Now, there are writers I disagree with. I don't agree with alot of the guys at sherdog, I don't agree with alot of the guys that the UFC hires to write hype pieces. Still, I respect those guys, because they respect the fighters and do some research.
But when you step into the arena of "MMA commentary" and throw out a piece where your first reference is to Hulk Hogan, you need to reevaluate your decision and head back to the WWE forums.
I would like to say that this is just a shot at John Curry, but he's not the only one doing this. Still, since I got emailed a link to his article, I think I'll point out exactly what bothers me about this guy.
First, look at the guys he's criticizing:
Chris Leben, who holds some of the most exciting knock out victories. He knocked out Alessio Sakara, Terry Martin, Jorge Santiago, Jorge Rivera and Jason Thacker (not to mention submitting Edwin Dewees and going the distance with Patrick Cote and Luigi Fiorvanti). I don't think there's any surprise that they keep him around, since he pretty much promotes himself.
Jens Pulver. I'll get to my problem with that listing in a minute.
Tim Sylvia, who is hardly overrated, as he's one of the most disliked fighters in the sport and is now fighting with a small show no one cares about.
Ortiz and Evans. Obviously, his failure to mention that Tito Ortiz is a six time UFC lightheavyweight champion and his comparison of Ortiz to Hulk Hogan says enough, but I think what says more is that he totally ignores Evans' knockout of Jason Lambert and the fact that this guy won TUF after being the last pick in his weight class and by beating a guy who is almost a whole foot taller than him.
He mentions Kimbo Slice, who is a product of his own hype, not of his organizations, and while he's not the best fighter, he doesn't claim to be. He's a generally modest guy who's matchups get alot of publicity because he's fun to watch.
Now, even if we ignore that this numbskull left Brock Lesnar off of his list and put Lyoto Machida (one of the most unhyped fighters around, despite coming off of a chokeout of the man many of us thought could bring down top guys in the 205 pound class) on, it makes alot more sense when you look at some of the ridiculous and fallacious factual errors that he makes.
He suggests that Jens Pulver dropped down a weightclass after he returned to the UFC and lost to BJ Penn and Joe Lauzon. Never mind the fact that Pulver had been competing as a 145 pound fighter since 2003. Never mind the fact that Pulver is 10-0 with 10 finishes in that weight class. You can say that he dropped down because he felt like he couldn't compete at 155, that's true, to some degree. But it's also true of Urijah Faber, who commited to fight full time at 145 after losing to Tyson Griffin.
Anyway, I hope I've made my point. There are some great guys in newmedia, and some guys with ideas that I disagree with. But there are also guys who just make stuff up to fit a bizarre Hulk Hogan fetish, and we could pretty well without them.
Monday, March 31, 2008
My Thoughts on Cung Le vs. Frank Shamrock
Now, I said that this fight was going to be more interesting than Frank Shamrock getting a takedown. I said that Cung Le was a better wrestler than everyone seemed to think. I said that Cung Le would win the standup game if he could keep the fight standing.
Even I won't pretend that I expected Le to devastate Shamrock the way that he did. I didn't expect him to snap Frank's arm in half. But, now that he did, and the fact that he did it to the King of Pancrase and the great Frank Shamrock, I think that Le has basically solidified his position as a top 185 pound fighter.
Personally, he'll be well into my top seven, and I think that, if he decimates a few more quality opponents (say, Robbie Lawler and Phil Baroni), then he should call out Anderson Silva, and I think that that's the toughest matchup for Silva right now.
Anderson wants someone he can strike with, and who can strike with him. Le will make that fight stay standing. He will use his San Shou takedown skill to keep the fight standing (and I don't think that Silva's wrestling is good enough to really resist, and I doubt he would want to), and he will make it a kickboxing match to remember.
This is a fight I want to see because I want to see if Anderson's kickboxing is as good as everyone thinks it is (and I include myself in that everyone). Silva never really established himself as a top kickboxer in the world, and the prospect of him fighting a guy who has makes my mouth a little watery.
The Shamrock fight was a great showcase for Cung Le and I wish him the best of luck, since he's a great guy. I hope he continues to dominate Strikeforce, but I would like to see him push for some serious competition, as the current field of competitors doesn't do much for me.
Even I won't pretend that I expected Le to devastate Shamrock the way that he did. I didn't expect him to snap Frank's arm in half. But, now that he did, and the fact that he did it to the King of Pancrase and the great Frank Shamrock, I think that Le has basically solidified his position as a top 185 pound fighter.
Personally, he'll be well into my top seven, and I think that, if he decimates a few more quality opponents (say, Robbie Lawler and Phil Baroni), then he should call out Anderson Silva, and I think that that's the toughest matchup for Silva right now.
Anderson wants someone he can strike with, and who can strike with him. Le will make that fight stay standing. He will use his San Shou takedown skill to keep the fight standing (and I don't think that Silva's wrestling is good enough to really resist, and I doubt he would want to), and he will make it a kickboxing match to remember.
This is a fight I want to see because I want to see if Anderson's kickboxing is as good as everyone thinks it is (and I include myself in that everyone). Silva never really established himself as a top kickboxer in the world, and the prospect of him fighting a guy who has makes my mouth a little watery.
The Shamrock fight was a great showcase for Cung Le and I wish him the best of luck, since he's a great guy. I hope he continues to dominate Strikeforce, but I would like to see him push for some serious competition, as the current field of competitors doesn't do much for me.
Saturday, March 29, 2008
To Silence Fedor's Critics (and to satisfy the curious)
Frankly, this is my definition of a fluke loss.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Pramit Mohapatra Interviews Mark Cuban
Fightticker's Pramit Mohapatra sat down with Mark Cuban and threw some questions at the millionaire behind HD Net. There has been alot of speculation about what, exactly, the purpose of HD Net is going to be, about whether it is going to serve as a line for Dream and World Victory Road into the American scene, or whether it is going to coagulate alot of the free agent fighters starting to crop up (both Fedor Emelianenko and Randy Couture have been mentioned by name).
My thoughts on the Cuban interview are a little bit direct, but I will say that I'm glad Cuban took questions and the first thing that struck me was his compliment of Fedor Emelianenko. While that may have been a diplomatic move, throwing a little flattery at the guy he's trying to sign, but it seemed genuine to me, and the fact is (while I consider the comparison to Charles Barkley to be a little inadequate) he gives recognition where recognition is due. That's good to see, especially from someone as typically egnimatic as Cuban has been known to be.
Cuban says openly that he's working on nailing out an agreement with Kurt Angle and Randy Couture to get a fight put together, and while I think that the fight would be an utter embarrasment if it happens, I can't say that I'm surprised Cuban wants to put the fight together. I mean, people would pay money to see this fight, and if Cuban puts together fights people want to see, he'll establish himself as a force very, very quickly.
I do like that Cuban says that cards should be offered free, with the exception of a handful of pay-per-view events. I do agree that the UFC expecting people to pay $40 for a crappy card is ridiculous, but I also think that Cuban expecting to have a monopoly on the outlet puts him in as much trouble with anti-trust regulations as the UFC is. Still, I think that it's important to recognize that since Elite XC is coming through CBS and IFL is available on other outlets, he's not going to have a serious monopoly.
Now, I only have one sticking point with Cuban's interview. I just want to make a short note before I start on the issue I disagree with Cuban on. The fact that Cuban can't comment on the ongoing trial with the UFC over the fate of Randy Couture. Obviously, Cuban is the one that brought the suit, but I think it's important to recognize that the suit is ongoing and Cuban has the good sense not to comment on it.
My problem with the Cuban interview is his assertion about the "Inside MMA" rankings as the guide to who is really the top of MMA. There is no associated press in MMA, there is no coagulate rankings. The fact that MMA rankings are subjective and are intricated is what makes them interesting. I can't say that I agree with the prospect of using one source as a way of structuring his divisions. It's ridiculous.
Establishing a ladder is a single organization job, and the thought of giving a single media outlet control of structuring that ladder subjects it to the bias of the guys at "Inside MMA." While they're smart guys, I don't think that we should give them the freedom to establish the ladders on their own.
Belts are a system that allows for extra publicity and a sense of dominance within an organization and a set of rules, and the ladder is a system of seniority. While I don't think that the system is perfect, I think that suggesting handing all of that over to a single magazine is not an improvement.
