The Overhand Right

The Best Come From Behind Victories, Ever.

2012-02-16T23:08:00.000-08:00

We all love to see them.

Those smashing, come from behind victories that leave us with our jaws open, and exclamations of "did that just happen?" dripping from our lips. The type of finish that has Mike Goldberg and Joe Rogan making such repeated statements as "don't blink!","that's what's so unpredictable about MMA","never leave it in the judges hands", etc., etc.

For your perusal and enjoyment, I've complied a list of the 10 best come from behind victories in MMA. Enjoy.

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Debate Article #1: Has the UFC Become Too Commercialized?

2012-02-15T19:16:00.000-08:00

The premise of this debate: Too many websites have "rules". By rules, I mean that if you disagree with the author of the article, you may/ will be ridiculed, and/ or deleted. You are not truly allowed to express yourself. Also, it seems as though everyone is supposed to comment within the parameter's of the article itself.

I don't agree with that. I would rather put out a topic, and allow the conversations/ debate that takes place to be the true entertainment.

The "Rules": There are none. Say what is on your mind; I encourage it. I do request a certain sense of civility, though. You are not required to agree with anyone (and no one is required to agree with you). Proper grammar is appreciated, however.

Has the UFC Become Too Commercialized?

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Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit: This Brought Me Out of Hiding

2012-02-10T23:30:00.000-08:00

So, I just finished watching the fight for the third time.

The first time was with friends, bbqing and having a couple of drinks. The second time was watching the fight on dvr. This last time was studying the fight with the volume off. All three times lead me to a more unequivicable conclusion.

But before I get to that...

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Chael Sonnen is at it again

2011-03-05T19:53:00.000-08:00

So, here's the back story:

Leading up to UFC 127, Jorge Rivera made a number of HILARIOUS videos that were meant to get under the skin of Micheal Bisping (said videos are on a previous article. I highly recommend you check them out.)

Although Bisping claimed that the videos would have no affect on his mindset, he was suitably inflamed at the weigh ins. Bisping got in Rivera's face and even called him a "faggot." All of this took place on the UFC's dime, as well as being in front of a live crowd and broadcast over the internet.

During the bought, Bisping delivered an obviously intentional (and illegal) knee to the head of a downed Rivera. At the cessation of the fight, Bisping went to Rivera's corner, hurled insults, then proceeded to spit on the cornermen. After which, he approached the still dazed Rivera, demanded an apology, then told him to "Go home, Loser."

The fallout has been great, and his behavior has prompted UFC fighters Demian Maia and Vitor Belfort to call Bisping out. But it also caught the attention of the greatest MMA smack talker of all time:

Chael Sonnen, that kooky little bastard.

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The Big Three: Jorge Rivera vs. Micheal Bisping

2011-02-25T21:59:00.000-08:00

The days of competitive respect are close to gone. The old school martial arts mentality to respect your opponent seems to be a thing of the past. To replace these things, we now have bravado, arrogance, and an almost Hitler-like sense of superiority. It could be argued that this is the sad passing of an age.

But, damn, does it make an exciting build up to a fight.

Smack talk has become an integral part of MMA, and the fight game as a whole. We have pre fight trash talk, online bashing, blogging battery, the stylings of Chael Sonnen, and Twitter.

But now, apparently, we have a new outlet for pre fight debauchery: Broadway.

For those of you who don't know, Jorge Rivera has put forth a number of online videos that have demeaned Micheal Bisping in a way that would have Brock Lesnar laughing like it was "Shark Week" at Sea World.

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Has MMA Gotten Soft?

2011-02-21T17:58:00.000-08:00

Back at it's inception in '93, the UFC was about determining two things: What is the best fighting style, and who is the best fighter, in the world. Is Muay Thai better than Jiu-jitsu? Is Judo dominant over boxing? Is "bone breaking" really a fighting style? How does high levels of martial arts training stack up against the real world application of Pit Fighting (ala, Tank Abbott.)

Whether you look at Vale Tudo, Shooto, or the Ultimate Fighting Championship, it was a no holds barred/ minimal rules fighting competition. Fighters of one style faced fighters of another. It was considered barbarism, not even allowed on pay per view. It wasn't until 1995 that Rick Blume, president and CEO of "Battlecade" coined the term "mixed martial arts", in turn helping to make the sport more socially acceptable.

It is my personal belief that mixed martial arts is no longer "mixed." I believe that it has become a style all its own. Sure, there are schools that teach Karate, Muay Thai and Jiu-jitsu. But we now have schools that teach MMA, specifically combining different elements of different fighting styles for a synergistic effect.

While perusing one of my favorite MMA sites, cagepotato.com , I landed on this old school gem that many of you have probably seen:

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Ryan Couture: Should We Believe the Hype?

