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Last news: May 16, 2009 16:27:21
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Meaning
May 16, 2009 16:27:21Ok guys I am looking for lots of responses to this. I am writing a paper and this is the topic:
For you : " What is the heart, soul and character of MMA"?
Answer with whatever comes naturally to you please.
Any responses are well appreciatted. THANKS. - [Read more] |
DREAM 8: Shinya Aoki vs. Hayato Sakurai confirmed for Welterweight Grand Prix
March 13, 2009 19:39:57
Shinya Aoki has only lost three times in his professional MMA career that has spanned 23 fights and six years. His most recent loss came from Joachim Hansen at DREAM 5 back in July of last year, but before that bout, he hadnt lost since August 20th, 2005 to another prominent name in the Japanese MMA scene, Hayato "Mach" Sakurai. Aoki will now have a chance to redeem that loss at DREAM.8 on April 5th from Nippon Gaishi Hall in Nagoya, Japan.
MMAWeekly is confirming that Shinya Aoki vs. Hayato "Mach" Sakurai is now set to take place in the opening round of the DREAM.8 Welterweight Grand Prix. Normally, we would see DREAM try to set Sakurai and Aoki on opposite sides of the bracket in order to run through the Grand Prix and meet in the final, but FEG likely wants some star power to pull ratings after a less than stellar DREAM.7 Featherweight Grand Prix.
Stylistically, Aoki will have a superior advantage on the ground whereas Sakurai should have the strikers advantage on the feet. Sakurai has some good technical strikes, but Aoki seems to be one of the most elusive fighters to hit these days. He has very effective takedowns, and he transitions very well from the takedown to the submission. This should be a great matchup for hardcore fans looking to see Aoki put to the test.
DREAM should be hopefully putting together a few more quality bouts on this card. Aoki vs. Sakurai should generally draw more interest that some of the past events as both fighters have a following in Japan, but the card still lacks any other locked-in matchups. Hopefully that will be changing very soon. - [Read more] |
"CroCop" re-signs with DREAM, Overeem a possibility in July
March 13, 2009 16:04:14
According to FreeFightVideos, Mirko "CroCop" Filipovic has re-signed with Fight Entertainment Groups DREAM MMA promotion for a three-fight deal. The story has been confirmed by Croation Sports Website Sportal.
The article goes on to mentioned that CroCops first bout of his new contract could take place in July in a K-1 Rules matchup against Alistair Overeem. The matchup has quickly climbed the list of potential fights that fans have been pushing to see every since the No Contest bout at DREAM 6 back in September of 2008, and the subsequent war of words between the two men that led to CroCop offering to have Overeem fly to his Croation training facility to fight in his basement.
Interestingly enough, a couple of other rumors came out of the article:
The Japanese promotion Dream where quick to react after it was revealed that Cro Cop was close to signing a deal with the UFC. Dream has offered Cro Cop three fights, two under mixed martial arts rules. One of those could be a December bout with Fedor Emelianenko. Since his 2005 loss to Fedor, Cro Cop has had a strong desire to rematch the worlds best MMA heavyweight.
There have been rumors flying around the MMA blogosphere of a potential DREAM Heavyweight Grand Prix that could see names like Overeem, Kharitonov, CroCop, Fedor, Mark Hunt, and some other fighters in the mix, but there was also the prospect of an Open Weight Grand Prix in the rumor mill as well.
To be perfectly honest, I would have rather seen CroCop make his way back into the UFC. His style is much better suited for the ring, in my opinion, so Im not entirely against his reluctance to step back into the cage. The only real problem I see for CroCop is that he really has diminished in skill in the last year or two.
Overeem isnt exactly an easy fight for anyone since his massive muscle build, and taking on Fedor again is likely going to result in a beating like he withstood before. Good decision or bad decision? You be the judge. - [Read more] |
UFC Matchup Talk: Bonnar v. Coleman, Tibau vs. Stephens, more...
March 12, 2009 16:35:11The UFC has been a busy bee this week in setting up some bouts for their future events heading into mid-2009. Stephan Bonnar and Mark Coleman are rumored to be currently in talks to step into the Octagon at UFC 100 while Gleison Tibau has replaced an injured Efrian Escudero to take on Jeremy Stephens at UFN 18.
Bonnars status as being one of the pioneer fighters that brought the UFC to where it is today with his fantastic slugfest bout with Forrest Griffin in the inaugural season of "The Ultimate Fighter" and the legendary status of Mark Coleman as a pioneer in the sport, the art of ground and pound, and the first UFC heavyweight champion definitely adds a historical feel to this bout.
Stylistically, Bonnar should have an advantage over a much older Mark Coleman, but if Coleman can put together a better training camp to improve his conditioning. this may be a tough fight to call. Generally, Bonnar should have better standup and submission abilities on the floor, but can he stop Colemans top control? Im more inclined to believe Bonnar will edge Coleman in this fight.