My thoughts on the Cuban interview are a little bit direct, but I will say that I'm glad Cuban took questions and the first thing that struck me was his compliment of Fedor Emelianenko. While that may have been a diplomatic move, throwing a little flattery at the guy he's trying to sign, but it seemed genuine to me, and the fact is (while I consider the comparison to Charles Barkley to be a little inadequate) he gives recognition where recognition is due. That's good to see, especially from someone as typically egnimatic as Cuban has been known to be.
Cuban says openly that he's working on nailing out an agreement with Kurt Angle and Randy Couture to get a fight put together, and while I think that the fight would be an utter embarrasment if it happens, I can't say that I'm surprised Cuban wants to put the fight together. I mean, people would pay money to see this fight, and if Cuban puts together fights people want to see, he'll establish himself as a force very, very quickly.
I do like that Cuban says that cards should be offered free, with the exception of a handful of pay-per-view events. I do agree that the UFC expecting people to pay $40 for a crappy card is ridiculous, but I also think that Cuban expecting to have a monopoly on the outlet puts him in as much trouble with anti-trust regulations as the UFC is. Still, I think that it's important to recognize that since Elite XC is coming through CBS and IFL is available on other outlets, he's not going to have a serious monopoly.
Now, I only have one sticking point with Cuban's interview. I just want to make a short note before I start on the issue I disagree with Cuban on. The fact that Cuban can't comment on the ongoing trial with the UFC over the fate of Randy Couture. Obviously, Cuban is the one that brought the suit, but I think it's important to recognize that the suit is ongoing and Cuban has the good sense not to comment on it.
My problem with the Cuban interview is his assertion about the "Inside MMA" rankings as the guide to who is really the top of MMA. There is no associated press in MMA, there is no coagulate rankings. The fact that MMA rankings are subjective and are intricated is what makes them interesting. I can't say that I agree with the prospect of using one source as a way of structuring his divisions. It's ridiculous.
Establishing a ladder is a single organization job, and the thought of giving a single media outlet control of structuring that ladder subjects it to the bias of the guys at "Inside MMA." While they're smart guys, I don't think that we should give them the freedom to establish the ladders on their own.
Belts are a system that allows for extra publicity and a sense of dominance within an organization and a set of rules, and the ladder is a system of seniority. While I don't think that the system is perfect, I think that suggesting handing all of that over to a single magazine is not an improvement.
Saturday, March 22, 2008
A New Day, A New Piece
So, I thought I'd share my thoughts on the upcoming fight between Michael Bisping and Charles McCarthy, not so much because I think it's a fight of the year candidate (but you never know), and more because I think that a fighter demonstrating that guys who drop down from 205 can have alot of success will attract the attention of guys who feel like they're being screwed in the lightheavyweight division.
I'm not going to name names...... okay, I will.
I think it's a little fucked up that Forrest Griffin gets a title shot still relatively soon after his loss to Jardine, while guys like Thiago Silva are just passed over. I know Forrest beat Shogun, but I'm shocked that essentially one fight has made him a title contender.
I'm not going to name names...... okay, I will.
I think it's a little fucked up that Forrest Griffin gets a title shot still relatively soon after his loss to Jardine, while guys like Thiago Silva are just passed over. I know Forrest beat Shogun, but I'm shocked that essentially one fight has made him a title contender.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Middleweight Rankings
I know that it's been a while since I've done a Rankings piece, but Sherdog released an updated look at their rankings (without, of course, changes in many of the divisions). While I agree that the lightheavyweight division and the heavyweight division have stayed pretty much the same, I think that the middleweight division requires some revision, and the ones that sherdog did seem inadequate to me (and frankly, a little ridiculous in some places). So I'll give you my look at the division.
1. Anderson Silva
2. Paulo Filho
3. Dan Henderson
In case people feel like Henderson's high rank, despite getting his ass whupped by Anderson, needs defense, I'll offer you an explanation. Frankly, he's made it farther with Anderson than anyone else, and the fact that Marquardt is ranked ahead of his by sherdog pisses me off a little. I know that they usually significantly drop the rank of fighters who have just lost, but I still think that Dan is the top guy in his division. I think that, if any of my rankings are suspect, it's my ranking of Filho, who's mental state is really questionable. Still, I like the guy and think he's a fantastic fighter, and if he can get past his depression and fight Sonnen then I think he'll continue to dominate the WEC.
4. Robbie Lawler
5. Yoshihiro Akiyama
I more or less agree with sherdog's explanation of why they are on the list, but I think that the fact that Marquardt is ranked 4 when he hasn't finished a fight in the first round since 2003 and both of his finishes recently (the chokeouts of Crafton Wallace and Jeremy Horn) were over guys that we aren't even calling top guys. He's beaten Lister, who's not ranked either. The only top tier guy he's fought destroyed him in 5 minutes. I think it's wrong that Marquardt's on the top five, and I feel the same way about Okami, who's finish over Evan Tanner was impressive, but Tanner himself is not a high ranking guy and his UD wins are not, in my mind, enough to make him more significant than Franklin. I think that they're places should be dropped and Akiyama and Lawler pushed up as a result.
6. Frank Trigg
7. Cung Le
Now Trigg's ranking is for the same reason as Akiyama's and Lawler's, but I feel that no one really seems to credit Trigg as a great fighter. His only losses are too top submission fighters and Robbie Lawler, who, in my mind, is one of the most destructive strikers in the division, behind Silva and neck-and-neck with one other fighter who I've slipped on to my rankings: Cung Le. I think that Le's fight with Frank Shamrock is a chance to prove himself as a technically destructive fighter who's done alot to cultivate his wrestling skills. If he beats Shamrock, and I think that there's a good chance he will, then he becomes one of the most respectable fighters in the smaller shows. Besides that, I think that Le's ranking makes sense as he's been consistent. That's not to say I usually reward guys for winning and everyone else losing, I usually expect more, but I think that Le's style has proven destructive to a degree that we must show some respect for, and I feel that this ranking does that adequately.
8. Kazuo Misaki
9 Rich Franklin
10. Travis Lutter
I feel that Misaki speaks for himself. He's had an interesting couple of months, but his ranking still makes sense. Franklin and Lutter are the two guys (besides Henderson) who managed to survive two rounds with Anderson, so I feel that that, in part, justifies it. In terms of Franklin, we can't forget that he destroyed MacDonald and he dominated Okami for two rounds (he did have some trouble at the end of that fight and exposed a problem in his submission game, but still came out on top). I don't think that two losses against the top guy in the sport should diminish his rank more than the guys who only lost once. It didn't do that to Nogueira. As for Lutter, he had the weight problem with Silva, but that makes his performance, in my mind, a little more impressive than people think it was. Then there's the fact that he smashed Patrick Cote, who's proven to be much better than people suspected as well. I think Lutter deserves this spot more than Santiago (though that's arguable), and alot more than Marquardt and Okami, who really haven't finished anyone I think of as a top-of-the-pack guy in the UFC. In defense of leaving Santiago off, I feel that his losses to Belcher and Leben are still relatively recent, and that his more recent wins don't necessarily prove that he's on an entirely different level.
Hope that makes some sense to people.
1. Anderson Silva
2. Paulo Filho
3. Dan Henderson
In case people feel like Henderson's high rank, despite getting his ass whupped by Anderson, needs defense, I'll offer you an explanation. Frankly, he's made it farther with Anderson than anyone else, and the fact that Marquardt is ranked ahead of his by sherdog pisses me off a little. I know that they usually significantly drop the rank of fighters who have just lost, but I still think that Dan is the top guy in his division. I think that, if any of my rankings are suspect, it's my ranking of Filho, who's mental state is really questionable. Still, I like the guy and think he's a fantastic fighter, and if he can get past his depression and fight Sonnen then I think he'll continue to dominate the WEC.
4. Robbie Lawler
5. Yoshihiro Akiyama
I more or less agree with sherdog's explanation of why they are on the list, but I think that the fact that Marquardt is ranked 4 when he hasn't finished a fight in the first round since 2003 and both of his finishes recently (the chokeouts of Crafton Wallace and Jeremy Horn) were over guys that we aren't even calling top guys. He's beaten Lister, who's not ranked either. The only top tier guy he's fought destroyed him in 5 minutes. I think it's wrong that Marquardt's on the top five, and I feel the same way about Okami, who's finish over Evan Tanner was impressive, but Tanner himself is not a high ranking guy and his UD wins are not, in my mind, enough to make him more significant than Franklin. I think that they're places should be dropped and Akiyama and Lawler pushed up as a result.
