Well, Well, Well...

Guess what's on Amazon… http://www.amazon.com/Raw-Combat-Underground-World-Martial/dp/0806535040/ref=sr_1_31?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1294856240&sr=1-31 .

A Few Words with "Wing Chun Man" Shawn Obasi

For the past few months Shawn Obasi – a veteran of the UCL and one heck of a polarizing figure in the New York fight scene – has been training hard for his pro MMA debut at an upcoming Brick City Fighting Championship.  But the “Wing Chun Man” still had enough time for challenge match against Internet personality Bloodstain Lane in Brooklyn last week, which Obasi won via third-round armbar.  Weighing 278 pounds when he first stepped onto the mat at Alliance BJJ, Obasi is now 210, and apparently very capable of grappling when not knocking opponents senseless.  MMA Journalist caught up with the controversial fighter to get the scoop on what he’s been up to.

• “I’ve just been training super-duper hard, getting ready for my pro debut.  I’m going to be fighting for the light-heavyweight belt at Brick City Fighting Championships against Carlos Cline. He’s a Gracie fighter so I’m really looking forward to that.”
• “I’ve been training at Alliance [BJJ].  I’ve been really working on my ground game.  And of course I’ve been training my Wing Chun, as well.  I haven’t really stepped into Muay Thai like I said I would.  I have my reasons for that.  Mostly because I feel I would be letting my fans down.  They see me as a big figure in the Wing Chun community, so for me to go around and train Muay Thai, it would almost be like I’m contradicting myself.  But it’s hard.  I’m starting to understand that in order to be well-versed in mixed martial arts, you have to learn different styles.”
• [On how the Bloodstain Lane challenge match came about:]  “He was on Facebook and I was on Facebook, and it’s kind of funny how that came about.  In my head I was saying, ‘Man, this guy talks so much shit about MMA fighters and how they lay-and-pray’, and he was talking about how he’d kick someone’s ass and do this and that.  And I was saying, ‘You know, I would like to fight this guy, but I don’t know how to go about it.’  Well, one day he left a post saying, ‘I’m going to be at Brooklyn Fight Factory sparring.  If any of you bozos want to come down and spar with me, come on out.’  I was like, oh wow.  This would be a great opportunity.  I left him a message asking what time, and all of sudden people on the thread started realizing who I was.  Then it became crazy.  It was on Twitter and all over the place, so we decided we were going to meet up and bang it out, and we did.”
• “It went okay.  I want people to understand it was just like a sparring match, not a full-contact thing.  I had spoken to Bloodstain Lane before, and he’d specifically asked me not to go hard, so I was going about 45 percent.  I won in the last round with an armbar, and I didn’t use any Wing Chun.  The reason why is, 1) I wasn’t really trying to hurt the guy, and 2) I wanted to test myself.  The way I was testing myself was by letting the guy put me into bad situations and letting the guy do what he wanted.  My teacher said something to me a while back and it stuck in my head.  He said, ‘Shawn, when you start to win fights by beating people effortlessly, that’s when you know you’ve reached a high-level of martial arts.’  When people see the video they can tell that I wasn’t aggressive.  I was pretty much relaxed.  And it makes me feel good that someone was going 100 percent and I was going 45 percent and I could still beat them.  But it wasn’t really I big deal.”
• [Will we see the same intensity when he faces Carlos Cline?]  “Absolutely not.  What you’re going to see is a culmination of that same theory of ‘effortlessness’, but you’ll also see emotional content.  You will know I’m fighting when you see the expressions on my face – I make crazy expressions on my face.  You can hear me raise my chi.  And that’s how you’ll know I’m fighting for real.  When I fight Carlos Cline I’m going to go at him with everything I got.  This is not a game, this is the professional level.  I’m getting paid for this.  I have expectations to live up to, and trust me when I tell you, when there’s a belt on the line, there’s no games.”
• “It’s a really great feeling that I’m going to fight for the belt.  And it’s crazy because once I do win, I will be Wing Chun’s first MMA champion.  It’s going to be really big.  I have a chance to make history.  Everything I’ve ever wanted, I have the opportunity to make it happen.”

