Punch Drunk Hangover 11.03.08: The Halloween Hangover

Posted by Bren Oliver on 11.03.2008

Read ahead for Bren Oliver's thoughts on Anderson Silva's desire to fight again before 2009, Patrick Cote talking tough about "The Spider", Bobby Lashley's MMA debut, Dana White's opinion on Gina Carano, Nick Diaz's options, and Brock Lesnar's protest against Steve Mazzagatti. Those things and more, plus this week's "Monday Morning Moment of Zen" featuring one of the most gruesome cuts in UFC history, 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 grab to the nether regions, waking you up and making your day that much more exciting! Have no fear...the technique is Bas Rutten approved!!!





Greetings all my ghouls and goblins! Hopefully you survived Halloween without more than a bag full of sweets or a mild hangover. For those of you who are still suffering from the weekend, take a few leftover candy-corn and mash them into your morning cup of coffee. Your reaction to downing the beverage should be somewhere between chugging two Red Bulls and doing a faceplant into a troth of crystal meth. Your coworkers may look at you a bit funny but your urine is safe...unless you work with Luke Cummo!

Honestly, last week was fairly slow from a "major story" standpoint. Granted, "Top 3" Lightweight Takanori Gomi did lose to a relative nobody at Sengoku 6, but the news hardly surprised me in that I find "The Fireball Kid" to be a fighter who relies more on natural ability than developing himself as a Mixed Martial Artist. He tends to train according to how skilled his perceives his opponent to be and has been caught by inferior talent on more than one instance as a result. So, instead of intricately discussing "Insert MMA Promotion Name Here" going out of business or breaking down the latest PPV card of note, I thought I'd have a little fun this week and present a few of your favorite MMA fighters decked out in honor of Old Hallow's Eve...


Joe Rogan and Eddie Bravo / Cheech n' Chong




Forrest Griffin / Supergirl




Seth Petruzelli / EliteXC's Worst Nightmare




Rashad Evans / Dr. Evil




...and the finale...


Arianny Celeste / Police Officer, French Maid, Schoolgirl, and Nurse













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 October 27th, 2008 and November 2nd, 2008:


Anderson Silva recently asked Dana White if he could fight on the UFC 91 show on November 15. Silva was upset with his performance at UFC 90 and wants to fight again right away. However it's looking more like he won't fight again until February 2009.


I wouldn't want to be Anderson Silva's next opponent. Granted, I would never want to find myself across the cage from the talented Brazlian, but "The Spider" appears to be in a more venomous mood than usual based on the criticism he received over his performance at UFC 90. Silva is dangerous enough on a run-of-the-mill Tuesday morning. I can only imagine how frightening he'll be now that he's angry and feels he has something to prove.

While I admire Silva's desire to fight again so soon, it would be bad business for the UFC to place him on a card without properly promoting the bout. I don't doubt that UFC Matchmaker Joe Silva could find an opponent for the UFC Middleweight Champion at UFC 91, and I'm positive Anderson would show up ready to compete, but "The Spider" is too valuable a commodity to use on such short notice. UFC 92 isn't realistic either, as the event already features to title-fights (Nogueira vs. Mir, Griffin vs. Evans) and a handful of other MMA stars (Quinton Jackson, Wanderlei Silva, Yushin Okami, Cheick Kongo, etc.). Adding Anderson Silva into the mix would look great on paper, but his presence would be partially lost in the shuffle on a card with so much talent while also diminishing the spotlight being put on other major fights. Moving on, UFC 93 would possibly allow Zuffa to feature Anderson Silva on free television due to the event taking place in Ireland, but I think it would be a bad move because Silva would overshadow both of the main event's participants (Rich Franklin vs. Dan Henderson) based on having beaten both of them rather soundly. That brings us to February 2009, as the news item implies as a possibility, and a PPV headlined by Georges St. Pierre defending his Welterweight Championship against BJ Penn.

