The Ultimate Writer 10.05.08: The Debut Edition
Posted by Dustin James on 10.05.2008
The newest article on 411mania.com makes it's long awaited debut! In the debut edition of "The Ultimate Writer" I discuss Hendo/Franklin, UFC 92, Vitor Ribeiro, random top 10 lists and more! Come on in for the article that's guaranteed to brighten up your Sunday morning.....
Welcome to the newest weekly article on 411mania.com's MMA page, The Ultimate Writer starring yours truly, Dustin James. You know, the guy who has been doing 411's Official MMA Rankings for over a year now. It's about time I got my own article here at 411mania. I know YOU the fans have been clamoring for it for some time now (Hi Dad!) and it's finally coming to fruition. This article is basically meant to appeal to the MMA fans that have ADD, much like yours truly. It's not going to be the regular type of "opinionated" article that some of you are use to. We have a lot of options on this website if you want straight forward opinions on MMA. Instead I'm going to try and have some fun. I'm going to feature a bunch of things that are just crazy and wacky and intended to be different. So sit back, grab a cup of coffee (or a Red Bull!), and enjoy the greatness that is.....
(First person to make me a new banner wins a free meal at Red Lobster. And by free I mean I will tell you where a Red Lobster is located near you and you will have to go in and dine and dash. If you are caught by authorities, it's not my fault.)
Biggest News Items Of The Week:
This feature is self-explanatory. The biggest news item of the week goes here, duh!
Rich Franklin To Face Dan Henderson At UFC 93
Of course this is one of the biggest news pieces of the week. To some, this is a dream fight. Just a little over two years ago, Rich Franklin and Dan Henderson were widely considered two of the top MMA fighters in the game. After suffering some devastating losses, their names have gone down the ladder when it comes to being two of the best pound-for-pound fighters in MMA. Both fighters have lost to Anderson Silva (Franklin twice) while Henderson has also lost to Quinton "Rampage" Jackson. However, both fighters are working on building their name back up. This is a must-win for both fighters and how can you not love fights like that? That means that both guys will be bringing their "A" game knowing that they need a win in order to stay afloat on top of the UFC. This was an incredible match-up for the UFC to make and it just goes to show you that a fight doesn't need to be a title fight to be a good main event for a UFC PPV. Oh, and the fight will be in Ireland, so look for the crowd to be more drunk than usual.
UFC Announces Huge Fights For UFC 92!
The other big news item of the week was one that some of us had expected. Right after Rashad Evans KO'd Chuck Liddell I predicted that he would face Forrest Griffin in December at UFC 92 to help spice up the Nogueira/Mir lead PPV. Well, lo and behold the UFC has announced that it will indeed be Griffin vs. Evans as well as Quinton Jackson vs. Wanderlei Silva at UFC 92! That is a huge card and really sets up a couple of wild months for the UFC. First we will have Silva vs. Cote at UFC 90, then Couture vs. Lesnar at UFC 91, then Nog/Mir, Griffin/Evans, Page/Wandy at UFC 92, then Henderson vs. Franklin at UFC 93, topped off with a little St. Pierre vs. Penn at UFC 94! I'm glad to see the UFC is putting together these amazing fights right in time for the holiday season. I personally LOVE the holiday season, and these fights make me all sorts of giddy inside. What's that? You want some early predictions.....well, I guess......
Silva over Cote
Couture over Lesnar
Nog over Mir
Griffin over Evans
Silva over Rampage
Henderson over Franklin
St. Pierre over Penn
Of course those are early predictions and I will probably change a few of them around (not the Silva/Cote one, I'm 99.5% sure on that one). We have some amazing months coming to us from the land of the UFC, that's for sure.
It's all in a name!
In this section I'm going to discuss fighter's with crazy names in MMA. You know you guys have searched Sherdog.com's "Fight Finder" and seen some wacky name that has just jumped off the page at you. Well, in this little section I'm going to grab a name each week and take an in-depth look at that fighter! Trust me, it will be fun.......
This week we will be looking at:
Andy Dicks
Yes, there is a fighter named "Andy Dicks". I don't think it's the comedian "Andy Dick" under another alias, but with the record this guy has.....it could be. Andy Dicks is 0-2 as a professional fighter. His two fights come against Ronnie Mann and Jeff Lawson. Lawson beat him with an armbar submission in Round 1, while Sherdog doesn't list the way Ronnie Mann beat him because apparently nobody wants to know what happens when a Mann beats a Dicks. Ohhhhh! Crown me funny...or immature. Whichever you prefer. Either way, there's probably a reason "Andy Dicks" isn't fighting today...and frankly, I would like to know why. If you are Andy Dicks and are currently reading this while you sit at home and your wife works, let a guy know.