Tibau vs. Stephens offers some interesting analysis. Stephens was easily dominated by Joe Lauzon in his last bout when the fight went to the ground, yet Stephens did have some improved defense against Lauzons offensive grappling. Tibaus gameplan will likely fall along the same lines as Lauzons, take down Stephens and submit him. I cant see any case in which Id push for Stephens here other than a huge knockout, which isnt entirely out of the question. Tibau should have the superior ground game, and he should be able to end this via submission.
Dennis Siver will see action at UFC 99 in Cologne, Germany as he takes on Bangor, Maine native Dale Hartt in a showdown between heavy-handed strikers. Siver will be representing the German talent on this card, so it should be a fantastic homecoming for Siver to perform in front of countrymen. This should make for an explosive matchup as both guys are very standup oriented, so this could end either way.
Tim Credeur and Nick Catone have been added to the UFN 18 card set for April 1, 2009. Credeur is a TUF Alum with some solid submission skills and only two losses in his career coming from Chael Sonnen and Joey Villasenor. Catone will be coming in for his second UFC bout. Hes a Ring of Combat veteran with his debut win in the UFC coming against Derek Downey at UFN 17. Both Credeur and Catone have decent ground games, but Id give Credeur the nod skillwise.
Eliot Marshall will take on Neil Grove beater Mike Ciesnolevicz at UFC 97 on April 18th in a preliminary bout at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Canada. Mike Ciesnolevicz is coming off a leglock win over Neil Grove while Eliot Marshall won his debut bout in the UFC against Jules Bruchez after losing in the semifinals on Season 8 of TUF. This one should be interesting considering Marshall has some great wrestling ability, and Mike Ciesnolevicz will be fighting at a weight class he likely wont be able to maintain a gas tank at.
Kevin Randleman has returned! Randleman has officially signed with Strikeforce, and hes set to return to the cage. All you closet Randleman fans should be excited at the prospect of seeing some overpowering takedowns. - [Read more] |
MMA News & Notes: DREAM.7s Ratings didnt suck, UFC will counterprogram Strikeforce
March 11, 2009 21:12:45Since I was completely incapacitated yesterday due to an illness of epic proportions, heres some of the news that hit the wires yesterday:
- DREAM.7s ratings really werent that bad according to an article by smoogy over on BloodyElbow.com. The combination of a poor time slot, non-holiday weekend, poor quality fights, non-drawing names, but.. mostly a terrible time slot pushed the lowly 2.4% rating for DREAM.7.
Further into the article, its revealed that a 2.4 rating for the timeslot is actually fairly satisfactory considering it was such a late night slot. It just goes to show that much of the MMA blogosphere jumped the gun on this one.
- Interestingly enough, our prediction came true. The UFC will, in fact, counterprogram Strikeforce. SpikeTV will air a full day worth of UFC Primetime, TUF reruns, UFC Unleashed, and all of this culminating into a final shot at Strikeforce with the airing of UFC 94. Did you really think the UFC would leave Strikeforce alone? Give me a break.
- Yoshihiro Akiyama is currently in talks to take on Alan Belcher at UFC 100 according to MMAJunkie.com sources and this 5OuncesOfPain.com article. This makes perfect sense considering it will be an overseas bout in which Akiyama can draw some fans to the event. It looks like the UFC is trying to make Belcher the "Japanese-import" Killer.
- Paulo Filho wont be signing with Bellator due to some contractual issues. Filhos manager, Guimaraes, stated in the article that Bellator was unwilling to add a clause that stated the contract would lose validity if Filho was on the shelf for more than four months. Filho doesnt seem like the type of fighter who wants to fight that much, but I can see his point of not being benched for a long time. Money is an issue.
Im sure there was some more important news in the community, but I really didnt care to mention it. Did you hear Siver vs. Hartt got booked for UFC 99? Yeah, nobody cares. - [Read more] |
Lyoto Machida, the hardcore fans champion
March 11, 2009 20:44:56Its about time. Lyoto Machida has been impressively moving up in the ranks of the Light Heavyweight division for quite some time, and while many fans such as FightLinker absolutely loathe Machidas style, I cant say that I feel the same way.
Machidas dominating wins over all of his opponents (He hasnt lost a round) are only the tip of the iceberg. After Saturday nights main event bout between Quinton "Rampage" Jackson and Keith Jardine, an Evans vs. Jackson title fight was all but written down for UFC 98 after Frank Mir sustained a knee injury that will see his bout with Brock Lesnar pushed back a month. Today, there are confirming reports stating that Jackson does, in fact, need surgery to repair torn ligaments in his jaw, and he needs time to heal an elbow injury.
What exactly does that mean? Obviously, Jackson cannot take on Evans, so the UFC has finally given Lyoto Machida his shot at the title, a very lucky chance for Machida to finally gain the respect he deserves at the top of the division.
For years, many hardcore fans have been pushing for the quality of fights. I cant tell you how many interviews and articles Ive read over the years of people complaining about how MMA must evolve to a point where only the best are taking on the best. This is quite possibly a fight that we wouldnt be seeing if Mir vs. Lesnar was called off and Jackson was able to actually fight Evans. Why? Because the consensus belief is that Machida is a boring fighter who just cant produce the hype and excitement that much of the casual fanbase wants to see.
