Punch Drunk Hangover 09.08.08: 'The Iceman' Melts in Hot-lanta

Posted by Bren Oliver on 09.08.2008

Read ahead for Bren Oliver's thoughts on "Sugar" Rashad's sweet performance against Chuck Liddell, the UFC 88 card in general, Brock Lesnar fighting Randy Couture for the title at UFC 91, Affliction's partnership with HDNet, WEC's cancellation of an event on September 10th, and the final, potential-heavy DREAM 6 line-up. Those things and more, plus this week's "Monday Morning Moment of Zen" featuring Arianny Celeste and a lollypop, are all just a click away!




Good morning, afternoon, evening, or whatever in-between time your eyes have found their way to the Punch Drunk Hangover! As is the case most Mondays, I'm here with another one-stop shop for catching up on Mixed Martial Arts news, hoping as always to help you escape from the doldroms of an average Monday like a good pinch to the nipples, waking you up and making your day that much more exciting! Have no fear...the technique is Georges St. Pierre approved!!!





It's been a busy weekend, with both UFC 88 and the opening NFL Sunday both taking place within the same 24-hour period, so I'll give your eyes a break and keep the introduction short. I'm certain I wasn't the only one left shocked by Rashad Evans' devestating knockout of Chuck Liddell, though beyond that and Nate Marquardt's performance against Martin Kampmann, I felt UFC 88 was a mediocre card at best. There are two items I want to discuss before getting into the core of this week's Hangover, so I'll not only be talking about UFC 88 results, but also giving a bit of play to a story that was only a rumor when I posted my last news report. I'm certain you all have strong opinions about both subjects so don't forget to let me hear 'em in the "Comments" section.


Jason MacDonald def. Jason Lambert - Submission - RD 2


Jason MacDonald is the working man's version of Rich Franklin. "The Athlete" is a very talented Middleweight with the ability to finish most opponents, but there's a certain ceiling when it comes to how high up the ranks his skills will allow him to go. He's good enough to prevent the Ed Hermans of the world from stepping into the cage for a UFC Championship, but it's unlikely he'll ever beat one of the UFC's elite 185-pound fighters. Jason Lambert didn't look bad in his Middleweight debut, but conditioning has always seemed to be an issue for the former fatty, and I thought MacDonald's camp was smart for targeting that area in lieu of the former Light Heavyweight's drop to 185-pounds. It seems either of his UFC 88 mates, Martin Kampmann or Rousimar Palhares, would make for adequate future opponents as a means to see if he's improved as a fighter and whether or not Kampmann/Palhares have as bright a future in the UFC as many predicted.


Dong Hyung Kim def. Matt Brown - Judges' Decision


Tsk, tsk Atlanta fans. Why on Earth was Kim being booed by the crowd after his win? It isn't as if the judges' decision was a poor one. He seemed to have the advantage in the first and third rounds, and I can't see how any objective party would have scored it otherwise. And, beyond that, Kim sliced Brown's head open as if his elbows were made out of Ginsu Knives. The only thing in poorer taste than the fans' reaction was Matt Brown's "Immortal" tattoo (across his belly). At the time of viewing, I believe I equated it to the male version of a "tramp stamp". I didn't find the actual fight to be very exciting, with a few too many lulls in action for my taste, and I wasn't sure why the UFC selected the bout to replace the slot made available by Karo Parisyan's injury-based withdrawl from the event. I personally would have opted for the Thiago Tavares vs. Kurt Pellegrino affair, as Lightweights of their caliber tend to turn in great performances, and from all accounts their match lived up to such hype and entertained all in attendance.


Nate Marquardt def. Martin Kampmann - TKO - RD 1


I was nearly as shocked by Marquardt's dismantling of Martin Kampmann as I was by the main event's result. I'd always viewed Kampmann as a top flight Mixed Martial Artist who would have likely fought Anderson Silva had it not been for a slew of injuries keeping him from competing. To see Marquardt slice and dice him in such prompt fashion had my jaw dropping faster than "The Hitman" to the canvas. Nate's power is an underestimated facet to his game, and every strike he threw had my apartment's living room filled with the "oohs" and "ahhs" of those in attendance. I think Marquardt is only a few wins away from getting another shot at the UFC Middleweight Championship, though I'll have to see him beat one or two of the division's top fighters before believing he'll fare any more successful against "The Spider" than he did when the two first fought at UFC 73. I think Dan Henderson, Rich Franklin, and/or the winner of Bisping/Leben would all make for logical opponents.


