Calling The Shots of UFC on FX 5: Browne vs. Bigfoot

The Target Center in Minneapolis will play host to the fifth installment of the UFC on FX. Fans will be treated to quality fights with important ramifications depending on the result. Will we witness the birth of the next thing in the heavyweight division? Can a grizzled veteran make an indelible impression in his return to the UFC and which Flyweight will emerge as the inaugural number one contender for Demetrious Johnson’s crown? These questions and more will be answered and the best part, we get to see it for free.

-Josh Neer vs. Justin Edwards

Josh Neer always comes to fight and seeing his name on a fight card guarantees action. Edwards needs to take “The Dentist” to the ground if he wants to avoid a second straight loss. Edwards’ wrestling is not good enough to control the tempo of the fight over a long period of time. Neer carries a wealth of experience and thrives in a firefight.

The Pick: Josh Neer by 1^st Round KO

-John Dodson vs. Jussier Formiga

The winner of this fight will officially become the number one contender for the Flyweight title. Dodson is very well rounded in all aspects of the fight game, but he needs to avoid scrambles on the ground at all costs. Formiga is dangerous and can snatch a limb in bear trap fashion. Dodson is a smart fighter and he can avoid rushing into things, so he should control the majority of the 15 minute affair.

The Pick: John Dodson by decision

Continue reading “Calling The Shots of UFC on FX 5: Browne vs. Bigfoot” →

So, you wanna be an Independent Wrestling Promoter? Part 2

(Blog I wrote for gerweck.net)

In part one of my blog; we established that putting on a wrestling show is an expensive and time consuming hobby. Sure, it’s fun to play arm chair booker and believe that you have that one breakthrough idea that is going to draw a lot of money. However, there are a lot of working components that need to come together in order for your show to go off without a hitch. So far we touched on seeking advice, obtaining insurance and securing a building for your event. Here are the next steps:

Ring:
Some promotions own their own ring while others rent one. If you decide to rent a wrestling ring, rental fees can range anywhere from $500 – $1,000 a night and should come with a ring crew to set up and tear down the ring. Some renters will provide extras such as ring side barricades and steel steps at no additional cost while others will charge extra. Make sure you properly communicate to the person in charge what time you need the ring at the building by. If $500 – $1,000 seems a little high, then ask the owner of the ring if they have any trainees looking for work. If so, offering to give them a match on the show usually drives the price down and is a good way of building a strong professional relationship.

Owning a wrestling ring is a large and immediate expense. Also, storing and transporting the ring is another issue. If you don’t have access to a big enough basement or garage, renting a locker from a storage facility is practical and efficient. Most times this requires renting a moving truck. Most rental companies require some advance notice. Make the reservation as soon as you can, because most shows are on the weekend and that is a popular time for people to move. This all may seem like some unnecessary headaches just to own a ring, but trust me, it is worth it in the long run and should eventually end up paying for itself.

Continue reading “So, you wanna be an Independent Wrestling Promoter? Part 2” →

The Punisher #16 Review

The Punisher #16
Writer: Greg Rucka
Art: Marco Checchetto
Colors: Matt Hollingsworth
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Price: $2.99

All good things must come to an end, and unfortunately, so does Greg Rucka’s run on The Punisher.

Of course, Rucka’s work with the character will continue in October with a five-issue War Zone mini-series, but it’s just not the same. This run brought a sense of conviction to Frank Castle that we have never seen before.

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Penguin: Pain and Prejudice Review

These days, when you think of Batman’s rogue gallery, names such as Ra’s al Ghul, Bane, and The Joker come to mind. Catwoman flip-flops back and forth from good to bad, but there is a cornucopia of evildoers that have been lost in the shuffle over the last ten years. One who comes to mind is The Penguin, and the creative minds of Gregg Hurwitz and Szymon Kudranski have put the spotlight back on this criminal genius.

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So, you wanna be an Independent Wrestling Promoter?

(Blog I wrote for Gerweck.net)

Running an independent wrestling show is like anything else in life worth doing. It takes a lot of hard work. If you have aspirations of starting your own promotion then you need to accept the fact that financially, you’re going to be in the red for at least the first two years and maybe even during your entire run. This is an endeavor you partake in because you love the wrestling business, not because you want to become rich and famous.

I want to preface this by saying this is not meant to be “Promoting for Dummies”. I’m not here to criticize others or claim to have all the answers. Everyone has their own vision of how they feel a professional wrestling show should look and feel. Different markets, different parts of the country and different demographics will influence the decisions you make along the way. Consider this some free advice in case you decide to take your fantasy booking to the next level. Of course, it’s only fair to divulge in my own personal experience.

