MMA's 3R's 09.09.10: Joe Warren, Bellator 27, UFC 123 News, WEC, Karo Parisyan, SHINE Fights, Todd Duffee

Posted by Jeffrey Harris on 09.09.2010

From Karo Parisyan's return to the UFC and Joe Warren's Bellator 27 performance to UFC 123 fight announcements, Todd Duffee's release and more, 411's Jeffrey Harris breaks down the Right, wRong and Ridiculous in MMA!



*The Column Concept*

Welcome back everyone to a brand new edition of The 3R's of MMA. I won't say new and improved since I have pretty big shoes to fill in the great Larry Csonka who previously headed up this column. I've been a part of the 411mania team going on nearly four years now. I started in Movies/TV before shifting over into Games and Wrestling and then eventually MMA in 2008. Usually I do the fighter interviews and also Pride DVD reviews as well as some news updates. However this is my first foray into doing a weekly column for 411 unless you count my season 2 recaps of The Big Bang Theory, the best show on TV. The rules and format are still the same as I will be taking a look at the Right, the wRong, and the Ridiculous in the MMA world. The Right will be about the good to great fights or positive news items for the week or big fight announcements. The wRong will be the bad fights, showings or performances, and bad fight bookings. And the Ridiculous will be the worst of the world of MMA.

* And now…The 3R's of…MMA~!*

THE RIGHT:

Joe Warren, The Baddest Man On The Planet: Top level Greco-Roman wrestler, Joe Warren, just a little over a year ago made his MMA debut beating former WEC Bantamweight Champion, Chase Beebe, at DREAM 7. And then in his second career fight he beat the legendary Kid Yamamoto at DREAM 9. Warren ultimately lost his bid to become DREAM Featherweight Champion by losing to Bibiano Fernandes by submission, but Warren has now redeemed himself. Warren ran the Bellator featherweight tournament table beating Eric Marriott, Georgi, Karakhanyan, and Patricio Freire in consecutive fights. Warren finally got his MMA title opportunity against Bellator Featherweight Champion and season 1 tournament winner, Joe Soto, previously undefeated. Soto spent most of the first round absolutely cutting Warren down. Soto defended any and all of Warren's attempts to grapple or take the fight to the ground. Soto constantly lit up Warren with his boxing and punches. Warren arguably lost the first round 10-8. Soto rubbed it in by showboating and hot dogging during the first round putting his chin out and acting like Nick Diaz. Then seconds into the second round Warren nailed Soto with a straight right and went in for the attack. The rattled Soto then got up and Warren came with an amazing knee strike that put Soto down and out of the fight. Joe Warren barely a year into his MMA career is now a champion. Joe Warren is without a doubt the baddest man on the planet. Don't believe it? He's fighting again only days later against Michihiro Omigawa at DREAM 16. Omigawa is going to learn what it's like to go to war with a real warrior.



Phil Davis vs. Tim Boestch On For UFC 123: Former NCAA Division I wrestling champion, Phil Davis, has been on a tear thus far since recently debuting in the UFC last February beating form WEC Light Heavyweight Champion, Brian Stann. I got to see his prelim fight live at UFC 117 where he beat Rodney Wallace. Davis' next challenge will be against a 12-3 veteran Tim Boetsch who fought on the same card, winning an underwhelming decision against Todd Brown. Boetsch has a 3-2 record in the UFC and will be another good test for the developing Davis. I think Davis is one of the hottest, most underrated, and most unsung prospects in the UFC right now since a lot of that hype is currently going to rising star Jon "Bones" Jones. Davis most definitely has a better wrestling background for Bones, and I think Davis is also more money than Bones as well. Mr. Wonderful is really hilarious and has a great personality. I think Davis will win another tough battle this upcoming November when UFC goes to Detroit for the first time.