6. Frank Trigg
7. Cung Le
Now Trigg's ranking is for the same reason as Akiyama's and Lawler's, but I feel that no one really seems to credit Trigg as a great fighter. His only losses are too top submission fighters and Robbie Lawler, who, in my mind, is one of the most destructive strikers in the division, behind Silva and neck-and-neck with one other fighter who I've slipped on to my rankings: Cung Le. I think that Le's fight with Frank Shamrock is a chance to prove himself as a technically destructive fighter who's done alot to cultivate his wrestling skills. If he beats Shamrock, and I think that there's a good chance he will, then he becomes one of the most respectable fighters in the smaller shows. Besides that, I think that Le's ranking makes sense as he's been consistent. That's not to say I usually reward guys for winning and everyone else losing, I usually expect more, but I think that Le's style has proven destructive to a degree that we must show some respect for, and I feel that this ranking does that adequately.
8. Kazuo Misaki
9 Rich Franklin
10. Travis Lutter
I feel that Misaki speaks for himself. He's had an interesting couple of months, but his ranking still makes sense. Franklin and Lutter are the two guys (besides Henderson) who managed to survive two rounds with Anderson, so I feel that that, in part, justifies it. In terms of Franklin, we can't forget that he destroyed MacDonald and he dominated Okami for two rounds (he did have some trouble at the end of that fight and exposed a problem in his submission game, but still came out on top). I don't think that two losses against the top guy in the sport should diminish his rank more than the guys who only lost once. It didn't do that to Nogueira. As for Lutter, he had the weight problem with Silva, but that makes his performance, in my mind, a little more impressive than people think it was. Then there's the fact that he smashed Patrick Cote, who's proven to be much better than people suspected as well. I think Lutter deserves this spot more than Santiago (though that's arguable), and alot more than Marquardt and Okami, who really haven't finished anyone I think of as a top-of-the-pack guy in the UFC. In defense of leaving Santiago off, I feel that his losses to Belcher and Leben are still relatively recent, and that his more recent wins don't necessarily prove that he's on an entirely different level.
Hope that makes some sense to people.
Saturday, March 15, 2008
DREAM Results: Will Result in Many Puns
Well, it wasn't a great night, and I won't trouble you with the puns until I publish my official study of the results with mmaopinion.
Still, here are the results.
Ikuhia Minowa defeats Bum Chang Kang via kneebar submission at 1:25 in the first.
Hayato Sakurai defeats Hidetaka Monma with a 4:12 TKO.
Joachim Hansen pulls out the Unanimous decision over Kotetsu Boku.
Luiz Firmino chokes out Kazuyuki Miyata at 7:37.
Katsuhiro Nagata defeats Artur Oumakahnov (yes, I posted his name; it's too damn hard to type) via Unanimous decision.
Mitsuhiro Ishida beats Bu Kyung Jung by Unanimous decision.
Mirko "CroCop" Filipovic demolishes Tatsuya Mizuno in an epic 56 second TKO ass whupping.
Eddie Alvarez beats Andrei "Dida" Amade with strikes at 6:47.
Tatsuya Kawajiri beat Kultar Gill with a unanimous decision.
The main event went a less-than-epic 3:46 seconds before being declared a decisive no-decision.
Still, here are the results.
Ikuhia Minowa defeats Bum Chang Kang via kneebar submission at 1:25 in the first.
Hayato Sakurai defeats Hidetaka Monma with a 4:12 TKO.
Joachim Hansen pulls out the Unanimous decision over Kotetsu Boku.
Luiz Firmino chokes out Kazuyuki Miyata at 7:37.
Katsuhiro Nagata defeats Artur Oumakahnov (yes, I posted his name; it's too damn hard to type) via Unanimous decision.
Mitsuhiro Ishida beats Bu Kyung Jung by Unanimous decision.
Mirko "CroCop" Filipovic demolishes Tatsuya Mizuno in an epic 56 second TKO ass whupping.
Eddie Alvarez beats Andrei "Dida" Amade with strikes at 6:47.
Tatsuya Kawajiri beat Kultar Gill with a unanimous decision.
The main event went a less-than-epic 3:46 seconds before being declared a decisive no-decision.
Friday, March 14, 2008
Countdown to Dream
Well, it has almost arrived and I'm a little bit excited at this point. I've been waiting for Aoki vs. JZ for a long time and think that if both of these guys really show up this could be an FOTY candidate.
My picks:
Gesias "JZ" Calvancanti vs. Shinya "Tobukan Judan" Aoki
I think that this fight will be a war. I originally picked Aoki by early submission after getting caught with a punch, because I didn't think that highly of Aoki's chin or JZ's submission defense, but I think that this fight will show an exciting round and a half or so before the Tobukan Judo ends the match.
My Pick: Aoki via submission (Triangle choke), Round 2
Tatsuya Kawajiri vs. Kultar Gill
This fight is an easy pick, as Gill is a serious no-name, but it will be nice to see the return of Tatsuya Kawajiri and see him catch a big win.
My pick: Kawajiri by TKO, Round 1
Kazuyuki Miyata vs. Luiz Firmino
I'm going with Miyata in a war. I think that the Japanese will expect him to win, and I agree with that, but it will be a hard fought decision victory. I don't think that it will be controversial, but it may very well go back and forth before going to the judges.
My pick: Miyata by Unanimous Decision
Joachim Hansen vs. Kotetsu Boku
I've been waiting for Hansen's return for a while now, and I think that he's got the power and the submission skills to finish a guy like Boku, who he completely outclasses, wherever he wants. Personally, I think he'll take this standing up and early, because he wants to show that he's back and dangerous.
My pick: Hansen via TKO, Round 1
Andre "Dida" Amade vs. Eddie Alvarez
Again, this is a close fight for me to look at. I like Dida, and I think that Alvarez is an interesting prospect. I think this one could end alot of ways, both guys have solid outs and will work their asses off to show that they deserve to say in this organization. Still, I see Dida taking this one with the help of the judges.
My pick: Amade by Unanimous Decision
Mitsuhiro Ishida vs. Jung Bu-Kung
Ishida's a heavy favorite, and when the odds are this heavy I rarely bet against the masses. Ishida is a great fighter with a long history, and his opponent is a relative newcomer. I think experience and raw skill will prevail in this fight and Bu-Kyung will get demolished.
My pick: Ishida by TKO, Round 1
Katsuhiko Nagata vs. Artur Oumakhanov
I've picked this fight based on the quality of opposition, not necessarily on the record, which would give a heavy favoritism to the Russian. I'm taking Nagata in this fight because, despite being barely over .500, he's only lost to two of the better guys over seas right now, one of whom has a thirty pound advantage on him (Yoshihiro Akiyama). While I don't expect Nagata to put on a huge show, I think that he's going to pull it out with the judges.
My pick: Nagata via Unanimous Decision.
Hayato "Mach" Sakurai vs. Hidetaka Monma
Sakurai is one of the most loved fighters in Japan, and his opponent is a nobody. Sakurai has power and experience and raw athleticism, not to mention a solid amount of skill, and his opponent is simply not of the same caliber and, honestly, was probably hand selected by DREAM to lose this fight. That's not to say Monma can't make it interesting (his submission skills earned him a submission win over UFC veteran Jesse Liaudin), but at the end of the day, I think that Sakurai is going to smash him into the canvas.
My pick: Sakurai by TKO, Round 1
Mirko "CroCop" Filipovic vs. Tatsuya Mizuno
CroCop is back where he's comfortable (the ring) and fighting a guy that nobody's heard of. After looking into Mizuno to see if he had the potential for a big come from behind upset, my conclusion is that he's going to get flattened.
My pick: CroCop by KO (kick), Round 1
Should be a fun event, and I'm hoping that the production value is as good as World Victory Road so that we can see a good return to the way Japanese MMA once was. We can only hope.
My picks:
Gesias "JZ" Calvancanti vs. Shinya "Tobukan Judan" Aoki
I think that this fight will be a war. I originally picked Aoki by early submission after getting caught with a punch, because I didn't think that highly of Aoki's chin or JZ's submission defense, but I think that this fight will show an exciting round and a half or so before the Tobukan Judo ends the match.
