No matter how many times young Dana White reminded him, Gary Shaw always found himself having the same conversation.
Alright boys, we’ve finally managed to ink a possibly sport changing deal here. I know we’re all excited, but let us not forget that this opportunity to shine can quickly become a bigger disaster than The Green Lantern. I’m looking at you, HEAT, you nearly screwed us all. But this time, we’ve got the fights, my God do we got the fights, to back up all our talk. So, do we want to be winners or losers?! Do we want to change the face of MMA, or kick dirt in its eyes?! Well then, here’s how we do it!!
No matter how many times young Dana White reminded him, Gary Shaw always found himself having the same conversation.
Alright boys, we’ve finally managed to ink a possibly sport changing deal here. I know we’re all excited, but let us not forget that this opportunity to shine can quickly become a bigger disaster than The Green Lantern. I’m looking at you, HEAT, you nearly screwed us all. But this time, we’ve got the fights, my God do we got the fights, to back up all our talk. So, do we want to be winners or losers?! Do we want to change the face of MMA, or kick dirt in its eyes?! Well then, here’s how we do it!!
First and foremost, neither of these men can be within seeing distance of our main event:
Not as judges, not as referees, not even as bathroom attendants should these men by any means be allowed in the building. Now Dana, I know that you complained before over your lack of influence when it comes to choosing the ref or judges for that matter, but I’m pleading to you, they have SCREWEDUSBEFORE. Didn’t one of them just write a book? Yeah, let’s get that guy for this one.
Secondly, we cannot play the drama card at any point during this event. It is cheap, unrealistic, and lumps us in with the likes of the WWE in the eyes of the casual audience member. No stare downs between contenders and champs, especially not immediately following the fight; this can only end in disaster. Let the fights do the talking, as we always have, because that’s where the real “drama” lies.
Speaking of the fights, can we possibly schedule more than one? We do not want to look like the American Idol of the sports world do we? If there’s one thing a crowded bar full of drunken men doesn’t want, it’s to be toyed with. And what if said fight ends in the opening minute? No offense Dana, but those screaming, profanity laced “talks” you and Joe have to kill time at the end of the free prelims aren’t jacking up your PPV sales.
Let’s be honest, except for a few select people out there, the pre fight talk is often the weakest aspect of our pay per views in general, if only because they are so damn predictable. Amidst the clichéd gladiator poses, we’re going to hear how well training has been going, how each fighter is ten times better than their last fight, and how there is absolutely a zero percent chance that either man will lose to the other. Let’s trim the fat and get on with what everyone’s tuning in for. Well, beside the interviews, we should just skip the interviews.
I know it’s early, but we are knocking on history’s doorstep here. This deal could equal validation. It could equal legalization in even the most stubborn of places. Heck, maybe even the anchors over at Sportscenter will talk about us with a tone that doesn’t reek of ignorance and condescension. And we’re lucky enough that this time it seems the people overseeing this deal having a fucking clue about how to run a business. So for now, let’s just take to our G5’s and consider how long it has taken us to get where we are.
Unfortunately due to some circumstances that are out of my control I will not be able to make my Shark Fights debut on September 10th. I have a staph infection on my face that will not heal in time to be cleared for combat. This is my first experience with staph and it couldn’t have come at any worse of a time.
Having wrestled in high school and college I am no stranger to the existence and possibility of skin infections, but I have never experienced anything like this. I always make sure to shower immediately after practice and regularly clean my gear. None of my training partners have staph so it truly is a mystery as to how I got it. I used a complementary pillow on a recent airline fight and I believe that may have been the culprit.
