MMA Fans Have a New Favorite Moron
Some cat named Damian Demento –apparently a former pro wrestler– has a video up in which he “confesses” to watching MMA occasionally. This video is part of his wildly successful (not) “Demented Rants”. He takes the opportunity to rip on fighters and both Mike Goldberg and Joe Rogan. He says Forrest Griffin looks like Opie from what he calls the “Andy Griffin Show”. He calls Goldberg “The Screamer” and he calls Rogan “a pothead wannabe” and a “pothead midget”.
What he probably doesn’t know is that Joe Rogan is a brown belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. That not only makes him superbly qualified to add the color to Goldberg’s play by play, but it also means that if Rogan sees this cat he’ll snap his arm off quicker than you can say “You Tube Loser”. Here is the video of MMA fans’ new favorite moron. The guy is just so clueless.
The Biggest Turkeys in MMA
It might be hard to fathom, but men that step into a cage to fight for a living often have some screws loose and don’t always behave well. In no particular order, here are some of the biggest turkeys in MMA.
Wes Sims
Currently pestering and annoying housemates on this season of “The Ultimate Fighter”, you might remember Sims from such antics as stomping on Frank Mir’s head at UFC 46. Sims was disqualified from the fight and later booted from the UFC.
Mike Kyle
Speaking of Wes Sims, in the very next event–UFC 47–he stepped in as a replacement to fight Mike Kyle. Kyle proceeded to knock Sims out, and bite his chest in the process. It was the first, and only Tyson-like moment in UFC history. Kyle was also disqualified at WEC 20 for an illegal kick on Brian Olsen. He then added some extra punches as refs (yes, plural) tried to get him off of Olsen. It’s probably the most disgusting thing that MMA fight fans have ever seen.
Rampage Jackson
Rampage is funny. He’s also one of the biggest turkeys in MMA. Dropping a bout against Rashad Evans to go film a B-movie of an 80’s TV show? Pass the gravy. Rampage also is a hit and run, police evading, reckless driver, as well as a deterrent to the fighters on The Ultimate Fighter with his BS antics and bravado.
Renato “Babalu” Sobral
Babalu makes the list for his utter lack of honor and sportsmanship at UFC 74. Fighting David Heath, Babalu worked a tight Anaconda choke and Heath tapped. But Babalu did not release the hold. Referee Steve Mazzagatti told Babalu repeatedly to let go but he didn’t. He told Joe Rogan after the official decision that “he (David Heath) has to learn respect. He deserved that. He called me ‘motherf—-r’.”
Then in 2007 he was also arrested and charged with two misdemeanors, one for battery and the other for trespassing after allegedly spitting on a bouncer outside a Casino nightclub. Stay classy.
Chris Leben
Bed-wetting is bad, mm-kay? Especially when you are purposely doing it on someone else’s bed, as Leben famously did on season 1 of The Ultimate Fighter. Leben was also arrested for violating parole from a DUI charge. Drunk drivers are the biggest turkeys. After he served that time he came back to fight at UFC 89 and was busted for using Stanozol, a banned steroid.
Josh Barnett
The Jose Canseco of MMA, Josh Barnett had his UFC heavyweight belt stripped after testing positive for different steroids following his fight with Randy Couture. Barnett has actually tested positive three times for roids, the only MMA fighter to achieve such infamy. Dude needs to place a call to Victor Conte.
Gilbert Yvel
The DQ King. As Sherdog put it in late-2008, “(Yvel) has perpetuated some of the most classless, shameful and potentially damaging infractions of any combat athlete in the modern era.” Yvel has been disqualified from MMA matches for: biting, punching the referee and eye gouging.
More to come…
Rear Naked Chokes End Fights Quickly
Here we see the art of the rear naked choke as practiced by Roger Gracie at Sengoku 2. He’s able to flatten Yuki Kondo out on his stomach and from there he works his left arm around the neck. The right arm secures it and tap, tap, tap. Blood flow from the carotid to the brain is cutoff and the fighter in the choke can either tap or take a nap. Kundo almost did both in this video.
Pound For Pound MMA Fighter Rankings
The Cage Doctors present their top 10 pound for pound fighter rankings for November.
