Bleacher Report - Articles by Nick Colon

Five Reasons Not to Question Bill Belichick's Decision

Nick Colon — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:42:15 -0500

Alright already. He made the call. Deal with it.

Whether you're a Patriots fan, a Colts fan, or none of the above, the majority of football lovers are questioning Bill Belichick's decision to go for it on fourth down with two yards to go on his own 28-yard line.

That raises the question: How far does the saying, "In Bill We Trust" go?

To some fans, that question shouldn't even be asked. With three Super Bowls and four AFC championships in the decade, the Patriots would not be where they are today without Belichick.

So, to put to rest any early rumors of ousting Belichick from the New England tundra, here are five reasons to stop nagging Belichick about his fourth quarter call.

1) The Call Had Nothing to Do With a Lack of Confidence in His Defense

Belichick-run teams have always had a trademark: defense first, everything else thereafter.

No matter his trust or distrust in his defensive bunch, he would've elected to go for it even with a Pro Bowl defense on his side. Why? The Brady bunch. Just as much trust as the team showed in Belichick after the game, he showed just as much in his offense that has won him three titles in the 2000s.

To prove it, Belichick (right or wrong) went to his "go-to" back in Kevin Faulk and possibly did get the first down. We'll never know because it was never reviewed. Add to that his defense's great stands all game with picking off Manning twice, and that was the formula for Belichick's call.

2) The Call Was Something Different That the Colts Might Not Have Been Ready For

Can you really blame Belichick for trying something the Colts hadn't seen from his team before?

Peyton and the Colts have seen everything, from goal-line stands to flea flicker touchdowns and everything in between—but not a fourth-down call with two minutes to go on New England turf. That speaks volumes to Belichick's thought process.

No, it's not typical; but since when has Belichick's team been typical? Is it typical to win three Super Bowls in a decade? What about losing the heart of your defense time and time again and still putting together a team that can hold Manning's Colts to 14 points through three quarters?

Granted, the team needs to be able to FINISH the game, but that's not the point. Case and point? Try Pats/Broncos circa 2003, when Belichick took an intentional safety and had his Patriots three-and-out the Broncos to allow Brady to march downfield and throw the game-winning touchdown to David Givens.

He was a genius for that call because it worked. Now he's a dunce? Oh, only what if.

3) Manning Forced Belichick's Hand, and Rightly So

Everyone who watched the game from the outset saw that Peyton Manning was voted by previous Hall-of-Fame quarterbacks as the better overall quarterback when compared to Tom Brady. I personally disagree, but that's for another time and place.

So, when the so-called "better" quarterback led the Colts to one of his great comebacks, how could Belichick believe that putting the ball in Manning's hands was the right thing to do?

The media and football fans always talk so highly of Manning's greatness, but when Belichick wants to give him one less notch on his belt, is it so wrong? Of course hindsight is 20-20, but nevertheless, Belichick was in a mighty game of chess and happened to get checkmated once Brady let that pigskin fly.

The chess championships could come to Indy this January if Belichick's crew gets a shot at redemption at Lucas Oil Stadium in the playoffs.

4) History Favored the Pats...Heavily

Many times, when any call is questioned in ANY sport, generally we look to the statistics to see what went wrong.

Lots of times coaches and management take the odds. Sometimes, they don't.

If a specific call has only worked 10 percent of the time, why call it? What about 33 percent of the time? Even 50 percent. What was the percentage of Belichick's call and how well did it work in the past?

ESPN said something about the Patriots being successful 75 percent of the time against the Colts on fourth down, which is much better than 50 percent. However, looking into the situation a little bit, the Pats historically would have converted that 4th-and-2 60 percent of the time. That ends the game.

Let's take it a step further. If the Pats netted a punt of 38 yards, which is statistically the general punt average for New England's field position, that places the Colts on their own 34, from where they generally have a 30 percent chance of scoring. That gives the Pats a 70 percent chance of winning.

However, even if the Patriots didn't convert, they had a 79 percent chance of winning by stopping the Colts. Don't believe me? See the equation here.

5) Why Would You Even Begin to Question a Legend?

Is Joe Namath being questioned for his bold prediction (or his kiss attempt of Suzy Kolber)?

Was Babe Ruth questioned for his bat point suggesting where he would hit his home runs?

Then why question a man who will be a Hall-of-Fame coach when his career is over?

Yeah, I don't get it either, but I don't question Belichick's thinking in situations like that. The three rings around his fingers have allowed me to erase any doubt I have in Belichick, and that's something I can appreciate. It's time the rest of the NFL's fans do the same, and stop loving to hate such a decent coach.

Jake Shields: "I Think I Match Up Pretty Well with Anderson [Silva]"

Nick Colon — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 13:42:28 -0500

Jake Shields is a man on a mission. He has taken every challenge thrown at him in the last five years and has not succumbed to defeat. From challengers like Carlos Condit and Yushin Okami, to Paul Daley and Robbie Lawler, Shields has been dominant.

Now, on Nov. 7, Shields's next challenge is sure to be a bout full of mayhem, as Jason "Mayhem" Miller will be next in line for Shields, and will try to become the first man since Akira Kikuchi back in 2004 to hand Jake Shields a loss.

Shields recently spoke to Bleacher Report's Nick Colon about his upcoming bout with Miller, as well as a few other hot topics:

Nick: So Jake, how has camp been over the last few weeks and what have you worked on to get ready for this fight against Jason Miller on Nov. 7?

Jake: The camp’s been going great! I feel like I’m in great shape and great in every aspect, my grappling, my striking, everything feels good. I feel strong, got my weight up, and I’m feeling stronger than before. As far as what I’ve worked on, I’m working on everything like always, every aspect of my game and I’m trying to do whatever I can.

N: Jake, you’ve been on an absolute tear lately, winning fights over guys like Nick Thompson, Robbie Lawler, and Paul Daley. How do you plan on making Miller another one of your impressive victories?

J: I think I’m still getting better. I think I’m still way away from my prime. I’m still confident right now, and I’m just going to go out there and bring it to him. I think it’s going to be a tough fight, and I’m certainly not looking past this fight. It’s a tough fight but I’m prepared for the fight and I plan on going in there and submitting him or knocking him out at some point in the fight.

N: Can you tell fans out there what it’s like being a member of Cesar Gracie Jiu-Jitsu and how great is it training with guys like Nick and Nate Diaz on a daily basis?

J: It’s awesome because they train really hard and really good together. Also, I’m really good friends with them. We’ve been together for over eight years now, so it’s kind of nice to come in as opposed to other places and it’s cool to be a part of it there.

N: Now, Jake, many fight fans out there think that your true home lies in a place you’ve never fought, which is the UFC. What do you think about the prospect of coming to the UFC and how do you feel about the competition Strikeforce offers you compared to the UFC?

J: Coming to the UFC has always been a wish of mine. You know, I’ve talked to them on and off over the last few years, you know, and I love the UFC fans. It’s definitely where I’d like to be someday; but at the same time, Strikeforce has treated me great. I’m very happy with them and they have great competition so, you know, I’m taking it one fight at a time and we’ll see where it goes from there.

N: There’s a lot of talk about which weight class you should be fighting at, whether it’s 185 or 170. Which class do you feel most comfortable in and what class do you see yourself fighting in for the future?

J: I most comfortable fighting at 170, but I definitely will be fighting at both weight classes in the future. I fight for the challenge, and to challenge myself, so I’ll go wherever a challenge is.

N: We’ve got some tough questions for you here Jake. You think you’re ready for them?

J: Okay, no problem.

N: Jake, who has the best submission skills over at Cesar Gracie Jiu-Jitsu?

J: You know, that’s obviously a tough question. There’s a ton of good guys there, but, you know, probably Nick [Diaz]. It’s close, but I’d probably say Nick. Although you really see him box in his fights (chuckle)!

N: That’s very true! Who would you say is the most well rounded fighter in your camp and why?

J: I think everyone’s well rounded, you know? All the top guys. We’ve either got really good standup or ground, so I can’t say someone on that one.

N: How about striking? Could you say who is the best striker?

J: Eh, so many good striking battles. Can’t really say. Depends on the day...we beat each other up (chuckle).

N: Has Nick ever gotten the best of you?

J: Oh yeah, of course. You know, we train together so we take turns beating each other up. It helps both of us out though but we definitely know each other and he’ll get the best of me.

N: There’s also been talk about you two fighting each other both in the future and in the past. I’ve talked to guys like Jon Fitch, who have no interest in fighting other members of their camp. Do you feel the same way about your camp?

J: Yeah, I have no interest in fighting Nick. It’d have to be some certain offer of money, to make it worthwhile.

N: Well, what kind of money would that be?

J: I guess if they’d offer me a million dollars to fight tomorrow then I’d do it. But by the time they’d offer me a million dollars I’d get close to that in a fight somewhere else so, I’d turn it down. I mean, I’ll fight him tomorrow if they give me that contract but otherwise, no way. Nothing under a million dollars.

N: Who would Jake Shields like to fight the most in any promotion out there right now and why?

J: Any promotion? I’d pick GSP because he’s at my best weight and he’s the king of that division so if you want to be king you’ve got to beat the guy on top. So, I’d love to get the opportunity to fight him.

N: Jake, I’m going to mention three fighters. Tell me who would win in a fight and why.

J: Okay.

N: You versus Vitor Belfort?

J: I think that’d be an awesome fight. There was actually talk about it a few months ago before he signed over at the UFC. That would be a really tough fight but I think he has better striking but I’d take him to the ground and finishing him here. But Vitor’s a phenomenal fighter and that would be a great fight.

N: What about you versus Anderson Silva?

J: Anderson Silva? Again, I think that’d be a great fight. I think I actually match up pretty well with Anderson. He’s easily the best striker in all of MMA but if you’re going to beat him, I’m the prototype to beat him. Take him down and keep him down, so again, I’d try to put him on the ground and try to submit him and hopefully it would go my way.

N: And how about a fight that you had just talked about, you versus Georges St. Pierre and how would that go?

J: You know, that’s an interesting matchup because he’s so hard to take down and that’s kind of what I do. He has interesting stand up and I think that would be a really tough fight. If it was stand up it would be an all out war and it’s an interesting fight. Hopefully it’ll get signed...at some point (chuckle)!

N: Last question here Jake. If you could make a dream fight happen right now in the world, who would it be?

J: Well, any fight I’d be in I’d take myself first. But as a fan, I’d probably want to see GSP fight Anderson Silva. I think that’s an interesting matchup, and...um...Fedor versus Brock Lesnar.

N: And if you had to pick those fights who would you pick?

