Punch Drunk Hangover 05.19.08: Is the Penn Mightier than the Soured?
Posted by Bren Oliver on 05.19.2008
Read ahead for Bren Oliver's thoughts on "JZ" Calvancante's post-injury return, the ability of fans to vote on the DREAM brackets, Phil Baroni waxing poetic, "Rampage" Jackson's commentary on Suge Knight, the "Sengoku II" results, and Frank Mir's placement at the top of the Heavyweight heap. Those things and more, plus this week's "Monday Morning Moment of Zen" featuring Renaldo "Jacare" Souza vs. Roger Gracie, plus Kimbo lighting some poor fool up, 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! As always, my goal is to help you escape from the doldroms of an average Monday, giving you a good grab in the nether-regions to wake you up and make your day that much more exciting! Have no fear...the technique is Bas Rutten approved!!!
I'm here with another one-stop shop for catching up on Mixed Martial Arts news, hoping as always to deliver consumers a delectable mixture of insight and humor. Less than a week away from UFC 84, it goes without saying I'm psyched for the epic event, but I have a feeling the subject will be beaten to death this week so I'll save my commentary on the show for 411Mania's Roundtable Discussion on it (as well as next week's PDH where I'll discuss results). Instead, I'll start this week by talking about a recent announcement passed down from the UFC hiearchy regarding the next season of the Ultimate Fighter. The reaction to it has been a mixed bag, with many saying it's fair and a like number crying foul, so let me get to the blurb and then I'll offer my opinion on the matter...
Spike TV announced today that UFC heavyweight champion Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira & Frank Mir will be the coaches for season eight of The Ultimate Fighter. The two are then expected to meet for a title fight in the near future. Production on the show will begin in late May, with the season premiere shown in September. The show will feature light heavyweight and lightweight fighters.
Dare I say it, but if this is how the Zuffa crew is going to treat the Ultimate Fighter then EIGHT IS ENOUGH!!! I understand the UFC has been put in a difficult position, though most of the strife self-imposed, by losing noteable Heavyweights like Randy Couture, Mirko Filipovic, Andrei Arlovski, and Tim Sylvia. There is a logjam at the top of the division where fighters such as Brandon Vera, Cheick Kongo, Heath Herring, Gabriel Gonzaga, Fabricio Werdum, and, yes, Frank Mir have shown they're very good but not quite elite-level competition. That being said, the only thing Mir has going for him is a reputation as a former UFC champion and a win-by-the-seat-of-his-pants victory over Brock Lesnar (who was in his second professional fight and making his UFC debut). The very little "good" of Frank Mir being named TUF 8 Coach is overshadowed by the overwhelming "bad" and "ugly" of the announcement.
Sure, Mir used to be UFC Heavyweight Champion...four years and one horrific motorcycle accident ago! He's a likeable guy with a great jiujitsu base, but he came back from his injury layoff an apparent buffet-table afficionado and promptly got TKO'd by 3-2 Marcio "Pe De Pano" Cruz in the first round. He took lackluster Dan Christison to decision in the next fight and then got flattened by Brandon Vera four months later in around a minute. The two wins Mir has rallied off since came against Lesnar and 6-4 Antoni Hardonk. Should a 3-2 record since 2004, with wins over veritable nobodies where contendership is concerned, earn you an opportunity at one of the most elite prizes in the game? Apparently so.
I also think it's a poor decision from the standpoint that it will put Nogueira on ice until the end of the year when the lights on the TUF 8 Finale finally dim. If he is forced to wait for such a long time, why not utilize the upcoming months by determining an actual contender with a multi-PPV miniature tournament featuring the clearly deserving Frank Mir, Heath Herring, Fabricio Werdum, and then one of the other three mid-grade contenders for the UFC Heavyweight Championship? I'd make it Brandon Vera simply from a promotional standpoint, as "The Truth" has a good sense of humor and speaks English a little more clearly than Frenchman Kongo or Brazilian Gonzaga. This would establish who deserved the title-fight and frankly I feel it would build more interest in Nogueira's defense than Mir-ly making Frank coach on TUF 8.
