In order to obtain the best final results with the martial arts, you should choose the type that best fits your needs. Given that there are a variety of impressive martial art to select from, selecting the perfect one could be a challenging choice.

The very first factor to look at in choosing a martial art style is exactly what you intend to gain from your time and efforts in lessons. Are you trying to learn self-defense techniques, or have you been thinking about signing up for a martial-art school for fitness purposes? If you believe you happen to be evaluating the martial arts as a way to step-up your fighting skills, what type of attacks, take-downs, or defensive applications might you wish to learn? How about we examine several of the most well-known martial arts to enable you to get a concept of which style is good for you.

Taekwondo (Tae Kwon Do) is a traditional Korean martial arts style that’s been significantly increasing in popularity during the last sixty years. Standard taekwondo was originally launched in the 1950′s by the South Korean military but an additional system has surfaced in sport taekwondo. In a great number of taekwondo dojos, they provide facets of both traditional and sport taekwondo. This glorious martial arts style is common for the fantastic kicks, amazing weapons presentations, and nerve-wrangling sparring tournaments. It seems to be one of the hottest styles to enroll your kids in as well. On account of its emphesis on tournament sparring, you’ll likely need to get a tough set of sparring gear at the local martial art equipment store.

Karate was created in Okinawa, Japan and is most commonly known for the kicks, punches, joint locks, and chops. With time, a lot of distinct styles of Karate have been created in countries all around the planet. Some of the more famous styles of Karate are Budokan, Shorin-Ryu, and Kempo. It is a great martial arts to investigate if you are in the market to gain knowledge of self-defense methods and effective combat training.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) is really a method that stresses mainly on grappling and submission wrestling. This outstanding method of fighting has been around since the early in the twentieth century, but didn’t become popular until such time as the early 1990′s when Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu veteran Royce Gracie triumphed in the very first Ultimate Fighting Championships (UFC). Since then, BJJ happens to be just about the most favored martial-art style and quite a few of the ground submission tactics happen to be integrated in to martial arts instructional classes throughout the earth.

Aikido is actually a Japanese martial arts style which concentrates on redirecting your enemies power to utilize it against them. This style is hugely well-liked by folks seeking a less hostile martial arts style. Together with its great joint locks and smooth throws, Aikido is popular for its profound philosophies and religious influences.

Kung Fu is actually a Chinese martial arts well-noted for its special animal styles, inner energy development, and impressive Chinese weapon techniques. Over time, Kung Fu has gained a large pursuing because of its presence on television as well as in the films. It’s an extraordinary martial arts style to explore if you’re looking for solid self-defense techniques, religious and philosophical enlightenment, and cardiovascular fitness.

Judo is a Japanese martial-art best-noted for its amazing throws and submission wrestling maneuvers. It is comparable to Brazilian jiu-jitsu, but gives much more emphasis to holds and take-downs. Although strikes are part of Judo, they are seldom utilized in training and never in competition. This is a superb martial-art to explore, but is usually a little bit intimidating to men and women who are not comfortable getting thrown down.

Hopefully this short glance into a number of the martial art styles has really helped you along with your verdict. My best guidance should be to stop by a few martial art schools within your vicinity teaching dissimilar systems and watch a handful of instructional classes. Once you settle on a dojo, don’t be frightened to alter styles in case your needs change as time goes on. Plenty of martial artists learn a number of styles to achieve just as much training as they can.

When buying MMA Fight shorts be sure to buy some such as SPRAWL Shorts and Cage Fighter Shorts to ensure you get quality. Also published at Whats The Right Martial Art Style For You.

fitness · hobbies · martial arts · mixed martial arts · MMA · Recreation & Sports · self defense · UFC

