Karlo Silverio III Sevilla | UFC Betting Sites

Michael Bisping Versus Tim Boetsch: The Count Will Take The Barbarian to School

UFC 148 will feature a bout between Michael “The Count” Bisping (22-4) and Tim “The Barbarian” Boetsch (15-4) when it takes place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas this coming July 7. Here’s a short primer on the …

Here’s a short primer on the two fighters courtesy of Tristen Critchfield in his article for Sherdog.com:

Boetsch left the light heavyweight division following a submission loss to Phil Davis at UFC 123. He defeated Kendall Grove via unanimous nod in his middleweight debut at UFC 130 and followed that performance with a three-round triumph against Nick Ring last September. The AMC Pankration representative achieved the signature victory of his career in earning a technical knockout over Okami at UFC 144, overwhelming the Japanese fighter with a third-round flurry to force a stoppage.

Bisping saw a four-fight winning streak come to an end when he was outpointed by Chael Sonnen at UFC on Fox 2, with the loss costing him a shot at middleweight king Anderson Silva. “The Count” parted ways with his longtime gym Wolfslair Academy shortly thereafter. The Englishman’s 12 victories inside the Octagon puts him 11th on the UFC’s all-time wins list.

The two fighters’ respective last fights showed contrasting results.

Boetsch was beaten up by Okami in the first two rounds until he lived up to his nickname and went barbaric and finished the Japanese fighter for a dramatic come-from-behind victory.

Bisping, on the other hand, was in a close fight until he got taken down in the pivotal third and last round, spending most of it on his back fending top man Sonnen’s attacks inside his guard, eventually losing by decision.

The Count, despite the loss, impressed fans and gained more support—even earning the begrudged respect of his critics—for keeping it a close, competitive fight against Sonnen.

What was also significantly remarkable was Bisping’s dramatic improvement in the wrestling department, both in defense and offense.

He even took down Sonnen inside the last minute of the third and final round. (It should be noted, though, that he already showed improved wrestling versus Jorge Rivera, but giving Sonnen a hard time should give Bisping’s sharpening skill a much higher appraisal.)

Bisping’s superiority in the striking aspect and his still underrated (?) wrestling skill will teach Boetsch a thing or two about elite MMA fighting—as long as The Count doesn’t get overconfident and count the always dangerous Barbarian out.

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Are The Fans the Real Problem With MMA?

Sports fans being sports fans, we have to take two major factors that distinguish the MMA subculture, and therefore its fans, in the wild world of sports. First, modern MMA practically grew up with the Internet boom beginning in the 1990s. Second, MMA …

Sports fans being sports fans, we have to take two major factors that distinguish the MMA subculture, and therefore its fans, in the wild world of sports.

First, modern MMA practically grew up with the Internet boom beginning in the 1990s.

Second, MMA is a macho combat sport that allows for more painful ways to finish a fight compared to boxing. (Yes, in MMA’s path to worldwide growth, we can’t help but refer to and learn from the more established sweet pugilistic science.)

Now back to the first fact. With the Internet, fans of the approximately 18-34 male demographic got a venue to express themselves to the fullest—from the nicest to the meanest ways that online communication allows—more often than not behind the armor of fictional usernames.

And the moderators, more often than not, are either pretty liberal or sleeping on the “job.” (That being said, I’m all praises for our very alert and beautiful Bleacher Report content moderators, ensuring that we engage in a more, er, acceptable and decent manner. They also moderate the comments here, right?)

With the Internet, the few—emphasis on few—rotten eggs troll, flame, and curse to high heavens, naturally attracting the most attention and eliciting the strongest reactions. But they are, of course, just taking their cue from Dana White, albeit with a lot less flair and intelligence.

The expression of profundity or bluster from the older fans of the older professional sports were more restricted, via the more antiquated media of print, radio and TV.

Now we move to the second factor. The Village People were two decades ahead of their time when their song “Macho Man” became a hit; it was the UFC they had prophetically in mind all along while belting and swaying to that song.

This is the song that must have secretly inspired Dennis Hallman to wear those revealing purple Speedo swimming trunks in UFC 133. Hairy Dave Herman used it as his walk-in music in UFC on Fuel TV, and he was man enough not to attribute his TKO loss to Stefan Struve to the ’70s song.

Yes, this sport is about beating up the other in order to become the alpha male atop the ring. And it could get real nasty.

Want a prime example of really breaking the limits and showing the most macho stuff that a human being is made of? Watch Miesha Tate versus Ronda Rousey, again and again.

MMA fans know and try to be consistent with the Zeitgeist of their sport outside the ring. And a few—again, emphasis on few—act and speak like Johnny Bravo with a meaner streak. Yeah, a la Johnny Bravo, however they’re built.

