The MMA News Report 08.27.08
Posted by Morgan Marx on 08.27.2008
Kimbo Slice gets a new opponent (groan) and injuries force changes to upcoming WEC and Strikeforce cards. Plus, a review of 'Title Shot: Inside the Shark Tank of Mixed Martial Arts'...
THE READERS QUESTION
The Reader's Question: Does Ken Shamrock still draw interest from any MMA fans – hardcore or mainstream?
NEWS LEG KICKS
Kimbo v. Ken Set For Elite XC October Card
Ken Shamrock has been announced as the next opponent for undefeated heavyweight sensation Kevin "Kimbo Slice" Ferguson. The two will face off in October, on the next Elite XC card to be broadcast on CBS, according to Sherdog.com.
It's hard not to be cynical about Shamrock's selection. While Brett Rogers is arguably more deserving of a shot at Slice, Shamrock presents much greater name value at a fraction of the risk. Riding a five-fight losing streak, Shamrock has looked like a shell of the "The World's Most Dangerous Man." In March, Shamrock dropped a first round KO loss to the unheralded Buzz Berry. The Cage Rage loss was thought to have ended chances of a showdown with Slice. Yet here we are.
It will be interesting to see how mainstream fans react to the show. Conventional wisdom states that Shamrock is a good draw, despite his sub-par record this millenium. However, fights against Tito Ortiz and Kazushi Sakuraba probably drew due to Shamrock's opponent. Perhaps commentators are focusing on Shamrock's main event status against Kimo in 2004.
You can make an argument for Shamrock in this fight. His submission skills are certainly far superior to Slice, and Slice's reputation as a KO artist has taken a hit after the Thompson fight. But, in the end, we're probably looking at a redo of the Tank Abbott fight. Shamrock is an undersized heavyweight and has developed a weak jaw as he's aged. Wasn't Kimbo supposed to have moved past this point in his career?
Worse, allegations of fight fixing have dogged Shamrock's performances against Rich Franklin and Berry. I'm not suggesting such statements are true, but the last thing Elite XC needs is more controversy surrounding a Kimbo finish.
Reports suggest that Rogers has been promised the winner of this fight (as though the winner is in doubt). Will defeating Ken Shamrock prepare Kimbo for the pressure and power that Rogers would bring into a fight?
Elite XC is obviously hoping for a ratings boost due to the name value associated with Kimbo and Shamrock (and Gina Carano). Other than that, it's difficult to see who really wins with this sort of match up. Not Kimbo. Not Brett Rogers. And certainly not fans waiting for Kimbo to face a genuine opponent.
MMA veteran Anthony Ruiz will step in and face Renato Sobral at Strikeforce at the Playboy Mansion, according to a press release from the organization. Ruiz will replace current Strikeforce Lightweight Champion Bobby Southworth, out with a torn ACL.
"El Toro" has fought constantly at lower levels, though he has popped up on WEC and Sho XC cards from time to time. The prolific fighter has amassed a 21-11 record in five and half years of fighting. Ruiz holds wins over notables such as Southworth, Brad Imes, and…well, lets just stop there. Ruiz has faced off against the likes of Vladimir Matyushenko, Trevor Prangley, and Eddie Sanchez, somehow managing to get submitted by all three.
Hopefully, Ruiz's submission defense has improved or he's in for a short night against Sobral. The former UFC title contender is coming off a fairly dominant decision victory over Mike Whitehead at Affliction's debut show. Sobral will be looking to keep his momentum going as he eyes a fight with semi-nemesis Tito Ortiz in the future.
Strikeforce at the Mansion II takes place September 20 in Beverly Hills, CA. Elsewhere at the event, Kazuo Misaki returns to action against Joe Riggs, and Cory Devela faces off against Affliction participant Terry Martin.
Light heavyweight Tim McKenzie has been forced to withdraw from the WEC's upcoming card due to what MMAWeekly is calling an undisclosed injury. A replacement fighter has not been announced.
McKenzie's potential opponent, David Avellan, may be forced from the card should an addition not be made. With talk of a merger between the WEC's upper weight classes and the UFC gaining steam, the fight could have been an important showcase for both fighters. WEC fighters in the 185 division and above will be looking to make positive impressions on UFC brass in order to be picked up.
WEC: Faber v. Brown takes place September 10 in Florida. The show will be headlined by title defenses featuring Urijah Faber and Paulo Filho, as well as a lightweight showdown between Donald Cerrone and Rob McCullough.
Title Shot: Into the Shark Tank of MMA by Kelly Crigger
As MMA enters the mainstream, the sport extends its tendrils into almost every aspect of the media. Broadcast television, direct-to-video movies, and malt liquor cans have all embraced MMA athletes. The publishing world is no different. The growth of the UFC has spawned a rash of MMA related books. Most have been "autobiographies" featuring the sports biggest stars. From the (mostly) good (Chuck Liddell's Iceman) to the (pretty) bad (Tito Ortiz's This Is Gonna Hurt) to the completely bizarre (Matt Hughes' Made In America), the genre hasn't offered many "must read" titles.
