Punch Drunk Hangover 11.17.08: Brock-Solid!
Posted by Bren Oliver on 11.17.2008
Read ahead for Bren Oliver's thoughts on Brock Lesnar's championship win over Randy Couture, UFC 91 as a whole, JZ/Hansen and Tamura/Sakuraba being added to "K-1 Dynamite", Werdum's contract status, and Urijah Faber's WEC 36 payout. Those things and more, plus this week's "Monday Morning Moment of Zen" featuring the next generation of Couture, 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!!!
In mid-2007, Marvel Comics created a limited run of comics titled "Fallen Son: The Death of Captain America". It dealt with superheroes' various reactions to the murder of a peer and revealed how each was affected by one of the five stages of grief - denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. Fast-forward to last Saturday night, and I imagine many of you found yourselves proverbially wearing the same latex boots as Wolverine, Spider-Man, the Avengers, and every other character in the Marvel series. Randy Couture, was left a beaten, barely-conscious form at UFC 91, and I'd wager quite a few fans felt like the legend of MMA's "Captain America" died on November 15th, 2008. And, whether you find yourself denying the legitimacy of Brock's performance, angry about the fact Lesnar was in a title-fight to begin with, bargaining with yourself as to why Couture lost, or depressed that one of the greatest stories in Mixed Martial Arts may be coming to a conclusion, you must accept that Randy Couture is no longer the UFC Heavyweight Champion and likely never will be again.
However, before getting ahead of myself and offering my entire thoughts on UFC 91's main event, I'm going to take a few steps back and start with some of the earlier action. All in all I thought it was a good show, especially in comparison to the UFC's last two PPV events. UFC 89/90 received lukewarm reactions from fans due to the shows being riddled with unanimous decisions, mediocre in-ring action, and an extreme lack of undercard bouts making it on the air. "Lesnar vs. Couture", on the other hand, had a number of dominating performances and enjoyable finishes which led to all nine of the card's scheduled match-ups making it onto the PPV broadcast. UFC 91 absolutely lived up to its hype as being one of the biggest events in UFC history, and, for the first time in awhile, I can genuinely say I felt I got my money's worth.
I enjoyed both fights that were shown after the main event. Jorge Gurgel may have lost to Aaron Riley, but he gave 100% of himself to the cause, and I appreciate his dedication to entertaining fans as opposed to using his high-level submission-grappling skills to plod his way to a "W". Gurgel will never be UFC Champion, but he's a good person to have on the roster based on his approach to fighting and general skill in the cage. Mark Bocek looked good against Alvin Robinson and appears to have a bright future in the 155-pound division. He's had less than ten professional fights, but Bocek has the ability to go a long way with more experience under his belt due to his top-notch jiujitsu, strong wrestling, and serviceable striking. The other fights that took place before the live PPV feed started up were also fairly entertaining, with Matt Brown overcoming some difficulty in the first round to eventually beat Ryan Thomas via Submission. Brown is lucky to have finished Thomas and avoided the judges' scorecards, as I'm pretty sure he automatically gets a point deducted from each performance due to that horrible "Immortal" tattoo he has across his stomach. And, of course, I can't forget Jeremy Stephens launching Rafael dos Anjos into stratosphere after nearly getting submitted in the first round. I know Gurgel vs. Riley won "Fight of the Night" honors, but I personally felt Stephens vs. dos Anjos was the superior bout given how competitive the first two rounds were and how close "Lil Heathen" came to losing in the fight's opening frame. Plus, I don't believe Jorge Gurgel or Aaron Riley delivered a highlight like this...
At least Stephens won "Knockout of the Night" (and rightfully so). Now, it's time to move on to the televised portion of UFC 91...