My Pick: Aoki via submission (Triangle choke), Round 2
Tatsuya Kawajiri vs. Kultar Gill
This fight is an easy pick, as Gill is a serious no-name, but it will be nice to see the return of Tatsuya Kawajiri and see him catch a big win.
My pick: Kawajiri by TKO, Round 1
Kazuyuki Miyata vs. Luiz Firmino
I'm going with Miyata in a war. I think that the Japanese will expect him to win, and I agree with that, but it will be a hard fought decision victory. I don't think that it will be controversial, but it may very well go back and forth before going to the judges.
My pick: Miyata by Unanimous Decision
Joachim Hansen vs. Kotetsu Boku
I've been waiting for Hansen's return for a while now, and I think that he's got the power and the submission skills to finish a guy like Boku, who he completely outclasses, wherever he wants. Personally, I think he'll take this standing up and early, because he wants to show that he's back and dangerous.
My pick: Hansen via TKO, Round 1
Andre "Dida" Amade vs. Eddie Alvarez
Again, this is a close fight for me to look at. I like Dida, and I think that Alvarez is an interesting prospect. I think this one could end alot of ways, both guys have solid outs and will work their asses off to show that they deserve to say in this organization. Still, I see Dida taking this one with the help of the judges.
My pick: Amade by Unanimous Decision
Mitsuhiro Ishida vs. Jung Bu-Kung
Ishida's a heavy favorite, and when the odds are this heavy I rarely bet against the masses. Ishida is a great fighter with a long history, and his opponent is a relative newcomer. I think experience and raw skill will prevail in this fight and Bu-Kyung will get demolished.
My pick: Ishida by TKO, Round 1
Katsuhiko Nagata vs. Artur Oumakhanov
I've picked this fight based on the quality of opposition, not necessarily on the record, which would give a heavy favoritism to the Russian. I'm taking Nagata in this fight because, despite being barely over .500, he's only lost to two of the better guys over seas right now, one of whom has a thirty pound advantage on him (Yoshihiro Akiyama). While I don't expect Nagata to put on a huge show, I think that he's going to pull it out with the judges.
My pick: Nagata via Unanimous Decision.
Hayato "Mach" Sakurai vs. Hidetaka Monma
Sakurai is one of the most loved fighters in Japan, and his opponent is a nobody. Sakurai has power and experience and raw athleticism, not to mention a solid amount of skill, and his opponent is simply not of the same caliber and, honestly, was probably hand selected by DREAM to lose this fight. That's not to say Monma can't make it interesting (his submission skills earned him a submission win over UFC veteran Jesse Liaudin), but at the end of the day, I think that Sakurai is going to smash him into the canvas.
My pick: Sakurai by TKO, Round 1
Mirko "CroCop" Filipovic vs. Tatsuya Mizuno
CroCop is back where he's comfortable (the ring) and fighting a guy that nobody's heard of. After looking into Mizuno to see if he had the potential for a big come from behind upset, my conclusion is that he's going to get flattened.
My pick: CroCop by KO (kick), Round 1
Should be a fun event, and I'm hoping that the production value is as good as World Victory Road so that we can see a good return to the way Japanese MMA once was. We can only hope.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Why I Don't Like Sherdog?
In fairness, there are lots of other reasons, but this is one of them. For those who don't know, this was posted where they usually put news.
The Affliction vs. The UFC dispute, I can understand, but what Anderson Silva wears after he pounds someone's face in? Come on, this isn't US magazine; you're covering a sport, not the dresses at the Oscars.
The Affliction vs. The UFC dispute, I can understand, but what Anderson Silva wears after he pounds someone's face in? Come on, this isn't US magazine; you're covering a sport, not the dresses at the Oscars.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Roy Jones Jr. = More of the Same
It has been suggested that Anderson Silva should fight Roy Jones Jr., perhaps the greatest 185 pound boxer in the world. It’s not surprising that people have started to think this, after Silva destroyed a man that many considered the #2 ranked middleweight in the world, but the thought of reverting to Roy Jones Jr. seems bizarre, and the reasoning is relatively simple.
Even in the longstanding debate between who is the better striker, the conditons of Silva’s match with Jones would be subject to negative scrunity, however they turned out. Here’s what I mean:
If Silva and Jones met in a boxing match and Jones wins (which I imagine he probably would) then it won’t prove anything. It won’t show MMA fans that boxers are superior strikers because they are used to using heavier gloves. All it will show is that Jones is, as I suspect, a better boxer than the undisputed UFC middleweight champion.
If Silva and Jones meet in the Octagon and Silva destroys Jones, whether using his kicks, his thai clinch or his submission skills (all of which are possible, but the first two I find most probably, given that Silva feels they will look the best against Jones), all he will have proved is that it isn’t possible for Jones to adapt to the MMA system in whatever short period of time he is give. It won’t prove anything about the quality of Anderson’s skills and the authority of his dominance.
Let me simplify it even more:
If Silva fights Jones in MMA, all he’s going to prove is that Jones isn’t a very good MMA fighter. (or at least not any better than the other guys that he has systematically demolished)
If Silva fights Jones in boxing, all he’s going to prove is that his striking doesn’t translate well, or (on the slight off-chance that he should win) he’ll prove that he is (as we already know) a phenomenal striker.
That said, I don’t even think that Jones is a deserving opponent for Silva, given his current situation. Jones is 3-2 in his last 5 fights, and I, personally, don’t find that stat to be particularly impressive. If Jones were on the kind of roll that Mayweather is on, it might be more understandable (that said, if he also had Mayweather’s mouth, my reaction would be as it has always been to Mayweather, and that is to politely suggest that he shut his cakehole).
I think that it goes without saying, given how I feel about boxers coming into MMA (they shouldn’t), that I don’t think we should be talking about this, and that we should be looking at the prospect of a match between Silva and a legitimate top middleweight, pushing the UFC into signing Matt Lindland or Kazuo Misaki or Dennis Kang or Yoshihiro Akiyama (or a dozen other guys who are much more qualified fighters than the boxer Roy Jones), or, as has been suggested many times, that Zuffa work to convince WEC champ Paulo Filho that his best chance for a great fight (both to prove his own mettle and to entertain the fans) is in the prospect of a fight with Silva), despite the uncertainty of both men about fighting a fellow Brazilian.
My point is simple: we, as MMA fans, have been led on for over a year now (arguably longer than that, but other instances have been more sparatic, so I’ll just stay on the safe side) and I’m wondering why professional writers are still talking about it. I don’t want to sound superior, because here I am, talking about it (even if it’s as a suggestion not to), but it’s like my dad always used to tell me:
Fool me once, shame on you.
Fool me twice, shame on me for being suck a damn fool.
Even in the longstanding debate between who is the better striker, the conditons of Silva’s match with Jones would be subject to negative scrunity, however they turned out. Here’s what I mean:
If Silva and Jones met in a boxing match and Jones wins (which I imagine he probably would) then it won’t prove anything. It won’t show MMA fans that boxers are superior strikers because they are used to using heavier gloves. All it will show is that Jones is, as I suspect, a better boxer than the undisputed UFC middleweight champion.
If Silva and Jones meet in the Octagon and Silva destroys Jones, whether using his kicks, his thai clinch or his submission skills (all of which are possible, but the first two I find most probably, given that Silva feels they will look the best against Jones), all he will have proved is that it isn’t possible for Jones to adapt to the MMA system in whatever short period of time he is give. It won’t prove anything about the quality of Anderson’s skills and the authority of his dominance.
Let me simplify it even more:
If Silva fights Jones in MMA, all he’s going to prove is that Jones isn’t a very good MMA fighter. (or at least not any better than the other guys that he has systematically demolished)
If Silva fights Jones in boxing, all he’s going to prove is that his striking doesn’t translate well, or (on the slight off-chance that he should win) he’ll prove that he is (as we already know) a phenomenal striker.
That said, I don’t even think that Jones is a deserving opponent for Silva, given his current situation. Jones is 3-2 in his last 5 fights, and I, personally, don’t find that stat to be particularly impressive. If Jones were on the kind of roll that Mayweather is on, it might be more understandable (that said, if he also had Mayweather’s mouth, my reaction would be as it has always been to Mayweather, and that is to politely suggest that he shut his cakehole).