One of the stranger sports stories of the past is that of Rick Ankiel. Ankiel became a vital cog in the starting rotation of the 2000 St. Louis Cardinals and as a lefthanded pitcher possessing both velocity (his fastball was in the 95-97 MPH range) and wicked breaking stuff his upside was unlimited. During the Cards run to the 2000 division title Ankiel allowed only 7.05 hits and struck out 9.98 strikeouts per nine innings. As the playoffs began, it all fell apart for Rick Ankiel’s career as a starting pitcher. In the third inning of game one, working with a 6-0 lead, Ankiel allowed 2 hits, 4 walks and 5 wild pitches before being pulled with two outs. Initially, he wrote it off as a bad outing until history quickly repeated itself in game 2 of the NLCS against the NY Mets. He threw only 20 pitches in that game, 5 of which went past catcher Eli Marrero. For the next several years he tried to fix the control problems that suddenly manifest themselves on baseballs biggest stage but was unable to do so.

Andrei Arlovski has experienced the opposite problem”after starting his career as the Belarusian wildman who devastated opponents with his aggressive, free swinging style and KO power he suddenly gained too *much* control. After trading victories with Tim Sylvia and two short, explosive and exciting bouts, a rubber match was scheduled for UFC 61 and during the fight disaster struck: Arlovski all of a sudden became a tentative and boring fighter.

Initially, Arlovskis listless performance was blamed on a leg injury suffered during the 2nd round which left him unable to kick or shoot for takedowns. After a layoff of nearly 6th months, Arlovski returned to the octagon and scored a first round KO of overmatched Marcio Cruz. Even with this early stoppage, Arlovski continued to look extremely tentative and nothing like the vampire fang wearing beast that burst onto the MMA scene in the early part of the decade. Another snoozefest ensued at UFC 70, where he decisioned Fabrico Werdum. Arlovskis contract with the UFC was up about this time and Zuffa management quickly made clear that they had no interest in resigning him. Ironically, his last UFC bout”held on the untelevised preliminary portion of UFC 82″may have been his best post Sylvia performance.

During the past few years many questions have been raised about Arlovskis desire to continue his fighting career and several retirement rumors have made the rounds. While it would be difficult to blame Arlovski for enjoying the life hes made for himself, this lack of hunger isnt a good mindset for a professional prizefighter.

Arlovski insists that hes anxious to continue his MMA career and has enlisted the services of one of boxings best trainers, Freddy Roach. Roach has been charged with trying to find a middle ground with Arlovski, somewhere between the wildly reckless style of his early career and the tentative, plodding style of his recent fights. Furthermore, Arlovski has also appeared to have trouble letting his hands go of late and if Roach cant fix these problems no one can.

Maybe this is the type of change that Arlovski needs and one that boxing would afford him. Despite a solid fundamental groundfighting base (Sambo, wrestling and BJJ) Arlovski has never shown much of a desire to take the action to the mat. It could also be the case that MMA has passed him by”dont forget that he entered the sport along with one dimensional fighters like Ricco Rodriguez, Wesley Cabbage Correira and Vladmir Matyushenko. It could be that Arlovski still has the heart and desire to fight, but needs to change sports to get back to a championship level of competition.

Ross Everett is a freelance writer and noted authority on baseball betting. His writing has appeared on a variety of sports sites including sports news and sportsbook directory sites. He lives in Southern Nevada with three Jack Russell Terriers and an emu. He is currently working on an autobiography of former interior secretary James Watt.

fight sports · mixed martial arts · MMA · Recreation & Sports · UFC · Ultimate Fighting Championships

The UFC is of borderline relevance in “The Land of the Rising Sun”. This isn’t to disparage the UFC, which has done a great job growing MMA in North America and parts of Europe. It’s an effort to put Dana White’s claims of Zuffa’s inevitable worldwide dominance into perspective.

Here are the three essential qualities for doing business in Japan, along with an analysis of what they mean to Zuffa’s efforts to build the UFC brand there:

Group Orientation/Collaboration: Japanese businessmen are notorious for sublimating their individual talents and personalities to the greater good of the group. For US businesses seeking to enter the market, a certain degree of partnership with existing Japanese firms is almost mandatory. The UFC worked with Germany s largest concert promoter (MLK) to enter that market with a fair degree of success. Even if the UFC didn’t want to go promote with one of the major players in Japanese fight sports, they’d be well advised to seek some sort of a partnership similar to their German initiative to help smooth their way.

