Author: Donald Wood

MTV Caged: Youth Movement in MMA Should Have UFC Thinking Farm System

UFC is one of the biggest companies in the world and by far the biggest MMA business in the United States. With that said, the lack of a farm system keeps the sport from reaching new heights.While there is still a steady stream of fighters coming into …

UFC is one of the biggest companies in the world and by far the biggest MMA business in the United States. With that said, the lack of a farm system keeps the sport from reaching new heights.

While there is still a steady stream of fighters coming into the sport of MMA, the real development of a sport happens when younger people fall in love with fighting and start dedicating themselves to training.

If UFC wants to capitalize on the MMA craze that is sweeping through much of the United States, they need to develop a minor-league system that can be used to find the next great fighters from small towns with no big financial backing.

Will Broyles, co-producer of Caged and owner of Ring Rulers,  told the Shreveport (LA) Times about what the show is supposed to be:

The world is going to get to see what really goes on with fighters and their real lives. It’s about regular guys who put their pants on one leg at a time and who have to deal with family and friends as they ascend and rise to the next level or fail and don’t make it.

Dana White and the UFC have the chance to use MTV’s Caged as a gauge of just how interested fans are in the backstory of the fighters.

While that’s going on, White should put together a group that travels the country to small arenas and fight halls to pick the young prospects they want fighting in their octagon in a few years.

With a clearer barometer of where the young people are headed and how they’re going to get there, they will be able to focus more on training and keeping their life in order rather than whether or not they will be able to eat that day.

If I was in charge of the UFC, I would do my research and find out all of the Shreveport, La. kind of small towns that live on MMA. Those towns are where you find the next champion or the next fan favorite.

After finding younger fighters across the country, develop a school for MMA that also acts as a minor league fighting system that will allow the younger star to enter the UFC when the coaches feel he is ready.

That would ensure that the sport never stops growing and is a necessary step if UFC wants to continue their stranglehold on the sport of MMA.

 

Check back for more on Mixed Martial Arts as it comes, and check out Bleacher Report’s UFC Page to get your fill of all things UFC/MMA. For more on MMA/UFC, check out Ring Rust Radio for all of the hot topics.

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MTV Caged: Grass-Roots MMA Movement Proves Sport and UFC Are Here to Stay

Even non-fans of the teen dramas that MTV has become synonymous with can acknowledge that a show on the station about MMA means the sports has expanded to unbelievable levels. MTV’s Caged shows the lives of young fighters in Louisiana that just t…

Even non-fans of the teen dramas that MTV has become synonymous with can acknowledge that a show on the station about MMA means the sports has expanded to unbelievable levels.

MTV’s Caged shows the lives of young fighters in Louisiana that just try to make it through life after high school. It fits in with the kind of template the station uses for shows, but it is the influence that show will have on the youth that will start the wheels of change in motion.

Just a few years ago, MMA was frowned upon in the United States and compared to cockfighting. The sport has come a long way in terms of shedding those initial stereotypes. Most of the thank you belongs at the feet of Dana White and the UFC for bringing the sport to the mainstream.

There has always been an underground phenomena, but there was never a system of training new fighters and always moving the product forward. UFC is a machine that is building and climbing by the day. They are taking the UFC to new places and instilling into the youths of America that fighting is an option in life.

As big as boxing used to be in the United States and how much fans love the contact of football wrestling, it seems natural that many people would find MMA interesting. While the taboo that once kept people away has been lifted, it has been viewed as bloodsport by some people.

This new MTV program will open a whole new generation of people to the sport that will grow up without that misconception. That means as the years go by, MMA as a sport and UFC as a company will continue to flourish.

Imagine UFC being the NFL of MMA in a few years with just as many viewers. MMA isn’t a fad; it’s not going away.

When more and more teenagers start to take MMA classes and choose the path to fighting, it will become normal, and people will have no choice but to accept the sport.

My biggest concern for MMA is the long-term ramifications of each fighter’s health and whether there is a point where it’s deemed too violent.

Getting young people to accept it now will have them vouching for it later, so this is just the beginning of the full-on MMA revolution.