Demian Maia def. Nate Quarry - Submission - RD 1
Nate Quarry's only chance in this bout was to keep it standing. Unfortunately for him, Maia is an intelligent fighter and accomplished grappler, and the Brazilian was able to avoid playing to Quarry's strengths as a result of those very qualities. I'm interested to see where Maia goes from here, as he's clearly ready to test his skills against top UFC Middleweights like Nate Marquardt, Thales Leites, Dan Henderson, and the man he called out after his fight against Quarry, Michael Bisping. I don't think he's a realistic choice to lead an Ultimate Fighter team next season, as has been rumored since UFC 91, because he doesn't have much mainstream appeal and it would make little sense to have a guy from Brazil coaching the American side of TUF 9's "USA vs. UK" format. Still, Maia has done enough to prove he deserves consideration as one of the UFC's upper-echelon 185-pounders, and I believe he'll be scheduled as such in the coming year. After all, Maia is just as dangerous after the bell as he is during each round, and proves such by exhibiting this little-known BJJ technique on Nate Quarry known as the "Lip Lock"...
Gabriel Gonzaga def. Josh Hendricks - TKO - RD 1
Did anyone think Josh Hendricks had a realistic chance of beating Gonzaga other than as the result of a "lucky" punch? He seemed outclassed from the beginning and physically appeared to be more fit for a small, local show than for getting an opportunity on MMA's biggest stage. I was not at all surprised to see "Napao" flatten him in the first minute of the fight. However, I was surprised by what looked like a multitude of large knots covering every inch of Hendricks' body. I'm assuming they were calcium deposits, as I've seen other athletes have similar conditions, but I've never witnessed it to the extent of what was seen on Hendricks' physique. Honestly, I actually found the bumps to be more disgusting than any amount of blood I've seen spilled in the Octagon, though Gonzaga clearly wasn't bothered by his appearance and even decided to add a few lumps of his own courtesy of a TKO finish.
Have you ever seen two less-imposing fighters enter the same cage? Granted, both McCrory and Hazelett are highly skilled competitors, but from a physical standpoint the two looked more like computer technicians than professional fighters. While neither is going to take home a "Mr. Universe" trophy based on their physiques, I imagine both will find quite a bit of future success in Mixed Martial Arts due to how well-rounded each appears to be at such a young age. I enjoyed the fact both men started out testing the other's stand-up before taking things to the ground. Hazelett's jiujitsu is some of the best in the division and he may have to change his nickname to "Lord of the Armbar" after turning in another "Submission of the Night" performance using the technique.
Also, before wrapping this up, I have to express my upmost appreciation for Hazelett's Evan-Tanner-inspired beard! Joe Rogan has nothing on you, "McLovin"!
Ken Florian def. Joe Stevenson - Submission - RD 1
Fans of Joe Stevenson will no doubt disagree with the following statement, but Ken Florian's first-round submission of the former Ultimate Fighter champion was as good a result as the UFC could have hoped for. It not only solidified Florian's place as the top contender to BJ Penn's championship in resounding fashion but also created a new match-up to keep fans interested in the title-fight. Had their fight resulted in a split decision win for Florian, it might have left questions as to whether or not "KenFlo" was truly fit to get another crack at the Lightweight title without going through Sean Sherk again. And, if Stevenson had emerged the victor, it would have put the UFC in a situation where someone Penn had walked through earlier this year was in a place to have the same done to him again without necessarily proving his worth as a #1 Contender. So, as I said earlier, Florian choking Stevenson out in the first five minutes of their bout was a perfect finish to the fight.
Not only was it an ideal way for the match to end but also a rather surprising one. Stevenson is a tough opponent with excellent grappling skills. The fact Florian was able to work him on the ground and secure a submission was extremely impressive. He seems to be getting better with every appearance in the eight-sided cage. I'm not sure Kenny has what it takes to beat BJ Penn. Frankly, I'm not sure any of the UFC's current Lightweights do. But, after putting together a six-fight winning streak in the Octagon, including victories over talented guys like Stevenson, Roger Huerta, and Joe Lauzon, and given his ever-improving arsenal of skills, Florian is definitely the most qualified 155-pounder to challenge BJ Penn. Stevenson, on the other hand, is back at the start of the line and will have to beat a number of upper-tier Lightweights before he gets his second opportunity at UFC gold. I think fights against any combination of Nate Diaz, Tyson Griffin, Sean Sherk, Gray Maynard, Roger Huerta, and/or Clay Guida would suffice.
