BJ Penn has left himself and his fans wondering about his future in the UFC and MMA following his loss to Nick Diaz at UFC 137 this past weekend.Immediately after the bout, Penn told Joe Rogan that it may be the last time we ever see him in the Oc…
BJ Penn has left himself and his fans wondering about his future in the UFC and MMA following his loss to Nick Diaz at UFC 137 this past weekend.
Immediately after the bout, Penn told Joe Rogan that it may be the last time we ever see him in the Octagon, and I was left with my jaw on the floor at the thought.
I don’t believe we have seen the last of “The Prodigy” in the UFC, and while I have always admired Penn’s foray into the welterweight division, I believe he should end his career with a couple of strong fights at 155 pounds.
With fan favorite mixed martial arts legends like Randy Couture, Chuck Liddell and Mirko Cro Cop recently hanging up the gloves, there is definitely a changing of the guard happening with MMA in 2011. Many people are also saying that the time is r…
With fan favorite mixed martial arts legends like Randy Couture, Chuck Liddell and Mirko Cro Cop recently hanging up the gloves, there is definitely a changing of the guard happening with MMA in 2011. Many people are also saying that the time is right for Wanderlei Silva to follow suit.
It is the brutal question in any aging and declining professional athlete’s mind: When is the right time to retire from the game you love with no regrets?
Nick Diaz’s destruction of BJ Penn this weekend has prompted the 32-year-old Penn to look in the mirror and ponder that very decision. Penn hinted at his retirement in the cage immediately following his loss but common belief and hope is that Penn steps back and takes his time with the finality of that decision.
Here are Penn and five fighters who retired too soon.
On the heels of Hatsu Hioki’s underwhelming and controversial decision win over American George Roop this past weekend at UFC 137 in Las Vegas, a very puzzling question remains in the mixed martial arts world:Why do most of the best Japanese star fight…
On the heels of Hatsu Hioki’s underwhelming and controversial decision win over American George Roop this past weekend at UFC 137 in Las Vegas, a very puzzling question remains in the mixed martial arts world:
Why do most of the best Japanese star fighters fail in the UFC?
With the exception of Yushin Okami, the evidence has been played out time and time again in the history of MMA: A highly touted Japanese star, in demand as “the best fighter outside the UFC,” is finally signed to much fanfare, only fizzle out and fail without having any real success in the UFC.
Here are five main reasons why Japanese fighters fail in the UFC.
Physical Inferiority Complex
When it comes to physical stature, athleticism and strength, Japanese athletes often feel inferior in their physical make-up against the best of the best in the West. The belief is not that the athletes of the West are technically or skillfully better, but it is believed that they are naturally bigger and stronger and that there is a physical disadvantage going in that must be overcome.
That inferiority complex seeps into the mental side of the fight and confidence becomes an issue. Very rarely do you get physical specimen like Okami coming out of Japan.
UFC-Level Wrestling
A Japanese fighter is rarely a wrestler at his base; he is usually a martial artist turned mixed martial artist who has been training martial arts all his life.
There is no NCAA Division I athlete in Japan with the Dan Gable-like conditioning that many of the UFC athletes start with. Combine that with the more wrestling friendly rules and judging in the UFC, compared to organizations in Japan, and it makes for a lethal mix for Japanese failure.
On U.S. Soil
Many UFC debuts and events take place on American soil and, again, the Japanese are a regimented, homebody sort who have trouble adapting anytime they go out of the comfort of their own country. Therefore, Japanese fighters are often a bunch of homers who will do much better in the UFC when the fights take place in the comforts of their own land and culture.
The UFC Show
We have heard many people, including UFC President Dana White, speak about the UFC jitters that can overcome even the best and toughest fighters in their debut fights. It can—and has—struck star fighters from many organizations. Add the issues above to those jitters and you get one tentative and off fighter.
The Matchups
I have always been a critic of fighters who have dominated and held titles in other organizations flying in and debuting against any top five or better in the UFC. Pecking order dues aside, every fighter should get a warm-up opponent or two in order to get used to everything that a UFC fight entails. Examples like Hayato “Mach” Sakurai fighting champion Matt Hughes in his debut to Takanori Gomi fighting Kenny Florian are prime examples of an ill-prepared Japanese fighter immediately being thrown to the wolves with no slow build.
Even the best Japanese star who has dominated in his country is no more than a top-ten- to top-fifteen-rated prospect in a UFC debut. The evidence is there that Japanese fighters are rare to be a top five in the UFC when starting out or ever, as the UFC fighters are just that good. Unfortunately, many of them get thrown to the wolves based on dominance over lower-level opponents. They get eaten up and turn tail back to the comforts of the Land of the Rising Sun.
Dwight Wakabayashi is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report MMA and correspondent for MMACanada.net.
UFC 140 Card Is Final The Ultimate Fighting Championship finalized the complete UFC 140 fight card this past week and the final card produced is stacked with quality fights. In the main event, Jon Jones will put his lightheavyweight title on the line f…
UFC 140 Card Is Final
The Ultimate Fighting Championship finalized the complete UFC 140 fight card this past week and the final card produced is stacked with quality fights.
In the main event, Jon Jones will put his lightheavyweight title on the line for the second time this year against Lyoto “The Dragon” Machida who is coming off a knockout of Randy Couture in Toronto in April.
The Huntington Beach Bad Boy, Tito Ortiz, is on the card along with other UFC stars such as Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Frank Mir, Chan Sung Jung and Rodrigo Nogueira.
The card is also packed with eight Canadian fighters in key matchups with heavy implications for their respective futures.