The problem for most hardcore fans is the unappreciation of the hype machine that is the UFC. While many of the overly hyped bouts that we see on UFC telecasts dont exactly bring quality to the cage, they do bring viewers. Those viewers, in turn, make the UFC a massive success.
But for now, we are getting a matchup that isnt exactly beneficial to the UFC. Evans has become a champion who has the ability to end fights in exciting fashion, but Machida has the ability to make fights seem methodically boring to the average fan. His elusiveness, quickness, and overall intelligent fighting style allow for him to win fights decisively.
The UFC will likely be hoping for an Evans victory. This will ensure the Jackson vs. Evans matchup that so many fans have been looking forward to, and I agree that it would be a quality matchup. If Machida defeats Evans, Jackson will likely be in line in the fall for a title shot. If Machida wins once again, itll not only prove that Machida is the best Light Heavyweight in the world, but he will be the epitome of the perfect fighter if he can do so in same fashion as he has against the other talent within the division.
Im convinced that Lyoto Machida will be the champion, and Im also convinced hell reign on top of the division for quite some time. Itll be nice to see a truly skilled fighter who really hasnt been a part of the UFCs marketing plans for once at the top of the heap. Of course, itll also be interesting to see what Rashad Evans brings to the table against Machida. It should be a great bout. - [Read more] |
Referees under fire once again in the aftermatch of UFC 96
March 9, 2009 17:06:23It has happened once again, a referees judgment has been put into question and the UFCs Dana White isnt too pleased with the outcome:
"Im worried about Pete Sell. I sent him to the hospital to get an MRI.... As youve heard me so many times -- especially in the last few weeks -- and wait until The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) comes out to talk to me about judging and officiating in this sport right now. It drives me crazy because its such a personal thing. These guys train so hard and those two kids [Aaron Riley and Shane Nelson] have been in camp for six to eight weeks, training, and then they fly out here to fight and it gets stopped like that. People make mistakes all the time, but that was a bad one. I was unhappy with the Pete Sell fight tonight, too. Yves LaVigne is actually usually a very good referee. Im serious -- Im not even kidding -- I hurt my arm tonight banging on the Octagon for him to stop that fight. Ive never done that in eight years. I dont even know what to say. It drives me crazy."
The controversial stoppage to the Aaron Riley vs. Shane Nelson bout can be seen in this weeks latest UFC 96 Dana White Video Blog. In the blog and from what Ive read from the play-by-plays, the referee stopped the fight after Riley was put down from a solid punch by Nelson, but was visibly on his back defending strikes from Nelson and was fully in control of all his actions. It looked like a standard exchange between a guy in guard and a guy looking to stay out of guard and pound his way to victory. The fight was suddenly stopped.
In the Pete Sell vs. Matt Brown matchup, Sell was nearly knocked out from a Brown punch. Yves Lavigne rushed in to stop the fight, actually put his hands on Brown, pushed him away, then as Brown walked away in celebration, told Brown and Sell to restart. This was a very odd scene, and it produced a lot of "What the heck just happened?" moments from fans, including myself. Sell was visibly stunned, and Brown subsequently punished Sell to the point in which everyone watching was outraged by the continuance of the fight.
UFC 95 also had its share of controversy with many, including myself, believing Josh Koscheck wasnt given a chance and the fight was stopped way too quickly. All of these debatable stoppages bring us back to the central issue, is there a need for some sort of organizational body to manage, train, and create a critera for referees?
I think the last few events certainly raise the issue. Yves Lavignes mistake in the Sell-Brown fight was likely caused by the fact that another referee quickly stopped a fight earlier in th evening. Lavigne likely didnt want to make similar mistakes, but Lavigne would have been fully justified in stopping the fight when Sell first went down, although Sell did move to defend. It would have been perfectly fine for Lavigne to stop the fight when Sell was obviously barely able to stand against the fence. It shouldnt have went for as long as it had, but the recent screwups in the Octagon as of late are probably one of the reasons why Lavigne waited to stop this bout.
The Riley-Nelson situation was that of an inexperienced referee in my mind. When the focus is on fighter safety and only fighter safety, veteran battlers like Aaron Riley who are familiar with being on the ropes of defeat, but are able to fully defend themselves get the short end of the stick. The replay shown in Whites video blog is confusing to any fan.
What needs to happen in order for this to end? Ive thrown the suggestion out that the UFC should try to get behind some type of organizational body that trains MMA referees, teaches specific criteria that referees need to follow, and is headed by one of the best referees in the business in John McCarthy. If the UFC backs the organization, it should filter throughout the commissions and through the regional promotions as well. It could have some sort of regional experience program, allowing referees to go through trials and tribulations in lower promotions and building their way up to higher level organizations through a track record of some kind. There should be some sort of review board much like what NFL and MLB officials have to go through.
Kid Nate believes John McCarthy should also be reinstated back into the UFC, and I believe this would be a brilliant idea for bigger marquee matchups. We havent had any huge bouts completely screwed by poor refereeing lately, but its bound to happen if this continues.
