Mach & Me

UFC 146: Junior dos Santos shoots down Frank Mir

noreply@blogger.com (mitsuru) — Sun, 27 May 2012 06:50:00 +0000

In front of a wild cheering crowd at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, UFC Heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos dealt former two-time UFC heavyweight title holder a beat down to retain his belt. Frank Mir, a submission expert, failed to capitalize on his expertise against the heavy-handed Brazilian. Instead, Mir elected to play into dos Santos' gameplan and paid the price.

Frank Mir failed to take the fight to the ground, a milieu where dos Santos was untested wherein he has a greater shot of upsetting the champion. After a failed takedown attempt right at the start of the fight, he elected to trade blows with Junior dos Santos, a decision that proved costly to his cause.

Continue reading HERE

Dan Wheldon honored in Motor City

noreply@blogger.com (mitsuru) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 03:52:00 +0000

Two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Dan Wheldon, who died from injuries suffered in a crash at the 2011 IZOD IndyCar World Championship at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, was honored posthumously with the Borg-Warner Championship Drivers' Trophy in Detroit.

The trophy, which is a replica of the Borg-Warner trophy, is usually given to the winner of the Indianapolis 500 each year as a personal keepsake, since the original trophy, unlike other racing competitions, 'does not go home' with the winner after its presentation. It is returned to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum, where it stays permanently until the next ceremony.

The 'Baby Borg' was presented to his wife, Susie, by Borg-Warner Chairman and CEO Tim Manganello at the Automotive News World Congress, held in conjunction with the Detroit International Auto Show.

“Anyone who knew Dan or heard him speak about the Indy 500 knew how passionate he was about this race. He loved everything about it. I don’t have to tell you how happy it made Dan to win his second Indianapolis 500. Anyone who was there that day or watched on TV could see how absolutely fulfilled and joyful he was. So much so that he laid down on the track, drenched in milk, with feet up in the air and fists pumping, soaking it all in. His face will be forever etched on this special trophy, but his legacy will reach far beyond," said Susie Wheldon about her late husband's second Indianapolis 500 victory on May 29, 2011.

Here's the video of Dan Wheldon's last moments on the track on that fateful day in October 2011 in Las Vegas --

There is no stopping Pacmania

noreply@blogger.com (mitsuru) — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 05:11:00 +0000

It was reported that the Manny Pacquiao- Shane Mosley welterweight championship megafight at the MGM Grand Resort and Casino in Las Vegas on May 7th has sold more than 16,000 tickets in just 3 hours after its opening, making it one of the biggest ticket runs in Sin City's history.

No matter what the critics say about this fight, Manny Pacquiao has earned his due and boxing fans love to see his fights, perception of mismatches or not.

As they usually say, the boxing fans have spoken.

Who is this boxing media guy?

noreply@blogger.com (mitsuru) — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 04:42:00 +0000

A prominent member of the mainstream media was the object of disdain and the subject of ridicule by some of his colleagues (?) and the people who attended the weigh- ins. Moments before the weigh- ins the lady host announced to clear a particular area in front of the stage so that some photographers in the makeshift podium could take pictures without being obstructed.

But the moment the weigh- ins started, this particular media character with his massive frame moved and stood into the center of 'no man's land' and despite the protests of the photographers behind him, maintained his ground as if he did not hear all the yelling and hollering directed at him to move out of the picture.

Some media members, particularly the photojournalists, can only shake their heads at this man's arrogance and murmured, "Perhaps, being a prominent media personality gave him the license to throw his weight around."

Continue reading on Examiner.com: Looking back: Notes from the Alexander- Bradley 'super fight' weigh- ins - Detroit boxing | Examiner.com

Postmortem: Devon Alexander- Timothy Bradley 'super fight'

noreply@blogger.com (mitsuru) — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 04:48:00 +0000

"Despite the pre- fight rhetoric, Alexander and Bradley did not throw caution to the wind. Despite all the trash- talking, the fighters did not engage in toe- to -toe exchanges. Despite the promised fireworks, the match- up simply failed to explode."

Continue reading on Examiner.com: Postmortem: Devon Alexander- Timothy Bradley 'super fight' - Detroit boxing | Examiner.com

The Heat is On: Devon Alexander vs. Timothy Bradley at the Silverdome

noreply@blogger.com (mitsuru) — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 05:40:00 +0000

The HBO- backed light welterweight super fight between WBC champion Devon Alexander (21-0, 13 KOs) and WBO titleholder Timothy Bradley (26-0-1, 11 KOs), which will be held at the Pontiac Silverdome in Pontiac, MI on January 29th, is definitely the first big fight of the year.

