Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Check Out This Week's New York Press

Check out this week's edition of the New York Press, as some clown's article on the return of sanctioned MMA in New York is the cover story.  The New York Press is a free NYC-based alternative weekly newspaper, and with a circulation of over 100,000, it's considered the main competitor of the Village Voice.  Link here for the online version: http://www.npaper-server.com/nypress/2010/03/30/#?article=814800 .

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Rest in Peace Gene Fabrikant

MMA Journalist has just learned that sambo expert Gene Fabrikant passed away this morning.  It was sudden, and the result of an unknown heart issue.  Fabrikant coached a few fighters here and there, and also ran a few shows out in Brooklyn, including the recent Paul Rosner memorial event as well as the infamous International Fight Night underground shows.  He will be missed.

Predictions for UFC Fight Night "Florian vs. Gomi vs. Fanboys"

Do you recognize the name “Takanori Gomi”?  If so, congrats!  You are neither a TUF Noob nor a Kimbo Noob.  However, if the name doesn’t ring a bell, this is all you need to know about the former Pride lightweight champ: he can punch, he’s a fanboy favorite, and like his opponent Kenny Florian, he loses when he fights BJ Penn.  Predictions!

    • Gomi is totally an awesome, top-level competitor.  If we take a time machine back to 2006, that is.  Though clearly not the best in his division, Florian is the better fighter, and will win via New England Clam Chowda Choke.
    • Roy Nelson is fighting Stefan Struve, which pits a fat guy against a tall, skinny guy.  Did Joe Silva let his eight-year-old nephew handle the matchmaking for this one?  Is Nelson going to take on a really short guy next?  Nelson via bludgeoning with his big TUF Lucite.
    • Not counting the referee, the combined age of those in the cage for the Nate Quarry/Jorge Rivera bout will be 214 years.  Think about that one.
    • Ross Pearson vs. Dennis Siver pits a Brit against a German fighter.  I’m picking Siver, if only because there’s a joke in there about the Blitzkrieg and Pearson getting bombed.


Monday, March 29, 2010

Observations from My Couch: UFC 111 "Please, Someone Defeat GSP Already"

    • Jared Hamman vs. Rodney Wallace was sloppy as hell, but definitely fun.
    • Only Ricardo Almeida could turn a rear naked choke into a side naked choke and win with it.  That’s a jiu-jitsu stud right there, folks.
    • Nate Diaz edged just a little bit closer to being the badass his brother Nick is, while Rory Markham edged just a little bit closer to fighting in Bellator.
    • Damn.  Rousimar Palhares wanted to take that leg home with him.
    • When a jiu-jitsu black belt has your back, has his legs figure-foured around your waist and one of your arms trapped, you’re pretty much his bitch.  Unless your name is Jim Miller.  Then that jiu-jitsu black belt is your bitch.  He just doesn’t realize it yet.
    • Jon Fitch: the second-best welterweight in the world that no one wants to watch.
    • Kurt Pellegrino gave one heck of an awe-inspiring performance in his bout against Fabricio Camoes.  Too bad about that victory dance.
    • Youngsters aspire to be comic book heroes.  Comic book villains aspire to be Shane Carwin.  Seriously, that dude was going to kill Frank Mir.
    • You know what sucks?  The fact that the measure of a welterweight’s ability and standing is based on how well they can take a beating from Georges St. Pierre.  Please, someone defeat GSP already.

Observations from My Couch: Strikeforce Challengers "Why You Gotta Keep a Brother Down?"

    • Someone please explain to me why Shamar Bailey gets poked in the eye repeatedly and when he complains is told to shut up and keep fighting, yet when the white Justin Wilcox gets an inadvertent finger in the lens he gets a recovery period and Bailey gets a warning.  Can anyone explain that one?  Damn.  Why you gotta keep a brother down, Mr. Racist Ref?
    • Meisha Tate: for when Sarah Kaufman, Tara LaRosa, Roxanne Modafferi, Takayo Hashi, Hitomi Akano and Shayna Baszler are unavailable.
    • I think Andre Galvao did enough to win.  Or, more accurately, I don’t think Luke Stewart did enough to win.  Good fight, though.
    • Every time Abongo Humphrey fights I keep hearing that corny announcer from that BET show saying, “Next, on the Ion Wing”.
    • Lavar Johnson.  Cyberdyne Systems Model 101.  Living tissue over a metal endoskeleton.

