Tag: General

Fallout Bellator 165: Did Michael Chandler Deserve His Win Over Ben Henderson?

Yes I’m a little late with this one but nevertheless, it’s still a topic that should be touched upon. These days it seems that judging mixed martial arts matches are getting more and more difficult. While one judge may focus on damage inflicted, others will focus on the technical aspects of the fight while yet another may be focused on how much control one fighter established over another. No matter how you slice it, things are as confusing as ever, even with the revamped judging criteria. The match up between Michael Chandler and Ben Henderson demonstrates that point perfectly.

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Yes I’m a little late with this one but nevertheless, it’s still a topic that should be touched upon. These days it seems that judging mixed martial arts matches are getting more and more difficult. While one judge may focus on damage inflicted, others will focus on the technical aspects of the fight while yet another may be focused on how much control one fighter established over another. No matter how you slice it, things are as confusing as ever, even with the revamped judging criteria. The match up between Michael Chandler and Ben Henderson demonstrates that point perfectly.

The match started out heavily in Michael Chandler’s favor, landing a bunch of solid punches on Henderson’s chin. The former UFC lightweight champion survived the onslaught to come back and arguably take the second round. By the end of third frame however, Chandler did enough to get ahead in the score cards with some well placed strikes and wrestling.

Then round four begun.

Round four saw Chandler taking down Henderson multiple times only to find himself getting beat up from the bottom and defending multiple submission attempts. While many judges score takedowns heavily, the work that Henderson put in, particularly the ground and pound, was certainly more damaging and threatening than what Chandler offered up. This is where judging criteria becomes more murky and less of a science.

With Henderson taking the last round the fight was truly a toss up. Chandler was declared the winner but not without some controversy. MMA judging will always be an issue it seems and in the case of Chandler vs Henderson it reared its ugly head once again. One thing is certain, it’s a fight that should definitely be run back. Not just for the sake of the fans and the fighters, but to build even more interest and exposure for Bellator.

How did you score Michael Chandler vs Ben Henderson?

Jonathan Salmon is a writer, martial arts instructor, and geek culture enthusiast. Check out his Twitter and Facebook to keep up with his antics.

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MMA Hour: B.J. Penn vs. Yair Rodriguez In Phoenix, CM Punk, and more!

B.J. Penn has been trying to make his comeback for a while now. First against, Dennis Siver, then against Nik Lentz, and recently against Carlos Lamas – all bad fights for him in ascending order. But now it seems the UFC have outdone themselves with the most recent rumor being Penn vs. Yair Rodriguez at UFC Phoenix. If you don’t know who Yair Rodriguez is, you will. The 145lb fighter is 24 year old menace who’s high flying kicks mimic a video game more than real life. The Mexican fighter and Tae Kwon Do blackbelt has been making his all his opponents look basic with a headkick K.O. of Andre Fili and a split decision win against Alex Caceres.

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But why?

B.J. Penn has been trying to make his comeback for a while now. First against, Dennis Siver, then against Nik Lentz, and recently against Carlos Lamas – all bad fights for him in ascending order. But now it seems the UFC have outdone themselves with the most recent rumor – Penn vs. Yair Rodriguez at UFC Phoenix. If you don’t know who Yair Rodriguez is, you will. The 145lb fighter is 24 year old dynamic striker with kicks that mimic a video game. The Mexican fighter and Tae Kwon Do blackbelt has been making his all his opponents look basic with a headkick K.O. of Andre Fili and a split decision win against Alex Caceres.

 

 

While “The Prodigy” will always have a special place in our hearts, his role in the UFC at this point is mainly for entertainment value. There’s really no point in giving him hungry lions like Ricardo Lamas and Yair Rodriguez. There are a myriad of people he can face instead and his name alone will sell fights, no need to kill him in the process. Does UFC have an angle? Maybe, but it remains a mystery at this point. UFC Phoenix will air on FS1 January 15th.

