UFC 127

From the very beginning, this fight card was a massive victory for Australian MMA, with no less than six fighters we essentially claim as our own.

At the press conference after the fight, the UFC confirmed that they have been working on an Australia vs England series of The Ultimate Fighter, though it’s likely to be at least another year in the making. Just as exciting would be the suggested prospect that the two coaches could be middleweights Kyle Noke and Michael Bisping.

The day opened up with a preliminary battle between Polish fighter Maciej Jewtuszko and England’s Curt Warburton, who opened up the show by taking the match via a decision in what was a decent back-and-forth battle, although neither fighter could really find their mark to take it to the end.

It may have been a bit of a slow start, but the crowd rallied when fighting legend Mark Hunt made his way to the cage in front of his hometown fans. In the Octagon he faced US powerhouse Chris Tuchscherer and these two were a perfect match, same age, weight and even the same bleached hair. Hunt fired off in classic form in the first round, refusing to go down and eventually landing some of those widely feared hands, which caused a sizeable cut to emerge above the eye of is opponent, which stopped the fight for a moment.

When the fight continued, Tuchscherer wisely took Hunt to the ground and managed to set him up for the tried-and tested kimura, which Hunt has fallen to several times in his career. When it looked like it may be yet another loss for the big man, he managed to ride it out to the end of the round and came back in the second, ready to rock. He refused to go down this time and finished his opponent nicely with his trademark uppercut, then just walked away confidently as his opponent fell to the floor. It was good to see the Hunt of old get a win.

I was excited to see a featherweight bout in the UFC and the match between China’s Zhang Tie Quan and Jason Reinhardt from the US didn’t disappoint. In a lightning-fast round one, Zhang blitzed Reinhardt with fast striking combos and an unbelievable guillotine-choke that had his opponent asleep in just seconds. Taking his first win in the UFC in very impressive fashion, Quan actually left us wanting more to see what else these fast featherweights can do.

Sydney’s own Anthony Perosh came out looking fitter and stronger than ever, even sporting a six-pack and obviously looking to do some serious business in the cage. He faced Brit Tojm Blackledge and the two started slowly, feeling each out, before Perosh lunged in for a takedown that Blackledge stopped with a hard-hitting sprawl against the fence. But Perosh eventually did get him to the mat with a takedown that he refused to give up on.

Once on the ground, Perosh showed exactly where his skills lie and didn’t panic or push the fight too hard, but took his time and obviously knew exactly where he wanted the fight to go. He finished Blackledge in a perfect rear-naked choke that had him tapping at 2:45 of the first round.

Canada’s Nich Ring took on Japanese Deep veteran Riki Fukuda. The fight went back-and-forth with exciting exchanges, with Fukuda looking the most aggressive and scoring several takedowns. In the end, however, Fukuda was robbed of the victory and Ring won via a unanimous decision, much to the disapproval of the vocal audience. UFC President Dana White wasn’t too impressed himself, Tweeting “Judges fucking suck again! Fukuda got robbed!”

December 31st 2011 UFC 41

Alistair Overeem and Brock Lesnar are two heavyweight fighters, built like something out of a superhero comic book, that will surely put forth a smashing duel to close out the year. Overeem replaced Theodore Emilianco as the most sought heavyweight fighter outside of the UFC, and the former Strike Force fighter in his UFC debut will try to spoil Lesnar’s welcome back party. Lesnar, a former champ, is coming off his second bout of diverticulitis. The following is my prediction breakdown of the fight.

Wrestling

You’d have a tough time finding too many heavyweights in mixed martial arts (MMA) with the sort of wrestling credentials and skills Brock Lesnar possesses. If he’s determined to take an opponent to the mat, there’s not much most fighters can do to stop that.

Overeem has shown solid take down defense and he looked great doing so in his last victory over Fabrizio Werdum. But make no mistake, Werdum’s wrestling level when compared to Lesnar’s is worlds apart.

Lesnar is going to charge forward with some fast and powerful shots and Overeem will have to bring his A-game when it comes to take down defense that night. It will definitely be tough to keep Lesnar’s takedowns at bay during the whole fight, but it is not totally impossible. The wrestling and counter-wrestling dimension of this fight will be a highly interesting one to observe and I give the edge to Lesnar in the wrestling department.

Striking

Overeem is supremely muscular and a monstrosity of a fighter, but what is really scary is that he is able to strike at such a highly proficient level. Overeem is a terror on the feet and can knockout fighters with both hands, as well as come to them hard with kicks and knees. Everything he throws has a good chance to either KO his opponent.