If the fight will turn out to be as promised, this could be an omen of things to come not only for both fighters but also for the sport. If the fight turns out to be as advertised, then this will put the onus on the promoters and matchmakers to make more relevant fights. If the fight turns out to be as projected, then this could help both fighters command more respect and marketability not only from the fans but from the powers that be.

Read the full article HERE

In Harm's Way: Nonito Donaire, Jr. bludgeons Wladimir Sidorenko into submission

noreply@blogger.com (mitsuru) — Sun, 05 Dec 2010 06:17:00 +0000

"Filipino boxing sensation Nonito Donaire, Jr. brutalized and hammered his way to a knock out victory over the outclassed Wladimir Sidorenko knocking him down thrice during the fight with the last one coming from a right straight that forced the Ukranian to take a knee and was counted out by the referee 1:48 into the 4th in the co- main event feature of Top Rank's In Harm's Way fight card at the Honda Center in Anaheim, CA."

Read the full article HERE

/photo credit: Top Rank Boxing/ Chris Farina

Beyonce is a Pacman fan

noreply@blogger.com (mitsuru) — Sat, 27 Nov 2010 01:56:00 +0000

NHL: Avalanche edges Wings

noreply@blogger.com (mitsuru) — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 04:10:00 +0000

...was at the Joe tonight. The Wings were clipped by the Avalanche 5-4 in SO. Good game though.

WingMen: Mike Modano, Nicklas Lidstrom, Henrik Zetterberg & Valtteri Filppula

Tainted Meat: Alberto Contador's laughable defense

noreply@blogger.com (mitsuru) — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 21:51:00 +0000

A case of 'food poisoning' eh?

Three-time Tour de France winner and his Garmin- Transmition boss Jonathan Vaughters are crying foul after the Spanish rider tested positive for a banned substance Clenbuterol at this year's race.

Contador is blaming it all on a steak that he ate during a lull in this year's tour on July 20- 21 and Vaughters, a strong anti- doping advocate, wants fairness.

“It is a clear case of food contamination,” said Contador to a group of reporters in his hometown near Madrid.

For his part, Vaughters told Cycling news,

"The sad part about this one is that no matter what the science eventually shows the headlines have been made. It's too bad that this process could not have occurred in a way that you had a final determination of guilt or innocent and then something was released. That's something that needs to be looked at. It's the headline that will be in the memory of the general public and it will always supercede the reality and the science, and that's sad. I don't think that's fair."

Now tell that to Lance Armstrong who has been suspected, accused and vilified but never tested positive for any banned substances in his career despite being subjected to all kinds of tests known to man.

It's common knowledge that many cyclists are unclean, and doping in cycling is the most sophisticated in all of sports. Alberto Contador was probably caught while he was 'cycling' the drug Clenbuterol before he could get rid of it in his system.

Maybe Alberto Contador is guilty or maybe not. Bottom line is, like Floyd Landis, Alberto Contador tested positive for a banned drug and should suffer the consequences for it.

So, what kind of advice do you think Lance Armstrong will give his Spanish rival now that he has found himself in the middle of a storm-

Live Strong and Be Strong just like Lance Armstrong?

Or how about LOL, that text messaging slang from the Radioshack commercial?

Manny Pacquiao in Nike's BOOM

noreply@blogger.com (mitsuru) — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 03:54:00 +0000

Check out Nike's BOOM ad features Manny Pacquiao, Tim Tebow and Ndamukong Suh at Detroit Fight Sports Examiner.

UFC: 119 Mir lulls Cro Cop to sleep

noreply@blogger.com (mitsuru) — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 02:52:00 +0000

In the UFC 119 main event, Frank Mir dropped Mirko Cro Cop with a well- timed right knee to the kisser that was followed by a heavy right to the chin for insurance, as the Croatian lay flat on his back, to finally knock him out with just 58 seconds left in the fight. It was the highlight of a rather dull and slow fight where neither fighter was keen on fighting toe to toe as they elected not to engage each other up until the last minute. It was the end of an arduous journey for both fighters who simply did not have the will to fight which was unthinkable in their younger days.

The knockout was the culmination of the match that was spent more on holding and hugging each other rather than fighting. It was the end of a boring fight that put the fans up their seats but for the wrong reasons. It was the zenith of a fight that was characterized more by non- action than by fireworks that left the fans with no other choice but to rain the Conseco Fieldhouse with boos. It was the climax of a slow and tactical fight that ended up with no winner.

