The Ground and Pound 9.05.08: That’s What Friends Aren’t For

Posted by John Curry on 09.05.2008

This week the Ground and Pound looks at those punk fighters who refuse to fight their friends. From Anderson Silva and Paulo Filho to Josh Koscheck and Jon Fitch. Plus this week’s Remember this Fist, and my picks for UFC 88.



It has become apparent to me over the past three months that fighters are taking advantage of their positions within their respective companies by refusing to fight their friends or guys they train with. Now while I understand the value of loyalty and respect, refusing to fight your friend on the basis that they are your friend is cowardly and disrespectful to your organization and most importantly to your friend. It was proclaimed this week by Anderson Silva and Paulo Filho's agent that there were preliminary discussions about the two friends and training partners fighting one another.

"If that's the fight that the world wants to see, then I guess we're going to have to sit back and talk about it, I think that's going to be a hard one to get across to both sides. They're friends, they've been together. But at the end of the day, it's a business, and sometimes you've gotta go in there, and you shake hands. They've been on each other for free in training. I can just tell you that it would really have to be something that makes sense for both guys.

"We've talked to the UFC and WEC about it, and right now, nothing's for sure, so we'll cross that bridge when it comes."

Unfortunately, this highly anticipated bout was immediately nixed by Paulo Filho himself when he stated:
"Definitely no. We're close friends and I believe there's space for everybody. It's definitely out of my plans."
Now the time has come for the owners of these organizations to step in and reassert their authority here. The truth is this is a business, there is no denying that, and with every business the company comes before the worker. I hate this concept, as many of you know I am a massive proponent for a MMA fighter's union and am actually talking with a gentleman who is working on an innovative and groundbreaking idea for the future of MMA, but I do realize that the sport comes before the fighters at this point in the game. There must be some control exerted by the companies who want to put these fights together. If the EliteXC is willing to go as far as stripping their champion KJ Noons of his title for refusing to fight someone he has already beaten then refusing to fight your friend should have the same consequences. I know that many of you will leave comments and email me about the differences between refusing to defend your title and fighting your friends, but the specifics are not as important as the simple basic foundation of refusal to fight. Now more than ever, with the UFC planning to merge the middleweight class and above into the UFC, there is no better time for a Filho vs. Silva fight to determine the middleweight champion. Again we have two guys who want everyone to know they are the best in their weight class at what they do but are not willing to do ANYTHING to prove it. The premise of being the best is the willingness to fight anyone that is put in front of you. If you refuse to fight anyone for any reason then you are not the best. Now don't get me wrong here, I consider Silva the second best pound for pound fighter in the world right now but by not facing Filho there will always be the what ifs. This problem isn't relegated to only FIlho and Silva but to many other fighters as well.

Another issue that arises by not fighting your friends is the disrespect that I see by refusing to allow each other to prove who is the best on that given day. When one fighter refuses to fight another there can only be two reasons, either they fear their opponent or they don't respect their opponent enough to let them prove themselves. While I am sure the whole friend excuse works for some people, the reality is that much in the same way that many NFL, NBA, MLB players and more play their friends, for those 15 minutes you can put your friendship aside and fight one another. If you cannot control your emotions enough to fight each other for pride and the sake of the sport for 15 minutes then you were not that close of friends to begin with.
In the end, there is nothing that can be said about refusing to fight your friend as it is simply not a good enough excuse. Fight. Fight your friends. Fight anyone. Fight your momma if they tell you to. Because, remember, there are thousands of fighters out there who will fight everyone including their momma just to have a chance at the show.

The Ground and Pounds Picks for UFC 88.

This week I began my last semester of college, which happens to be student teaching so I have been a little overwhelmed with the teacher's meetings, new students, schedules, and more which is making things just a little difficult to get done. Now I am not one to shy away from the Roundtables so I am going to make sure that everyone knows my picks before the event.


[] Dong Hyun Kim vs. Matt Brown

Winner:
[] Thiago Tavares vs. Kurt Pellegrino

Winner: Thiago Tavares, Submission, Round 2

[] Joan Carneiro vs. Ryo Chonan

Winner: Ryo Chonan, Submission, Round 1.

[] Michael Patt vs. Tim Boetsch

Winner: Tim Boetsch, Split Decision.

[] Jason MacDonald vs. Jason Lambert

Winner: Jason MacDonald, TKO, Round 2.

[] Karo Parisyan vs. Yoshiyuki Yoshida

Winner: Karo Parisyan, Submission, Round 3.

[]Nate Marquardt vs. Martin Kampmann

Winner: Nat e Marquardt, TKO, Round 2

[] Dan Henderson vs. Rousimar Palhares

Winner: Rousimar Palhares, Decision, Round 3 (Sorry Hendo).

[] Rich Franklin vs. Matt Hamill

Winner: Matt Hamill, Decision.

[] Chuck Liddell vs. Rashad Evans

Winner: Rashad Evans, TKO, Round 3.

Remember this Fist!

[] Full Name: Blaine Podkowa

[] Height: 6'1

[] Weight: 170

[]Record: 2-0

[] Favorite Move: Don't have a favorite at this time, I love it ALL BABY! I do like punching people in the face though;

[] Upcoming fight: n/a


1. If you could fight any one fighter who would it be? It's too soon in my career to be calling people out, even when i make it BIG, that's not my style. I'll fight whoever they tell me too.

2. Who do you look up to the most? I look up to whoever chases their dreams, and doesn't listen to all the haters.

3. What makes a good fighter? First of all dedication and determination. Being able to listen and learn while you're training and fighting. Knowing and ACCEPTING that you're in a fight and anything can happen. Finally, god given talent!

Show some love and get to know Blaine. I have seen him fight personally and he is a future UFC fighter. Head over to his Myspace page at Blaine Podkowa's Myspace.

4. What are your goals? To be the BEST

5. What do you want people to know about you? I'M SINGLE BABY!


Until next week don't forget to leave your comments and head over and join my Ground and Pound Army at John Curry's Myspace. NO ONE IS DENIED!!