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Brock Lesnar as the White Shaq of MMA

2010-07-04T20:49:00.020+09:00

After watching him come back from an early pounding to choke out Shane Carwin with an arm-triangle, I'm ready to officially anoint Brock Lesnar the title of "White Shaq of MMA".

courtesy of UFC

This is the story of how it all went down...

Lesnar showed such an improved ground game against Carwin that it was hard to see where his wrestling ended and jiu-jitsu started. The way he smothered Carwin came as no surprise, but his ability to calmly work him into an arm-triangle choke was something else.

Watching Brock Lesnar try to sweep, then reverse and spin his way out from underneath Shane Carwin was like watching Shaq breakdance or execute his patented "Black Tornado".

Watching him dominate Carwin in the second round with his smoothly blended wrestling/jiu-jitsu game was like watching Shaq school Baby Shaq with a polished low-post game despite taking some lumps along the way.

Staggering Brock Lesnar with a hard left uppercut a minute into their UFC 116 showdown was Shane Carwin's way of asking Lesnar what his style was.

From the start of the fight, until the 50-second mark of the second round, Carwin imposed his fighting method on Lesnar. He had looked invincible in March, smashing Frank Mir senseless with a barrage of punches from the clinch and above.

But he was even scarier in giving Lesnar a sound ass-kicking in the first round of their heavyweight title fight.

Shane Carwin engineered a sound game plan, establishing his jab early and looking light on his feet. When Lesnar aimed to take him down 31 seconds into the bout, Carwin simply brushed him off, with a knee to the chest as added insult.

The message was clear : Carwin was officially born as a monstruously powerful striker who would use his impressive wrestling pedigree primarily to gain the upper hand in the clinch and defend takedowns. This was how he would live and die.

There was only one problem : Brock Lesnar had an answer, and it was more than convincing.

I'm not sure if Brock Lesnar's submitting Shane Carwin with an arm-triangle choke 2:18 into Round 2 had to do with :

a. Carwin's fatigue
b. Carwin's lack of a ground game or
c. Brock Lesnar's expertise.

I'm guessing :

d. all of the above.

Going bonkers on Lesnar in the first 3:10 seemed to have sapped Carwin of the gas he would need to continue fighting at an intense pace.

This probably allowed Lesnar to escape from underneath 45 seconds later.

This probably allowed Lesnar to wear him down in the clinch for the rest of the first.

This probably kept him from actively taking the fight to Lesnar at the start of the second.

But give Brock Lesnar all the credit in the world. By all accounts, he had been working extremely hard to come back from diverticulitis and expand his fighting capabilities.

Against Shane Carwin, it all paid off.

Lesnar sensed that Carwin didn't have anything left in the tank and boldly attempted another takedown 49 seconds into Round 2.

From half guard, he pinned Carwin and slipped in an arm triangle under Carwin's neck. He then smothered, punched and exploded his way to full mount.

Side control from the right side of Carwin came next. From there, he simply squeezed tighter as he improved his leverage by rotating his body position counterclockwise.

Seconds later, Lesnar forced Carwin to tap.

This submission didn't come against an Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira or a Fabricio Werdum. But at worst, it was Lesnar's patiently applying what he's learned, in a professional manner.

And I think he'll do even better if he's faced with a similar opportunity in the future.

At that point, he'll be demonstrating his improved chops under the title of "White Shaq of MMA".

P.S. If you can't get enough Brock Lesnar, check out :

1. The Brock Lesnar-Sable Sex Tape
2. How Vince McMahon robbed Brock Lesnar's soul
3. Brock Lesnar, GSP and Co. gangbang the NCAA

The Rivalry Without Swords

2010-05-20T11:58:00.042+09:00

In my Mayweather-Mosley post-fight piece "All he saw were shadows", I likened Floyd Mayweather, Jr.'s splendid display of speed, timing and technique to a demonstration of the special Shaolin shadowboxing technique.

In this Vazquez-Marquez IV pre-fight piece, I explore the modern Mexican version of Shaolin shadowboxing in the context of Shaolin kung fu's rivalry with the Wu Tang sword style.

The martial arts referred to in this piece are the Shaolin and Wu Tang methods cinematically depicted in the cult favorite Shaolin and Wu Tang (aka Shaolin Master Killer).

As I reviewed footage from the Israel Vazquez-Rafael Marquez Trilogy, all I could say was...

"Thank God no swords were involved."

If Vazquez and Marquez had used Wu Tang sword thrusts and Shaolin broadsword cuts to fight each other, there would've been no Trilogy.

If the two warriors had used blades instead of fists, one of them would've been killed within the first minute or two. Even if it had been a kung fu movie, someone would've died after a spectacular duel.

As shown by the Vazquez-Marquez Trilogy, the Shaolin shadowboxing's updated Mexican version is dangerous as is.

(Trilogy Analysis and Vazquez-Marquez IV prediction after the jump)

1. The broken nose Rafael Marquez gave Israel Vazquez in the first round of their first fight demonstrated the potentially devastating results of pressure point strikes: Vazquez was forced to quit on his stool after the seventh round, due to breathing difficulties from the badly broken nose.

In addition, Marquez cut Vazquez badly in their second and third fights.

2. Vazquez applied his own leather-strapped techniques to great effect in their rematch, knocking down Marquez twice.

After the second knockdown, which came in Round 6, Vazquez backed Marquez to the ropes, and threw an unending flurry of strikes. This relentless beating administered by Vazquez forced the referee to put a temporary halt to the madness.

3. The extended duel of fists between Israel Vazquez and Rafael Marquez culminated in their rubber match, which Vazquez clinched via split decision. In the fight's first half, Vazquez found himself bewildered by the jabs and combinations of Marquez, and was even knocked down in the fourth round.

However, he turned it up in the second half to set up the epic Round 12: Vazquez unleashed his fistic fury on Marquez, much like he did in the sixth round of their rematch.

Vazquez landed huge rights, some lefts - and basically the whole kitchen sink - at Marquez. He knocked down Marquez with a short left hook, and only that erased some doubt of Vazquez's victory.

Surely enough, just one point decided the winner of the bout. The 12th round knockdown proved decisive.

Two years ago, I thought the Vazquez-Marquez rivalry closed when their rubber match ended. However, I was wrong. There will be the fourth - and I hope, final - showdown on Saturday (9 PM ET, Showtime).

If you asked me who'd win, I'd say Vazquez.

As thrilling as the Trilogy was, I felt that Vazquez has always been the bigger, more powerful fighter. Although he couldn't continue in the first fight due to a broken nose, Vazquez has been able to eat Marquez's punches, get inside, and hurt Marquez.

Marquez has been the better technician with the crispier jab and combinations. But for the most part, he hasn't been able to stop the mad charges of Vazquez.

courtesy of Showtime

When I see a fight like Vazquez-Angel Priolo, Vazquez's most recent, I see that Vazquez's ability to give and take punishment is still there, even after all those wars.

Factoring in the damage the smaller Rafael Marquez has been taking from the bigger, stronger Israel Vazquez, I predict a TKO win for Vazquez in the 10th.

Still, no matter how the fight ends, I'm sure we'll be witnesses to yet another thriller, after which we can say...

"Thank God no swords were involved."

Israel Vazquez vs. Rafael Marquez is The Rivalry Without Swords.

We Must Learn

2010-05-11T22:45:00.033+09:00

* Credit for photos used in this piece courtesy go to the UFC.

I wasn't surprised to see Lyoto Machida get cracked over his left temple and drop instantly, bear-hugging Mauricio "Shogun" Rua's waist and holding on for his dear life. Machida would get no mercy from the Shogun, who pounded The Dragon until his lights turned out 3:28 into the very first round of their rematch.

