Joe Rogan and Mayhem Miller talk about having Brasilian BJJ coaches, then Joe Ezekial chokes his dog.
Friday, September 30, 2011
UFC CHAMPIONS BREAKDOWN: BY SHERDOG
I don't know how accurate these numbers are, but this is a pretty sweet graph.
Thursday, September 29, 2011
TRIBUTE TO SHOGUN RUA
There's no doubt in my mind that one of the greatest of all time is Mauricio "Shogun" Rua. When he comes to fight, he's damn near unbeatable. I made the mistake of picking against him in his last fight, and boy do I regret it. It's with that in mind that I post this video. Thanks to FlyWinMMA for the sweet new Shogun highlight.
He's one of my all time favorite MMA fighters and I can't wait to see him put a whoopin' on Dan Henderson. WAR SHOGUN!!
He's one of my all time favorite MMA fighters and I can't wait to see him put a whoopin' on Dan Henderson. WAR SHOGUN!!
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Just in case you missed last nights episode.....
Come back tomorrow for: BETTING ODDS, BREAKDOWNS, AND PREDICTIONS FOR UFC LIVE: CRUZ VS. JOHNSON
Come back tomorrow for: BETTING ODDS, BREAKDOWNS, AND PREDICTIONS FOR UFC LIVE: CRUZ VS. JOHNSON
Sunday, September 25, 2011
9 THINGS I LEARNED FROM UFC 135, RESULTS, AND REACTIONS
There's a lot I could say about what happened tonight, but it wouldn't do it justice. While overall, the card itself wasn't spectacular, we all learned something important........Jon Jones is not over hyped.
9 THINGS I LEARNED FROM UFC 135 (Cause I didn't learn 10)
1. Jone "Bones" Jones is not only the future of MMA. He's the present, and apparently what ever else he wants to be. The sky is the limit for this kid.
2. You should not let Heavyweights fight in high altitude. Really Joe Silva?
3. Nate Diaz has black belt level Jiu-Jitsu. I'm not sure why he still has a brown belt.
4. If you're already in the UFC hall of fame, and you're still fighting, its probably about time you retire.
5. TUF winners are not what they used to be. These guys come out gunning right from the beginning.
6. Despite the loss, Ben Rothwell is a tough dude. He was exhausted and taking a beating, but he still answered the bell in the third round.
7. Josh Koscheck is not a bad guy. He just plays the part very well. He was gracious and thankful after his win.
8. I like the idea of a "Rampage" vs. "Shogun" rematch in Japan. I hope Dana White makes it happen.
9. Apparently, Rashad Evans and Jon Jones really don't like eachother. I thought it was all an act, but the animosity was palpable.
I guess the betting odds are here to stay! I got a great reaction from the new format, so thanks everyone for the support. Considering that I picked a huge long shot in "Rampage" Jackson, I think I did pretty well overall in my picks. For those of you that weren't paying attention, I went 5 for 7 on the night.
RESULTS
Tim Boetsch def Nick Ring by Unanimous Decision
Boetsch had a lot of hype coming into this fight. He was fighting for only the second time at Middleweight and was expected to buzz saw through Nick Ring. Although he won, he was less than impressive. I will say that his defensive boxing looked really good. He had great head movement and did what he could against an opponent who wouldn't engage half the time. Even so, he's going to need to do a lot more before he can be considered a top contender at 185lbs.
Tony Ferguson def Aaron Riley by TKO in Rd 1 (Doctor's Stoppage)
I'm gonna make this one quick. Ferguson came, he saw, he broke another man's jaw. Enough said.
Nate Diaz def Takanori Gomi by Submission in Rd 1 (Armbar)
Can anyone tell me why Nate Diaz is still a BJJ brown belt. I'm honestly not sure whether Gomi is a blackbelt in anything, but Diaz has made it a habit of submitting BJJ blackbelts on the regular. Not only that, his boxing looked crisp and on point. As much as I love Gomi, I just don't know if he can compete with the upper echilon of fighters, especially in the Lightweight division.