Dan Henderson def. Rousimar Palhares - Judges' Decision


Does Rousimar Palhares work out with fellow Brazilians Thiago Alves and Gleison Tibau? His physique would indicate the answer is "yes", not to mention all three happen to train under the "Top Team" banner). Unfortunately for the submission whiz, muscles don't win fights, and his lack of stand-up ability made for a relatively easy win for Dan Henderson (minus of course the brief grappling attacks Palhares mounted on Hendo's legs). It was nice to see the Team Quest patriarch get back on the winning track, though it's hard to fault him for consecutive losses to "Quinton" Jackson and Anderson Silva. I think Rich Franklin makes the most sense in terms of Henderson's next opponent given the point both fighters are at in their careers. Neither is getting younger, and both need to capitalize on whatever "money" bouts remain. As it stands, there are only a handful of Middleweights in the UFC who would be considered worthy of main-event status, and Franklin is certainly one of the more marketable names when it comes to such things. It would be one of those epic "PRIDE vs. UFC" bouts fans dreamt of in the not-soo distant past, and a pairing that makes sense from the standpoint of helping sort out future contenders for Anderson Silva's Middleweight crown.


Rich Franklin def. Matt Hamill - TKO - RD 3


It's no surprise "Ace" looked good at Light Heavyweight. His body's frame is suited to the division and he's been successful at the weightclass before. What I did find a bit curious was Matt Hamill completely forgetting how to shoot in or wrestle in general. He seemed content to stand on his feet and exchange with the far-superior striker, Franklin. Whatever progression Hamill was said to have made as a Mixed Martial Artist in showings against Michael Bisping and Tim Boetsch seemed to go out the door, leaving the same raw talent fans saw on the Ultimate Fighter - hands-dropped, unsure of himself, and straight up stubborn. It may have had to do with his respect for Franklin as an individual, and the friendship the two have established over the years they've known each other, but regardless of the reason, the lapse in concentration and aggression was uncharacteristic of fighters who are able to succeed at the highest levels in MMA. Don't forget Hamill is only two years younger than Franklin, and he doesn't have the same number of years to grow as a fighter in his early twenties does.

The cut above Franklin's eye was a sight to behold, and I felt he risked having the fight stopped had the thing started to bleed in the way similar gashes tend to do. I am actually curious to know if his corner's decision to treat the injury with something different than the typically used Vaseline had any effect and whether or not we'll see it used more often in future fights. You may have noticed the strange substance Jorge Gurgel was rubbing into the cut. I believe it was a product called "QuikClot", which is a "granular product" used by branches of the military when it comes to addressing superficial wounds on the battlefield. According to Wikipedia, "QuikClot" works by "absorbing water from the blood, concentrating the clotting factors, activating platelets, and promoting steps in the coagulation cascade." Whatever that means in laymens' terms, it certainly worked on Saturday night.


Rashad Evans def. Chuck Liddell - KO - RD 2


I was on the fence in terms of who I felt was going to emerge victorious between Chuck Liddell and Rashad Evans. My head told me Liddell's power and success against wrestlers would spell Evans' doom. My heart told me Evans underrated striking and speed, in addition to training with Greg Jackson's group, might give him a slight enough edge to eek out a decision. I certainly never thought "Sugar" 'Shad would produce a highlight worthy of pushing his knockout of Sean Salmon to the backburner. Then, as Evans danced his way into the cage and prepared himself for the biggest fight of his career, it became very obvious why he would win...





...the power of the purple-nurple! I can only assume he did it in jest after Georges St. Pierre, a fellow Greg Jackson student, got a bit of attention for doing something similar before fighting Jon Fitch. Evans even mugged the camera a bit as he went in to tweak 'em. While his actions were good for a laugh, I also think they reflected his relaxed state of mind when so many other Mixed Martial Artists would have been sweating bullets in his position. His ability to remain loose, in my eyes, allowed him to focus on his gameplan and execute it to perfection. He got in some difficult positions, but never went away from the elusive movements that frustrated Liddell and eventually created an opportunity to leave Chuck face-down on the mat.





