brashleyholland

I did an article about Faber's future a week or so ago. Said then and I'll say it again, if Faber doesn't end up coaching TUF against Torres, it'll be a crime!

Seems to me like they're in defence mode. Otherwise why isn't there an 'MMA Bad Ass' character already tearing it up in the WWE, capitalising on the MMA boom?

Yup! Spot on. Can't agree enough! It's like I don't even know you anymore...

Because there really hasn't been enough MMA on TV lately ( ), Strikeforce Challengers 12 is on tonight. Ryan Couture was supposed to fight on this show, but even with his withdrawal, there are a couple of names to look out for. Ovince St Preux is a name I keep hearing as one to look out for, but he'll have a tough time against Antwain Britt. St Preux for the upset. Vitor 'Shaolin' Ribeiro is a submission demon who was once regarded as one fo the best BJJ guys in MMA, and the next big thing out of Brazil. He's had a run of bad results - 1-3 in his last four - and this will likely be the last chance at getting his career back on track. He'll face AKA product Justin Wilcox (9-3). Shaolin by submission. Potential fight of the night material here - Marius 'Whitemare' Zaromskis will face one of the ballsiest fighters around, Whaachiim Spiritwolf. Check out his fight with Billy Evangelista to see what I mean. This is a 'get right fight' for the DREAM champ Zaromskis, who is on a 2 fight skid. Should be a firecracker of a bout. Zaromskis by decision. Prospect Caros Fodor is one to watch. Also, Wes 'The Perfect Storm' Shivers, known for gassing horribly during an awful fight with James McSweeney on the heavyweight Ultimate Fighter and being a former Tennessee Titans offensive tackle, returns to MMA on the unaired undercard.

DREAM Featherweight champion Bibiano Fernandez will defend his title against Hiroyuki 'Streetfight Bancho' Takaya on NYE. Fernandez is really good, and won the DREAM Featherweight GP to nab the belt last year, beating Takaya in the finals by split decision. Takaya is no slouch - his record is an unimpressive 14-8-1, but has only lost to great/good competition (Fernandez, Omigawa, Genki Sudo, Gesias Cavalcante, Cub Swanson, Leonard Garcia and Gilbert Melendez) and a doctors stoppage against Andre 'Dida'. He was the first man to knock Joachim Hansen out, and is coming off consecutive KO's of Hansen and Chase Beebe. I'm going with Fernandes by decision.

Add me to that list. I don't think that Penn beats Maynard though. Maybe his performance against Hughes will change my mind.

For anyone wondering what would happen if someone channelled the spirit of Shawn Michaels Sweet Chin Music in a real fight... :-D Awesome.

Shannon Ritch channels the spirit of Shawn Michaels! :-D

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="RingofHonorGuard" data-cite="RingofHonorGuard" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="26660" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div><p> </p><p> Picks for this weekend's show</p><p> </p><p> Machida over Rampage - Think Machida will tag Rampage on the counter for 3 rounds to a U. Decision. I guess it all depends on just how much power Machida has, and if he's at all willing to commit to anything he throws. Rampage could easily score a split-decision victory, but I don't think he'll be able to win every round. </p><p> </p><p> Hughes over BJ - Nothing has really changed much in-between their last bout and now skill-wise, at least from my perspective. Sure Hughes has aged a bit, but he's still good enough to keep an undersized and probably-bored BJ Penn down for a unanimous or stoppage like last outing.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> The rest of the card is pretty exciting too. I got Harris over Falcão, Davis over Boetsch, and in a very tough fight to pick; Sotiropolous over Lauzon.</p><p> </p><p> I'm hoping Karo wins, and that Tyson Griffin brings down some much needed punishment on Nik Lentz' soul.</p></div></blockquote><p> </p><p> I think you've got it pretty much spot on there.....buuuuuuut......</p><p> </p><p> I'm going with BJ over Hughes. Penn gets bored, yes. Edgar had his number, yes. But I think he does his best work when the you-know-what is about to hit the fan and that's the position it's in right now. He's lost twice to the champions of both divisions he fights in, and with every year that passes the chances of him making 145 are getting slimmer. This is the all or nothing fight. </p><p> </p><p> Fairytale reasoning aside, I'm thinking that the big difference between the Penn that fought Hughes before and the Penn that will fight him on Saturday is maturity. I don't believe the 'busted rib' excuse for a second; BJ gassed his legs and got tired by overworking himself in the second and not getting the finish. I think we'll see a more measured performance, one that looks similar to the Sherk fight, but ending in a submission rather than a KO. </p><p> </p><p> I've also got Matt Brown winning on the prelims, because that guy is awesome. Mark Munoz will smash Aaron Simpson when he gasses and Mile Lullo and Paul Kelly will get decision victories.</p>

