Chicks Heart Fights

First off, Comcast is not my friend. The feed was screwed up for the first fight, and so I missed it. If the feed would not have been back in time for the Huerta/Florian fight, it would not have been pretty. Actually, maybe it would have been better if I didn’t see it.

Roger never really seemed to find his groove during the fight. He just didn’t look like the energetic fighter that I’m used to. He was pushing the pace a bit in the second, but he was not impressive. Ken-Flo looked great, and he deserved the win.

Manny vs. Rob ended quickly with a beautiful right by Rob Emerson, and Manny was out like the Comcast feed earlier tonight. Emerson’s hat is ugly. Emerson’s hat always make him look 12. Emerson is gracious in winning.

It’s been a weird collection of entrance music tonight. Outside of Huerta’s El Matador, it’s been pretty bad. Dan Evensen’s is just bizarre.

Joe Rogan calls the UFC more cool than the Olympics. I STRONGLY disagree Joe.

Cheick Kongo has one of the top 5 bodies in the UFC. He kicked some booty tonight.

I wonder who would win in Trivial Pursuit between Brock Lesnar and Heath Herring?

From working NCAA’s, I’ve walked behind Brock Lesnar, and he is one of the most massive human beings that I’ve ever been around. He’s like a damn Mack Truck. I think if I ran my Hyundai into him, my car would catch the brunt of the damage.

Heath Herring will need to explain to me how a long leather jacket is a cowboy fashion.

Brock Lesnar seems to be having a blast in the UFC. I like to watch a fighter who truly enjoys fighting. Lesnar doesn’t need the money, so he’s doing it because he likes it.

Who has the better accent, GSP or Michael Bisping?

GSP was just plain old dominant, but I did not like BJ coming in at the end. That took away GSP’s moment. Of course he’ll fight you, BJ. He’s a professional.

Hot fights. Hot men. Hot month. There is no other way to describe UFC 87 than hot. I’ve been elbow-deep in the Olympics, yet I still can’t escape the heat permeating from Minneapolis, Minn. for this weekend’s event.  HOT.

Let’s get out the cold compresses and dive in:

Champ Georges St. Pierre vs. Jon Fitch (for welterweight title)

GSP has looked unstoppable in his last three fights. Jon Fitch has been the next big thing for a while now, but considering how top-heavy welterweight is, this is his biggest test. Unfortunately, it’s a test he will fail. GSP’s ground game and vicious kicks will win out.

Brock Lesnar vs. Heath Herring

Brock Lesnar is quite skilled at picking things up quickly. His first fight with Mir made the kind of mistakes that only a beginner would make. (Or a dumb veteran.) Even though Herring won over Cheick Kongo, I’m still not impressed. I think this will be Lesnar’s first win in the UFC.

Kenny Florian vs. Roger Huerta

Speaking of hotness - I need to crank the AC up for this one. This has the potential for fight of the year. Both fighters go nonstop, and are technically sound. The match-up is about as perfect as it gets. I have to pick my man Roger, because, well, he’s Roger. A gal’s gotta follow her heart.

Rob Emerson vs. Manny Gamburyan

Jason MacDonald vs. Demian Maia

Luke Cummo vs. Tamdan McCrory

Dan Evensen vs. Cheick Kongo

Jon Jones vs. Andre Gusmao

Steve Bruno vs. Chris Wilson

Ben Saunders vs. Ryan Thomas

What the web is saying…

Cage Potato 

Bloody Elbow

Remember when I whined about the UFC going to other cities not nearly as awesome as my hometown? Dana White heard my cries, and planned UFC 90 in the Windy City , most likely at Allstate Arena on October 25. I could not be happier* about this development because Chicago is a perfect market for MMA. This is a sports hungry town, and it’s an important time to show how Chicago can handle large sporting events. Many MMA gyms are sprouting up around the city, plus the UFC could feature some home grown talent. May I suggest:

Clay Guida

Clay already has lots of fans in the Land of Lincoln!

True, October would be a long layoff for the Carpenter, but I think he’d deal with it to fight in front of hometown fans. (Kind of - he’s from Johnsburg, which may as well be Alaska for a city snob like me, but people from that area like to claim Chicago so I won’t stop them.) The Mac Danzig fight has been on-again, off again, so why not schedule the fight for Chicago?

Stephen Bonnar

Though Bonnar now fights out of Las Vegas, his roots in northeast Indiana and Chicago would be well represented at a fight in Chicago. Bonnar has been languishing in the background of the UFC, and hasn’t fought since last October. A fight in his hometown could be just what he needs.

Others to consider:

• Miguel Torres, if the WEC and UFC were to do a joint show - and how cool would that be - Chicago would be the ideal place for Miguel, a native of East Chicago.
• Roger Huerta - of course I’d want him in my city!

*Though I’m quite pleased that the UFC is supposed to come to Chicago, I will be at the wedding of two dear friends that evening. Liz, Craig, realize how much I love you two crazy kids, or I would not be missing out on this.

Excuse me for being a little self-indulgent on this post, but it’s true, today is my birthday, so I get to be self-indulgent. Much like the kid who brings cupcakes to school, I will share some goodies with you.

