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The Turning Point: Struve vs. McCorkle
By: Chris Nelson
Stefan Struve file photo | Jim Page : Sherdog.com
Stefan Struve was forced to endure a near-constant stream of smack talk and one-liners from Sean McCorkle in the build-up to their bout at UFC 124, but the towering Dutchman made sure to get the last laugh on Saturday night.
It was Struve who struck first in the heavyweight affair, using every inch of his lanky right arm to bounce an overhand shot off McCorkle’s temple. The self-appointed “Big Sexy” responded by dumping Struve to the canvas with a high double-leg takedown. While he landed in side control, McCorkle soon found himself stuffed back to his 6-foot-11 opponent’s half-guard, his head loosely snared underneath Struve’s left arm.
McCorkle pressed his forearm onto Struve’s throat and, in doing so, was able to simultaneously extract his own head and pin down the limb which had trapped it. Almost instantly, McCorkle began framing up a kimura, twisting Struve’s left arm behind his own back. The submission-savvy 22-year-old recognized the hold immediately and began scooting backward, pressing his back into the cage and denying McCorkle the angle necessary to fully wrench the submission. Read more -
Primer: UFC 124
By: Jake Rossen
Georges St. Pierre: Dave Mandel | Sherdog.com
Fighting just twice a year and rarely compromised by opponents, Georges St. Pierre might be the single greatest original product of the modern-era Ultimate Fighting Championship.
Zuffa -- which bought the UFC brand in 2001 -- inherited a number of attractions from previous owners, including Tito Ortiz, Randy Couture, and Chuck Liddell; Brock Lesnar’s fame was bred in pro wrestling; Kimbo Slice was a product of YouTube. The UFC has discovered and developed many stars, but St. Pierre is in a league of his own.
St. Pierre had several fights in Canada to begin his career, but it wasn’t until he began taking down high-level wrestlers in the UFC that people began to understand what was happening: a capital-A athlete had learned how to fight, and had developed his body for no other purpose.
Wrestlers had physicality, but only as a side effect of their collegiate careers -- worse, they often relied solely on their ability to grapple, their bodies and egos married to certain functions. When St. Pierre made his UFC debut seven years ago, he wasn’t trying to adapt. The athleticism and the skillset were built simultaneously.
Previous to St. Pierre, athletes took turns succeeding with fighters, and good athletes who married good skills (Matt Hughes, Couture) were regular winners. But St. Pierre is a great athlete with a great ability; he has the frame of an Olympian in a sport that hosts a lot of varsity players. The interest -- and there’s a lot, with St. Pierre’s last fight against Dan Hardy flirting with Lesnar numbers -- stems from that unlikely coupling. He could probably be a professional in another sport if he had made that decision. Instead, he’s operating at that level for the purpose of a new form of prizefight.
A few years from now there will probably be many St. Pierres, groomed athletes who groom great physical gifts with an understanding of violence. For now, he’s still the exception that will eventually insist on the rule. Read more -
McCorkle on UFC Debut and Life
By: TJ De Santis
Sean McCorkle won his Octagon debut at UFC 119 against Pride and K-1 veteran Mark Hunt.
The Indiana native walked Sherdog.com through the moments that led up to his submission win and how he felt exchanging with a former K-1 grand prix champion.
McCorkle touches on this bright spot in his life, which has been less than pleasant as of late. Also, the UFC newcomer speculates on what may be next in his return bout.
