“Don’t call it a comeback! No seriously, don’t – I plan on pulling out of my next fight.”
Not to be outdone by One FC, last night’s hilariously named Best of the Best event in Belem, Brazil saw Murilo Rua and Paulo Filho come out of retirement for a pointless, irrelevant rematch. On paper, it’s pretty sad and kind of scary to see Murilo Rua, who looked completely washed up in his retirement fight against Tom Watson at last year’s BAMMA 6, step in the cage for one final fight. But his opponent is Paulo Filho, so it’ll be a small miracle if the troubled Rohypnol loving Brazilian even shows up, yet alone shows up in shape and ready to fight, right? Things can’t get too ugly for Ninja, can they?
Dude…you have no idea. Rua manages to do dick before getting tagged repeatedly by Filho’s sloppy haymakers, which were eerily reminiscent of this. The fight is mercifully stopped just forty eight seconds in, yet the internet is still crying early stoppage. Maybe it’s just me, but I’m okay with letting this one end while Ninja can still brush his teeth without assistance.
“Don’t call it a comeback! No seriously, don’t – I plan on pulling out of my next fight.”
Not to be outdone by One FC, last night’s hilariously named Best of the Best event in Belem, Brazil saw Murilo Rua and Paulo Filho come out of retirement for a pointless, irrelevant rematch. On paper, it’s pretty sad and kind of scary to see Murilo Rua, who looked completely washed up in his retirement fight against Tom Watson at last year’s BAMMA 6, step in the cage for one final fight. But his opponent is Paulo Filho, so it’ll be a small miracle if the troubled Rohypnol loving Brazilian even shows up, yet alone shows up in shape and ready to fight, right? Things can’t get too ugly for Ninja, can they?
Dude…you have no idea. Rua manages to do dick before getting tagged repeatedly by Filho’s sloppy haymakers, which were eerily reminiscent of this. The fight is mercifully stopped just forty eight seconds in, yet the internet is still crying early stoppage. Maybe it’s just me, but I’m okay with letting this one end while Ninja can still brush his teeth without assistance.
And to think, at one point in time these guys were two of Pride’s best middleweights. Age can do a lot to a fighter, I guess (and drug usage probably doesn’t help either). Thanks for proving that Filho’s victory over Rua back at Pride Bushido 10 wasn’t a fluke, guys. Now please never get in the cage again.
In MMA, as in life, you never want to leave it in the hands of the judges. The same rule applies for the absurd parody of a combat sport known as XARM. Up until now, we’ve just thought that XARM involved two guys swinging wild haymakers at each other with their hands tied together, but it turns out that you actually can win or lose by pin — just like in real arm-wrestling. And James Irvin recently learned that the hard way during his depressing promotional debut against XARM veteran Fred “Big Cat” Steen.
Steen successfully pins Irvin’s arm in rounds one and two, meaning that Irvin needs a knockout in round three to win the match. And while the Sandman lands some good shots in that final frame, Steen spends much of the third round hanging back (literally), stalling his way to a decision win. Honestly, these goddamned point-fighters are ruining the sport.
I’d update the James Irvin “Why Me?” timeline, but who even cares at this point. For further viewing, watch this XARM profile of James Irvin, where Irvin explains that he works full-time at the UFC Gym (possibly alongside another legendary UFC striker), incorrectly claims that he still holds the UFC’s fastest knockout record, and bitches about his damn taxes.
In MMA, as in life, you never want to leave it in the hands of the judges. The same rule applies for the absurd parody of a combat sport known as XARM. Up until now, we’ve just thought that XARM involved two guys swinging wild haymakers at each other with their hands tied together, but it turns out that you actually can win or lose by pin — just like in real arm-wrestling. And James Irvin recently learned that the hard way during his depressing promotional debut against XARM veteran Fred “Big Cat” Steen.
Steen successfully pins Irvin’s arm in rounds one and two, meaning that Irvin needs a knockout in round three to win the match. And while the Sandman lands some good shots in that final frame, Steen spends much of the third round hanging back (literally), stalling his way to a decision win. Honestly, these goddamned point-fighters are ruining the sport.
