SB Nation User Blog: Gunslinger20

Rocky: "The Villains" 4 Man Tourney (TIME FOR THE FINALS)

Gunslinger20 — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 03:49:43 -0000

I know with the vast knowledge of boxing that the posters of Bad Left Hook have... we could have "what if" tournaments all day long with infinite matchups that could be made, today I came up with a unique 4 man "what if they fought" tournament featuring the 4 main "villains" from the Rocky movies. So... Apollo Creed, Clubber Lang, Ivan Drago, and Tommy Gunn... lets see what the posters of BLH think of you.

Who would win? In what fashion would they win? What are the pro's and con's of each fighter?

Our first matchup: Apollo Creed vs Tommy Gunn

Well, I am thinking that I would have to give the edge to Apollo Creed in this one. While Tommy Gunn has tremendous power, he never came off as an intelligent fighter with the right mental tools to go into the later rounds. Apollo Creed would frustrate the hell out of Tommy Gunn with his speed and footwork in the early rounds and then take him out in the end.

In a 12 round fight... Apollo Creed wins by knockout in 10th round.

Our second matchup: Ivan Drago vs Clubber Lang

This is a fight that if it could have happened in the real world, I would pay whatever it took to see it live. Both have ultimate power and technique, this would be the ultimate slug fest. Ivan Drago would be able to take this one because he has no emotion and Clubber Lang was extremely emotional, that would be his downfall.

In a 12 round fight... Ivan Drago wins by knockout in the 6th.

Thats the opening bouts... figure I'll see what y'all say before nail down a final pairing. Keep in mind y'all, this is for shits and giggles and the Rocky movies are epic in my mind.

Have fun!!

[Update] In the most humiliating beating since Tyson vs Michael Spinks, Apollo Creed moves to the finals over Tommy Gunn.... Creed gets 100% of the vote.

[Update2] In a grueling 12 round battle, Ivan Drago edges out Clubber Lang... reminiscent of Valuev vs Holyfield maybe?

Now in the finals: Apollo Creed comes back from the grave to avenge an exhibition loss to the "Siberian Bull" Ivan Drago.

Poll

With revenge on his mind, Apollo Creed vs Ivan Drago... who ya got?

Instant Replay in MMA: Possible By End of Year

Gunslinger20 — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 13:06:03 -0000

According to Keith Kizer, the Executive Director of NSAC in a recent interview with MMAJunkie.com:

"We're trying to find out if there's a way to do limited instant replay." "We're hoping to find a way to do that."

"Actually [instant replay] was an idea years ago, and it just never went anywhere – mainly because of technology – but now I think we're finally there." "It has to be a foul or a stoppage that immediately ends the fight."

The outcome of the Al Turk vs Cro Cop stemmed this investigation as to whether instant replay could be implemented in MMA. Imagine not just the Cro Cop fight, but a lot of the other fights that could have ended differently if instant replay was in effect in the past?

HT: MMAJunkie.com

Poll

Will this...

Help MMA

150 votes

Hurt MMA

38 votes

188 votes | Poll has closed

UFC Undisputed: Career Mode... interesting creations

Gunslinger20 — Thu, 21 May 2009 14:14:48 -0000

via static.flickr.com

Well, the game that we've all been waiting for 2 years (at least I've been foaming at the mouth since that video of Rampage and Iceman was released) has been out for a few days and I'm sure a lot of us has been able to tackle the Career Mode. I'm curious to see or at least hear about what creations in fighters have been made...

What combos have worked best for the striking and grappling techniques?

Who's got the best looking created Fedor?

Any off the wall creations?

Praises or gripes w/ the Career Mode?

I'd be interested to see what y'all think...

Bisping comments on UFC 97 Main Event, bold words..

Gunslinger20 — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 12:30:32 -0000

via farm3.static.flickr.com

From Bisping's blog on UFC.com

Going off topic for just a minute... as a middleweight contender I feel I have to comment about the performance from Anderson Silva and Thales Leites from the weekend.

My teammate Cheick Kongo had another great win (well done mate!) on the card and I stayed up late to see him in action. I was very happy for him, I know how hard he worked and he richly deserves his success.