Hierarchy: Japanese culture, including business, is almost ridiculously hierarchical. The societal reverence for age, experience and accomplishment in Japan is well known, and that’s often a difficult concept for American companies and businessmen to grasp. US businesses love mavericks and Horatio Alger stories. That accounts for much of the business medias fascination with Dana White and they’re quick to celebrate how a former aerobics instructor is now the most powerful man in MMA and the driving force of a billion dollar company. That storyline doesn’t play as well in Japan, however. One approach would be for White to take a back seat in UFC efforts to promote in Japan in favor of Zuffa co-owner Lorenzo Fertitta and perhaps the widely respected former Nevada Athletic Commission director Marc Ratner.

Respect: Even among seedy elements like fight promoters–and even the underworld–respect in business dealings is essential in Japan. In a typical Japanese business deal, the first few meetings aren’t intended for any substantive decision making to take place. Instead, they’re used for evaluation of your professionalism or, as the Japanese like to put it, to determine your suitability for conducting business with. Considering that Dana Whites first introduction to the PRIDE staff and to the Japanese fight public was a press conference where he made the statement–more in reference to the proposed bouts between UFC and PRIDE fighters than anything else–”We’re going to kick your ass.” At that moment, PRIDE as a promotion died. The people that worked for PRIDE had no interest in helping White profit from the promotion. More significantly, he became little more than a clown to the Japanese public–like “Money From Government Grants” shill Mathew Lesko without the funny suit. To succeed in Japan, the UFC must realize that they’re not considered a major fight promotion in that country. They must understand that they’ve got to win over a skeptical public, but before that they have to win over a skeptical Japanese business community.

Dana White’s fanciful stories about Yakzua gangsters out of Quentin Tarantino movies might amuse his sycophants in the MMA media, but countless US companies including fight promotions have done business successfully and profitably in Japan. Properly promoting stars like Yoshihiro Akiyama will help, but the only way that Zuffa will be able to become a factor in the worlds #2 MMA market is to do what every other company has done to be successful there–learn how to understand the Japanese approach to doing business, and play by their rules.

Ross Everett is a freelance sports writer and noted authority on football betting. His writing has appeared on a variety of sports sites including sportsbooks and sportsbook directory sites. He lives in Northern Nevada with three Jack Russell Terriers and a kangaroo. He is currently working on an autobiography of former interior secretary James Watt.

Business · entertainment · hobbies · marketing · mixed martial arts · recreation · Recreation & Sports · Sports · UFC

In the ‘real world’ time heals all wounds. In the fight game, money has the same curative effect. This was vividly illustrated with the recent announcement that Tito Ortiz has patched things up with Dana White and will return to the UFC. Tito left the promotion over a year ago after a highly publicized split with the UFC president. He never found a new promotional home that would give him the money and the high profile status that he craved.

Ortiz has had several run ins with the UFC over their notoriously tight pay structure, and first left the promotion in 2005. He was back later that year for a run as a coach on The Ultimate Fighter against longtime rival Ken Shamrock. After losing to current light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida in his last UFC appearance, Ortiz left the company and bounced around doing personal appearances and commentary for a variety of promotions. He had surgery on his back in the process, and now claims that hes back to 100%.

Whether or not Ortiz is near his top form as a competitor is of secondary importance to the UFC since his true value has never been questioned”people will pay to see him fight. Ortiz is a fighter that offers no middle ground of public opinion, as people either love him or hate him. That dynamic is box office and PPV gold, a fact not lost on the savvy UFC brass. Dana White evoked the same theme in his comments on Ortiz at a Friday press conference in Las Vegas:

“Tito and I have a history that everyone knows. He’s still a guy that everyone wants to see fight. He said his back has healed perfectly and he’s ready to take a shot at the title. He’s one of those guys that people love and people love to hate. We’ve put all our differences aside, have squashed everything and will move forward, and Tito will retire in the UFC.”

