cerrone or the winner of Anthony Pettis and Jeremy Stephens.
Next for Henderson : I clearly have said it time and again I believe he is the best lightweight in the world right now, though he doesn't have a belt. He might only be one more fight from a title shot too, and I expect him to prove it against either Clay Guida or Melvin Guillard.
Honorable Mention : Its fitting that Lytle capped off his career with a submission. The man who's tied with Anderson Silva for most "...Of the night" bonuses with 8 wanted to be remembered, and a guillotine will clearly do that for you. Also, Ed Herman's knee bar on Kyle Kote was worth watching the prelims. Henderson might have been the most notable WEC alum making a statement with his victory over Miller, but he wasn't the only one. Donald Cerrone fought noted Brazilian prodigy Charles Oliveria, and dominated him via TKO. With the victory, he's now won 4 in a row dating back to his days in WEC, with his last loss being against Henderson. Smell trilogy anyone?
I went 2-0 on my picks for the night too, which brings me to 35-21-2 for the year. 60% overall isn't bad. Its not great, but its not bad. Plus, Rio is in 2 weeks.
Leave a comment at the bottom of the page or email me at mmarmaggeddon@gmail.com you can also follow me on twitter (like the Bellator girls do) at twitter.com/mmarmggedon.
Until next time, fight fans!
Saturday, August 13, 2011
UFC on Versus 5 : Hardy vs Lytle preview.
For the convinence of those who cannot afford to fork over 60 dollars for a pay per view card, Dana White invented the UFC on Versus series. Well actually, I think it had more to do with the UFC acquiring (and then subsequently folding) the WEC, but regardless....The first UFC event ever held in the wonderful state of Wisconsin, home of Miller Beer and Cracker Barrel Cheese, comes to us from the Bradley Center in Milwaukee, airing Sunday evening at 9 pm on Versus (and Sportsnet in Canada). I've struggled recently in my picks, so let's up we can right the ship this time :
Dan Hardy vs Chris Lytle - The main event features two out and out sluggers in American Chris Lytle and incumbent Brit Dan Hardy. Hardy is riding a 3 fight losing streak, and hasn't fought since losing to Anthony Johnson in March by unanimous decision, while Lytle is fighting for the first time since losing to late replacement Brian Ebersole (who replaced Carlos Condit) in the UFC's foray into Australia last January at UFC 127.
Lytle and Hardy are "Fight of the Night" Candidates. Expect a flurry of punches early on, with whomever getting tagged on the chin right away being the aggressor. While I do expect Lytle to have "The Outlaw" in trouble early, Hardy will survive the storm only to fall for the superior wrestling of "Lights Out".
The Pick : Lytle by decision.
Ben Henderson vs Jim Miller - The co-main event of the evening features a pair of Americans, UFC mainstay Jim Miller vs former WEC lightweight kingpin "Bend it like" Ben Henderson. Henderson is fighting for the first time since dispatching of Marc Bocek at UFC 129 in Toronto, while Miller is fighting for the first time since flooring Iranian (and another WEC alum) Kamal Shalrous in March.
Miller's Jiu-Jitsu is exactly the kind of problem that presents itself to an opponent. However, Henderson is no ordinary opponent, having weathered Donald Cerrone's BJJ with a superior performance in WEC. I expect the same thing to happen in this one, with Henderson getting better of the standup and ultimately having his hand raised.
The Pick : Henderson by decision.
Those are my picks. I know I only pick 2 fights for UFC lives, but that's because these cards are usually smaller in scale. Dan Hardy would never main event a pay per view in my estimation, but...then again, Tito just main evented, and he hadn't won in 5 years prior!
Leave a comment at the bottom of the page or email me mmarmaggeddon@gmail.com or follow me on twitter at twitter.com/mmarmaggedon
Until next time, fight fans!
Dan Hardy vs Chris Lytle - The main event features two out and out sluggers in American Chris Lytle and incumbent Brit Dan Hardy. Hardy is riding a 3 fight losing streak, and hasn't fought since losing to Anthony Johnson in March by unanimous decision, while Lytle is fighting for the first time since losing to late replacement Brian Ebersole (who replaced Carlos Condit) in the UFC's foray into Australia last January at UFC 127.
Lytle and Hardy are "Fight of the Night" Candidates. Expect a flurry of punches early on, with whomever getting tagged on the chin right away being the aggressor. While I do expect Lytle to have "The Outlaw" in trouble early, Hardy will survive the storm only to fall for the superior wrestling of "Lights Out".
The Pick : Lytle by decision.
Ben Henderson vs Jim Miller - The co-main event of the evening features a pair of Americans, UFC mainstay Jim Miller vs former WEC lightweight kingpin "Bend it like" Ben Henderson. Henderson is fighting for the first time since dispatching of Marc Bocek at UFC 129 in Toronto, while Miller is fighting for the first time since flooring Iranian (and another WEC alum) Kamal Shalrous in March.
