The latest season of The Ultimate Fighter culminated in a fight between the finalist and the semi-finalist he'd already beaten coming back for another fight due to drunken rampage by the other finalist. If that didn't make sense then good, its not really supposed to.
The finalist who got booted, Jesse Taylor, will be back. He's a character, he's a really good fighter and now his return can be hyped up. If he does reasonably well then we'll likely see a rematch of the supposed to be finale of Amir against Jesse.
I have to say that I thought Amir took the fight-off and repeat of the semi-final in stride. I would have been pissed off about it really. He just beat CB and now CB gets another chance at winning the show even though he had been eliminated? Kind of bogus. But that's what has to happen when the unknown happens.
The finale was not the fight of the night. I'd have to give that one to Spencer Fisher against Jeremy Stevens. I have become a big fan of Spencer Fisher and his lightning punches. The guy is a great fighter and provides a good fight regardless of who's fighting against. I would have liked to have seen Matt Brown vs Matt Arroyo. And I did enjoy seeing Diego Sanchez kick some ass over Luigi Fiorvanti.
Next weekend is the Pay-Per-View light heavyweight championship fight between Quinton "Rampage" Jackson, the champ, and Forrest Griffin. I'd like to see the fight but I'm not seeing myself drop forty five or fifty bucks for it. Let's see who else is on the card. Okay, some Melvin Guillard, some Cole Miller (Jay's UFC twin), some Josh Koscheck, and some Tyson Griffin. Not a bad card at all and I'm sure some of these fights are going to be solid.
I'll be curious as to what the next season of TUF brings, I like how the show keeps evolving to improve itself and provide more balanced fights and less focus on the annoying house drama. Actually, my idea was to keep the current regular show format but add another half hour behind-the-scenes at the house show for the viewers who want more background (and their girlfriends/wives who get squeemed out by the fights themselves).
Amir is a different kind of Ultimate Fighter and I'm going to enjoy watching his future fights. I think he will be able to go as far as he chooses to go.
Showing posts with label ultimate fighting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ultimate fighting. Show all posts
5.31.2008
MMA Kicks Boxing's One Dimensional Ass
I make no secret of the fact that I am a very big mixed martial arts fan and especially of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, including the reality, The Ultimate Fighter.
This season of The Ultimate Fighter has been superb, marked by excellent fights and alot less focus on the drama in the house where the fighters all live together. This despite one wanker's attempts to paint himself as a bad boy who got the living snot beat out of him in his fight.
Anyway, I'm sure slicker pens than mine have dissected the differences between boxing and MMA. For me the main difference is that boxing is, well, boring. Its one dimensional, those huge puffy gloves look like pillows and I find myself wondering why the hell they aren't throwing kicks, knees, elbows and taking the fight to the ground. Why? Because any pro boxer will get the holy crap beat out of him in a mixed martial match.
Not everytime since chance and luck do come into play in any fight. But the vast majority of the time, a boxer will fall to a more rounded and capable fighter.
But, as with any new and upcoming sport with its share of controversy, there are myths, stupidities and outright lies being circulated about mixed martial arts.
So it is with pleasure that I read, MMA myths debunked again because there is an awful lot of bullshit pretending to be reality when it comes to MMA.
Don't get me wrong, boxers are highly trained athletes competing in a dangerous sport. It just happens to bore me to tears.
MMA is a multi-discipline sport requiring expertise in at least three areas, striking, grappling and submissions. Th rigors of MMA training outshadow boxing by a good margin since each discipline is its own fighting art in its own right. Boxing is one, MMA incorporates all of them.
I'm not a huge fan of the bloody matches where an elbow strike opens a squirting bleeder on top of someone's head but its part of the game. My favorite kind of fights are the wars that go back and forth with each fighter scoring points, the fight has stand up elements, ground and pound elements and dynamic special moves like Superman punches, flying knees and spinning back fists. A good MMA fight has been likened to a physical chess match and some of them really are, especially the jui jitsu fights that looks alot like foreplay to the uninitiated but is anything but.
