12 seconds; that's all it took for Frankie Edgar to take his opponent down.
BJ Penn, long vaunted for his amazing take down defense, found himself taken down multiple times in his rematch for the UFC light weight championship. Not only did Edgar manage multiple (5) take downs, but absolutely destroyed Penn on the feet.
I remember the first time I saw Micheal Johnson run. Initially, I was unimpressed at Johnson leading the pack. Then I took a look at the landscape flying past, providing a way to measure exactly how fast Johnson was moving. This is a rough equivalent to what happened last night.
Edgar is fast, but it wasn't until I had BJ Penn as a measuring stone that I realized how fast. Edgar, looking like the youngest sibling fighting the eldest brother, blurred through combination after combination. What most impressed me, however, wasn't what he landed; it was how he closed.
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Standing corrected; Diaz looks spectacular in victory over Davis
Everyone makes mistakes.
Whether it's a mistake, an action, or a statement, big or small, everyone does it. But it takes true integrity, sometimes, to step up unprovoked and address that mistake. Now that I have built myself up...
Nate Diaz has proven me completely and utterly wrong.
Due to my personal experiences with Nate, I will admit that I have a negative view of whatever he does. I feel that his boxing is over rated, he has no striking power, he has been fed tomato cans and can't win when he faces a step up in competition.
Last night, he proved otherwise.
Whether it's a mistake, an action, or a statement, big or small, everyone does it. But it takes true integrity, sometimes, to step up unprovoked and address that mistake. Now that I have built myself up...
Nate Diaz has proven me completely and utterly wrong.
Due to my personal experiences with Nate, I will admit that I have a negative view of whatever he does. I feel that his boxing is over rated, he has no striking power, he has been fed tomato cans and can't win when he faces a step up in competition.
Last night, he proved otherwise.
Maynard grinds out a decision over Florian; Secures title shot
Well, it wasn't exciting, but it was a win.
Last night Kenny Florian faced Gray Maynard for the opportunity to fight for gold in the UFC lightweight division. I, personally, was very vocal on a) How Kenny should be the one pushing current champ Frankie Edgar in his first title defense, and b) how there was any/ no way that Gray could win this fight.
Last night Kenny Florian faced Gray Maynard for the opportunity to fight for gold in the UFC lightweight division. I, personally, was very vocal on a) How Kenny should be the one pushing current champ Frankie Edgar in his first title defense, and b) how there was any/ no way that Gray could win this fight.
Tie: Randy Couture no surprise vs. What the hell did Toney even say?
Sorry; I didn't know which title I wanted to go with, so I "tied" them.
Despite all the build up and trash talk leading up to this "MMA vs boxing" spectacular, things went exactly as expected.
Couture, smiling widely before the fight even began, shot and secured the takedown within seconds of the bouts opening bell (so much for Toney's self proclaimed take down defense). Couture quickly and easily moved to full mount, giving Toney a healthy taste of those four ounce gloves, while smothering any sort of offense Toney tried to put togethter. Still smiling, Randy secured a head and arm choke, forcing Toney to tap.
Despite all the build up and trash talk leading up to this "MMA vs boxing" spectacular, things went exactly as expected.
Couture, smiling widely before the fight even began, shot and secured the takedown within seconds of the bouts opening bell (so much for Toney's self proclaimed take down defense). Couture quickly and easily moved to full mount, giving Toney a healthy taste of those four ounce gloves, while smothering any sort of offense Toney tried to put togethter. Still smiling, Randy secured a head and arm choke, forcing Toney to tap.
Joe Lauzon crushes Gabe Reudiger in first round
Imagine what would happen if a 5th grade student got into a streetfight with a Senior in highschool. If you can mentally see that then you have a good understanding of what transpired in the match up between Joe Lauzon and Gabe Reudiger.
The fights' interesting back story continued at the weigh in, where Reudiger presented Lauzon with a cake that read "Sorry for your loss". Although civil at the weigh ins, Lauzon has made no secret of the fact that he and Gabe don't like each other. Gabe has publicly stated that he thinks Lauzon is a spoiled kid too full of himself.
As soon as the bell rang, the Boston native began a full assault on "Godzilla" that included a couple of monstrous slams, some viciously personal ground and pound, and complete and utter dominance from the top position. After feeding Reudiger plenty of leather, Lauzon secured an armbar, forcing the tap at 2:01 in the first round.
After the stoppage, Joe attempted to shake Gabe's hand, but was rebuffed and ignored by the pouting protagonist of colonics. When interviewed by Joe Rogan after the fight, Lauzon proudly welcomed Reudiger to Boston. This, of course, was met with roaring approval.
It was fortuitous that Reudiger was thoughtful enough to bring Joe a cake; every winner deserves some dessert.
The fights' interesting back story continued at the weigh in, where Reudiger presented Lauzon with a cake that read "Sorry for your loss". Although civil at the weigh ins, Lauzon has made no secret of the fact that he and Gabe don't like each other. Gabe has publicly stated that he thinks Lauzon is a spoiled kid too full of himself.
As soon as the bell rang, the Boston native began a full assault on "Godzilla" that included a couple of monstrous slams, some viciously personal ground and pound, and complete and utter dominance from the top position. After feeding Reudiger plenty of leather, Lauzon secured an armbar, forcing the tap at 2:01 in the first round.
After the stoppage, Joe attempted to shake Gabe's hand, but was rebuffed and ignored by the pouting protagonist of colonics. When interviewed by Joe Rogan after the fight, Lauzon proudly welcomed Reudiger to Boston. This, of course, was met with roaring approval.
It was fortuitous that Reudiger was thoughtful enough to bring Joe a cake; every winner deserves some dessert.
The Big 3, Part 3: Penn vs Edgar
Welcome to the third and final round in my breakdown of the "Big 3" where we will feature BJ Penn and Frankie Edgar meeting a second time to battle for the UFC lightweight strap. The two previously met this past April, with Edgar pulling off the upset victory by unanimous decision.
Firstly, as I've already mentioned, I feel that this fight is a joke. The fact that Edgar's first title defense is against the man he won the title from is a mistake. Yes, while it might have been a close fight, the fact is that Edgar won. While Shogun vs. Machida was understandable, the growing trend (witness the recently announced Sonnen vs Silva II) towards immediate rematches is irritating.
While I feel that Kenny Florian deserves the first shot at Frankie's newly aquired accessory, Edgar (competitor that he is) has stated that Gray Maynard (the only fighter to beat him) deserves the shot.
From what I have seen of Edgar, it's not a matter of "who deserves what"; it's a matter of Frankie's desire to avvenge his only loss. But BJ thinks differently. BJ thinks that, by Edgar speaking for Gray, he has shown his true colors: Yellow.
I'd like to remind everyone(BJ included) that after the "Grease Gate" scandal that BJ sent his own mother to lobby on his behalf to the California State Athletic Commision (don't believe me? Google it).
While I don't doubt BJ's warrior spirit, this makes him a bit of a bitch with no right to speak of cowardice towards Edgar's logical statement. Regardless of this, however, the fact of the matter is that these two will face each other once more. So in a brief synopsis:
Look for Penn to be in shape and very aggresive from the get go. A motivated Penn is scary. But I don't see any new results. While Penn may have brought in WEC competitor Antonio Banuelos to help prepare for speed and elusiveness, Frankie is in a different league.
In my opinion, what won the original bought for Edgar was a combination of heart, strong foot work, speed, angles, and boxing.
Edgar is fast, but combine this with absolutely sick angles and movement. The result was a guy that was destined to be "first" and could effectively shut BJ down. Sinus infection or not, BJ got schooled.
And I expect the same thing to happen again.
Firstly, as I've already mentioned, I feel that this fight is a joke. The fact that Edgar's first title defense is against the man he won the title from is a mistake. Yes, while it might have been a close fight, the fact is that Edgar won. While Shogun vs. Machida was understandable, the growing trend (witness the recently announced Sonnen vs Silva II) towards immediate rematches is irritating.
While I feel that Kenny Florian deserves the first shot at Frankie's newly aquired accessory, Edgar (competitor that he is) has stated that Gray Maynard (the only fighter to beat him) deserves the shot.
From what I have seen of Edgar, it's not a matter of "who deserves what"; it's a matter of Frankie's desire to avvenge his only loss. But BJ thinks differently. BJ thinks that, by Edgar speaking for Gray, he has shown his true colors: Yellow.
I'd like to remind everyone(BJ included) that after the "Grease Gate" scandal that BJ sent his own mother to lobby on his behalf to the California State Athletic Commision (don't believe me? Google it).
While I don't doubt BJ's warrior spirit, this makes him a bit of a bitch with no right to speak of cowardice towards Edgar's logical statement. Regardless of this, however, the fact of the matter is that these two will face each other once more. So in a brief synopsis:
Look for Penn to be in shape and very aggresive from the get go. A motivated Penn is scary. But I don't see any new results. While Penn may have brought in WEC competitor Antonio Banuelos to help prepare for speed and elusiveness, Frankie is in a different league.
In my opinion, what won the original bought for Edgar was a combination of heart, strong foot work, speed, angles, and boxing.
Edgar is fast, but combine this with absolutely sick angles and movement. The result was a guy that was destined to be "first" and could effectively shut BJ down. Sinus infection or not, BJ got schooled.
And I expect the same thing to happen again.
Friday, August 27, 2010
The Big 3, Part 2: Randy Couture vs. James Toney
Ah, shit; here comes round two. Let's go.
While UFC 118 may be head lined by the rematch between Frankie Edgar and BJ Penn, Randy Couture and James Toney have stolen the show.
After watching "Countdown to UFC 118", my first instinct was to call this article:
James Toney: My Big Fat Belly
But that would just be silly.
I understand that the countdown is filmed well before the fight. I further understand that the producers will edit the production at their own discretion. I have witnessed (through web casts) both Mike Tyson and Dana White saying that James is in great shape. With all of that being said,
James, are you out of your fucking mind?
James spent half of the broadcast talking about how much of a beast he is. "Randy Couture ain't never faced no one like me", and I am a real fighter.
Really?
Let's take a look at James.
Toney is now representing Trevor Sherman as his head trainer. This prompts me to ask, "who the hell is trevor Sherman"? (Seriously; even Wikipedia doesn't have a listing for him). James probably has more money than God, but rather than enlisting the aid of a Greg Jackson, Dan Henderson or Jeremy Horn, he gets Trevor Sherman. Here are some other gems I picked up:
In the show, Sherman says that "Toney is a sponge; he sucks up everything". My first thought is: I believe you. he does suck up everything: pizza, burgers, chicken and waffles (c'mon now; you gotta switch things up).
Next, we get this from Sherman: "We don't want to change his game, we just want to add more tools to his tool belt".
My wife immediately asked: "why add tools to the tool belt when you are already a tool"? You hear that? My wife knows that Toney is a joke.
Finally, we finish with Sherman talking about how "James may not know the nomenclature of [ certain moves], but he can pull them off".
Now, Trevor...
We're dealing with a native born English speaker that needs sub titles to elucidate whatever the hell he is saying. He may not know the "nomenclature"? He doesn't know what "nomenclature" means!
Now that I've got my rant out of the way, let's actually get to the break down.
TONEY
James Toney has proven himself to be one of the most durable and long lasting figures in professional boxing. His habit of smoothly rolling with punches make incredibly slippery and hard to hit. Combine this ability with the fact that he is one of the best counter strikers the game has ever seen and you have the recipe for trouble for anyone who attempts to face him in a stand up war. This concludes all the positivity I have to offer Mr. Toney.
I am not the first to say it, but it can't be said enough. Boxing is not MMA.
Just because you happen to be a famous classical violin player doesn't mean you can pick up a guitar and play rock and roll. James Toney thinks that his boxing will be enough to make him legitimate in MMA. After all, he's been working on his take down defense for a whole 6 months.
COUTURE
Randy Couture is blah blah blah, yadah yadah yadah. We all know who Randy Couture is, what he is capable of, and what he will do to James Toney. I give it less than 30 seconds before Randy goes for the shot (and if strong wrestlers Tito Ortiz and Chuck Liddell couldn't stop him do you think Toney can?), takes Toney down and finishes it by rear naked choke.
This fight has nothing to do with Randy or James and everything to do with MMA vs boxing. It's a move, a statement, a power play. The way I see it, James embarrassed Dana White by following him around the country and calling him out. So Dana welcomes James to MMA by stacking him against one of the most experienced, well rounded, and competitive fighters that the UFC has to offer.
But here is where Dana has gotten sneaky.
If Dana wanted to make a statement, why not stack Toney up with Frank Mir? Roy Nelson? Hell, Brock Lesnar? Why pull Randy up from light heavy weight to the heavy weight division?
Because it's about spin control.