Saturday, March 27, 2010

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Friday, March 26, 2010

Liveblog: Tokyo 5/UFC Magazine Party

MMA Journalist is here at Lounge 48 in Midtown Manhattan for the Tokyo 5/UFC Magazine party, which is either a soiree featuring industry insiders, a wretched hive of scum and villainy, or both. Present are UCL promoter Peter Storm, Chewbacca, Phillipe Nover, Iron Ring vet Daniel Akyemi and Greedo, among others.

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Predictions for UFC 111 "Ultimate Brit Not Ready"

UFC 111 is in Newark this weekend, and the headlining bout is a welterweight championship contest between Georges St. Pierre and some Brit who is not ready.  Seriously, Dan Hardy is not ready.  How not ready is he?  Hardy is so not ready, he showed up at Matt Serra’s gym last week to learn about “this whole jiu-jitsu thing I been hearing so much about.”  He’s so not ready, Las Vegas sportbooks are already laying down odds that St. Pierre will defeat Anderson Silva.  He’s so not ready, right this very minute Joe Rogan is standing in the Octagon in a darkened Prudential Center practicing the post-fight questions he’s going to ask the St. Pierre.  And St. Pierre is standing there with him, practicing his English.  So... predictions!

    • Props to Ben Saunders for stepping up to face Jon Fitch at the last minute.  Also, props to him for not caring about dying.
    • Kurt Pellegrino via super-cool Batman utility belt, which includes a Batarang, a grappling hook and a can of shark repellant.
    • Jim Miller is going to beat Mark Bocek so bad, the Canadian Mounties aren’t going to allow Bocek back across the border.
    • Nate Diaz and Ricardo Almeida are going to defeat Rory Markham and Matt Brown with submissions.  Or they won’t.  I don’t know.
    • Wouldn’t it be funny if Shane Carwin knocked out Frank Mir?
    • Did I mention Dan Hardy isn’t ready?

Thursday, March 25, 2010

Predictions for Strikeforce Challengers VII "A Terminator Named Lavar"

It apparently takes more than mere bullets to stop Lavar Johnson.  Last year the Strikeforce heavyweight slugger (and Terminator model T-800) took some hot lead in the gut while at a family barbecue – a turn of events that would kill most non-cyborgs.  But instead Johnson just calmly stood up, shook it off and said, “I’ll be back.”  Well, the dude is back, and fighting this Friday on Showtime as the headliner for the latest installment of Strikeforce Challengers.  Lambast Scott Coker all you want for putting on freakshows, but I dig watching a literally unstoppable killing machine in action.  Predictions!

        • Johnson is facing Lolohea Mahe, some big 300-pound Hawaiian who is not Sarah Connor.  Mahe is doomed.
        • Top-ten 135-pound female fighter Meisha Tate is taking on Zoila Frausto.  Meisha and Zoila?  What, are they Amazon warriors or something?
        • Abongo Humphrey returns to fight George Bush III.  George Bush?  G-George B-B-Bush?  Oh no!  Joke-possibility overload!  Aaargh!
        • I’m not sure, but I think Andre Galvao might try to employ some jiu-jitsu in his bout against Luke Stewart.  That’s just a hunch, though.
        • I don’t know anything about Shamar Bailey, although it’s safe to say he got into a lot of fights in school.  Like, a lot of fights.

So Close You Can Taste It

Legalized pro mixed martial arts in New York is now so close you can taste it. Last night the State Assembly approved of a 2010-2011 budget plan that, among other things, calls for the regulation (and taxing) of MMA competitions - a move that jibes with Governor Paterson's budget proposal and the Senate's budget proposal. All that remains is for the three bodies to hammer out a compromise on their plans' other points (you now, minor things like State aid, spending, education, etc.), a process that could take a couple weeks. However, unless a giant meteor falls on Albany and destroys everything, this MMA thing is pretty much a done deal. Next at bat will be the Athletic Commission, with Chairwoman Melvina Lathan laying down some rules and regulations and hiring more staff, and the Empire State will start having some shows. Yeah, baby.