Machida had been clipped hard just a minute and 18 seconds ago. After separating from the clinch, Shogun charged at Machida in full force, throwing punch after punch. Two of them, a left and a right, connected. The left simply caught Machida by surprise, but the right that came three punches later wobbled him.

The Dragon had no choice but to clinch Shogun and take him down. He would've been knocked out in a matter of seconds if he didn't. Machida tried to work the ground game, but Shogun had other plans: The Shogun knew he could teach the Shotokan Karate exponent a lesson in dynamic Muay Thai kickboxing.

As the UFC commentators Joe Rogan and Mike Goldberg roused about how the unpredictability of UFC rematches, Shogun worked himself from the bottom, eventually escaping with 2:11 left in the round. Machida gave the possessed Shogun a knee to the right kidney, but was overwhelmed physically.

Pinned against the cage, and running out of gas and options, Machida broke loose and engaged aggressively in a standup battle. His left knee threw Shogun back for an instant, but Machida couldn't capitalize. His left cross from the southpaw stance was countered by Shogun with a perfectly timed overhand right hook to the temple.

It was such timing that would undo Lyoto Machida's brief reign atop the UFC's light heavyweight division seconds later.

What went down in Machida-Shogun II shows us that even a world class martial arts traditionalist who built his name on evasion and countering can be put down viciously by a world class kickboxer (boxer) if he forgets what makes a Thai or Western boxer tick.

Simply, in what was essentially a classic style vs. style matchup, the Shogun slayed The Dragon by breaking his rhythm and splicing a full-beat left cross with a half-beat overhand right.

It's quite possible that Lyoto Machida could've saved himself by throwing a fast lead right instead of the slower left cross which was instantly countered by Shogun: Machida's resetting himself after ramming Shogun with a solid left knee clearly gave the Muay Thai stylist time to recover and defend himself.

Instead of surprising Shogun with an immediate follow-up strike (punch or otherwise), Machida let the dangerous kickboxer gather himself and track his movements. And when The Dragon compounded the problem by throwing the long left rather than the short, quick lead right or jab, the fight was as good as over.

Ultimately, Machida-Shogun II teaches us an important lesson: No matter what we do in life, martial arts or no martial arts, we must learn as much as we can from the world around us and take control of our destiny.

So let's stop acting like we don't know.

"MC's Act Like They Don't Know" by KRS-One

If s*** can happen to a smart, dedicated, world class professional like Lyoto Machida, then it can happen to any of us.

We must learn.

He Must Learn

2010-05-06T12:25:00.017+09:00

When I watched Machida-Shogun (UFC 104), I was scared for Lyoto Machida, my favorite MMA fighter. I had never seen him get hit so much. He was getting tagged with body kicks, leg kicks and punches and elbows to the head. I all but expected to see him lose in a unanimous decision when the final bell sounded.

However, after reviewing footage from the fight (see for yourself), I don't think Mauricio "Shogun" Rua was "robbed," as many - including Shogun himself - may feel.

The first two rounds were close and could've gone either way. Machida had the edge in the third, on the strength of the combinations he landed with 35 seconds left in the round. Shogun took the fourth and fifth.

If the judges gave the first two rounds to Machida, and two of them (Marcos Rosales and Cecil Peoples) did (check out official judges' scores), it was going to be Machida's fight.

Luck was on Lyoto Machida's side in a close fight, which means he must learn.

"You Must Learn (Live from Caucus Mountain Remix)"
by Boogie Down Productions

Lyoto Machida must learn to either evade kicks or jam them, depending on the situation. He needs to fight from afar to avoid getting kicked in the legs and body like last time, or else it could get ugly, like Aldo-Faber or Hughes-Renzo.

When he sees an opening, he must rapidly close distance and counter any roundhouse kick with a well-timed straight punch to the face, neutralizing the power of Shogun's devastating kicks. He was doing some of this in UFC 104, but he must refine this technique more, or else someone will figure out how to beat him, even if it may not necessarily be Shogun.

I also feel Lyoto Machida could vary the angles more in his combinations and learn to jab better, like how Anderson Silva or Jose Aldo do. I wonder if Machida has gotten some tips from Silva, his good friend and stablemate. If the two aren't going to fight, they might as well share tips on how to fight.

I have a feeling that Machida has learned from the first Shogun fight, talked it over with his team and made adjustments for UFC 113. I think he'll be better prepared to fight Shogun and come out on top with a convincing unanimous decision, even taking into account the adjustments Shogun would've made.

But even if he beats Shogun, there will be many more challengers trying to sever the head of The Dragon

So ultimately, Lyoto Machida must learn.

All he saw were shadows

2010-05-03T22:52:00.025+09:00

I still have no idea what happened to Shane Mosley on Saturday night.

You could say that he was schooled by Floyd Mayweather, Jr., smacked upside the head by a brand of pugilism from another realm.

You could even say that it was Mayweather's special technique of shadowboxin', so fast and so sneaky that Mosley didn't know what hit him.

You could say that it was his age, that at age 38 with numerous wars behind him, he could no longer hang physically with a younger, faster, more skilled man.

You could even say that he gave himself away prematurely by firing his best shots in the second round against Mayweather, that it was over once Pretty Boy Floyd survived and figured out how to stay suave.

However, even as someone who expected Mosley to be beaten decisively, I have a tough time comprehending why he lost this badly, as a broken man.

I'm familiar with Shane Mosley mostly by watching him fight in the latter stages of his career. Sometimes, Mosley looked his age; sometimes not.

However, if there was a constant, it was that he always had the will to fight his physical, aggressive fight.

You could see this quality in the good fight he gave Miguel Cotto in a loss, the buzzer-beating knockout of Ricardo Mayorga, and the vicious smackdown of Antonio Margarito.

But what I saw during his fight against Floyd Mayweather was a man who had become a boxing novice in body and mind :

After Mosley took one of Mayweather's lunging left hooks 47 seconds into the third round and a countering right cross seven seconds later, he visibly started losing composure, shaking his hands and legs excessively.

From that point on, Mosley's coordination and confidence deteriorated rapidly, the spark gone from his eyes and at times, seemingly on the verge of a mid-fight emotional breakdown. Thankfully for Mosley and those more used to his glory days, that moment never came.

Maybe Mosley was afraid of the stinging punches that hit him when he least expected them.

Maybe he was tired of chasing a ghost that he would never catch.

Or maybe he even saw his own mortality flash before his very eyes.

In the end, regardless of what, why and how, Shane Mosley saw nothing but shadows under the bright lights of the MGM Grand : the shadows of Floyd Mayweather, Jr.'s blindingly quick movements and the shadow of his former self.

Rihanna on my mind

2010-04-30T17:29:00.021+09:00

* Credit for photos used in this piece go to Island Def Jam

"Make no mistake about it. He's coming out to 'Run This Town' on purpose."

That's what UFC commentator Joe Rogan said during the WEC 48 telecast last Saturday night as WEC featherweight champion Jose Aldo entered the cage to the Jay-Z/Rihanna/Kanye West banger "Run This Town".

The Brazilian dynamo proceeded to give challenger and former champ Urijah Faber a thorough five-round beating - in Faber's hometown of Sacramento.

Jose Aldo had already wowed the MMA fans of Sacramento with his knockouts of Alexandre Nogueira and Cub Swanson. When he successfully defended his WEC featherweight title by taking apart Urijah Faber, he ran the town - at least for a night.

And after the dust had settled, I had no doubt in my mind that I wanted to listen to some Rihanna.

("Umbrella" music video, hot Rihanna pics after the jump)

Even though I haven't gotten into the popular music of recent years, Rihanna is someone who has caught my ear with her soulful voice and edgy songs like "Umbrella" and "Unfaithful". I wanted confirmation of why her music has captivated my soul...

And why her beauty has made my heart skip a beat.

This talented diva, fully packaged with sassy style, attitude and beauty, is the real deal.