Im more inclined to push McCarthy into a role to create the future of MMA referees with his common sense in the cage. I think that would be a much more effective way to bring new referees into the same mindset that McCarthy has had over the years. It should provide us with an ample amount of referees that wont foul things up so horribly like that of what happened in Riley vs. Nelson. - [Read more] |
Japanese Lightweights getting no love from MMA landscape
March 6, 2009 20:49:31Cory Brady over at FiveOuncesOfPain.com has one of the most absurd articles Ive read in quite some time that screams the sentiments that Ive had about the overall MMA fanbase to this day. It lacks depth, knowledge, and the voice of the hardcore fan. It isnt just blogs like FiveOuncesOfPain either or writers like Cory Brady, its the overall direction that the MMA blogosphere has pushed itself... to the Zuffa side.
No matter what the reasoning may be... more hits, more Google searches for UFC, the fact that people associate MMA with "Ultimate Fighting", whatever you may want to push as the reason why the Japanese MMA scene gets no love from some of the biggest MMA blogs on the Internet, its clear that some of these writers need to take a historical course on Japanese MMA. More importantly, they need to stop the pro-UFC stance and give the fans of MMA a fair shake at all the action.
Thats a story for another day. One of the problems that set off a bomb in my brain as to what the massive problem is in the MMA blogosphere when it comes to Japanese MMA came with Cory Bradys story about the Lightweight rankings and the involvement of Japanese MMA fighters. There is really only one thing I need to excerpt from his article to prove my counterpoint to his absurd elaboration that UFC fighters should be dominating the Lightweight rankings because they are "more active":
1. B.J. Penn
2. Kenny Florian
3. Sean Sherk
4. Gray Maynard
5. Frankie Edgar
6. Tyson Griffin
7. Josh Thomson
8. Diego Sanchez
9. Shinya Aoki
10.Clay Guida
This is Bradys top ten list of Lightweight fighters after he made his points about how most of the Japanese scene MMA fighters havent done squat. Yes, riddled with 8 UFC fighters, 1 Strikeforce fighter, and only 1 DREAM fighter in Shinya Aoki. Interesting, huh?
1. B.J. Penn
2. Shinya Aoki
3. Kenny Florian
4. Eddie Alvarez
5. Joachim Hansen
6. Sean Sherk
7. Gesias Cavalcante
8. Josh Thomson
9. Satoru Kitaoka
10. Tatsuya Kawajiri
So, what are the likely knocks on guys like Eddie Alvarez, Shinya Aoki, Joachim Hansen, Gesias Cavalcante, Satoru Kitaoka, and Tatsuya Kawajiri? Well, Brady makes a case that inactivity is one of the biggest culprits.
I wont knock on the fact that Aoki shouldnt be #1 or maybe even #2, but I wont delve past that as he has the potential. However, rankings arent about potential. They should be about results. There in lies the problem with fans in general. If Aoki was dropped off the top 10 list, potential thrown out the window, many writers, fans, anybody actually ranking these fighters would have a problem. Thats where a mix of results/potential/past wins come into play.
First on the list, Eddie Alvarez. Brady claims that since he merely brawled with two highly-overrated fighters in Kawajiri and Hansen, he shouldnt even be in the top 10 according to his list above. There is one reason why Alvarez is in the top ten. Not only did he prevail against tougher competition, but he also ran through Amade (outside the bubble, but a solid striker), Hansen (at least top 10), and Kawajiri (also top 10) in a matter of FOUR months. I can see, however, how he may be left off the list due to a differing opinion on Kawajiri and Hansen.
Hansen and Cavalcante are an odd drop from the top 10. The problem with Bradys offense here is that hes basing all his assumptions on the assumption that none of these guys belong in the top 10. Therefore, if any of them fought each other and won, it really doesnt help them get back into his own personal top 10 list. Thats where Cavalcante and Hansen come in.
I wont completely disagree that Hansen is ranked too high. He is, but Cavalcante is the most absurd argument Ive heard. Hes currently ranked at #7, and yes, those are past bouts that are his reason for being ranked, but isnt that the reason why ALL of these fighters are within the rankings. Most of the top ranked fighters have earned their spot, but most of the mid to low tier top 10 have past fights putting them in those places with a few up-and-comers in the mix.
Cavalcante still holds one of the most impressive lightweight destructions weve seen in the division in some time. He destroyed Rani Yahya and Caol Uno in ONE NIGHT, then turned around in 2007 and beat a veteran in Nam Phan in June, arguably top 5 at the time Vitor "Shaolin" Ribeiro, and on the bubble Andre Amade in the same night, then was putting it to Shinya Aoki before the illegal elbows. He then loses to arguably a top 3, but at least top 10 fighter. So, hes now off the list?
Past fights still hold water for at least a couple of years in the rankings. I dont understand this view that rankings should change dramatically from month to month. I also dont understand the pro-Zuffa sentiment to the Lightweight division.