2011-02-20T01:40:00.000-08:00

Ryan Couture, is the (in)famous son of UFC/MMA legend and ground breaker, Randy "the Natural" Couture (not that you needed me to tell you.) Ryan fought last night on "Strikerforce: Challenger Series," to emerge victorious by submission over BJJ fighter Lee Higgins.

While the commentators, promotion, and familial legacy would have us believe that Ryan is the next coming of an MMA Jesus, I can't help but wonder: Should we really believe what we are being told?

With me tonight is a long time associate, "Big D". Big D is a Las Vegas financial professional, married with children, who still finds time to be an advocate and train in MMA (take that, fat America.)

(For the record, I love my country; we just happen to eat a lot of fast food and not exercise.)

Junior Dos Santos: Am I the Only One?

2011-02-16T22:05:00.000-08:00

"Dude, what's the big deal? It's just me and my BFF. It's not like we're holding hands...at the moment."

(For the record, this is not an actual quote.)

The UFC recently announced that the upcoming season of "The Ultimate Fighter" would be coached by former heavy weight champ, Brock Lesnar, and current contender Junior Dos Santos. At the culmination of the season, the two will square off in June.

Apparently, the outcome of this battle is a foregone conclusion.

Vegas sports books are already showing Lesnar as a strong underdog. This prompts me to ask:

Why?

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The Solution

2011-02-15T21:57:00.000-08:00

Editor's note: Don't read this article until you have read the previous one, as this is a continuation. Seriously; don't do it. Don't you fucking do it.

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Winner of Fitch vs. Penn to Get a Shot at the Welterweight Title

2011-02-15T19:36:00.000-08:00

The UFC brass has announced that the winner of the main event at " UFC 127: Fitch vs. Penn" will get a shot at whoever holds the title after the collision between welterweight champ GSP and long established contender Jake Shields. This prompts me to ask a few questions. Firstly:

Who the hell cares?

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Fedor

2011-02-15T00:06:00.000-08:00

I'm not going to waste time telling the story of Fedor Emilianenko. I won't delve into his history, his legacy, or what he is to the sport of MMA. Quite frankly, there is too much to go over. If you don't know who he is you can go to Youtube or Google him.

I am here to discuss this past Saturday evening, where he faced "Bigfoot" Silva.

This is not an in depth breakdown or analysis of the fight, but rather a former fighters' defense of the "Baddest Man on the Planet". Fedor's loss this past Saturday has brought out a surprising amount of naysayers. People that were formerly staunch supporters of "the Last Emperor" are now trumpeting his downfall, and how the game has passed him by. He lost his edge. Too many years fighting cans. His heart isn't in it anymore.

It's fucking insulting.

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What to do about Johnny?

2010-09-02T18:52:00.000-07:00

Let's lay it on the line right now: If you haven't heard of Johnny "Bones" Jones, you haven't a remote interest in MMA. Don't worry; I don't think (much) less of you.

At 23 years old, Bones has walked into the UFC and practically decimated everyone placed in front of him. The only reason I say "practically" is due to his relatively quiet entrance into the UFC, where he defeated an always game Andre Gusmao by unanimous decision. His next fight was featured during the live portion of UFC 94, where he faced Stephan Bonnar. While Jones didn't finish the fight, the maneuvers he was able to pull out were absolutely jaw dropping. He had announced his presence, and this is where the "practically" ends.

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Frankie Edgar serves notice: Don't ever doubt him again.

2010-08-29T23:08:00.000-07:00

12 seconds; that's all it took for Frankie Edgar to take his opponent down.

BJ Penn, long vaunted for his amazing take down defense, found himself taken down multiple times in his rematch for the UFC light weight championship. Not only did Edgar manage multiple (5) take downs, but absolutely destroyed Penn on the feet.

I remember the first time I saw Micheal Johnson run. Initially, I was unimpressed at Johnson leading the pack. Then I took a look at the landscape flying past, providing a way to measure exactly how fast Johnson was moving. This is a rough equivalent to what happened last night.

Edgar is fast, but it wasn't until I had BJ Penn as a measuring stone that I realized how fast. Edgar, looking like the youngest sibling fighting the eldest brother, blurred through combination after combination. What most impressed me, however, wasn't what he landed; it was how he closed.

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Standing corrected; Diaz looks spectacular in victory over Davis

2010-08-29T22:09:00.000-07:00

Everyone makes mistakes.

Whether it's a mistake, an action, or a statement, big or small, everyone does it. But it takes true integrity, sometimes, to step up unprovoked and address that mistake. Now that I have built myself up...

Nate Diaz has proven me completely and utterly wrong.

