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UFC 141 Results: Is Diego Nunes a Future Featherweight Contender?

For Diego “The Gun” Nunes, and for all fighters for that matter, a win is a win is a win. Fresh off a mainly-via-kicks decision win over Manny “The Anvil” Gamburyan in UFC 141, the Brazilian picks up his third win in four UFC fi…

For Diego “The Gun” Nunes, and for all fighters for that matter, a win is a win is a win.

Fresh off a mainly-via-kicks decision win over Manny “The Anvil” Gamburyan in UFC 141, the Brazilian picks up his third win in four UFC fights.

There is no doubt that Nunes—arguably among the top-10 featherweights on the planet—is on his way to UFC featherweight contendership, but this small men’s division is S-T-A-C-K-E-D.

The way to champion Jose Aldo’s belt is the road to hell, littered with monsters named Chad Mendes, Hatsu Hioki, Pat Curran, Erik Koch and Matt Hominick, among others.

To top it all is, well, as previously mentioned, the man on top: Jose Aldo, the champion and Sherdog.com’s No. 5 pound-for-pound MMA fighter in the world.

Going back to Nunes’ win over Gamburyan, it was a good rebound victory considering The Gun was outgunned in his previous IFC outing by Kenny Florian. But Gamburyan’s worth as an opponent is highly questionable, now having lost his third straight UFC fight.

The Anvil may have won three straight fights in the WEC before losing to, yes, Aldo in WEC 51 prior to his return to the world’s top MMA promotion, with wins over respectable fighters Mike Brown and Leonard Garcia—add to that his esteem as No. 10 featherweight in the world by Sherdog.com and No. 9 by MMAFighting.com—but three straight losses ain’t good (two in the UFC and one in WEC), however you look at it, UFC career-wise.

This last could be Gamburyan’s penultimate fight in the UFC, if not from MMA itself. And Nunes takes credit for opening the exit door to the grizzled veteran. (Who will push him out of it and lock it up is anybody’s guess.)

Anyway, it’s still a win for Nunes, and another UFC triumph over a notable fighter followed by a win over Mendes or Hioki, even one versus Hominick, will bring him closer to his compatriot’s throne. Displaying almost the same fighting style, expect an exciting kick-fest—if it happens.

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Jon Fitch Got Himself a Trojan Horse in Johny Hendricks, but It Won’t Matter

Jon Fitch (23-3-1 with 10 wins by finishes) is heading into the new year burdened by a must-win fight versus Johny Hendricks (11-1 with seven by way of stoppage) to salvage whatever future is left of his UFC career. It is ironic that this is how many p…

It is ironic that this is how many perceive his situation despite being ranked as the consensus second-best welterweight in the world and, according to Sherdog.com, even as lofty as the No. 7 pound-for-pound MMA fighter for 2011.

In spite of his achievements, he has never been a favorite to begin with. Well, yes, he’s been a “favorite” to win most of the time, but he’s not a “fan favorite.”

Worse or worst, not only has he got problems with them fans; he has also fallen out of favor with UFC president Dana White himself time and time again (arguably, he has stayed out of favor since the first offense). From saying no to having his name and likeness be used in a video game, his refusal to fight teammate Josh Koscheck, and up to his “unimpressive” unanimous win against Thiago Alves in their rematch.

Fitch also failed to impress the impeccably discerning MMA fans with his draw versus former lightweight champ B.J. Penn.

The last fight with Alves was originally a contendership match for the welterweight belt held by Georges St-Pierre, but Dana White wouldn’t settle for “just” a win. Speaking with and for the fans, White cited Fitch’s lack of finishes and support from the fanbase, arbitrarily dismissing—after the fact—the contendership status of Fitch’s victory, denying him a championship rematch with St-Pierre.

In short, for this coming UFC 141 on December 30, Fitch not only has to win it—he has to finish it. And he must do just that for the nitpicking fans, primarily, just to continue his trade to feed his family.

Versus the former Oklahoma State stud Johny Hendricks who has the better wrestling pedigree and stronger punching power, it seems that the UFC plans to make its year-end event a send-off party for Fitch; to dump him on Strikeforce or Bellator or wherever afterward.

Still, Fitch will prove to be the better MMA athlete overall—finish or no finish—and the UFC will grudgingly keep him on its roster; up there where the more enlightened and sophisticated fans can continue to appreciate his style of fighting.

After all, where else would the No. 2 welterweight fighter in the world belong?

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Brock Lesnar and Junie Browning: MMA Ambassadors of the Month…Not

Brock Lesnar and Junie Browning may be light-years apart in terms of name recall, but suffice it to say that becoming a UFC fighter is enough to make one more popular than 99.9 percent of the entire world’s human population. (Damn with the exact …

With that said, it always pays to heed Austin Powers’ signature utterance, “Oh, behave!” unless our fighters’ idea of fun is getting fined, incarcerated or both; with the bonus of getting international bad press for themselves, their respective organizations and their—and our—sport.

