hyp·o·crite  Pronunciation Key - [hip-uh-krit]

Ok, so with the closing in on the first MMA event to hit network TV, there are tons of opinions swirling around about what it should be, could be, might be, etc. I honestly believe EliteXC has paired up some well-matched fighters in some great fights that will be criticized by some mainly out of their still being skeptical of EliteXC as a brand, not because of the fights themselves. The other guys, while absolutely reliable in putting on great events too, have sold some PPV's that made 102 Dalmations seem worth renting - and it received less criticism, again due to the perceived status of that brand.

Another point you see a lot is the impact of MMA amongst the fringe and casual fans who are being exposed to it the first time. Many, such as CBS (Seems to not)shareholder Sumner Redstone criticise the sport of MMA, deeming it such a brutal thing too harsh to be put on TV. A lot of bloggers online responded stating how violence oriented the CBS line of shows like CSI are, shining a light on what they feel is hipocrisy.

Here's an aspect of the hipocrites that I find beyond odd. And in all fairness, most of them don't think things through for consistency that in-depth so...

Ok...so here's my beef with it.

Parents ALL over America, including my own nephew, go to karate class, study various martial arts and NO ONE says, "Hey, hold on! Why are we teaching them to be violent and fight?" - Instead the general consensus is, "It's a great thing that little Billy learns the discipline, physical and moral values instead of getting in with the wrong crowd." They break boards, yell, "Keeyah!" and all is well in Hipocri-City. But then it happens...and things go bad.

That's right, I'm talking about the mix...as in Mixed Martial Arts. No one wants the thousands of little martial artisits to apply and use their skills in an athletically commissioned event, maybe make some money at it. These combat skills are only acceptible if they're segregated from one another and saved for life-threatening moments on the street.

My big question here is: Where did all of the reverence for the discipline and honor that all of these martial arts academy's instill in the students, go? How did it go from that to brutal, cockfighting?  

This is one way MMA creates a path for thousands to avoid a less desirable path in life, whereas normally this 'out' is only available to our youth if they want to box professionally. Boxing, which I love, has Olympic acceptance - as does wrestling - but that's it. No other combat sport has a path to continue it, with the discipline you are taught and thrive financially. Well ok, pro-wrestling somewhat - but even that's not so great an option, is it?

That's not right to me. If fighting full-on is a bad thing for those to practice any martial arts, then why aren't these 'it's too violent' people protesting Hockey - where fights break out a lot and have nothing to do with the sport. Why not fine them? Cancel games? Exile athletes from the sport? - you know, BE CONSISTENT with the same values you preach elsewhere.

I've said it before and will continue to repeat it - the level of respect, sportsmenship and discipline you see in MMA is almost certainly unparalleled in any other sport. And while I do work in the MMA industry, I am not a fan from the start. I came from boxing, got talked into giving it a chance to see what it's about and then saw the excitement, honor and potential it encompasses.

I'll consider changing my feelings on this when I see folks who send their kids to karate class boycotting and protesting it because they break boards...boards that come from trees...trees that we need for our environment and they're killing the Earth by enabling all of this board breaking!

Ah, what a world.

YACMAN

Tito Trinidad and his style are tailor made for Jones. Even at 38, Roy's hand speed is far quicker than Trinidad's. And his lateral movement will frustrate him all fight. You can expect Felix Trinidad to rush Jones and pressure him a lot in round 1, it's what the 'Beat Jones Recipe' calls for - since it worked for Glenn Johnson, all others he's faced try it and then failed.

Roy's brilliant in the ring - he expects it now - all the time.

Roy also has a lot more one punch power - despite it appearing that they both have great KO power - which they do - but Jones has dropped light-heavyweights with body shots and Trinidad only welterweights and middleweights. Plus when Jones fought John Ruiz and won the Heavyweight title, weighing199 lbs., he hit a solid 235 lb Ruiz hard enough to make Ruiz hesitate to continue rushing in. (see round 1 below).

Despite both having suffered losses more recently in their careers, Jones looked much more like vintage Roy Jones in his last two, Tito fell a little short. And the complete dissection of Trinidad by Bernard Hopkins only lays out a blueprint of how a fighter with smarts, speed and erratic movement can make Tito feel like he's actually surrounded by guys hitting him.