Brock Lesnar def. Randy Couture - TKO - RD 2
Brock Lesnar is no longer the "Next Big Thing". After UFC 91, Lesnar is officially THE "big thing". His win over Randy Couture may not have solidified him as a true "Mixed Martial Artist", but it showed Brock is a force to be reckoned with and may very well turn out to be the second-best Heavyweight in MMA while having less than six professional fights under his belt (depending on how he fares against Nogeira/Mir). There is not a single athlete in his weight-class - in Mixed Martial Arts - with the same combination of size, speed, strength, and wrestling skill. His bout against Couture answered a number of questions regarding the durability of his chin and how he'd fare in a competitive fight that lasted longer than five minutes. While I'm still wary of his overall conditioning, as it takes a lot of oxygen to maintain energy in someone with his build, I'm not so sure he'll have to worry about the "championship rounds" due to his power and ability to physically control his opponents.
However, before anyone gets overly excited, bear in mind Lesnar is only a UFC Champion because Zuffa kept the strap on "The Natural" as a means of improving their chances of successful litigation against him. Couture's paperwork stated, as is standard in most fighters' deals, that he was obligated to the company as long as he remained a promotional champion. By not stripping the title, the UFC had a better chance of keeping him from signing with Affliction because of the wording in his contract. Lesnar will not officially be an undisputed champion until he beats the winner of "Minotauro" Nogueira and Frank Mir. So, while I know a number of WWE "marks" are busy celebrating his success in MMA, he still has a ways to go before being called the UFC's best Heavyweight. Still, can you imagine how frightening Lesnar will be once he has a chance to improve his striking and submission defense? The sky truly seems to be the limit as long as he continues to train hard and learn the many facets of MMA.
Randy Couture, on the other hand, showed that he is indeed a mortal man and not the supernatural being many of us thought he might be after beating Tim Sylvia and Gabriel Gonzaga. His performance against Lesnar was respectable, but it seemed clear that his only hope was to wear Brock out and finish him in a later round. The size difference between the two was obvious and his inability to take a clean shot from Lesnar was equally transparent. I don't think "Captain America" is done competing, as Randy is in great shape and still has a desire to step into the Octagon, but I do think his stint as one of the big-boys is over.
I seem to recall Couture returned to the UFC's big-boy division because the promotion was is desperate need of a contender to the Heavyweight championship. Now that Zuffa has veterans like Mir, Nogueira, and Werdum, along with newer blood like Lesnar, Gonzaga, Cain Velasquez, and Shane Carwin, I think it would make sense for "The Natural" to drop back down to Light Heavyweight and test his might against fighters who won't outweigh him by 35-60 pounds. There may not be much money in seeing Couture fight Chuck Liddell a fourth time, but who wouldn't want to see Randy face off against the likes of Wanderlei Silva, "Rampage" Jackson, Lyoto Machida, Rashad Evans, or even occasional 205-pounder Anderson Silva? I certainly would love to see those particular match-ups. It would also work out well because Couture wouldn't have to concern himself with fighting for a championship due to his relationship with current title-holder, and Xtreme Couture member, Forrest Griffin. Competing as a Light Heavyweight would eliminate the pressure to win a championship while providing Couture the opportunity to test himself against great fighters in bouts that could easily headline any PPV event.
Oh, and because I know a bunch of you want to re-live the moment....
There's my three cents on UFC 91 - 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 November 10th, 2008 and November 16th, 2008:
Urijah's Faber's manager, Mike Roberts of MMA Inc, recently made an appearance on MMAWeekly Radio and explained why the former WEC Featherweight Champion only made $14,000 after his loss to Mike Brown at WEC 36:
"That was an accurate statement of the check he received that night. Some contractual issues came up after the September fight was postponed and that $14,000 was the remaining balance of what was owed to him. That is not what he made. Keep in mind Urijah's still fighting off an old contract, but Urijah's been well taken care of for the last couple fights. They take good care of Urijah and going forward I know they're going to take even better care of him."