I think UFC 94 makes perfect sense as a show for Anderson Silva to return on. First, it offers the unique possibility of having three of the world's four consensus top pound-for-pound fighters on the same card. There is absolutely no question Silva, St. Pierre, and Penn are among MMA's elite, and an event with all three on the bill would be something to remember. Secondly, having "The Spider" on the same card as GSP could serve as a build towards an eventual "superfight" between the two that UFC President Dana White has hinted towards in the case of St. Pierre retaining his title. Waiting until UFC 94 would allow the UFC to give appropriate attention to building the bout and give Silva a full training camp to prepare. The only question remaining would be who is Anderson Silva going to fight next.

The first name that tends to come up in that particular discussion is Chuck Liddell. I think "The Iceman" would be an excellent selection for a few reasons. For starters, Liddell's past success, popularity amongst fans, and preference to stand up and exchange blows coupled with Anderson Silva's mystique, current hot streak, and similar love of leaving opponents knocked unconscious is a recipe for buyrate success. Beyond that, a win for Liddell would do wonders to silence the critics who feel Chuck is finished as a fighter in lieu of his latest performances, while a loss to the former champion at 205 pounds wouldn't necessarily hurt Silva's reputation. Likewise, a win for Anderson would further solidify his legend in Mixed Martial Arts, and possibly make it clear to Chuck he'll probably never be champion again but the paydays are still there.

If not "The Iceman", I think Anderson Silva's UFC 94 opponent almost has to be a different Light Heavyweight. The UFC's Middleweight Division needs to iron itself out through a series of fights and come up with a legitimate contender or two instead of another Patrick Cote. The only alternative I see would possibly be bringing in soon-to-be-free-agent, and EliteXC Middleweight Champion, Robbie Lawler. Lawler is a name UFC fans are familiar with, and his involvement against Anderson Silva would also allow the UFC to hype a champ-vs-champ affair. Beyond the business components involved, putting "Ruthless" Robbie up against "The Spider" would almost certainly deliver a high-octane, extremely entertaining match based on both fighters having such high-level striking ability and knockout power. It's a bout that needs to happen and UFC 94 seems as good a place as any.


According to local advertising, Bobby Lashley will now make his MMA debut on 12/13 at the "Mixed Fight Alliance: There Will Be Blood" show in Miami, FL.


I believe I've alway been consistent in stating the minimal impact I feel Bobby Lashley will have on the sport of Mixed Martial Arts. I understand he has impressive-sounding amateur credentials, but it needs to be said that his success in college was not at an NCAA level and he wrestled at 177 pounds - nearly a hundred less than what he tipped scales at during his run in WWE. In addition, Lashley turned 32 this past July, so he doesn't have 3-5 years to develop his jiujitsu/striking as he might were he in his early 20s. Furthermore, he isn't nearly as big a star as Brock Lesnar, so he'll have less of a rope with which to hang himself. Lashley lacks Lesnar's physically intimidating presence, marketable look, and media-friendly attitude. The fact he signed with the possibly defunct AFL instead of the UFC is evidence in itself of that being the case.

In Lashley's defense, I will say heading to Florida and training with American Top Team was a smart move. ATT is one of the top training centers in North America, if not the World, and embedding himself in their group is a great way to surround himself with blackbelts and boxers, former champions and current contenders. If he's able to absorb half of what he's taught at their facility then I think he's got a good chance at winning on December 13th instead of looking like Johnnie Morton. His opponent at the MFA show hasn't been announced yet, but an inside source tells me it may be Daniel Plainview. Plainview is a former oilman/driller who loves bowling and got involved with Mixed Martial Arts as a means of dealing with his anger problem, plus he's a huge fan of all the milkshakes he gets to drink while training.


