SPOTLIGHTS
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| Occupy The Throne 04.17.13: UFC on FOX Preview |
| MMA >> Columns, 04.17.2013 |
| This weekend marks what could be the best UFC on FOX card to date in the Ben Henderson vs. Gilbert Melendez-led UFC on FOX 7! 411's Jeremy Lambert and Samer Kadi take a look in their preview of the card! |
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| Occupy The Throne 03.27.13: Drugs Are Bad...Right? |
| MMA >> Columns, 03.27.2013 |
| Following the release of Matt Riddle over his second positive marijuana test and other incidents, the UFC has called for reduced suspensions for positive tests. But will it lead to any changes? 411's Jeremy Lambert and Samer Kadi take a look! |
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| Occupy The Throne 03.22.13: Here's Johny! |
| MMA >> Columns, 03.22.2013 |
| Johny Hendricks cemented himself as the top contender for Georges St-Pierre's welterweight title with a FOTY candidate at UFC 158! But what are his chances in a fight with the champion? 411's Jeremy Lambert and Samer Kadi take a look! |
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| Occupy The Throne 01.03.13: Dos Santos vs. Velasquez II Fallout |
| MMA >> Columns, 01.03.2013 |
| Following Cain Velasquez's domination of Junior Dos Santos to reclaim the title, cries for a rubber match have emerged. But is there really interest in another bout? 411's Jeremy Lambert and Samer Kadi take a look in this week's Occupy The Throne! |
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| The Rear Naked Column 09.10.11: Q & A Edition |
| MMA >> Columns, 09.10.2011 |
| Was putting Cain/JDS on Fox a good move? Should Dan Hardy have been fired? What does the future hold for the lightweight division? 411’s Samer Kadi answers these questions and more… |
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| The Rear Naked Column 09.02.11: A Tale of Two Legends |
| MMA >> Columns, 09.02.2011 |
| Hometown heroes Anderson Silva and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira sent the Brazilian crowd home happy with two big knockouts at UFC 134! 411’s Samer Kadi takes a look at both fighter’s wins, their careers, and their impact on the sport! |
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| The Rear Naked Column 08.13.11: Fedor’s Legacy |
| MMA >> Columns, 08.13.2011 |
| After his third consecutive loss, Fedor Emelianenko was released from his Strikeforce contract. Join 411’s Samer Kadi as he discusses Fedor’s legacy and his status as the greatest heavyweight of all time. |
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| The Rear Naked Column 08.06.11: Old School vs. New School |
| MMA >> Columns, 08.06.2011 |
| Since the days of Ken Shamrock in the 1990s, MMA has evolved significantly! Fighters nowadays may compete at a higher level, but does that diminish the accomplishments of the sport’s pioneers? 411’s Samer Kadi takes a look! |
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| The Rear Naked Column 07.29.11: A Battle of Legends |
| MMA >> Columns, 07.29.2011 |
| Dan Henderson takes on Fedor Emelianenko this Saturday at Strikeforce's latest event in a true battle of legends! But who has the tools to walk away with the win? 411’s Samer Kadi takes an in-depth look and breaks down the fight! |
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| The Rear Naked Column 07.15.11: UFC Upset Watch (Part 2) |
| MMA >> Columns, 07.15.2011 |
| Can Junior Dos Santos beat Cain Velasquez? Does Kenny Florian stand a chance against Jose Aldo? Will Gray Maynard beat Frankie Edgar in their rubber match? 411’s Samer Kadi takes a look in the second part of his UFC Upset Watch! |
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| The Rear Naked Column 07.08.11: UFC Upset Watch |
| MMA >> Columns, 07.08.2011 |
| Anderson Silva, Georges St-Pierre and Jon Jones are all favorites coming into their next title defenses! But are any of them in danger of being dethroned in an upset? 411’s Samer Kadi takes a look! |
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| The Rear Naked Column 07.01.11: Ultimate Double Standards |
| MMA >> Columns, 07.01.2011 |