I’d update the James Irvin “Why Me?” timeline, but who even cares at this point. For further viewing, watch this XARM profile of James Irvin, where Irvin explains that he works full-time at the UFC Gym (possibly alongside another legendary UFC striker), incorrectly claims that he still holds the UFC’s fastest knockout record, and bitches about his damn taxes.
Tomasz Narkun and Saparbek Safarov getting into it at the weigh-ins. GIFS from Emelianenko vs. Malikov after the jump. Props: IronForgesIron.com
As we anxiously await the UFC’s debut on Fox, let’s take the time to celebrate an event that did not go nearly as smoothly as we hope UFC on Fox 1 goes: M-1 Challenge 28. The event was initially set to be headlined by a welterweight championship bout between Shamil Zavurov and Rashid Magomedov, but Shamil was forced off of the card with a last minute injury. In place of the championship bout, M-1 quickly booked Aleksander Emelianenko to fight 3-1 prospect Magomed Malikov. Okay, lackluster main event with a guy we at least know of. It could get worse, right? Don’t worry, it did.
Add on the above tussle from the event’s weigh-ins, and things were spiraling out of control pretty quickly. At least we can still count on Aleksander Emelianenko to crush a hapless can, right? Right?
Tomasz Narkun and Saparbek Safarov getting into it at the weigh-ins. GIFS from Emelianenko vs. Malikov after the jump. Props: IronForgesIron.com
As we anxiously await the UFC’s debut on Fox, let’s take the time to celebrate an event that did not go nearly as smoothly as we hope UFC on Fox 1 goes: M-1 Challenge 28. The event was initially set to be headlined by a welterweight championship bout between Shamil Zavurov and Rashid Magomedov, but Shamil was forced off of the card with a last minute injury. In place of the championship bout, M-1 quickly booked Aleksander Emelianenko to fight 3-1 prospect Magomed Malikov. Okay, lackluster main event with a guy we at least know of. It could get worse, right? Don’t worry, it did.
Add on the above tussle from the event’s weigh-ins, and things were spiraling out of control pretty quickly. At least we can still count on Aleksander Emelianenko to crush a hapless can, right? Right?
Back in September 1996, a relatively unknown 350-pounder named Scott Ferrozzo scored an unexpected decision victory against Tank Abbott in the semifinals of the UFC 11 heavyweight tournament. In recent years, the two heavyweight brawlers have expended a good deal of energy talking trash, trying to goad each other into a rematch. Amazingly, the fight was actually put together this year. It was slated to go down October 30th at the Dixie Cowgirls Night Club in Dayton, Ohio, and would feature a no-holds-barred ruleset reminiscent of the UFC’s early days.
Somehow, the venue was moved from Dixie Cowgirls to a random-ass backyard, filled with about two dozen spectators. (Card subject to change!) But true to their words, both fighters showed up and fought their hearts out in an outdoor shirts-on death-match. Here’s the Cliff’s Notes version…
Back in September 1996, a relatively unknown 350-pounder named Scott Ferrozzo scored an unexpected decision victory against Tank Abbott in the semifinals of the UFC 11 heavyweight tournament. In recent years, the two heavyweight brawlers have expended a good deal of energy talking trash, trying to goad each other into a rematch. Amazingly, the fight was actually put together this year. It was slated to go down October 30th at the Dixie Cowgirls Night Club in Dayton, Ohio, and would feature a no-holds-barred ruleset reminiscent of the UFC’s early days.
Somehow, the venue was moved from Dixie Cowgirls to a random-ass backyard, filled with about two dozen spectators. (Card subject to change!) But true to their words, both fighters showed up and fought their hearts out in an outdoor shirts-on death-match. Here’s the Cliff’s Notes version…
0:05: Tank appears. Hopefully that hacking cough won’t be a factor during the fight.
