Tag: Mismatches

Mismatch Alert: Welterweight Phenom Michael Page to Beat Up “Curtious” Curtis Millender at Bellator 133

(Props: UCMMA)

English welterweight Michael “Venom” Page (7-0) has become one of the most consistently thrilling MMA fighters in the world. This is the dude who won his pro MMA debut via tornado kick, in the world’s first-ever “just gonna stand here for a while” knockout (see above). He won his Bellator debut in just 10 seconds. In his second Bellator fight, he did this to Ricky Rainey. His decision win last month over Strikeforce/UFC veteran Nah-Shon Burrell marked the first time that one of Page’s fights made it out of the first round.

Michael Page is a friggin’ monster, and he’s earned a step up in competition. And so, he’s just been booked to compete at Bellator 133: The British Invasion (February 27th; Uncasville, CT) against fast-rising up-and-comer…uh…wait a minute, who the hell is “Curtious” Curtis Millender?

No, we’ve never heard of the guy either, and his nickname deserves its own post. (“My 3rd-grade teacher gave me that name, and it just stuck” — made-up quote from Curtis Millender.) Apparently, he’s a 7-0 fighter from San Berdoo, with all of his fights taking place in the OC Fight Club promotion. He’s a coach at the UFC Gym in Fullerton, and comes from a wrestling background. He only has two stoppage wins to his name, including a 48-second doctor’s stoppage TKO of TUF 16 castmember James Chaney last month.

Okay, maybe it’s not fair to write this dude off as dead meat before we’ve even seen him. Watch the promo video below, and you’ll see Millender throw some flashy attacks that we might describe as “Page-esque in their execution, Joe.” Plus, at the 0:36 mark, he makes his opponent do the stankiest stanky-leg we have ever seen in sanctioned competition. So that’s pretty cool.


(Props: UCMMA)

English welterweight Michael “Venom” Page (7-0) has become one of the most consistently thrilling MMA fighters in the world. This is the dude who won his pro MMA debut via tornado kick, in the world’s first-ever “just gonna stand here for a while” knockout (see above). He won his Bellator debut in just 10 seconds. In his second Bellator fight, he did this to Ricky Rainey. His decision win last month over Strikeforce/UFC veteran Nah-Shon Burrell marked the first time that one of Page’s fights made it out of the first round.

Michael Page is a friggin’ monster, and he’s earned a step up in competition. And so, he’s just been booked to compete at Bellator 133: The British Invasion (February 27th; Uncasville, CT) against fast-rising up-and-comer…uh…wait a minute, who the hell is “Curtious” Curtis Millender?

No, we’ve never heard of the guy either, and his nickname deserves its own post. (“My 3rd-grade teacher gave me that name, and it just stuck” — made-up quote from Curtis Millender.) Apparently, he’s a 7-0 fighter from San Berdoo, with all of his fights taking place in the OC Fight Club promotion. He’s a coach at the UFC Gym in Fullerton, and comes from a wrestling background. He only has two stoppage wins to his name, including a 48-second doctor’s stoppage TKO of TUF 16 castmember James Chaney last month.

Okay, maybe it’s not fair to write this dude off as dead meat before we’ve even seen him. Watch the promo video below, and you’ll see Millender throw some flashy attacks that we might describe as “Page-esque in their execution, Joe.” Plus, at the 0:36 mark, he makes his opponent do the stankiest stanky-leg we have ever seen in sanctioned competition. So that’s pretty cool.


(#BeCurtious is never going to happen.)

In short, Michael Page is being brought along verrrrrry slowwwwwly by Bellator. And I guess that makes sense from a promotional standpoint. If fans are tuning in to watch this guy tornado-kick people to death, you might as well give them what they want.

Report: Chael Sonnen vs. Andre Galvao to Headline Metamoris 4, August 9th in Los Angeles


(Yeah, this should go well. Photo via MMAWeekly)

The fourth installment of submission-only grappling series Metamoris will be headlined by a stunt-match that makes very little sense from a competitive standpoint, but we’ll probably watch it anyway. According to an MMAFighting report, Metamoris 4 (August 9th, Los Angeles) will feature freshly-retired superheel Chael Sonnen vs. highly decorated jiu-jitsu champion Andre Galvao.

Though Sonnen will enjoy a size advantage against Galvao — who has spent most of his competitive grappling career between 181-194 pounds, and used to compete in MMA as a welterweight — this is a talent mismatch of cosmic proportions. Galvao’s accomplishments include seven gold medals at the BJJ World Championships between 2002-2008, and three golds at the ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship, including his first-place finishes in the 88kg and Absolute categories in 2011.