To which Ortiz offered this response:

“Time really cures everything. Dana was a man of his word. Dana apologized to me. We’re like boyfriend and girlfriend.”

Ortiz indicated that White and UFC co-owner Lorenzo Fertitta came to his home in Huntington Beach, California and made him the proverbial offer he couldnt refuse:

“I’m happy, I’m satisfied, You’ll never hear anything about money again.

Sources suggest that Ortiz could debut on the UFCs New Years card against Mark Coleman. Coleman is coming off a unanimous decision victory over Stephan Bonnar at UFC 100 in mid July.

To best understand Titos appeal and why the UFC was so anxious to re-sign him, well paraphrase HBO boxing commentator Larry Merchant. Merchant once noted in reference to George Foreman during his ‘comeback’ that there are many fighters, but very few stars. Like George Foreman, Tito Ortiz is a star. Some love him, some hate him but people pay to watch him fight.

Ross Everett is a freelance sports writer and respected authority on sports betting odds comparison. He writing has appeared on a variety of sports sites including sports news and sportsbook directory sites. He lives in Southern Nevada with three Jack Russell Terriers and an emu. He is currently working on an autobiography of former energy secretary Donald Hodell.

Business · entertainment · Finance · hobbies · recreation · Recreation & Sports · Sports · UFC

Frank Trigg dominated tough veteran Falaniko Vitale wire to wire en route to a unanimous decision victory at Strikeforce: Payback. Trigg essentially dictated where and when the fight occurred, and Vitale had no response whatsoever. The CompuStrike stats clearly underscored Triggs superiority in the fight, giving him a lopsided 41 to 7 edge in strikes landed.

In the co-main event, Duane Bang Ludwig earned an explosive TKO win over Sam Morgan. After an evenly contested first minute, Ludwig quickly took control with a series of Muay Thai knee strikes which set up a perfectly placed bodyshot to the liver that floored his opponent. Ludwig quickly pressed his advantage and never gave Morgan a chance to recover. Still feeling the effects of the liver shot, Morgan ate another hard punch to the solar plexus and gasping for breath was forced to tap out under the barrage of strikes. The victory gave Ludwig some redemption for an embarrassing TKO loss to Morgan in 2005 when he was simply overwhelmed within the first minute of the fight.

In perhaps the most entertaining bout on the card, highly touted Billy Evangelista survived his second big scare in as many fights to remain undefeated. After a split decision victory over Nam Phan in June, Evangelista found himself in grave danger of a TKO loss early in his bout with tough veteran Luke Caudillo. Caudillo”who goes by the nickname Lil Hulk”opened the fight with a flurry, knocking Evangelista to the canvas three times in the opening minute. Via some combination of wits and toughness, Evangelista managed to survive the barrage and began to take over the fight late in the round with his superior technical striking.

As the rest of the fight unfolded, Caudillo made the mistake of becoming a headhunter looking for a KO punch which allowed Evangelista to take over the fight. Evangelista continued to score with crisp combinations and as the bout progressed demonstrated his superior conditioning. Evangelista would eventually earn a unanimous decision victory though the 30-27 score awarded by one judge was questionable considering that he spent the first half of round one being bounced around the cage like a beach ball. Good display of toughness and resolve by up-and-comer Evangelista.

A highly anticipated womens match took place early in the evening, with former Hooters waitress Michelle The Karate Hottie Watterson easily defeating an overmatched opponent in Tyra Parker. Watterson easily figured out her opponent, however, and The Karate Hottie quickly took over with her more disciplined striking approach. The dnouement came when Watterson landed several big knees from the clinch, took her opponents back and locked in a rear naked choke for the tapout win.

The event marked Strikeforces first visit to Colorado, and another in a series of very entertaining fight cards. Scott Coker and his team deserve a lot of credit for their matchmaking”even in the lower card fights they have a knack for putting together bouts that more often than not are exciting and competitive. Strikeforce is a well managed, first rate promotion that is definitely going places.

