MMA

[Animeniax]

Oh dear, Gus Johnson trying to hype a fight between Noons and Mayweather was ridiculous.

It was a crappy event, but it's not like any of the fighters matched up well for each other. The commentating was a lot better this event as well. Gus apparently learned to shut the fuck up some because I didn't hear him too much during the fights.

Knees and upkicks would be great. Right now the only option you have vs someone turtling up on the ground is to punch them in the side of the head, doing no damage, and just prolonging the inevitable. Knees to the head of a grounded opponent would stop this easily and make the opponent actually try to do something.

Do you buy PPVs? I've just streamed every boxing and MMA event for free the past 2 years. It's a total waste to buy them unless you don't have anything else to blow your cash on.

I've bought 2 PPVs so far, both Strikeforce events, to support competition. I've yet to buy any UFC PPVs, I usually watch them at sports bars or stream them. However, I believe we should support the fighters and pay for the PPVs.

I thought SF:Houston was a good show, particularly the LHW title fight. The other fights were entertaining if not meaningful. Seeing the hype behind Lashley derailed was cool too. That should help staunch the flow of pro wrestlers into MMA.

Gus Johnson is the worst announcer in MMA and the SF team are the worst in sports. They actually make me miss Rogan and Goldberg's idiotic commentary. I especially like how Johnson referred to KJ Noons as the "best puncher in MMA", even though Noons has pro boxing fights on his record.

I think upkicks would give a guy on his back more methods of attack and knees to downed opponents would give wrestlers more pause to just constantly shoot for takedowns. If a stuffed takedown could leave you open to knees to the head, they'd be a lot more hesitant to shoot for the legs.

[Uchiha Barles]

Sorry for asking this n00bish question, but I'm not very familiar with the MMA rules for any promotion. So, you mean to tell me that you are not allowed to strike someone in the face with your knee if they're going for a shoot?

[Animeniax]

Sorry for asking this n00bish question, but I'm not very familiar with the MMA rules for any promotion. So, you mean to tell me that you are not allowed to strike someone in the face with your knee if they're going for a shoot?

Nah, not a noob question. If they shoot and their knee is on the mat, a knee strike by the opponent to the head would be considered illegal, if the referee sees it. It happens so rarely though that someone can time a knee perfectly that it hasn't really been discussed.

What I was talking about is if someone sprawls and stuffs a takedown, the shooter is down on all fours and his head is in a perfect position for the opponent to throw some knees to the head, but that's not allowed currently.

[Uchiha Barles]

I think I'm starting to see why my training partners tell me there's a world of difference between mma and actual fighting, even under a controlled environment like a cage. That, is a total bs rule and seems to skew the advantage towards grapplers. Shoot and fail, don't worry about paying for the failure, try again. I mean, I know there are other things you can do besides knee the guy in the head, but it just seems so natural particularly from a sprawled position.

[Animeniax]

I think I'm starting to see why my training partners tell me there's a world of difference between mma and actual fighting, even under a controlled environment like a cage. That, is a total bs rule and seems to skew the advantage towards grapplers. Shoot and fail, don't worry about paying for the failure, try again. I mean, I know there are other things you can do besides knee the guy in the head, but it just seems so natural particularly from a sprawled position.

Exactly, all spot-on observations by you and your training partners. North American MMA rules favor wrestlers because the majority of American MMA fighters have wrestling backgrounds. There's a reason why wrestlers didn't fare so well in Pride in Japan.

You should be careful to differentiate between wrestling and grappling though. Wrestlers tend to be good at takedowns and top control and suffer in other positions. Grapplers are often just as good on their backs and can submit a guy from the bottom or reverse their way out.

If you get a chance, watch Munoz vs Okami at UFC Live on Versus 2. Munoz shoots for 15-20 takedowns, all of which are stuffed by Okami. That was the entire 15 minutes, plus some punching from Okami.

[DO]

Who else is looking forward to the James Toney vs Randy Couture fight? This is definitely going to be an interesting match up. They also have been promoting it as boxing vs UFC.

James Toney is an interesting fighter, has great hands and has knocked out a lot of people. Though, when it comes down to it I have my money on Couture winning it. The way I see it is Toney has knockout power, and Couture knows and respects this. He is not going to stand with him for long and exchange if he wants to win. Like it or not Toney is a boxing legend, and this would be a very risky move. Randy is too smart for that. Even if Toney has been training for this fight, and his camp has a few wrestlers I personally think that the experience Couture has in this area is going to out shadow what Toney is trying to learn in a few months time.

I can see Couture controlling this fight with his grappling and Toney struggling to fight from a position he is not used to being in. Then again this is MMA so crazy things can happen.

[Uchiha Barles]

I'm hearing that Toney isn't seriously training takedown defense and grappling technique. He's going to get fucked.

