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Monday Morning Reverie: Spectacular
There are not too many adjectives that can describe how wonderful
the Roger Huerta
(Pictures)-Clay Guida (Pictures) war was on Saturday.
The matchup, touted as the potential fight of the year, more than lived up to that billing. This year has had its share of thrilling battles, such as Huerta-Leonard Garcia (Pictures), Takanori Gomi (Pictures)-Nick Diaz (Pictures) and a few others, but it's fairly safe to assume that Huerta-Guida will snatch the award.
What made the match such an exemplary duel was the fact that it ended without dubiety. The two exchanged hellacious bombs from the outset, and when things got a little too rough for either man while standing, the wild brawl was slammed to the canvas repeatedly. Guida was in full control of the contest and even had Huerta on the verge of being knocked out in the second, but the Mexican-American somehow survived and eventually submitted Guida in the third.
The two tiny giants showed such resolve and such courage that regardless of who won or how, nobody inside the fantastic Pearl left disappointed. Guida was badly rocked by a series of punches and knees and eventually succumbed to a rear-naked choke. But in defeat, Guida truly won.
Sometimes in the fight game it's better that a fighter loses a showdown than win, depending on how the fight unfurls. In Guida's case, his loss meant more for his career because such a massive audience witnessed it, and the loss also came at the hands of one of the sport's hottest commodities.
No fighter wants to lose a fight, but far too many play it too safely and fight not to lose. Guida is one fighter who will probably be more proud of himself knowing that he lost in the fight of the year and gave it all he had, won over thousands of new fans and is guaranteed to return to the UFC rather than squeak out a lousy lay-and-pray decision.
Guida is one of the toughest fighters on the planet, and he's clearly one of the most exciting. His relentless pressure and will to sacrifice literally anything he can to win is more than enough to give any world champion fits. Don't be surprised if Guida walks away with the title one day.
As for Huerta, hopefully he won over some fans as he's quickly become the sport's most polarizing figure. For reasons only the myopic know, Huerta is hated on mercilessly. People dislike "El Matador" for moronic reasons such as he's good looking, articulate, Latino and not B.J. Penn (Pictures) -- or because he delivers excellent fights every time out.
I never could understand why so much vitriol was targeted at Huerta, but he proved on Saturday why he is such a great fighter. He was soundly rocked in the second, and that's not a sign that his chin is weak; it's a sign that he has the heart of a champion and was able to bounce back from near disaster. Most fighters simply crumble once they are knocked senseless, but not Huerta.
Huerta also displayed the rare fighting desire to come up with Plans B, C, D, E, F and G. It's not common to see a fighter have a backup plan, but when the going gets rough with Huerta, he simply pulls something out of his bag of tricks that bucks the trend of convention. He'll throw uppercuts from his knees, seize someone's back, get back to his feet, use the overhead jumbo screens to see where his foe is and barge out of his corner with such fury that it's either all or nothing.
It's that type of inventive fighting style that makes Huerta such a unique force. His stamina and heart will never be questioned, and it's safe to say that he'll never enter a contest with just a singular plan of attack. Before he loses a decision, gets knocked out or submitted, he'll think of everything under the sun that could give him the advantage in a fight.
And what's most important, Huerta wants to be an all-time great and not just a champion. He trains like it and he certainly fights like it. He also demands to fight the absolute best opposition. How many other "champions" can you honestly say that about?
Danzig is No Misfit
Mac Danzig (Pictures) was my pick going into this season of "The Ultimate Fighter" even before I had heard the entire cast. I figured that unless Danzig was put in the house with someone with the same talent level, it was a shoe-in that he'd be crowned the "champion" of Zuffa's popular game show.
Danzig has always been one of the most talented fighters that either never got the right opportunity or was just unknown. Aside from his lone appearance in the late PRIDE's final American show, where Hayato Sakurai (Pictures) scorched him, Danzig's biggest break came in the form of fighting under the King of the Cage banner.
And though he hadn't yet toppled an elite-level fighter while ascending the lightweight ladder, those who watched his many fights knew he had what it took to at least make some noise inside the UFC's Octagon.
It's uncertain whether Danzig will ever nab that elusive "world" title, especially considering that he's dropping back down to lightweight -- arguably the sport's toughest weight class. Danzig has all the necessary tools required to challenge for the UFC's 155-pound title, and he certainly has a much larger fan base since he appeared on the show.
But as it stands right now, it's tough to imagine Danzig scoring wins over such fierce adversaries as B.J. Penn (Pictures), Sean Sherk (Pictures), Roger Huerta (Pictures) or Joe Stevenson.
Now that's not to say Danzig won't eventually face or triumph over said superstars, but it's curious to see how Phase Two of Mac's career will unfold. Landing the gig on "The Ultimate Fighter" was the opportunity of a lifetime, and I don't see him resting on his laurels anytime soon. Danzig's the real deal, and he'll prove that statement in the coming months within the UFC.