The question then comes up as to who would act as the coach opposite "Minotauro". By the way, if you wonder why I constantly refer to Nogueira by his nickname instead of his God-given one, it's because I think it may be perhaps the coolest in the biz. If I ever get married and have a child, I'd like to at least make his middle name "Minotauro" if not his first. Hmmm, suddenly I've realized why it's no wonder I'm single. The third ear doesn't help either. Moving on...
I think the perfect way to address the situation as far as coaches would have been to give the Ultimate Fighter Season VIII some international flare - North America vs. The World. The UFC is proving with TUF 7, as it did with other past seasons, coaches of the competitors on the show do not necessarily have to be individuals who are in the same weightclass. Why not put Rich Franklin opposite Nogueira? It would certainly make Anderson Silva's inevitable visit all the more interesting. If not "Ace", then Dan Henderson, Georges St. Pierre, or even a non-contending Mark Coleman as a way to build his UFC 87 fight against Brock Lesnar. Clearly the teams would be composed of Canadian, Mexican, and American fighters on the "North America" side and a smorgasbord of nationalities on the "World" team including Brazil, Western and Eastern Europe, Australia, Japan, and so on. They could also bring in guest coaches. For example, Nogueira might have Michael Bisping or Wanderlei Silva show up for a session, as could the North American side bring in a multitude of well-known figures ranging from BJ Penn to "Rampage" Jackson to Roger Huerta to Jason MacDonald.
My point is, there was no reason the UFC should have forced Frank Mir down our throats as if we're to believe he is instantly the best option because Dana White and Joe Silva think he is. Again, I understand the company's Heavyweight division is as deep as Rachelle Leah's bellybutton, at least when it comes to picking an absolute #1 Contender, but I refuse to buy Mir as a worthy challenger to Nogueira's title, I'm disappointed in the UFC's decision, and I loathe the notion "Minotauro" won't showcase his talents to the world in coordinance with a television show's schedule. I didn't like it when it caused Matt Serra to wait a ridiculously long time to defend his Welterweight Championship, and the only reason I find it to be permissable with Quinton "Rampage" Jackson's hiatus is because it at least is letting the world get to know Jackson. Up until this point the UFC had done a poor job promoting one of MMA's brightest stars, both as far as his skill in the cage and personality outside of it, so his involvement on the Ultimate Fighter has at least somewhat attoned for that sin. In the case of TUF 7, two wrongs made a half-right.
That's my three cents on things. And now on to my spin on a handful of other subjects gracing the headlines this past week. I'd love to hear your thoughts so feel free to shoot me an email or leave a comment at the bottom of the page. Also, me and my moderate "Call of Duty" and "Grand Theft Auto" abilities will be looking for readers interested in giving it a go on XBOX Live. You can find me as "punchdrunkMMA".
The following medley of items were reported between May 12th, 2008 and May 18th, 2008:
Sherdog is reporting that Gesias "JZ" Calvancante will only miss up to 3-4 months with a torn ACL. Calvancate also confirmed that DREAM officials came to the airport asking him if he would like to take Shinya Aoki's spot in the Lightweight Grand Prix tournament. However, due to his injury JZ had to decline. The report also mentions that Calvancante would like to face the winner of the Lightweight Grand Prix as he is expected to make his return to DREAM by year's end.
It's unfortunate Calvancante had to go under the knife but it was no surprise given the training he'd subjected himself to in preparation for facing Aoki twice in a six-week period, as well as the wrap on his leg and fact American Top Team confirmed to 411Mania a week prior to the surgery that lingering injuries to Gesias' knee was the primary reason "JZ" couldn't fill Aoki's slot at DREAM 3. I am encourged to hear Calvancante is expecting to return before the end of the year. Last week I'd questioned an announcement stating the young Brazilian would be out of action until 2009 simply because of the rehabilitation period involved with a torn ACL. However, I'm not sure "JZ" should get to draw a "Go directly to Grand Prix Winner" card. Talented as he is, he'd essentially be bypassing a group of men who rightfully went further than him in the actual tournament, and I'm not quite sure I like the statement that'd make. Now excuse me while I possibly contradict that statement by saying I'd love to see a third contest between Shinya Aoki and Calvancante. While "Baka Survivor" enthusiast Aoki did defeat "JZ" in a legitimate manner, I still have questions surrounding whether or not Calvancante's elbow strikes were illegal in the first fight between the two. I also think the ATT product putting the rainbow-tighted warrior on the brink of consciousness in the second bout is evidence another clash of 155-pound titans would deliver fireworks. Other opponents I'd like to see for Calvancante, especially in a New Year's Eve setting, are Gilbert Melendez, either of T-Blood's Kawajiri or Ishida, or maybe even a true "dream" match against World Victory Road's Takanori Gomi.
