A Farewell

Let's not be overly dramatic about this. While this will be my last post here, this is really just the beginning. Effective immediately I am now blogging full time over at BloodyElbow. That blog needs a lot of work, but so did this one when I took it over. I promise you I notice all the things wrong with it as much as you do. Rest assured that everyday I am making the necessary changes.

Most importantly, I must extend a gigantic thanks to you, my readers. From this little blog and an Internet radio show has come the real opportunity to freelance as a commentator on all things mixed martial arts. Because of this blog, a whole host of new opportunities have opened up for me that otherwise would've passed me by. I owe much of that credit to you guys for keeping my honest, linking this site, and offering feedback. I cannot communicate how appreciative I really am.

So from now on, head on over to BloodyElbow to read what I have to say. I've got really big things planned for that blog and it'd be a shame if you missed it. Like I said, this is just the beginning and the sky's the limit.

Thanks again. See you on the other side.

MAD SQUABBLES EXCLUSIVE: Couture NOT training Ortiz

Even though I posted otherwise this afternoon, it turns out Randy Couture will not be headed up to Big Bear to help train Tito. I got an email this evening from Sean O'Heir, Director of Public Relations for Xtreme Coture, stating the following:

Randy Couture is not going to Big Bear to train with Tito Ortiz. Randy Couture is not training with Tito, period.

I'm not sure if Tito's just mistaken or lying, but either way, this doesn't look good for him. First the "bad blood" with Dana and now this? The plot thickens...

Video of the Day

I wouldn't care if aliens landed on the planet and someone filmed the entire thing. Could there possibly be a better candidate for Video of the Day than this?

MMA and marijuana

BodogNation tackles the topic and gives this blog some credit...sort of.

UPDATE: Sprawl N' Brawl gets in on the marijuana action, too. Notable quote:

I'm not saying all fighters smoke. But some obviously do. And it seems that if Sam Sheridan can identify that at least in Brazil, smoking weed is a clear part of the jiu jitsu culture, then it must have some influence on the American MMA culture, which incorporates Brazilian jiu-jitsu and its culture into its sport. And people like Nick Diaz and Diego Sanchez are clear cases of this.

So why are we testing fighters for it?

Excellent question. And to the previous point, fighters wouldn't even need to import cultural practices related to jiu-jitsu in Brazil to figure out marijuana has a lot to offer. The best argument I ever heard in favor of marijuana turned a major argument against the drug on its head: if pot is so great, why does it cause people to not engage life? The obvious response - to anyone who's ever used pot - is that, on the contrary, marijuana is known to enhance the enjoyment of all sorts of activitives such as watching a movie, listening to music, eating food, enjoying the weather, helping with sleep, alleviating hangovers, inducing appetite, among dozens of others. So is it really any wonder why people choose to use the plant?

Quote of the Day

"I still smile from ear to ear thinking about it. I have sacrificed a lot and it finally paid off. As far as wearing the belt to school, I wore the first three days after my fight. And not just to school, but everywhere. Then my fiancé said she would no longer be seen in public with me if I continued to wear the belt. I really miss being seen in public with her!" -- Nick Thompson pulling a Tim Sylvia after becoming the BodogFight Welterweight Champion

In case you forgot

This is going to be a barn burner. The NYBA has so much to gain here.

Randy Couture

Apparently Chuck Liddell thinks he's the toughest opponent he's ever faced. Notable quote:

East Windsor, N.J.: Who, in your opinion, has been your toughest opponent? For which of your fights are you most proud of your performance?

Chuck Liddell: I think beating Randy, the first time I beat him. He was one of the guys who could actually take me down without me making a mistake.

I watched that fight again last night. Randy utterly demolished him. The Natural looked virtually unscathed at the end of that fight. When I watched the fight the first time what struck me the most was Randy's awesome takedowns. Ditto that on Couture's fight with Ortiz. But the second time around it was Randy's mount in the third round. It was a nice high mount, deep inside Chuck's armpits. Chuck could do nothing but absorb punishment. If Rampage can get to the mount at some point in this fight, I honestly wonder if he'll be able to do the exact same thing.

Couture to help Ortiz

In an interview with Nokaut, Tito Ortiz reveals he'll be training for his fight with Rashad Evans by pairing up with Randy Couture. Notable quote:

Justin (Nokaut.com): With Randy [Couture]’s return, we might not see him back at 205 [pounds], but is that another fight you would like to see happen for you?
Tito Ortiz: I would love it, but Randy and I will probably be training for this fight with Rashad, he might come up to Big Bear for a little bit. Randy beat me, yeah, and if he stayed at 205 I would like to fight him, but he’s at Heavyweight now and he’s the champion, so there is no reason for him to be at 205. I think he is a better fighter at Heavyweight just because he can use his size against other guys and wrestling against other guys that don’t have that same style. It just comes down to having a great training partner in Couture and he’s going to help me with this fight so I am excited to train with him and I think it will really help me out and bring me to a new level with my wrestling.

Smart move on the part of Ortiz. Not only will this help sharpen Ortiz's wrestling as he prepares to fight another wrestler, but Couture is a master gameplaner. If you listen to him commentate, Couture is very adept at identifying strategy, fighter habits, and tactics. He will for sure help Ortiz train for some of Rashad's more noticable traits. Rashad trains with a master gameplaner himself in Greg Jackson, so whatever wisdom Randy imparts will not be all Ortiz needs to win. But training with an experienced, cerebral fighter like Couture - a fighter who easily bested Ortiz at his own game - will help Tito to avoid his more obvious mistakes. Couture will help sharpen his skill, help him prepare for his specific opponent, and clue Ortiz into the mistakes he should avoid making (likely some of the same ones Couture himself used to defeat Ortiz).

As a side note, I wonder what Chuck thinks about all of this.

MMA blogs

Now you've got no excuse not to have one.

MMA round-up

ProElite's takeover is officially in full swing.

Words of wisdom: "Now that I know more about fighting, I'm less likely to react in violence," Freid said. "It takes the legitimacy out of fighting. It makes you a thug."

Ohio journalists realize their state is a hotbed of MMA action.

Full of $hit

That's what some are calling Kermit Cintron now that his claims about his wrestling accolades are under scrutiny.

The IFL format

This quote pretty much sums up what's wrong with the IFL:

But instead of focusing on personalities, as the well-known Ultimate Fighting Championship circuit has done with athletes like Tito Ortiz and Randy Couture, Shamus based his league on teams, hoping that would appeal to mainstream sports fans and TV executives. He also courted the mass market by outlawing elbow shots to the face, a leading cause of bloodletting in mixed martial arts.

Pop quiz: someone name a professional sports team that doesn't focus major attention on its star players? Ready for the answer? There isn't one. No matter if its baseball, football, basketball, soccer, or even cricket, even leagues with teams highlight their star players and use their presence and playing time as a recruiting tool for live attendance, merchandise sales, and every other marketing effort.

In a sport as individualized as MMA, to not do this is a surefire recipe for failure. The IFL needs to fix this immediately.

Happy Birthday

Lloyd Irvin - the greatest grappler I've ever personally known - turns 38 today.

Kimbo speaks

He admits to losing to Sean Gannon, but claims Chuck Liddell can't touch him here.