Travis Browne def Rob Broughton by Unanimous Decision
Remember when I said that heavyweights shouldn't fight in high altitude? This fight is a good example why. Browne looked really good in the first round as he was able to bounce around and dictate the pace of the fight. Everything after that was sloppy at best. What was really surprising was how easily Browne was able to take Broughton down. Broughton was considered the grappling specialist going in to the fight, but he wasn't able to use any offensive grappling other than a lackluster kimura attempt. Browne looked good, but far from impressive.
Mark Hunt def Ben Rothwell by Unanimous Decision
I have to applaud the heart of Ben Rothwell. There are very few men that would answer the bell in the 3rd round after having to be picked up by their trainers and walked to their corner at the end of the 2nd. Mark Hunt looked like he's been working hard to develop a complete MMA game. Striking is still his forte, but it seems as though his work at ATT has helped to round out his game. By no means is he elite, but he still has some fight in him.
(This was a big night for Samoans as both Mark Hunt and James Te-Huna delivered big wins)
Josh Koscheck def Matt Hughes by TKO in Rd 1
For the first four minutes of the first round, it seemed as though Matt Hughes would pull off the upset. His boxing looked crisp and he was able to hit Koscheck repeatedly in that damaged eye. All it took was 30 seconds for Kos to turn it around. Matt Hughes will forever be remembered as a legend and one of the guys responsible for building the UFC in to what it is today. It's unfortunate that he had to go out the way he did, but its for the best. What was surprising was how gracious Josh Koscheck was even after the big win.
Jon Jones def Quentin Jackson by Submission in Rd 4 (Rear Naked Choke)
I don't think there's anything left to say about Jon Jones. He may very well be knocking on the door of unbeatable. I'm sure the next few weeks will be littered with rumors of super fights with Anderson Silva or Cain Velasquez. For now, he's undoubtedly the best Lightheavyweight Mixed Martial Artist in the entire world. There's no doubt about that. How good will he get? We'll have to wait and see.
All in all, I give UFC 135 a C+. Some excitement....Some good finishes.... But it could have been better.
KO of the night: Josh Koscheck
Submission of the night : Nate Diaz
Fight of the Night: Jon Jones vs. Quentin Jackson
I really hope everyone enjoyed the betting odds being added in with the predictions. For anyone who took my advice and lost, sorry about that, better luck next time. That's why they call it gambling!
I'm going to do my best to try and find the videos for at least the main card fights and post them up tomorrow.
Don't forget that the finals for the ADCC are tomorrow. If you're not doing anything and can pry your eyes away from football for a few minutes, it should be a treat. (FYI, I picked almost every single winner in the first two rounds)
The next few weeks are stacked with events so keep reading, and I'll keep doing what I do.
(Check out my buddies' blog if you get a second. If you're a fan of MMA, which I'm sure you are, I promise you'll enjoy it. Some support never hurts! Check it out at: www.mmabadass.com)
(Just FYI, I actually don't know him....I just lost a bet. But check the site out anyway.....It's not half bad)
9 THINGS I LEARNED FROM UFC 135 (Cause I didn't learn 10)
1. Jone "Bones" Jones is not only the future of MMA. He's the present, and apparently what ever else he wants to be. The sky is the limit for this kid.
2. You should not let Heavyweights fight in high altitude. Really Joe Silva?
3. Nate Diaz has black belt level Jiu-Jitsu. I'm not sure why he still has a brown belt.
4. If you're already in the UFC hall of fame, and you're still fighting, its probably about time you retire.
5. TUF winners are not what they used to be. These guys come out gunning right from the beginning.
6. Despite the loss, Ben Rothwell is a tough dude. He was exhausted and taking a beating, but he still answered the bell in the third round.
7. Josh Koscheck is not a bad guy. He just plays the part very well. He was gracious and thankful after his win.
8. I like the idea of a "Rampage" vs. "Shogun" rematch in Japan. I hope Dana White makes it happen.
9. Apparently, Rashad Evans and Jon Jones really don't like eachother. I thought it was all an act, but the animosity was palpable.
