Ask 411 MMA 10.11.07: Thinning The Herd
Posted by Damian Sarcuni on 10.11.2007
MMA in NYC, UFC's latest video game, featherweights and much more in this edition!
It's time once again to Ask411 in the style of mixed martial arts! I'm Damian Sarcuni and this is the place to find the answers to all those mysterious, confusing questions surrounding the MMA world.
We're really low on questions this time around, so I'll remind everyone to post your questions in the specified thread over at 411's MMA forums, or email us at ask411mma@projectangel.net. Remember, we need your input to keep this thing going, so even if it's just a wicked attempt to stump us or a nitpicking correction, send it on in!
Let's get it on.
Comments and Corrections
The Zolotarev fight where Dedge died was in Ukraine, not Russia. – Radio
Fair enough, though in my defense the Ukraine has an extensive history of jumping in and out of the Russian empire. When Dedge died, the Ukraine had only been independent again for a few short years. That probably explains the nature of a no holds barred sporting even being held under a very young, fledgling government body. Still, Zolotarev is indeed Ukrainian and the fight did take place in the Ukraine so my apologies to Yevgeni and anyone else offended by my lack of geography. Getting conquered all the time probably sucks, huh?
You've Got Questions…
Hey I live in NY and have become a UFC addict. I am wondering why Dolan has not been pushing to get MMA legal in NY? The Garden would be packed and crazy. Also the same goes for Trump in Jersey. - Chris, LI NY
James Dolan is the chairman of the board of Cablevision systems inc. which is the parent company of the Madison Square Garden Company (owners of one of the most famous arenas in New York and the world). The best answer I can give as to why Dolan would not jump into an uphill battle to legalize MMA in New York would be the territoriality of it. Mixed martial arts, though gaining in popularity, is still not as big on the East coast of the United States as it is on the West coast. Most fighters and top American gyms make their homes in the Midwest and California. Before any big local business owners jump onto the MMA bandwagon, they are going to want to see a greater demand for it.
That said, according to Dana White there IS a movement to have MMA legalized in New York. In an interview with ESPN magazine, White stated that he is looking to worth with the New York Athletic Commission to get MMA legalized there. White and his legal team have had success in several other states, so by the time they do reach New York they will have a pretty good case to work with.
As for Mr. Trump, the man already makes more than enough profit promoting shows through the Taj Mahal and other arenas in Atlantic City, NJ. I doubt he has much to gain by splitting a check with Dolan down the line.
Sarah is new to the sport and needs some light shed on a few things:
1) "How come there are no MMA based video games?
There are, they're just not very good. I actually did an article covering them early on in my 411mania career here. You can get your answers there and it is a pretty good read. Since that time, the UFC has signed a deal with THQ to do a new game that will be available on the Xbox 360 and the PS3. Peep the trailer:
2) Is MMA a career for fighters, like pro-wrestling, or does it not pay very much?
This depends on who you ask. Many fighters have complained that big MMA organizations like the UFC profit greatly by paying fighters very little money and not giving them proper promotion. As Tito Ortiz said, there are no individual fighter t-shirts at a UFC event, but there is plenty of UFC merchandise everywhere. The actual amount a fighter can take home is shrouded in mystery since most MMA promotions are not required to release the numbers they offer in terms of bonuses, just basic fighter pay. Looking at some of their lifestyles though, we can guess that it's quite a bit, at least at the top level.
In promotions like the IFL, fighters are given a $2000 monthly grant to train, regardless of the outcomes of their fights. Because of this the IFL has gained a reputation for allowing fighters to live securely while focusing on their training. Other promotions, like the recently purchased ICON promotion, have fighters who do not train full time and often have day jobs (according to former champion Frank Trigg). It all comes down to location, individual fighters, and the promotions they work for. In the end, fighter pay in MMA is greatly varied.
Caleb my editor gets me working even on the slow days.
Do you know anything about the top sub-155lbs fighters out there? I would like to get more information on them.
Ah, twinkie-weights! The smallest of the small! Nothing like a no holds barred vale tudo event in Ethiopia, where the prize for winning is an entire chicken! But I digress. There are three weight classes underneath the Lightweight (155lb/70KG) class. These are Featherweight (145lb/66KG), Bantamweight (135lb/61KG) and Flyweight (125lb/57KG).
The featherweight class in particular is becoming interesting to watch as famed lightweight Jens Pulver recently announced his desire to cut down to that weight class in the WEC. Other featherweights of note include Yoshiro Maeda, the Pancrase featherweight champion, Takeshi Inoue (former Shooto Champion), Urijah Farber the WEC featherweight champion, Norifumi "Kid" Yamamoto (aspiring Olympic wrestler and K-1 HERO'S veteran), and Mark Hominick, former TKO featherweight champion.
The most notable Bantamweight from the United States is Chase Beebe, the WEC's Bantamweight champion. From Japan its Akitoshi Hokazono, the Shooto Bantamweight champion. It should be noted that the Shooto weight class is actually 132 pounds, not 135. Most flyweight champions are Japanese, including Shinichi Kojima and Mamoru Yamaguchi, both from Shooto.
What are some of the differences between arm locks, such as the Americana and the key lock, etc. – Randy
Submission holds often appear in varying grappling styles, such as Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and wrestling. As such, several holds often have more than one name, usually one being technical and one being a more popular term for the same move. As such, there's a bit of confusion when commentators or those involved MMA use varying names for the same move. Here is a list of arm locks that go by more than one name:
Americana: also called the lateral key lock is holding the forearm and using it to twist the upper arm, similar to turning a key in a keyhole. It is performed when one opponent has mounted the other or has side control over the other. There are several variations on the key lock depending upon which position they are performed from, each with individual nicknames such as the telephone lock (which resembles answering a telephone).
Bicep Slicer also called the bicep crush. This involves using ones own arm or leg as a fulcrum on the opponents arm by the elbow, then flexing the opponents arm over the fulcrum. The victim's biceps and forearm are then pressed into the fulcrum resulting in quite a bit of pain.
Chicken wing a wrestling term for various key locks and hammerlocks. A hammerlock is a shoulder lock where the opponent's hand is bent against his/her back, and then the hand is forced upward toward the neck forcing pressure on the shoulder joint.
Kimura a famous chicken wing made popular by Masahiko Kimura who used it to defeat Helio Gracie. The application of the Kimura is similar to the American except it is reversed. The opponent's wrist is grabbed with the hand on the same side and the opposite arm is placed on the back of the opponents arm forming a figure four. This puts pressure on the shoulder and elbow joints.
That's all we got for now. Please send in more comments and questions and as always, check out all the great coverage on 411's MMA section throughout the week. Thank you for reading!
