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Damon Martin Joins Press Row
By: Jordan Breen
Every Wednesday, Administrative Editor Jordan Breen welcomes a member of the mixed martial arts media into “Press Row” on the Sherdog.com blog. This week, Breen is joined by Fox Sports MMA writer Damon Martin.
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Video: Kimbo Slice vs. Shane Tilyard Boxing Match
By: Sherdog.com Staff
To many MMA fans, Kimbo Slice is but a distant memory. However, boxing spectators are still experiencing The Kimbo Show, the latest installment of which came today in Sydney. Check out video of the Bahamian brawler’s fight (via Itchesaintpoop) against Australian heavyweight Shane Tilyard. Read more -
Brent Brookhouse Joins Press Row
By: Jordan Breen
Every Wednesday, Administrative Editor Jordan Breen welcomes a member of the mixed martial arts media into “Press Row” on the Sherdog.com blog. This week, Breen is joined by BloodyElbow.com managing editor Brent Brookhouse.
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Breen and Brookhouse discuss the curious case of MMA welterweight-turned-Kimbo Sliceboxing opponent Brian Green, his dubious use of ankle weights and the shambolic scenario that resulted. The two look at the incident, what it says about athletic commissions at large and the bizarre ways in which MMA fighters seem willing to implicate themselves in questionable behavior.
The two also discuss what exactly is so compelling about Kimbo, whether EliteXC or Pride has had a greater impact on the current MMA landscape and arguably the strangest UFC event ever.
Grab your credential and get a seat in “Press Row.” -
This Week’s MMA Birthdays: Kimbo Slice Turns 38
By: Brian Knapp
Kimbo Slice turns 38 this week.
Sherdog.com lists birthdays and ages of mixed martial arts stars for the coming week.
February
5th:
Antoni Hardonk (36)
Lyle Beerbohm (33)
6th:
Mamoru Nakamura (31)
7th:
Carina Damm (33)
Haruo Ochi (28)
T.J. Dillashaw (26)
Cesar Avila (23)
Jae Hyun So (23)
8th:
Yuki Ishikawa (45)
John Lewis (44)
Kimbo Slice (38)
9th:
Mark Munoz (34)
Charlie Brenneman (31)
Jake Rosholt (30)
Felipe Arantes (24)
10th:
Matt Horwich (34)
Mariusz Radziszewski (28)
11th:
Ken Shamrock (48)
Cub Swanson (29)
Follow the jump for reader comments. Read more -
Kimbo Slice Jr?
By: Sherdog.com Staff
Kevin Ferguson II, the son of UFC and EliteXC veteran Kimbo Slice, is currently making a name for himself as a 16-year-old running back at Miami’s Booker T. Washington High School.
The upstart junior talks about ball and his famous father with Lost Letterman.
Follow the jump for reader comments. Read more -
SRN: Frank Shamrock & Greg Jackson
By: TJ De Santis
Live radio returned to The Sherdog Radio Network Monday with new episodes of "The Savage Dog Show" and "Beatdown" radio shows.
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Greg Savage was joined by Jordan Breen on the latest episode of "The SDS." The two men shared their thoughts on last Saturday night's UFC 128 card. They were also joined by Frank Shamrock who responded to Jared Shaw's accuasations of Shamrock's proposal to work a fight on CBS against Kevin Ferguson. Randy Gordon from "Sirius Fight Club" also joined the show.
On "Beatdown" Jack Encarnacao and myself were joined by MMA trainer Greg Jackson. Greg was in the corner of Jon Jones Saturday night in Newark, New Jersey when "Bones" defeated Mauricio Rua to capture the UFC light-heavyweight title. Jackson is also the trainer of former 205 pound champ Rashad Evans. Jackson comments on Jones performance, the strategy involved in the Rua fight, and the subject of teammates fighting one another.
Check out the show and our archives by clicking here. -
Kimbo’s 1-2 Punch
By: Jake Rossen
Terry Goodlad/Sherdog.com
As of Saturday, Kimbo Slice, the world’s first -- and hopefully only -- YouTube-groomed fighter, made his final exit from the Octagon gates of the UFC. He looked mediocre in three fights, outpointing only Houston Alexander in a bout that didn’t inspire confidence. If there was any debate that training at American Top Team and taking things seriously would show us something new, losing to a 1-0 Matt Mitrione would be the end of it.
Except it isn’t. Fighting is as much about audience investment as results, which is why you will always find a fight involving your father or brother far more compelling than one involving Rich Franklin. "Tank" Abbott, a fighter with better wrestling than Slice but atrocious conditioning, commanded six-figure paydays well into his two-figure losses. He promised a fight. In an era where an undisputed champion like Anderson Silva can’t make the same guarantee, this is a valuable trait.