Let's say that Toney accomplishes the impossible and knocks Randy out. How much damage will be done to the reputation of MMA? So Dana has hedged his bet.
While no one can argue that Randy is in fantastic shape and remains very competitive, the fact of the matter is that he is almost 48. If Toney manages the win, it can be argued that he didn't beat a top contender in the prime of his life; he beat an "old" man closer to 50 than 40. Dana has made Randy the UFC's fall guy.
With that being said, Toney has been almost Sonnen like in the trash talk leading up to this fight, preaching his own prowess and demeaning Randy at every turn. As if the always respectful Couture didn't have enough motivation for this fight, Toney has managed to piss him off.
Randy said it best: "I don't care about knocking him out; I'm here to kick his ass".
While UFC 118 may be head lined by the rematch between Frankie Edgar and BJ Penn, Randy Couture and James Toney have stolen the show.
After watching "Countdown to UFC 118", my first instinct was to call this article:
James Toney: My Big Fat Belly
But that would just be silly.
I understand that the countdown is filmed well before the fight. I further understand that the producers will edit the production at their own discretion. I have witnessed (through web casts) both Mike Tyson and Dana White saying that James is in great shape. With all of that being said,
James, are you out of your fucking mind?
James spent half of the broadcast talking about how much of a beast he is. "Randy Couture ain't never faced no one like me", and I am a real fighter.
Really?
Let's take a look at James.
 | |
| Beat Randy Couture? I thought you said "eat" Randy Couture. Shit, my bad; Let's go to McDonald's. |
Toney is now representing Trevor Sherman as his head trainer. This prompts me to ask, "who the hell is trevor Sherman"? (Seriously; even Wikipedia doesn't have a listing for him). James probably has more money than God, but rather than enlisting the aid of a Greg Jackson, Dan Henderson or Jeremy Horn, he gets Trevor Sherman. Here are some other gems I picked up:
In the show, Sherman says that "Toney is a sponge; he sucks up everything". My first thought is: I believe you. he does suck up everything: pizza, burgers, chicken and waffles (c'mon now; you gotta switch things up).
Next, we get this from Sherman: "We don't want to change his game, we just want to add more tools to his tool belt".
My wife immediately asked: "why add tools to the tool belt when you are already a tool"? You hear that? My wife knows that Toney is a joke.
Finally, we finish with Sherman talking about how "James may not know the nomenclature of [ certain moves], but he can pull them off".
Now, Trevor...
We're dealing with a native born English speaker that needs sub titles to elucidate whatever the hell he is saying. He may not know the "nomenclature"? He doesn't know what "nomenclature" means!
Now that I've got my rant out of the way, let's actually get to the break down.
TONEY
James Toney has proven himself to be one of the most durable and long lasting figures in professional boxing. His habit of smoothly rolling with punches make incredibly slippery and hard to hit. Combine this ability with the fact that he is one of the best counter strikers the game has ever seen and you have the recipe for trouble for anyone who attempts to face him in a stand up war. This concludes all the positivity I have to offer Mr. Toney.
I am not the first to say it, but it can't be said enough. Boxing is not MMA.
Just because you happen to be a famous classical violin player doesn't mean you can pick up a guitar and play rock and roll. James Toney thinks that his boxing will be enough to make him legitimate in MMA. After all, he's been working on his take down defense for a whole 6 months.
COUTURE
Randy Couture is blah blah blah, yadah yadah yadah. We all know who Randy Couture is, what he is capable of, and what he will do to James Toney. I give it less than 30 seconds before Randy goes for the shot (and if strong wrestlers Tito Ortiz and Chuck Liddell couldn't stop him do you think Toney can?), takes Toney down and finishes it by rear naked choke.
This fight has nothing to do with Randy or James and everything to do with MMA vs boxing. It's a move, a statement, a power play. The way I see it, James embarrassed Dana White by following him around the country and calling him out. So Dana welcomes James to MMA by stacking him against one of the most experienced, well rounded, and competitive fighters that the UFC has to offer.
But here is where Dana has gotten sneaky.
If Dana wanted to make a statement, why not stack Toney up with Frank Mir? Roy Nelson? Hell, Brock Lesnar? Why pull Randy up from light heavy weight to the heavy weight division?
Because it's about spin control.
Let's say that Toney accomplishes the impossible and knocks Randy out. How much damage will be done to the reputation of MMA? So Dana has hedged his bet.
While no one can argue that Randy is in fantastic shape and remains very competitive, the fact of the matter is that he is almost 48. If Toney manages the win, it can be argued that he didn't beat a top contender in the prime of his life; he beat an "old" man closer to 50 than 40. Dana has made Randy the UFC's fall guy.
With that being said, Toney has been almost Sonnen like in the trash talk leading up to this fight, preaching his own prowess and demeaning Randy at every turn. As if the always respectful Couture didn't have enough motivation for this fight, Toney has managed to piss him off.
Randy said it best: "I don't care about knocking him out; I'm here to kick his ass".
Thursday, August 26, 2010
The Big 3, Part One: Florian vs. Maynard
Holy shit, here we go.
After watching "Countdown to UFC 118" (again), I've decided that the 3 biggest fights on the card deserve their own individual, and in depth, breakdowns. Consequently, I've decided to put together " The Big 3; Parts One, Two, and Three", which will detail the 3 biggest and most interesting fights on the card.
Make sure you have your tighty whities on, 'cause you're gonna have a boner.
First up on the Big 3, we feature the scrap for the number one contenders spot: Kenny Florian vs. Gray Maynard:
This match up, like many on this card, promotes some controversy. Most ( myself included) would say that Florian deserves the first shot at Frankie Edgar's belt. Although only two fights out from his last title fight with BJ Penn, Florian has stopped big name fighters Clay Guida and Takanori Gomi. It stands to reason that, having stayed in the upper echelon of fighters his entire career, Kenny is the only obvious choice for Edgar's first title defense.
This is where the controversy comes into play.
In his 12-1 record, the only person that Edgar has lost to is Maynard, himself. After that fight, Maynard stated "He was a lot smaller than me, and I felt like I could throw him around. So that's what I did." Edgar himself has stated that Maynard deserves the title shot, since he [Maynard] is the only one to beat him.
This in turn lead to it's own tangent of controversy involving BJ Penn, who claimed that Edgar showed his true colors (yellow) by saying he wished to face Maynard instead of an immediate rematch with Penn.
But that will come in Part 3.
For this current bout, let's look at the build up.
I have been very fortunate to meet both Kenny and Gray (here in Vegas at local MMA bouts), and both were very humble and down to earth guys. Up to this point, both have adhered to the old school martial artist standard that stipulated: I'm a regular guy that just happens to fight; I don't need to talk about how tough I am.
Lately, though, Maynard has been very vocal about this fight with Kenny, being verbally more aggressive than I have yet seen him. So let's break it down.
MAYNARD
Maynard is physically intimidating. Due to my background in bodybuilding, I was considered a large lightweight, but when I stood next to Gray, he dwarfed me. He uses his physical size and power as an asset to control the ring. By controlling the ring, he can effectively dictate where the fight takes place.
Maynard trains here in Vegas at Extreme Couture, which has a strong reputation as a wrestler's MMA gym. Under Randy's training mentality, they take high level wrestlers and give them the tools to be absolute beasts in MMA. His striking offense has improved dramatically, as evidenced by his bout with Roger Huerta. Defensively, however, his striking is lacking.
Like the majority of wrestlers, Maynard is not completely comfortable with throwing a punch. The subtle nuances that are ingrained in a long-time striker don't flow as effectively in wrestlers. Throwing shots from the hip, pivoting the rear foot, punching through a target as you execute a combination (while punching with speed and not muscle), getting your hands back into position as quickly as you throw them out; these are some of the things that many wrestlers struggle with. This becomes an issue if you are dealing with someone that has quick hands.
In his last fight, Maynard faced Nate Diaz. While I feel that there is no question that Gray won the fight, there were a number of instances were Diaz gave him issues. I personally feel that Nate Diaz's striking game is over rated. He pitter-pats and throws a number of shots, hoping one will land on a blind chin or temple. This happened when he faced Gray, catching him with a barrage of punches that dropped Maynard to the canvas.
If Diaz can catch you, what do you think K-Flo will do?
FLORIAN
The epitome of a thinking man's fighter. K-Flo has presented himself as a professional from day one. His game has changed dramatically since his time in the TUF house, and I think you would be hard pressed to find anyone that would argue against him being the most well rounded fighter in the lightweight division.
"I FINISH FIGHTS!"
Does anyone not remember that? While I can appreciate and enjoy the intricacies of a ground war, I'd be lying if I said I didn't love a dramatic and emphatic finish just like everyone else. Kenny has gone 8-2 in his last 10 fights, with 7 of those wins coming by stoppage. The singular win that he didn't finish is the sole similarity between himself and Maynard: Roger Huerta. This is where the similarities end.
While Maynard may be undefeated at 9-0 (with 1 no contest), the level of competition faced by each opponent is drastically different. While Gray struggled with Diaz, who is mid level at best, Florian has beaten a "who's who" of fighter's in the UFC lightweight division.
Gray has the size, strength, and wrestling pedigree to take Kenny down, but it is easier said than done. Kenny's in and out movement is Machida like, and even if Gray manages a take down he has to contend with Florian's black belt level BJJ ground game. Sorry, Gray; but I just don't see how you win this.
With the win, Kenny will be back in the number one contenders slot; right where he should have been from the get go.
After watching "Countdown to UFC 118" (again), I've decided that the 3 biggest fights on the card deserve their own individual, and in depth, breakdowns. Consequently, I've decided to put together " The Big 3; Parts One, Two, and Three", which will detail the 3 biggest and most interesting fights on the card.
Make sure you have your tighty whities on, 'cause you're gonna have a boner.
First up on the Big 3, we feature the scrap for the number one contenders spot: Kenny Florian vs. Gray Maynard:
 |
| kicking your ass will be wicked cool! |
 | ||
| Nope, nope, K(L)enny...I only like things that are soft.(This is a reference to "Of Mice and Men", for those that didn't get it). |
This match up, like many on this card, promotes some controversy. Most ( myself included) would say that Florian deserves the first shot at Frankie Edgar's belt. Although only two fights out from his last title fight with BJ Penn, Florian has stopped big name fighters Clay Guida and Takanori Gomi. It stands to reason that, having stayed in the upper echelon of fighters his entire career, Kenny is the only obvious choice for Edgar's first title defense.
This is where the controversy comes into play.
In his 12-1 record, the only person that Edgar has lost to is Maynard, himself. After that fight, Maynard stated "He was a lot smaller than me, and I felt like I could throw him around. So that's what I did." Edgar himself has stated that Maynard deserves the title shot, since he [Maynard] is the only one to beat him.
This in turn lead to it's own tangent of controversy involving BJ Penn, who claimed that Edgar showed his true colors (yellow) by saying he wished to face Maynard instead of an immediate rematch with Penn.
But that will come in Part 3.
For this current bout, let's look at the build up.
I have been very fortunate to meet both Kenny and Gray (here in Vegas at local MMA bouts), and both were very humble and down to earth guys. Up to this point, both have adhered to the old school martial artist standard that stipulated: I'm a regular guy that just happens to fight; I don't need to talk about how tough I am.
Lately, though, Maynard has been very vocal about this fight with Kenny, being verbally more aggressive than I have yet seen him. So let's break it down.
MAYNARD
Maynard is physically intimidating. Due to my background in bodybuilding, I was considered a large lightweight, but when I stood next to Gray, he dwarfed me. He uses his physical size and power as an asset to control the ring. By controlling the ring, he can effectively dictate where the fight takes place.
Maynard trains here in Vegas at Extreme Couture, which has a strong reputation as a wrestler's MMA gym. Under Randy's training mentality, they take high level wrestlers and give them the tools to be absolute beasts in MMA. His striking offense has improved dramatically, as evidenced by his bout with Roger Huerta. Defensively, however, his striking is lacking.
Like the majority of wrestlers, Maynard is not completely comfortable with throwing a punch. The subtle nuances that are ingrained in a long-time striker don't flow as effectively in wrestlers. Throwing shots from the hip, pivoting the rear foot, punching through a target as you execute a combination (while punching with speed and not muscle), getting your hands back into position as quickly as you throw them out; these are some of the things that many wrestlers struggle with. This becomes an issue if you are dealing with someone that has quick hands.
In his last fight, Maynard faced Nate Diaz. While I feel that there is no question that Gray won the fight, there were a number of instances were Diaz gave him issues. I personally feel that Nate Diaz's striking game is over rated. He pitter-pats and throws a number of shots, hoping one will land on a blind chin or temple. This happened when he faced Gray, catching him with a barrage of punches that dropped Maynard to the canvas.