 

Check back for more on Mixed Martial Arts as it comes, and check out Bleacher Report’s UFC Page to get your fill of all things UFC/MMA. For more on MMA/UFC, check out Ring Rust Radio for all of the hot topics.

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Fedor Emelianenko: UFC Prez Dana White Is Right About Washed-Up Former Champ

It’s safe to say that  Fedor Emelianenko is one of the greatest heavyweight fighters the sport of mixed martial arts has ever seen. Even the greatest. What’s also safe to say is that the man is far over the hill and he should never sho…

It’s safe to say that  Fedor Emelianenko is one of the greatest heavyweight fighters the sport of mixed martial arts has ever seen. Even the greatest.

What’s also safe to say is that the man is far over the hill and he should never show his face in the UFC.

UFC President Dana White was just making sure everyone was on the same page when he told TMZ that Fedor “sucked.”

You can’t help but love Emelianenko’s fighting style and aggressiveness, but age is starting to catch up with him and he isn’t the unstoppable force he once was.

The aura is gone.

While I still will never say that Fedor sucks because he is probably tougher than 100 percent of the humans on this planet, I will say that his skills have diminished with age and it’s time to hang it up.

While Emelianenko has only lost four fights in his entire career, three have been in the last five bouts. Add that to the fact that he isn’t fighting the best MMA opponents in the world and his legacy isn’t as spotless as it once was.

The reason Fedor was so good was because he fought like his life depended on each match. He told himself that he would be sent back to work in the fields if he lost. That’s what drove him.

Maybe he is losing because focus has turned to more material needs.

Legendary play-by-play announcer Michael Schiavello reported on twitter about last week’s Emelianenko fight:

BTW Fedor is SUCH a DIVA! Other fighters & us sat on bus for about 90 min after show because Fedor apparently needs a bus all to himself! Even Bibi Fernandes and his team were booted off the second bus because “that is Fedor’s bus,” mind you these are like 70 seat tour buses!

If this is true, I think it’s obvious that Fedor is making tons of money and is just trying to continue the money train. We can’t really blame the man for wanting to make money and do what he loves, but for his own legacy, he should cease the madness.

If Emelianenko doesn’t care about legacy, then I say fight away!

 

Check back for more on Mixed Martial Arts as it comes, and check out Bleacher Report’s UFC Page to get your fill of all things UFC/MMA. For more on MMA/UFC, check out Ring Rust Radio for all of the hot topics.

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UFC 140 Predictions: Jon Jones Will End Lyoto Machida’s Evening with a KO

While December has been thought of as the return of Brock Lesnar to UFC, it may be Jon Jones that steals the show to close out 2011. Jones will do that with a first-round knockout of Lyoto Machida at UFC 140. Jones, the UFC Light Heavyweight Champion, …

While December has been thought of as the return of Brock Lesnar to UFC, it may be Jon Jones that steals the show to close out 2011. Jones will do that with a first-round knockout of Lyoto Machida at UFC 140.

Jones, the UFC Light Heavyweight Champion, will defend his title against the former champion Machida in what should be a battle of brains as much as brawn.

Machida is a very patient fighter, willing to stand and exchange in order to get an opening for his kicks or haymaker punches. Jones has never fought someone like Machida. The contrast in style will be enough to keep Jones weary of what Lyoto can do with his hands and feet.

All of this information is great, but while an obstacle for a normal fighter may leave them unsure of their final game plan, Jones isn’t a normal fighter.

With Shogun Rua making the blueprint on how to beat Machida, Jones will use his aggressive Muay Thai abilities to command the fight.

If I was running the corner of Jones, I would have Jones shooting in on Machida to make him work on the ground. That would take away any of the potent kicks that make Machida dangerous.

If the fight stays up, Jones has to push the tempo of the fight and keep it close enough that he can neutralize Machida’s big punches and head kicks. The only problem with clinching with a guy like Machida is falling prey to one of his submissions.

While Jones is a great fighter, he is still a kid and any mistake he makes will be capitalized on by Machida. If Jones fights smart, he has this fight in his hands.

This bout should be an absolute war that will either resurrect the career of Lyoto Machida or cement Jon Jones as one the top pound-for-pound MMA fighters in the world.