If you like K-1, specifically K-1 MAX, they you'll be thrilled to know that the S-Cup is about to go down in Japan. The S-Cup is the 'world cup' of Shootboxing. If you aren't familiar with the term, another definition is 'standing Vale Tudo'. Punches, kicks, knees, elbows, throws, suplexes, takedowns, clinches and standing submissions. If a fighter is thrown, knocked or taken down, the actions stops. Lots of the top MAX fighters, as well as many Japanese MMA fighters, have competed in Shootboxing Notable names competing this year are Andy Souwer (one of the 'big 3' MAX fighters of all time along with Buakaw and Masato, former multiple time MAX and Shootboxing champion) and Buakaw Por. Pramuk (legendary Thai boxer who was so good that they changed the K-1 rules to stifle him, multi-time MAX champion and too many Muay Thai titles to note). Charles 'Krazy Horse/Kid Khaos' Bennett was supposed to compete, but pulled out. In his place is Bellator mainstay Toby Imada (the guy who landed the sick inverted triangle in season 1). The event is on the 23rd and wont be televised out of Japan. If any youtube vids pop up I'll post them here. If you like lots of stand-up action without all the rule restrictions of K-1 MAX and with added submissions and sick throws/slams/suplexes...check it out!

PPV buyrates, television ratings and ticket sales (both in the US and Japan) say differently though. Amongst MMA purists, yes, that's the popular opinion (it's certainly mine). But in terms of the people who buy the events, tickets and merchandise - the people who keep the sport ticking over - it's just not the case. I'm hopeful that the UFC will change that over the next couple of years.

I'm not a nerd. I'm a geek. This is the long and short of it. Slightly swelled roster, less filler, more thriller. A-hem. I wouldn't either if I were you. Wait till the UFC gets on board with it; that way you'll only be seeing the best, and it'll be presented in a way that makes it appealing. Right now you're looking at scouring the net for badly filmed, badly produced clips of tiny shows. As a casual fan, I'd let it run it's course for fear of being turned off by an inferior product. Try and catch 123 this weekend. Rampage and Machida could be fun, plus there is the conclusion to one of the sport's great trilogies between BJ Penn and Matt Hughes and a quality lightweight bout between two guys who are knocking on the door of a title opportunity. Two good prelims that will be aired on the pre-show too. There is Koscheck vs St Pierre next month, the TUF Finale, the final WEC, Strikeforce: Henderson vs Babalu...WEC will likely be the most exciting show to watch in terms of fights, but as a casual fan who is getting burned out, I'd suggest this weekend's UFC 123 or the St. Pierre vs Kos fight if you want to see the Fraggle get his ass kicked.

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="jesterx7769" data-cite="jesterx7769" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="26660" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div><p> - Vera vs. Silva- why is this an undercard! put it on 124 I love Thiago!</p><p> -Davis vs. Stephens- once again two guys who always bring it, awesome and could be a main card fight</p><p> - then Mike Brown! WTF!? He's on the undercard come on! </p><p> </p><p> </p></div></blockquote><p> </p><p> Nothing has been confirmed yet, but they want to renew the contract for 'UFC Prelims Live' next year - it runs on a calender year basis with an agreed number of shows (ten in 2010). </p><p> </p><p> Expect to hear something soon, because the want 125 to be the first event of 2010 to have a 'Prelims Live' lead in. With Edgar/Maynard and Aldo/Grispi as the headliners, they'll need all the help they can get selling it.</p>

<p>Not MMA, but awesome <img alt="" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/biggrin.png.929299b4c121f473b0026f3d6e74d189.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p><p> </p><p> </p><div class="ipsEmbeddedVideo"><div><iframe width="200" height="113" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/d90eSZsfreY?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" title="GREEN MAN! - FIGHTING in Jiu Jitsu Tournament"></iframe></div></div>