Sonnen has no such pedigree to rely on. His effective ground-game earned him submission wins against Mauricio Rua and Brian Stann later in his UFC career, but keep in mind, this is the guy who used to get subbed by Brazilians on a regular basis. Our prediction: Sonnen sells a lot of tickets, then gets styled on. (And I guess Metamoris doesn’t drug test its competitors, huh.)

Metamoris 4 is also expected to feature a heavyweight match between Josh Barnett and Dean Lister.


(Yeah, this should go well. Photo via MMAWeekly)

The fourth installment of submission-only grappling series Metamoris will be headlined by a stunt-match that makes very little sense from a competitive standpoint, but we’ll probably watch it anyway. According to an MMAFighting report, Metamoris 4 (August 9th, Los Angeles) will feature freshly-retired superheel Chael Sonnen vs. highly decorated jiu-jitsu champion Andre Galvao.

Though Sonnen will enjoy a size advantage against Galvao — who has spent most of his competitive grappling career between 181-194 pounds, and used to compete in MMA as a welterweight — this is a talent mismatch of cosmic proportions. Galvao’s accomplishments include seven gold medals at the BJJ World Championships between 2002-2008, and three golds at the ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship, including his first-place finishes in the 88kg and Absolute categories in 2011.

Sonnen has no such pedigree to rely on. His effective ground-game earned him submission wins against Mauricio Rua and Brian Stann later in his UFC career, but keep in mind, this is the guy who used to get subbed by Brazilians on a regular basis. Our prediction: Sonnen sells a lot of tickets, then gets styled on. (And I guess Metamoris doesn’t drug test its competitors, huh.)

Metamoris 4 is also expected to feature a heavyweight match between Josh Barnett and Dean Lister.

VIDEO: Minowaman May Have Turned a Guy’s Leg Backwards on Saturday

(Props: hirochan60 via MiddleEasy)

As I tweeted earlier, I wish I had a better-quality video of this, and I’m not sure what that says about me. Basically, Ikuhisa “Minowaman” Minowa fought Swedish rookie Goran Jettingstad at Inoki Genome Fight 1 in Tokyo on Saturday, and may have possibly turned his leg completely backwards during a leg lock. I had to watch this crowd-shot footage three or four times to wrap my head around it, but yeah, that seems to be what happened.

Keep in mind that Minowa was competing in his 102nd professional fight that evening, while Jettingstad came into the match with a professional record of 0-0. (Good one, Japan!) Anyway, we’ll update this post if a better video appears. By the way, our old pal Brett Rogers also competed on the Inoki Genome Fight 1 card, where he KO’d Yusuke Kawaguchi in 28 seconds. Video of that knockout is after the jump…


(Props: hirochan60 via MiddleEasy)

As I tweeted earlier, I wish I had a better-quality video of this, and I’m not sure what that says about me. Basically, Ikuhisa “Minowaman” Minowa fought Swedish rookie Goran Jettingstad at Inoki Genome Fight 1 in Tokyo on Saturday, and may have possibly turned his leg completely backwards during a leg lock. I had to watch this crowd-shot footage three or four times to wrap my head around it, but yeah, that seems to be what happened.

Keep in mind that Minowa was competing in his 102nd professional fight that evening, while Jettingstad came into the match with a professional record of 0-0. (Good one, Japan!) Anyway, we’ll update this post if a better video appears. By the way, our old pal Brett Rogers also competed on the Inoki Genome Fight 1 card, where he KO’d Yusuke Kawaguchi in 28 seconds. Video of that knockout is after the jump…

Scratch That — Daniel Cormier Will Compete at UFC 170, Against 4-0 Prospect Patrick Cummins


(Ladies and gentlemen, I give you…Durkin? What does that even mean? / Photo via MMAJunkie)

When Rashad Evans pulled out of his scheduled UFC 170 match against Daniel Cormier, Cormier was devastated. “I don’t want this work to be for nothing,” he told Ariel Helwani. “I’ve killed myself in this gym. I’ve spent ten weeks away from my family…I’d fight Chael in a heartbeat. I’d fight Anthony Johnson in a heartbeat. I’d fight any of those guys. There’s somebody out there who wants to fight. Line ’em up…I just want to fight now.”

And so, in an apparent move to keep him happy, the UFC has allowed Cormier to remain on the February 22nd “Rousey vs. McMann” lineup. No, he won’t be fighting Chael Sonnen, or Rumble Johnson, or anybody else you’ve heard of. Instead, Cormier will fight 4-0 light-heavyweight prospect Patrick Cummins, who will be making his Octagon debut.

A former two-time All American wrestler for Penn State, Cummins trains out of Mark Munoz’s Reign MMA gym in Orange County, and he’s finished all four of his pro fights in the first round. Cormier, of course, is one of the greatest MMA fighters in the world. Be sure to tune in, folks, because you might not see a bigger squash match all year. Seriously, how in the hell did the Nevada State Athletic Commission approve this friggin’ thing? KEITH, GET BACK HERE!