I started a promotion called North Shore Wrestling and we ran shows from 2006-2009. During and since that time I’ve assisted other promotions in New England with booking, promoting and consulting duties. My desire to start promoting stemmed from an absence of local shows in my area. Massachusetts is a hot bed for wrestling with some tremendous talent to boot. I grew up on the North Shore and know the area better than most, so it seemed like a natural transition. My goal was to produce a quality family wrestling show in my area.

I like to pretend that we still live in a Kayfabe world so details of how and why the matches are booked will be absent from this blog. I know, I know. What’s the big deal you say? Everyone knows it’s a work, right? Well, some of us still believe in the magic that pro wrestling can deliver. However, there are those who think it is easy to run an “indy fed” while others know the amount of time you have to put in to make it all work. Let’s go over the things you need to obtain in order to get your promotion off the ground.

Continue reading “So, you wanna be an Independent Wrestling Promoter?” →

Spider-Men #5 Review

Spider-Men #5 | Writer: Brian Michael Bendis | Art: Sara Pichelli
Colors: Justin Ponsor | Publisher: Marvel Comics | Price: $3.99

The charming tale of when Peter met Miles comes to a close, and guess what? Peter approves of the 13 year old web slinger. Of course, that’s not all that happens in this instant classic team up story.

Mysterio of 616 Earth will remain in the Ultimate Universe for the foreseeable future. Brian Michael Bendis weaves a grand finale that will have a lasting effect on all things Spider-Man.

Sara Pichelli’s work is top notch as always and Justin Ponsor’s coloring is the icing on the cake. The ingenuity of Bendis’ script is to be admired at the subtlety of certain character’s actions that heavily suggest this story is only over in the numerical sense.

If subtlety is not your thing, then the ending is anything but and the possible ramifications of it are endless.

Grade: A

Click here to read the rest of the column I wrote at Forces of Geek.com

Calling The Shots of UFC 152: Jones vs. Belfort

Calling The Shots of UFC 152

All eyes will be on Jon Jones in the wake of the debacle that canceled last month’s UFC 151. The event that never was will serve as a lesson to the MMA faithful that a new precedent has been set. Fans inside the Air Canada Centre will reap the benefits and witness the genesis of one division while another division could be knocked into complete disarray.

-Light Heavyweight Championship: Jon Jones (16-1) vs. Vitor Belfort (21-9): A long time ago in a galaxy far far away, Vitor Belfort was the most dominant fighter in Mixed Martial Arts. The Gracie Jiu Jitsu black belt is gifted with incredible hand speed and excellent boxing. To the dismay of some and the adulation of others, Jon Jones currently wears that mantel of most dominant fighter. The scary thing about Jones is that he’s still improving. He has a reach like no other and uses it to maximum efficiency with uncanny athleticism.

I think it is important to note the only reason Vitor Belfort is getting a light heavyweight title shot is because he’s the most marketable person they could get to take the fight on four weeks’ notice. The Brazilian has spent the last five years competing in the middleweight division. He had a cup a coffee as light heavyweight champion in 2004 but his win over Randy Couture was the fluke of all flukes and he lost the belt seven months later in a shutout. When Belfort is on his game, there is no one who is more dangerous. Make no mistake about, if he catches Jones on the chin, that’s a wrap folks.

Continue reading “Calling The Shots of UFC 152: Jones vs. Belfort” →

Batman & Robin #0 Review: One Cute Book

The book may be titled “Batman & Robin,” but this series has always been about the pint-sized assassin Damian. Over the last twelve months, we’ve seen Bruce Wayne’s son struggle with his morality. He was bred to be a masterful killer from the day he was born and has a hard time fighting the urge to kill.

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Hawkeye #2 Review

Hawkeye #2 | Writer: Matt Fraction | Art: David Aja
Colors: David Aja
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Price: $2.99

Act two of the Arrowed Avenger proves the outstanding story in the first issue was no fluke.

Matt Fraction delivers a thrilling comic book that shows Clint Barton’s time away from his famous super team.

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Remembering Evan Tanner Four Years Later

(Column I wrote for gerweck.net on 9/10/08)

The MMA community received sad news as it was reported that 39-year-old Evan Tanner was found dead in the desert area of Palo Verde, California. Hearing this news, I thought back to the time I met Evan Tanner at UFC 45 in 2003. This was a time when only the sports biggest stars had a shred of mainstream popularity. I was in the Mohegan Sun lobby watching legions of fans looking to meet UFC legends such as Royce Gracie and Ken Shamrock. As I was at the merchandise table, I noticed Evan Tanner walking about as he took in the atmosphere. No one was talking to him or asking for his autograph. At first, I was not going to talk to him; I figured the big, bad ultimate fighter would not want to be bothered. Then I remembered hearing MMA fans talk about how approachable the fighters are, so I decided to talk to him. Evan Tanner was very personable and down-to-earth. Continue reading “Remembering Evan Tanner Four Years Later” →