Punch Drunk Hangover 4.07.08: An April GIF-t to Readers

Posted by Bren Oliver on 04.07.2008

Read ahead for Bren Oliver's thoughts on why Karo Parisyan's loss to Thiago Alves was justified, Adrenaline MMA's first main event, UFC Fight Night XIII as a whole, Fedor's alleged salary demands, Shinya/JZ II, and the Iceman's mockery of Kimbo Slice (as well as Liddell's lone submission victory). Those things and more, plus this week's "Monday Morning Moment of Zen" featuring "Rampage" Jackson contributing to jackassery and Urijah Faber vs. Tyson Griffin, are all just a click away!



Good morning, afternoon, evening, or whatever in-between time it is that your eyes have found their way to the Punch Drunk Hangover! I'm here with another one-stop shop for catching up on last week's Mixed Martial Arts news. As always I will do my best to start your work-week out on the right note, like a cup of coffee without all the side effects of caffeine. There could, however, be other side effects...but really, who doesn't like having a runny stool, bloody nose, or itchy eyeball?!? Speaking of your peepers, keep your eye out for this week's "Fact or Fiction" where we get back to hot, juicy columnist on columnist action when 411Mania MMA's Lotfi Sariahmed and Dustin James give their opinions on "UFC Fight Night XIII", Cung Le's placement amongst the sport's best Middleweights, and the Ultimate Fighter VII's new "Win and You're In" format. Also, since it's been about a full year since I started covering Mixed Martial Arts for 411Mania (and at all for that matter), I thought I would give my Punch Drunk readership a present this week in the form of a few animated clips from "UFC Fight Night XIII". My apologies ahead for any loading delays!

I was hoping to start out this week by sharing my experience at the "King of Kombat: World War III" show, a small event taking place here in Austin, where I expected to tell you all about a few up-and-coming fighters who I felt were impressive. In my account of the night I figured I'd also likely relay how attending served as an example of why everyone should support local MMA shows. Unfortunately, while I'll still be touching on this past Saturday night as it relates to the King of Kombat promotion, it will have very little to do with any actual Mixed Martial Arts I witnessed.

To start with, the venue was akin to a warehouse and certainly nowhere near your traditional arena. Upon arrival I had to make a quick decision on whether or not I wanted to go straight to the event or first walk over to the attached structure apparently housing a small flea market and Discoteca. Though the Tejano selection in my music collection is admittedly scarce, I opted for MMA instead and decided to look for a person who could direct me to the media entrance or "Will Call" window. The only problem was the fact there wasn't a separate entrance for the press so I was instead directed to the line of people who either had, or were waiting to buy, tickets. Ten minutes later I was finally inside the building and given a pass to enter. I shook it off as a bumpy start to what would otherwise be a great night of action and decided to find the media section in order to take my seat.

Scenery wise things were superb and the atmosphere was very pleasant. Whatever the overall purse was for the night, the budget the company spent on the fighters could not have compared to the money dished out on scantily clad beauties, most of whom were wearing belly-exposing "King of Kombat" shirts. Within a minute of entering I was greeted by one of the event's employees whose title was "Media and Marketing Star". Yes...seriously. He seemed like a nice fellow, with his gel-spiked hair and Tuxedo in tow, and thanked me for my attendance at the event.

There were food and drink booths set up around the perimeter, as well as a number of clothing stands which I thought was extremely cool since many of the events I've been to are lacking in variety when it comes to merchandise. The attendance appeared fairly strong for an event featuring $25 General Admission and, again, it seemed as though things were looking up.

After making a full sweep of the seats, bleachers included, I was still unable to find my seat and decided it was time to find someone working the event who could direct me to the media section. I first ventured up to the employees who were handing out "VIP" badges. Neither was able to tell me anything more than =the media area was perhaps by the production area where cameras/sound were set up. It was at that point I once again saw the friendly King of Kombat staffer who had earlier welcomed me to the show so I decided to ask for his assistance. "After all," I thought to myself, "This guy is a 'Media and Marketing Star'. He can probably spin straw into gold like an Aviator Sunglasses-wearing Rumpelstiltzken, let alone point me in the direction of a place to sit." And, as I expected, he had an answer for me in regards to my assigned folding-chair and/or table...

...there wasn't one. And it wasn't just me.

