The MMA News Report 08.29.07
Posted by Morgan Marx on 08.29.2007
This week we catch up on the fall out from UFC 74, detailing which fighters (including the winners) are amongst the walking wounded, my thoughts on a couple of controversial issues, and a rundown of the night’s fights.
INTRODUCTION
It's a special edition of the mid-week news column. In lieu of the fact that there isn't much news to go around, I'm double dipping on the opinion with multiple thoughts on this past weekends UFC 74. So hopefully you're in the mood for some rants and commentary. Next week I'm sure there will be, you know, actual news to report on.
MAILBAG/RANT TIME
Two points have been running through my mind since UFC 74, so we're expanding rant time to allow my unadulterated opinions to take over. You've been warned.
1) Reaction to Renato Sobral Most commentaries about Sobral's actions on Saturday night have focused on the punishment that will be handed down for Sobral's refusal to break a fight ending choke. Sobral has been fined a hefty amount and may face suspension. Personally, I'm far more interested in the varied reactions Sobral's antics instigated as opposed to what Sobral "deserves." I think there were two very distinct factors when it came to judging Sobral's infraction: whether the viewer has been affected by similar actions in other sports, and whether the viewer has any sort of background participating in MMA.
To the first point, I think I have been desensitized to athletes breaking the boundaries in various sports. When I first read accounts of the undercard fights I was appalled at the descriptions of the Sobral v. Heath fight. I read multiple accounts that sensationalized the event, focusing on Heath's blood loss, the length of the hold, and how Sobral had to be pried off of Heath. When I finally got a chance to watch the fight, I think the accounts I read distorted my ability to view the fight objectively. I was pretty underwhelmed by what I saw. I'm not debating whether the choke was held too long, but the 5-7 seconds was more like 2-3. It was certainly a punishable offense, but it didn't exactly turn my stomach. Sobral definitely intended to put Heath to sleep, and once he accomplished his goal he let go. At no point did Sobral loose control.
I think you'd have to be pretty naïve to view the Sobral incident as one of the worst things to happen in sports. It pales in comparison to events like the Todd Bertuzzi and Marty McSorley assault cases. I would even differentiate Sobral's act from something like the Albert Haynesworth stomp in the NFL or the recent Jose Offerman bat attack. In those cases, an athlete went completely outside the game to attack a player in a way totally forbidden in the rulebook. In Sobral's case, the act went from something allowed and encouraged to something heinous. Again, I'm not excusing Sobral, I'm just trying to explain why it didn't stir up any sense of outrage in me, personally.
I think the second factor plays into that. Never having participated in an MMA event, maybe I just can't relate to the feeling of having a consensual fight turn into an unwanted attack. MMA columnists who take jiu jitsu courses and compete on smaller shows might have a more emotional response, knowing how it feels to be locked in a submission hold you want to end. In my case, I can only compare Sobral's breaking the rules against other instances in MMA where fighters have gone too far. And personally, I'm not ready to put Sobral up against the Gilbert Yvels and Wes Sims of the world.
You can condemn Sobral for violating the rules of sportsmanship but this is a violent competition that walks right up along the line of spectacle. In Sobral's mind he thought he was teaching a lesson in sportsmanship. To him, holding on to a choke wasn't as wrong as participating in WWE-style name calling. For some reason, BJ Penn vowing to break Jens Pulver's shoulder is acceptable, and Renato Sobral holding a blood choke a fraction too long isn't. It's funny what we fight fans (and I'm not excusing myself here) are bothered by, and what we cheer.
2) UFC once again pimping TUF in-house fighting I can't tell you how bothered I was at the very first promo I caught for the 6th installment for The Ultimate Fighter. We're only a few months removed from the ridiculous controversy in regards to the Marlon Sims/Noah Thomas street fight and the possible rematch that the UFC squashed. At the time I didn't understand the hypocrisy spouted by many MMA sources about how the fight occurred. We're talking about a realty TV show that thrives on the drama created by forcing young, testosterone addled men into a small house and cutting them off from the real world. For some reason the UFC was all in favor of letting Chris Leban self-destruct on television, but watching two guys go at it was a step too far. Not far enough to edit the fight out of the show, or at least remove the fight and Dana White's ridiculously contrived scolding from the advertising leading up to the episode, but too far to let the men fight on Spike TV.
People generally stuck up for the UFC, saying White did the right thing by canceling the fight, blaming Spike for the advertising, and somehow accepting that Spike has the ability to schedule UFC fights, even though White seems like a micromanagee in the truest sense. Fine, I'll give them a pass. But help me explain why the UFC is still advertising TUF by showing clips of guys fighting in the house, destroying the property, and showing no respect for one another. What's the lesson we were supposed to learn from Sims and Thomas getting the axe? And if you don't want to take my word for it, how about upcoming TUF participant (and favorite) Mac Danzig:
There was a TON of negativity in the situation and not allot (sic) of outlets for anything positive... when you take away personal freedom at the same time and confine someone to a house, a volatile situation is going to develop. And it sure did, lol.... It was a roller coaster of lows and highs from beginning to end. I met a few truly great people that I am proud to call friends and at the same time I met a few complete losers as well.
