Tapping Out With TBerg 10.17.08: Episode 1 - UFC 89, Bobby Lashley, Kalib Starnes and More!

Posted by Todd Bergman on 10.17.2008

In my first column here on 411mania.com, I will take a look at the match-ups of UFC 89, give you my thoughts on UFC 90, try to understand Kalib Starnes’s recent comments, defending Bobby Lashley’s bright future, I start the greatest contest in 411mania history and, most importantly, stir up some controversy along the way.

In my first column here on 411mania.com, I will take a look at the match-ups of UFC 89, give you my thoughts on UFC 90, try to understand Kalib Starnes's recent comments, defending Bobby Lashley's bright future, I start the greatest contest in 411mania history and, most importantly, stir up some controversy along the way. Did I mention hot chicks!?! Let's get to tapping.

Awesomely Bad Quote For Episode 1
"They stopped it because of a cut." -Tiki Ghosen after a loss by K.O.



UFC 89: Bisping vs. Leben takes place this Saturday in jolly ole' England. The card will air on delay here in American and will be available at no cost on SPIKE TV. The main event of the evening features Michael "The Count" Bisping vs. Chris "The Crippler" Leben. It should be an exciting fight between both with the victor staring down the winner of the Anderson Silva vs. Patrick Cote match. While, I'm not a huge Leben fan, I can state that I'm impressed by his recent maturity and his ability to deal with his drinking problem. The sport of MMA isn't for bar fighters anymore, and Leben is starting to realize this. This could be a great opportunity for Leben to get his rematch with either Silva or Cote if he's able to claim victory over "England's Proud Son." Both guys aren't afraid to stand and bang and are also great trash-talkers which makes for some great P.R. The main card features plenty of good bouts that could possibly push for fight of the year. Here's how the main card looks:

Chris Leben vs. Michael Bisping
Keith Jardine vs. Brandon Vera
Sokoudjou vs. Luis Cane
Marcus Davis vs. Paul Kelly
Paul Taylor vs. Chris Lytle

The Undercard fights are:
Akihiro Gono vs. Dan Hardy
David Baron vs. Jim Miller
Shane Carwin vs. Neil Wain
Jess Liaudin vs. David Bielkheden
Sammy Schiavo vs. Per Eklund
Sam Stout vs. Terry Etim

More UFC than we can handle
Looking ahead to the next event, UFC 90, which, for those of you who are living in a cave or having been just released from OJ Simpson jury duty, is next week. This card has already undergone numerous changes but still manages to look great on paper. Diego Sanchez had to pull out of the co-main event and is being replaced by the human S.O.S. pad, Josh Koscheck. I'm excited to be there and can‘t wait for the night of thrilling fights. I've never been to Chicago before, and it should be a good time considering the Cubs and White Sox both choked in the playoffs, so I won't have to deal with the possibility of a Chi-Town World Series and an insane amount of drunken baseball fans claiming 100 years of crappiness are over. Well, Chicago fans, there's always next year, right?

He's finally broke his silence. Now please go back to being silent.
Defunct, former UFC fighter Kalib "Running Man" Starnes has finally commented on being granted his release from the UFC. Here's what he had to say in an interview with sherdog.com.



"People like to be on the side that's winning. They're supportive when you're winning and critical when you're losing. I still get some sweet hate mails pretty regularly. There are some gyms with guys who begged me to come in there and train and do seminars before that fight and who wouldn't return my calls or talk to me afterwards…. It's good. It separates people who are really supportive and back you from people that are just trying to jump on your wagon while you're successful…. [Being granted a release from the UFC] was something I'm happy about. I'm glad I'm not fighting there and will be fighting independently where I want and for whoever wants to pay me."

To me, it sounds like Starnes is still shocked that nearly six months after the fight, people still aren't fond of him. Well, not to beat a dead horse, but he did do nothing but run in a fight and show no heart whatsoever. Trainers don't want Starnes at their gyms because they want their fighters to exhibit the samurai spirit during fights. Kalib quit at least 3 times during fights under the UFC banner and he seems shocked. Really? I'm hoping that in his upcoming fight with Kala "Kolohe" Hose he really steps up his game because Hose is a strong striker and could bust him up just like Alan Belcher did. Here's hoping that I don't have to comment on this story ever again.


Lashley commits to being a real fighter.



American Top Team recently announced the signing of former Army and WWE Wrestling Champion Bobby Lashley earlier this week. It's a solid move for a guy who's trying to make his own way into the world of MMA. While Lashley has taken tons of heat from the fans of MMA and many on this site, I think that this move really shows that he's serious about the sport and isn't just trying to be the next Brock Lesnar. It's an unfair criticism that Lashley has had to deal with since his upbringing in the WWE. He became known as "Black Lesnar" by most of the wrestling community because of his similar character and lack of speaking skills. While he doesn't have the boatload of charisma that Lesnar does, he is very likeable, and most fans had the ability to relate to him more than most superstars on the WWE roster. Baring anything major, Lashley should be able to run through the Heavyweight Division of the AFL (not a major accomplishment, but he will make a solid name for himself) before landing a deal with a high profile company like the UFC, Affliction, or Elite XC.

Who doesn't love hot chicks!!
Something that will hopefully become a staple of my "Tapping Out With Tberg" columns will be my heavy want of reader feedback. Here's a contest that's success will solely rest on you, the readers' shoulders. Each week, I'm going to post two pictures of some pretty hot chicks, and I need you to pick the winner based on whatever reasons you find necessary. To vote you simply need to comment on the column and select your choice. This week's winner will go on to face a new pretty face next week. If someone is lucky enough to win 4 times then we will have to retire her bra and panties and look for new winners. So, without further ado, I present this week's "Tap That Girl of the Week" contest.

Super Hot MMA Chick Gina Carano vs. UFC Ring Girl Arianny



That ends my column on a great note. Make sure to check out all of the other columns here at 411mania. Thanks for taking the time to check me out. Your comments and suggestions are always welcome. Remember to support your local MMA and keep your tapping hand strong.

Credits to: sherdog.com, ufc.com