A Rampage Jackson highlight video with some really odd background music:

Rampage has been so much fun during this season of TUF. How could you not love a coach who outlines a strategy of “whoopin’ his ass” for one of his fighters? Rampage’s next fight is against Forrest Griffin on July 5. For more fun, Ben Askren vs. Tyrone Lewis at this year’s senior nationals:

Ben Askren has the chance to become Missouri’s first wrestling Olympian next weekend at the Olympic Trials.

In a bit of a present to myself, Roger Huerta highlights:

Huerta will be back in the Octagon on August 9, taking on Kenny Florian. And finally, Usher’s “Love in this Club,” as performed by the Showbiz Pizza Band. Because, why not?

I hope you are all enjoying your Memorial Day. Me? I’m on my eighth straight episode of Law and Order on TNT, and there is not much chance of me changing the channel. I have a bunch of different items for your reading pleasure today.

From Combat Lifestyle. I wonder if Roger and Kenny are letting us know how their fight is going to turn out.

Leftovers from UFC 84: Michael David Smith enlightens us on the sights and sounds of a UFC event from Octagon-side. Also, Ben Goldstein from Cage Potato is not going to die from drinking ipecac. Good to hear that you’ll keep living, Ben!

If the Chaos That is UFC 85 wasn’t enough for you, UFC 87 has had a few changes, too. Mark Coleman is injured, so he will not be fighting Brock Lesnar; Heath Herring will be. Georges St. Pierre vs. Jon Fitch has been added as the main card, and Clay Guida will fight Mac Danzig. Add that to a card that already has Florian-Huerta, and Dan Evenson vs. Cheick Kongo-this gal is getting dizzy just thinking about it.

This weekend is MMA’s debut on network primetime: EliteXC on CBS. I plan to write more later this week, and liveblog the event, but I wanted to share this in the meantime. Kimbo Slice was hoping to advertise for Reality Kings on his shorts. Reality Kings brings us such wonderful sites as Milf Hunter, Round and Brown and We Live Together. (Sorry, not linking to them.) CBS said no dice, and it was the completely right move by CBS. Though advertising for the parent company might not break FCC standards, it’s still not the best idea to have MMA linked to pornography in its first time available to the masses for free.

Finally, if you haven’t stopped by Adam Frey’s blog recently, check it out and give Adam some words of encouragement. Despite good news about the size of his tumor, the daily grind of chemotherapy is starting to wear on him, and some d-bags think that it’s a good idea to leave messages saying that he is going to die. Not cool. Let Adam know that you’re cheering for him.

I’m just getting home from a Christmas party, so I’ll do my best to write a recap before falling asleep. However, they served vodka egg nog at this party - it tastes like a sugar cookie, but with vodka, which is SO much better - so I might be a little sleepy.

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I’ll admit it - I love musicals. I’m a sucker for people breaking out into song and dance in the middle of the street. I love the Sound of Music, and yeah, My Favorite Things is one of my favorite songs. But instead of singing about bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens, I will write about my favorite things from the world of wrestling and MMA. (more…)

Hmmm, Finale Preview seems like an oxymoron. Anyway, another brilliant season has passed us, and we are left to ponder if Tommy Speers has his strength from throwing horses and knocking out cows, if doo-doo= hostility, or who is the bigger pooooooosy, Roman or Joe Scarola. Ok, maybe we don’t have to ponder that last one - Roman is not a pooosy, Joe Scarola is.

The whole season was supposed to lead up the Serra/Hughes rematch, but Serra’s herniated disk has stopped that fight from happening. So, we have an all-Team Hughes fight to watch, and I think it will be a great one. (more…)

Though the Cubs did try to kill me this weekend, the Missouri Tigers and the Chicago Bears rescued me. (For the record, this was the first time Mizzou held Nebraska touchdownless since the Eisenhower administration.) Phew. Now that work has become normal again, and the Cubs are finished torturing me, I can turn back to what really matters: men pummeling each other.

A few notes:

- Dan Gable “stepped down” as assistant coach of Iowa wrestling. He will stay on as special assistant to the AD at Iowa. Translation: the good Lord will have to drag Dan Gable out of Iowa.

- To fill Dan Gable’s spot, the Hawkeyes have named Doug Schwab interim assistant coach. I wonder why the interim is attached? Who cares-it gives me a chance to post this picture of Schwab.

- The TUF 6 Finale fight card has been officially announced, with Huerta-Guida as the main fight on December 8.

- It doesn’t look like we’ll see any fights on HBO anytime soon. That’s fine with me, since I cancelled my subscription right after the Sopranos ended.

- I don’t usually write about boxing here but this worries me. Apparently, Evander Holyfield just won’t stop boxing. I’m a fan of the sport and the fighter, and it would break my heart to see any lasting damage done on the man. Please, for the love, Evander, quit fighting!

Tomorrow - another recap of the Ultimate Fighter. (I can’t wait to Dorian go ca-razy!) and soon, more wrestlers/coaches/teams to watch.

Yep, I can’t come up with a more creative title than link dump. Well, not one that hasn’t already been used. Lots has been going on in the UFC, and due to work and celebrating the Cubs, I’ve been a little slow to post. So sorry about that, my four readers.

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