J: I think Fedor would probably destroy Brock, but you never know with the size difference. As far as GSP against Silva, I think that GSP would take that fight. Stylistically he’s someone who can take people down and hold them there. But I think GSP would if he wanted to take that fight.

N: Anyone to thank before I let you go?

J: Yeah, my whole team of course and my sponsors Champion Nutrition, EA Sports, Rockstar energy drink, and TAPOUT.

N: Jake, thank you so much for taking this on short notice and I’d really love to do it again sometime.

J: Yeah, no problem.

The Top 5 Spooky MMA Fighters Ever

Nick Colon — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 10:32:34 -0400

Well, Halloween's here, and that means crazys are out and about. So, I figured I'd put together a slideshow that showcases the spookiest MMA fighters around. Feel free to agree or disagree, and I'm sure there will be many questionable fighters left off. But, that's why they write the articles right? TO THE SPOOKY!

Begin Slideshow

Brown Pride Domination: Cain Velasquez Interview

Nick Colon — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 01:22:38 -0400

Cain Velasquez is on a sky rocket to the top of the UFC's heavyweight division right now. After his latest win over top competitor Cheick Kongo, Velasquez is likely a fight or two away from his coveted UFC heavyweight title shot.

I was lucky enough to get a chance to talk to Velasquez prior to his UFC 104 bout with Ben Rothwell to see where his mindset is at, and where he feels he is with a win over Rothwell. Check it out:

Nick: So Cain, first off, how’s camp been going into the Rothwell fight, and how hard has it been to change up your game plan in fighting Rothwell rather than Carwin?

Cain: Well, as far as the game plan goes, we know Rothwell likes to keep it standing. He’s a tall guy, a big guy, and like I said, he’ll want to keep it standing. The game plan’s really the same.

N: In your last fight against Cheick Kongo, you threw tons of heavy punches, many of which stunned Kongo. How do you feel your hands match up against the rest of the division?

C: I mean, I think my hands match up good. I don’t think I moved as good as I could’ve against Cheick, and I didn’t do what I was supposed to and took a couple of heavy shots, but those were mistakes that I don’t plan on making again.

N: With the upcoming fight between Carwin and Lesnar, where do you feel you stand with a win over Rothwell?

C: I think that’s up to the UFC to decide. I’m not really sure. Whoever they throw [my way] you know I’m going to do that so, I’m just working hard every day to get better and that’s what I’m doing right now.

N: I was looking over your past wrestling career at Arizona State and the numbers are very impressive. Boasting a 50-10 record in such as short time is no short order. Do you feel your wrestling is the best in the Heavyweight division?

C: Do I think my wrestling is the best? No, I think it’s up there around the top. I mean, Brock [Lesnar] is a different kind of wrestler than me. He’s obviously a bigger guy, more powerful just because of his size, you know? I don’t think my wrestling’s as good as his, but it’s just up there with the rest of the guys.

N: Can you talk about the tattoo of “Brown Pride” and what it means to you being Mexican in today’s sporting world?

C: Yeah, well growing up with me being Mexican, you know, it was just me. Growing up I didn’t really have anyone to look up to. There weren’t a lot of Mexicans on T.V. except for those in Boxing. And getting the tattoo, you know my family coming here, I’m real proud of what they did to get here and what they did to have a better life.

N: Cain, many people out there say that MMA isn’t a real sport, and that it doesn’t contain the credentials needed to be called a sport. Yet, the Olympic committee just voted to allow Rugby and Golf into the 2016 and 2020 Olympics. How do you feel about the subject, and do you take any offense to that?

C: The people who say that don’t know the sport, obviously. They don’t follow the sport at all and they don’t know anything about it honestly. I mean, this sport has some of the other sports combined into one. I personally haven’t heard anybody say that but I don’t know how they could.

It’s a shock to me that somebody could say that really. Look how far the sport has come. It’s becoming the most popular sport in the world and of all the athletes involved in MMA, it’s the best sport out there. I mean, it takes some of the most exciting sports and combines it into one.

N: Let’s move away from MMA for a sec and talk about life outside the octagon. What does Cain Velasquez like to do when he’s not training or bashing faces in?

C: Just hang out with my family. You know, go on vacation or whatever, but when I’m not training, well, I’m always training. In general though when I’m not at the gym I’m pretty much at home having meals, having family dinners. That’s pretty much it.

N: How big of a sports fan are you, and are you currently following the playoffs in Baseball?

C: I’m not really too big of a sports fan. Everything I watch is MMA, you know, great fights. But other sports, not really too much. I do watch Boxing here and there and I’ll watch local teams here; the San Jose Sharks, and I like the [Golden State] Warriors. Whenever we can, we’ll get a game and go there.

N: One last question I have for you before you go: What motivates you to wake up every day to be the best fighter you can be?

C: What motivates me? This is something I’ve always wanted to do since I’ve seen the sport. For me, to make a living off of working out is a dream for me. I don’t know, I really can’t be in an office and stuff like that. I want to do something that I love and training, that’s what motivates me.

N: I really appreciate you taking time out of your busy schedule to talk to us. Is there anyone you’d like to thank before you go?

C: Yeah, I want to thank Zinkin and Zinkin Entertainment, and everyone at Team A.K.A.

N: Cain, thank you so much for your time, and good luck at UFC 104 and we’d love to talk to you again in the future!

C: Absolutely, I’d love to do this again. Thanks.

What Will Happen by UFC 108: A Look into the Near Future

Nick Colon — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 11:03:34 -0400

If one thing can be said about the year of MMA in 2009, it will be this: The best is yet to come.

2009 has seen great fights, great defeats, contenders rise and fall, and the youth movement has kicked in. No, this hasn't just happened in the UFC. It's everywhere, and the rest of 2009 is sure to be just as good, if not better than the beginning.

The year has already showcased great fights like Diego Sanchez vs. Clay Guida, Rich Franklin vs. Wanderlei Silva, Martin Kampmann vs. Carlos Condit, Urijah Faber vs. Mike Brown II, Donald Cerrone vs. Jamie Varner, and recently Cerrone's loss to new Interim WEC Lightweight champion Benson Henderson. Yet, the year is still young. Literally.

What can MMA fans expect before year's end? Here's a few things to look out for before UFC 108 kicks the new year off:

UFC 104

Machida should retain his title, Velasquez gets a major step up in competition after his win over Rothwell, and "Rumble" Johnson settles back into his own after the eye poke incident.

Dream 12

Paulo Filho remains on track to return to good competition after win over Yoon, Alvarez continues winning ways; should defend Bellator title early next year.

Strikeforce (Early Nov.)

MMA rising star Luke Rockhold should secure win, his move to UFC imminent. Brett Rogers hands Fedor second loss in professional MMA...yes, you heard me correctly.

WEC 44

Great event overall, Brown succumbing to Aldo, Garcia defeats Gamburyan to come back into Featherweight picture.

UFC 105/Strikeforce (Late Nov.)

Both the Vera and Couture households will be on edge for a little over a week with two fights between the families. UK has a bad night as their mother country hosts losses to Bisping, Wilks, Winner, and Hardy.

UFC 106/TUF 10 Finale

Both events turn out to be great fights, as Tito returns to boos and a loss, Lesnar retains title, "Bones" Jones impresses again in win over Hamill, and Jon Fitch gives Dana White a tough decision to make with Swick's win last month.

UFC 107

Sanchez gets destroyed Hawaiian-style to the tune of BJ Penn's E a la E music, Florian rebounds off his butt-kicking to Penn, and Kongo shocks Mir with quick TKO.

Hope you all liked my predictions. Let me know what you think!

Rampage Jackson Says He's Done with Dana White

Nick Colon — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 23:56:41 -0400

Quinton “Rampage” Jackson is a fighter who has had an illustrious career in MMA. Now, Jackson is retiring from the sport he was so well known for, in favor of another career instead.

Jackson declared on his website’s blog that he would no longer be fighting former UFC Light Heavyweight champion Rashad Evans at an upcoming UFC pay-per-view event that was supposed to take place in his hometown of Memphis.

“All we had to do was come to a certain type of agreement or understanding, which later came after a lot of trash talk from Dana [White]. My manager flew to Vegas & talked to them & tried to work things out like a MAN,” said Jackson in his blog.

Jackson also went on to say that White, in essence, lied to him, saying he changed his mind when Jackson made it clear he wanted to fight current UFC Light Heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida for the title.

“ … When Rashad got knocked out [by Machida at UFC 98], I told them I wanted to fight Machida for the belt, but Dana told me if I coach TUF against Rashad that I could fight Machida afterwards cause this was a different type of Ultimate Fighter show they were doing. After I signed the contract, Dana then changes his mind and says I have to fight Rashad and even told me what to say in the press and so my fans think I was scared to fight Machida. After all that, I still never complained and I did it all.”

Jackson’s main issue appeared to be with White’s inconsideration for Jackson’s role in an upcoming A-Team movie in which Jackson stars as Sgt. Bosco ‘B.A.’ Baracus, played in the original series by Mr. T.

White responded to Jackson’s blog, saying, “All he’s been telling me since he got in the UFC is that he wants to fight in Memphis in front of his home town. We make the fight in Memphis and then he pulls out of the fight and is going to do a movie instead because it has so much sentimental value to him. Come on man.”

Though the two appeared to be at opposite ends, White also said that he and Jackson have talked, and White is confident Jackson will remain fighting.

“We kind of made up,” White said. “We’re going to figure it out. [Jackson] wants the Rashad fight. He’s in Vancouver doing this movie. It is what it is. Now we just have to figure out when. We’ll see what happens.”

What to Expect From TUF: Heavyweights

Nick Colon — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 20:18:16 -0400

This season of "The Ultimate Fighter" has been very anticipated by MMA fans worldwide since the UFC announced Kevin "Kimbo Slice" Ferguson would take part on the new season.

Aside from the presence of Kimbo, the UFC has elected to go the 'Brock Lesnar route' if you will and start delving into large-build, former NFL players for possible contenders in the division. Add in a mix of "Big Country," who reminds me of Wesley "Cabbage" Correira, and a dash of ex-UFC fighter Wes Sims, and throw in a few young powerful MMA fighters like Brendan Schaub and Jon Madsen and Dana White should have a great TUF season ahead of himself.

But what could go wrong?

Well, for starters, Kimbo talked to the media prior to the first episode of the new season and he flat out stated that he would have no problems beating up any fighter who felt it necessary to prank him during the length of the season. White followed up by saying he then in turn would have no problem removing Kimbo from the Ultimate Fighter house should anything go awry. Sounds like a good start.

It appears, however, that Kimbo and others on this season understand the importance of this opportunity, and it is widely rumored that this season showed flashes of the old rendition of The Ultimate Fighter. Even if that is true though, that means there's still a Chris Leben-like fella in the house willing to urinate on pillows. Only time will tell.