Observations from My Couch: Strikeforce Challengers 13 "Ultimate Amanda Nunes Done Killed Someone"

• As judo guys go, Rhadi Ferguson didn’t show a lot of throwing.  But hey, his leglocks were great, so that’s something.
• A fourteen-second knockout?  Dear God, please say we’ve found someone who can stand with Cris Cyborg!  Please!
• Daniel Cormier once again demonstrated that he’s a promising up-and-comer.  However, that man should be kept far away from Strikeforce’s heavyweight tournament.  And I mean that in a “Good grief, this fight is boring” kind of way.
• Ovince St. Preux is becoming very competent at battering and punishing opponents but not quite finishing them.
• Thank you, Tyron Woodley and Tarec Saffiedine, for turning what should have been a stellar main event into a suckfest.  If I had wanted to watch men hugging against the cage for 15 minutes, I would’ve… gone to the park… and watched men hugging… against the cage for 15 minutes.  Or something snarky and witty.  I don’t know.

Strikeforce Challengers 13: What to Watch For

Tonight’s edition of Strikeforce Challengers features some unusually worthwhile match-ups – unusual because these Challengers events are often half the calories of a regular Strikeforce yet half the flavor.  But that’s not the case with this one, though.  In the main event, two welterweights who’ve made the most of their tenure on Showtime will meet in a clash between beastly wrestler and thrilling striker, while on the undercard another storied judo guy steps into the cage and a pair of ladies clash to determine who may be worthy enough to be sacrificed to the organization’s 145-pound goddess of war sometime in the future.  So if you tune into Showtime tonight (which is free thanks to a weekend-long preview), this is what to watch for:

• Daniel Cormier, Devin Cole and the reason why these two heavyweights aren’t in Strikeforce’s big heavyweight tournament – Cormier is still pretty green and Cole’s best days were in the IFL.  Plus, they haven’t quite embraced the art of “stand and bang”.  However, with the myth of Bobby Lashley dispelled, someone’s going to need to take his place as “big badass wrestler”.  Can Cormier do it?
• Rhadi Ferguson, who might contain within his repertoire the next highlight-reel judo throw – Or he might not.  Years ago the MMA world was keen on this guy committing to cagefighting.  But that was then, and as Father Time is not kind to fighters, one has to wonder if Ferguson can still put opponents on their asses.  The UFC has Dong Hyun Kim and Bellator has Rick Hawn.  Will Ferguson be Strikeforce’s resident judoka? 
• Julie Budd, Amanda Nunes and the question of “Who will Cyborg kill in 2011?” – Really, these ladies are both kind of short on the experience necessary to give the champ any kind of trouble.  Unfortunately, who else is going to step into the cage with her?  Nick Diaz?  Robbie Lawler?
• Ovince Saint Preux, Abongo Humphrey and the inevitable Brandon Vera fight – Let’s face it, with Vera recently cut by the UFC, chances are either Saint Preux or Humphrey (or both) will be facing him in Strikeforce soon.  So which one will it be?  The athletic dude who moves around a lot or the dude that stands and takes a lot of punishment?
• Tarec Saffiedine, Tyron Woodley and the next big Strikeforce welterweight – Thus far we’ve Saffiedine kick ass and Woodley kick ass, so this match-up promises to be a big dose of awesome.  Also, depending on who wins and how, Strikeforce could have its next big 170-pound star (as opposed to just “rising star”, which these guys already are).  Who will it be?

UFC to Counter Strikeforce Tournament with "Best of TUF" Tournament

In response to the upcoming Strikeforce heavyweight tournament announced earlier this week, the UFC has begun formulating plans for a “rebuttal” of epic proportions – this one involving an eight-man tournament of their own consisting of some of the best, most-compelling fighters to ever grace the TUF House.  The “Best of TUF” event is scheduled for February 12, the same night of Strikeforce’s Fedor Emelianenko/Antonio Silva and Andrei Arlovski/Sergei Kharitonov match-ups, and the UFC’s star-studded ION-broadcast roster includes:

• Jason Thacker – The dark horse of TUF’s first season, few believed in Thacker’s ability, but for about a minute and 34 seconds at the TUF 1 Finale, he gave Chris Leben all he could handle.  Then Leben knocked him out.
• Danny Abbadi – The karate man extraordinaire of TUF 3, Abbadi made waves in the show when he refused to change his underwear for days on end.
• Marlon Sims – Although he may have been a substandard fighter in the cage, TUF 5’s Sims was a beast on patio concrete.  Watch out, porchfighters!
• Jon Koppenhaver, aka “War Machine” – This TUF 6er doesn’t crap in toilet bowls.  Not even while in jail.  Enough said.
• Junie Browning – If TUF 8 had a “bad boy”, then it was Browning.  Coincidently, if MMA had a painful, infected cyst that needed to be lanced and then treated with antibiotics, it was Browning.
• Kimbo Slice – Come on, even a TUF 10 vet’s gotta eat.

