Rory MacDonald Plans on Doing His Job For a While

Rory MacDonald and Douglas Lima recently sat down with Robin Black to discuss their rematch at Bellator 232 this weekend at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. They headline Bellator’s back-to-back events on the second night where they ar…

Rory MacDonald and Douglas Lima recently sat down with Robin Black to discuss their rematch at Bellator 232 this weekend at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. They headline Bellator’s back-to-back events on the second night where they are not only fighting for the welterweight title but the Welterweight Grand Prix prize of $1-million […]

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Robin Black Let Go By Canadian Media Outlet Fight Network, What Gives?

The post Robin Black Let Go By Canadian Media Outlet Fight Network, What Gives? appeared first on Cagepotato.

What gives, aye?

With the recent string of UFC layoffs, it would only make sense that the trend would eventually trickle down to other networks. Now it seems even our poutine eating brethren are starting to feel the strain.

In a recent facebook post, former Fight Network color commentator Robin Black put out a statement saying he had been released from the Canadian media outlet earlier this week. Robin says this came as a complete shock as he was helping others grieve over the company’s major layoffs – little did he know, he was also on the  chopping block.

“I got a few calls yesterday about big cuts at Fight Network, about friends being let go. I was sad and scared for them. Then the call came in to me. Heavy scaling back of originally-produced content. Down- sizing. After 8 years, my job is being eliminated.

I’m now a free agent. I don’t have a job today. I’m a bit frightened to be honest. Surprised and frightened. Analyzing The Martial Arts and breaking down fights is not a job for me. It’s a way of life. A lifestyle. It’s who I am. I will continue to do it. I will continue to do my breakdowns, they are a great joy of my life. Where? For whom? I don’t know. I’m hoping those answers reveal themselves soon. There is no one more passionate than me, no one more driven, no one who will work harder on their craft.

My name is Robin Black and i analyze fights and do Colour Commentary on The Art of Combat. For whom?
I’ve got my phone in my hand. I’ll let you know when it rings.
To be continued…”

 

Woah, heavy stuff. But to be honest Robin Black is well known and has worked with damn near every professional in the sport, so we’re sure he’ll find a home soon. If not, just go rogue, in the age of the internet do you really need a boss to make money? In the words of Joe Rogan “Dude…you should start a podcast…”

Surprising as it may seem, not everybody took this news hard. Some people were even happy to see the former Robin Black and the Intergalactic rock band member go. Many MMA fans found his breakdowns a bit too ephemeral, stating he used a lot of lofty words to say a whole lot of nothing. I mean how dare the man refer to mix martial art as…art?

I for one am a fan of anyone who is passionate about the sport. In a Meryl Streep world – outsiders see MMA as just violence – it’s refreshing to see someone who appreciates it as an artform. A never ending personal journey that’s inner just as much as outer. Sure, he can be a bit long winded, but if he gets his rocks off by giving us a great breakdown, then so be it. Let the man have his fun.

Even from an economic standpoint he was good money. Many of his picks lined my pockets for many Sunday brunches. Mimosas anyone? All kidding aside,  the man could predict a fight, and will be missed.

Whether you found him cringe worthy or dy-no-mite, he was part of the close knit MMA family. I still consider this a niche sport so anyone with the knowledge and the passion to give the people what they need is okay in my book.

What really scares me is not so much the firing itself as to what it may imply. Is MMA doing that badly as a sport that major players such as the UFC and Fight Network have to conduct major overhauls? Have the best days of UFC come and gone? Although I don’t believe this to be true, it is food for thought. Could big money fights and short sighted gains be coming back to bite us in the tuckus?

Hit us up on in the comments section below and tell us what you think of the recent firings.

 

Lionel Harris-Spence is a writer, filmmaker, and functioning alcoholic. You can catch him screaming obscenities at flat screens on fight night.

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Quote: Georges St-Pierre In Shape & Ready To Save UFC 206

Former UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre has been gone for a long time now. Even before his post-UFC 167 retirement, ‘GSP’ later revealed he had completely lost the urge to compete. Vacating the belt after a narrow win over Johny Hendricks, St-Pierre left a huge hole in the division. Since that time, rumours and reports

The post Quote: Georges St-Pierre In Shape & Ready To Save UFC 206 appeared first on LowKick MMA.

