Cardio Freak MMA News Report 01.18.10: Overrated and Underrated

Posted by Jeremy Lambert on 01.18.2010

This week in Cardio Freak: A list of things that don't get enough attention in MMA making them underrated and things that get too much attention making them overrated. It's not your typical fighter, fights, event list so check it out. Also thoughts on rumored fights including Penn vs. Edgar, Kimbo vs. Mittrione, and Koscheck vs. Daley. It's like a great walk in song, it's Cardio Freak on 411.



Headline News

Two words that get tossed around a lot in life are "overrated" and "underrated", especially when it comes to discussing sports and entertainment. Find me a person who doesn't find something overrated or underrated in life and I'll find you a liar. A lot of what is determined to be overrated or underrated has to do with the medias portrayal of things. If someone or something gets a lot of attention, it's likely end up overrated. If someone or something doesn't get it enough attention, it's underrated. Personally, I find The Sopranos overrated. It's good but it's not The Wire good. I'm sure some of you reading this find The Wire overrated. You're wrong.

This is no different when discussing MMA. People feel Fedor is overrated because many people say he's the best fighter in the world yet hasn't fought anyone good since Mirko "Cro Cop" in 2005. Others feel Junior dos Santos is underrated because his wins are better than Shane Carwin's yet he gets far less attention. I only believe one of those opinions is true.

I'm not here to list fighters, events, or fights that I feel are overrated or underrated though. That's too easy and I like to challenge myself with ideas. Instead I'm here to list little things that don't get enough attention, making them underrated or little things that get too much attention, making them overrated. Enjoy.



UNDERRATED - Walk In Music: I love me a good walk in song that just gets me pumped for a fight or captures a fighters personality. Forrest Griffin coming out to "Tubthumping" at UFC 106 was one of the best uses of walk in music I've ever seen and heard. Anderson Silva using "No Sunshine" captures the calmness of a killer while Clay Guida is always seen singing his walk in music during his walk in. The greatness of a good walk in song should not be overlooked. Along with the walk in music, when UFC brings down the lights before the main event, that's a great moment that gets me pumped for a fight.

OVERRATED - Fighting Surface: Too much is made out of fighting in a ring or cage. Is there a difference? Obviously. Is it the reason why Mirko "Cro Cop" is no longer one of the best Heavyweights in the world? Nope. A fight is a fight no matter where it happens. Good fighters know how to adapt to their surroundings even if it's in a back alley in England.

UNDERRATED - Bruce Buffer's Introductions: People either love or hate Bruce Buffer but no one can deny his enthusiasm during his introductions. From the Buffer 180 to "FIGHTING out of the blue corner", the man knows how to get the crowd into things. I love when he lists fighters accomplishments with my favorite being, "This man is a LEGENDARY. UFC. HALL OF FAME. OCTAGON WARRIOR!" Hearing that twice at UFC 109 might end up being the best part of the nights main event.



OVERRATED - Training Camps: Training camps are important as good camps house good fighters but their importance in very overstated. In 2007 when Randy Couture returned and won the Heavyweight title and Forrest Griffin defeated "Shogun" Rua everyone thought Xtreme Couture was the best camp around and Greg Jackson's camp had a reputation that they couldn't get fighters over the proverbial hump. Now everyone thinks Jackson runs the best camp and Xtreme Couture isn't what it once was. It has nothing to do with training camps and everything to do with your skills and style vs. your opponents skills and style. Who you train with is ultimately more important than where you train at.

UNDERRATED - The Mir Layoff: The Mir Layoff is something that really come to the forefront in 2009. For those that don't know exactly what The Mir Layoff is, it's fighters coming off a long layoff (usually around a year or more) that included major surgery (usually pertaining to the knee or back). While I'm sure there were fighters who experience such a layoff before Mir, his motorcycle accident was the most famous example and thus that is why I've (with help from a friend) called it The Mir Layoff. Fighters who return from The Mir Layoff either look terrible in their first fight back, end up losing, or both. This can't be ignored anymore. If a fighter is coming off a Mir Layoff, pick against him. You'll thank me.