MMAWeekly.com is reporting that Nick Diaz will be headed back to Japan around the New Year and will fight for either DREAM or World Victory Road's "Sengoku". Both companies have reached out to his manager, Cesar Gracie, and asked for Diaz. DREAM's parent company, FEG, will be holding a K-1 Dynamite! card on New Year's Eve which they would like Diaz to compete on. World Victory Road will be holding Sengoku 7 just days later on January 4. No word yet on which company Diaz plans to fight for.


Knowing what I do about Nick Diaz, I'm willing to bet a quarter (um..of the shiny, monetary variety) Diaz would compete at both events if he was given the green light to do so. The Gracie-trained fighter never seems to back down from a challenge whether it means testing himself by participating in a triathlon, pushing himself the extra mile inside the Gym, standing up to anyone he feels has disrespected him, or stepping into the ring against any oncomer. He constantly needs to prove himself, even to a fault, but that very attitude has made him a success in Mixed Martial Arts and is the reason I honestly believe Diaz would gladly fight on December 31st and once again four days later.

Since I doubt he'll be cleared to do both, I think it's more-realistic that Stockton, California's son will enter the ring on New Year's Eve under FEG's flag. He already has history with the company, having fought Katsuya Inoue at DREAM 3, and is still contractually obligated to the promotion. There's also a ready-made bout for him against Hayato "Mach" Sakurai. Diaz has been rumored to be fighting the Japanese star for the better half of a year now so K-1 Dynamite seems to be a logical place for that to happen. The only hang-up I see would be related to previous statements from Diaz's camp where it was alleged Nick was not paid for his services at DREAM 3 and the fact I haven't heard anything contrary from his management since then. Still, I can't imagine they'd be in discussions with DREAM if they felt something similar could happen again, so I'd say things between the two sides must be relatively calm since it appears Diaz could fight for DREAM next month.


During a recent appearance on MMAWeekly Radio, UFC Heavyweight Champion Randy Couture announced that Junie Browning has been training with his Xtreme Couture camp for over a week and a half now.


Rumor has it that Junie Browning had actually been training with Xtreme Couture for an additional two weeks and has been passing himself off as John Alessio's long-lost brother. His true identity was discovered when workers caught Junie guzzling the health bar's supply of grenadine.

Joking aside, I'd say it bodes well for Mr. Browning if Xtreme Couture has accepted him into their center and that he's able to afford to train amongst the best in MMA. It makes me think there's a very good chance Junie will be winning his next fight on TUF and advancing to the finals (perhaps against Phillipe Nover). I hope it means Browning has straightened out his personal life, meaning not only getting a handle on his problem with alcohol but also seeing a therapist to work through his emotional issues. Even if they are fueled by a chemical imbalance (of the blood-alcohol or bipolar nature, I don't know), the pressure to perform will only get greater with the success that's expected from him. He cannot afford to blow an opportunity in the UFC for reasons that have nothing to do with his ability inside the Octagon.


Brock Lesnar has filed paperwork with the Nevada State Athletic Commission requesting that Steve Mazzagatti not officiate Lesnar's upcoming fight against Randy Couture. Mazzagatti officiated Lesnar's fight against Frank Mir and ruled that Lesnar was striking Mir in the back of the head. Prior to the warning, Lesnar seemed to be on his way to victory, but lost the fight after the warning was issued.


I'm going to approach this subject from an objective standpoint, but let me first be clear in my agreement that Mazzagatti did a poor job handling Lesnar's bout against Frank Mir. I felt the blows to the back of Mir's head were incidental, not targeted strikes, and should have merited nothing more than a warning when they occurred. Had there been a clear intent on the part of Lesnar to target the back of Mir's skull, then yes, Mazzagatti should have immediately stopped the action and deducted a point. However, that wasn't the case, and yet it was still treated as though something more omnious had taken place.

