UFC on FX: Guillard vs. Miller results

(Coverage I provided at gerweck.net)

UFC on FX: Guillard vs. Miller

Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, TN

Color Commentators: Jon Anik & Kenny Florian

– Pat Barry vs. Christian Morecraft (Referee: Herb Dean)

Round 1

Pat Barry throws a leg kick and but Morecraft catches it and takes him down. Morecraft is on top and is working for the rear naked choke. Barry turns away and gets back to his feet and lands three stiff jabs. Morecraft ate a few leg kicks as he attempts to shoot for thetakedown. Morecraft shoots again and takes him down and ends up on top in the full mount. He works for a head and arm choke but Barry escapes and Morecraft lands an arm bar but Barry steps over to the right and escapes. Barry misses a head kick and Morecraftthrows a left hook and Barry slips it to land a right hook that drops Morecraft. Jumps on him to land three more punches and Morecraftis out and the ref steps in to call it.

Winner: Pat Barry via KO @ 3:38 of the 1st round.

Pat Barry said during the post fight interview that he knows everyone says James Toneyis his BJJ coach but he proved he can escape submissions and he is here to put on a show. Barry also gave a shout out to all the plankers out there.

– Mike Easton vs. Jared Papazian (referee Mario Yamasaki)

Round 1

There is some bad blood coming from Easton in the pre fight interview. He says he is going to make Papazian’s UFC debut a debacle. This bantamweight fight is under way and Easton runs to the center of the cage and they are not wasting anytime and swinging for the fences while tied in the clinch. Easton holds Papazian against the fence but Papazian sinks the under hooks and reverses Easton. They continue to land punches and knee in the thai clinch against the fence. The ref breaks it up and they restart in the center. Papazian is keeping him at bay with jabs while Easton is looking for his range with combinations. Easton misses a spinning back kick and eats a left hand for his trouble. Easton lands a thunderous leg kick and they trade punches once again in the thai clinch to close the round.

10-9 Papazian

Round 2

Papazian lands two straight right hands and Easton took it like it was nothing and lands a leg kick. Papazian is circling away from Easton’s power but Easton lands a nice left hook. Easton is control the cage while Papazian is looking for an uppercut. Easton lands another leg kick and a nice right hand and pins Papazian against the fence. Papazian reverses while lands some knees to the body. The fans boo andYamasaki breaks it up right away to restart the fight in the center. Easton uses a three punch combo to get Papazian against the fence and secures the takedown. Easton peppers away at Papazian while in half guard until Papazian gets back to his feet. The round ends with Easton stuffing a Papazian takedown and winds up on top to land a few more punches.

10-9 Easton

Round 3

The competitiveness fight this fight is pretty good as both fighters are keeping a non stop pace. They trade some punches in the center of the cage until Easton pushes Papazian against the fence and Easton lands a knee as the ref breaks up the fight for a restart. Papaziansays the last knee hit him low and takes a few seconds to rest. The fight continues and both men are trading punches back and forth in the clinch. Easton has found his range while Papazian is finding the mark with the uppercutt on the inside. Man, these guys are fighting in close and only using a small amount of the octagon. Easton lands several leg kicks and drops Papazian with a right hand but Papazianpops right back up but looks stunned. They clinch and Papazian gains control against the cage. Easton escapes and they trade back and forth, again, for the last 30 seconds. This will be a tough fight to score.

Easton 10-9

Winner Mike Easton via majority decision 29-28, 30-27, 29-29

Easton in the post fight interview says he knew Papazian was tough and he knows he has a lot to work. Says he will continue to work his way up to prove he belongs in the UFC.