Visit Detroit Fight Sports Examiner.com for the full article

HBO and Golden Boy dissapoints boxing fans again

noreply@blogger.com (mitsuru) — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 02:59:00 +0000

The HBO and Golden Boy Promotion's extravaganza held at the Staples Center last Saturday night did exactly what the promoters wanted and expected at the gates but the main event did disappoint. The undercards did have some fireworks on the surface, but in reality if you dig and look deeper, they were nothing but just set- up fights to enhance the image and pad the records of Oscar de la Hoya's wards.

The show was dubbed 200: Celebrate and Dominate in honor of the bicentennial of Mexico's Independence Day was headlined by Shane Mosley and Sergio Mora in a junior middleweigt bout. Saul "Canelo" Alvarez and Victor Ortiz, both proteges of the Golden Boy, were also in the cards to further enhance the Mexican flavor and entice the huge Mexican community to spend their night at the fights.

HBO and Golden Boy did everything to maximize their earnings for the said fight. In the weeks prior to the event, they employed several boxing scribes to help them hype the fight. They tried to make it appear that it was a big and significant event that is worth everybody's time and money. They did everything to sell it and hoped the gullible boxing public bites it.

Yes, they had it for $50 on the cable network's pay-per-view and $20 on the big screen in selected theaters all over the country, not to mention the top $200 price at the Staples Center. If they did succeed and earned a huge profit from it, it remains to be seen though.

But the truth of the matter is, the fight card was not pay-per-view material at all.

Visit Detroit Fight Sports Examiner for the full article

Edrin Dapudong: Another Filipino prospect bites the dust

noreply@blogger.com (mitsuru) — Sun, 19 Sep 2010 02:47:00 +0000

Highly- touted Filipino prospect Edrin “The Sting” Dapudong arrived in Cancun, Mexico with high hopes of retaining his WBC silver flyweight title against Wilbert “Hurricane” Uicab, but it was not meant to be. The Hurricane proved too much and way too elusive to be stung by the Filipino's vaunted fists.

All hopes that Dapudong will have a second consecutive victory in hostile territory clearly evaporated in the first minute of the first round as Uicab, with whirlwind fists, quickly jumped on the surprised Dapudong as he peppered the Filipino with shots coming from all angles.

It was an omen of things to come as The Hurricane, buoyed by the partisan crowd, quickly established his rhythm and wrecked havoc against the flat and leaden- feet Filipino champion for most of the first half of the fight.

Edrin Dapudong failed to exploit his height and reach advantage against his shorter opponent as Uicab enticed him to fight in close quarters and clearly exploited the chances given in his favor as he repeatedly tagged the champion with whirlwind combinations to the head and body.

Although Dapudong somewhat recovered and won the middle rounds, he failed to sustain his momentum into the championship rounds as he obviously ran out of gas, outgunned and faded badly. There was no sense of urgency from him and his corner. Dapudong just contented himself with clinching and exchanging a few insignificant wild punches with Uicab even though it was obvious that he was behind in the score cards.

The Dapudong that showed up in the fight was not the same fighter that destroyed, in one round, the feared Jesus “The Destroyer” Jimenez to take the then vacant WBC silver flyweight belt just months earlier.

Edrin Dapudong was obviously not in the best of shape; his legs deserted him early, the sting in his punches were nowhere to be found and he was already breathing through his mouth in the early rounds. He appeared tentative and lost against the wily Wilbert Uicab which left us to wonder whether his team had a game plan or even scouted his opponent at all.

Thus, another brave Filipino fighter failed in his quest for glory and lost his crown on the world stage. Like the rest before him who were hyped but came unprepared to handle the pressure of big time fights, Edrin Dapudong went out there to fulfill a dream but ended up in a nightmare.

The list is quite long and growing; Bernabe Concepcion, Boom- Boom Bautista, AJ Banal, Fernando Lumacad, Ciso Morales, Rodel Mayol, and the Sonsonas, Marvin and Eden.

And now we wonder, when will these fighters and their handlers ever learn that heart and talent alone will not win the fight, rather hard work and dedication to improve one’s craft will always be a huge factor that will make a difference in the heat of the battle. Also, a good game plan and thorough preparations will always be helpful to effectively handle and overcome a difficult situation. It will also go a long way if one has the mental toughness to handle any adversaries inside the ring.

These tenets are well-proven and practiced by the highly successful fighters throughout the history of boxing.

Just ask Manny Pacquiao.

+First Published @ 8CountNews

Manny Pacquiao messes up Floyd Mayweather, Jr.'s head

noreply@blogger.com (mitsuru) — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 13:48:00 +0000

Yes folks, contrary to what Floyd Mayweather, Jr.'s pronouncements of taking some time off from boxing, his head is actually so full of it.

