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The Two Sheds Review: Manny Tapia Challenges Miguel Torres at WEC 37

As the Extreme Sports channel continues their regular rotation of old World Extreme Cagefighting shows, we’re now going back to December 2008, as Manny Tapia challenged Miguel Torres for the Bantamweight title at WEC 37.The broadcast began with b…

The broadcast began with bantamweight action as Joseph Benavidez faced Danny Martinez.

An encounter between two debuting fighters proved to be an intriguing, though unspectacular three rounder. Both guys put on a good display of striking, although as the fight went on Benavidez took control with his jab/hook tactics.

Benavidez may have been in control in the third, but as the fight came to an end, Martinez sprang to life with a flurry of blows.

All three judges scored in favour of Benavidez.

The bantamweight action continued as Brian Bowles faced Will Ribeiro.

Bowles put on a great performance here. His striking was crisp and his ground work was good, especially in the third round when he locked in a guillotine choke that Ribeiro barely escaped from.

The Brazilian had his moments, but these didn’t happen that often, and when he went for a take down in the third, Bowles countered with a guillotine. Once again Ribeiro tried to fight it, but it wasn’t long before he tapped out to give Bowles the submission win.

Then it was up to featherweight and two more debuting fighters, as Wagnney Fabiano took on Akitoshi Tamura.

If you ever want to see a good example of effective ground fighting, give this one a look.

It went to the ground early, and while Fabiano put on a great offensive display, Tamura was up to the task with some sound defensive work.

However, the Japanese star just couldn’t get much offence going off his back, with Fabiano escaping from his guillotine attempt by wall-walking to relieve the pressure.

The end came towards the close of the third round as Fabiano locked in an arm triangle for the submission win.

The main event saw Manny Tapia challenging Miguel Torres for the Bantamweight title.

Torres came into this fight with a huge reach advantage, and he used it to good effect, keeping Tapia at bay with his stinging jabs.

Tapia got in a few good body shots, but as the fight entered the second round, Torres took control.

A big right rocked Tapia and sent him to the ground. Another big right sent Tapia down for the second time, with Torres following him down for some ground and pound. It wasn’t long before the referee had seen enough, as he stopped the fight to give Torres the title-retaining TKO win.

In conclusion: another good show from the UFC’s little brother. Although it wasn’t packed with spectacular action, the majority of the fighting was sound, with the performance of Miguel Torres the highlight of the night for me.

So in all, a good show, and once again I’ll say that if you live in Britain and haven’t seen this show yet—don’t worry. Just keep an eye on the Extreme Sports channel. I’m sure it will be on again.

Don’t forget to check out my website at twoshedsreview.blogspot.com.

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UFC 131 Fight Card: Is Shane Carwin vs. Junior dos Santos a Better Fight?

UFC fans got terrible news last week when it was learned that Brock Lesnar would be replaced by Shane Carwin after dropping out of his scheduled UFC 131 fight with Junior dos Santos due to another bout with diverticulitis.While Lesnar dropping out of t…

While Lesnar dropping out of the fight will certainly hurt the buyrate bottom line for the UFC, one could make the case that the main event of UFC 131 is actually better now.

I know what you’re thinking—Shane Carwin lost to Brock Lesnar in his last fight, so how could Carwin vs. Dos Santos be better than Lesnar vs. Dos Santos? But remember, it’s not necessarily the rankings of the fighters that matter. As they always say, “styles make fights.”

At UFC 131, it will have been almost a year since the last time we saw Carwin step into a UFC cage. 12-0 at the time with all 12 wins coming by way of knockout or submission, Carwin was already the UFC interim heavyweight champion and looked to be on a warpath toward the official UFC heavyweight championship.

But it was Lesnar, who was coming off of his first bout with diverticulitis, who stopped the Colorado native’s undefeated streak in its tracks.

Now a year older and a year wiser, Carwin was scheduled to fight UFC newcomer Jon Olav Einemo at UFC 131 before the opportunity to fight Dos Santos arose. Though no fights in MMA are a slam-dunk, this certainly looked like an attempt to get Carwin back in the win column against a 35-year-old fighter with questionable standup skills.

Now lined up to face a fighter who mirrors his 12-1 career record, Carwin will need to significantly change his training regiment as he prepares for the event. Jon Olav Einemo is an absolute wizard on the ground while Junior dos Santos has spent about as little time on the ground in his MMA career as has anyone in the sport.

That said, Dos Santos poses a significantly bigger challenge in the standup game, as he may possess some of the best technical MMA boxing skills of any heavyweight. Dos Santos has won eight of his 12 fights by way of knockout, including memorable highlight-reel knockouts against Stefan Struve, Fabricio Werdum, Gilbert Yvel and Gabriel Gonzaga.