Lets take a look at Bradys list:
1. B.J. Penn *justified* 2. Kenny Florian *at least top 5* 3. Sean Sherk *at least top 10*
4. Gray Maynard - Who has Gray Maynard beat, Brady? Thats my question. If this is all about inactivity and opinion, how does Gray Maynard suddenly catapult to #4? Is Rich Clementi or a one-dimensional Frankie Edgar better than Eddie Alvarez, Shinya Aoki, Joachim Hansen, Gesias Cavalcante, Satoru Kitaoka, and Tatsuya Kawajiri? I would bet against Maynard in nearly ALL of those fights. In fact, I would push Ishida to beat Maynard, but itd be close.
5. Frankie Edgar - I imagine Frankie Edgar is the main reason why Maynard is #4. Once again, Maynard beating Edgar wasnt a huge surprise. Edgar is fairly one dimensional, and he beat who to be worthy of a #5 ranking? If so many of his wins were worth this ranking, where is Spencer Fisher and Hermes Franca on your listing?
6. Tyson Griffin - Griffins only solid blemish is Edgar. Losing to Sherk doesnt crush you, but the main reason most rankings dont push him higher is because of disappointing performances and opinion. Griffin at #6 is ridiculous because Edgar at 5 and Maynard at 4 are absurd.
7. Josh Thomson *Between 7 and 10* 8. Diego Sanchez - Hes had one fight at Lightweight. How is this even justifiable at all? Because its all based on potential, thats why. This is another ranking that shouldnt be here. Sanchez shouldnt be in the picture, especially with Joe Stevensons massive dropoff.
9. Shinya Aoki *top 5 at least* 10.Clay Guida - Does not have the wins to even remotely justify a top 10 ranking. Sure, he doesnt have the losses to drop him, but he was never there to begin with.
Ill push my opinion here as Brady has as well. Hes entitled to what he believes is the true rankings, and I do see his logic, but its flawed in that he moves to push out inactivity and substitutes unjustifiable wins that are perceived as top ten wins because he believes all of these guys are top ten. The problem is that these guys dont have the wins to even justify those rankings.
If we go through the list of wins that Maynard, Edgar, and Griffin all have... there isnt any specific win I can point at and say WOW! Top ten fighter.
In the end, rankings all come down to opinions. You can rank by all sorts of criteria, but nearly everyone bases rankings on talent and skill, whether they say they dont or not. All rankings are based on those pieces of criteria intertwined with who fought when, who, how often, if it was a title fight, etc. Opinions on who is better than who is what most rankings go by with activity and depreciation as minor tweaking mechanisms.
You cant convince me that Frankie Edgar, Gray Maynard, or Tyson Griffin can beat even a non-top ten guy like Mitsuhiro Ishida, let alone even Kitaoka or Kawajiri. To be perfectly honest, the article screams pro-Zuffa bias, and its a bit unsettling that Japanese MMA isnt getting a fair shake.
I truly believe that the MMA landscape is becoming too pro-UFC and Zuffa. It isnt an anti-Zuffa stance either. I love the fights, love the landscape of the sport, but I think Japanese MMA gets an unfair shake due to its obscurity from the casual fans and even fans who have followed the UFC for a long time. Just because the UFC is the biggest promotion in town, and there hasnt been any crossover bouts between Japanese and UFC fighters, does that suddenly mean that we should DUMP all Japanese fighters from the rankings because the perception is that the UFC is king and that they must have the top fighters? Thats ridiculous. - [Read more] |
UFC 96 Betting Talk: No pain, no gain
March 6, 2009 18:55:06
UFC 96 has some very solid matchups and along with those matchups comes some very close lines. These arent the most interesting bouts that every fan will seek, but if you can choose the right bets, there is some good money to be made. Well take a look at the complete lineup of betting odds, and give our take.
Keith Jardine (+260) vs. Quinton Jackson (-320): While Jardines line in at +260, Im hesitant to even bet on this fight. There is just too much that can happen here. Jackson could in fact crush Jardine early, but his line is a bit high for me to put down an excessive amount of cash, especially with the spoiling efforts of Keith Jardine fresh in everyones minds.
Gabriel Gonzaga (-175) vs. Shane Carwin (+140): I still like Carwin here, but Id stay away from betting the bank. Carwin can still easily lose this one to a dynamic striking "Napao" Gonzaga. Carwin has the power, wrestling, and capability of punishing Gonzaga, but its a hard sell for some fans. Its a risky bet.
Mark Munoz (+140) vs. Matt Hamill (-170): Im staying away from this bout altogether. I can hardly even imagine picking this fight as both guys are great wrestlers with solid credentials, but we havent seen unbelievable striking from either fighter. Hamill should have the advantage standing, but barely, so itll come down to cage experience and overall toughness. I think Hamill can edge out Munoz by stuffing takedowns and punching at Munoz, but its too close to call. Ill stay away from this fight.
Brandon Vera (-570) vs. Michael Patt (+440): I dont think well see a Paulo Thiago-esque upset here. Vera should easily win this one, but at -570, Im not throwing down boatloads of money to win very little.
Gray Maynard (-165) vs. Jim Miller (+150): Tough fight to call. Maynard has great power, solid wrestling, and is able to stay away from the submission. Miller is an absolute animal. He has solid cardio, great submissions, toughness, and has the ability to make opponents fight his fight. Miller is a solid underdog bet here.