I think that it goes without saying, given how I feel about boxers coming into MMA (they shouldn’t), that I don’t think we should be talking about this, and that we should be looking at the prospect of a match between Silva and a legitimate top middleweight, pushing the UFC into signing Matt Lindland or Kazuo Misaki or Dennis Kang or Yoshihiro Akiyama (or a dozen other guys who are much more qualified fighters than the boxer Roy Jones), or, as has been suggested many times, that Zuffa work to convince WEC champ Paulo Filho that his best chance for a great fight (both to prove his own mettle and to entertain the fans) is in the prospect of a fight with Silva), despite the uncertainty of both men about fighting a fellow Brazilian.
My point is simple: we, as MMA fans, have been led on for over a year now (arguably longer than that, but other instances have been more sparatic, so I’ll just stay on the safe side) and I’m wondering why professional writers are still talking about it. I don’t want to sound superior, because here I am, talking about it (even if it’s as a suggestion not to), but it’s like my dad always used to tell me:
Fool me once, shame on you.
Fool me twice, shame on me for being suck a damn fool.
Monday, March 10, 2008
MMA News: What's Going On
Well, here's what's going on in the world of the greatest sport on the planet.
Ken Shamrock drops his fifth straight to "Buzz" Berry in Cage Rage. (and the first thing we all asked ourselves is "who the hell gets a nickname like 'Buzz'?"
Fedor goes into free agency. (normally I wouldn't link to Sherdog, but Jake Rossen put a good article together)
I realized that Japan is not as stable as we might have hoped. (and part of me died a little)
Brandt DeLorenzo takes on Dana White and Nazi's. (so I don't have to)
SHOWTIME XC announces it's upcoming main event. (a wildman vs. the wildman)
Another crazy week is in store. I hope you all enjoy it.
Ken Shamrock drops his fifth straight to "Buzz" Berry in Cage Rage. (and the first thing we all asked ourselves is "who the hell gets a nickname like 'Buzz'?"
Fedor goes into free agency. (normally I wouldn't link to Sherdog, but Jake Rossen put a good article together)
I realized that Japan is not as stable as we might have hoped. (and part of me died a little)
Brandt DeLorenzo takes on Dana White and Nazi's. (so I don't have to)
SHOWTIME XC announces it's upcoming main event. (a wildman vs. the wildman)
Another crazy week is in store. I hope you all enjoy it.
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Frank Shamrock vs. Cung Le: FOTY Candidate (and Serious Dark Horse)
The old wisdom about great fights is simple: it's about putting two guys in a cage who have everything to prove.
Rarely does a matchup like that come along between two high profile guys, and even more rarely does it happen between two guys who have already achieved legendary status.
Frank Shamrock may be the greatest champion in UFC history. He was 7-0 in his UFC career and left with his title belt. Never before has the 205 pound division seen a fighter so destructive. Tito Ortiz is sometimes compared, but even he lacks Shamrock's versatility. In case you don't know what I mean, 10 events before Tito Ortiz knocked Evan Tanner unconscious with a slam (and years before Rampage would do it to Ricardo Arona) Shamrock demolished Russian Igor Zinoviev in 22 seconds when he slammed Zinoviev to the canvas with such force that the fight was stopped immediately. Shamrock's strength as a submission fighter is often touted, but his power and ability to knock opponents out with strikes (or even use strikes to draw the submission) is one of the most impressive supplements to his grappling skills in the sport.
Now, on the other hand we have Cung Le, who is not a legend in MMA, and has only had 5 fights in the sport, but Le is a legend in his own right. Despite his youth, he's one of the most established San Shou fighters in the world, and was well respected in K-1, where he was considered one of the most dominant middleweights. His power and explosiveness, not just with his strikes (which have been known to put opponents out, regardless of where they land) but with his takedowns. His ability to explode through moves routinely that most guys never land (like flying body scizzor takedowns) has endowed him with a legendary status in and of itself.
Both train out of San Jose, California, and both are promising to put on a serious show. Shamrock is the larger of the two fights, but Le is the more technical striker and it will be interesting to see if he can keep this fight on his feet.
This is by no means a typical striker vs. grappler matchup, it is a matchup between a guy with incredible striking and takedowns (Le) and one of the most versatile men ever to step foot in the Octagon.
While this fight may not be watched by many, as it is carried on Strikeforce, I can only hope that it impresses those who do, as both fighters are respectable, and at the top of their division. (even if the mainstream MMA media fails to recognize it.
Rarely does a matchup like that come along between two high profile guys, and even more rarely does it happen between two guys who have already achieved legendary status.
Frank Shamrock may be the greatest champion in UFC history. He was 7-0 in his UFC career and left with his title belt. Never before has the 205 pound division seen a fighter so destructive. Tito Ortiz is sometimes compared, but even he lacks Shamrock's versatility. In case you don't know what I mean, 10 events before Tito Ortiz knocked Evan Tanner unconscious with a slam (and years before Rampage would do it to Ricardo Arona) Shamrock demolished Russian Igor Zinoviev in 22 seconds when he slammed Zinoviev to the canvas with such force that the fight was stopped immediately. Shamrock's strength as a submission fighter is often touted, but his power and ability to knock opponents out with strikes (or even use strikes to draw the submission) is one of the most impressive supplements to his grappling skills in the sport.
Now, on the other hand we have Cung Le, who is not a legend in MMA, and has only had 5 fights in the sport, but Le is a legend in his own right. Despite his youth, he's one of the most established San Shou fighters in the world, and was well respected in K-1, where he was considered one of the most dominant middleweights. His power and explosiveness, not just with his strikes (which have been known to put opponents out, regardless of where they land) but with his takedowns. His ability to explode through moves routinely that most guys never land (like flying body scizzor takedowns) has endowed him with a legendary status in and of itself.
Both train out of San Jose, California, and both are promising to put on a serious show. Shamrock is the larger of the two fights, but Le is the more technical striker and it will be interesting to see if he can keep this fight on his feet.
This is by no means a typical striker vs. grappler matchup, it is a matchup between a guy with incredible striking and takedowns (Le) and one of the most versatile men ever to step foot in the Octagon.
While this fight may not be watched by many, as it is carried on Strikeforce, I can only hope that it impresses those who do, as both fighters are respectable, and at the top of their division. (even if the mainstream MMA media fails to recognize it.
Saturday, March 8, 2008
Hating Convention: For My Fellow Combat-Cult Followers
This piece was originally posted on mmaopinion.com.
There’s always going to be a large movement of fans (not just of fighting, but of anything) who reject the conventional and the mainstream. Those guys are generally credited with being the first MMA fans; guys who turned their backs on professional boxing and wrestling in order to find something new, something different, something off-beat.
The problem is, now the UFC has become so mainstream, so cultured that the reason they started following it to begin with no longer carries any weight. Where do these fans go?
They can’t go to Pride, since it no longer exists. (many left for Pride after the first TUF season, but they’re now looking for somewhere else to go)
They can’t go to the IFL, because, let’s face it, the IFL has worked way to hard to pull itself into the mainstream.
They can’t go to the WEC, because it follows that same formula as the UFC, only with lighter weight classes. (And, on top of that, many refuse to support Zuffa entirely, because of some of its contractual issues with its fighters)
They can’t go Japan, because they know that those organization are unstable. (and the disillusionment has only furthered itself with Fedor’s free-agency)
They won’t go to Elite XC because, besides about 4 fighters, the whole thing is a gimmick show (these are the fans who have been following the sport long enough to know that Kimbo Slice is not legit).
These guys are stuck in limbo, wandering back and forth between organizations. They watch UFC events because their friends (most of whom they got into the sport) are really excited to watch Anderson Silva (who is not, as many have said, the Mike Tyson if MMA, since he doesn’t commit rape and he has all of his teeth) and Rampage.
I wish I could say that the solution was simple, or that an answer would present itself, but the fact is I don’t think that’s the case. I’ve been out looking for other, exciting organizations for a long time. I’ve watched alot of K-1 (very exciting, but I miss the grappler) and have turned to Cage Rage to get some of my fix. Whether an underground titan will emerge soon, I don’t know, but I hope that when it does, these fans will find it, so that the UFC doesn’t just squash it with it’s giant checkbook.
