SB Nation User Blog: Cannon Jacques

It's once again time for the Tito Ortiz version of Deal or No Deal. This time the target is...

Cannon Jacques — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 23:44:07 -0000

It's once again time for the Tito Ortiz version of Deal or No Deal. This time the target is Strikeforce. Ortiz says that he's going to start a promotion called 'Punishment Fighting Championships' with Strikeforce as a partner (3:05 mark). Ortiz is to be a promoter and fighter.

Tito said he could face Babalu at a Strikeforce event in October, that he could sign a four-fight deal with Strikeforce, and that he could fight Fedor down the road.

HT: MMA Fanhouse

A Shot at the UFC Equals a Shot at Redemption for Kimbo Slice

Cannon Jacques — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 23:44:30 -0000

For something as simple as a hopeful MMA fighter appearing on The Ultimate Fighter with the intention of winning a UFC contract, the Kimbo Slice/UFC( or Dana White) story is one filled with angles of all kinds. The situation can be analyzed and re-analyzed to death. Some wonder why Kimbo would risk embarrassment against fighters with virtually no profile instead of taking large sums of money to fight in Japan or boxing under the guidance of Gary Shaw. He would likely receive some level of protection against dangerous opponents were Kimbo to go with any of the "likely" scenarios. Others question Dana White and his intentions since he's been Kimbo's most vocal detractor. Many see the arrangement as an act on pure genius by Kimbo, or maybe it's another beautifully orchestrated business move by the Dana, himself. Hell, maybe everyone is just smarter today than they were a few days ago. Of course, everybody could be much dumber; it depends on your perspective.

For this piece, I'll stick with the simple, because simple is what I do. The last time we saw Kimbo Slice in the cage, he was unceremoniously embarrassed by a light-heavyweight with pink hair, a UFC washout if you will. Seth Petruzelli was a man who took the fight with EliteXC's biggest star on extremely short notice and proceeded to take the $500,000 man out in just seconds in front of millions of onlookers on CBS. The dilemma which followed helped fuel the disintegration of the terribly run promotion that had been the first MMA concern to score a primetime network TV deal. As quickly as Kimbo hit the canvas, so too did ProElite.

The never timid Dana White was there through it all to point out the holes in ProElite's and Kimbo's respective games. As most know, he even offered Kimbo a shot at the UFC via The Ultimate Fighter. All the smart money said that Kimbo would never take such a raw deal when his still huge name could score substantial paydays elsewhere. What most of us may have discounted was Kimbo Slice's pride. It never occurred to many that he may, in fact, want to redeem himself. Maybe, he wasn't comfortable taking a paycheck with the cloud of Seth Petruzelli and the ProElite debacle hanging over his head. Boxing cans handpicked by Gary Shaw would be the proverbial path of least resistance.

However, if Kimbo was seeking the medicine that is redemption, how could he best do so? I think we know the answer. Kimbo has decided to take the UFC president up on his offer and fight his way into the world's most successful MMA promotion. Yes, he'll make big money if he succeeds. Matter of fact, White admitted that, if Kimbo wins, he'll receive a contract much sweeter than the standard fare for TUF champions. Kimbo is a fighter with a huge name. He's certainly not one of the top mixed martial artists, but he offers much as a result of his high public profile. But, don't let Kimbo's potentially big payoff become a distraction. He's engaging in a competition where the odds of him running the table and winning are extremely slim. All the talk of what he could make is nothing more than talk if he is unable to prove himself inside the cage. Kimbo Slice has abandoned the safety net of carefully chosen opponents for a shot at MMA legitimacy. For all the criticisms I and others have heaped on Kimbo in the past, he deserves a lot of respect for not just cashing a paycheck but playing to win.

Tim Sylvia Eyes Boxing's "Ridiculous" Pay

Cannon Jacques — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 02:23:58 -0000

Tim Sylvia recently talked to Fighters Only about his boxing aspirations. To wit:

"Its something I've always wanted to pursue and if it works out like I'd like for it too, I can switch over. I don't want to be done with MMA, but the money is a lot better in boxing. Plus its a lot easier on your body and its a lot easier to train for a boxing match than it is an MMA match."