Unleash the Beast

2010-04-28T21:35:00.013+09:00

Take the collar off Floyd Mayweather Jr.'s neck, hand him a dangerous opponent like Shane Mosley and watch him unleash the beast in himself, a la Danny the Dog.

from Unleashed (aka Danny the Dog)

Although some boxing fans may understandably find Money Mayweather's defensive, counterpunching style boring to watch, the bottomline is that the man can fight.

Mayweather can fight outside or inside, on the attack or on the move. He can potshot with jabs, lead left hooks or lead right crosses - or he can employ lightning fast combinations.

It just happens that he's defensively oriented.

I have a feeling the beast in Floyd Mayweather, Jr. will be unleashed against Shane Mosley because even at age 38, Mosley represents arguably the greatest challenge of Mayweather's career.

Sugar Shane is a little wild in the way he throws punches, but he's fast, powerful and relentless.

If Mayweather is going to stay pretty, he's going to have to bring his entire arsenal. He'll have to constantly move, control distance, and land the necessary potshots and combinations.

When the fight inevitably ends up in the clinch, he'll have to keep Mosley from smothering him.

Luckily for Floyd Mayweather, he'll be able to do all that - and more.

With his ability to control the tempo of a fight and counterpunch, he'll be able to keep the bull at bay. With his ability to keep structure in the clinch and punch from short range, he'll manhandle Mosley inside.

Floyd Mayweather, Jr. will rise to the occasion and leave the ring with a unanimous decision win over Shane Mosley.

The Business of a Beatdown

2010-04-26T16:32:00.024+09:00

courtesy of WEC

From the moment the bell rang, the atmosphere tensed. Jose Aldo and Urijah Faber sized each other up, looking for the opportunity to pounce. Each fighter respected the other's power and skill.

Still, there was no doubt who had the advantage. The 24-year old Jose Aldo, taller, longer and even looking more muscular than Faber, looked sure of himself.

Before the fight started, Aldo had kept to himself. He'd glue his vision to the ground, not making eye contact with Urijah Faber during referee instructions.

But very shortly, Aldo would reveal the look in his face that betrayed his intention to destroy Faber. Like Elvira Hancock (from Scarface, played by Michelle Pfeiffer) had "a look in her eye like she hadn't been f***ed in a year", Aldo showed the hunger of a predator who hadn't devoured a large prey in six months.

Eat Urijah Faber alive Jose Aldo did.

To make a long story short, Aldo bludgeoned Faber's legs limp (a la Matt Hughes chopping Renzo Gracie) with powerful leg kicks. He smashed bricks into Faber's upper torso.

The Brazilian prodigy looked very comfortable boxing, throwing with conviction, and setting up low kicks with this improved handiwork. When Faber tried to grab a hold of him, Jose Aldo simply shoved him away; when Faber tried to hit him, he easily parried or moved away.

Neither did Aldo have trouble controlling The California Kid on the ground. A minute into the fourth round, he knocked Faber down and followed him to the ground. After using a left-handed punch to force Faber into giving up his back, Aldo maneuvered his legs to lock the Sacramento native from behind.

Faber got away, but Aldo simply put him down again halfway into the round and passed guard "like butter". The Amazonian Assassin placed the hometown boy in a mounted crucifix, and pounded and elbowed ceaselessly until the round ended.

The final round brought much of the same. It was also a testament to Urijah Faber's guts and resourcefulness that he was able to finish out the fight under such duress.

But to precocious, poised and brutally efficient Jose Aldo, it was strictly business. Just another step towards martial arts greatness.

"Strictly Business" by EPMD

Tres Leches of the Martial World

2010-04-22T16:31:00.017+09:00

"Tres Leches (Triboro Trilogy)" is a medley of lyrical martial expertise. Over an ominous-sounding RZA track, Prodigy, Inspectah Deck and Big Pun take turns blasting, slicing and crushing the mic, resulting in a joint that is the equivalent of a kung fu masterpiece.

Last weekend's Shields-Henderson (Strikeforce : Nashville) and Pavlik-Martinez, and the upcoming Aldo-Faber (WEC 48 - April 24, 10 PM ET on PPV), has given me inspiration to serve a metaphorical plate of lyrical and sanctioned violence.

1. Prodigy of Mobb Deep, the first batter up in "Tres Leches", is the no-nonsense street emcee whose rhymes carry a violent edge. His menacing attitude on the mic belie his small frame and muted voice, and his cinematic tales good enough to "get Ruger endorsements."

In spite of his one-dimensional game, Jake Shields showed Dan Henderson how deep his skill level is in the art and science of groundfighting. In spite of getting blasted to the floor and pounded with a barrage of strikes in the first half of Round 1, he survived.

After that, it was all Jake Shields, as he repeatedly took down the naturally stronger Dan Henderson, passed guard, mounted and pounded. Shields may not have received any endorsements from Ruger, but I, for one, know better than to underestimate his ability to impose his fighting method on more powerful rivals.

2. Although Inspectah Deck isn't the Wu-Tang member with the catchiest voice, only GZA surpasses him when it comes to pure mic technique. Deck's run in 1997-98 blessing albums and songs from Wu-Tang Forever ("Triumph" video below) to "Above the Clouds" to "Tres Leches" with sharp verses is the stuff of legends.

Sergio Martinez isn't the boxer with the hardest punch, but he has some of the fastest hands and feet this side of a prime Roy Jones, Jr. And going by what I saw him do to Kelly Pavlik, I'm pretty sure Martinez carries swords in his two hands.

If you saw the fight, you know how "Maravilla" Martinez handed "The Ghost" death by a thousand cuts. You know how he danced around, how he hit Pavlik at will. You know how he took control of the fight early, how he opened a cut over Pavlik's left eye in the first round.

You know how he got knocked down in the seventh, and lost the lead by the end of the eighth. And you damn well know how he finished the fight by giving Pavlik a bloody four-round lesson in pugilistic swordsmanship.

That, amigo, is pretty Maravilla.

3. I have a feeling that Urijah Faber will survive a war with Jose Aldo with his Big Pun style of fighting. Mike Brown's methodical counterattacking style was a bad matchup for him, but I think Faber's wrestling-based freewheeling style gives him some useful weapons to fire against the Muay Thai MMA specimen from Brazil.

The muscular Urijah Faber may be a brawler who fights closer to the ground, but he's skilled in all aspects of the sport. He's a striker with decent technique and power to be respected. He fights well enough on the ground to end fights with submissions. We all know about his takedowns and strength.

Faber's improvisational skills allow him to, more often that not, apply the right technique at the right time. Faber's combination of brains and brawn remind me of Big Pun's witty punchlines and heavy-handed flow.

With the emotional support of his hometown Sacramento behind him, I think Urijah Faber will be able to eke out a split decision over Jose Aldo - if everything goes right. Aldo has a higher center of gravity and his close-quarter combat skills are unproven against an explosive, creative wrestler like The California Kid. These are some things Faber could exploit.

That, amigo, concludes the tale of three lyrical weapons specialists reincarnated in the world of combat sports, "Tres Leches of the Martial World".

Bitten by a Vampire

2010-04-12T22:15:00.017+09:00

* Credit for UFC 112 photos used in this piece go to the UFC.

Watching Renzo Gracie get kicked continually in the left leg by Matt Hughes in UFC 112 was like watching the opening of the kung fu horror film Encounter of the Spooky Kind, where Sammo Hung's character "Courageous" Cheung has a premonition about his becoming a victim of a voodoo murder conspiracy.

In his nightmare, Cheung, who prides himself as the bravest man in town, gets ambushed by two killer vampire zombies. The zombies tear chunks of flesh off his lower right leg and left butt cheek, and chomp another double portion off his right thigh.