I'm glad there was some clarification on Faber's surprisingly-low reported payout for WEC 36. I was always positive "The California Kid" made more than the fourteen-thousand dollar figure Florida's athletic commission released, possibly including income from percentages of the event's advertising and live gate, as well as the money Urijah earns from the various companies he does promotional work for. However, I was still glad to hear Mike Roberts' statements, because it would have remained speculation on the matter instead of factual information from the source itself. I was also interested to learn Faber is still fighting off an old contract that isn't representative of his current earning potential given the WEC's success as a relatively small MMA promotion (with Zuffa's big pocketbooks). I believe you'll see a significant increase in Faber's per-fight pay as soon as he signs a new contract with the promotion he's made his name in.
In the meantime, I'm pretty sure he'll get back on the winning track. The son of Sacramento's loss to new WEC Featherweight Champion Mike Brown was more the result of Urijah taking an unnecessary, though entertaining, risk than Brown picking him apart and finishing the job in one swift blow. The former 145-pound champ will no doubt be back to his winning ways in early 2009 with a refreshed approach to competition and the motivation of earning back his gold. Plus, how can you fault Faber for going down after a shot like Brown's when Urijah's testicles are clearly located in the lower region of his jaw?!?
Sherdog.com is reporting that DREAM Lightweight Champion Joachim Hansen will fight Gesias "JZ" Calvancante and Kazushi Sakuraba will face Kiyoshi Tamura at the "K-1 Dynamite!!" show on New Year's Eve. Hansen won the DREAM Lightweight Grand Prix back in July after filling in for Eddie Alvarez and defeating Shinya Aoki via TKO. Calvancante has been nursing an injury and hasn't fought since April at DREAM 2 where he lost to Aoki via unanimous-decision. The Sakuraba/Tamura fight is one that Japanese MMA fans have been wanting to see for years. Sakuraba was the #1 Japanese fighter in 2000, 2001, and 2003. Tamura was ranked the #1 Japanese fighter in 2002.
Like a brightly packaged present underneath the Christmas Tree, or an army of sparkling, multi-colored Menorahs, fans of MMA can always count on December to bring with it an extremely entertaining Japanese event filled with top Mixed Martial Artists, well-respected Asian fighters, and highly-funded, one-of-a-kind production value. It appears that 2008 will be no different thanks to another offering from the same group that put together last year's "Yarennoka". In fact, I wish they'd actually call it "Yarennoka 2008" instead of "K-1 Dynamite", as the latter sends shivers down my spine thanks to the memory of the trainwreck that was "Dynamite USA". Regardless, with Mirko Filipovic attempting to reclaim his nards' pride in a rematch against Alistair Overeem already being advertised on the card, it's great to hear that two more fights have been announced with more than a month to go before the show actually takes place. Japanese promotions are notorious for waiting to announce matches until the last minute so I'd say "K-1 Dynamite" is ahead of the curve where advertising the event is concerned. With the likely involvement of regulars like Shinya Aoki, Tatsuya Kawajiri, Mitsuhiro Ishida, and others, it is definitely shaping up to be a "must see" card (...well, one you have to at least record and then watch on January 1st when you wake up).
"Hellboy" Hansen's first Japanese appearance since winning the DREAM Lightweight Grand Prix as an alternate in the tournament should result in an excellent battle against American Top Team's Calvancante. Both are well-rounded in their abilities and are as apt to finish an opponent on the ground as they would be from a standing position. Their collective jiujitsu and striking skills are each among the best in sport's Lightweight Division. It makes for an excellent pairing of two young, very-talented MMA practitioners and is a better 155-pound fight than anything the UFC can currently draw up.
