MMA's 3R's 01.26.2012: UFC on FX Edition
Posted by Jeffrey Harris on 01.26.2012
From Jim Miller's gut wrenching submission win over Melvin Guillard to Pat Barry coming back hard with a big win over Christian Morecraft, 411's Jeffrey Harris breaks down the Right, the wRong, and the Ridiculous for UFC on FX!
*The Column Concept*
Greetings loyal readers and welcome back to a brand new edition of The 3R's of MMA. 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.
The best and fastest, growing weekly MMA radio podcast in the entire internet is the 411 Ground and Pound Radio Show, hosted by Mark Radulich. In the last episode, we recapped UFC on FX: Miller vs. Guillard and previewed UFC on Fox 2. You can listen to the latest episode here:
The new era for UFC continued with their first live Fight Night card on FX. Jim Miller picked up a big submission win over Melvin Guillard. Pat Barry got a much-needed win over Christian Morecraft. And bantamweights Mike Easton and Jared Papazian pretty much stole the show.
THE RIGHT:
Jim Miller vs. Melvin Guillard: It was gut check time for Jim Miller and Melvin Guillard. Both guys were on impressive win streaks and arguably in line to get a title shot before they both suffered some disappointing losses. However a big win here in the main event on UFC's debut fight night card on FX would mean a lot. Guillard came hard and strong in the early minutes of the bout. He was able to shove off Miller's takedown attempts and was lighting Miller up on the feet. I think Guillard's critical error was the repeated flying knee strike attempts. Giving up your legs to a supreme grappler like Miller was a huge mistake as he was able to get the take down and get Guillard's back before securing the choke. Once again, the biggest flaw in Guillard's game rears its ugly head. All of Guillard's six UFC losses have been by submission and it cost him again here. Doing the knee strikes the first couple of times, OK that's fine, but to keep doing that against a guy like Jim Miller makes you predictable and leaves you vulnerable to the takedown. Back to the drawing board for Guillard. Now bigger fights lay ahead for Miller and he's currently set to face Nate Diaz on the May UFC on Fox card. Buy tickets for that one.
Jim Miller scored his tenth Octagon victory with his submission win over Melvin Guillard at UFC on FX.
Pat Barry vs. Christian Morecraft: I improperly predicted Morecraft for this fight since I had little faith in Barry's takedown and submission defense. However, Barry showed some true growth and development and was able to get out of trouble when Morecraft got him there. I really thought that could've been it when Morecraft nearly secured that armbar hold. Barry looked great and put away Morecraft with an amazing punch. Barry might not have the best record, but he's incredibly popular due to his exciting fights and performances as well as his humorous personality. This fight was awarded Fight of The Night and many fans complained about this getting the nod instead of Easton/Papazian. I don't see the problem. Easton and Papazian got a pretty big reward just being on the main FX card, and before this fight fans even complained they made the card. Just goes to show how fickle fandom can be sometimes.
Pat Barry broke a two fight losing skid at UFC on FX with his knockout win over Christian Morecraft.
Josh Neer vs. Duane Ludwig: This was an important fight for both guys who have been journeymen of sorts throughout the career to get a winstreak and keep the momentum going. Ludwig was in the news recently about the hubbub of UFC declaring him to have the fastest UFC knockout ever but the Nevada State Athletic Commission refused to correct the time issue. Neer had recently returned to the UFC and got a win over Keith Wisniewski. Duane Ludwig had won his last two UFC fights over Amir Sadollah and Nick Osipczak. Ludwig, a strong kickboxer brought his game in the early moments. Neer absorbed some tough shots but it looked like his training with the Diaz brothers and the Cesar Gracie camp definitely paid off. Neer continued to move forward and eventually got the takedown. He would soon then get the victory with an impressive high elbow guillotine choke. Good fight and a great performance for Neer who wins two in a row in the UFC for the first time since 2006.
Jared Papazian vs. Mike Easton: Many questioned why this fight was on the main FX card, but they definitely proved why as the fight went on. Easton and Papazian delivered a great, back and forth battle that many felt should've been awarded Fight of the Night. Even though it didn't, I'm sure Papazian and Easton easily both got some extra pay with their performance. The scoring for the fight was a little weird. One judge scored it a draw. I gave the fight to Easton and felt he edged it out. This was a really good fight to showcase the excitement of the 135 lb. division on TV.
Mike Easton remains undefeated in the UFC with his win over Jared Papazian at UFC on FX.