One vampire threatens to choke Cheung dead, but Cheung breaks the choke and runs away. He wakes up screaming, in what looks like another day arguing with his sneaky wife.

from Encounter of the Spooky Kind

What started out as three hard kicks to Gracie's left leg in the final minutes of the first round got progressively worse throughout the subsequent rounds until Hughes vs. Renzo turned into a full-fledged chopping of Renzo's lower extremity.

The chopping administered by Hughes may have carried no homicidal intent, but looking at Renzo in the third round, he may as well have been a victim of attempted murder by means of black magic.

The first few slashes attempted by Hughes within the first 1:10 of the final round clearly hobbled Renzo. Ten more chops later, the hacking job was complete, Renzo no longer able to stand or defend himself properly.

So 25 seconds before sunrise, with his victim trapped against the fence, Count Hughes started unloading a double-jab-double-one-two-uppercut combination.

Twenty seconds before sunrise, the fight was over.

Renzo Gracie had been bitten by a vampire.

We all get bitten by vampires sometimes.

As determined as BJ Penn was, he had his blood sapped by Frankie Edgar. Penn frustration showed in his face as he tried in vain to land a solid combination on the quicker and more active Edgar.

Frustration turned into what looked like resignation in Penn's body language in between the rounds and after the fight.

In the Silva-Maia main event, it was hard to tell who was the real victim of a vampire. For the first three rounds, Demian Maia looked like he was being chased by murderous zombies after being clowned by Anderson Silva.

Then all of a sudden Silva just stopped fighting.

A bizarre fight to say the least, but it wasn't the first time, so I wasn't surprised.

However, Frankie Edgar's upset win and the strangeness that swept over Silva-Maia threw my predictions out the window.

I too was bitten by a vampire - just like the combatants of UFC 112.

To kill a legend...

2010-04-07T22:27:00.021+09:00

Before we start, I'd like to warn you that this piece contains spoilers from the kung fu classic The Prodigal Son. If you haven't seen the movie already, please proceed with caution.

When I look at some fights or sports events, the talent gap between the two competing parties is so vast that the only way I see the underdog winning is if the favorite is injured, out of shape or unmotivated.

For instance, what happened in the ring between Bernard Hopkins and Roy Jones, Jr. last weekend and in 1993 remind me of the dramatized story of Wing Chun legends Leung Jan and Leung Yee Tai in the kung fu classic The Prodigal Son.

As the story goes, Leung Jan is a spoiled rich kid whose father secretly pays to have fights fixed in his favor. After being exposed by Chinese Opera performer and Wing Chun master Leung Yee Tai, Jan dedicates himself to learning real kung fu from Yee Tai and Yee Tai's kung fu brother Wong Wah Bo.

Jan's fate intertwines with another prodigal son, Master Ngai Fai. Ngai Fai is a legitimate kung fu expert, but his father (a Manchu Duke) overprotects him, secretly ordering Master Ngai's bodyguards to kill whoever is deemed capable of hurting the young master.

Leung Yee Tai vs. Master Ngai Fai
from The Prodigal Son

Leung Yee Tai is one exponent who can hurt Master Ngai. His Wing Chun, portrayed brilliantly by Lam Ching Ying, is impeccable, and only an asthma attack can keep Yee Tai from teaching Master Ngai a kung fu lesson.

Needless to say, Yee Tai is marked for death, and the formerly incompetent Leung Jan puts his newfound Wing Chun skills to the test against someone who would've destroyed him if they'd had fought earlier.

Since Bernard Hopkins and Roy Jones, Jr. have never fought each other in their primes, it's hard to say whether Hopkins beat Jones on Saturday only because Jones was way over the hill.

While watching footage of the first fight between the two, I noticed a primitive version of the nearly invincible mauling method that Hopkins would execute (no pun intended) to perfection in decisive victories over the likes of Felix Trinidad, Antonio Tarver and Kelly Pavlik.

However, his boxing technique and footwork were way too raw in 1993 to help him defeat an athletic specimen like Jones.

It's also difficult to determine whether the Bernard Hopkins that smothered and smacked Felix Trinidad in 2001 could beat the Roy Jones that ran circles around Clinton Woods in 2002.

After all, words cannot do justice to the phenomenal athlete that was Roy Jones, Jr. before his feet became heavy and coordination shaky.

I find it damn near impossible to predict how Hopkins-Jones under ideal conditions would go down, but when it comes to UFC 112, I'm taking my chances on Anderson Silva and BJ Penn.

I believe the reason Silva and Penn keep beating the competition isn't just that they box, wrestle or grapple better than their competitors, but that they're simply much better martial artists and athletes.

Silva and Penn outmaneuver whomever they face, with an uncanny ability to change directions and levels. They get to spots their opponents haven't even thought about getting to, it seems. From there, it's a matter of making their opponents pick their poison.

Silva has been compared to Roy Jones, Jr. for his creativity and flair, and routinely toys with very good fighters like Rich Franklin and Forrest Griffin. BJ Penn even landed the legendary "No-Shadow Kick" on an unsuspecting Diego Sanchez in UFC 107.

Demian Maia may be the foremost Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu expert in the UFC, but if he's going to take down Anderson Silva, he's going to have to beat Silva in striking range, the clinch and as they crouch. I can't see The Spider not picking Maia apart in all three areas. And Dan Henderson Maia is not.

As for BJ Penn? Don't let his destruction at the hands of the wrestler extraordinaire Georges St. Pierre at UFC 94 fool you. Penn lost to a bigger, stronger all-around martial athlete cut from a similar mold as he.

Frankie Edgar is impressive, but he's precisely the type of wrestling-based fighter that Penn eats for breakfast. Unless, of course, The Prodigy is injured, out of shape or unmotivated - something I wouldn't count on at this stage of his career.

P.S. I'm predicting first-round knockout and third-round TKO victories for Anderson Silva and BJ Penn, respectively.

I love The Five Deadly Venoms

2010-04-02T22:08:00.017+09:00

I love The Five Deadly Venoms.

I love its spooky opening, with venomous kung fu masters in wrestling masks. It may not be as action-heavy as kung fu movie fans may want it to be; still, I love how another previously unnoticed element from its clever, suspenseful story catches my eye upon each successive viewing. What The Five Venoms lacks in quanity of action, it makes up for in quality and explosive timing.

I love The Five Deadly Venoms.

I love the way it has found its place in popular culture, especially through the music of the Wu-Tang Clan. I love how dubbed English-language soundbytes from the beginning of the movie kick off The W album of the Clan. I love how RZA has used samples from the movie to create bangers like "Snakes" and "Da Mystery of Chessboxin'".

On a more personal note, I love how The Five Deadly Venoms has deeply influenced my most recent work.

Except for the post-fight pieces "Worldly Shaolin Warriors" and "The Thousand Arrows of Manny Pacquiao", my body of work with regards to last month's Pacquiao-Clottey and UFC 111 draws heavily from this kung fu classic:

1. Pick Your Poison: UFC 111

2. Pick Your Poison: Pacquiao-Clottey

3. The Poison Clan Reborn in UFC 111

4. The Poison Clan Reborn in Pacquiao-Clottey

Thank you Chang Cheh. Thank you Venom Mob. Thank you Johnny Wang. Thank you RZA. Thanks to you...

I love The Five Deadly Venoms.

Worldly Shaolin Warriors

2010-03-29T21:41:00.015+09:00

Dan Hardy gave Georges St. Pierre less of a fight than I expected, but for the toughness and courage he displayed in not succumbing to submission attempts and lasting five rounds, he has my utmost respect.

In fact, I have so much respect for The Outlaw's fighting spirit that I wish he would've had a chance to learn the aspects of Shaolin kung fu that are more directly applicable in combat.

I wouldn't know what training curriculum Dan Hardy went under at the North China Shaolin Martial Arts Academy during his two months there, so I can only go by Hardy's own words (scroll down for the stuff on Shaolin) and the brief footage from Episode 2 of UFC Primetime : St. Pierre vs. Hardy. (Hardy's Shaolin training scenes come starting at the 13:14 mark).