I guess the betting odds are here to stay! I got a great reaction from the new format, so thanks everyone for the support. Considering that I picked a huge long shot in "Rampage" Jackson, I think I did pretty well overall in my picks. For those of you that weren't paying attention, I went 5 for 7 on the night.
RESULTS
Tim Boetsch def Nick Ring by Unanimous Decision
Boetsch had a lot of hype coming into this fight. He was fighting for only the second time at Middleweight and was expected to buzz saw through Nick Ring. Although he won, he was less than impressive. I will say that his defensive boxing looked really good. He had great head movement and did what he could against an opponent who wouldn't engage half the time. Even so, he's going to need to do a lot more before he can be considered a top contender at 185lbs.
Tony Ferguson def Aaron Riley by TKO in Rd 1 (Doctor's Stoppage)
I'm gonna make this one quick. Ferguson came, he saw, he broke another man's jaw. Enough said.
Nate Diaz def Takanori Gomi by Submission in Rd 1 (Armbar)
Can anyone tell me why Nate Diaz is still a BJJ brown belt. I'm honestly not sure whether Gomi is a blackbelt in anything, but Diaz has made it a habit of submitting BJJ blackbelts on the regular. Not only that, his boxing looked crisp and on point. As much as I love Gomi, I just don't know if he can compete with the upper echilon of fighters, especially in the Lightweight division.
Travis Browne def Rob Broughton by Unanimous Decision
Remember when I said that heavyweights shouldn't fight in high altitude? This fight is a good example why. Browne looked really good in the first round as he was able to bounce around and dictate the pace of the fight. Everything after that was sloppy at best. What was really surprising was how easily Browne was able to take Broughton down. Broughton was considered the grappling specialist going in to the fight, but he wasn't able to use any offensive grappling other than a lackluster kimura attempt. Browne looked good, but far from impressive.
Mark Hunt def Ben Rothwell by Unanimous Decision
I have to applaud the heart of Ben Rothwell. There are very few men that would answer the bell in the 3rd round after having to be picked up by their trainers and walked to their corner at the end of the 2nd. Mark Hunt looked like he's been working hard to develop a complete MMA game. Striking is still his forte, but it seems as though his work at ATT has helped to round out his game. By no means is he elite, but he still has some fight in him.
(This was a big night for Samoans as both Mark Hunt and James Te-Huna delivered big wins)
Josh Koscheck def Matt Hughes by TKO in Rd 1
For the first four minutes of the first round, it seemed as though Matt Hughes would pull off the upset. His boxing looked crisp and he was able to hit Koscheck repeatedly in that damaged eye. All it took was 30 seconds for Kos to turn it around. Matt Hughes will forever be remembered as a legend and one of the guys responsible for building the UFC in to what it is today. It's unfortunate that he had to go out the way he did, but its for the best. What was surprising was how gracious Josh Koscheck was even after the big win.
Jon Jones def Quentin Jackson by Submission in Rd 4 (Rear Naked Choke)
I don't think there's anything left to say about Jon Jones. He may very well be knocking on the door of unbeatable. I'm sure the next few weeks will be littered with rumors of super fights with Anderson Silva or Cain Velasquez. For now, he's undoubtedly the best Lightheavyweight Mixed Martial Artist in the entire world. There's no doubt about that. How good will he get? We'll have to wait and see.
All in all, I give UFC 135 a C+. Some excitement....Some good finishes.... But it could have been better.
KO of the night: Josh Koscheck
Submission of the night : Nate Diaz
Fight of the Night: Jon Jones vs. Quentin Jackson
I really hope everyone enjoyed the betting odds being added in with the predictions. For anyone who took my advice and lost, sorry about that, better luck next time. That's why they call it gambling!
I'm going to do my best to try and find the videos for at least the main card fights and post them up tomorrow.