That's right...there were no seats for the media. I was told I could have access to any area of the arena I wanted, but, as far as a place to rest my rump at the "King of Kombat: World War III" went, I had been KoK-blocked! I was given the option of standing for the entire show or heading to a local sports bar with friends and watching Kansas play North Carolina for the final spot in the NCAA Championship. Like the Jayhawks, opting to watch the Final Four won in dominating fashion. I sincerely appreciate the intentions of the King of Kombat folks, and perhaps I've been spoiled by tiny little organizations like HDNet Fights and EliteXC, but I've always been under the impression it's natural for a sporting event to provide seats for the press. After all, being on your feet for four hours while peeking around roll-out aluminum bleachers in hopes of catching some of the action is a slight bit prohibitive in terms of writing about the event taking place.

Now on to my humble take on a variety of subjects rearing their ugly heads over the past seven days...


The following medley of items were reported between March 31st, 2008 and April 6th, 2008:

Adrenaline MMA has announced that UFC/PRIDE veteran Jeff Monson will face off against Mike Russow in the main event of their debut show which will be held on June 14th at the Sears Centre in Chicago. Adrenaline MMA (formerly M-1 Global) made huge news last week by signing former UFC Heavyweight champion Tim Sylvia & Ben Rothwell. Both are rumored to be fighting on the card as well.


Adrenaline signs Tim Sylvia and Ben Rothwell, two of the ten best Heavyweights in Mixed Martial Arts, and the main event of their promotion's debut show features neither man? Really? Reallllly?!? The rest of the card is going to be very important to the company's future.

Jeff Monson's best days are behind him. He is pushing 40, looked pathetic against Pedro Rizzo at "Art of War III" in September 2007, and could only grind out a decision in his last fight against the the less-than stellar Hakim Goran. Russow, who has the unfortunate distinction of a September 11th birthday, is primarily a wrestler, though I will give him credit for being 9-1 with a lone loss to the very-tough Sergei Kharitonov. I can't imagine this pairing of mat-based heavyweights will deliver the type of feature bout a new MMA company needs to make a dent in a market that's been diluted by new promotions springing up left and right. Tim Sylvia and Ben Rothwell are assets to the company, and credible fighters, but neither man is incredibly popular so I think it's extremely important for Monte Cox to build up other competitors as stars. Does anyone truly want to see Sylvia vs. Monson II? I certainly don't, as my my jaw has only recently recovered from the strain it suffered due to the high quantity of yawning during their first affair at UFC 65.


Mark Kerr is replacing Patrick Smith and will face off against Oleg Taktarov in the main event for the 4.11.08 YAMMA debut show in what is being billed as a "Masters Superfight." Smith was pulled from the show after being arrested last week. Maurice Smith was then contacted to replace him, but turned down the fight. Don Frye was the original opponent for Taktarov, but he had to pull out with a bad shoulder.

In a twist of fate, Gary Goodridge is also officially out of the YAMMA debut PPV after Choi Mu Bae, in South Korea, knocked him out on March 30th. Patrick Smith, who was originally to face Oleg Taktarov, will now replace Goodridge. Smith was a replacement for Don Frye. Smith was pulled from the show when he was arrested last week, but will now step in to face Eric "Butter Bean" Esch.


YAMMA makes me YAWN-A. The Mixed Martial Arts gods have frowned on Bob Meyrowitz's newest venture in the sport, and his attempt to bring back washed-up veterans as legitimate sells to a PPV, as shown in the revolving door of competitors. Who knew there were so many MMA "masters" out there?!? And really, isn't it an insult to knowledgeable fans to call Butterbean vs. Patrick Smith and Mark Kerr vs. Oleg Taktarov as "Masters Superfights"?

There is a freak-show aspect to the event which makes me believe it would do well in Japan, and it will certainly draw a few gawkers (as do car accidents), but I personally have no interest in spending money on the show. I will admit I am a little intrigued by the YAMMA pit's set-up. If you don't know, the edges of the structure are raised, meaning a person who is backed up to the fence actually has an advantage in the sense he will be on higher ground. I question the safety of a sloped structure, as it seems perhaps conducive to neck injuries, but I'm sure the athletic NJAC would not approve the event if such was the case. Also, draw your own conclusions if you will, but the bowl-like structure sounds something like an inverted Yamaka (the traditional Jewish cap), and I would venture to guess that Bob Meyrowitz is Jewish. Have I perhaps discovered the origin of the word "YAMMA"? You tell me...