However, drawing from the fact that Hardy's time spent studying in China was fleeting and that both his training footage and account told to Fight! Magazine reflect an emphasis on forms, stances and conditioning, it's safe to say what Hardy took home with him most was the intangible aspect of traditional martial arts training, such as discipline. This is something that even Hardy himself has said :

We trained hard, doing like 10 or 12 hours a day, and a lot of it was forms and stance work and weapons training. I learned a lot while I was out there. But when I got back, I realized the most important thing I took from the experience was the conditioning, the mental side of it. The rest of it was great, going through the forms and stuff, but there wasn’t a lot of other point to it as far as combat goes. So it kind of turned me more toward the competitive side of martial arts, and I wanted to pursue that a little more.

It's a shame Dan Hardy didn't get a chance to learn the direct combat applications and training methods of Shaolin, like the ones practiced by the monk Shi De Jian. With his creative spirit and mental strength, there's no telling how good Hardy would've been with a versatile, unified system to build a foundation on.

Would Dan Hardy have been able to stuff GSP's takedowns at will with explosive high-low movements, powerful stances and quick whole body turns?

Would Dan Hardy have had the footwork and coordination to launches attacks at GSP from all angles and levels?

Would Dan Hardy have had the drilled reflexes to make GSP pay for any momentary openings in GSP's attack or defense?

We'll never know.

But we do know that with his shaved head, class and comprehensive training program that stresses grueling hard work, studying with the best and a highly disciplined lifestyle and diet, GSP looks like a worldly, French-Canadian version of a Shaolin monk.

The commitment to physical and spiritual fitness has paid off, as he has developed a complete game based on the otherworldly takedown.

Could that be why Georges St. Pierre dominated a man who actually trained with the Shaolin?

Of course, we'll never know.

P.S. If you like the UFC-kung fu metaphors, check out the following pieces :

1. Pick Your Poison : UFC 111

2. The Poison Clan Reborn in UFC 111

3. Exit Shaolin, Enter BJ Penn

4. The Feminine Side of UFC 107

Pick Your Poison : UFC 111

2010-03-23T23:21:00.011+09:00

Before we start, I'd like to warn you that this UFC 111 preview piece contains spoilers from the kung fu classic Five Deadly Venoms. If you haven't seen the movie already, please proceed with caution.

In my earlier post "The Poison Clan Reborn in UFC 111", I compared Dan Hardy to the Scorpion from The Five Deadly Venoms, for his fast, accurate and powerful long-range striking. Hardy is also a Scorpion in the sense that he can sneak up on people with his underdog's hunger.

Among the Poison Clan members, the Scorpion is the easily the sneakiest. He pretends to be the upstanding Constable Ma - even though he has an eye on the hidden riches of wealthy ex-Clansman Yuen, who is murdered by the Centipede and Snake in a failed robbery attempt.

The Scorpion stops at nothing to get to this secret treasure : The bandit in a police suit uses his position of power and underhanded methods to identify and eliminate rivals and obstacles. Although he keeps his identity a secret until the end, Constable Ma bides his time as a judge is bribed - and the Toad falsely accused of murder, then tortured and executed.

Treachery at its most sophisticated
from Five Deadly Venoms

Under the cover of official duty or his mask, the Scorpion discretely intervenes at opportune moments, managing to stir the pot to the point where Venoms are fighting Venoms to the death.

But not everyone is as corrupt as Constable Ma. In fact, his underling Ho happens to be an honest policeman who seeks to bring justice to those who killed Yuen. Ho - who is actually the Lizard - even combines forces with Yang Tieh, the jack of all trades (but master of none) sent by the Venoms' master to eliminate the evil Clansmen by collaborating with the honorable.

Moreover, when bad karma strikes the Scorpion, Centipede and Snake - and greed gets in the way of common sense - the plot is all but over.

In the end, regardless of how cunning and deadly his plan is, the Scorpion fails because he is confronted by a juggernaut.

Like how Dan Hardy was the Scorpion in "The Poison Clan Reborn in UFC 111", Georges St. Pierre is "the juggernaut of the (UFC's) welterweight division" :

Simply put, GSP is the juggernaut of the welterweight division. He can punch and kick from afar like the Scorpion.

He may not be the fighter with a Thousand Hands like the Centipede, but St. Pierre's uncanny timing gives opponents fits. He has also built a Toad-like fortification with his invincible conditioning and wrestling.

Moreover, GSP glides through the ground game when he transforms into a snake, turning into a lizard when he flips in the air after a victory.

Without a doubt, "Scorpion" Dan Hardy will have his hands and feet full against "Juggernaut" Georges St. Pierre.

I like Dan Hardy for his straightforwardness, but I think this title fight against GSP will be a case where it would've helped if he was actually sneaky - rather than simply having the ability to sneak up on people as the underdog.

Hardy is tough, so I don't think he'll just get his ass handed to him. In fact, I think he'll give GSP a good fight. It's just that I think he'll go home disappointed on Saturday night.

The Five Deadly Venoms, detoxified

If you think the combined force of the Lizard and Yang Tieh is deadly, wait until you see the Lizard, Toad and Yang Tieh together. Because that's what GSP is as a fighter - and more.

Georges St. Pierre may not be as good a pure striker as Dan Hardy, but backed by his takedowns and overall feel for the MMA game, GSP's striking can become just as deadly. And while you never know what a blow with Dan Hardy's fight-ending power could do, I'm not betting against GSP on this one.

I think Dan Hardy will keep Georges St. Pierre at bay with his striking and toughness at first, but the more GSP's takedowns sap his energy, the more vulnerable he'll become on the ground : Georges St. Pierre over Dan Hardy via submission, Round 3.

As for Mir-Carwin, I like Frank Mir over Shane Carwin in Round 1, via submission : Mir may be no Muhammad Ali, but he's been getting better on his feet, especially with his combinations and timing. If he could tag an agile striker like Cheick Kongo with ease, he'll certainly get to Carwin's jaw early and often.

With the mass he's put on, Mir can drop Carwin, who isn't nearly as agile or explosive as fellow behemoth Brock Lesnar. On the ground, he can constrict the former NCAA Division II Wrestling Heavyweight National Champion.

It helps to have a Toad's iron skin, but how useful is it against a quicker and slicker opponent who's smart enough to find a way to turn off its armor system? Just ask Joshua Clottey.

The Thousand Arrows of Manny Pacquiao

2010-03-15T19:56:00.017+09:00

When Manny Pacquiao schooled Joshua Clottey on Saturday night, the relentless assault was akin to the hailstorm of arrows launched by Qin Shi Huang's deadliest archers in the historical swordplay epic Hero (starring Jet Li, featuring Donnie Yen).

Faced against so many arrows fired in quick and neverending succession, Clottey could do nothing but peek through the slit in between his guard, lest his eyes get pierced by the hissing projectiles.

With the spirit and support of most of the 51,000 fans in attendance at Cowboys Stadium behind him, Manny Pacquiao's arrows seemed like they were set on fire before they were launched. It's a testament to Clottey's toughness, stamina and guard that he finished the fight standing on his two feet.

However, boxing judges don't reward stationary defenses and plodding offenses, so God willing, we'll get another chance to see Pacman try to further cement his legacy.

Hopefully, that chance will come against Floyd Mayweather, Jr.

I want to watch Pacquiao-Mayweather happen as much as anyone else. But first, Mayweather must beat Shane Mosley, a tough, fast, powerful, aggressive fighter whose endurance belies his advancing years.

Also, the Pacquiao and Mayweather camps need to come to terms over drug testing, purse-splitting...You know the story.