There’s always going to be a large movement of fans (not just of fighting, but of anything) who reject the conventional and the mainstream. Those guys are generally credited with being the first MMA fans; guys who turned their backs on professional boxing and wrestling in order to find something new, something different, something off-beat.
The problem is, now the UFC has become so mainstream, so cultured that the reason they started following it to begin with no longer carries any weight. Where do these fans go?
They can’t go to Pride, since it no longer exists. (many left for Pride after the first TUF season, but they’re now looking for somewhere else to go)
They can’t go to the IFL, because, let’s face it, the IFL has worked way to hard to pull itself into the mainstream.
They can’t go to the WEC, because it follows that same formula as the UFC, only with lighter weight classes. (And, on top of that, many refuse to support Zuffa entirely, because of some of its contractual issues with its fighters)
They can’t go Japan, because they know that those organization are unstable. (and the disillusionment has only furthered itself with Fedor’s free-agency)
They won’t go to Elite XC because, besides about 4 fighters, the whole thing is a gimmick show (these are the fans who have been following the sport long enough to know that Kimbo Slice is not legit).
These guys are stuck in limbo, wandering back and forth between organizations. They watch UFC events because their friends (most of whom they got into the sport) are really excited to watch Anderson Silva (who is not, as many have said, the Mike Tyson if MMA, since he doesn’t commit rape and he has all of his teeth) and Rampage.
I wish I could say that the solution was simple, or that an answer would present itself, but the fact is I don’t think that’s the case. I’ve been out looking for other, exciting organizations for a long time. I’ve watched alot of K-1 (very exciting, but I miss the grappler) and have turned to Cage Rage to get some of my fix. Whether an underground titan will emerge soon, I don’t know, but I hope that when it does, these fans will find it, so that the UFC doesn’t just squash it with it’s giant checkbook.
UFC 82 Fallout
I originally posted this piece on mmaopinion.com, the site that I have been working for a little over a month now. I'm trying to keep up this site, too, as I feel like its important to have my own thing going.
Still, I don't really want to write the same piece twice, so here it is.
For some, there were some big shocks on the UFC 82 card, but the fact is, most of it was understandable.
We saw Anderson Silva submit Dan Henderson to solidify his position at the top of the 185 pound ranks in most minds.
We saw Diego Sanchez return to form and destroy his Swedish opponent, who I clearly overestimated.
We saw Koscheck destroy Dustin Hazelett, who everyone else seemed to have drastically overestimated.
We saw Chris Wilson take Jon Fitch the distance, but drop the fight in the end, as was expected.
We saw Andrei Arlovski pound Jake O’Brien into a bloody pulp, and many of us pointed and laughed.
We saw Heath Herring outgrapple Cheick Kongo, who seems to be showing improvement on the ground, but doesn’t seem to understand that his ground game still sucks.
We saw Yushin Okami kick the crap out of Evan Tanner, which I might not have predicted, but I’ll admit that when I saw the size difference as they squared off I considered as a possibility.
The real question is what does this mean for the future of the division.
Well, the middleweight division seems devoid of challengers. I mean, there’s the possibility of Cote or Kampmann, but I don’t think anyone expects them to beat Silva. That’s just a fact.
Silva may have to engage in a unification fight with Paulo Filho to find a real challenge, and it certainly would be, given that Filho looks like the #2 man in the division, with Henderson getting knocked off.
The possibility of Zuffa doing that unification fight seems more and more possible, as Filho’s division doesn’t seem particularly rife with talented opposition either, and it would certainly be an incredible draw.
Kongo’s loss simplifies the UFC heavyweight division, leaving us with only two serious contenders: Arlovski and Werdum. While people didn’t think that Kongo was a serious contender, I still maintain that he would have been.
I think that Kongo will fight Antoni Hardonk in his next fight, and that will be an awesome matchup. If Joe Silva doesn’t set this fight up, I’ll be seriously disappointed, as it would be an interesting striking war, the kind we really only get to see in K-1 nowadays.
Mir also seems to be looking like a legitimate contender, now that Kongo is gone, but it’s hard to really call him that when I tend to believe that he’d be destroyed by both Werdum and Arlovski. Still, I wouldn’t object to seeing Mir fight Sylvia again to try and prove that he’s really back in the division. That would make for a great rematch. The possibility of him fighting Kongo was really nullified by this fight with Herring, but I think that it’s still a possibility to see Mir fight Herring, should Herring continue to fight with the UFC.
Sanchez, Koscheck and Fitch caused perhaps the biggest shift in their division, because all three are really vying for the chance to fight Matt Hughes for a top-contender position. Personally, I think that they should give it to Fitch, given that he is still undefeated in the UFC, but they may give it to Koscheck because of his wrestling pedigree and his status as a reality show celebrity.
I’m fairly certain they won’t give it to Sanchez, because they want to see him recover a little bit first, but I haven’t dismissed the prospect of him fighting Hughes if Hughes should lose a fight to either Fitch or Koscheck. I’d like to see Diego fight Tommy Speer, but I think that such a possibility is unlikely, as the UFC wants to keep their country boy pretty.
As for Leben, I’d like to see him fight Drew McFedries, as they are both trying to get back on the contender trail. I’m also open to the idea of Leben fighting Evan Tanner, as I think that would be a cool stylistic matchup and help to get Tanner back on track if he should win.
Okami is in a very interesting position, as he’s not really deserving of a top tier position in my mind, but could hold up a solid post as a gatekeeper. I’d like to see him fight the loser of Patrick Cote vs. Martin Kampmann (which I hope would be a top contenders’ match) and see what happens from there. I’d also like to see him fight Joe Riggs, as it would be an interesting fight, but since that fight really doesn’t seriously advance Okami, I doubt Joe Silva will put it together.
The UFC is in for an interesting year, and seems to be putting together an interesting group of contenders in their lower weight classes, while working hard to reestablish the big men. UFC 82 was a good step towards that, especially for the 170 pounders and Anderson Silva. The future for all looks bright.
Next up, UFN: Lauzon vs. Florian.
And thanks to all of you guys who are regulars here. I appreciate it.
Still, I don't really want to write the same piece twice, so here it is.
For some, there were some big shocks on the UFC 82 card, but the fact is, most of it was understandable.
We saw Anderson Silva submit Dan Henderson to solidify his position at the top of the 185 pound ranks in most minds.
We saw Diego Sanchez return to form and destroy his Swedish opponent, who I clearly overestimated.
We saw Koscheck destroy Dustin Hazelett, who everyone else seemed to have drastically overestimated.
We saw Chris Wilson take Jon Fitch the distance, but drop the fight in the end, as was expected.
We saw Andrei Arlovski pound Jake O’Brien into a bloody pulp, and many of us pointed and laughed.
We saw Heath Herring outgrapple Cheick Kongo, who seems to be showing improvement on the ground, but doesn’t seem to understand that his ground game still sucks.
We saw Yushin Okami kick the crap out of Evan Tanner, which I might not have predicted, but I’ll admit that when I saw the size difference as they squared off I considered as a possibility.
The real question is what does this mean for the future of the division.
Well, the middleweight division seems devoid of challengers. I mean, there’s the possibility of Cote or Kampmann, but I don’t think anyone expects them to beat Silva. That’s just a fact.
Silva may have to engage in a unification fight with Paulo Filho to find a real challenge, and it certainly would be, given that Filho looks like the #2 man in the division, with Henderson getting knocked off.
The possibility of Zuffa doing that unification fight seems more and more possible, as Filho’s division doesn’t seem particularly rife with talented opposition either, and it would certainly be an incredible draw.
Kongo’s loss simplifies the UFC heavyweight division, leaving us with only two serious contenders: Arlovski and Werdum. While people didn’t think that Kongo was a serious contender, I still maintain that he would have been.
I think that Kongo will fight Antoni Hardonk in his next fight, and that will be an awesome matchup. If Joe Silva doesn’t set this fight up, I’ll be seriously disappointed, as it would be an interesting striking war, the kind we really only get to see in K-1 nowadays.
Mir also seems to be looking like a legitimate contender, now that Kongo is gone, but it’s hard to really call him that when I tend to believe that he’d be destroyed by both Werdum and Arlovski. Still, I wouldn’t object to seeing Mir fight Sylvia again to try and prove that he’s really back in the division. That would make for a great rematch. The possibility of him fighting Kongo was really nullified by this fight with Herring, but I think that it’s still a possibility to see Mir fight Herring, should Herring continue to fight with the UFC.