I'm disappointed that Joachim's DREAM championship isn't on the line as it creates a strange situation if he loses the bout. I understand Eddie Alvarez has rightful claim to a title-shot since he was replaced by the man he'd earlier defeated, Hansen, in the LWGP's final against Shinya Aoki, but injuries are commonplace in MMA and occasionally they cost an individual the opportunity to compete for a promotion's belt. There's no reason Alvarez can't fight against the winner of Hansen vs. Calvancante. Part of me can't help but wonder if DREAM is holding off on the match-up involving the Lightweight Championship as a way of getting a fresh Aoki another crack at Hansen instead of one that came after an earlier bout against Caol Uno. After all, procrastinating on announcing the fights on a card isn't the only thing FEG, DREAM's parent company, is known for when it comes to promoting Mixed Martial Arts. Wanderlei Silva's title-reign in PRIDE is a good example of the same company protecting a fighter it has under contract. And, let's also not forget Shinya Aoki technically lost to Calvancante in the tournament and only received another crack at JZ because the injury Aoki sustained was the result of a questionable elbow. Beyond that, the colorfully-tighted Japanese fighter received a rather kind amount of time to recover in the rematch after Calvancante had him teetering on the brink of complete unconsciousness. I'm not saying DREAM officials are definitely saving Hansen for Aoki, but the precedent of the possibility certainly seems to be there.
Speaking of another epic fight, though for different reasons, the historic clash between Tamura and Sakuraba is one fans have been looking forward to for a long time. Though neither man is sniffing the rankings, they're each considered icons in Japan due to their work in professional wrestling and Mixed Martial Arts. And, while they're both past their prime, Tamura and Sakuraba are still well-versed in submission-grappling and could easily beat any number of younger opponents based purely on technique and experience. Furthermore, beyond each of their accomplishments, the pairing of Tamura and Sakuraba inside a MMA ring is something Japanese promotions have been trying to orchestrate for a number of years, so the notion it's actually going to happen is something for fans to celebrate. While the level of athleticism that will be featured won't be comparable to what would've been the case five years ago, Sakuraba vs. Tamura deserves respect for what it represents from a historical perspective. It's akin to watching a one-on-one game between Michael Jordan and Larry Bird but with the preface that they'd never had a chance to meet up on the court during their best days in the league.
MMAWeekly.com is reporting that the UFC and Heavyweight fighter Fabricio Werdum could not agree on a new contract and Werdum has started to contact other promotions looking for work. Werdum's last fight (a first-round TKO loss to newcomer Junior dos Santos) was the last fight on his contract with the UFC, and he is now looking for work in either the U.S. or Japan. Werdum was widely considered the #1 contender to the UFC Heavyweight Title before his loss to dos Santos at UFC 90.
This news was not only eye-opening to fans, but apparently it caught Werdum offguard who was later quoted as saying he knew nothing about a change in the status of his UFC contract - that he was in fact planning on moving to Las Vegas and begin training for his next fight. I assume the truth of the matter lies somewhere in-between the two stories. I wouldn't doubt the UFC approached Werdum's representatives with an interest in reducing his contractual terms (fights or funds) and his camp rejected the offer on principle. After all, the Brazilian had been a good company man in silently watching Brock Lesnar and Frank Mir both receive Heavyweight title-shots after wins over lesser opponents than those Werdum had dispatched of in the same time frame, and the idea the UFC would tinker with his deal in a negative way spits in the face of his earlier goodwill.
That very discussion between UFC suits and Werdum's manager could have occurred without the Chute Boxe fighter being involved, leading to Fabricio's stated confusion on the matter. It also could be a situation where the UFC told him the new terms were an ultimatum, not a negotiating point. Regardless of the entire truth behind the story, it won't matter where Werdum goes unless he takes training seriously and such did not appear to be the case at UFC 90. He was out of shape in comparison to previous fights and it showed in his sluggish upset loss to Junior dos Santos. Though, now that I think about it, Dana White and company should be praising Werdum for his last fight instead of trying to take money out of his pocket. The knockout was the only legitimate finish on the live televised portion of the card, as Patrick Cote went down in the third after two fairly boring rounds and the other three bouts involved judges rendering obvious, one-sided decisions. Imagine how boring the yawn-fest of a PPV would have been without the favored Werdum's sloppiness against "Cigano"? Fans would be calling it "50-Cent-Suddenly-Likes-MMA-And-Please-Buy-My-New-CD-Promo" bad instead of potentially discussing a major upset from a rankings standpoint, the future of an exciting young Heavyweight in dos Santos, and what Werdum has to do to get back to Gonzaga/Vera-smashing status.