Don't forget that the finals for the ADCC are tomorrow. If you're not doing anything and can pry your eyes away from football for a few minutes, it should be a treat. (FYI, I picked almost every single winner in the first two rounds)
The next few weeks are stacked with events so keep reading, and I'll keep doing what I do.
(Check out my buddies' blog if you get a second. If you're a fan of MMA, which I'm sure you are, I promise you'll enjoy it. Some support never hurts! Check it out at: www.mmabadass.com)
(Just FYI, I actually don't know him....I just lost a bet. But check the site out anyway.....It's not half bad)
Saturday, September 24, 2011
BETTING ODDS, BREAKDOWNS, AND PREDICTIONS FOR UFC 135
I know, I know, it's been almost a week since my last post and I never did my reactions for UFN 25. Well please, allow me to explain....... Uhhh...... What had happened was......
If you really want to know, I don't have cable because I just moved in to a new apartment. I was also invited to a very interesting event the night of the fights so I wasn't able to watch them live. By the time I actually did get a chance to watch them, it was too late. So here I am before you once again, asking your forgiveness. For what its worth, I was totally distraught about it for like six minutes. Honestly, it was agonizing.
We're now in the thick of it. Every title in the UFC will be defended over the next six weeks. UFC 135 is just the beginning. The next two cards are completely stacked, and it all ends with the UFC's coming out party on November 12th. This is truly a historic time in the history of MMA. What a time to be a fan!
Being one that accepts constructive criticism, I've decided to take some wise advice and get to the point a lot quicker. I realize that I can be a bit long winded. So sue me..........Lets get on with it then......
At the behest of a friend, I've decided to start including betting odds in my break downs and predictions. If nothing else, it might help you degenerates out there make the right decisions about which picks to make. I'm not the biggest supporter of sports betting, but I'll do anything for a friend. Well....almost anything.
The Undercard
As usual, there will be two fights televised for free on Spike TV. These will be among the last few fights to show for free on Spike. The festivities begin at 8:00 pm est. Don't miss it.
(The betting odds reported here are as up to date as possible. They were obtained from bodog.com at 11:34 pm the night before the fight)
Tim Boetsch (-150) vs. Nick Ring (+120)
I wasn't particularly impressed with the selections that were made for the Spike Tv portion of this card, but free MMA is good MMA, so I'll take what I can get.
You may remember Tim Boetsch as the guy who sent Kendall Grove packing from the UFC. You may also remember him as the one and only victim of the "Philmura." If nothing else, Boetsch will go down in MMA history for that fact. Boetsch has pretty powerful striking and good wrestling. He is fighting at Middleweight for only the second time in his career. Nick Ring is the Ultimate Fighter alumni who could very well have taken the whole show had he not gotten himself injured. If you remember, he beat Court McGee (the eventual winner) in one of the earlier rounds. His injury is what allowed McGee to come back and win it all. Ring trains out of the Tri-Star gym with the likes of Georges St. Pierre.
This is one of the more evenly matched fights on this card. Both men have solid stand up skills and decent enough grappling. I don't know why, but I just don't see there being a finish in this fight. Ultimately, I think Nick Ring will do enough to take a decision by using his grappling and BJJ skills to take the fight where he wants it. I would pick Ring just on the strength of his training partners.
Bet: Ring at +120 is a solid bet here. This is a good fight to add to a parlay.
Prediction: Nick Ring by Unanimous Decision
Tony Ferguson (-350) vs. Aaron Riley (+275)
If I were Aaron Riley, I'd be pretty mad at the odds makers. This fight is a lot more evenly matched then the odds might reflect. Even so, Aaron Riley is going to be in for a tough night. Tony Ferguson is the winner of the Ultimate Fighter Season 13. He looked impressive in the finale showing a good sprawl and very technical boxing. Riley has had some success in the UFC but has lost decisively when fighting top competition. If he can muscle his way inside and take Ferguson out of his game, then he has a very good chance of winning this fight.
Look for Ferguson to try to stay on the outside and use his boxing to pick Riley apart. As much as I like Aaron Riley, I don't think he'll win this fight. Ferguson just looked too good the last few times I've seen him and I don't think Riley will be able to work his game plan.