It would seem that Evans should have earned himself the right to fight Forrest Griffin by flooring Chuck Liddell, and Dana White said in the post-event press conference that Rashad would receive a title-shot in the "near future", but I would personally prefer to see him beat another of the UFC's best Light Heavyweights before competing for the championship. He's certainly not as deserving as Quinton Jackson, yet even "Rampage" is set to fight again before getting his rematch against Griffin.

As far as "The Iceman", he's cometh and gone. I don't feel he's in a position where retirement is the best option, but, with three losses in his last four fights, his better days are clearly behind him and I don't think it's realistic to think he'll ever again compete for the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship. Sad as it is to say, Chuck Liddell is in serious danger of being labeled a "gatekeeper", though one with a unique power to draw based on his accomplishments in the UFC and the support his legion of fans provide. The real question is whether or not Dana White and Joe Silva want to feature him in such a way - to make Liddell the stepping stone for upcoming 205-pounders. It's very possible they'll schedule him against inferior opponents as a means to send him off into the sunset as opposed to with the bitter taste of defeat in his mouth. James Irvin, suspension withstanding, Houston Alexander, Tim Boetsch, Matt Hamill, Stephan Bonnar, and fighters of their ilk would make for sensible selections if such is the case. Otherwise, I only see Lyoto Machida and Thiago Silva left at Light Heavyweight (in regards to the cream of the crop), with Heavyweight being a possibility as long as Chuck can hand-pick his opponents. Lesnar vs. Liddell isn't necessarily intelligent matchmaking, but I'd be lying if I said I wouldn't gush over Chuck stepping into the Octagon against a smaller Heavyweight like...oh, I don't know....maybe....Fedor Emelianenko?

I would normally stop at this point and get right into the smaller news pieces from this past week, but I also wanted to give equal attention to another major storyline that broke last week regarding one of the very Heavyweights I just mentioned in the above segment, as well as a man Chuck Liddell is quite familiar with.


UFC announced today that Randy Couture vs. Brock Lesnar will headline their 11/15 show. The fight will be five-rounds with the winner facing the winner of December's Antonio Nogueira vs. Frank Mir Interim Title fight.


To steal from my fellow 411Mania columnist, Scott Kuczkowski, there's a bit of "good, bad, and ugly" to this story. The good is actually great - fantastic as a matter of fact. I was among those of you whose heart sunk when Randy Couture's legal dispute with Zuffa initially began. It felt wrong to see the face of an icon sand-blasted off the proverbial Mount Rushmore of the UFC. The thought of Randy finishing his career outside the Octagon was akin to the weird sensation of seeing Brett Favre retire a New York Jet. Couture is the only fighter I've seen at an event who I've geeked out in the presence of, losing my cool of "411Mania Columnist" and converting into a picture-seeking fan. So, when I say his return to the UFC is like a deep exhale after a long period of holding one's breath, I do so as both a fan of what's good for MMA and of Couture himself.

Not only is it refreshing to have Couture back in the UFC, which was always in the best interest of both parties, but putting him up against Brock Lesnar was an excellent decision and one that may result in the UFC notching itself up one level higher in terms of mainstream acceptance. Lesnar and Couture have been receiving attention from a number of large media outlets, including interviews on ESPN's SportsCenter the day after their bout was announced, and each man has a great deal of crossover appeal based on previous accomplishments outside of MMA. I'm on the same page as Dana White in terms of the probability UFC 91 will sell over a million PPV buys, and anything drawing that many sets of eyeballs to an MMA event can only be good for the future of the sport.

However, as positive as the pairing is for the above reasons, there are also a few less-than savory aspects of the matchmaking. When the UFC fired up the Ultimate Fighter "comeback" season, with title-shots included in the championship package, the notion of Dana White putting a premium on entertainment over accomplishments seemed little more than a blip on the horizon. A few years later and it's starting to look more like an iceberg plopped plum in front of the Titanic. Championships are now regularly defended based around the production schedule of a reality television show, even when it means icing the belt for close to a year. Interim titles are created simply as a means to extend a bout two extra rounds. Fighters who have not earned their contendership, like BJ Penn, Brock Lesnar, and Frank Mir, are given favor over more-deserving athletes simply because of their power to draw money.