Arizona State University has announced that it will discontinue it's wrestling program along with men's tennis and men's swimming. Just recently ASU's wrestling program started getting a name for itself by becoming a hotbed for future MMA stars. Fighters such as Cain Velasquez, C.B. Dollaway, Aaron Simpson, & Ryan Bader are all ASU alums with a combined pro record of 16-0.
ASU becomes the 2nd school in the Pac-10 conference to cancel it's wrestling program recently. Last year the University of Oregon announced that it was getting rid of it's wrestling program to reinstate the baseball program.
On top of the younger crop of former Sun Devils who look to make their impact on the sport, let's also not forget Arizona State has produced the likes of MMA icons Dan Severn, Dan Henderson, and Don Frye. It's a shame the higher-ups at ASU can't see the marketability of a program with world-class alumni who have found a great deal of success in the hottest sport out there. It seems as though the association alone would act as a solid draw to prospective students who might also have potential in other athletic areas or *gasp* even the classroom. For a much better look at what the Arizona State Wrestling means to certain people, I advise you to check out this excellent piece by current Ultimate Fighter VII cast member, and former Sun Devil, CB Dollaway wrote for MMAJunkie. In fact, I recommend everyone makes it a point to read his TUF blog which can also be found on MMAJunkie or in Yahoo's MMA section. I was lucky enough to give it a perusing a few weeks back and have been enjoying it ever since. While we haven't seen much of it on the show, Dollaway apparently has a great sense of humor, and his blogs have all been well-written, insightful, entertaining reads.
Sherdog is reporting that heavyweight George Bush has tested positive for marijuana following his April 11th loss to Ricco Rodriguez via decision. The fight took place at YAMMA Pit Fighting's debut show. Bush has been suspended by the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board for 90 days.
Though it hasn't merited much attention from the media, mainstream or MMA-specific, the use of marijuana continues to be one of the biggest problems in Mixed Martial Arts based on the number of fighters who test positive for THC. Now, when I say it's a "problem", I'm only referring to it in such a manner because it is a drug athletic commissions test and fine/suspend for moreso than due to weed's illegal nature. Fact is, I can understand why certain fighters are as apt to pass a doobie as they are to pass guard, and I wouldn't be opposed to the idea of it being dropped from the list of banned substances. Most professional fighters work their asses off in the training room. Pot acts as not only relief from the physical strain associated with preparing for a fight, but likely eases some of the mental anxiety of knowing you're about to risk being knocked out cold in front of thousands, maybe millions, of viewers. There is also a certain lifestyle connected to MMA, and while there are plenty of fighters who avoid the trappings of nightlife, I'd wager there are at least an equal amount who fully enjoy the "rockstar" image Mixed Martial Artists currently have. I'd much rather hear about someone like Nick Diaz, or George Bush in this case, who is smoking weed than about a fighter testing positive for cocaine or who boozes it up five nights a week. I also don't feel marijuana is "performance enhancing" in terms of what goes on inside the ring, or at least not in terms of giving a competitive advantage.
Bush testing positive for weed is only a small black mark on a company with bigger problems to deal with. When YAMMA Pit Fighting addresses their horrible production, their roster of washed up fighters, and the overwhelmingly bad reviews of the first PPV event, then perhaps they can focus on dealing with the marijuana use of George Bush. For those of you who were expecting me to connect Bush's drug use to that of another noteable "George Bush", not gonna do it....not...gonna...do it...wouldn't be prudent.
