RingofHonorGuard

<p>TNA is a joke right now, quite honestly.</p><p> </p><p> Jeff Jarrett and Kurt Angle are probably having the most embarrassing angle in pro wrestling history; and not because of the "controversy" of it... But because it's just a bastardized version of what Heyman created with Raven and Sandman years and years behind us. And the matches between Jeff/Angle don't even have any real hate vibes or over-the-top violence that makes you think "Wow, maybe this is real."</p><p> </p><p> Abyss sucks one week, the next week he's burying the X-Division. If having a monster that gets his teeth knocked out and continues to work reward is killing a division that people strongly want to see more of... then you really have to question what these people are doing. I think Katt Williams of stand-up fame could run this company better than Carter and company.</p><p> </p><p> Christopher Daniels is just randomly running around. Some weeks he's great, some weeks they just book him to suck. Either give the guy a push and see if he can cut it or let him go back to Ring of Honor full time... They're always taking half of a dump with him and they can just never quite finish the product and wipe.</p><p> </p><p> Bischoff is on TV way too much, and his charisma is NOT what it used to be. He just sounds like a rich guy who pulled one over when he's out there, and to me really seems apathetic(and why shouldn't he?) </p><p> </p><p> And if the rumors are true and we're going to see a Ric Flair/Sting feud as the main event on TNA PPV.... Wow, just wow... Think back to the last real match they had on the very last Nitro... Talk about tarnishing a legacy of matches. Think about how bad that's going to be 10 years later.</p><p> </p><p> I loved TNA. But now I almost think it's just a company that's around to make WWE look less horrid.</p>

No doubt, but you're comparing a Brazilian boxing machine to Rashad Evans. Little Nog is a way more balanced fighter than Rashad will likely ever be. The fact is Little Nog is a great puncher and he was never able to land anything of substance.. What makes you think someone who's much more uncoordinated and never had any long-length boxing training can? People are basing Rashad's punching power and countering ability over one punch, and that's his highlight over Liddell... Taking nothing away from Chuck but how many times did he get laid out at the end? Regardless, I stand by initial argument... Little Nog hit Davis with a couple of light counters and never landed anything with power not because he didn't try, but because he couldn't. Rashad is going to get roughed against the fence in the first, finally taken down in the second, and then subbed in the third after Evans gets frustrated and makes a dumb mistake.

Phil Davis could wrestle his way to a decision over Rashad. The guy has ridiculous youth reflexes and athletic ability, something the older and more battle-scarred Rashad can't 100% say. His jiu jitsu is way ahead of Rashad's offensively. But, find me a clip of someone hitting Davis flush and I'll buy into him mugging Phil. Rashad loads up his big punches for days and Davis has some of the best head movement in the division, so it seems to me if anyone has an advantage it's Mr. Wonderful.

So much for the Gomi/Barboza rumor... Barboza's next task if Ross Pearson. That sounds like a fight Barboza should be able to win, but Pearson is always a threat.

Anyone that talks about Rua and Jones fight, and compares it to Rua's future fights obviously missed the biggest ordeal with that fight: The massive size difference. Rua looked like a 155 pounder next to Jones. I'm looking for Rua to dispatch Forrest just as easily as Anderson did.

Ricardo Arona is pretty much what you just described ampulator, or at least could have been. If MMA would have came to the peak it has now back when he was getting started, he'd probably be one of the best in the world with his wrestling ability topped with his jiu jitsu. Unfortunately having great wrestling and jiu jitsu isn't all the battle. Eventually you're going to run into someone who has the ability to defend the takedown and you're going to have to worry about getting hit in the face. Matt Hughes was the best American example of having great wrestling with good jiu jitsu, and the days of only that working have passed. Of course, fighters like Jon Jones are quickly reformulating new molds.

Barboza better work on his striking defense if that match does get signed. If Gomi hits him cleanly as many times as Anthony did, it's lights out for that prospect. Barboza is fun as hell to watch, but very green. I really think Gomi would be a steep climb for him at this point, but we'll see.

Mousasi really needs to learn the unified rules. This happens to him all too much. He would have won the decision if not for that mistake. Hope they don't try to call this fight something more than it was and make a rematch, because that would be a waste of Mousasi's talent. He's still young, and yes, his TD Defense is pretty awful, but he's still working on that facet of his game(albeit slowly). The judging criteria in MMA really needs to score less highly for takedowns when absolutely nothing is done with them/they're neutralized with good guard work. Aoki reaffirmed his ridiculously slick jiu jitsu, though Beerbohm isn't exactly a world beater in any regard. I thought Kawajiri would fight smarter than that... He literally got crushed. That elbow that Melendez hit him with toward the end was brutal, and probably somewhat unexpected. Melendez(and everyone in the CGJJ camp) are looking like absolute beasts lately. Which brings me to Diaz... That fight was really close to being stopped in favor of Daley, and no one could have complained. The fact is Nick went fetal for three unanswered punches before he "recovered". I wanted Nick to win, and it was awesome to see him pull the come-from-behind win. But I feel it could have just as easily been stopped in favor of Daley when Diaz ate the canvas face first early.