Miller's Jiu-Jitsu is exactly the kind of problem that presents itself to an opponent. However, Henderson is no ordinary opponent, having weathered Donald Cerrone's BJJ with a superior performance in WEC. I expect the same thing to happen in this one, with Henderson getting better of the standup and ultimately having his hand raised.
The Pick : Henderson by decision.
Those are my picks. I know I only pick 2 fights for UFC lives, but that's because these cards are usually smaller in scale. Dan Hardy would never main event a pay per view in my estimation, but...then again, Tito just main evented, and he hadn't won in 5 years prior!
Leave a comment at the bottom of the page or email me mmarmaggeddon@gmail.com or follow me on twitter at twitter.com/mmarmaggedon
Until next time, fight fans!
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Empire's Fall : Will we remember Fedor?
My friends will attest to this, but watching me watch Mixed Martial Arts is kind of watching Will Patton's daughter in the Disney film "Remember the Titans".
No, not that I have long blonde hair or anything. Its just that regardless of opponent, or situation, she always found a way to go all crazy on the sidelines, screaming about either a touchdown or a referee blowing a call. I will admit that this self-admitted MMArmaggedist has gotten a little edgy at times, however most of those times, the fights involve 1 man : Fedor Emelianenko.
Following last Saturday night's "Fedor vs. Henderson" main event, I was left speechless. I didn't get up. I didn't scream at the TV. I didn't even protest the "controversial" officiating. I looked blankly into the screen, shook my head, loafting on my friends couch, with sheer and a cominbation of absolute disappointment and disgust on my face.
It wasn't and had nothing to do with Dan Henderson jumping up on the cage, screaming as loud as his 40 year old lungs could, pointing to fans. What and what it had everything to do with, was the fact that while Fedor carried 27 consecutive wins into his entrance to Strikeforce, his 1-3 performance will likely assure he's nothing more than a footnote in the history of MMA.
I suppose its tragic and somewhat fitting, that after years of his managment proclaiming Fedor "The best heavyweight in the world" and the "Greatest Mixed Martial Artist, ever" by Mauro Ranallo, his career will end losing to a middle age, middle range fighter in Henderson, who, while flooring Emelianenko, was dominated by another fighter with an impressive win streak (Jake Shields).
3 fights ago, people were cheering on their feet to Emelianenko waving, smiling to the fans during the introductions before his fight with Fabricio Werdum. On Saturday, in front of a few thousand fans, we saw a mix of boos and cheers, with a "USA" and "Hendo" chant during the first minutes of the fight.
Why was this the case? While mismanagment and greed definitely play a part, we need to refer to a phrase Lyoto Machida said on Twitter recently regarding his pass on a rematch with Rashad Evans (which will be this Saturday) and the accusation that Dana White said Machida asked for "Anderson Silva" Money :
"There are 2 sides to every story"
In 2006, I watched an interview with a Canadian Sports Network where Dana White criticized Emelianenko, calling him "overrated" and "washed up", with him arguing with the interviewer when he pointed out names on Fedor's resume like Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic and Antonio Noguiera, White said he had beaten them "years ago". Right on the heels of this interview, was the announcement that Zuffa, LLC had signed both Quinton "Rampage" Jackson and Cro Cop, amongst others.
I am sure this first snuff had a profound effect on Emelianenko. I don't blame Zuffa for taking a chance on Filipovic : His stand up style and numerous head kick knockouts are the things that get people's attention, fans on their feet, and showcase in highlight reels. However, White also neglected to point out that in the fight between Cro Cop and Fedor, that the Croatian spent the majority of the 20 minute contest on his back while Emelianenko pounded him with shots. So much so, that Filipovic turned down a PRIDE world heavyweight championship shot against Emelianenko to the UFC. Unfortunately, that gamble the UFC took ended in disaster, as Cro Cop took a head kick against Gabriel Gonzaga, and was never the same.
In this same time frame, Fedor would go on to defeat Middleweight Matt Lindland in a BODOGFight sponsored Pay per view (after negotiations with Jeff Monson fell through), and Hong Man Choi on New Year's Eve that year.
In 2008, the announcement that Affliction president and CEO Tom Attencio had defected from selling at Zuffa, LLC events to start his own promotion, "Affliction Entertainment", with Emelianenko the cornerstone. He bolstered his heavyweight roster by signing talent like Sylvia, Arlovski, Barnett, Yvel and others. Sylvia was a former UFC heavyweight champion, merely fighting for the title months before a July 2008 bout with Fedor (he lost to Noguiera). After Sylvia was mauled in less than 40 seconds, we were teased : Randy Couture was in the audience, with everybody thinking that fight would actually happen. They met in the ring, with Couture saying he'd "sort his issues out" with the UFC, getting the contract signed on the dotted line, with the fight happening as early as January 2009.