If Diaz can catch you, what do you think K-Flo will do?
FLORIAN
The epitome of a thinking man's fighter. K-Flo has presented himself as a professional from day one. His game has changed dramatically since his time in the TUF house, and I think you would be hard pressed to find anyone that would argue against him being the most well rounded fighter in the lightweight division.
"I FINISH FIGHTS!"
Does anyone not remember that? While I can appreciate and enjoy the intricacies of a ground war, I'd be lying if I said I didn't love a dramatic and emphatic finish just like everyone else. Kenny has gone 8-2 in his last 10 fights, with 7 of those wins coming by stoppage. The singular win that he didn't finish is the sole similarity between himself and Maynard: Roger Huerta. This is where the similarities end.
While Maynard may be undefeated at 9-0 (with 1 no contest), the level of competition faced by each opponent is drastically different. While Gray struggled with Diaz, who is mid level at best, Florian has beaten a "who's who" of fighter's in the UFC lightweight division.
Gray has the size, strength, and wrestling pedigree to take Kenny down, but it is easier said than done. Kenny's in and out movement is Machida like, and even if Gray manages a take down he has to contend with Florian's black belt level BJJ ground game. Sorry, Gray; but I just don't see how you win this.
With the win, Kenny will be back in the number one contenders slot; right where he should have been from the get go.
Re post: UFC 118: The Build Up and Break Down
Welcome, ladies, gentlemen, delinquints, mma newbies, afficienados, and fanatics to my very first "Build Up and Break Down". While this article may be a bit early, anticipation is...well, anticipatory. Here, I will delve into the match ups, picks, and drama leading up to each of our fisticly favorite events.
For my first (of many),I'll be featuring UFC 118. On August 28th, the UFC heads to Massachussets to host the third event this month. UFC 118, which has had it's fair share of drop outs and replacements, boasts as much curiosity as it does intriguing match ups. I will feature a breakdown of the main card fights and a predictions list at the end of the post. While these are my personal opinions and picks, I welcome any and all comments, arguements and insight. So, without further ado...
Joe Lauzon vs. Gabe Ruediger- My first thoughts on this match up come in as a tie between shock and disgust. Regardless of any other pertinent or recent information on Gabe, I am immediatley drawn back to season 5 of "The Ultimate Fighter". For those that don't recall, Gabe came into the house 20 pounds overweight, attempted to use colonics as a way to cut said weight, indulged in ice cream cake during the cut, and then channeled his own inner Rocky (..."cut me, Mick.", "You don't want to do it, kid!", "Cut me, Mick; Just do it."..) after collapsing and telling his team mates to drag his lifeless form back onto the bike, stating "I can do it, coach!". He was then unceremoniously kicked out of the house, with Dana telling him that he'd just wasted the chance of a lifetime. Now, to the facts...
Gabe has gone 6-0 in his in his last 6 fights, winning the lightweight title for Tachi Fight Promotions, before stepping in to replace an injured Terry Etim. As impressive as this is, TFP is not the UFC, and Joe Lauzon is no roll over tomato can.
For his last fight, Lauzon (coming off of a 1 year lay off and serious knee surgery) faced off with Sam Stout, losing a decision. "J-Lo" is deceptively strong, has servicable striking, a strong ground game, and follows the direction of his corner very well.
Demian Maia vs. Mario Miranda- Merry Christmas, Maia! Originally scheduled to face Allen Belcher at Ultimate Fight Night 22, the bought was cancelled after Belcher suffered a detached retina. Personally, I would have seen this bout going the same way as the Marquardt/ Maia venture. Instead, Maia now faces Mario Miranda, who is 12-1, and 1-1 in the UFC. Miranda, who is a submission specialist, boasts 6 (t)ko's, and recently finished off David Loisseau at UFC 115. Maia has shown some improved stand up, which I think will only serve in helping get the fight to the ground, which I will officially refer to as "Maia-Land." Even recent title challenger Chael Sonnen, who manhandled Anderson Silva for twenty-three minutes, ended up tapping to the arachnid-like ground game that Maia posseses.
Nate Diaz vs. Marcus Davis- Allow me to say right off the bat that I can't stand Nate Diaz, but I will try not to let that cloud my breakdown. Diaz has a highly touted ground game that he uses aggresively, especially from the bottom position. His striking (which heavily emulates that of his older brother Nick) is highly overated. Although he has found some success with his pawing and slapping type combinations, he doesn't necessarily have the same power that his brother posseses. Having made the decision to move up to welterweight will only further emphasize this lack of punching prowess.
Marcus Davis, on the other hand, posseses power in spades, as well as proffesional boxing experience. Davis also has an under rated ground game, especially from the top position. Marcus rebounded from his first ever knockout loss to Ben Saunders by making short work of Canadian Johnathan Goulet. While it can never be predicted how a fighter will respond after a knockout, Davis showed no repercussions from the barrage of knees that Saunders placed on his chin. The one thing I would worry about is the amount of scar tissue that Davis has. No one wants to lose from a cut, but Diaz could make it happen.
Kenny Florian vs. Gray Maynard- This is a particularly interesting match up, as it could represent a (tougher) preview of a potential battle with current champ, Frankie Edgar. Since receiving the runner-up spot on the premiere season of the "Ultimate Fighter", Ken-Flo has lost only two fights in the UFC. Firstly, to former light weight champ, Sean Sherk, and then to former light weight champ BJ Penn.
While in the infancy of his UFC career, Ken-Flo showed a possible weakness against physically powerful wrestlers. Being the thinking man's fighter that he is, Florian adjusted his strength training program and became a guy who beats physically powerful wrestlers (Joe Stevenson and Clay Guida to name a couple).
After splitting from long time Muay Thai trainer Mark DeleGrotte, Florian emerged showing a much sharper striking game. His boxing was now more prominent, yet blended well with his Muay Thai. He was utilizing new angles, as well as great in and out movement. He looked similar to...BJ Penn (if you can't beat'em, join em?( and you learn more from a loss than a win)).
Maynard, on the other hand, is a monster of a light weight. As far as sheer power goes, I doubt that there is anyone in the division that can match him (with the possible exception of Sean Sherk). Living up to his nickname "the Bully", Maynard uses his size and wrestling background to dictate where the fight takes place. He has, however, shown a possible weakness to punches-in-bunches, namely in his last bout with Nate Diaz. Florian's exceptional footwork and superior striking could present some problems.
Randy Couture vs. James Toney- This is a curiosity fight that simultaniously makes me nervous and want to giggle like a school girl. The moment that James Toney steps into the octagon, he will become the greatest boxer to ever fight in the UFC. Mixed martial arts, however, is not boxing.
For the past several years, there has been a tension filled comparison between boxing and mma. Both adimantly claim superiorty as far as combat sports are concerned. The fact is this: most fights will go to the ground. Change the parameters to a stand up fighter versus a wreslter and the previous statement becomes: it will go to the ground.
In theory, Randy Couture (wiley and experienced competitor that he is) takes this fight to the ground post haste, where he proceeds to explain to Toney (very politely, of course) why mma is the superior style. But this is more than a fight. This is a power play.
From what I understand, James Toney followed Dana White to three different cities, hounding him for the opportunity to fight in the UFC. Dana, gentle and generous soul that he is, decided to oblige him. But why?
Near it's inception, when the UFC was "bleeding money" (to quote Dana himself), there was an opportunity to sign Mike Tyson. This opportunity was turned down, as Dana wanted to maintain the integrity of the sport. But to now sign James Toney? This isn't a fight; it's about making a definative statement about which sport is "better". There in lies the potential danger.
Everyone has heard about "a puncher's chance", and if anyone deserves that benefit of the doubt it is James Toney. On paper, Couture is preparing for a cake walk. But...what if...Toney lands that "big shot"? Not only could it be a major upset, but it could set mma back as a sport, as well as tarnishing its reputation indefinitely. Think about that.
Frankie Edgar vs. BJ Penn- First of all, I don't think this fight should even be taking place. This is not Machida versus Shogun, where the majority of viewers (and Dana white as well) felt that Shogun had won the battle and deserved an immediate rematch. Edgar versus Penn 1 was a split decision loss for BJ Penn, and he should have to work his way back up the rankings just like everyone else. With that being said, I feel that this fight will play out in very similar fashion to the first.
BJ has the heavier hands of the two, but Edgar's boxing is crisper. Frankie also posseses better footwork, while BJ relies on his Leben-like jaw to move forward aggresively. Frankie's wrestling should allow him to keep the fight standing, although an attempt at a double leg in the later rounds could always come into play. Likewise, BJ's incredible takedown defense and jui-jitsu skills should be able to neutralize any early round takedown attempts. This will be a war of attrition. BJ has often been criticized about questionable cardio, but I don't feel that this will be an issue for this fight. Look for Penn to come out and stay very aggresive.
Frankie, on the other hand, should make heavy use of his footwork, using a lot of angles and in-and-out movement. Personally, I have learned not to bet against Edgar. He has proven me wrong against Sherk, and then Penn; I won't bet against him for anyone other than Kenny Florian.
FINAL PICKS
Lauzon vs. Ruediger- Lauzon (67/33), via 1st round tko
Maia vs Miranda- Maia (67/33), via 2nd round submission
Davis vs Diaz- Davis (57/43), via decision
Maynard vs Florian - Florian (73/27), via 2nd round submission
Couture vs Toney- Couture (93/7), via 1st round rear naked choke
Edgar vs Penn- Edgar (53/47), via split decision
That concludes it! Once again, thank you to any and all that have taken the time to read my first "Build Up and Break Down". All comments, opinions and rebuttals are welcome and will be responded to.
For my first (of many),I'll be featuring UFC 118. On August 28th, the UFC heads to Massachussets to host the third event this month. UFC 118, which has had it's fair share of drop outs and replacements, boasts as much curiosity as it does intriguing match ups. I will feature a breakdown of the main card fights and a predictions list at the end of the post. While these are my personal opinions and picks, I welcome any and all comments, arguements and insight. So, without further ado...
Joe Lauzon vs. Gabe Ruediger- My first thoughts on this match up come in as a tie between shock and disgust. Regardless of any other pertinent or recent information on Gabe, I am immediatley drawn back to season 5 of "The Ultimate Fighter". For those that don't recall, Gabe came into the house 20 pounds overweight, attempted to use colonics as a way to cut said weight, indulged in ice cream cake during the cut, and then channeled his own inner Rocky (..."cut me, Mick.", "You don't want to do it, kid!", "Cut me, Mick; Just do it."..) after collapsing and telling his team mates to drag his lifeless form back onto the bike, stating "I can do it, coach!". He was then unceremoniously kicked out of the house, with Dana telling him that he'd just wasted the chance of a lifetime. Now, to the facts...
Gabe has gone 6-0 in his in his last 6 fights, winning the lightweight title for Tachi Fight Promotions, before stepping in to replace an injured Terry Etim. As impressive as this is, TFP is not the UFC, and Joe Lauzon is no roll over tomato can.
For his last fight, Lauzon (coming off of a 1 year lay off and serious knee surgery) faced off with Sam Stout, losing a decision. "J-Lo" is deceptively strong, has servicable striking, a strong ground game, and follows the direction of his corner very well.
Demian Maia vs. Mario Miranda- Merry Christmas, Maia! Originally scheduled to face Allen Belcher at Ultimate Fight Night 22, the bought was cancelled after Belcher suffered a detached retina. Personally, I would have seen this bout going the same way as the Marquardt/ Maia venture. Instead, Maia now faces Mario Miranda, who is 12-1, and 1-1 in the UFC. Miranda, who is a submission specialist, boasts 6 (t)ko's, and recently finished off David Loisseau at UFC 115. Maia has shown some improved stand up, which I think will only serve in helping get the fight to the ground, which I will officially refer to as "Maia-Land." Even recent title challenger Chael Sonnen, who manhandled Anderson Silva for twenty-three minutes, ended up tapping to the arachnid-like ground game that Maia posseses.
Nate Diaz vs. Marcus Davis- Allow me to say right off the bat that I can't stand Nate Diaz, but I will try not to let that cloud my breakdown. Diaz has a highly touted ground game that he uses aggresively, especially from the bottom position. His striking (which heavily emulates that of his older brother Nick) is highly overated. Although he has found some success with his pawing and slapping type combinations, he doesn't necessarily have the same power that his brother posseses. Having made the decision to move up to welterweight will only further emphasize this lack of punching prowess.
Marcus Davis, on the other hand, posseses power in spades, as well as proffesional boxing experience. Davis also has an under rated ground game, especially from the top position. Marcus rebounded from his first ever knockout loss to Ben Saunders by making short work of Canadian Johnathan Goulet. While it can never be predicted how a fighter will respond after a knockout, Davis showed no repercussions from the barrage of knees that Saunders placed on his chin. The one thing I would worry about is the amount of scar tissue that Davis has. No one wants to lose from a cut, but Diaz could make it happen.
