GIF of the Day: Xavier Foupa-Pokam Does His Best Aaron Ralston Impression at BAMMA 11


(Perhaps “Professor X” should consider changing his nickname to “Mister Fantastic.”)

Since being ousted from the UFC following a pair of losses to Denis Kang and Drew McFedries in 2009, the times have been tough on Xavier “Professor X” Foupa-Pokam. He’s won just three out of his past twelve fights (which could be worse *cough* Sean Salmon *cough*) and he had to suffer through this hellacious armbar at the hands of Jack Marshman in his appearance at BAMMA 11 on December 1st just to walk away with a split decision victory.

A credit is due to Pokam for gritting it out through such a dicey moment, but he should also be thanking his lucky stars that he was fighting a relatively inexperienced ground fighter in Marshman, who has apparently yet to learn what even Jim Norton could tell you: The key to a solid armbar comes from elevating the hips, not going palm-to-palm like Frank Mir on an inside shoulder lock. It was a nasty hold, no doubt, but Ronda Rousey would have finished that shit. Just sayin’.

(Perhaps “Professor X” should consider changing his nickname to “Mister Fantastic.”)

Since being ousted from the UFC following a pair of losses to Denis Kang and Drew McFedries in 2009, the times have been tough on Xavier “Professor X” Foupa-Pokam. He’s won just three out of his past twelve fights (which could be worse *cough* Sean Salmon *cough*) and he had to suffer through this hellacious armbar at the hands of Jack Marshman in his appearance at BAMMA 11 on December 1st just to walk away with a split decision victory.

A credit is due to Pokam for gritting it out through such a dicey moment, but he should also be thanking his lucky stars that he was fighting a relatively inexperienced ground fighter in Marshman, who has apparently yet to learn what even Jim Norton could tell you: The key to a solid armbar comes from elevating the hips, not going palm-to-palm like Frank Mir on an inside shoulder lock. It was a nasty hold, no doubt, but Ronda Rousey would have finished that shit. Just sayin’.

On a side note, can I ask what is with all of the limb-punching going on in MMA lately? First Marshman tries to Hulk-smash through Pokam’s only remaining ligaments that haven’t been shredded like a Julienne salad, then Ben Henderson spends half his fight treating Nate Diaz’s thigh like it was Kyle Maynard’s face. Temporary fad or TECHNIQUE OF THE FUTURE?

–J. Jones