| In one of the biggest stories of the year, Nate Marquardt has been released from the UFC after failing to past his pre-fight medicals! But is it a double standard when compared to the Chael Sonnen saga? 411’s Samer Kadi takes a look! |
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| The Rear Naked Column 06.17.11: Q & A Edition! |
| MMA >> Columns, 06.17.2011 |
| Will Cain Velasquez be the first current UFC champion to lose the title? Why do fighters choose to move down in weight but not up? What would happen if the UFC champions fought the Strikeforce's? 411’s Samer Kadi answers these questions and more! |
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| The Rear Naked Column 06.10.11: Heavyweights Collide! |
| MMA >> Columns, 06.10.2011 |
| Shane Carwin has stepped in for Brock Lesnar to take on Junior Dos Santos at UFC 131 this weekend! But who will walk away the winner and new #1 contender to the heavyweight title? 411's Samer Kadi takes a look at the fight! |
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| The Rear Naked Column 05.27.11: Injury Wave |
| MMA >> Columns, 05.27.2011 |
| Major UFC stars like Brock Lesnar, Jon Jones and Frankie Edgar have pulled out of their scheduled fights with injuries! 411’s Samer Kadi takes a look at the increasing number of injuries in MMA as well as the reactions they trigger among fans! |
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| The Rear Naked Column 05.20.11: Judging Debate! (Part 2) |
| MMA >> Columns, 05.20.2011 |
| Would Frankie Edgar vs. Grey Maynard still have been a draw under the half-point system? How good are the "ten point must system" or the PRIDE rules for judging? 411's Samer Kadi and Mark Radulich debate these topics and more! |
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| The Rear Naked Column 05.13.11: Judging Debate! (Part 1) |
| MMA >> Columns, 05.13.2011 |
| Diego Sanchez's decision win over Martin Kampmann is one of several fights where the decision has come under heavy scrutiny! 411's Samer Kadi and Mark Radulich take a look at one of the hottest topics in the sport in MMA judging! |
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| The Rear Naked Column 05.06.11: The Natural’s Defining Moment |
| MMA >> Columns, 05.06.2011 |
| Easily one of the greatest fighters of all time, Randy Couture has made a career out of upsetting the odds. Join 411’s Samer Kadi as he looks back on what he believes is Couture’s defining moment when “The Natural” defeated Tim Sylvia for the UFC heavyweight title. |
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| The Rear Naked Column 04.29.11: St-Pierre vs. Shields Breakdown |
| MMA >> Columns, 04.29.2011 |
| Georges St-Pierre returns to the Octagon to take on what he believes is his most dangerous opponent yet! Does Shields have the tools to pull off a huge upset or will GSP reign supreme once again? 411’s Samer Kadi breaks down the fight! |
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| The Rear Naked Column 04.22.11: Judging Strikes Again |
| MMA >> Columns, 04.22.2011 |
| Joe Warren scored a unanimous decision victory over Marcus Galvao in another controversial judging situation at Bellator 41, causing Chuck Wolfe to speak out about his heavily criticized 30-27 scorecard! Join 411’s Samer Kadi as he takes a look at Wolfe’s comments! |
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| The Rear Naked Column 04.01.11: Q & A Edition! |
| MMA >> Columns, 04.01.2011 |
| Should Tito Ortiz get released if he loses his next fight? Should Jim Miller get the next title shot? Do we need a cruiserweight division? What are Jake Shields' chances against GSP? 411's Samer Kadi answers these questions and more! |
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| The Rear Naked Column 03.24.11: The Bones Era? |
| MMA >> Columns, 03.24.2011 |
| Jon Jones’ dominating victory over Mauricio “Shogun” Rua saw him become the youngest champion in UFC history. Could Jones’ win signal a new era in the light heavyweight division? 411’s Samer Kadi examines… |
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| The Rear Naked Column 03.18.11: Shogun vs. Bones |
| MMA >> Columns, 03.18.2011 |
| Jon Jones continues his march towards superstardom as he gets ready for the biggest fight of his career. Standing in his way is light heavyweight champion Mauricio “Shogun” Rua. Will Jones justify the hype or will “Shogun” prove too much? 411’s Samer Kadi breaks down the fight. |