Due to my personal experiences with Nate, I will admit that I have a negative view of whatever he does. I feel that his boxing is over rated, he has no striking power, he has been fed tomato cans and can't win when he faces a step up in competition.

Last night, he proved otherwise.

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Maynard grinds out a decision over Florian; Secures title shot

2010-08-29T20:19:00.000-07:00

Well, it wasn't exciting, but it was a win.

Last night Kenny Florian faced Gray Maynard for the opportunity to fight for gold in the UFC lightweight division. I, personally, was very vocal on a) How Kenny should be the one pushing current champ Frankie Edgar in his first title defense, and b) how there was any/ no way that Gray could win this fight.

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Tie: Randy Couture no surprise vs. What the hell did Toney even say?

2010-08-29T15:59:00.000-07:00

Sorry; I didn't know which title I wanted to go with, so I "tied" them.

Despite all the build up and trash talk leading up to this "MMA vs boxing" spectacular, things went exactly as expected.

Couture, smiling widely before the fight even began, shot and secured the takedown within seconds of the bouts opening bell (so much for Toney's self proclaimed take down defense). Couture quickly and easily moved to full mount, giving Toney a healthy taste of those four ounce gloves, while smothering any sort of offense Toney tried to put togethter. Still smiling, Randy secured a head and arm choke, forcing Toney to tap.

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Joe Lauzon crushes Gabe Reudiger in first round

2010-08-29T15:34:00.000-07:00

Imagine what would happen if a 5th grade student got into a streetfight with a Senior in highschool. If you can mentally see that then you have a good understanding of what transpired in the match up between Joe Lauzon and Gabe Reudiger.

The fights' interesting back story continued at the weigh in, where Reudiger presented Lauzon with a cake that read "Sorry for your loss". Although civil at the weigh ins, Lauzon has made no secret of the fact that he and Gabe don't like each other. Gabe has publicly stated that he thinks Lauzon is a spoiled kid too full of himself.

As soon as the bell rang, the Boston native began a full assault on "Godzilla" that included a couple of monstrous slams, some viciously personal ground and pound, and complete and utter dominance from the top position. After feeding Reudiger plenty of leather, Lauzon secured an armbar, forcing the tap at 2:01 in the first round.

After the stoppage, Joe attempted to shake Gabe's hand, but was rebuffed and ignored by the pouting protagonist of colonics. When interviewed by Joe Rogan after the fight, Lauzon proudly welcomed Reudiger to Boston. This, of course, was met with roaring approval.

It was fortuitous that Reudiger was thoughtful enough to bring Joe a cake; every winner deserves some dessert.

The Big 3, Part 3: Penn vs Edgar

2010-08-29T05:28:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the third and final round in my breakdown of the "Big 3" where we will feature BJ Penn and Frankie Edgar meeting a second time to battle for the UFC lightweight strap. The two previously met this past April, with Edgar pulling off the upset victory by unanimous decision.

Firstly, as I've already mentioned, I feel that this fight is a joke. The fact that Edgar's first title defense is against the man he won the title from is a mistake. Yes, while it might have been a close fight, the fact is that Edgar won. While Shogun vs. Machida was understandable, the growing trend (witness the recently announced Sonnen vs Silva II) towards immediate rematches is irritating.

While I feel that Kenny Florian deserves the first shot at Frankie's newly aquired accessory, Edgar (competitor that he is) has stated that Gray Maynard (the only fighter to beat him) deserves the shot.

From what I have seen of Edgar, it's not a matter of "who deserves what"; it's a matter of Frankie's desire to avvenge his only loss. But BJ thinks differently. BJ thinks that, by Edgar speaking for Gray, he has shown his true colors: Yellow.

I'd like to remind everyone(BJ included) that after the "Grease Gate" scandal that BJ sent his own mother to lobby on his behalf to the California State Athletic Commision (don't believe me? Google it).

While I don't doubt BJ's warrior spirit, this makes him a bit of a bitch with no right to speak of cowardice towards Edgar's logical statement. Regardless of this, however, the fact of the matter is that these two will face each other once more. So in a brief synopsis:

Look for Penn to be in shape and very aggresive from the get go. A motivated Penn is scary. But I don't see any new results. While Penn may have brought in WEC competitor Antonio Banuelos to help prepare for speed and elusiveness, Frankie is in a different league.

In my opinion, what won the original bought for Edgar was a combination of heart, strong foot work, speed, angles, and boxing.

Edgar is fast, but combine this with absolutely sick angles and movement. The result was a guy that was destined to be "first" and could effectively shut BJ down. Sinus infection or not, BJ got schooled.

And I expect the same thing to happen again.