Asked if a run at a title belt in the boxing world is on his mind, Sylvia is unequivocal. "Yeah absolutely, I would love to fight some of the heavyweight champs, you know? I mean the paydays are ridiculous!" he says, adding with a laugh "$10 million paydays, that is just stupid money."

Yahoo's Steve Cofield puts Sylvia's enthusiasm in perspective:

The money is better? At the highest level, of course. With the downturn in the economy, boxers in the top 20-to-50 range are making 400-800k at best. Chad Dawson and Antonio Tarver just made a combined $1.8 million. So the money's not that big in boxing unless Sylvia thinks he's fighting a Klitschko brother. Which won't and shouldn't happen.

...

We have no idea if Sylvia can be a high level boxer. The guess is no chance. His hand speed is below average and his footwork is shaky and slow. Don't even worry about him against a top 10 fighter. Could Sylvia even be competitve with fellow giant Tye Fields, who is 6-foot-8, 270 pounds? I doubt it. Boxing is different animal. It was the same as saying Fields could win an MMA fight against Sylvia.

It's one thing to take on Ray Mercer, a near 50-year-old boxer whose best days passed him by many years ago. It's quite another to talk about challenging some of the better pro boxers, currently fighting in the prime of their careers. I'm not convinced Sylvia can get by Mercer, anyway.

While a loss to Mercer, or some other boxer, probably isn't a significant blow to the MMA juggernaut, a win for Sylvia against an irrelevant boxer has no real upside for Sylvia, himself, and there's certainly no overwhelming benefit to be derived for the sport of MMA. Tim Sylvia, like him or not, is one of highest ranked heavyweight mixed martial artists in the world (#8 according to the USAT/SBN Consensus Rankings). However, this assertion by Sylvia that he can make waves at the top of the professional boxing ranks, and thus score the serious cash, seems premature at best. Actually, the more cynical among us might label it sheer craziness.

Update by Brent Brookhouse: I just wanted to point out that I'm not really sure where Cofield's numbers are coming from. One of the hottest American prospects on the heavyweight boxing scene in years is Chris Arreola. Arreola is currently ranked #7 in the world by Ring Magazine. If there is anyone who would be pulling the higher end cash that Cofield claims these #20-50 guys make it would be Arreola. Hell, it should be even higher considering that he is such a hot prospect and well above the top 20 level. However, in his last fight Chris' purse was $400,000. The insane payscale of boxing is a myth beyond the absolute top guys in the sport. Tim Sylvia is not cracking the top 20 of boxing anytime soon, I'd say the safer money for him is in MMA where he is already considered top 10 and can get his regular purse in addition to sponsorship bonuses.

I took some time off, obviously, and went to Hawaii to try and clear my head and get away...Gina...

Cannon Jacques — Wed, 27 May 2009 01:07:42 -0000

I took some time off, obviously, and went to Hawaii to try and clear my head and get away...Gina (Carano) went with me, and we just laid by the pool, just went out there to get away from everything. I came back, felt rejuvenated, and missed training.

I want to do this full-time...Randy still wants to coach me, he still wants to be in my corner. We’re still sticking together as far the sport goes.

Kim Couture talks to MMA Weekly.

Finding the UFC's Next Lightweight Title Challenger

Cannon Jacques — Tue, 26 May 2009 17:45:32 -0000

Frankie Edgar's upset victory over Sean Sherk at this past weekend's UFC 98 event leaves the lightweight picture a bit muddled. Sherk's name has long been mentioned at the top of the list of potential challengers for the belt. Though the loss to Edgar isn't a death blow to his aspiration of reclaiming the title, it very likely pushes him behind several other fighters.