Fedor Emelianenko
The discussion for the best mixed martial artist in the world starts and ends with “The Last Emperor”. Fedor added another “giant slaying” to his book with the TKO of Brett Rogers at Strikeforce in Chicago. Fight fans can’t wait to see what’s next for Fedor.
Georges St. Pierre
GSP takes all comers. His last 6 fights (also wins): Alves, Penn, Fitch, Serra, Hughes, Koscheck. Next up for GSP: Dan “The Outlaw” Hardy. Hardy may pose the biggest threat yet to GSP. Arguably, Hardy has more power than anyone GSP has fought to date.
Anderson Silva
Anderson Silva hasn’t lost since 2005 and he is 10-0 since coming to the UFC. Silva is expected to take on Vitor Belfort at UFC 109 in February, but his recovery from elbow surgery hasn’t gone according to plan.
B.J. Penn
BJ may not be able to beat GSP, but no one can touch him in the lightweight division. He’s gone unbeaten at 155 for nearly 8 years. Will that change on December 12th when he fights Diego Sanchez? We’ll see.
Lyoto Machida
Machida may have been gifted a win by the judges in his fight with Shogun Rua, but the man’s still the champ and he is still undefeated at 16-0.
Jose Aldo
Aldo just beat Mike Brown to win the WEC Featherweight title and hasn’t lost in about 4 years. He has an amazing combination of speed, power and creativity in his arsenal. Don’t be surprised if Aldo keeps moving up this list all the way to the top.
Shogun Rua
Rua reclaimed his stake in the pound for pound rankings with his brilliant performance against Lyoto Machida. Clearly Rua is the #2 LHW fighter in the world, and some will make the case that he is the #1.
Brock Lesnar
Lesnar is battling illness instead of other heavyweights, but he is still the UFC heavyweight champ and deserving of inclusion on the list. The only things he has working against him is inactivity and his small number of fights in his pro career.
Cain Velasquez
Cain Velasquez made Ben Rothwell look like an easy mark in their UFC 104 fight. His complete destruction of the respected vet moved Velasquez to 7-0 and if you didn’t know it then you know it now: Velasquez is for real. And he’s only getting better.
Gegard Mousasi
Mousasi had a bit more trouble with Sokodjou than many expected, but he still got the TKO via punches in round 2. He dominated his way through DREAM and is 2-0 in Strikeforce. He’s also a seasoned vet with 30 fights on his resume.
The next 10, in random order: Shane Carwin, Brian Bowles, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Alistair Overeem, Nate Marquardt, Josh Koscheck, Jon Fitch, Diego Sanchez, Mike Brown, Vitor Belfort
Kerry Vera and Kim Couture: Great Pics and Fight
Just a week after their husband and ex-husband did battle, Kerry Vera and Kim Couture went to war at the Strikeforce Challengers event in Kansas. It was a great fight and the ladies looked lovely. Here are some pics from both the weigh-in and the fight.
Kerry Vera defeats Kim Couture in impressive style, a TKO via strikes at 3:35 of the 1st Round.
all photos courtesy of Strikeforce and Esther Lin
Why Brock Lesnar Is the UFC Champ
With all the news and rumors surrounding Brock Lesnar’s illness, what might have been lost in the shuffle is why the guy is the UFC heavyweight champion. The pics below tell the story: he beat the tar out of Frank Mir, an excellent mixed martial artist and former UFC champion. Love or hate Lesnar, the man is the UFC champ and he earned it. He’s beaten Randy Couture, Mir, Heath Herring and his only loss was the kneebar to Mir. I’m not a fanboy or even a big Lesnar fan, but he deserves respect. Click the pics for full-screen images.
3 Types of Surgery Brock Lesnar May Need
Perhaps we finally know the truth about Brock Lesnar’s condition. According to WCCO-TV, their source says that Lesnar has diverticulitis, an intestinal disease that will require the UFC champ to have major surgery.
Of course we have already heard that Lesnar has mono. Then it was colitis. So if he doesn’t have diverticulitis, don’t be surprised. But if does, the Mayo Clinic says this about the surgery Lesnar will need:
* Primary bowel resection. In this procedure, your surgeon removes the diseased part of your intestine and then reconnects the healthy segments of your colon (anastomosis). This allows you to have normal bowel movements.