Sanchez, Koscheck and Fitch caused perhaps the biggest shift in their division, because all three are really vying for the chance to fight Matt Hughes for a top-contender position. Personally, I think that they should give it to Fitch, given that he is still undefeated in the UFC, but they may give it to Koscheck because of his wrestling pedigree and his status as a reality show celebrity.
I’m fairly certain they won’t give it to Sanchez, because they want to see him recover a little bit first, but I haven’t dismissed the prospect of him fighting Hughes if Hughes should lose a fight to either Fitch or Koscheck. I’d like to see Diego fight Tommy Speer, but I think that such a possibility is unlikely, as the UFC wants to keep their country boy pretty.
As for Leben, I’d like to see him fight Drew McFedries, as they are both trying to get back on the contender trail. I’m also open to the idea of Leben fighting Evan Tanner, as I think that would be a cool stylistic matchup and help to get Tanner back on track if he should win.
Okami is in a very interesting position, as he’s not really deserving of a top tier position in my mind, but could hold up a solid post as a gatekeeper. I’d like to see him fight the loser of Patrick Cote vs. Martin Kampmann (which I hope would be a top contenders’ match) and see what happens from there. I’d also like to see him fight Joe Riggs, as it would be an interesting fight, but since that fight really doesn’t seriously advance Okami, I doubt Joe Silva will put it together.
The UFC is in for an interesting year, and seems to be putting together an interesting group of contenders in their lower weight classes, while working hard to reestablish the big men. UFC 82 was a good step towards that, especially for the 170 pounders and Anderson Silva. The future for all looks bright.
Next up, UFN: Lauzon vs. Florian.
And thanks to all of you guys who are regulars here. I appreciate it.
Friday, March 7, 2008
Cage Rage: Americans Don't Care, But Maybe They Should Watch Anyway
I would only like to mention that, despite the presence of one moderately washed up UFC Hall-of-Famer (no, not Dan Severn), the card looks genuinely interesting.
The return of Neil Grove is emminent, and he weighed in at 273 pounds (what can I say, he's a big boy, but not quite as big as his 282 pound opponent).
The fight between Jean "The White Bear" Silva and Masakazu Imanari will be a war. Silva is coming off of a TKO win over submission master Chris Brennan, and Imanari is coming off of four straight wins, all of which is he has finished in impressive fashion (1 KO and 3 submissions).
I think the overall card looks interesting, as it also promises the return of Mustapha al-Turk, who had won four straight first round destructions (including on submission of former phenom Mark "The Smashing Machine" Kerr) before dropping a decision. Hopefully, he'll put on some fireworks.
Anyway, just thought that American fans might be curious as to what the rest of the MMA world does when the UFC is off the air.
The return of Neil Grove is emminent, and he weighed in at 273 pounds (what can I say, he's a big boy, but not quite as big as his 282 pound opponent).
The fight between Jean "The White Bear" Silva and Masakazu Imanari will be a war. Silva is coming off of a TKO win over submission master Chris Brennan, and Imanari is coming off of four straight wins, all of which is he has finished in impressive fashion (1 KO and 3 submissions).
I think the overall card looks interesting, as it also promises the return of Mustapha al-Turk, who had won four straight first round destructions (including on submission of former phenom Mark "The Smashing Machine" Kerr) before dropping a decision. Hopefully, he'll put on some fireworks.
Anyway, just thought that American fans might be curious as to what the rest of the MMA world does when the UFC is off the air.
Travis Lutter: Why I Care that He's Fighting Rich Franklin
Here's the thing, everyone seems to think that Franklin vs. Lutter is going to be a complete and utter decimation. They think that Franklin, the former UFC middleweight champion and staple of American MMA is going to come in, swing for the fences, land a shot and go home. I don't think it's that simple, not just because anything can happen in MMA, but because of who he's fighting.
I saw Travis Lutter fight at UFC 50, when he debuted against a legend: Marvin "The Beastman" Eastman (the same gatekeeper they picked up to fight Rampage when he debuted in the UFC). Eastman is a fantastic kickboxer, and he knows how to throw down, and many people (myself included) thought that this was going to be a striker vs. grappler matchup of classic, textbook proportions. Nothing impressive, and the more well rounded veteran will take home the fight.
That's what the first round looked like, but in the second round Travis Lutter landed an overhand right that, when played on the highlight reel (whether in slo-mo or full speed) makes Rich Franklin's knock out of Nate Quarry look like a preschool brawl. It's the kind of KO that we only get to see about once a year (I can't think of it reappearing in the UFC until James Irvin knocked out Terry Martin with a flying knee at the top of the second in their fight).
That said, I don't think Franklin's edge in the standup department is huge, and I don't think he has one in the grappling. Let's face it, Franklin is a great athlete, but he's not a great grappler. Okami almost caught him with the kimura, and if Lutter gets the opportunity, he's much better than Okami in the submission department and is not just going to let that sub go.
I'm not saying that I think that Frankin is screwed, or that Lutter is the second coming of Fedor. All that I'm saying is that I think this fight will be interesting, and that it should not be dismissed as a stepping stone fight for Franklin. Lutter is going to make this a war, and I predict it's going to be fun to watch.
I saw Travis Lutter fight at UFC 50, when he debuted against a legend: Marvin "The Beastman" Eastman (the same gatekeeper they picked up to fight Rampage when he debuted in the UFC). Eastman is a fantastic kickboxer, and he knows how to throw down, and many people (myself included) thought that this was going to be a striker vs. grappler matchup of classic, textbook proportions. Nothing impressive, and the more well rounded veteran will take home the fight.
That's what the first round looked like, but in the second round Travis Lutter landed an overhand right that, when played on the highlight reel (whether in slo-mo or full speed) makes Rich Franklin's knock out of Nate Quarry look like a preschool brawl. It's the kind of KO that we only get to see about once a year (I can't think of it reappearing in the UFC until James Irvin knocked out Terry Martin with a flying knee at the top of the second in their fight).
That said, I don't think Franklin's edge in the standup department is huge, and I don't think he has one in the grappling. Let's face it, Franklin is a great athlete, but he's not a great grappler. Okami almost caught him with the kimura, and if Lutter gets the opportunity, he's much better than Okami in the submission department and is not just going to let that sub go.
I'm not saying that I think that Frankin is screwed, or that Lutter is the second coming of Fedor. All that I'm saying is that I think this fight will be interesting, and that it should not be dismissed as a stepping stone fight for Franklin. Lutter is going to make this a war, and I predict it's going to be fun to watch.
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
The Prospect of Barnett vs. Gracie
I'm already excited just thinking about it. The fact is, if you put the greatest heavyweight submission grappler in with one of the greatest MMA fighters in the world, something incredible is bound to happen, and the prospect of Roger Gracie and Josh Barnett bring that to World Victory Road is intriguing.
I'll get into the specifics of the matchup if it is officially announced, but I should say only now that I think that this would be a technical fight even more than Barnett's fight with Yoshida, and Barnett's power would be tested by an opponent almost as strong as he is, with technique that goes even beyond Nogueira's. It's a test of transitioning to MMA for Gracie and a test of the skills Barnett has used for a long time. This fight seems, at least to me, incredibly promising.
I'll get into the specifics of the matchup if it is officially announced, but I should say only now that I think that this would be a technical fight even more than Barnett's fight with Yoshida, and Barnett's power would be tested by an opponent almost as strong as he is, with technique that goes even beyond Nogueira's. It's a test of transitioning to MMA for Gracie and a test of the skills Barnett has used for a long time. This fight seems, at least to me, incredibly promising.
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Since I'm Having Sort of a Tribute Morning
This is for the Baddest Man on the Planet, Mr. Untouchable Ernesto Hoost!
For those who don't know who Hoost is, he's credited with being the greatest kickboxer in the world and his work in K-1 is incredible. While he's started showing his age recently, his coaching skills have also shown to be very impressive. A single example of his work in the UFC is destructive kickboxer Antoni Hardonk who, while not much of a grappler, has been absolutely destructive standing up.
This one's for Hoost.
For those who don't know who Hoost is, he's credited with being the greatest kickboxer in the world and his work in K-1 is incredible. While he's started showing his age recently, his coaching skills have also shown to be very impressive. A single example of his work in the UFC is destructive kickboxer Antoni Hardonk who, while not much of a grappler, has been absolutely destructive standing up.