NYC Kickboxing Promotion to Give MMA a Try... In Vermont

On February 25, Friday Night Fights, one of New York City's preeminent kickboxing promotions, will be trying its hand at mixed martial arts.  But unlike previous shows, which have taken place in such subway-accessible venues as Pace University and the basement of the Church of St. Paul the Apostle, this one is going to require some travel.  Playing host to FNF's first installment of cagefighting is the Burlington Memorial Auditorium in Burlington, Vermont - yes, Vermont, the state where New Yorkers go to ski and get blocks of cheddar cheese.  However, Vermont is also the state New Yorkers have been trekking to for some non-New Jersey-flavored MMA, and more than a few underground veterans have been driving up there to throw down.  Is this some sort of promoting test run in preparation for when New York finally sanctions the sport?  Probably, but that's not necessarily a bad thing.  When the ban is lifted here, FNF is going to be one of a handful of established New York-based organizations with all the pieces in place for cranking out decent MMA shows.  There's nothing wrong with FNF being ready.

Outrage Over Impending Strikeforce Heavyweight Tournament Grows

Outrage over the recently announced Strikeforce heavyweight tournament continues to grow, with angry fans turning online forums into crucibles of cold discontent and burning, seething hate.  At the center of the maelstrom is the fact that the combatants - which include legendary warrior Fedor Emelianenko, Strikeforce champ Alistair Overeem, and former UFC champs Josh Barnett and Andrei Arlovski - will not be completing all bouts of the eight-man event in one night, will not be fighting to the death, and will not be facing Brock Lesnar at any point.  Also at issue is the fact that the UFC logo will not appear anywhere on the cage or in any of the broadcast's graphics.  Said UFCfanboy4life, "This whole tournament is clearly a gimmick meant to diminish the accomplishments of Dana White, who singlehandedly made mixed martial arts into what it is today."  Added ZuffaShill128, "UFC Fight Night 23 will feature Melvin Guillard in the marquee bout and boasts the likes of Matt Wiman, Joey Beltran and Tim Hague on the main card.  Even a blind man can see that the UFC puts out a better product than Strikeforce."  The opening matches of the tournament are slated for February 12 at the IZOD Center in New Jersey, and will see Fedor take on Antonio Silva and Arlovski face Sergei Kharitonov.  It is unclear at this time if fan sentiment will force Strikeforce to cancel the event.

Chael Sonnen Admits to Being Member of Al Qaeda; UFC Suspends Him

Erstwhile middleweight contender Chael Sonnen, who came close to taking champ Anderson Silva's belt then found his career stymied by steroid allegations, has now found himself in a new predicament - this one centering around his recent admission to being an active member of the global terrorist organization Al Qaeda. According to a statement issued by the Portland field office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Sonnen recently confessed to extremist ties when answering charges of sedition and treason. The allegations levied against the top 185-pound fighter included:

• Being a co-founder of WikiLeaks
• Plotting to blow up the American Embassy in Narnia
• Unsupervised Twitter posts
• Lack of puberty
• Squandering his immense fan base and momentum

Upon news of Sonnen's Al Qaeda admission, the UFC promptly suspended the middleweight fighter, striking him from a scheduled UFC 128 bout. Said Dana White, "Look, busted for steroids - no problem. Driving while intoxicated - no problem. High-speed police chase - no problem. But being a terrorist? Sorry, we have to draw the line somewhere."

