In light of the Mayweather-Cotto fight this weekend, i figured i would post a couple of highlights to get all the pacman fans a little riled as well as introduce the person who is in my opinion by far the best highlight maker currently on youtube. He goes by Gorilla Productions or GP. The first two videos are just showing the purity of mayweather's boxing. I dare anyone to tell me that you can beat that with power and aggression because no one has so far and Pacman sure wont be the first. The other videos are just highlights that i felt the need to share because well they are so fucking awesome. No MMA here just boxing. So take a little break from all the pro wrestling antics of brock and enjoy.

Floyd Mayweather (career tribute) - Teaser (by GP) (via gorillaproductions03)

Floyd Mayweather Career Tribute (Chapter 1) - GP (via gorillaproductions03)

This tyson highlight will depress you.

Mike Tyson Tribute (Part 1) - GP (via gorillaproductions03)

Mike Tyson Tribute (Part 2) - GP (via gorillaproductions03)

Taking it back old school with Ali:

Muhammad Ali Tribute (Gorilla Productions) (via nicobeldent)

And finally even if you skipped the other ones - this one is a must for any boxing fan who wants to reminisce.

Top 5 Fights of The Decade (by GP) (via gorillaproductions03)

In light of the upcoming SF tournament and Fedor's return from his first legitimate loss, i am linking up a very cool story from headkicklegend about a man who was once a thorn on Fedor's side. A few years back I had heard a vague rumor about this but i figured it was just fringe forum talk until this story was posted. I being a big fan, of such peripheral stories and fringe characters that always seem to hang around MMA, figured it would be a shame if more didn't know about it.

 

Here is a link and props to Mike Hackler over at headkicklegend.

http://www.headkicklegend.com/2010/11/19/1823674/russias-secret-weapon-the-man-that-beat-fedor-twice-pride-secret-file

 

Russia's Secret Weapon - The Man that Beat Fedor Twice - Pride Secret File

 

From mma-japan.comr follow on twitter @bushido816

From Pride's Secret Files Book:

The man who was named "one in six billion, the strongest man in the world", Fedor Emelianenko, who had success against many veterans and champions in PRIDE.  With such strength, which was recognizable even as PRIDE gave him the toughest opponents in the world, he beat his opponents, such as Antonio Rodrigo Nogueria and Mirko Crocop, but no one appeared tough enough to ever challenge him.

However, there was a man that had beaten Fedor twice, and this fighter had been preparing to fight in PRIDE.

The start of this was in 2003, when something happened that also had a huge impact on the MMA world later on, Fedor's shocking move from Russian Top Team to the Red Devil Team.

The Red Devil MMA organization, M-1, was being held and had connections with Bodog, M-1 GLobal, Affliction, and other American promotions.  Fedor was also going into the M-1 ring.  If Fedor had not moved to Red Devil, the break the MMA world received may not have happened.

It is said that the reason Fedor departed RTT was related to money.  According to Fedor, "RTT President Pogodin deceived us."  Pogodin, more than just a businessman, was more of an old fashioned gangster type, and the new generation of Russians, including Fedor, must have had a clash with his type.

In any case, Fedor started down a new path.  And to RTT, he was a complete and utter traitor.  Fedor, who was a judoka and samboist, came to be a pro through Volk Hari (of RTT).

When he took the heavyweight championship from Nogueria, RTT leader Nikolai Zuev had been there in the beginning of the planning of the bout.

To RTT, it was as if Fedor had forgotten about his roots and showed no gratitude to RTT..

The RTT team members anger was horrific, Hari said, "Obliterate Fedor" - making a declaration of war against him, saying "Russians take care of Russians".

The front-runner candidate was Sergei Kharitonov.  Hari and Zuev gave everything to Kharitonov.  They instructed him with new techniques that they had never shown to Fedor.  Kharitonov was given the responsibility from RTT of KO'ing Fedor.  (At this time Kharitonov had also left RTT now training with Golden Glory).

But, as the "Russian chosen to take care of a Russian", Kharitonov was not the only one, RTT had prepared one more "assassin".  That person you could say, was Fedor's natural enemy.