Misc. Debris
"War Machine" is as tough as they come -- that's for sure. He was battered, bloodied and exhausted in his absolute war with Jared Rollins (Pictures), yet he was still able to pull off the victory.
Jon Koppenhaver (Pictures), as he's known to some, may still be a bit crude as an all-around mixed martial artist, but his heart is as large as Tank Abbott's beer gut. While he may not become a champion as soon as he'd like, "War Machine" will become a supremely popular fighter in the UFC. …
When most fighters get knocked out, they tend to crawl into the nearest cave and beat themselves up. Not Richie Hightower (Pictures). He was on the losing end of a thrilling slugfest against "Rude Boy" Troy Mandaloniz (Pictures) and made no excuses. I had a chance to chat with him at length, and he had no regrets about being stopped. …
And speaking of Mandaloniz, he looks like a one-dimensional fighter with crushing punching power. That's not to say he won't evolve into a true MMA fighter, but he looks a lot like fellow cement-fisted bomber Chris Leben (Pictures) in terms of being a grassroots slugger, and that's not a bad thing. …
Tommy Speer was throttled rather handily by Danzig, but that's not to say Speer is some sort of joke. He's still a young kid, and though he was submitted in just more than two minutes in the biggest fight of his life, he has arguably the highest ceiling of anybody from this season's cast or from any season for that matter. When he learns how to properly defend submissions and learns to strike for MMA, coupled with his powerful wrestling and immense strength, we may just see another Matt Hughes (Pictures)/Sean Sherk (Pictures)-type of fighter in the future. …
This past weekend saw Semmy Schilt (Pictures) become the first fighter in K-1 history to win the World Grand Prix title for a third consecutive year. Schilt once again proved that he not only has grown into kickboxing's greatest heavyweight but has also kept Holland on the map as the greatest country on the planet when it comes to churning out larger kickboxers and Muay Thai fighters. I never thought I'd say this, but it's not without speculation that Schilt now belongs in the same league as Peter Aerts (Pictures) and Ernesto Hoost (Pictures). …
Gina Carano (Pictures), the fantasy girlfriend of many a fight fan, is apparently going to be on the new "American Gladiators" show, which is scheduled to air Jan. 6. Carano will be one of the gladiators on the show and will battle under the TV moniker "Crush." I grew up a huge fan of the original "American Gladiators" and to say that I'm amped for the return of this once-mighty series is an understatement. And now that a genuine fighter is going to be on the show, I'll tune in each and every time it's aired … for the five weeks it'll last on TV.
Hit me up at www.myspace.com/sherdogsloan
The matchup, touted as the potential fight of the year, more than lived up to that billing. This year has had its share of thrilling battles, such as Huerta-Leonard Garcia (Pictures), Takanori Gomi (Pictures)-Nick Diaz (Pictures) and a few others, but it's fairly safe to assume that Huerta-Guida will snatch the award.
What made the match such an exemplary duel was the fact that it ended without dubiety. The two exchanged hellacious bombs from the outset, and when things got a little too rough for either man while standing, the wild brawl was slammed to the canvas repeatedly. Guida was in full control of the contest and even had Huerta on the verge of being knocked out in the second, but the Mexican-American somehow survived and eventually submitted Guida in the third.
The two tiny giants showed such resolve and such courage that regardless of who won or how, nobody inside the fantastic Pearl left disappointed. Guida was badly rocked by a series of punches and knees and eventually succumbed to a rear-naked choke. But in defeat, Guida truly won.
Sometimes in the fight game it's better that a fighter loses a showdown than win, depending on how the fight unfurls. In Guida's case, his loss meant more for his career because such a massive audience witnessed it, and the loss also came at the hands of one of the sport's hottest commodities.
No fighter wants to lose a fight, but far too many play it too safely and fight not to lose. Guida is one fighter who will probably be more proud of himself knowing that he lost in the fight of the year and gave it all he had, won over thousands of new fans and is guaranteed to return to the UFC rather than squeak out a lousy lay-and-pray decision.
Guida is one of the toughest fighters on the planet, and he's clearly one of the most exciting. His relentless pressure and will to sacrifice literally anything he can to win is more than enough to give any world champion fits. Don't be surprised if Guida walks away with the title one day.
As for Huerta, hopefully he won over some fans as he's quickly become the sport's most polarizing figure. For reasons only the myopic know, Huerta is hated on mercilessly. People dislike "El Matador" for moronic reasons such as he's good looking, articulate, Latino and not B.J. Penn (Pictures) -- or because he delivers excellent fights every time out.
I never could understand why so much vitriol was targeted at Huerta, but he proved on Saturday why he is such a great fighter. He was soundly rocked in the second, and that's not a sign that his chin is weak; it's a sign that he has the heart of a champion and was able to bounce back from near disaster. Most fighters simply crumble once they are knocked senseless, but not Huerta.