Slice is employable. The only question is what he gets hired to do.
Strikeforce’s Scott Coker told Sherdog Radio that he was lukewarm to the idea of bringing in Slice, likely for reasons relating to his pay scale -- which you’d think would be reduced after poor performances -- and an unspoken but assumed concern that Coker’s promotion would be home for the UFC’s discards. While that’s hardly good for their reputation, neither is middling ratings.
Audiences are already aware Slice is not a contender, so having that point re-addressed with a failed UFC bid is not a crippling affliction. Slice fighting Herschel Walker or even (God help me even as I type this) Jose Canseco would not cause the earth to open up and brimstone to consume us. Fighting is about entertainment. Strikeforce is already operating at a deficit of most top contenders, so why pretend otherwise? Sign him. Give him nothing fights that mean something for the 15 minutes they’re contested. Ship him to Japan and let Kazushi Sakuraba try to ankle-pick him.
These are just fights for a fight’s sake. When did that become such a politically incorrect thing to do? Read more -
UFC 113 Post-Mortem: Rua’s Return, Daley Unforgiven, and More
By: Jake Rossen
Dave Mandel/Sherdog.com
This is what makes fighters a different breed than the rest: seven weeks after being sedated and cut open for an appendectomy, Mauricio “Shogun” Rua went back into the gym and prepared for a fight that was already the most important of his life. Instead of making excuses, he delivered the first knockout loss of Lyoto Machida’s career, earned a UFC light heavyweight championship, and eradicated the memory of poor performances. It’s a pretty good example of the patient making a successful recovery.
Even though he had all his organs, Machida has nothing to be ashamed of: he canned good fighters in Rashad Evans, Tito Ortiz, and Thiago Silva, and could very well beat anyone else in the division. (Nobody’s kickboxing is more dangerous than Rua’s.) He also holds the distinction of being the only man in the past three years to defend the 205 lb. title at least once. The fact that it’s changed hands five times since 2007 is a strong case for that belt being the most heavily disputed in the sport.
But his future is unclear. Part of Machida’s appeal was the mysticism he brought into the Octagon -- the puzzle of being a traditionalist in a sea of biker-gang tough guys. Now that Rua has proved pressure is a potential solution, Machida can no longer be sold as an anomaly. Flaws in his system have been exposed. If people tolerated his disciplined approach because they were curious to see him figured out, that appeal is gone. It is up to him whether the return of his family’s karate will be as compelling an attraction as its emergence. Fortunately, most classic martial arts stories revolve around revenge. Read more -
Stock Report: UFC 113
By: Mike Fridley
UFC 113 has come to a close. Here’s a look at whose stock notably went up and those that held or lost ground Saturday in Montreal.
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Stock Up
Mauricio “Shogun” Rua: Yes, he was robbed point blank in the first bout. Let’s just get that out of the way and move on. “Shogun” left no doubt this time, as he put Machida to sleep with a counter right and finished him off with punches from the mount. I can’t think of a more satisfying statement from Rua’s perspective. Who’s next? Let’s hope it’s the winner of the Quinton Jackson vs. Rashad Evans bout at UFC 114.
Matt Mitrione: Absolutely had his way with Internet legend Kimbo Slice using a barrage of kicks and some resourceful ground work, both on top and from guard. With his size and fast improvement, the former NFL player may be one to watch for going forward due to his high ceiling.
Alan Belcher: He went to work on Patrick Cote’s body early and held his own in punching exchanges before picking the Canadian up and throwing him right on his face. Seconds later, Cote was tapping to a rear-naked choke. Belcher quickly seized the opportunity to challenge Anderson Silva to a standup war. He should be careful what he asks for.
Joe Doerksen: Has quietly won six straight bouts with four finishes, including his submission of Tom Lawlor. Doerksen punched his ticket for another look by UFC matchmaker Joe Silva with the come-from-behind win.
Marcus Davis: He needed a win badly, and he got it with a quick punch to Jonathan Goulet’s questionable chin. “The Irish Hand Grenade” is back in the fold.
Johny Hendricks: The two-time NCAA national wrestling champion at Oklahoma State University ran his record to 8-0 with a hard-fought win over an experienced T.J. Grant. It’s time to see Hendricks take on a top-tier welterweight in his next contest.
Joey Beltran: Few gave the “Mexicutioner” much of a chance at having a long tenure when he signed with the UFC to take on Rolles Gracie, but Beltran is now 2-0 inside the Octagon after outpointing Tim Hague. Next for him? Hopefully lots of cardio training and a step up in competition. -
UFC 113 Countdown: Kimbo vs. Mitrione
Video courtesy: UFC.com. Read more
