MMA ZOO

5.2 Million Viewers Tuned In To Watch Kimbo Slice On Spike

2009-12-08T15:13:00.000-08:00

5.2 million viewers tuned into Spike TV Saturday night to watch internet sensation, Kevin Ferguson, better known as "Kimbo Slice." Many people are hailing that a success for the UFC & Spike. Maybe so - but it's not something that legitimizes MMA as a sport.

For one thing, 5.2 million viewers were probably horrified at what they saw. I know I was one of them. The fact of the matter is, the Kimbo-Alexander fight was atrocious. Easily the worst fight of the night on the card. Houston Alexander spent the majority of the fight circling Kimbo Slice. There was hardly any action. The only awesome thing (and surprising) that happened during the fight was when Kimbo suplexed Houston, and made an effort to show some of his grappling ability (which isn't much). At the end of the fight, both fighters bent down and put their hands on their knees, gulping for air the way a fat kid does when he walks up a flight of stairs.

I said Kimbo Slice was garbage before, and I still believe he his, but I guess he deserves some props for showing SOME improvement. His grappling game is still horrible, but at least he tried. I just don't like the baggage that comes with Slice; he's an ex-Internet street fighter, and many people tune in to see a spectacle - a freakshow - not MMA. The 5.2 million viewers who tuned into Spike to see Kimbo Slice fight proves that.

I would like to see Kimbo Slice fight again on Spike, against an opponent who will engage with him, and not run away like Houston Alexander did.

Kimbo Slice Is Garbage

2009-12-04T16:32:00.000-08:00

Kevin Ferguson, better known as "Kimbo Slice" is criminally overrated by a lot of MMA fans. Quite frankly, he's garbage. Kimbo slice is nothing more than a brawler - an overrated brawler at that, with little to no ground game. Seth Petruzelli has shown us that Kimbo is nothing more than a swing-at-the-fence street brawler by stopping him in 14 seconds, and Roy Nelson cemented this fact.

Kimbo Slice is garbage, but I can't fault the guy for stepping into the MMA world to compete. My biggest problem with slice isn't necessarily slice, it's with his fanboys; the morons who watched him on YouTube and thought he could compete at the highest level of MMA - without any serious training. And the new comers to MMA are still trying to hype Kimbo up, and keep making excuses for his losses.

Let's face the facts: Kimbo Slice is 35 years old with no ground game, arthritis and below average striking. He might have excelled in the world of bar brawls and street fights, but he'll never amount to anything big in the UFC. Kimbo is and will always be a spectacle/freak show for ratings.

Kimbo Slice has also shown no willingness in the past to work on his ground game or take down defense; two integral areas where he needs to improve if he wants to be taken seriously and succeed. Kimbo might get a few wins before it's all said and done, by banging out some heavyweight slugs; heavyweights who aren't smart enough to take the fight to the ground; but Kimbo Slice will never be a serious UFC heavyweight contender.

Boxing Elitists Don't Get It

2009-12-02T10:40:00.000-08:00

Boxing elitists don't get it. Mixed martial arts is here to stay and is not going away anytime soon. MMA is not a 'fad' as so many boxing fans like to proclaim; the sport is only growing - and believe it or not, has so much success because of boxing:

Boxing is a part of MMA. All MMA combatants start the fight standing up; boxing is just one aspect of a dynamic, well-rounded fighter. Half of MMA's viewers/fans watch boxing as well. Many boxing fans have crossed over to watching MMA, in addition to boxing, or in place of boxing. Believe it or not, boxing has not hurt the sport of MMA, it has helped it, and vice-versa. Both sports feed off of each other. Chances are, if you appreciate two athletes slugging it out in a ring wearing boxing gloves, you'll also appreciate and enjoy two combatants punching, kneeing, elbowing, and grappling with their opponent.

Boxing is certainly more popular worldwide than MMA is, but you have to remember, the sport has a long history. Boxing has been reestablished for well over a hundred years, and have a pretty decent talent pool to dip into.

As a whole, the sport of MMA draws a lot of similarities to boxing as a reestablished sport. I say "reestablished" because boxing has been around since ancient times - but so has MMA! MMA has its roots in the ancient Olympic sport, pankration. Pankration, like modern MMA, was a mix of boxing and wrestling. It combined striking (kicks too) with grappling.

