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Parisyan vs. Parisyan
By: Jake Rossen
Karo Parisyan file photo: Jeff Sherwood | Sherdog.com
The boxer Oliver McCall once began sobbing between rounds in a bout with Lennox Lewis. In a hybrid MMA/kickboxing contest, an exhausted Bob Sapp begged his corner not to force him out for more punishment against Jerome Le Banner. Paulo Filho regarded Chael Sonnen as a nuisance neighbor rather than an opponent in a cage.
Fighters have perpetually exhausted adrenal glands, and sometimes it all comes out at once. In these cases, it happened to come out in front of an audience. What’s surprising is not that it happens: It’s that it doesn’t happen more often.
That’s because choosing a career in prizefighting is an emotional drain. Athletes make an appointment months in advance that will jeopardize both their health and their future. It’s like signing up for a medical procedure: The thing itself might not be so bad, but the anticipation is what wears nerves raw. And unlike most operations or phobias, there’s a fairly good chance something is going to go very, very wrong.
Most guys deal with it. Some don’t. On the surface, Karo Parisyan had the posture and attitude of someone who was too callused to be trumped by fear. He probably sticks his chest out when buying a gallon of milk. Seeing him fight, I’d envy his constitution. There’s a guy, I thought, who would never need a Valium before getting his teeth cleaned. Read more -
5 Questions: UFC 106
By: Jake Rossen
D. Mandel/Sherdog.com
Is Tito Ortiz ready for an encore?
Ortiz’s recent performances displayed a fighter far removed from the kind of dominating, aggressive cage-wrestling he used to great success early on; he blamed back issues, corrected by a new and less invasive surgery. But even if Ortiz reverts to old form, he’ll be a 2002 fighter in 2009: up against athletes who can stuff his takedown, shut him down on the ground, and pester him standing. Aggressive wrestlers will always have a chance -- even fresh off the college mat -- but it’s not as good a guarantee as it used to be.
Can Forrest Griffin handle another loss? Read more -
UFC 106 Primer
By: Jake Rossen
S. Albanese/Tailstar.com
When the UFC’s hype engine fails to deliver any real, palpable anticipation for a fight -- as in the case of Saturday’s Tito Ortiz/Forrest Griffin rematch, which is fine but far from the Epic Super Rematch of Mega Titans some clever editing and music are presenting it as -- you can make up your own narrative.
In this instance, UFC 106’s four light heavyweights might potentially be participating in a four-man tournament for a chance at the title without knowing it. In addition to Ortiz/Griffin, a debuting Antonio Rogerio Nogueira will face Luis Arthur Cane; the respective winners would have time to meet before May 1’s Lyoto Machida/Mauricio Rua rematch. It may be all that you need to sit a little closer to the television. Read more