It all started on Saturday, August 20th. I was experiencing ear pains, my skin itched and my head was sensitive to the touch. I decide to take action and get it checked out as soon as possible. My regular doctor was away on vacation so I went to the walk-in clinic (big mistake). The doctor gave me a pill to fight infection and a cream to fight fungus. The head and ear pains went away and my skin stopped itching so bad, I was under the impression that I would be all cured in about a week. I was wrong. The entire week I avoided any contact to my face. I focused solely on cardio exercises, strength training and hitting pads. I avoided all wrestling, grappling and sparring as to not spread my infection on myself, to my partners and to allow it to properly heal.
(Come on bro, I’m trying to eat breakfast over here.)
Unfortunately due to some circumstances that are out of my control I will not be able to make my Shark Fights debut on September 10th. I have a staph infection on my face that will not heal in time to be cleared for combat. This is my first experience with staph and it couldn’t have come at any worse of a time.
Having wrestled in high school and college I am no stranger to the existence and possibility of skin infections, but I have never experienced anything like this. I always make sure to shower immediately after practice and regularly clean my gear. None of my training partners have staph so it truly is a mystery as to how I got it. I used a complementary pillow on a recent airline fight and I believe that may have been the culprit.
It all started on Saturday, August 20th. I was experiencing ear pains, my skin itched and my head was sensitive to the touch. I decide to take action and get it checked out as soon as possible. My regular doctor was away on vacation so I went to the walk-in clinic (big mistake). The doctor gave me a pill to fight infection and a cream to fight fungus. The head and ear pains went away and my skin stopped itching so bad, I was under the impression that I would be all cured in about a week. I was wrong. The entire week I avoided any contact to my face. I focused solely on cardio exercises, strength training and hitting pads. I avoided all wrestling, grappling and sparring as to not spread my infection on myself, to my partners and to allow it to properly heal.
Saturday night one week later, just as the winds started blowing and the rain started pouring for Hurricane Irene, my face began to feel funky and the cream the walk-in doctor gave me began to burn when I applied it. I woke up Sunday morning with no power and my face had broken out badly. I continued to take my medication as prescribed. I was powerless to leave my house as Hurricane Irene was causing all kinds of havoc outside. By Monday the storm had subsided, trees were down everywhere, many of my family and friends’ houses had been flooded (thank God nobody got hurt), the power was out everywhere and my face was even worse. I was not able to get an appointment on Monday anywhere as they scrambled to get power back and get operations back in order.
I was able to get an appointment with a dermatologist first thing Tuesday morning and he hit me with the bad news. I had a severe case of staph all over my face and neck. The kind of infection I have had become resistant to the medication the walk-in doctor gave me and the cream he gave me was useless from the get go and actually caused a reaction that made the staph break out worse.
He informed me that it won’t go away for at least two weeks and will still be apparent by the time the fight doctor sees me, and he would not clear me to fight. He put me on new medication and informed me that the infection will spread with any physical contact. This meant three weeks of no wrestling, grappling or sparring before a fight that I wouldn’t get medically cleared to compete in anyways.
Even though I knew the dermatologist was right, I went to my doctor for a second opinion and he just reaffirmed everything the dermatologist had told me. Out of respect for Shark Fights and my opponent Jesse Zeugin I must respectfully bow out of my fight on September 10th in Independence, Missouri.
I would like to apologize to Shark Fights, Jesse Zeugin, CagePotato.com, Break.com, and all the fans who supported me to get this far. The Proving Ground contest was awesome and the promo video was absolutely amazing. I have trained long and hard to get where I am today. Fighting is my life and I love it more than anything else I’ve ever done. I work a full time job to pay the bills and dedicate absolutely all my time outside of that to training and becoming a better martial artist. I hardly see my friends and family. I truly know I have what it takes to make it to the top of our sport and I hope that Shark Fights will still provide me with the opportunity to prove it. I hope to get on their October 15th card in NV and show everybody what I’m truly capable of inside the cage. Thank you for your time, I am sorry for all the commotion and I hope this will all work out and I can fight next month.
Follow Nick Newell on Facebook and Twitter, and stay tuned for updates on his return.
