The sport of mixed martial arts has a plethora of tough guys. Very few participants in MMA are viewed as anything other than tough. Some fighters stick out as being especially tough and can give and take what seems like immeasurable amounts of punishme…
The sport of mixed martial arts has a plethora of tough guys. Very few participants in MMA are viewed as anything other than tough. Some fighters stick out as being especially tough and can give and take what seems like immeasurable amounts of punishment. Other fighters may not be the very best but are willing to fight anyone, anytime.
If we were to assemble a team of the toughest fighters in MMA today, what would it look like?
The definition of a tough guy is “a menacing man.” One of the criteria for our All-Tough-Guy Team will be that fighters need to be active. So KazushiSakuraba, FedorEmelianenko, Randy Couture and Rickson Gracie won’t be on the team.
A certain amount of the toughness requisite to making the team needs to be exhibited outside of the cage. Mean-muggin’, ice-grillin’ and keeping it real 24/7 are all things that might earn a fighter a spot on the team.
But not shoving.
Most of what makes someone tough enough for the All-Tough-Guy Team happens in the cage. Epic comebacks, ability to take punishment and finishing instinct will carry the most weight in deciding who makes the top of the list, but everyone on the All-Tough-Guy-Team could make at least a serviceable Avenger or Expendable.
Special consideration will be given to guys who are generally pretty nice when they aren’t fighting but are just that tough when they get in the cage.
The sport of mixed martial arts has a plethora of tough guys. Very few participants in MMA are viewed as anything other than tough. Some fighters stick out as being especially tough and can give and take what seems like immeasurable amounts of punishme…
The sport of mixed martial arts has a plethora of tough guys. Very few participants in MMA are viewed as anything other than tough. Some fighters stick out as being especially tough and can give and take what seems like immeasurable amounts of punishment. Other fighters may not be the very best but are willing to fight anyone, anytime.
If we were to assemble a team of the toughest fighters in MMA today, what would it look like?
The definition of a tough guy is “a menacing man.” One of the criteria for our All-Tough-Guy Team will be that fighters need to be active. So KazushiSakuraba, FedorEmelianenko, Randy Couture and Rickson Gracie won’t be on the team.
A certain amount of the toughness requisite to making the team needs to be exhibited outside of the cage. Mean-muggin’, ice-grillin’ and keeping it real 24/7 are all things that might earn a fighter a spot on the team.
But not shoving.
Most of what makes someone tough enough for the All-Tough-Guy Team happens in the cage. Epic comebacks, ability to take punishment and finishing instinct will carry the most weight in deciding who makes the top of the list, but everyone on the All-Tough-Guy-Team could make at least a serviceable Avenger or Expendable.
Special consideration will be given to guys who are generally pretty nice when they aren’t fighting but are just that tough when they get in the cage.
“King Mo” Lawal’s run of unfortunate outcomes has continued its pace for nearly four years. Even though he’s found victory multiple times during that period, his career has not experienced the “boom” that was once expected. Now,…
“King Mo” Lawal‘s run of unfortunate outcomes has continued its pace for nearly four years. Even though he’s found victory multiple times during that period, his career has not experienced the “boom” that was once expected. Now, after serious injuries, being fired from the UFC and a stunning knockout defeat, MuhammedLawal is at a career crossroads coming into Bellator 123. Dustin Jacoby will be the individual standing across from him and he has the potential to send the former champion’s career into a complete downward spiral.
If “King Mo” could step into a time machine, 2010 would perhaps be his first destination. This was the year when everything was going great for the Las Vegas native. Although things would not end well later on in that calendar, he would win the Strikeforce title from GegardMousasi in April of 2010. To this date, this is still the biggest win of his career. Since that point Lawal has not had the easiest of times being the high-level mixed martial artist that many pundits thought he would become. In fact, his career has been quite the letdown.
First, it was the TKO defeat to Rafael Cavalcante where he would lose his only moment of holding a mainstream title. After a win over Roger Gracie he would be forced out of competition due to a knee injury, which would become a recurring issue in his career. In 2012 he would then defeat Lorenz Larkin just to have the win overturned because the Nevada State Athletic Commission would find Drostanolone in his drug-test results, as reported by Ken Pishna and Erik Fontanez of MMA Weekly.
Things would only get worse for the former champion. The UFC would purchase Strikeforce, which would give them access to Lawal fighting in the Octagon, however he would never have the chance to perform for the organization. After his hearing in front of the NSAC he made inflammatory statements towards NSAC Commissioner Pat Lundvall on his Twitter profile (via MMA Mania). That comment would result in his jettison from the organization as a whole as they would not stand by and allow him to make such statements.
Lawal did not stay a free agent for long as Bellator would pick him up and give him an opportunity to become a professional wrestler in TNA Wrestling while competing in in their MMA promotion. The way he was announced into the organization made it seem like the company was expecting him to become a major star. Unfortunately for all the parties involved, that would not occur.