Again that didn't happen. And in the meantime, the UFC had announced the signings of several of their prospects, like Lesnar, Velasquez, and Carwin. Frank Mir had recovered from a car accident and was making moves towards the top of the mountain. Meanwhile, after a Knockout of Arlovski and a positive steroid test by Barnett, Emelianenko had run out of options, with "Affliction" folding and M-1 Global looking for a dance partner.
Of course, we all know the rest. Fingers were pointed; Dana White was talking his verbal jabs, with M-1 head Vadim Finklestein blaming the debacle on "difficult negotiations". It has been reported they turned down about US$1 million per fight with the UFC, and headed over to Strikeforce, with the stumbling block being a co-promotional deal. After consecutive losses to Werdum and Bigfoot, Finklestein said that Fedor was "allowed to determine his own fate" admist rumors of impending retirement.
So, who's to blame? Why has Fedor fallen from grace in a matter of mere moments, with people thinking he's not even worth a main event on a "Challengers" card. It can be argued that mismanagement and greed indeed played a part, there are questions remaining like : After Cro Cop fizzled out, why didn't Dana White board a plane to Moscow and head on a train to Stary Oskol, to apologize personally? Did Finklestein bargain in good faith? Why is it that Fedor seems very loyal to somebody that only wants to make him rich, but not a better fighter? Was co-promotion really worth the cost of a man's legacy?
Many questions. But still, too little answers.
-In other news, MMAJunkie reported that ESPN was the first to announce the year end UFC 140 that will take place in Canada will not be in Quebec for the first time. The winner of the event is Toronto, with the event happening at the Air Canada Centre. Remember, of course Toronto hosted this past April's UFC 129, which shattered the record for attendance in North American MMA circles with a sold out house of 55,000. They didn't even sell that many tickets for the Roberto Alomar retirement ceremony recently.
-Anderson Silva is apparently going mainstream. On the heels of signing deals with Nike and Corinthians FC, comes the announcement from ESPN.com/Sherdog that UFC 185 lb. kingpin has signed with fast food giant Burger King. Does that mean they'll start including their Kids Club meals with Round 5 collectables?
-MMAJunkie also reported that former Welterweight champ Marloes Coenen, Valenjtin Overeem and Jon Olav Einemo were handed their walking papers by Zuffa. What clearly hits here is the fact they're all from the same gym : Golden Glory in the Netherlands, which ironically enough, is where former Strikeforce kingpin Alistair Overeem also hails. Overeem if you remember, was recently released due to his reluctance to fight on September 10th in Cincinatti, Ohio citing a "toe injury". Coenen is a former champion who lost her title to Misha Tate on the "Fedor vs Henderson" undercard, with Einemo just making his Octagon debut at UFC 131 against Dave Herman, earning "Fight of the night" honors. All I'm going to say is, there's something fishy here.
-And i know this was a few days ago, but Junkie also reported that Double E Productions has purchased the rights to Rich Franklin's life story for their "American Fighter" movie. If you don't know, Franklin was a Math Teacher with a Master's degree in Education who originally competed in bar fights on the weekend. All I'm going to say is, I hope they make a sequel featuring Tom Berenger's character from that film "The Substitute". I bet Franklin would kick that pansy teacher's ass.
Questions? Comments? leave one at the bottom, or email me at mmarmaggeddon@gmail.com or follow me on twitter : twitter.com/mmarmaggedon.
Until next time, fight fans!.
No, not that I have long blonde hair or anything. Its just that regardless of opponent, or situation, she always found a way to go all crazy on the sidelines, screaming about either a touchdown or a referee blowing a call. I will admit that this self-admitted MMArmaggedist has gotten a little edgy at times, however most of those times, the fights involve 1 man : Fedor Emelianenko.
Following last Saturday night's "Fedor vs. Henderson" main event, I was left speechless. I didn't get up. I didn't scream at the TV. I didn't even protest the "controversial" officiating. I looked blankly into the screen, shook my head, loafting on my friends couch, with sheer and a cominbation of absolute disappointment and disgust on my face.
It wasn't and had nothing to do with Dan Henderson jumping up on the cage, screaming as loud as his 40 year old lungs could, pointing to fans. What and what it had everything to do with, was the fact that while Fedor carried 27 consecutive wins into his entrance to Strikeforce, his 1-3 performance will likely assure he's nothing more than a footnote in the history of MMA.
I suppose its tragic and somewhat fitting, that after years of his managment proclaiming Fedor "The best heavyweight in the world" and the "Greatest Mixed Martial Artist, ever" by Mauro Ranallo, his career will end losing to a middle age, middle range fighter in Henderson, who, while flooring Emelianenko, was dominated by another fighter with an impressive win streak (Jake Shields).