 

Check back for more on Mixed Martial Arts as it comes, and check out Bleacher Report’s UFC Page to get your fill of all things UFC/MMA. For more on MMA/UFC, check out Ring Rust Radio for all of the hot topics.

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UFC 140: Full Preview, Fight Card, PPV Info, Predictions and More

This is another show in which Rashad Evans doesn’t get to fight Jon Jones for the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship. That will make it two tries at fighting for the belt and two fights that just didn’t happen. While Lyoto Machida is a wort…

This is another show in which Rashad Evans doesn’t get to fight Jon Jones for the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship. That will make it two tries at fighting for the belt and two fights that just didn’t happen.

While Lyoto Machida is a worthy opponent for Jones, this was Evans’ shot at glory. The UFC 140 card is stacked, so we should be in for a wild ride Saturday night.

 

Where: Air Canada Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

When: Saturday, Dec. 10, 9:00 p.m. ET

Watch: Facebook under-card fights at 6 p.m. EST, preliminary fights at 7 p.m. EST on Ion TV, Main Card fights at 9 p.m. EST on pay-per-view; online pay-per-view streaming (must pay $44.99) at UFC.tv, Yahoo! Sports, UStream, Android or iPhone

 

Fight Card

 

Main card

Light Heavyweight Championship bout: Jon Jones (c) vs. Lyoto Machida

Heavyweight bout: Frank Mir vs. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira

Light Heavyweight bout: Tito Ortiz vs. Antônio Rogério Nogueira

Welterweight bout: Claude Patrick vs. Brian Ebersole

Featherweight bout: Mark Hominick vs. Chan Sung Jung

 

Preliminary card (Ion Television)

Light Heavyweight bout: Krzysztof Soszynski vs. Igor Pokrajac

Middleweight bout: Jared Hamman vs. Constantinos Philippou

Lightweight bout: John Makdessi vs. Dennis Hallman

Bantamweight bout: Yves Jabouin vs. Walel Watson

 

Preliminary card (Facebook)

Lightweight bout: Canada Mark Bocek vs. United States Nik Lentz

Welterweight bout: United States Rich Attonito vs. United States Jake Hecht

Lightweight bout: Canada Mitch Clarke vs. United States John Cholish

 

Jon Jones’ Keys to Victory

Machida has the kicks and punches to KO Jones at any second, so it’s Bones’ job to pick him up and slam him. If he can’t tap the Brazilian fighter out, he needs to finish him on the ground by dropping elbows and fists.

Jones has to win this fight on the ground.

 

Lyoto Machida’s Keys to Victory

Machida can win this fight if two things happen: He stays off his back, and he can keep Jones far enough away that his takedowns can be blocked. While Jones has great striking, Machida is the more dangerous of the duo at throwing hands and feet.

 

What They’re Saying

Machida told Tatame.com about his idea of what could happen during the fight and the strategy he will deploy:

It’s hard to predict how things will go on during the fight, but we trained a lot offensive wrestling, me taking him down. Besides the takedown defenses, we trained counterattacks with the takedowns, so if I take him down, it won’t be a surprise for me, for my team, because we know what we’ve been doing here. Our greatest goal is to win the fight, in any area it takes place, no matter if it’s on the stand-up, the wrestling or on the ground. I want to have an advantage in all areas

 

Undercard Fight To Watch: Krzysztof Soszynski vs. Igor Pokrajac

This match could be the biggest war of the entire night. Both men are in amazing shape and could fight 10 rounds if necessary, but the problem is that they will not go that long.

With both men having the power to knock the other out, this could turn into two men at the center of the Octagon throwing haymakers.

 

Main Event Prediction: Jon Jones via KO in First Round

The young star has the world by the throat right now, but he may be facing the most dangerous person possible with Lyoto Machida. While Machida isn’t an overpowering beast like some fighters, his patient strategy and versatility make him one of the most dangerous fighters in the UFC.

Jones can and will win if he can control the tempo of this fight and control where it takes place with plenty of takedowns and pounding on the ground.