Bet: Up to you if you want to take Ferguson at -350. Not a lot of money to be made there, but it's a good bet that Ferguson will win.
Prediction: Tony Ferguson by 2nd Rd TKO
THE MAIN CARD
Ben Rothwell (-340) vs. Mark Hunt (+260)
What a great fight to kickoff the PPV with. I'm always a fan of some much needed Pride nostalgia. For those of you that don't know who he is, Mark Hunt has been around for years, always competing against top competition. In Pride, he was at one point considered a serious contender but was never able to put a good amount of wins together. Ben Rothwell has not fought in the UFC in over a year and is finally coming back after some injuries derailed his progress. You might remember Rothwell as the guy who sent Gilber Yvel packing. Most likely, you remember the one sided beat down he took at the hand of Cain Velasquez.
This is a tough one to predict because you never know which Mark Hunt will show up. If Mark Hunt the pissed off Samoan shows up, then Ben Rothwell might as well just pack his bags and go back to the corn field. If not, then Rothwell should have an easy enough time with Hunt. Still, I'm going to take Hunt here. What can I say, I have a soft spot for the old days.
Bet: Taking Hunt at +260 is risky. Rothwell (-340) is a much safer bet. Hunt has crazy power though, and can end the fight at any time. Go with Rothwell. Not everyone is as crazy as I am.
Prediction: Mark Hunt by 1st Rd KO (More of a wish then a prediction)
Nate Diaz (-270) vs. Takanori Gomi (+210)
Gomi is another one of those ex-Pride guys that are very hard to read. The way he fights is very much contingent on how stable he is mentally. I think the loss to Clay Guida really took a lot out of him and Nate Diaz will be able to capitalize on it. Diaz has great submissions, especially off his back, and has shown that he has a tough chin. I think Diaz will ultimately be able to use his boxing and cardio to wear down Gomi and lock in the submission.
Bet: There's a lot of upside to taking Gomi (+210) here but you'll probably be throwing your money away. Instead of taking Diaz straight up, try betting on him wining inside the distance (+120).
Prediction: Nate Diaz by 2nd Rd Submission
Travis Brown (-400) vs. Rob Broughton (+300)
I don't know if its the fact that I have a soft spot for Hawaiians, but I just can't seem to pick against them. This time, its a pretty safe bet because Travis Browne is a killer. Let me paint a little picture for you....Travis Brown is 6'7". His last fight was against Stephan Struve, who is 6'11". When Brown knocked out Struve, he did it while Struve was in mid air trying to hit him with a flying something or other. That means Browne was punching up at Struve from about 7 or 8 inches below him, and he still knocked him out cold. Now that's power. Broughton is a skilled fighter with some impressive grappling credentials, but he's in deep water here.
Broughton will probably try to shoot in for the takedown over and over again because that's where his strength lies. Browne will have to channel his inner Chuck Lidell and sprawl and brawl his way in to the win column. Ultimately, Browne will be able to use his superior size to keep the fight standing and deliver another beautiful KO for the fans.
Bet: Not a lot of upside to taking Browne (-400) here. This is another one of those situations where you should take a prop bet. Betting on the fight going a full round is +150. Much better odds there.
Prediction: Browne by 2nd Rd KO
Josh Koscheck (-550) vs. Matt Hughes (+375)
This fight was originally booked as Matt Hughes vs. Diego Sanchez. An injury to Sanchez caused him to pull out on short notice. He was quickly replaced by Josh Koscheck. What a bummer for Matt Hughes. Matt Hughes is a legend and will always be a fan favorite. Unfortunately, Koscheck is a really bad stylistic matchup for him. Koscheck was flirting with the idea of fighting at Middleweight before he was offered this fight on short notice. He's bigger, arguably stronger, and throws bombs. Hughes won't be able to use his wrestling here as Koscheck is an accomplished wrestler in his own right. I'm not really sure what the game plan is for Hughes at this point, but he needs to come up with something big if he wants to win this fight.