The Big 3, Part 2: Randy Couture vs. James Toney

2010-08-27T16:03:00.000-07:00

Ah, shit; here comes round two. Let's go.

While UFC 118 may be head lined by the rematch between Frankie Edgar and BJ Penn, Randy Couture and James Toney have stolen the show.

After watching "Countdown to UFC 118", my first instinct was to call this article:

James Toney: My Big Fat Belly
But that would just be silly.

I understand that the countdown is filmed well before the fight. I further understand that the producers will edit the production at their own discretion. I have witnessed (through web casts) both Mike Tyson and Dana White saying that James is in great shape. With all of that being said,

James, are you out of your fucking mind?

James spent half of the broadcast talking about how much of a beast he is. "Randy Couture ain't never faced no one like me", and I am a real fighter.

Really?

Let's take a look at James.


Beat Randy Couture? I thought you said "eat" Randy Couture. Shit, my bad; Let's go to McDonald's.

Toney is now representing Trevor Sherman as his head trainer. This prompts me to ask, "who the hell is trevor Sherman"? (Seriously; even Wikipedia doesn't have a listing for him). James probably has more money than God, but rather than enlisting the aid of a Greg Jackson, Dan Henderson or Jeremy Horn, he gets Trevor Sherman. Here are some other gems I picked up:

In the show, Sherman says that "Toney is a sponge; he sucks up everything". My first thought is: I believe you. he does suck up everything: pizza, burgers, chicken and waffles (c'mon now; you gotta switch things up).

Next, we get this from Sherman: "We don't want to change his game, we just want to add more tools to his tool belt".

My wife immediately asked: "why add tools to the tool belt when you are already a tool"? You hear that? My wife knows that Toney is a joke.

Finally, we finish with Sherman talking about how "James may not know the nomenclature of [ certain moves], but he can pull them off".

Now, Trevor...

We're dealing with a native born English speaker that needs sub titles to elucidate whatever the hell he is saying. He may not know the "nomenclature"? He doesn't know what "nomenclature" means!

Now that I've got my rant out of the way, let's actually get to the break down.

TONEY
James Toney has proven himself to be one of the most durable and long lasting figures in professional boxing. His habit of smoothly rolling with punches make incredibly slippery and hard to hit. Combine this ability with the fact that he is one of the best counter strikers the game has ever seen and you have the recipe for trouble for anyone who attempts to face him in a stand up war. This concludes all the positivity I have to offer Mr. Toney.

I am not the first to say it, but it can't be said enough. Boxing is not MMA.

Just because you happen to be a famous classical violin player doesn't mean you can pick up a guitar and play rock and roll. James Toney thinks that his boxing will be enough to make him legitimate in MMA. After all, he's been working on his take down defense for a whole 6 months.

COUTURE
Randy Couture is blah blah blah, yadah yadah yadah. We all know who Randy Couture is, what he is capable of, and what he will do to James Toney. I give it less than 30 seconds before Randy goes for the shot (and if strong wrestlers Tito Ortiz and Chuck Liddell couldn't stop him do you think Toney can?), takes Toney down and finishes it by rear naked choke.

This fight has nothing to do with Randy or James and everything to do with MMA vs boxing. It's a move, a statement, a power play. The way I see it, James embarrassed Dana White by following him around the country and calling him out. So Dana welcomes James to MMA by stacking him against one of the most experienced, well rounded, and competitive fighters that the UFC has to offer.

But here is where Dana has gotten sneaky.

If Dana wanted to make a statement, why not stack Toney up with Frank Mir? Roy Nelson? Hell, Brock Lesnar? Why pull Randy up from light heavy weight to the heavy weight division?

Because it's about spin control.

Let's say that Toney accomplishes the impossible and knocks Randy out. How much damage will be done to the reputation of MMA? So Dana has hedged his bet.

While no one can argue that Randy is in fantastic shape and remains very competitive, the fact of the matter is that he is almost 48. If Toney manages the win, it can be argued that he didn't beat a top contender in the prime of his life; he beat an "old" man closer to 50 than 40. Dana has made Randy the UFC's fall guy.

With that being said, Toney has been almost Sonnen like in the trash talk leading up to this fight, preaching his own prowess and demeaning Randy at every turn. As if the always respectful Couture didn't have enough motivation for this fight, Toney has managed to piss him off.

Randy said it best: "I don't care about knocking him out; I'm here to kick his ass".

The Big 3, Part One: Florian vs. Maynard

2010-08-26T17:04:00.000-07:00

Holy shit, here we go.

After watching "Countdown to UFC 118" (again), I've decided that the 3 biggest fights on the card deserve their own individual, and in depth, breakdowns. Consequently, I've decided to put together " The Big 3; Parts One, Two, and Three", which will detail the 3 biggest and most interesting fights on the card.