Ross Everett is a freelance writer specializing in mixed martial arts, judo, soccer betting, falconry and fantasy role playing games. He is a well known expert on sports betting and has made countless TV and radio appearances. He lives in Las Vegas with his Filipino houseboy, three dogs and a retired racing wombat.

cage fighting · games · hobbies · martial arts · mixed martial arts · MMA · recreation · Recreation & Sports · Sports · UFC

You can not just enter the ring during an MMA title fight appearing like a hobo who just came in from the streets. Even though they don’t wear much clothing throughout a fight, mma competitors take pride in themselves, and in turn would like to wear something that is comfy yet fashionable at the same time. MMA shorts and grappling shorts are a part of that uniform, and a number of vendors take pride in the items they develop for this special class of athletes.

The reasons for choosing a top quality pair of men’s Mixed martial arts shorts more than just any old pair of shorts are many. To begin with, brands like Dethrone, Manto, Hayabusa Fightwear, Tapout, Jaco, among others spend significant money and time creating materials that breathe well, are comfortable and flexible throughout competition, and stand up to the wear and tear of repeated use. The colors and particular designs used to attract the fans in the stands enjoying the action, along with a well-chosen set of Mixed martial arts shorts can promote professionalism for the fighters themselves.

To illustrate a few of the features of the finest grappling shorts and MMA shorts available on the market, let’s examine several specific types. There are the Venum Red Hurricane FX Fight Shorts, for instance, which have impressive design details in a bold white and red pair of shorts. They are constructed of an exceptionally lightweight Microfiber material that’s durable and tear resistant. They’ve got split outer leg seams to permit freedom of movement, and a special Flex Lycra panel on the inside for comfort.

Another top quality pair of MMA shorts which are both practical and appealing would be the ADX Black Dragon Fight Shorts. The business approaches a fighter’s movements in a different way, using state-of-the-art neoprene material in a number of areas that extends easily and functions effectively. The poly directional flex fabric in the body of the garment wicks moisture away from your body, keeping you dry even throughout the heat of battle. On top of that, they look great without having to be too flashy to be taken seriously.

On the reverse side of the coin is one thing like Tapout’s World Order Board Shorts, that are a part of TUF series of Official Team clothing. These are much more about style and showmanship than other models, keeping the World Order graphic on one of the legs and also the familiar Tapout logo on the backside. They appeal to those looking for lengthier shorts who are less concerned with ultimate comfort or performance.

Regardless of the style and brand you choose, its smart to consider the design elements that fit your distinctive fighting style. Men’s MMA shorts are (or should be) more than just a fashion statement – they’re a part of a serious fighter’s training gear and equipment, and should be closely considered to obtain the best value for your investment as time passes. Knowing your body and its limitations can help determine the right pair of shorts for your training and professional development.

If you’re looking into buying MMA shorts then you have to check out MMA Shorts They have some of the best shorts available! Or try out the Heavy Bags which are also made extremely well. This article, Choose The Right MMA Shorts has free reprint rights.

hobbies · martial arts · mixed martial arts · MMA · Recreation & Sports · sport · Sports · UFC

When you think about starting a competitive activity for physical fitness, combat may not be your initial idea. Yet no holds barred combat training is rising in global recognition as an entire exercise routine. Here are a few of the main advantages of this expanding trend.

1. Strength

One of the first benefits of mixed martial arts training is enhanced strength. This is because the various styles which may be associated with a martial arts exercise program will target all major muscles instead of a regular exercise routine that will only focus on one aspect of one’s body (like arms or abs). Upper and lower body workouts are necessary as well as a selection of motions associated with numerous techniques. Enhanced core strength can guard against many degenerative conditions like osteoporosis or weakness connected with aging. Also, hauling in the groceries are going to be so much easier!

2. Endurance

As well as resistance training, cardiovascular conditioning is additionally utilized in mma training. By incrementally improving your stamina, your heart, lungs, and other bodily systems will perform at enhanced levels. Technique drills are one way this really is accomplished, this means making the moves become second nature. Training is also a terrific way to workout everyday stresses. If you find the routine of a conventional gym workouts boring, martial arts training could be a lot more entertaining, making you more likely to stick to it.