Why couldn't the UFC have stripped Couture of the belt he hadn't defended in a year, made his fight with Lesnar for the top contendership spot in the Heavyweight division, and let the winner face off against Frank Mir or "Minotauro" Nogueira in a regular title-fight? I'll tell you why. It happens when you push the Shift Key and the "4" key - $$$$$$$$$$. I understand the UFC is a business, and therein their primary goal is to turn a profit, but the other professional sports are under the same pressure to perform, yet I don't believe a Superbowl match-up has ever been scheduled based on what two teams were the most desirable from a marketing standpoint. The UFC is risking the spirit of athletic competition to bring in a few extra bucks, and I question how that might affect MMA 10-20 years down the road from now. Will new fans take the sport seriously when the best fighters are sitting on the sideline in lieu of the guy who has a unique look or was a professional football player? My gut feeling is "no".



There's my three cents - now time to give my spin on a handful of other subjects gracing the headlines this past week. I'd love to hear your thoughts on things, so feel free to shoot me an email or leave a comment at the bottom of the page.


The following medley of items were reported between September 1st, 2008 and September 7th, 2008:


Sherdog.com is reporting that Gleison Tibau has had to pull out of his UFC 90 fight with Hermes Franca due to a shoulder injury. Tibau will be replaced by Marcus Aurelio, a longtime friend of Franca. Franca has a professional record of 18-7 and is currently on a 2-fight losing streak with decision losses to Sean Sherk and Frankie Edgar. Aurelio has a pro record of 16-6 and last competed in July at UFC 86 where he lost via decision to Tyson Griffin. UFC 90 will go down on October 25 at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois, just outside of Chicago.


I actually like Marcus Aurelio as an opponent for Franca moreso than Gleison Tibau. Tibau is a young, talented, physically intimidating fighter, but he seems to still be fairly raw even though he's been through a number of heated battles in his career. I believe Franca's combined striking and jiujitsu would have proven to be too much for the young Brazilian. Enter Tibau's fellow countryman, and American Top Team member, Marcus Aurelio. He's a veteran of the sport who has faced a number of MMA's top Lightweights and even submitted Japanese superstar Takanori Gomi at a PRIDE event in 2006. "Maximus" is a smarter, more-polished fighter than Tibau and should pose more of a threat to Franca based on the set of skills he possesses. My only concern is a lack of aggression from either man based on their friendship, but I'm fairly certain that won't be an issue because both Franca and Aurelio are in need of a UFC win. Expect a submission-grappling clinic when they lock up, with the result most likely being left to the judges with an entertaining, back-and-forth build up until that point.


HDNet Fights have announced that they have signed a long-term deal with Affliction to air live MMA events on the HDNet station. Andrew Simon, CEO of HDNet Fights, had the following to say about the deal that will allow Affliction events to broadcast on the channel as a lead-in to Affliction's PPV's:

"This is the beginning of a long-term partnership with Affliction that encompasses live MMA, co-marketing and top fighters for the top weekly show in MMA, Inside MMA, on HDNet. Affliction has quickly become one of the top organizations in MMA which means it is a must have for HDNet."

HDNet will air three preliminary bouts before Affliction's "Day Of Reckoning" PPV scheduled for October 11 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.


I hope "long-term" is an accurate description of the agreement, as I'm a bit concerned about the buyrate "Day of Reckoning" is going to merit with an inferior cast of competitors in comparison to "Affliction: Banned", and even Tom Atencio has admitted they company will re-evaluate their future as an MMA promotion after a third event (to be headlined by Emelianenko vs. Barnett/Arlovski). More live Mixed Martial Arts on television is always a good thing, and it's even more exciting to know some of the excellent undercard bouts Affliction tends to put together will be seeing the light of broadcast television. I also received word this week that Comcast will start carrying HDNet in the near future meaning a whole new audience will be getting an opportunity to check out everything the High-Definition network offers. "Bikini Destinations", anyone?!?


