Tag: Fighters

Video: “The Voice” Interviews “The Prodigy”

If you’re like me, when you see that Joe Rogan or Mike Goldberg are about to launch into one of their interview segments during the Spike prelims, you likely use the opportunity to grab a beer, take a piss, or switch over to Comedy Central to re-watch the end of last week’s Workaholics episode (the exception to this is of course,when Jason Mamoa is around). Because let’s be honest, who wants to listen to Dana White scream over a blaring DMX song about how great the upcoming card that you can’t afford is going to be?

But in the case of last weekend’s ProElite 2-Big Guns event, Michael Schiavello’s interview with B.J. Penn felt like the first breath after awakening from a seven year coma. Penn, who has apparently mastered the technology behind Wolverine’s healing powers, showed few signs of the damage Nick Diaz inflicted upon him just over a week ago. At the event to support his brother Reagan, “The Prodigy” discussed how retiring had been on his mind for some time:

If you’re like me, when you see that Joe Rogan or Mike Goldberg are about to launch into one of their interview segments during the Spike prelims, you likely use the opportunity to grab a beer, take a piss, or switch over to Comedy Central to re-watch the end of last week’s Workaholics episode (the exception to this is of course,when Jason Mamoa is around). Because let’s be honest, who wants to listen to Dana White scream over a blaring DMX song about how great the upcoming card that you can’t afford is going to be?

But in the case of last weekend’s ProElite 2-Big Guns event, Michael Schiavello’s interview with B.J. Penn felt like the first breath after awakening from a seven year coma. Penn, who has apparently mastered the technology behind Wolverine’s healing powers, showed few signs of the damage Nick Diaz inflicted upon him just over a week ago. At the event to support his brother Reagan, “The Prodigy” discussed how retiring had been on his mind for some time:

I think this is something I should’ve did after the first Frankie Edgar fight…a bunch of my coaches pleaded with me to step away from the sport, take some time off. I was just in the mix…trying to push myself. I don’t really like the results I’ve been getting. If I ever feel it again, I’ll come back, if [a fight] interests me, it excites me…I don’t want to be sitting in the locker room saying ‘I can’t believe I’m still doing this.’ 

Let’s just hope a fight doesn’t pop up on a regional circuit somewhere that forces Penn to go back on his word.

“The Voice” also picked Penn’s brain on the upcoming Diaz/GSP bout, now that Penn has fought them both. His analysis seemed pretty spot on:

I think it’s gonna be very, very tough for Nick Diaz to defend Georges St. Pierre’s takedowns, and if [GSP] wants to turn this into a takedown type fight, I think he’s definitely gonna have an advantage. 

When asked on what kind of game-plan Diaz would need to beat GSP, Penn stated that “People get broken mentally in fights…if Nick Diaz can make GSP break somehow than the fight’s his. But, other than that, it’s gonna be a long night.”

Doesn’t he know that GSP said he really wants to finish this fight? For reals this time.

-Danga 

Joe Frazier: 5 MMA Fighters That Embody His Fight Style

Today was a sad day in the fight world.  We lost one of the all-time great fighters in the history of boxing, Smokin’ Joe Frazier.   The former undisputed heavyweight champion of the world that bested the consensus greatest boxer, Muham…

Today was a sad day in the fight world.  We lost one of the all-time great fighters in the history of boxing, Smokin’ Joe Frazier.   The former undisputed heavyweight champion of the world that bested the consensus greatest boxer, Muhammad Ali, in the Fight of the Century played the villain to Ali’s hero but […]

UFC Betting

Joe Frazier: 5 MMA Fighters That Embody His Fight Style

Fight of the Day: Rumina Sato vs. Nico Veressen at “Shoot the Shooto”

(Check out the rest of the fight videos at IronForgesIron.com) 

An absolute must see bantamweight battle from last weekend’s “Shoot the Shooto 2011” card, which transpired in Tokyo, Japan and featured none other than Shooto legend Rumina Sato facing off with Belgian born fighter Nico Veressen. Sato, who you may remember as our Technique of the Year holder for 1999, has built his name off legendary battles with top competition like Takanori Gomi, Caol Uno (at the time), Joachim Hansen (again), and Hatsu Hioki. Veressan was 1-0 heading into the bout, with his lone win coming against a fellow 1-0 fighter. Think you know how this one went down? Well, you’d be wrong.

From the start, Sato showcases the mix of mindfuckery and vicious leg attacks that he has become known for, first trying to goad the younger man into a ground match with the infamous Fireside Pose Manuever popularized by Fabricio Werdum before launching into a series of submissions that is nothing short of dazzling. I counted three or four toe holds, an inverted triangle ala Braulio Estima, and maybe a calf slicer attempt thrown in just for fun.


