Tuesday, August 30, 2011

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Rest in Peace "Big Poppa" Schnake

The sport has lost another.  Details are sparse, but it appears that Chris "Big Poppa" Schnake passed away over the weekend.  For those who don't know, Schnake did just about everything there is to do in MMA - he was an announcer, a commentator, a media personality… heck, he even stepped into the ring to fight once.  He was truly a renaissance man, and when I first met him back at a local Brad Kohler show in Minnesota in 2002, he masterfully kept the crowd laughing in between bouts.  Rest in peace, Big Poppa Schnake.  You will truly be missed.

Monday, August 29, 2011

Someone Unimportant is Upset, Or Something

From the New York Daily News this past weekend: http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/more_sports/2011/08/27/2011-08-27_if_fox_pushes_promos_for_november_ufc_matches_during_mlb_playoffs_bud_selig_migh.html.  A nice rebuttal from the MMANYNOW blog: http://nymmanow.blogspot.com/2011/08/raissmans-ranting-by-michael.html.  Here's the gist of the Daily News piece, as spoken by a three-year old: "Wah, wah, Fox will advertise MMA during baseball games. Wah!"  Here's the gist of the rebuttal, as spoken by an adult: "Ugh, why did I have kids?"  Heh.

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Evolution Fighting Championships 7 to Feature the Debut of "Pistol Pete"

Steve Katz’s Evolution Fighting Championship returns for its seventh installment, touching down at the Rahway Rec Center in Rahway on Saturday night, and like most amateur shows in New Jersey, there are about fifteen bouts on the mega-card, each one comprised of dudes who could very well be the next pro superstar.  But the one name that leaps out at me – and who would make the price of admission absolutely worth it – is Peter Lampasona, who’ll be stepping into the cage for the first time.  Who?  “Pistol Pete” Lampasona, the journo behind www.USCombatSports.com.  It’s always a curious thing when a fellow media member takes the fistic plunge, but with Lampasona, you just knew it was a matter of time before he had to satisfy his bloodlust.  After all, when you possess Vitor Belfort’s hand speed (as per Belfort’s fight against Joe Charles) coupled with Murilo Bustamante-level grappling (as per Bustamante’s fight against Dave Menne), it’s almost a crime to not be out there clobbering folk. 

MMA Journalist won’t be able to make it out to Rahway for the fight, as there’s a UFC that night that needs to be liveblogged (for www.MMAConvert.com).  But I shall be there in spirit.  And for sure my spirit will be cheering Pistol Pete on. 

Monday, August 22, 2011

Good Stuff from Dave Meltzer

I don't know what it is, but something about the sport's early days in Brazil fascinates me.  Maybe it's the gritty, real nature of the thing, maybe it's that it resembles so closely underground fighting (as I know it), but yeah, it's cool.  Anyway, here's Dave Meltzer's latest, which is a trip down memory lane when Helio Gracie was fighting Waldemar Santana and Brazilian politicians wanted to ban everything.  http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/news;_ylt=AlRlZRAvAs_HkWXArZJP7rI9Eo14?slug=dm-meltzer_ufc_brazil_vale_tudo_rio_081911

Thursday, August 18, 2011

The Definition of "Huge"

The UFC airing live shows on FOX is huge.  The Ultimate Fighter on FX - live, with match-ups voted on by viewers - is huge.  The plethora of pre- and post-shows across the FOX platform is huge.  The expanded universe of reachable viewers, which in turn means greater exposure for the sport, is huge.  As per today's UFC/FOX press conference, MMA has reached perhaps the milestone to end all milestones as it now takes its rightful broadcasting place amongst sports like baseball and football.  In effect, MMA is now mainstream.  And that, my friends, is the very definition of "huge".

From SpikeTV

“The Ultimate Fighter” season 14 in September will be our last. We are increasing our commitment to distinctive, original series that we own such as “Auction Hunters” and “Bar Rescue” which are delivering on our goal to reach a broader audience. Our 6-year partnership with the UFC has been incredibly beneficial in building both our brands, and we wish them all the best in the future.