Lesnar has power in his hands and a solid reach as well, but his striking will be geared toward using punches to set up the shot. He could surprise Overeem with some strikes as Overeem will be anticipating Lesnar to shoot in for takedowns fast and furiously in this fight.

For the most part, however, Lesnar will not play with fire and try to go head to head with Overeem. The vast majority of heavyweight MMA world would try to take Overeem down, Lesnar will be no different, and I give the edge to Overeem.

Ground Game

If this fight hits the mat, it will likely be with Lesnar on top. From this position, Lesnar is going to be a handful to deal with as his lunchbox sized fist will rain down and potentially do a whole lot of damage in a little bit of time. Still, Lesnar showed a very nifty arm triangle choke against Shane Carwin, so never really can be sure what he might pull out of his toolkit.

However, Overeem is more than a 12-year veteran and has 19 victories via submission. He’s such a killer on the feet that many of us have forgotten that he actually has more submission victories (19) than knockouts (14). Overeem can catch an opponent with a rear naked choke, keylock or armbar. And his bread and butter submission move is the guillotine. He is the only man to ever tap out Vitor Belfort, and he caught the Brazilian phenom with that submission. Expect some guillotine attempts in this fight because Lesnar will shoot in multiple times.

Overeem will have an edge with submissions but Lesnar’s hard ground and pound could counteract that. And let’s not forget the huge amount of mass he will be putting on Overeem on the mat. The two skillsets will likely even out the affair on the mat.

Cardio

This fight is scheduled for 5 rounds, as are all main events in the UFC now, even if not a title fight. Yet, it seems hard to imagine that this will go the distance. Both are such explosive and powerful athletes that the volume and force in every technique lends itself to someone going down and out before time elapses. If the fight does progress, it will be interesting to see if one fighter fades, however, both are naturally gifted and trained hard so that’s not probable. Cardio is not likely going to be an issue in this one.

The Result

Not everyone likes Brock Lesnar, however, everyone seems to enjoy a great comeback story. As a result, many are rooting for him to return from his second bout of diverticulitis with a victory over Overeem.

On the other side of the coin, then there are those who have backed Overeem for a long time and are ecstatic he will finally have the chance to show off his talent in the UFC’s octagon.

This fight could really go either way, and the deciding factors will likely come down to wrestling and striking. To get the victory, Lesnar is going to have to continually take down Overeem. On the feet, Overeem has so many tools and too much power. Nobody is too keen about getting tagged in the face during a fight, especially by the immense heavyweights in the UFC. That includes Lesnar, who has occasionally that he can be thrown off his gameplan in a major way when he is on the wrong side of a stand up exchange.

Overeem is going to be coming after Lesnar with big strikes in this one and more than likely is going to nail him with some powerful punches. But let’s be fair. Lesnar can definitely take a huge amount of punishment as he showed against Shane Carwin, but the Dutch heavyweight has a killer instinct to go with his power that should allow him to earn a stoppage somewhere within the first 10 minutes of action. I think Overeem will be the projected winner via TKO of UFC 41’s main event.

Boxing VS MMA

For some reason when it comes to the sports of boxing and mixed martial arts, there continues to be an intense rivalry. Not only does the rivalry exist between the powers that run each sport, but it is also among the fans of each sport. But why? Why do boxing fans try to push the ill conceived and totally false notion that MMA is simply legalized barbarism?

Why is it that MMA fans like to insist that boxing is their grandfather’s sport, though every time Manny Pacquiao or Floyd Mayweather fight(maybe someday against each other, we can only hope) it’s a bigger and more talked about event than any MMA card ever put together?

Instead of trying to put the other sport down to make one stand taller, why not look at what each sport can learn from the other, so that both can continue to grow across an ever changing sports and entertainment landscape. As a fan of each sport, I can think of many good reasons why we all should get along. More importantly, I can also see a few places where each sport can help the other out, increasing the reach across the sports spectrum.

Exposure has been a huge part of MMA’s success. Sure, when it comes to big MMA fights, they’re often on pay-per-view, but that’s after the fighters have become household names due to MMA’s exposure across various television networks, which allows folks who don’t have premium channels to get to know and grow attached to fighters. Where is that in boxing? There is no television channel you can turn on to catch a legitimate future boxing champion unless you have pay cable (Showtime and HBO). Even as recently as the 1980s, when newly inducted Hall of Famer Mike Tyson was coming up, you could watch him on ABC. That drew you to him, allowed you to know him, and eventually paid for his fights. That strategy is what MMA has used to get fights on CBS, Spike TV, HDNet, and Versus.