Some Personal Stats

• As of today, I have attended 172 MMA shows.  That means that I have sat ringside (or cageside) for roughly 1,600 MMA bouts.
• I have sat ringside for eight kickboxing shows.
• I have been splattered with fighters’ blood six times.  I have been splattered with the sweat of combatants countless times.
• I have attended 19 UFCs.  I bought tickets only for my first two – UFC 17 and UFC 33.  I was credentialed for the rest.
• I have attended 35 “underground shows”.  Of that number, 22 were UCLs.  The only UCL I have missed was the sixth installment, which featured the debut of some kid named Frankie Edgar.  I was in Thailand at the time getting married.
• The farthest distance I’ve traveled for an MMA event is London, England.  The shortest distance is three blocks from my house.
• UFC 17 was the first MMA event I saw live.
• Dan Miragliotta was the referee at the second MMA show I ever saw live.  It was an unsanctioned event in Richmond, Virginia.
• I was there when New Jersey held its first fully-sanctioned amateur event.  Greg Soto fought and won.  Soto competed at the UFC in Las Vegas this past weekend.
• It is 2011.  I have been covering the sport of MMA for ten years.

Observations from My Couch: UFC 125 "Ultimate Frankie the Unkillable"

• Please, Dana, give Phil Baroni an office job too.  The man was every bit the warrior Chuck was, and he’s about one strong wind away from Parkinson’s disease.
• Josh Grispi should be thanking Dustin Poirier profusely for saving his life, because if Grispi had faced Jose Aldo instead he’d be dead now.
• Marcus Davis: proof that having great boxing skills means nothing when you lean into a fist.
• Has no one read the Bible?  Obviously, the secret to defeating Clay Guida is to cut his hair.
• Which do you think bothered Nate Diaz more?  That fact that he lost or the fact that he lost to someone named “Dong”?
• Brandon Vera, Strikeforce awaits!
• It was cool to see Brian Stann notch an impressive win, but his bayoneting of Chris Leben’s cornermen after the bout was a bit excessive.
• Gray Maynard proved that, for all his speed and movement, Frankie Edgar is still hittable.  Frankie Edgar proved that, no matter what kind of damage you deliver, he will still punch you, slam you and outwork you.

The Definitive "Best of Northeast MMA in 2010" List

As 2010 draws to a close, it’s time to reflect upon the year that was.  And while everyone and their mother is going to be compiling “best of” lists involving some UFC heavyweight champ’s rise and fall or a dominant Strikeforce fighter, few – if any – will turn their lenses toward regional, grassroots mixed martial arts.  Well, screw ‘em.  Here’s MMA Journalist’s definitive “Best of Northeast MMA in 2010” list, in no particular order.