That is exactly what the UFC is looking for when it locks the guys in an alcohol filled house. By all means, Sims and Thomas should have been kicked off last season. But don't tell me the UFC isn't culpable for creating and profiting off the situation. And not to compare the antics of a bunch of overdeveloped frat boys on a reality TV show to Renato Sobral's actions, but would you be surprised if the UFC ended up booking a rematch between Heath and Sobral? Remember that this is the same company that advertised the arrival of Heath Herring by focusing on the ridiculous kiss incident. I'm not saying the UFC will definitely profit off of Sobral's antics, but I certainly won't drop dead of shock if they do.
We got some good responses from the Reader's Question last week, but the were unanimously in favor of GSP (not that I'm surprised). This week, we're taking a look at the next big UFC event, and the perceived lack of exposure given to Dan Henderson. What do you think about Hollywood's debut?
The Reader's Question: For mainstream fans, are you aware of Dan Henderson's MMA credentials? And are you excited to see him fight in the UFC?
NEWS
Numerous Medical Suspensions Handed Down Post-UFC 74, Including Gonzaga's Broken "Napao"
The Nevada State Athletic commission has handed down a series of medical suspensions that may impact several big fights. Though Joe Stevenson and Randy Couture were two of the night's biggest winners, fans hoping to see the two in the octagon soon may be losers. Not that any of you are losers…it was just a turn of phrase…really. Anyway, both Stevenson (broken nose) and Couture (broken arm) will be on the shelf for a considerable amount of time, which means potential big fights against BJ Penn and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (or Fedor) could be delayed.
The news for Couture isn't particularly bad. With Couture set to film a major motion picture, a top caliber fight later this year looked unlikely anyway. The added time will allow the UFC to build up the next challenger to Couture's heavyweight crown. A rumored fight with Big Nog seems too soon, especially in regards to Nog's lackluster showing in his UFC debut. Now the UFC can either sign Fedor or take the time to build Mirko Cro Cop as a challenger, assuming he gets by Chiek Kongo.
Stevenson is in a worse position, assuming his nose doesn't miraculously heal itself. With Sean Sherk likely facing suspension, Stevenson could have been in line for a lightweight title shot against Penn later this fall. Now, such a fight is unlikely. Stevenson's injury further muddies the lightweight water. Anyone who claims to know how the scenario will play out is a better prognosticator than I am.
Other suspensions include heavyweight challenger Gabriel Gonzaga (broken nose, obviously), Alberto Crane (orbital bone fracture), and Antoni Hardonk (MRI of shoulder due to submission). The injuries to both Stevenson and Couture reinforce how taxing MMA is as a sport, even for the winners of competitive fights.
Credit to my girlfriend for the napao joke…or blame her if you thought it was painfully un-funny
Update: Stevenson has confirmed that it is his nose, not his jaw, that was broken at UFC 74. We'll keep you posted on the estimated recovery time.
Like most that tuned in on Saturday, I was thrilled at the main card action for UFC 74. We saw several great fights that have real impact in multiple weight divisions. Here are some thoughts on the night's action.
UFC 74 Frank Mir v. Antoni Hardonk: You might know me as a huge Frank Mir fan, so unsurprisingly I was thrilled that he dominated in his return to UFC action. Some have criticized Mir's opponent, saying Hardonk was such a favorable match-up for Mir that we still don't know if he is back to true form. It's a good point, but honestly, baby steps people. It was good to see Mir beat someone he was supposed to. While Mir is still not ready for someone like Tim Sylvia or Brandon Vera, at least we can expect a better fighter than the one who lost to Marcio Cruz and barely beat Dan Christison. Hopefully, Mir is fully recovered from his physical ailments and can put together a lengthy run in a division not lacking for challengers. Maybe we'll see Mir take on an Eddie Sanchez or Fabricio Werdum in the future, then step up a level in competition.
Patrick Cote v. Kendall Grove: While no one predicted Grove to loose via TKO, I don't think anyone is particularly shocked either. Hopefully, this is a loss similar to those suffered by fellow TUF competitors Joe Stevenson and Josh Koscheck. Stevenson lost via decision to Josh Neer while Drew Fickett submitted Koscheck. Both fighters learned from their mistakes and have since climbed the ladder in their respective weight classes. There's no reason to expect this loss to derail Kendall Grove. Cote, meanwhile, bought himself some more time in the UFC, and in arguably the weakest weight class in the UFC could end up facing some top 5 fighters (assuming Martin Kampmann or Terry Martin is top 5 worthy).