Joe Lauzon/George Sotiropoulos In The Works For UFC 123: According to MMAJunkie, Joe Lauzon and George Sotiropoulos have made agreements for a lightweight showdown at UFC 123. The bout could very well determine the next contender for the UFC lightweight championship and who will face the winner of Maynard/Edgar which will more than likely take place early next year. I think this is a great match-up and works so much better than Lauzon fighting BJ Penn or Kenny Florian or the winner of another Penn/Florian fight. I feel now that Penn has lost his rematch and Florian has lost to Maynard you can't keep automatically putting Penn or Florian into title bouts or title eliminator bouts. Sotiropoulos and Lauzon have both paid their dues and have impressive records in the lightweight division. Sotiropoulos with another win would most assuredly deserve a title shot. Lauzon with a win over Sotiropoulos who has been beating everyone in front of him at lightweight would also arguably deserve a shot. This will hopefully be a great fight with how much these two have advanced and progressed since coming into the UFC after The Ultimate Fighter. Lauzon looks to be in the best shape of his life, and Sotiropoulos has been a beast at lightweight. I also wonder if this fight will be made for a UFC return to Syndney, Australia. Sotiropoulous better just remember not to bring cake to the weigh-ins. This is what Lauzon does to cake and cake eaters:



WEC Gets Another DVD Release: I'm ecstatic to learn we are getting another WEC DVD release with the Best of WEC set. I think this is a great way to step up the marketing and promotion for WEC which has been suffering from declining ratings on their live shows as of late. I hope this means we can expect to see more more fights released on DVD perhaps the more notable cards, and I'd even go for some DVD's that collect multiple fight cards in one set. However, I would still like to see even more releases like this. I also think there needs to be more UFC/WEC cross-promotion as well as WEC Countdown shows on Versus and other Comcast networks to hopefully increase viewership. The ratings decline for WEC has been extremely worrying. I love the WEC and there hasn't been a WEC card recently that I haven't liked, but its still a bit saddening that the ratings keep going down unless there is an Urijah Faber or Miguel Torres around to bolster the numbers. So hopefully things like the DVD releases will be the start of a step-up in marketing and promotion of the company. This is another great way:

GET THE TUBES AND GET TRAINING!

"Urijah Faber can rip your arm off."

THE wRong:

Karo Parisyan: It was recently announced that Karo Parisyan is returning to the UFC and would be getting another shot. In case you've forgotten, Parisyan was let go from the UFC last November when he dropped out of his originally scheduled fight with Dustin Hazelett just days before with a boatload of excuses. Dana White was exasperated with Parisyan's behavior and would later recount how he previously had gone out of his way to try and help out Parisyan. Parisyan in the aftermath was still in denial of his drug issues and addiction to painkillers. I feel it was wrong to bring back Parisyan so quickly. I still don't feel Parisyan has really redeemed himself and earned another shot in the UFC yet. Parisyan clearly still has mental and emotional issues, look no further than the back and forth lies regarding his fines with the Nevada State Athletic Commissions. While I do think forever is a long time when Dana White originally said Parisyan was gone, I feel it was justified at the time. Parisyan has had some rotten luck with the UFC at times when he had to bow out of his planned welterweight title shot due to an injury, but I do not think that excuses his behavior and the way he acts before his fights. I'll believe Parisyan is clean and makes it to the Octagon for his planned upcoming fight with Dennis Hallman at UFC 123 when I see it.


"Hehe, just a matter of time wankers!"

SHINE Fights Card Shuffle: The much maligned and bemoaned organization, SHINE Fights, is still trying to put on another card which is set to include a one-night, lightweight grand prix tournament. SHINE head honchos, Jason Chambers and Devin Price, have been scrambling to find a venue to house the event and as well as quality fighters to compete on the card period. Marcus Aurelio has already dropped out of the tournament and been replaced by Shannon Gugerty. You also have the likes of Charles "Krazy Horse" Bennett set to compete in the tournament. After the disaster that was SHINE's last attempted card that failed to materialize on May 15 where fighters have still yet to be paid for that debacle, one wonders if the next SHINE card will even take place as well. Right now I'd be extremely surprised if their next card actually goes off.