• Tom Gallicchio vs. Aaron Meisner, M-1 Global “Selection”, August 7th – In the semifinals of the M-1 Global welterweight tournament in Atlantic City, veteran scrapper Tom Gallicchio had the toughest fight of anyone in the division when he took on Muay Thai ace Aaron Meisner (who looked the sharpest and deadliest of his career).  For two rounds “Da Tank” ate an assortment of knees and fists, but he refused to fall, and in the final round he snagged a takedown, took Meisner’s back, and choked him out.  Gallicchio had one more bout to go to win the tournament.  Compared to this semifinal contest, though, it was a cakewalk.
• Chris Weidman vs. Uriah Hall, ROC 31, September 24th – In just a few fights, TSMMA’s Uriah Hall had established himself as a monster striker, so when Team Serra/Longo rep Chris Weidman challenged him for his ROC middleweight belt, few expected the stud wrestler to throw leather.  But he did, and after clipping Hall on the chin and sending him to the canvas, Weidman earned himself the TKO win and the title.
• Munah Holland vs. Kim Couture, ROC 32, October 23rd – Although it was her MMA debut, TSMMA’s Munah Holland was no stranger to the art of putting knuckles to people’s faces – and it showed when she took on the infamous Kim Couture.  For three rounds Holland blasted her foe, and when time ran out there was no questioning who had earned the unanimous decision victory and who had gotten beaten up.
• Joe Aviles vs. George Sheppard, ROC 33, December 3rd – Supposedly, Joe Aviles is really good at judo and jiu-jitsu.  But we haven’t seen that yet, as he’s been utterly crushing opponents on the feet before it can even get to the ground.  At ROC 31 Aviles shocked the crowd with a flying knee-KO of Mike Medrano.  However, it was his too-fast-to-see knockout of George Sheppard at ROC 33 that deserves top honors.  They swung and connected with right hands simultaneously, but it was Sheppard who wound up unconscious, and it took numerous views of the instant replay to figure out what had happened.
• Jimmie Rivera vs. Abel Cullum, KOTC: “No Mercy”, September 17th – TSMMA star player Jimmie Rivera made the trek on up to the Foxwoods Casino in Connecticut to square off against King of the Cage 135-pound champ Abel Cullum, and goddamn if Rivera didn’t go the distance with the DREAM veteran and take his belt.  In the end it was a split decision victory, and after teammate Lyman Good’s Bellator strap, Rivera became the second TSMMA rep to snag a national MMA title.
• Nick Pace vs. Steve DeAngelis, ROC 30, June 11th – As the old adage goes, “To get into the UFC you have to beat someone tough.”  In taking on longtime badass Steve DeAngelis, and submitting him with a slick D’Arce, TSMMAer Nick Pace did just that.  He’s since fought in the WEC and the UFC, but the thrilling first-round win over DeAngelis was without a doubt the stepping stone to get there.
• John Cholish vs. Hitalo Machado, UCC 2, May 14th – Watching an up-and-comer ascend to greatness is always fun to see, and Team Renzo exponent John Cholish’s climb is no exception.  At the second Urban Conflict Championship in Jersey City, Cholish found himself evenly matched with Hitalo Machado in the jiu-jitsu department, so he switched things up and Muay Thai’d the hell out of Machado’s legs.  The TKO win came halfway into the fourth round when Machado could no longer stand.
• Gregor Gracie vs. Mariusz Linke, Brick City FC, October 2nd – With the last name “Gracie”, the bar is set pretty high for Gregor.  That’s why, when he fell to a Doug Gordon kick back at ROC 18 in 2008, it was somewhat of a stunner.  It took two and a half years for Gracie to get back on the MMA horse, but with the Brick City Fighting Championship in Newark as the backdrop, he lived up to his family name by utilizing smooth strikes and seamless jiu-jitsu to dominate and submit Mariusz Linke.  Gregor was back.
• Chris Wing vs. Geidrius Karavackas, ROC 30, June 11th – Though making his pro debut at ROC 30, Chris Wing already had a decent amount of hype behind him.  And with good reason, as he sported a substantial (and successful) amateur record, plus there was talk that he could punch out a bison.  But not everyone can transition to the pro leagues smoothly.  When facing the tough Geidrius Karavackas, would Wing crumble?  Um, nope.  Wing needed a little over six minutes of combat to KO his foe, and with another knockout win since, the world now knows what to expect when the welterweight steps into the cage: pure, unbridled fury.
• Ryan LaFlare vs. Justin Haskins, ROC 28, February 19th – Bellmore Kickboxing MVP Ryan LaFlare was undefeated when he took on WEC vet Justin Haskins for the ROC belt, and it didn’t take long to see why.  Combining aggressive grappling with aggressive striking, LaFlare is a handful – or a fistful, which was the case when Haskins took one too many on the noggin and started dozing.  The welterweight division is pretty deep in the Northeast, but with this win, LaFlare proved he’s among the best.

Coalition to Legalize MMA in NY to Hold Rally

The Coalition to Legalize MMA in New York will be a holding a rally across the street from City Hall in downtown Manhattan on February 8th, according to a press release circulated by organizer Sambo Steve.  The rally is slated for noon, and the address of the gathering is 250 Broadway.  Anyone with even just a passing interest in sanctioned MMA in New York State is encouraged to attend, and as the idea is show legislators - and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver in particular - that the general public cares about the issue, it is expected that the rally will be both respectful and peaceful.  (The siege catapults will come later.)   

Gray Maynard: A Retrospective in Blankets

Undefeated.  The number one lightweight contender.  The only man to defeat UFC champ Frankie Edgar.  Gray Maynard is all of these things, and aside from a shocking nine-second knockout of some scrub, he’s also the closest thing a human can come to emulating a blanket without actually being made of a cotton/polyester blend.  At UFC 125 on Saturday night, the fighter who embodies falling asleep in a hammock will rematch Edgar with Edgar’s 155-pound title on the line.  What’s in store for the champ?  Well, if you’re a submission ace, Maynard will lay on you.  If you’re a wrestler, Maynard will lay on you.  And if you’re a well-rounded jiu-jitsu black belt and competent striker, Maynard will lay on you.  But there’s more to his technique than just smothering warmth.  Consider: the evolution of Gray Maynard, as told by a variety of blankets.