Some gullible and laughable idiots even believe literally and mimic all the gritty MMA macho words and slogans hook, line and sinker.

“In my place, a blah-blah-blah like you gets a slap in the face.”

“Pain is nothing more than weakness leaving the body.”

Take a walk…

They’re the toughest guys on the block, looking for blood and destroying the contrarians via keyboard attacks. But they are, of course, just taking their cue from Dana White, albeit with a lot less flair and intelligence.

Not to worry, though, as yours truly cannot remember an instance when MMA fans resorted to riots in outrage or celebration or both…yet. Unlike those from the more gentlemanly sports of football (soccer, for the layman) and basketball.

I don’t remember an instance of any fan stripping naked and attempting to streak inside a ring. (Good luck!)

And, I stand to be corrected, but have any of our top MMA athletes ever been stalked? (Again, good luck, to the prospective stalker.)

There will be MMA fans, and there will be MMA fans. And though some of the more “extreme” among us seem to be better off admiring the sport, its athletes, ring girls and other personalities behind bars or in psychiatric wards, many are really just being naughty and having fun.

After all, this is “just” sports!

In parting, want to guess in what institution’s basement I’m writing this from? (“Incidentally,” the UFC “Just Bleed” guy in the primary photo was sentenced to prison “for receiving stolen goods and is due for release this 2012.”)

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Bob Sapp and His Sappy Ballad Being a Journeyman Fighter

Bob Sapp is on a “take the money and run” mode. To be more elaborate, it’s “take the money and run to the next losing fight” mode. Prior to flying off to Gautama Buddha’s home country of India to fight in the Super F…

Bob Sapp is on a “take the money and run” mode. To be more elaborate, it’s “take the money and run to the next losing fight” mode.

Prior to flying off to Gautama Buddha’s home country of India to fight in the Super Fight League last March 11, 2012, Sapp most probably already got it all figured out.

He’s got to know that no matter the result, no matter the impending ninth loss in 10 straight fights, he will go home a richer man. (And he always seemed to utterly disregard that a winner will always take home a more significant booty.)

Jeremy Botter, in his article, Bob Sapp Says He’s Been Working on His Ground Skills, but I Don’t Believe Him, played a quasi-Nostradamus and predicted that, “Bob’s going to lose another fight this weekend, this time for the Super Fight League in India. And he says he’s been training his ground game and—this is the best part of the joke—that he’s going to win the fight.”

And he (Botter) was right.

Not really a difficult bet to make and casino owners have no reason yet to be nervous when they see Botter walk in their doors. After all, even a first grader can do the math and ABC and tell that with 1-8 in his previous nine fights, Sapp was more likely to count and spell another “L” next time around.

And around came SFL and the world saw Sapp tapping out after getting taken down by a double-leg attack by James Thompson (see video), a takedown that was far from reminiscent of Frank Shamrock’s vs. Igor Zinoviev, or Tito Ortiz’s vs. Evan Tanner.

Now here’s from Botter’s buddy and Bleacher Report MMA lead writer Jonathan Snowden’s piece:

He somehow managed to tap out to the fearsome double-leg takedown. It was a new low for Sapp, who at first seemed injured, then miraculously recovered to walk out of the cage limp free.

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me for the 43rd time like Sapp did? Anyone who watched this expecting a fight deserved what they got. Which was an astounding sham.

Sapp may have walked into the ring accompanied by heavy metal music (I don’t care if it’s in English or Hindi) blaring out of the speakers, but he must’ve stepped down from that ignominious performance grinning sheepishly and with Britney Spears’ “Oops!… I Did It Again” playing in his mind.

At 11-12, Sapp has been clearly sapped of any motivation to win; reduced to fighting not even just for fighting’s sake, but to cash in a guaranteed check.

The man-mountain is now nothing more than a big chunk of carcass being fed time and time again to fighters with a little more noble aspiration. The latter are circling vultures, on a glide, hovering and waiting their turn to peck at the ton of semi-animate meat conveniently lain on the canvas.

Soon, the long and winding road will reach its deadest dead end.

Soon, the fool on the ring will see the sun going down on his circus act, and there’ll be no more spinning and messing ‘round.

Soon, for his own good and everybody else’s relief—with the exception of a few, exploitative promoters.

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Universal Reality Combat Championship Strikes at Legend Fighting Championship

URCC’s March 15, 2012 official statement, posted on its website’s home page, may be lacking in the particulars of its allegations, but it sure is overflowing with anger and jingoism against Legend FC. As of this writing, the nitty-gritty de…

As of this writing, the nitty-gritty details of URCC president Alvin Aguilar’s accusations against Legend FC’s co-founder Michael Haskamp are still unavailable, though the former claims that he has already “filed three cases” against the latter “with the Games and Amusement Board,” the Philippines’ sanctioning body for professional sports.

