It’s a moot issue at this point, but we triple dog dare you to watch Cyborg’s victory over the previously undefeated (and late replacement opponent) Jennifer Colomb at Lion Fight 11 without asking the same questions. Although the fight went down last Friday, a full video of their two round Muay Thai bout has only recently been made available, likely because it was being used as evidence in an assault case filed against Justino that has since been dropped.
As for the fight itself…what would you expect? Cyborg swarms Colomb with a Tasmanian Devil-esque flurry of punches, kicks, knees, spinning backfists/elbows, haidukens, ice freeze attacks, Falcon punches and Bob-ombs at every conceivable opportunity until Colomb just sort of wilts from the sheer magnitude of it all. I’m telling you, have Cyborg strap on (HOLD IT) a face mask and some skates and she would have Milan Lucic shitting out his own eyeballs within the first period.
This is normally where I’d ask an obvious question — something like “Are there any intriguing non-UFC fights left for Cyborg?” — but we all know that answer.
It’s a moot issue at this point, but we triple dog dare you to watch Cyborg’s victory over the previously undefeated (and late replacement opponent) Jennifer Colomb at Lion Fight 11 without asking the same questions. Although the fight went down last Friday, a full video of their two round Muay Thai bout has only recently been made available, likely because it was being used as evidence in an assault case filed against Justino that has since been dropped.
As for the fight itself…what would you expect? Cyborg swarms Colomb with a Tasmanian Devil-esque flurry of punches, kicks, knees, spinning backfists/elbows, haidukens, ice freeze attacks, Falcon punches and Bob-ombs at every conceivable opportunity until Colomb just sort of wilts from the sheer magnitude of it all. I’m telling you, have Cyborg strap on (HOLD IT) a face mask and some skates and she would have Milan Lucic shitting out his own eyeballs within the first period.
This is normally where I’d ask an obvious question — something like “Are there any intriguing non-UFC fights left for Cyborg?” — but we all know that answer.
Okay…my name is Tito Ortiz…my name is Tito Ortiz…*clears throat* “Good afterday. My name is Ito Tortiz.”
If you’re unfamiliar with our “Unsupportable Opinion/Counterpoint” columns, they’re our attempts at taking an issue that most MMA fans are in agreement on and arguing for the other side, even if we don’t necessarily believe anything we’re writing. Sometimes, they’re actually right. Hell, sometimes they’re downright prophetic. Usually, they’re even more wrong than we imagined. Regardless, they’re usually just a way to argue against popular opinion, so try not to call me too many mean names over this column, okay? I’m sensitive, you guys.
Anyways, the general consensus on the latest attempt at public speaking by Tito Ortiz – the press conference he held to announce that Cyborg had signed with Invicta FC – is that it ended predictably. He did fairly well until the part where he had to open his mouth, and then…tragedy.
Video is After the Jump
Okay…my name is Tito Ortiz…my name is Tito Ortiz…*clears throat* “Good afterday. My name is Ito Tortiz.”
If you’re unfamiliar with our “Unsupportable Opinion/Counterpoiunt” columns, they’re our attempts at taking an issue that most MMA fans are in agreement on and arguing for the other side, even if we don’t necessarily believe anything we’re writing. Sometimes, they’re actually right. Hell, sometimes they’re downright prophetic. Usually, they’re even more wrong than we imagined. Regardless, they’re usually just a way to argue against popular opinion, so try not to call me too many mean names over this column, okay? I’m sensitive, you guys.
Anyways, the general consensus on the latest attempt at public speaking by Tito Ortiz – the press conference he held to announce that Cyborg had signed with Invicta FC – is that it ended predictably. He did fairly well until the part where he had to open his mouth, and then…tragedy.
Tito Ortiz immediately botches the name of his own client, calling her Cristiane “Santos” Cyborg, before delivering the non-sequiturs and mispronunciations you’ve come to expect from Tito Ortiz. Needless to say, everyone has been busy talking about this press conference, and everyone agrees that it was terrible.
Well, hear me out: Maybe Tito Ortiz didn’t completely ruin the press conference with his usual nonsense. After all, we’re still talking about it, even though absolutely nothing about Cyborg signing with Invicta has been surprising. We knew she was going there. We knew that Cyborg wasn’t going to try to cut to 135 pounds just to fight Ronda Rousey. Frankly, if Saturday wasn’t a slow news day, we may not have been talking about her decision to sign with Invicta in the first place. If Tito’s job at the press conference was to get us talking about Cris Cyborg, then did he fail?
Okay, counterpoint over. Yes. He failed. It was terrible. Move along, there’s nothing to see here.
Oh, this? It’s just a video of Gomes beating up some random Brazilian guy, no big deal.
Just one week after Cristiane ‘Cyborg’ Santosasked to be released from her UFC contract, the feared Brazilian striker has already found a new home. There was never any doubt as to where Santos would go once leaving the UFC, but yesterday it was announced that Cyborg has officially signed with Invicta FC.