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| The Rear Naked Column 03.10.11: PRIDE Rules? |
| MMA >> Columns, 03.10.2011 |
| From scoring fights as a whole and knees on the ground to yellow cards and fighting inside a ring, 411's Samer Kadi examines whether or not the PRIDE rules could be the solution to the problems in North American MMA... |
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| The Rear Naked Column 03.04.11: Don’t Leave It to the Judges? |
| MMA >> Columns, 03.04.2011 |
| With the increasing number of bad decisions in MMA, the phrase "never leave it in the hands of the judges" is being used more and more frequently. 411's Samer Kadi discusses the subject and expresses his dislike for this expression... |
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| The Rear Naked Column 02.24.11: A Grinder Meets a Prodigy |
| MMA >> Columns, 02.24.2011 |
| UFC 127’s main event will see Jon Fitch square off against BJ Penn in a bout that could determine the next number 1 contender for the welterweight title. 411’s Samer Kadi breaks down the fight and discusses the implications… |
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| The Rear Naked Column 02.17.11: The Fall of an Emperor |
| MMA >> Columns, 02.17.2011 |
| Fedor Emelianenko was once considered the best fighter in the world, but now finds himself on a two-fight losing streak after his destruction at the hands of Antonio Silva! 411’s Samer Kadi takes a look at Fedor’s performance, his legacy and his future! |
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| The Rear Naked Column 02.10.11: The Real Phenom |
| MMA >> Columns, 02.10.2011 |
| Anderson Silva’s knockout of Vitor Belfort cemented his status as one of the greatest fighters in the history of the sport! 411’s Samer Kadi takes a look at Silva’s performance, his place within the sport and his potential bout with Georges St-Pierre! |
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| The Rear Naked Column 02.03.11: The Spider vs. The Phenom |
| MMA >> Columns, 02.03.2011 |
| Anderson Silva faces one of the biggest tests of his career as he takes on Vitor Belfort this Saturday at UFC 126. Will Silva have another successful title defense or will Belfort take the title? 411’s Samer Kadi takes a look! |
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| The Rear Naked Column 01.14.11: Q & A Edition! |
| MMA >> Columns, 01.14.2011 |
| Can Randy Couture beat Lyoto Machida? Where will Antonio McKee, Marcus Davis and Brandon Vera end up following their UFC releases? Why is MMA dying in Japan? 411's Samer Kadi gives his thoughts on these questions and more! |
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| The Rear Naked Column 01.07.11: Setting the Bar High |
| MMA >> Columns, 01.07.2011 |
| Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard surprised the world with a terrific battle at UFC 125 that ended in a draw! 411’s Samer Kadi takes a look at the judges' decision, the fight itself, and its place among the best title bouts in UFC history! |
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| The Rear Naked Column 12.31.10: The Worst of 2010 |
| MMA >> Columns, 12.31.2010 |
| From Anderson Silva's antics at UFC 112 and injuries striking Lyoto Machida and others to Paul Daley's sucker punch at UFC 113, dubious judge decisions and more, 411's Samer Kadi looks at the worst moments that MMA brought us in 2010! |
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| The Rear Naked Column 12.23.10: Overeem’s Heavyweight Status |
| MMA >> Columns, 12.22.2010 |
| Alistair Overeem’s win in the K-1 Grand Prix has sparked debate about his ranking within the heavyweight division! Where does he rank among the likes of Brock Lesnar, Shane Carwin and Cain Velasquez? 411’s Samer Kadi takes a look! |
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| The Rear Naked Column 12.16.10: Best in the World? |
| MMA >> Columns, 12.16.2010 |
| Georges St-Pierre’s dominating victory over Josh Koscheck at UFC 124 has cemented his status as the greatest welterweight on the planet, but can he lay claim to being the best fighter in the world? 411’s Samer Kadi takes a look! |