This one's for Hoost.
Anderson Silva Tribute
This is a video I found on youtube, a shout-out to the man who seems to be at the top of the middleweight division right now. It's a solid showcase of his abilities, and proof that he's a great fighter. Like we needed more.
Monday, March 3, 2008
A Note on Ludwig vs. Gomi at WVR
Everyone I've talked to seems to think that Gomi is going to win this upcoming fight against Duane Ludwig by falling back on his wrestling and submission skills, and I think that alot of that is a result of people's understanding of Ludwig's standup. I won't go deep into a technical analysis, and I will acknowledge that Ludwig is a very, very good striker, and has been for a long time.
The reality, though, is that Gomi is still going to have an advantage standing up in a way that I don't think alot of people are accounting for, because Duane Ludwig is thinking the exact same thing.
Here's what I'm saying:
If you're Duane Ludwig, you know that your opponent is a better wrestler than you, and a better submission fighter, and a better groundnpounder, you're going to work very, very hard to keep this fight standing up. You're going to anticipate that takedown, and be ready to sprawl, perhaps even more ready to sprawl than to bob and weave when Gomi starts closing the distance.
Gomi hits hard, and I think that if Ludwig is too focussed on the takedown, he's going to run into the same problem that we've seen guys who are predominantly strikers (most notably Mirko CroCop) run into before. Great strikers get beaten by better grapplers standing up because they are so afraid of hitting the mat that they neglect their standup. We saw it in CroCop's fights with Randleman and Gonzaga, and while I'm aware that Ludwig is a different person, it's important to remember that when he's in with that level of grappler, he may very well fall back to that mentality.
For those watching the World Victory Road event this Wednesday, I would like to offer this thought on Gomi's fight: If Gomi comes inside, whether with a shot or just looking for a clinch, and Ludwig starts to back away or prepare to sprawl out, be ready to watch Gomi's hands, because Gomi is the kind of smart fighter who is not going to force a takedown when he can land that knock out punch, and he has the power to put Duane to sleep.
I'm not saying that this fight won't end up on the ground. If Duane comes out ready to brawl, and shows that with the way he carries himself, we may see Gomi go for that clinch or that shot and take this fight to the mat either right off the bat or after feeling Ludwig out for a little while. But if Duane comes in tentative, don't be shocked if you see Gomi knock him out with a big punch, it's something he's got the ability to do, if given the opportunity.
The reality, though, is that Gomi is still going to have an advantage standing up in a way that I don't think alot of people are accounting for, because Duane Ludwig is thinking the exact same thing.
Here's what I'm saying:
If you're Duane Ludwig, you know that your opponent is a better wrestler than you, and a better submission fighter, and a better groundnpounder, you're going to work very, very hard to keep this fight standing up. You're going to anticipate that takedown, and be ready to sprawl, perhaps even more ready to sprawl than to bob and weave when Gomi starts closing the distance.
Gomi hits hard, and I think that if Ludwig is too focussed on the takedown, he's going to run into the same problem that we've seen guys who are predominantly strikers (most notably Mirko CroCop) run into before. Great strikers get beaten by better grapplers standing up because they are so afraid of hitting the mat that they neglect their standup. We saw it in CroCop's fights with Randleman and Gonzaga, and while I'm aware that Ludwig is a different person, it's important to remember that when he's in with that level of grappler, he may very well fall back to that mentality.
For those watching the World Victory Road event this Wednesday, I would like to offer this thought on Gomi's fight: If Gomi comes inside, whether with a shot or just looking for a clinch, and Ludwig starts to back away or prepare to sprawl out, be ready to watch Gomi's hands, because Gomi is the kind of smart fighter who is not going to force a takedown when he can land that knock out punch, and he has the power to put Duane to sleep.
I'm not saying that this fight won't end up on the ground. If Duane comes out ready to brawl, and shows that with the way he carries himself, we may see Gomi go for that clinch or that shot and take this fight to the mat either right off the bat or after feeling Ludwig out for a little while. But if Duane comes in tentative, don't be shocked if you see Gomi knock him out with a big punch, it's something he's got the ability to do, if given the opportunity.
Sunday, March 2, 2008
UFC 82: A Look Ahead
I posted a piece on mmaopinion.com about the fallout from UFC 82 and what I think is going to follow in its wake. I might be right, but probably not about everything. Still, it's definitely an interesting result.
I'll try to post middleweight rankings tomorrow. Good night, and may your dreams be filled with bloody canvases and unconscious egotists.
I'll try to post middleweight rankings tomorrow. Good night, and may your dreams be filled with bloody canvases and unconscious egotists.
Beat the Monkey: Beaten
Okay, so this requires a small explanation.
I set up my program through MMAPlayground.com, a site that is generally quite accomodating. Unfortunately, I was informed earlier this morning that my accounts had been removed, and that I was in danger of being banned from the site. Oh well, I guess I'll have to revert to pen and paper.
I'll post my middleweight rankings later, with a look at Sherdog's pre-UFC 82 rankings and some of the complete and utter wierdness that they seem to post consistantly on their website.
I set up my program through MMAPlayground.com, a site that is generally quite accomodating. Unfortunately, I was informed earlier this morning that my accounts had been removed, and that I was in danger of being banned from the site. Oh well, I guess I'll have to revert to pen and paper.
I'll post my middleweight rankings later, with a look at Sherdog's pre-UFC 82 rankings and some of the complete and utter wierdness that they seem to post consistantly on their website.
Saturday, March 1, 2008
Beat The Monkey: A Little Experiment
For those who don't follow the intense world of stock trading (I'm generally one of those people) there was an experiment conducted about 10 years ago that pitted one of the top stock traders in the world against a monkey, and the two ran neck and neck for a very long time. I decided it might be fun to try this with MMA analysis, and see how effective I actually am, or if I suck so much that I get beaten by something that has no awareness of the matchups.
I've decided that, since monkeys are very expensive, I can only afford to play against a quarter, which will (in an ideal world) prove to be right about 50% of the time. Realistically, I have a much higher win percentage that 50%, but the coin might too, and it might be considerably worse (then again, so could I)
In order to make things really interesting, I decided to add another factor, and that is basic numerological analysis, purely analysis based on records. While I tend to analyze styles, there's always a way to look at the numbers. Pick the guy with the most wins, or the fewest losses, and the fewest decisions. I've decided to run a combination of that, but really the basic paper-based scoring system that doesn't look at past matchups, doesn't look at personal history or the styles of the fighters. We'll see how that does.
The scoring for this is going to be done two ways, or more realistically in two tiers. Any fight that has more than three top ten fighters on the card will be in the "Major events" category (so UFC 82, the upcoming World Victory Road Event, that kind of stuff). Any event that has less will go in the "Minor events" category, regardless of the size of the organization that puts it together.
I think that it will be a little more interesting in the "minor events" category, but I tend to think I'm pretty good at picking high-profile fights and the year of the upset has shown that that's not always true.
I'll post the first round of scores after tonight's event (my analysis will be on MMAOpinion.com) and give some thoughts about the future of the project.
I've decided that, since monkeys are very expensive, I can only afford to play against a quarter, which will (in an ideal world) prove to be right about 50% of the time. Realistically, I have a much higher win percentage that 50%, but the coin might too, and it might be considerably worse (then again, so could I)
In order to make things really interesting, I decided to add another factor, and that is basic numerological analysis, purely analysis based on records. While I tend to analyze styles, there's always a way to look at the numbers. Pick the guy with the most wins, or the fewest losses, and the fewest decisions. I've decided to run a combination of that, but really the basic paper-based scoring system that doesn't look at past matchups, doesn't look at personal history or the styles of the fighters. We'll see how that does.
The scoring for this is going to be done two ways, or more realistically in two tiers. Any fight that has more than three top ten fighters on the card will be in the "Major events" category (so UFC 82, the upcoming World Victory Road Event, that kind of stuff). Any event that has less will go in the "Minor events" category, regardless of the size of the organization that puts it together.
I think that it will be a little more interesting in the "minor events" category, but I tend to think I'm pretty good at picking high-profile fights and the year of the upset has shown that that's not always true.
I'll post the first round of scores after tonight's event (my analysis will be on MMAOpinion.com) and give some thoughts about the future of the project.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