* Bowel resection with colostomy. This surgery may be necessary if you have so much inflammation in your colon that it’s not possible to rejoin your colon and rectum. During a colostomy, your surgeon makes an opening (stoma) in your abdominal wall. The unaffected part of your colon is then connected to the stoma, and waste passes through the opening into a bag. A colostomy may be temporary or permanent. Several months later — once the inflammation has healed — your surgeon may be able to perform a second operation to reconnect your colon and rectum.
* Abscess drainage. Diverticulitis may be complicated by the formation of an abscess, which may need to be drained. This can be done by inserting a needle through the skin which is guided by ultrasound or CT. A catheter is then placed to drain the abscess. This catheter may need to remain in place while you’re being treated with antibiotics. Once you have recovered, a bowel resection may be needed.
So when Dana White says that Lesnar may never fight again, he isn’t just throwing around words. This is serious stuff. We wish the champ nothing but the speediest of recoveries.
UFC 105: Couture, Bisping and Hardy Win
UFC 105 winners Randy Couture, Dan Hardy and Michael Bisping meet the media following the event. The win by Hardy nets him a title shot with GSP. Bisping shed the weight of his devastating knockout by Dan Henderson by defeating the tough veteran Denis Kang. Randy Couture beat Brandon Vera in what was a bit of a controversial decision.Vera landed the better strikes, but Couture’s strength enabled him to control Vera enough to get the judges’ decision.
UFC 105 Predictions
November 13, 2009 – Geoff Filleti
Randy Couture vs. Brandon Vera
Randy Couture is making the move down to Light Heavyweight for this bout; although it is hardly uncharted territory for the seasoned veteran. Couture has bounced back and forth between HW and LHW throughout his career, picking up a few titles in each weight class along the way. This bout comes at a turbulent time for Randy however; coming off a pair of losses to current champ Brock Lesnar, and fellow veteran Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira respectively. At this point in his career, Randy has not won a bout since 2007, and is coming into this fight at the arguably ripe age of 46. Randy essentially must win this match to prove that he can still fight at a competitive level; a loss for Randy here will undoubtedly bring up the familiar discussion of retirement for the living legend.
Brandon Vera seems to be incapable of pleasing fans for the past few years. His losses in the HW division against Fabricio Werdum and Tim Sylvia pushed him down into the LHW division; where he has yet to impress with his mediocre performances. Vera has shown glimpses of greatness, with a notable victory over Frank Mir; but Vera has never been consistent. Although he is coming off back to back victories at his new home at LHW; both the fans and Vera himself have set the expectations for his performances so high, that even his wins seem lackluster. A win here over Randy will add a much needed name to his resume, and possibly show everyone that Vera has more than just potential.
This match has huge implications for the careers of both fighters; and I’m going to hate to see either one lose. Unfortunately, someone is going to walk away with the victory, and I have to give the edge here to Brandon “The Truth” Vera. Couture has looked exceedingly slower as of late; while Vera has looked to have gotten faster and become a lot more comfortable with his new weight class. I simply don’t think the aging Couture will be able to keep up with the younger, quicker and hungrier Vera. This will certainly be a huge step up in competition for Vera, but if he is ever going to step up to the plate, now would be the time to do it. Vera will most likely pull off a decision victory, but a TKO in the later rounds could be possible as well.
Mike Swick vs. Dan Hardy
Mike Swick was added to the card as a replacement for an injured Kim Dong-hyun; an opportunity which I’m sure Swick was fast to take. Mike Swick had actually missed his scheduled bout with Martin Kampmann at UFC 103, and since Kampmann lost that bout, Swick is now first in line for a title shot; assuming he can pull off a win here over Hardy. Swick has had a long and successful career so far in the UFC, holding a 9-1 record within the octagon. If Swick can pull off the victory here, he will finally get his well deserved shot against the undisputed welterweight king, Georges St. Pierre.
Dan Hardy certainly has the home field advantage fighting across the pond, but he is going to need all the help he can get. The English native has only fought 3 times in the UFC; however, all three of those bouts have been impressive outings. He holds victories over several veteran opponents including Akihiro Gono and Marcus Davis. Dan Hardies short career in the octagon has certainly been notable, but this bout with Swick will easily be his biggest test to date.
