10 Things MMA Could Live Without in 2010

10. Horrible MMA Movies- Seriously, either find a competent director or give it up already. The sad thing is that there are very compelling stories behind so many fighters that would make for great cinema. Think about the life story of Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, run over by a truck when he was 9, and fell into a coma for 25 days. During this time he lost a rib and part of his liver and had to be hospitalized for eleven months. Only to go on to be an mma world champion and maybe the toughest SOB in the world. Now find me a director like Martin Scorsese or the Cohen Brothers and make that movie.


9. Teammates Not Fighting Each Other- We all understand the team concept in MMA and how it helps fighters, but when 2 world class fighters in the same division won't fight each other because of friendship, it's more than a little frustrating to fans. We may never see Anderson Silva vs. Lyoto Machida or even to a lesser degree, the AKA guys fight each other. Now with Jon "Bones" Jones moving to Team Jackson we miss out on some possible great match-ups at 205lbs as well. When it comes down to it this sport is about competition and fighters always talk about how they want to fight the best, but that goes out the door if they are teammates and it depraves fans of bouts they've wanted to see for a long time.


8. Bad Commentary- I have yet to find a play by play man or color commentator that blows me away. Pat Miletich and Randy Couture we need more of as they seem to get it better than most at doing things that great color guys do, like seeing things before they happen. Hopefully there is a diamond in the rough out there somewhere for 2010, otherwise we shall suffer another year of bad to mediocre commentary.


7. Extra Medium Skull Shirts- We as the MMA community need to stop the madness for god's sake. First of all why is there this insatiable need to have a skull on every MMA shirt and have them all be "athletic fit" which basically means if you weigh more than 100lbs you shouldn't be wearing it. We need to buck this horrible trend and when I buy an extra large t-shirt, I want it to actually be extra large, not extra medium. And the material they use for these shirts is thinner than Kate Moss, make a real t-shirt!


6. Uneducated Judges- Where do some of these horrible judges come from? Who the hell knows, but its not from any place that knows how to score a fight. There should be an extensive program that these judges have to go through to learn every aspect of an MMA fight. Also, contrary to popular belief, they don't have the best seat in the house and they are not allowed a monitor, which is crazy in this day and age with HD cameras and 20 different angles coming out of a fight. This is something that Mr. Jordan Breen of the Sherdog Radio Network has talked about in the past and I couldn't agree more, get these guys a monitor for when their view is not optimal.


5. M-1 Global- Seriously, would anyone cry if M-1 Global went bankrupt? This company's insistence on co-promotion may be the strongest reason that Fedor Emelianenko is not fighting in the UFC. Now I have no problem with Fedor fighting in Strikeforce, but this M-1 Global entourage is a little ridiculous, after Fedor wins they swarm the ring with zero respect for the downed opponent and we have to listen to people like Jerry Millen gloat for days and days. Not to mention the fight cards they do actually put on by themselves are usually a joke.


4. Counter Programing- It's estimated (via google search) that 50% of cable subscribers have a DVR, now that leaves the other 50% out in the cold when this counter programing goes on. Having to pick and choose my MMA to watch would be a terrifying decision because I want to watch all the MMA I can. I understand the logic behind it, but for the millions of people that aren't fortunate enough to have a DVR, it just plain sucks.


3. Early Stoppages- Kampmann vs. Daley and Velasquez vs. Rothwell are just 2 examples of early stoppages. Now whether you think the outcome of either of those 2 fights wouldn't have changed anyways is not the point. These guys put their heart and soul into every single fight and they want to go out on their shield giving everything they have and to have that taken away by the ref has to be heart breaking to say the least. I'm all for fighter safety, but I'm more for letting these guys fight their way through tough positions and not having a bad call ruin their night.


2. 3 Round Main Events- Personally, I'm for every fight being 5 rounds, but that just doesn't seem like it will ever become reality. Let me ask you this if Ortiz vs Griffin or Franklin vs Silva or Sanchez vs Guida were 5 rounders would there be any questions as to who the real winner is? Not that there should be, but let's be honest it's very possible that Griffin, Franklin and Sanchez finish those fights if they were 5 round affairs. At least make main events 5 rounders because it's usually 2 world class athletes going at it and 3 rounds just isn't enough sometimes to determine who the better fighter is.


1. The Ultimate Fighter- I'm sorry, but there comes a time when everything runs its course and that time should be now for this reality show. I've never liked the layout of the show and stopped watching after season 1 and after being forced to watch the absolutely atrocious fights from this last season I don't know. Maybe they need some kind of new format or something, but I think it's time to bury TUF for good.

MMA Still Not Legal in West Virginia Because of Uneducated Chairman

West Virginia has yet to legalize our beloved sport, it also happens to be the state I was born in. Steve Allred is the chairman of the state athletic commission and doesn't consider MMA a sport at all. Below you will find a quote from this politician that is all too familiar to MMA fans.