Despite Floyd Mayweather, Jr.'s practiced nonchalance and dismissal of Manny Pacquiao's greatness, the Filipino and Ring Magazine's current pound-for pound king is really plaguing his mind.

If Manny Pacquiao is a non- entity in Floyd Mayweather, Jr.'s life and existence, then how do we explain his behavior whenever a whiff of Manny Pacquiao invades Floyd Mayweather, Jr.'s air.

It is obvious from the way Floyd Mayweather, Jr. belittles Manny Pacquiao that a big chunk of his brain is haunted by his nemesis. It is obvious that Manny Pacquiao's standing in boxing is driving Floyd Mayweather, Jr. to madness. It is obvious that just by the mere mention of Manny Pacquiao's name in his presence, Floyd Mayweather, Jr. can explode and go to the extreme.

Manny Pacquiao has tormented and continues to torment Floyd Mayweather, Jr. It seems that he just can't get rid of Manny Pacquiao's unwelcome presence wherever he goes. Manny Pacquiao's shadow looms large in Floyd Mayweather, Jr.'s daily life. And Floyd Mayweather, Jr. is going bonkers because of it.

Read the rest of the article, HERE

Manny Pacquiao's USA Today Interview

noreply@blogger.com (mitsuru) — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 06:49:00 +0000

UFC 118: James Toney tries to prove that he is no joke against Randy Couture

noreply@blogger.com (mitsuru) — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 01:01:00 +0000

Who would have thought that a fight between two 40-somethings would steal the thunder from the main event at UFC 118: Edgar vs. Penn 2?

Both James "Lights Out" Toney and Randy "The Natural" Couture are accomplished fighters in their own right and in their own side of the fight spectrum. But this fight is more than just what meets the eye if both warriors can deliver on fight night.

Credit James Toney for creating the hype since the 42- year old boxer and many- time champion from Grand Rapids really knows how to catch your attention every time he opens his mouth. Or blame him for making his mixed martial arts debut against UFC Hall-of-Famer Randy Couture a comical one or worse, a freak show.

The match up has the making of a circus or it could turn out to be a classic. The plot line is intriguing and compelling: boxing versus MMA or two old grizzled warriors trying for a last shot at glory. The hardcore boxing and MMA fans in Michigan, though, are not sold out on the fight and are not really treating this match- up seriously. It's obvious that both fighters are way past their prime and are no longer relevant except for entertainment value or some form of nostalgia.

But tell that to the two fighters who are so into it that the verbal sparring was there from the get- go. They proclaim that they are raring to mix it up inside the ring just to prove that they still have it and show the fight world who is the better fighter. The heavy underdog Toney is talking about him showing that boxing is better than MMA while his 47- year old nemesis is saying that his opponent will find the Octagon very different from the ring and vows to teach Toney a neat lesson in mixed martial arts.

Continue reading HERE

Mercito Gesta KO's Genaro Trazancos in Arizona

noreply@blogger.com (mitsuru) — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 05:20:00 +0000

Mercito "No Mercy" Gesta (19-0-1, 9 KOs), one of boxing's bright prospects from the Philippines, knocked out Mexico's veteran
fighter Genaro Trazancos (22-12-1, 13 KOs) in the 7th round of their 8- round bout at Casino Del Sol in Tuscon, Arizona to remain undefeated.

The Filipino junior welterweight was not tested enough and toyed with Genaro Trazancos for most of the fight but stepped up his attack starting the 6th round as he peppered his opponent with various combinations to the head and body. The most telling were his left straights and upper cuts that would make Trazancos stop momentarily in his tracks everytime the Filipino's power punches found its mark.

Despite Trazancos' experience, Gesta was just superior in all departments and there was no doubt in the spectators' minds that the Filipino can end the fight anytime if he wants it and are just waiting for the inevitable outcome to happen.

Mercito Gesta came out of the corner smoking in the 7th determined to end the fight and not put the decision into the hands of the judges. He showed no mercy and chased the reeling Trazancos all over and with just 53 seconds into the round, a powerful left straight to the kisser put the game Trazancos on his back for the count.

Mercito "No Mercy" Gesta improves to 19 wins with 9 KOs while Genaro Trazancos dropped his losing record to 12.

Read more: Mitsuru in Bukisa

Paul Pierce: Manny Pacquiao is the best P4P boxer in the world

noreply@blogger.com (mitsuru) — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 05:58:00 +0000

We all know that Paul Pierce and the Celtics love Manny Pacquiao. No surprise there.