That being said, I think Lesnar's request is disrespectful in nature and has no place in Mixed Martial Arts. Steve Mazzagatti may have made a mistake in how he called Lesnar/Mir, though he's never been reprimanded by the Nevada State Athletic Commission for doing so, but even if he did it was nothing every other referee in every other sport has done - he blew a call. His years of experience officiating MMA makes him more qualified to determine how to handle the action inside a ring than me, you, and Brock Lesnar combined. He's been accountable for past errors, going so far as to once apologize to Anthony Johnson over a particularly bad decision, and doesn't have the benefit of slow-motion replay while a fight unfolds in front of him. To imply Mazzagatti is somehow unfit to oversee a UFC Championship bout, as Brock Lesnar has done in requesting an alternate referee, is an insult to the moustached man's reputation as a professional.

Furthermore, I think it would set a bad precedent if a fighter's complaint did actually affect an athletic commission's decision to assign a particular individual to a bout. What's to stop an athlete from requesting a referee he's friendly with outside of the cage? What's to keep an entire training center from blacklisting an official? The only time I can see there being a situation where a commission might need to consider reassigning a bout's mediating force would be if there was a conflict of interest involved, such as a referee being related to one of the fight's participants or somehow affiliated with him/her outside of competition (a business partner for example). Other than that, there needs to be an understanding between all three people inside a ring - that the combatants will fight fairly and the referee will call things straight - and I think allowing a Mixed Martial Artist to tinker with that dynamic acts in opposition to achieving that necessary mutual respect.


Sherdog.com is reporting that Mark Cuban's HDNet cable channel has purchased the assets of the now-defunct IFL for $650,000:

"For the $650,000 price tag, HDNet will be entitled to all intellectual property, including the IFL's film, video, and image library; its five-roped competition ring and team trademarks; and proprietary rights, including its Web site. The transaction also includes any remaining broadcast contracts the IFL acquired during its two-year tenure, which includes a deal with FOX Sports Network."


This announcement should have read, "For the $650,000 price tag, HDNet expects losses of around $649,000." I fail to see why HDNet purchased the IFL. It would be a financial disaster for Mark Cuban's company to attempt and reboot the failed promotion. HDNet already threw their hat in the mix as a promoter with "HDNet Fights" and decided it wasn't for them after only two live events. The only other reason I could see HDNet buying the IFL's rights would be in order to put together a few DVDs. Still, I can't see how their expectations would be very high, as most MMA fans would be hard-pressed to name 3-4 memorable IFL showdowns. Is there really a major market for "Chris Horodecki's Greatest Hits" or "Nelson vs. Rothwell: A Retrospective"? My Magic 8-Ball tells me, "Outlook not so good." on that front, and I tend to believe it in the case of HDNet getting a positive return on the $650 grand they forked out for the IFL.


Mirko Cro Cop recently told dnevnik.hr. that a rematch with Alistair Overeem has been scheduled for the K-1 Dynamite!! show on December 31. The two recently fought in September but the bout ended in a "No Contest" after Overeem hit Cro Cop with two knees to the groin. Cro Cop also mentioned that he will enter this fight with a knee injury that he plans to undergo surgery for when the fight is over.


Ahh...good ol' "dnevnik.hr"...my favorite website for following trends in the herring market, checking out prices on the standard East European Mail-Order Bride, and catching up on all Mixed Martial Arts news! Actually, I'm glad this news item is coming from a strange source, because I sincerely hope Filipovic is not actually going to step back into the ring against "The Demolition Man". It sounds funny saying this, but the best thing that could have happened in the first fight between Overeem and "Cro Cop" was for the Dutchman to send Mirko's testicles into orbit. Filipovic was getting destroyed up until the illegal knees brought him to the canvas and should be thankful for the "No Contest" Overeem gave him - plus Mirko can now sing Soprano in his village choir!

I also find the Croatian's statement about coming into the bout with an injury to be quite bothersome. Not only does it come off as Filipovic planting the seeds of an excuse in case Overeem beats him down again, but it indicates that "Cro Cop" is once again having medical issues. He has undergone the surgery a number of times over the past two years and it seems plausible to think his body might be breaking down physically. Fortunately, Mirko is an intelligent man and has a career outside of Mixed Martial Arts, so he'll no doubt be successful in life even if he needs to hang up his checkered trunks and call it a career.