Both MMA and boxing are ancient combat sports, both reintroduced as a sport to the public, after hundreds of years of exile. Both sports involve the struggle of man - one on one. Both sports overcome language or cultural boundaries, and both sports have universal appeal.

There will always be a place for boxing - it's ancient and is a form of MMA - but eventually MMA will surpass boxing for being the number one preference when it comes to combat sports. MMA is so much more diverse and dynamic; it involves boxing, kick boxing, muay thai, judo, sambo, BJJ, wrestling and any other style you can imagine that might be effective. It's the combination of striking - punches, kicks, elbows, knees - with grappling that makes the sport so entertaining and much more appealing than boxing; a sport that involves hitting with your fists only. There are so many different ways to win in MMA it's ridiculous. I think it's the dynamic nature of the sport that will eventually lead to worldwide appeal. MMA is already the fastest growing sport in America.

Boxing elitists need to accept that modern day pankration is here to stay.

StrikeForce And No Elbows Rule On The Ground

2009-11-13T10:46:00.000-08:00

StrikeForce has a lot of good things going for them; they've built a decent stable of fighters to compete, they have Fedor, managed to get their cards on Showtime and CBS, and overall seem to be heading in the right direction. But one thing StrikeForce needs to incorporate into their league is allowing the use of elbows on the ground.

Obviously, there are pros and cons when it comes to elbows on the ground:

Pro: Allowing elbows on the ground makes each fight much more dynamic, and gives fighters more ways to win a fight. Not only does it make the sport more 'pure,' allowing elbows on the ground would fit other models, such as the UFC. In the event a fighter has to transition himself into another league, the rules would be the same as they were when that fighter competed in the other organization. Fighters fighting under another banner wouldn't have to redevelop their game.

Con: Allowing no elbows on the ground, such as StrikeForce, makes the ground game more pleasing on the eye. Having the no elbow rule makes fighters more busy, and you get less lay-n-pray; in order for fighters to do damage from the top position, they need to get space in order to punch - which ultimately makes for more submission opportunities for the opponent on the bottom. The no elbow rule also reduces the chance of a fight ending because of a cut. How many times have we seen fighters cut by sharp elbows? A lot.

As you can see, there is an argument to be made for both rules. Personally, I'd like StrikeForce to allow elbows on the ground. The unified rules of MMA in North America is already established, so there is no reason for StrikeForce to limit the rules which are already in place. Allowing elbows on the ground adds to each fighters' game. The more dynamic a fighter and his game plan the better, in my opinion.

An interesting thought occurred to me while contemplating the pros and cons of the no elbow rule; how would Fedor do if elbows were allowed? He's able to pull off arm bars left and right on the ground, because his opponent creates space in order to inflict his own damage; if elbows are allowed, Fedor probably has more problems on the ground. Could this possibly be one of the reasons that influenced Fedor's decision on signing with StrikeForce, instead of the UFC?

Whatever the case, I'm in favor of StrikeForce allowing elbows on the ground.

Fedor Emelianenko Highlight With Joe Rogan Commentary

2009-11-12T16:12:00.000-08:00

Randy Couture Should Retire

2009-11-12T10:44:00.000-08:00

MMA legend Randy Couture should retire. He's 46 years old and way past his prime. He's given a lot to the sport of MMA, UFC in particular, but there comes a time when an athlete should call it quits. Just take a look at Evander Holyfield for example.

Randy Couture is a good advocate for MMA, no doubt about it. But for the sake of the sport, especially the UFC, I'm hoping, win or lose, he finally retires after his fight with Vera.

In a way I'm hoping Vera beats Couture; if Couture wins, he might be tempted to linger around.

If MMA is to be taken seriously, and like Dana White says, "MMA is home to some of the best athletes on earth," then there is no reason a 46 year old, past prime fighter should be competing at the highest levels. It's time for Randy to pass the torch to the up-and-coming fighters.

Couture should walk away after his fight with Vera, win or lose, while he's ahead - and not become a freak show - or just some fighter who pimps his name for a big pay day.