The following information is based on payout information for "Strikeforce: Le vs. Shamrock" from the California State Athletic Commission:

Joey Villasenor: $18,000 + $18,000 win bonus
Ryan Jensen: $6,000
Mike Kyle: $10,000
Wayne Cole: $5,000 + $5,000 win bonus
Gilbert Melendez: $50,000
Gabe Lemley: $7,000
Drew Fickett: $5,000 + $5,000 win bonus
Jae Suk Lim: $3,000
Cung Le: $200,000
Frank Shamrock: $300,000


These payouts go to show you can be a skilled MMA fighter and make a very good living outside of the Octagon. While Le and Shamrock are the two biggest draws in Strikeforce, as well as prominent figures in San Jose, each man's six-figure salary eclipsed Anderson Silva's salary from UFC 82. Gilbert Melendez's fifty-thousand dollars was on par with the take-home of Jon Fitch, Diego Sanchez, and Chris Leben from the afore-mentioned UFC event. Hell, Joey Villasenor made more to beat last-minute replacement Ryan Jensen than Yushin Okami did to take out Evan Tanner! And if you're thinking the lesser-known guys, such as Jae Suk Lim, who only made a few thousand dollars were well-below the UFC fighters of similar name-value, on the subject of UFC 82 you had guys like John Halverson also making $3,000 so on average it's not really too far off. Comperable money, plus the freedom to fight in your own backyard as well as take bouts in other organizations, seems like a pretty decent deal. The one thing Strikeforce can't offer yet, though it's on the increase with the opportunities provided by NBC, Showtime, and HDNet, is the exposure the UFC can provide individuals. Sponsorships are the bread and butter of a fighter's bank account.

On a side note, I'm disappointed to see Drew Fickett only make $5,000 to show, with an additional five grand in winning, when he was originally scheduled to be in an EliteXC Welterweight Championship bout against Jake Shields. There is something extremely wrong when the top contender, for what is supposed to be a meaningful title, is making the same amount as Mike Kyle (and less to show than Gabe Lemley or Ryan Jensen).


EliteXC Live Events President Gary Shaw announced during an interview on The Lights Out Show that EliteXC is currently in negotiations with Fedor Emelianenko, however his asking price may be too high. It was reported last week that EliteXC offered Fedor a four fight deal worth seven figures (now being reported as $300-500 thousand), but Shaw says Fedor is looking to earn $2 million per fight. His new asking price may cause some organizations to drop out of the Fedor free agent market.


At first glance it seems ridiculous for Emelianenko's people to expect an American Mixed Martial Arts promotion to sign Fedor at two million per fight. However, after giving it some thought, I'm not so sure it wouldn't be a bad idea so long as it was only for a single bout - one featuring Randy Couture as an opponent. If Mark Cuban does indeed have "The Natural" under contract, and can come to a one-and-done agreement with the Russian camp, then I think it would be a wise investment if he's confident he can put together a solid enough undercard to turn a profit on the eventual show featuring Couture vs. Emelianenko. A wise move would be a rematch between Jason "Mayhem" Miller and Frank Trigg, given their past affiliation with HDNet Fights, as well as perhaps involvement from some of the slew of guys who aren't under UFC contract and thus have the ability to act as free agents. HDNet has an especially good relationship with the IFL, as well as a number of other promotions, so I think there's definitely the opportunity to make back enough money where signing Fedor in the range of $1.5-2 Million wouldn't be a bad financial move. Keep in mind Randy Couture was making more than a million dollars on his most recent UFC contract (after receiving PPV percentages and other bonuses), so why shouldn't the alleged best in the world, Emelianenko, get a little more until someone proves he doesn't deserve it?


UFC President Dana White finally announced that he would not permit the boxing match between Anderson Silva and Roy Jones Jr. to happen if the two are able to reach a deal. White also mentioned that he has told Silva's camp to stop talking about the fight since it's not going to happen. Anderson Silva currently holds a 1-1 career boxing record.


No surprise here. I said from the beginning White would never allow the inter-sport promotion to take place as the UFC would have nothing to gain from a boxing match between Jones Jr. and Anderson Silva. Silva losing would create the image of a washed-up boxer defeating the best 185-pound Mixed Martial Artist in the world at a comperable sport, whereas "The Spider" winning would mean little in the big picture as, again, Jones Jr. is on the downslope of his career. As I've stated before, I only see Dana White considering the possibility of pitting a UFC Champion against a boxer on two conditions - 1.) The boxer needs to be in his prime, such as Floyd Mayweather Jr., and 2.) There has to be a follow-up fight involving the same boxer stepping into the Octagon under MMA rules.


