Friday, November 13, 2009

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Liveblog: Queens Underground Show Part 4

Romeo is up and facing Steven Tam. Romeo got Fedored big time at the last show; it's good to see he's out of his coma and able to walk again. Round 1 sees Romeo take the lead with a slightly better ground game, but in Round 2 they swing for the rafters and Romeo gets blasted right in the junk. After a brief break for Romeo to mourn his lost jewels, they restart and fight hard until the round ends. Round 3 begins and Steven Tam throws a pushkick that comes too close to Romeo's manparts again. He's immediately disqualified. Bout #4 and it's Tae Kwon Do stylist Tony the Tiger against Killer Asian, and the two go back and forth with strikes and sub attempts like crazy in what turns out to be a real crowd-pleaser. Killer Asian keeps it up in the second round, battering the hell out of Tony the Tiger's ribs with knees and raining down punches from the mount. Killer Asian gets the TKO stoppage. There are four more bouts on the card, but I have to call it a night. Sorry folks.

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Liveblog: Queens Underground Show Part 3

155-pound MMA stylist the Flash takes to the ring to face Tae Kwon Do fighter Jarrett McBride. Jarrett got KO'd at the last one - excuse me, Fedored - so we'll see if he can bounce back. Hmmm, well, he still throws kicks with his hands down, and he spends most of Round 2 trying to fight out of a triangle/armbar combo. I should add that their headgear keeps slipping off, and that the ref pauses the action each time to replace it. It's all over in Round 3, when the ref doesn't like how the Flash is kimura-ing Jarrett's arm and steps in. It's a bad call and Jarrett throws a fit, so hey, let's restart it! Does Jarrett make the most of the 35 seconds left in the round? Um, maybe. But when time runs out the bout is declared a draw. Ahem. Next up is Blackie Chan vs. Captain Flex. Flex scores first with a hip toss and they trade ground and pound efforts. Round 2 is more of the same, and then inexplicably a decision is rendered without them fighting the third round. Flex takes the unanimous decision. Okay then.

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Liveblog: Queens Underground Show Part 2

The venue is getting pretty crowded, which is an impressive feat in and of itself. Props to the promoter for organizing this, which, based on the large number of older folk in the crowd, seems to be a family affair. And now the fighters are suiting up, donning the headgear and shin pads that are characteristic of MAM events. Yes, unlike the vale tudo UCL, competitors wear protective gear here. It cuts down on the Fedoring. Okay, after a 50-minute delay, it's showtime. But first: a Korean kid breakdancing! Woot-woot! Go Kimchi, go Kimchi, go Kimchi. Alright, now for some fighting.

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Liveblog: Queens Underground Show Part 1

MMA Journalist is here at the Martial Arts Madness underground show in Queens, which is taking place in the boxing room of an active neighborhood gym (yes, dudes are actually lifting weights in the next room). There are eight fights scheduled for the evening, and of the fighters warming up, I recognize a few from the last installment - including Death Touch Charlie and Joe Kata - so there's definitely some action in store for us. Also, I've been asked by the promoter to sanitize my reporting, so if a fighter is killed at any point, I will instead say they've been "Fedored".

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New Ivan Trembow Articles

MMA sage Ivan Trembow has a pair of articles up on his blog that are worth checking out. For those who don't know, Ivan has long been one of the keenest analysts within the industry, and when he talks, people like Dana White listen. Check out the articles here: http://www.ivansblog.com/2009/11/top-30-most-watched-fights-on-live.html and http://www.ivansblog.com/2009/11/minute-by-minute-ratings-for.html .

Queens Underground Show Tonight

There will be an underground show in Queens tonight - dubbed "Martial Arts Madness" - and depending upon if they let me through the door, MMA Journalist will be liveblogging the affair. The last MAM show was in Brooklyn over the summer, and if you'll recall, competitors wore headgear and shinpads and arroz con pollo was served during intermission. We'll see how this edition goes.

Predictions for UFC 105: "Ultimate UK Uselessness"

MMA's jam-packed November continues with UFC 105 on SpikeTV this weekend. Wait, scratch that. It continues for UK fans. For the rest of us, it's time to set the DVR and go do something important on Saturday night - like get to know our kids or something - because unless you speak British, UFC 105 will be the farthest thing from a jolly good time. Predictions!
  • Randy Couture vs. Brandon Vera is the main event. Why Vera? Probably because such world-beaters as Reese Andy and Mark Munoz were busy, and if you don't give Randy a fight he starts to get brittle and smell bad. Vera should win this one. Unless he doesn't.
  • Dan Hardy vs. Mike Swick with the winner facing Georges St. Pierre next? Really. Oh, that's rich. Does the winner of Paul Kelly vs. Dennis Siver get BJ Penn next? Swick by decision.
  • Michael Bisping should defeat Denis Kang. But not because Bisping is better. No, he just sometimes chokes less. Sometimes.
  • TUF 9 winner James Wilks against Matt Brown? Remind me which one James Wilks was?
  • Ross Pearson vs. Aaron Riley... I love Riley, but the kid has been in more wars than most fighters have had meals.