THE wRong:
Hackers Target UFC.com: UFC.com got hacked brah. In the wake of the uproar over the SOPA and IP acts which due to public dissent had their votes delayed on Capitol Hill. The UFC has been outspoken in their support of the bills due to the rampancy of their shows and events pirated and streamed online. So this was a means of retaliation of outspoken hacktivists and cyber-criminals that are none too happy with the big companies that support the bills. UFC.com has now been restored, so the disruption while it was noticeable for a short time doesn't really change anything. While I don't agree with the SOPA and IP acts, I don't support hacking or acts of stupidity such as this either.
Fox Banning UFC Gun Sponsorships: There is apparently a new Fox driven edict in the UFC where there can be no more sponsorships of firearms, ammo, hunting, or knife companies to be promoted at ZUFFA MMA events. This has become quite a story in recent days. Many have proclaimed free speech not to mention hypocrisy since MMA is a violent combat sport and not only that, Fox TV produces and broadcasts violent shows depicting gun use and violence such as 24, Justified, Sons of Anarchy, etc. It might not be fair, and at first I imagine it will hurt fighters who used gun or firearm type of sponsors. However at the end of the day, Dana White was right when Dana White spoke of the bubble UFC and MMA fans used to be in. Now with the Fox move, that bubble has burst. That means things are changing and in transition, and this is a part of it. Just like tobacco and cigarette ads are no longer allowed to be used on television or to sponsor shows anymore. I think people getting upset over this new rule need to get over it and not take it as an attack on their second amendment rights. UFC is now trying to open itself up and cater to a broader demographic. Fox realizes this and this is one of their rules. It's not the worst thing in the world. This is not a battle to take up. Also, keep in mind while fighters might lose out on these sponsors being on Fox networks will open them up to new and bigger sponsors they wouldn't have gotten before being exclusively on cable and PPV.
It looks like The Gun Store won't be sponsoring UFC fighters anymore.
THE RIDICULOUS:
King Mo Steroid Scandal: Mohammed "King Mo" Lawal was recently popped by the Nevada State Athletic Commission as testing positive for steroids for his fight with Lorenz Larkin in Strikeforce. Mo now faces a one year suspension and the fight has been overturned into a no contest. Previously, Mo proclaimed innocence and being a clean fighter having gone through extensive drug testing throughout his wrestling career including Olympic level drug testing. However, that was not the whole story. A recent story by MMA Junkie.com reveals that Mo's camp believes the positive test was caused by over-the-counter supplement S-Mass Lean Gainer. Mo and his manger, Mike Kogan, also reported that before the fight Mo (apparently due to medical reasons) took "Dexamethasone, an anti-inflammatory steroid administered once by a doctor Lawal saw prior to the fight; Orthovisc, a treatment for osteoarthritis used to lubricate the knee joint; and Lidocaine, a numbing agent." S-Mass Lean Gainer is apparently a chemical clone for Drostanolone which is what Mo tested positive for. Mo also failed in reporting the steroid medicine and supplements he was taking on his pre-fight medical forms which is required. So Mo really can't proclaim innocence in any form anymore. And to proclaim ignorance over such revelations as this is very questionable at this point. He did knowingly take steroids apparently administered by a doctor. But he clearly failed in reporting his supplements which his medical forms require. For Mo to call what he was taking "Dimetapp (over-the-counter cold and allergy medicine) and amino acids and stuff. It's just general stuff" is very disingenuous. Fighters need to take more responsibility in this matter and should be more aware of what they put into their bodies. Also if Mo is so experienced with Olympic level drug testing, why did he fail in this matter? Mo and his camp are no longer pursuing an appeal from the NSAC, which I believe says it all. Now in defense of Mo, we shouldn't be naïve about this situation since we know performance enhancing drug excuse is a problem in numerous professional sports. It doesn't make what Mo did alright, but Mo is not the only guilty party. Mo is a talented fighter and I'm a fan so I hope he learns from this and comes back strong.
What else is going on 411mania.com with yours truly, the 411mania Jack of All Trades?
And that's it for this week. Remember not to miss a new episode of the 411 Ground and Pound Radio Show this Sunday at 11AM EST. This weekend we'll be reviewing UFC on Fox 2, so don't miss it. Also in other news, yours truly will be heading back to Las Vegas to cover UFC 143 live on Super Bowl weekend. So be sure to tune in for that as well.
Keep rocking it loyal readers. And like the great Buckaroo Banzai says, "Remember. No matter where you go . . . there you are."
