Chicks Heart Fights

Maybe a title from Apocalypse now is a bit much, but yes, it is the end of Chicks Heart Fights. Considering that I haven’t written in quite a while, I don’t think this is a huge shock for anyone. That does not mean I’m giving up writing by any stretch. I am writing here, now:

http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/mma_experts

Yahoo will be my home for MMA. I am part of a fantastic team over there, so please come check it out. As for wrestling, I will continue to write about the world’s oldest and greatest sport. I just started a new site called Blast Double:

http://blastdouble.wordpress.com/

Right now, it’s just a shell, but I promise to have some stuff up there soon.

As for the end of this site, I am a little sad. Chicks Heart Fights was my entry into the world of blogging, and it afforded me opportunities to write for the Olympics and join a fantastic group of women. I have made friends through this site, and found out that I write a heck of a lot better when I’m passionate about the subject. So, thanks for stopping by. Thanks for reading my drivel. Thanks for not being too rough on me.

I couldn’t help but giggle at the headline: “Matt Serra: I want to retire Matt Hughes.” That would have been a HUGE statement in early 2007. Now, after both men have lost to Georges St. Pierre, and Hughes losing to Thiago Alves, does a statement like that really matter?

Hughes is an icon in the sport. He was the UFC welterweight champion, and helped grow the UFC into what it is today, especially with his devotion to Dana White’s pet project, the Ultimate Fighter. His retirement will be news whether it happens tomorrow or in ten years. But for Serra to claim that everyone wants this fight to go down is a bit much. I want to see Fedor vs. Couture, Silva vs. GSP, Forrest vs. Rampage II, Forrest vs. Machida, Penn vs. Florian, etc. At about 27 on that list is Serra vs. Hughes. If it could have happened right after their TUF, then yes, it would have been higher. But their losses to GSP make it so that both fighters are not nearly as important in the welterweight division.

I’m not sure what Matt Serra’s burning issue is with Hughes, but he really needs to move on. Go see a psychiatrist - I hear Dr. Melfi is available - or whatever you need to do, but get over it. Trying to use a well-respected fighter in the UFC to prop your name up is not the way to go.

The death of Evan Tanner has shook up the MMA world, and I am personally sickened by this. I don’t have much to add that hasn’t been said around the internet. A tribute Web site has been set up by his friends and family: EvanTanner.net. Check it out to add your thoughts.

- Rashad Evans’ next fight will be against Forrest Griffin. My educated guess is that this could be the main event of the New Year’s Eve-ish fight.

- I wrote about my hopes for Chuck’s future at Ladies…

- Much has been made of Dan Henderson’s takedown defense against Palhares. Of course Palhares would have a hard time taking down an Olympic level wrestler, right? Here’s what I found interesting. Hendo wrestled Greco-Roman, the discipline that does not allow leg attacks. Palhares, accordingly, spent much of the fight going after Hendo’s legs, and Hendo still stuffed him. I guess they teach a little takedown defense at Arizona State?

- During Saturday night’s broadcast, it was announced that Wednesday night’s WEC event will be postponed to November 10 because of Hurricane Ike. It was probably a little premature, but I agree that it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Last night, I wrote about Evans’ sick knockout and Franklin’s convincing win. This morning, I’ll catch you up on the other fights before I head off to church.

- Yep, I had Matt Brown winning over Dong Hyun Kim, but Kim was strong early and late, and that always makes an impression. (It’s called the theory of primacy and recency. I really did pay attention in school!) Between the gash on Brown’s face at the end and the spider-monkey submission attempts, it did enough to put him ahead for the split decision.

- Nate Marquardt looked splendiferous. He was so technically strong, landing accurate punches while winning over Martin Kampmann.

- No matter how many times I hear Hendo come out to Lunatic Fringe, it always makes me happy. Wreestling fans know why!

- Joe Rogan once again wore the same shirt he has worn for several events. Seriously, Joe. I know you can afford it. More than that, someone will give you a shirt for free. Get a new shirt!