[mage]

Not counting the last scrub he fought, James Toney hasn't KO'd anyone in 7 years. It's not like he's Mike Tyson.

And where'd you hear he isn't taking grappling seriously? Everything I've read says the opposite.

And yeah, should be an interesting fight. I can only hope that Couture gets KO'd.

[Animeniax]

UFC is promoting it as boxing vs MMA but that's a load of bs. The guys on Inside MMA said it best: if they want to set up boxing vs MMA, why match-up a boxer way past his prime and a 47 year old MMA fighter with an 18-10 record? It's a gimmick, typical UFC money-making bs.

I'm hearing Toney is training takedown defense and reverses and basic submission defense, but he still expects to win the fight with a KO on the feet so it's hard to say how seriously he's training the grappling and wrestling.

118 is a pretty good card past the co-main events. Florian vs Maynard and Diaz vs Davis will also be entertaining fights.

[DO]

For some reason I'm not all that excited about the Penn vs Edgar rematch...

I'm way more interested in the co-main event and the main card.

[Animeniax]

I wasn't either, then I watched the primetime show. Penn was talking a lot of trash while looking for some reason to hate Edgar. It seems he only fights well when he's motivated, which is silly considering his trade. Now I want to see Edgar beat him again and end all of the talk of Penn being a P4P great of all time with a 15-6-1 record.

[mage]

Wow Toney weighed in more than he has for any previous fight. Don't think he has a chance here.

[Animeniax]

Toney looked terrible at the weigh-ins, like he just came from a Chinese buffet.

[DO]

UFC-118-Weigh-ins

Just a nice little read for everyone who missed the actual event.

Also, here are my fantasy picks for UFC 118:

[Animeniax]

Did anyone see the UFC fight night tonight? It was in Austin and I would have loved to have attended but everyone I know who is into MMA is poor or doesn't care enough to go see a live show.

Marquardt vs Palhares was a bs outcome. It definitely looked like Marquardt greased but they claim the athletic commission and doctors checked after the fight and cleared him. Of course he trains at Jackson's so it's definitely plausible he cheated (GSP greased vs Penn and Jones illegal elbow DQ against Hamill), but Palhares showed his lack of mental fortitude when he stopped fighting and let Marquardt wail on him for the loss.

The other fights on the card were pretty awesome. If this had a better main event it could have easily been a successful PPV event.

[mage]

How did it "definitely look" like Marquardt greased? You see fighters get out of leg locks like that all the time. Palhares is just an idiot. Shitty way for a fight to end, though.

[Animeniax]

Watch the fight, then comment please.

Marquardt's explanation that he worked up a sweat before coming into the cage doesn't quite explain how he slipped out of the hold like a wet bar of soap slips out of your hands. He would have had to have been drenched in sweat for it to slide out like that, considering Palhares' skill with the leg locks and his powerful grip.

Marquardt has tested positive for steroid use and he trains at Jackson's, a camp known for cheating.

[mage]

I watched the fight and there was nothing strange about the way he got out. How could you possibly suggest he greased when he was checked before and after the fight?

[TwisT]

I don't know. Almost looked like he didn't have the leg locked up and in anyway. Like he messed up and he just popped out. I'm no expert on the subject since i have never practiced such things but i don't really see it. Maybe he was a tad slippery, from the sweat like he said, and Palhares either misjudged that he had the lock tighter or he felt that he was slippery and thought he was greased and wanted a DQ win. But it looked like the heal slipped out at the elbow-joint(?) where it was enough space for it to pop out. And when Palhares complained about it, Herb Dean felt his leg on Marquardt request, i i think it was Herb's voice saying "Nah, no" in the background. But then again he had gloves. But the commission cleared him. So to be honest i think it was legit and Palhares just misjudged the situation. But who knows.

Escadero didn't make weight. Anyone knows his future? Haven't seen any press conference for this fight, so wonder if anyone know if Dana has commented on Escadero.

Cole and Person was the fight of the night IMO. I liked Cole on season 5 of TUF. He looked like a scrawny sissy but proved himself. And Person was my favorite in season 10. I was a little shocked that Cole won by knockout though. I thought that Person would win but if Cole was gonna win, he would win by submission.

EDIT: Anyways i wasn't that interested in this card when i saw who where fighting except Cole vs Person. I was much more psyched about TUF season 12. Anyone that's gonna follow it and maybe even ahve seen the first episode yet? A lot of interesting fighters. Some impressed big time.

[Animeniax]

His leg didn't "pop out", it slid out like it was lubed with grease.

edit: rewatched the fight, and I have to apologize for calling Marquardt a cheater. He had his other leg in there so Palhares didn't have a good lock on the main leg allowing Marquardt to slip out. Watching it originally and in replays his leg glided out so easily that it was easy to think he was greased, besides which Palhares complained about it and the Jackson camp is known for cheating. But in this case, Marquardt did not cheat and won fair and square.