However, as good as I think Mayweather-Mosley will be, or Pacquiao-Mosley could be, Mayweather-Pacquiao would be an epic matchup between two grandmasters, an opportunity for fight fans to see the sweet science bloom into full-fledged artistry.

Sweet Science vs. Hailstorm of Arrows
from Hero

Shane Mosley may be a great pressure fighter, but on paper, he doesn't have the hands or feet to fully track Pacquiao's movements or match him punch for punch. If he can't knock Pacquiao out, he's almost as likely to become overwhelmed by the Pacman's Thousand Arrows as Miguel Cotto and Joshua Clottey were.

On the other hand, Mayweather is like a matador seducing a bull. He patiently lures the bull into his lair, thrusting his sword into his prey when the opportunity presents itself.

If Manny Pacquiao's game is predicated on constant circling and a firewall of punches, Floyd Mayweather, Jr.'s tactical advantages lie in his calculated steps, upper body movement and counterpunching.

If anyone can systemically break down Pacman's terrifying arrow rain with perfectly timed parries, blocks and counterpunches, it's Money Mayweather.

And if anyone can make Mayweather pay for not attacking enough, it's Manny Pacquiao.

Until we actually get a chance to see the events unfold, let's entertain ourselves with Mayweather-Mosley (May 1, 9 PM ET - HBO PPV).

P.S. I used Hero references for this piece, but if a movie like The Five Venoms is more in tune with your kung fu movie preferences, check out my other Pacquiao-Clottey posts "Pick Your Poison : Pacquiao-Clottey" and "The Poison Clan Reborn in Pacquiao-Clottey".

Pick Your Poison: Pacquiao-Clottey

2010-03-09T16:01:00.028+09:00

If you're not familiar with The Five (Deadly) Venoms, the premise of this piece, I strongly recommend that you read my earlier post "The Poison Clan Reborn in Pacquiao-Clottey".

via Amazon.com

The Toad Style is seemingly invincible.

The Toad's impregnable armor can withstand attacks from spears and swords - or attempts to puncture its skin through the use of an Iron Maiden. It can even be argued that the Toad Style builds its exponent a fortress impregnable by bullets.

However, the Toad cannot resist explosive pressure point strikes.

In other words, when struck in its weak spots with pinpoint accuracy, the Toad's defensive functions rapidly collapse.

There's no recourse at this point, as each progressive blow destroys the muscular, skeletal and nervous systems of the Toad.

Joshua Clottey, with his tight guard and strong chin, has been practically, in the infamous words of The Rzarector, "immune to all physical torture."

By this, I mean that Clottey has lost bouts, but not his senses. With a strong defense, he simply has let his fists and head bruise bone and tear flesh throughout his career. He's been able to do so relatively unimpeded by the risk of being knocked out.

But alas, Joshua Clottey is no Lo Mang the Toad. Clottey may be ripped like the Toad, but he doesn't have the nifty hands or feet.

Piercing the Toad's armor
from Five Deadly Venoms

Moreover, the defensive threshold of Clottey is much lower than that of the Toad. To defeat the Toad, his enemy must treacherously stick darts into his ears, his only weak spots. But a boxer can beat Clottey by relentlessly attacking the area between the Ghanaian warrior's ears.

Is such a task much easier said than done?

Absolutely. But we aren't talking about just any boxer; we're talking about Manny Pacquiao.

As tough as the Centipede was in Five Deadly Venoms, he could be had. On the other hand, Pacquiao hasn't been had since he dropped a decision to Erik Morales in March 2005.

The current Manny Pacquiao defends himself by causing blindness in his opponents. His Thousand Hands terrorize enemies because they come from constantly shifting positions and unexpected angles. This rapid missile fire naturally forms a fierce defensive perimeter for the Filipino fighting legend, who has an iron jaw - just in case something does get through.

"Pound for Pound (Manny Pacquiao Fight Song)" by The Trackrunners

These shadowless punches may be silent, but they explode upon impact. The track record shows that if a few don't do the job, a barrage will. All things considered, dynamic forces eat alive static defenses and pretty muscles.

That's why I think Joshua Clottey will get stopped late in the fight against Manny Pacquiao. I give him about ten rounds to be knocked out - for the first time in his professional career.

P.S. If you've already decided that you can't get enough Pacquiao-Clottey or Five Venoms, check out the instant classics "The Poison Clan Reborn in Pacquiao-Clottey" and "The Poison Clan Reborn in UFC 111".

The Poison Clan Reborn in UFC 111

2010-02-23T09:45:00.021+09:00

For the boxing version of "The Poison Clan Reborn", check out "The Poison Clan Reborn in Pacquiao-Clottey".

Snake vs. Toad from The Five (Deadly) Venoms

Muhammad Ali may have floated like a butterfly and stung like a bee, but Frank Mir constricts like a boa and strikes like a rattlesnake.

At 265 lbs, Mir effortlessly slithers the grounds of the Octagon and injects venoms into his opponents when on his feet. He even rattles warnings to his adversaries through the airwaves.

Although his fighting method came up short against Brock Lesnar in their second fight, the Las Vegas native has been deadly otherwise. Just ask Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Cheick Kongo.

Mir's Snake Style will have to be in full effect against Shane Carwin on March 27 (10 PM ET, PPV), as The Engineer's Iron Hand has been dropping opponents like flies.

Carwin's wrestling or athleticism may not be on Lesnar's level, but the record speaks for itself : When Carwin's fist makes contact with the jaw, the fight is as good as over.

With his ability to throw strikes with knockout power and accuracy from long range, Dan Hardy is reminiscent of the Scorpion from The Five Venoms (WARNING : spoiler alert!) :

The Scorpion Strikes

In addition to his Scorpion-like abilities, there's much that I find endearing about Hardy's eccentricity. This is a guy who got into the martial arts because of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - and MMA because he was inspired by his time spent training with Shaolin monks in China.

However he may have developed his talent, Dan Hardy is now up against the biggest challenge of his MMA career : a title bout against Georges St. Pierre.

via Amazon.com

Simply put, GSP is the juggernaut of the welterweight division. He can punch and kick from afar like the Scorpion.

He may not be the fighter with a Thousand Hands like the Centipede, but St. Pierre's uncanny timing gives opponents fits. He has also built a Toad-like fortification with his invincible conditioning and wrestling.

Moreover, GSP glides through the ground game when he transforms into a snake, turning into a lizard when he flips in the air after a victory.

Without a doubt, "Scorpion" Dan Hardy will have his hands and feet full against "Juggernaut" Georges St. Pierre, but the Venom vs. Venom matchup will be a fight to clamor for at UFC 111 (March 27, 10 PM ET - PPV).

P.S. I'm also covering Pacquiao-Clottey in the Poison Clan tradition. The piece, first mentioned at the top of this post, is called "The Poison Clan Reborn in Pacquiao-Clottey".

The Poison Clan Reborn in Pacquiao-Clottey

2010-02-23T09:36:00.021+09:00

For the MMA version of "The Poison Clan Reborn", check out "The Poison Clan Reborn in UFC 111".

To watch Manny Pacquiao move around the ring and deliver fast, powerful punches from all angles is reminiscent of the fighting style of the Centipede from The Five (Deadly) Venoms, one of the most influential kung fu films ever made.

Introducing The Five Deadly Venoms

The Centipede is so fast with his strikes that he looks as if he has a "Thousand Hands". Surely, no fighter in recent years, with the arguable exception of Juan Manuel Marquez, has been able to stand up to the Thousand Hands of Manny Pacquiao.

To have a chance against the lighting quick invisible strikes of the Centipede, his opponent needs an impenetrable armor, impervious to swords and spears - much like the Toad's.

Centipede vs. Toad

Certainly, it'll be interesting to see how the airtight guard, iron chin and clubbing hook-uppercut combinations of Joshua Clottey will stand up to the .50 caliber machine gun fire of Manny Pacquiao.