“And then the hair on my arms stood up, and I felt a cold hand on the back of my neck, and a voice saying … “Well, well, well, motherfucker.” PicProps: AllElbows
Scott Coker commented today during a media call today about the possibility of awarding the Strikeforce heavyweight championship to the winner of the Heavyweight Grand Prix, saying that the decision hasn’t been made, but that the company probably would not do so.
Because, you know, why would you?
After promoting a tournament as a way to “finally answer once and for all who is the world’s most dangerous man” (uh, hello? Ken Shamrock. /thread), obviously the most rational thing to do is hand the winner a large trophy or a poster-sized check, right? But to go ahead and award that winner the title of “champion”, a title that is currently vacant? Well that’s just not a decision they’re in any hurry to make.
Now call me crazy, but it seems Scott Coker believes that the belts he gives to fighters are cursed. I mean cursed like “made from the skin of blind puppies”, “hexed by crazy-haired blood witches”, “directly connected to Cenobites” cursed. Nothing else could explain the ghost town that is Strikeforce Championville, USA, but that it’s been built on the sacred land of indigenous peoples whose souls rest uneasily.
“And then the hair on my arms stood up, and I felt a cold hand on the back of my neck, and a voice saying … “Well, well, well, motherfucker.” PicProps: AllElbows
Scott Coker commented today during a media call today about the possibility of awarding the Strikeforce heavyweight championship to the winner of the Heavyweight Grand Prix, saying that the decision hasn’t been made, but that the company probably would not do so.
Because, you know, why would you?
After promoting a tournament as a way to “finally answer once and for all who is the world’s most dangerous man” (uh, hello? Ken Shamrock. /thread), obviously the most rational thing to do is hand the winner a large trophy or a poster-sized check, right? But to go ahead and award that winner the title of “champion”, a title that is currently vacant? Well that’s just not a decision they’re in any hurry to make.
Now call me crazy, but it seems Scott Coker believes that the belts he gives to fighters are cursed. I mean cursed like “made from the skin of blind puppies”, “hexed by crazy-haired blood witches”, “directly connected to Cenobites” cursed. Nothing else could explain the ghost town that is Strikeforce Championville, USA, but that it’s been built on the sacred land of indigenous peoples whose souls rest uneasily.
Heavyweight champ Overeem: gone, and no title for the GP winner. Light heavyweight champ Henderson: free agent, probably gone. Welterweight champ Nick Diaz: gone for a GSP superfight. Coker isn’t in a hurry to crown a new guy there, either. Melendez would be gone, too, but the UFC picture at 155 looks like the DMV complete with a sign that says “Take a Number”. The women’s division is plagued with similar absences, but that’s really an entirely different dynamic. Unless the title belts are haunted by angry ghosts hungry for vengeance.
Clearly, Coker has gotten the message that the UFC will handpick fighters from his roster, and he’s powerless to do anything about it. So he’s taken the ingenious tactic of refusing to make new champions, like he’s the babysitter in the house with the hook-wielding escaped lunatic and as long as he doesn’t acknowledge the problem, he won’t get gutted even though the call is coming from inside the house!
That analogy may have gotten out of hand, but the craziest thing is this: Coker just might be on to something. Rather than have a bunch of belts that might as well say “Gone to UFC, BRB” on them, maybe focusing on putting on good fights with good matchups and an odd tournament or two would help carve out a solid niche for the promotion. Accepting a role as a feeder organization, and excelling at it, could be the best thing for Strikeforce as part of the Zuffa family.
Of course, that would put the promotion on a collision course with Bellator, but with Zuffa backing and cable distribution deals already in place, Strikeforce would smash Bellator in ratings.
Either that, or Coker is going to need to get those belts into a containment unit.
Forrest Griffin circa 2005 had the heart of a lion (and the face of a gremlin).
