The MMA 5&1 3.04.13: UFC Ring Girls in VS, &1 With Kenda Perez
Posted by Jack McGee on 03.04.2013
Kenda Perez is your "& 1" Model of the Week, international cage girls do battle in Vs, thoughts on Ronda Rousey possibly going Hollywood, a look back at UFC on FUEL TV 8 and more!
The Part at the Beginning
Welcome back to the latest edition of the MMA 5&1! While there is no UFC event this weekend, there is still plenty to talk about. This week, Kenda Perez is the &1 model; VS is a battle of international cage girls, we'll discuss Ronda Rousey possibly going Hollywood, Matt Riddle's stupidity, track my MMA picks and much more. MUCH MORE PEOPLE! Once again, I thank you for checking out my humble offering to the 411 MMA Zone, enjoy and suggestions are always welcome!
They make you get this damn thing at 411. Social media and all. I know, you won't follow me, it's cool, it's cool.
Tracking My MMA Picks
DISCLAIMER: I do not claim to be an MMA expert, simply a guy that loves to follow the sport. But part of the gig is to make fight picks, so I will track the picks for as long as I am doing the column. Here we are thus far…
UFC on FX 7 Predictions: 2-2
UFC on FOX 6 Predictions : 3-1
UFC 156 Predictions : 3-2
Bellator 88 Predictions : 2-2
UFC on FUEL TV 7 Predictions : 4-2
UFC 157: 4-1
UFC on FUEL TV 8: 2-4
Overall For 2013 I Am: 20-14
After two solid showings (8-3 overall for those shows), I tanked on the UFC on FUEL TV 8 card. Not a good night for your intrepid reporter. And that kids is why I am no expert.
WHO YOU GOT? – UFC BRAZIL vs. UFC USA vs. UFC ASIA
FIVE – IS ROUSEY ABOUT TO GO HOLLYWOOD ON US?
In a story that could be bad for women's MMA fans and horrible for the UFC's Women's Division, it was reported this week that Ronda Rousey has signed with the William Morris Endeavor talent agency. On top of that, there were already reports out there that Rousey, the UFC Women's Bantamweight Champion and biggest star in women's MMA, was reportedly already offered a role in the next Hunger Games movie, as well as its sequel. If you're not informed, The Hunger Games is a very popular book series, that was adapted for the big screen, starring Jennifer Lawrence. The first film made $686 million worldwide, from a budget of $78 million. Yes, that is considered really good when you consider that a studio recoups 55% of a film's grosses on average, meaning it needs to approximately double its budget to be profitable during its theatrical run.
I am completely serious when I say this, this news could be a disaster for women's MMA. Women's MMA was starting to gain attention with Gina Carano. Gina was beautiful, she could fight, she won and she had a great personality. While the loss to Cyborg derailed her, the fight did pretty big business. The event averaged 576,000 viewers on the Showtime cable network. It peaked with 856,000 viewers for the night's main event between Carano and Santo, which at the time was a record for Showtime MMA. The show did an attendance of 13,976 for a gate of $736,000. But that was the end for Gina, she never fought again and has gone Hollywood. She had a small role in Blood and Bone, starred in Haywire, and feature roles in In the Blood and Fast and Furious 6. When Gina left MMA, women's MMA suffered. When Cyborg failed her steroid test women's MMA suffered. Many thought it would never come back, but the women kept fighting, and Ronda Rousey was the new face of the sport. But if she decides to bail for Hollywood, I am not sure women's MMA can stand to lose another face of the sport.
FOUR – PUNISHING PEOPLE THAT MISS WEIGHT
There are certain things in the world on MMA that piss me off. People failing drug tests, people that take no accountability when they fuck up and guys that miss weight. I say all the time that the fighter has a certain amount of responsibility as part of their job. That is you train, you do the required media for the fight, you make weight, you show up for the fight, and you piss clean. I haven't been that angry about it for a while until Diego Sanchez missed weight for this past weekend's UFC on FUEL TV 8 event. I got mad because of what Sanchez posted on Twitter…
Gomi better not be crying I missed weight, after I win because those 2 lbs cost 24 thousand dollars. If I could have cut it I would have :(
— Diego Sanchez UFC (@DiegoSanchezUFC) March 2, 2013
So let me get this straight, this douche bag misses weight, and has the balls to talk shit about Gomi, who made weight. People wonder why guys continue to miss weight in MMA, and there are two reasons. One is that their science is off and once they dehydrate too much and cannot lose anymore, which is apparently what happened to Sanchez. The other is that fighters are willing to take the risk with the science and drop from higher weight because there is next to no punishment. Sure they lose some cash, but as long as the fighters still get to fight and have the chance to win, ands to get sponsor money, they will take the risk.
I have the solution, which most will hate. Here is what I think should happen when someone misses weight from now on…
They lose 50% of their show money toothier opponent.
They get a DQ for the fight, yes they lose.
You march the fighters out on TV, Facebook or PPV, wherever they were scheduled to fight. The guy that made weight and is awarded the win gets to wear out his sponsor shit and fight gear to fulfill his obligations. The loser must wear street clothes with no sponsor material at all.
Bruce Buffer gets to announce the winner of the fight, and the guy that missed weight gets completely humiliated. There is no reward for the dumb ass that misses weight.
Now I will get to hear about how you cannot do that to a fighter and that it is wrong. Well tough shit, it isn't my problem, maybe if guys made weight, I wouldn't have to think of things to deter them from doing so.
THREE – UFC on FUEL TV 8 (QUICK THOUGHTS)
DECISION-FEST JAPAN
Prelim Notes: After the first fight of the night, which was a KO finish, we had four straight decisions. Four more straight on the main card would follow that. It was a LONG night.