The following is a recap of our two fighters’ misdeeds of varying natures, consequences and years of commission:

Lesnar was charged in Canada with 1) improper tagging of an animal during a hunting trip in November 2010, 2) leaving meat to rot and 3) illegal possession of wild life. (The latter two charges were dropped.)

Here’s a statement from Lesnar, from MMAWeekly.com (12/20/11):

In November 2010, I went on a filmed hunt in Alberta, Canada. It was sponsored by Fusion Ammunition and guided by Trophy Hunters Alberta. In Alberta, Americans can’t hunt without a licensed outfitter. The outfitter is there to make sure you follow the rules. I had two deer tags for the trip, which meant I could legally shoot two deer. On the first day of the trip, I shot a mule deer. On the second day, I shot a white tail. Video from the hunt has been on the internet for over a year. After I shot the mule deer, I failed to immediately tag it. As far as I was involved, that’s all there is to it.

Now it’s resolved. I paid my fine today. It’s the kind of thing that happens to hunters all the time. I want to thank the Canadian authorities for their cooperation in resolving this misunderstanding. I love Canada and I can’t wait to go back to Alberta for a hunt.

(In reference to the withdrawn spoilage charge) I can’t really tell you anything about it. I understood I couldn’t bring deer meat home with me across the border even if I wanted to, so I trusted the outfitter to properly handle it. They are professionals and I understand it was handled appropriately.

I’m glad to put this behind me, so I can focus on my fight against Alistair Overeem at UFC 141 on December 30.

Indeed, being able to focus on one’s upcoming UFC 141 main event fight with the least amount of worry is a good thing.

And here’s an excerpt, also from MMAWeekly.com (12/22/11), on the Thai misadventure of former UFC fighter Junie Browning:

Browning was sought by police after he was involved in a bar brawl in Phuket last week, and has since sent out pleas to the U.S. Embassy seeking refuge to exit the country and get back to the United States.

According to the latest report from Phuketwan.com, Browning turned himself in to police on Wednesday, but was not arrested…

…Browning was a part of the brawl at the bar in Phuket, as well as another incident hours later at a local hospital where he and some of the other participants in the fight once again engaged in some sort of violence.

On Wednesday, Browning and his girlfriend, along with a lawyer, showed up at the Phuket police station to face authorities who had been looking for him since the incident occurred.

Don’t want to get into trouble far away from home?

Then, especially when visiting a foreign land as a famous or not-so-famous MMA fighter, keep in mind that it’s always good practice to respect and observe your host country’s laws and ethics. (Unless you sympathize with a suffering people and their just cause and decide to join a popular uprising…but let’s not get into that.)

Also, as in the case of Lesnar, be extra judicious with those laws—for all their justness or all their worth. Remember the legal principle “ignorantia legis neminem excusat,” or “ignorance of the law excuses no one,” in the language of you and me.

Or perhaps our fighters should be required to take up lessons in civility and diplomacy from our foreign affairs expert and model citizen Chael Sonnen?

Previous article: Presenting to the World this Christmas, PXC Ring Girl Abby Poblador.

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Presenting to the World This Christmas, PXC Ring Girl Abby Poblador

Filipina PXC ring girl Abby Poblador is to blame for why I didn’t bother to pick up my pen and paper when I watched Pacific Xtreme Combat (PXC ) 28 last November 27 at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City, Philippines. It was one of those rare m…

It was one of those rare moments in a male MMA fan’s life when you’d rather watch the beauty walking between rounds ‘round the ring, than the action happening between two jocks who don’t arouse you in the same way.

I mean, there were MMA fights happening between those walks? As in those fights were the reason why I was there in front of the ring?

Incidentally, I heard that a certain Jon Tuck KO’d a certain Tristan Arenal in the very first round of the PXC 28 main event.

In her words.

Here’s an excerpt of her interview with FHM Philippines’ B.A. Borleo last year (I translated some of the Tagalog):

You’re a car show veteran. How many did you model for in 2009?

I did four. The last was Bumper to Bumper, where I was awarded Miss Bumper to Bumper. I was also the 2009 Miss Trans Sport show.

And why do you think you’ve become such a favorite?

They say it’s because I have a smiling face and I’m approachable. They also say I’m the prettiest, ha ha! So there, they always mob my booth.

Do you also wear something similar to what you donned for this shoot?

Well, I usually put on a bikini top then sexy shorts or pants. I want to be different, but now many copy my fashion style, ha ha! So maybe next time I’ll wear nothing at all! Ha ha!

Expect us to be attending your next car show stint then. You’re only 21, are you still studying?

I graduated from college two years ago. I’m proud to say I was a scholar from high school to college. I have a MassComm degree.

Did you get to use that degree?

Actually, I wanted to take up Hotel and Restaurant Management, but my mom insisted that I take up MassComm. But when I graduated I took a job at a hotel. I was a guest services officer.

Hmm…a Mass Communications graduate, maybe she can write for Bleacher Report?