Forrest Griffin became a household MMA name after his run through the original Ultimate Fighter show. Goofily charming, Griffin had already amassed a record fitting a UFC fighter before appearing the show, with names like Dan Severn, Travis Fulton, Jeff Monson, Jermey Horn, and Chael Sonnen on his record. But it was Griffin’s gritty determination to fight and win that so impressed audiences back in 2005 that made him a fan favorite. His three round finale win over Stephan Bonnar, hailed as one of the most important fights in MMA history, was an instant classic not because Griffin thoroughly outclassed Bonnar, but because both fighters showed so much tenacity and desire in the fight. If you don’t mind me throwing the term around, Forrest Griffin won over fans because he showed a great deal of heart. It was clear just by watching him that Griffin wanted to fight, more than anything.
Six years later, Griffin is still with us and still somewhere in the top tier of light heavyweights, with a rematch against Shogun Rua to prove that Griffin belongs in that tier. Griffin said in interviews prior to the fight that a second win over Shogun would “validate” him as an elite light heavyweight.
And then he lost.
Leading up to the fight, Griffin had been a bit less sanguine about his fight than usual. Oh, Griffin still had jokes — he’s always a guy that will crack off a one-liner at any given time — but reading between the lines, some wondered whether Griffin still had the competitive fire that once burned so brightly in him. And after a loss to Shogun in which he looked slow and disinterested, some have begun to seriously ask: has Griffin lost the heart to fight?
Forrest Griffin circa 2005 had the heart of a lion (and the face of a gremlin).
Forrest Griffin became a household MMA name after his run through the original Ultimate Fighter show. Goofily charming, Griffin had already amassed a record fitting a UFC fighter before appearing the show, with names like Dan Severn, Travis Fulton, Jeff Monson, Jermey Horn, and Chael Sonnen on his record. But it was Griffin’s gritty determination to fight and win that so impressed audiences back in 2005 that made him a fan favorite. His three round finale win over Stephan Bonnar, hailed as one of the most important fights in MMA history, was an instant classic not because Griffin thoroughly outclassed Bonnar, but because both fighters showed so much tenacity and desire in the fight. If you don’t mind me throwing the term around, Forrest Griffin won over fans because he showed a great deal of heart. It was clear just by watching him that Griffin wanted to fight, more than anything.
Six years later, Griffin is still with us and still somewhere in the top tier of light heavyweights, with a rematch against Shogun Rua to prove that Griffin belongs in that tier. Griffin said in interviews prior to the fight that a second win over Shogun would “validate” him as an elite light heavyweight.
And then he lost.
Leading up to the fight, Griffin had been a bit less sanguine about his fight than usual. Oh, Griffin still had jokes — he’s always a guy that will crack off a one-liner at any given time — but reading between the lines, some wondered whether Griffin still had the competitive fire that once burned so brightly in him. And after a loss to Shogun in which he looked slow and disinterested, some have begun to seriously ask: has Griffin lost the heart to fight?
Before appearing as a contestant on The Ultimate Fighter, Griffin competed at Heat FC 2 against Edson “Paredao” Silva. During the fight, he blocked a Paredao kick that broke his left arm. Griffin won the fight, via knockout. He would go on to have surgery on that arm after his TUF win two years later.
Griffin and Bonnar gained tons of fans (including Dana White) through a combined force of will — a double-team assault of heart so palpable that audiences could feel it watching at home. Even Forrest’s first win over Shogun was a show that win times got tough and the water got deep, Griffin dug down and pulled through.
Griffin seemed different after losing his fight with Anderson Silva, which is the closest thing anyone in contemporary times has ever seen to hand to hand combat with a Jedi. His confidence took a big hit, and his self-deprecating humor took on a tone that was uncomfortably close to a disclaimer. Griffin laughed as he talked about how ineffective he felt in that Silva fight, and we all laughed along, but really? Yeah, he really did look like a slow, slow white boy getting beat up by his dad.