Fedor Emelianenko On CBS

2009-11-11T23:32:00.000-08:00

The American public was finally introduced to arguably the best pound for pound fighter on the planet Saturday night, Fedor Emelianenko. Fedor fought Brett Rogers in the main event on CBS. Over 5 million people tuned in to watch the main event - and to see what all the fuss was about with that Fedor guy.

First of all, I thought the whole StrikeForce card was good. Most of the fights were exciting. Even if all the fights didn't live up to expectation, you can't really complain, because MMA was on network television -- for free!

As for the Fedor/Rogers fight; I thought it was excellent. It kept me on the edge of my seat. It's been while since we've seen a Fedor opponent put up a good fight.

The other reason the fight kept me on the edge of my seat is because, well, Fedor! You never know when he'll end a fight, and in brutal fashion. That's exactly what he did. Just when you thought Emelianenko was going to be in for a long night - possibly a decision victory - he brutally lands a right hand on Brett Rogers's jaw with a devastating right hand that sent him crashing to the floor. Fedor jumped on him immediately after to go for the kill, before Big John stopped the fight.

What better way for StrikeForce and M-1 to introduce Fedor to the American public? The casual MMA fan got acquainted with the Russian killer and were treated to a climatic stoppage.

Fedor Emelianenko definitely lived up to the hype. The hardcore MMA fan already knew what "The Last Emperor" was capable of, but the casual fan might not have. If they didn't know him before, they sure know him now.

The right hand that Fedor connected on Rogers was a thing of beauty; he didn't load up and timed the punch perfectly. Fedor does so many subtle things right inside the ring/octagon it's ridiculous.

Some fans complained that perhaps the fight was stopped prematurely by Big John. I don't think so. After Rogers was knocked to the floor by a monstrous right hand, Fedor connected with a couple of shots, and Rogers had rolled over to his side into the turtle defense. I thought the stoppage was appropriate. Most likely, the people complaining are Fedor-haters.

The card itself was a success for CBS and MMA fans alike. I'm looking forward to the next StrikeForce event and can't wait to see who Emelianenko's next opponent will be.

Fedor Signs With Strikeforce

2009-08-03T09:34:00.001-07:00

It's official. Fedor signed a contract with UFC rival, Strikeforce. I'm disappointed Fedor didn't sign with the biggest MMA promotion on the planet, but I guess Strikeforce is the next best thing. Strikeforce will gain a lot of publicity from the signing; it will only help that company.

At least Fedor has a home, and those of us with Showtime will be able to see him fight.

Fedor turned down a contract with the UFC; co-promotion was said to be the sticking point - I wonder if Strikeforce agreed to co-promote with M-1 Global? We'll soon find out I guess.

Fedor Holds Press Conference Today

2009-07-29T14:16:00.001-07:00

After much anticipation, Fedor's press conference is about an EA MMA video came, in which he'll be headlining for. Are you kidding me? After so much hype, so much rumor, the press conference turns out to be a video game announcement.

There was a lot of speculation and rumor leading up to Fedor's press conference, that he'll be signing with the UFC. As of now, that is not happening. The good news is, Fedor's people did say that the UFC is negotiating with them.

Dana White is to hold a press conference on Friday. If Fedor is or isn't signing with the UFC - I expect the final announcement to come Friday.

Dana's press conference is rumored to be about a deal with ABC.

I think an important lesson is to be learned here for MMA fans; do NOT believe "unnamed sources" who "leak" bogus news to the media!

Brock Lesnar Vs. Fedor Emelianenko Analysis

2009-07-28T10:59:00.000-07:00

Brock Lesnar, since coming onto the MMA scene, has been running through opponents without any real challenge - so far. He has gotten better with each fight. His only MMA loss, came at the hands of Frank Mir, when the two first squared off against each other. Lesnar was caught with a leg lock and forced to tap early into the fight. Most MMA pundits thought it was a "lucky" win for Frank Mir, as I do. Brock Lesnar was easily controlling Mir, and inevitably on his way to victory before he got caught. Since his first loss, Brock has went on to revenge that loss; Lesnar destroyed Mir in the rematch.