A member of the Black House MMA team, Junior dos Santos works regularly with the likes of Anderson Silva, Jose Aldo and Lyoto Machida, along with a host of other top talents in the world; many of whom are among the very best strikers in their divisions. Dos Santos is no exception.

Months ago, I would’ve laughed at anyone who suggested that training with Steven Seagal at Black House would be an advantage for Dos Santos, but two crazy front kicks to the face from Silva and Machida later, and I’d now be eating my words. It still seems crazy on the surface, but there may actually be some legitimacy to the hype.

Regardless, the UFC 131 main event will feature two big-time strikers who have the ability to knockout anyone in the sport, which could very well lead to a standup war the likes of which is rarely seen in MMA, with two fighters who may never even look to bring the fight to the ground.

While the jiu-jitsu fan in me wants to shake my fist at this kind of technique, I know that the overwhelming majority of fans are looking for the big knockout to tell their friends about the next day. They may cheer a beautiful transition on the ground or a nice submission, but those things are rarely remembered when fans talk about the “best fights ever.”

I’m always reminded of the standup war at The Ultimate Fighter 1 Finale, when Stephan Bonnar and Forrest Griffin fought in an epic battle to determine who would be the victor and earn himself a UFC contract. While Griffin won the fight, many fans will always remember this war as one that helped get them more excited about the sport, or even expose them to the sport in the first place.

It wasn’t the most technical battle and it was fought on the feet practically the entire time, but this fight is one that is still talked about now over six years after it happened.

Shane Carwin vs. Junior dos Santos is sure to be a more technical battle than that was, but it does have the potential to have the same type of impact for fans.

So don’t tune out just because Brock Lesnar’s name is no longer on the marquee. If Carwin has worked on his cardio enough to last the full three rounds without gassing like he did in the second round of his fight with Lesnar, we may actually be looking at a potential Fight of the Year candidate in the main event at UFC 131.

UFC 130 Dos Santos vs. Carwin: Fight Card, News, Predictions, Results and More!

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UFC: Hey Quinton Jackson, Where’s Rampage?

Quinton Jackson, the man dubbed Rampage, was once one of the most feared mixed martial artists at 205 pounds. His trademark howl was accompanied by slams that once knocked out Ricardo Arona at Pride Critical Countdown 2004 on June 20 of that year. His wrestling was relentless and he had no doubt power in both fists that knocked out the likes of Chuck Liddell, Wanderlei Silva and Kevin Randleman, just to name a few.

However, that was then and this is now. I used to love Rampage. When he was signed to the UFC back in 2006, I was ecstatic. I immediately thought about a rematch with Chuck Liddell and was thinking world championships for him in the most prominent mixed martial arts organization in the world.

He did win the light heavyweight title at the expense of Chuck Liddell in their rematch of their Pride meeting back in 2007 at UFC 71, which saw Jackson knock Liddell out in the first round to capture the UFC Light Heavyweight Title. He then went on to defend it once against Dan Henderson in a historical battle that saw him unify the UFC and Pride Light Heavyweight Championships in a hard fought five round battle at UFC 75 in London, England. He then lost it to Forrest Griffin at UFC 86 on July 5, 2008.

Since then, Rampage has faded. He went on to avenge his two losses against Wanderlei Silva at UFC 92 in December of 2008 with a first round knockout, however since then, where is he?

He fought Keith Jardine at UFC 96 and won a three-round decision. Then, went on to lose a decision to Rashad Evans, a fight that was long-awaited and one of the biggest grudge matches in UFC history. In between that time, Jackson starred in the A-Team movie.

That’s where it all went wrong. Jackson has since then stated that acting is his next career choice, and quite frankly, mixed martial arts isn’t that important to him anymore. He has explicitly stated that when movies start paying him as much as MMA does, he’s done.

Really Jackson? You’re going to leave behind what has made you famous and what the fans love you for? I don’t look down on you because you want to act. I do because of how you’re going about the rest of your career.

In the cage, it’s showing that you simply don’t care anymore. You say that you’re just here to get paid, well you’re doing a great job of living up to that. The very reason they call you Rampage, the slams, the power, the knockouts, they aren’t there anymore. You fought a lackluster fight against Evans, one which you were supposed to go and annihilate the man you hate. You fought another lackluster fight against Machida, and won a decision that many thought you lost.

You don’t like it when journalists press you with hard questions, you aren’t as engaged in MMA interviews as you once were and you simply don’t seem that interested in talking about your fights. You say it’s about the money now, you say that you’re only here to fight and leave, and you’re showing it.

