MMA Journalist would like to give a big shoutout to Scoop Malinowski, who's currently working on a book on tennis champ Marcelo Rios, but still manages to crank out Biofiles on fighters. His latest Biofile is on boxer Riddick Bowe (go here: http://www.examiner.com/sports-profile-in-national/biofile-interview-with-riddick-bowe ), but if you hit the archives you'll find a wealth of good stuff on a ton of MMA fighters. Scoop's stuff can also be found on www.BoxingInsider.com.
Friday, February 18, 2011
Thursday, February 17, 2011
From the Mailbag: "Hey, I Want to Go to the Next Underground Show"
From the MMA Journalist mailbag:
"Hey, I want to go to the next underground mixed martial arts show in New York City. Is there a list or something that I can get on? I promise I am NOT A COP." - undercvrCop_5_0@hotmail.com
Dear undercvrCop_5_0, I don't know what you're talking about. But if I did, I would tell you to go to www.savevaletudo.com, which is the official website of the Underground Combat League, and follow "savevaletudo" on Twitter. Maybe you'll get some info, maybe you won't, maybe you'll be told to show up at a warehouse in Queens, and then when you go you get beaten, bound with duct tape, stuffed into a cardboard box, and shipped via UPS to the reservation in South Dakota. And let me tell you, the reservation in South Dakota sucks this time of year.
Got questions for MMA Journalist? Send them to mma_journalist@yahoo.com - and be prepared to be mocked.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Unsung Heroes Who Used MMA in the Real World
New York City resident Joe Lozito made headlines this past weekend when he helped subdue crazed murderer Maksim Gelman after Gelman attacked him with a knife on a subway train, and Lozito became MMA’s “man of the hour” when he told the press he learned his moves from watching countless UFCs. But while the 270-pound father of two deserves all the kudos in the world for his actions (and mostly certainly earned the impromptu visit from Dana White and appurtenant schwag), Lozito is far from the only man to have used “ultimate fighting” techniques in the real world. In fact, there are a ton of average joes out there who did their best to emulate what they saw in the Octagon in life-or-death situations. Thankfully, MMA Journalist has compiled a list of these unsung heroes, and detailed their exploits for your reading pleasure. Enjoy!
- Daren Hammerstrom, June 6, 2003 – While walking down the street in Omaha, Nebraska, Daren Hammerstrom observed a bus barreling out of control down the street towards an elderly woman who shuffling her way through a crosswalk. Without hesitation, Hammerstrom jumped into the path of the bus and attempted to armbar it. He was not successful.
- Robert Christof, April 22, 2010 – On a scuba diving excursion off the Florida Keys, Robert Christof and his wife encountered a Great White shark. To provide time for his wife to swim away, Christof confronted the shark, and employed a guillotine choke when the predator approached. His remains were never found.
- Antwon DeMarlyle, September 15, 2007 – Upon discovering a cache of homemade pipe bombs in the woods behind his Mobile, Alabama home, Antwon DeMarlyle tried to disassemble them using a series of Thai kicks. DeMarlyle has not been seen since.
- Tricia Hester, August 30, 2009 – During a solo hiking trip in the Adirondack Mountains, Tricia Hester was attacked by a mountain lion. She survived by taking the beast to the ground with a quadruple-leg takedown and laying on it for 15 minutes. Unfortunately, Cecil Peoples awarded the mountain lion the unanimous decision when time expired.
- Thomas Finnegan, January 4, 2005 – At a family picnic in San Jose, California, Thomas Finnegan was handed a jar of pickles that no other family member could open. By placing the jar in the crook of his arm and twisting with his hips, Finnegan used proper heelhooking technique to get the lid off. He still brags about it to this day.
Monday, February 14, 2011
Strikeforce: "Fedor vs. Silva" Postscript
- It was an epic show, and with the attendance figures just above 11,000, it’s the biggest non-UFC event in New Jersey’s history. Cage Fury Fighting Championship 5, which featured Kimbo Slice vs. Ray Mercer and had an attendance of 7,300, ranks number two.
- The Internet and WiFi connection was awful. After attending some IFL events there and having had zero problems with getting online then, I have strong reason to believe Strikeforce was “jamming” us.
- K-Rod was robbed – as usual. The dude just cannot get a decision in the Garden State, no matter what.
- Igor Gracie looked smooth, Sam Oropeza continues to show promise, and John Cholish looked like a complete beast.
- The crowd loved Gina Carano. They also loved Andrei Arlovski. But damn, it approached outright “worship” when it came to Fedor.
- The crowd was also very knowledgeable when it came to action on the ground. There weren’t a lot of catcalls and booing from the usual malcontent demographic.
- Gian Villante may have gone down, but damn did he go down swinging.
- Same for Andrei Arlovski, although watching him fight now is like watching a fond friend walk into the lions’ cage at the zoo wearing a suit made out of Steak-Ums. You just know he’s going to get eaten, and though it’ll be fascinating, it still hurts to watch.