Now, Griffin’s comparing his acceptance of the Shogun rematch with the stages of grieving. He doesn’t talk about wanting to be the number one fighter in the world, he talks about not wanting to be poor. He’s not talking about how he’s going to smash Shogun, he’s talking about wanting to smash some sweet potatoes, but he can’t find any in the far-off mythical land of Brazil.
Those aren’t the visualization habits and lofty motivations of a world beater. If all that matters is not being poor, one could argue that Griffin had made it. His five years with the UFC before the Shogun fight were probably lucrative enough to prevent worry about going back to a campus beat and Top Ramen, not to mention White’s oft-repeated loyalty to one of the fighters that helped save the UFC.
Couple all that with another shattering loss in the Octagon, this time against the guy who catapulted Forrest to the top of the division and a title shot in 2008, and you have to wonder where Griffin’s head is at. If he’s lost the desire to compete that made him such a fan favorite, can he regain it? Is Forrest Griffin, sans heart, a fighter that can stay at the top of the UFC’s dangerous 205 division?
As a fan of Griffin’s, I really hope so. I hope that this poor performance was just a result of traveling far from home, dealing with an unfamiliar culture, and having a really tough fight with a guy on his home turf. God knows, Griffin had plenty on his mind. But part of me does wonder if Griffin’s heart is still in it.
After a spectacular night of fights at UFC 134 in Rio, we’re going to try to make sense of it with a little game called ‘Buy, Sell, or Hold’. I’ll take a fighter and either buy, sell, or hold him like a stockbroker would. (It’s kind of like the real stock market, except you won’t want to throw yourself off a building afterwards.) Take my advice and you’ll end up with a nice MMA portfolio. Without further ado…
Anderson Silva: Buy! Buy! Buy!
‘The Spider‘ has everything you’d want from a blue chip stock: an x-factor that makes people want to see him fight, major corporate sponsors, and hilariouscommercials. Oh yeah, and his fighting isn’t that bad either. Silva’s complete and utter domination of Yushin Okami at UFC 134 just reinforces what we already knew — we are witnessing the greatest fighter of all time every time he steps inside the Octagon™.
Yushin Okami: Dump it like your autographed picture of Carrot Top.
He is currently ranked as the #3 best Middleweight and yet it seems all for naught. Okami showed up to a gunfight with a pair of flip-flops and a bag of Skittles against Silva. Despite working with the only man to dominate the champion, he never once came close to showing a spark in Brazil. I have a feeling he’ll face the same fate as Jon Fitch while his stock becomes more cursed than Monster.
After a spectacular night of fights at UFC 134 in Rio, we’re going to try to make sense of it with a little game called ‘Buy, Sell, or Hold’. I’ll take a fighter and either buy, sell, or hold him like a stockbroker would. (It’s kind of like the real stock market, except you won’t want to throw yourself off a building afterwards.) Take my advice and you’ll end up with a nice MMA portfolio. Without further ado…
Anderson Silva: Buy! Buy! Buy!
‘The Spider‘ has everything you’d want from a blue chip stock: an x-factor that makes people want to see him fight, major corporate sponsors, and hilariouscommercials. Oh yeah, and his fighting isn’t that bad either. Silva’s complete and utter domination of Yushin Okami at UFC 134 just reinforces what we already knew — we are witnessing the greatest fighter of all time every time he steps inside the Octagon™.
Yushin Okami: Dump it like your autographed picture of Carrot Top.
He is currently ranked as the #3 best Middleweight and yet it seems all for naught. Okami showed up to a gunfight with a pair of flip-flops and a bag of Skittles against Silva. Despite working with the only man to dominate the champion, he never once came close to showing a spark in Brazil. I have a feeling he’ll face the same fate as Jon Fitch while his stock becomes more cursed than Monster.
Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua: Buy it like they’re giving it away for free.