MMARated.com is reporting that a fight between Quinton "Rampage" Jackson and Wanderlei Silva is very close to being finalized for UFC 91 on November 15 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The two have fought twice previously in PRIDE with Silva picking up a victory each time.


As if Couture vs. Lesnar wasn't a big enough draw, it looks like fans will be getting blessed with another epic showdown at UFC 91 between two of MMA's most popular fighters. I assume this means the UFC feels Jackson's legal trouble will not affect his ability to train, perform in the ring, or eligibility to compete whatsoever. "Rampage" must also feel similarly, as he's obviously agreeing to fight in mid-November. Assuming this bout comes together, I know some folks will raise concern over whether or not it's in the best interest of Quinton's career, and personal well-being, to have him face an opponent who has twice rendered him unconcious in the wake of his breakdown after losing to Forrest Griffin. I have a hard time arguing their point, though I do feel the fight being on American soil will make for a different Wanderlei Silva as opposed to the one who twice-decimated "Rampage" in Japan. If Silva wins, I expect him to fight either Lyoto Machida or Rashad Evans for a shot at Forrest Griffin's title (depending on which of the two is first to face Forrest). Wandy's loss to Liddell is still fairly fresh and he'd only be 2-1 in the UFC's very deep Light Heavyweight division. If Jackson stands tall at the end of the night, then I can't see any way the UFC doesn't immediately award him a rematch with Griffin barring any legal obstacles that might prevent the fight from coming together.


FiveOuncesOfPain.com is reporting that Thiago Silva has had to pull out of his UFC 89 fight against Lyoto Machida on October 18 due to a back injury. There is currently no information regarding the severity of his injury. A replacement for Silva has yet to be announced.


This is unfortunate for fans and even moreso for Lyoto Machida. The Ryu-lookalike would have likely earned himself an opportunity to fight Forrest Griffin, perhaps as early as the end of December, with a win over the undefeated Thiago Silva. I'm not sure there's a solid replacement for the ATT Light Heavyweight, as most of the top names are already rumored for upcoming cards or have recently competed. Even Keith Jardine, Sokoudjou, and Brandon Vera are set for action at the very UFC 89 card Machida is now lacking an opponent for. The best move may be to have Machida wait until UFC 91, which is a little more open in terms of televised slots, and face someone like Matt Hamill, Rich Franklin, or "Shogun" Rua.


Sherdog.com is reporting that due to Hurricane Ike (a Category 3 storm with winds of up to 115 MPH) the WEC has been forced to move their WEC 36 card scheduled for September 10 in Hollywood, Florida to November 5.


Apparently Mother Nature is not a fan of Mixed Martial Arts...

I definitely understand the need for Zuffa to be cautious in regards to putting on the event next week, not only from a "fighter safety" standpoint, but also because of the impact the hurricane will have had on the local economy. People may be disappointed to hear "Tropic Storm Urijah" will not be blowing into town on the 10th and question why the show won't be taking place for two more months (as opposed to simply shifting venues). I think there are a few answers with the actual reasoning perhaps being a mixture of the two. First, there's the matter of tickets that have already been sold, and contracts that have been signed with vendors and the arena as a whole, meaning they may not have had any other option than to re-schedule the event for an available date in Hollywood, Florida. It's not as if they've been left with a great deal of time to plan. Secondly, it's the right thing to do. MMA fans in Hollywood were not only expecting to see a teriffic WEC event on the 10th, but are about to be subjected to a hurricane and left scrambling to prepare. Why penalize them further by depriving them of the show? In fact, I think it would be a noble gesture for some portion of proceeds or fighter salary go to victims of the hurricane, and the situation truly creates a great P.R. scenario if addressed in such a manner.