Canadian’s Mark “The Machine” Hominick, Rory “Ares” MacDonald, KrzysztofSoszynski, Mark Bocek, John Makdessi, Claude Patrick, Yves Jabouin and Mitch Clarke are all fighting on the December 10th card in Toronto.
Shawn Tompkins Tribute Card Canceled
Global Warriors Fighting Championships Halloween Havoc event scheduled for Saturday October 29th, at 5 p.m. has been canceled at the last minute.
The event was a tribute event to the late Shawn Tompkins and was set to be an incredible showcase for up-and-coming fighters in Ontario. Team Tompkins and Adrenaline Training Center London fighters Jesse Ronson, Pete Brown, Clint Kingsbury, Rowan Cunningham and Jesse Gross were all set to showcase the team that the late Coach spawned.
Global Warriors president Garnet Ace took full responsibility for canceling the event, but his stated reason for doing so is unclear. In a statement released by Ace and posted by MMA Ontario, it states that headliner Jeff Lents was injured and could not fight so rather than deliver a sub par card, they are postponing or canceling the card. This has left the fighters and fans extremely disappointed and frustrated.
See my video blog “The Submission” attached for my complete rant on how this all went down and some advice for the small regional MMA shows.
BJ Penn wants another title shot before he rides off into the sunset of Hawaii and he doesn’t particularly care what weight class it is in. MMAweekly.com reported in an article following the UFC 137 media conference call held late last week that P…
BJ Penn wants another title shot before he rides off into the sunset of Hawaii and he doesn’t particularly care what weight class it is in.
MMAweekly.com reported in an article following the UFC 137 media conference call held late last week that Penn would indeed be open to a return to the 155-pound division before his career is finished.
“I’d love to get another title before I step out of the game. I’d love to get another, maybe win the welterweight title one more time. Maybe even if possible, try to get the lightweight title one more time,” Penn said on the conference call.
When asked if he thinks he will get a title shot if he beats Diaz, Penn didn’t want to get ahead of things:
“I don’t want to speak too soon. As far as everything goes, I’m just trying to take it one fight at a time. If Dana feels that I am impressive in my next fight, and he wants to grant me that opportunity, I’d be very gracious for the offer.
“As far as getting a title shot or whatever, I think a bunch of the title shot and all of that, it’s about the right timing, who is open, who is injured, who’s not injured,” he added.
Penn has fought in 11 title fights which ties him for third on the UFC all time list, tied with Georges St-Pierre and behind only Randy Couture (15) and Matt Hughes (12).
He is definitely open for a return to the 155-pound division to get that next title shot.
“If the offer presented itself, I would jump at the chance,” Penn said.
At 32 years of age, Penn is not close to considering retirement.
“I’m not planning on going anywhere soon, but you never know when you get that opportunity for a title shot, or maybe get a title, just like Carlos Condit. He’s going to sit out and wait because he never knows again when he could get that opportunity.”
“I understand him doing something like that. You never know, I’d love to stick around as long as Randy (Couture) stuck around if I could do something like that.”
Dwight Wakabayashi is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report MMA and correspondent for MMACanada.net.
Samurai MMA held its inaugural show on the weekend in Culver City, Calif., and UFC middleweight and MMA legend Wanderlei Silva was in attendance cornering Wand Fight team fighter Michael Madrid. Karyn Bryant of MMA H.E.A.T spoke to Silva about his upc…
Samurai MMA held its inaugural show on the weekend in Culver City, Calif., and UFC middleweight and MMA legend Wanderlei Silva was in attendance cornering Wand Fight team fighter Michael Madrid.
Karyn Bryant of MMA H.E.A.T spoke to Silva about his upcoming bout with Cung Le at UFC 139 and his plans for the remainder of his legendary career.
Silva thanked the local promotion and gave a solid endorsement of why small, regional MMA is vital to the sport.
“Congratulations to the guys at Samurai Pro, I think today born the new good event you know. I saw that last fight, amazing, amazing.”
When asked if he remembers his days in the small shows, Silva gave a legend’s endorsement on why the availability of these shows are essential.
“Of course, we need to have events like this that give opportunities to the new fighters to show your work and, I’m so glad we have new events to give opportunities to new fighters.”
Bryant then asked what advice he passes down to young fighters before they step in the cage to fight.
“We need to make a fighter calm. Sometimes the first fight stays in your mind. Sometimes we thinking about bad things and not positive things. So, it’s thinking about your positive things now and try to make the fight in your game. Pray to God, then let’s go!”
“I pray to God all the time. God makes me calm, makes me focus.”
The conversation then turned to Cung Le.
“Really good opponent I studied his game. I think he has the best kicks in MMA. I start training the defense of that kicking and he’s great. I hope we give a great show to the fans in San Jose.”
The fight with Cung Le aside, many fans are wondering how much longer “The Axe Murderer” plans to keep training and fighting. Bryant hinted that fans are concerned about his health.
“I just came back from the doctor and make all checks and doctor told me ‘the guy can fight for 20 more years.’ I’m really healthy. I’m trying to pass Couture now.” he chuckled.
“Couture stop at 48, had a big fight so…”
“I’m so happy for my career. I can’t tell you one, two, three, four, 10, 11, 12, we don’t know. You never know about tomorrow but right now I’m fighting for two fights.”
Dwight Wakabayashi is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report MMA and correspondent for MMACanada.net.
On the heels of Hatsu Hioki’s underwhelming and controversial decision win over American George Roop this past weekend at UFC 137 in Las Vegas, a very puzzling question remains in the mixed martial arts world: