Planet Tapout 4.08.08: What to Do With Some Big Names!
Posted by Lotfi Sariahmed on 04.08.2008
After a big week in MMA, 411Mania's Lotfi Sariahmed takes a look at a couple of fighters from the cards to see what to do with some big names! All that plus Miscellaneous Musings in the latest edition of Planet Tapout!
Welcome to the MMA column that has just witnessed one heck of a National Title Game (Congratulations Kansas). It's Planet Tapout here at 411Mania.com and this is the man who has a buddy that won $180 bucks on a bet he got 9-1 odds on (email me for the details), Lotfi Sariahmed. Second week in a row with no mailbag or comments which leads me to believe that you have something against the WEC and the IFL. But that's ok I still love you all. But be one with the mailbag! The email address is PlanetTapout@gmail.com. Now onward to Planet Tapout!
This past week in MMA (at least since my last edition) has given us a lot of good MMA. The UFC Fight Night was a very impressive card from top to bottom outside of maybe the main event but even then that was free. Don't forget about the IFL (I don't know if I'll ever let you) and their card in New Jersey. There were a few key fights featuring fighters that are/were at a bit of a crossroad. So in this week's edition, I wanted to take a look at a couple of fighters from the two shows that are in a very interesting position following the week of fights. Lets start with the man who made the biggest news and that's Karo Parisyan.
If you haven't heard about what happened in the fight already, I question what you've been doing for the last week. It was free MMA people; you shouldn't be missing these fights ESPECIALLY on SPIKE. But I digress…
Going into this fight, Alves was supposed to be a lower level "tune up" bout for Parisyan. He (Alves) was supposed to serve the same role for Parisyan as Chris Wilson was supposed to for Jon Fitch. But the UFC nearly went 0 for 2 (if you remember Wilson gave Fitch a lot of trouble) in those "tune up bouts." Alves ended up kneeing Parisyan into oblivion and now Alves is the new talk of the welterweight division. But what does that mean for "The Heat?"
Don't worry; I'm not going to get into the knee. The knee here isn't even the issue for me. Here's Parisyan, this stud welterweight everyone always talks about, who trains with this dynamite camp in Xtreme Couture. But this is the second time he's essentially choked or just not shown in the big spot. And this wasn't even a title fight. This was a title "tune up." The Diego Sanchez fight was more of a title eliminator but either way, he hasn't brought it in a big fight. While he's still searching for that big win against one of the Top 5 welterweights (Koscheck, Sanchez, Hughes, GSP, Fitch), he has to climb back up and earn his spot again. So what do you do with a top tier guy looking to start over?
Even before match making, someone out of that camp needs to watch Parisyan when it comes to all aspects of training. If he's not giving enough in training, which is abominable, that needs to be taken care of before anything else. Turning to matchmaking, he has to have his bounce back fight following this loss. I compare it to the Nick Thompson fight after he came back from injury. The first thought that came to mind was Jonathan Goulet, which would give Parisyan ample opportunity to get the highlight reel KO. Another fight against a middle of the road fighter (Chris Lytle maybe?) would put Parisyan right back in the middle of a title eliminator. Can he respond? The bout could come against Marcus Davis or a Mike Swick. Joe Silva might put together Sanchez v. Parisyan II. But for as talented as he is, none of this matters if he just squanders it.
Bart Palaszewski has been one part of the best rivalry the IFL has had to date. Two big fights between "Bartimus" and Chris Horodecki ended up in Horodecki's favor via split decision on both occasions. It was the first loss that knocked Palaszewski down from this behemoth at lightweight to a good fighter but not a great one. "Bartimus" started and ended 2007 with losses to Horodecki. Throw in a submission loss (although contested on his part) to Deividas Taurosevicius (nope, didn't check the spelling first) and Palaszewski was going into his bout against Jim Miller on Saturday with two straight losses. But Jim Miller's this guy from Ring of Combat who's just coming in to make Palaszewski look good right? A funny thing happened on the way to the ring…
He lost and now Palaszewski has probably put himself out of contention for the lightweight title this year (yes, even in the IFL). He's been exposed as a fighter who struggles on the ground. It's not his strong suit nor is it really anyone's strong suit when talking about that Miletich camp. I know about the wrestling but it's more than just that. He needs to develop his ground game further but after almost 40 fights, how much can things really change? It's hard to pin down whom exactly Palaszewski should fight next because the IFL is always bringing in new fighters. However, another bout with John Gunderson could be interesting. Or, after Shad Lierley wakes up from his Wagnney Fabiano induced, maybe he could take on Palaszewski? Again the main point with "Bartimus" is the same as Parisyan's. Both fighters have the talent. So lets see where it goes.
Miscellaneous Musings!
●Yamma Pit Fighting…I'm pretty sure that's funny all on its own without even getting into the concept. Once you get into what it actually is…my god it could cure a battle with depression.
●Nate Diaz is my hero…
That's really all the justification I need.
●I know Kenny Florian beat him on the Fight Night card, but I still think Joe Lauzon could make some noise at lightweight. But then again I also said Jamal Patterson would beat Vladimir Matyushenko and how'd that turn out for me?
●The IFL put together a very nice card in New Jersey this past Saturday. But, it needs to follow up. A quick look ahead to that card leaves me with a lot of questions. The title fights seem eerily similar to its first show in Las Vegas. While Team Quest has three decent name fighters on that card, who is this Team Prodigy and whom are they going to throw at them? The event is May 16th.
●Are there really any Thiago Alves fans out there? Or just Karo Parisyan haters? Because after that bout on Wednesday you would think it was the latter.
●If Joe Riggs could get his health in order I would love to see him take on Cung Le. That would be a very entertaining bout between strikers.
●I know I'm probably the 110th person to mention this (especially among people in the boxing realm) but this card Showtime is promoting on Saturday night is a croc. Antonio Tarver, Chad Dawson, Glen Johnson and Clinton Woods are being advertised as the best light heavyweights in the world. Joe Calzaghe v. Bernard Hopkins anyone?
That's it for this week on Planet Tapout! Don't forget about the mailbag and comments. Send me your thoughts, loving, hateful and otherwise. The email address is PlanetTapout@gmail.com .
Make sure you come back next Tuesday for another edition of Planet Tapout! This week in MMA gives us Yamma Pit Fighting and a Battlequest show which highlights the weekend. Enjoy the fights everyone.
