brashleyholland

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="ampulator" data-cite="ampulator" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="26660" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>That's odd. Snowboarding? Yes. Flu's? No. </div></blockquote><p> </p><p> It's accident and injury cover. I mean, how much does getting the flu cost you financially? The insurance isn't to compensate fighters for lost earnings if they pull out of a fight, just to cover medical expenses. Chicken soup and bed rest isn't gonna break the bank :-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><p> Why not Staph? That seems like a gaping hole to me. </p></div></blockquote><p> </p><p> That made me laugh, intentionally or not :-p It also made me think of this, which you SHOULD NOT look at if you're at all squeemish. It's one of Kevin Randleman's Staph recover pics..</p><p> </p><p> <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_y55ILMm6kSI/RzNQLT5dJ5I/AAAAAAAAA9c/8ZDdsO1EL2s/s400/Kevin+Randleman+Staph+Recovery2.jpg" rel="external nofollow">http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_y55ILMm6kSI/RzNQLT5dJ5I/AAAAAAAAA9c/8ZDdsO1EL2s/s400/Kevin+Randleman+Staph+Recovery2.jpg </a></p><p> </p><p> It turns out that Staph *might* actually be covered after all...it's probably something that will be clarified in the comming days. </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>Wow. I mean, I would expect they ask the fighters to pull for a part of it, but this is a lot of medical coverage they are giving away</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> Fighters will have zero out-of-pocket expenses. Zuffa refused to say on the conference call how much this was costing them, other than that is was a substantial amount.</p>

I'm not a fan of interim belts. In this case especially, it doesn't solve anything because Pettis technically is an interim champ already, in the sense that he's got a title shot in the bag if he keeps winning and anyone who beats him is going to be elevated into that possition. There are only two ways I'd do an interim title fight: If Edgar is out 12 months (he isn't), I'd sling Pettis in against Maynard. If both Edgar and Maynard are out for 12 months, I'd do Pettis vs Jim Miller. It basically covers any accident or injury that occurs outside the cage (they already took care of injuries that took place inside the cage). And it covers EVERYTHING. So if a guy decides to go snowboarding a week before he's due to fight and breaks his leg, he's covered. If he tears a ligament in his knee grappling, he's covered. If he breaks his thumb trying to become the latest fighter to 'tweet' his way into a fight with Tito Ortiz, he's covered. The only things not covered are things like colds, flu etc...and interestingly Staph. The UFC are taking care of all the premiums for every fighter on their books and fighters are covered as long as they are under ZUFFA contracts. If they are cut after a loss, the policy covers all injuries sustained in the fight. They get $50,000's worth of coverage per year. Edgar and Maynard aren't covered as the policy only kicks in from the 1st of June. D'Oh!

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="ampulator" data-cite="ampulator" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="26660" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Perhaps, perhaps not. The LW division is so big, the fact they are injured barely dents their LW division in terms of fights. This cause another backlog, though. *groan*I mean, honestly speaking, i thought June was a bit early to do it anyway.</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> The ballache it causes is with the Pettis situation though. Pettis has been told that he's still getting the Edgar/Maynard winner if he beats Guida - So does Pettis now sit on the sidelines for a year (assuming he beats Guida) or does he risk it for a biscuit and put his title shot on the line for a second time? </p><p> </p><p> By rights, he should be headlining a PPV against Edgar or Maynard this month, and making a ton of money for doing so. If he loses to Guida, or beats Guida and loses later in the year (you've got to assume that he'll be facing someone very good - Miller, Sherk, Henderson, even Gil Melendez) he may never get that oppertunity. </p><p> </p><p> Also sucks for both guys as neither will be covered by the new health insurance policy, which is, by the way, one of the most amazing things to ever happen in the history of MMA.</p>

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="Jaysin" data-cite="Jaysin" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="27610" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Right now? Pot heads. Seriously, you're not in the 7th grade anymore. <strong>Grow up and do cocaine like an adult.</strong> <img alt=":p" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/tongue.png.ceb643b2956793497cef30b0e944be28.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><p> </p><p> </p></div></blockquote><p> </p><p> HA! Awesome <img alt=":)" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/smile.png.142cfa0a1cd2925c0463c1d00f499df2.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p>

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="ampulator" data-cite="ampulator" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="26660" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>That's a fair point, but what below 200+?</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> Well, between from flyweight to light heavyweight there are seven weight divisions across 80lbs. I think that's enough for the time being, in terms of building strong divisions. If you throw another five divisions in there boxing style, it's just gonna get messy and confusing.</p>