 

Also on the MMA hour it seems CM Punk may be making a comeback. The 0-1 welterweight fighter is in talks with Dana White on booking a second fight. While nothing is set in stone, the former WWE star is currently training out of Milwaukee under Duke Roufus and is eyeing a match up as soon as January.

To be honest, this man is delusional. Throughout the interview he referees to his loss as “the takedown” as if the initial mistake was the reason why he lost. In my opinion, even if the first takedown didn’t land he would’ve been beaten up on the feet or taken down at will throughout the fight. Nothing in that match suggested that he could stop Mickey Gall from doing whatever he wanted to do. I get the feeling he would’ve been outmatched in every aspect of the game. But maybe I’m reading into things, watch the interview and you be the judge.

 

 

1 p.m. ET — We’ll recap a busy weekend in mixed martial arts.

1:25 p.m. – Matt Mitrione will talk about his upcoming fight against Fedor Emelianenko and how it came together.

1:45 p.m. – Lyoto Machida will discuss his 18-month suspension from USADA and what’s next for him.

2:05 p.m. — Owen Roddy, Conor McGregor’s striking coach, will look back at McGregor’s win over Eddie Alvarez.

2:25 p.m. – Tim Kennedy will talk about getting pulled from UFC 205 and fighting next month in Toronto.

3:05 p.m. – Gegard Mousasi will look back on his win over Uriah Hall this weekend in Belfast.

3:25 p.m. – CM Punk will reflect on his UFC debut two months ago and talk about what the future holds for him.

4:10 p.m. – Mark Hunt will update us on his fighting future after voicing his displeasure recently with the UFC and USADA.

 

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Mic’d Up: All The Things You Didn’t Hear Inside The Octagon At UFC 205

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“I Just…I Don’t Have It Anymore”

 

The above quote is from former women’s bantamweight champ Miesha Tate. After a lackluster performance against Raquel Pennington, Miesha Tate stated to boyfriend and coach Bryan Caraway that she just  didn’t “have it anymore”.

“I’m not showing up anymore in there, I don’t care enough.”

“I just…I don’t have it anymore.”

 

Khabib Nurmagomedov also made an appearance trying to get fellow lightweight Michael Johnson to give up during their performance as he stated “I need to fight for the title, you know this, I deserve…” . Johnson was in a precarious position to say the least, and many fighters would’ve given up, but the tough as nails Johson hung in there until the fight was called.

 

As far as Miesha Tate, the writing was on the wall. She looked bewildered in her last performance against current champ Amanda Nunes and her performance against Raquel wasn’t much better. Her striking looked labored and clunky, and ultimately was ineffective. She reminds me of a Michael Bisping in the fact they’ve been in the game so long you just wanted to see them get a belt. Now that she achieved that, there’s not much else for her to prove. She has a large social media following, and Dana White has already offered her a job elsewhere in the company.

Will Khabib get his title shot? Nobody knows, but at least Michael Johnson knows he’s serious.

Check out the video below and tell us what you think.

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Khabib Nurmagomedov: If I don’t Get My Title Shot Next I Have Different Plan I Won’t Be Fighting In UFC

Well it seems like Khabib Nurmagomedov is finally taking a hard stance on his UFC future. After putting in a dominant performance against Michael Johnson at UFC 205, the Russian wrecking machine made it very evident what he wants next.

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Well it seems like Khabib Nurmagomedov is finally taking a hard stance on his UFC future. After putting in a dominant performance against Michael Johnson at UFC 205, the Russian wrecking machine made it very evident what he wants next. Besides screaming at Dana White during his match, demanding for a title shot, he went on the microphone after his win and once again staked his claim to the UFC lightweight title. But it seems like he’s taking his case to Twitter and letting everyone know exactly how he feels about his future in MMA.