But I wasn’t impressed at all with the main event. You never want to disrespect fellow fighters, much less two contesting a UFC world title, but I think both guys should hang their heads in shame, quite honestly. Leites probably won the first two rounds but nothing happened in the fight.

I fought on the first card in Montreal last April, and the Canadians are tremendous supporters of the UFC. They deserved a hell of a lot better than they got from these two. I've seen more aggression from my fiancé when she hits the January sales.

It was very frustrating for me to be sitting on my couch seeing Anderson Silva, who keeps saying how he’s gone through the middleweight division. I would have fought harder than both of them put together, and so would a lot of other middleweights

Apparently not everyone is going to come to Anderson Silva's aid in this whole matter. It doesn't surprise me since Bisping wants to be a challenger to The Spider's MW belt.... but this is a bold move in my mind and I'm more surprised UFC.com let him put this in his blog. Should be interesting to see what may come of this since Wanderlei is calling Anderson out now.

Giving Credit to Kid Nate: The Anderson Silva & Fedor Edition

Gunslinger20 — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 19:30:47 -0000

So giving credit to where it is due needs to be given to Kid Nate for his book reviews that he does on BE. I've recently gone back to training part time after about a year lay off and I wanted to get some extra knowledge before I stepped in against any "live" competition so I went to Nate's reviews of Mixed Martial Arts Striking by Anderson Silva and The Fighting System of the World's Undisputed King of MMA by Fedor Emelianenko.

I was going into reading these books thinking I'd pick up some tips to use, but after reading these books... I've found a much better and efficient way of fighting all together. The striking techniques shown by both fighters are amazingly effective, the takedown and submission techniques (both offensive and defensive) of Fedor are simple to follow and utilize in sparring situations, and the movement techniques by Anderson Silva have opened angles and situations that never presented themselves to me in any prior Muay Thai/MMA competitions that I've taken part in. After a year lay off, I'm not as "rusty" as I thought I'd be...now I just have to get my conditioning straight.

These two books are incredible and I highly suggest them to anyone who is interested in learning more. I won't be competiting in any fights officially until after my daughter is born... but I'll be ready none the less and I'll definitely have some more tools in my arsenal that hopefully won't get me killed.

Thanx for the great work Nate and making these awesome suggestions...

Babalu shouldn't look past "Feijão", perhaps Tito should take some notes

Gunslinger20 — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 11:54:49 -0000

via www.tatame.com

"I see (Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Renato) 'Babalu' (Sobral) out here running around slapping his lips," Ortiz said. "That might be a pay-per-view fight. After the fight they're going to be saying 'Baba-who?' So that's going to be good."

Ortiz did admit he'd like to have a little time to warm up first.

"I really think I need a tune-up fight before (a fight with 'Babalu')," Ortiz said. "I probably shouldn't be saying 'tune-up fight,' but I had major back surgery, and I have no more pain.

Tito Ortiz quote from an article on MMA Junkie

Blackout had some great footage of Tito and Babalu jawing at each other from the Strikeforce event this past Saturday, although it would be a great fight between Tito and Babalu.... you cannot look past Babalu's next opponent in Rafael "Feijão" Cavalcante.

"Feijão" is an incredible light heavyweight that trains with the likes of Anderson Silva and the Noguiera Bros among others. Interviews with him are showing that he is incredibly focused for this upcoming bout with Babalu on June 6th at the next Strikeforce event that will also feature a catchweight fight between Jake Shields and Robbie Lawler.

"My goal has always been this, fight for a belt independent of the event I’m in. I’m training hard, I was already training hard and let’s go, I will be prepared for this fight", says Feijão, who trains with Anderson Silva, the Nogueira brothers and others great athletes. "I’m very well trained and at this time off I wasn’t without fight. When I went to the United States to fight for EliteXC’s title, and unfortunately it didn’t happen, we hired a sparring and I did five rounds against him, so that I wouldn’t be without fight rhythm", says.

"Feijão" interview from Tatame.com

"Feijão" has won his last 3 fights by first round KO's. Of his 7 wins, 6 are by KO and his submission victory was a submission from punches and his lone loss was a DQ from an illegal kick so technically he hasn't been beaten. Babalu is a huge step up in competition for him, but considering his training camp and the degree to which he has won his fights.... it maybe in Babalu's best interest to not look past "Feijão" and get his mind set on a clash with Tito.