Kurt Pellegrino v. Joe Stevenson: This was a great fight featuring both high impact moves (how about that German!) and great technical wrestling. It's a shame Pellegrino's conditioning let him down. At least, I'm assuming that was the culprit. Pellegrino looked good and I think surprised some with his ability to get on top of Stevenson. However, he just couldn't hang with Daddy in the later rounds. It was great to see Stevenson pour on the pressure to secure the victory late in the fight. I still think Stevenson is going to have a problem with a fighter like BJ Penn, but he's certainly capable of beating everyone else in the division.
Josh Koscheck v. Georges St-Pierre: Thankfully, those predicting the demise of GSP have already begun to eat crow. St-Pierre looked fabulous in almost every aspect of the game and should be fighting for the title early next spring. Three thoughts:
1. I don't understand why Koscheck is still seen as top-flight competitor. The man has one respectable win on his resume, and that was against a staph infected Diego Sanchez. I understand that Koscheck is very talented, but I'm not ready to put him above the likes of Jon Fitch and Karo Parisyan. GSP exposed him as a wrestler with huge flaws in every aspect of his game. I'm sick of the UFC (and media members) trying to sell his collegiate wrestling background as a reason to anoint him as the next big thing. I think we've proven that amateur wrestling is different from MMA wrestling. While Kos might have better credentials than Matt Hughes, there's no debate on who I'm picking is better in the octagon. And while Koscheck might have the best double leg takedown this side of Brock Lesnar, GSP gave him fits with his sprawl and balance.
2. If it weren't for a dubious reading of the UFC rulebook, I think the fight would have ended with the kimura attempt. Apparently, as the ref audibly stated during the fight, you are allowed to hold on to your own shorts but not your opponents. The only thing that saved Koscheck was his death-grip on his shorts. I almost thought GSP was going to tear them off as he wrenched Koscheck's forearm in an attempt to lock the hold in. It was a correct call by the ref, but it doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me.
3. Obviously, Koscheck is a master of pre-fight hyperbole. Kos obviously didn't back up claims that GSP wouldn't be able to outwrestle him, but I was more interested in Koscheck's claims that he didn't game plan for the fight. As numerous writers have pointed, it looked like Koscheck was trying to emulate Matt Serra and score the KO with the overhand right. I don't know why he didn't adapt during the fight when it was clear he wouldn't be winning by swinging for the fences. A lot of fighters claim to only worry about themselves. I think Randy Couture and GSP have shown that developing a specific game plan for a specific fight is the way to go.
Roger Huerta v. Alberto Crane: This went exactly as people expected. Some viewers came away from the fight impressed with Huerta's submission defense and tenacity. Some believe the fight reinforces the notion that Huerta is overrated and could be dominated by someone more effective at holding position. We'll never know until Huerta faces a credible opponent. It really could go either way. The UFC has to put him up against a decorated UFC lightweight at this point.
Hearvyweight Championship Fight: Randy Couture (c) v. Gabriel Gonzaga: I think the most amazing thing about Couture's victory ties into the fact that people (including myself) still pick against him leading up to events. We're beyond the point where Couture's age plays a role in his underdog status. I picked against him because I honestly thought Gonzaga's skill set would trouble Couture. He proved me wrong by fighting a great fight, not by defying his age or size.
I've mentioned other sports and fighter's game plans several times in this column. Here's another reference: Couture is the Bill Belichick of the UFC. He comes into every fight with a specific plan and implements it to a T. He takes away his opponents best skill and patiently chips away at their resolve. Much like the New England Patriots, Couture never misses an opportunity to pounce on an opponent's mistake. And similar to my Pats, he's often overlooked and people are left astounded when he beats favored fighters.
If you had told me 1 year ago that Couture would rather stand and strike against Tim Sylvia than Gabriel Gonzaga, I would not have believed you. But that's just what he did. Did the inadvertent headbutt affect the outcome of the fight? Of course, but that doesn't take away from Couture's achievement.
I don't think anyone should be questioning Gonzaga's abilities. He is a very talented fighter who will be challenging for the title again soon. He just ran up against a legend of the sport enjoying a tremendous run. It's silly to suggest that Gonzaga didn't have a chance to win the fight, especially considering the damage he inflicted. Even though it looked like Couture dominated, he certainly was worse for the wear in regards to the broken arm.
The only thing I don't understand is Gonzaga's unwillingness to go the ground. Obviously, being stuck under a fighter the caliber of Couture isn't a great place, but I thought that Gonzaga's BJJ credentials gave him a chance to finish the fight from the bottom. Couture has been submitted from the guard before. I thought Gonzaga would have had a much better chance at securing a submission or sweeping Couture on the ground than allowing Couture to keep placing in the clinch against the fence.
I think the thing we learned from this fight is not that Randy Couture, at age 44, is better than an opponent at 30 years old is. It's that Randy Couture, at age 44, is better than Randy Couture at age 30 was.
CONCLUSION
Hope you liked this week's opinion heavy column. We'll be back next week with some actual news and a look ahead to the epic Quinton Jackson v. Dan Henderson showdown. Take care, everyone.