1:43: Fighter introductions. Crowd loyalties are evenly split, although Ferrozzo draws more whistles.
2:29: TANK ABBOTT COMES OUT LIKE A HOUSE ON FIRE, but Ferrozzo backs him up with punches of his own.
2:47: Tank lands some nasty body-shots in a clinch, misses an uppercut, and freaks out like he’s having flashbacks to the Kimbo fight.
2:57: Tank drops Ferrozzo with a straight right and takes the fight to the grass. Tank lands in side-control and it’s ground and pound time.
4:52: Tank lands a big left hand from the top, and poetically, two dead leaves float down into the frame, reminding us that life is fragile, and this fight is really happening in a fucking backyard.
6:24: Ferrozzo rolls to escape the abuse, and Tank goes for a rear-naked. As Scott’s lady friend says, “You’ll never get under that neck.” She’s right.
7:22: Ferrozzo has Tank’s right arm locked down, and Tank is clearly frustrated. As Tank punches with his left, Scott responds to each one with, “Nothin’…nope…” The man is indestructible. Scott’s lady friend calls for head-butts.
8:32: “Whoooo is this fun!” Scott says, as Tank back-mounts him, Deliverance style.
9:20: Tank scores his first knees to the head on the ground. PRIDE neva die, it just fades away.
10:54: Ferrozzo has both of Tank’s hands completely locked down. If this was legit MMA, the ref would call for a standup. But in Ohio Backyard DeathMatch Rules, there are no standups. Tank is exhausted, and his cough returns.
12:28: One of the journalists on hand tries to do the post-fight interview during the fight. After asking “bring back memories, huh guys?” like seven times, Ferrozzo says, “Fuck yeah, we were two young warriors. Now we’re just two old guys.”
14:20: “I can’t be fuckin’ hurt. You see the size of my head?”
15:18: Scott’s chick is getting real ansty. Her man is clearly not following the head-butt-based gameplan that they’d been working on for the last eight weeks.
16:36: ”Fuckin’ pussies in the UFC. Fuck them motherfuckers. Whoooo! [punch] Nothin’! [punch] Nothin’!”
17:09: “I can not be fuckin’ hurt! I can not be fuckin’ hurt! I am a fuckin’ BEAST!”
17:29: And that’s the fight. Or is it? 15 minutes with a three-minute overtime? For Christ’s sake, it’s not over yet? I’m as tired of this as Tank is right now.
19:41: The fight is re-started and they get to sluggin’. Ferrozzo has Tank on his heels.
20:50: They separate after a brief clinch. Tank backs up and doubles over with fatigue. If Ferrozzo had anything left, he’d end this shit right now with a flying knee, but he clearly gassed himself out yelling during the 15-minute opening round.
21:10: Knees and punches from Ferrozzo. Punches and wheezing from Tank. Shrill screeching from Scott’s girlfriend.
21:30: Tank has his hands on his knees facing away from Ferrozzo, and Ferrozzo isn’t doing anything about it. The fix is in. Ferrozzo was clearly paid off to lose to Tank. What other explanation is there? That two 46-year-old men are too tired to fight after 17 minutes? No. I refuse to believe that. Not in this America.
21:40: “You got a minute to win it.” Love that show.
22:40: That’s the fight. “Where else in the world can you see that?” yells a fan. I honestly don’t know. Dayton has the old-man backyard fight scene on lock.
24:36: Tank Abbott def. Scott Ferrozzo via unanimous decision. Plans for a rubber match are shouted out, mostly as a joke. Tank achieves his redemption. Ferrozzo’s girlfriend is eerily silent. Not a good sign, buddy.
Remember: The real champion is the guy on the right. Seriously. Both images via Sherdog.