I enjoy MMA where I used to enjoy boxing. Now boxing looks old, tired and slow compared to how dynamic and exciting a quality MMA match is.
Here's the short list of myths debunked in the article and my short comments in italics:
John McCain once called mixed martial arts “human cockfighting.” - unlike boxing which is ballet with punching.
MMA was once banned in nearly every state. - polygamy is banned in nearly every state too.
Mixed martial arts was a rules-free freak show until the UFC’s current ownership came in and cleaned up the sport. - I think people are confusing the tv wrestling (is that clearer, Ryan?) with MMA. One is filled with misogynistic steroid freaks pantomiming gutter dramas and the other is a sport for elite fighters. Easy to get them confused.
Mixed martial arts is a haven for white trash. - yes, because white trash has the dedication to train in three disciplines to the exclusion of everything else and no other demographic could possibly do so. MMA is rife with international fighters, to say otherwise is to ignore patent fact.
MMA contributes to the level of violence in our culture. - Again, MMA is not WWE. WWE contributes to violence against women and violence against each other based on perceived insults and rigged results. MMA fights are selected by organizers, the fights take place in strictly controlled venues and have conclusions that are irrefutable (they may be disputed but a win is a win).
Mixed martial arts is inherently more dangerous than other contact sports. Tell that to the dude who rode a mountain bike down the side of a volcano and found out how dangerous pumice is at high speed. MMA is no more dangerous than any contact sport and is probably safer in many aspects due to the controlled environment, excellent referees and rules.
MMA is unskilled bar-fighting; while boxing is refined and genteel. This is just an asinine thing to say. If you are basing all of MMA on Kimbo Slice then you might have a point, a totally illogic and stupid point but a point nonetheless. MMA requires an amazing amount of skill and discipline and training and dedication.
Mixed martial arts fans are bloodthirsty and just want to see people get knocked out. I'll admit that I like a quality knockout as much as the next fan but I also love a great submission just as much. Also, let's apply the same logic to NASCAR fans, they just want to see the fiery crashes so they can go "Woooooooooooo" some more.
There, that was kind of fun.
Also, tonight is the network debut of mixed martial arts in the form of the sole superstar outside of the UFC, Kimbo Slice, who rose to fame via YouTube videos of his backyard ass kickings. Not traditional, not conventional and alot of MMA fighters are thoroughly pissed off that he's one of the faces of the sport. But either way, the debut on primetime is a big, big step forward for the sport. I'm sure the panty-twisting crowd will up in arms about the "bloodsport" on television but they tend to get all wadded up over pretty much everything so who really cares, eh?
This season of The Ultimate Fighter has been superb, marked by excellent fights and alot less focus on the drama in the house where the fighters all live together. This despite one wanker's attempts to paint himself as a bad boy who got the living snot beat out of him in his fight.
Anyway, I'm sure slicker pens than mine have dissected the differences between boxing and MMA. For me the main difference is that boxing is, well, boring. Its one dimensional, those huge puffy gloves look like pillows and I find myself wondering why the hell they aren't throwing kicks, knees, elbows and taking the fight to the ground. Why? Because any pro boxer will get the holy crap beat out of him in a mixed martial match.
Not everytime since chance and luck do come into play in any fight. But the vast majority of the time, a boxer will fall to a more rounded and capable fighter.
But, as with any new and upcoming sport with its share of controversy, there are myths, stupidities and outright lies being circulated about mixed martial arts.
So it is with pleasure that I read, MMA myths debunked again because there is an awful lot of bullshit pretending to be reality when it comes to MMA.
Don't get me wrong, boxers are highly trained athletes competing in a dangerous sport. It just happens to bore me to tears.
MMA is a multi-discipline sport requiring expertise in at least three areas, striking, grappling and submissions. Th rigors of MMA training outshadow boxing by a good margin since each discipline is its own fighting art in its own right. Boxing is one, MMA incorporates all of them.