During a recent interview with MMA Weekly, Nick Diaz confirmed that his next fight in DREAM will be against Hayato "Mach" Sakurai for the DREAM welterweight title. The title fight could happen at DREAM 5 on July 19th. Diaz made his DREAM debut on May 11th and defeated Katsuya Inoue. Sakurai was victorious over Hidetaka Monma at DREAM 1 back in March. However, Sakurai was recently upset by David Baron at the Shooto event on May 3rd.
July 19th is shaping up to be a historic day in the annals of Mixed Martial Arts lore! As if Affliction's offering of Fedor Emelianenko vs. Tim-meh Sylvia, Josh Barnett vs. Pedro Rizzo, and Andrei Arlovski vs. Ben Rothwell weren't enough, we MMA fans will also get to check out DREAM 5 for free with Diaz vs. Sakurai, the Lightweight Grand Prix semi-finals and finals, and Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic. I've actually heard DREAM 5 was going to be July 21st, but either way we're all looking at some incredible MMA action over a day or two. By the way, if you didn't already know, you can vote on the DREAM 4 Middleweight Quaterfinal match-ups, as well as the DREAM 5 Lightweight Semi-Finals, by clicking the following link. I beg you all to put "Mayhem" Miller up against Kazushi Sakuraba for the entrances alone! I also went with Kawajiri vs. Uno and Alvarez vs. the winner of Nagata/Aoki. Truly, you can't go wrong with any pairing of those four individuals.
Back to Nick Diaz's involvement at DREAM 5, I'm extremely excited about the prospect of the mean-mugged Diaz taking on the lighter-hearted, though harder-hitting, "Mach" Sakurai. I think Diaz will be in trouble if he takes the same bang-it-out approach with Sakurai that he used against Inoue. However, I favor the Gracie-trained Diaz's jiujitsu over Sakurai's, and I personally see him ending up DREAM Welterweight Champion via a bottom-based submission.
Carina Damm, who last competed for Galaxy Productions on April 3, 2008 in Los Angeles, has tested positive for Nandrolone. Her suspension period is in effect from the conclusion of the bout on April 3, 2008 through April 2, 2009. She has been fined $2,500.
I can neither confirm nor deny Damm recently had dinner at Sean Sherk's house. However, when I first received this notification from the CSAC, I chuckled to myself that perhaps Damm had given her secret away by either donning a Mazagatti-style porn-stache to her last fight or perhaps having her voice mistaken for Don Frye's. As it turns out, Damm is considered to have caused more than one male to day "damn", as she's been given the nickname "Barbie Girl" based on her looks. I'll personally take Gina Carano over her any day, in the ring and outside of it, but judge for yourself...
I don't believe Damm has issued any official explanation but I assume it could have had to do with some sort of injury she sustained during training. Steroids do not build muscle - they allow an individual's body to repair itself more quickly, thus allowing for increased workout rates and the ability to overcome certain nagging injuries. It's unfortunate for her career, as now she'll not only be labeled a steroid user, but she also likely blew an opportunity to fight Gina Carano at some point in the immediate future. She has both the talent and look to be a star in womens' MMA. Maybe she'll figure that out as she sits on the sidelines for the next twelve months.
Quinton Jackson told TMZ today that Suge Knight got drunk at a party earlier this week and was punched out by a 5'10'' barber. Video of the incident hit the 'net earlier this week. An MMA promotion is now apparently offering $1 million for New Year's Eve fight in Las Vegas between Knight and and the barber.
I'm not sure how "Rampage" is involved in this story other than that he's a UFC Champion who resides in Los Angeles. However, I was able to find a clip of Jackson offering his advice to Knight on the aftermatch of the growing legend of Suge's Knockout...
As far as there being an actual MMA bout involving the intimidating presence of the Death Row CEO or the razor-sharp strikes of "Greg the Barber", I doubt I'm alone in my complete lack of interest in seeing it happen. It's the kind of thing that would give Mixed Martial Arts a bad name, especially if something less-than savory occurred during or after the event (which is possible when you consider the parties involved). However, if you're interested in more information on the man behind the myth, I advise you to watch the following NSFW clip courtesy of "Hood News" - bringing it to us suburbites "straight from the streets"!