Regardless, what can fans legitimately expect from this season?

Based off the promos shown, which haven't given away too much of this season, it looks like another competitive season between the coaches, with good fights abound. If Kimbo can continue to grow, and youths aforementioned can put the skill with their potential and mass, this season of TUF: Heavyweights could be a very productive season with three to five fighters sustaining careers in the UFC.

Todd Duffee: An Eventual Contender

Nick Colon — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 23:34:57 -0400

With his win at UFC 102 Saturday night, Todd Duffee just hit the jackpot.

Metaphorically that is.

Duffee quickly disposed of the six-foot-four-inch Tim Hague in just seven seconds, giving Duffee the fastest knockout in UFC history, but more importantly he has now given himself a name amongst the rest of the UFC heavyweights.

For those of you who do not know who Todd Duffee is, here's a little background on the UFC heavyweight. Duffee is an American Top Team product, who loves to punch. His stat sheet may look a lot like guys such as Shane Carwin, as he likes to quickly put away his opponents.

In his first five fights, only one has made it out of the first minute-and-a-half, and he still managed to defeat the other opponent before the three-and-a-half-minute mark.

Duffee is a guy who strictly uses his fists to end fights, but then again so were guys like Chuck Liddell and Wanderlei Silva, and look at their illustrious careers.

The important thing to remember about Duffee is his raw ability. He's a physical specimen at the ripe age of 23, and he's now looking "to eat" as he announced after his win over Hague. There haven't been many guys as hungry and intense in the heavyweight class for a long time, and he and Lesnar are two rare breeds.

Another important thing to remember is that Duffee is with one of the best MMA camps available in American Top Team. Originally from Evansville, IN, Duffee fights out of Coconut Creek, FL and with the right training and work that needs to be put in, don't expect Duffee to go away anytime soon.

Duffee would like to fight Heath Herring according to his comments in his post-fight interview with UFC.com. Not only does that seem fitting, but getting the gatekeeper of the heavyweight division might be the start of things to come for Duffee.

Who's Really Next for Brock Lesnar?

Nick Colon — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 00:42:24 -0400

Whether you hate Brock Lesnar or you really hate him, you cannot deny he is the UFC heavyweight champion and the man to beat in that division.

From his short time in MMA, Lesnar's already accomplished so much. Sure, his background as a former WWE wrestler has contributed to his fame and fortune, but his size and strength are the main factors that have contributed to his staying power in MMA.

His first fight in the UFC was against Frank Mir, and Lesnar did not disappoint fans within the first minute, pummeling Mir with hammerfists and shots to his face.

After a questionable call by the referee, stopping the momentum and resetting the fighters after taking a point away from Lesnar for strikes to the back of Mir's head, Mir immediately understood the urgency to get out of the position, and locked onto Lesnar's leg, submitting him with a kneebar.

Following the loss, Lesnar's gone 3-0, avenging his loss to Mir and merging the UFC interim heavyweight belt with his own belt, as well as taking down Randy "The Natural" Couture in devastating fashion. Lesnar is for real.

The question that remains, however, is determining who will be the next true test for Lesnar. The UFC recently announced that, at UFC 106, Shane Carwin will be the next man to fight Lesnar for the title.

Carwin's resume may exude stellar numbers, but the numbers don't tell the entire story. Carwin has had a total of 11 professional MMA bouts, none of which have made it beyond two minutes and 11 seconds of the first round. Three of his professional bouts have been in the UFC. Two of those bouts have been against very questionable competition, in Neil Wain and Christian Wellisch.

Carwin's last bout against Gabriel "Napao" Gonzaga in March was a very telling fight. Gonzaga took hardly any punishment from Carwin and gave him a decent beatdown, which is something he had yet to see in the UFC—heck, maybe even his life.

Carwin then regained a little bit of composure, and was able to land a flush right cross that dropped Gonzaga.

Against Brock Lesnar, the same outcome likely would not happen.

If taken down, Carwin would have a very difficult time getting back up, just due to the mere size of Lesnar. If he is indeed able to get back up, the problem Carwin would have is matching the strength and firepower Lesnar would counter with.

Simply put, it is my belief that Shane Carwin will not be defeating Brock Lesnar come this November.

So who does have the capability of defeating Lesnar currently in the UFC? Not many men come to mind, but one that does come to mind is Cain Velasquez.

The proud Mexican fighter has come to show great things in his short MMA career, and, while his game does need some fine polishing, he appears to have the skills necessary to defeat the bigger, stronger fighter in Lesnar.

Velasquez has had six professional fights, nearly half the amount Carwin has faced, yet has faced stiffer competition, though still fairly weak by comparison to Lesnar. His last fight came against Cheick Kongo at UFC 99, and Velasquez showed no problems taking the bigger, stronger Kongo down and beating him thoroughly.

One area Velasquez may need to improve before a possible bout with Lesnar is his striking defense, as Kongo's massive punches nearly floored Velasquez at the start of two rounds. However, as the fight progressed, Velasquez appeared to be more comfortable and showed no signs of fatigue. He could be the one contender to actually be a contender to Lesnar.

However, right now, Lesnar still remains the best heavyweight in the UFC, and, until someone proves otherwise, he is the man to beat.

Called Out MMA: The Other Saturday Night Fight

Nick Colon — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 23:34:28 -0400

Saturday night proved to be a good night of fights all around the country. While the majority of fight fans were glued to Strikeforce's Carano vs Cyborg, dedicated regional MMA fans were at the Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario, California for Called Out MMA presented by Call to Arms.

The main event action consisted of former EliteXC Welterweight Thomas "Wildman" Denny facing off against Joe Cronin, a late replacement for former UFC fighter Brandon Wolff. Experience played an important role, as Denny managed to sink in a guillotine choke in the second round for the win.

Also on the card was a matchup of former TUF contestants as Roman Mitichyan squared off against Team Wolfslair's Mike Dolce. Mitichiyan was able to outlast Dolce en route to a unanimous decision win.

Another intriguing bout on the card featured one of the co-main events of the evening, pitting Gabe Ruediger against undefeated Wander Braga. Braga quickly found that maintaining his 10-0 record would be tougher than he initially thought, as Ruediger submitted Braga in the second round by guillotine choke.

The fight card's results are listed below:

Thomas Denny 26-18 vs Joe Cronin 13-10: Denny via Guillotine choke Second Rd.
Wander Braga 10-0 vs Gabe Ruediger 14-5: Ruediger via Guillotine choke Second Rd.
Ray Lizama 7-5 vs Jay Silva 4-0: Silva via TKO Punches Third Rd.
Kathy Long 0-0 vs Avery Vilche 1-1-1: Long via Unanimous Decision Third Rd.
Will Richey 4-0 vs Virgil Zwicker 5-1: Zwicker via Unanimous Decision Third Rd.
Daniel Hernandez 3-6 vs Brent Cooper 4-1: Cooper via TKO Punches First Rd.
Roman Mitichyan 5-3 vs Mike Dolce 6-6: Mitichyan via Unanimous Decision Third Rd.
Daniel Puder 7-0 vs Mychal Clark 6-8: Puder via Decision Third Rd.
Francisco Rivera 3-0 vs Aaron Arana 1-0: Rivera via Decision Third Rd.
Andy Dermenjyan 2-0 vs Dustin Rhodes 3-3: Dermenjyan via TKO punches

The Art and Success of the Short Jab in MMA

Nick Colon — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 00:03:15 -0400

Anderson Silva and Brian Bowles are very different fighters. Yet their wins at UFC 101 and WEC 42, respectively, are very similar.

How so is this possible?

The technique becoming more popular in MMA, and so powerful, is known simply as the short jab.

The punch that both Silva and Bowles used to knockout their tough opponents was an accurate jab that, when placed correctly, can render the opposition defenseless.

Silva is a master of this punch, using it multiple times alone in his fight with Griffin and dropping him once before the official onslaught began.

Bowles, on the other hand (no pun intended), used the punch as defense against a rushing, wild Miguel Angel Torres.

Both punches seemed very effective, especially when used against fighters like Torres and Griffin who both threw very erratic, inaccurate jabs and crosses.

It appears no matter what weight class you fight at, the punch is both a good defensive and offensive move.

An important aspect to remember is the accuracy of the punch. Fans might notice that Silva's punch landed directly on the temple region of Griffin, dropping him very quickly and ending the fight instantly.

Bowles' punch at least appeared to land in the same region, possibly a little lower on the cheek area.

Regardless of the exact area of the punch's completion, both punches finished their respective fights and gave one man a bright future and the other a feeling of restoration to his legacy.

Just imagine how good Bruce Lee must have been with his one-inch punch.

Fedor Fights: Three Options In Strikeforce

Nick Colon — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 18:58:08 -0400

Fedor Emelianenko has just recently signed a multi-fight deal, according to MMAJunkie.com.

What does this mean for the UFC? What does this mean for Strikeforce? What does it mean for fight fans?

Well, for starters, Strikeforce has just gained a legitimate heavyweight contender who has the ability of taking their division to great heights. Then again, they sort of "sold" themselves out.

By allowing M-1 Global to co-promote the event with Fedor, they are in essence giving a part of control and designation to M-1 Global. This is something Dana White, and the UFC simply would not budge on; therefore allowing Strikeforce to covet and secure the Russian phenom.

So the UFC remains the same, just losing out on a what-could-have-been matchup between Brock Lesnar and Emelianenko. Strikeforce upgrades, but at what cost?

What do you, the fans, think of the move by Strikeforce? Does it hurt their reputation so much that it makes the move not worth it; or does it help their future fight cards enough to the point where Strikeforce can compete with the UFC down the road?

Here's three possible fights that Fedor might experience during his time with Strikeforce:

Brett Rogers

This could easily be Fedor's first, and likely toughest opponent. A man with nothing to lose is very often a dangerous man. Rogers has just taken out Andrei Arlovski in dominant fashion, and Rogers would be a great fight for Emelianenko if Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker doesn't want to match him up against the next competitor on the list.

Alistair Overeem

Overeem is the current heavyweight champion in Strikeforce. Though currently injured, some feel that Fedor's first opponent should definitely be Overeem for the title shot. Overeem would likely need some time and great training to get prepared for a man of Emelianenko's stature.

Fabricio Werdum

The former-UFC veteran hasn't fought since his devastating TKO loss at the hands of Junior Dos Santos, and likely would've been the one fighting Overeem if not for the injury to Overeem. Werdum would make sense for an introductory bout for Fedor, as it would get Werdum back into the ring and Fedor a good warmup opponent, win or lose.

