The upcoming EliteXC MMA event this Saturday will be the first time that Mixed Martial Arts will be broadcast on a major television network. Maybe MMA has finally shaken itself of its old image and is now a main stream sport, rather than its life before the modern UFC when it was seen as a cult sport.
This sport has come a long way from its days of allowing eye-gouging and shots to the business.
Since the sport was first introduced, it was shunned by all major media people, and it was attempted to be shut down by a current presidential candidate. But now with the regulation of the events, how the fighters represent themselves and the sport, and grass roots shows like Spike TV's The Ultimate Fighter how could this sport not be considered with the stick and ball sports of Football, Baseball, Hockey and Basketball.
Even respected sports networks like Sportsnet in Canada and a certain four letter word, lets call them PSEN, have had spots on television dedicated to this sport. Sportsnet even employs thier own MMA talking head. Not to mention most sports websites now have entire pages dedicated to the covering of not only the large events like the UFC, but also others like WEC, MFC and EliteXC.
Now politicians are trying to influence these young viewers of these events, as evidenced by the commercial during TUF last night where various UFC stars are encouraging people to vote. People who once poo pooed the sport, are now trying to take advantage of its popularity.
But even with the popularity of MMA, people still see it as they did when Royce Gracie was breaking people's arm. They refuse to take a look at this sport now and see how far it has come. But, then you can't influence how people perceive thier sport when thier mind is already made up.
With the first MMA event being put on "free" TV, Maybe MMA has finally arrived.
Not many topics deserveing of a full post today, so here is a little of everything:
I am really looking forward to watching March Madness in the coming weeks, and who isn't. I think traditional powers like UCLA and North Carolina (If Ty Lawson is healthy) will do well in the tournament, but other traditionaol powers like Duke will not do well in the tournament. Duke has no inside presence and when you live and die the three pointer, sooner or later shots stop dropping. Also, Memphis is not going far in the tournament is because when people keep fouling you and you can't cash in on free points, you will lose games.
I think that the NHL has never been more fun after watching the game between Pittsburgh and Washington on Sunday, and seeing two of the best young players in the game battleing it out. The charismatic, yet non-english speaking Alexander Ovechkin and the monotone but energizer bunny attitude of Sidney Crosby, make me believe that I am watching a battle of of the titans similar to the Larry Bird vs Magic Johnson level.
When you start spring practice for college in late winter and you get more than 50,000 people to a spring game, it kind makes me think that there is two seasons in the sports world, football season and waiting/preparing for football season.
With watching Shaq go flying into someones lap in the third row of sunday's Los Suns vs Spurs, maybe aside from a disclaimer they should offer you insurance to prevent injury from 300+ lbs. objects flying into the stands.
I think humiliating bets having to do with sporting events, are absolutely a part of the fabric that is sports gambling. From the Chicago Bears fan who had to change his name Peyton Manning, or what is happening on ESPN Radio's "Mike and Mike in the Morning".
I think the people bashing MMA and saying it is a barbaric sport and should be outlawed like AOL Sports Columnist Kevin Blackistone, the article here, need to wake up and look at the most popular sport in North America, football. Look at the statistics and then come talk to me. This is the equivalent of that old guy yelling at kids to get off his lawn or when Brett Favre didn't want to learn a new offense. Old crotchity sports writers like Blackistone and Chicago Sun-Times Columnist Jay Marriotti should re-evaluate how they perceive the sport.
I think MLB Spring Training stories like a pitcher struggling or a hitter having a good spring are blown way out of proportion. IT IS SPRING PEOPLE!!! Many MLB hitters right now are facing Single "A" pitchers and kids just out of high school, wait until April first rolls around, then tell me a hitter or pitcher is struggling.
This coming weekend in the UFC is the perfect example why the UFC is one of the best run companies in the entire world. They are now a global company that they have done many events outside the United States. They have finally branched out and are coming to Canada in April.
I have said this before, every company should model themselves after the UFC simply because they run tehir business the right way. They start when you are new to the company on a lower pay scale, if you are a huge star, you are paid more because of the name you have gained in another company. They are the model business.
