Ever since Anderson Silva and Lyoto Machida knocked their respective opponents out with Aikido’s signature front kicks to the face, Sensei Seagal’s phone must have been ringing off the hook.The thing is, one man, even a great man like Steven Seagal, on…
Ever since Anderson Silva and Lyoto Machida knocked their respective opponents out with Aikido’s signature front kicks to the face, Sensei Seagal’s phone must have been ringing off the hook.
The thing is, one man, even a great man like Steven Seagal, only has so much time to coach internationally renowned fighters. Amid a string of obligations including acting commitments in 46 straight-to-DVD movies and the policing of America’s most dangerous streets, Seagal can squeeze in only those competitors who truly need his help.
Luckily for the master, we’ve narrowed down the candidates, selecting eight fighters desperately in need of some education.
The following slides showcase competitors in dire straights, highlighting those individuals who, without knowing a series of fairly impractical wrist-locks, may find themselves fighting irrelevancy in the MMA world.
What would we do without Steven? Let’s hope we never have to find out.
Everyone loves a warrior. With an iron jaw, dynamite hands and a 265-pound frame, Mark Hunt certainly fits the bill.I am not against the Samoan in his run for the title. I jumped for joy when Hunt knocked out Chris Tuchscherer, and was equally thrilled…
Everyone loves a warrior. With an iron jaw, dynamite hands and a 265-pound frame, Mark Hunt certainly fits the bill.
I am not against the Samoan in his run for the title. I jumped for joy when Hunt knocked out Chris Tuchscherer, and was equally thrilled by the highlight-reel destruction of Chieck Kongo. Dana White hit the nail on the head today: we MMA fans are suckers for a comeback.
That being said, level-headed commentators should not suggest that Hunt has much to offer the UFC’s upper-echelon fighters. Cain Velasquez, Junior Dos Santos and Fabrico Werdum all have the right tools to give Hunt an exceptionally difficult time in the Octagon. Likewise, adoring fans shouldn’t forget that Hunt’s submission loss to the relatively unmemorable Sean McCorkle happened only three fights ago.
If we are to argue that Hunt has changed his game drastically since that time, which bout do we point towards? Neither Tuchscherer, Rothwell or Kongo can be described as title contenders, and no one has tested Hunt’s questionable ground game as of late— the division’s elite will hardly fail to exploit this weakness.
At this stage, Hunt’s chances of winning the belt are irrelevant; we shouldn’t see him in a title fight. MMA has entered a crucial stage in its development, courting the mainstream and attracting fans from a broad range of backgrounds. As the sport’s fanbase shifts, so do expectations.
Mainstream spectators are not likely to understand MMA’s lack of linear competitive structure. Few things could make the sport seem less legitimate than watching a freak-show bout between the world’s No. 1 heavyweight and a UFC newcomer who, until recently, would have been lucky to enter a heavyweight top-20 list.
If the Samoan wants a title shot, Stephan Struve is undoubtedly a step in the right direction. Assuming that Hunt can hang with the Dutchman’s ground skills and add another scalp to his belt, then—and only then—will he become an eligible contender.
White made the right decision in slowing Hunt’s advance. While we love our favorite fighters and are inclined to lead with our hearts, on this occasion we should keep our heads in the equation, too.
When we mention “background” in MMA, we usually find ourselves discussing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Muay Thai or college wrestling. As professional fighting becomes more lucrative, however, we are beginning to see athletes from an eclectic range of sporting…
When we mention “background” in MMA, we usually find ourselves discussing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Muay Thai or college wrestling. As professional fighting becomes more lucrative, however, we are beginning to see athletes from an eclectic range of sporting disciplines entering the cage for the first time.
Can a sport really produce fighters by accident? Probably not. What non-combat sports can do, though, is equip individuals with the basic physical and mental attributes necessary for a successful foray into fighting.
This article looks to separate the sheep from the goats, discussing 10 activities which prepare the modern warrior for battle without a single punch, kick or knee being thrown.
Renan Barão has flown in under the radar. Outside Brazil, the 25-year-old has failed to generate the hype normally associated with a 29-fight unbeaten streak and a 65 percent finishing record. Following the strangling of Brad Pickett and a unani…
Renan Barão has flown in under the radar. Outside Brazil, the 25-year-old has failed to generate the hype normally associated with a 29-fight unbeaten streak and a 65 percent finishing record. Following the strangling of Brad Pickett and a unanimous decision victory over Scott Jorgensen, however, “Renan Mota do Nascimento Pegado” will not linger in relative obscurity for long.
The Brazilian’s official UFC statistics display the components of a definitively well-rounded game. With his skills divided between 36 percent submissions, 38 percent striking and 26 percent takedowns, Renan is a rare breed. The Nova União product’s 93 percent success rate in takedown defence is similarly impressive, placing him firmly in the “new wave” of fighters emanating from Rio and São Paulo.
While Brazil has long been known for producing Muay Thai fighters packing stellar submission skills, we are also beginning to associate MMA‘s motherland with excellent defensive wrestling. Like his teammate José Aldo, Barão’s wrestling skills have been honed for the purpose of range control—to finish fights rather than to “play MMA” as a point-scoring exercise. Should the 25-year old win a decision, we may assume that his opponent has merely survived.
If we were inclined to continue drawing parallels between Renan and the featherweight champ, we could comfortably amuse ourselves for an age. Aside from sharing a practice room, Barão and Aldo both attribute their “warrior” mindset to a gritty upbringing packed with adversity and strife. Renan remembers “a lot of chaos, a lot of suffering” while growing up, claiming that these troubles helped to produce an indomitable spirit and impressive work ethic, the foundation of his recent success.