UFC 101: The Best Card Of The Year

Nick Colon — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 01:38:57 -0400

UFC 101 was meant to be a follow-up event to the historic, monumental event known as UFC 100 held in early July.

If fighters fight as they can and if fans throw out the fact that UFC 101 doesn't look phenomenally appealing on paper, then this event could not only wind up being the best MMA event this summer, but of the entire year.

The truth of the matter is that the UFC, and other organizations haven't put on fights this year that have been, well, unforgettable and amazing.

Sure, fights like Brock Lesnar versus Frank Mir and George St. Pierre versus BJ Penn have had the name recognition to promote the events, but when is the last time fans can remember saying, "Wow. This is one of the best fights I've ever seen."

I know that I haven't seen a fight worth talking about since Roger Huerta fought Leonard Garcia, or Clay Guida faced off with Huerta. Those are fights that keep people talking. Those, quite simply, are what make the UFC the UFC.

So, excuse me if some fights on the UFC 101 card don't look as appealing to the natural eye as other stacked events do. Just remember that no one knew who Clay Guida was until you saw him get in the octagon and scrap around with a true fighter like Tyson Griffin.

Want a quick heads up on whom to watch out for in terms of fight quality?

Three fights jump right off the board. Danillo Villefort has great submission skills and they were on display against WEC fighter Mike Campbell. Expect Villefort to come out with the same intensity against UFC newcomer Jesse Lennox, who also looked very sharp in his 2nd Rd. KO win over the WEC's Blas Avena.

Another intriguing bout to watch will be the rematch of Aaron Riley versus Shane Nelson. If fight fans remember correctly, the first bout between the two ended in controversy over a quick referee stoppage in favor of Nelson. If the first fight was any indicator, the rematch should have some fireworks.

A third fight that piques the interest of many fight fans might be the fight between Kendall Grove and Ricardo Almeida. Both need a win very much to continue their rise to the top of the heap known as the Middleweight division.

Grove is on a two fight win streak that was much needed following his UFC 80 loss to Jorge Rivera. The "TUF" product appears to have found the same swagger that led him towards being crowned the TUF Season 3 winner.

Almeida is also on a win streak, albeit a lone win over Matt Horwich at UFN 18 at the beginning of April. Almeida resurrected his career in coming back to the UFC to fight Patrick Cote at UFC 86, but lost a close split decision fight that helped Cote go on to fight Anderson Silva for the Middleweight title at UFC 90.

These three, as well as some other sleeper bouts may shock fans come August 8th. The shock would be a pleasant one for UFC fans, as Brock Lesnar's saliva just might not be exactly what they will be looking for by the end of this night.

Why Regional MMA is the Bloodline of the Future

Nick Colon — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 01:08:01 -0400

What modern sport would allow a former prisoner to rise up in its sport from an online video posted on Youtube.com in which the person did not look good in the sport he was partaking in?

Well, that's MMA.

And the man I am talking about is Kevin Ferguson, better known to the world as Kimbo Slice, the man that fought a former police officer in an underground MMA fight and lost because he couldn't respond after a 30-second countdown.

This video is very well known online, but it is not the organized form of regional MMA I am referring to.

The organization known as Bellator Fighting Championships is one example of what I am referring to. Bellator is an organization that has come to be very popular not because of it's bloody, mano-a-mano fighting, rather for its exciting fights, and technical fighting.

In the Northeast, there is the organization called the WCF (World Championship Fighting) that drives locals crazy because of their fast-paced, in your face fighting, mixed with celebrity presence.

In the Midwest, the Cage of Fury promotion appears to be on the rise, as they partner up with ABC to air their new television program.

The Southeast, as aforementioned, seems to be on lockdown with Bellator's rise to fame. Bellator's second season is expected to air sometime in the fall on ESPN Deportes as last season's shows did.

In the Northwest, the Northwest FightScene organization appears to be the real deal, in everything and anything MMA. If they aren't promoting MMA in the Northwest, they are at the very least showcasing the goods to fight fans.

The West Coast has a very appealing organization called Sovereign Nations Mixed Martial Arts (SNMMA) which promoted its previous event entitled "Extreme Beatdown" by enticing fight fans with guests like Brock Lesnar, Efrain Escudero, and Chris Tuchscherer.

Overall, what fans are missing is that today's fighters came from somewhere. That somewhere is local MMA. The 10-0 Demian Maia had to start from somewhere. Where did Shane Carwin start? Try fighting in shows like "Ultimate Texas Showdown."

Jon Jones? The WCF was an organization that helped him on his rise to stardom. What about Forrest Griffin? Well, The Ultimate Fighter show really showcased his skills, but before that he fought for organizations like the International Sport Combat Federation in Georgia.

There are many young talents to be had from today's generation of regional MMA as well.

Fighters like Luke Rockhold, Alexandre "Vaca" Moreno, Justin Torrey, Ben Askren, Wilson Reis, Evan Dunham, Daniel Puder, Jeff Lawson, Dan Bonnell, John Benoit, Greg Soto, and T.J. Grant all are all future athletes that could be tomorrow's Brock Lesnar, or Georges St. Pierre.

My hope is that this article will remind fight fans how important the young guns are to MMA, and how important they will remain for future years.

Don't give up on regional stuff fans. Attend every show you can.

Affliction's Loss Means UFC 103 Possibly Gains Rich Franklin vs. Tito Ortiz Bout

Nick Colon — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 00:19:33 -0400

The originally scheduled headlining bout planned for UFC 103 was an expected rematch between Rich "Ace" Franklin and Dan Henderson.

Has the possible signing of Tito Ortiz back with the UFC changed this matchup?

UFC.com has taken down the originally posted Franklin/Henderson bout under the UFC 103 advertisement and replaced it with the following statement:

"[UFC 103] Featuring four pivotal bouts with world title implications as well as a main event still to be announced, the star power on the UFC card, which includes Mike Swick vs. Martin Kampmann, Efrain Escudero vs. Cole Miller, Josh Koscheck vs. Frank Trigg and Tyson Griffin vs. Hermes Franca, will more than light up the Texas night."

Rumors are running rampant as to what the main event fight will be. However, with the apparent re-signing of Ortiz, according to the Twitter comment from Dana White (http://twitter.com/DanawhiteUFC), Ortiz might be ready for the UFC 103 event in Dallas, Texas in September.

The fight would not only make sense for Ortiz, giving him a decent warm-up fight since his loss to Lyoto Machida over a year ago, but it would also make sense for Franklin. A win would continue Franklin's rise in the stacked Light Heavyweight division.

Above all else, fans would be more than happy to watch this over another repeat fight between Franklin and Henderson.

In a recent phone conversation, Ortiz told Fox's Mike Straka that he would be about three months out in preparations for a fight with Fedor Emelianenko. Does that mean that a month and a half would give him time enough to prepare for a fight with Franklin in Texas? What about a bout with Henderson at the same event?

Looks like White has another option in an already stacked division. Thanks Affliction.

Why Joe Maddon Is the Worst All-Star Manager Ever

Nick Colon — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 01:35:37 -0400

I guess the picture says it all. Oh, it doesn't? Let me clarify then.

Joe Maddon managed the All-Star game in a terrible fashion Tuesday night.

Yes, it is true that the American League garnered the win, and it is also true that many players saw time. But my beef is with one specific manager, and one specific player.

Tim Wakefield.

The 42-year-old All-Star rookie didn't play Tuesday night. Yet there is no possible reason on this Earth why Wakefield didn't pitch.

Maddon, who had two 11-game winners on his pitching staff, chose to go with everyone else but the two.

Now, I don't have a problem with Maddon not throwing Josh Beckett. Beckett came off a game this past Sunday where he threw a complete game, albeit a low-pitch effort.

However, there is no excuse for not allowing a first-time All-Star like Wakefield to play.

If you watch the video on MLB.com, you'll see Wakefield glowing ear-to-ear with the experience of just being at his first All-Star game in the majors, and quite possibly his only All-Star game.

Maddon, who was a first-time All-Star manager himself, must not know the courtesies of the game yet.

Wakefield has all the credentials to not only be an All-Star this year, but to be a starting pitcher in the game as well. Even though "Wake" has an ERA over 4.00 and 61 strikeouts in 109 innings pitched, wins are what count in this day and age...and Wake's got them.

As a matter of fact, any fanatic of the Red Sox would know that Wakefield's record is less stellar than what it actually should or could be, with losses coming from very decent outings.

Frankly, Wakefield could've had 13 or 14 wins going into the All-Star break. The reality is he didn't, but he still has more than any other pitcher not named Josh Beckett.

It's a shame that a man like Joe Maddon can prevent Wakefield from pitching in his lone All-Star game.

My 100th Article:My Thoughts After UFC 100

Nick Colon — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 01:10:47 -0400

Yeah, I know you're all thinking that Lesnar pales in comparison to me. You're right. I'd crush him.

For the big 100, I figured I'd do a little mind recap from UFC 100, and what's ahead after the momentous occasion.

First things first, let me straighten the picture out. The picture I have of myself was my first here on B/R, so that's why I picked that picture. I happened to run across a picture of Brock Lesnar, and I thought...hmmm, how fitting.

So, lets get right to it. I'll keep it short and simple, and right to the point.

UFC 100 was okay. By okay, I mean the fights were decent, and exciting for the majority of the time. I thought I could've done without the Brock spit, and the sponsor bashing, but aside from that, it had some decent fights. Props to Belcher/Akiyama for a decent fight.

From here where do we go? To UFC 101 of course!

We have, in my opinion, a better card than UFC 100 with the Lightweight division on display at UFC 101, with Kenny Florian trying to take the Lightweight championship belt away from BJ Penn. As a co-main event, we have nearly a super-fight, with Anderson Silva versus Forrest Griffin. I myself am going to the event, and if Florian/Penn wasn't on the card, this would for sure be the most interesting matchup of the night for me.

After that?

Well, WEC 42 should be decent with Torres/Bowles and Mizugaki/Curran, and then I'm personally pumped to see Carano/Santos in mid-August.

Need more?

UFC 102 showcases the return of "The Natural" Randy Couture versus Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, and Nate Marquardt versus Demian Maia to determine the true No. 1 contender for Anderson Silva's title (in my opinion of course).

UFC 103 will determine the next fighter to step in line versus Georges St. Pierre when Mike Swick takes on Martin Kampmann. Then UFC 104 should make for an intriguing October when Mauricio "Shogun" Rua takes on Lyoto Machida, and Shane Carwin versus Cain Velasquez likely determines the next contender at heavyweight.

Whew. Thought it was going to be short. Sorry to all. Hope you enjoyed.

And that's No. 100.