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Five Reasons to Be Excited for ROC 37

The August lull is upon us, and lo!  What looms around autumn’s corner but Ring of Combat 37!  ROC 37, with its fairest of fisticuffs and promised vistas of violence, gracing the hallowed halls of the Tropicana in Atlantic City and bearing upon its shoulders the anticipated satisfaction of the release of a summer’s pent-up aggression.  It is not for the faint of temperament and weak of constitution, mind you; but for those keen on witnessing rapier-sharp skill in action plus a willy-nilly donnybrook, it soothes better than any salve.  Behold!  For the unconvinced, five very good reasons to be excited for ROC 37:

  • Deividas Taurosevicius – Tougher than a two-dollar steak and twice as flavorful, this Lithuanian has employed enough jiu-jitsu in his life to carry him into successful turns in the IFL and the WEC.  Somehow, after years of fighting in Northeast promotions (Reality Fighting, Cage Fury Fighting Championship, Sportfighting), Taurosevicius has managed to never have fought in ROC, so BOOM, here we go.
  • Tom DeBlass – A steady climb up the light-heavyweight ranks has DeBlass vying for the ROC 205-pound belt on September 9, and from what we’ve seen from him thus far, the Ricardo Almeida-trained jiu-jitsu stud can entertain on the feet (by banging it out) or entertain on the ground (with a smooth sub). 
  • Gabriel Miglioli – Seemingly from out of nowhere Miglioli appeared, and with one fight – an utter slobber knocker he just barely lost via decision to the fearsome Al Iaquinta – he’s established himself as a stone-cold killer among mere muggers.  ROC 37 will see Miglioli and Iaquinta rematch, so hold on to your TapouT hats.
  • Munah Holland – Currently the best female MMA fighter coming out of the New York/New Jersey circuit, Holland can be monster when it comes to slugging it out with opponents.  Will ROC 37 opponent Michelle Ould oblige her and stand and trade?  God, I hope so.
  • Shawn Obasi – Normally, an underground fighter must first fight as a sanctioned amateur before New Jersey will consider them for a pro fighter license, so it’s a testament to Obasi’s combative skill that his first fight outside of the UCL is in Ring of Combat.  Of course, as his opponent will be a Division I wrestler, the “Wing Chun Man” has got a tall order to fill, but I have faith he’ll deliver excitement. 

Monday, August 15, 2011

Rest In Peace Shawn Tompkins

Mixed martial arts lost another one of its own yesterday, as noted trainer Shawn Tompkins passed away at age 37.  Details are pretty much nonexistent at this point, and more will be known pending an autopsy.  What is known is that through his coaching and expert kickboxing tutelage, Tompkins touched the lives of many - and, in particular, Canadian fighters Mark Hominick, Sam Stout and Chris Horodecki.  I never knew him, as he moved outside of my Northeast MMA circles, but the man's impact on the sport was undeniable.  Rest in peace, Shawn Tompkins.  You will be missed.

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Things Jim Miller Will Have to Do to Get a Title Shot

Geez, what’s a guy got to do to get a UFC lightweight title shot nowadays?  To hear Jim Miller tell it, who knows and it’s better to just not care.  Which is an understandable mindset, given that Miller has only lost twice in 22 fights, and those losses were to champ Frankie Edgar and number one challenger Gray Maynard.  In the meantime, Miller has racked up wins against everyone from TUF winner Mac Danzig to supposed “next big thing” Charles Oliveira to the allegedly unstoppable Kamal Shalorus (who Miller stopped in a big way), and on August 14 he’ll take on ex-WEC champ Ben Henderson at UFC on Versus 5.  Think a win there will earn him a crack at the belt?  Guess again.  But thanks to a source inside Zuffa addicted to Cheetos and a leaked internal memo, MMA Journalist has discovered just what it is Miller has to do.  To get a shot at the 155-pound title, Jim Miller must first:

  • Style Clay Guida’s hair.  Nothing flashy, but nothing too conservative either.  Think: Mel Gibson in “Lethal Weapon” meets Buffalo Bill from “The Silence of the Lambs”.
  • Teach Quinton Jackson about “good touch, bad touch”.  Then take him to a strip club.
  • Lorenzo feels like eating a badger for lunch today.  Fetch him one, will you, Jim?  He likes them alive and angry.
  • Russian prime minister Vladimir Putin thinks his judo is enough to win fights.  Prove him wrong.
  • There are 52 fighters on the UFC’s lightweight roster and Miller has only faced about eight of them.  *Taps foot.*  Well, get cracking!  Those other 46 fighters ain’t gonna fight themselves!