The next five UFC lightweight fighters behind #1 B.J. Penn and #3 Kenny Florian (the two will fight for the title at UFC 101) in the most recent edition of the USA Today/ SB Nation MMA Consensus Rankings are listed as follows (with most recent outings noted):

Sean Sherk (4) - lost unanimous decision against Frankie Edgar at UFC 98.
Diego Sanchez (10) - won unanimous decision against Joe Stevenson at UFC 95.
Gray Maynard (12) - won unanimous decision against Jim Miller at UFC 96.
Tyson Griffin (15) - won unanimous decision against Rafael Dos Anjos at UFN 18.
Frankie Edgar (18) - won unanimous decision against Sean Sherk at UFC 98.

I'll caution that what lies ahead in this post could be construed as "MMA math," but I don't see any way around it. Furthermore, I don't think it will ultimately be the death of us to engage in such tomfoolery, and it's kind of fun. First of all, Sherk can't be the next guy in line for a title shot. The former champion will likely need to get a couple of solid wins under his belt before he can enjoy consideration once again. It would simply be illogical to put him above Edgar after their most recent fight.

Sanchez has enjoyed a decent amount of success at welterweight, but he only has one fight at lightweight. Luckily, he'll be facing #21 Clay Guida - gatekeeper extraordinaire - at The Ultimate Fighter 9 Finale on June 20. That should give us more information about the lightweight version of Diego Sanchez.

If you go back a couple of years, Edgar scored a close, and somewhat controversial victory, over Griffin. I don't think this should figure much into the calculus as it was (a) a long-time ago and (b) basically a fight which could have legitimately been decided either way. Griffin's more recent boxing-inspired loss to Sherk hurts him more here.

Edgar's name has come up a lot. Although many view him as too small for the lightweight division, he's been able to notch some impressive victories (Sherk, Hermes Franca, Spencer Fisher, Griffin). He may be the closest thing to a key in this whole mess. With that said, I don't see him as being at the top of the list.

That honor goes to Gray Maynard who decisively won a unanimous decision victory over the aforementioned Edgar. Maynard has earned five wins with no losses and one no contest while competing in the UFC. He's soundly beaten Edgar, Rich Clementi, and Jim Miller in his most recent outing. Maynard looked particularly good against Miller as he was able to utilize a very formidable striking game to complement his already dominant wrestling skills.

I think that Maynard only needs one more win at the most to warrant a title shot. Sanchez will be right in there alongside Maynard with a convincing win over Clay Guida, and Sherk probably needs a couple of victories against some of the other talented UFC lightweights. I'd love to see a rematch between Griffin and Edgar. Their first match was frenetically paced and displayed just how good both are. A rematch would likely be close and would further solidify a pecking order. Of course, the title bout between Penn and Florian on August 8 will ultimately set all the lightweight division's many parts in motion. I'm eager to see who wins out at UFC 101, and who will emerge as the next challenger.

Matt Hughes vs. Matt Serra: Better Late Than Never

Cannon Jacques — Fri, 22 May 2009 00:31:12 -0000

It's been a long, long time in the making, but the much anticipated match between former UFC welterweight champions, Matt Hughes and Matt Serra, will finally take place at UFC 98. Some have opined that too much time has passed, and both fighters lack relevance in the welterweight division at this point in time. A small bit of truth exists in this argument. However, our expectations have grown far too lofty if we expect every fight to have significant ramifications for a division or multiple divisions - as in the case of B.J. Penn fighting Georges St. Pierre. Don't get me wrong. Coming to MMA as mainly a fan of team sports, I love trying to put together the pieces in hopes of figuring out where every team or individual fits into a title picture. But much like an old collegiate rivalry (see: Texas A&M/Texas or Michigan/Ohio St.), Hughes vs. Serra has something to offer even if it's not a glimpse at the next welterweight title challenger.

There's little doubt that these two guys skip sending the other a card at Christmas time. Hughes relishes the role of instigator and doesn't seem to mind being a bit of a villain. Conversely, Serra is comfortable expressing his opinions regarding Hughes in quite colorful fashion. It's really unnecessary to go on and on about how a Hughes and Serra bout is almost perfect from a marketing perspective. Legitimate heat generally trumps the manufactured variety.