3. Balance

With increased strength and endurance comes increased balance and flexibility. As core muscles become more powerful you’ll be able to maintain your center better as you practice kicks along with other moves. This is valuable for preventing falls along with other injuries. No more stumbling over your own feet!

4. Confidence

As your physical prowess improves so will your confidence with your ability to perform moves but additionally in life in general. You will have set an objective and achieved it via commitment to work. Self-defense from attackers or perhaps a mugging is an added extra.

5. Self-respect

After you have worked at accomplishing the aim of improving your fitness and level of skill, additionally, you will find a new sense of self-respect by way of self-discipline. You will also be able to better control outbursts of emotion, such as anger, which can bring about major difficulties.

Mixed martial arts training is a great way to exercise and strengthen the body and mind. Get started doing a exercise program today and start looking and feeling better!

When practicing MMA be sure to have the proper equipment such as Clinch Gear and UFC Shorts it’s important to get the right gear to practice with. Unique version for reprint here: Benefits Of MMA Training.

martial arts · mixed martial arts · MMA · Recreation & Sports · sport · Sports · UFC

Ever since he burst onto the MMA scene with a shocking first round KO upset of Jens Pulver at UFC 63, Joe Lauzon has been working to earn respect. For some reason hes had trouble being taken seriously as a top contender in the UFCs lightweight division. He may not fit the classical profile of a fighter, looking more like a fresh faced kid and is often referred to as a geek due to his educational background in computer science. In the main event at the UFC Ultimate Fight Night in Tampa, Lauzon withstood a game challenge from late replacement Jeremy Stephens to earn a 2nd round submission victory.

Lauzon was in control of the fight throughout, but Stephens gave a good account of himself despite his opponents obvious technical superiority on the ground. Lauzon appeared to be on the verge of ending the fight midway through the second with a ground and pound assault that he attempted to transition into a rear naked choke. Stephens fought back with a vengeance despite his disadvantageous position and opened a nasty cut on Lauzon’s forehead with an elbow strike.

As puddles of crimson gathered anytime Lauzon’s head neared the mat, he gained a new sense of urgency not wanting to lose on a stoppage due to the cut. He regained control on the ground and from full mount twisted into a nasty arm bar. Stephens tried to extricate himself, but was eventually forced to tap giving the bloody Lauzon a hard fought triumph.

The semifinal matchup featured another impressive effort from Cain Velasquez, who many have pegged as the heavyweight superstar of the future. He trains with the American Kickboxing Academy, and has a reputation as the hardest worker and most dominant sparring partner in a gym who includes among its membership superstars such as Bobby Southworth, Cung Le and Josh Thompson.

Velasquez was never really threatened in the fight, but he did have difficulty finishing off tough UFC newcomer Dennis Stojnic. Stojnic displayed impressive toughness and a chin of granite as he became the first of Velasquez’s opponents to make it into the second round.

In the second round, Velasquez quickly caught his opponent and sent him to the canvas with a nice combination which he followed up with another ground and pound attack to earn the TKO verdict.

On the undercard, Josh The Dentist Neer earned a tapout victory over the sports best known (and perhaps only) vegan, Mac Danzig. Danzig looked decent in the first round but in the second he looked listless and quickly fell victim to a nasty triangle choke.

In the opening bout of the evening, up-and-coming welterweight Anthony Rumble Johnson used his significant height and reach advantage to dispatch tough Luigi Fioravanti.

The live crowd in Tampa gave a very poor account of themselves, at times booing fighters mercilessly for no apparent reason whatsoever. This was in addition to the usual booing when the fight goes to the ground typical of uneducated MMA fan–they often turned on fighters midbout for no discernible reason. Their behavior reached a nadir in Cain Velasquez’s post fight interview, where he was booed mercilessly despite an impressive victory and informing Joe Rogan that he was about to become a father for the first time.