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| The Rear Naked Column 12.09.10: GSP vs. Kos: The Rematch |
| MMA >> Columns, 12.10.2010 |
| Three years after their first encounter, Georges St-Pierre and Josh Koscheck are set to battle once again! Can Koscheck upset the hometown hero or will GSP continue to reign? 411’s Samer Kadi breaks down the big main event! |
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| The Rear Naked Column 12.02.10: Dana White vs. Greg Jackson |
| MMA >> Columns, 12.02.2010 |
| Dana White’s recent criticism of Greg Jackson’s camp has stirred some controversy, as Jackson himself has now responded to White’s allegations. 411’s Samer Kadi discusses Dana’s comments, Jackson’s approach to fighting, and weighs in on the debate... |
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| The Rear Naked Column 11.25.10: Looking back at Rampage-Machida |
| MMA >> Columns, 11.25.2010 |
| In a controversial main event, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson edged out a split decision victory over Lyoto Machida. Join 411’s Samer Kadi as he discusses Rampage’s performance, Machida’s conservative approach and gives his take on the decision. |
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| The Rear Naked Column 11.18.10: The Battle For Redemption |
| MMA >> Columns, 11.18.2010 |
| Coming off disappointing defeats to Shogun Rua and Rashad Evans respectively, Lyoto Machida and Quinton Jackson square off in an effort to get back on track. 411’s Samer Kadi breaks down the fight and examines the potential implications… |
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| The Rear Naked Column 11.12.10: The UFC/WEC Merger |
| MMA >> Columns, 11.12.2010 |
| In one of the biggest stories of the year, Zuffa announced the merging of the WEC with the UFC. Join 411’s Samer Kadi as he discusses the positives and the negatives of the merger… |
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| The Rear Naked Column 11.05.10: Yes He Cain! |
| MMA >> Columns, 11.05.2010 |
| Cain Velasquez took the MMA world by storm when he beat Brock Lesnar for the UFC Heavyweight Championship at UFC 121! 411’s Samer Kadi discusses the bout, what's next for both men and Cain’s potential dominance over the heavyweight division! |
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| The Rear Naked Column 10.22.10: The Ultimate Heavyweight Battle |
| MMA >> Columns, 10.22.2010 |
| In what is arguably the biggest heavyweight bout in UFC history, Brock Lesnar faces the toughest challenge of his career in the form of number one contender Cain Velasquez. 411’s Samer Kadi breaks down the fight and discusses the implications for both fighters. |
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| The Rear Naked Column 10.15.10: MMA Judging Solutions |
| MMA >> Columns, 10.15.2010 |
| Since Lyoto Machida defeated Mauricio Rua last October, MMA judging has increasingly come under fire! 411's Samer Kadi discusses the possible solutions to the problem of faulty judging in this week's Rear Naked Choke! |
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| The Rear Naked Column 10.08.10: MMA Judging (Part 2) |
| MMA >> Columns, 10.08.2010 |
| Leonard Garcia and others have been in fights that have caused controversial decisions due to MMA judging recently. 411's Samer Kadi continues the discussion of judging in MMA in this week's Rear Naked Column! |
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| The Rear Naked Column 10.01.10: Octagon Control? |
| MMA >> Columns, 10.01.2010 |
| UFC 119 saw Sean Sherk get awarded a decision victory over Evan Dunham! 411’s Samer Kadi discusses the decision as well as the overall problem with MMA judging and the interpretation of “Octagon control!" |
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| The Rear Naked Column 09.23.10: Cro Cop’s Resurrection? |
| MMA >> Columns, 09.23.2010 |
| UFC 119 is Saturday night and features a battle of highly accomplished heavyweights as Mirko Cro Cop squares off against Frank Mir. 411’s Samer Kadi breaks down the fight and discusses its potential implications on Cro Cop’s future... |
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