Gary Shaw shot down rumors of a Kimbo Slice vs. Mike Tyson fight today, saying he hasn't talked with anyone on Tyson's side. He also said that he isn't interested in a Kimbo vs. Butterbean fight but is interested in Kimbo vs. Tito Ortiz.
I would be interested in seeing Slice vs. Tyson for "freak show" reasons, maybe in Japan, but I highly doubt the fight will ever get put together. Tyson hasn't been considered a boxing contender in years and is about to turn 42. He hasn't stepped into a ring in nearly three years and hasn't won since February 2003. The only threat to Slice would be standing against the former "Kid Dynamite", but I'm certain Bas Rutten would have Kimbo prepared to shoot and take Mike to the ground for either submission attempts or even a ground-and-pound strategy. Also playing against the likeliness of the fight's occurence, I'm skeptical as to whether or not an American athletic commission would approve a Slice vs. Tyson bout, especially as Kimbo is gaining more and more experience in MMA. It'll be a wonderful match-up when created CAW-style, but Tyson vs. Slice has no place in Mixed Martial Arts outside the realm of video games or our imaginations.
I also don't see "Butterbean" or Ortiz as viable opponents for Kimbo. I don't see Slice dropping weight to fight Ortiz and I can't see Tito moving up much more than where he's already at. Plus, with Ortiz potentially moving to EliteXC, the focus of the company needs to be on building him up in the same way they've done with Kimbo. It would be counterproductive to have the two fight each other. As far as the blubbery one, a win over "The Bean" would do little for Slice's reputation plus there's always a significant risk of knockout anytime Esch is involved in a fight. Granted, it could be "Butterbean" knocking himself out after an errant punch, but that's not necessarily something you want as a fight promotion where your reputation is concerned. PDH? I have no credibility to protect and I'll be damned if this clip doesn't crack me up time and time again...
A mixture of results from the IFL's 5/16 event, as well as Sunday's World Victory Road's "Sengoku II"...
(IFL) Roy Nelson def. Brad Imes, TKO, RD 1
Let it be known to all on the IFL's roster, I encourage you to not participate in one of our site's "Fact or Fiction" columns when closing in on a fight-date. I believe we're indirectly responsible for an 0-2 record, as Brad Imes is scheduled to give his thoughts on UFC 84 in next week's FoF preview of the event. That being said, IFL CEO Jay Larkin, I didn't appreciate you lighting a bag of dog poop and leaving it on my doorstep!
As far as the actual fight, I commend both Roy on his win and Brad Imes for taking a fight against an opponent like Nelson on short notice. Both are credible Heavyweights in my eyes and I'm interested to see each continue gain experience and eventually face some of the division's best fighters. Going into it, fans knew it would be a brawl between two big country boys and it certainly delivered as such. I almost felt like I should watch the thing while sopping up gravy with a biscuit. Imes looked to be getting the better of Nelson in the bout's opening moments, but "Big Country" rocked him and it was clear the momentum shifted with the staggering blow. There were a few moments where Nelson looked ready to put Imes away and he eventually did so with a big punch sending "The Hillbilly Heartthrob" to the canvas. It was a nice performance by Nelson and what I would classify as his biggest win to date.
(WVR) Jorge Santiago def. Yuki Sasaki, Submission, RD 3
Santiago is one of MMA's most underrated fighters and I feel he may one day be champion in a fairly major organization. He has rallied off five wins in a row, including one of Jeremy Horn and same-night victories over Trevor Prangley and Sean Salmon, and his latest bout is no exception when it comes to Jorge's bright future in the sport of Mixed Martial Arts. He's young, well-rounded, and trains with some of the best in the game at American Top Team. And, on a personal note, he's also an extremely nice guy based on a brief interaction I had with him after "Art of War III" (where he defeated Horn).