Dana White Post-UFC 100: Eventually Fedor's Going To Be Here

Nick Colon — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 12:49:18 -0400

At the UFC 100 post-fight conference at the Mandalay Bay hotel and casino in Las Vegas, NV, UFC President Dana White emphatically announced that he will get a deal done with Heavyweight phenom, and questionably the pound-for-pound best fighter in the world Fedor Emelianenko.

White also announced that he didn't know when the deal would get done, but that it surely would.

"I've done deals with all the best fighters all over the world...eventually we're gonna end up doing a deal with Fedor...we'll get it done."

The post-fight conference was a bizarre one, with very few fighters showing up for the question and answer session, but the media was in full force, and kept the Fedor questions coming.

When a reporter commented on Lesnar's performance, he asked White if the UFC would continue to give fans what they wanted, and create a superfight with the Affliction star, to which White responded with the following:

"It's funny. The way these things have always worked out with us, this Fedor thing's been going on and on and on and I keep saying this and that about him and he keeps waiting. You know, eventually Fedor's going to be here. I want Fedor.

"I want him to come to the UFC and everything else. The longer it takes, this guy [Lesnar] just became the UFC champion, and we'll end up getting that deal done. Then we'll end up doing Brock vs Fedor and it'll end up being a huge fight."

This might just be hopeful thinking, however, it appears as though White is very confident in his ability to bring Emelianenko to the UFC. If or when it does happen, you can expect it to be the biggest fight in MMA history.

UFC 100: Lesnar Jeers and GSP Fears

Nick Colon — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 01:47:27 -0400

People like controversy. But when does controversy become annoyance? When does annoyance become hate? When does hate result in in-your-face comments?

Brock Lesnar, following his UFC 100 win over Frank Mir, not only disgraced himself and his manners, but he put a black mark over the entire main event.

By Lesnar defeating a very stout, game opponent in Frank Mir, you would expect him taking Mir's pride as being enough of a prize to go along with the nice UFC heavyweight championship he'll take home. However, Lesnar didn't stop there.

Much like in his World Wrestling Entertainment days when he was known as "The Next Big Thing," Lesnar put a sour end on the fight when he went up to a defenseless Mir after the fight and, according to Mike Goldberg, said, "You can talk as much s*** as you want now."

To add to the lack of class Lesnar showed, he taunted and jeered both the crowd and Mir, saying that he loved the boo's the crowd gave him, and that Mir had a horseshoe where the sun doesn't shine, and he pulled it out and hit it over his head.

The image that seems to go array with me is the image the UFC continued to show multiple times, when Lesnar shouts at one of the cameras with his saliva shooting everywhere but on the camera.

I'm not an expert here, but I'm sure that the UFC didn't like the response Lesnar was giving to the crowd after his win over Mir. For a classy organization to have one of it's lead champions flipping off the crowd in Las Vegas after it's headline bout, it seems like something you wouldn't want to see if you work for the UFC's media relations department.

Aside from that, Lesnar might not want to end future interviews by shunning the lead sponsor for the UFC for not sponsoring him, and saying he might even get on top of his woman at the end of the night.

In a much classier, less climatic bout, Georges St. Pierre handily defeated No. 1 Contender Thiago Alves to retain his UFC Welterweight title, and further assert his claim as the best pound-for-pound fighter in all of MMA.

After the bout, St. Pierre spoke to Joe Rogan saying that he aggravated his groin in the bout, and if he wants to fight at 185 pounds in the future, he would need some time to acquire the weight naturally.

Current fears might arise with St. Pierre's groin injury which might keep him out until late 2009, or early 2010. However, if St. Pierre showed anything tonight, it was that he will fight through anything.

Best Three UFC Cards Ever

Nick Colon — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 00:23:37 -0400

In light of tonight's 100 Greatest UFC fights in the history of the UFC, I decided to put together a listing of my favorite, more memorable three UFC cards.

The listing isn't done by a rating system, nor is it up for people to say that my card was a bad choice.

It's my choice, so for me, it's right.

By all means, write your own, and I certainly hope you do. This is mine, so that means you took a little time out of your day to read it, which I appreciate.

The three cards I picked were very fun, memorable cards to me either because of one bout, or generally because of the way the entire card went that night.

Feel free to chime in with what you were doing that night...makes it more fun for us all.

Here they are!

3) UFC 70: Nations Collide

This event was a very fun, exciting card for me, and it's not because Alessio Sakara finally pulled a win out of the UFC hat.

The bout between Assuerio Silva and Cheick Kongo was good for the times as both were relatively unknown around then, and both very muscular.

It was different styles, which made for a decent fight.

Speaking of relatively unknown LYOTO MACHIDA, he fought on the card against David Heath and secured his second UFC win. The Arlovski/Werdum fight that night was particularly fun, as I was a huge Arlovski fan before the glass jaw.

But of course, what stole the night was the man out of my native lands in Ludlow, MA.

Gabriel "Napao" Gonzaga sure did Na-Pow Mirko "Leave the UFC at the drop of a dime" Cro Cop with the kick from hell. Not only did it nearly decapitate Cro Cop, it also buckled his leg worse than a soccer player on a high tackle.

Needless to say, it was a banner night...for me at least.

2) UFC 79: Nemesis

Much like the common fan, on paper this card looked amazing.

From GSP/Hughes to the dream match we were all waiting for between Chuck and Wanderlei, this card had it all.

To start it off, and a surprise to my recollection, was Rich Clementi beating Melvin Guillard—a man who I thought (and still think) had the physical tools, only needed to get with a camp that knew how to use them to be one of the better fighters in the UFC.

Guillard and Clementi both pushed the pace, as I remember, and both had good showings, while Clementi sunk in that choke to cement the fight in the first round.

Really exciting bout.

Then of course was the true coming out party for today's LHW champion Lyoto Machida. Machida faced off against the highly touted Sokoudjou, who was actually favored coming into the fight, if I remember correctly.

It only took Machida a few minutes to settle in and get his counter game going. He finished off Sokoudjou at the end of the second round via arm triangle, and put himself on the map at the same time.

Of course the only thing better to follow that up was a grudge match between Liddell and Silva. I don't have to remind people how these two came out and banged, but needless to say that could've, should've, and probably did end up winning fight of the year.

If it didn't, it should've for sure because those two fought like they hated one another, and they both still had it.

And, what else can be said about GSP after the main event on this evening?

GSP dominated Hughes in the first round, as my brother and I beared witness to the end of an era with GSP reigning in a new era. The fight legitimately could've been stopped during the first as Hughes took so much pain and punches.

GSP came right out in the second, though, and secured the fight with a very modified armbar to win back his UFC Welterweight title.

Man.

What a night.

1) Ultimate Fighter Finale Season One

I know it's cliche, but this was the event that started it all for me and my UFC fandom.

No, I wasn't one of the millions that heard from friends to turn on the amazing fight, but while eating dinner looking for something to watch as a family, I turned on the Spike channel to see what could be on.

I wandered upon Diego Sanchez preparing for Kenny Florian. I very loosely followed the TUF Season One experience, so I'm slightly familiar with the final.

I immediately picked Sanchez to win, but over time I've learned that Kenny is the true man at 155 lbs. today. Anyway, I watched Sanchez steamroll Florian to get to the main attraction, and the fight that started it all for many UFC fans.

I watched the way Griffin came to be in the finals, starting out as a cop and coming from very homely beginnings. I looked at Bonnar as well, and picked Forrest to win.

You all know the rest, and I thoroughly enjoy myself and so does the family. A successful night of fights all around.

And that's it ladies and gents.

Hope you had fun reading.

Comment away, and that's it.

Tough Decision: Kessel to Stay a Bruin?

Nick Colon — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 13:46:08 -0400

The Boston Bruins have many tough decisions to make prior to the 2009-2010 NHL season. If the moves they've made thus far are any indication of how they will proceed, do not expect Phil Kessel to be a Bruin much longer.

The B's have resigned Mark Recchi, goaltender Tim Thomas, and youth stud Byron Bitz to deals, and they still have to potentially negotiate with Matt Hunwick. Money doesn't grow on trees, and the B's might need to find some of those trees if it does, because otherwise some players may need to be cut in order to keep Kessel.

Kessel is the big one.

He's a 21-year-old with tremendous upside, and though he missed a half-dozen games this past season with mono, he remained the Bruins' highest offensive threat with 36 goals. The days of Bruins players all having 20 goals or more are likely gone, and that means that a commodity like Kessel is worth much.

The question is how much?

That's a question that only Jeremy Jacobs, Cam Neely, and GM Peter Chiarelli can answer.

In the end, don't expect all of these players to don the black and gold like they did last year.

Bringing in a guy like Steve Begin, formerly a Hab, recently a Dallas Star, should bolster the B's frontline with Chuck Kobasew, Patrice Bergeron, and others. Add in a stout defense with Norris Trophy winner Zdeno Chara and others like Dennis Wideman, Aaron Ward and Andrew Ference and you have a team that can contend.

But defense isn't what we're talking about here.

Bruins fans all hope to see Bergeron once again control games with his youthful ability, pace, and intensity.

The B's can't wait to get Marco Sturm back from his injury that caused him to miss nearly all of last season, and if Marc Savard can get back to his form from the 2006-2007 season that saw him rack up nearly 100 points, we could be looking at a team bound for glory in 2010.

It all starts with the Kessel deal. Will he go, or will he stay?

Luiz Cane Bold to Call Out Rich "Ace" Franklin?

Nick Colon — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 13:29:44 -0400

Rich Franklin is a man who has made his name in the UFC off of great fights, middleweight dominance (before Anderson Silva) and respect. That, mixed in with results have left Franklin as one of the most successful, fan-loved figures in the UFC.

Luiz Cane, however, has used brutality and KO's to establish somewhat of a name for himself in the UFC.

With his only loss coming by disqualification at UFC 79 to James Irvin, Cane has not lost since then, with wins over Jason Lambert, Sokoudjou, and recently making his UFC debut, Steve Cantwell.

What does this mean for Cane? Better than that; what does this mean for the UFC?

Fighting Franklin is a big step up in competition for Cane, fighting a man that just came off a very impressive victory over Wanderlei Silva. Cane's striking is very dangerous, but likely shouldn't be compared to the ferocity of Silva.

For Franklin, this could be a nice filler bout, waiting amid the results of UFC 101's loser between Anderson Silva and Forrest Griffin. An impressive win over Cane could give Franklin a shot at Silva at 205 or Griffin, whomever loses the bout.

For Cane, a win over Franklin provides a nice win to his resume, and some better competition in the very near future. Dana White will likely take a Cane win, and glorify it to the point of calling him the next Cain Velasquez at 205. Is that the case?

Either way, it's an interesting bout to say the least, and one matchmaker Joe Silva should take a look at before passing aside. It won't be your standard striker-grappler bout, which should mean both guys will be looking to throw.