Former UFC Heavyweight Champion Frank Mir will be fighting Justin McCully at UFC 86 on July 5th in Las Vegas. Mir is coming off a victory over Brock Lesnar at UFC 81. The main event of UFC 86 will have Quinton "Rampage" Jackson defending his UFC Light Heavyweight title against Forrest Griffin.


Apparently Mir ended up with Lesnar's rumored scraps, as McCully was actively promoting talks of a fight against Brock on a recent episode of "Inside MMA". I personally think he would have been a better opponent for the former WWE Superstar than Mark Coleman is but that's neither here nor there. McCully's skillset poses no serious threat to Mir, assuming Frank stays away from the Vegas buffet tables, and I see the former UFC Heavyweight Champion walking through Tito's boy with relative ease. The finish will almost certainly be via submission and come in the first seven minutes of the fight.

While on the subject of McCully, which is somewhat of a rarity when it comes to my column, I also want to mention I think he would do very well if given an opportunity to act on commentary. He is always very well prepared when it comes to his appearances on "Inside MMA" and I think he could have a career in broadcasting after he hangs up his gloves if he so chooses.


It appears as if Bodog Fight is on its last legs. Bodog is a private company, but it is being reported that they lost upwards of $38-Million dollars last year. Most of the Bodog Fight employees have been let go and there are no new shows planned as they have not secured a new TV deal. The company is going to continue sponsoring some events this year. There was a small budget proposed, with hopes of rebuilding the company, but it was turned down.


Like Old Yeller, it sounds like Calvin Ayre's Whim-M-A company is on the verge of being taken out back and put down. I love animals, but personally I'm not pouring out any liquor for the death of BoDog. I've always seen it as a third-rate promotion and never felt it had any sort of real future. And, while it happens all the time, it always astounds me as to how a company can lose nearly forty million dollars. Couldn't they just have sent me half and called it a day?


During an interview with Yahoo! Sports today, Kenny Florian (who was victorious over Joe Lauzon at UFC Fight Night 13) mentioned that he has set his sights on fighting Roger Huerta rather than a UFC Lightweight title shot. Huerta is currently on a 16 fight win streak and went 5-0 in 2007. He is currently taking time off.


I think Florian vs. Huerta would make a lot of sense as far as determining the next UFC Lightweight Championship contender, with Tyson Griffin in waiting with Nate Diaz, Marcus Aurelio, Manny Gamburyan, and Clay Guida hot on his heels. However, I wonder if the winner of Penn vs. Sherk will play a role in deciding the next two fighters vying for the elite spot as "#1 Contender". After all, if the cards fall in such a way, will Dana White or Joe Silva want to give fans Sherk vs. Florian II when a newer, perhaps more exciting, pairing could be created? I'm not so sure the UFC heads are interested in the potential of another twenty-five minute domination where the only drama was created by Florian's elbow upon Sherk's head.


During an interview with KHTK 1140AM in Sacramento, Kurt Angle mentioned that he and Randy Couture are both signed with a promotion, but he wouldn't mention who. Angle said his submission match with Couture will happen in the Fall and most likely in California. Angle also mentioned that he would consider fighting Brock Lesnar, but the money would have to be great due to their friendship.


Angle may have been WWE "King of the Ring", but he is also the king of gum-flapping. First, am I to truly believe there is a grappling promotion official enough to consider he or Couture "signed" to it? Also, the thought of him fighting Lesnar at the current point in each man's life, and career, is laughable. Lesnar would damage Angle in a bad, bad way.

I would consider fighting Brock Lesnar too...until, of course, I came to the realization he would rip me limb from limb, thereby turning my consideration into a declination.


At a press conference earlier today, DREAM announced new matches for the Lightweight Grand Prix Tournament. On the April 29th show in Saitama, JZ Calvancanti will battle Shinya Aoki in a rematch of their March 15th bout, that went to a no contest at 3:46 of round one. They will face on April 29th and then the winner will only have two weeks to prepare for the second round of the tournament.


I'm glad to hear fans, myself included, will be given another opportunity to see Aoki and Calvancanti face off inside the squared-circle. No one liked the injury-induced finish to their original DREAM Lightweight Grand Prix bout and it seems logical the two should fight again. Each is one of the top Lightweights in the world, with American Top Team's Calvancanti being perhaps the world's best, and a full fight between both phenoms should truly be a "dream" come true. I like the twist involving the actual Grand Prix and either Shinya or JZ moving on to fight two weeks later, but I won't be surprised if it doesn't actually come to fruition and a replacement steps in to fill the vacant slot.