As far as his WVR fight against Sasaki, Santiago's striking looked good and his opponent was on the defense for most of the bout. Jorge was able to overcome a nice submission attempt from Sasaki midway through the first round and reverse it into a bit of ground-and-pound. An errant high kick left Santiago on his back as the round closed, and Sasaki looked to be manuvering for an armbar, but the bell sounded, thus ending a close round. Santiago's stand-up dominance continued in the second, where he delivered a nice flying knee and had his opponent backing up throughout the round. He nearly landed a foot stomp at one point that had the typically quiet Japanese crowd making quite a bit of noise. The bout's second frame ended with Sasaki again closing in on a submission but unable to lock it in (or win the round). When the fight got to the third I'd say Sasaki had to either finish Santiago or else he was headed home with a loss. Then, ironic in a way, he ended up taking Jorge down and getting a dominant position...which quickly lead to the young Brazilian locking in an armbar and promptly finishing the fight. It was a solid performance from both men, though moreso Santiago, and further evidence as to why I expect big things from him in the next year or two.
(WVR) Roger Gracie def. Yuki Kondo, Submission, RD 1
The size difference between Gracie and Kondo was obvious and favored the young man with the iconic last name. The bout opened up with a clinch eventually turning into a takedown on the part of Gracie. He quickly moved to Kondo's side and appeared to be isolating one of his arms for a submission. Yuki recognized it and scrambled for a new position. Unfortunately, the one he ended up in was Gracie having full mount. It wasn't long before the decorated Pancrase star, Kondo, gave up his back and eventually tapped out to Gracie's Rear Naked Choke. While outclassed inside the ring, I still enjoyed the dynamic between someone like Kondo, a grizzled veteran who has faced the likes of Josh Barnett, Wanderlei Silva, Paulo Filho, Tito Ortiz, Semmy Schlit, and many more over his 75+ professional fights, taking on a guy in his mid-20s like Roger Gracie. By the way, Dana White would be wise to find a way to ink Roger Gracie to a contract in the very near future. He's got a marketable look, is connected to the dynasty of MMA, and is a Heavyweight. What's more to ask for?
(WVR) Josh Barnett def. Jeff Monson, Judges' Decision
This wasn't necessarily an exciting fight but then again I didn't fully expect it to be either based on both fighters' ground-based style of attack. I figured one of the two would grind out a victory, with it likely being Barnett, and such was indeed the case as neither man was at a high risk of being knocked out or submitted at any one time. The first round saw Barnett and Monson feel each other out and felt more like the start to a five-round championship fight than fifteen-minute affair. "The Babyface Assassain" got the better of the exchanges, and the round was his, based on a few combos and kicks. The second stanza started out a bit more encouraging for Monson, as he was able to use a single-leg to take Barnett down early on in the round. It almost resulted in a Triangle Choke but the seasoned "Snowman" was ultimately able to avoid Barnett's submission attempts. He even took Barnett's side before Josh used an interesting technique where he rolled his lower body upwards, then used the momentum the move created to push upwards and slip free of Monson's grasp. Barnett quickly followed up by tripping the bulky, bald fighter and taking him down where he secured his position the remaining three-and-a-half minutes of the round. The final five-minutes of the fight were more of the same, with Barnett doing better on his feet and in the clinch, while also spending a good portion of time on top of a grounded Monson. He was clearly the better fighter and I look forward to his bout at "Affliction: Banned" against Pedro Rizzo. I expect a bit more stand-up, as I'm positive Barnett will want to finish "The Rock" based on Rizzo delivering the affable American his first career loss (via knockout).
P.S. - Caol Uno's shoes at DREAM 3 were much better than Barnett's "Sengoku II" footwear, but then again, it's not easy to outclass Dreamsicle kicks.
Jibber-Jabber:
The following soundbytes were delivered over the past week...
UFC President Dana White talks to Five Ounces of Pain and shares his thoughts on Tito Ortiz ...
"Tito is a fucking idiot. He's one of the dumbest human beings I've ever met. Everything that comes out of his mouth makes no sense. I put up with his sh*t when he was a good fighter. He's not anymore. He's not in anybody's Top 10. I have no interest whatsoever in being in the Tito Ortiz business. ... I've never wanted to see anyone get their ass kicked worse than I want to see Tito get his kicked next Saturday night."