<p>I posted this in the MMA thread, but figured it's just as, if not more, relevant here.</p><p> </p><p> So there was a rumour about a month back that a 'reasonably major' UFC name's representatives were putting out feelers for a jump to the WWE. I heard three names from people 'in the know', one of which later turned out to be hot air. </p><p> </p><p> The one that *does* seem to have some merit is Roy 'Big Country' Nelson. If you don't know him, he won the recent Heavyweight season of The Ultimate fighter, beating Kimbo Slice in the process. He's known for being short and fat with a mullet and rubbing his belly when he wins. Despite his look at attitude, he's actually a decent fighter, easily one of the UFC's top 10 heavyweights. </p><p> </p><p> For anyone who hasn't read it yet, the story is that Nelson signed a contract about two years ago with Roy Jones Jr's 'Square Ring Promotions' to compete on their boxing/MMA PPV in March of 09. Turns out that they still have some kind of options on Nelson's career, and are suing Nelson and the UFC. No word on how much merit their case has, but it's serious enough to get him pulled from UFC 125 and to have his UFC career publicly put 'on ice' by Dana White. </p><p> </p><p> Nelson has talked about 'fighting' the Undertaker on twitter (following the failed Brock Lesnar/Undertaker confrontation at UFC 121) and the word is that he could be allowed to do his own thing until this legal situation is cleared up.</p><p> </p><p> So assuming all of the above is true, and Nelson's people are reaching out to WWE...what say wrestling fans to the idea? Do you even know who he is? Is he popular enough from The Ultimate Fighter in the US to be known by the average WWE fan if he turns up on Raw, for example? Could you see him having an 'MMA vs UFC' match at Wrestlemania?</p>

I *think* he's out, but on one of their "get a couple of wins and give us a call" type deals. Will try and find out though

So there was a rumour about a month back that a 'reasonably major' UFC name's representatives were putting out feelers for a jump to the WWE. I heard three names from people 'in the know', one of which later turned out to be hot air. The other two names out there were Matt Mitrione and Roy Nelson. The reasoning behind the 'Meathead' rumour didn't do it for me, plus he's not what I would call even a 'reasonably major name' - but maybe I'm underestimating what the Kimbo win did for his popularity in the US? Anyway, lots of sites seem to have picked up on the Nelson thing this past week or so. For anyone who hasn't read it yet, Nelson signed a contract about two years ago with Roy Jones Jr's 'Square Ring Promotions' to compete on their boxing/MMA PPV in March of 09. Turns out that they still have some kind of options on Nelson's career, and are suing Nelson and the UFC. No word on how much merit their case has, but it's serious enough to get him pulled from UFC 125 and to have his UFC career publicly put 'on ice' by Dana White. So assuming the guy in question was Nelson, what say people to 'Big Country' in the WWE?

It wont be a couple of years, but it probably wont be a couple of months either. 135 is only just getting depth to it, 125 is years behind. On the flip side, there will be plenty of young kids who are future 135-145lb'ers if they want to go down that route - although historically the UFC don't fill their divisions with <20-year-olds. It's swings and roundabouts though....if the UFC starts giving flyweights an opportunity, you can bet your bottom dollar that decent fighters at that weight will start coming out of the woodwork. Also, if their plans to expand into Mexico, Brazil and China over the next 3-5 years go as planned, they'll be tapping the talent pool in those nations for 125'ers. 6 months to a year? We shall see...

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="Stennick" data-cite="Stennick" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="25169" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div><p> </p><p> EDIT EDIT: HOLY crap Piper looks OLD!</p></div></blockquote><p> </p><p> Damn. Not looking bad for a guy who's nearly 60 though!</p>

<p>So I recently got hold of the first season of The Shield. Never seen it before, not a single episode. Always wanted to though. </p><p> </p><p> Absolutely loved it, Vic is my new Jack Bauer. Bought the full set after watching season 1 and a couple of episodes of season 2. Hoping it holds out! <img alt="" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/biggrin.png.929299b4c121f473b0026f3d6e74d189.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> do you see feel that the future of MMA is in the lighter weight classes? It certainly feels that way to me now. IT just eeems there's better fights MW or lower nowadays.</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> There's a couple of theories at work...one is that on average, the world over, there are more 'athletic' people in the 125-185lb range than there are 205 and above, especially when we're looking at the 265lb range. Ergo, there will be on average more MMA fighters in those divisions, and more 'high-level' fighters will be moulded from that sample than the smaller 205+ sample. </p><p> </p><p> At the same time though, you have the 'Godzilla Theory' - People like seeing a couple of huge dudes wreaking havoc. With literally a handful of exceptions, the only people to make serious money in this sport (both personally and in terms of the revenue they generate for their promoters) have been big guys. Someone (I think it was MMAPayout) did a ton of research on the top 1- PPV draws in the UFC (hence MMA) recently...no surprises in the top 10 - Lesnar, Couture, Liddell, Rampage etc...only two guys below 185 made the list, Penn and St Pierre. Now it's not an exact science, but it's not exactly inaccurate either. </p><p> </p><p> So it depends on what you mean by 'the future'. In terms of more exciting fights and talented athletes, until MMA can compete with the NFL on base salaries (so never), the future is below 185. </p><p> </p><p> In terms of financials though, with the odd exception, the big guys bring in the scratch.</p>