3 fights ago, people were cheering on their feet to Emelianenko waving, smiling to the fans during the introductions before his fight with Fabricio Werdum. On Saturday, in front of a few thousand fans, we saw a mix of boos and cheers, with a "USA" and "Hendo" chant during the first minutes of the fight.
Why was this the case? While mismanagment and greed definitely play a part, we need to refer to a phrase Lyoto Machida said on Twitter recently regarding his pass on a rematch with Rashad Evans (which will be this Saturday) and the accusation that Dana White said Machida asked for "Anderson Silva" Money :
"There are 2 sides to every story"
In 2006, I watched an interview with a Canadian Sports Network where Dana White criticized Emelianenko, calling him "overrated" and "washed up", with him arguing with the interviewer when he pointed out names on Fedor's resume like Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic and Antonio Noguiera, White said he had beaten them "years ago". Right on the heels of this interview, was the announcement that Zuffa, LLC had signed both Quinton "Rampage" Jackson and Cro Cop, amongst others.
I am sure this first snuff had a profound effect on Emelianenko. I don't blame Zuffa for taking a chance on Filipovic : His stand up style and numerous head kick knockouts are the things that get people's attention, fans on their feet, and showcase in highlight reels. However, White also neglected to point out that in the fight between Cro Cop and Fedor, that the Croatian spent the majority of the 20 minute contest on his back while Emelianenko pounded him with shots. So much so, that Filipovic turned down a PRIDE world heavyweight championship shot against Emelianenko to the UFC. Unfortunately, that gamble the UFC took ended in disaster, as Cro Cop took a head kick against Gabriel Gonzaga, and was never the same.
In this same time frame, Fedor would go on to defeat Middleweight Matt Lindland in a BODOGFight sponsored Pay per view (after negotiations with Jeff Monson fell through), and Hong Man Choi on New Year's Eve that year.
In 2008, the announcement that Affliction president and CEO Tom Attencio had defected from selling at Zuffa, LLC events to start his own promotion, "Affliction Entertainment", with Emelianenko the cornerstone. He bolstered his heavyweight roster by signing talent like Sylvia, Arlovski, Barnett, Yvel and others. Sylvia was a former UFC heavyweight champion, merely fighting for the title months before a July 2008 bout with Fedor (he lost to Noguiera). After Sylvia was mauled in less than 40 seconds, we were teased : Randy Couture was in the audience, with everybody thinking that fight would actually happen. They met in the ring, with Couture saying he'd "sort his issues out" with the UFC, getting the contract signed on the dotted line, with the fight happening as early as January 2009.
Again that didn't happen. And in the meantime, the UFC had announced the signings of several of their prospects, like Lesnar, Velasquez, and Carwin. Frank Mir had recovered from a car accident and was making moves towards the top of the mountain. Meanwhile, after a Knockout of Arlovski and a positive steroid test by Barnett, Emelianenko had run out of options, with "Affliction" folding and M-1 Global looking for a dance partner.
Of course, we all know the rest. Fingers were pointed; Dana White was talking his verbal jabs, with M-1 head Vadim Finklestein blaming the debacle on "difficult negotiations". It has been reported they turned down about US$1 million per fight with the UFC, and headed over to Strikeforce, with the stumbling block being a co-promotional deal. After consecutive losses to Werdum and Bigfoot, Finklestein said that Fedor was "allowed to determine his own fate" admist rumors of impending retirement.
So, who's to blame? Why has Fedor fallen from grace in a matter of mere moments, with people thinking he's not even worth a main event on a "Challengers" card. It can be argued that mismanagement and greed indeed played a part, there are questions remaining like : After Cro Cop fizzled out, why didn't Dana White board a plane to Moscow and head on a train to Stary Oskol, to apologize personally? Did Finklestein bargain in good faith? Why is it that Fedor seems very loyal to somebody that only wants to make him rich, but not a better fighter? Was co-promotion really worth the cost of a man's legacy?
Many questions. But still, too little answers.
-In other news, MMAJunkie reported that ESPN was the first to announce the year end UFC 140 that will take place in Canada will not be in Quebec for the first time. The winner of the event is Toronto, with the event happening at the Air Canada Centre. Remember, of course Toronto hosted this past April's UFC 129, which shattered the record for attendance in North American MMA circles with a sold out house of 55,000. They didn't even sell that many tickets for the Roberto Alomar retirement ceremony recently.
-Anderson Silva is apparently going mainstream. On the heels of signing deals with Nike and Corinthians FC, comes the announcement from ESPN.com/Sherdog that UFC 185 lb. kingpin has signed with fast food giant Burger King. Does that mean they'll start including their Kids Club meals with Round 5 collectables?