- Palhares has very short arms. Like, Matthew McConaughey short. He is also incredibly wild. He defends himself on the ground well, but with some crazy rolls and dives at Hendo’s leg. It’s just kind of odd to see out of someone who is supposed to be a perfect jiu-jitsu technician. He finally took down Hendo via slam.

- Hendo showed amazing defense by getting out of the very tight heel lock by Palhares in the second, and a few attempts at leg locks in the third. Hendo was throwing some good strikes, but more than anything, his defense won him the unanimous decision.

Rashad Evans shocked the hell out of everyone tonight, including Chuck Liddell. His overhand left right was timed perfectly so that Chuck was moving forward into the punch, causing the force of Evans fist to be even greater. (See that? I was paying attention in physics!) Evans has definitely moved up the ladder and should be close to a title shot. As for Chuck, who knows. He has sounded punch-drunk at times, and tonight’s knockout certainly won’t help, as he was out for quite a while.

Rich Franklin showed that he belonged in the 205 lb. weight class. He looked strong and agile. Matt Hamill gave him a test, but that kick to the abdomen that finished off Matt Hamill was textbook. Franklin showed again after the fight why the UFC is better off with him fighting, no matter the weight class. He is pure class, and not Donald Trump classy, actually classy.

The UFC goes south with a stop in Atlanta for UFC 88. I’m putting the over/under in guys wearing sleeveless shirts at 13,245, and I’m taking the over. Actually, with Georgia near the top of the NCAA rankings, the Falcons not looking gawdawful, and the UFC in town, Atlanta may just explode in happiness. This time, Sherman can’t be blamed.

I’m done making southern jokes - onto the fights. I’ll be honest. I’m not over the moon about these fights, but, quite often, the fights that get all the hype turn out to be the most boring. Chuck Liddell is hoping that a win would give him a title fight against Forrest, and who doesn’t want to see that fight? No promise of a title fight awaits Evans, but it should move him up in the crowded light heavyweight division. My pick is Liddell, TKO by strikes in the second round. More on Chuck here and the fights here and here.

Speaking of the light heavyweight division, Rich Franklin is getting his first chance at the bigger weight class with Matt Hamill. Moving up was a smart move for Franklin when it became clear that Silva was an immovable force. Hamill is hardly a tuna can, and he will give Franklin trouble. Still, I think Ace will take advantage of the extra weight and win by decision. More on Franklin here.

Dan Henderson will also return to the Octagon after two losses in a row. Of course, those two losses add were to Anderson Silva and Rampage, so that doesn’t say much. I think the UFC wants Hendo to win more than anyone, as he will be fighting Rousimar Palhares, a fighter with one UFC win over Ivan Salaverry. But just like you shouldn’t go against a Sicilian when death is on the line, you shouldn’t count out a Brazilian on ground. Hendo, in three. A little more on Hendo is here .

Randy Couture, the UFC veteran who hasn’t fought in a year due to a temper tantrum, will return to the UFC against Brock Lesnar, who has two UFC fights to his credit. The fight will headline UFC 91 in November, and is set to be announced at a press conference today.

This brings up so many questions. By November, Randy will have been out of the Octagon for 14 months. I still happen to think that Randy is one of the best fighters on the planet, but he hasn’t trained for a fight in a long time. Before that, he won fairly easily over Gabriel Gonzaga. He hasn’t really been challenged since he won over Tim Sylvia in March 2007. Will he be rusty? Will he be sluggish in the first round?

For Lesnar, this is an opportunity of a lifetime. His fight over Heath Herring showed that he can win but he still has a long way to go. If he can pull out a win over Couture, it will catapult him to title contention. Couture, on the other hand is in a lose-lose situation. If he wins, it will be what is expected and he won’t really regain legitimacy until he beats Nog, or hope of all hopes, Fedor. If he loses, his year-long holdout will look really stupid, and will taint his MMA legacy forever.