For those of you who haven’t noticed, Bellator’s Light-heavyweight champion Christian M’Pumbu lost his non-title super fight against journeyman Travis Wiuff on Saturday night. Yes, a champion actually lost one of those super fights that are supposed to show the general public how badass he is. Now that we’ve had an additional twenty four hours to digest the incident since we first reported it yesterday, let’s put the fight into perspective: Wiuff decisively beat Bellator’s light-heavyweight champion, Christian M’Pumbu, in a light-heavyweight fight under the Bellator banner on Saturday night. For his efforts, he has more than likely earned a slot in next season’s light-heavyweight tournament. If he wins said tournament, his reward will be a title shot against the best light-heavyweight in Bellator, Christian M’Pumbu. You know, the guy he just defeated Saturday night.
Wait, what the fucking what?
Having your champion fight in non-title super fights is a dubious idea in the first place. We’ve seen other organizations employ it before with less than spectacular results. Now that the worst case scenario played out at Bellator 55, it’s officially time to give this idea the ban that it deserves.
There are three main reasons why:
Remember: The real champion is the guy on the right. Seriously. Both images via Sherdog.
For those of you who haven’t noticed, Bellator’s Light-heavyweight champion Christian M’Pumbu lost his non-title super fight against journeyman Travis Wiuff on Saturday night. Yes, a champion actually lost one of those super fights that are supposed to show the general public how badass he is. Now that we’ve had an additional twenty four hours to digest the incident since we first reported it yesterday, let’s put the fight into perspective: Wiuff decisively beat Bellator’s light-heavyweight champion, Christian M’Pumbu, in a light-heavyweight fight under the Bellator banner on Saturday night. For his efforts, he has more than likely earned a slot in next season’s light-heavyweight tournament. If he wins said tournament, his reward will be a title shot against the best light-heavyweight in Bellator, Christian M’Pumbu. You know, the guy he just defeated Saturday night.
Wait, what the fucking what?
Having your champion fight in non-title super fights is a dubious idea in the first place. We’ve seen other organizations employ it before with less than spectacular results. Now that the worst case scenario played out at Bellator 55, it’s officially time to give this idea the ban that it deserves.
There are three main reasons why:
You’re setting the fight up for mediocrity. The purpose of these non-title fights isto showcase how dominant the champion can be, yet they are inherently designed to do the exact opposite. As Overeem vs. Werdum taught us, putting your organization’s champion in non-title fights is a recipe for mediocrity because the champion has next to nothing to lose, while the challenger has next to nothing to gain. Aside from the L on his record, what did Christian M’Pumbu have to lose on Saturday night? No matter what the outcome, he’d still be the Bellator Light-heavyweight champion. He’d still get the exact same amount of time off before his next fight. That said fight would still be against the winner of next season’s tournament. He couldn’t move down in Bellator’s rankings with a loss, because he’d still be their champion regardless.
For that matter, what does the challenger have to gain in these fights? A potential title shot, which is nothing he can’t already earn from a victory against a lesser fighter in the organization. Can you really expect either fighter to take the fight as seriously as a title fight? Of course not, which explains why most champions do just enough to win without getting injured during these non-title fights. Believe it or not, unmotivated champion plus challenger with nothing significant to gain is not the formula for a memorable fight.
It’s usually a blatant admission of a squash fight. Can someone explain to me how a victory over Kalib Starnes set up Falaniko Vitale for a fight with Hector Lombard? Better yet, how did a 0-1 record in Bellator put Ryan Roberts across the cage from Bantamweight champion Zach Makovsky? Neither fighter posed any threat to the champion at all whatsoever, as evident by how Hector Lombard toyed with Vitale before knocking him out in the third round and by Makovsky’s first round north-south choke over Roberts. It’s almost like promoters know this when they book these non-title fights with their champions. Oh yeah, the betting lines when champions are involved in non-title fights usually hint at this, too.