Gilbert Melendez vs Rodrigo Damm, now for the Strikeforce "Interim" Lightweight Championship

Gunslinger20 — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 19:11:14 -0000

via mmajunkie.com

rom a story on MMA Junkie:

A proposed lightweight bout between Gilbert Melendez (14-2) and late replacement Rodrigo Damm (8-2) will earn the winner an interim Strikeforce world lightweight title.

The Melendez vs. Damm fight is scheduled for the night's televised main card, which is headlined by a bout between Frank Shamrock and Nick Diaz at a catch-weight of 179 pounds.

Thomson defeated Melendez and took his belt in the summer of 2008. The rematch was scheduled for Strikeforce's debut on Showtime this weekend, but Thomson pulled out of the bout in late March and recently had surgery for a broken leg.

This is a definite twist to this Saturday's Strikeforce event. I guess Josh Thomson is going to be out for quite a while if Strikeforce is going this route. I don't know much about Rodrigo Damm but Gilbert Melendez is a serious player.... I would have rather seen him rematch Ishida, but this will be good.

TUF 9, USA vs United Kingdom, what is really the point of this?

Gunslinger20 — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 15:34:35 -0000

We're now at the eve of a new season of The Ultimate Fighter beginning, this time around its USA vs UK.... Dana and the boys have lined up two great coaches that will have a great fight come UFC 100 or 101 in Dan Henderson and Michael Bisping but all of this really raises a question with me... what is the point of a Team USA vs Team UK set up? MMA is the ultimate "individual sport" and only one fighter from each weight class will get a contract, so why set this up as a battle of nations? If each member of the "winning" team were to get a contract (which in all reality most of them do), then I would see a point to this pinning of two countries against each other.

The Ultimate Fighter has ultimately become a punchline for many jokes and although they have introduced us to many phenomenal fighters (Forrest, Rashad, Bisping, etc..), we have had major douche bags that are horrible representatives to the sport as well (Junie, mainly). Is Zuffa hoping to rectify their past mistakes with this season of TUF? Well only time will tell but in my own personal opinion... I think the set up of USA vs UK is just pointless.

Anyone expect anything positive from this season?

via rds.yahoo.com

The UFC MW Division, matchups for the rest of 2009

Gunslinger20 — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 14:37:43 -0000

In the last 12 months or so the UFC Middleweight Division has gotten better by leaps and bounds w/ additions like Akiyama and Denis Kang, the emergence of Demian Maia, and the dropping down in weight class of Wanderlei Silva. Regardless of who wins in the Thales Leites vs Anderson Silva matchup, we're set to see some great fights for the rest of 2009 as it appears that the Middleweight Division has become extremely stacked w/ great competition.

In another post, I saw that apparently Demian Maia may be next in line for a title shot and there were some great ideas that I could see for matchups that could set the title picture for a while.... what matchups in the UFC Middleweight Division would people like to see and who do you see as the champ at the end of 2009?

For me:

Marquardt vs Wanderlei Silva

Akiyama vs Demian Maia

Okami vs Bisping

Henderson vs Wanderlei Silva (love to see Wanderlei against a lot of the MW competition)

Belcher vs Kang rematch

Just some ideas on what I'd like to see. In all reality, I'd love to see Demian Maia as the MW champ by the end of 2009 but unless he improves more on his stand up... it will be an uphill battle. Wanderlei takes the MW belt by the end of 2009.

Bobby Lashley out for PFC's "Best of Both Worlds"

Gunslinger20 — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 04:53:35 -0000

via mmajunkie.com

http://mmajunkie.com/news/13851/bobby-lashley-hector-lombard-out-of-pfc-best-of-both-worlds.mma

Courtesy of MMA Junkie..

Bobby Lashley had to pull out of February 6th's Palace Fighting Championships "Best of Both Worlds" event due to an injury to his ankle. Also, Cuban phenom Hector Lombard was pulled off the card for undisclosed reasons. "Best of Both Worlds" is set to be a hybrid of MMA and boxing matches, perhaps setting the tone for Affliction and Golden Boy.

I personally think this kinda sucks... the comparisons between Lashley and Brock Lesnar are becoming rampant and it would have been nice to see how Lashley would do in his 2nd official bout. No time table has been set for Lashley's return.