Make sure you have your tighty whities on, 'cause you're gonna have a boner.

First up on the Big 3, we feature the scrap for the number one contenders spot: Kenny Florian vs. Gray Maynard:

kicking your ass will be wicked cool!


Nope, nope, K(L)enny...I only like things that are soft.(This is a reference to "Of Mice and Men", for those that didn't get it).

This match up, like many on this card, promotes some controversy. Most ( myself included) would say that Florian deserves the first shot at Frankie Edgar's belt. Although only two fights out from his last title fight with BJ Penn, Florian has stopped big name fighters Clay Guida and Takanori Gomi. It stands to reason that, having stayed in the upper echelon of fighters his entire career, Kenny is the only obvious choice for Edgar's first title defense.

This is where the controversy comes into play.

In his 12-1 record, the only person that Edgar has lost to is Maynard, himself. After that fight, Maynard stated "He was a lot smaller than me, and I felt like I could throw him around. So that's what I did." Edgar himself has stated that Maynard deserves the title shot, since he [Maynard] is the only one to beat him.

This in turn lead to it's own tangent of controversy involving BJ Penn, who claimed that Edgar showed his true colors (yellow) by saying he wished to face Maynard instead of an immediate rematch with Penn.

But that will come in Part 3.

For this current bout, let's look at the build up.

I have been very fortunate to meet both Kenny and Gray (here in Vegas at local MMA bouts), and both were very humble and down to earth guys. Up to this point, both have adhered to the old school martial artist standard that stipulated: I'm a regular guy that just happens to fight; I don't need to talk about how tough I am.

Lately, though, Maynard has been very vocal about this fight with Kenny, being verbally more aggressive than I have yet seen him. So let's break it down.

MAYNARD
Maynard is physically intimidating. Due to my background in bodybuilding, I was considered a large lightweight, but when I stood next to Gray, he dwarfed me. He uses his physical size and power as an asset to control the ring. By controlling the ring, he can effectively dictate where the fight takes place.

Maynard trains here in Vegas at Extreme Couture, which has a strong reputation as a wrestler's MMA gym. Under Randy's training mentality, they take high level wrestlers and give them the tools to be absolute beasts in MMA. His striking offense has improved dramatically, as evidenced by his bout with Roger Huerta. Defensively, however, his striking is lacking.

Like the majority of wrestlers, Maynard is not completely comfortable with throwing a punch. The subtle nuances that are ingrained in a long-time striker don't flow as effectively in wrestlers. Throwing shots from the hip, pivoting the rear foot, punching through a target as you execute a combination (while punching with speed and not muscle), getting your hands back into position as quickly as you throw them out; these are some of the things that many wrestlers struggle with. This becomes an issue if you are dealing with someone that has quick hands.

In his last fight, Maynard faced Nate Diaz. While I feel that there is no question that Gray won the fight, there were a number of instances were Diaz gave him issues. I personally feel that Nate Diaz's striking game is over rated. He pitter-pats and throws a number of shots, hoping one will land on a blind chin or temple. This happened when he faced Gray, catching him with a barrage of punches that dropped Maynard to the canvas.

If Diaz can catch you, what do you think K-Flo will do?

FLORIAN
The epitome of a thinking man's fighter. K-Flo has presented himself as a professional from day one. His game has changed dramatically since his time in the TUF house, and I think you would be hard pressed to find anyone that would argue against him being the most well rounded fighter in the lightweight division.

"I FINISH FIGHTS!"

Does anyone not remember that? While I can appreciate and enjoy the intricacies of a ground war, I'd be lying if I said I didn't love a dramatic and emphatic finish just like everyone else. Kenny has gone 8-2 in his last 10 fights, with 7 of those wins coming by stoppage. The singular win that he didn't finish is the sole similarity between himself and Maynard: Roger Huerta. This is where the similarities end.

While Maynard may be undefeated at 9-0 (with 1 no contest), the level of competition faced by each opponent is drastically different. While Gray struggled with Diaz, who is mid level at best, Florian has beaten a "who's who" of fighter's in the UFC lightweight division.

Gray has the size, strength, and wrestling pedigree to take Kenny down, but it is easier said than done. Kenny's in and out movement is Machida like, and even if Gray manages a take down he has to contend with Florian's black belt level BJJ ground game. Sorry, Gray; but I just don't see how you win this.

With the win, Kenny will be back in the number one contenders slot; right where he should have been from the get go.

Re post: UFC 118: The Build Up and Break Down

2010-08-26T13:13:00.000-07:00

Welcome, ladies, gentlemen, delinquints, mma newbies, afficienados, and fanatics to my very first "Build Up and Break Down". While this article may be a bit early, anticipation is...well, anticipatory. Here, I will delve into the match ups, picks, and drama leading up to each of our fisticly favorite events.