Part of the reason that Mayweather and Pacquiao are so popular is because they are able to market themselves. They can appear wherever/whenever they see a business opportunity, thus taking a needed step in making themselves household names. Because the UFC has all their fighters under strict contracts, owning the fighter’s likeness and virtually all of their rights, it makes going solo impossible. It also keeps their fighters from making the really big cash. Practically no MMA fighters make a seven-figure salary, not even some of the elite. That certainly isn’t the case when it comes to the top levels of boxing, where all the top guys get paid.

Boxing has to make an entire fight card worth watching. Nearly every major MMA card features a night of 10 bouts that fans want to see. Boxing cards still feature too many unexciting matchups on the undercards of the main event.

MMA scoring should reward the fighter who delivers more punishment each round. In boxing, a dominant round, especially if it includes a knockdown, can be scored 10-8, thus crediting the aggressive boxer. In MMA, a fighter gets no more advantage on the judges’ scorecards for pressing the action and beating up his opponents than the opposition does for sitting on him once he’s on canvas. In effect, a fighter can win a bout by lying on his opponent for two rounds, even though he gets completely battered in one round. To change this would be fairer to the participants and more exciting to the fans who want to see action, not stalemates.

Hey, these are just a few thoughts from a fan of both boxing and MMA who would love to see all of us getting along.

Exploring a Fighters Mind

Mentally, what type of person fights?
It takes a person who has an iron will. Their determination, competitive edge and discipline are enormous. The average person cannot comprehend the intensity and discipline involved to compete in the ring or cage at a serious competitive level.

A fighter develops that iron will and mind power as they go along. My view is that it is innate. They have the ability, and it comes out. It unfolds and emerges with training because it has always been there.

Fighters have a strong competitive quality. They plan to win, and they bring that mentality to other aspects of their lives. If they do something, they do it all the way. It’s like an addiction in a positive way. They like the competition, adrenaline and winning.

It’s a difficult lifestyle with the training and sacrifice, and it takes a lot of discipline. They are willing to do the extra work that others are not. They enjoy that Spartan type of training. Fighters are often asked why they work out at 4:30 in the morning, and they always answer “Because I know my opponent is sleeping at that time.

Pressure of the Fight
On fight night, there could be nervousness and there could be pressure. However, fighters feel that adrenaline rush and that energizes them. Years ago when I first got into boxing, I noticed I would have diarrhea and throw up before a fight. Quickly I learned it was very common in the sport of boxing.

Those types of emotions would wipe out the average guy. For the elite athlete, however, he takes the adrenaline flow and is ready to go out there and perform at his best. He takes the nervousness and reinterprets it as energy and a force going through his body.

The Rewards of Winning
Some say its money that attracts a fighter, but that’s far from the truth, it’s more the satisfaction from winning because they realize they can do something that no one else can do. A boxer friend of mine, who is very short, once told me that when he gets in the ring he feels 6 feet 6 inches tall.

The Pain Factor
When the adrenaline is flowing, fighters are not going to feel pain. They could be injured and will not know it until the match is over. Or they may not care. Some guys will even say, “You can break my arm, but I am not going to tap out.” They accept the discomfort and tune it out. They may even look forward to it. The endorphins give them a good feeling.

The Devastation of Losing
A loss can be devastating because a fighter often identifies himself with winning. It is common that after a loss, he may not view himself the same. As a result, it makes him more determined to come back and win. If he suffers too many losses and age catches up with him, it can have a devastating effect on self-esteem because he realizes he cannot do what he used to do. This can create a void or a depression, and that’s pretty common. In the worst case, a fighter could get into drugs or drinking. All the self discipline goes out the window because he no longer has that reinforcement. That is why it’s important for them to channel the competitive drive into a different avocation or occupation.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Positive Influence Extends to Many Factors of Life

Brazilian jiu-jitsu is not just used in the cage, and in this interview we’re going to find out how BJJ helps outside of the octagon and in other parts of life. The gentle art also plays a part in spirituality, goals, relationships, self-defence and even overcoming fears. The man who is going to explain this is David Correa, a Brazilian jiu-jitsu, black belt, MMA teacher at EFA in Paterson NJ and eighteen year veteran of the sport. Not only is this Passaic County resident an incredible ambassador to the sport, he inspires awe in both those he teaches and from those who have taught him.