How hard (or easy) will it be for Pacman to find the weak spots in Clottey's armor?

How much will Clottey be able to muscle Pacquiao around?

We'll see on fight night (March 13, 9 PM ET - HBO PPV).

P.S. As mentioned at the top of this post, the MMA version of this piece is titled "The Poison Clan Reborn in UFC 111".

It's the piece to read to get ready for UFC 111, specifically Georges St. Pierre-Dan Hardy and Frank Mir-Shane Carwin.

Nick Diaz as the One-Armed Swordsman

2010-02-02T19:30:00.029+09:00

courtesy of Sherdog

If you want some badasses to inspire your life, you can start by watching Jimmy Wang Yu (the original kung fu star) and Strikeforce welterweight champion Nick Diaz in action.

Whether having played a One-Armed Swordsman, One-Armed Boxer or Chinese Boxer, Jimmy Wang Yu is remembered as having brought to life some of the most memorable characters in the kung fu movies. His personal life was even more larger than life than his movies, filled with scandals and brawls.

Although Wang's kung fu was primitive compared to his successors', his unwillingness to fully distinguish screen and street, and sword and fist, turned him into an icon who radiated intensity and badassery.

Whenever I watch the One-Armed Swordsman or Return of the One-Armed Swordsman, a dark, edgy chord resonates inside me. In my opinion, Fang Gang the One-Armed Swordsman is the baddest character from the kung fu movies.

Wang Yu didn't disappoint off-screen, brawling like a madman even after becoming a movie star. In fact, he got his start in the film industry when he auditioned for the Shaw Brothers after he was suspended from swimming competition - for "breaking the rules" (i.e. fighting (in Korean)).

Although I, in no way, condone street fighting, Wang's reported propensity to throw fisticuffs anytime and anywhere - be it in the studios or bars (articles in Korean) - injected his legend with consistency and substance.

Nick Diaz expresses his fighting prowess and instinct in the cage - rather than the screen or, as far as I know, the streets. Like fellow former swimmer Wang Yu, Diaz also has the makings of a legend, especially with the way he dismantled the likes of Frank Shamrock, Scott Smith and most recently, Marius Zaromskis.

At first, even as I noticed its effectiveness, I slept on Nick Diaz's boxing. I thought it looked ugly. It still does, but I can no longer fool myself that the handiwork of Diaz isn't accurate, fluid and devastating. Combine that with his jiu-jitsu and overall feel for fighting, and you've got someone whom I'd love to see matched up against Georges St. Pierre.

When Diaz came back from a bad knockdown to knock out Marius Zaromskis at Strikeforce : Miami, I had a feeling that I was witnessing the birth of a legend.

At the same time, Nick Diaz is susceptible to getting tagged, so he'll have to improve his defense.

If Diaz's standup offense is his right hand and his defense his left, would he be able to fight with just his left, a la Fang Gang the One-Armed Swordsman?

Not a chance.

Sooner or later, he'd get his head chopped off by a deadly swordsman.

However, if Nick Diaz learns to avoid direct strikes while continuing to dish out his own, I like his chances of reaching the pinnacle of MMA.

Then, he can become MMA's answer to the One-Armed Swordsman.

via Watershed

Till Death Do Us Part

2009-11-17T13:52:00.026+09:00

I took Manny Pacquiao as my bride, had my love affair with Miguel Cotto, and left Miguel to sort things out with Manny.

With Manny looking like a total kung fu master in whooping Miguel - being on point with the footwork, timing, combinations and explosive power - things have come full circle.

I'm glad I ended my love affair with Miguel and came back to Manny.

It's now till death do us part, because I sense retirement is near for Pacman.

Manny Pacquiao has had his runs. He's had his trilogy with Erik Morales, and fights and rematches with Marco Antonio Barrera and Juan Manuel Marquez. He's had his interludes with Oscar Larios and Jorge Solis.

And what Pacquiao did between June 2008 and Saturday night - dismantling David Diaz, beating down Oscar De La Hoya, smashing Ricky Hatton, and mastering Cotto - was pure magic.

I now see Pacman fighting one to five more times before he hangs up the gloves.

If Manny Pacquiao has to fight just one bout and then retire, Mayweather-Pacquiao is it. Thankfully, Floyd Mayweather, Jr. has given the go ahead for negotiations to begin, although he's running his mouth about how the fight would put him in a no-win situation.

However, there's too much money and publicity involved for the fight not to happen, and when it does happen, we'll see master against scientist, fighter against boxer and puncher against striker.

Let there also be a rematch, and if necessary, a rubber match.

I can't wait.

P.S. Manny Pacquiao had passed by Juan Manuel Marquez when Pacquiao beat Oscar De La Hoya, but things have come full circle : Pacquiao-Marquez rubber match at 140 would be one of the most intriguing matches that can be made in boxing.

Pacquiao has become such a household name that he can carry a pay-per-view bout. And although an ever-improving Pacman would be totally favored in a third fight against Juan Ma, it's a chance for him to settle unfinished business.

For tying up loose ends, both fighters will be paid handsomely.

But what if Marquez wins the rubber match?

Let a fourth showdown decide the winner of the rivalry - once and for all.

Manny Pacquiao is my wife

2009-11-11T17:42:00.015+09:00

I wouldn't know from personal experience, but I heard that when married men have affairs, they usually return to their wives. Of course, this is assuming that their wives don't divorce them.

Manny Pacquiao has been my favorite boxer for over a year. So metaphorically, he would be my wife.

When Miguel Cotto fought through a horrible cut to defeat Joshua Clottey in June, he became my first man-crush. In other words, a love affair was born.

Sadly, with Pacquiao-Cotto on the horizon, it's time to end my affair with Cotto. I'm going back to Pacquiao, my wife.

This is painful because I love 'em both. Manny Pacquiao is the heart, soul and pride of the Philippines, while Miguel Cotto represents the best of a rich Puerto Rican boxing tradition. Both seem to be extremely likable, classy gentlemen.

It's too bad that in a fight, usually just one man wins.

Unless he's being punched by Antonio Margarito, Miguel Cotto doesn't get knocked out. Plus, Cotto is an underrated boxer, so I don't think he'll get knocked out by Manny Pacquiao. This in spite of the fact that the Pacman's been displaying thunderous power as he moves up in weight.

However, despite being smaller, Manny Pacquiao is the beast, a physical specimen. He doesn't tire, takes the occasional shot like it's nothing, and beats opponents silly. He has continued to improve technically - and I believe he'll enter fight night having progressed even further in the sweet science department.

I think Manny Pacquiao will be too fast and too elusive for Cotto, but more than aggressive enough to clinch a unanimous decision when it's all said and done.

Thanks for the memories, Miguel. It's time for me to go sort things out with my wife Manny.

"The End of a Love Affair" by Frank Sinatra

When you had too much to drink

2009-11-09T17:51:00.025+09:00

"You Had Too Much to Drink" by EPMD

A little wine don't hurt nobody. It's when you drink too much that the problems start happening. For example :

1. You may think you're Tony Montana.

2. The girl sitting next to you at the bar may look like Paula Abdul.

3. You may drive under the influence.

4. You may spend hours looking for your keys, when they've been in your pocket all along.

5. You may be throwing up all night, begging for a second chance.

I also think that Fedor Emelianenko and Brett Rogers had too much to drink on Saturday night.

I loved the valor of Brett Rogers. He absolutely took it to Fedor, breaking Fedor's nose with his first jab of the night. He also didn't hesitate to batter Fedor in the clinch. He took some hard shots, and escaped some close submission calls, but he was surviving.

However, I still think The Grim had too much drink. He traded with Fedor, with no lateral movement : When he punched, he always stood in front of Fedor's line of attack, even stepping into Fedor's range.

He escaped Fedor's submission attempts, once even sweeping Fedor from underneath and pounding him from above.