For my first (of many),I'll be featuring UFC 118. On August 28th, the UFC heads to Massachussets to host the third event this month. UFC 118, which has had it's fair share of drop outs and replacements, boasts as much curiosity as it does intriguing match ups. I will feature a breakdown of the main card fights and a predictions list at the end of the post. While these are my personal opinions and picks, I welcome any and all comments, arguements and insight. So, without further ado...

Joe Lauzon vs. Gabe Ruediger- My first thoughts on this match up come in as a tie between shock and disgust. Regardless of any other pertinent or recent information on Gabe, I am immediatley drawn back to season 5 of "The Ultimate Fighter". For those that don't recall, Gabe came into the house 20 pounds overweight, attempted to use colonics as a way to cut said weight, indulged in ice cream cake during the cut, and then channeled his own inner Rocky (..."cut me, Mick.", "You don't want to do it, kid!", "Cut me, Mick; Just do it."..) after collapsing and telling his team mates to drag his lifeless form back onto the bike, stating "I can do it, coach!". He was then unceremoniously kicked out of the house, with Dana telling him that he'd just wasted the chance of a lifetime. Now, to the facts...

Gabe has gone 6-0 in his in his last 6 fights, winning the lightweight title for Tachi Fight Promotions, before stepping in to replace an injured Terry Etim. As impressive as this is, TFP is not the UFC, and Joe Lauzon is no roll over tomato can.

For his last fight, Lauzon (coming off of a 1 year lay off and serious knee surgery) faced off with Sam Stout, losing a decision. "J-Lo" is deceptively strong, has servicable striking, a strong ground game, and follows the direction of his corner very well.

Demian Maia vs. Mario Miranda- Merry Christmas, Maia! Originally scheduled to face Allen Belcher at Ultimate Fight Night 22, the bought was cancelled after Belcher suffered a detached retina. Personally, I would have seen this bout going the same way as the Marquardt/ Maia venture. Instead, Maia now faces Mario Miranda, who is 12-1, and 1-1 in the UFC. Miranda, who is a submission specialist, boasts 6 (t)ko's, and recently finished off David Loisseau at UFC 115. Maia has shown some improved stand up, which I think will only serve in helping get the fight to the ground, which I will officially refer to as "Maia-Land." Even recent title challenger Chael Sonnen, who manhandled Anderson Silva for twenty-three minutes, ended up tapping to the arachnid-like ground game that Maia posseses.

Nate Diaz vs. Marcus Davis- Allow me to say right off the bat that I can't stand Nate Diaz, but I will try not to let that cloud my breakdown. Diaz has a highly touted ground game that he uses aggresively, especially from the bottom position. His striking (which heavily emulates that of his older brother Nick) is highly overated. Although he has found some success with his pawing and slapping type combinations, he doesn't necessarily have the same power that his brother posseses. Having made the decision to move up to welterweight will only further emphasize this lack of punching prowess.

Marcus Davis, on the other hand, posseses power in spades, as well as proffesional boxing experience. Davis also has an under rated ground game, especially from the top position. Marcus rebounded from his first ever knockout loss to Ben Saunders by making short work of Canadian Johnathan Goulet. While it can never be predicted how a fighter will respond after a knockout, Davis showed no repercussions from the barrage of knees that Saunders placed on his chin. The one thing I would worry about is the amount of scar tissue that Davis has. No one wants to lose from a cut, but Diaz could make it happen.

Kenny Florian vs. Gray Maynard- This is a particularly interesting match up, as it could represent a (tougher) preview of a potential battle with current champ, Frankie Edgar. Since receiving the runner-up spot on the premiere season of the "Ultimate Fighter", Ken-Flo has lost only two fights in the UFC. Firstly, to former light weight champ, Sean Sherk, and then to former light weight champ BJ Penn.

While in the infancy of his UFC career, Ken-Flo showed a possible weakness against physically powerful wrestlers. Being the thinking man's fighter that he is, Florian adjusted his strength training program and became a guy who beats physically powerful wrestlers (Joe Stevenson and Clay Guida to name a couple).

After splitting from long time Muay Thai trainer Mark DeleGrotte, Florian emerged showing a much sharper striking game. His boxing was now more prominent, yet blended well with his Muay Thai. He was utilizing new angles, as well as great in and out movement. He looked similar to...BJ Penn (if you can't beat'em, join em?( and you learn more from a loss than a win)).