Desperate times call for desperate measures, I guess. Not that Cormier vs. Cummins is going to jack up the buyrate for this zombie card, but at least the entire show won’t rest on Ronda Rousey‘s shoulders now. Your thoughts?


(Ladies and gentlemen, I give you…Durkin? What does that even mean? / Photo via MMAJunkie)

When Rashad Evans pulled out of his scheduled UFC 170 match against Daniel Cormier, Cormier was devastated. “I don’t want this work to be for nothing,” he told Ariel Helwani. “I’ve killed myself in this gym. I’ve spent ten weeks away from my family…I’d fight Chael in a heartbeat. I’d fight Anthony Johnson in a heartbeat. I’d fight any of those guys. There’s somebody out there who wants to fight. Line ‘em up…I just want to fight now.”

And so, in an apparent move to keep him happy, the UFC has allowed Cormier to remain on the February 22nd “Rousey vs. McMann” lineup. No, he won’t be fighting Chael Sonnen, or Rumble Johnson, or anybody else you’ve heard of. Instead, Cormier will fight 4-0 light-heavyweight prospect Patrick Cummins, who will be making his Octagon debut.

A former two-time All American wrestler for Penn State, Cummins trains out of Mark Munoz’s Reign MMA gym in Orange County, and he’s finished all four of his pro fights in the first round. Cormier, of course, is one of the greatest MMA fighters in the world. Be sure to tune in, folks, because you might not see a bigger squash match all year. Seriously, how in the hell did the Nevada State Athletic Commission approve this friggin’ thing? KEITH, GET BACK HERE!

Desperate times call for desperate measures, I guess. Not that Cormier vs. Cummins is going to jack up the buyrate for this zombie card, but at least the entire show won’t rest on Ronda Rousey‘s shoulders now. Your thoughts?

Sad Fight of the Day: “Brawler” Challenges Muay Thai Instructor to a Fight, Immediately Regrets Decision

(Props to our boy b0redj0red for the find.) 

There’s an old proverb that goes “Learn to walk before you run.” I can think of no better way to better describe the ass-whooping you are about to witness. Apparently the gentleman in the blue shorts, packed to the brim with testosterone and hubris, thought that he had acquired the necessary skills to take on the Muay Thai instructor donning the green shorts and Alessio Sakara-esque tatts. Unfortunately, our boy Blue learned everything he needed to know about striking from a Bob Sapp highlight reel. When this kind of dangerous ignorance is combined with an unwillingness to admit defeat until you are slung over the ropes in a heap ala Rampage Jackson, well, you end up slung over the ropes in a heap like Rampage Jackson.

While it’s hard to knock a guy for his fearlessness, we would also like to inform Blue that there is in fact a middle ground between the heavy bag and Tong Po’s cousin to test your skills. Consider that while you’re eating cheeseburgers through a straw for the next week or two.

–J. Jones


(Props to our boy b0redj0red for the find.) 

There’s an old proverb that goes “Learn to walk before you run.” I can think of no better way to better describe the ass-whooping you are about to witness. Apparently the gentleman in the blue shorts, packed to the brim with testosterone and hubris, thought that he had acquired the necessary skills to take on the Muay Thai instructor donning the green shorts and Alessio Sakara-esque tatts. Unfortunately, our boy Blue learned everything he needed to know about striking from a Bob Sapp highlight reel. When this kind of dangerous ignorance is combined with an unwillingness to admit defeat until you are slung over the ropes in a heap ala Rampage Jackson, well, you end up slung over the ropes in a heap like Rampage Jackson.

While it’s hard to knock a guy for his fearlessness, we would also like to inform Blue that there is in fact a middle ground between the heavy bag and Tong Po’s cousin to test your skills. Consider that while you’re eating cheeseburgers through a straw for the next week or two.

–J. Jones

Anderson Silva vs. Thales Leites and the 13 Worst Mismatches in UFC History

For nearly 20 years, the UFC has produced some of the greatest fights in MMA history. Forrest Griffin vs. Stephan Bonnar, Chuck Liddell vs. Wanderlei Silva, Brock Lesnar vs. Randy Couture, Dan Henderson vs. Shogun Rua and anything involving Royce Graci…

For nearly 20 years, the UFC has produced some of the greatest fights in MMA history. Forrest Griffin vs. Stephan Bonnar, Chuck Liddell vs. Wanderlei Silva, Brock Lesnar vs. Randy Couture, Dan Henderson vs. Shogun Rua and anything involving Royce Gracie prior to 2006. However, it’s fairly impossible to weed out these legendary battles without […]

UFC Betting

Anderson Silva vs. Thales Leites and the 13 Worst Mismatches in UFC History