Dong Hyun Kim defeated Siyar Bahadurzada via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27): Dong Hyun Kim defeated Siyar Bahadurzada via unanimous decision in a bout where Kim grapple fucked Bahadurzada to the point that he broke his will to fight. Kim constantly took Bahadurzada down, controlled him and by the end of the round three, Bahadurzada was just laying there and lightly defending but not doing a thing to get up because he was a broken man. Kim gets back-to-back wins for the first time since 2011, and takes out a guy that had a lot of hype. Unfortunately Dong Hyun Kim has no ground game.
Rani Yahya defeated Mizuto Hirota via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28): Rani Yahya defeated Mizuto Hirota via unanimous decision in a fight that Yahya I felt could have and should have finished. Yahya had chances to submit Hirota, but much to his credit he was able fight that off. Yahya got tired in the third and faded for sure, but that was because he gassed himself going for those submissions. This was a solid win for Rani Yahya, who now has back-to-back victories in the UFC.
Yushin Okami defeated Hector Lombard via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28): Yushin Okami defeated Hector Lombard via BULLSHIT split decision in a fight that proved that Lombard is not a UFC caliber title contender. Okami just dominated him for the most part, and Lombard just looked like he had no answers for higher quality fighters. Okami has now won three fights in a row, and is looking to make another title run. Lombard has been a bust for the UFC. He was brought in on a big contract, reportedly UFC main event style contract, and is now 1-2. You can argue all you want about the loses being split decisions, but I felt he lost both easily 2 rounds to 1. You can release Lombard now. You're looking to cut fighters, he makes way more than Jon Fitch, who was better, and he does nothing for the UFC. Maybe if you offer him back to Bellator they'll ease up and allow Eddie Alvarez out of his deal.
Diego Sanchez defeated Takanori Gomi via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28): Diego Sanchez defeated Takanori Gomi via split decision in a fight I felt was very disappointing. I had some high hopes for the fight, in that it would either end early or that it would be a wild three round bout. Neither happened, and Sanchez won what ended up being a pretty controversial decision. There were people arguing both sides pretty heavily, and even Dana White thought Gomi won. As you read above, I have no patience for Sanchez these days, so we'll just move on and talk about better things.
Mark Hunt defeated Stefan Struve via TKO (punch) - Round 3, 1:44: Mark Hunt defeated Stefan Struve via TKO in round three when he BROKE STRUVE'S JAW. There were three amazing things in this fight, the first being that Stefan Struve has STILL not learned how to properly use his reach. The man is a giant, but Hunt constantly kept getting inside and landing well. Jabs and push kicks motherfucker, learn to use them. Struve was able to get things to the ground, and had several chances to win the fight, but the second thing we learned is that Struve's ground game is vastly overrated. He had Hunt grounded and mounted at least two times, and couldn't finish things. He was sloppy as hell in this fight. But the third and most important thing about this fight, and I quote the Boss Larry Csonka, "THE STATE OF MARK HUNT'S GROUND GAME!" Mark Hunt escaping holds? Mark Hunt SWEEPING Struve? Mark Hunt makes me love MMA. Dear Stefan Struve, please go away for one year, work nothing but jabs and push kicks. Come back to MMA. Use them. Your pal, Jack.
Wanderlei Silva defeated Brian Stann via KO (punches) - Round 2, 4:08: And the PRIDE magic was still there as Wanderlei Silva defeated Brian Stann via KO in the second round. Many have felt that Silva needed to retire, due to the damage he has taken over the years, but there is a group that still loves him "going to war" and are happy when he fights. This was an upset; most figured Stann was the better technician and that Wandy's chin was weak and would likely lose. But the heart of the warrior was still there, and on a show like this, it was a tremendous feel good moment, especially if you were a fan of PRIDE and old school Wanderlei Silva. Brian Stann was all class in loss, and is a good representative for the company, but is also just a fighter. The guy is not and never will be a main event title contender, but that's ok. I wish Silva would retire on this note, on high in Japan like a hero. But he will fight again. So let's make it worth it, let him go in there with Dan Henderson, Shogun or Vitor. I just want to see crazy ass fights.
TWO – MATT RIDDLE – YOUR IDIOT OF THE WEEK
At UFC on FUEL TV 7, Matthew Riddle defeated Che Mills via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 30-27) in what I felt was a very predictable and bland bout. Well, he "did win" the fight, this past week it was changed to a no contest because tested positive for marijuana metabolites. This is Riddle's second failed drug test for marijuana within the past seven months as he previously failed a post-fight drug test due to marijuana following his UFC 149 victory over Chris Clements. Riddle is an idiot, because he just couldn't do what the fighter is required to do. And that is you train, you do the required media for the fight, you make weight, you show up for the fight, and you PISS CLEAN. And guess what, Riddle has decided to play the victim, stating the following about his release…
"It is what it is I've failed two drug tests in seven months. There's not much I can do I was prescribed my medicine and I'm going to take it. I got fired over taking my medicine because I don't want to take pharmaceutical drugs or testosterone. This is what works for me, it's just shitty, but it is what it is."
Well boohoo, cry me a river Cheech. You failed, because you broke the rules. Listen, I have nothing against marijuana smokers, many of my friends smoke on the regular. I have no problems with people having medicinal marijuana cards; I know some of those people as well. I do not think that people that smoke marijuana are bad people, but people like Riddle who want to play the victim are. The bottom line is that he chose a profession where the UFC and athletic commissions have stated that marijuana is a banned substance. That means you cannot use it, and that is the end of it. If people like Diaz and Riddle are too stupid to understand this, then so be it, but don't pretend to be a victim here.