Kenny Florian vs. Gray Maynard- This is a particularly interesting match up, as it could represent a (tougher) preview of a potential battle with current champ, Frankie Edgar. Since receiving the runner-up spot on the premiere season of the "Ultimate Fighter", Ken-Flo has lost only two fights in the UFC. Firstly, to former light weight champ, Sean Sherk, and then to former light weight champ BJ Penn.
While in the infancy of his UFC career, Ken-Flo showed a possible weakness against physically powerful wrestlers. Being the thinking man's fighter that he is, Florian adjusted his strength training program and became a guy who beats physically powerful wrestlers (Joe Stevenson and Clay Guida to name a couple).
After splitting from long time Muay Thai trainer Mark DeleGrotte, Florian emerged showing a much sharper striking game. His boxing was now more prominent, yet blended well with his Muay Thai. He was utilizing new angles, as well as great in and out movement. He looked similar to...BJ Penn (if you can't beat'em, join em?( and you learn more from a loss than a win)).
Maynard, on the other hand, is a monster of a light weight. As far as sheer power goes, I doubt that there is anyone in the division that can match him (with the possible exception of Sean Sherk). Living up to his nickname "the Bully", Maynard uses his size and wrestling background to dictate where the fight takes place. He has, however, shown a possible weakness to punches-in-bunches, namely in his last bout with Nate Diaz. Florian's exceptional footwork and superior striking could present some problems.
Randy Couture vs. James Toney- This is a curiosity fight that simultaniously makes me nervous and want to giggle like a school girl. The moment that James Toney steps into the octagon, he will become the greatest boxer to ever fight in the UFC. Mixed martial arts, however, is not boxing.
For the past several years, there has been a tension filled comparison between boxing and mma. Both adimantly claim superiorty as far as combat sports are concerned. The fact is this: most fights will go to the ground. Change the parameters to a stand up fighter versus a wreslter and the previous statement becomes: it will go to the ground.
In theory, Randy Couture (wiley and experienced competitor that he is) takes this fight to the ground post haste, where he proceeds to explain to Toney (very politely, of course) why mma is the superior style. But this is more than a fight. This is a power play.
From what I understand, James Toney followed Dana White to three different cities, hounding him for the opportunity to fight in the UFC. Dana, gentle and generous soul that he is, decided to oblige him. But why?
Near it's inception, when the UFC was "bleeding money" (to quote Dana himself), there was an opportunity to sign Mike Tyson. This opportunity was turned down, as Dana wanted to maintain the integrity of the sport. But to now sign James Toney? This isn't a fight; it's about making a definative statement about which sport is "better". There in lies the potential danger.
Everyone has heard about "a puncher's chance", and if anyone deserves that benefit of the doubt it is James Toney. On paper, Couture is preparing for a cake walk. But...what if...Toney lands that "big shot"? Not only could it be a major upset, but it could set mma back as a sport, as well as tarnishing its reputation indefinitely. Think about that.
Frankie Edgar vs. BJ Penn- First of all, I don't think this fight should even be taking place. This is not Machida versus Shogun, where the majority of viewers (and Dana white as well) felt that Shogun had won the battle and deserved an immediate rematch. Edgar versus Penn 1 was a split decision loss for BJ Penn, and he should have to work his way back up the rankings just like everyone else. With that being said, I feel that this fight will play out in very similar fashion to the first.
BJ has the heavier hands of the two, but Edgar's boxing is crisper. Frankie also posseses better footwork, while BJ relies on his Leben-like jaw to move forward aggresively. Frankie's wrestling should allow him to keep the fight standing, although an attempt at a double leg in the later rounds could always come into play. Likewise, BJ's incredible takedown defense and jui-jitsu skills should be able to neutralize any early round takedown attempts. This will be a war of attrition. BJ has often been criticized about questionable cardio, but I don't feel that this will be an issue for this fight. Look for Penn to come out and stay very aggresive.
Frankie, on the other hand, should make heavy use of his footwork, using a lot of angles and in-and-out movement. Personally, I have learned not to bet against Edgar. He has proven me wrong against Sherk, and then Penn; I won't bet against him for anyone other than Kenny Florian.
FINAL PICKS
Lauzon vs. Ruediger- Lauzon (67/33), via 1st round tko
Maia vs Miranda- Maia (67/33), via 2nd round submission
Davis vs Diaz- Davis (57/43), via decision
Maynard vs Florian - Florian (73/27), via 2nd round submission
Couture vs Toney- Couture (93/7), via 1st round rear naked choke
Edgar vs Penn- Edgar (53/47), via split decision
That concludes it! Once again, thank you to any and all that have taken the time to read my first "Build Up and Break Down". All comments, opinions and rebuttals are welcome and will be responded to.
Spencer Fisher Arrested in Iowa
 | |
| Picture found at www.cagepotato.com, and courtesy of Iowa public records |
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Gabe Ruediger: Joe Lauzon is a kid that hasn't been through hardship
During an interview with www.cagepotato.com, Gabe Reudiger had a number of things to say regarding a number of different things.
For those that don't know, Gabe is infamous for his 3 week stint on The Ultimate Fighter, where he came in 20 pounds overweight, ate cake, shoved a colonic tube up his ass during his weight cut, and was then kicked off the show. Gabe blames all of his issues and short comings on his home gym being a bad place for where he was at mentally at the time. (See the article for the full story).
In regards to his opinion on soon to be opponent Joe Lauzon (8-2 in his last 10 fights), Gabe had this to say:
"Earlier you referred to Joe as a “kid”. Do you feel that there is a maturity gap between the two of you?
Absolutely. He lives with his parents. I left home when I was seventeen. He lives with his parents and plays X-box all day. I don’t own a TV. All I do is worry about training. I don’t think he’s dealt with the hardship I have whether its life or the show. Maybe one time his mom decreased his allowance but other than that I don’t think he’s had to deal with any difficulty." The previous is courtesy of www.cagepotato.com
Gabe also stated that he was better than Lauzon on the ground, stating that he "owned him in the house (TUF house)". He also made mention of Lauzon letting his fame go to his head.
Gabe, are you out of your mind? You are downplaying some one that has had a successful career in the world's largest MMA organization, while you have been fighting in what could effectively be considered MMA sideshows.
Gabe talks about all the holes in Joe's game, citing his own 6 fight win streak in the process. I feel the need to point out that Gabe's 6 fight win streak is against a bunch of "no names". He also "forgets" to mention that before his 6 fight win streak he dropped two in a row, once again to "no names".
Yes, Joe lost his last fight to Sam Stout, but it was after a year long lay off due to a knee injury. Ring rust is a very real thing, and to step back in against Stout is a large bill to fill. The fact that Joe decided to leave a comfortable career as an accountant represent his success as a mixed martial artist (Gabe, what do you do again?)
Comparatively, records are the same: Lauzon is 18-5(8-2 in the last ten), and Gabe is 17-5(7-3 in the last ten). The level of competition is the difference.
I hope you are limber, Gabe; you might just have to tuck your tail between your legs as you walk your fat ass out of the UFC for the second time.
For those that don't know, Gabe is infamous for his 3 week stint on The Ultimate Fighter, where he came in 20 pounds overweight, ate cake, shoved a colonic tube up his ass during his weight cut, and was then kicked off the show. Gabe blames all of his issues and short comings on his home gym being a bad place for where he was at mentally at the time. (See the article for the full story).
In regards to his opinion on soon to be opponent Joe Lauzon (8-2 in his last 10 fights), Gabe had this to say:
"Earlier you referred to Joe as a “kid”. Do you feel that there is a maturity gap between the two of you?
Absolutely. He lives with his parents. I left home when I was seventeen. He lives with his parents and plays X-box all day. I don’t own a TV. All I do is worry about training. I don’t think he’s dealt with the hardship I have whether its life or the show. Maybe one time his mom decreased his allowance but other than that I don’t think he’s had to deal with any difficulty." The previous is courtesy of www.cagepotato.com
Gabe also stated that he was better than Lauzon on the ground, stating that he "owned him in the house (TUF house)". He also made mention of Lauzon letting his fame go to his head.
Gabe, are you out of your mind? You are downplaying some one that has had a successful career in the world's largest MMA organization, while you have been fighting in what could effectively be considered MMA sideshows.
Gabe talks about all the holes in Joe's game, citing his own 6 fight win streak in the process. I feel the need to point out that Gabe's 6 fight win streak is against a bunch of "no names". He also "forgets" to mention that before his 6 fight win streak he dropped two in a row, once again to "no names".
Yes, Joe lost his last fight to Sam Stout, but it was after a year long lay off due to a knee injury. Ring rust is a very real thing, and to step back in against Stout is a large bill to fill. The fact that Joe decided to leave a comfortable career as an accountant represent his success as a mixed martial artist (Gabe, what do you do again?)
Comparatively, records are the same: Lauzon is 18-5(8-2 in the last ten), and Gabe is 17-5(7-3 in the last ten). The level of competition is the difference.
I hope you are limber, Gabe; you might just have to tuck your tail between your legs as you walk your fat ass out of the UFC for the second time.
"K-Flo vs. Maynard: Winner gets a title shot.
Dana White and the UFC just announced that the winner of Saturday's match up between veterans Kenny Florian and Gray Maynard will receive a shot at the light weight crown.
I personally feel that this is a bit of a joke, as Kenny should be making his 3rd challenge for UFC gold on saturday instead of BJ Penn (Penn lost; he should have to work his way back up the ladder like everyone else not name Shogun Rua.)
Florian has beaten the majority of the light weight class, with his only two losses coming from former champ Sean Sherk and former champ BJ Penn. Takanori Gomi, Clay Guida, Joe Stevenson, Roger Huerta, and Joe Lauzon are just some of the big name fighters that Kenny has emerged victorious over.
While I would rather see a fresh fight between Florian and Edgar with a future rematch with Penn, I guess that this is the next best option.
While Florian is more technical and well rounded, Maynard posesses the intangible of size and strength. With all of that being said, however, I see a relatively easy victory for Florian by submission in the second.
I personally feel that this is a bit of a joke, as Kenny should be making his 3rd challenge for UFC gold on saturday instead of BJ Penn (Penn lost; he should have to work his way back up the ladder like everyone else not name Shogun Rua.)
Florian has beaten the majority of the light weight class, with his only two losses coming from former champ Sean Sherk and former champ BJ Penn. Takanori Gomi, Clay Guida, Joe Stevenson, Roger Huerta, and Joe Lauzon are just some of the big name fighters that Kenny has emerged victorious over.
While I would rather see a fresh fight between Florian and Edgar with a future rematch with Penn, I guess that this is the next best option.
While Florian is more technical and well rounded, Maynard posesses the intangible of size and strength. With all of that being said, however, I see a relatively easy victory for Florian by submission in the second.
KJ Noons vs Nick Diaz rematch set!
For those of you who don't know, back in November of 2007, Nick Diaz met KJ noons under the EliteXC banner. The fight saw the always aggresive Diaz pummeled and battered by the incredibly effective striking of Noons. Diaz shrugged of the barrage of leather artillery thrown his way, but was cut badly in a number of places around his eyes. These cuts forced a doctor stoppage.
The ultra competative and always game Diaz disagreed with the stoppage so vehemently that it led to one of the more memorable exits from the ring: Diaz storming out before the announcement and give the double fingered salute to any and all who were watching.
Now, fast forward to Hawaii, 2008, where Diaz and Noons both took home wins on the same card...
After KJ's win, Nick climbed into the cage, went face to face with Noons, and asked for a rematch, stating the now infamous "Don't be scared, Homie". The debacle nearly came to blows, and the animosity has been building since. Noons has been quoted as saying:
"Nick has no class, he's a bum, a piece of shit and he and his team disrespected my family and I with their gestures and trash talk and tried to upstage my fight". (Editors note: I claim no responsability for grammatical or punctuation errors in this statement).
As for Nick having no class, my opinion varies. Diaz, who is a good friend of one of my old trainer's, Kit Cope, came into our gym occasionally. Regardless of how tough/ aggresive he may be where a fight is concerned, Nick was always very humble, outgoing, and (surprisingly) laid back. I mean, it's not like he ever shinned an opponent in the face while he was laying on the ground ( this is a reference to last weeks Strike Force event, where KJ Noons soccer kicked a downed Jorge Gurgel in the face).
Currently, Nick is running on a 7 fight win streak. Noons (currently 10-2) hasn't lost since Febuary of 2007 against "Crazy Horse" Bennett.
This fight could go either way, as it is a match up of styles. The ground goes to Diaz and the stand up to Noons (although Nick has proven effective and frustrating with his boxing.