Bart Palaszewski Being Overlooked: I'm disapointed that following WEC 50 people were overlooking
Palaszewski and talking about Anthony Pettis. Last time I checked, Palaszewski beat the undefeated Pettis at WEC 45. He followed that up with a submission win over Karan Darabedyan at WEC 47 and then knocked out the undefeated Zach Micklewright at WEC 50. So Palaszewski won 3 straight in the WEC over guys who all had wins and were undefeated in the WEC at the time. He handed Pettis and Micklewrights' first career losses in MMA. And yet Palaszewski isn't getting a title shot against Bendo next, that will likely be Anthony Pettis. Pettis granted did get an impressive win at WEC 50 over Shane Roller, but he still lost to Palaszewski. Now Palaszewski is apparently set to fight Kamal Shalorus at WEC 51. I mean I think that's a good match-up, but if Palaszewski wins yet again there and is continued to be overlooked it will still be disappointing. Palaszewski is probably one of the most underrated fighters of the WEC lightweight division. Pettis has a flashy and cool style and he did a good job of neutralizing a top wrestler's takedowns and grappling. Fans are even in denial of Palaszewski actually beating Pettis and say that Pettis truly won that fight. That is bologna.

THE RIDICULOUS:

Todd Duffee - YOU'RE FIRED!: On September 7, heavyweight fighter Todd Duffee (6-1, MMA; 1-1 UFC) has been released by the UFC. Duffee was getting a lot of buzz when he came on to the scene out of nowhere and knocked out Tim Hague in record time at UFC 102. The hype train was pretty much derailed when Duffee faced Mike Russow at UFC 114 earlier this year. Duffee was dominating the fight but looking extremely one-dimensional after having trouble knocking out Duffee early. Duffee then got knocked out when Russow clipped him with a punch late into the third round. The internet has been aflame with rumors and speculation regarding Duffee's firing. There is talk that Duffee pulled out of a fight with Jon Madsen and feigned injury in order to film a role in the movie, Never Back Down 2. Duffee also being a regular poster on The Underground forums also tried campaigning for a new jobs and needing money. This also could've initiated his firing. Apparently the text message tweeting by Duffee's manager, Alex Davis, also got taken out of context. Now I can definitely understand fighters wanting more money. Fighting, even fighting the UFC can be extremely high risk and low reward. Rookie fighters and new fighters in the UFC don't get paid very much and not to mention you can get cut with just one loss as Duffee's situation proves. However at the same time, Duffee was fighting in the UFC. If you are a fighter, that's what you should be focused on even if it means spending less time looking for approval of keyboard warriors on an internet message board. Duffee shouldn't be dodging his responsibilities as a fighter to go and shoot a stupid B-movie that will probably in a matter of months be in the bargain bins of Wal-Mart. Remember what happened to Roger Huerta when he tried to be a movie star too? The fact of the matter is this, Hollywood isn't looking for MMA fighters in major roles. So guys like Duffee and Huerta need to get it out of their heads that they can be like Randy Couture and make a sort of successful transition to mainstream cinema rather than fringe garbage like Never Surrender. I highly doubt even Quinton "Rampage" Jackson was paid handsomely for his two second appearance in Miss March. The A-Team tanked and won't be getting a sequel either. Just saying, Jackson guaranteed makes a lot more for probably just one or two MMA fights than he did for A-Team. Fighters need to be fighters and stop pretending they are movie stars. However, all the speculation on this story including the inaccurate text message reporting by Josh Gross just goes to show how ridiculous situations like this can be.



And that's it for this week. Check back next week for another exciting brand, new edition of the MMA 3R'S. Remember, if you want to go to war with a real warrior, fight the baddest man on the planet, Joe Warren!


"I just pick him up, crush him, put some pain on him, rip it off, and then go home with it."

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Joe says goodbye…