OVERRATED - Buyrates & Ratings: Many MMA writers, myself included, put too much stock in buyrates, particularly when it comes to UFC. UFC 106 did disappointing numbers and everyone though UFC was on the fall. Then UFC 107 did good numbers and all of a sudden the drought was over. When the year ends UFC buyrates will even out at worst to what they've done in previous years and chances are the overall number will be up. The same goes for Strikeforce on CBS. Some events will do well, some won't but in the end Strikeforce will deliver cards that people will want to see and the numbers will be up. There are going to be slow periods for every company but they'll always shoot back up.

Feel something is overlooked or gets too much attention in MMA? Share in the comments section.

Major UFC/WEC News



On January 12th Dana White confirmed that Frankie Edgar will fight BJ Penn at UFC 112 for the UFC Lightweight title. This news came after Gray Maynard's split decision victory over Nate Diaz at Fight Night: Maynard vs. Diaz.

Gray Maynard's performance against Nate Diaz was so bad. HOW BAD WAS IT? Gray Maynard's performance against Nate Diaz was so bad that they gave the title shot to someone who Maynard already beat. In reality Maynard himself gave the title shot to Edgar by saying in multiple interviews after the fight that, "I'm not ready to fight BJ Penn" but man was that a bad performance by Maynard against Diaz. I thought Maynard lost the fight just because every round was close, the damage ended up being the same in the end (if not advantage Diaz), and Diaz was the more active of the two. It wasn't a terrible decision as all rounds were close but it also wasn't the statement fight Maynard needed to solidify himself a title shot.

Frankie Edgar is more interesting as a challenger to Penn. He's quick, has really sharp boxing, and is a good wrestler. But he's facing BJ Penn. Not only is he facing BJ Penn but he's facing a BJ Penn that is no longer half-assing it, at Lightweight, and finally has a true strength and conditioning program. Just based on skills vs. other opponents, Penn is the best fighter in the world.

The fight is either going to go a lot like Penn's last two fights where Edgar will feel Penn's power early, doesn't want to mess it, try to get the takedown, fail, and end up losing late or by decision. Or maybe Edgar will get the better of the striking and Penn will just decide to use his size and strength to clinch, get a trip takedown or drop to a double and power Edgar down, and then submit him.

As for Maynard, I hope they pair him up against Takanori Gomi next with the winner getting a title shot. If Maynard wins, even if his performance is bad and it's a boring fight, you can't deny him a shot. If Gomi wins it'll set up a fresh fight for Penn against a usually exciting fighter.



Rumored Fights:

Fight Night 22: Roy Nelson vs. Stefan Struve

UFC 113: Kimbo Slice vs. Matt Mitrione, Josh Koscheck vs. Paul Daley, Patrick Cote vs. Alan Belcher

Sources: MMAMania, 5OZofPain, Belcher's Twitter

Nelson vs. Struve is your classic short fat guy vs. tall skinny guy battle and I can't wait for it. Struve is on the rise and this will be his chance to move up the Heavyweight ladder by getting a win over a veteran and a TUF winner. Struve is the better technical striker but Nelson packs a hell of a punch. If he times one of those leg kicks by Struve it could be lights out. On the ground Nelson has the advantage but Struve can hold his own. This fight will determine who moves up to the next level of the Heavyweight division and who stays in the middle of the pack.

Kimbo vs. Mitrione is do or die for Kimbo. He didn't look impressive against James Thompson, he lost to Seth Petruzelli in 14 seconds, he lost on TUF in the first round, and he didn't look impressive against Houston Alexander. Matt Mitrione is not a good fighter but he has power and Kimbo's chin is still suspect. If they get into a slugfest, there is a big chance that Kimbo gets KO'd. The thing I'm most looking forward to in this fight is when will they both gas? I'm hoping they both collapse after the second round results in the first ever double KO due to exhaustion in MMA history. Although Kimbo is on PPV for the first time ever, I don't think he'll have much to do with the buyrate. UFC 113 is scheduled to be headlined by Machida vs. Shogun 2 and Evans vs. Jackson. Those two fights will get all the credit/blame depending on what the buyrate is and chances are it will be very high thanks to the intrigue in both fights.