– Duane Ludwig vs. Josh Neer (referee Josh Rosenthal)

Round 1

Ludwig caught Neer with a right hand as he came forward but Neer secures a bodylock and works for the takedown. Ludwig avoids thetakedown and hits Neer with another right hand and follows up with a knee to the body and Neer is hurt but signals to the ref that he lost his mouth piece. Fight stops. Ref inserts mouth piece and we resume. Neer eats some serious shots until Neer shoots for a high single and takes him down. Ludwig tries to create some distance with his legs and Neer jumps into his guard. Ludwig tries to get back to his feet but Neer sinks and locks up a high elbow guillotine choke. The ref checks Ludwig’s right arm and he is out and the ref calls it.

Winner Josh Neer via submission at 3:04 of the first round.

Neer said in the post fight interview that he wanted to stand and trade more but Ludwig was getting the better of him and he had to look for the takedown. Says his biggest strength is that he doesn’t like to lose and will to whatever it takes to win. This is Neer’s second straight win in the welterweight division and will fight whoever the UFC puts in front of him.

They air a video package hyping UFC PRIMETIME featuring an inside look at Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit at UFC 143 on 2/4/12. Jon Anikinterviews Dana White about the primetime series and White says they are two completely different people outside the cage but the same exact person inside the cage. White says Diaz is a fighter who truly wants to do nothing but fight and is looking to finish you.

Main Event

– Melvin Guillard vs. Jim Miller (referee Herb Dean)

Pre-fight interview hype, Miller says there is not a guy on the planet he can’t finish when he fights at his best and Guillard guarantees he is going to finish Miller. Miller comes out to “Bad Moon Rising” by Creedence Clearwater Revival. Melvin gets the lights out superstar entrance treatment and “Fire Breazze” by Al Bizzare is his entrance music of choice.

Tale of the Tape

Age:

Miller 28

Guillard 28

Height:

Miller 5’8

Guillard 5’9

Weight:

Miller 155 lbs

Guillard 156 lbs

Reach:

Both 71

Round 1

Guillard misses two flying knees and drops Miller with a left hook. Miller presses forward and with a takedown attempt but Guillard uses his power to stop the take down and lands another knee and right hand. Miller pushes Guillard against the fence but can’t take him down. Guillard pushes him off and lands a right hand down the pipe and goes for another flying knee but Miller catches him and takes him down. Guillard fights back to his feet but Miller is still on on his back with his hooks in. Miller takes away Guillard’s balance and Miller cranks Guillard’s neck and moves it enough to get his forearm under the chin for the choke and Guillard taps out.

Winner: Jim Miller via RNC @ 2:04 of the 1st round

Post fight interview: Miller says Melvin is tough and there are a lot of people in lightweight and “the other division” who don’t want to fight him. Says he is the most dangerous lightweight in the world and is ready to prove it against anyone. Also asks for everyone’s thoughts and prayers for his nephew (son of UFC middleweight Dan Miller) who is going through medical issues.

– Nick Denis vs. Joseph Sandoval (referee Josh Rosenthal)

Round 1

They air the first prelim from earlier in the night and Denis opens with some combinations. Sandoval fires back but take a few punches for his trouble. They are tied up in the clinch and Denis unleashed and plethora of elbows and Sandoval is out cold before he hits the ground.

Winner: Nick Denis via KO at 0:22 of the 1st round.

– Ariel Helwani interviews Pat Barry in the locker room and Barry says wrestling and BJJ will always be his weakness. Also says that everyone thinks the Deathclutch is done since Brock Lesnar retired but they are wrong and Deathclutch is moving forward.

– Ariel Helwani interviews Josh Neer and Ariel informs Neer that Ludwig said he spit his mouth piece out on purpose. Neer denies it and says he fought for 30 seconds after the mouth piece fell out. Says he is not going to call anyone out but he wants his next fight to be against a tough veteran.