A middleweight bout featuring Martin Kampmann vs. Jorge Rivera and a Lightweight Bout featuring Thiago Tavares vs. Matt Wiman have been added to the UFC 85 PPV, which will air June 7th from London. The event will be headlined by a Light Heavyweight Battle as Chuck Liddell faces Rashad Evans.


Joe Silva, UFC's matchmaker, did an excellent job in both these match-ups and I think each will result in an exciting fight. Tavares and Wiman are both well-rounded Lightweights who won't be afraid to exchange leather or test each others' skills on the ground, while Kampmann and Rivera are primarily strikers and should engage in a stand-up war. Overall the UFC 85 card looks very nice and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that Rashad Evans' statement about the PPV being broadcast for free on Spike TV turns out to be true.


The official website of Ultimate Fighter Season III winner Kendall Grove has confirmed that "Da Spyder" will face Evan Tanner at the season finale for the Ultimate Fighter Season VII. After winning three straight in the UFC, Grove has dropped his last two both via KO.


I think "Da Spyder" would have been much better off had he decided to take on a Middleweight known more for wrestling or jiujitsu. He was knocked silly by Patrick Cote and Jorge Rivera and I have no reason to believe Evan Tanner cannot do the same to him. Tanner will bring a variety of strikes into their fight and is not afraid to act as the agressor, pushing the pace of the fight and essentially backing Grove up into the fence. I hope the best for Kendall, as I'm a fan of his, but I am concerned he's at serious risk of being on a three-fight losing streak come June 21st at the TUF VII Finale. This bout also means a lot in terms of Evan Tanner's UFC future as another knockout loss could send him packing given his age, layoff from action, and recent lack of success in MMA.


From UFC Fight Night XIII...

James Irvin def. Houston Alexander - TKO - RD 1


Well, I, like so many other MMA fans, stood corrected when James Irvin not only survived his bout against Houston Alexander but actually ended up knocking out the intimidating Nebraskan. Many people felt the fight would be short, sweet, and involve a vicious KO - they just thought Irvin would be the one seeing stars at the match's conclusion. I felt Mazagatti's stoppage was a bit premature, which I know is a controversial point, but likewise I'm not butt-hurt over his decision to end things. Alexander was clearly in la-la land, though I wouldn't have been opposed to allowing him a few more seconds to possibly recover. Had "Minotauro" Nogueira been given the same consideration against Heath Herring at UFC 73 then it's very likely we woud have ourselves a different (interim) UFC Heavyweight Champion given the bout's resulting path for each man.

Also, since UFC Fight Night XIII had so many memorable moments, I felt inclined to share a few of them for your viewing pleasure. Alexander vs. Irvin was certainly an example of such, and as a matter of fact it seems as though "The Sandman", James Irvin, is a highlight-machine as exhibited by the additional clips I decided to include...











Nate Diaz def. Kurt Pellegrino - Submission - RD 2


Nate Diaz displayed a great deal of heart against Kurt Pellegrino and was able to weather the storm "Batman" unleashed in the first round. I thought the fight was close to being stopped at one point, but it seemed somewhat clear that Diaz wasn't taking much damage outside of being relatively inactive. I know I'm not alone in noticing the bit o' beatdown Nate seems to require before unleashing the wrath of his jiujitsu, but a point I haven't heard made is the factor behind his need for physical motivation. I personally think it has to do with being the younger brother of Nick Diaz where he probably suffered his share of bruises at Nick's hands, and sais, where something in his mind triggers an assault after first taking some damage.

Also, while it wasn't necessarily a classy manuever, I genuinely enjoyed Diaz's celebration once he locked in the Triangle Choke and felt the finish approaching. I don't think his double-finger salute was directed at anyone in particular, especially Kurt Pellegrino, and feel it's far more likely to have been nothing more than pure celebration - the Diaz Family way of giving a thumbs-up if you will. Having personally met Nate I can attest to his humble demeanor in person.