But FanHouse's Elie Seckbach cutting off ex- Laker Rick Fox while the guy was still talking on the camera in favor of his lady got me into stitches.

I guess, Elie found it too hard to resist the lady's charm.

Go Green!

The way to a Manny Pacquiao- Juan Manuel Marquez trilogy is through Amir Khan

noreply@blogger.com (mitsuru) — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 10:33:00 +0000

Juan Manuel Marquez is still living in the past. If he thinks that his performance against Juan Diaz earns him the right to a third fight with Manny Pacquiao, he is surely mistaken. Ever since their last meeting, their paths have taken in different directions that probably will never again meet.

Juan Manuel Marquez' drumbeaters, which immediately proclaim that the Mexican is ready for a trilogy with rival Manny Pacquiao, are themselves living in the past. After the so-so win over Diaz, those people who said that Marquez deserves another shot at the current P4P king should better consult their ophthalmologists to check on their vision for nowhere in the fight screams the necessity of a Pacquiao trilogy.

Click the link for the article-

The way to a Manny Pacquiao- Juan Manuel Marquez trilogy is through Amir Khan

Marquez- Diaz 2 Undercard: Linares defeats Juarez, Guerrero edges Casamayor

noreply@blogger.com (mitsuru) — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 07:56:00 +0000

Jorge Linares gave a clinical performance against veteran Rocky Juarez in their lightweight encounter via a unanimous decision. The judges gave the nod to the Venezuelan fighter with scores of 99-90 twice and 97- 92.

Click the link for the article-

Jorge Linares defeats Rocky Juarez

Robert "The Ghost" Guerrero knocked Joel Casamayor down in the third round but failed to finish him off in their junior welterweight bout. Guerrero with a well- timed left also wobbled the Cuban who was simply a ghost of his former self at the end of the 6th round.

Click on the link for the article-
Rober Guerrero earns a lackluster victory over Joel Casamayor

Detroit Fight Sports Examiner Digest #85

noreply@blogger.com (mitsuru) — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 22:52:00 +0000

If there’s one place that Floyd Mayweather, Jr. can call home, it should be Michigan. Hailing from Grand Rapids, Mayweather put the state on the boxing map for years and many Michiganders are proud of his accomplishments inside the ring.

If there’s one place where Floyd Mayweather, Jr. can clearly claim that his fans far outnumber that of his nemesis, Manny Pacquiao, it will be Michigan. The Grand Rapids native enjoys a huge following in the state and Michigan boxing fans have supported him through thick and thin.

And with Bob Arum’s deadline on the proposed Mayweather- Pacquiao megafight hovering on the horizon, many boxing fans and supporters of Floyd Mayweather, Jr. are clinging to the faint hope that their favorite fighter will sign the dotted line on the eleventh hour.

Click the link for the full article--

Michigan boxing fans want Floyd Mayweather, Jr. to 'Man Up'

Detroit Fight Sports Examiner Digest #84

noreply@blogger.com (mitsuru) — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 23:13:00 +0000

The writing on the wall even before the Manny Pacquiao- Floyd Mayweather, Jr. megafight was conceived was that it would never happen. Still, many boxing fans are hoping that for a multi-million dollar mega prize all the obstacles will be overcome and the fight will push through. And Bob Arum’s announcement that Manny Pacquiao has agreed to all the demands of the Mayweathers including the contentious random blood testing and purse split brought hope to the boxing faithful. Or so it seems.

Click on the link to read the article-

Mayweather- Pacquiao debacle: Money May passes the buck to Bob Arum via David Mayo

The Legend of the Manny Pacquiao "Pompyang" double- punch

noreply@blogger.com (mitsuru) — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 20:53:00 +0000

When Manny Pacquiao did the patented "FPJ- pompyang" double- punch on Joshua Clottey in their fight dubbed The Event at the Dallas Cowboys Stadium in Texas last March 13th, many were actually surprised by the pound-for-pound king's actions. Many thought it was a spur of the moment decision made by Pacquiao because of Clottey's unwillingness to fight.

Now, it can be told. The "pompyang" double- punch was actually first put into action during his training camp en route to his fight with Joshua Clottey.

In a video by YouTube user, p4pedwinkhan, Manny Pacquiao playfully unleashed the "pompyang" double- punch on his sparring partner, 17- year old prospect Jose Benavidez.

Manny Pacquiao @ The Jimmy Kimmel Live

noreply@blogger.com (mitsuru) — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 06:56:00 +0000