From Jake Rossen's Sherdog Blog

According to the State Journal, lawmakers could potentially introduce a bill regulating the sport on Jan. 13 -- but it would come over the simpering of athletic commission chairman Steve Allred.

"Cutting off someone's oxygen supply until they pass out...It's no way a sport," he told the paper. “It is assault and battery."

After doing some research on Mr. Allred it is very obvious that he is the typical old "boxing guy". In fact he was a very good amateur boxer, but had a short-lived unsuccessful professional career and was KO'd by Ramzi Hassan in his last bout in June of 1985.

Rossen brings up a good point in that West Virginia allows Toughman which is a dangerous freak show to say the least. To call MMA "assault and battery" is on the Bob Arum level of stupidity about our beloved sport. This guy is one of those politicians and boxing enthusiast who I can almost guarantee has never actually sat down and watched the skill and intricacies of an MMA fight.

It's just another example of someone who is uneducated about mixed martial arts refusing to embrace it because of old boxing ties. Finally Rossen sums it up by pointing out that in Judo you get choked out and oh by the way Judo is in the Olympics.

Do us all a favor Mr. Allred go watch some fights and you'll see amazing things like the bowling ball size heart of Antonio Rodrigo Noguiera, the incredible skill and grace of Anderson Silva, the ridiculous domination that GSP, Fedor and BJ Penn exhibit. After you see some of these things then talk to us about how MMA isn't a sport.

Fabricio Werdum: "I Will Defeat Fedor"

From Bloody Elbow via Tatame

"People say I can’t, but I’m training, I’m dedicated and I will defeat Fedor."

While I think Fabricio Werdum has a very slim chance at defeating Fedor Emelianenko there is an aspect to his game that seems to be overlooked, his defensive guard game. His defense from his back is, in my opinion, the best in the heavyweight division. He made BJJ black belt Gabriel Gonzaga look downright silly from top position in their UFC 80 bout, go back and watch it.

Of course this is all for nothing if he gets blasted on the feet so hard that he will need a nurse that got her RN to BSN online from that overhand right or sniping left hook which is highly likely. I don't think we can completely count Werdum out of this contest, although most already have because of the obvious match-up style that Fedor seems to crush.

Brock Lesnar Could Be Out for All of 2010

From Brock Lesnar's Official Facebook Page

NEW UPDATE!! Brock has had more problems (we can't say what they are) and he could be out all of this year if things don't get better. Brock wants to thank all of his fans for their support and for the nice messages so thanks guys.

Although I'm not exactly a Lesnar fan, its a shame that this guy is sitting around very sick instead of honing his MMA skills. Love him or hate him I still want to see him fight and hope he returns soon.

Floyd Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao Not Happening

From Kevin Iole over at Yahoo Sports

Floyd Mayweather Jr. would not agree to a compromise on his insistence for Olympic-style drug testing and, as a result, the planned March 13 bout with Manny Pacquiao is officially off, promoter Bob Arum told Yahoo! Sports on Wednesday.

Mediator Daniel Weinstein, a retired federal judge, was unable to bring the sides to an agreement for the historic bout after two days of negotiations over the drug-testing dispute

“Manny’s reaction is that he’s very disappointed because he wanted to give the fans this fight,” Pacquiao adviser Mike Koncz, his de facto manager, said by telephone from the Philippines, where he is with Pacquiao. “He is upset his reputation has been tarnished and he wants his fans to know that at some point, you have to stand on principle. He’s walking away from $35 million, $40 million, maybe $50 million on principle.”

As an MMA fan you have to snicker a little bit at how boxing could screw up what would potentially be the biggest and richest bout maybe ever. As an all-around combat sports fan I think its a damn shame that we won't be treated to this fight at least not in the foreseeable future.

Dana White and the Zuffa brass will no doubt go off on this as well they should. As our beloved sport continues to grow, boxing fails to deliver yet again.

Dana White in Talks With M-1 Global: "There's a Million Different Ways to Cut Deals"

From Sherdog

Sherdog: You mentioned talking to M-1 recently, more recent than anyone thought. What's going on there?

Dana White - "Listen, I think there's a million different ways to cut deals. Believe me, I want Fedor more than the people that are yapping that they want him in the UFC. And I like Mousasi too. So I would love to have them both in the UFC. And there's a lot of different ways to cut a deal".

... "There's only one way to find out how Fedor would do in the UFC. Get his ass over here and let's get him in there and get him fighting. I could do the same thing with Mousasi. I like Mousasi, I don't know how he'd do over here. There's a lot of really good guys here. It's not like fighting in other promotions. They are not deep enough. There are not enough good fighters over there for them to challenge. There is here, that's what makes it fun and interesting".