• Ultimate Fighter Finale 5, Rob Emerson vs. the Knitted Quilt – Grandmothers spend a lot of time and effort knitting something meant to be functional but ultimately with lots of holes in it – which pretty much describes Maynard’s participation in TUF 5 and his subsequent performance at the finale.  All that time wasted in the TUF House, and for what?  A double-knockout and “no contest” when he tries to slam Emerson?  Classic.
• UFC Fight Night 11, Joe Veres vs. the Electric Blanket – It took nine seconds for Veres to walk into Maynard’s fist and render himself unconscious.  It took longer for the referee to convince Maynard to stop lying on top of the fallen fighter.  Sadly, it took athletic commission officials only 30 seconds to realize there was an extension cord running from Maynard’s back to an outlet in his corner, so that was the last “electric” performance we’ve seen from him.   
• UFC Fight Night 13, Frankie Edgar vs. the Down Comforter – When it comes to retaining heat and promoting a restful slumber, a comforter filled with goose feathers tends to beat all.  Such was the case when frenetic up-and-comer Edgar met Maynard in the Octagon back in April, 2008.  Then, Edgar couldn’t resist the comfort, and spent the duration of their bout sipping herbal tea and reading a Danielle Steel novel.  Now, however, with the New Jersey-based fighter focused more on being champ and less on his “Book of the Month” membership, things may play out differently.
• UFC 96, Jim Miller vs. the Bedspread – Combining warmth and decorative effect, the bedspread is what you leave on your bed when you know your parents are coming over and you don’t want them to think you’re a slob.  For Miller – who thus far has only ever lost to Edgar and Maynard – this translated into a stifled ground game, a decent night’s rest, and Maynard’s family members leaning into the cage to say things like “Nice place you got here” and “Oh, you cleaned up for us.  You shouldn’t have.”
• UFC Fight Night 20, Nate Diaz vs. the Duvet – In “Fight Club”, Tyler Durden bemoaned the fact that men nowadays know what a duvet is and that it was useless knowledge, so I’m just going to pretend I’m ignorant.  Bottom line: Diaz lost, but just barely, and the fight stunk.
• UFC 118, Kenny Florian vs. the Slanket – A blanket with sleeves?  For people who live outside, people who live in houses with no heat, and people who live in biblical times, that’s pure genius.  Unfortunately, for people interested in seeing explosive action in MMA bouts, that’s raw suck right there.  Here’s hoping that at UFC 125 Edgar can keep the blanket – and his many forms – at bay.

From the Desk of Nick Lembo: New Jersey MMA Stats

New Jersey State Athletic Control Board consigliere Nick Lembo has just released some stats re: Garden State MMA in 2010. This year the commission oversaw 19 pro MMA shows, 20 amateur MMA shows and five Muay Thai events. There were a grand total of 180 pro bouts during the year, and 314 amateur bouts. Also, referee Keith Peterson received four more tattoos, judge Doug Crosby enraged 9,198 UFC fans, and Dan Miragliotta used 36 gallons of tanning lotion to maintain his distinct skin color.

Ferrid Kheder: "I Can Beat Any Fighter That Faces Me at Xtreme Vale Todo"

Hot on the heels of his miraculous win against Hermes Franca in Costa Rica, rising star Ferrid Kheder has issued a bold statement to the MMA competitors of the world. "I can beat any fighter that faces me at Xtreme Vale Todo," said the Frenchman, who managed to earn a decision against the UFC veteran on Sunday night despite being out-struck and out-grappled for three rounds. Of course, the outcome of that bout has managed to stir up controversy, with Franca publicly decrying the results as something that made him "really upset" and "sad." But Kheder, who once won an Xtreme Vale Todo bout by submission despite being knocked out, and won another by split decision even though he was unable to answer the bell for the second round, has remained unfazed - and steadfast in his belief that he could emerge from any Costa Rican fight with his arm raised in victory. "I don't care who you are or where you've fought," said Kheder. "If our fight takes place at Xtreme Vale Todo, I will defeat you."