Ross Everett is a freelance sports writer and respected authority on soccer betting. His writing has appeared on a variety of sports sites including sports news and sportsbook directory sites. He lives in Las Vegas with three Jack Russell Terriers and an emu. He is currently working on an autobiography of former interior secretary James Watt.

entertainment · hobbies · mixed martial arts · recreation · Recreation & Sports · Sports · UFC

Two titles changed hands at UFC 92, with Rashad Evans defeating Forrest Griffin by TKO to win the light heavyweight title and Frank Mir knocking out Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira to claim the UFC interim heavyweight title. The event had been dubbed The Ultimate 2008 and every one of the main cards six matches ended via TKO.

While nominally taking subordinate status to the Evans/Griffin main event the most shocking result by far was Frank Mir’s second round TKO stoppage of Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. Nogueira was the overwhelming favorite coming into the fight and had never been stopped inside the distance during a career where hed faced the best of the best: Fedor Emelianenko (three times), Josh Barnett (twice), Semmy Schilt and Mirko Cro Cop among many others.

Mir, meanwhile, had been on the verge of a full time move to the broadcast booth before his victory over WWE superstar turned MMA fighter Brock Lesnar. The conventional wisdom concerning Mir was that hed never fully recovered from a serious motorcycle accident in 2004 and that he was essentially a shot fighter physically, emotionally and psychologically. He eventually returned to the octagon, and after two TKO losses in his first three comeback fights began to consider the possibility that he just didnt have it any more.

Always a quick witted and highly cerebral fighter, Mir had been very impressive with his commentary work on WEC broadcasts. A highly respected BJJ black belt, his knowledge of submission technique was legendary but in his broadcast role also displayed not only tremendous poise behind the mic but the sort of innate ability to see the fight several moves ahead of the competitors”the same ability displayed by the legendary Bas Rutten in his broadcasting work. When the fight against Brock Lesnar was signed, the perception among most fans was that Mir was a high profile setup for the former WWE champ”a big name on the downside of his career that would be physically overwhelmed by the strength and athleticism of his opponent. The expectation was that after a one-sided loss to Lesnar that Mir would transition into the next phase of his career as a broadcaster.

For the first minute of the fight, it looked like the above scenario was going to play out”Lesnar manhandled Mir from the opening horn, taking him down and landing punishing hammer fists on the ground. That was rendered irrelevant, however, when Lesnar made a rookie mistake and dangled his leg in easy reach of the BJJ blackbelt. Mir locked in a deep knee bar and Lesnar was forced to tap. Even with the submission victory, however, the perception was that Mir had gotten lucky when Lesnar made a rookie mistake.

There would be no such reprieve against Nogueira, according to many pundits, as he was too experienced and too good of a BJJ player in his own right to give Mir any such opportunities for a fluke submission. Mir entered the UFC 92 fight as a +305 wagering underdog, meaning that oddsmakers and the betting public agreed that he had little chance to prevail in this matchup against a highly experienced veteran that had never been stopped inside the distance.

The fight was certainly one-sided, but it was Mir who was in control throughout. From the opening horn he demonstrated surprisingly sharp striking skills, and knocked Nogueira down twice in the first round. Not expecting a solid standup offense, Nogueira looked downright lost in the later stages of the first round.

After a low kick attempt by Nogueira, Mirs counter tagged his opponent and he followed up with a big right hook that sent the Brazilian crashing to the canvas. Herb Dean jumped in to stop the fight almost immediately, awarding Mir an improbable TKO victory at 1:54 seconds of round #2.

In the light heavyweight championship match, Forrest Griffin got off to a good start in his title defense by using his superior height and reach and an impressive array of kicks to keep Rashad Evans just out of range for two full rounds. That changed dramatically in the third, as a flash knockdown by the challenger gave him the opening he needed to mount Griffin and unleash a brutal ground and pound assault.