Jason Brilz (+120) vs. Tim Boetsch (-150): Boetsch has burned me before, so Ill likely stay away from this fight, but Brilz isnt a bad bet here. He has size, good wrestling, and punishing ground and pound. Boetsch has a much more dynamic standup game, and he has the wrestling background to counter Brilz. Im picking Boetsch, but Im going to stay away from this line as it could have upset written on it.
Jason Day (+150) vs. Kendall Grove (-170): Another tough fight to pick, but Day may be another underdog bid. Grove hasnt had very much luck against power punchers, and this may be no different.
Matt Brown (+120) vs. Pete Sell (-140): Another matchup in which the favorite should win, but it isnt definitive. Brown doesnt have the overall skillset that "Drago" does, but he could end up winning here. Sell is the safe pick, but is he worth the money? Im not so sure.
Aaron Riley (-225) vs. Shane Nelson (+175): Riley should be the pick here. Nelson isnt much of a finisher while Riley has a veteran record, much more experience, and hes a tough well-rounded fighter. He can also finish. Look for Riley to win here.
Ryan Madigan (+260) vs. Tamdan McCrory (-350): This one has me a bit baffled. McCrory will be dominating on the floor, but Madigan has unbelievable striking. Hes a former WCL combatant, and Ive seen a lot of what he can do. Hes tall like McCrory, and should give him problems. This might be a decent underdog bet, but Ill go with McCrory. The line is too high for me, so Ill stay away. However, this could be an upset bid for Madigan. Very good line for that.
Overall Advice Very tough event to bet on, in my mind. There are too many "what ifs" on this card to make a lot of solid bets. Im more inclined to abstain from betting on this card than many of the other cards.
Ill likely small bet on: Carwin, Miller, and Day as underdog bids, but I wont push more than 20 on each. There is a good chance I could lose that, but thats what betting on these bouts is all about, the risk. To be perfectly honest, Im going to throw a bit down on Ryan Madigan just because he has some solid striking, and McCrory might get overwhelmed.
Parlay options are everywhere, but very, very risky. I really dont know where to begin. The most solid bet is Vera, but at -580, its not even worth the time. I may lay 20 down on Carwin, Miller, Hamill as a miracle parlay, but after that, Im just not convinced this card can payout big. Too many what ifs. - [Read more] |
UFC 96 Preview & Predictions: Matt Hamill (5-2) vs. Mark Munoz (5-0)
March 6, 2009 18:39:18Matt Hamill, a staple to the Columbus, OH cards, makes his return to the Octagon after defeating Reese Andy by TKO at UFC 92. Mark Munoz is a WEC transplant and a former Division I National Champion wrestler. He sports a perfect 5-0 record, and finished his two fights in the WEC by TKO.
Hamill is the more experienced of the two fighters, and besides a controversial (ridiculous) decision loss to Michael Bisping, he has only lost to former Middleweight kingpin Rich Franklin. Hamill has unorthodox striking and comes forward with reckless abandon, sometimes with his hands at his waist. He has good punching power, and being a former Division III National Champion, has good wrestling skills as well.
Munoz is a great wrestler, but his stand up leaves something to be desired. Against lesser wrestlers, Munoz has been able to abandon the stand up and put his opponents on their back. His top control is great, and his ground-and-pound is full of serious power shots. If he can put Hamill on his back, he has a good chance to win the fight.
My Take: Hamill has more experience, better stand up, and is the better overall MMA fighter. Does that mean Munoz has no shot? Not at all. Munozs best chance is to put Hamill where he is uncomfortable, which is on his back. If he can do that, he can win the fight. I just dont think he has the stand up to close the distance effectively. Hamill will control the pace of the fight, and unless Munoz has improved his stand up dramatically, hes going to have to secure takedowns early and often. Munoz would best be served to wait for Hamill to over commit when coming forward, but he also has to be wary of Hamills patented front headlock. I think Hamill can keep the fight standing and punish Munoz on the feet. Its not going to be a pretty fight, but Hamill will get the job done.
Joes Prediction: Matt Hamill via unanimous decision. - [Read more] |
UFC 96 Preview & Predictions: Gray Maynard (6-0-0-1) vs. Jim Miller (13-1)
March 6, 2009 18:28:47One of the most anticipated fights taking place at UFC 96 is Gray Maynard versus Jim Miller. Maynard is another TUF product and has a solid wrestling base. He is currently riding a 4 fight winning streak, but his ability to finish fights has come into question. Three out of four of those fights have gone to a decision, and four out of his six victories have been decided by the judges. Jim Miller is coming into this fight after his short notice victory over Matt Wiman. The Miller brothers are earning quite a reputation with the casual fans these days.
Maynard is a great wrestler and has some decent power in his hands. He has improved his stand up since leaving TUF, working with Shawn Tompkins at Extreme Couture. He still loops his punches a little bit, but his boxing is becoming more refined. Maynard is relentless once he shoots for a takedown and has excellent top control. I still have questions about his BJJ, and more importantly, his ability to defend.