One other, often overlooked, aspect would be how wonderfully matched these two are in regards to experience, age and size. Granted, Hughes has 39 more professional MMA fights than Serra. Serra, however, has spent much of his time training other martial artists, and his performance in winning TUF, then upsetting GSP for the title, exhibits that his grasp of the fight game is more than solid. Obviously, both are roughly the same age though Serra's far fewer fights likely equals less physical wear and tear than his counterpart.

No question, Matt Hughes has looked a shell of his former self in his most recent fights. He's dropped three of his last four. However, keep in mind that two losses were to GSP; the same GSP who makes every other top welterweight appear pedestrian. Then, there's his last loss to the enormous Thiago Alves - a fight Hughes took on short notice. So, Hughes suffered three defeats at the hands of the #1 and #2 ranked welterweights in the world. Serra, a former lightweight competitor, earned a huge win over GSP before St. Pierre exacted revenge in the form of a dominating stoppage victory. Guys like Alves and GSP cut a ton of weight and possess significant reach advantages over competitors with frames like Hughes and Serra. As we've seen before in many divisions, being physically larger makes for a noteworthy advantage in the world of MMA. In modern MMA, with fighters so evenly matched from the perspective of skill, bouts pitting two similarly sized opponents generally leads to a more competitive showdown than a match where one fighter is significantly outsized.

To make a long story short (like that proverbial ship hasn't already sailed), I'm stoked for this fight. Time is only a number or state of mind or something. Two skilled fighters who are evenly matched from a physical perspective and who, on a personal note, can't stand each other sounds like the ingredients for a potentially awesome bout. Whether it's 2007 or 2009, it matters little to me.

-- photo via www.combatlifestyle.com

Quote of the Day: Troy Polamalu Discusses MMA

Cannon Jacques — Mon, 18 May 2009 18:10:10 -0000

FH: Talk about MMA for a little bit -- I know you mentioned it -- how big a fan are you and do you regularly attend events?

Polamalu: No, I've never attended ... actually, I have attended one event, I'm sorry. I don't know, it's almost ... above athleticism. There are some guys that I'm more of a fan of where it's more than MMA, it's really a martial art. You know, a martial art is no different than say, a painter -- true martial arts are. It really is an art. And it's no different from Michaelangelo in a sense in the way that he draws or paints things. So I'm a fan of real martial arts guys -- guys that have something different than just a physical talent. Guys like Rickson Gracie and Fedor Emelianenko, I believe they have that.

-- Pittsburgh Steelers' all-pro safety Troy Polamalu talks about being a fan of MMA with Will Brinson as part of the Nike Global Training Summit. If you've ever watched Polamalu play, you know that he's an amazingly gifted, tough athlete. The man knows a little about "physical talent." Whether or not he's an authority on art, I can't say.

Sarah Kaufman and Miesha Tate Put on Great Fight in Spite of Three-Minute Rounds

Cannon Jacques — Sun, 17 May 2009 23:48:17 -0000

In catching up on some MMA that I missed this weekend, I decided to view the Tate vs. Kaufman bout from the Strikeforce Challenger Series (the match that was originally supposed to be Tate vs. Couture). What I observed was a great back-and-forth battle between an excellent striker in Kaufman and a more than formidable wrestler in Tate. Of course, both women have more tools in their respective tool kits, but the contrasting strengths of each woman helped make the fight.

Sarah Kaufman ended up taking the first and third rounds en route to a clear decision victory. It looked as if she had Tate in trouble in the first, but the Strikeforce veteran was able to hang tough though she was clearly overmatched in the standing game. Round two saw Tate take Kaufman down and use her superior wrestling to gain positional control and inflict a bit of damage. Of the two, Sarah Kaufman is the more well-rounded, dangerous mixed martial artist at this point in time. However, Miesha Tate looks to have a lot of upside. Kaufman displayed a fantastic sprawl, but Tate was still able to take the Canadian down several times during the nine minute bout.