The man's name was Suren Balachinskiy  A two-time world champion in sambo, he was the strongest of the strong.  He began sambo at the age of 9 and joined a special sambo school (Sambo 70) at age 11.  He had beaten Russian judo champions and represented Russia in the Olympics strengthening the sambo team, a truly great career.

And Balachinskly had one more part of his career that cannot be overlooked.  He beat Fedor twice in sambo.

Even after Fedor had started having success, Balachinskly was constantly talked about as an "outstanding talent surpassing Fedor".

It is said that Fedor, living in Star Oskol, a small rural town, cried over a decision loss at a judo event.  Balachinskly was an elite in the fight world.  Of course, Fedor was an accomplished judoka and samboist at the top level, but in the immediate environment and looking at their match results, it was Balachinskly that was the leader.

During the time when he was also with RTT, Balachinskly must have been like the bright sun in Fedor's eyes.

Balachinskly and Fedor were connected in one other way.  The era of RINGS Russia.  RINGS founder Akira Maeda went to Russia in search of new fighters and had tryouts.  Both Fedor and pre-pro debut Balachinskly were there.

Maeda rated Balachinskly the highest in terms of his fighting.  Fedor was rated as "with some adjustments, he might shine, a runner up".  This can also be seen in the difference in treatment they both got in their Japanese pro debuts.

Balachinskly was given a fight in the main event of the RINGS KOK Tournament.  As the "the second man" Fedor, he was put in an event that was basically a gateway to success for novice fighters, Battle Genesis.  Fedor's natural enemy had steadily been preparing to fight in PRIDE in 2004.  He had lost to Valentjin Overeem in RINGS KOK, but this was due to a low kick to his knee which was previously injured.  More so, All-Russian Sambo Federation president Tkhomirov's knowledge of MMA was rather lacking, and he sent Balanchinskly to Japan basically without ever training for MMA.

To make his pro comeback, and to obliterate traitor Fedor, a perfect training camp was created for him.  His sparring partner was Kharitonov.  His coach was one of the original Russian Vale Tudo practitioners, Mikhail Illoukhine, and he was also under the direct instruction of Volk Hari.

Balanchinskly had also made a confident statement that, "I won't think about fighting in PRIDE until I am the strongest man", and he was then put on the list of fighters to fight at PRIDE 28 in October of 2004.

Once again, though, his old injuries got in his way and his appearance was cancelled.  After that, he missed his chances to fight, and at some point, he just disappeared.

What if Balanchinskly had fought in PRIDE?  And what if a fight between him and Fedor had been made, what would have happened?

Comparing their MMA technique alone, Fedor probably would have won.  It is said that from his youth, Fedor had almost an inferiority complex concerning Balanchinskly.

The fact that he had already lost to him twice, feeling weak seeing him on the elite path in fighting, and seeing Hari in Balanchinskly's corner might have created enough of a distraction to cool the Last Emperor.

 

Documentary celebrating 10 yrs anniversary of PRIDE. I am quite surprised when i hear that a lot of fans have never seen this before. It's one of the best videos that chronicles a large chunk of MMA history. Though the promotions is dead, this is a definite must see for newer fans, and a nice reminder for old fans. Listen to the fighters and promoters talk, reminisce about great fights, characters and the great stories as it walks you through from PRIDE 1 all the way up to its purchase by Zuffa. Hope you all enjoy!

                         

                          

                           

Now everyone knows how much i don't like TUF and Stephen Bonnar. The show has run its pace and bonnar well was OK as a fighter and now sucks as a commentator. But it was a treat to sit through this episode of TUF the aftermath because of Danaher who IMO is the most fascinating external figure in MMA as well as the person most responsible for GSP's evolution as a fighter. Forget Greg Jackson, look to Danaher. You may have heard me hyping him up but now you can see.

Now he spits gold the entire show but look to 23:10 start point for those who don't really care about the TUF garbage to see the mind behind GSP break down the entire show as well as Kos. Enjoy

The Aftermath: Spinning Tornado

UltimateFighter.com See More: Stephan Bonnar • Aftermath • lightweights • TUF 12

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The road of rags to riches is an all but common one in MMA or any other combat sports. Especially with the amount of brazilian fighters who have had to overcome the living conditions of the favellas or the jungles to make it to the Big Leagues. Yet out of all them, nothing quite struck me like the story of Palhares when i heard Murilo describe him as he was coming up in Fury FC. It puts in perspective even for those who had it rough in their childhood. So here is a nice article from the MMAJunkie - as usual here is the link to the original article. And below is the actual story. (Mind you this only tells a small portion of the story - you have to hear inteviews from his training partners to hear how nutty it was for him.)