Here’s the official statement—in full and unedited—of URCC, the pioneering Philippine MMA organization against Hong Kong’s trailblazing MMA promotion Legend FC:

URCC Founder Alvin Aguilar, founder of one of Asia’s longest running MMA promotions filed three cases with the Games and Amusement Board against Michael Haaskamp and his promotion Legend FC. The cases being filed are regarding:

1.) Illegal and unethical hiring of fighters under contract with the URCC. (It was also noted that they overmatched a poor Filipino fighter from the province who didn’t know any better, to make his own veteran fighters look good.)

2.) Bringing legally registered Professional fighters outside the country without complying with any of the GAB’s requirements. Totally disregarding all of its rules and regulations

3.) Hiring trainers who are blacklisted and unlicensed by the GAB. One trainer he enlisted, Marciano Basas, was denied a fighter and trainer license as he has Hepatitis and a series of other sicknesses that may be passed on.

When asked for comment URCC Founder Alvin Aguilar said: “These foreigners think they can just come in and disregard the rules of our country and take advantage of our countrymen, and our efforts to promote Filipino MMA fighters around the world. Now that Philippine MMA is mainstream because of the URCC’s efforts, all sorts of foreigners are trying to make a quick buck off the efforts of OUR COUNTRYMEN. They even blatantly said that everyone is for sale here in our country. Well I’m sorry to say that we are not and this commission definitely is not for sale. I have personally dealt with them for ten years and they never asked me for a dime! They will learn to respect the rules here, all of the so-called Filipinos that supposedly support them (if any) should be hung up on a tree alongside these foreigners. As the founder of professional mixed martial arts in the Philippines, I am duty bound to protect my fighters and ensure that all the laws regarding and protecting them are followed. We will not standby and let these foreigners take advantage of anyone here. If ever I do meet them they will also learn the true meaning of BAKBAKAN NA!!!!”

“Bakbakan na” is URCC’s signature Tagalog catchphrase and battle cry to signal the start of its fights. Loosely translated into English, it can mean “Fight on,” “Let’s fight” or “Let’s rumble.”

For his part, the accused Haskamp only has this to say for the time being:

We’re actually waiting to see what the actual allegations are before we respond. I assume that GAB will be following up with us, and Legend will issue a statement once we’ve had a chance to review them.

For now, I can only say that we’re disappointed that Mr. Aguilar has decided to take this action without speaking with us directly. Legend’s top priorities are fighter safety, fairness, and promoting MMA across the Asia-Pacific region. We have had and always will have fighter well-being and the integrity of the sport as our top priorities.

Stay tuned for further developments. For the meantime, it’s safe to conclude that Asian MMA is really heating up.

For more info and insight on Asian MMA, check out the slide show Power Ranking the Top Asian MMA Organizations by Steve Sadoka. This article features URCC and Legend FC.

Karlo Silverio Sevilla is a Contributor for Bleacher Report. Unless otherwise noted, all quotes were obtained first-hand.

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UFC Imperial Strategy: Buy Them Out, Then Kill Them Softly

The UFC Empire, in its quest for global domination, has effectively caused the expiration of one colony and the evisceration of another. One’s from another continent across the Pacific Ocean, the other more accessible in Northern California from …

In the first quarter of 2007, the MMA world—with the exception of the legendary Japanese promotion’s head honchos and a couple of hard-nosed sports journalists—was surprised to find out that Pride Fighting Championships was hanging on life support.

In March of the aforementioned year, Zuffa, UFC’s parent company, presumably came to the rescue. Trumping with triumphalism, it bought Pride FC out, with what many thought for the altruistic goal of resuscitating its erstwhile leading competitor.

It didn’t take long for the excited but equally apprehensive fight fans to realize that Zuffa did enter the intensive care unit, only to milk Pride FC of its remaining top fighters before pulling out its life-support instruments. Then finally throwing its corpse to memory for all eternity.

By October 2007, Pride’s Japanese staff was laid off, officially ending the organization’s business of MMA promotion. (If ever Pride FC miraculously rises from its tomb someday, Lazarus-like—complete with fireworks and entrance music—then we’ll surely know about it.)

The demise of Pride FC may be due to a multitude of factors; some may not be Zuffa’s fault at all. Perhaps UFC president Dana White was right in saying then about his Japanese counterparts what has become his catchphrase now regarding M-1 Global’s, “It’s hard to do business with them.”

But in light of all the developments since Zuffa purchased Strikeforce, its closest competitor at home in the US, one can’t help but think that the sorry fate of Pride FC has been part of a malevolent imperialist master plan all along: Buy ‘em out then kill ‘em softly.