Combined, Franklin and Cane have 21 TKO wins (compared to just 10 total submission wins-9 coming from Franklin) so this has the makings of a good bout.

Cane's requested it. It's in your hands now Joe Silva.

Rags to Riches: Bellator's Meteoric Rise

Nick Colon — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 10:35:36 -0400

How do you go from regional, small-time, hardly noticed promotion to a premier, up-and-coming future of MMA?

Excite.

This is one word the Bellator organization has become synonymous with. By introducing a unique, Ultimate Fighter-like season format, with a total of 32 fighters in between 145 and 185 pounds, the bouts put on since this past April have been nothing but filled with excitement.

Bellator even makes it a priority to let fans know how important excitement is to the organization. The following is Bellator's mission statement given on their official website (www.bellator.com):

"Bellator is about the fighters and the fans. It’s the fighters who put it all on the line each day, leaving every ounce of themselves inside the cage. And it’s the fans whose support and commitment to the greatest sport on earth provides us the opportunity to promote and broadcast events worldwide. At Bellator, our mission is to create, promote and produce the most exciting, competitive and entertaining Mixed Martial Arts competition in the world. We will work tirelessly to ensure that the greatest fights in the world can be seen by the greatest fans in the world."

Since its conception in 2008, Bellator has also been the center of many memorable fights being displayed worldwide on YouTube.com.

From Yahir Reyes' stunning spinning backfist victory over Estevan Payan, to Toby Imada's miraculous inverted triangle to beat Jorge Masvidal, Bellator has, for lack of a better term, blown up.

The organization cares for it's fighters, cares for it's fans, and most importantly, cares for the battle.

The word Bellator in Latin means warrior; and Bellator Fighting Championships sure has many bellators.

WCF 7 Leaves Fans Wanting More

Nick Colon — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 02:24:40 -0400

The seventh rendition of World Championship Fighting held in Wilmington, Mass. on Jun. 27 left fans wanting more and more.

WCF President Joe Cavallaro seems to find ways to continually top himself event after event, with New England's top fighters entertaining a crowd of well over 3,000 fans, according to Sherdog.com.

The event, which typically has fans meeting and greeting with UFC stars, such as Joe Lauzon, Kenny Florian, and Marcus Davis, had a bigger twist this time as fans were treated to the presence of celebrity Kevin James.

According to Sherdog, James was on hand to watch the festivities while taking a break from local filming for a new movie.

The fights all featured local fighters; however, they performed like they were auditioning for a shot at the UFC.

The night's co-main event saw Calvin Kattar, a local favorite with many fans in attendance, submit a very game but outclassed Rodrigo Almeida within the first two minutes of the first round.

Another featured bout had Greg Rebello out of Team Sityodtong defeat New Yorker Jerry Spiegel by judge's decision.

Rebello, a student of renowned trainer Mark Dellagrotte, fought hard and smart in order to secure an easy two-round victory over a very tough opponent in Spiegel.

The fans also got to see a very weird yet entertaining bout between Travis Bartlett and Guillermo Echuaca. Bartlett received a very unfortunate poke to the eye in the first few minutes of the opening round.

Given the standard five-minute recovery period, Bartlett used most of that time to apparently recover from the poke, and came back to TKO Echuaca in very entertaining fashion.

The rest of the night's fight recaps are listed below:

Dan Keefe def. Woody Weatherby—Unanimous Decision

John Benoit def. Damien Trites—Unanimous Decision

Tom Moreau def. Don Carlo-Clauss—Majority Decision

Elias Rivera def. Scott Rehm—Submission (Heel Hook) 2:43 R1

Saul Almeida def. Dan O’Keefe—Submission (Peruvian Necktie) 1:16 R1

Nick Evangelous def. Matt McKusker—TKO (Punches) 2:41 R1

Aniss Anlhajjajy def. Aaron Petrucelli—Majority Decision

Marcos Escalante def. John Walsh—Submission (Rear Naked Choke) 1:24

Zack Burhans def. Jeff Silva—Unanimous Decision

Nelson Gaipo def. Ryan White—TKO (Punches) 1:07 R1

Noah Wiseman def. Steve Beck—Submission (Rear Naked Choke) 1:50 R1

Josh Thomson: The True Lightweight Champion of Strikeforce

Nick Colon — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 11:17:14 -0400

Josh Thomson is the Strikeforce Lightweight champion, and is set to face Gilbert Melendez in a rematch for the belt on August 15th.

However, before he gets ready to unleash fury on Melendez, he took a second to talk to Bleacher Report to let fans know how his training has gone, who he feels is an unknown gem at American Kickboxing Academy, and how he feels about the Michael Vick case.

Nick (www.bleacherreport.com): Josh, how’s training camp been going for this rematch with Gilbert, and how do you feel you’ve improved since the last time you met?

Josh: You know, I’d say I’ve gotten better since the last time we met, but given the last two injuries, it’s like a knocking off the ring rust thing you know?

I can say my training has improved in the gym, but with the ring rust, we’ll see what happens. I think it’s going to be fun. I feel good. What are we, eight weeks out now?

I feel okay and everything feels good. I’m already sparring four rounds and looking to move up to five next week. So I think sparring five rounds eight weeks out is pretty impressive.

I think I’m in good enough shape and I’m working out with good guys and tough guys, so their pushing me. Should be good!

Nick (www.bleacherreport.com): You’re 16-2, a very impressive record taking into account the guys you’ve faced off against. Half of those wins have come via submission techniques. Do you prefer to stand and bang with your opponents, or do you prefer to take them to the ground and submit them?

Josh: Well, I consider myself a pretty technical striker, so, but the one thing I lack is knockout power. I’ll hit you two or three times, I have good speed, and I’m pretty accurate with my punches, but I guess you could say I lack knockout power.

It’s really, well, submissions just seem to fall my way. I’m pretty good in transition and I’m good in the scramble, and those kind of things.

I’ll take a win any way I can get it. If it’s a cut, you know, some fighters like to say they like to win a certain way, but as a fighter a win is a win.

Nick (www.bleacherreport.com): You train with American Kickboxing Academy (AKA) with guys like Jon Fitch, Josh Koscheck, and Cain Velasquez. Who would you say is the one fighter to watch coming out of that camp and why?

Josh: The one fighter to watch coming out of the camp...well, we have Luke Rockhold.

[Luke] just fought last weekend in the Strikeforce Challenger, or Challenge, something like that up in Kent, WA. He had a first-round submission over Cory Devela. He’s going to be very impressive. He’s really tall and really lanky, good grappler for 185, super strong. I think he’s the one to watch with Cain Velasquez. There’s no secret about him anymore.

Other than that, the other guys have already set their name and presence in their organizations. I mean, [Jon] Fitch has, and “Kos” is trying to make his comeback right now, or get back on track anyways.

I think he’s back on track, and I was sparring with him last week, so he should be good.

The other guys, ones like Bobby Southworth and Trevor Prangley are trying to find a contract right now, fighting without contracts so we’re trying to give them motivation and give them time.

All of our people are ones that other camps try to avoid fighting. They don’t want to fight AKA guys so they try to find other guys to fight.

Nick (www.bleacherreport.com): I understand you’re not looking past your fight with Gilbert, but if you do manage to maintain the title, what are your plans towards the future?

Josh: I really can’t tell you what’s going to happen after this fight. There are some other things I have in the works right now, with some T.V. stuff you know? S

o, I’m kind of leary and focused on this fight right now, and winning this fight. My agents in Hollywood are scheduling things for me after this fight, so I really have no concern. I’

Nick (www.bleacherreport.com): I’m just curious. Where and when did you get your nickname “The Punk” and how much do you like having that title?

Josh: (Laughs) You know, when I was younger I was like, ah, whatever, but now that I’m older and I’m kind of like not so much like that anymore, it gets kind of old. (Laughs)

I think when everybody starts they wish they had a really cool one, and I guess I stuck with that one. You don’t really pick your nickname, you just kind of get what the guys call you in the gym and that’s what I got stuck with and that’s what I got to live with. I’m cool with it, whatever, not a big deal.

Nick (www.bleacherreport.com): I happened to glance over your Myspace page and found a touching piece about dog fighting, and how against it you are. Do you have a dog yourself, and what do you think of the Michael Vick case?

Josh: I’ve spoke a little bit on the Michael Vick thing. Hopefully his plans are to change when he comes out.

I think everybody does stuff and they learn, and I hope he learned. I can’t really say things because people do things and they make a lot of money and their young and their stupid and I’ve done things too in the past and really can’t get nailed for that so hopefully he’s changed and there’s nothing you can do.

Regardless, yes I do have a dog. He’s a little English Bulldog about 75 pounds, a little fat guy. His name’s McLovin, and he’s doing well. He’s always sleeping and it’s kind of funny right now when I’m doing training and trying to rest during the day, but he’s fine.

Nick (www.bleacherreport.com): Josh, you haven’t lost a professional MMA bout in over three years. What is it going to take for someone to get past you? Do you have any weaknesses in your opinion?

Josh: Yeah, I have a lot of weaknesses. You know, I think weaknesses come and go in different fights.

Like with the Gilbert fight, focused a lot on my wrestling, focused a lot on my standup and trying to stuff the takedown and get up from the bottom.

I think my submission game went out the backdoor. I wasn’t able to finish a rear-naked [choke] that I had on tight, and just things like that.

Little things kind of come and go with each fight and you train for each person. At least, that’s the way I do anyways. Lots of people say they train and train and I think that’s a bunch of s*** because if you’re going against a wrestler, you’re going to increase your training for wrestling.

You’re going to do more things to stop a wrestler in your training camp. So don’t tell me-you know, a lot of people tell me they train the same way for every fight. That’s a bunch of crap.

My camp changes me depending on the fighter. So if I’m going up against a wrestler, I’ll bring in a good wrestler. We have guys like Josh Koscheck and Fitch and these guys.

So I try to focus, you know, on taking them down and striking on them and things like that. This will be my third training camp training for him, you know, but other than that, I think it’s going to be a great fight.

Nick (www.bleacherreport.com): You fight at 155 pounds, and there’s so many worldwide contenders in that weight class. Who would you like to fight at 155 and why?

Josh: You know, I don’t really worry about things like that. There’s a good chance that after this fight I’m trying to talk to Strikeforce about opening up a 145-pound weight division and me dropping down to win the belt, and defending the belt at both weight classes.

Those are things I’m interested in trying to do. Going up, obviously, is something I probably don’t want to try to do, given that Jake’s there. Jake Shields is there at 170 and 185, so, I train with Jake and he’s just a phenomenal person and super tough.You saw what he did against Lawler.