The most highly anticipated match on the undercard also featured a lopsided TKO finish as Quinton Rampage Jackson dominated Wanderlei Silva in the third fight between the two men. It was Jacksons first fight since his well publicized hit and run incident in Orange County, California and he looked very sharp throughout before bringing the contest to a close with a perfectly placed left hook to the cheekbone. Silva immediately collapsed to the canvas and the referee started to step in before he hit the ground.

Ross Everett is a freelance sports writer and respected authority on sports betting odds comparison. He writing has appeared on a variety of sports sites including sportsbooks and sportsbook directory sites. He lives in Las Vegas with three Jack Russell Terriers and an emu. He is currently working on an autobiography of former energy secretary Donald Hodell.

entertainment · hobbies · mixed martial arts · recreation · Recreation & Sports · Sports · UFC

From a business standpoint, the UFCs first trip to Germany will clearly fall short of their success in the UK. From poor ticket sales to a downright hostile German media, its been one headache after another for Dana White and company. The UFC 99 card itself turned out to be an entertaining affair highlighted by a spectacular main event between Rich Franklin and Wanderlei Silva. Franklin would ultimately win the unanimous decision victory, but the fight itself far exceeded the expectations of most fans.

For the most part, Franklin picked Silva apart throughout the course of the fight (to quote UFC color commentator Joe Rogan) and deserved the unanimous decision verdict. What made the fight exceptional were the occasional glimpses of the old Axe Murderer. Late in the second and third rounds, Silva tagged Franklin with hard punches that left him clearly stunned. He did well to weather the storm and maintain control of the fight, but the uncertainty was enough to make the main event a very entertaining and exciting fight. Silva demurred on talk of retirement afterwards, though his tone gave some indication that hes leaning in that direction.

In the co-main event, heavyweight phenom Cain Velasquez survived a few nervous moments to put in a wall to wall domination of Cheick Kongo. Velasquez was rocked by Kongos punches early in rounds one and two, but quickly recovered to take the fight to the ground where he mauled the Frenchman. The result was an impressive victory for Velasquez over a top level opponent, but his struggles against Kongos standup game left several unanswered questions. The most compelling concern, of course, is that Velesquez might have a weak chin and simply not be able to take a punch particularly well. His problems could also be tactical or simply a case of not having enough patience”rushing his takedown attempts and eating punches rather than work for a less risky opportunity. In any case, his stand up defense needs to be upgraded significantly before he can think about competing against the likes of Brock Lesnar or Frank Mir.

The event also featured the UFC return of former PRIDE open weight GP champion Mirko Cro Cop. Cro Cop was making his return to action from knee surgery, and the Croatian striking machine got off to a slow start against overmatched Mostapha Al-Turk as he clearly sought to protect his rebuilt wheels. Of particular note was the fact that Cro Cop didnt throw a kick the entire fight”his bread and butter during his PRIDE dominance, which evoked the mantra right leg hospital, left leg cemetery. Once he let his hands go, however, he demonstrated emphatically that hes still got serious power. He ended the fight late in the first round by flooring Al-Turk with an overhand left followed up with some hammer fists on the ground.

Perennial contender Mike Swick looked impressive as he defeated Ben Saunders via 2nd round TKO. After an uneventful first five minutes, Swick let his hands go and his impressive handspeed proved no match for his adversary. Veteran lightweight Caol Uno returned to the UFC after a five year absence, losing a decision to Spencer Fisher in a somewhat tedious tactical affair. In the opening match of the live PPV, Dan Hardy won a hard fought split decision over Marcus Davis. The two men had feuded back and forth in the UK media, and while the fight may not have settled their differences in a decisive manner it did provide a solid opener to the evenings fight card.

Ross Everett is a respected freelance writer specializing in travel, poker and sports handicapping. He is a consulting handicapper for Anatta Sports where he is responsible for providing daily free sports picks. In his spare time he enjoys fine dining, flower arranging and scuba diving. He lives in Las Vegas with four dogs and a pet coyote.

hobbies · mixed martial arts · Recreation & Sports · Sports · sports entertainment · UFC