This feature looks at fighters who have been inactive for some time. Where exactly have they gone? I don't know and I'm reaching out to you guys to help us find these missing MMA stars......
MISSING
Have you seen this man? At one time Vitor "Shaolin" Ribeiro was highly regarded as one of the best lightweights in MMA, however the man has seemingly fell off the face of the Earth. "Shaolin" sports a 19-2 professional MMA record, however his last fight was on September 17, 2007!!!! He suffered a loss to JZ Cavalcante on that day, and just decided to take his stuff and disappear like that stupid kid in Into The Wild. Seriously though. I consider myself a pretty "into it" guy when it comes to the world of MMA and I haven't heard Ribeiro's name since last year, and that gets me worried. "Shaolin", if you are reading this....if you are in any kind of trouble then just email me and I promise I can help you out. If you were kidnapped, I have Chuck Norris' home phone number and I know he's not doing anything else at the moment. He can come down and rescue you if need be. If you got into it with some Brazilian thugs who you owe money too, well I guess Chuck Norris can help you there as well. WHERE ARE YOU VITOR????
If you know the whereabouts of Vitor "Shaolin" Ribeiro, please contact Dustin James at sickboyv1@aol.com, or go to his myspace located here.
Random Top 10 List Time!
Here you will see a random top 10 list put together by yours truly. It may be Top 10 submission fighters, Top 10 stand-up fighters, or hell, even Top 10 ways that Anderson Silva could kill you. Seriously, don't mess with that man. He's dangerous.
Top 10 fighters I would like to see in the UFC with no real explanation besides the fact that I think they are awesome:
ARE YOU READY?
(PS: This list is in no particular order)
10) Kid Yamamoto - Put a few pounds on the guy and you have yourself an excellent lightweight fighter who American fans are just DYING to embrace.
9) Nick Diaz - I just want to see more shenanigans from him. Fighting Joe Riggs at the hospital, throwing a shoe at Diego Sanchez in the locker room. This guy is hilarious with his backstage antics and I miss him in the UFC.
8) Shinya Aoki - I would love me some Aoki in the UFC. Plenty of good match-ups for him.
7) Fedor Emelianenko - Well, DUHHHHHHHHHHH
6) Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza - Easily one of the best top 10 submission fighters in the world.
5) Gegard Mousasi - Could be the #2 best middleweight in the world. Fans are already dying to see a fight between him and Anderson Silva.
4) Matt Lindland - This one is easy for me. I'm an Oregon boy, and Lindland is Oregon grown. See a hometown bias connection anywhere?
3) Kimbo Slice - I just want to see SOMEBODY knock this guy out and with the way EliteXC is protecting him. It may never happen. (I wrote this before Slice/Shamrock on Saturday, so perhaps Shamrock got lucky and did the deed himself?)
2) Takanori Gomi - One of the best lightweights to ever fight in MMA. It's almost a crime he has never fought for the UFC.
1) Gina Carano - I know the UFC doesn't have a women's division, but I have been clamoring for a dream fight between Carano and Forrest Griffin over who's the "prettiest" fighter in MMA.
Current Champions:
This feature is pretty self explanatory. I list the current champions in each relevant promotion, and you guys sit and read. Easy enough for ya?
Randy Couture - UFC Heavyweight Champion
Won the title from Tim Sylvia back on March 3, 2007 at UFC 68.