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="ampulator" data-cite="ampulator" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="26660" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Do you think there should be stop-gap weight classes at some point? I mean, there's a medium gap between 170 and 185, a big gap between 185 and 205, and a huge gap 205 and 265.</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> Not really because it's all reletive. 20lbs is a hell off a lot when you weigh 135, but not so much if you weigh 260. There's no point having weight limits at 205, 220, 235, 250, 265 etc, because the difference doesn't mean *as much) as it does fifty to a hundred pounds south. Also there simply aren't enough 200lb+ high level athletes to warrent these divisions - check out any heavyweight fight at a regional show; by and large they're a joke.</p>

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="ampulator" data-cite="ampulator" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="26660" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>It makes me wonder-do guys like Calvacante and Bader cut too much weight? People say the have a "cardio problem", but sometimes, especially Bader, looks like a dried up prune at 205. On top of that, he looks BIGGER than Velasquez. He gasses out way too fast.</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> I guess it's a roll of the dice. They don't want to stay at HW because of guys like Carwin and Lesnar...so they gamble that the size and strenght advantage will outweigh the lack of cardio/durability.</p>

<p>So BAMMA 6 is two weeks away...any UK people going? </p><p> </p><p> Main Card (SyFy in the UK, <a href="http://www.BAMMA.tv" rel="external nofollow">http://www.BAMMA.tv</a> internationally)</p><p> </p><p> Ninja Rua vs Tom 'Kong' Watson</p><p> Frank Trigg vs John Phillips (one to watch gents) </p><p> Matt Ewin (UK mainstay from the naughties) vs Ivan Salavery (replacing Phil Baroni)</p><p> </p><p> Notable Prelims (BAMMA.tv in the UK and internationally)</p><p> </p><p> JASON BALL vs LEONARDO SANTOS (Sengoku vet, sick grappler, once beat GSP)</p><p> CHE MILLS (TUF vet) vs MARCIO CESAR</p><p> SHANE OMER vs AARON WILKINSON (TUF and UFC vet)</p><p> NEIL WAIN (UFC vet) vs MARCIN BARTKIEWICZ (my crazy, giant Polish friend)</p><p> </p><p> 16 fights in total, some well worth a watch!</p>

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="ampulator" data-cite="ampulator" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="26660" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>I think Henderson's best weight is actually 195. </div></blockquote><p> </p><p> I dunno...I see no reason to guess arbitrary numbers for someones ideal weight, when there is no evidence of them having ever fought at those weights. Now I've obviously never weighed Hendo as he's stepped into the cage, but in my experience it's a very safe bet to assume that a man of his frame (and I'm judging this on having met him a few times) would weigh 200lbs+ for a 185lb fight. He does do a small cut to make 205...but it's not like he's a 230lb+ man cutting to 205 for a size advantage - like you said, he's much smaller than Cavalcante. Therefor it's safe to assume that his natural 'in shape' weight is somewhere just north of 205. </p><p> </p><p> I'll try and find out for sure...I know some people who know some people :-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>This is really just a guess, but he has issues cutting to 185, because, despite his height, weight, and size, he's pretty thick. </div></blockquote><p> </p><p> </p><p> He's 40...it wasn't a problem five years ago, but the body deteriorates in that respect massivly from the mid-30's onwards. It's not to say that you can't make the cut - anyone can to a point - more that you can't peak and function for long periods of time. The Shields fight taught him that for the first time. </p><p> </p><p> There's a good test you can do....buy a LOT of salt, run a really, really hot bath, as hot as you can stand, try and get a small sweat on, jump in the bath and sit in it for about 20 mins. Get out and try and do a short run or something. The difference between how you feel then, and how you feel normally will shock you...it basically simulates how you feel sucking an unnatural amount of water out of your system, and you'll know why Hendo is movin' on up! :-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>But looking Feijao Calvacante, he looked a lot smaller</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> That man is HUGE. An unnaturally big 205lb'er</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>That being said, I'ld be shocked if Fedor decideds to cut any weight, unless it's a test cut to 205.</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> From what I've heard, the reasons for the 'gentleman's agreement' are as follows</p><p> </p><p> - Hendo didn't want to beat Fedor at 205 or 215 only for people to say that the only reason he did it was that Fedor was sucked dry. </p><p> </p><p> - It will allow Fedor to practise cutting weight for the first time in his life. If it doesn't go well or he can't make it, the fight can still go ahead with no purse forfeits etc</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>It always made me wonder it's too big of a cut for most fighters to go from 205 to 185.</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> It's not, for a 205lb man to make 185. But many guys who fight at 205 are much, much bigger than that. Last time I saw Rampage he was 260+...he's been as big as 280. Most of these guys diet down before or during their first few weeks of camp, then 'cut' only a reletively small amount of weight...there's a huge difference. If you walk at 240, you could be 'in shape' at 220, then cutting to 205 is no problem. But an extra 20lbs on top of that for guys like Rampage, Forrest, Jones, Bader etc is a no go.</p>

http://www.mma-core.com/images/fighters/full/Dan_Henderson_1000565.jpg I dunno about that, he's only fought 9 of his 35 career fights below 200lbs, and he's fought six as a HW. I'd say that his likely weight for this fight (in the 210 range) is going to be as idea as he can get. If anyone is going to be disadvantaged by the 220lb 'gentleman's agreement', it's going to be the man who has never cut for a fight in his life. Still, this is one I've wanted for years, can't wait for it to do down. Should be made official very, very soon...