In his second fight for the promotion, “King Mo” would face Emanuel Newton. In the first round of the contest he would eat a spinning back fist that would make Lawal the victim of one of the most played knockouts of 2013. Lawal would come back and win two straight just to be defeated by Newton again; this time in an even more convincing fashion.
Bellator MMA would get another opportunity to feature Lawal dead center as he would face Quinton “Rampage” Jackson at Bellator 120. Lawal would suffer a decision defeat but what was worse is that many felt he actually won the bout with his wrestling attack. This would be yet another setback for Lawal that would leave him looking like the odd man out in the pecking order within the company.
Lawal has a winning record with Bellator MMA at 4-3 but he’s yet to defeat any opponent of value. His inability to win the big contests has placed a damper on the outlook of his career. This is where Jacoby enters the picture. At 10-3 Jacoby can actually be called a “UFC Veteran” even though he’s suffered two defeats in the promotion. According to MMA Oddsbreaker, Jacoby will come into the event a +400 underdog to Lawal‘s -600 favorite. Just as the numbers represent, Lawal has everything to lose in this fight.
If Jacoby can pull off the upset victory, which he is capable of doing, “King Mo’s” career would be in jeopardy. As Scott Coker leads Bellator into reshaping itself as a MMA promotion, Lawal‘s value to the organization would be damaged with another defeat. He would also place himself to be cut from the organization if he can’t live up to the standards that were placed on him when signed. To make the matters worse, he would have a difficult time rejoining the professional wrestling world as well. According to TMZ, Spike TV recently canceled TNA Wrestling which means they may not be interested in bringing back their high-price “star.” If he were to lose his slot on the Bellator roster, his opportunities in MMA on the mainstream level would be drastically low.
Injuries, controversy and disappointing performances have plagued MuhammedLawal‘s career. The former Strikeforce champion is facing a major uphill climb that begins at Bellator 123. The world of professional sports is a fickle place that can turn on an individual with one good or bad performance. If Lawal goes out and earns a win in a drastic, highlight-reel fashion, then he will be on his way to earning the love once again of the MMA community. If not, this may be his last time performing in a mainstream mixed martial arts promotion.
To say that Dana White and the Ultimate Fighting Championship have gone through a tough couple of weeks would be quite the understatement.
Injury-riddled cards and fan opposition to “weak” events have stood out in headlines for the largest …
To say that Dana White and the Ultimate Fighting Championship have gone through a tough couple of weeks would be quite the understatement.
Injury-riddled cards and fan opposition to “weak” events have stood out in headlines for the largest mixed martial arts promotion in the world. However, one of the most interesting stories of the last few weeks featured a move that Dana White made at UFC Fight Night: Bisping vs. Le. Snatching a judge from his post early in the night may have seemed like the right move to make at the time.
The UFC’s admonishment of White was the right move to make but in the end will be an empty gesture.
The situation began early in the card with two controversial victories. MilanaDudieva and Royston Wee walked out of the Octagon after winning two split decisions over their opponents. Much of the MMA community who commented on social media outlets such as Twitter felt the decisions went to the wrong fighters. During the post-fight press conference, White confirmed that he stepped in to remove a judge from his position for the night.
“Did you ask me sir, if it was true, that a judge was removed?” White said during the post fight press conference via Sherdog. “Yes, he was. He was involved in the first fight and the second fight. I told the guys to go let him grab some beer and some popcorn and go sit down and start watching some fights, not judging them.”
When the UFC travels to locales that do not have an athletic commission, they take the reins of regulating themselves in those situations. This means that they have the power to appoint judges to fights in these foreign events. Howard Hughes was the judge who was removed from his position by Dana White. According to MMA Decisions, a website that chronicles judging decisions in the sport, he provided two 29-28 scorecards in favor of Dudieva and Wee.
Hughes has frequently traveled with the UFC to judge foreign cards. This is the first time the UFC has acted in such a manner when it comes to managing the judges at their events.
MMA judging is one of the most controversial topics in the sport today. Still, the UFC did not condone White’s actions. In an official statement the organization admonished their president for his actions.
Pursuant to UFC’s protocol, neither White nor any other UFC executive possesses such authority. Nevertheless, protocol was breached and Hughes did not work further bouts on Saturday night…Both White and the UFC apologize to Mr. Hughes for calling his professional judgment into question. Hughes has judged more than 25 UFC fight cards and the UFC looks forward to him working on its events again in the future.
This is an effective statement from the promotion as a whole; however, true action has not been taken against White. There have not been any reports of official fines or sanctions being posed against one of the most well-known personalities in the sport. Dana should not expect to face such repercussions either, because he took a stance on one of the most controversial topics in the sport today.
Questionable judging has occurred multiple times within the sport and is now considered an expected occurrence at every event. White taking a stance against what he may have considered bad decision making might win him some new fans but still should not have happened.
Perception in combat sports is a reality that must be acknowledged. Bad decisions will often render complaints about fixed fights or other sinister actions within MMA. The fact that Dana White, who is a representative of the UFC, removed a judge because he delivered rulings that may not have been acceptable by the promotion creates a very questionable and slippery slope.