I'm not a huge fan of the bloody matches where an elbow strike opens a squirting bleeder on top of someone's head but its part of the game. My favorite kind of fights are the wars that go back and forth with each fighter scoring points, the fight has stand up elements, ground and pound elements and dynamic special moves like Superman punches, flying knees and spinning back fists. A good MMA fight has been likened to a physical chess match and some of them really are, especially the jui jitsu fights that looks alot like foreplay to the uninitiated but is anything but.
I enjoy MMA where I used to enjoy boxing. Now boxing looks old, tired and slow compared to how dynamic and exciting a quality MMA match is.
Here's the short list of myths debunked in the article and my short comments in italics:
John McCain once called mixed martial arts “human cockfighting.” - unlike boxing which is ballet with punching.
MMA was once banned in nearly every state. - polygamy is banned in nearly every state too.
Mixed martial arts was a rules-free freak show until the UFC’s current ownership came in and cleaned up the sport. - I think people are confusing the tv wrestling (is that clearer, Ryan?) with MMA. One is filled with misogynistic steroid freaks pantomiming gutter dramas and the other is a sport for elite fighters. Easy to get them confused.
Mixed martial arts is a haven for white trash. - yes, because white trash has the dedication to train in three disciplines to the exclusion of everything else and no other demographic could possibly do so. MMA is rife with international fighters, to say otherwise is to ignore patent fact.
MMA contributes to the level of violence in our culture. - Again, MMA is not WWE. WWE contributes to violence against women and violence against each other based on perceived insults and rigged results. MMA fights are selected by organizers, the fights take place in strictly controlled venues and have conclusions that are irrefutable (they may be disputed but a win is a win).
Mixed martial arts is inherently more dangerous than other contact sports. Tell that to the dude who rode a mountain bike down the side of a volcano and found out how dangerous pumice is at high speed. MMA is no more dangerous than any contact sport and is probably safer in many aspects due to the controlled environment, excellent referees and rules.
MMA is unskilled bar-fighting; while boxing is refined and genteel. This is just an asinine thing to say. If you are basing all of MMA on Kimbo Slice then you might have a point, a totally illogic and stupid point but a point nonetheless. MMA requires an amazing amount of skill and discipline and training and dedication.
Mixed martial arts fans are bloodthirsty and just want to see people get knocked out. I'll admit that I like a quality knockout as much as the next fan but I also love a great submission just as much. Also, let's apply the same logic to NASCAR fans, they just want to see the fiery crashes so they can go "Woooooooooooo" some more.
There, that was kind of fun.
Also, tonight is the network debut of mixed martial arts in the form of the sole superstar outside of the UFC, Kimbo Slice, who rose to fame via YouTube videos of his backyard ass kickings. Not traditional, not conventional and alot of MMA fighters are thoroughly pissed off that he's one of the faces of the sport. But either way, the debut on primetime is a big, big step forward for the sport. I'm sure the panty-twisting crowd will up in arms about the "bloodsport" on television but they tend to get all wadded up over pretty much everything so who really cares, eh?
5.05.2007
The Ultimate Crybaby Poser Fighter
I watched last night's episode of The Ultimate Fighter 5 yesterday afternoon and was looking forward to a good brawl between the tall and skinny Corey and the shorter, louder and out-of-shaper Gabe.
Gabe has been the mouth on this season, he talks and talks and talks and showed very little drive to back it up. He came in to a show about light weights (that's 155 pounds) weighing nearly 175 pounds. He was out of shape, overweight and seemingly unmotivated to lose it by hard work, taking short cuts like enemas to try and cut his weight.
In the end, he gave up like a little bitch and got hell from his team and the other team. And he gave up a mere 3 pounds from making weight. And the coaches too, BJ Penn got tired of hearing him try to talk his way out of being a fucking whiny quitter drama queen. That was the really annoying part (aside from no fight at the end of the show) that the whole show was Gabe, Gabe, Gabe and his excuses and whimpering. That scene of him laying on the floor outside the sauna whispering for them to pick him up and put him back in the sauna, like he's about to die. Come on, are you auditioning? Do you wanna be an action movie star, Gabe? David Caruso has more range than you and I place him just below a used pair of loafers.