I find it hard for myself to continue to be a fan of you. I love this sport and I love fighters who love the sport just as much as I do. You just don’t anymore and you’re no longer the Rampage that I started to like years ago. You’re no longer the Rampage that came into the UFC in 2007 after tearing the ring apart in Pride. You’re no longer the Rampage that came into knockout people and win titles and fight to be the very best. Simply put, you’re no longer Rampage.

Now that you’ve recently come out and said you’ve only got a couple of more years left in the sport and you plan on retiring for good at age 35, I suppose we’ll never see the Rampage that we all have come to love. It’s sad, but I suppose we have to move on just as much you have.

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UFC: Zuffa Offering Insurance to Fighters and How It Furthers the Sport

On May 9, Zuffa announced that they were beginning to offer insurance policies for their fighters under contract for injuries that are sustained in either in-ring competition and also injuries that are suffered outside of the cage in training.Houston i…

Houston insurance agency HCC Insurance Holdings has been contracted to provide the coverage. The policy, which goes into effect June 1, 2011, is the first of its kind that covers a large group of combat athletes and is the first for Zuffa.

Previously, Zuffa was not liable for injuries suffered in training and fighters were responsible for covering their own medical expenses.

The policy covers all UFC and Strikeforce athletes whether they reside in the United States or outside of the country. Zuffa covers all premiums for the insurance and is at no cost to the fighters. Athletes are allowed to use up to $50,000 annually for coverage while they are under contract with Zuffa and covers the athletes even if they are not scheduled to compete in the near-future.

The policy also covers dental and life insurance for the fighters as long as they are under contract—also at no cost to the athletes. Overall, the policy covers doctor services, laboratory tests, emergency medical evacuation and physical therapy.

No one can deny that this is a huge step for the sport of mixed martial arts. Not only for the athletes that compete inside of the cage, but also in the efforts to further the sport into the mainstream spotlight.

Everyone that is a fan of MMA, and maybe even if they’re not, have heard the critics and what they have to say about the sport. Their claims of it not being safe, being cockfighting and making it out to a brutal spectacle that has no oversight have gone on for years, even after the sport exploded onto the scene in 2005 and has since grown into what it is today.

Fans of the sport have defended it against these claims and know full well that the sport they enjoy and love isn’t a bloodsport with no regard for human life or sportsmanship and respect. They know the integrity of the sport and know the athletes they watch compete are educated and well-respected and trained athletes that love the sport just as much as they do.

There is no doubt that this is the big step that mixed martial arts needed to help them in their fight for acceptance and to show those who doubt that this is more than a spectacle. This is a sport. This is an event that millions upon millions around the globe love and respect. And, for those who compete, this is a lifestyle.

This just goes to show that this sport is just like the others out there, it respects its athletes that put it all on the line.

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Strikeforce: Could a Win Rank Alistair Overeem as MMA’s No. 1 Heavyweight?

With the quarterfinals of the Strikeforce Heavyweight Gran Prix: Overeem vs. Werdum set to kick off in one month on June 18, 2011, many fans—along with members of the media—are wondering if a win over Fabricio Werdum will catapult Alistair …

With the quarterfinals of the Strikeforce Heavyweight Gran Prix: Overeem vs. Werdum set to kick off in one month on June 18, 2011, many fans—along with members of the media—are wondering if a win over Fabricio Werdum will catapult Alistair Overeem into the No. 1 MMA heavyweight slot.

Since 2007, Overeem has gone undefeated in his last 10 fights, with one being a no-contest due to an unintentional groin strike against Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic.

He is set to face Werdum in a highly anticipated rematch. Overeem lost to Werdum via kimura submission in 2006.

Both fighters have come a long way since their last fight. Werdum made history in his last bout by being the first man to officially defeat—and the only one to submit—the Russian legend, Fedor Emelianenko last year in December of 2010.

Overeem defeated Todd Duffee by KO only a few months prior to Werdum defeating Emelianenko. So, it’s only natural that these two meet once again, and this time to possibly be named the No. 1 heavyweight in MMA.

Should Overeem defeat Werdum, the only way to determine if he is worthy of being called the No. 1 heavyweight in MMA is if he fights the current and undefeated UFC heavyweight champion, Cain Velasquez.

I placed Overeem at No. 2 on my top 10 heavyweights in MMA, only topped by Velasquez.

Here’s a very interesting fact that some of you may not know; Overeem has more wins by submission than he does by KO or decision. In fact, he has a remarkable 19 submission victories out of 46 matches.

Because he is such a powerful and dominant striker, many people discount Overeem’s underrated ground game.

A fight between Overeem and Velasquez could quite possibly turn out to be fight of the decade.