As it stands right now, I don't foresee any heavyweight in the UFC being able to compete with Brock Lesnar. Lesnar has the wrestling base, size and athleticism to dominate for a long time - as long as he is passionate about the sport. Since Brock is a very competitive guy, and by his own admission, wants to become the best heavyweight in UFC history, I don't think he'll lose interest for quite a while...unless he is forced to lose interest; forced by someone named, Fedor Emelianenko.

I feel Fedor is the only heavyweight in the world that I would be confident in betting to not only beat Brock, but destroy him. Brock's wrestling is far superior to Fedor's, but Fedor's stand-up is far superior to Brock's. I don't even think this fight would go to the ground. If anything, the fight would resemble Fedor-Sylvia. I envision Fedor using his speed at stand-up to his advantage; quickly jumping on Brock and dirty boxing him for the stoppage. The fight would not go past round 1:

Lesnar's ONLY chance to win this fight - if it gets made - is by ground and pound, which I don't envision happening. I don't think Fedor is stupid enough to LET the fight take place on the ground. Brock is dangerous when he's smothering his opponent. And as most MMA fans know, Fedor is probably the most intelligent fighter today.

Fedor would win by KO shortly into the first round. Brock Lesnar would not be able to cope with Fedor's quicker hands. And if/once the fight went into the clinch, Fedor would be landing devastating knees to Brock's mid-section. Brock Lesnar would face weapons he's never faced before - and like all of Fedor's previous opponents, Brock would crumble under the onslaught of fists, knees and elbows.

Fedor Needs The UFC

2009-07-27T11:20:00.000-07:00

Fedor Emelianenko needs the UFC. Why? For his legacy.

It's still early in the game right now; there is no clue as to whether or not Fedor will finally end up fighting in the UFC- but it's highly unlikely, because of the M-1 co-promotion stipulation. A lot of people are blaming Fedor's promoter and buddy, Finkelchtein. What gets lost in translation is the fact that, Fedor is part owner of M-1. Of course Fedor has an interest in that promotion. Affliction cross promoted with M-1; that was probably a big reason Fedor signed with Affliction in the first place. And most likely, Fedor will sign with a fight company that will co-promote with his and Finkelchtein's organization, M-1 Global.

We will probably know for sure if Fedor signs with the UFC, no later than Friday. That is when Dana White is having a press conference.

Fedor will do what he wants to do, and he's already made it perfectly clear in the past, he is most interested in fighting regularly, along with promoting M-1. If Fedor is at all concerned about legacy, he NEEDS to sign with the UFC and fight the best competition; the best competition at heavyweight - for Fedor - is in the UFC.

Knowing how important M-1 is to Fedor, and knowing that Dana White and company will not cross promote, I would put money against a deal getting made. Maybe Fedor will realize how important his legacy is and put away his nationalistic pride - even if only for a few fights. Doubtful...an MMA fan can dream, can't he?

When you look at the big picture, Fedor needs the UFC, more than the UFC needs Fedor. This deal will be made or broken by Fedor's hand. Fedor has the ultimate say. You know the UFC will offer him the right kind of money. So, pro or con, deal or no deal, in the end, blame Fedor.

Joe Rogan Quotes

2009-07-27T05:11:00.001-07:00

"To me, comedy is a great occupation because I don't really worry that much about what other people think of me."

"The only time I commit to conspiracy theories is when something way retarded happens. Like Lee Harvey Oswald acting alone."

"The misconception is that standup comics are always on. I don't know any really funny comics that are annoying and constantly trying to be funny all the time."

"That's my only goal. Surround myself with funny people, and make sure everyone has a good time and works hard."

"People want their 15 minutes and are willing to do anything to get it."

"Never stay in a bad marriage, and don't hang around with psycho coke fiends."

"It's painful for me to watch someone who isn't funny. It's horrifying to sit in the back and watch some guy who just totally sucks."

"If you can lie, you can act, and if you can lie to crazy girlfriends, you can act under pressure."

"If you are the greatest, why would you go around talking about it?"

"I wouldn't totally rule out doing Letterman or the Tonight Show if I had a set that I just happened to write that I thought was funny but was still appropriate for network censors. But I'm not going to go out of my way."