Former UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre has been gone for a long time now. Even before his post-UFC 167 retirement, ‘GSP’ later revealed he had completely lost the urge to compete. Vacating the belt after a narrow win over Johny Hendricks, St-Pierre left a huge hole in the division. Since that time, rumours and reports of a highly anticipated return have simply not materialised. Refuting the former champ’s comments, Dana White claimed ‘GSP’ did not want to fight again.

Contract disputes with the UFC led to St-Pierre’s heavily reported UFC 206 return falling apart. Apparently the Reebok deal was the main sticking point, and ‘GSP’ claimed he was now a free agent. Again shooting down these comments, the UFC president said St-Pierre was still under contract. Since that whole mess, the Toronto-based UFC 206 card has undergone massive change.

Dana White-Georges St-Pierre-GSP

Is GSP Coming Back at UFC 206?

Seeing stacked fights featuring Donald Cerrone, Matt Brown, Anthony Pettis and Max Holloway added, UFC 206 has also taken some big hits. First Rashad Evans pulled out of his middleweight debut with Tim Kennedy, then we lost the main event yesterday. With Daniel Cormier injured, the event is now headlined by Holloway vs. Pettis, but is there more in store? According to Fight Network’s Robin Black, there could well be:

“I was sat right next to Georges St-Pierre for two and a half hours. One of the things he told me was he is staying in shape for UFC 206. Two weeks out, GSP is in fight shape and he wants to fight, that’s a fact. Can these guys get this thing done? That is in play for sure. (Georges manager) is on the phone to them right now, this is in play. All of a sudden for thirteen days, it’s nothing but (GSP). This mentality that it’s all about the lead up, that’s old school. Even in movies, there’s no proof that it works in this crowded landscape. It’s the hot ten days before that are the hot ten days. He’s training as if he’s fighting on that day.”

Sound familiar? See Nate Diaz vs. Conor McGregor at UFC 196 for a reference point. The full interview with Robin Black and co.:

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[VIDEO] Robin Black Breaks Down Michael Bisping’s Keys to Beating Luke Rockhold on “5 Rounds”

If you haven’t been regularly watching Robin Black’s excellent breakdowns over at The Fight Network, you’ve surely been missing out on some of the most technical fight previews and recaps this side of Jack Slack. A former mixed martial artist himself, Black’s passion for the inner workings of the sport is evident in each and every one of his “5 Rounds” breakdowns, which have become so popular that the UFC recently granted him access to their Fight Pass archives to more thoroughly preview upcoming fights.

This weekend, Michael Bisping takes on Luke Rockhold in the main event of Fight Night 55 in what is sure to be the biggest grudge match since Bisping vs. Le, or maybe Bisping vs Rivera, or Bisping vs… you know what, let’s just say it’s the biggest grudge match since Zimmer vs. Martinez and be done with it. Currently a 3-1 underdog, Bisping is going to need to bring the kind of ferocity he unleashed on Cung Le if he is to even stand a chance against the former Strikeforce champ, who has promised to finish him inside the first round.

Luckily for the Brit, Black is here to point out everything Bisping will need to do against Rockhold to earn his second straight win for the first time in 3 years. Check out his full breakdown above and make sure to follow Black over at The Fight Network’s Youtube page.

J. Jones

If you haven’t been regularly watching Robin Black’s excellent breakdowns over at The Fight Network, you’ve surely been missing out on some of the most technical fight previews and recaps this side of Jack Slack. A former mixed martial artist himself, Black’s passion for the inner workings of the sport is evident in each and every one of his “5 Rounds” breakdowns, which have become so popular that the UFC recently granted him access to their Fight Pass archives to more thoroughly preview upcoming fights.

This weekend, Michael Bisping takes on Luke Rockhold in the main event of Fight Night 55 in what is sure to be the biggest grudge match since Bisping vs. Le, or maybe Bisping vs Rivera, or Bisping vs… you know what, let’s just say it’s the biggest grudge match since Zimmer vs. Martinez and be done with it. Currently a 3-1 underdog, Bisping is going to need to bring the kind of ferocity he unleashed on Cung Le if he is to even stand a chance against the former Strikeforce champ, who has promised to finish him inside the first round.

Luckily for the Brit, Black is here to point out everything Bisping will need to do against Rockhold to earn his second straight win for the first time in 3 years. Check out his full breakdown above and make sure to follow Black over at The Fight Network’s Youtube page.

J. Jones