Huerta also displayed the rare fighting desire to come up with Plans B, C, D, E, F and G. It's not common to see a fighter have a backup plan, but when the going gets rough with Huerta, he simply pulls something out of his bag of tricks that bucks the trend of convention. He'll throw uppercuts from his knees, seize someone's back, get back to his feet, use the overhead jumbo screens to see where his foe is and barge out of his corner with such fury that it's either all or nothing.
It's that type of inventive fighting style that makes Huerta such a unique force. His stamina and heart will never be questioned, and it's safe to say that he'll never enter a contest with just a singular plan of attack. Before he loses a decision, gets knocked out or submitted, he'll think of everything under the sun that could give him the advantage in a fight.
And what's most important, Huerta wants to be an all-time great and not just a champion. He trains like it and he certainly fights like it. He also demands to fight the absolute best opposition. How many other "champions" can you honestly say that about?
Danzig is No Misfit
Mac Danzig (Pictures) was my pick going into this season of "The Ultimate Fighter" even before I had heard the entire cast. I figured that unless Danzig was put in the house with someone with the same talent level, it was a shoe-in that he'd be crowned the "champion" of Zuffa's popular game show.
Danzig has always been one of the most talented fighters that either never got the right opportunity or was just unknown. Aside from his lone appearance in the late PRIDE's final American show, where Hayato Sakurai (Pictures) scorched him, Danzig's biggest break came in the form of fighting under the King of the Cage banner.
And though he hadn't yet toppled an elite-level fighter while ascending the lightweight ladder, those who watched his many fights knew he had what it took to at least make some noise inside the UFC's Octagon.
It's uncertain whether Danzig will ever nab that elusive "world" title, especially considering that he's dropping back down to lightweight -- arguably the sport's toughest weight class. Danzig has all the necessary tools required to challenge for the UFC's 155-pound title, and he certainly has a much larger fan base since he appeared on the show.
But as it stands right now, it's tough to imagine Danzig scoring wins over such fierce adversaries as B.J. Penn (Pictures), Sean Sherk (Pictures), Roger Huerta (Pictures) or Joe Stevenson.
Now that's not to say Danzig won't eventually face or triumph over said superstars, but it's curious to see how Phase Two of Mac's career will unfold. Landing the gig on "The Ultimate Fighter" was the opportunity of a lifetime, and I don't see him resting on his laurels anytime soon. Danzig's the real deal, and he'll prove that statement in the coming months within the UFC.
Misc. Debris
"War Machine" is as tough as they come -- that's for sure. He was battered, bloodied and exhausted in his absolute war with Jared Rollins (Pictures), yet he was still able to pull off the victory.
Jon Koppenhaver (Pictures), as he's known to some, may still be a bit crude as an all-around mixed martial artist, but his heart is as large as Tank Abbott's beer gut. While he may not become a champion as soon as he'd like, "War Machine" will become a supremely popular fighter in the UFC. …
When most fighters get knocked out, they tend to crawl into the nearest cave and beat themselves up. Not Richie Hightower (Pictures). He was on the losing end of a thrilling slugfest against "Rude Boy" Troy Mandaloniz (Pictures) and made no excuses. I had a chance to chat with him at length, and he had no regrets about being stopped. …
And speaking of Mandaloniz, he looks like a one-dimensional fighter with crushing punching power. That's not to say he won't evolve into a true MMA fighter, but he looks a lot like fellow cement-fisted bomber Chris Leben (Pictures) in terms of being a grassroots slugger, and that's not a bad thing. …
Tommy Speer was throttled rather handily by Danzig, but that's not to say Speer is some sort of joke. He's still a young kid, and though he was submitted in just more than two minutes in the biggest fight of his life, he has arguably the highest ceiling of anybody from this season's cast or from any season for that matter. When he learns how to properly defend submissions and learns to strike for MMA, coupled with his powerful wrestling and immense strength, we may just see another Matt Hughes (Pictures)/Sean Sherk (Pictures)-type of fighter in the future. …
This past weekend saw Semmy Schilt (Pictures) become the first fighter in K-1 history to win the World Grand Prix title for a third consecutive year. Schilt once again proved that he not only has grown into kickboxing's greatest heavyweight but has also kept Holland on the map as the greatest country on the planet when it comes to churning out larger kickboxers and Muay Thai fighters. I never thought I'd say this, but it's not without speculation that Schilt now belongs in the same league as Peter Aerts (Pictures) and Ernesto Hoost (Pictures). …
Gina Carano (Pictures), the fantasy girlfriend of many a fight fan, is apparently going to be on the new "American Gladiators" show, which is scheduled to air Jan. 6. Carano will be one of the gladiators on the show and will battle under the TV moniker "Crush." I grew up a huge fan of the original "American Gladiators" and to say that I'm amped for the return of this once-mighty series is an understatement. And now that a genuine fighter is going to be on the show, I'll tune in each and every time it's aired … for the five weeks it'll last on TV.
Hit me up at www.myspace.com/sherdogsloan
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