 

 

When Brazilian submission ace Rousimar Palhares (11-2 MMA, 4-1 UFC) steps into the cage against Nate Marquardt (29-9-2 MMA, 8-3 UFC) in the main event of UFC Fight Night 22, he'll be competing in perhaps the most high-profile contest of his career.

But don't for one minute believe that the Spike TV-broadcast bout is the toughest fight of Palhares' life.

No, the UFC middleweight contender's biggest struggles came well before he ever set foot in the octagon – when a 10-year-old Palhares and his brothers and sisters worked 13 hour days on Brazilian plantations while (usually) making just enough money to live just slightly more luxuriously than the animals to which they tended.

"My childhood was a lot of work," Palhares recently told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) through an interpreter. "From sunup until sundown, with my elder brothers and parents, we woke up at 4 a.m. and worked until 5 p.m. We took care of cattle, and we cleaned the rocas(plantations)."

The third born of 10 siblings, Palhares didn't get the benefit of a normal childhood. Work didn't allow for much playtime – or even a chance to attend school – in his native Dores Do Indaia, Brazil.

"I never had the chance to study because I had to help my parents feed my younger brothers and sisters," Palhares said. "I started working when I was 10 years old. My family was big and poor, and we went through a lot of difficulties."

"Difficulties" might be a minor understatement. While the 30-year-old prefers not to focus too much on the past, he recalls a time when the only option for dinner was the feed mix intended for the plantation's pigs.

"We would get up at 4 a.m., have some breakfast, and take lunch to the fields, where we would work until 5 p.m. every day of the week," Palhares said. "There were times that money was so tight that we had to eat animal feed. We would eat the feed that we gave the pigs. 

"It was a very bad time, and I don't like to talk about it."

So destitute were the conditions that even in time of emergency there was little Palhares or his family could do to respond. In a twisted moment of irony, Palhares – known as "Toquinho," or "Tree Stump," due to his stocky 5-foot-8 frame – nearly earned his moniker in a more tragic way.

"I was driving a cattle cart, and it got stuck, and I fell on a cut coffee tree," Palhares said. "The fall opened a deep gash in my chest."

The remnants of that wound are still visible on Palhares' left pectoral muscle. When you see it on fight night, consider how the wound was closed.

"We were far away from town, and there was no way I could get stitches," Palhares said. "The only thing we could do was use Scotch tape to close the gash and help it heal."

Finally, free time

As Palhares grew older, the contributions of his younger siblings allowed him the luxury of some minimal free time. Not one for sitting around, Palhares elected to turn his focus to martial arts.

"At the the time I started training martial arts, things had eased up a little, and I had some free time in which I could train," Palhares said. "I first started in Capoeira (an Afro-Brazilian art form that combines martial arts and music) and than karate. At the school where I worked out, they started a Brazilian jiu-jitsu class, and I was invited to take a free inaugural lesson. The teacher liked me and invited me to train for free. He saw that I could become good at it."

His teacher was right. Palhares and his powerful, compact frame proved a perfect fit to the sport. Of course, Palhares' primary responsibilities remained in the fields, and his progress was hampered by his commitments to his family.

"I had never thought of becoming a professional fighter," Palhares said. "My only thoughts were to work and help my family have a decent life."

But in 2005, Palhares' family realized Rousimar's passion and ability, and they rallied behind the then-25-year-old to chase his dream. After 15 years of working in the plantation, this was his chance to dream.

"My family and my girlfriend thought I should try a larger step, and we decided that Brazilian Top Team was the best place to try," he said. "My brother lent me the money to go to and visit Rio de Janeiro."

Four-hundred miles from home, Palhares walked into the famed Brazilian Top Team camp. Founded by MMA luminaries Murilo Bustamante, Ricardo Liborio, Mario Sperry and Luis Roberto Duarte, BTT also housed the likes of Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, Vitor Belfort and Paulo Filho.

The humble Palhares admits he was overwhelmed by his new surroundings.