-MMAJunkie also reported that former Welterweight champ Marloes Coenen, Valenjtin Overeem and Jon Olav Einemo were handed their walking papers by Zuffa. What clearly hits here is the fact they're all from the same gym : Golden Glory in the Netherlands, which ironically enough, is where former Strikeforce kingpin Alistair Overeem also hails. Overeem if you remember, was recently released due to his reluctance to fight on September 10th in Cincinatti, Ohio citing a "toe injury". Coenen is a former champion who lost her title to Misha Tate on the "Fedor vs Henderson" undercard, with Einemo just making his Octagon debut at UFC 131 against Dave Herman, earning "Fight of the night" honors. All I'm going to say is, there's something fishy here.
-And i know this was a few days ago, but Junkie also reported that Double E Productions has purchased the rights to Rich Franklin's life story for their "American Fighter" movie. If you don't know, Franklin was a Math Teacher with a Master's degree in Education who originally competed in bar fights on the weekend. All I'm going to say is, I hope they make a sequel featuring Tom Berenger's character from that film "The Substitute". I bet Franklin would kick that pansy teacher's ass.
Questions? Comments? leave one at the bottom, or email me at mmarmaggeddon@gmail.com or follow me on twitter : twitter.com/mmarmaggedon.
Until next time, fight fans!.
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Strikeforce : Fedor vs Henderson re-hash : Fedor knocked out for first time, faces uncertain future; Tate captures women's crown.
MMA fans who started the UFC revolution post "Ultimate Fighter" season 1 won't remember Fedor Emelianenko. They won't remember a cyborg of a man, who despite his many shots taken to the face and no matter how many times he was driven on his head, never went out. They won't remember his armbars to fighters like Mark Coleman, his dominance of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu against Antonio Rodrigo Noguiera or his ability to switch the fight around following a suplex on his head courtesy of Kevin Randleman.
No, they will remember Fedor Emelianenko, who despite his desire to fight the top fighters of his sport, was handcuffed by mismanagment, greed and excuses. They will remember a man who lost 3 of his last 4 fights, with his most recent win coming 2 years ago against a man who's better remembered for his recent domestic troubles (Brett Rogers).
Dan Henderson made sure of that Saturday Night. And in doing so, sent the legend of the Mixed Martial Arts "roped ring" era into sure retirement.
In a packed Sears Centre in Chicago, Henderson fought Emelianenko in the main event of the Strikeforce card airing live on Showtime. After a feverish start in which both fighters land heavy punches, Henderson managed to get the better of an exchange, gaining the advantage in the clinch and appearing to poke "The Last Emperor"s right eye with an inadvertent eye poke. Despite that, the clinch produced a stalemate, with Referee Herb Dean separating the 2 and putting them centre of the cage. From there, after a feverish flurry that sent Henderson to the floor, Fedor appeared to be finishing off the American and regaining his lost luster. However, the man known as Hendo was playing possum, coming up from behind with a wrestling scramble and dropping a right hand that left Emelianenko buckled and clearly out. After 2 mop up punches, Herb Dean put an end to the fight at 4:12 of round 1.
Next For Henderson : He's the Strikeforce 205 lb. kingpin without a contract. For some reason, I see Dana White saying "Abra Cadabra" and making that title go away. If he decides to come back, throw him the winner of Roger Gracie and Mohammed "King Mo" Lawal.
Next for Fedor : Sure retirement. Maybe owning "Emelianenko's Family Garage" in Stary Oskol doesn't sound so bad. Or finding the "Next Fedor" project for M-1 Global, being co-owner after all.
In the co-main event, we got Miesha Tate taking on Dutch grappling and Jiu-Jitsu ace Marloes Coenen. The first round saw great action as the 2 females scrambled off, Tate getting the dominant positions from on top and using her wrestling to stay there. The second round saw Coenen reverse Tate's dominant position and use her grappling to take control, trying to gain several submissions and mid to late in the 2nd round. A desperate attempt by Coenen to get Tate's back allowed the American to slip out and survive the round. The third round saw Tate dominate with an early takedown, though Coenen landed more power punches and was able to do more taking the round. After another successful takedown to start the first of the "Championship rounds", Tate got her chance. After gaining a full mount, Tate switched into full side control and trapped Coenen's arm. Getting the advantage, Tate seized in an arm triangle, Making "The Golden Girl from Golden Glory" tap for just the first time in his career, with Tate now owning the Strikeforce Women's World Welterweight title (say that 5 times fast).
Next for Tate : A rematch with Canadian Sarah Kaufmann, who's demeanour and attitude have earned her the nickname "The Hound" in my circles.
Next for Coenen : I wouldn't mind seeing her in a rematch with Liz Carmouche. Wow, DW wasn't kidding : The state of Women's MMA is really really diluted.