While it may not have been his intention, the perception may now be that the organization will remove judges who are unable to live up to their standards. With all the other issues posing the UFC at that time, this is a view that the organization cannot afford.
Yet that does not mean they will take action against one of the most important figures in the history of the sport.
Questionable judging will not leave the sport of mixed martial arts. Boxing has been a professional sport for centuries and to this day there are controversial decisions rendered at almost every event. Unfortunately for boxing, many fans question the validity of the results, and that same sentiment begins to creep into MMA.
Dana White’s actions were not meant to present this idea but the damage has been done. The UFC’s response was swift but could have been more forceful in a situation that can develop to be a real hindrance for the promotion.
The United States, Canada, Brazil, Sweden, Ireland, England, Japan, China, New Zealand, Germany, the United Arab Emirates, Singapore, Australia and now Mexico.
For the first time in 288 events, the UFC will finally make its way south of the …
The United States, Canada, Brazil, Sweden, Ireland, England, Japan, China, New Zealand, Germany, the United Arab Emirates, Singapore, Australia and now Mexico.
For the first time in 288 events, the UFC will finally make its way south of the border for UFC 180. Realizing what kind of a market awaits them, Dana White and friends are making sure to pull out all the stops to ensure they make their November trip a fruitful one.
It’s huge, obviously for us, but also for the people in Mexico, too. I keep saying this, but it’s true: the baddest dudes in the world, throughout the history of the world, have come from Mexico and Latin America. Your Salvador Sanchezs, your Julio Cesar Chavezs, and the list goes on and on. In the MMA world, all of those guys exist in [Mexico] right now and you’re going to see them popping up over the next six years. You’re going to see Mexico start to dominate, like it did in boxing.
Bringing the baddest dude on the planet, in Mexican-American UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez, to fight against a formidable Spanish-speaking Brazilian opponent, in Fabricio Werdum, is a good start. Giving fans the opportunity to watch these two men compete as coaches on “The Ultimate Fighter: Latin America” certainly doesn’t hurt either.
This season will likely lack the almost inherent dramatic quality that previous seasons have had, but the constant exposure (for those with “UFC Fight Pass” subscriptions, anyway) should give fans an opportunity to get to know these two typically humble men enough to reignite the classic Mexico vs. Brazil rivalry that soccer fans have come to enjoy.
Rather than leave the heavyweight title match to shoulder the load, the UFC is supplementing the rest of the pay-per-view card with some of the best Mexican-American talent the promotion has to offer.
Kelvin Gastelum, winner of the 17th iteration of “The Ultimate Fighter,” is set to square off against Jake Ellenberger in the co-main event in what could potentially lead to a huge climb up the ladder for the Hispanic fighter. He may not be the best Hispanic fighter on the UFC roster, but he’ll sure have his chance to prove it that night.
Diego Sanchez is scheduled to bring his mean mug and high-octane fighting style to entertain his secondary countrymen against Norman Parke. Even in a hypothetical losing effort, Sanchez’s preference to live and die by the sword should get this crowd on its feet.
Dennis Bermudez steps into Mexico City with his seven-fight winning streak intact before challenging former title contender Ricardo Lamas. A decisive win for either fighter likely wouldn’t lead to an immediate title shot in the ever-crowded featherweight division—it could lead to the beginnings of becoming a household name in the Hispanic market, though.
The UFC’s also bringing Erik “El Goyito” Perez and his green-white-and-red wrestling mask to UFC 180. Win, lose or draw, Perez is set to become one of the more popular fighters as he embraces the luchalibre-loving culture.
A solid outing from most of these fighters could lead to the Latin American expansion the promotion’s sought after for quite some time now. There’s no telling how often the UFC would be willing to return, especially if its champion continues to walk out to country-favorite Vicente Fernandez’s “Los Mandados“ before every one of his dominant performances inside the cage.
Kristian Ibarra is a Featured Columnist at Bleacher Report. He also serves as the sports editor at San Diego State University’s student-run newspaper, The Daily Aztec. Follow him on Twitter at @Kristian_Ibarra for all things MMA.
Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza and Gegard Mousasi first met in the Dream 6: Middleweight Grand Prix final in 2008.
Souza, predominantly known as a submission artist at the time, didn’t have much to offer against Mousasi in the striking department and fel…
Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza and GegardMousasi first met in the Dream 6: Middleweight Grand Prix final in 2008.
Souza, predominantly known as a submission artist at the time, didn’t have much to offer against Mousasi in the striking department and fell victim to a TKO just two minutes into the bout.
The loss would go on to fuel Jacare enough to go undefeated in his next six bouts. The win would merely cement Mousasi as one of the better strikers the middleweight division had to offer.
Set to rematch almost six years later, the two middleweights look to capture another victory before making a case to challenge for the middleweight crown.
The first bout was fairly one-sided, but the sequel might not be.
The United States, Canada, Brazil, Sweden, Ireland, England, Japan, China, New Zealand, Germany, the