I simply wonder who would win in a fight between Diaz's satyr like goatee and Noons' Hasselhoff hair.
The ultra competative and always game Diaz disagreed with the stoppage so vehemently that it led to one of the more memorable exits from the ring: Diaz storming out before the announcement and give the double fingered salute to any and all who were watching.
Now, fast forward to Hawaii, 2008, where Diaz and Noons both took home wins on the same card...
After KJ's win, Nick climbed into the cage, went face to face with Noons, and asked for a rematch, stating the now infamous "Don't be scared, Homie". The debacle nearly came to blows, and the animosity has been building since. Noons has been quoted as saying:
"Nick has no class, he's a bum, a piece of shit and he and his team disrespected my family and I with their gestures and trash talk and tried to upstage my fight". (Editors note: I claim no responsability for grammatical or punctuation errors in this statement).
As for Nick having no class, my opinion varies. Diaz, who is a good friend of one of my old trainer's, Kit Cope, came into our gym occasionally. Regardless of how tough/ aggresive he may be where a fight is concerned, Nick was always very humble, outgoing, and (surprisingly) laid back. I mean, it's not like he ever shinned an opponent in the face while he was laying on the ground ( this is a reference to last weeks Strike Force event, where KJ Noons soccer kicked a downed Jorge Gurgel in the face).
Currently, Nick is running on a 7 fight win streak. Noons (currently 10-2) hasn't lost since Febuary of 2007 against "Crazy Horse" Bennett.
This fight could go either way, as it is a match up of styles. The ground goes to Diaz and the stand up to Noons (although Nick has proven effective and frustrating with his boxing.
I simply wonder who would win in a fight between Diaz's satyr like goatee and Noons' Hasselhoff hair.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Dana White "convo" with Mike Tyson
On his most recent UFC video blog, Dana White had a bit of a sit down conversation with none other than "Iron" Mike Tyson. Unsurprisingly, the conversation invariably turned to the upcoming match between UFC legend randy Couture and boxing star James "Lights Out" Toney.
While Tyson never came out and said it, he appeared to be leaning very heavily towards Couture for the win. This surprised me as, retired or not, tyson is still a boxer, and boxers have been notoriously vociferous as of late on the inferiority of MMA. Apparently Tyson and Hopkins are the only two boxers to see reality.
Of other interest in the video:
Dana shows a level of enthusiasm with Tyson that reminds us that he, himself, is a massive fight fan.
Tyson uses the word "dynamic" frequently and often in the wrong context.
Dana uses the word "homie".
Tyson refers to another male as "a beautiful man."
While Tyson never came out and said it, he appeared to be leaning very heavily towards Couture for the win. This surprised me as, retired or not, tyson is still a boxer, and boxers have been notoriously vociferous as of late on the inferiority of MMA. Apparently Tyson and Hopkins are the only two boxers to see reality.
Of other interest in the video:
Dana shows a level of enthusiasm with Tyson that reminds us that he, himself, is a massive fight fan.
Tyson uses the word "dynamic" frequently and often in the wrong context.
Dana uses the word "homie".
Tyson refers to another male as "a beautiful man."
Chael Sonnen to Have Immediate Rematch Against Anderson Silva
On August 7th, Chael Sonnen did what no other fighter has been able to do:dominate champ Anderson Silva for 23 minutes. Silva managed a dramatic come from behind submission victory, and fans immediately began clamoring for a rematch.
Dana White, initially non committal, did allude to a rematch being in the near future, but referenced the long awaited bout between Silva and Vitor Belfort.
Now, the UFC has announced that Belfort will be fighting in November, but not against Silva, who will be sidelined due to injuries sustained before/ during the Sonnen fight.
White went on to state that the demand for an immediate rematch has been overwhelming, and he has decided to give the fans what they want.
The fight is tentatively scheduled to take place later this year, or in early 2011.
Dana White, initially non committal, did allude to a rematch being in the near future, but referenced the long awaited bout between Silva and Vitor Belfort.
Now, the UFC has announced that Belfort will be fighting in November, but not against Silva, who will be sidelined due to injuries sustained before/ during the Sonnen fight.
White went on to state that the demand for an immediate rematch has been overwhelming, and he has decided to give the fans what they want.
The fight is tentatively scheduled to take place later this year, or in early 2011.
Monday, August 23, 2010
Bobby Lashley: Part Time Fighter?
Allow me to say right off the bat that I truly don't know what to think about Bobby Lashley. Because I don't know what to think, I can't really formulate cognizant thoughts and opinions. Because I can't formulate cognizant thoughts and opinions, I may even contradict myself...But none of this means I don't have something to say.
There were a number of things that went wrong at last nights' Strike Force event, but there is one in particular that stands out in reference to Bobby Lashley: for his ring announcement, his credentials included being a 2-time WWE heavyweight champion.
Really?
First, and most importantly, how is being the WWE champ in anyway relevant to MMA? One is the fastest growing combat sport in the world, while the other is a testosterone based soap opera with predetermined conclusions. Why would you want to make any reference where one is compared to the other?
Second, the last I knew, the WWE didn't have weight classes, so why make the distinction of being the heavy weight champ? (I know I am knit-picking, but it's irritating).
Next, let's discuss his physique.
Lashley is an immensely muscled man. While this is great in the weight room or for intimidation factor in "Big Time Wrastlin'", it is definitely not conducive to fighting. It takes a massive amount of oxygen to keep blood flowing to those gargantuan delts and rippling pectorals. Lashley falls into the extreme end of a category occupied with Phil Baroni and Thiago Alves. The fact that Lashley boasts such incredible muscular size, thickness, and density tells me one thing: He hasn't been doing his cardio.
Don't get me wrong; I'm sure he spends plenty of time on an exercise bike or walking treadmill. I know from experience, however, that there is a world of difference between bodybuilding cardio training and fighting cardio training. The intensity demanding from a fighter's cardio training is guaranteed to create what is called "catabolism". By definition, catabolism basically means "muscle destroying". Think about the difference between Lashley and cardio monsters like Forrest Griffen or Clay Guida.
Speaking of Guida...
For his second professional MMA fight, Lashley faced Jason Guida (whose only claim to fame is that his brother, Clay, is a mid/top tier UFC fighter). Jason Guida, however, was a late replacement for Lashley's original opponent, Ken Shamrock. Ken was removed from the match up due to the fact that he tested positive for anabolic steroids. My thoughts on this immediately go to....
Now, let's talk about his performance last night against Chad Griggs.
Bobby is a wrestler, Chad is a Jits guy...as far as a ground game goes, there are a number of parameters and objectives. Even in MMA, the most important thing to think about in a ground scrap is "space". If you are on bottom, you need to create space in order to create opportunity. If you are on top, you want to eliminate space in order to exude control. Wrestlers are naturally very good from a top position in eliminating "space". Bobby, an accomplished wrestler, didn't accomplish his objective.
While Lashley secured a number of takedowns, his top position transitions (against an unheralded/ unknown opponent) were sloppy at best. As a matter of fact, his shots (while effective in the first round) were not nearly as crisp, technical, or fast as I would have expected. This in turn gives me cause to ask: How much training did you actually do for this fight?
Lastly, there are a couple of technicalities that I noticed:
Near the end of the first round, Griggs landed a strong uppercut that opened Lashley up.No one likes to get cut. When blood gets into your eyes, it not only stings, but it'll gum your eye shut. With that in mind, Lashley's cut was below his eye, negating the aforementioned effects. It will, however,still gush blood, and coming out for the second round it appeared that Lashley's eye was curiously devoid of Vaseline. How was it that that could be overlooked?
The second cut issue was instigated by the official. While Lashley held top mount the official called a stop to the action to stand things up. Really? A fighter holds an incredibly dominant position, and the official stands things up? A doctor then inspected Lashley's cut, and gave an affirmative approval. The official then restarted the fight without placing Lashley back into his previous position.
As the round continues, Lashley is visibly more and more fatigued. While he maintained dominance, his shots are becoming noticeably weaker and weaker. The bell finally rings, and Lashley struggles to pick himself up off the canvas ( see the previous paragraphs on cardio and training). Rather than allowing the one minute break allotted any fighter in any combat sport, the official called a stop to the fight after the bell.
Are you kidding me?
While I understand that the officials are there to intercede on behalf of a fighters safety, unless the fighter himself, the fighter's corner, or a doctor calls it "quits", the end of the round is the end of the round.
Lastly, after Chad Griggs was confirmed as the winner, Bobby Lashley left the ring without comment. After the fall out with Forrest Griffen and Anderson Silva, I can't help but wonder about the fan based repercussions.
I can't help but ask Mr. Lashley: what are your intentions? He has been confirmed/ withdrawn from a number of fights ( for reasons ranging from injury to not being on a televised card). He has taken a lengthy hiatus from MMA to go back into professional wrestling. Now, after his first defeat, he flees the scene. This does not strike me as someone that is taking the sport seriously.
While he may have all the tools to become a contender, I don't feel like Bobby Lashley has the dedication. Professional fighting in a high league organization is not a part time job. It's not just what you do, it's who you are...and it's not for everyone, no matter what you did in the WWE.
There were a number of things that went wrong at last nights' Strike Force event, but there is one in particular that stands out in reference to Bobby Lashley: for his ring announcement, his credentials included being a 2-time WWE heavyweight champion.
Really?
First, and most importantly, how is being the WWE champ in anyway relevant to MMA? One is the fastest growing combat sport in the world, while the other is a testosterone based soap opera with predetermined conclusions. Why would you want to make any reference where one is compared to the other?
Second, the last I knew, the WWE didn't have weight classes, so why make the distinction of being the heavy weight champ? (I know I am knit-picking, but it's irritating).
Next, let's discuss his physique.
Lashley is an immensely muscled man. While this is great in the weight room or for intimidation factor in "Big Time Wrastlin'", it is definitely not conducive to fighting. It takes a massive amount of oxygen to keep blood flowing to those gargantuan delts and rippling pectorals. Lashley falls into the extreme end of a category occupied with Phil Baroni and Thiago Alves. The fact that Lashley boasts such incredible muscular size, thickness, and density tells me one thing: He hasn't been doing his cardio.
Don't get me wrong; I'm sure he spends plenty of time on an exercise bike or walking treadmill. I know from experience, however, that there is a world of difference between bodybuilding cardio training and fighting cardio training. The intensity demanding from a fighter's cardio training is guaranteed to create what is called "catabolism". By definition, catabolism basically means "muscle destroying". Think about the difference between Lashley and cardio monsters like Forrest Griffen or Clay Guida.
Speaking of Guida...
For his second professional MMA fight, Lashley faced Jason Guida (whose only claim to fame is that his brother, Clay, is a mid/top tier UFC fighter). Jason Guida, however, was a late replacement for Lashley's original opponent, Ken Shamrock. Ken was removed from the match up due to the fact that he tested positive for anabolic steroids. My thoughts on this immediately go to....
 |
| Lashley's collegiate wrestling weight his senior year was 168 pounds... |
 |
| Ken got busted, but Bobby was clean? He probably just has really good genetics. |
Bobby is a wrestler, Chad is a Jits guy...as far as a ground game goes, there are a number of parameters and objectives. Even in MMA, the most important thing to think about in a ground scrap is "space". If you are on bottom, you need to create space in order to create opportunity. If you are on top, you want to eliminate space in order to exude control. Wrestlers are naturally very good from a top position in eliminating "space". Bobby, an accomplished wrestler, didn't accomplish his objective.
While Lashley secured a number of takedowns, his top position transitions (against an unheralded/ unknown opponent) were sloppy at best. As a matter of fact, his shots (while effective in the first round) were not nearly as crisp, technical, or fast as I would have expected. This in turn gives me cause to ask: How much training did you actually do for this fight?
Lastly, there are a couple of technicalities that I noticed:
Near the end of the first round, Griggs landed a strong uppercut that opened Lashley up.No one likes to get cut. When blood gets into your eyes, it not only stings, but it'll gum your eye shut. With that in mind, Lashley's cut was below his eye, negating the aforementioned effects. It will, however,still gush blood, and coming out for the second round it appeared that Lashley's eye was curiously devoid of Vaseline. How was it that that could be overlooked?
The second cut issue was instigated by the official. While Lashley held top mount the official called a stop to the action to stand things up. Really? A fighter holds an incredibly dominant position, and the official stands things up? A doctor then inspected Lashley's cut, and gave an affirmative approval. The official then restarted the fight without placing Lashley back into his previous position.
As the round continues, Lashley is visibly more and more fatigued. While he maintained dominance, his shots are becoming noticeably weaker and weaker. The bell finally rings, and Lashley struggles to pick himself up off the canvas ( see the previous paragraphs on cardio and training). Rather than allowing the one minute break allotted any fighter in any combat sport, the official called a stop to the fight after the bell.