The ‘Shogun’ Rua that showed up Saturday night is not the same man who fought and lost to Jon Jones earlier this year. He proved that he has completely recovered from his past knee surgeries, and destroyed a Top 10 light-heavyweight fighter without breaking a sweat. Rua will once again rise to the top — you can bank on that.
Forrest Griffin: Sell
The two-time New York Times bestselling author and former UFC Light-Heavyweight champion is an open book when it comes to his feelings about fighting overseas, training, and why he continues to fight. Likewise, I too shall be an open book about where to put your money in the MMA stock market, and it’s not here. In his last five fights, Griffin has won only twice against guys who peaked five to seven years prior. Liquidate whatever stock you have in the TUF 1 winner.
Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira: Sell*
At the ripe old age of 35, Big Nog did the unthinkable in knocking out a rising star in 28-year-old Brendan Schuab. Modern medicine, or maybe witchcraft, has given Nogueira an unforgettable night in front of his compatriots and you’ve gotta know he deserves it. Nevertheless, that in no way means you should buy Big Nog stock considering the likelihood that he’ll retire in the next few years and won’t be getting a crack at the title anytime soon.
*Note: If the UFC returns to Brazil in 2012, you’d be best served to make a Bed and Breakfast deal on this stock. Just be sure to dump once you think you’ve hit the tipping point.
Brendan Schaub: Hold
People have been a little high on the Hybrid. Sure, he’s promising, but his seemingly glass chin gives me pause. You won’t get rich on him, but you could definitely go broke on him. Let’s slow down on Schaub and watch it play out.
Edson Barboza: Buy
Buy this stock now and sell it early next year, right before the bubble pops. Like we mentioned here yesterday, Barboza barely got by a hand-picked opponent. Not convinced? Consider his fight against Anthony Njokuani at UFC 128 where he struggled to take home a decision win. Listen, you’re only as good as your last night and there will be a sucker that only remembers he beat a guy who won The Ultimate Fighter and will line your pockets with hundies.
Ross Pearson: Hold
There are too many talented fighters in the Lightweight division to buy more stock of the TUF 9 winner. Although he lost, he did look much better than he has in the past, so there’s no reason to sell what stock you already have. If the Brits didn’t have such a bad reputation for having a non-existent wrestling game, I may have bought some of this stock myself.
Luiz Cane: Sell
Winning just one of his last four fights — and that was against a guy who is no longer employed by Zuffa — Luiz Cane is a sinking ship. He is the only Brazilian to lose at UFC Rio, which will stick with him for years to come. He is now the answer to a trivia question. Get out while you still can and cut your losses.
Spencer Fisher: Sell, Sell, Sell
Jordan Breen said it best on Twitter last night: As much action as he’s given us over the years, Spencer Fisher is a spent force as an enterprising UFC lightweight.
It’s the UFC’s triumphant return to Brazil and we’ve got a treasure trove of questions to work through tonight. Will there be enough carrots to get the fighters to and from the stadium safely? With Joe Rogan absent, can Kenny Florini fill the void in nut shot and cup-related conversation? Will the raucous Brazilian audience make good on the riots that Vancouver expected?
There are probably some questions related to the fights as well, and time permitting we will answer them. Join us after the jump to catch the punch-by-punch PPV action and to explain why your favorite fighter just lost and/or had an off night in the comments section.
It’s the UFC’s triumphant return to Brazil and we’ve got a treasure trove of questions to work through tonight. Will there be enough carrots to get the fighters to and from the stadium safely? With Joe Rogan absent, can Kenny Florini fill the void in nut shot and cup-related conversation? Will the raucous Brazilian audience make good on the riots that Vancouver expected?
There are probably some questions related to the fights as well, and time permitting we will answer them. Join us after the jump to catch the punch-by-punch PPV action and to explain why your favorite fighter just lost and/or had an off night in the comments section.
And we…are…LIVE!!!!