When you sit back and think about it, Khabib has a pretty strong claim for the lightweight title shot. He’s undefeated in the UFC and has put on some pretty impressive and dominant performances. No one is denying his ability. However, in terms of selling tickets, casual fan notoriety, and his place in the division, no one should be surprised if the UFC decides to go another way. It wouldn’t necessarily be fair, but since the sale of the company this past company to WME-IMG, choosing business over what the rankings dictate should come as no surprise to anyone.

There’s also the fact that new UFC lightweight champion Conor McGregor has decided to take a bit of time off from the sport. Upon his return there will be a ton of options awaiting him. He could have a rematch with Interim featherweight champion Jose Aldo, could complete his trilogy with Nate Diaz for the lightweight belt, or could even see himself facing off against Tony Ferguson.

Whatever the case may be, the odds do seem stacked against Khabib heading into the future. With this announcement from the proud Russian fighter, don’t be surprised if UFC 205 is the last time we see Khabib Nurmagomedov inside the octagon.

Do you think the UFC will give Khabib Nurmagomedov his title shot?

Jonathan Salmon is a writer, martial arts instructor, and geek culture enthusiast. Check out his Twitter and Facebook to keep up with his antics.

 

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Conor McGregor And Stephen Thompson Show That Traditional Martial Arts Are The Future

UFC 205 is in the record books and it was an event for the ages. We saw Conor McGregor become the first fighter in UFC history to hold two belts in two different weight classes at the same time. It’s quite the accomplishment to say the least and though the Irishman may talk a whole lot of trash, he’s able to back it up with an excellent overall game. Stephen Thompson also acquitted himself well in the co-main event against champ Tyron Woodley. What do all three of these men have in common?

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UFC 205 is in the record books and it was an event for the ages. We saw Conor McGregor become the first fighter in UFC history to hold two belts in two different weight classes at the same time. It’s quite the accomplishment to say the least and though the Irishman may talk a whole lot of trash, he’s able to back it up with an excellent overall game. Stephen Thompson also acquitted himself well in the co-main event against champ Tyron Woodley. What do all three of these men have in common? Their fighting styles all have influences from traditional martial arts.

McGregor’s decimation of Eddie Alvarez wasn’t simply captured by swinging his left hand and hoping for the best. It took timing, distance, anticipation, all traits of traditional martial arts like karate and taekwondo. McGregor’s style and movement can be directly linked to boxing and karate or taekwondo and you can see that in his movement. Conor McGregor is unique in his striking style because his footwork allows him to get in and out like karate, but his boxing skills allows him to strike in the pocket with comfort and ease. McGregor’s movement allows him to appear like he’s there to be hit, but a quick transition to his traditional movement sees him shooting out of range and returning with blistering fast combinations ala karate. But Conor McGregor isn’t the only man to infuse traditional arts into their style.

Stephen Thompson’s entire game is based on point karate. The bouncing, the in and out movement, all of it stems from karate. But where Conor McGregor was originally a boxing who mixed in karate into his striking style, Thompson is a karate stylist who learned how to box and box well. Karate can be very in and out on a linear plain. What Thompson has done is utilize that blitzing skill and learn to exit on another angle in order to counter his opponent. When he’s in the pocket, uppercuts, hooks and crosses are all in his arsenal making him as much a threat at short range as he is at long range. But Tyron Woodley also showcased that he has a bit of karate skills himself. His ability to close the distance with his own blitz showcases his own skills that can be traced back to traditional martial arts.

Karate is all about hitting and not getting hit and while that may not be the case at all times, the men involved in the main and co-main event of UFC 205 have been able to demonstrate just how effective that blitzing style can be. Muay Thai kickboxing still has its place in the sport and always will. But I’m a sport where constant movement and footwork could be the difference of being taken down or staying on your feet, traditional martial arts movement and skills is going to play a major factor going forward and could be the remedy for success in the future of MMA competition.

What’s your thoughts on karate and other traditional martial arts?

Jonathan Salmon is a writer, martial arts instructor, and geek culture enthusiast. Check out his Twitter and Facebook to keep up with his antics.