Strikeforce and M-1 Global Announce Record Worldwide Numbers for CBS 'Fedor vs. Rogers'

AMSTERDAM, HOLLAND (November 24, 2009) - M-1 Global and Strikeforce announced today that the international audience reports from broadcasters all over the world revealed an unprecedented number of viewers for the November 7th "Fedor vs. Rogers" MMA event from Chicago, Illinois.

"We are extremely happy with the preliminary broadcast reports," said M-1 Global CEO Joost Raimond. "The demographics of these numbers were very promising as our network broadcasting partners in the U.S., Russia, and Korea reach an enormous audience alone. Coupled with a dozen other countries and our successful internet stream in Japan and other territories, all early accounts and indications tell us that "Fedor vs. Rogers" delivered worldwide more than any other MMA show in the history of the sport," concluded Raimond.

Scott Coker, founder and owner of Strikeforce and experienced MMA promoter responded "We are thrilled with the tremendous viewership figures that the Fedor vs Rogers event generated overseas. The results clearly demonstrate the appreciation that fans worldwide have for a number of M-1 Global and Strikeforce mixed martial arts superstars including the number one fighter on the planet - Fedor Emelianenko - and his opponent Brett Rogers."

In total, over 25 million MMA fans all around the world were treated to a vintage performance from the world’s greatest MMA fighter, Fedor Emelianenko. The main event of Fedor vs Rogers reached an impressive 5.46 million viewers in the United States on the CBS Network. The fight was also broadcast in Fedor’s native Russia by "Channel 1," Russia's largest television network, and reached 16 million viewers in Fedor’s home country. In addition, "Fedor vs. Rogers" was broadcast to millions of viewers in Korea on SBS, one of the 3 major national South Korean networks, as well as television networks in China, Latin America, United Kingdom, New Zealand, Ukraine, Finland, Africa, Turkey, Israel, Indonesia, Bulgaria, Romania, and Malta. Live internet streams of the "Fedor vs. Rogers" bout generated ground-breaking viewer numbers in Japan and all over the world and these numbers continue to grow through Video on Demand.

'"CBS was proud to be the U.S. broadcaster in a fight seen by millions domestically and by millions more around the world," commented CBS Senior Executive Vice President Kelly Kahl. "Strikeforce and M-1 Global put together a great card, showcasing some of the best fighters in the world. Our ad sales for the fight were strong, especially for advertisers that target young men -- a group with a growing appetite for MMA."

Full Card confirmed for UFC 105, Manchester

UFC 105 will be aired for free in the United States on SpikeTV. Earlier today, Spike.com confirmed the completed card.

Main Card
Randy Couture vs. Brandon Vera
Michael Bisping vs. Denis Kang
Mike Swick vs. Dan Hardy
James Wilks vs. Matt Brown
Ross Pearson vs. Aaron Riley


Prelims
Terry Etim vs. Shannon Gugerty
Paul Taylor vs. John Hathaway
Nick Osipczak vs. Matthew Riddle
Alexander Gustafsson vs. Jared Hamman
Andre Winner vs. Roli Delgado

UFC 105 will be held at the M.E.N Arena in Manchester, England. If you are on the other side of the pond visit Ticketmaster.co.uk for tickets.

Tuff-N-Uff Amateur MMA Fights, Paintball Highlights At Mesquite Fundraiser

Mesquite, Nevada - Every day, United States military personnel face a new battle as they return home from combat zones.

Addressing the desperate need to relieve the financial and emotional burdens caused by the physical and mental scars of war, Mixed Martial Arts legend Randy "The Natural" Couture created the Xtreme Couture G.I. Foundation. With a mission focused on raising money and awareness, the foundation's goal is to help these brave men and women fulfill any of their unmet needs as they return back to civilian life.

"Having spent time in a uniform, it became a personal goal of mine to find a way to give back to the brave men and women of our Armed Forces for the sacrifices they make defending our freedoms. The Xtreme Couture G.I. Foundation was born out of that desire." Couture explained.

Tapping into his network of current and former MMA fighters, Couture is hosting a weekend fundraiser October 16-18 in Mesquite, Nevada. Xtreme Combat Weekend will include three days of scenario paintball, amateur MMA fights and "Xtreme" parties.

Participants & donors have the opportunity to play paintball against and alongside nationally recognized fighters including Randy Couture, Ryan Couture, Gray Maynard, Jay Hieron, and John Alessio.

The paintball games will be played exclusively at A Pirates Paradise's new field located 5 miles northeast of Mesquite. Owner Tim Andrus has spent the last two months preparing the 40-acre site for this event.

"The property borders and actually extends over the Virgin River. The thick scrub provides so much cover, we've had to plow roads and paths through the field, " Andrus said. "We're really excited to be the host site for Xtreme Combat Weekend. It's a great cause; Randy is an awesome guy, and we're doing something to help the troops."