Honorable Mention : Paul Daley and Tyrone Woodley was my pick for fight of the night, and it did not disappoint. Woodley, a graduate of the "Strikeforce Challengers" series on Showtime, used his wrestling and iron will, along with Daley's knowledge (or lack thereof) of the ground game to secure a unanimous decision win. The Robbie Lawler-Tim Kennedy fight got off with an early scramble, action galore cultimating in a bloody nose by the former American Soldier, who used the wrestling to ease to victory. Also, Strikeforce commentator's have got to go. I'm sorry, Frank Shamrock and Mauro Ranallo have probably more MMA knowledge in their pinky than i do my whole body, but they just lack pure chemistry. It doesn't help they add Gus Johnson into the mix, however. One of the comments during the Lawler-Kennedy fight was made by Shamrock, saying that while Lawler was down on the scorecards he was probably "winning the battle". My friends and I didn't understand what the heck he was talking about either. Fedor, who's career is now tarnished by greedy promoters, making an excuse saying he thought his fight with Henderson was prematurely stopped. As a longtime fan of "The Last Emperor", this is not typical. This is him making excuses, which is something he clearly does not do. Frustration comes with the inability to do things you used to be able to do seemingly easy. Just 2 years ago, what Emelianenko did seemingly easy was win.
I went 1 for 2 for my picks, which brings me to 33-21-2 for the year.
Until next time, fight fans!
No, they will remember Fedor Emelianenko, who despite his desire to fight the top fighters of his sport, was handcuffed by mismanagment, greed and excuses. They will remember a man who lost 3 of his last 4 fights, with his most recent win coming 2 years ago against a man who's better remembered for his recent domestic troubles (Brett Rogers).
Dan Henderson made sure of that Saturday Night. And in doing so, sent the legend of the Mixed Martial Arts "roped ring" era into sure retirement.
In a packed Sears Centre in Chicago, Henderson fought Emelianenko in the main event of the Strikeforce card airing live on Showtime. After a feverish start in which both fighters land heavy punches, Henderson managed to get the better of an exchange, gaining the advantage in the clinch and appearing to poke "The Last Emperor"s right eye with an inadvertent eye poke. Despite that, the clinch produced a stalemate, with Referee Herb Dean separating the 2 and putting them centre of the cage. From there, after a feverish flurry that sent Henderson to the floor, Fedor appeared to be finishing off the American and regaining his lost luster. However, the man known as Hendo was playing possum, coming up from behind with a wrestling scramble and dropping a right hand that left Emelianenko buckled and clearly out. After 2 mop up punches, Herb Dean put an end to the fight at 4:12 of round 1.
Next For Henderson : He's the Strikeforce 205 lb. kingpin without a contract. For some reason, I see Dana White saying "Abra Cadabra" and making that title go away. If he decides to come back, throw him the winner of Roger Gracie and Mohammed "King Mo" Lawal.
Next for Fedor : Sure retirement. Maybe owning "Emelianenko's Family Garage" in Stary Oskol doesn't sound so bad. Or finding the "Next Fedor" project for M-1 Global, being co-owner after all.
In the co-main event, we got Miesha Tate taking on Dutch grappling and Jiu-Jitsu ace Marloes Coenen. The first round saw great action as the 2 females scrambled off, Tate getting the dominant positions from on top and using her wrestling to stay there. The second round saw Coenen reverse Tate's dominant position and use her grappling to take control, trying to gain several submissions and mid to late in the 2nd round. A desperate attempt by Coenen to get Tate's back allowed the American to slip out and survive the round. The third round saw Tate dominate with an early takedown, though Coenen landed more power punches and was able to do more taking the round. After another successful takedown to start the first of the "Championship rounds", Tate got her chance. After gaining a full mount, Tate switched into full side control and trapped Coenen's arm. Getting the advantage, Tate seized in an arm triangle, Making "The Golden Girl from Golden Glory" tap for just the first time in his career, with Tate now owning the Strikeforce Women's World Welterweight title (say that 5 times fast).
Next for Tate : A rematch with Canadian Sarah Kaufmann, who's demeanour and attitude have earned her the nickname "The Hound" in my circles.
Next for Coenen : I wouldn't mind seeing her in a rematch with Liz Carmouche. Wow, DW wasn't kidding : The state of Women's MMA is really really diluted.
Honorable Mention : Paul Daley and Tyrone Woodley was my pick for fight of the night, and it did not disappoint. Woodley, a graduate of the "Strikeforce Challengers" series on Showtime, used his wrestling and iron will, along with Daley's knowledge (or lack thereof) of the ground game to secure a unanimous decision win. The Robbie Lawler-Tim Kennedy fight got off with an early scramble, action galore cultimating in a bloody nose by the former American Soldier, who used the wrestling to ease to victory. Also, Strikeforce commentator's have got to go. I'm sorry, Frank Shamrock and Mauro Ranallo have probably more MMA knowledge in their pinky than i do my whole body, but they just lack pure chemistry. It doesn't help they add Gus Johnson into the mix, however. One of the comments during the Lawler-Kennedy fight was made by Shamrock, saying that while Lawler was down on the scorecards he was probably "winning the battle". My friends and I didn't understand what the heck he was talking about either. Fedor, who's career is now tarnished by greedy promoters, making an excuse saying he thought his fight with Henderson was prematurely stopped. As a longtime fan of "The Last Emperor", this is not typical. This is him making excuses, which is something he clearly does not do. Frustration comes with the inability to do things you used to be able to do seemingly easy. Just 2 years ago, what Emelianenko did seemingly easy was win.