Maynard, on the other hand, is a monster of a light weight. As far as sheer power goes, I doubt that there is anyone in the division that can match him (with the possible exception of Sean Sherk). Living up to his nickname "the Bully", Maynard uses his size and wrestling background to dictate where the fight takes place. He has, however, shown a possible weakness to punches-in-bunches, namely in his last bout with Nate Diaz. Florian's exceptional footwork and superior striking could present some problems.

Randy Couture vs. James Toney- This is a curiosity fight that simultaniously makes me nervous and want to giggle like a school girl. The moment that James Toney steps into the octagon, he will become the greatest boxer to ever fight in the UFC. Mixed martial arts, however, is not boxing.

For the past several years, there has been a tension filled comparison between boxing and mma. Both adimantly claim superiorty as far as combat sports are concerned. The fact is this: most fights will go to the ground. Change the parameters to a stand up fighter versus a wreslter and the previous statement becomes: it will go to the ground.

In theory, Randy Couture (wiley and experienced competitor that he is) takes this fight to the ground post haste, where he proceeds to explain to Toney (very politely, of course) why mma is the superior style. But this is more than a fight. This is a power play.

From what I understand, James Toney followed Dana White to three different cities, hounding him for the opportunity to fight in the UFC. Dana, gentle and generous soul that he is, decided to oblige him. But why?

Near it's inception, when the UFC was "bleeding money" (to quote Dana himself), there was an opportunity to sign Mike Tyson. This opportunity was turned down, as Dana wanted to maintain the integrity of the sport. But to now sign James Toney? This isn't a fight; it's about making a definative statement about which sport is "better". There in lies the potential danger.

Everyone has heard about "a puncher's chance", and if anyone deserves that benefit of the doubt it is James Toney. On paper, Couture is preparing for a cake walk. But...what if...Toney lands that "big shot"? Not only could it be a major upset, but it could set mma back as a sport, as well as tarnishing its reputation indefinitely. Think about that.

Frankie Edgar vs. BJ Penn- First of all, I don't think this fight should even be taking place. This is not Machida versus Shogun, where the majority of viewers (and Dana white as well) felt that Shogun had won the battle and deserved an immediate rematch. Edgar versus Penn 1 was a split decision loss for BJ Penn, and he should have to work his way back up the rankings just like everyone else. With that being said, I feel that this fight will play out in very similar fashion to the first.

BJ has the heavier hands of the two, but Edgar's boxing is crisper. Frankie also posseses better footwork, while BJ relies on his Leben-like jaw to move forward aggresively. Frankie's wrestling should allow him to keep the fight standing, although an attempt at a double leg in the later rounds could always come into play. Likewise, BJ's incredible takedown defense and jui-jitsu skills should be able to neutralize any early round takedown attempts. This will be a war of attrition. BJ has often been criticized about questionable cardio, but I don't feel that this will be an issue for this fight. Look for Penn to come out and stay very aggresive.

Frankie, on the other hand, should make heavy use of his footwork, using a lot of angles and in-and-out movement. Personally, I have learned not to bet against Edgar. He has proven me wrong against Sherk, and then Penn; I won't bet against him for anyone other than Kenny Florian.

FINAL PICKS
Lauzon vs. Ruediger- Lauzon (67/33), via 1st round tko
Maia vs Miranda- Maia (67/33), via 2nd round submission
Davis vs Diaz- Davis (57/43), via decision
Maynard vs Florian - Florian (73/27), via 2nd round submission
Couture vs Toney- Couture (93/7), via 1st round rear naked choke
Edgar vs Penn- Edgar (53/47), via split decision

That concludes it! Once again, thank you to any and all that have taken the time to read my first "Build Up and Break Down". All comments, opinions and rebuttals are welcome and will be responded to.

Spencer Fisher Arrested in Iowa

2010-08-26T10:52:00.000-07:00


Picture found at www.cagepotato.com, and courtesy of Iowa public records

On Tuesday, UFC lightweight fighter Spencer Fisher was arrested for "interfering with an official act". This means that it would be anything from stopping delivery of a subpoena or court order to tearing up a ticket. Fisher paid a 300 dollars for bail and was released.

Gabe Ruediger: Joe Lauzon is a kid that hasn't been through hardship

2010-08-25T14:57:00.000-07:00

During an interview with www.cagepotato.com, Gabe Reudiger had a number of things to say regarding a number of different things.

For those that don't know, Gabe is infamous for his 3 week stint on The Ultimate Fighter, where he came in 20 pounds overweight, ate cake, shoved a colonic tube up his ass during his weight cut, and was then kicked off the show. Gabe blames all of his issues and short comings on his home gym being a bad place for where he was at mentally at the time. (See the article for the full story).