The two best MMA-related books only touched on the sport itself. Sam Sheridan's A Fighter's Heart looked inside MFS Elite and Brazilian Top Team, but spent an equal amount of time discussing Thai boxing, dog fighting, and Tai Chi. Matthew Polly's American Shaolin dropped the "mixed" from MMA but his memoir about training kung fu in China touched on many themes UFC fans identify with.
Kelly Crigger's debut book Title Shot takes bits of both and fully applies it to the world of MMA. To date, it's the first "must read" book that I would recommend to fans of the sport. Crigger spent over a year visiting some of MMA's most famous training camps and promotions, as well as detouring through some lesser-known destinations. Crigger focuses on fighters, trainers, and the men making the business decisions. In the end, Crigger paints a complete picture of the world an athlete enters when deciding to become a mixed martial artist.
Crigger opens on somewhat shaky ground. Like Sheridan, the author is interested in exploring what motivates a man to step into the ring to participate in combat. Crigger also aims to discover why MMA fighters are often portrayed in negative ways by the media. For hardcore fans of MMA, neither question really begs answering. We already know that MMA fighters are a diverse group that shatters the conventional stereotype of bar room brawlers. We understand that some fight to test their abilities, others simply for the money. Crigger's questions cover territory that Sheridan already spent chapters dealing with.
Thankfully, Crigger quickly takes readers in a different direction. Starting with Matt Lindland and Team Quest, Title Shot is broken into segments that focus on different training camps or events. From Gracie Jiu Jitsu in Northern California to Sityodtong in Somerville, MA Crigger spends ample time profiling the trainers that help mold some of the top MMA stars, and the fighters that have made the camps famous.
Crigger goes beyond simple profile pieces to get at the heart of the business side of MMA. Cesar Gracie comes off as a Cheshire Cat-like character, playing the media to hype his fighters. Mark DellaGrotte is equal parts guru and OCD patient. Crigger even humanizes Dana White in a brief but revealing interview that took place prior to UFC 79.
While the big names get their due, Crigger's book shines by focusing the spotlight on some smaller figures. Ivan Salaverry is known as a solid but unspectacular fighter. In Crigger's book, he comes across as a exceedingly intelligent, well-spoken ambassador for the sport. Salaverry's thoughts on union organization are fascinating (and could become a real thorn in White's side in the future). Crigger also witnesses a revealing moment at David Terrell's training center. Terrell displays the aggressive nature of MMA, taking it hard to one of his students in a drill that gives the book its title.
Crigger spends a chapter detailing the Army's Combatives Tournament, a subject that even hardcore MMA fans are probably unaware of. Crigger's Army background gives him a voice of authority that many authors would lack. Tim Kennedy plays the central figure in the chapter, and readers will develop a newfound appreciation for the former IFL fighter.
Crigger's military experience is woven throughout Title Shot in a positive way. At several junctions Crigger pauses to compare an MMA figurehead to a military ranking. For example, White is given the designation of general, with all the pros and cons that come with it. It's an interesting comparison unique to Crigger's take on MMA.
Tilte Shot also benefits from Crigger's voice. At times philosophical, at others goofy, Crigger is a likeable author that writes in a readable fashion. His self-deprecating style of humor easily wins over readers. Whether getting caught in another armbar or hunting down A level sushi in unlikely places, Crigger is a welcome presence in the narrative.
In the end, Crigger admits that a great epiphany about the nature of MMA hasn't exactly occurred. But the meat of Tiltle Shot, the time spent with the fighters, the trainers, the businessmen, more than makes up for the lack of revelations. Crigger offers an inside, unbiased look at some of the most interesting aspects of MMA. For anyone curious what life inside American Top Team might be like, or what goes on before a fighter steps out from behind the black curtain before an event, Tilte Shot gives you the best look to date.
CONCLUSION
That's all for this week. Next week we'll take a look at UFC…what are we on, 88? Then we have WEC: Faber v. Brown to look forward to. Take care.
Shamrock can still draw, not sure why... but he has this wacky charisma about him. Also IMAGINE the MMA community if he beat Kimbo... it would explode (for better or worse).
Posted By: The Age Of Awesome (Registered) on August 27, 2008 at 02:43 AM
Shamrock can still draw because he was a MASSIVE name 5-7 years ago (bah whenever UFC 40 was). Shamrock is a NAME that will draw viewers no matter his current skill (or lack thereof).
If he did manage to beat Kimbo - that would also hold a massive card for Elite XC. The 2nd coming of Ken Shamrock could be easily promoted akin to Randy Couture's win over Sylvia (i know the competition is way way superior in Couture's case) and as such set Ken up for a HW title shot. But in all likelyhood Ken gets T/KO'D 1st round and we can look forward (sigh) to a Kimbo/Rogers PPV.
Posted By: Craig (Guest) on August 27, 2008 at 09:04 AM
Ken Shamrock is a name a lot of people know. His sub-par record in the past few years is probably something most people don't know, so he should still draw a decent number of people regardless of what people "in the know" think.
Posted By: Wyku (Guest) on August 27, 2008 at 02:18 PM