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="The Shape" data-cite="The Shape" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="26660" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Will that have done all the damage? Haven't seen it since but he was bleeding so much it looked like there must have been a cut beyond the eye scratch, Cesar Gracie said he broke his nose, not sure if that's true...</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> I *think* I remember seeing him with a pretty good split across the bridge of his nose by the end...pretty good indicator of a broken nose. I'll have to check though. He definatelly took a good punch right in the eye though, which they showed a couple of replays of on the PPV.</p>

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="ampulator" data-cite="ampulator" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="26660" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Update: There might a real good reason why GSP couldn't see out his eye-<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEDAHzU5sr4" rel="external nofollow">Jake shields poke in him in the eye</a>. I have no idea whether it's intentional/purposeful or accidental, but this explains a lot.</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> I didn't notice that during the fight...but at 5am on a Sunday morning after a loooooong UFC party, who can blame me? :-p </p><p> </p><p> Looks like he was finding his range, he's not known for being dirty. It's a problem that is always going to be around with the MMA gloves used by most organisations today (and it isn't help when someone's striking is as amateur as Shields'). </p><p> </p><p> There are a couple of fingerless glove designs that help stop it, but they're huge and too bulky for grappling. Tough to describe, but they're essentially bottomless boxing gloves, if that helps...If anyone has seen the Rickson Gracie docu-movie 'Choke' (and if you haven't, it's on Google video so get off GDS and watch it!), they're very similar to the ones used for the Japan Vale Tudo.</p>

<p>Alright, here's some food for thought...</p><p> </p><p> Someone who shall remain nameless said to me a while back that GSP didn't break Dan Hardy's arm because he didn't want to be 'that guy' all over youtube and ESPN in a gruesome limb-breaking video. That person also said that GSP's conserve style is due in part to his 'people' not wanting pictures/video of him covered in blood, standing over unconcious opponents etc for comercial reasons. </p><p> </p><p> Now I don't believe that this is the sole reason for GSP's 'safe' style for a second, not least because the person who told me in notoriously full of you-know-what. But it's an interesting thought, considering he has the biggest 'blue-chip' non-MMA sponsors in North American MMA...</p><p> </p><p> Couple of interesting facts about sponsors</p><p> </p><p> - Most sponsors with multi-fight deals can drop you on a loss or a 'bad' performance. </p><p> </p><p> - Wrestlers can make more money for a sponsorship slot on their butt on the theory that they will be on top or pressing their opponent into the cage more - hence the camera will have a 'back-view' of them for longer. I know for an absolute fact that certain UFC fighters have been told by their sponsors to stall against the cage or in top possition on Spike TV and PPV for this exact reason.</p>

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="Daffanka" data-cite="Daffanka" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="26660" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div><p> </p><p> e: Also Vladdy getting his second first round finish in a row.</p></div></blockquote><p> </p><p> If he makes it three then I'm taking it as a harbinger of the apocalypse!</p>