Are you kidding me?
While I understand that the officials are there to intercede on behalf of a fighters safety, unless the fighter himself, the fighter's corner, or a doctor calls it "quits", the end of the round is the end of the round.
Lastly, after Chad Griggs was confirmed as the winner, Bobby Lashley left the ring without comment. After the fall out with Forrest Griffen and Anderson Silva, I can't help but wonder about the fan based repercussions.
I can't help but ask Mr. Lashley: what are your intentions? He has been confirmed/ withdrawn from a number of fights ( for reasons ranging from injury to not being on a televised card). He has taken a lengthy hiatus from MMA to go back into professional wrestling. Now, after his first defeat, he flees the scene. This does not strike me as someone that is taking the sport seriously.
While he may have all the tools to become a contender, I don't feel like Bobby Lashley has the dedication. Professional fighting in a high league organization is not a part time job. It's not just what you do, it's who you are...and it's not for everyone, no matter what you did in the WWE.
Friday, August 20, 2010
Love'em Or Hate'em: 10 former Champs That Should Consider Hanging'em Up
Just like Jay-Z said: get out while you are on top. There have been any number of champions in any number of sports that have ruled their respective areas of expertise with an iron hand. To quote a line from the movie "Pumping Iron", Arnold Shwarzennegger stated "The wolf on top of the mountain might not be hungry, but when he wants the food, it's there." The unfortunate thing about being on the top is that there is only one direction you can go.
The following are the top 10 former champions who (whether we hate to see them go, or love to watch them leave) should consider stepping away from the glory of pugilism as a profession.
10. Lyoto Machida-(Hate) Now, why would a guy who is 16-1 in his MMA career, not to mention being the most recent "former" UFC light heavy weight champ want to call it quits? Because his mystique is gone. Lyoto's style of fighting confounded opponent after opponent...Until he ran into Shogun Rua. Shogun showed not once, but twice, the way to defeat Machida's unorthodox style. Machida's own father has even encouraged him to call it quits, but Lyoto believes he can be a champion again. Rumors speculate that he will face Quinton Jackson at UFC 123.
9. Andrei Arlovski-(Love) 5-5 in his last 10 fights. Once heralded as the future of heavy weight fighters, Arlovski voluntarily stepped away from the UFC. After signing with Affliction, Arlovski gained 2 stoppage victories over Ben Rothwell and "Big Country" Roy Nelson. Currently, however, he is on a three fight losing streak: a decision loss to Bigfoot Silva, a Blitzkrieg loss to Brett Rogers, and a stunning knockout from Fedor the left him "face down, ass up".
8. Mirko "Crocop" Filopivic-(Love) 3-3 in the UFC. The days of "right leg hospital, left leg cemetery" seem to be long behind him. Since the stunning knock out loss to Gaberiel Gonzaga, Crocop has lacked the predatory senses that saw him wreak havoc and win a title in Pride. Today's fighters have learned that, under pressure, Crocop can be controlled.
7.Antonio "Minotauro" Noguiera (Love) 7-3 in his last 10, 3-2 in the UFC. Noguiera can still be considered a handful for any fighter of any division, as proven by his victory over Randy Couture. Unfortunately, he is 1-2 in his last 3, with both losses coming by (t)ko. I feel that this a result of all the monsterous battles he has been in over the years. At 34 years old, he looks and moves like a 50 year old that has seen 10 miles of bad road. For his own health and well being, it's time to call it quits.
6.Royce Gracie (Love/Hate) One of the pioneers of the sport, and an original inductee into the UFC hall of fame, Gracie (and his family) are the reason why we have the UFC. That being said, Gracie has fought 8 times in the last 15 years, going 3-2-3. His last fight, where he lost to Matt Hughes at UFC 60, came under rumors that his school was going bankrupt. Royce, thank you for all you have done, but the game has passed you by.
5.Tim Sylvia (HATE) 4-4 in last 8 fights. Let's be honest about it; I just don't like the way this guy looks. Don't ask me why. I also feel that he is over rated, and uses size instead of over all skill. Sylvia has progessively found himself in smaller and smaller productions. To add insult to injury, I'd like to remind everyone of the blob of the man he was as he was stopped in :48 by an aging Ray Mercer. Granted, he just won PWP's heavy weight title, but compared to where he has been? It's like winning a gold medal in the Special Olympics: Congratulations; you're still retarded.
4.Tito Ortiz (Love/Hate) 2-3-1 in the last 4 years. While Tito has proven himself a spectacular and caring coach, the fact of the matter is that he hasn't beaten anyone not named Ken Shamrock since 2006. Furthermore, he has had nothing to offer in any of his fights except excuses (recall his most recent loss against Forrest griffen where he claimed his skull was cracked open before the fight). Like Royce Gracie, the game has passed you by.
3.Chuck Liddell-(Love) 1-5 in his last 6, with 4 coming by knockout. Who doesn't love the Iceman? For many years, he was (and still is) the most recognizable face in the sport. Unfortunately, not everyone is Randy Couture, and as his age has advanced, Chuck's chin has declined. Many say that he has developed "flash knockout syndrome". Dana recently guaranteed that Chuck would not fight in the UFC again, yet rumor says he will face Tim Boetch at UFC 123. While I would love to see him go out with a win, my heart has no wish to see another saddening knockout.
2. Jens Pulver-(Love)- 2-8 in his last 10, with 6 losses coming by stoppage. Things change for a man as he begins to start a family. Sometimes, that angry and aggresive edge begins to go away, and there is nothing wrong with that. The original UFC light weight champ, Jens has dropped fights to progesively easier opponents. "Lil' Evil" has become Jens Pulver, a guy that has matured away from fighting and become a regular person. While fighting may be all he knows, it's time to consider using his experience in another avenue.
1. Ken Shamrock-(Love/Hate) 2-8 in his last 10 fights (2-9 if you count his recent court loss to the UFC). The world's most dangerous man, Ken, like Royce Gracie, is a pioneer of the sport, and rightfully deserves his spot in the UFC hall of fame. Unfortunately, like Pulver, he has found himself losing in smaller and smaller shows. Along the way, he has been caught up in scandals involving performance enhancing substances, further tarnishing his legacy. Once again, like Royce, thank you for all that you have done, but the sport has passed you by.
The following are the top 10 former champions who (whether we hate to see them go, or love to watch them leave) should consider stepping away from the glory of pugilism as a profession.
10. Lyoto Machida-(Hate) Now, why would a guy who is 16-1 in his MMA career, not to mention being the most recent "former" UFC light heavy weight champ want to call it quits? Because his mystique is gone. Lyoto's style of fighting confounded opponent after opponent...Until he ran into Shogun Rua. Shogun showed not once, but twice, the way to defeat Machida's unorthodox style. Machida's own father has even encouraged him to call it quits, but Lyoto believes he can be a champion again. Rumors speculate that he will face Quinton Jackson at UFC 123.
9. Andrei Arlovski-(Love) 5-5 in his last 10 fights. Once heralded as the future of heavy weight fighters, Arlovski voluntarily stepped away from the UFC. After signing with Affliction, Arlovski gained 2 stoppage victories over Ben Rothwell and "Big Country" Roy Nelson. Currently, however, he is on a three fight losing streak: a decision loss to Bigfoot Silva, a Blitzkrieg loss to Brett Rogers, and a stunning knockout from Fedor the left him "face down, ass up".
8. Mirko "Crocop" Filopivic-(Love) 3-3 in the UFC. The days of "right leg hospital, left leg cemetery" seem to be long behind him. Since the stunning knock out loss to Gaberiel Gonzaga, Crocop has lacked the predatory senses that saw him wreak havoc and win a title in Pride. Today's fighters have learned that, under pressure, Crocop can be controlled.
7.Antonio "Minotauro" Noguiera (Love) 7-3 in his last 10, 3-2 in the UFC. Noguiera can still be considered a handful for any fighter of any division, as proven by his victory over Randy Couture. Unfortunately, he is 1-2 in his last 3, with both losses coming by (t)ko. I feel that this a result of all the monsterous battles he has been in over the years. At 34 years old, he looks and moves like a 50 year old that has seen 10 miles of bad road. For his own health and well being, it's time to call it quits.
6.Royce Gracie (Love/Hate) One of the pioneers of the sport, and an original inductee into the UFC hall of fame, Gracie (and his family) are the reason why we have the UFC. That being said, Gracie has fought 8 times in the last 15 years, going 3-2-3. His last fight, where he lost to Matt Hughes at UFC 60, came under rumors that his school was going bankrupt. Royce, thank you for all you have done, but the game has passed you by.
5.Tim Sylvia (HATE) 4-4 in last 8 fights. Let's be honest about it; I just don't like the way this guy looks. Don't ask me why. I also feel that he is over rated, and uses size instead of over all skill. Sylvia has progessively found himself in smaller and smaller productions. To add insult to injury, I'd like to remind everyone of the blob of the man he was as he was stopped in :48 by an aging Ray Mercer. Granted, he just won PWP's heavy weight title, but compared to where he has been? It's like winning a gold medal in the Special Olympics: Congratulations; you're still retarded.
4.Tito Ortiz (Love/Hate) 2-3-1 in the last 4 years. While Tito has proven himself a spectacular and caring coach, the fact of the matter is that he hasn't beaten anyone not named Ken Shamrock since 2006. Furthermore, he has had nothing to offer in any of his fights except excuses (recall his most recent loss against Forrest griffen where he claimed his skull was cracked open before the fight). Like Royce Gracie, the game has passed you by.
3.Chuck Liddell-(Love) 1-5 in his last 6, with 4 coming by knockout. Who doesn't love the Iceman? For many years, he was (and still is) the most recognizable face in the sport. Unfortunately, not everyone is Randy Couture, and as his age has advanced, Chuck's chin has declined. Many say that he has developed "flash knockout syndrome". Dana recently guaranteed that Chuck would not fight in the UFC again, yet rumor says he will face Tim Boetch at UFC 123. While I would love to see him go out with a win, my heart has no wish to see another saddening knockout.
2. Jens Pulver-(Love)- 2-8 in his last 10, with 6 losses coming by stoppage. Things change for a man as he begins to start a family. Sometimes, that angry and aggresive edge begins to go away, and there is nothing wrong with that. The original UFC light weight champ, Jens has dropped fights to progesively easier opponents. "Lil' Evil" has become Jens Pulver, a guy that has matured away from fighting and become a regular person. While fighting may be all he knows, it's time to consider using his experience in another avenue.
1. Ken Shamrock-(Love/Hate) 2-8 in his last 10 fights (2-9 if you count his recent court loss to the UFC). The world's most dangerous man, Ken, like Royce Gracie, is a pioneer of the sport, and rightfully deserves his spot in the UFC hall of fame. Unfortunately, like Pulver, he has found himself losing in smaller and smaller shows. Along the way, he has been caught up in scandals involving performance enhancing substances, further tarnishing his legacy. Once again, like Royce, thank you for all that you have done, but the sport has passed you by.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
UFC 118 Betting Odds
Bj Penn- -325
Frankie Edgar- +250 (While I pick Edgar to win, I personally would not touch this fight.)
Randy Couture- -650
James Toney- +435 (Easy win for Couture, but odds being what they are I'd stay away from it.)
Kenny Florian- -145
Gray Maynard- +112 (if you are looking for an underdog bet, betED.com gives maynard +145. I pick Florian.)
Nate Diaz- -200
Marcus Davis- +160 ( I feel confident picking Davis for the upset.)
Harris- -280
Sakara- +220 (this fight could go either direction. I'll take Sakara's size, experience, and boxing.)
Joe Lauzon
Gabe Ruediger (No odds; pick Joe)
Winner- -120
Lents- -110 ( Winner continues to improve. With odds this close, he would be my pick)
Frankie Edgar- +250 (While I pick Edgar to win, I personally would not touch this fight.)
Randy Couture- -650
James Toney- +435 (Easy win for Couture, but odds being what they are I'd stay away from it.)
Kenny Florian- -145
Gray Maynard- +112 (if you are looking for an underdog bet, betED.com gives maynard +145. I pick Florian.)
Nate Diaz- -200
Marcus Davis- +160 ( I feel confident picking Davis for the upset.)
Harris- -280
Sakara- +220 (this fight could go either direction. I'll take Sakara's size, experience, and boxing.)
Joe Lauzon
Gabe Ruediger (No odds; pick Joe)
Winner- -120
Lents- -110 ( Winner continues to improve. With odds this close, he would be my pick)
Monday, August 16, 2010
Frank Mir vs. Mirko Crocop: I DON'T CARE ABOUT THIS FIGHT!