Jim Miller also has a solid wrestling base, good standup, and a relentless ground game. Miller is able to utilize BJJ effectively in his fights and is always looking for the finish. If Maynard gets careless for a second, the fight could be over that quickly. Miller doesnt pack a lot of power in his punches, but his boxing is crisp, and he has good defense. His cardio is never a factor as made apparent by his short notice fight with Wiman.
My Take: This is an interesting clash of styles. I think Maynard will have the strength advantage in this fight, and will look to close the distance and make this a "dirty" fight. Miller will need to create separation on the feet and use his crisp stand up to put Maynard in trouble. Miller will have to be wary of Maynards looping power shots. The fight will definitely hit the floor at some point, and thats where well see if Maynard has improved his BJJ defense. He did well in his last fight with Rich Clementi, but Millers BJJ is more active and is more of an attacking style. I think Maynard will control the fight early and win a round, maybe two. However, the pace will be too much for him, and hell eventually fall victim to a Miller submission, most likely a guillotine while taking a lazy shot.
Joes Prediction: Jim Miller via submission round 3. - [Read more] |
UFC 96 Preview & Predictions: Aaron Riley (27-10-1) vs. Shane Nelson (11-3)
March 6, 2009 18:20:56Lets be honest, this is a lopsided fight. Riley has way more experience and is the better all-around fighter. Nelson is a B.J. Penn product, but outside of his BJJ, he presents no real danger to Riley in this fight.
My Take: This is Rileys fight to lose, plain and simple. Nelsons best chance to win the fight is to put Riley on his back and look for the sub. Nelson just doesnt have the wrestling to make that happen. Rileys top control is solid as well, so if Nelson even decides to pull guard, its not going to matter. Look for Riley to control the stand up and finish Nelson on the mat.
Joes Prediction: Aaron Riley via T/KO round 1.
Lelands Prediction: Aaron Riley via unanimous decision.
- [Read more] |
Sorry Again to the Loyal Readers!
August 27, 2008 12:15:00MMA-Analyst would like to extend a big apology to all of its' loyal readers. We're sorry for the lack of posting that has taken place over the last month, but we assure you that we are not gone, and hopefully, not forgotten. We will return steadily over the next few weeks with articles coming in the next day or two. Again, our sincerest apologies for the lack of posting. - [Read more] |
EliteXC on CBS Betting Preview
July 25, 2008 15:56:00
EliteXC returns to network television a week after some of the best action we've seen this year. DREAM, Affliction: Banned, and UFC Fight Night 14 all provided some intense battles for the MMA fanbase to enjoy. Will EliteXC be able to overcome a fantastic weekend of MMA the week before to put some solid ratings up? It'll definitely take some luck as this card isn't providing the punch that they did in the past. Nonetheless, there are a few betting lines for the card on Saturday that should entice some of the gamblers in the community. Let's take a look.
Wilson Reis (-160) vs. Brian Caraway (+140)
This definitely isn't an underdog bet for me. Wilson Reis is an absolute monster when it comes to grappling or hitting the floor in general. He has a smaller, compact body, but makes up for it with tremendous strength and skill. He'll be a handful for anyone when this battle hits the floor. Caraway will also be looking to hit the ground, and at only -160, I think Reis is a solid bet. He's only favored slightly, and this could potentially be a big money bet that should pay out.
Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos (+165) vs. Shayna Baszler (-190)
I haven't seen a lot of footage on Santos, but I do know she has tremendous knockout power. She's also brutally tough to take down at times, but Baszler is a very good grappler. She has the tools to beat nearly anyone in the division with her grappling pedigree, and having Josh Barnett as your trainer can only help. Whatever you feel, a wager isn't a bad beat by any means. Santos has the knockout power to put Baszler down instantly, and the losses that Baszler has had over the years have normally been from powerful competitors with the punch.
Robbie Lawler (-230) vs. Scott Smith (+220)
I'm still convinced that Lawler will wait out Smith and catch him with a huge blow, but Smith's chin is the x-factor once again. Smith showed an amazing determination in his last bout with Lawler, and his chin was the surprise in that fight. If he can land a solid punch, he may be able to floor Lawler. I'd still wager some money on Lawler. If it goes to the floor, Lawler still has much better wrestling skills. Look for this to be a real barn burner of a fight though.
Stay away from...
Feijao is at -480 to -550, and he should steamroll Galbraith quickly. Antonio Silva is listing at about -550 to -600. The odds are much too large to wager any money and make a killing.
Potentially dangerous...
Nick Diaz has had some very lackluster matches lately. Can Thomas Denny actually submit Diaz? Doubtful, but Diaz isn't exactly invincible from being cut and defeated. I'd still stay away from this one. Jake Shields should have the wrestling and jiu-jitsu to defeat Nick Thompson, but Thompson is a very smart fighter. He'll come in with a great gameplan, and he definitely has a shot at winning. Ballsy enough to bet it? I'm not.
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EliteXC on CBS II: Lawler vs. Smith Preview & Predictions
July 24, 2008 15:21:00EliteXC will be looking to continue to massive amount of mixed martial arts action we've seen this month with their second event on CBS. Although Kimbo Slice won't on the card, Robbie Lawler will be taking on Scott Smith in a rematch of their previous CBS bout that saw Smith being stopped by the doctor due to an accidental eye gouge. The ensuing uproar by fans and the awesome battle that had happened during the bout should ensure this fight to be another war.