How did you get into MMA?

Answer: After I came back from living overseas, I wanted to take some self-defence and fitness classes, so I looked up some academies in the yellow pages. That’s where fate took over. I first tried boxing and muay thai but found out that that’s not quite where my heart lies. My teacher suggested I try Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. From my first class I was hooked.

Why?

Answer: I fell in love with the cerebral nature of the sport, and it quickly took over my life to the point where I was training 16 hours every week. In the beginning, I wasn’t really sure what drew me so strongly to train. There was just something almost mystical about it that captivated me.

How did it do that?

Answer: As my time on the mat increased and I grew as a person, I realized how BJJ had also become such a huge part of my spiritual practice, it’s equally important as my daily yoga sessions. Throughout all the changes and challenges of life, jiu-jitsu has been my constant. It is always there, waiting for me. Every training session is a tool for observation and a tool for creating balance in my life and spiritual development. Being on the mat is an opportunity for me to release the mind chatter, judgement or fear, and to simply enjoy the process of observing and focusing on the moment at hand.

What happens on the mat is quite often a reflection of what’s happening in my life. It’s a chance to see how I deal with resistance that I may currently be up against. Jiu-jitsu may be a reflection of our relationship with others, but more importantly it is a reflection of our relationship with ourselves.

When we work on ourselves in one area, it carries over to the rest of our lives. So why do I train jiu-jitsu? Simply put, it’s to be a better person, and that is an ever evolving goal where perfection is always just out of grasp.

Did the lure of completion entice you?

Answer: Yes. Partially, it’s for the challenge, but mostly I love having goals and working hard to reach them. There’s nothing better than seeing the results of my hard work, and that’s why I’m proud to be an ambassador to the sport I live for.

Five Keys to Victory in the Octagon

There are five specific changes that can be made to one's training regime and mindset that can help grapplers become more successful in MMA. One theme that holds true in all five of these keys is: being on top is better than being on bottom.

1. Incorporate More Wrestling. Wrestlers are now training in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, so BJJ practitioners need to do the same with wrestling. When it comes to MMA, being on top is always better than being on bottom. However, wrestling has more to offer than just takedowns. Wrestling training can add a lot to your scrambles, transitions, and top game control. Starting your grappling training from your feet will give the participants much better feel for the standup to ground transitions of MMA.

2. Focus on Sweeps. If you end on bottom, sweeps are your path back on top. In addition, sweeps are a great way to set up your submissions. a failed sweep often opens up a related submission attack. As an example, hip-bump sweep, guillotine, and kimura all work in unison. A successful sweep in MMA can immediately change the entire fight.

3. Perfect Your Escapes. Training to escape is one of the least enjoyable aspects of BJJ. However, no BJJ practitioner would argue that escapes aren’t an important aspect of grappling. Being on the bottom in an MMA fight, outside of the guard, is a dangerous position. All fighters must learn to stay relaxed on bottom, defend themselves from strikes, and work back to a more suitable position. Training in bad positions and learning to survive is important.

4. Train with Strikes. Carlson Gracie once said, “Punch a Jiu-Jitsu black belt in the face once and he becomes a brown belt, punch him in the face twice and he becomes a purple belt”. Punches and elbows make top positions more dominant and some bottom positions and techniques downright dangerous. Train for MMA with grappling gloves while allowing strikes.

5. Learn To Get Up. Being able to stand up can help negate the advantages a great MMA fighter possesses. No one has been better at this skill than the number 1 ranked George Rush St.Pierre.

Mind Over Matter

Rock hard muscles can be built in the weight room, but what good are they if a fighter does not have nerves of steel? Champions in all sports have testified to the vital role that a strong mind plays in their success, and that includes fighters, who will say mental tenacity plays a far greater role in becoming an elite mixed martial artist than strength, conditioning or technique.

From personal experience as an amateur boxer, I can attest that if your mind and nerves aren't in sync, the results will be catastrophic. The hardest part of boxing for me was the long walk into the ring where I expended most of my energy thinking how embarrassing it was going to be getting knocked out.

The fear of failure consumed me and drained most of my energy. I had the technique and power but was missing a champion's mindset. If you don’t want to fight it doesn’t matter how great your conditioning or technique is, because when you feel that punch, you'll turn, run and hide into a cloud of fear.