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

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Tuesday, March 23, 2010


Transcript from Takanori Gomi/Kenny Florian Media Conference Call

The following is a transcript from yesterday's Takanori Gomi/Kenny Florian media conference call, held and moderated by SpikeTV. The two lightweights are scheduled to meet at an upcoming UFC Fight Night on March 31st.

Moderator: "Okay, thank you to everyone for calling in. If you have a question, just press '1' and then the pound sign. First question is from Mark Champers from MMAEverything.com.

Mark Champers: "Yeah, this is a question for both Kenny and Gomi. How have you guys been preparing for your fight?"

Kenny Florian: "I've been working my Muay Thai a lot, been doing a lot of strength and conditioning, and I'm making sure my jiu-jitsu is very polished. Gomi is a tough opponent, so I want to be ready."

Takanori Gomi: "巨大なトカゲは都市を攻撃しています!"

(Silence.)

Mark Champers: "Uh, what did he say?"

Moderator: "I-I'm not entirely sure..."

Takanori Gomi: "Zentradiにアプローチする予定です。私たちは Macrossを防御しなければなりません!"

Mark Champers: "I can't understand what he's saying. Is that Japanese?"

Kenny Florian: "Is he talking about Robotech?"

Moderator: "Um, I think there's been a misunderstanding. I was told Mr. Gomi spoke English."

Takanori Gomi: "Daniel-san! 集中してください。パワーの焦点を合わせてください。."

Kenny Florian: "Wow. Karate Kid. Nice."

Moderator: "Okay, does anyone on the line speak Japanese?"

(A chorus of "no".)

Takanori Gomi: "私は、マグロの寿司、エビの天ぷら、およびみそ汁の注文が欲しいと思います。. American dog!"

Moderator: "Alright, well I think that concludes this conference call. Thank you to Mr. Florian and Mr. Gomi, and thanks to everyone who called in."

Kenny Florian: "You're, uh, welcome."

Takanori Gomi: "Hattori Hanzo刀は最も良いです!"

Monday, March 22, 2010


A Ray of Hope in New York State

And through the clouds, a ray of hope... The New York State Senate adopted a resolution today approving a sizable portion of Governor David Paterson's 2010-2011 budget proposal. Specifically, they've given MMA the thumbs up. The relevant part of the resolution reads, "The Senate modifies the Executive's budget proposal to authorize the Department of State to regulate the conduct of professional mixed martial arts by providing for stricter controls and regulations of the sport." What does this mean? It means that now all we need is for the State Assembly - the other half of New York's legislative body - to give their approval, then it's on like Donkey Kong! Of course, things to keep in mind include the fact that the Assembly could sit on their hands and do nothing (possible), the fact that the Assembly could not approve of the MMA part of Governor Paterson's budget proposal (not likely), the fact that the Assembly could radically transform the MMA bill into something else (probably not likely), or the fact that the Assembly could just suddenly go bonkers and beat each other to death with hammers (hey, it's New York. That's a real possibility with politics here). So yes, we're closer. But not quite there yet.

Observations from My Couch: UFC on Versus 1 "Smashing Asteroids"

    • Who looks worse: James Irvin at 185 pounds or Stephen Quadros?  Of course, that’s like comparing a skeleton with a zombie.  Sure, both are undead, but you don’t really want to look at either for too long if you have to go to bed that night.
    • I remember when Paul Buentello first fought in the UFC.  He had just knocked out Justin Eilers in highlight-reel fashion, and at the post-fight presser he was teary-eyed and thankful for being able to live his dream.  Just thought I’d throw that out there.
    • That high-kick Gabriel Gonzago used to knockout Mirko CroCop was totally awesome, wasn’t it?
    • When Brandon Vera debuted in the Octagon and was kicking ass he challenged Chuck Liddell.  Sadly, he could probably beat Liddell now.
    • That was an impressive KO for John Howard, made all the more impressive because he had to overcome that awful haircut.
    • Jon Jones is to regular fighters what Superman is to 1940s costumed crime fighters.  In other words, while Stephan Bonnar and Thales Leites are busting up a Nazi spy ring or thwarting bank robbers, Jones is in outer space, smashing through an asteroid that was about to collide with Earth.