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="PeterHilton" data-cite="PeterHilton" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="25169" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>I remember they had some stuff on during breaks, but that went away w/o any real explanation <p> </p><p> </p></div></blockquote><p> </p><p> Advertisers weren't happy with the programme they had purchased advertising slots with pushing it's viewers to log on to the internet during breaks, rather than keeping their eyes on the ads. </p><p> </p><p> The UFC have a novel way of getting around this by selling 'blocks' of time to a single advertiser, for example one full fight, which will be "brought to you without commercial interruption by X sponsor"</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>Here's the thing, though. Who CAN beat Schilt? And if they can, can they beat him consistently? I think the guy is just that good at KIckboxing. Hell, banning knees in clinch ain't going to stop him. I think it only makes it worse. If you what Daff says is right, he's going to jab his way to victory even more.</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> I don't think anyone can beat him <em>consistently</em> at this point in time. I think there are guys out there who can beat him...but if you look at the guys who've done it in the past, it's a special list. You've got Hari and a young, prime and sober Ignashov, two guys with incredible one-shot stopping power, who've knocked him out. Then you have Aerts, arguably the best of all time, who has outpointed him. EDIT: Oh, and Choi...but that was just bizzare... :-p</p><p> </p><p> Who can beat him? Hari...*maybe* Gerges...*maybe* a healthy Aerts (or is he just too old at this point?)...can they beat him consistently though? I don't think so. In order for that to happen, I think we're waiting for one of two things...Schilt to enter his decline, or the next big thing to come out of the woodwork. </p><p> </p><p> Schilt is truly one of a kind...the absolute crown jewel of this generation of Dutch kickboxers. If he can nab a 5th GP title...that'd be insane.</p>

<p>The analogy I have for the Schilt situation is that it's like the GSP situation, times 1000. </p><p> </p><p> Yes, he's a big, lumbering thing, but technically, he's very, very good. Like GSP he's so good, that he more often than not (as Daffanka pointed out) makes the people he fights look worse than they are. </p><p> </p><p> Now, imagine that GSP is 220lbs and still fighting welterweights, and you have a good analogy. The way Schilt fights and uses his physical advantages...well, it just turns a lot of casual viewers off. </p><p> </p><p> Now, the difference between GSP and Schilt is that Schilt fights on prime time TV in Japan, whereas GSP fights on PPV. People who pay $50+ for a PPV don't turn off after a couple of boring rounds. People watching on TV will channel hop if they're not being entertained. Even in the MMA downturn that Japan is currently experiencing, a vast amount of the viewer-ship is casual (evidenced by the 'spikes' in ratings when someone like Ishii is fighting)...keeping these viewers interested and onboard is essential to K-1's ad revenue streams.</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><p> </p><p> On an unrelated note, does anyone know why Paul Filho isn't in the UFC? The guy's a beast. The guy lost 2 out of 4 recent fights, and 1 out of 4 is a draw, but I think he can give Anderson Silva trouble.</p></div></blockquote><p> </p><p> He's actually 4-1-1 in his last six - Wins over Melvin Manhoef, Schoenauer, Nishizaka and Dan Gabriel (at heavyweight), draw with Dennis Kang and a loss to a Brazilian prospect called 'Pezao', which I'm told is no bad thing, as this guy is good. </p><p> </p><p> The overriding reason why we haven't (and probably never will) see Filho in the UFC is that he has serious mental health problems. Now, lots of fighters suffer from depression...Filho has more issues though that may take years, or forever, to resolve. There is also the issue of his drug addiction, which has been fairly public. </p><p> </p><p> All in all, he's simply too much of a hot potato (and at this stage in his career not good enough of a fighter) to warrant them taking the risk. </p><p> </p><p> Oh, also the WEC 'incidents'. He pulled out of a rematch with Chael Sonnen to go to rehab (fair enough)...then when they finally got the match on, he came in massively overweight, meaning that the last ever WEC 185lb title bout ended up as a non-title, 3-round affair. Throughout the fight, Filho was acting strangely, talking to Sonnen (he asked repeatedly if they could go to the ground and rest), himself and some invisible person outside the cage. Track it down if you haven't seen it, it's bizzare. He lost a decision and promised to give the WEC belt to Sonnen afterwards, then never did.</p>