But, I feel I can drop down. I’ve fought there before, so I’m pretty sure I can drop the weight and be able to fluctuate between divisions hopefully.

Nick (www.bleacherreport.com): Now Josh, there is a 145-pound weight division in the WEC. Have you ever considered going over there to take a shot at the Featherweights over there?

Josh: No, only because the relationship between the UFC and Strikeforce, as they don’t have the best relationship (laughs).

It’s hard enough between the Affliction and UFC competition that I don’t see myself going to the WEC. I’m very happy with Strikeforce, and I’m very happy with that, so I’m just hoping that Strikeforce would open up something at 145 and that’d be great.

Nick (www.bleacherreport.com): Now do you feel that the best competition for you is over at Strikeforce, given that the WEC’s Featherweight class is packed with talent?

Josh: No, I think it’s different all the way around. DREAM has some of the best competition, and Strikeforce has some of the best competition.

Between me and Gilbert, and I believe Eddie Alvarez is with Strikeforce, given the fact that he just won the tournament over at Bellator.

Those type of things where we have top competition over here at Strikeforce, so why would I leave?

Granted, the UFC had BJ [Penn], and Kenny Florian and Frankie Edgar, and Sean Sherk, and Dream has [Tatsuya] Kawajiri and Gomi, you know, and those guys. If you think about it, our weight class is so spread out throughout the world so anywhere you go it’s going to be a tough fight.

BJ’s still probably the best at 155 and I think if he stayed at that weight class that he would be one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world and I think he’d be on top of 155.

I think if he just stays at 155 I don’t think there would be any debate about who the best fighter in the world is. Pound-for-pound that is.

Nick (www.bleacherreport.com): Thanks for the lead into my final question for you! Who do you have in the upcoming BJ Penn/Kenny Florian matchup and why?

Josh: I have BJ in the upcoming fight. I think BJ is too strong and hits too hard in that weight class.

I think Kenny poses a lot of problems and if anyone can beat BJ it’s Kenny. I just think that BJ’s experience with bigger, heavier guys is going to be showcased and I think it’s going to show that BJ is the top guy. But you know, we’ll see.

That’s why they fight the fight. You never know what’s supposed to happen.

Nick (www.bleacherreport.com): Well Josh, I appreciate you taking the time out of your busy schedule to come and talk. Is there anyone you’d like to shoutout before you go?

Josh: I always like to say thanks to the guys at AKA. Fitch, Koscheck, Swick, Trevor Prangley, you know, all the guys at AKA. Javier Mendez, Dave Camarillo, you know, Bob Cook. You know, I really appreciate them and my clothing company that I’ve been working with, so thanks to everyone!

Nick (www.bleacherreport.com): Thanks Josh, and good luck in your fight against Gilbert Melendez on August 15th.

Josh: Alright, thanks bro!

What's Next for Cain Velasquez?

Nick Colon — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 01:18:17 -0400

With his win over Cheick Kongo at UFC 99 in Cologne, Germany, Cain Velasquez cemented himself amongst the best in the UFC’s heavyweight division.

The only remaining question is: what’s next?

“As far as what’s next, as far as the fights, the UFC’s got to handle that,” said Velasquez.

Velasquez came into the fight with Kongo as the favorite according to SBGglobal.com, and did not disappoint, giving Kongo a steady dosage of ground-and-pound, all the while taking that nearly-assured title shot away from Kongo with the loss.

Maybe the only person not impressed with Velasquez’s fight is himself.

“I don’t think I’m there yet, where I need to be. I did win, but I want to go out there and win impressively, and if I don’t do that, I’m pretty hard on myself.”

Some fans may feel with the win, Velasquez is near to a title shot. However, if anyone has something to say about that, it will be Shane Carwin. Velasquez may have to go through him, or the loser of the Mir/Lesnar bout at UFC 100 before getting the shot he’s been waiting for.

World Championship Fighting: The Best of the Northeast

Nick Colon — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 12:59:00 -0400

World Championship fighting is unique. It offers so much to the fans and the world of MMA, yet not everyone has had an opportunity to see the type of fights WCF President Joe Cavallaro has put on for locals in the Northeast.

Every event the WCF has put on in it's short conception has been met with great media attention and phenomenal fan input and it still has yet to peak.

The WCF has been the home to many fighters that have moved on to the big stage. Jon "Bones" Jones, the unorthodox striker in the UFC who put on a great showing in his last bout against UFC mini-legend Stephan Bonnar, came from the WCF. Mike Campbell, a young, hungry, physical specimen from the Sityodtong camp, came from the WCF. John Franchi, an up-and-coming monster who just fought Manny Gamburyan in his WEC debut, came from the WCF.

Do you see the trend?

There are many other notable fighters whom I have failed to mention; maybe one of the most notable is Joe Lauzon's brother, Dan Lauzon, the youngest fighter to ever fight in the UFC. Lauzon has fought multiple times with the WCF already, and is ever-improving to take that step to be thrust into the limelight once again. Then again, without even noticing it, these fighters are already making something out of nothing.

The WCF, a young upstart company, is already being noticed by the likes of ESPN, HDNet Fights, and many others.

The future is bright, not only for the WCF, but it's fighters, as well. You might not know the John Benoit's, or the Calvin Kattar's, or even the Dan Bonnell's, but you soon will and when you do, get ready for a pleasant surprise.

The Top Five Hyped TUF Matchups

Nick Colon — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 04:05:08 -0400

The Ultimate Fighter has been a growing sensation ever since it’s first finale show that pitted Stephan Bonnar vs Forrest Griffin and Kenny Florian vs Diego Sanchez. Dana White said the Bonnar/Griffin fight is the fight that put the UFC on the map.

But is it one of the top five hyped fights in TUF history?

No. 5: Shonie Carter vs Matt Serra (The Rematch)

The heated rematch of Carter vs Serra was not only hyped by White and others on the show, but many fans were excited to see what the two could produce years after their first stunning fight, in which Carter KO’d Serra via spinning backfist.

In the rematch, of course, Carter again went for the patented move, only to have Serra readily dodge his attempt. This time, Serra garnered the decision win, and moved on to the finals to defeat Chris Lytle to become the season three lightweight winner. He later cashed in on his title shot at UFC 69 by defeating Georges St. Pierre in the first round.

No. 4: “War Machine” vs Jared Rollins

In what could be called the fight of the year, War Machine and Rollins battled back and forth for three rounds on TUF season six’s finale show. The bout was back and forth throughout, and many fans felt going into the fight that each fighter disliked one another because of a tussle on the show.

However, both fighters revealed that they have respect for the other, and showed it on the finale, winning the fight of the night honors, and displaying a possible fight of the year quality bout. War Machine won via 3rd Rd. TKO, and both fighters no longer fight for the UFC.

No. 3: Michael Bisping vs Matt Hamill

Even though this fight took place after the Ultimate Fighter Season 3 show ended, it still had all the hype and desire from the discontentment the two displayed towards the other on the show.

Though Hamill was very considerate and friendly with Bisping on the show, Bisping never returned the feelings, constantly arguing with Hamill and complaining to other fighters that Hamill was shown favoritism by coach Tito Ortiz because of Hamill’s deaf handicap. The fight took place in Bisping’s home country, and specifically in London, England.

In the fight itself, Hamill appeared to dominate the stand up game, using a mixture of combination punches and uppercuts, while using short uppercuts in the clinch. Bisping seemed very unwilling to trade with Hamill in rounds one and two, and eventually was a little more comfortable in the third round.

Bisping ended up winning a split decision over Hamill, a decision that to this day bugs many UFC fans. However, with Bisping’s transition to the middleweight division, the rematch would need to be somewhere along the future.

No. 2: Amir Sadollah vs C.B. Dollaway (I and II)

In the seventh installment of TUF, an unexperienced, gritty, funny-looking man named Amir Sadollah defied the odds, and in the process, captured the hearts of many fans throughout the season. He found himself going up against a world-class wrestler by the name of C.B. Dollaway, the favorite to win the season coming into the show.

Dollaway was the exact opposite of Sadollah, being one of the most experienced fighters coming into the show. In their first meeting, Dollaway found himself frustrated with Sadollah’s constant will to fight, and ended up getting caught in an armbar in the third round to send Sadollah into the finals.

Thanks to Jesse Taylor’s antics following the show, Dollaway fought his way back into the finals, and into a rematch with Sadollah. However, again, Dollaway got caught by Sadollah in an armbar, and through an apparent tapout, gave Sadollah the season seven contract.

No. 1: Forrest Griffin vs Stephan Bonnar

There’s a reason why Dana White says this fight put the UFC on the map…because it did. Griffin, a hard-working standout coming from Columbus, Ohio, faced off against a very game, very focused Stephan Bonnar, the tall, lanky, scrappy fighter from Munster, Indiana.

The fight went back and forth for all three rounds, with nonstop action for the majority. Bonnar opened a cut on Griffin, which only added to the intensity and fortitude displayed by both fighters that night.

When it came time for the judges decision, a split-decision was announced in Griffin’s favor. Bonnar, depleted and deprived from what he felt was rightly his, fell to the mat in shear agony. However, UFC president Dana White immediately announced that the UFC would be awarding Bonnar the contract as well as Griffin.

In August of 2006, a little over a year from when the first bout occurred, both fighters met once again, with this bout characterized as one-sided in Griffin’s favor. This fight, not only is the most hyped and talked about fight in UFC history, but it is the best fight in the history of mixed martial arts. Period.

Facing the Truth: Interview with UFC Light Heavyweight Brandon Vera

Nick Colon — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 00:34:55 -0400

Paul Pierce. One of hit singer Prince's album's. What shall set you free. Brandon Vera. See the connection? If not, you soon shall.

It was seven years ago this July when Brandon "The Truth" Vera had his first professional mixed martial arts win over Adam Rivera. In those seven years, most would say that Vera's improved. They are right.

Vera is a very down-to-earth, fun-loving guy who has a bright career ahead of himself in the UFC. I was lucky enough to talk to Vera during an interview a few days ago, and one thing "The Truth" does not lack is humor. Vera also talked about his wife's MMA debut, what his ultimate goal is (or still is) in the UFC, and who his next fight will come against.

Nick: Brandon, why don’t you tell fans out there how training’s been going, and any adjustments you’ve been making since your last fight with Mike Patt.

Brandon: Training is going great. Adjustments? I haven’t made any adjustments since Mike Patt. I’ve just continued on what I’ve been doing since Mike Patt. I’ve just continued training and committed to training harder since then.

Nick: There’s many rumors flying around that your next bout comes at UFC 102 against a very tough Matt Hamill. Is there any truth (pardon the pun) to that rumor, and how do you feel you match up with Hamill?

