Phil Baroni vs. Karo Parisyan: A Link To The Past

Phil Baroni and Karo Parisyan recently clashed in a welterweight bout, at Bellator 122, that instantly brought me back to the infancy of my MMA mega fandom. In 2003, Baroni took the UFC by storm with his “New York Bad Ass” persona and brutal knockout power, and Parisyan made his UFC debut with an impressive display of Judo that shook the welterweight division. I was surprised I hadn’t heard about this fight until the morning of the event. Baroni and Parisyan are nowhere near the top ten today, but they are recognizable names from an era that ushered in the sport’s boom period. Continue reading “Phil Baroni vs. Karo Parisyan: A Link To The Past” →

UFC’s Calendar Craze

It’s funny how sometimes you can set out to do one thing, and then completely turn around and do something else. I’m of the opinion that the UFC is putting on way too many shows. The interest varies across the board due to some cards boasting big-name stars on the marquee while others simply have nameless faces posing as feature attractions.

With approximately forty-five events scheduled for 2014, the UFC runs the risk of over-saturating the market which will lead to customer fatigue. However, what if every event was must-see TV? As I was writing an article for the Camel Clutch Blog, my analysis of the situation has changed my position on the matter. There is a method to the Zuffa onslaught of shows that could pay huge dividends going forward.

Check out my newest article titled “Too Many UFC Shows Could Be a Good Thing” up now at the Camel Clutch Blog.com

Gustafsson Out, Cormier in against Jones at UFC 178

Extra, extra, read all about it. Alexander Gustafsson is out of his title fight rematch against Jon Jones, and Daniel Cormier will step in as his replacement on September 27^th in Las Vegas. It’s a shame that Gustafsson is injured and will miss out on his opportunity for the time being. However, this new match up presents a plethora of possibilities. Continue reading “Gustafsson Out, Cormier in against Jones at UFC 178” →

H-Bomb Saves Dan Henderson in Brazil

HendovShogunII — Photo by Gleidson Venga of Sherdog.com

They say styles make fights in Mixed Martial Arts. I like to think that stories make fights, too. Last night, Dan Henderson and Mauricio “Shogun” Rua engaged in a rematch from their 2011 War of Attrition, which is considered one of the greatest fights of all time. This time, instead of a wild brawl, we were treated to a tactical affair that produced a different type of excitement that kept fans on the edge of their seat.

Continue reading “H-Bomb Saves Dan Henderson in Brazil” →

The Battle for the Vacated Belt

ufc belt — Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Weirdly, we live in a world where Georges St. Pierre isn’t the UFC welterweight champion. Personal issues outside of the octagon altered the one constant that seemed like a sure thing. Robbie Lawler and Johnny Hendricks will go to war for the vacated title, and a victory for both fighters would make a remarkable story. A win for Hendricks gives him what many feel is rightfully his, while a Lawler victory would be the perfect bookend to a bitter-sweet journey.

Bouts that promise a slugfest to fail to live up to the billing. I believe UFC 171 will deliver everything a fight fan can ask for. I can’t even begin to tell you how excited I’m about this fight. However, you can read about it at Camel Clutch Blog.com

Calling the Shots of Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi

It seemed like only yesterday when Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi was the definitive dream fight being wished-for among die-hard MMA fans. However, fate had other ideas. Within a three-week time span, an out-of-shape Mousasi lost the Strikeforce light heavyweight title to King Mo, and Machida had the UFC light heavyweight title unconsciously taken from him by Shogun Rua. A new weight class and four years later, we have the combative chess match we’ve been waiting for. Continue reading “Calling the Shots of Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi” →

I Agree with Jon Jones

I respect Jon Jones, the talented athlete, and extraordinary fighter but I have a hard time liking Jon Jones the personality. His apparent lack of humility rubs people the wrong way. Jones will tell you he’s not cocky, just extremely confident. The fine line between the two, however, makes it difficult to tell if Jones’ self-critique is fact or fiction. As a result, he gets little benefit of any doubt when he voices his opinion. Continue reading “I Agree with Jon Jones” →

Alistair Overeem is the Smartest Guy in the Room

Alistair Overeem is receiving criticism for his post-fight interview at UFC 169. Following his unanimous decision victory over Frank Mir, Overeem said, “I heard there’s word that Brock Lesnar is about to come back to the UFC. Well I’ll be here waiting for him.” The resentment is reasonable but you can’t blame him for taking advantage of a situation that could mean a high-profile fight. Continue reading “Alistair Overeem is the Smartest Guy in the Room” →

The Ugly Truth: Frank Mir vs. Alistair Overeem

Twelve months ago, we assumed Alistair Overeem would steamroll over Antonio” Bigfoot” Silva to earn a heavyweight title shot. We also assumed that Frank Mir was going to bounce back into contention like had done before. Instead, it was Overeem who was steamrolled by Silva and has been knocked out two straight times while Mir has lost three in a row in an unimpressive fashion. They will fight each other this Saturday at UFC 169 in a bout that could very well see the loser cut from the promotion. Continue reading “The Ugly Truth: Frank Mir vs. Alistair Overeem” →

Calling the Shots of Benson Henderson vs. Josh Thompson

Benson Henderson and Josh Thompson will headline UFC on Fox this Saturday night in Chicago, Illinois. Henderson is coming off his lightweight title loss and looking to leap-frog back into title contention. Thompson’s shot at UFC gold was derailed due to an Anthony Pettis shoulder injury, and he will have to deal with one tough consolation prize. Continue reading “Calling the Shots of Benson Henderson vs. Josh Thompson” →