I went 1 for 2 for my picks, which brings me to 33-21-2 for the year.
Until next time, fight fans!
Saturday, July 30, 2011
The Road to Demolition : What is Overeem's next move?
When he pulled out of the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix due to an injured toe, Alistair Overeem said that the injury occured before his first round tilt with Fabricio Werdum, that it would require extra time to rest and he'd hoped to be back fighting by October. Well, it appears as if that explaination wasn't good enough for Zuffa, the UFC, or Dana White.
The Reason being is that yesterday, the Strikeforce Heavyweight kingpin was not only out of the tournament, but the promotion as well, being released after news surfaced of his participating in a kickboxing card to take place in his native Netherlands the same month he was expected to fight again in Strikeforce. There are 2 conclusions from this transaction : 1) The Strikeforce Heavyweight World Championship will likely go to the winner of the tournament and 2) His replacement, wrestler Daniel Cormier, fares less of a chance than Overeem did against his opponent, Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva.
But since the MMA landscape has forever been altered with the UFC buying out Strikeforce this past March, the likelihood of predicting "The Demolition Man"s next move is very murky. So let's give all the possibilities another look :
1) He goes back to Kickboxing/K-1 : Probably the most likely choice, Overeem as mentioned before is scheduled to fight in an "Ultimate Glory" event in the Netherlands in October. A kickboxer by trade, Overeem's striking prowess and power are widely known, cumilating in his victory at the 2010 K-1 World Grand Prix last December. The Problem? K-1 is owned by Fighting and Entertainment Group, the same parent company of Japan's biggest MMA promotion, DREAM, who if not for the recent tragedies in Japan would have surely perished into the history books. As it stands now, Overeem is likely to ask for a huge payday if he were to fight permanently there, which would likely mean FEG would have problems paying anybody else (which they have had already).
2) He heads to Boxing to fight the Klitschko Brothers - In a recent interview with ESPN UK, Overeem made it clear of his desire to fight Vitali Klitschko, saying that he was "definitely seriously thinking" about fighting Vitali, and that he is "always looking for a challenge. That came about in fighting for K-1 and becoming K-1 champion, something nobody ever did before. It would be cool to go to boxing and beat the main guy there".
This move seems the least likely. Considering Overeem's prowess in the striking department, he might have some power, but not enough to match up to a straight pugilist. Both Klitschkos have boxed from their formidable years, and it is not something to take on overnight. A tall, lanky boxer like Klitschko would pepper Overeem with jabs and dominate a boxing contest, not turn it into a brawl. While he wouldn't be a "fish out of water" akin to James Toney, he would certainly look out of place.
3) He goes to the UFC to challenge for the heavyweight crown - The release came under the stipulation that the last fight on Overeem's contract was an option. It was also clear that his kickboxing career was permitted as a stipulation on his contract. Is it possible that Overeem, who's 35-11 with a unblemished 3-0 mark in Strikeforce, could parlay his desire to box into a title shot, a la Nick Diaz? Perhaps. It seems like the most likely scenario, given Dana White's outright refusal to allow his athletes to compete in only one sport : Mixed Martial Arts.
This of course, would depend on how Overeem's "pinky toe" heals up.
-In Other news, all fighters for tonight's "Strikeforce : Fedor vs Henderson" card were on weight, as reported by MMAJunkie. Emelianenko, who for years has always shown up at the same weight, came in shedding 7 pounds, weighing in at a robust 223. For Henderson, he was true to his previous word of coming in at 206.1 pounds. Of course, it was rounded up to 207.
-MMAJunkie was also the first to report the first Bellator title to be defended in the promotion's upcoming 5th season will be Eddie Alvarez's 155 lb. strap. He'll take on 8-0 Michael Chandler, who earned his title shot with victories over Marcin Held, Lloyd Woodard and Patricky "Pitbull" Friere in the show's 4th season. Chandler definitely has a wrestling advantage, but its more than likely Alvarez will keep this fight standing to feel him out. We'll find out on October 15th.