Cyborg will be making her promotional debut at Invicta FC 5 on April 5. Her opponent will be the other scary Brazilian featherweight, Ediane Gomes, who was originally booked to beat the tar out of Julia Budd. Here’s what you need to know about Gomes: She is 10-2 overall, she is riding a four fight win streak, she most recently beat up Hiroko Yamakana in January, and her last loss came by armbar against Ronda Rousey. Oh yeah, and she once beat up a guy in Rio Heroes, yet none of his friends made fun of him for it (see above).
Oh, this? It’s just a video of Gomes beating up some random Brazilian guy, no big deal.
Just one week after Cristiane ‘Cyborg’ Santosasked to be released from her UFC contract, the feared Brazilian striker has already found a new home. There was never any doubt as to where Santos would go once leaving the UFC, but yesterday it was announced that Cyborg has officially signed with Invicta FC.
Cyborg will be making her promotional debut at Invicta FC 5 on April 5. Her opponent will be the other scary Brazilian featherweight, Ediane Gomes, who was originally booked to beat the tar out of Julia Budd. Here’s what you need to know about Gomes: She is 10-2 overall, she is riding a four fight win streak, she most recently beat up Hiroko Yamakana in January, and her last loss came by armbar against Ronda Rousey. Oh yeah, and she once beat up a guy in Rio Heroes, yet none of his friends made fun of him for it (see above).
The winner of this matchup will fight Marloes Coenen – who has been the world’s top ranked female featherweight while Cyborg has been out of action due to her drug suspension – at Invicta FC 6.
Invicta certainly has plans in place for Cyborg, which is something that the UFC simply couldn’t offer her. The question is, how will Cyborg fare in her comeback fight? Will she pick up where she left off in the division, or will Gomes be too stiff of a test for someone who hasn’t fought in over one year? Let us know what you think.
In the meantime, it looks like the former champ has decided to broaden her training horizons, if you will, now incorporating a regular diet of Japanese game show hosts and comedians to satiate her overwhelming desire to kill. In fact, she recently appeared on the Japanese show Honoo no Taiikukai to demonstrate that she is just as strong without anabolic steroids coursing through her veins by taking on a…male Japanese comedian? Believe it or not, the match was surprisingly competitive for the most part, until Cyborg decided to go all Courtney Korpela on the poor bastard.
Join us after the jump for the full video, along with the Sergei Kharitonov/Mark Miller match from last weekend’s United Glory 15 card, and much more.
In the meantime, it looks like the former champ has decided to broaden her training horizons, if you will, now incorporating a regular diet of Japanese game show hosts and comedians to satiate her overwhelming desire to kill. In fact, she recently appeared on the Japanese show Honoo no Taiikukai to demonstrate that she is just as strong without anabolic steroids coursing through her veins by taking on a…male Japanese comedian? Believe it or not, the match was surprisingly competitive for the most part, until Cyborg decided to go all Courtney Korpela on the poor bastard.
Sadly, Cyborg’s exhibition with the comedian was twice as competitive as Sergei Kharitonov‘s kickboxing match against TUF 9 alum Mark Miller from last weekend’s United Glory 15 card. At the same event that saw Semmy Schilt score a UD victory over Brice Guidon in his first kickboxing match in over two years, Kharitonov returned to action for the first time since his Strikeforce Heavyweight tournament Semifinal loss to Josh Barnett.
Miller seemed content to swing for the fences like a man possessed. Unfortunately, his fists would find nothing but air while Kharitonov made mincemeat of the IFL vet without breaking a sweat. The end came just two minutes into the first round via a brutal right hook, improving Kharitonov’s kickboxing record to 3-2. Check out the video below.
Speaking of humiliating defeats; you guys remember the crazy moment during the first episode of TUF 15where Dominick Cruz called upon rival coach Urijah Faber to pick his best man, only to have noone step forward? Well it turns out that Cruz was so impressed by his own swagger that he decided to re-enact the scene along with the help of such familiar UFC faces as Tyson Griffin, Jeremy Stephens, and Ross Pearson. And on top of that, Cruz decided to showcase his acting talents by playing a double role ala Eddie Murphy and depicting Faber’s wide eyed shock of Cruz’s “Like a Boss” moment. “The Dominator” indeed.
And finally, end your lunch break on a high note by watching this great kickboxing scrap between Giorgio Petrosyan and Artur Kyshenko from last weekend’s Fight Code event in Milan, Italy. For those of you not familiar with Petrosyan, he is a two time K-1 World MAX champion and WKN Intercontinental Middleweight Muay Thai champion. In 70 professional kickboxing fights, he has only been defeated once, and is widely considered to be the number one ranked fighter in all of kickboxing. Quite a claim to back, and though his fight against Kyshenko, a top fiver in his own right, isn’t his greatest performance, it truly showcases his technical abilities as a striker, so just sit back and enjoy.
Following her positive steroid test, Cris “Cyborg” Santos (pictured [above] looking pretty hot, a few years back) released an explanation and apology involving her use of a dietary supplement. Dana White guarantees MMA will be.