UCC "Merciless" Postscript

Solid show with some solid fights.  Dave Branch, Jimmie Rivera and Kenny Foster all delivered the goods, and though the UCC had a few kinks that needed to be worked out, any promotion that gives these guys an opportunity to fight is a promotion worth checking out.

Friday, March 19, 2010

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Liveblog: UCC Part 5

Another old schooler in AMA FC 159 pounder Josh Key takes to the cage to face ATT 153 pounder Hitalo Machado. Key fought at BAMA Fight Night back in 1860, so this dude has seen it all. This one is hella spirited, with Machado getting Key down and coming perilously close with some rear naked chokes and Key gutting them out, escaping, and feeding the Brazilian some monstrous leather. Unfortunately, controversy rears its ugly head when Machado slaps on a tight leglock and, even though Key doesn't tap, referee Keith Peterson stops the bout. It's a bad call by an otherwise good ref, and the official time of Key's screwing is 4:36 of Round 1. Next: Team Renzo beast Dave Branch and Louisville MMA's John Troyer in a middleweight pairing. Round 1 has Branch firing off high-kicks and right hands with authority, and when Troyer comes in winging bolos Branch easily takes him down. The punishment continues in Round 2, with Branch bloodying Troyer's nose with a straight right and Troyer throwing a kick, falling and hurting his forearm. The ensuing storm of punches has the ref stepping in at 4:26 of the round, giving Branch the win via TKO. Last bout and it's Lamont Lister vs. Ryan Contaldi in a light-heavyweight fight. With Mike Massenzio as a coach, you just know Contaldi is all about grinding Lister into oblivion - and he does throughout the first, getting the scrappy Philadelphian down and punishing him. Contaldi gets him down quick in the second, but this time he snags the arm-triangle for the tap out at 1:30 in. Good fight, good show, and good night.

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Liveblog: UCC Part 4

Louisville MMA 145 pounder Matt Troyer and Team Renzo 155 pounder John Cholish are on deck. Cholish wastes no time mixing it up, throwing kicks and punches and then working his top game. Troyer has one close armbar attempt in the first round, but Cholish is all over him, slamming him in Round 2 and finishing him with an arm-triangle at 1:16 in. Kenny Foster of the Bombsquad and Marcos Rodrigues of Gold Team are next with a lightweight match-up. Rodrigues comes out throwing leather and fires off a flying knee, but Foster's hands are faster and heavier, and after wobbling the Brazilian a few times the Bombsquader eventually sends Rodrigues to the canvas and carpet bombs him. The ref steps in at 2:39 of Round 1.

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Liveblog: UCC Part 3

It's time for Claudio Ledesma vs. Jimmie Rivera. The first round can be described with one word: "control". As in, Rivera has it completely. From his insurmountable sprawl to his throws to his positional dominance on the ground, Rivera totally dictates where this one is fought. Round 2 is again all Rivera, as is Round 3, and though Ledesma hangs tough and defends Rivera's sub attempts well, there's no question the TSMMA rep has earned the unanimous decision when time runs out. Ultra-old schooler Glen Sandull enters to take on FFA's Robert Rodriguez in a light-heavyweight contest. How old school is Sandull? He was Reality Fighting's heavyweight champ back in 1953. That's old school. Rodriguez, however, directed such fine films as "From Dusk Till Dawn" and "Desperado", so this one should be a barn-burner. The opening has Sandull doing what he does best, which is takedowns and ground and pound. Rodriguez is on to him though, and in Round 2 he manages to land some kicks and punches before Sandull inevitably puts him on his back. But all it takes is one mistake, which Sandull makes when he shoots and leaves his neck exposed. Rodriguez taps him with a guillotine at 1:11 of Round 3.

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