Been away for a while... Looking forward to the Strikeforce show this weekend even though it's pretty one-sided in all of the main card matches. The only fight I see being even remotely close is El Nino and Crusher. And I see Kawajiri pulling out the decision win this time, setting up the inevitable rubber match later in the year or next year. Jardine is going to be absolutely steamrolled by Mousasi(and hopefully that leads to Gegard moving to the UFC as it's time for him to face some real challenges). Aoki shouldn't have any real issue with the untested Beerbohm. And as much as people are talking about Diaz losing and not "standing up with Daley", I actually see this fight being the biggest mismatch of them all. Daley's ground game is garbage. Always has been, always will be. He has no desire to learn anything on the ground and translate it to the cage. I can see Diaz taking a few solid punches but Daley isn't going to put him away. Diaz will probably stand with him until it's unwise then take it to the ground for a fairly quick submission. Pretty decent first card for Zuffa to put under their belt under the Strikeforce banner.

<p>Chael Sonnen's apparently in a heap of trouble now... and it's not just steroids that are biting him his time. He's apparently facing up to 20 years in prison for money laundering unless he cooperates with authorities and gives up some helpful information on the others involved.</p><p> </p><p> Tough year for the ® so far... and it just started. <img alt=":)" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/smile.png.142cfa0a1cd2925c0463c1d00f499df2.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="26660" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>3 fights into UFC125 and my flatmate and I are taking a break from it. Not awful, but nothing to get us excited for more just now. I thought the Opener was awful. Guida moved around a lot, but that didn't disguise the fact it was two guys moving around each other, not fighting. I wanted Gomi to win, but was just glad when it was over. If I had to sit through another round of that tripe I would have just turned it off.</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> Really? I thought Guida/Gomi was awesome. Sure, it could have been more of a war like Sanchez/Guida was... But the fact is Guida is learning. While he might have looked like Donkey Kong jumping around and using erratic head movement, it was enough to throw Gomi off. That didn't stop me from enjoying the one punch knockout winging punches that Gomi nearly landed time and again. That in itself made for an exciting fight, PLUS... Guida actually FINISHED a guy that wasn't a can. I too wanted Gomi to win. But I think you're being a little too hard on this fight just because it wasn't balls-to-the-wall rock'em'sock'em. </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> Thiago Silva bitch-slapping Brandon Vera around while he was on top of him had to be the hilarious moment of the night though, by far.</p>

Duffee/Overeem goin' down... I say Overeem in under three minutes. Although there would be a fair bit of comedic relief if Duffee somehow managed to beat Overeem, especially by KO or TKO.

Okay, seriously... Seriously... The Miz, for as much flack as I've given him over the years... He just cut the absolute greatest promo I've witnessed in some time. I was in near tears laughing at that skit. He can definitely control a crowd well on the mic. I'm impressed.

Wow... What a ridiculous decision...

Bonnar over Igor by tko - If Bonnar doesn't win this one he should really consider just going into promo work full time. Maia over Grove by submission - Freakishly large frame of Grove meets ridiculously good jiu jitsu guy = Grove gets submitted. Grove isn't realistically going to finish Maia. A decision seems possible, but I just can't see Maia not subbing him if the fight hits the ground with any amount of working time. Hendricks over Story - Think I might be looking forward to this fight more than any other on the Finale card. I think it's a split decision, probably for Hendricks. The final is too hard for me to predict. I want Brookins to win, but could just as easily see Johnson winning. Either way I think it'll go to a decision unless Johnson exhibits sloppy wrestling and gets caught in a sub. Nam Phan and Leonard Garcia should be an exciting card opener. I don't really care who wins. ------ Strikeforce: Henderson over Babalu - I wonder if Babalu has learned how to parry strikes yet? Hoping for a knock out of Babalu. Lawler over Lindland - Lindland's age and durability are both withering day by day, decent pay day for him I'm sure. But he's getting knocked out. Daley over Smith - This is the fight of the weekend for me. What an awesome fight. If there was a guy to FURTHER test Scott Smith's chin, it's Paul Daley. I don't think Daley will straight up knock him out, but I think he'll drop Smith after a beating and lay a few on for a TKO. Also, well played Daffanka on the golem analogy for Antonio Silva. It's fitting.

How hilarious would it be if Akebono won?