A Piece of MMA History: ROC 2

Lou Neglia's venerable Ring of Combat promotion may currently be up to thirty-something installments, but back in December of 2002, ROC was a fledgling organization putting on its second show. The venue was the Meadowlands Expo Center, and the card featured five MMA bouts intermingled with kickboxing offerings - a rare occurrence now, yet not an uncommon mixture then. In terms of local heroes on the roster, there were few, like the maddeningly-methodical grappler Steve Anshelewitz (his guard and his pace were dangerous, capable of putting both opponents and audience members alike to sleep). There was also Elvis Garcia, Team Tiger Schulmann's version of Fedor Emelianenko, who would ground and pound foes into oblivion and shatter his hands almost every time. But if there was one standout at ROC 2, it was up-and-coming Team Serra/Longo rep Pete "Drago" Sell. On that night in December, Sell squared off against Ted Govola Jr., a tough wrestler, Mass Destruction veteran and undefeated badass from New England. To Northeast fight fans, it would be the first true test for the Matt Serra protege, and the first real gauge of his ability. For Sell, it was just another day at the office. Which isn't to say it was an easy bout for the future ROC champ - it wasn't, and they battled back and forth throughout - but after an extremely close kimura attempt plus dominant position after dominant position, it was clear when time ran out who deserved the decision. In the contest between the kid from Long Island and one of the Massachusetts circuit's best, Drago was victorious. Nowadays, Sell's only trips into the cage are during ROC intermissions, when Neglia calls distinguished alumni forward for a round of applause. Back then, though, at ROC 2 in 2002, it was all about fast and furious combat and a fistful of glory.

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To Fight in the UFC or to not Fight in the UFC - That is the Question

Here’s a fun game to play: with the WEC/UFC merger and the overlap of fighters, there will obviously be some 155 pounders without a job real soon.  Let’s predict where certain WEC lightweight fighters will be in a year based on their WEC 53 performances.

• Kamal Shalorus – If he can squeak by with another win, he just might find himself in the Octagon swinging wild punches in a dark prelim match.
• Bart Palaszewski – Working a double-shift at his family’s kielbasa factory in Chicago, reminiscing about the good old days.
• Shane Roller – Facing someone like Joe Stevenson or Mac Danzig, with the presumption that Stevenson or Danzig need any easy win on some SpikeTV-broadcast undercard bout.
• Jamie Varner – Breakdancing on a flattened-out piece of cardboard in downtown Phoenix.
• Donald Cerrone – Battling furiously against Kenny Florian for top good-fighter-but-not-quite-champion-level status.
• Chris Horodecki – A part-time motivational speaker, sweating profusely and living in a van down by the river.
• Zhang Tie Quan – If the UFC still wants to break into the Chinese market, he’ll be fighting cans.  If the UFC gives up on their Asian expansion ideas, Quan will be working a station at the Bellagio buffet.
• Ben Henderson – Giving Evan Dunham, Sean Sherk, Edson Barbosa and Charles Oliveira fits.
• Anthony Pettis – Reveling in the residual glory of his Matrix-like kick from WEC 53… and sad, because no matter he did, Frankie Edgar still kicked his ass.

On the Eve of the WEC's Swan Song, a Fond Look Back

After nine years, it all comes to an end.  Tonight’s WEC 53: “Henderson vs. Pettis” marks the final World Extreme Cagefighting event ever, with the Zuffa-owned promotion folding into the UFC and dozens of lighter-weight fighters wondering if they’re going to have a job in the coming months.  But now is not the time for pondering such employment issues.  Now is the time for nostalgia, for a trip down memory lane and a fond look back.  Granted, as MMA Journalist is an East Coast-based blog and I’ve never seen a live WEC event in person (the first WEC I saw was broadcast on Versus), this collection might be a bit esoteric… but hey, the last WEC ever, man.  Just go with it.