Brandon: (Chuckle) I match up with Hamill just like I match up with any other 205’er in the UFC. He’s dangerous just like any of them. I am fighting Hamill at Portland, Oregon at [UFC] 102, and I am looking very forward to this fight for fans, and for myself.

I just want to see how much more I can improve and keep improving, and at what pace I can improve. Hamill is a tough dude, and he’s strong as hell. [Hamill] doesn’t get rattled, he doesn’t get nervous a lot, so it’s going to be a good fight.

Nick: You first flirted with the Heavyweight division upon entering the UFC, and you’ve since moved down to Light Heavyweight. Which division do you feel has the better fighters, and how have you changed your fight game to accommodate the change?

Brandon: I have definitely had to change my fighting style at 205 to accommodate the weight class. The guys at 205 are a lot more than, well I don’t want to say better shape; I guess you could say better shape, it’s just a different kind of shape I guess. So I had to learn how to adjust there.

Better fighters? It’s you-pick-them.

I mean the 205 division is probably one of the best divisions in the world right now, in any organization anywhere. You’ve got the deepest pool of talented guys in the world. So better fighters, of course 205 does, but don’t get it twisted like the UFC’s Heavyweight division’s slow by any means.

I mean they’ve got Brock Lesnar, [Antonio Rodrigo] Nogueira, Frank Mir, Couture’s still fighting up there, Hardonk, Kongo, I mean the list goes on and on for Heavyweights.

So to compare the two is kind of unfair, but, both divisions definitely have their set of guys that are good as hell.

Nick: When you first started in the UFC you said that your goal is to hold championship gold in more than one division. In light of recent short title reigns in the two divisions, has that goal changed at all, or are you just focused on one belt right now?

Brandon: Hold two titles at the same time! I’m focused on one belt right now, but that goal still never changes. That’s the ultimate goal.

That’ll be when I know I’ve done my job as a fighter and I can retire with full complete satisfaction; [when] I know I’ve done the best I can do, and to hold both belts at the same time would be the s***.

That is still the ultimate goal. Call me cocky, but that will be the end game for me.

Nick: Many different fighters have different reasons for fighting; some fight for their families, some for the money, and some for the fame. Why do you fight?

Brandon: For my family. Definitely for my family. I just want to make sure my family doesn’t have to struggle, or at least I can help with their struggles and make sure that my family, this generation, is provided for better than last generation and hopefully that will just keep going you know?

Nick: I know you have a lot of pride in your heritage. Your web site is plastered with fans sharing the same heritage as you. Can you just comment on that and how you embrace your heritage?

Brandon: I mean, I grew up Filipino. Like, if I took my house on the block and put it in the Philippines, I wouldn’t have been able to tell the difference.

You know, it’s hard to explain; it’s a lifestyle and it’s how I’ve known to grow up, and how I respect my elders and respect my roots and how I’m constantly reminded of my history, the history of people.

It’s not just the Philippines, it’s the history of America as well. I’m a history buff, and I love the stuff. I don’t retain a lot of information but I love learning about it, even if I learn about the same thing three or four times it’s still exciting everytime I hear it again. So, it’s life!

Nick: Even to go as far as another sport, how do you feel about [Manny] Pacquiao in boxing and how he’s represented the Filipinos?

Brandon: He’s the man. He has done so much for the Filipino’s community and people and nation. As one person, he’s done a lot and he’s definitely a role model. His work ethic and his determination in the cage, I’m sorry, the ring is ridiculous.

It’s like every round he gets stronger and stronger and that’s something I strive for, because if we have to go to a third round, I gotta give it to this guy who has stayed with me in here for one more round.

When I get to the third round, I’m gonna give it to him even harder than the first or second round, you know, just because he’s still here. So he’s definitely a role model, for everybody, not just Filipinos but everybody.

Nick: Speaking of family, I know your wife was just successful in her Women’s MMA debut. What emotions were running through your mind as the fight went on?

Brandon: Man, I mean, neverousness, paranoia. You name them, I probably felt it; (chuckle) fear, everything...everything.

Nick: How do you think she feels when you're in the Octagon? You think she worries more than you? The same?

Brandon: Yeah, the same probably. I mean, definitely.

Nick: Listening to some of the commentators for that fight, they noticed that you weren’t cornering your wife for the fight, yet you had a hands-on approach towards training her. What’s that like training with your wife?

Brandon: It is what it is you know? I don’t train with my wife. We have the same coaches and we train at the same time but we don’t train together. We’ll train, even if we’re doing a team training together, she’ll train beside me but I don’t train with her.

If I do train with her, it’s only, maybe two or three things max. We’re just reviewing things and I tell her stuff that I want her to work on that I see, but other than that I don’t train with the Mrs.

Nick: Do you think there’s tips from men's MMA that you could give to her that would help improve her in women’s MMA?

Brandon: Well, that’s what I do. The three or four things that I have her working on is exactly what it’s for. Other than that, I don’t train her, I don’t do anything.

Once in a while you’ll see me holding pads for her, but it’s for the workout, but you know it’s kind of weird. We try to stay away from each other while we’re training.

Nick: Does she give you any tips at all going into your fights and if she did, how would you take that?

Brandon: I would take it as it comes. I don’t know what I think, but she doesn’t.

Nick: What do you like doing outside the Octagon in your spare time?

Brandon: Everything that Southern California has to offer. Biking, mountain biking, playing with my dogs, going to the shooting range. Anything. I like doing everything outside of the gym. Anything outdoors I like, or building things I like.

Nick: You like staying active?

Brandon: Yeah, for sure.

Nick: A few months ago you sat down with Ed Soares and current Light Heavyweight Champion Lyoto Machida on the set of Inside MMA. How badly would you like to fight Machida, and would you say you're prepared to fight him right now?

Brandon: Right now I’m not prepared to fight Machida but in eight weeks I could be. You know I would love to fight Machida. He’s the f****** man. He’s the man, I mean, his style, he doesn’t get away from his style and he’s beating the s*** out of people.

Right now, I think Machida is the pound-for-pound 205 Light Heavyweight champion. I think he is going to hold on to the belt for awhile. I am excited to earn the right to fight Machida and I would be more than happy to fight Machida when the time comes.

Nick: On that same episode you had mentioned that 2008 was a year when your “Head got big” and that you had made some money and gotten popular. How do you feel you’ve recovered from that, and do, as you said, “all the things you did to get to the UFC?”

Brandon: It was just, [I] came to the realization that stuff is just stuff no matter how nice it is or how expensive it is. Once you get down to it, it’s just stuff. It’s just s***. All of it is just s***.

Who was it, Katt Williams I think, or Dave Chappelle said that they have a nice house now and they bought this vase that cost $25,000. Then, he was looking at the vase one day and said I can’t believe I paid $25,000 for that vase. What the f*** am I thinking? It’s kind of like that man.

I guess everybody has to go through it in their career and I’m glad I went through it super early in my career and not later on down the road. It’s a learning process I guess you could say.

This whole MMA thing, everything’s a process, and I guess I just had to earn mine, my bumps and bruises along the way. I don’t want to say it derailed my career but instead of me taking the shortcut that we laid the plan out for earlier, we’re going to have to take the long road.

Climb from the ground up so, I’m glad it happened in a way but I’m super glad that 08’ is f****** out of here.

Nick: How many fights would you like to fight each year if you had your choice? If you were Joe Silva, how many fights would you schedule you for and why?

Brandon: Joe Silva wants me to fight as often as possible and I’m fighting. When I come, it’s gonna be, I’m gonna scramble with people on the ground or on the feet. For me personally? Two or three fights a year I’m happy with.

Nick: If you had to pinpoint one weak area of your fighting, what would you say it is?

Brandon: [Hesitates] I would say my footwork.

Nick: So how are you going to go about improving that with your fight with Hamill, and even beyond that?

Brandon: I don’t have to improve my footwork too much for Hamill. I will be working on it and just trying to improve it but I’ll be working on it at the gym.

Nick: Last question before I let you go. Name the one fighter you would love to fight right now, and the one fighter you would not want to fight right now.

Brandon: I don’t have an answer for either of those questions! There’s not really anyone.

Nick: Well Brandon, I really want to thank you for taking the time to talk to me today. Are there any shoutouts you have before you go?

Brandon: I just want to thank my sponsors for sure. Definitely want to thank TRX suspension training system. It’s been helping leaps and bounds for my athleticism I guess and my strength.

I want to thank all the fans that have stuck by me through the thick and thin. '09’s going to be a good year and that’s it.

Nick: Thanks again, thanks for joking around, and so much luck to you in your next fight!

Brandon: Thank you very much and I appreciate it. Have a good day!

I'll end with a very appropriate quote: "Don't believe the hype; believe what you see." And that's the truth.

MMA's Rising Popularity: Is a Plateau on the Horizon?

Nick Colon — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 00:50:53 -0400

There is no doubt that mixed martial arts is one of, if not the fastest growing sport in the world today.

However, like all good things, it will eventually come to an end...or will it?

The UFC, the biggest MMA organization in the world, and questionably the best, is in the midst of a meteoric rise in the business, and have captured the hearts of many fans out there already.

Other organizations such as DREAM and Affliction have also increased the viewership amongst modern day guys and gals ages 16-35.

The question remains, will it ever halt?

History says yes. History also says that there will be more wars, more disease, and more prosperous times, as well as hardships. What history does not tell, is how long this new hybrid of MMA will last.

I myself am not a cleric, nor a fortune teller. I do think, however, that mixed martial arts should be appreciated now more than ever, and that it has a very good time left at the pinnacle of it's sporting takeover.

I also believe it is up to us, the fans, to keep MMA going as strong as it is.

A few weeks ago, I heard someone say that there isn't a prominent MMA magazine company out there, and that is something that needs to be explored in the upcoming years. I agree to a certain extent, as there's no "go-to" magazine for all your MMA needs like ESPN the magazine, or Sporting News, or anything like that.

There also is dispute amongst the fans about one organization's dominance over others. Let us be truthful with one another; MMA is a sport, and it has it's fans. You hear baseball fans talk all the time about which league is more dominant, or football fans about the better divisions, and even hockey fans say which team or conference is the best. MMA fans can do the same, but remember fans, we're all on the same team.

We all support the sport, and we all love a great fight. Our "shot heard around the world" is Forrest Griffin vs Stephan Bonnar. Our Super Bowl could be Aoki vs Penn or Fedor vs Lesnar. For our World Series, we match up Mousasi vs Silva (take your pick of which one). And our Pete Rose scandal comes in the form of Kimbo against Petruzelli.

The fact is, the sport is still on the rise, and no matter where or when it ends, enjoy it now.

History says MMA will falter eventually. But not now.