Frank + Mirko = Sad face
On September 25th, UFC 119 is scheduled to take place in Indianapolis. The card featured a heavy weight bout between Frank Mir and Antonio Rodrigo Noguiera. This match up is intruiging for a number of reasons:
1. It's a rematch, and rematches are always fun.
2. Frank, displaying improved striking, was the first person to ever knock out Big Nog.
3. After the fight, Nog revealed that he was suffering from both a knee injury and staph infection.
4. Nog then went and put on an amazing performance against Randy Couture.
Personally, I picked Nog to win the original bout, even though I was hoping for Frank. The concept of seeing these two go at it a second time is damn near mouth watering. Now, sources are reporting that Noguiera has withdrawn due to a rib injury.
Allow me to digress...
The UFC currently boasts 25 fighters within their heavy weight roster. The top 10 could arguably be:
1. Brock Lesnar
2. Cain Velasquez
3. Shane Carwin
4. Junior Dosantos
5.Frank Mir
6. Antonio Noguiera
7. Roy Nelson
8.Heath Herring (even though he hasn't fought since his 2008 match with Brock Lesnar).
9. Brendan Schaub
10. Mirko Crocop
So now that Nog is out, who do they pair Frank up with? Brendan Shaub (giving an up and comer a shot)?
Roy Nelson (particularly intruiging since Nelson out pointed Mir at a jiu-jitsu tournement back in 2003)
Shane Carwin ( to keep both fighters in the mix, as well as creating another high profile match up for a number one contender's spot)?
NO! CROCOP!...MIRKO "EFFING" CROCOP!
Now don't get me wrong... I am as much of a fan of Crocop as anyone else. I remember watching with shock and awe as he crushed his way through Pride. But let's be frank: "Pride Crocop" and "UFC Crocop" are two completely different entities. The fearsomely aggresive striker has slowly faded away. Competitors have come to realize that if you keep him on his heels, keep him backing up, you can effectively neutralize him.
Here's an example: Crocop vs. Dos Santos. Now, does anyone truly feel like Junior is a better or more capable striker than Crocop? Of course not. But Junior is an incredibly aggresive fighter, and kept Crocop on his heels, effectively shutting down his "thai march".
-moreover-
Look at the comparative records: Mirko is 4-1 in his last 5, while Frank is 3-2. While Mirko may have the better record, look at the competition:
Frank
Loss- Shane Carwin
Win-Chiek Congo
Loss- Brock Lesnar
Win- Antonio Noguiera
Win- Brock Lesnar
Mirko
Win- Pat Barry ( who owned Crocop until breaking his own right hand and foot)
Win- Anthony Perosh (who?)
Loss- Dos Santos
Win- Mustapha Al-turk (by eye poke)
Win- Choi- Hong Man ( the Korean equivalent to a WWE freakshow)
The UFC boasts that it sets up intruiging fights, regardless of rankings, but this makes no sense, even by MMAth standards (Congo beat Crocop, Mir beat Congo). Now, I don't know nuthin' about nuthin', but to me the solution seems relatively simple: An increasingly lackluster Crocop as a gatekeeper against up and comer Brendan Shaub, while Mir faces Roy Nelson (both coming off losses against top competition) to settle an old grudge. It's marketable, it's exciting, and it makes sense.
The UFC might be making a mistake, here...names can only sell fights for so long. In theory, the main event should sell the entire card by itself. You shouldn't have to build up an exciting undercard to promote a weak main event. With all that being said...
Of course I'll get the pay per view; It's Mirko effing Crocop, for Christ sakes. I'll take Frank by submission, 2nd round (78/22).
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Shane Carwin Being Federally Investigated For Steroids
On Friday, August 13, Shane Carwin was named in court documents regarding a federal case involving Applied Pharmacy Services. These documents listed a number of individuals and athletes that reportedly received performance enhancing drugs/ anabolics from the Alabama based company
The documents stipulated that Carwin, who was listed as "entry 17, S.C.- profesional fighter", recieved trenbolone, testosterone, Stanozolol, and nandrolone during a 2 year period stretching from April of 2004 to August of 2006.
Carwin, who made his pro mma debut in October of 2005, didn't enter the UFC until May 24th of 2008, facing Christian Wellisch at UFC 84.
Neither Carwin nor his camp have made any comment at this time.
So what are the facts?
-"S.C.- professional fighter" could mean anyone.
-The possesion/ intent to distribute PED is illegal. Having them in your system is not.
- The dated usage took place before Shane entered the UFC.
-Shane has not tested positive for PED's while in the UFC.
What are the repurcussions?
-The UFC has shown a "no favortism/ preferential treatment" policy regarding PED's. Witness light weight champ Sean Sherk, season 1 "TUF" member Chris Leben, and Hermes Franca. If nothing else, Carwin has now been red flagged.
The reality?
-Any number of fighters, pro athletes, and average joe's use anabolics.
-If used and cycled correctly, most PED's will leave no trace in a piss test.
- What about HGH? (human growth hormone) This accomplishes much the same thing as PED's, but can not be traced since it is a naturally occuring hormone in the human body.
Maybe he did it, maybe he didn't. I smoked pot,once, back in high school. Doesn't make me a pot head now. I personally will take Carwin on good faith.
UFC 118: the Build Up and Break Down
Welcome, ladies, gentlemen, delinquints, mma newbies, afficienados, and fanatics to my very first "Build Up and Break Down". While this article may be a bit early, anticipation is...well, anticipatory. Here, I will delve into the match ups, picks, and drama leading up to each of our fisticly favorite events.
For my first (of many),I'll be featuring UFC 118. On August 28th, the UFC heads to Massachussets to host the third event this month. UFC 118, which has had it's fair share of drop outs and replacements, boasts as much curiosity as it does intriguing match ups. I will feature a breakdown of the main card fights and a predictions list at the end of the post. While these are my personal opinions and picks, I welcome any and all comments, arguements and insight. So, without further ado...
Joe Lauzon vs. Gabe Ruediger- My first thoughts on this match up come in as a tie between shock and disgust. Regardless of any other pertinent or recent information on Gabe, I am immediatley drawn back to season 5 of "The Ultimate Fighter". For those that don't recall, Gabe came into the house 20 pounds overweight, attempted to use colonics as a way to cut said weight, indulged in ice cream cake during the cut, and then channeled his own inner Rocky (..."cut me, Mick.", "You don't want to do it, kid!", "Cut me, Mick; Just do it."..) after collapsing and telling his team mates to drag his lifeless form back onto the bike, stating "I can do it, coach!". He was then unceremoniously kicked out of the house, with Dana telling him that he'd just wasted the chance of a lifetime. Now, to the facts...
Gabe has gone 6-0 in his in his last 6 fights, winning the lightweight title for Tachi Fight Promotions, before stepping in to replace an injured Terry Etim. As impressive as this is, TFP is not the UFC, and Joe Lauzon is no roll over tomato can.
For his last fight, Lauzon (coming off of a 1 year lay off and serious knee surgery) faced off with Sam Stout, losing a decision. "J-Lo" is deceptively strong, has servicable striking, a strong ground game, and follows the direction of his corner very well.
Demian Maia vs. Mario Miranda- Merry Christmas, Maia! Originally scheduled to face Allen Belcher at Ultimate Fight Night 22, the bought was cancelled after Belcher suffered a detached retina. Personally, I would have seen this bout going the same way as the Marquardt/ Maia venture. Instead, Maia now faces Mario Miranda, who is 12-1, and 1-1 in the UFC. Miranda, who is a submission specialist, boasts 6 (t)ko's, and recently finished off David Loisseau at UFC 115. Maia has shown some improved stand up, which I think will only serve in helping get the fight to the ground, which I will officially refer to as "Maia-Land." Even recent title challenger Chael Sonnen, who manhandled Anderson Silva for twenty-three minutes, ended up tapping to the arachnid-like ground game that Maia posseses.
Nate Diaz vs. Marcus Davis- Allow me to say right off the bat that I can't stand Nate Diaz, but I will try not to let that cloud my breakdown. Diaz has a highly touted ground game that he uses aggresively, especially from the bottom position. His striking (which heavily emulates that of his older brother Nick) is highly overated. Although he has found some success with his pawing and slapping type combinations, he doesn't necessarily have the same power that his brother posseses. Having made the decision to move up to welterweight will only further emphasize this lack of punching prowess.
Marcus Davis, on the other hand, posseses power in spades, as well as proffesional boxing experience. Davis also has an under rated ground game, especially from the top position. Marcus rebounded from his first ever knockout loss to Ben Saunders by making short work of Canadian Johnathan Goulet. While it can never be predicted how a fighter will respond after a knockout, Davis showed no repercussions from the barrage of knees that Saunders placed on his chin. The one thing I would worry about is the amount of scar tissue that Davis has. No one wants to lose from a cut, but Diaz could make it happen.
Kenny Florian vs. Gray Maynard- This is a particularly interesting match up, as it could represent a (tougher) preview of a potential battle with current champ, Frankie Edgar. Since receiving the runner-up spot on the premiere season of the "Ultimate Fighter", Ken-Flo has lost only two fights in the UFC. Firstly, to former light weight champ, Sean Sherk, and then to former light weight champ BJ Penn.
While in the infancy of his UFC career, Ken-Flo showed a possible weakness against physically powerful wrestlers. Being the thinking man's fighter that he is, Florian adjusted his strength training program and became a guy who beats physically powerful wrestlers (Joe Stevenson and Clay Guida to name a couple).
After splitting from long time Muay Thai trainer Mark DeleGrotte, Florian emerged showing a much sharper striking game. His boxing was now more prominent, yet blended well with his Muay Thai. He was utilizing new angles, as well as great in and out movement. He looked similar to...BJ Penn (if you can't beat'em, join em?( and you learn more from a loss than a win)).
Maynard, on the other hand, is a monster of a light weight. As far as sheer power goes, I doubt that there is anyone in the division that can match him (with the possible exception of Sean Sherk). Living up to his nickname "the Bully", Maynard uses his size and wrestling background to dictate where the fight takes place. He has, however, shown a possible weakness to punches-in-bunches, namely in his last bout with Nate Diaz. Florian's exceptional footwork and superior striking could present some problems.
Randy Couture vs. James Toney- This is a curiosity fight that simultaniously makes me nervous and want to giggle like a school girl. The moment that James Toney steps into the octagon, he will become the greatest boxer to ever fight in the UFC. Mixed martial arts, however, is not boxing.
For the past several years, there has been a tension filled comparison between boxing and mma. Both adimantly claim superiorty as far as combat sports are concerned. The fact is this: most fights will go to the ground. Change the parameters to a stand up fighter versus a wreslter and the previous statement becomes: it will go to the ground.
In theory, Randy Couture (wiley and experienced competitor that he is) takes this fight to the ground post haste, where he proceeds to explain to Toney (very politely, of course) why mma is the superior style. But this is more than a fight. This is a power play.
From what I understand, James Toney followed Dana White to three different cities, hounding him for the opportunity to fight in the UFC. Dana, gentle and generous soul that he is, decided to oblige him. But why?
Near it's inception, when the UFC was "bleeding money" (to quote Dana himself), there was an opportunity to sign Mike Tyson. This opportunity was turned down, as Dana wanted to maintain the integrity of the sport. But to now sign James Toney? This isn't a fight; it's about making a definative statement about which sport is "better". There in lies the potential danger.
Everyone has heard about "a puncher's chance", and if anyone deserves that benefit of the doubt it is James Toney. On paper, Couture is preparing for a cake walk. But...what if...Toney lands that "big shot"? Not only could it be a major upset, but it could set mma back as a sport, as well as tarnishing its reputation indefinitely. Think about that.
Frankie Edgar vs. BJ Penn- First of all, I don't think this fight should even be taking place. This is not Machida versus Shogun, where the majority of viewers (and Dana white as well) felt that Shogun had won the battle and deserved an immediate rematch. Edgar versus Penn 1 was a split decision loss for BJ Penn, and he should have to work his way back up the rankings just like everyone else. With that being said, I feel that this fight will play out in very similar fashion to the first.
BJ has the heavier hands of the two, but Edgar's boxing is crisper. Frankie also posseses better footwork, while BJ relies on his Leben-like jaw to move forward aggresively. Frankie's wrestling should allow him to keep the fight standing, although an attempt at a double leg in the later rounds could always come into play. Likewise, BJ's incredible takedown defense and jui-jitsu skills should be able to neutralize any early round takedown attempts. This will be a war of attrition. BJ has often been criticized about questionable cardio, but I don't feel that this will be an issue for this fight. Look for Penn to come out and stay very aggresive.
Frankie, on the other hand, should make heavy use of his footwork, using a lot of angles and in-and-out movement. Personally, I have learned not to bet against Edgar. He has proven me wrong against Sherk, and then Penn; I won't bet against him for anyone other than Kenny Florian.