One negative aspect of the match that stuck with me has long been a legitimate criticism of the way that some promotions conduct the female matches, and that is the ridiculous use of three-minute rounds instead of five-minute ones. The entire broadcast team - Mauro Ranallo, Pat Miletich and Stephen Quadros - expressed displeasure with this practice. One of the three even said that all the female fighters he had polled preferred the longer frames. Sarah Kaufman put her support behind five-minute rounds for women in her post-fight interview.

I don't believe this particular bout would have turned out any differently as a three five-minute round event, but that's not the point. From a fan's perspective, watching one of these compressed matches is more like watching a preview or a summary, perhaps, rather than a full MMA match filled with a heavy dose of complexity and strategy that longer rounds afford. Unless there is a physical reason which is detrimental to the competitors and/or the fight action, Strikeforce and other promotions should bow to MMA tradition and make women's rounds equal to those of the men. Personally, I don't believe such a physical barrier exists since many exciting female fights have been conducted with five-minute rounds, and many female competitors have fought numerous times at such length without any apparent physical damage. If the majority of competitors want longer rounds along with many fans, I'm not sure what the rationale is for clinging to the current abbreviated setup. It would be nice to hear what that rationale might be if it does, in fact, exist.

--Photo via www.mmaweekly.com

Part 1:

Part 2:

Rousimar Palhares Sustains Broken Leg, Out of UFC 101 Bout

Cannon Jacques — Sat, 09 May 2009 01:45:43 -0000

From MMA Weekly:

UFC fighter Rousimar Palhares suffered a fractured tibia in training while wrestling. He underwent surgery on Thursday night at Hospital Miguel Couto in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, according to a report by Martins Denis on intheguard.tv.

MMAWeekly.com independently confirmed the injury, which will keep the Brazilian Top Team fighter out of a planned bout against American Top Team fighter Alessio Sakara at UFC 101.

Without a doubt, this is a terrible case of bad luck for Palhares who suffered a broken hand in his most recent fight, a decision victory over Jeremy Horn. The occurrence also sets the UFC back a bit since Palhares is one of the up-and-coming fighters in the chaotic middleweight division. The Brazilian's jiu-jitsu and physical strength present quite a test for anyone he faces.

For the moment, a replacement to face Sakara has yet to be named.

HT: weoweoweo

Who Will Make the UFC Hall of Fame?

Cannon Jacques — Fri, 08 May 2009 00:56:02 -0000

On July 10, as part of the UFC 100 festivities, two new members will be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame. They will join Royce Gracie, Ken Shamrock, Dan Severn, Randy Couture, and Mark Coleman as the sixth and seventh members. There are some early favorites, including Chuck Liddell, Charles "Mask" Lewis, and Evan Tanner. All are certainly deserving of the honor though I'm lukewarm to idea of adding Liddell since he's still a large part of the current UFC landscape. However, one thing is quite apparent based on list of names already inhabiting the UFC Hall: hopefuls need not retire.

I have no real problem with how the UFC runs its own Hall of Fame. Some take exception to the fact that the UFC is unlikely to induct those who aren't currently friendly with the organization. Seriously? If Tito Ortiz believes it imperative to blast the UFC and Dana White at every opportunity, he has effectively barred himself from consideration. The same goes for any other like-minded, would-be inductees; these are the rules of the game. The purest of sportsmen may deem the situation shameful, but halls of fame aren't always about the "pure sport." Matter of fact, accomplishments are often somewhat discounted due to outside factors. Pete Rose is not in the ~~Major League~~ Baseball Hall of Fame. I think that fact says a lot.

I'm quite confident that two deserving parties will soon be part of the Hall of Fame. Of course, some will be satisfied by the outcome, and some won't. This is all well and good, but the speculative side of me wonders who will join this exclusive group further down the road - five, ten, or more years? Matt Hughes should definitely get in (maybe sooner than one might imagine). Anderson Silva and Georges St. Pierre are a couple of guys who may have already done enough to get in. What do you think? Putting the politics and such aside for a moment, who are the fighters or non-fighting contributors who have already accomplished enough to warrant induction into the UFC Hall of Fame?