"The place where I was staying was far away from the academy, so once I got to Rio, before I even ate, I went to train," Palhares said. "I went the first day and watched. I was ashamed to even talk to anyone. 

"There were a lot of big names there, and I was afraid that they might laugh at me."

And certainly, with a camp full of MMA champions and superstars, there was no reason for the team to care about a poor plantation worker chasing his dream. But former UFC champion Bustamante, who was nursing a minor injury just weeks before his entry into PRIDE's 2005 welterweight grand prix, reached out to the new recruit.

"Murilo, who was not training that day due to an injury, asked me if there was anything he could do for me," Palhares said. "I explained to him my situation and why I was there, and he told me to get my shorts on and warm up. He let me train with his students and then with the BTT pro team.

"He was impressed with my performance, and that's how I became part of the team. I was very happy. I went home and got my things and came back and moved to Rio."

Palhares was still well below the poverty line, and he relied on his teammates at BTT for support. But while the journey was far from over, Palhares had been given the chance he needed to begin his journey.

"My life changed completely," Palhares said. "The team helped me in the beginning, for I had nothing. They helped me with board and food. After that, I started making a little money fighting, and I was able to help my family."

From plantations to the pros

Palhares took his first professional fight just seven months later, in April 2006, and earned a split-decision win. He would go on to win seven of his first eight fights, and six of those victories came via submission. It was enough to earn Palhares a UFC contract, and the middleweight has since gone 4-1 in the octagon.

Palhares' dangerous heel hook, which has earned him six submission wins (as well as some controversy, as witnessed by a recently completed 90-day suspension for failing to release the hold in a timely fashion at UFC 111), has become his signature finishing move. And while he doesn't have the officially recognized grappling credentials of a Demian Maia, Palhares' submission game is still just as dangerous. 

A win over Marquardt in the UFC Fight Night 22 main event would move Palhares dangerously close to the forefront of the UFC's middleweight title picture. For the Brazilian who has already accomplished so much, it only makes sense to ride this dream all the way to its conclusion.

"Fighting is my life; it's what I do best," Palhares said. "My life is completely dedicated to fighting. Today, my objective is to become UFC champion."

While that's certainly no easy task, it hardly seems fair to count out Palhares considering what he's already accomplished. 

"I thank God because my life has changed completely," Palhares said. "I was able to buy a house for my mother, and I live well in Rio. My life gets better every day, and I am blessed to be able to do what I love.

"Outside fighting, I look forward to having children and raising a family, and it's comforting to know they will never have to go through what I went through as a child."

I was constantly bangin on about this idiot during the live pbp and after his calls being on such a publicized mma card -He is finally being exposed for the retard that he is. He was fucking up boxing long getting fighters seriously injured before jumping over to MMA. The most dangerous official in the game right now.....If you thought Peoples, Tan Dan or Maz sucked then you have no idea how good they are compared to this waste of human space idiot. Jordan Breen has been trying to expose this shitbag for as long as i can remember and here is his brilliant article showing how many people he's gotten maimed and seriously injured. Please write to commission if you feel the need to after reading this article from a while back below.

Here is a link to the original Article by Breen.

 

 

Continue reading this post »

An awesome interview by Daniel woirin who was an awesome and underrated MT champ from france. Breaks down the technical aspect of the fight (with a surprising conclusion) and grades the striking of MMA fighters. Hopefully that last part will put an end to the notion of some guys having dynamic standup when they actually suck.

Continue reading this post »

  *********This was not written by me and i do not take any credit for it, but It's a must read for every new mma fan who doesn't know about the enduring legend of the Minotaur and what he represents in our beloved sport. So in honor of the upcoming fight this weekend, here goes the best post i've ever read about my favorite fighter*********************  

First of all, if not for Fedor, Nog would have been the Fighter of the Decade. And not just the decade, but would have still remained the greatest ever - as he was already widely considered to be, going into the first Fedor fight.

In fact, going into that fight, Nog had been the dominant, undisputed #1 in the world, the consensus absolute best - and the essentially undefeated Champion, who was even considered virtually invincible, along with being the greatest-ever up to that point. Nog had beaten every single opponent he had ever faced, with the only official "loss" on his record being the extremely controversial decision to Hendo in RINGS. (Which was one of the most baffling and counter-intuitive decisions in MMA history - which a rather overwhelming majority at the time felt Nog had really won. Which Nog then officially, decisively avenged anyway.)