One look at a highlight reel exposes the young fighter as a liar. Not only is Barão an unstoppably hard worker and unbreakable competitor, he is also unspeakably gifted—the timing, accuracy and power showcased by Natal native can be sharpened, but can never be learned from scratch. Renan Barão has always been a phenom-in-waiting.
Who need concern themselves with Barão’s rise? Dominick Cruz and Urijah Faber, for starters. While the Brazilian’s next scheduled fight is against the hard-as-nails Ivan Menjivar, Cruz and Faber need to start thinking about Renan now. Even with the bantamweight champ’s blistering footwork, and Faber’s undeniable talent, it would not be shocking to see an Aldo-esque beatdown if Barão enters the cage with either man.
Take note, MMA fans: a wonder has landed. Renan Barão already possesses the mind, skills and heart of a champion; the belt is sure to follow suit.
Jon Jones vs. Rashad Evans is beginning to sound scripted. In fact, if the back-story to UFC 145’s headliner was a movie, we’d be inclined to criticize the plot—a tale of betrayal between two brothers, two former champions, the master a…
Jon Jones vs. Rashad Evans is beginning to sound scripted. In fact, if the back-story to UFC 145’s headliner was a movie, we’d be inclined to criticize the plot—a tale of betrayal between two brothers, two former champions, the master and the student, the young lion and the seasoned veteran, one divided family and a long-standing grudge. It’s all just too much.
By some trick of the stars, however, “Bones” and “Suga” have brought Hollywood and reality together, producing a treasure-trove story line for the UFC’s PR team. The papers are signed, the date is set and the hype-train is gathering speed; all eyes are on April 21st.
Naturally, then, the Internet is brimming with tentative articles discussing the fight’s outcome: will Rashad prove to be Jones’s kryptonite, or will the young upstart nonchalantly brush his former teammate to the side, continuing his meteoric rise towards pound-for-pound stardom? Who, cry the commentators, can confidently call such an intriguing match-up?
We can, ladies and gentlemen. We, the writers at Bleacher Report, have little time for journalists with mealy mouths and weak constitution, preferring to walk the fine line and place our cards firmly on the table. Jon Jones may be a phenom and Rashad Evans a resurgent and skilled veteran; nothing is going to change between now and fight-night, however, and it’s time to make some noise.
Without further ado, strap yourselves in and enjoy 10 bold, brassy predictions for Jones vs. Evans.
Lest my article be hijacked by a K-1 lynch mob, let it be known from the outset that I am a massive kickboxing fan and an admirer of Alistair Overeem.Indeed, I regard Overeem as one of the world’s premier strikers, a modern Hercules and an extremely in…
Lest my article be hijacked by a K-1 lynch mob, let it be known from the outset that I am a massive kickboxing fan and an admirer of Alistair Overeem.
Indeed, I regard Overeem as one of the world’s premier strikers, a modern Hercules and an extremely intelligent MMA fighter—which is exactly why I expect to see the 250-pound Dutchman impersonating Randy Couture on May 26.
Let’s start at the top. Overeem is a K-1 Grand Prix champion, perhaps the best heavyweight kickboxer in the world. In kickboxing, I would confidently back Overeem against all comers, counting on a vicious counter-hook or “Uber-knee” to end most nights in devastating fashion.
My problem, then, is this: Having watched Overeem blow his way through K-1’s 2010 tournament, I’m not convinced that his striking is particularly well-suited for use in MMA. For the most part, Overeem weathers the storm behind a tight double-forearm guard, waiting for the opportunity to smash his opponents with perfectly timed counter-strikes. While this strategy works brilliantly using K-1’s well-padded gloves, successful striking defence in MMA tends to be predicated on movement—covering with 4-ouncers is a gamble, especially against Junior Dos Santos.
Likewise, the range at which Overeem fought the majority of his 2010 bouts is dangerously kickboxing-specific. Successful strikers in MMA tend to move in and out of the pocket with straight shots, given that hooked punches leave a fighter dangerously open for takedowns. Dos Santos’ striking has been nurtured in this environment, forcing the Brazilian phenom to develop a long jab, crushing long-range uppercuts and hooks dissimilar to those Overeem uses in K-1, which tend to be short, tight strikes piled on to an opponent cowering against the ropes. In the Octagon’s vast diameter of 32 feet, it is unlikely Overeem will be able to back JDS against the cage with strikes alone, rendering his usual K-1 methodology virtually useless.
Not that Overeem doesn’t know this, of course. While the media churn out articles filled with talk of a “striking war,” few people have are considering the possibility that Overeem will employ his greatest MMA asset: his strength. Come fight day, expect to watch a well-conditioned Reem pushing Dos Santos against the cage, throwing free-hand hooks from a wrestling clinch and searching for the doubled-handed Thai plum, a feature of the Dutchman’s game, which, though prohibited under K-1 rules, can be used to bone-crushing effect in MMA.
I may be wrong. Perhaps we’ll see a classic kickboxer vs. boxer matchup, an epic striking battle in the centre of the cage; on paper, such an outcome would not be shocking, given the background and stated intentions of both fighters. Somehow, though, I doubt this will the be the case. Dos Santos is simply too proficient at fighting from the outside, too good at drawing his opponent’s guard open for the knockout.
Expect the majority of 146’s headliner to be played out in MMA’s “grey zone” between wrestling and striking, Overeem pushing his offense on the Octagon’s periphery while Dos Santos wedges, sprawls and circles, seeking to throw combinations from outside the pocket.
Everyone loves a warrior. With an iron jaw, dynamite hands and a 265-pound frame, Mark Hunt certainly fits the bill.