Antonio Rodrigo Nogueria - Interim UFC Heavyweight Championship
Won the title from Tim Sylvia back on February 2, 2008 at UFC 81
Forrest Griffin - UFC Light Heavyweight Champion
Won the title from Quinton "Rampage" Jackson back on July 5, 2008 at UFC 86
Anderson Silva - UFC Middleweight Champion
Won the title from Rich Franklin back on October 14, 2006 at UFC 64
Georges St. Pierre - UFC Welterweight Champion
Won the title from Matt Serra back on April 14, 2008 at UFC 83
BJ Penn - UFC Lightweight Champion
Won the title from Sean Sherk back on May 24, 2008 at UFC 84
Antonio Silva - EliteXC Heavyweight Champion
Won the title from Justin Eilers back on July 26, 2008 at EliteXC: Unfinished Business
Robbie Lawler - EliteXC Middleweight Champion
Won the title from Murilo "Ninja" Rua back on September 15, 2007 at EliteXC: Uprising
Jake Shields - EliteXC Welterweight Champion
Won the title from Nick Thompson back on July 26, 2008 at EliteXC: Unfinished Business
Vacant - EliteXC Lightweight Championship
Title was stripped from KJ Noons due to refusing to fight against Nick Diaz
Wilson Reis - EliteXC Bantamweight Champion
Won the title from Abel Cullum back on September 26, 2008 at ShoXC 8
Won the title from Paul Buentello back on November 16, 2007 at Strikeforce: Four Men Enter, One Man Survives
Bobby Southworth - Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion
Won the title from Vernon White back on December 8, 2006 at Strikeforce: Triple Threat
Cung Le - Strikeforce Middleweight World Champion
Won the title from Frank Shamrock back on March 29, 2008 at Strikeforce: Shamrock vs. Le
Josh Thomson - Strikeforce Lightweight Champion
Won the title from Gilbert Melendez back on June 27, 2008 at Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Thomson
Gegard Mousasi - DREAM Middleweight Champion
Won the title from Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza back on September 23, 2008 at DREAM 6
Joachim Hansen - DREAM Lightweight Champion
Won the title from Shinya Aoki back on July 21, 2008 at DREAM 5
Carlos Condit - WEC Welterweight Champion
Won the title from Mike Pyle back on March 24, 2007 at WEC 26
Jamie Varner - WEC Lightweight Champion
Won the title from Rob McCullough back on February 13, 2008 at WEC 32
Urijah Faber - WEC Featherweight Champion
Won the title from Cole Escovedo back on March 17, 2006 at WEC 19
Miguel Torres - WEC Bantamweight Champion
Won the title from Chase Beebe back on February 13, 2008 at WEC 32
Watch Out For This Guy:
In this feature I will showcase a fighter who I believe is on his way up in the MMA world......
Muhammad "King Mo" Lawal
Muhammaed Lawal may only be 1-0 as a professional fighter, but that one victory comes against Travis Wiuff at Sengoku 5 back on September 28. A fight in which Lawal KO'd Wiuff in under 3 minutes. Still not impressed? It's the same Travis Wiuff that has been in like 3,493 MMA fights. Seriously, the dude fights more than he sleeps. Either way, be on the lookout for Lawal. He's a Team Quest fighter who is only 27 years old. He also has one of the best entrances in MMA. He comes down to the ring with a entourage full of chicks wearing a king's robe and a crown. How can you not love that? In my opinion if Lawal can get just a few more fights under his belt, it's only a matter of time before one of the big-time promotions comes calling.
Upcoming Events:
Here are a few of the upcoming events in the wonderful world of MMA:
ShoXC - October 10 at the Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, Indiana
-Dave Herman vs. Kerry Schall
-Jason Guida vs. Mamed Khalidov
-Anthony Lapsley vs. Mark Miller
-Torrance Taylor vs. To Be Announced
-Tiawan Howard vs. To Be Announced
-Lyle Beerbohm vs. To Be Announced
Night Of Combat II - October 11 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada
-Jay Heiron vs. Bryson Kamaka
-Hector Ramirez vs. Rick Roufus
-John Alessio vs. Gideon Ray
-Mike Pyle vs. Brian Gassaway
-Steve Byrnes vs. Josh Haynes
-John Halverson vs. Jonathan Mix
-Ryan Lamareaux vs. Patrick Gonzales
-Ryan Haas vs. Ian Omalza
-Elena Reid vs. Stephanie Palmer
UFC 89: Bisping vs. Leben - October 18 at The National Indoor Arena in Birmingham, England
-Michael Bisping vs. Chris Leben
-Brandon Vera vs. Keith Jardine
-Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou vs. Luiz Cane
-Chris Lytle vs. Paul Taylor
-Shane Carwin vs. Neil Wain
-Marcus Davis vs. Paul Kelly
-Akihiro Gono vs. Dan Hardy
-Jess Liaudin vs. David Bielkheden
-Sam Stout vs. Terry Etim
-Jim Miller vs. David Baron
-Per Eklund vs. Sammy Schiavo
UFC 90: Silva vs. Cote - October 25 at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois
-Anderson Silva vs. Patrick Cote
-Diego Sanchez vs. Thiago Alves
-Thales Leites vs. Goran Reljic
-Fabricio Werdum vs. Junior dos Santos
-Sean Sherk vs. Tyson Griffin
-Rich Clementi vs. Gray Maynard
-Spencer Fisher vs. Shannon Gugerty
-Ricardo Almeida vs. Matt Horwich
-Hermes Franca vs. Marcus Aurelio
-Josh Burkman vs. Pete Sell
MMA Motivational Poster Of The Week:
Video Of The Week:
Anderson Silva hasn't lost yet in the UFC. However, he is NOT Superman. Need proof?