There was absolutely no one even possibly ahead of Nog at that point. No one had ever really beaten him, the Sapp fight had actually even added to his mystique and only further proved how almost mythically unconquerable he was - and Nog was both the best now, and the best ever.

In many ways, Nog was essentially Fedor before Fedor. (And if not for Fedor, would have still stayed so - as the undisputed #1 - for most of the decade.)

But then even including the reality of Fedor - Nog, along with Fedor, has still been the most long-term consistent fighter in MMA history (and specifically throughout the entire last decade). In fact, Nog has been the most continuously top-3/top-5 fighter in MMA history - in any weight class ever - even including Fedor himself (since Fedor came up through the ranks after Nog).

For over 7 straight years, Nog was perennially top-3 in the world. Actually, for over 7 years and 3 months straight, Nog had been universally ranked no lower than #4 at worst (briefly, following the Barnett loss, which he then immediately avenged) - and absolutely no lower than #3 for 7 of those years. Longer and higher than any other fighter ever, except for Fedor (who's been #1 for 7 straight years).

Nog first became generally ranked top-5 at HW in early 2001 (along with Coleman, Igor, Randy, and Rizzo at the time) - after dominantly winning the stacked RINGS KoK (including easily finishing the guy who had just easily finished the reigning UFC HW champion in Randy).

Then Nog was the undisputed #1 for a year and a half after beating the previously #1 Coleman - and then, after being upset by Fedor, was STILL universally ranked #2 or #3 for the next 5.5 years straight (aside from the 3 months in between the Barnett fights, where he was #4). (Although along the way, Nog should have also very arguably lost to Ricco as well, in an extremely controversial decision which most people felt should not have gone Nog's way.)

But Nog was still top-3 from 2001 all the way up until the end of 2008 - before finally dropping out with the loss to Mir. (Which was not only the first time Nog had ever been finished, but also the first and only definitive loss he has ever had to an unranked opponent at the time.)

So in total Nog was #1, #2, or #3 in the world for 7 years of the last decade - and was top-5 for almost NINE of the 10 years of that decade (and is still generally ranked top-5 even today). That kind of constancy is simply unparalleled. These aren't just empty stats or meaningless numbers in themselves. They accurately and completely reflect the reality of Nog's elite dominance throughout the decade - as it actually existed at the time.

In fact, no other fighter in MMA history, aside from Fedor, has ever had more highest-level consistency than Nog - or has remained continuously top-3 and top-5 (including having dominantly reigned at #1), for as long as Nog has.

Hughes was the most dominant UFC fighter and champion throughout the decade - but Nog was still more consistently dominant. Not only was Nog #1 even before Hughes was - but Nog still stayed top-3 and top-5, even after Hughes dropped off. Nog's run at the highest level actually both preceded and outlasted Hughes'.

Wanderlei was up there as well in terms of highest-level, top-3 longevity - but Nog's run was even longer and more consistent than Wanderlei's, just as it was over Hughes' and everyone else's. Randy and Hendo have had the greatest A-level longevity overall - but still not even close to as consistently or as highly as Nog's. (Where unlike with Nog, there were times when they had even dropped out of the top 10 - and years when they weren't top-5 or top-3, like Nog constantly was.)

Anderson and GSP are thoroughly dominant Champions today. But while Anderson was still getting finished by guys like Takase and Chonan - and before GSP even became a top contender at all - Nog had already been #1 and top-3 in the world for YEARS. And STILL remained so even after those guys emerged as consistently dominant forces, later in the decade.

So it is a fact that, aside from Fedor, there has been no fighter who was both as continuously and as highest-level dominant - in any weight class - throughout the entire decade (or ever) as Nog. And ultimately, the only reason why Nog was not #1 was because of Fedor. (Otherwise, Nog would have still stayed #1 as he already was - and ended up the #1 overall.)

But even with Fedor included - Nog was still the second most consistently dominant fighter in MMA, over the span of that entire last decade.

 

http://www.mixedmartialarts.com/?go=forum.posts&thread=1598024&forum=1&page=1&pc=112

 Mad props to whistleblower.