 

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The Aftermath: Eddie Alvarez Addresses Fans After Disappointing Loss

Shoulda…coulda…didn’t. Saturday night was a historic milestone for the UFC to say the least. The company’s biggest star knocked out the light heavyweight champion on top of the biggest card to become a multiple title holder. But for every winner there’s a loser, for every victory there is a defeat. Unfortunately for Eddie Alvarez he […]

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Shoulda…coulda…didn’t.

Saturday night was a historic milestone for the UFC to say the least. The company’s biggest star knocked out the light heavyweight champion on top of the biggest card to become a multiple title holder. But for every winner there’s a loser, for every victory there is a defeat. Unfortunately for Eddie Alvarez he was on the later end of that statement, and lost his lightweight title in stunning fashion. After the fight he clearly looked disappointed as he felt he could’ve done more to stick to the script. Earlier today he released an instagram message to his fans reflecting on what went wrong during the fight.

 

Congrats to Connor and his camp on an amazing accomplishment , these guys continue to deliver ,hats off to you fellas . As for my performance , the only thing I can honestly say was I fucking blew it … I did nothing I trained , I did the complete opposite of what we planned on a daily basis for 10 weeks . To sum up our plan in a sentence it was “Go left and mostly wrestle ” instead I circled into his left hand and mostly boxed . Fighting the way I did was a for sure death sentence and the result was fitting . I say it all the time, there is really small margin for error at this level and I paid for my mistakes . I managed to make it to the biggest stage and audience in my long career and fucked it all up when I arrived , my heart sincerely hurts and when I dwell on it I fill up with regret and anger . If there was a list of what not to do against an Opponent of this nature I did them all on Saturday . I am disappointed in myself and this is not a reflection of my coaches , training Partners , and the endless hours of training I commit to this sport . Every Time I get into the cage I negotiate being vulnerable and possibly embarrassed against the opportunity to do something great and Grow more . I always choose the latter regardless of the uncomfortability and anxiety it brings to me , I think this choice is the only reason I ever succeeded in the first place . I thought in my head at least making a lot of money would make me happy but I am having a lot of trouble enjoying myself regardless of the check thats going to be written , I am very uneasy and discontent for the most part . I am lucky to have my wife and my child at a time like this to help me laugh and smile and let me know everything’s gonna be all right , they are my saving Grace , without them I am a shell of a man . Besides the outcome I thoroughly enjoyed fight week and the lead up , it was a lot fun . I have never defined myself off one win and I’ll never define myself off one loss ,I simply had a bad night .. I’ll have the opportunity again to have a good one ,, and I’ll make the Walk to see what I got Everytime . Thanx for listening -EA

A photo posted by Eddie Alvarez (@ealvarezfight) onNov 15, 2016 at 7:20am PST

 

A candid and real guy, the heart of the “Underground King” was on full display fight night when after getting knocked down multiple times he kept getting back up to try and muster an attack. Ultimately Conor was too much for the Philly wrestler and the fight was stopped at 3:04 of round 2. What’s next for Eddie Alvarez? while nobody knows for sure we can bet he’ll be back with a vengeance as he seems to be looking better and better each fight since being signed to the promotion.

As for Eddie Alvarez’s adjustments, ultimately they wouldn’t have mattered. McGregor’s striking was too fast and too precise for Eddie as “Mystic Mac” predicted. Eddie actually tried a couple of takedowns but they didn’t work. Should he have tried them earlier? Maybe, but the redeeming qualities for Eddie were slim saturday night and McGregor just looked like the better man. If you can survive his power, you’ve got a chance, if not it’s lights out – you’re going to get hit, but how will your body react?

This is what concerns me when it comes to Conor vs. Khabib. Sure, if Khabib gets him to the ground it’s going to be a blanket party. The problem is, that’s a big “if.” We’ve already seen him look vulnerable in the stand up with Michael Johnson, imagine what Conor will do to him?

What do you guys think of Eddie Alvarez’s statements and the future of the lightweight division as a whole? Hit us up with your opinions below.

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