TSMMA middleweight striking specialist Uriah Hall could be considered "green" by most standards. After all, the man has only had two MMA bouts thus far, and he's slated to have his third at ROC 27 this Friday against Mitch Whitesel (a wrestler with 26 MMA fights to his record). Why, then, is Hall expected to kill Whitesel once the referee says "go"? Because at six-feet tall and sporting an action figure's physique, Hall is what you'd call a "natural born killer", and from his first fight back at ROC 9 until his second and last fight at Bellator FC in June (where Hall defeated by TKO a fighter with a 16-12 record), he's been honing himself into a keen razor's edge. Is he competent on the ground? Supposedly, but because his jumping back-kicks tend to fold opponents in half and his flurries are like the wrath of an angry Babylonian god, his fights really haven't gotten that far. As a very experienced competitor, maybe Whitesel will be the first to get Hall down and keep him there. But probably not. Though green, Hall is that good. Watch out for him.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Observations From My Couch: UFC 105 "Holy Crap Another Bad Decision"
- Aaron Riley: takes a lickin', keeps on... takin' a lickin'.
- For a while there, I was worried James Wilks was going to be successful in his effort to hug Matt Brown to death.
- Tough break for Jared Hamman, who got eye-gouged and knocked out in 41 seconds. He's fortunate the fight didn't go a minute and a half, though, because with his luck he would've torn his ACL and broken a few bones as well.
- Denis Kang is so skilled and dangerous and talented. For one round. Then he's got nothing.
- Andre Winner didn't just put Roli Delgado to sleep, he tucked him in and read him a bedtime story.
- Congrats, Dan Hardy! You're the next man in line to get killed by Georges St. Pierre!
- Randy Couture did nothing to earn that decision. Except, of course, be a multi-time champ, Hall of Famer, legend, spokesman for the sport, etc.
Queens Underground Show Postscript
I had to cut out early - I've been dealing with the flu and I needed to get to bed - but what I saw was at times entertaining. Some points: MAM's use of headgear will always be an issue. There's a reason no one, including the amateur leagues in New Jersey, uses headgear, and making MAM fighters wear them doesn't make these "exhibition bouts" any more legal in New York. Also, the officiating needs some work, but as unsanctioned underground shows go the promotion is chock full of potential and is giving a lot of traditional martial artists a taste of MMA, so kudos to them. As they don't want press there, Friday night's event will likely be the last event I cover. I do, however, wish them luck.
Friday, November 13, 2009
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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