Following her positive steroid test, Cris “Cyborg” Santos (pictured [above] looking pretty hot, a few years back) released an explanation and apology involving her use of a dietary supplement.
Dana Whiteguarantees MMA will be sanctioned in NY in 2012.
Now that Thiago Silva‘s suspension is over, Brandon Veratweets “I want that ass. No H_m_.”
Alistair Overeemtests clean after UFC 141 victory over Brock Lesnar.
Robbie Lawlor and King Mo among highest paid salaries at Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine.
TUF: Brazilto air on Fuel TV with Vitor Belfort and Wanderlei Silva as coaches.
(I bet even those scientists from the future who put me together couldn’t have predicted that old #643227 would become a future champion!)
Success is a double edged sword. On one hand, it brings fame, fortune, and an immeasurable sense of self confidence, one that can only be gained by the awareness that you are truly the best at what you do. On the other, it brings crushing, tireless scrutiny from everyone around you, including those who helped build you up in the first place. And it is when you allow those naysayers to affect your daily routine, your mental state, or, in Christiane “Cyborg” Santos‘ case, your training regimen, that you have begun the inevitable fall from grace that follows.
Ever since her introduction to the public MMA circuit, Santos was looked at as a fighter who was simply on another level than that of her female counterparts. Her strength, striking ability, and general physique was shocking to even the most devoted MMA fans, and after she handled Gina Carano to take the Strikeforce women’s featherweight title, we knew she would be there for a long, long time.
And as with any case of athletic dominance, steroid accusations were immediately lobbed at the champ. Though there was little evidence to suggest any truth to these claims, pundits and keyboard warriors alike ruthlessly pursued them nonetheless. And as it turns out, behind the rumor was a fair bit of truth.
(I bet even those scientists from the future who put me together couldn’t have predicted that old #643227 would become a future champion!)
Success is a double edged sword. On one hand, it brings fame, fortune, and an immeasurable sense of self confidence, one that can only be gained by the awareness that you are truly the best at what you do. On the other, it brings crushing, tireless scrutiny from everyone around you, including those who helped build you up in the first place. And it is when you allow those naysayers to affect your daily routine, your mental state, or, in Christiane “Cyborg” Santos‘ case, your training regimen, that you have begun the inevitable fall from grace that follows.
Ever since her introduction to the public MMA circuit, Santos was looked at as a fighter who was simply on another level than that of her female counterparts. Her strength, striking ability, and general physique was shocking to even the most devoted MMA fans, and after she handled Gina Carano to take the Strikeforce women’s featherweight title, we knew she would be there for a long, long time.
And as with any case of athletic dominance, steroid accusations were immediately lobbed at the champ. Though there was little evidence to suggest any truth to these claims, pundits and keyboard warriors alike ruthlessly pursued them nonetheless. And as it turns out, behind the rumor was a fair bit of truth.
Though the jury is still out on the legitimacy of Cyborg’s “tainted supplements” claims, her temporary absence may have provided women’s MMA with some breathing room, at least at 145 pounds. Let us not forget that this was a division that took over a year and a half to find its champion a match-up, and when it did, the fight was over in less time than it took Jimmy Lennon Jr. to introduce both parties involved.
Now that this otherworldly force has been removed from the scene, it could make for several interesting match-ups in the featherweight division. Depending on how she fairs against bantamweight champion Meisha Tate in March, Ronda Rousey could surely continue her dominant run in her original weight class. Names like Alexis Davis, who is set to take on Sarah Kaufman at 135 lbs at the same event, Amanda Nunes, and Tara Larosa have all fought at 145 before, and could easily shake things up in the featherweight division. Hell, maybe even Gina Carano could come back for a couple of marquee fights. But that pipe dream is more than likely dead, as the early reviews for Haywire have been overtly positive, and are likely the start of a new phase in “Conviction’s” career.
And it was with Carano’s departure from the sport that we saw one of the main problems facing women’s MMA, that of our need for a Xena-like champion who is as dominant as she is beautiful. Despite the fact that Cyborg displayed a supremacy unmatched by any female figure in the sport, not one website, magazine, or other publication mentioned her when discussing this whole “face of women’s MMA” nonsense. Even in a sport in which the competitors put their physical appearance on the line with every fight, we simply didn’t want to accept the fact that someone as…let’s say, homely, as Cyborg would be its representative.
But we’re not here to address issues that are best left for one of Oprah Winfrey’s self empowerment speeches, we’re here to talk shop. As Seth pointed out, Strikeforce’s collapse is as evident as ever, and being that Dana White and the UFC have all but refused to acknowledge women’s MMA as a legitimate investment, it appears that the sport in general is walking on flimsy legs. So what do you think, could Cyborg’s absence help save women’s MMA? Will the 135 pound division provide enough marquee match-ups to keep interest alive? Or are we hearing the fading S.O.S of a sinking ship? Discuss.