• WEC 30: “McCullough vs. Crunkilton”, September 5, 2007 – “Razor” Rob McCullough out-struck Rich Crunkilton to defend his 155-pound belt and Chase Beebe nullified the jiu-jitsu of Rani Yahya to keep his bantamweight strap, but what sticks out the most about this night was the debut of my new television, a 52-inch Sony XBR LCD.  As our prior TV set was a 13-inch black and white Panasonic we found discarded on the sidewalk, this was indeed a step up.
• WEC 36: “Faber vs. Brown”, November 5, 2008 – At the time it was considered an upset when Mike Brown TKO’d Urijah Faber and Leonard Garcia abruptly clobbered Jens Pulver.  However, the only thing I was considering was the food being served at Phillipe Nover’s TUF 8 viewing party, a season he figured prominently in.  As this WEC event was broadcast on a Wednesday night and preceded The Ultimate Fighter on SpikeTV, all of us at the recreation center in Brooklyn for Nover’s gathering watched it on the multitude of TVs while we drank and ate.  Mmmm, chicken tenders.
• WEC 51: “Aldo vs. Gamburyan”, September 30, 2010 – Yeah, yeah, Jose Aldo is a dominant champ.  The best part of this event was my 2-year-old daughter, who walked into the living room, saw what I was watching, then took a running jump onto me exclaiming, “Dad, let’s wrestle!”
• WEC 52: “Faber vs. Mizugaki”, November 11, 2010 – This time my daughter waited until I was walking into the kitchen, where she ambushed me with a kick to the shin and a flurry of punches to my thighs.  “Dad, let’s fight!” she said.
• WEC 45: “Cerrone vs. Ratcliff”, December 19, 2009 – Not a lot of star power on this card, but what made this installment memorable for me was the realization that I can watch an entire event on fast-forward and still get the gist of it.  DVR, that’s what’s up.

MMA in New York Crusade, version 2011

The 2011 crusade for sanctioned MMA in New York State has begun, and one of the men spearheading the movement is Sambo Steve, a Manhattan-based sambo instructor and longtime fixture in the Big Apple scene.  Here's a clip of Sambo Steve in action - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhdyS3pTkQM - and here's an email he sent around:

"Hi all,
As friends, members, and supports of the American Sambo Association, you have often come to our aid with many projects in the past. Now, I have a VERY CRITICAL favor to ask all of you who love the sport of MMA and want to see MMA legalized in New York State.

Do you want to see Mixed Martial Arts at Madison Square Garden?
Do you want to see Mixed Martial Arts at Nassau Coliseum?
Do you want to see Mixed Martial Arts at the HSBC Arena?
Do you want to see Mixed Martial Arts at the Blue Cross Arena?
Do you want to see smaller local shows in your town?
YOU HAVE TO ACT NOW!
THE NEW YORK LEGISLATIVE CALENDAR BEGINS JANUARY 5TH, 2011.
LET OUR OFFICIALS KNOW WHAT WE WANT ON DAY ONE!
For years now, we have sat back and let the lobbyists do our work for us with little result. It is time to admit that pettitions don't work, lobby dollars only go so far, and that the only way our elected officials will act is if we tell them to act...ourselves!

Below are links to letters which I strongly encourage you to download, print out, fill out and mail to your NY State Senator AND Assembly person. THEY NEED TO HEAR FROM YOU DIRECTLY!

If you are a business owner, gym owner, promoter, or just a fan there is a letter for you. Please do not ignore this.
Gym owner's letter: http://ussambo.com/mmany/gymletter.doc
Business owner's letter: http://ussambo.com/mmany/businessletter.doc
Promoter's letter: http://ussambo.com/mmany/promoterletter.doc
Fan's Letter: http://ussambo.com/mmany/fanletter.doc
To find out who your local Senator and Assembly person is and where to mail your letters, visit the following links:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_New_York_State_Senators
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_members_of_the_New_York_State_Assembly
If you are not a New Yorker, but still would like to see MMA legaized in New York, please use these letters as a guide and mail one to Governor-elect Andrew Cuomo.

http://www.ag.ny.gov/contact.html (currently)
http://www.state.ny.us/governor/contact/index.html (in 2011)
Thank you in advance for all your support!
LET'S MAKE THIS HAPPEN IN 2011.
Stephen Koepfer
President, American Sambo Association
Head Coach, New York Combat Sambo
PO Box 5773
Long Island City, NY 11105
www.ussambo.com
www.nycombatsambo.com"