(Check out the rest of the fight videos at IronForgesIron.com) 

An absolute must see bantamweight battle from last weekend’s “Shoot the Shooto 2011″ card, which transpired in Tokyo, Japan and featured none other than Shooto legend Rumina Sato facing off with Belgian born fighter Nico Veressen. Sato, who you may remember as our Technique of the Year holder for 1999, has built his name off legendary battles with top competition like Takanori Gomi, Caol Uno (at the time), Joachim Hansen (again), and Hatsu Hioki. Veressan was 1-0 heading into the bout, with his lone win coming against a fellow 1-0 fighter. Think you know how this one went down? Well, you’d be wrong.

From the start, Sato showcases the mix of mindfuckery and vicious leg attacks that he has become known for, first trying to goad the younger man into a ground match with the infamous Fireside Pose Manuever popularized by Fabricio Werdum before launching into a series of submissions that is nothing short of dazzling. I counted three or four toe holds, an inverted triangle ala Braulio Estima, and maybe a calf slicer attempt thrown in just for fun.

But Veressen is no slouch, offering some solid submission defense, some nasty ground-and-pound, and a Brazilian kick for good measure. At one point, he literally has Sato on the ropes, performing a spot on impersonation of Jackson/Silva 2 in order to evade Veressen’s punches.

Once the fight gets back to the feet, however, Veressen is clearly the fresher of the two. A straight right later and this baby is all over. With the loss, Sato drops to just 2-6 in his last 8 fights, with 4 of those losses coming by way of (T)KO.

As a bonus, I’ve posted the rarely seen match between Sato and Isamu Osugi from an early Shooto event all the way back in 1995, featuring a finish that would make Toby Imada flush with jealousy. Enjoy.

-Danga 

Eddie Bravo: Nick Diaz Will Go Down as One of the Greatest MMA Fighters Ever

There are many sources of wisdom throughout the MMA community which can explain to the fans exactly who and what it is that they are seeing. The fans in MMA are extremely knowledgeable, yet at times to hear a true master qualify certain opinions reassu…

There are many sources of wisdom throughout the MMA community which can explain to the fans exactly who and what it is that they are seeing. The fans in MMA are extremely knowledgeable, yet at times to hear a true master qualify certain opinions reassures them that what they believe is indeed as they see […]

UFC Betting

Eddie Bravo: Nick Diaz Will Go Down as One of the Greatest MMA Fighters Ever

UFC on FOX: 5 Fighters Who Could Join Jon Anik in the Broadcast Booth

The UFC announced last week that long-time host of ESPN’s MMA Live show, Jon Anik will be the new commentator for a second team to cover the hectic schedule of UFC events in the future. With the UFC event schedule being more hectic as it has…

The UFC announced last week that long-time host of ESPN’s MMA Live show, Jon Anik will be the new commentator for a second team to cover the hectic schedule of UFC events in the future. With the UFC event schedule being more hectic as it has ever been, the new team will complement the current team […]

UFC Betting

UFC on FOX: 5 Fighters Who Could Join Jon Anik in the Broadcast Booth

Video: UFC 138 Pre-Fight Press Conference

Sticking with the low key feel of UFC 138, the event’s pre-fight press conference skipped the flashy fighter introductions, swapped Dana White with Marshall Zelaznik, and got right to business. Zelaznik informs us that UFC 138 is a couple hundred seats shy of selling out and has already broken the all-time revenue record for the LG Arena in Birmingham, England. Pretty crazy considering that this is a place that has hosted the likes of Queen, Iron Maiden, David Bowie, and most importantly The Spice Girls. Remember to stop by tomorrow night and check in on our liveblog of the event, and of course thank us for filling up your pockets like they were laundry bags. And have a good weekend, Potato Nation.

-Danga 

Sticking with the low key feel of UFC 138, the event’s pre-fight press conference skipped the flashy fighter introductions, swapped Dana White with Marshall Zelaznik, and got right to business. Zelaznik informs us that UFC 138 is a couple hundred seats shy of selling out and has already broken the all-time revenue record for the LG Arena in Birmingham, England. Pretty crazy considering that this is a place that has hosted the likes of Queen, Iron Maiden, David Bowie, and most importantly The Spice Girls. Remember to stop by tomorrow night and check in on our liveblog of the event, and of course thank us for filling up your pockets like they were laundry bags. And have a good weekend, Potato Nation.

-Danga