Unfortunately, that is most-likely a good ways off, if it ever happens.

The stars would have to align just right and there are too many variables involved.

Overeem would first have to defeat Werdum. The winner of Henderson vs. Fedor would stay in the Strikeforce heavyweight mix. If Werdum beats Overeem, he will definitely drop in rank.

If Overeem takes on and defeats all comers and if no one gets injured, he could then consider making the jump to the UFC, which would make sense.

Then, there’s JDS vs. Carwin. Should one of them defeat Velasquez, that would bring a whole new set of variables to the mix, and we can’t count Brock Lesnar out just yet.

Of course, anything could change at any given moment, but for now the No. 1 heavyweight in all of MMA is the UFC’s Cain Velasquez.

While Overeem has certainly put in his dues and holds an impressive record of wins over many of the sport’s A-list fighters, until he fights the top five UFC heavyweights, we may never truly know.

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Chael Sonnen: Even with the Bad, We Can Remember the Good

In the past year, Chael Sonnen has become one of the most popular faces in Mixed Martial Arts.An accomplished wrestler, Sonnen found success during his career despite a weakness against submissions. Sonnen is perhaps best known for his ability to trash…

In the past year, Chael Sonnen has become one of the most popular faces in Mixed Martial Arts.

An accomplished wrestler, Sonnen found success during his career despite a weakness against submissions. Sonnen is perhaps best known for his ability to trash talk and hype up a fight, and became famous for his quotes in the months leading up to his fight against Anderson Silva.

Many people dislike Sonnen, and while everyone is entitled to their own opinion, they can’t deny his amazing talent.

In Sonnen’s bout with Silva, the biggest of his career to date, he took Silva to the limit. There were reports that Silva had a broken rib going into the fight, but afterward it was revealed that Sonnen broke Silva’s rib in the first round. Sonnen caught Anderson with some vicious shots, and landed takedowns in nearly every round. If Sonnen hadn’t been caught in a triangle in the fifth round, he would have likely won the fight via a 50-43 decision.

Sonnen didn’t get the job done, but he gave it his all. He may have lost the fight, but in the weeks that followed the loss turned out to be the least of his worries.

When it came out that Sonnen had failed his post-fight drug test, it was bad news for both Sonnen and the MMA community in general. It appeared that Sonnen and his doctor would clear his record in a meeting with the California State Athletic Commission, but the case seemed fishy. Sonnen’s suspension was lowered to six months, but suspicions on both sides remained after the trial was rescheduled several times.

Today, Sonnen met with the CSAC, who didn’t like what he had to say. His suspension was made indefinite, and according to Dana White, Sonnen is done in the UFC if the commission refuses to reinstate his license. Now that it appears Sonnen’s days in the UFC are done, let’s take a look back at some of the highlights.

Sonnen holds a career record of 25-11-1. While he never technically won a major championship in his career, Paulo Filho forfeited his belt to Sonnen in a rematch of a previous bout.

After starting his career 14-6-1, he was given a shot at Ronato Sobral at UFC 55, which was billed as a light heavyweight bout. In that bout, Sonnen dominated the first round standing up and landed multiple take downs, but in the second round was caught in a rear triangle choke.

After posting a 1-2 record in the UFC, Sonnen was cut from the promotion. After going on to win five matches in a row, he was rewarded with his title shot against Filho and went on to lose via submission.

After winning his next two fights, Sonnen headed back to the UFC where he lost to Damian Maia through with a triangle choke. Next, he defeated Dan Miller and Yushin Okami, which earned him a chance to face Nate Marquardt in a title eliminator bout. Marquardt wanted his rematch with Silva, but Sonnen wanted a shot as well.

The fight took place at UFC 109. Sonnen outclassed Marquardt in every aspect of the fight, leading to a literal beatdown. It was Sonnen’s best fight of his career, start to finish, and after getting the win and fight of the night honors, he appeared ready for his shot at taking down Silva.

Leading up to his title shot, Sonnen showed the personality and humor that made him one of the more popular UFC fighters of the past year. His fight against Marquardt earned him a great deal of respect in the MMA community, which he sadly went on to lose following his failed drug test.

Chael Sonnen made some mistakes, but so does everyone. Does he deserve special treatment? I won’t say he does, but in my personal opinion he’s paid his dues.

What does the future hold for Sonnen if UFC releases him? With his athletic ability and hilarious personality, I could see pro wrestling in his future. If he wants to stick with legitimate fighting, going to Japan or signing with M-1 global aren’t out of the question.

Sonnen has a few solid possibilites. He may indeed decide to retire and work as a trainer, but whatever Sonnen does, I’m sure he will do it well.

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