Why? Because he's a quitter who didn't want to get his ass kicked by a substantially less experienced but more talented fighter. Or he didn't care about the fight and just wanted airtime, an audience to see his brilliance and wit and charm, bleh. And he's a loser who didn't give the opportunity the full effort that it deserved. I kind of hoped Dana White, the UFC president was going to smack him, he was soooo pissed off. And rightly so, he gave Gabe a golden opportunity and he squandered it like a moron. Sorry, like a moron who still thinks wearing your hat sideways is remotely cool.
Newsflash, Gabe, the 80's are long, long over. Wearing your hat sideways does nothing but demonstrate what a goofy ass poser you are.
Some future sponsorship ideas for you, Gabe.
The Talk Out of Your Ass Microphone - so everyone can hear your bragging that you won't back up.
The Lazyman Colonic - shove it up your own ass!
Man Bra - because those boobs you had on Day One were still there on the day you got kicked the hell off the show.
The Fickle Feather Vomit Comet - so you never have to let that cake you can't stop smashing into your mouth end up on your already inner-tubish gut.
Cry Me A River Power Water - so you can replenish all those electrolytes you lost while crying so many times on the show.
The Meltaway Fat Reduction Pillow - sleep that weight away, Gabe. It sure worked for yo....oh wait, nevermind.
It is a shame you'll never fight in the UFC again because I'd enjoy watching someone pummel you. I bet YouTube can find me some of that. Maybe I'll add an update later.
Gabe has been the mouth on this season, he talks and talks and talks and showed very little drive to back it up. He came in to a show about light weights (that's 155 pounds) weighing nearly 175 pounds. He was out of shape, overweight and seemingly unmotivated to lose it by hard work, taking short cuts like enemas to try and cut his weight.
In the end, he gave up like a little bitch and got hell from his team and the other team. And he gave up a mere 3 pounds from making weight. And the coaches too, BJ Penn got tired of hearing him try to talk his way out of being a fucking whiny quitter drama queen. That was the really annoying part (aside from no fight at the end of the show) that the whole show was Gabe, Gabe, Gabe and his excuses and whimpering. That scene of him laying on the floor outside the sauna whispering for them to pick him up and put him back in the sauna, like he's about to die. Come on, are you auditioning? Do you wanna be an action movie star, Gabe? David Caruso has more range than you and I place him just below a used pair of loafers.
Why? Because he's a quitter who didn't want to get his ass kicked by a substantially less experienced but more talented fighter. Or he didn't care about the fight and just wanted airtime, an audience to see his brilliance and wit and charm, bleh. And he's a loser who didn't give the opportunity the full effort that it deserved. I kind of hoped Dana White, the UFC president was going to smack him, he was soooo pissed off. And rightly so, he gave Gabe a golden opportunity and he squandered it like a moron. Sorry, like a moron who still thinks wearing your hat sideways is remotely cool.
Newsflash, Gabe, the 80's are long, long over. Wearing your hat sideways does nothing but demonstrate what a goofy ass poser you are.
Some future sponsorship ideas for you, Gabe.
The Talk Out of Your Ass Microphone - so everyone can hear your bragging that you won't back up.
The Lazyman Colonic - shove it up your own ass!
Man Bra - because those boobs you had on Day One were still there on the day you got kicked the hell off the show.
The Fickle Feather Vomit Comet - so you never have to let that cake you can't stop smashing into your mouth end up on your already inner-tubish gut.
Cry Me A River Power Water - so you can replenish all those electrolytes you lost while crying so many times on the show.
The Meltaway Fat Reduction Pillow - sleep that weight away, Gabe. It sure worked for yo....oh wait, nevermind.
It is a shame you'll never fight in the UFC again because I'd enjoy watching someone pummel you. I bet YouTube can find me some of that. Maybe I'll add an update later.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)