– Prelim results

Daniel Pineda beat Pat Schilling via RNC @ 1:37 of Round 1

Fabricio Camoes beat Tommy Hayden via RNC @ 4:03 of Round 1

Charlie Brenneman over Daniel Roberts via unanimous decision

Khabib Nurmagomedov beat Kamal Shalorus via RNC @ 2:08 of Round 3

Jorge Rivera defeated Eric Schafer via TKO due to strikes @ 1:31 of Round 2. (Rivera announced his retirement from MMA before the fight and will go out with a win)

Bonuses $45,000 for each fighter

Fight of the Night: Barry vs. Morecraft,

Submission of the Night: Jim Miller

Knockout of the Night: Nick Denis

$45,000 for each fighter

Amazing Spider-Man # 677 Review

The Amazing Spider-Man #677 | Writer: Mark Waid | Art: Emma Rios | Colors: Humberto Rios & Edgar Delgado
Publisher: Marvel Comics | Price: 3.99

Dan Slott takes the month off as Mark Waid places a little Daredevil magic on to the pages of Our Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man.
Peter Parker is doing his superhero thing while being down in the dumps over being kicked to the curb by Carlie.
Continue reading “Amazing Spider-Man # 677 Review” →

My Digital Illumination

While Wednesday is just the middle of the week for most, It is new comic book day for those of us who live vicariously through 32 pages of color, action, and adventure. Yours truly lived in a galaxy far away at the local comic book shop when the average kid dreamed of being the next Babe Ruth at Little League. Hell, I still live in a galaxy far, far away while most spend their time being responsible adults. The Comic Book Shop is more than just its namesake. It’s a gathering for those who crave to escape from the everyday grind and socialize with others in the same boat. However, that may be coming to an end due to the rise of digital comic book sales. Continue reading “My Digital Illumination” →

EVOLVE 1/14/12 Philadelphia, PA results: The Last Wrestling Show at the ECW Arena

EVOLVE 1/14 Philadelphia, PA results: the last wrestling show at the ECW Arena by Bob Magee of Pro Wrestling Between The Sheets

EVOLVE made its “South Philadelphia debut” last night for the final wrestling event at the ECW Arena (hard to believe I’m writing that). As you’d expect the building was packed, as it was for CZW’s afternoon show.

In the opener, Ahtu had an “open contract”…fans heard familiar music they hadn’t heard anywhere in a couple years…as Low Ki came out to one of the bigger non-ECW pops of the night.

After a sick looking kick, Low Ki defeated Ahtu by knockout

Cheech Hernandez pinned KC “Cloudy” Day

The Scene defeated Alex Reynolds and John Silver when Scott Reed pinned Reynolds

Jigsaw pinned AR Fox after countering a back suplex to the Lo Mein Pain. Fox pulled off the move of the entire day with a spot-on springboard 450 plancha to the floor. Post-match, Sami Callihan came out and tried to taunt Fox into hitting him, clanking beer bottles together (Calihan had hit him with a beer bottle at a previous EVOLVE show)

In one of the few mentions all day of CHIKARA, Jigsaw thanked fans for supporting CHIKARA at the ECW Arena. Given CZW’s strong role in the day’s proceedings, probably not so surprising, given the heat between the promotions and promoters.

As part of the remembrance of the history of the ECW Arena, intermission saw the tape used at the “Then and Now” show when CZW returned to the ECW Arena after XPW had taken over the building in 2002, honoring the history of ECW..and connecting it with 2002 CZW.

Uhaa Nation pinned Pinkie Sanchez after two shooting star presses. This young wrestler is talented as hell, and will wind up with Vince McMahon one day, mark my words. He has the body McMahon likes…but incredible athletic talent.

Ronin (Chuck Taylor and Rich Swann) defeated the Super Smash Brothers (Players Uno and Dos) when Taylor pinned Dos

Jon Davis pinned Kyle Matthews

Bobby Fish (seconded by AR Fox) submitted Sami Callihan with a knee bar. Post-match, Fox tried to goad Callihan into hitting him with the beer bottle, handcuff his own hands behind his back (great visual).