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="The Shape" data-cite="The Shape" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="26660" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>How do you think this ends? Like, how long before people get sick of it? Because when even in Canada there are boos ringing out you know it's potentially a dire situation.</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> I touched upon that exact point on our radio show this week - GSP getting boo'd in Canada = bad times. </p><p> </p><p> I guess the answe is that it won't end as long as people are willing to pay for it. I do know that the UFC were slightly concerned about GSP as a PPV draw after the Penn and Alves fights, which is a big reason as to why we've seen Primetimes for the Hardy and Shields fights, and the TUF season for the Kos fight. All three would have done a great box office regardless (by virtue of where they were held) but it would be of great interest to me to see what PPV numbers those fights would have done without TUF/Primetime support. </p><p> </p><p> As for the 'Mental Midget' can of worms I appear to have opened, let me clarify. Firstly, it has nothing to do with him being scarred of getting hit/hurt. He's a professional cage fighter - I think it's a given that he doesn't mind getting punched in the face :-p </p><p> </p><p> Here's the thing though - There is more money tied up in the GSP franchise than with any other MMA fighter in the world right now. Brock may have been the biggest earner last year, but he's a reletive flash in the pan, and not exactly a sponsorship magnet/franchise material. </p><p> </p><p> GSP is, he's an agents dream. Legit one of the best in the sport, good looking, well spoken, polite, willing, role model, intellegent - he's an athlete and a sportsman, about as far away from the 'cage fighter' stereotype as can be. </p><p> </p><p> He's the UFC's box office meal ticket in Canada. His success is the reason the likes of Jackson, Danaher, Zahabi, Winklejon etc are making their fortunes. The UFC want him to be the face of their organisation. He has maybe four or five years of his physical peak left. All these factors put a huge amount of pressure on him. </p><p> </p><p> We know he doesn't deal with pressure well. He genuinely almost walked away from the sport after the Serra loss. His issues with sports psychologists have been well documented. Two sepparate people have told me that there is a belief amongst his inner circle that if he loses in a similar manner again, he will walk away from the sport as an active competitor. Interestingly, both of them went on to say that all the talk of "I'll have to re-evaluate my entire career" with regards to the Silva fight is because he thinks, or wants, it to be his last. Their view, I'm not sure that I agree. </p><p> </p><p> The GSP franchise relies on him being the UFC champion. He fired Shari Spencer, one of the best agents, in the sport over money (although to be fair, there was slightly more to it than that). And now more than ever the pressure is on from the UFC to win, but in a more exciting fashion...but not to take too many risks, or superfights with Anderson Silba and Nick Diaz will be off the table...</p><p> </p><p> When I say that he's terrified of losing personally, I don't mean that he is scarred of getting hurt. More that he is scarred of the effect a loss will have on his career/legacy in a sport where a couple of defeats make you overrated despite your previous accomplishments. And by financially, I'm not just talking about his own bank account, I'm talking about Jackson's, Tristar, Grudge, the GSP brand and his use to the UFC as a promotional juggernaught at the box office. </p><p> </p><p> He had to start again after the Serra loss; it's too late for him to start again now.</p>

This is something a lot of people 'in the know' have been saying to me for about a year, and something that I've kinda been thinking myself for a while. After last nights performance, I'm almost sure of it... Georges St Pierre is absolutely terrified of losing. Personally and financially.

I've got every fight on the card so far apart from the Brilz/Matyushenko fight, must be my lucky night. Got GSP in the main by absolute spanking.

Awesome start. Call me mental, but I prefered MacDonald's triangle. Got a serious man crush on that dude :-p

Basically Aldo was game for moving up to fight in the UFC, before the two brands merged. They broached the subject with the UFC prior to the Faber fight, on the grounds that beating the WEC poster-boy Faber would boost Aldo's popularity, and effectivly clean out the division. He wanted to get paid and the UFC was the way to go, even though he wasn't hell-bent on moving to 155. This was about a year ago, before BJ Penn had lost to Frankie Edgar for the first time. From what I've heard, the UFC weren't really banking on Edgar beating Penn; the plan was to move Aldo up for a superfight with BJ later in the year, possibly in the UK. The idea there was that the event would be on Spike TV, so they wouldn't have to worry about Aldo as a PPV draw, and a lot more people would see him fight. Anyway, Penn loses a close fight to Edgar and the UFC want an immidiate rematch. They tell Aldo's people to take another fight, by which time the plans to merge brands are already underway. Now Aldo gets to stay at 145 for a bit and fight in the UFC. Winner, winner, chicken dinner.

Yup. Robbie Lawler vs Steve Berger was your answer. UFC 37.5 was thrown together at the last minute because Fox Sports wanted to show a UFC fight, and UFC 38 was already being promoted in the UK. The Lawler fight was one only one shown on TV though, as the Liddell Belfort was deemed too long.

GSP vs Hardy. Dan was 192 for that fight, GSP was about 180. And pretty much every Igor Vovchanchyn win except Sakuraba. Speaking of which, pretty much every Sakuraba win ever :-p

More trivia - What was the first UFC fight to be broadcast on US cable TV?

Correct! The original plan was for Hughes to move up to middleweight and fight the opposing coach. Then it came to be that the two candidates for the coaching job were Evan Tanner and Rich Franklin....Hughes didn't want to fight Franklin as they were buddies, but would have fought Tanner. Despite losing to Franklin previously, Tanner was the middleweight champ and the favourite going into the bout. The UFC took the gamble and it backfired, giving us two fairly 'meh' fights post-TUF (although Hughes/Karo would have been fun) instead of a coach's superfight like the first series.

Always fancied that one actually. Trivia time: Matt Hughes and Rich Franklin both fought at UFC 56. Franklin fought Nate Quarry and Hughes fought Joe Riggs, who was a late raplacement for Karo Parisyan...but who were both men originally supposed to fight that evening?

If it's Hep C then I imagine he's finished. It's a career ender for boxers/fighters that aren't willing to compete in backwater states without commissions or overseas. I don't know what power US state athletic commissions have over wrestling, but I can't see a company worth its salt letting him wrestle. Even if they did, who would want to wrestle him? Sucks to be that guy