Matt Hammil def. Tim Boetsch - RD 2 - TKO


I was very impressed with Hammil's chin. He took some serious shots and Boetsch seemed to have his way with Hammil in the clinch. The obvious difference between the men appeared to be conditioning. While Hammil was tired, I think Boetsch punched himself out and the resulting lack of gas gave way to Hammil's onslaught. Also, how horrorendus was the gash on Matt's bottom lip? You could have parked a Lincoln Continental in that sucker!


Thiago Alves def. Karo Parisyan - RD 2 - TKO


The debate on whether or not Mazagatti cut this fight short by stopping the action early, thereby giving Alves the TKO victory, needs to follow suit with Dana White's hair and simply go away. I understand why Parisyan's loyal fanbase is so passionate about the subject. They can't forget was robbed of a UFC Welterweight Championship opportunity due to injury and circumstance, then lost a fight (and a tooth) to Diego Sanchez making the title shot even less likely. I like Karo as a Mixed Martial Artist and appreciate the natural skill he brings into the Octagon on a nightly basis. His Judo is as legendary as his heated disposition and propensity for making off-color remarks. However, I'm not about to let my fandom distort the reality that Karo Parisyan deserved to lose against Thiago Alves and Steve Mazagatti made the correct call. Before I even get into the actual finish to the fight, I want to also point out my disappointment in Parisyan's physical appearance and what seems to be a lackidaiscal approach to MMA. Karo has become what BJ Penn once was - an individual relying on purely on his training and natural ability without an apparent regard for diet or a full workout. There is no excuse for someone with Parisyan's talent to be out of shape. Look at how Penn has excelled since dedicating himself completely and slimming down to Lightweight. He has never looked better which is saying a lot given Baby Jay's accomplishments so far in the ring. I genuinely believe Parisyan could be one of the top three 170-pound fighters in the world if he swallowed some of his pride and came to the realization there's more to being a professional fighter than your ability to execute a textbook throw.

Back to the UFC Fight Night XIII bout against Alves, the first thing that needs to be pointed out in regards to the finish is Thiago's leg-buckling knee that set up the stoppage. Karo falls to the mat like an old Vegas casino being imploded on the Strip. It wasn't a matter of momentum making him stumble, as might be the case in some knockdowns - Parisyan's legs go completely out from under him. To me this was almost cause enough in itself to end the fight. Secondly, when Alves pounces on top of Karo and starts pummelling, Parisyan's arms are out to his side and barely protecting his face. There is a difference between defending and intelligently defending. Had "The Heat" rolled over into guard, or even started to scramble and twist around underneath Alves, then I could see cause for anger over the referee ending things. But, when a man has just been dropped to the canvas, then lays there without actively responding to punches, the fight is over and such was the case last Wednesday.

Some also might argue Parisyan deserved more time to recover based on his past success in the Octagon, but I have no tolerance for biased officiating and I think logic like that sets Mixed Martial Arts back. I also believe MMA needs to be especially wary of officials who make questionable decisions where favoritism is suspected due to the past association between fight-fixing and boxing, a sport which the American market will always identify as a sister-sport to Mixed Martial Arts.








Anthony Johnson def. Tommy Speer - RD 1 - KO


From the opening bell it was clear Anthony Johnson had Speer's number. He was more aggressive and his reach kept Tommy from shooting in and taking him down, which was clearly he desparately needed to do in order to control the fight. The finishing sequence that left Speer curled up next to the fence looking like Matt Hughes cuddled up to a tractor was a thing of beauty and I admittedly had to watch the replay back again in slow motion. It's always nice to see a local fighter get a win in front of his hometown crowd so I was pleased Johnson got a chance to experience the feeling such a thing brings. At 6'2", Anthony's athleticism and size could make him a tricky opponent to beat so long as his skills continue to improve. He's 2-1 in the UFC, and only 24 years old, so I think he's definitely someone to keep an eye on.





Gray Maynard def. Frank Edgar - Judges' Decision


Plainly put, Edgar was beaten at his own game by a comperable wrestler who was bigger and stronger, and therefore less suceptible to his offense. Maynard's slams were nice but nothing to pitch a tent over. Both have bright futures in the UFC's Lightweight Division but I need to see more from either before I'm willing to label either as a legitimate title contender. I know everyone has instantly fallen in love with Gray Maynard since he's undefeated and beat Edgar, but I'm not quite ready to jump on the bandwagon just yet. It needs to be said that Edgar only had eight professional fights under his belt prior to UFC Fight Night XIII. It's very possible he isn't quite as good as his two decision victories over Tyson Griffin and Spencer Fisher seemed to imply.