In the final “official match” of the ECW Arena’s history, Johnny Gargano retained his Open the Freedom Gate Championship, submitting Ricoche with the Hurts Donut and the Gargano Escape. Post-match, Gargano was taken out of the Arena by ambulance, with reports of a back injury. He seemed off for the later half of the match, though, which makes me wonder if he got his bell rung.

After the final official match, Joey Styles came out to a huge ovation, Tod Gordon (the first time Gordon’s been in the building in many years), JT Smith, and gart “Pitbull #1″ Wolfe came out to close the Arena, and what everyone assumed was the feel-good moment to close the show.

Not so fast.

DJ Hyde and Team CZW came out to say if anyone were going to close the ECW Arena, it would be them, given that they ran more shows at the ECW Arena than ECW (true, actually) The saves began with Ballz Mahoney. CZW turned the tide again.

Then “Gangsta’s Paradise” kicked in….with New Jack crashing the ring with a garbage can full of crutches, and other plunder. Justin Credible came in…but on DJ Hyde’s side and Sabu make run-ins on ECW’s behalf and Justin Credible on CZW’s.

In the real final match ever at the ECW Arena, Sabu pinned Justin Credible

After the match, Callihan attacked Sabu and cut a promo about how he had “taken ownership of the Arena from ECW”; and in a really charged promo, said he was “tired of extreme reunions, and the funerals”; and said to turn out the lights. The lights went out with Metallica’s “Fade to Black”, a reference which went over the head of a lot of fans, who when the light went off, were waiting for some other sort of run-in to make the save.

There is already a lot of online controversy about this ending. I get that Gabe Sapolsky promoted this as an EVOLVE show well ahead of time, and made clear beforehand that this was what it going to be; but with an ECW remembrance. He used the ending to get over Calihan as a despicable heel…the right thing for his promotion.

In addition, during the afternoon’s CZW show, there was also a Shane Douglas (Douglas had been booked months ago for a Crossfire Entertainment show in Nashville, TN) promo for an “Extreme Reunion” show to be held at the Philadelphia National Guard Armory on April 28. Mike Johnson reported overnight that this is not just a one-off show, but is part of some longer-term “project”. Given open-ended things were…and given the involvement in the night-time show of CZW, it seems that CZW and EVOLVE are somehow involved with this project.

So those two elements somehow come into play with the ending. But a lot of people were pissed. They wanted the feel-good ECW ending. Instead, Gabe Sapolsky gave them a different ending. Only time will tell what effect that will have on any shows EVOLVE intends to run in the Philadelphia area. A lot of people came to the show, not because it was an EVOLVE show…but because it was the last show at the ECW Arena; pretty obviously when some of them got impatient at moment during the Gargano-Ricochet match.

There will be wrestling at Swanson and Ritner at a future date, after the “extensive renovations” are done. I have no doubt about that. But when fans walk into that building, it won’t be the ECW Arena. It’ll be a concert hall at that address.

Wrestling Soap Box: Cena, Kane, Jericho & more!

Welcome to the first installment of my Wrestling Soap Box where I will rant, rave, analyze and make bold predictions on the latest happenings in “sports entertainment”.

– If anyone wanted the blue print on how to make the worst horror movie ever than watch this weeks episode of Raw. Kane played the role of Jason Voorhees while Zack Ryder and Eve Torres played the innocent victims being chased through the woods. They ran from him all episode and found shelter in Ryder’s rental car, only to discover that a tire was slashed. Did they run? No. Did they try to find another car? Nope. Did they call the police using Ryder’s cell phone that he was Tweeting all night from? Oops, I wasn’t supposed to notice that…….and no. Ryder tried to change the tire while Eve hid in the car while screaming in fright. I’m sorry but if I was Eve I would have bounced a long time ago.

