MMA’s Full 38’ 3.26.08: Phil Baroni To Fight Ninja, Talks Shamrock and MMA Trivia And News
Posted by Sid Needelman on 03.26.2008
Only 24 hours before the news surfaced Phil “The New York Badass” Baroni will be taking on Ninja Rua on the Elite EX CBS show at the end of May, I got to ask a few questions of the colorful character about the upcoming fight between Shamrock and Cung Lee. Also, we have more MMA trivia for you this week.
Good evening as this week there is much to discuss in exciting news in MMA, none of which has to do with the UFC. The vast majority is Elite XC news and much of it is good for the sport.
First, I was able to contact Phil Baroni to confirm he will be fighting Shogun Rua's brother, Ninja Rua. In what will be a battle of heavy hitters, will Baroni seek to take the fight to the mat like he did against his last opponent or as he did at the Pride show in the US? I have no answer as any answer he would give would be speculation or part of a mind game. I hope someone tells him that mind games in English may not work with Ninja who is not a master of the language. A little later in this column is a quote from the NYBA about the upcoming Shamrock fight against Cung Lee also in Elite XC.
Also in Elite XC news, they made an offer to Fedor. He will get half a million if he takes the deal per fight and after two fights would get a percentage of the PPVs. Maybe this is best for the Russian as a tough battle in the UFC could lessen his worth if it ended like Brock's UFC debut.
Also, the title fight with Drew Fickett with Jake Shields is off due to injury Shields suffered. That's the one piece of bad news coming from Elite XC.
And now Phil "The New York Badass" Baroni talks about Frank Shamrock [who just said his brother has lived his whole life on steroids] vs. Cung Lee:
On who will win: I think Shamrock is the favorite because of experience and is a lot more well rounded. He has been in MMA wars.
On Cung Le: Cung is a talent and hard to prepare for.
On thoughts of a rematch with Frank: I wish I beat Shamrock but was a fan before I began my MMA career and still think he is a great fighter that understands preparation and knows how to compete.
I think Id beat him in a rematch.
On what the NYBA would do differently next time against Frank: I think I underestimated his stand up, and would have to move my head more and not be so stationary in order to beat him in a rematch simple as that.
Lastly, more MMA Trivia:
Brought to you by the good people at http://themmadigest.com/ the makers of a fine trivia book you can find at their website or for those in South Florida on 235 9th St on Miami Beach…
1. How many takedowns did Frankie Edgar score on Spencer Fisher in their bout in 2007?
2. Kurt Pelligrino has a BJJ Blackbelt under which fellow UFC vet? Here is a hint: he is pictured below with Auggie Mejia.
3. Who did Gray Maynard lose to on TUF 5?
4. Karo Parisyan's real first name is?
a) Karapat
b) Karl
c) Kareem
d) Karlson
5. Which Nebraskan UFC vet was a local DJ on the radio?
6. Matt Hamill trained with which UFC champion prior to entering TUF 3?
And the answers:
1. 9
2. Hermes Franca
3. Nick Diaz
4. a) Karapat
5. Houston Alexander
6. Rich Franklin