Former EliteXC Heavyweight Champion Antonio Silva recently told Tatame.com that he is close to signing a deal with World Victory Road's "Sengoku". Silva is currently suspended from fighting in the United States until July of 2009 due to testing positive for steroids.
I'm not naive enough to believe there isn't already rampant use of performance enhancing substances in Japanese Mixed Martial Arts. Hell, it even happens here in the United States and our athletic commissions actually test for drug use! However, it's one thing to keep the abuse under wraps and out of the spotlight. Signing Antonio Silva is something different altogether and equates to World Victory Road flaunting that they don't even care if the public knows their athletes are on juice. The news they're possibly taking that route is damaging to their credibility as an organization and decreases my overall respect for the people running World Victory Road. It's bad enough Takanori Gomi is set to receive a Lightweight title-shot even though he recently lost to a relatively unknown opponent. Now they're allegedly negotiating with a fighter who is currently suspended for steroid use? Absolutely pathetic. Next thing you know, Jared Shaw will be named Vice President of the promotion...
Affliction Inc. has announced that co-owner Todd Beard has resigned from the company amidst recent controversy involving Kim & Randy Couture. Earlier this week, Kim Couture filed for a restraining order on Beard which detailed Beard's criminal record and recent threats he had made to the Coutures. As a result, Beard will seek counseling for alcohol abuse and anger problems.
It amazes me that a multi-million dollar company like Affliction can allow someone with a number of felony convictions and documented substance-abuse problems to have an active role in the business' operations. I understand Beard was co-owner of the brand, meaning he wasn't exactly a person they could outright fire, but his partners and advisors should have explained the danger of his association where the company's image was concerned. In a matter of weeks he had Kim Couture filing litigation against him, Randy Couture questioning his involvement with the clothing line, and fans scratching their heads after Beard made inflammatory statements about "The Natural" to a few media outlets. For a business that needs all the positive press they can get, as Affliction MMA currently does, the harm done by Beard's past and present actions could be the beginning of the end. If they aren't careful, Affliction's next skeletal design may not be a new line of apparel, but actually one resulting from their own Mixed Martial Arts promotion's decaying corpse.
Jibber-Jabber:
The following soundbyte was delivered over the past week...
TUF 8 Contestant Junie Browning speaks to TAGG Radio about his new home at Xtreme Couture...
"It's awesome. The first week was really just being star-struck -- and getting used to just getting beat on. The whole entire time I was on ["The Ultimate Fighter"] I was saying to myself when I came off I was going to start training full-time. Move off somewhere and train with some better partners and stuff. But I was afraid that no one would want to help me after the show, to be honest. So I'm sort of grateful that they took me in. Especially at a place like Xtreme Couture.
There's no one (in the gym) that really acts the way I was acting on the show. Part of me was sort of intimidated to go there. Where I'm from, it's a little easier. I'm usually the one doing all the beating up all the guys in the gym. You come over here and you're just a punching bag for everyone. To be honest with you, just the guys that don't really have a name there surprise me. There's guys there that no one's even heard of that are pretty good. Most gyms you go to, it's the guys that everyone knows that are the standouts. Over here, everyone's good."
I'm probably giving Browning more credit than he deserves, but I'm feel as though he's matured quite a bit since being on the Ultimate Fighter, and I credit his time on the show as being the primary cause of his transformation. Taking Junie out of his comfort zone in Kentucky, and away from his usual crowd of friends, was a good way to expose the character flaws he has to work on in order to be a successful Mixed Martial Artist. It put him in an environment where being out-of-control drunk was not only addressed as being unacceptable behavior, but also exposed his shortcomings to millions of viewers and likely gave Browning a better understanding of how important how his actions affect the way he's perceived by the public. Addtionally, being on TUF gave Junie an opportunity to realize his talent and a reason to genuinely believe in the possibility of being successful instead of simply talking tough.