In regards to his opinion on soon to be opponent Joe Lauzon (8-2 in his last 10 fights), Gabe had this to say:

"Earlier you referred to Joe as a “kid”. Do you feel that there is a maturity gap between the two of you?
Absolutely. He lives with his parents. I left home when I was seventeen. He lives with his parents and plays X-box all day. I don’t own a TV. All I do is worry about training. I don’t think he’s dealt with the hardship I have whether its life or the show. Maybe one time his mom decreased his allowance but other than that I don’t think he’s had to deal with any difficulty." The previous is courtesy of www.cagepotato.com

Gabe also stated that he was better than Lauzon on the ground, stating that he "owned him in the house (TUF house)". He also made mention of Lauzon letting his fame go to his head.

Gabe, are you out of your mind? You are downplaying some one that has had a successful career in the world's largest MMA organization, while you have been fighting in what could effectively be considered MMA sideshows.

Gabe talks about all the holes in Joe's game, citing his own 6 fight win streak in the process. I feel the need to point out that Gabe's 6 fight win streak is against a bunch of "no names". He also "forgets" to mention that before his 6 fight win streak he dropped two in a row, once again to "no names".

Yes, Joe lost his last fight to Sam Stout, but it was after a year long lay off due to a knee injury. Ring rust is a very real thing, and to step back in against Stout is a large bill to fill. The fact that Joe decided to leave a comfortable career as an accountant represent his success as a mixed martial artist (Gabe, what do you do again?)

Comparatively, records are the same: Lauzon is 18-5(8-2 in the last ten), and Gabe is 17-5(7-3 in the last ten). The level of competition is the difference.

I hope you are limber, Gabe; you might just have to tuck your tail between your legs as you walk your fat ass out of the UFC for the second time.

"K-Flo vs. Maynard: Winner gets a title shot.

2010-08-25T13:56:00.000-07:00

Dana White and the UFC just announced that the winner of Saturday's match up between veterans Kenny Florian and Gray Maynard will receive a shot at the light weight crown.

I personally feel that this is a bit of a joke, as Kenny should be making his 3rd challenge for UFC gold on saturday instead of BJ Penn (Penn lost; he should have to work his way back up the ladder like everyone else not name Shogun Rua.)

Florian has beaten the majority of the light weight class, with his only two losses coming from former champ Sean Sherk and former champ BJ Penn. Takanori Gomi, Clay Guida, Joe Stevenson, Roger Huerta, and Joe Lauzon are just some of the big name fighters that Kenny has emerged victorious over.

While I would rather see a fresh fight between Florian and Edgar with a future rematch with Penn, I guess that this is the next best option.

While Florian is more technical and well rounded, Maynard posesses the intangible of size and strength. With all of that being said, however, I see a relatively easy victory for Florian by submission in the second.

KJ Noons vs Nick Diaz rematch set!

2010-08-25T13:24:00.000-07:00

For those of you who don't know, back in November of 2007, Nick Diaz met KJ noons under the EliteXC banner. The fight saw the always aggresive Diaz pummeled and battered by the incredibly effective striking of Noons. Diaz shrugged of the barrage of leather artillery thrown his way, but was cut badly in a number of places around his eyes. These cuts forced a doctor stoppage.

The ultra competative and always game Diaz disagreed with the stoppage so vehemently that it led to one of the more memorable exits from the ring: Diaz storming out before the announcement and give the double fingered salute to any and all who were watching.

Now, fast forward to Hawaii, 2008, where Diaz and Noons both took home wins on the same card...

After KJ's win, Nick climbed into the cage, went face to face with Noons, and asked for a rematch, stating the now infamous "Don't be scared, Homie". The debacle nearly came to blows, and the animosity has been building since. Noons has been quoted as saying:

"Nick has no class, he's a bum, a piece of shit and he and his team disrespected my family and I with their gestures and trash talk and tried to upstage my fight". (Editors note: I claim no responsability for grammatical or punctuation errors in this statement).

As for Nick having no class, my opinion varies. Diaz, who is a good friend of one of my old trainer's, Kit Cope, came into our gym occasionally. Regardless of how tough/ aggresive he may be where a fight is concerned, Nick was always very humble, outgoing, and (surprisingly) laid back. I mean, it's not like he ever shinned an opponent in the face while he was laying on the ground ( this is a reference to last weeks Strike Force event, where KJ Noons soccer kicked a downed Jorge Gurgel in the face).

Currently, Nick is running on a 7 fight win streak. Noons (currently 10-2) hasn't lost since Febuary of 2007 against "Crazy Horse" Bennett.

This fight could go either way, as it is a match up of styles. The ground goes to Diaz and the stand up to Noons (although Nick has proven effective and frustrating with his boxing.

I simply wonder who would win in a fight between Diaz's satyr like goatee and Noons' Hasselhoff hair.