Kenny Florian def. Joe Lauzon - TKO - RD 2


I'm not 100% sure what to make of Kenny Florian as a fighter. He seems to be a very intelligent, polished Mixed Martial Artist, while also possessing the internal confidence necessary for an individual to find success in MMA, but I feel as though he still hasn't been tested by the quality of opponent necessary to take the next step in proving he's one of the world's best Lightweights. There has been discussion on whether or not the elbows he used against Lauzon were illegal. I can say with certainty that they weren't, because, while vicious, none of the elbows came down at a 90-degree angle which is the condition behind an elbow-strike's legality. If you notice in the clip below, Florian is whacking Lauzon in the head from a 9:00/3:00 position, not a 12:00/6:00 as would be against the rules. The only questionable blow came to the back of Lauzon's head which merited a stoppage, and warning, from referee Herb Dean. Lauzon still has a ways to go and until I see him beat someone of worth not named Jens Pulver I will continue to be skeptical about how far he can go in MMA.





Also, because both of these are cool and most people didn't have a chance tp see either happen thanks to the fights' placement on Fight Night XIII's undercard, here are Marcus Aurelio's super-sweet submission of Ryan Roberts and Manny Gamburyan reminding us all why it's important to defend at all times...






Jibber-Jabber:

The following soundbytes were delivered over the past week...

Chuck Liddell, to the Sun, offers his thoughts on Kimbo Slice...

"Kimbo's one of those guys who doesn't have any ground game. He's training and he's learning but he's been built up as such a big star, and that's the thing that bothers me. People talk about him like he's the next great thing when he really hasn't done anything. He's been built up because of the Internet and him beating a bunch of guys on the street.

I could make some impressive knockout videos too if you let me walk outside and just punch people and knock them out -- 'Hey you, come fight!' F*ck, we can make a highlight reel tomorrow and go round beating people up and talking about it. We could just go up to people and start dropping them. Wow!"


Don't talk about it - be about it!!! I would actually love to see a video of Chuck Liddell walking around on the street in an attempt to solicit fights. You could call it "Mohawked, Pot-Bellied Fighters Gone Wild". In truth I think it would even work as a joke on a "Candid Camera"-type show just to gauge the reactions of regular people who are presented with an opportunity to street-fight against "The Iceman". As far as Liddell's opinion on Kimbo, I'm not sure how he's aware of Slice's ability on the ground and he really has no place to talk trash regarding another fighter's "ground game". It isn't like Chuck has the word "jiujitsu master" tattooed on the side of his head, know what I mean? Actually, what does that thing say?!? I always thought it was "Pabst Blue Ribbon" in Mandarin but I could be wrong...

Here's a little bonus video content in this week's PDH featuring Liddell's single submission win in twenty-six professional fights (against Kenneth Williams in 1999 at "Neutral Grounds XI"):


Up next, a clip featuring pigs flying and snowballs in Hell...

Nate Diaz, on GracieFighter, regarding fellow UFC-Lightweight Tyson Griffin...

"That guy doesn't want to fight me because he thinks he's somewhere higher up than me? I just beat a guy that's better than him. When was the last time he finished a fight anyways against any 155 pounder that was half decent on the ground..oh yeah never."


Notice he said "155 pounder"? I wager that has something to do with Griffin having a TKO victory over Urijah Faber. Nate does have a point though in that Tyson Griffin has only finished one opponent, David Lee, in five Octagon appearances and said submission came in his UFC debut. Diaz, on the other hand, is 4-for-4 when it comes to ending his opponent's night before it goes to the judges' scorecards. I would love to see Diaz vs. Griffin in order to clear up the UFC Lightweight contender picture, though I have a feeling we're destined to see young Nathan face off against Manny Gamburyan at the Ultimate Fighter VII Finale in order to erase any lingering doubt about who should have won the fifth season.


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That's about all she wrote for this week's Hangover. Till next time Punch Drunk buckaroos, here's your double-dose of goodness in this week's "Monday Morning MMA Moment of Zen" - Quinton "Rampage" Jackson making an cameo appearance on the third season of MTV's "Jackass" and Urijah Faber's only career loss in twenty-one fights courtesy of Tyson Griffin in 2005 at "Gladiator Challenge 42: Summer Slam"...


I dare you to tell "Rampage" his sweatpants suck...

Jackassworld

According to MMAth, Tyson Griffin > Urijah Faber > The Balinese Mafia. It's a fact!

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