And here’s from her more recent interview with PXC, last August:

What can you say about being a ring girl?

I’m very happy, I feel like Arianny Celeste!

What do you think of MMA as a sport?

It’s brutal but I want to learn it, as self-defense.

Brutal?! Well, okay, as long as she wants to learn…

Have Filipinas accepted MMA?

Yes, and by watching MMA fights you’ll get to learn some moves, for example, how to take somebody down, ha ha.

Yes, but learning by practice is more effective. Any volunteers?

What can you say about men who can protect you?

I really prefer those who are brave and can defend me.

Like Junie Browning?

You can also check some of her biographical data here at PXC Ring Girl Abby Poblador.

Happy holidays, everyone, and let’s watch Brock Lesnar dismantle Alistair Overeem this Friday!

Acknowledgement: All photos, except the primary one on top from PXC, are from FHM Philippines, taken by photographer Wesley Villarica.

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PXC Ring Girl Abby Poblador: All I Want for Christmas Is to Enter Your Place

Filipina ring girl Abby “All Natural” Poblador’s to blame that I’m waxing poetic, singing out silly rhymes this Christmas day—aside from the usual carols. Miss Abby’s also to blame on why I didn’t bother to pick up my pen …

Filipina ring girl Abby “All Natural” Poblador’s to blame that I’m waxing poetic, singing out silly rhymes this Christmas day—aside from the usual carols.

Miss Abby’s also to blame on why I didn’t bother to pick up my pen and paper when I watched Pacific Xtreme Combat (PXC ) 28 last November 27 at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City, Philippines. Why cover the fight when my eyes were covering someone I wanted to uncover?

I mean, there were MMA fights happening between those walks?

As in those fights were the reason why I was there in front of the ring?

No, I was there to hunt for Master Mitch Ciccarelli, and I’m proud of my find.

May my Christmas gift* be acceptable to Master Mitch.

*This was supposed to be a private, personal gift to the Master, but in the spirit of Christmas I’’ve decided to share this blessing to everyone in Bleacher Report, especially to the male netizens of our MMA community.

Incidentally, I heard that a certain Jon Tuck KO’d a certain Tristan Arenal in the very first round of the PXC 28 main event that evening.

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Frank Mir on the Button: Overeem’s Only Chance Is to KO Lesnar Early in Round 1

Frank Mir knows what he speaks of, being a TKO victim of Brock Lesnar’s takedowns and ground-and-pound (GnP) in their second UFC fight. A reversal of roles less than a year after he submitted the former WWE headliner in their first encounter, whi…

His exact words from this article by Kevin Iole found on Yahoo! Sports:

Hey, if he (Overeem) hits you in the first two minutes, he could knock down a house. I’m not taking that away from him. Is he explosive? Absolutely. But the other guy [Lesnar] has the same thing. Brock is just as explosive, if not more. Brock is just as powerful, if not more. But when you’ve wrestled, are you telling me the striking is going to get easier as the fight goes on? No way. The only way Overeem wins that fight is if he can knock Brock out in the first minute, minute-and-a-half.

He’s also watched outside the octagon how Lesnar himself fell prey to the GnP of Shane Carwin and Cain Velasquez, with opposite results.

Lesnar survived Carwin’s fists and later submitted his challenger to keep his crown. Then, less than four months later, he got pulverized by Velasquez until the referee stoppage sealed his defeat.

Even when he lost his UFC heavyweight belt to Velasquez, Lesnar wasn’t lying when he said, “…I’ve taken a lot of shots. I’ve never been knocked out cold.”

No matter the difference in the outcomes of these two fights, they have one thing in common: Lesnar, indeed, did not get knocked out. He tried to survive each time, without tapping out despite the battery.

Lesnar may get rattled with powerful strikes, but he has shown that he has the resiliency and will to weather them, successfully or not.

Unless Lesnar’s chin has been softened up significantly by all the GnP he’s taken, beating the UFC cash cow via striking will always be a grind.

For Overeem to successfully beat the former UFC heavyweight champion, he has to do a Velasquez and rock him early in any given round (ideally the first), to give him ample time to deal out punishment and eke out a TKO—or maybe even Lesnar’s first KO loss.

Otherwise, if The Reem “only” staggers him late in a round, expect Lesnar to hang on and be saved by the bell. Then, he can recover during the break and rebound in the next five minutes, as he did versus Carwin. (This is unless he gets sufficiently dazed in the prior round and can’t regain his bearings for the next.)

And UFC 141 on December 30th will be a long—or short—night for The Reem, in his disfavor.

Sure, he was able to stuff Fabricio Werdum’s takedown attempts in their Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix Quarterfinal fight, but against a top-caliber wrestler in Lesnar?

The Dutch Cyclone, with 19 of his 35 career wins coming by way of submission, can always try to out-grapple the American champion wrestler.

Tough luck, though, as Lesnar learned to avoid getting submitted by the best submission artist in MMA’s heavyweight class in their rematch, the very fighter quoted in this article: Frank Mir.

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