Before I leave I would like to give a big "FU" to Junie Browning of this season's "Ultimate Fighter". Judging from the clip I have seen of next week's episode, the guy is certifiably nuts. Like seriously dude, check into either rehab or a psych ward STAT. You have major anger issues that probably come from your childhood, but still....there is no reason to act like you do. Picking a fight with other guys in the house and doing what you do (I won't post any spoilers beside what you can see in the teasers themselves) gives MMA a bad rep. There's a reason that MMA will not be accepted as a complete mainstream sport yet and it's due to punks like you. You walk around the house acting like a big shot thinking you are invincible. I have news for you, you bleed just like the rest of us. Try that out on the streets and you will find yourself a target real fast. Perhaps that's why you erupt on everybody in the house, because you are such a chicken shit on the streets you finally find yourself in a guarded situation and act like a retard. Either way, here's hoping you are off the show real quick and are forced to go back to McDonald's making minimum wage.
Thank you for joining me in the debut of this wonderful column. I hope you continue to read every week and don't forget to check out the other wonderful columns here on 411mania.com, which is updated daily, because you know.....fresh content rocks!
Posted By: Brad (Guest) on October 05, 2008 at 01:46 AM
Here's your answer:
On September 17, 2007 in Hero’s GP Gesias “JZ” Cavalcante vs. Vitor “Shaolin” Ribeiro faced for the first time in a fight that lasted about 35 seconds into the first round after Calvacante took Ribeiro down and landed a second punch that caused Riberio’s Retina to become detached. A retinal detachment is a serious and sight-threatening event, occurring when the retina becomes separated from its underlying supportive tissue. The retina cannot function when these layers are detached, and unless it is reattached soon, permanent vision loss may result.
Posted By: Bruno (Guest) on October 05, 2008 at 03:13 AM
I believe Shaolin hurt his eye pretty badly in the JZ fight and not like the orbital socket or the skin around the eye but the eye. That is where is is.
Posted By: Tyler (Guest) on October 05, 2008 at 03:45 AM
"
3) Kimbo Slice - I just want to see SOMEBODY knock this guy out and with the way EliteXC is protecting him. It may never happen. (I wrote this before Slice/Shamrock on Saturday, so perhaps Shamrock got lucky and did the deed himself?)"
lol
Posted By: afp (Guest) on October 05, 2008 at 10:12 AM
Anderson Silva's weakness?
Flying heel hook
Posted By: Guest#7025 (Guest) on October 05, 2008 at 11:46 AM
I guess they'll let anybody write a column here now
Posted By: Adam Tool (Registered) on October 05, 2008 at 03:20 PM
“Picking a fight with other guys in the house and doing what you do (I won't post any spoilers beside what you can see in the teasers themselves) gives MMA a bad rep. There's a reason that MMA will not be accepted as a complete mainstream sport yet and it's due to punks like you.”
################
And yet you want the Diaz brothers to get more air time?
~8?)`
Anyhow…
If you want to point the finger of blame at anyone right now you should be pointing it straight at Dana White. He talks a great game about how his organization is professional while some of the wannabe fighters out there are making the sport look bad and acting like punks on the playground rather than professional fighters, but he promotes the worst face for the sport that he can while in pursuit of TUF’s ratings.
They load the house up with free booze, put these guys in a pressure cooker and then film and air them getting hammered, acting like asses and destroying the house every season. And every season’s group of fighters seems to get more hammered more often, does more damage to the house than the ones before them and act more like violent children than the ones before them.
I like the concept of TUF and liked the show once, but it’s been turning into a show about drunken misfits with emotional problems more than it is about training to be a professional fighter in the biggest MMA organization in America. The either need to screen these guys a hell of a lot better, take the booze out of the house, give these dumbasses some rules of conduct in the house, yank morons like Junie the first time they blow up to the level he did last week or some combination of all of the above.
Posted By: JJChandler (Registered) on October 05, 2008 at 06:33 PM
Sickboy with his own column on 411? sports wrestling 1 is taking over!
Posted By: Sbre zeke (Guest) on October 12, 2008 at 12:20 PM