As a promoter, it is your job to match your champions up with the best talent available. It’s one thing to allow an up and coming prospect to crush some cans to pad his record, but your organization’s champion has to fight the best, most deserving fighters in order for the belt to mean anything. By the very nature of having somebody fight your champion, you’re telling the fans that he is the best fighter available. But by refusing to put the title on the line, you’re essentially admitting the opposite- that the challenger has no business standing across the cage from the champion. The bottom line is that if the challenger can pull off the upset against the champion, he deserves to be rewarded with the organization’s title. If you don’t want to risk the challenger becoming your organization’s champion- for whatever reason- then don’t book him to fight the champion. Besides…
The fans will consider the winner to be the rightful champion regardless. Those of us who aren’t ashamed to admit to watching some pro wrasslin’ back in the day can tell you: In order to be the man, you gotta beat the man. I’ll wait for you all to “WOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!” before I continue.
After watching Christian M’Pumbu get bullied by Travis Wiuff for the majority of their fight on Saturday night, does anyone actually consider the guy to be the best light-heavyweight in Bellator? Of course not, unless we’re going with the John Wooden mentality that M’Pumbu was on his way to winning the fight but ran out of time (we’re not). So then how can anyone not consider Travis Wiuff the rightful champion? He beat the man. He beat the fighter that Bellator proudly declared to be the best fighter at light-heavyweight. If we’re going along with the mentality that being the organization’s light-heavyweight champion means you’re the best light-heavyweight in the organization, we simply can’t call Christian M’Pumbu the rightful champion after losing a light-heavyweight fight. And if we aren’t going with that mentality, then what’s the point of naming a champion?
I don’t want to end on a sour note for Bellator. I like Bellator. They put on some great, exciting fights. But Bjorn Rebney: I know you read CagePotato. Your promotion is better than this whole “champions in non-title fights” stuff. With your help, we can send this preposterous idea to the YAMMA Pit of Misfit Toys where it belongs.
(“I don’t want to die. But I’m not afraid to. Because what’s left, man? What do you do when they quit chanting your name?” Props: ESPN via willvojtisek)
As the WWF’s “Razor Ramon” in the early 1990s, Scott Hall was one of pro-wrestling‘s biggest stars — a Scarface-inspired bad guy known for his ever-present toothpick, gold chains, and hilarious promos. But in recent years, he’s become better known for his personal deterioration, which culminated in an utterly tragic headlining appearance at a Massachusetts wrestling show in April, two days after having a seizure. Though comparisons to Mickey Rourke’s character in The Wrestler are easy to make, the real-life story of Scott Hall is much darker.
Last night, ESPN’s E:60 profiled Scott Hall’s path from wrestling mega-success to his subsequent battles with addiction and his questionable decision to mentor his son Cody to follow in his footsteps. We don’t go near pro-wrestling very often on this site, but I thought this was heart-wrenching stuff, and worth sharing.
Let’s remember Scott in happier times. After the jump: Razor Ramon’s five greatest WWF video vignettes…
(“I don’t want to die. But I’m not afraid to. Because what’s left, man? What do you do when they quit chanting your name?” Props: ESPN via willvojtisek)
As the WWF’s “Razor Ramon” in the early 1990s, Scott Hall was one of pro-wrestling‘s biggest stars — a Scarface-inspired bad guy known for his ever-present toothpick, gold chains, and hilarious promos. But in recent years, he’s become better known for his personal deterioration, which culminated in an utterly tragic headlining appearance at a Massachusetts wrestling show in April, two days after having a seizure. Though comparisons to Mickey Rourke’s character in The Wrestler are easy to make, the real-life story of Scott Hall is much darker.
Last night, ESPN’s E:60 profiled Scott Hall’s path from wrestling mega-success to his subsequent battles with addiction and his questionable decision to mentor his son Cody to follow in his footsteps. We don’t go near pro-wrestling very often on this site, but I thought this was heart-wrenching stuff, and worth sharing.
Let’s remember Scott in happier times. After the jump: Razor Ramon’s five greatest WWF video vignettes…
“Check my ride, mang. It’s a Cadillac, mang.”
“I through with you now…get outta here, I through witchu!”
“You got a problem with me taking whatever I want?”
“They may as well be tossing their dinero in a wishing well. Like this monkey.”
“Nobody cares where you come from, Chico. They only care where you’re going.”