Now that I have told you what is right in the business world and what is wrong, time for my picks for UFC 80
Only a few matches catch my eye:
BJ Penn will win a decision over Joe Stevenson, but it will be close
Gonzago will beat Verdum with a high kick a la Cro Cop
I am really looking forward to watching UFC 79 this weekend, especially because I can watch it at a normal time like 8:00, as I am on vacation in Arizona, rather than watching it at 10:00 back in my native Canada. They should start every UFC event an hour earlier to accomodate everyone in every time zone.
On to the fights. Looking forward to the much anticipated match up of Wanderlei Silva and Chuck Liddell. I think that this is Chuck's last fight unless he pulls out the victory, which I think he will do. Chuck is going to play his game perfectly and catch Silva when Silva shoots in for the takedown, Chuck in the second by knockout.
Next is GSP vs. Matt Hughes. I don't really like Hughes simply because he is hypercompetitive, and won't do something unless he can win. He only took this fight with GSP because he wanted to take advantage of a potentially out-of-shape St. Pierre. I thought UFC fighters had no fear of challenges, well maybe some do.
Like with him coaching on the Ultimate Fighter. He pushed religion on his team from day one by giving them all a passage to read. Then after every match he would have a prayer. I am a catholic, but not to the level that Hughes is. He shouldn't have done what he did by pushing his religion on his team. You risk a lot of things when you do something like that. He was lucky he didn't catch a bad guy. In this fight I have to say it will end by a KO with GSP's hand raised in the second round.
Hughes will then gracefully retire only to whine that he didn't get his title shot, then he will fade away. I may have a biased opinion, but I don't care.
Have not had a Mixed Martial Arts post in a while, or a boxing post ever, but with a big weekend coming up for both sports.
I think the Ultimate Fighter finale this weekend will be an excellent watch, and I want to personally thank Spike TV for putting them on free tv. I am glad to see that Tommy Speer made it to the final, but I would prefer anyone over Mac Danzig.
He is just a guy who takes life just a little to seriously. Like when someone pulled a prank on Team Hughes, and he had to be restrained before someone even told him what happened, for fear he would go balistic. Just laugh it off, and do something to someone in return, don't threaten to beat somone up for saying "You, me and space". You gotta be above that, when you know you could be the snot oout o####uy like Richie Hightower, just rise above and go with the flow.
Another thing don't be pissed when people sk to sample your food. That is like a 5 year-old not wanting to share his toys. He wanted to try it and that was it, not eat all your food. RELAX!!!! If you take life to seriously, Captain Miserable, your buttons to upset you become huge, and very sensitive. Relax and enjoy the ride.
I hope Speers puts the wood to him in the fight, but I think Danzig is to technical, and technique beats strength every time.
Now to Pretty Boy Floyd and Ricky Hatton. This is another one of those things where a guys has all the talent in the world, but choses to talk over it all. I don't deny that Floyd is a good fighter, but the way he carrys himself is just not my particular brand of personality. Hatton is a guy I know very little about but I will be happy to see him clean Mayweather's clock this weekend, but it pro bably won't happen because Mayweather is just to good.
This is one of the best weekends in fighting, and hopefully it lives up to the hype, unlike De la Hoya v Mayweather in May.
I was disappointed with hearing of the news of Randy Couture's departure from the UFC to focus on his acting career. I am a Couture fan and I would have wanted to see him finish out his contract and demolish the heavywieght divison in the UFC.
I became a fan of Couture when he was a coach of the Ultimate Fighter in season and I attached myself to his team and wanted every one of his fighters to win their matches. Then when he retired for the first time I felt he had more in that ank and could go on for longer. Then last March when he beat Tim Sylvia for the heavyweight title at over 40 years old. I also enjoyed listening to his commentary during the main events of ever UFC event he wasn't involved in. The MMA lost a great person this past weekend.
Now with the vacant heavyweight title, the Sylvia v Vera fight this weekend has title implications. I think the UFC should have the winner of this match should face the winner of the Kongo v Nogeira fight coming up later in the year.
As for this weekend, I only really care about a couple of the fights, but I am looking forward to watching the watching Jason MacDonald and Kalib Starnes fighting this weekend but I will only pick the two main fights.
Brandon Vera beats Tim Sylvia
Anderson Silva beats Rich Franklin although I am pulling for Franklin to score the upset.