While I don't disagree with what Dana is saying, because Ortiz has a lot to prove if he still wants to be considered a top 205-pound fighter, I take issue with the way White is handling the situation based purely on his role as the top official in the UFC. Perhaps White feels it is open season on Ortiz since Tito has already stated his intentions of leaving the company after UFC 84, but I believe Dana's immature public stance on "The Huntington Beach Bad Boy" creates the perception a UFC fighter risks ridicule or release if he doesn't tow the company line. Regardless of money, who wants to work for a boss that personally attacks you, let alone does it in front of a microphone and recording device so all the world can see what a piece of filth he thinks you are. I almost wonder if Ortiz might have a legal case, in a civil court, were a lawyer to argue the UFC President's public trashing of his reputation has cost him potential earnings outside of the company.
Scott Smith, in an EliteXC conference call, gives his opinion on being in a title-fight that's considered secondary to Kimbo Slice's bout at the May 31st EliteXC/CBS event...
"I get a lot of questions on that. KCAL-TV in Los Angeles asked me if I was offended by that. Kimbo Slice is a huge name. He's an upcoming, great fighter. I'm honored to be on the same card as him. I would much rather fight for a title and fight the second to last fight than be the main event and not have Kimbo on the card. The fact that he's on the card is going to have millions of more people tune in. So, if people tune in to watch him, they're going to watch me and that's great for me. So, I'm honored to be on the card with Kimbo."
I'm starting to like Scott Smith more and more as a fighter, not just because he's an improving, exciting competitor, but also because he seems to have a good head on his shoulders and a personality to back it up with. I expect Smith's title-fight against Middleweight Champion Robbie Lawler to possibly steal the show. Both are hard-hitting and fearless. The above statement was just one of a number of excellent points the former TUF contestant made during EliteXC's conference call last Thursday. I like the approach that, while it's understood Kimbo Slice isn't exactly Royce Gracie or Randy Couture, he's a draw to people who aren't necessarily MMA die-hards and bringing in fresh fans is a good thing where business is concerned. It's like having Gwen Stefani if you're "No Doubt", albeit a huge, bald, bearded, African-American version of her. She may draw attention to your band for the wrong reasons but, because of it, you get a chance to tour the world, showcase your talents to adoring fans, and make a few extra greenbacks along the way.
EliteXC President Gary Shaw continues on to address the criticism Kimbo Slice has received, from fans and fighters, regarding his headlining fight...
"I'm doing a big HBO show Saturday in Nevada. It's called Rising Stars and its three kids that are some of the best fighters in the world, and one of them has only had nine fights. So, I don't think the number of fights determines how good a fighter is, or whether that fighter could be a star or superstar. There's a lot of jealousy in this sport. People are jealous of Gina Carano. I said I was going to make her the face of women's MMA, and we delivered on that.
I knew Kimbo Slice could be a superstar. I believe if Smith does what he's capable of, and it's nothing against Lawler because I'm a huge fan, but Smith can be a huge star because of his personality, the way he speaks, the punching power. For those that say things about Kimbo to me are haters because they should be cheerleading him to lead the way and open more doors. I don't think MMA has had as much excitement the last few years as Kimbo is now bringing to the table.
Let me remind everyone on this call that nobody cared who Mike Tyson fought. If you asked someone what they were doing Saturday night, they would say they were going to see Tyson. They didn't say Tyson against anybody. If he beat up on somebody that wasn't as good as him, people would say he's the baddest man on the planet. Some of the questions on this call are about an aging Tyson who got knocked out in his last fight. But it's still the aura of Tyson. That's what Kimbo Slice brings. I'm proud to promote him and proud to know him. I'm proud to call him a friend. Everybody should be cheerleading Kimbo because he is a reason, not the only reason, but a reason that CBS really looked up. The logo of CBS, that eye, they put that eye right on Kimbo Slice."
I've given Gary Shaw a hard time in past columns, but I'm starting to feel as though he's gained a greater understanding of Mixed Martial Arts' culture and, hopefully, what it takes to run a successful promotion. I think he's spot on in terms of comparing Mike Tyson to Kimbo, though I would never argue Slice has currently achieved near the level of where Tyson was at in the 90's. People didn't care who "Iron Mike" was fighting - they simply wanted to be entertained. As bad an individual as Don King may be, he knew how to pour syrup on a pile of dog sh*t and serve it as a steaming stack of buttermilk pancakes. Perhaps there are certain fighters who should be treated like entertainers moreso than legitimate contenders. I have no illusions of Kimbo Slice one day defeating Fedor Emelianenko or "Minotauro" Nogueira, but I feel fairly grounded in reality when I say I certainly expect Mr. Ferguson to entertain the hell out of me this and every day forward.