A highlight of the weekend will come Saturday evening when up-and-coming fighters take center stage at the CasaBlanca Events center for amatuer MMA fights presented by Tuff-N-Uff. A separate ticketed event; seats will range from $20 for general admission to only $50 for ringside. Like all the weekend's events, proceeds support the Xtreme Couture G.I. Foundation.

Post fight, the public can meet up-and-coming fighters and some of their favorite MMA stars at an after fight night club in the CasaBlanca Hotel. A $15 cover charge applies, and this party is limited to persons age 21 and over.

"This weekend really wouldn't be possible without our sponsors," Andrus added. "Special Ops Paintball, Spyder Paintball, Kee Action Sports, Planet Eclipse and Blackjack Paintball have all thrown their support behind us on this event."

Registration and event schedules are available online at the event's website, XtremeCombatWeekend.com.

"We hope everyone will come join us for a great weekend including paintball and amateur fights all in the name of our troops," Couture said.

For more information on the Xtreme Couture G.I. Foundation please contact:

Valerie Haney
Xtreme Couture G.I. Foundation
4055 West Sunset
Las Vegas, NV 89118
xtremecouturegifoundation.org
(702) 616-1022

Lunch Break News Update

We all have busy schedules, so this new segment is meant to take the top news from the previous couple of days and condense it into one, easy to read segment that you can enjoy over your lunch break... or anytime you feel like it.

1. Strikeforce Kennedy vs Cummings results:

*Daniel Cromier vs Gary Frazier - Cormier wins via TKO (punches) R2 M3:39
*Travis Calanoc vs. Thomas Longacre - Longacre wins via Uni Dec
*Zach Light vs. Tyron Woodley - Woodley wins via Sub (armbar) R2 M3:38
*Ray Sefo vs. Kevin Jordan - Sefo wins via Sub (verbal stoppage) R2 M0:24
*Tim Kennedy vs. Zak Cummings - Kennedy wins via Choke (north-south) R2 M2:43

Mike Swick vs Dan Hardy for UFC 105
We reported this yesterday, as Mike Swick confirmed the fight without actually confirming it via his Twitter account. November 14th in Manchester, England Swick will get to take on British bad boy, Dan Hardy.


Anderson Silva and Vitor Belfort to fight at UFC 108
Both Brazilians have verbally agreed to fight January 2, in Las Vegas, NV. This will be Belfort's second fight since joining the UFC. He recently beat Rich "Ace" Franklin via TKO at a catch weight of 195#. The men will compete at 185# where Silva will defend his middle weight belt.

Chuck Liddell Does the Tango
For the second week in a row Liddell competed on Dancing with the Stars last night. His Tango was better than last week's Foxtrot & Salsa, but still needs work. Now five weeks into his intense dance training the former lightheavy weight champion is finally shedding his infamous round belly.

Sam Stout to possibly face Joe Lauzon in Jan.
Lauzon has been out since this spring healing his knee. He underwent major surgery to repair the knee after his UFN headlining fight against Jeremy Stephens in February. Ahead of schedule on his recovery Lauzon thinks he can start camp soon and would be ready for a fight against Stout at UFC 108, January 2.

TUF alumni George Sotiropoulos and Jason Dent at UFC 106
Taking place on the preliminary portion of the card, Dent (19-9) will look to break Sotiropoulos' undefeated Octagon record.

To close, a treat for you: KIMBO SLICE on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon

Swick confirms his fight with Dan Hardy...in a round-about way

Just hours after the rumors started Mike Swick took to his Twitter account to address the newest claims of his next fight. Without confirming not denying, Swick slyly let us all in on who his next opponent would be- Dan Hardy.

Thought to be another bout vying for title contention, the two will meet in seven weeks to see who gets Georges St-Pierre next. At seven weeks out, the pair will likely be on the UFC 105 card in Manchester, England. Good for UK fans because they will be able to support Hardy and give him the "hometown" advantage; also good for American fans because UFC 105 will be aired on SpikeTV for free.

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Jason "Mayhem" Miller Freaks out on EA Game Developers

So, it's Friday and we're all ready to get home or have just gotten home- either way, you need a laugh.

Jason "Mayhem" Miller (yes, the same guy who soccer-kick Jacare in their last fight) is one of the growing list of fighters that will be portrayed on EA Sports' EA-MMA game; release date TBD. As part of the process Miller was brought in to get a preview of the game and his character.
When scrolling through the fighter skill screens Mayhem notices that his skills are... well, less than magnificent shall we say. He then continues to question the makers and act similar to a small child being told he can no longer have a bottle.

Watch, laugh, get scared, laugh some more, thank me.

Happy Friday!


Source: CagePotato.com