FINAL PICKS
Lauzon vs. Ruediger- Lauzon (67/33), via 1st round tko
Maia vs Miranda- Maia (67/33), via 2nd round submission
Davis vs Diaz- Davis (57/43), via decision
Maynard vs Florian - Florian (73/27), via 2nd round submission
Couture vs Toney- Couture (93/7), via 1st round rear naked choke
Edgar vs Penn- Edgar (53/47), via split decision
That concludes it! Once again, thank you to any and all that have taken the time to read my first "Build Up and Break Down". All comments, opinions and rebuttals are welcome and will be responded to.
(
For my first (of many),I'll be featuring UFC 118. On August 28th, the UFC heads to Massachussets to host the third event this month. UFC 118, which has had it's fair share of drop outs and replacements, boasts as much curiosity as it does intriguing match ups. I will feature a breakdown of the main card fights and a predictions list at the end of the post. While these are my personal opinions and picks, I welcome any and all comments, arguements and insight. So, without further ado...
Joe Lauzon vs. Gabe Ruediger- My first thoughts on this match up come in as a tie between shock and disgust. Regardless of any other pertinent or recent information on Gabe, I am immediatley drawn back to season 5 of "The Ultimate Fighter". For those that don't recall, Gabe came into the house 20 pounds overweight, attempted to use colonics as a way to cut said weight, indulged in ice cream cake during the cut, and then channeled his own inner Rocky (..."cut me, Mick.", "You don't want to do it, kid!", "Cut me, Mick; Just do it."..) after collapsing and telling his team mates to drag his lifeless form back onto the bike, stating "I can do it, coach!". He was then unceremoniously kicked out of the house, with Dana telling him that he'd just wasted the chance of a lifetime. Now, to the facts...
Gabe has gone 6-0 in his in his last 6 fights, winning the lightweight title for Tachi Fight Promotions, before stepping in to replace an injured Terry Etim. As impressive as this is, TFP is not the UFC, and Joe Lauzon is no roll over tomato can.
For his last fight, Lauzon (coming off of a 1 year lay off and serious knee surgery) faced off with Sam Stout, losing a decision. "J-Lo" is deceptively strong, has servicable striking, a strong ground game, and follows the direction of his corner very well.
Demian Maia vs. Mario Miranda- Merry Christmas, Maia! Originally scheduled to face Allen Belcher at Ultimate Fight Night 22, the bought was cancelled after Belcher suffered a detached retina. Personally, I would have seen this bout going the same way as the Marquardt/ Maia venture. Instead, Maia now faces Mario Miranda, who is 12-1, and 1-1 in the UFC. Miranda, who is a submission specialist, boasts 6 (t)ko's, and recently finished off David Loisseau at UFC 115. Maia has shown some improved stand up, which I think will only serve in helping get the fight to the ground, which I will officially refer to as "Maia-Land." Even recent title challenger Chael Sonnen, who manhandled Anderson Silva for twenty-three minutes, ended up tapping to the arachnid-like ground game that Maia posseses.
Nate Diaz vs. Marcus Davis- Allow me to say right off the bat that I can't stand Nate Diaz, but I will try not to let that cloud my breakdown. Diaz has a highly touted ground game that he uses aggresively, especially from the bottom position. His striking (which heavily emulates that of his older brother Nick) is highly overated. Although he has found some success with his pawing and slapping type combinations, he doesn't necessarily have the same power that his brother posseses. Having made the decision to move up to welterweight will only further emphasize this lack of punching prowess.
Marcus Davis, on the other hand, posseses power in spades, as well as proffesional boxing experience. Davis also has an under rated ground game, especially from the top position. Marcus rebounded from his first ever knockout loss to Ben Saunders by making short work of Canadian Johnathan Goulet. While it can never be predicted how a fighter will respond after a knockout, Davis showed no repercussions from the barrage of knees that Saunders placed on his chin. The one thing I would worry about is the amount of scar tissue that Davis has. No one wants to lose from a cut, but Diaz could make it happen.
Kenny Florian vs. Gray Maynard- This is a particularly interesting match up, as it could represent a (tougher) preview of a potential battle with current champ, Frankie Edgar. Since receiving the runner-up spot on the premiere season of the "Ultimate Fighter", Ken-Flo has lost only two fights in the UFC. Firstly, to former light weight champ, Sean Sherk, and then to former light weight champ BJ Penn.
While in the infancy of his UFC career, Ken-Flo showed a possible weakness against physically powerful wrestlers. Being the thinking man's fighter that he is, Florian adjusted his strength training program and became a guy who beats physically powerful wrestlers (Joe Stevenson and Clay Guida to name a couple).
After splitting from long time Muay Thai trainer Mark DeleGrotte, Florian emerged showing a much sharper striking game. His boxing was now more prominent, yet blended well with his Muay Thai. He was utilizing new angles, as well as great in and out movement. He looked similar to...BJ Penn (if you can't beat'em, join em?( and you learn more from a loss than a win)).
Maynard, on the other hand, is a monster of a light weight. As far as sheer power goes, I doubt that there is anyone in the division that can match him (with the possible exception of Sean Sherk). Living up to his nickname "the Bully", Maynard uses his size and wrestling background to dictate where the fight takes place. He has, however, shown a possible weakness to punches-in-bunches, namely in his last bout with Nate Diaz. Florian's exceptional footwork and superior striking could present some problems.
Randy Couture vs. James Toney- This is a curiosity fight that simultaniously makes me nervous and want to giggle like a school girl. The moment that James Toney steps into the octagon, he will become the greatest boxer to ever fight in the UFC. Mixed martial arts, however, is not boxing.
For the past several years, there has been a tension filled comparison between boxing and mma. Both adimantly claim superiorty as far as combat sports are concerned. The fact is this: most fights will go to the ground. Change the parameters to a stand up fighter versus a wreslter and the previous statement becomes: it will go to the ground.
In theory, Randy Couture (wiley and experienced competitor that he is) takes this fight to the ground post haste, where he proceeds to explain to Toney (very politely, of course) why mma is the superior style. But this is more than a fight. This is a power play.
From what I understand, James Toney followed Dana White to three different cities, hounding him for the opportunity to fight in the UFC. Dana, gentle and generous soul that he is, decided to oblige him. But why?
Near it's inception, when the UFC was "bleeding money" (to quote Dana himself), there was an opportunity to sign Mike Tyson. This opportunity was turned down, as Dana wanted to maintain the integrity of the sport. But to now sign James Toney? This isn't a fight; it's about making a definative statement about which sport is "better". There in lies the potential danger.
Everyone has heard about "a puncher's chance", and if anyone deserves that benefit of the doubt it is James Toney. On paper, Couture is preparing for a cake walk. But...what if...Toney lands that "big shot"? Not only could it be a major upset, but it could set mma back as a sport, as well as tarnishing its reputation indefinitely. Think about that.
Frankie Edgar vs. BJ Penn- First of all, I don't think this fight should even be taking place. This is not Machida versus Shogun, where the majority of viewers (and Dana white as well) felt that Shogun had won the battle and deserved an immediate rematch. Edgar versus Penn 1 was a split decision loss for BJ Penn, and he should have to work his way back up the rankings just like everyone else. With that being said, I feel that this fight will play out in very similar fashion to the first.
BJ has the heavier hands of the two, but Edgar's boxing is crisper. Frankie also posseses better footwork, while BJ relies on his Leben-like jaw to move forward aggresively. Frankie's wrestling should allow him to keep the fight standing, although an attempt at a double leg in the later rounds could always come into play. Likewise, BJ's incredible takedown defense and jui-jitsu skills should be able to neutralize any early round takedown attempts. This will be a war of attrition. BJ has often been criticized about questionable cardio, but I don't feel that this will be an issue for this fight. Look for Penn to come out and stay very aggresive.
Frankie, on the other hand, should make heavy use of his footwork, using a lot of angles and in-and-out movement. Personally, I have learned not to bet against Edgar. He has proven me wrong against Sherk, and then Penn; I won't bet against him for anyone other than Kenny Florian.
FINAL PICKS
Lauzon vs. Ruediger- Lauzon (67/33), via 1st round tko
Maia vs Miranda- Maia (67/33), via 2nd round submission
Davis vs Diaz- Davis (57/43), via decision
Maynard vs Florian - Florian (73/27), via 2nd round submission
Couture vs Toney- Couture (93/7), via 1st round rear naked choke
Edgar vs Penn- Edgar (53/47), via split decision
That concludes it! Once again, thank you to any and all that have taken the time to read my first "Build Up and Break Down". All comments, opinions and rebuttals are welcome and will be responded to.
(
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Frank Mir: The Elephant in the Room
I've been waiting for it.
In a society were professional athletes are more and more frequently confessing (or getting caught) to using performance enhancing substances, I figured it was simply a matter of time before someone brought it up. I've been perusing a variety of avenues, and each time I check in I anticipate that the subject will have been broached. And yet...nothing. So I figure that if no one else is going to bring it up, I will. That's right; you know what I'm talking about:
Anabolic steroids.
Please don't misconstrue; this is not an article condeming anabolics as the new "white devil" of our generation. Although I never used them myself, I actually maintain a pro- steroids outlook. Official medical and scientific studies will show that mild to moderate steroid use in healthy males above the age of 25 are actually quite beneficial. This, of course, is assuming that they are used correctly; i.e.: doctor supervision, proper diet, no alcohol consumption, bi-weekly blood tests, etc. I bring up my pro-steriods mentality only to make one point: anabolics have no place in professional sports.
In a society were professional athletes are more and more frequently confessing (or getting caught) to using performance enhancing substances, I figured it was simply a matter of time before someone brought it up. I've been perusing a variety of avenues, and each time I check in I anticipate that the subject will have been broached. And yet...nothing. So I figure that if no one else is going to bring it up, I will. That's right; you know what I'm talking about:
Anabolic steroids.
Please don't misconstrue; this is not an article condeming anabolics as the new "white devil" of our generation. Although I never used them myself, I actually maintain a pro- steroids outlook. Official medical and scientific studies will show that mild to moderate steroid use in healthy males above the age of 25 are actually quite beneficial. This, of course, is assuming that they are used correctly; i.e.: doctor supervision, proper diet, no alcohol consumption, bi-weekly blood tests, etc. I bring up my pro-steriods mentality only to make one point: anabolics have no place in professional sports.
Now, with that being said...
When Frank Mir weighed in at UFC 100 he showed up in the best shape of his life, at a shredded mid 240 pounds. The added conditioning didn't truly avail him though, as he was soon decimated at the hands of the monster named Brock Lesnar. Afterwards, Frank enlisted the aid of former UNLV strength and conditioning coach and World's Strongest Man competitor, Mark Phillipi. Six months later, we got a glimpse of the "new" Frank Mir, who had to (reportedly) cut approximately 10 pounds to make the 265 pound limit. Frank boasted an exceptionally muscular physique, while maintaining his conditioning. This is where I can't help but smell something fishy.
Anyone that has truly dedicated themselves to gaining a significant amount of muscle mass will tell you the same thing: it's not as easy as it looks. A novice, touching a weight for the first time, with a perfect diet and proper training techniques might be able to gain as much as 20 pounds that first year. After the first year (maintaining the previously mentioned perfect diet and training techniques) gaining an additional 10 pounds in a year would be a stretch.
Frank Mir is not a novice athlete. Frank Mir is a professional fighter, which means that cardio, in theory, is his best friend. Gaining weight while doing cardio is virtually impossible. I will go on record right now and say that there is no way a conditioned athlete doing 3-4 hours of cardio a day is going to gain 25 pounds in 6 months.
"But GSP put on muscle mass to fight Dan Hardy; why aren't you complaining about him, too?"
Georges took a year and added on 6-8 pounds of muscle. This I can believe, as it falls with in the realm of natural anatomy, physiology, and homeostasis. 25 pounds in 6 months? Try again.
I like Frank. Hell, my wife likes Frank. He is talented, articulate, promotes himself (and his fights) well, and has overcome his fair share of adversity. But I also feel that Frank has a near unhealthy obsession with Brock Lesnar. On one hand, this is a good thing. He is keeping his eye on the prize, and he has a goal in mind. On the other hand, I feel that this has caused him to look past and dismiss his two previous opponents, as well as possibly/ probably delving into some frowned upon "training methods".
Steriods are good for a variety of things that can be related to fighting. Dianobol can make you stronger. Testosterone can make you more aggressive. Sustanon can help with recovery. But two very pertinant things that steroids can't do is stop a double leg or make your chin any more resistant to a vicious series of left handed uppercuts.
Sorry, Frank; Back to the drawing board. I guess you're just going to have to get the belt back the old fashioned way.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)