This fight is important because it will essentially dictate the next Welterweight contender. While Swick is widely considered to be the favorite; I see this fight being extremely competitive. Swick believes he has earned a match with St. Pierre, and now is his chance to prove it once and for all. I give this one to Swick, but barely; look for a decision victory here.
Michael Bisping vs. Denis Kang
Michael Bisping is now better known for the highlight reel KO he suffered at the hands of Dan Henderson; but before that, he was England’s MMA poster child. Bisping sits with an impressive 18-2 record, with his only losses coming from Rashad Evans and the aforementioned Henderson. The hype train for Bisping was quickly derailed following his most recent loss, but a win here is crucial to ensure that it is quickly put back on track.
Denis Kang is a true warhorse; having fought 46 professional bouts in his 10 year career. While he is not new to the sport of MMA, he has only fought twice in the UFC, holding a record of 1-1 within the octagon. Kang needs to prove that he has the skill to go along with his ample experience, and Michael Bisping is his proving ground. A win over Bisping will certainly give him some much needed recognition amongst the casual fans, but another loss here will essentially make him a non-factor in the Middleweight Division.
Bisping was in desperate need of a lower-tier opponent to get him back on track; but Denis Kang is not that opponent. This just isn’t a good matchup for Bisping, who has won the majority of his bouts by knockout; while Kang has only been knocked out twice during his lengthy career. Denis Kang also has a far superior ground game; with the majority of his wins coming by way of submission. Based on the styles of these two fighters, I can see this fight only going one way; a big victory for Kang via submission.
James Wilks vs. Matt Brown
James Wilks is the TUF 9 welterweight champion, who, like many of the fighters on this card, is fighting out of England. Wilks is actually a fairly green fighter, with a short record of 6-2. This bout will be the first fight for Wilks since the TUF finale, and will also be the first real test of skill for the rookie.
Matt Brown is also a fellow TUF alumnus, having competed in season 7. Brown did not make it past the quarter finals, but pulled off a victory at the finale, which ultimately earned him a contract with the UFC. He has made a decent run in the organization so far, with a record of 3-1, but he has yet to defeat any top competition.
This clash of the TUF veterans is going to be extremely important for both fighters, as each one is looking to use this bout as a stepping stone for their careers. Both men are fairly unproven, and we have not really seen enough of them in the cage to judge their skill level. That said; I am expecting James Wilks to live up to his expectations as a TUF winner, and pull off a decision victory.
Ross Pearson vs. Aaron Riley
Ross Pearson was the TUF 9 Lightweight champion, and like Wilks, this will be his first bout following the TUF finale. Pearson currently sits with 12 bouts under his belt, but has yet to face any top competition. Pearson will be looking to prove himself in this bout, and has some fairly large shoes to fill as a TUF winner.
Aaron Riley is a seasoned veteran fighting out of Greg Jackson’s camp. While he has a wealth of experience, he has struggled with his inconsistency, leaving him with a record of 28-11. Riley has looked great as of late however; recently avenging his controversial loss to Shane Nelson at UFC 101. Riley has taken a long and difficult road into the UFC; a loss here would be a massive setback. It is unclear how many more chances he will be given to proven himself; but it is very clear that he can not afford to lose.
While Aaron Riley is the much more experienced fighter; he has never shown much more than mediocrity within the UFC, holding a 3-2 record in the octagon. While Pearson is completely unproven at this point; I believe he has immense potential; and Riley is going to serve as his first stepping stone. I am picking Pearson to pull of a decision victory here, and begin his successful UFC career.
Bonus Picks:
Paul Taylor vs. John Hathaway
Terry Etim vs. Shannon Gugerty
Nick Osipczak vs. Matthew Riddle
Paul Kelly vs. Dennis Siver
Alexander Gustafsson vs. Jared Hamman
Andre Winner vs. Rolando Delgado
Bet You Didn’t Know Al Bundy Was a Black Belt
It’s true. Al Bundy is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt. And not just any McDojo Black Belt. He was awarded his by Rorion Gracie. Here is the presentation ceremony and some of Al Bundy’s best clips. And if you have yet to see him in “Modern Family”, you’re missing a hilarious new show. Set the DVR.