But in the end, his lack of polish and experience was not nearly enough, letting Fedor catch him with a booming overhand right that went right past his matador guard.

The lesson for Brett Rogers: Drink too much Russian vodka and you puke green.

courtesy of Showtime

As for Fedor Emelianenko, the win came with perhaps one drink too many.

Fedor got his nose busted on the first contact of the night, and still hasn't shown that he isn't vulnerable to a fighter who can control the tempo of the fight with his striking.

And I wonder what Brock Lesnar would do to him if the two were to fight on the ground. Rogers is big, strong and tough, but the Lesnar before mononucleosis has shown he can smother and control anyone with his wrestling.

The Russian legend's right hand that dropped Rogers was impressive, no doubt, but reconstructive surgery and medical suspension doesn't sound like fun to me.

Now, someone somewhere is probably putting together a blueprint to get Fedor drunk.

I'll cry when Juan Manuel Marquez retires

2009-09-20T17:41:00.011+09:00

"Snakes" by Ol' Dirty Bastard
ft. Killah Priest, RZA, Masta Killa and Buddha Monk

After seeing the heart of a lion that Juan Manuel Marquez has when Marquez fought Floyd Mayweather, Jr., I've officially reserved my tears for the day when Juan Ma announces his retirement.

I'm of the opinion that a warrior's true heart is tested in the ring. After seeing Miguel Cotto will his way through a bad cut to beat Joshua Clottey back in June, I learned for the first time what a man-crush is.

After seeing Marquez fight through til the end of what was a one-sided beating at the hands of the bigger, faster, younger and more skilled Floyd Mayweather, I'm convinced that I'll cry for a man that I've seen only on TV.

If how Juan Manuel Marquez fights is conceptualized by the structure of the Wu-Tang posse cut "Snakes" from Ol' Dirty Bastard's solo debut album Return to the 36 Chambers (The Dirty Version), then Floyd Mayweather, Jr. would be best represented by "Hellz Wind Staff" from the Wu-Tang Forever double album.

Both Mayweather and Marquez are cut from the same psychological mold : hardcore, hard-working, hard-fighting and Jordanesque sons of guns. But Mayweather is about the refined presentation, while Marquez is about the rough, rugged and raw.

"Snakes" is a sparse, minimalistic cut energized by kung fu movie and soul music samples, with a strong drum beat. "Hellz Wind Staff" is similar in structure, with kung fu movie samples powering the flow of the song, and backed with a sleek bassline. If "Snakes" is the original rugged Wu-Tang sound, then "Hellz Wind Staff" is the polished, sophisticated epitome of RZA's signature.

In the end, the slicker, polished manisfestation of the hardcore warrior beat the rough version - easily. However, the less refined version didn't go down without giving it all he had.

Marquez was being peppered all night long by Mayweather's jabs and left hooks. It was staggering to see how much of a size - and everything - disadvantage Marquez had.

La Dinamita was knocked down in the second round by Pretty Boy Floyd's patented lunging left hook, and was battered, bruised and bloody throughout the fight. He threw everything he had, but he could barely touch the defensive master that's Money May.

But Juan Manuel Marquez never quit. He had nothing going for him before the fight and it showed in the ring. The raw quail eggs and urine didn't work. Hell, even his own brilliance was useless for the night.

But Juan Ma inspired at least one man who was watching the fight. Because I'm thorough convinced that I've learned how to shed tears for my hero.

Levels of Kung Fu Mastery (UFC 101/WEC 42 observations)

2009-08-10T13:46:00.015+09:00

UFC 101 and WEC 42 over the weekend had some stunning moments, especially in their main events.

From Anderson Silva's backpedaling one-punch knockout of Forrest Griffin to BJ Penn's thorough domination of Kenny Florian on land, air and sea to Brian Bowles' barreling through Miguel Torres to capture the WEC bantamweight belt, these two events produced highlights that will never be forgotten.

With the main fights having been a minefield for matchups between fighters between different styles and levels of MMA mastery, watching UFC 101 and WEC 42 was like watching a great kung fu movie.

I did my best to categorize and describe what I see as the four levels of kung fu mastery.

1. Demigod : Has mastered almost every single skill in fighting. Toys with opponents, makes them pay for their mistakes. Capable of doing so with hands and footwork alone. Often untouchable and subliminally creative.

Footwork like Michael Jackson - fight becomes a dance. Throws combinations like a Street Fighter character. Watching a demigod fight is like watching Pai Mei school Beatrix Kiddo in Kill Bill 2. Hits with chi power and timing possible to have only through years of smart training and knowledge of self.

UFC 101/WEC 42 archetype : Anderson Silva

2. Legend : Has perfected most of the most important aspects of fighting (footwork, punching, grappling, takedown defense). High-level mastery of essential skills overrides shortcomings against fighter of lesser caliber. Dominates a lesser fighter's will. Possesses the finer skills that a master may not have (e.g. difference between jiu-jitsu of BJ Penn and Kenny Florian).

UFC 101/WEC 42 archetype : BJ Penn

3. Master : Understands the rhythm and spacing of fighting. Good at most aspects of MMA, and great at a few. Generally able to avoid direct hits from the junkyard dog but not the legend or demigod. Seemingly minor imperfections make him susceptible to upsets by bloodthirsty underdogs (e.g. Miguel Torres' lack of one-punch knockout power costing him against Brian Bowles).

UFC 101/WEC 42 archetype : Miguel Torres, Kenny Florian

4. Junkyard Dog : The scrapper. Possesses a rudimentary, but effective, skill set that's his meat and potatoes. Gets hit a lot in order to dish out punishment. Superbly conditioned and truly a live underdog. Describes most mixed martial artists fighting at the major league level.

UFC 101/WEC 42 archetype : Forrest Griffin, Brian Bowles

Although it's more likely that a higher level fighter would defeat a lower level fighter than vice versa, there are so many variables that happen all at once that an upset is possible at any given moment.

So whether you watch MMA to see poetry in motion, be inspired by human triumphs, or both, there's much beauty in a sport that seems so violent and bloody on the surface.

"Smooth Criminal" by Michael Jackson

Bald-Headed Avengers

2009-08-06T21:47:00.035+09:00

I like the fact that the three biggest names of this weekend's MMA events (UFC 101, WEC 42) have interesting hairstyles.

Miguel Torres, the badass from East Chicago, has a mullet and always shows up to fight.

BJ Penn and Anderson Silva are bald, and as I predicted in my preview of this weekend's mega fights, the two will come out with a vengeance after lackluster performances.

They will thus become immortalized as The Bald-Headed Avengers.

I'm not bald, but bald can be beautiful, as long as you forego the combover or wig. If you crop your hair or shave it all off, then women may even find it sexy.

Besides Penn and Silva, some cool bald-headed luminaries include Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley, Dana White, Samuel L. Jackson, Ben Kingsley and my old basketball coach Izzi Metz.

Baldness need not be a handicap. In fact, it should not be.

Because baldness is a cosmetic condition - not a disease.

If cripples can master deadly kung fu in three years and strike down upon their enemies with great vengeance and furious anger, then you should never get down on yourself just because you're bald.

The handicapped from Crippled Avengers (one of the greatest kung fu movies ever) are what Masta Killa from the Wu-Tang Clan referred to as the "dumb, deaf(-mute) and blind" - as well as those without legs or arms.

The Crippled Avengers needed devices like invincible prosthetic limbs and mirrors as well as skills like sensitive hearing, tactile language and teamwork in order to get their revenge.

The bald need only a razor, hair trimmer, shaving cream and mirror to get the job done.

So while I'm not saying that BJ Penn and Anderson Silva wouldn't respectively kick Kenny Florian and Forrest Griffin's asses anyway, their aerodynamic chrome domes may enhance their kung fu.