Here is the updated card for DREAM 6 which goes down September 23 at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan:

Andrews Nakahara vs. Dong Sik Yoon (Middleweight Grand Prix Reserve Bout)
Zelg Galesic vs. Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza (MWGP Semi-Final)
Melvin Manhoef vs. Gegard Mousasi (MWGP Semi-Final)
Nick Diaz vs. Hayato Sakurai (DREAM Welterweight Title)
Mirko Cro Cop vs. Alistair Overeem
Sergei Kharitonov vs. Siala "Mighty Mo" Siliga
Hideo Tokoro vs. Atsushi Yamamoto
Galesic/Souza vs. Manhoef/Mousasi (MWGP Championship)


To knowledgeable MMA fans, DREAM 6 boasts a line-up as solid and potentially entertaining as any 2008 offering from the UFC. The Middeweight Grand Prix has two "Top 10" 185-pound fighters on opposite sides of the brackets, the frighteningly powerful Melvin Manhoef, and a fairly decent Middleweight in the form of Zelg Galesic. The only thing it lacks is Jason "Mayhem" Miller fighting in the reserve bout, though Yoon and Nakahara are both serviceable with the Donger owning a slight edge where talent is concerned. Beyond the Grand Prix, you have three "Top 15" Heavyweights stepping into the ring on the 23rd, with a particular emphasis on the rivalry between Alistair Overeem and Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic coming to a head at the event. Even Kharitonov has his work cut out for him, as "Mighty Mo" may not be known for his MMA prowess, but he's a hard-hitting K-1 kickboxer with bricks for fists. And, beyond those battles, Nick Diaz and Hayato "Mach" Sakurai will be mixing it up over the DREAM Welterweight Championship. It should be an event filled with highlight-reel knockouts, high-level technique, and at least one "Fight of the Year" candidate. Is there much more you can ask for from a free MMA event?

Well, besides a decent start-time during the weekend as opposed to 2:00 AM on a Tuesday. I guess that's what DVRs and "Sick Days" were made for?


Jibber-Jabber:

The following soundbyte was delivered over the past week...


UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Forrest Griffin talks to Sherdog about the possibility of facing Anderson Silva...

"I'd fight him. I can't possibly do any worse than the guys he's been fighting. I'd last more than two minutes with him."


I'm not so sure the latter part of his statement would ring true unless Griffin circles for more than two minutes and Anderson Silva opts to feel things out as opposed to engage. I don't doubt Forrest Griffin can go a full round with "The Spider", if not multiple frames, but the durability of his chin as always been one of his weaker points and Silva is as precise a striker as you'll find in Mixed Martial Arts. Griffin and Silva are similar heights and the size difference, at least when Anderson trains to fight at Light Heavyweight, doesn't lend much of an advantage to Forrest. I absolutely see Silva knocking Forrest out if the two ever face off based on the speed, accuracy, and durability each has shown inside the cage on a consistent basis. Will it take more than 120 seconds? Probably so, but I wouldn't bet my life on it.


Fabricio Werdum, twice-promised a UFC Heavyweight title-shot, speaks to Tatame on the recent developments related to Randy Couture fighting Brock Lesnar...

"[The UFC] thinks about business, and Lesnar is more famous in United States. I don't know how they'll do it, because my new contract guarantees a title shot with a victory against Cigano.

"They should have put Cigano, who is a newcomer in the event, to face Lesnar, who only has one fight in UFC (Lesnar actually has two fights in the UFC). But that's OK, I'll win quickly my next fight and my time will come. Nogueira will certainly defeat Frank Mir and Couture will beat Lesnar. The "big" Lesnar won't make it, Couture will use a good strategy to get him tired and will win on the last round. I can't see him winning, Couture has a lot more experience and Lesnar is like a white-belt there"


I can tell Werdum exactly how the UFC will "do it" - he's going to sit on the sidelines for six months until the Heavyweight title situation works itself out. He was promised a championship bout after defeating Gonzaga, then again after beating Vera, and even still has to beat Junior Cigano at UFC 90 to obtain the actual opportunity to win UFC gold. While it was smart of his representation to include the title-bout stipulation in his new contract, Werdum and company should have been fully aware the UFC was lacking urgency where his contendership was concerned.


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That's about all she wrote for this week's Hangover. Till next time Punch Drunk buckaroos, here's your "Monday Morning Moment of Zen" - Arianny Celeste gives us a backstage look at a Maxim photoshoot she did. Normally my editor would kill me for promoting another site's material, but in this case I have a feeling he'll understand...

I said Blow-POP you perverts! Blow-POP!





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