I think this is the fight that sends Matt Hughes in to retirement. He's hinted at wanting a "Chuck Lidell job" so this will probably be the end for him. Hughes' chin isn't all that great and Koscheck will be able to exploit that. Thanks for all the great fights Matt, but I think this is the end of the road.
Bet: I don't know if it's even worth betting on this one. The odds undeniably favor Koscheck. If you're feeling squirrelly though, taking Matt Hughes by decision is +600. Hey, it could happen. Probably not though.
Prediction: Josh Koscheck by 1st Rd TKO
Jon Jones (-550) vs. Quinton Jackson (+375)
What can I say about Jon Jones that hasn't already been said? You know when people say, "He gets better every time I see him" ? Well, there are only two fighters I've ever actually believed that about. One is Frankie Edgar. The other, as I'm sure you know, is Jon Jones. What he's been able to do in three short years is incredible. In the words of Quentin "Rampage" Jackson (I'm paraphrasing), "Jon Jones is the future of MMA, but I'm the present." That's right! I think "Rampage" is going to win this fight! Call me crazy, but there's something about this matchup that reeks of an upset. I don't know if its the fact that "Rampage" looks more motivated than I've seen him in a long time, or whether it's Jones' attitude, but I truly believe that the Light Heavyweight championship will change hands once again. Experience is an asset that most undervalue in MMA. This is really the first high profile fight of "Bones'" career and I think "Rampage" has managed to get in to his head. Yeah, Jones is flashy and has a ton of talent, but when Jackson gets that fire in his eyes, he's a dangerous man.
This should be a really good back and forth battle. I see this being the fight where we finally find out what kind of chin Jon Jones has. Eventually, he won't be able to use his reach to keep Jackson at a distance. I think "Rampage" will be able to use the clinch to his advantage and dirty box his way to a win. Of course, there's a very good change that I'm 100% wrong and that my Pride nostalgia is kicking in again. I still smell the upset though. Jon Jones will one day be as unbeatable as Anderson Silva, but not yet.
Bet: Don't let the odds fool you, taking Jackson (+375) is a very promising bet. It might be a bit of a nail biter, but it'll be worth it.
Prediction: Quentin Jackson by 3rd Rd KO
Well I hope everyone likes the new format.
Please feel free to offer any suggestions of what I can be doing better.
Don't forget the Bellator 51 is the same night as UFC 135, so program your DVR's accordingly.
There's also another big event this weekend that some of you might be interested in. The ADCC Submission Grappling World Championship will be held on the 24th and 25th. We're talking the greatest grapplers in the world going toe to toe for two days. You can watch them live on PPV for $30. If nothing else, tune in for the finals on day 2. It's going to be sick, I promise.
I'll be doing be post fight reactions directly after the fights from now on. No more waiting a day to know who won!
As always, don't forget to follow me on twitter @TheGuardFighter.
Enjoy the fights tonight everyone! I know I will!
Friday, September 23, 2011
MY PICKS FOR THE ADCC
ABSOLUTE CHAMPION : XANDE RIBEIRO
FILL IN THE BRACKETS YOURSELF!
There will also be two super fights as part of the event.
Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza vs. Braulio Estima
Mario Sperry vs. Renzo Gracie
I pick Estima and Gracie to win.
Anyone interested in watching the ADCC, it will be streaming live on PPV September 24th and 25th . This is quite possibly the greatest collection of grapplers in the world today. I promise, you won't regret watching it.
Here's the link:
http://www.budovideos.com/shop/customer/product.php?productid=32318
FILL IN THE BRACKETS YOURSELF!
There will also be two super fights as part of the event.
Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza vs. Braulio Estima
Mario Sperry vs. Renzo Gracie
I pick Estima and Gracie to win.
Anyone interested in watching the ADCC, it will be streaming live on PPV September 24th and 25th . This is quite possibly the greatest collection of grapplers in the world today. I promise, you won't regret watching it.
Here's the link:
http://www.budovideos.com/shop/customer/product.php?productid=32318
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