Phil Baroni givse some genuine insight into a number of fighters' approaches towards being on network television as only Phil Baroni can...
"Let me answer that question real quick. Guys like me and (Robbie) Lawler have been fighting for a long time. We were in the UFC when no one knew what the UFC was. We've been fighting for chump change. We're fighters. That's what we do. Yeah, it's great to be on CBS, but when we got into this sport it wasn't even on pay per view. So, it's great to be on CBS and it's great to have all that exposure and everything else. But, I didn't get into fighting because I wanted to be a rock star, and neither did a guy like Lawler. That's not why we did it. I don't really give a sh*t about Gary Shaw's watch or his Ferrari. I do it for pride, and I do it to set high goals and accomplishments. Six million people in the world and there's only one world champion. Lawler is that guy right now. So, I really don't think it matters to him or the real fighters about fighting on CBS. As far as Kimbo Slice, the guy is pretty much a real fighter. Why? Because he didn't know he was going to be a big success, MMA guy or be fighting on CBS. He likes beating people up. That's just what it is. Big dogs can't get in the yard and see who's bigger. Fight in the cage. Let's not make it more than it is. It's a fight in the cage. Fighters fight and people are drawn to fighters. Football players and sh*t get into it now because they see how big it is and they see the opportunity. That's bullsh*t. We've been here a long time, and we're grateful for the opportunity. We're happy to be fighting on TV. It's great, but that's not why we're doing it. That's not why we got into it. There was no TV to get into. We just wanted to get into a fight. We're basically doing this for free.
We're real fighters. Joe Villaseńor, whatever, he's a victim. I'm going to kill him. But, he's a real deal fighter. He's going to fight in a cage. But, he's a champ. He wasn't fighting for the money, the girls. He wasn't some f*cking teacher that f*cking retired so he could be on Ultimate Fighter. He's a real fighter. He's doing it because he wants to f*cking fight. He wants to prove himself. That's where I am. That's where Lawler and Kimbo are at. I don't know much about Smith, but he's in there banging away. He's the real deal to me. So, we're real fighters. We ain't movie stars. I didn't sign a contract with CBS. I signed because I wanted to fight. I saw the roster and opportunities available to me and I took it. I want to fight the best fighters in the world. Frank Shamrock signed with that organization. I want that mother. I want to kill him. So, CBS, that's a bonus. I'm a real fighter. I want a shot. I want to fight. Gina Carano, she's a chick that wants to fight. She wants to kick box. So, we're all real fighters."
For the record, Phil Baroni stole the show as far as this conference call went. He was funny, insightful, and acted as his usual loud-mouthed, charming self. I think Baroni's intelligence is often underestimated, perhaps even by himself, but I've always found him to offer interesting viewpoints when he's not busy self-promoting. I consider his appearances on "Inside MMA" to be good examples of the perspective I'm referring to. Baroni's comments remind me of the interesting dynamic of the UFC lockerroom when TUF fighters warm up before stepping into the Octagon. There are posters lining the walls featuring a number of the UFC's best, past and present, with pictures apparently taken after being involved in a bout. It's a reminder that, while there are the spotlights and cameras involved with presenting fans a show with significant entertainment value, at the heart of things are two men (or women) stepping into a ring and risking their health so that we might applaud or purchase some merchandise. Like Baroni said, they're all real fighters, and I think that sometimes gets lost in the maelstrom of PPV revenue and W/L records.
--------------
That's about all she wrote for this week's Hangover. Till next time Punch Drunk buckaroos, here's your "Monday Morning MMA Moment of Zen" - a jiujitsu clinic courtesy of Roger Gracie vs. Renaldo "Jacare" Souza in the finals of the 2005 ADCC Tournament and Kimbo Slice drilling a willing participant with an open-field tackle:
Technique over TKO...
...or for those of you who aren't into fifteen-minute, strike-free, submission grappling lessons, here's some pour soul being tackled by Kimbo Slice for $100 on the show "Money Talks"...