Jibber-Jabber:

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


Dana White talks "Gina Carano" to USA Today...

"Gina Carano's a talented fighter. She's a star. She should've been the main event (on CBS' last EliteXC broadcast). My thing with women and fighting is there isn't enough good women to create a whole division. Could I do some one-off fights here and there? Yeah, but that's not really what we do."


As tends to be the case more often than not, Dana White is right on the mark in his above statements. Gina Carano possesses genuine skill in the ring, has been involved in some very entertaining fights, and has the "it" factor where potential stardom is concerned. It would be hard to argue that she is not both beautiful and charismatic. And yet, for all her positive qualities, there is only so far she can go within the confines of the UFC. As the UFC President says, they aren't interested in signing individuals to single-fight contracts or building a division out of a handful of athletes. I could see the UFC bringing Gina in as a personality, but a good part of me doesn't want to see that happen simply because Gina is a fighter, not a backstage interviewer. Taking her out of competition would be like caging a songbird.

I've heard fans suggest the UFC could freshen up the Ultimate Fighter by signing Carano and Cris "Cyborg" Santos as coaches, then building towards a bout between the two while using TUF to build other female stars, but the cynic in me says such a move would be a significant failure. I vaguely recall there being a show on Oxygen called "Fight Girls" that featured Ms. Carano as a coach/mentor. I also remember Michelle "Karate Hottie" Waterson being one of the cast members. What I don't remember is there being any significant discussion about the show amongst MMA fans. That's because there wasn't any. The idea of "TUF 10: Carano vs. Cyborg" is as cute as one-half of the headlining coaches, but it will never happen and for good reason.

I think the best move would be for Ms. Carano to sign with Strikeforce. It's a promotion she's familiar with based on her previous time fighting for them, an organization that has a proven record of success, and a group aligned with the same network that airs "American Gladiators" (NBC). If not Strikeforce, Affliction wouldn't be a bad alternative, as Gina could promote the clothing company's female apparel line while still staying active inside the ring and getting her shot at "Cyborg" Santos.


Patrick Cote comments to MMACanada.net on his bout against Anderson Silva at UFC 90...

"I think I proved to everyone that this guy (Silva) is not unbeatable. I think I f*cked him up really bad. I think I did a good job. I f*cked my knee in the middle of the second round. In the middle of the second round I (was fighting) on one leg. One leg… I received a lot of good comments that I did great against Anderson Silva. I think I'm the first guy in the UFC to make three rounds with Anderson Silva. My gameplan was good and I think that he was scared to exchange with me. I received all of his best punches and all of his best knees and I was still there… In the first two rounds I was there and I think I gave him a lot of trouble. He was f*cked. He didn't know how to go inside and to beat me… I was very comfortable on my feet and I think he was running all the time and he was scared of my punch."


Let's get one thing clear. Patrick Cote took Anderson Silva into the third round because "The Spider" allowed him to. The few times Silva chose to engage Cote, his strikes were crisp, precise, and enough to leave the Canadian's face cut open. The former contender needs to understand there's a significant difference between Silva respecting his power and the Brazilian being "scared". In the spirit of Matt Serra, I have to wonder if "Frenchie" might have dipped into the "red wine" or taken a particularly stiff cross-check while playing "hockey". If not, then I have to believe he's been listening to his own hype, trying to build up interest in a rematch between the two, or possibly revealing he's signed to the sign Public Relations firm as Seth Petruzelli. Truly, these are confusing comments from Cote, and I would be lying if I said I didn't lose a smidge of respect for him as a result of them being made.

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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" - Vitor Belfort bringing fans closer to Marvin Eastman's skull than they'd ever dreamed possible!


Yeah, that could require stitches...






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