Whoa, an homage to Brazilian MMA to kick off the evening. Nice change of pace. Soak in that Gladiator intro while you can; it will be going the way of the dodo soon enough. If you’ve been watching thus far, you’ve been treated to some questionable scoring, premature stand-ups, and all around crazy in cage action. We’ll keep the details to ourselves for now in case we get to revisit the fights on the PPV.
No time to waste. It’s time to throw down.
Luiz Cane vs. Stanislav Nedkov
R1: I’m curious who the crowd will be rooting for here…Oh, it looks like they’re behind Cane. Shocker. A bit of feeling out here. Neither man letting go of the hands. Nedkov comes in with a wild overhand. Both men exchange and Nedkov swings wildly as he tries to rush Cane, but Cane circles out. Body kick by Cane and a counter by Nedkov. Nedkov just tucking his head and winging in that right. Cane misses with a kick and slips to the mat, but pops back up. Cane putting together some combos on Nedkov’s face. Cane crowding Nedkov to the fence and picking his shots. Nedkov is cut and bleeding under his right eye. Nedkov connects with a big shot and Cane is rocked! Cane is on his bike trying to get away, but Nedkov is right there chasing him down. Nedkov with a big flurry punches him down and follows up with a series of big shots on the ground! Yamasaki calls the fight!
Nedkov def. Cane (TKO): 4:13 R1
Pretty slow stoppage from Yamsaki. Is he concerned about making it back to the hotel safely?
Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira vs. Brendan Schaub
R1:Herb Dean in control of this bout. Schaub is circling, Nog ties him up and Schaub pushes him to the fence. Schaub pushes off and takes tot he center of the cage. Schaub looks to be faster in the standup. Now Nog drives him to the cage, but Schaub circles out after some dirty boxing. Schaub connectswith an uppercut, then they briefly return to the fence. Nog is moving forward as Schaub backs away. Nog with a decent combo. Schaub with another uppercut now he continues to put his punches together with success. Nog with a big combo and SCHAUB IS DOWN AND OUT, face first on the canvas! Nog backs off on his own, no intervention needed.
Did the crowd like that? Yeah, I’d say the crowd liked that.
Nogueira def. Schaub (KO): 3:09 R1
A reshowing of a Facebook fight from earlier:
Erick Silva vs. Luis Ramos
R1: Both men moving well.Leg kick from Ramos as they circle around. BIG right hand by Silva and Ramos crumbles backward. Silva sprints toward him and pounces with rapid shots, forcing Herb Dean to shove him off.
Silva def. Ramos (TKO) 0:40 R1
So between Facebook, Spike, and the PPV, we’ve been treated to that fight thrice now. I for one am quite pleased that they didn’t rely on Ed Soares for the post-fight “translations”.
Edson Barboza vs. Ross Pearson
R1: I expect leg kicks here. Barboza misses a big head kick and both men are slugging. Pearson chasing Barboza back as they exchange. He’s backing Barboza up, which will keep those kicks at bay (he hopes). Checked kick from Barboza. Pearson connects with a left and pushes him to the fence, but Barboza circles out. Body shot by Pearson, front kick by Barboza. Pearson’s game plan to pressure Barboz seems to be paying off. Spinning body kick by Barboza, but Pearson eats it and looks no worse for wear. Both men with a leg kick, but Pearson follows up with a nice combo. Body kick by Pearson. Barboza is faster,but Pearson is throwing combos and chasing him backward. Pearson shoots for a takedown against the cage, but Barboza works free at the buzzer.
Pearson’s corner calling for more combos. Barboza’s corner is speaking some gibberish I don’t understand.
R2: Body kick by Pearson, but Barboza cracks him with a big right and drops him, but Pearson’s back on his feet. Both men trade some punches, and another big body kick from Barboza. Pearson got dropped, but he’s recovered well. Pearson blocks another body kick. “Real Deal” putting pressure on Barboza once more. Inside leg kick by Pearson. Pearson shoots for a low single but gets stuffed easily.Barboza connects with another big shot, but Pearson is unphased. Barboza with another spinning body kick, but Pearson doesn’t seem to really give a shit. Must be nice! More body kicks from Barboza. Let kick by Barboza, followed by a spinning head kick that catches nothing but air.