I said a few weeks back that Browning's involvement with Xtreme Couture was a good sign for the young Southerner. It not only indicates Junie is a likely candidate for the Ultimate Fighter Season 8 Lightweight Final, but that he's been accepted into a group that demands dedication, respect, and professional excellence. Hearing that he appreciates the hard-work that is expected of him is an equally good indicator that he may have a newfound approach on life. It sounds as though being surrounded with so much talent at Xtreme Couture has humbled him, which I imagine was also the case when viewing his drunken antics on the early episodes of TUF 8, and acknowledging his own flaws with the goal of improving upon them is a good recipe for success with Junie's future is concerned. He's charismatic, hard-hitting, and young - the recipe of a future star as long as his talent continues to develop.
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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" - Randy Couture's son, Ryan, making a victorious amateur debut earlier this month.
No pressure, kid. Your dad is only one of MMA's most iconic figures...
Posted By: Dan Hirsch (Registered) on November 17, 2008 at 01:03 AM
Soooo happy to see Brock win. You can have all the skill in the world, but big is big. Couture needs to drop down to LHW and leave HW to the Lesnars and Carwins of the world. I would say Fedors, but hes not coming to the UFC anytime soon.
Posted By: hoij (Guest) on November 17, 2008 at 01:28 AM
wouldn't it ever cross your mind that perhaps Randy Couture actually jobed to Lesner..who knows ????
Posted By: ssssssssssssss (Guest) on November 17, 2008 at 03:21 AM
Lesnar hammerfisted Couture 37 times in 11 seconds. That's disgusting.
Posted By: Adam (Guest) on November 17, 2008 at 10:37 AM
I like the idea of Randy dropping down to 205, it would be a more natural fit. Although I'd hate for him to lose again. Another loss and he'd be 16-10, not exactly a great record. I think Rampage, Evans, Machida, or either Silva might be too much for him. He would need a win or two to build up a fight to any of those guys.
Posted By: DC (Guest) on November 17, 2008 at 10:59 AM
Couture vs. Machida? Sign me up for tickets to that one... There are plenty of interesting matchups for Couture at LHW, and I for one would love to see him in a match against Rampage.
Posted By: Toddo (Guest) on November 17, 2008 at 11:16 AM
anyone that thinks that couture would "job" needs to be put down so that there retarded sperm doesn't taint the gene pool.
Posted By: romano (Guest) on November 17, 2008 at 12:00 PM
I've said it before and I'll say it again....this is the best column on 411.com.
Posted By: Clarkie (Guest) on November 17, 2008 at 04:09 PM
Awwww shucks, Clark! I appreciate the sentiment!
Now if I could only get the folks at CNNSI, Yahoo, or one of the major (paying) outlets to feel the same way as you...
Posted By: Bren Oliver (Guest) on November 17, 2008 at 04:55 PM
Hazelett is becoming the Sakuraba of the UFC and man do I love this guy more and more just for it and his very humble and low profile personnality !
It's so sick I can't believe it takes so long to Mc Crory to tap out properly and that his arm was not broken at all .
Frightening
Joe Stevenson fought out like someone who has no brain and just want to get submitted faster than ever .
At least Roger Huerta wasn't THAT dumb against Florian .
The UFC is truly laying the foundations for its future right now with the likes of Hazelett, Junior Dos Santos, Lesnar, Machida, Evans well the list could go on and on .
Something the WWE is NOT Able to do .
Gotta love all those hypocrits which are ALL OF A SUDDEN ROOTING for LESNAR because HEY "I've told you so he would win !" "I was alongside him since day one" bla bla bla .
H Y P O C R I T S always siding with THE WINNER no matter what.....(the same that took out the Fedor Bandwagon after the Sylvia fight.....)
Posted By: Mike Mizanin (Guest) on November 17, 2008 at 05:27 PM