"I talk so much about sex that girls just want to meet me."

"Have you ever talked to someone, and you're not even really talking to them? Actors are the worst for that."

"Because I have a girlfriend, I try and take the straight and narrow path, which is good because it prevents VD."

"Apartment living is tough action. Just the whole idea that you share a washer and dryer always freaked me out."

Joe Rogan, announcer for the UFC, has been a mainstay for the company for years. He fits in really well as an announcer. Thank god he sucked as a comedian.

Cheers to you, Joe.

Fedor Emelianenko's Entrance Into The UFC Doesn't Look Promising

2009-07-26T08:37:00.000-07:00

Fedor Emelianenko has been sought after by the UFC for a long time. Fedor coming to the UFC is something hardcore MMA fans have wanted for years. There is good news, and there is bad news. Good news is, according to mmajunkie.com, Emelianenko's management is willing to negotiate with the UFC about Fedor's entrance into the UFC:

http://mmajunkie.com/news/15640/fedor-emelianenkos-camp-afflictions-demise-opens-ufcs-door-if-terms-are-right.mma

The bad news is, Fedor's promoter/manager, Finkelchtein wants to co-promote with the UFC.

If you have been paying attention the last few months, this is the trouble the UFC ran into

when they tried to negotiate with Fedor's management all along. Finkelchtein wants to piggyback

off of the UFC, with M-1 Global, Finkelchtein's promotional company. This is something Dana White

and the UFC wants no part of - and who can blame them?

Can the UFC deliver Fedor? As of right now, it looks doubtful.

MMA Highlights Collection

2009-07-25T17:31:00.000-07:00

Don Frye

Ken Shamrock

Matt Hughes

Tito Ortiz

Fedor Emelianenko

GSP

Anderson Silva

Randy Couture

BJ Penn

Rampage Jackson

The Sexy Gina Carano

2009-07-25T15:09:00.000-07:00

Floyd Mayweather Jr. Gets Racial About MMA

2009-07-25T10:03:00.000-07:00

Floyd Mayweather Jr. recently went on a tangent about the sport of Mixed Martial Arts. Mayweather likened the sport of MMA to animals, calling fans of the sport, "beer drinkers." Floyd Mayweather Jr. also drew a racial analogy between the sport of boxing and MMA. Floyd said the UFC was created for white people, because they don't know how to fight and cannot dominate in boxing.

First of all, Floyd is talking because he has a show-down with Marquez Sept. 19, in which he will be competing against the UFC in the pay-per-view market. He's talking to create buzz - to be the bad guy - so people will buy his PPV fight against Marquez in hopes of seeing him lose. That is understandable. But I'll prove how full of shit Mayweather really is. Here is an article from a few years ago; Mayweather was contemplating fighting in MMA:

http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/boxing/news/story?id=3165552

I feel the reason Floyd Mayweather Jr. is talking crap about the UFC/MMA, other than trying to create interest for his upcoming bout, is his insecurity. Floyd feels threatened by the popularity MMA has gotten in the last few years; he is not looked at as the baddest man on the planet. Now, if it weren't for the UFC/MMA, Floyd Mayweather Jr. WOULD be looked at as the baddest combat sports competitor.

Floyd was seriously considering a move to fight in MMA a few years ago, then backed out. Floyd Mayweather Jr. does obviously pay attention to the sport, and realizes its popularity. That probably eats at him; so he throws in racial jabs at the sport and the people who watch it.

Mayweather isn't fooling anybody - no one except hardcore boxing fanboys. Deep down, Mayweather is jealous of the sport, and understands the commitment it takes to compete at the highest levels of MMA. Deep down, Floyd Mayweather Jr. knows he would get destroyed if he faced an MMA'ist.

The ridiculousness of Mayweather's racial analogy pales in comparison to his jealousy; his statement about whites creating MMA, because they don't know how to fight & cannot dominate in boxing. Mayweather needs to learn the definition of "fighting" and "boxing." It's really very elementary, but I wouldn't expect someone as ignorant as Floyd to grasp the difference between the two sports:

Boxing is a limited form of fighting, and cannot be labeled as FIGHTING. MMA on the other hand, while not true fighting, is certainly closer to the real thing than boxing. This makes Floyd Mayweather's statements not only ignorant, but incorrect.