- Fedor took a serious beating and the stoppage was merited. And when the Russian stated that he was going to retire, there were chants of “Thank you, Fedor!” in the arena.
- At the post-fight presser, Scott Coker was having none of that retirement talk. None. And he was deadly serious about Fedor possibly coming back into the tournament as an alternate. Screw that. Fedor should only come in after Shane Del Rosario, Chad Griggs and Valentijn Overeem have been used up.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Liveblog: Strikeforce Part 5
Ready for a KO? Then hold onto your hats, 'cause here come Sergei Kharitonov and Andrei Arlovski, ready to die for you. Things go as you'd imagine: the two heavyweights slug it out, and though the ex-UFC champ has got some strong movement, Kharitonov just walks him down and blasts him. Arlovski ends up in a crumpled heap, unconscious at 2:49 of Round 1. Last bout and it's the one everyone's been waiting for, with the Last Emperor squaring off against Bigfoot. At Fedor's entrance, the crowd goes wild. The opening round sees the Russian throw a serious amount of leather at the Brazilian - and the Brazilian give it back in kind. The advantage goes to Fedor by virtue of the damage he delivers when on top. Round 2, however, is a complete reversal of fortune, as Bigfoot immediately gets his foe down and beats on him mercilessly. Fedor survives, but his eye is a swollen mess, and the doctors waive off the bout before the third round can begin. And that all, folks.
Liveblog: Strikeforce Part 4
Chad Griggs and Gian Villante make their way to the cage, and of course the local star gets a nice, loud pop from the crowd. Yikes, these two engage in a complete slugfest, each rocking the other with a wealth of punches, kicks and knees. Griggs ends up getting the better of it, though, and sends Villante to the canvas for the TKO win at 2:49 of Round 1. Shane Del Rosario and Lavar Johnson are up, and they too engage in a pretty decent scrap. It's pretty even on the feet - both men rocking the other - but the tide shifts dramatically when Del Rosario takes Johnson down and gets on top. First punches from the mount, then a smooth transition into an armbar, and Johnson taps at 4:31 of Round 1.
Liveblog: Strikeforce Part 3
Last prelim bout and it's John Cholish vs. Marc Stevens. Cholish comes out like a runaway freight train in Round 1, tossing Stevens around, kicking him in the face, and pounding on him on the ground. Stevens has even less success in the second round, absorbing more kicks and falling to a sweet rolling kneebar at 3:57 of the frame. Main card time, and the first pairing is Valentijn Overeem taking on Ray Sefo. I interviewed Overeem back when he was facing Aaron Brink in the WFA (circa 2002 or so), and he was more into doing pro wrestling than mixed martial arts. Let's see if he's since changed his mind. And... it looks like he gives a crap. Although he stands with Sefo and trades a bit, it doesn't take long for the Dutchman to realize his fortune will be found on the mat. So he takes the K-1 vet down and slips on a neck crank from side-control. Sefo taps at 1:37 of Round 1.
Liveblog: Strikeforce Part 2
Don Carlo-Clauss and Sam Oropeza enter the cage for their prelim match-up. Oropeza brings a rock-solid submission game and deadly head-kicks to the table, while Carlo-Clauss brings an excessive amount of hair on his head and chin - which translates into a first round of Oropeza repeatedly throwing high-kicks and eventually catching Carlo-Clauss with one. The ensuing storm of strikes on the ground has Carlo-Clauss verbally submitting at 4:10 of Round 1. Now it's time for Igor Gracie and John Salgado to do their thang. The opening round has Gracie affixing himself to Salgado's back like a barnacle, and Salgado gamely avoiding the rear naked choke for the duration. Gracie eases into the driver's seat once more in Round 2, this time staying in top and methodically working his way into a head/arm choke. Salgado goes to sleep at 3:04 of the second round.
Liveblog: Strikeforce Part 1
MMA Journalist is here at the IZOD Center in New Jersey for Strikeforce's "Fedor vs. Silva" extravaganza, which will feature two bouts from the eagerly-anticipated heavyweight tournament. Right now the first preliminary fight is underway, with Pellegrino MMA rep Kevin Roddy mixing it up with Jay McLean. Round 1 is just about all stand-up, each feeling the other out with single kicks and punches, and each scoring a takedown. McLean takes it up a notch in the second round, though, catching K-Rod with a flurry that briefly has the taller, lankier fighter on Queer Street. Roddy, resilient as ever, survives, and comes out in Round 3 to take McLean down and tie him in knots. Time expires with McLean on top but inches away from falling prey to an armbar. The split decision goes to McLean when time runs out - a robbery if there ever was one. Next up: Anthony Leone vs. Josh LaBerge. LaBerge spends the first part of Round 1 blasting his opponent in the chops and getting him nice and bloody. Leone finally gets him down in the latter half of the frame and pounds on him. But the damage is done, and the in between rounds the doctor takes one look at Leone's mug and says "no mas".
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