Koscheck vs. Daley is a fight that should shock no one. I've been calling this fight ever since Koscheck defeated Anthony Johnson at UFC 106 and it was the biggest no-brainer fight to make in the company. The winner of this fight should get a Welterweight title shot (unless Hardy and Daley both win and don't fight each other due to being teammates) and they'll likely end up looking like a real threat to the title. If Koscheck wins, chances are he'll win by getting the fight to the ground and pounding on Daley en route to an impressive decision victory or submitting him like he did against Johnson. If Daley wins it will likely be another brutal KO, which would give him three straight (T)KO victories in the UFC. I still favor Koscheck in this fight simply because Daley's takedown defense and ground game is very weak while Koscheck has the best and most explosive takedown in the division.

Belcher vs. Cote should be a really fun stand up war. Cote has KO power in his hands and an excellent chin while Belcher has power combined with excellent technique and a good chin as well. Cote is coming off the dreaded Mir Layoff so that will likely hurt his performance and that's a big reason why I favor Belcher in this fight.



WEC General Manager Reed Harris speculated that Urijah Faber vs. Jose Aldo could be on PPV with Donald Cerrone in the co-main event.

If WEC is ever going to be on PPV, this would be the fight to do it with. Urijah Faber is by far the biggest star in the company and nobody had a better 2009 than Jose Aldo. I don't know how well it would do buyrate wise but it's worth experimenting.

The Faber vs. Aldo fight was set up with Faber's victory over Raphael Assuncao. He looked very good in that fight and became the first man to finish Assuncao, doing so with a rear naked choke in the third round. I don't know if I'd favor Faber against Aldo because Aldo looked so damn impressive against Mike Brown but you can never count out Faber. His speed and all-around skill keeps him in every fight. Unfortunately for him I think Aldo has the speed to match him and Aldo will likely enjoy a strength advantage as well. If that fight happens in Sacramento like it should then the crowd heat will be off the charts.

Cerrone in the co-main event is a smart move because he has a personality that the fans seem to enjoy, he's never in a boring fight, and he's on the rise right now. There's speculation that he may fight Jamie Varner instead of Ben Henderson so those two can settle their grudge. Either way it should be a hell of a fight.

I hope it's Henderson though just because I would much rather see Henderson/Cerrone 2. I was very happy that Henderson defeated Varner at the recent WEC because I thought his victory set up that fight. Henderson didn't look great in that fight but he ended up catching Varner in a guillotine and Varner quickly tapped out. Speaking of Varner, I don't get him. He says he doesn't want to be a heel yet he does heelish things. Wearing sunglasses inside (only douchebags do that), talking about how you wanted to box and Henderson wanted to kick, and how you wanted to fight and Henderson wanted to grapple. Just admit you lost and move on.

Major Strikeforce/Miscellaneous News



As of January 17, Bobby Lashley does not have an opponent for the January 30 Strikeforce event. His originally scheduled opponent, Yohan Banks, was denied the fight by the athletic commission. Strikeforce tapped Jimmy Ambriz as the replacement and all parties agreed to the fight but they hit a snag in finalizing the deal. John Devine is also under consideration to fight Lashley.

Can't they roll out Tank Abbott or Don Frye to fight Lashley? Certainly a win over one of those two will do far more for the career of Lashley than a win over someone nobody has heard of. At this point I'm in favor of them pulling Lashley off the card and promoting Riggs vs. Hieron to the main card simply because the winner of that fight will likely get a Welterweight title shot against the winner of Diaz vs. Zaromskis and it would be nice to give those guys a little bit of TV exposure in your company.

Lashley needs to stick to fighting cans as long as he can because from what I've heard, he's still not training like he should. He's still working dates for TNA wrestling, including working the PPV last night. He's not wrestling often but it still takes away from his training time and if he does end up he could get injured. He has the raw talent to be a very good Heavyweight but he's not fully committed to it like Brock Lesnar was and is. And until he is fully committed he's going to continue fight cans until fans stop caring and then he'll fight someone good and end up being dominated.

No More News

That does it for me folks. I'll be back next week with a preview of Strikeforce: Miami and other new stuff. Take care everyone.

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