While this blog entry contributes to Mayweather's hype, I thought I'd give my take on it, considering I haven't seen this point of view yet on some of the MMA message boards.

Affliction Card Canceled: What Does This Mean For Fedor?

2009-07-25T07:54:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, news broke that the Affliction card was canceled. Details are sketchy as of now, but the prevailing theme is that Affliction was canceled in large part because of Josh Barnett; he tested positive for steroids, and was scheduled to face Fedor.

So Affliction is canceled. What does this mean for Fedor/UFC? MMA fans have been drooling at the possibility of Fedor Emelianenko signing a contract with the UFC and fighting Brock Lesnar. All signs are pointing to Affliction folding as an MMA company; after all, they basically held their company on the shoulders of one fighter - Fedor. Fedor Emelianenko has one fight left on the Affliction contract. It's not inconceivable that the UFC would buy out the remaining contracts of some or all Affliction fighters, so Fedor could fight in the octagon. But that would mean Fedor would only be fighting under contract once; something the UFC has made clear repeatedly in the past; they would not sign Fedor to a one fight contract.

I do know one thing - this is something MMA fans want, and want bad. Can Dana White and company deliver?

In other news, Dana White was on ESPN radio yesterday. It is official that Tito Ortiz is coming back to the UFC. I've been cruising the message board over at Sherdog; most of the posters seem happy that he'll be fighting in the UFC again.

Ortiz might be over the hill, but there is no denying he isn't a big draw for the UFC.

UFC 100 Did More Than 1.5 Million PPV Buys

2009-07-24T08:53:00.000-07:00

UFC reportedly did more than 1.5 million ppv buys. That is great news for the sport of MMA. It looks like Dana White will be base jumping off of that building he was talking about; in the lead up to UFC 100, Dana White said if UFC did more than 1.5 million ppv buys, he'd base jump off a building in Vegas.

Love him or hate him, Brock Lesnar is a big reason for those numbers. The casual fan is excited about the heavyweight division in the UFC, in large part because of Lesnar.

Brock Lesnar gets a lot of slack because of his WWE past. But let's not forget, Lesnar is a real fighter now, who possesses real athleticism. He trains hard for his fights, and judging from his last few fights, seems to be a threat to any heavyweight out there - yes - including Fedor!

Brock Lesnar is here to stay.

Georges St. Pierre: Effectiveness Vs. Entertainment

2009-07-22T05:39:00.000-07:00

I'm seeing a lot of GSP bashing, with the biggest complaint being that he doesn't finish fighters.

First of all, take a look at his opposition; he isn't going to finish the job every single time out. Some of GSP's fights are not going to be that entertaining for the casual MMA fan, but for the purist, his effectiveness is entertainment in itself. That is what GSP fights for; to win. His mastery of MMA inches closer each and every time he fights. He gets better and better.

For the people who complain that he doesn't finish his opponents enough; just like in boxing, sometimes NOT finishing your opponent is better in the long run. Going the full fight makes any competitor a better fighter, in the end.

GSP reminds me of the Klitschko brothers. He's dominant, and fights to win first and foremost. That pisses a lot of people off. They do not want dominant champions. Having dominant champions in MMA such as Fedor, Silva and GSP is good for the sport in the long run.

I thought GSP's latest fight was entertainment and effectiveness. He put on a clinic against a very good opponent.

This fight was your equivalent to Floyd Mayweather Jr. picking apart his opposition, or a Joe Calzaghe dominating a Jeff Lacy.

GSP, Silva and Fedor show the boxing elitists that this sport has its upper echelon of DOMINANT, athletic champs. This is as close as you can get to mastery of this sport; of winning; of putting on a "clinic."

Even if you're a casual MMA fan and you didn't find this fight enjoyable, you can't argue that it wasn't anything short of a masterclass performance by GSP. No longer do we have the bum beating the sport's best by fluke wins. We have dominant, bad ass mother effers.

So what I want to say, in other words is, Floyd Mayweather Jr. can eat a dick (I'm referring to Mayweather's latest statement, where he is criticizing the sport of MMA).