 

Check back for more on Mixed Martial Arts as it comes, and check out Bleacher Report’s UFC Page to get your fill of all things UFC/MMA. For more on MMA/UFC, check out Ring Rust Radio for all of the hot topics.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

UFC 140: Fight Card, Live Streaming, PPV Info, Predictions and More

This is another show in which Rashad Evans doesn’t get to fight Jon Jones for the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship. That will make it two tries at fighting for the belt and two fights that just didn’t happen. While Lyoto Machida is a wort…

This is another show in which Rashad Evans doesn’t get to fight Jon Jones for the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship. That will make it two tries at fighting for the belt and two fights that just didn’t happen.

While Lyoto Machida is a worthy opponent for Jones, this was Evans’ shot at glory. The UFC 140 card is stacked, so we should be in for a wild ride Saturday night.

 

Where: Air Canada Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

When: Saturday, December 10, 9:00 p.m. ET

Watch: Facebook under-card fights at 6 p.m. EST, preliminary fights at 7 p.m. EST on Ion TV, Main Card fights at 9 p.m. EST on pay-per-view; online pay-per-view streaming (must pay $44.99) at UFC.tv, Yahoo! Sports, UStream, Android or iPhone

 

Fight Card:

Main card

Light Heavyweight Championship bout: Jon Jones (c) vs. Lyoto Machida

Heavyweight bout: Frank Mir vs. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira

Light Heavyweight bout: Tito Ortiz vs. Antônio Rogério Nogueira

Welterweight bout: Claude Patrick vs. Brian Ebersole

Featherweight bout: Mark Hominick vs. Chan Sung Jung

Preliminary card (Ion Television)

Light Heavyweight bout: Krzysztof Soszynski vs. Igor Pokrajac

Middleweight bout: Jared Hamman vs. Constantinos Philippou

Lightweight bout: John Makdessi vs. Dennis Hallman

Bantamweight bout: Yves Jabouin vs. Walel Watson

Preliminary card (Facebook)

Lightweight bout: Canada Mark Bocek vs. United States Nik Lentz

Welterweight bout: United States Rich Attonito vs. United States Jake Hecht

Lightweight bout: Canada Mitch Clarke vs. United States John Cholish

 

Jon Jones’ Keys to Victory

Machida has the kicks and punches to KO Jones at any second, so it’s Bones’ job to pick him up and slam him. If he can’t tap the Brazilian fighter out, he needs to finish him on the ground by dropping elbows and fists.

Jones has to win this fight on the ground.

 

Lyoto Machida’s Keys to Victory

Machida can win this fight if two things happen: He stays off his back, and he can keep Jones far enough away that his takedowns can be blocked. While Jones has great striking, Machida is the more dangerous of the duo at throwing hands and feet.

 

What They’re Saying

Machida told Tatame.com about his idea of what could happen during the fight and the strategy he will deploy:

It’s hard to predict how things will go on during the fight, but we trained a lot offensive wrestling, me taking him down. Besides the takedown defenses, we trained counterattacks with the takedowns, so if I take him down, it won’t be a surprise for me, for my team, because we know what we’ve been doing here. Our greatest goal is to win the fight, in any area it takes place, no matter if it’s on the stand-up, the wrestling or on the ground. I want to have an advantage in all areas

 

Undercard Fight To Watch: Krzysztof Soszynski vs. Igor Pokrajac

This match could be the biggest war of the entire night. Both men are in amazing shape and could fight 10 rounds if necessary, but the problem is that they will not go that long.

With both men having the power to knock the other out, this could turn into two men at the center of the Octagon throwing haymakers.

 

Main Event Prediction: Jon Jones via KO in First Round

The young star has the world by the throat right now, but he may be facing the most dangerous person possible with Lyoto Machida. While Machida isn’t an overpowering beast like some fighters, his patient strategy and versatility make him one of the most dangerous fighters in the UFC.

Jones can and will win if he can control the tempo of this fight and control where it takes place with plenty of takedowns and pounding on the ground.

 

Check back for more on Mixed Martial Arts as it comes, and check out Bleacher Report’s UFC Page to get your fill of all things UFC/MMA. For more on MMA/UFC, check out Ring Rust Radio for all of the hot topics.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com