Continue reading “Wrestling Soap Box: Cena, Kane, Jericho & more!” →

Fatale #1 Review

Ed Brubaker’s Fatale combines 1950’s noir with the horror approach of H.P. Lovecraft to bring us a crime story. We begin at renowned author Dominic Raines’ funeral, coordinated by his godson, Nicolas Lash. As Lash leaves the gravesite, he bumps into an eye-catching woman named Jo, who reveals a connection to his family.

Later on, catastrophe enters Nicolas’ life going eighty miles an hour as car chases, explosions, attempted murder, a killer airplane, and lost body parts set the stage for a trip to the past that begins to unravel a mystery.

If you are looking for something besides the superhero thing, look no further because this is it! This is not a story you can simply skim through as you really need to read every word balloon and examine every panel to truly take everything in and enjoy. To drive the point home on how good of a tale this is, my wife is an avid book reader who never picks up a comic book.

She read this one and can not stop talking about it and feels February is too long to wait for part two to be released. I completely agree, and so will you if you pick it up.

Grade: A-

The Ultimate Warrior lays Some Truth on Kevin Nash

The Ultimate Warrior and Kevin Nash are in the midst of conflict. Nash made some comments about the Warrior and the Warrior responded in kind and Nash went on the deep end on Twitter and challenged him to an MMA fight where each puts up $100,000 and winner takes all in Miami the night before Wrestlemania 28.

Mr. Warrior’s response

Continue reading “The Ultimate Warrior lays Some Truth on Kevin Nash” →

The 1/2/12 WWE Mystery Man Is????????

Chris Jericho was revealed as the “End Begins” Mystery Man behind the 2012 videos. The crowd was going crazy for Jericho but he didn’t say a word. He just pandered to the crowd like an over exaggerated 80’s babyface and the longer he took to talk, the cheers turned to boos. He pandered some more and eventually left without saying one word. I believe Mr. Jericho just trolled the entire world and I can see him to do this for a few more weeks on Raw until it’s the right time to reveal his true intentions. Oh, and in other news, Brodus Clay will finally debut next week……..:)

Thoughts on Brock Lesnar Leaving MMA

lesnar-out-ufc106 — What’s next for Lesnar?

Unless you have been living under a rock, you know that Brock Lesnar decided to step away from Mixed Martial Arts after his 1st round TKO loss at the hands of Alistair Overeem at UFC 141. To say that he will be missed by Dana White and company is an understatement. Brock Lesnar was the UFC’s biggest draw, and his departure leaves a big void in the pay-per-view market, which is Zuffa’s main source of revenue. UFC charges $44.95 for a pay-per-view event and $55.95 a pop for the HD version. Here is a list of PPV buys for all of the events Lesnar fought on.

Continue reading “Thoughts on Brock Lesnar Leaving MMA” →

UFC 141 results: Lesnar retires in defeat

UFC 141 Lesnar vs. Overeem results 12/30/11 MGM Grand in Las Vegas, NV

Diego Nunes defeated Manny Gamburyan via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Jacob Volkmann defeated Efrain Escudero via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Dong Hyun Kim defeated Sean Pierson via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Ross Pearson defeated Junior Assuncao via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)

Jim Hettes defeated Nam Phan via unanimous decision (30-25, 30-25, 30-26)

Alexander Gustafsson defeated Vladimir Matyushenko via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 2:13

Johny Hendricks defeated Jon Fitch via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 0:12

Nate Diaz defeated Donald Cerrone by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

Alistair Overeem defeated Brock Lesnar by TKO (strikes). Round 1, 2:26

-Brock Lesnar announced his retirement from MMA during the post fight interview. Lesnar said he promised his family he would retire if he lost this fight and if he won, he would have taken the fight and retired either way.

-Dana White said in the post fight press conference that he had no idea Brock was going to retire and said that can’t fight at the “other place” for the length of the contract. Dana said he didn’t know what the length of Brock’s current contract is.

-Johny Hendricks won Knockout of the Night & Nate Diaz/Donald Cerrone won Fight of the Night. $75,000 each