Here are excerpts from the excellent slideshow “Business as Usual?: 10 Major Events in the Year Since Zuffa Bought Strikeforce” of Bleacher Report MMA lead writer Jonathan Snowden:

In the most transparent bit of double dealing, wink, wink, tomfoolery, Alistair Overeem is “released” by Strikeforce after an injury forces him to delay the Heavyweight Grand Prix.

Overeem, of course, almost immediately signed with the UFC and headlined a December card against Brock Lesnar. […]

Dan Henderson, the MMA legend who abandoned the UFC for a shot at superstardom in Strikeforce, returned to the loving embrace of UFC President Dana White. […]

Dana White announced that the [heavyweight] division was on life support. After the Grand Prix and “one more fight,” the Strikeforce heavyweights would be no more.

Isn’t it eerie how the long shadow of Pride FC—until now projected from the shining light of its former fighters—was, until recently, still sprawled all over Strikeforce? (Heavyweight Josh Barnett, another Pride FC veteran, remains there, though.)

Now, Strikeforce is desperately clinging on its last threads: Ronda Rousey and Miesha Tate, and, representing the less beautiful half of our species, Barnett and Daniel Cormier.

In hindsight, Pride FC’s appears to be an execution by musketry, though a considerable waiting period lapsed before the act of murder was finally consummated. Strikeforce’s is a slower death by garrote vil—the medieval instrument of choice used to subject unlucky victims to guillotine choke, with the coldest disregard for even the healthiest tapout.

Making analogic examples from the Philippines’ Spanish colonial history, Pride FC suffered the same death of Jose Rizal, while Strikeforce is currently undergoing what befell the three martyr-priests collectively immortalized as Gomburza.

The abovementioned martyrs underwent their respective mock trials before meeting their Maker. In the same way, Pride FC suffered, and Strikeforce suffers, from a mockery of good faith with regard to their perpetuation in the hands of their common new master, the UFC.

Here’s to the glory that was Pride FC and the grand challenge that was Strikeforce.

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MMA Breakthrough: When Anderson Silva Makes ‘World’s Highest-Paid Athletes’ List

Anderson Silva is widely considered MMA’s top pound-for-pound athlete, in the same vein that Tiger Woods and Kobe Bryant are considered the crème de la crème of their own sports. Yes, it’s still Woods and Bryant. This is regar…

Anderson Silva is widely considered MMA’s top pound-for-pound athlete, in the same vein that Tiger Woods and Kobe Bryant are considered the crème de la crème of their own sports.

Yes, it’s still Woods and Bryant. This is regardless of the competition and adversity the two athletes have faced and continue to deal with both in and outside of their sports.

It’s true that Woods and Bryant play and earn in the same category of sports that requires handling certain spheres, though officially different in size and bounce. And, more relevant to our story at hand, these two share top billing among the Top 50 highest-paid athletes in the world—with Woods reigning at No. 1 and Bryant at No. 2.

The following excerpt is from Kurt Badenhausen’s article on Forbes.com in 2011:

Yet Tiger Woods is still the highest-paid athlete in the world–and it isn’t even a close call. Woods earned $75 million over the past 12 months, easily outdistancing second-ranked Kobe Bryant, who made $53 million.

Woods can thank two long-term sponsors for his hefty income. Nike signed Woods to a five-year, $40 million deal when he turned pro in 1998. Electronic Arts released its first “Tiger Woods PGA Tour” videogame in 1998.

Our earnings figures are derived from salaries, bonuses, prize money, appearance fees, licensing and endorsement income in the 12 months ending May 1 [2011].

The minimum to make the [2011] list was $18.8 million…

Closer to home in boxing, MMA’s kindred in professional combat sports, Manny Pacquiao is 24th with $25 million.

That Pacquiao is the only boxer on the list must be consolation enough for MMA fans. After all, this is proof that boxing is now only one athlete ahead of MMA when it comes to the top 50 unconscionably rich athletes (right?).

How our best and most popular fighters fare in terms of income derived from MMA, directly (from fight earnings) or indirectly (from corporate sponsorships, etc.), vis-à-vis the top athletes of other sports is a strong gauge on how near or far our sport is towards “mainstreamhood.” And there are, of course, other means of measurement while waiting for, and hopefully finding, Godot.

Silva was said to have an estimated net worth of $4.5 million in 2011. It remains to be seen how far, how long and how much more Silva—who’s been UFC Middleweight Champion since 2006—stands to gain from the UFC and his sponsors Burger King, Nike, soccer team Sport Club Corinthians Paulista and other prospective gold mines.

Disclaimer: This article is not a takeoff from Quinton Jackson’s rampaging assertion in his March 9, 2012 tweet that “the ufc makes billions off us all over the world,n pay us chump change! Boxers r boring but making buckets of money,THINK!”

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