Eight Sides of Steel 07.06.08: Crowning Champions

Posted by Wendell Mitchell on 07.06.2008

We have the fall out of UFC 86, rumored title fights, a proposition to revise the rules of MMA, and the Batman. Strap yourself down for another in your face edition of the Eight Sides of Steel.

SHOW STOPPING, MAIN EVENTING AND THE HEADLINES

Last night, Forrest Griffin pulled out the Unanimous Decision to become the new UFC Light Heavyweight Champion of the World

Well I'll be damned. Congratulations you goofy bastard. You deserved it. As a guy that doubted whether you could pull it out, I have no problem with you representing the best the 205 division has to offer. Enjoy your moment, then get ready for the inevitable rematch. Larry's got the full results.

This week, The World Alliance of Mixed Martial Arts (WAMMA) has completed the belt that will be presented to the winner of the the Emelianenko/Sylvia fight.

As my colleagues and myself have mentioned for the last several weeks, WAMMA's goal is to become the official sanctioning body of MMA and has taken it's first step by naminig the winner of the July 19th bout between Fedor and Sylvia their first heavyweight champion. Still curious as to how this will work because I could never see the UFC recognizing any other organization's belt as superior, or even equal to their own. In any event, the inclusion of the WAMMA belt allows this fight to go the full five rounds if necessary.

For the first time in the sixteen year history of the ESPY Awards, nominee Georges St. Pierre marks the first time an MMA fighter has been nominated for Fighter of the Year honors.

Good choice. In the last 12 months he destroyed both Matt Hughes and Matt Serra to reclaim the Welterweight Title. His competition are all boxers. Joe Calzaghe, Holly Holm, Floyd Mayweather Jr., and Kelly Pavlik. No disrespect intended towards Holm or Pavlik, but I think GSP's toughest opponents are Mayweather and Calzaghe. Either way, just being nominated is honor enough.

The Association of Boxing Commissions (ABC) recently met in Montreal, Quebec, Canada with a proposal to revise certain aspects of professional MMA.

I can't really see any fault in what they're proposing. The most easily identifiable revisions are the additions of five lower weight divisions, and the modification of the the limits for the Light Heavy and Heavyweight divisions. Also, certain rules have been consolidated (ex. cursing becomes part of the unsportsmanlike behavior rule), added (cupping a hand over an opponent's mouth), or abanadonned all together (holding the clavicle/collar bone). A full list can be found here.

ESPN.com now has six MMA for Dummies videos online. Bas Rutten, Brad Blackburn and Kenny Florian each instruct in two of the clips.

Well I tried this once, but I don't exactly have the name recognition of El Guapo or Ken Flo, so yeah, listen to them. You might learn something.





AND IN THIS CORNER

Fedor Emelianenko

VS

In thirteen days, Fedor Emelianenko, widely considered the number one Heavyweight in the world, will battle a top ten heavyweight for the first time since 2005 ,when he takes on former UFC Heavyweight Champion Tim "The Maine-iac" Sylvia.

The last PrideFC Champion will meet the two time UFC champion for the newly created World Alliance of Mixed Martial Arts (WAMMA). Since WAMMA actually contacted our very own John Curry, I defer you to him to learn more about WAMMA.


Fedor enters this fight with a stunning 28-1 record. He is a submission machine, securing more than half his victories (15) in this manner. He's a former World Combat Sambo champion as well as National Judo champion. Here he is in action.





Tim brings with him 24 wins, 16 of which by way of knock out. Sylvia enters this fight after losing to current UFC Interim Heavyweight Champ Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, a man Fedor has beaten twice. But Tim is quite capable of beating the best in the world when he's focused.

Tim Sylvia vs Wes SimsUploaded by Knife

It's put up or shut up time for Sylvia. He's been submitted three times and submissions are Fedor's specialty. Also to his disadvantage is the fact Fedor has never loss decisively, the only one on his record stemming from an illegal elbow strike that reopened a previous cut that would have otherwise been ruled a No Contest. Will Fedor perpetuate the belief that he is the greatest heavyweight alive or will Sylvia defy expectations and claim that distinction for himself. On July 19 in Dallas, TX we will get our answer.





IN A DAZE



BJ Penn is rumored to position himself as the first man to simultaneously hold UFC titles in two different weight classes. How you may ask? By getting his long awaited rematch against Georges St. Pierre.

Since defeating Sean Sherk for the lightweight title, Penn has been outspoken with his desire to gith St. Pierre. Their prior bout ended with a close decison victory for GSP.

Will it happen? I could easily see this happening. Happens all the time in the lower weight classes for boxing. In fact, just last week Manny "PacMan" Paquiao moved up a weight class and added a fourth world title to his collection. The only thing preventing this from happening is if Dana White decides that there is a more deserving contender currently at welterweight for GSP to fight.




Rumor has it that once newly crowned StrikeForce Lightweight Champion Josh Thomson defends his belt a few times, a possible unification bout against current EliteXC 160 pounds Title Holder KJ Noons is on the Horizon.

The two companies have worked together in the past, so the biggest obstacle I see is the two champs holding onto their belts until such time a definitive agreement can be reached. If it happens, should be a good one.





IN BETWEEN ROUNDS








RANDOM MUSING AND BRUISING

In celebration of the most anticipated movie of the summer, a little Batman: The Animated Series. Enjoy!

From the Pilot



The Dark Night Trailer using Batman: The Animated Series characters



And finally, a scene from Batman takes on the Red Triangle Circus




SHOWING PROPS

Passing The Guard takes a look at some upcoming match ups.

Adam hypes up next week's Adrenaline card in another edition of The Fighting Stance.

Dusty James is ranking the Middleweights this week.

The always Spicy John Curry tackles the price of merchandise in this week's Ground and Pound





A WORD FROM OUR SPONSORS

Fedor sells...honey?







OFF THE CHAIN AND OUT OF THE CAGE


Once again, I would like to thank everyone of you that took time out to stop by my corner of the internet. Come see me again next week within the confines of the Eight Sides of Steel.