-ESPN.com's blog (yes, they have an MMA blog co-hosted with Sherdog. Quite good actually. Look it up) says Dana White has re-iterated Paul Daley won't fight in the UFC again. Despite his showing against Diaz and the likelihood of a World title should he defeat Tyrone Woodley on Saturday, Daley's employment will likely evaporate once the inevitable happens, which is Strikeforce folding into the UFC. His likely suitors? Perhaps MFC in Canada (where he's fought once before at MFC 17), Bellator, or back in his native England with BAMMA, alongside fellow UFC castoff Nate Marquardt.
Questions? Comments? Leave one at the bottom or email me, mmarmaggeddon@gmail.com. You can also follow me on twitter, at twitter.com/MMArmaggedon.
Until next time, fight fans!
The Reason being is that yesterday, the Strikeforce Heavyweight kingpin was not only out of the tournament, but the promotion as well, being released after news surfaced of his participating in a kickboxing card to take place in his native Netherlands the same month he was expected to fight again in Strikeforce. There are 2 conclusions from this transaction : 1) The Strikeforce Heavyweight World Championship will likely go to the winner of the tournament and 2) His replacement, wrestler Daniel Cormier, fares less of a chance than Overeem did against his opponent, Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva.
But since the MMA landscape has forever been altered with the UFC buying out Strikeforce this past March, the likelihood of predicting "The Demolition Man"s next move is very murky. So let's give all the possibilities another look :
1) He goes back to Kickboxing/K-1 : Probably the most likely choice, Overeem as mentioned before is scheduled to fight in an "Ultimate Glory" event in the Netherlands in October. A kickboxer by trade, Overeem's striking prowess and power are widely known, cumilating in his victory at the 2010 K-1 World Grand Prix last December. The Problem? K-1 is owned by Fighting and Entertainment Group, the same parent company of Japan's biggest MMA promotion, DREAM, who if not for the recent tragedies in Japan would have surely perished into the history books. As it stands now, Overeem is likely to ask for a huge payday if he were to fight permanently there, which would likely mean FEG would have problems paying anybody else (which they have had already).
2) He heads to Boxing to fight the Klitschko Brothers - In a recent interview with ESPN UK, Overeem made it clear of his desire to fight Vitali Klitschko, saying that he was "definitely seriously thinking" about fighting Vitali, and that he is "always looking for a challenge. That came about in fighting for K-1 and becoming K-1 champion, something nobody ever did before. It would be cool to go to boxing and beat the main guy there".
This move seems the least likely. Considering Overeem's prowess in the striking department, he might have some power, but not enough to match up to a straight pugilist. Both Klitschkos have boxed from their formidable years, and it is not something to take on overnight. A tall, lanky boxer like Klitschko would pepper Overeem with jabs and dominate a boxing contest, not turn it into a brawl. While he wouldn't be a "fish out of water" akin to James Toney, he would certainly look out of place.
3) He goes to the UFC to challenge for the heavyweight crown - The release came under the stipulation that the last fight on Overeem's contract was an option. It was also clear that his kickboxing career was permitted as a stipulation on his contract. Is it possible that Overeem, who's 35-11 with a unblemished 3-0 mark in Strikeforce, could parlay his desire to box into a title shot, a la Nick Diaz? Perhaps. It seems like the most likely scenario, given Dana White's outright refusal to allow his athletes to compete in only one sport : Mixed Martial Arts.
This of course, would depend on how Overeem's "pinky toe" heals up.
-In Other news, all fighters for tonight's "Strikeforce : Fedor vs Henderson" card were on weight, as reported by MMAJunkie. Emelianenko, who for years has always shown up at the same weight, came in shedding 7 pounds, weighing in at a robust 223. For Henderson, he was true to his previous word of coming in at 206.1 pounds. Of course, it was rounded up to 207.
-MMAJunkie was also the first to report the first Bellator title to be defended in the promotion's upcoming 5th season will be Eddie Alvarez's 155 lb. strap. He'll take on 8-0 Michael Chandler, who earned his title shot with victories over Marcin Held, Lloyd Woodard and Patricky "Pitbull" Friere in the show's 4th season. Chandler definitely has a wrestling advantage, but its more than likely Alvarez will keep this fight standing to feel him out. We'll find out on October 15th.
-ESPN.com's blog (yes, they have an MMA blog co-hosted with Sherdog. Quite good actually. Look it up) says Dana White has re-iterated Paul Daley won't fight in the UFC again. Despite his showing against Diaz and the likelihood of a World title should he defeat Tyrone Woodley on Saturday, Daley's employment will likely evaporate once the inevitable happens, which is Strikeforce folding into the UFC. His likely suitors? Perhaps MFC in Canada (where he's fought once before at MFC 17), Bellator, or back in his native England with BAMMA, alongside fellow UFC castoff Nate Marquardt.
Questions? Comments? Leave one at the bottom or email me, mmarmaggeddon@gmail.com. You can also follow me on twitter, at twitter.com/MMArmaggedon.
Until next time, fight fans!
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