R3: Pearson moving forward, keeping that pressure on. Missed flying knee from Pearson, but he’s unable to drive Barboza to the fence. Inside leg kick from Pearson. Now Barboza misses with a flying knee. The Brazilian misses with a head kick. Pearson swings away and drives Barboza to the fence, but he’s denied the takedown again. Flying knee by Pearson misses the mark and we’ve got two minutes left in the bout. Pearson shoots in again, but Barboza’s having none of it. Pearson connects with a combo, and now they’re swinging! Pearson bleeding from the right eye with swelling over the left. The sense of urgency is here as Pearson moves forward. Now Barboza is denied the takedown.
We’re moving along at a pretty steady pace here. It’s already time for the co-main event.
Forrest Griffin vs. Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua
Forrest runs to the cage almost as quickly as he ran out of it after the Anderson bout.
R1: Both fighters are moving around while the crowd starts their chants. Shogun is diving in with punches. Forrest throws a right and Shogun counters with a nice uppercut. Shogun with a nice combo. Forrest is lobbing out some leg kicks. Another big right from Shogun and Forrest drops. Shogun swarms with violent hammer fists and we’re all done here!
Rua def. Griffin (KO) 1:53 R1
Finally, a break from all of this fighting to catch a sneak peak at “Shark Night 3D”. I know where I’ll be September 2nd. Enough dicking around- it’s time for our main event!
Anderson Silva vs. Yushin Okami
“The Middleweight title has not changed hands since October 2006.” It just sounds crazy, doesn’t it? Herb Dean is calling the shots for this five round affair. Not a lot of Americans got love tonight, but it sounds like Buffer has a huge groupie base in Brazil.
R1: Neither men touch gloves in the pre fight instructions. Silva circles quickly around the cage as Okami plants in the center. Silva judging his range with the lazy jab. Okami charges in but finds nothing but the fence. Neither man is lettin loose. Okami with a punch and a brief clinch, but they break apart and Silva lets a single hand fly. Silva’s starting to let the leather go. Big right from Silva misses. Silva circles more and switches his stance. Okami lands a shot and forces Anderson’s back to the cage. Okami clinching Silva, who isn’t bothered at all. Now Silva uncorks a few knees to the stomach. Okami answers in kind as they stay tied up on the fence. Anderson may be working for the Thai clinch, but he’s not forcing the issue. Silva with more knees as Okami dirty boxes. Okami drops down for a takedown, but Silva gets underhooks and stands him back up. And they’re off the cage to the delight of the crowd. Anderson with nice head movement as he ducks and slips a few punches from Okami. Anderson with a low kick and an uppercut. Solid head kick by Anderson just before the bell.
Okami stays on his feet between rounds.
R2: Okami swings and misses with two big punches, but Anderson is getting aggressive with his hands. Anderson taks a punch from Okami just for kicks then floors Okami with a solid punch. Anderson lets him up and is now looking to trade with his hands by his sides. Okami with a swing and a miss. Anderson drops him with another big punch, but this time he follows Okami down and is choosing his shots as Okami spins around slowly. Anderson continues to pick and choose his punches, and it’s a only a matter of time. Okami wants no more and Herb Dean obliges with the stoppage.
Yeah, so what we all already knew was convincingly confirmed. Anderson can knock you senseless without even trying.
Silva def. Okami (TKO) 2:04 R2
So that’s nine consecutive title defenses for the Middleweight Champ. Thanks for joining us tonight. I’m out for the evening, but if they show the Miller Palhares fight and you didn’t catch it earlier, do yourself a favor and stay glued to the broadcast.
We’ll be here in the morning to explain what all of this means in one way or another.