Also on the card, Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva will take on former UFC fighter Justin Eilers while Jake Shields will be tested by veteran Nick "The Goat" Thompson. Nick Diaz will take on Thomas Denny, notably known for crushing Malapeit in ShoXC and then being spectacularly KO'd by illegal elbows to the head. In a marquee women's matchup, Shayna Baszler will hope to continue her dominance against a very tough Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos.
Robbie Lawler vs. Scott Smith
Once again, we'll see two hard-hitting strikers in both Robbie Lawler and Scott Smith square off in a war of attrition. While both men have the knockout power to end this fight instantly, look for this matchup to go into the late rounds once again.
The most significant difference between my previous analysis of their first fight and this fight is Smith's chin. During their first battle, Smith displayed a rock solid iron chin that Lawler was tagging consistently. If not for that chin, Smith would have easily been out by the second round. Can Smith's determination win him this fight?
I'm still leaning toward Robbie Lawler in this fight. He has the reach, size, and a new found patience to wait opponents out before moving in for the kill. Smith still found it tough to move close to Lawler to land the big blows during their previous matchup. I don't believe Lawler will end it early, but I think he'll be able to stand with Smith for most of the fight and wear him down.
Leland's Prediction: Robbie Lawler via TKO, Round 4
Antonio Silva vs. Justin Eilers
This isn't much of a challenge for "Bigfoot" Silva. Silva will not only be bigger and stronger, but he'll likely have a huge advantage on the ground. Eilers isn't a slouch by any means, but his striking will likely be ineffective against Silva's size and reach. I don't see Eilers knocking out Silva or challenging him on the ground in any facet of jiu-jitsu or wrestling. Look for Silva to end this quickly in either the first or second round.
Leland's Prediction: Antonio Silva via TKO, Round 1
Jake Shields vs. Nick Thompson
This could very well be a fight of the night candidate. While Thompson is likely being underdog'd in this fight, he does stand a decent shot at defeating Shields potentially on his feet. Thompson's all-around game is venerable, but his ground game will be the area where Shields will try to win.
Shields, training out of Cesar Gracie Academy, has high jiu-jitsu credentials and trains with MMA veterans Nick Diaz and Gilbert Melendez on a consistent day to day basis. His grappling will likely be superior to Thompson's jiu-jitsu, but the question is how far of a gap will there be?
Shields is weak in the standup, but he's still scrappy enough to avoid the big shots. If this hits the floor, look for Shields to pull away for the win in the later rounds.
Leland's Prediction: Jake Shields via submission, Round 3
Nick Diaz vs. Thomas Denny
Nick Diaz needs to stop trying to pepper opponents with shots from his boxing training and begin to try to end fights as quickly as possible. Not only will it help him extend his career and protect his face from being cut up significantly, but it'll actually help the fans understand that he does have some potential to be one of the best in the sport. Unfortunately, Diaz seems to be content with showing how tough he is rather than finishing a fight in the first round.
Denny is a finisher on the ground, but Diaz is a much better jiu-jitsu practitioner. Look for this fight to hit the floor after Denny gets peppered with shots early. Hopefully, Diaz will submit Denny inside two rounds so we won't need to sit through another boring decision.
Leland's Prediction: Nick Diaz via submission, Round 2
Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos vs. Shayna Baszler
I would normally go with Shayna Baszler's killer instinct to finish her opponents quickly and her superior grappling abilities against most women in the division, but the buzz surrounding Santos is significant to give her a look here.
Santos is a power striking beast in the cage, and it wouldn't surprise me if we see a similar win by Santos over Baszler as we did when Larosa TKO'd Baszler in their past fights. While I think Baszler could potentially submit the Brazilian, it's likely that Santos has very good defense on the ground due to her Brazilian training. From what I've seen from her, she'll be a tough competitor for Baszler to steamroll.
Leland's Prediction: Cristiane Santos via TKO, Round 1
Quick picks
Anthony "El Toro" Ruiz vs. Jeremy Freitag: Ruiz has beaten Freitag twice in the past, and I don't see why this fight should go any different. Freitag's chin will be exposed, and Ruiz should take advantage. Ruiz via TKO, Round 2.
Wilson Reis vs. Brian Caraway: Reis is a nightmare, and his name will be known throughout the world before we know it. While Caraway has an impressive streak going for himself, he's primarily a submission fighter. Reis won't be susceptible to the submission, especially with his superior training on the ground. Reis is also a ball of steel in the cage. Look for his power, speed, and abilities to overwhelm Caraway quickly. Reis via submission, Round 1
Travis Galbraith vs. Rafael Feijao: Feijao should put the leather on Galbraith early in this one. Galbraith will be looking to hit the floor, but Feijao will have some decent takedown defense and likely defend against the submission well on the ground if it gets there. Look for Feijao to find the stunning knockout in this prelim. Feijao via TKO, Round 2 - [Read more] |
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