The one glaring difference in this match up taking place now - a time when most boxing folks would consider it past the apex of its appeal, is that NOW it is a much more evenly matched fight. In Jones' absolute prime - it would be an odds makers dream - an easy pick - Jones by KO at any time.

As we all know, styles make fights - period - and even now, but more so before Jones experienced a loss at all, Tito and his straight forward style should be finished working quicker than Samuel L. Jackson in "Deep Blue Sea" (sometimes its ok to say no to a role Samuel).

But now, it's at least feasible... a real possibility that Trinidad could pressure Jones enough to penetrate his one time flawless defenses and score an upset...but I'd still say that scenario is not very likely...just possible now. It still might be a safer bet to lay your rent payment down on a legless horse to win at OTB, than to bet on Trinidad over Jones.

Let's all hope time, age and determination provide a great fight for all to see.

YACMAN

The Press Conference in Retrospect

By The Yacman, Ron Yacovetti

ProElite.com Correspondent

HD Net Fights and HD Net invited media from all over the MMA world to listen in and ask questions to a quartet of if their newest marquis signings...Frank Trigg, Jason 'Mayhem' Miller, Sean Salman, Edwin Dewees.

The call was kicked off by Public Relations guru Lester Bedford, a hard working man who did his part to help make EliteXC's "Renegade" show, held in Corpus Christi, Texas last weekend, a huge success.

Lester set the stage then introduced Guy Mezger and HD Net Fights CEO, Andrew Simon. After a few introductory thoughts and expected plans for a successful promotion were shared, it was an open forum for questions.

Guy Mezger fielded a series of questions regarding the signing of these four fighters headlining the December 15th card, as well as what prospects were being tossed around regarding the signing of Heavyweights.

Guy made it clear that while HDNet Fights wants to sign the best fighters they can in all divisions, that in his opinion, the middleweight division is the most star-studded of all right now, in MMA.

Another admirable point Mezger brought up more than once, was the inclusiveness that HD Net Fights will conduct business with, welcoming co-promotions with any and all other promotions..stating also, the obvious stand-out organization which was welcomed to but not very likely to cross-polinate.

ProElite, EliteXC and Strikeforce were named specifically, with mention made about EliteXC being a second major player, alongside the MMA front-runner, The UFC.

Both Guy Mezger and Andrew Simon emphasized their desire to improve the sport, nurture and care for the fighters as a part of growing MMA. And, much like the business model of ProElite, HD Net Fights appears sincere about the sports' greater good, not about crowning unheralded champions and lining their own pockets at the expense of the fans and fighters.

Plus, just like ProElite Inc., the HD Net Fights business mantra seems to filter down from the top to the folks that the organization has on the street.

ProElite Inc.'s CEO Doug DeLuca has continually expressed his dream of unifying the sport of MMA, having the fighters receive better wages, healthcare and more. It would appear that Mark Cuban and HD Net Fights wish to reap the same rewards for all involved in MMA. And make no mistake about it, Marck Cuban is in the MMA world like he is in the NBA and even Dancing with the Stars...to win. But he genuinely seems to be planning to share that victory as an MMA Promotion with the fighters, employees and fans.

So while it is surely to the chagrin of THE UFC to see new promotions popping up like a game of whack-a-mole on speed, it is inevitable. And when the practices of any new federation are what Guy and Andrew stated theirs to be, then it's a great thing for the betterment of Mixed Martial Arts and its future.

As for the fighter comments, sean Salman was as respectful as he was respectable. He was confident enough in his skills, training and chances to beat Jason 'Mayhem' Miller, but he was also equally praising Mayhem's abilities and likelihood to be a problem to defeat. This is yet another example of the 'violent' sport showcasing level's of sportsmenship most often unrivaled by all other sports.

Mayhem not only reciprocated the the respect to Salman, he also entertained. Hey...his name is Mayhem for a reason. I've had the good fortune to spend time with Jason during many of the ProElite.com events that he mentioned doing and loving to do at that. You think he's tough in the cage? You should see him at a Flea Market, trying to haggle down the price on a paint-ball blow dart gun. Oh it's a sight to see and moment to behold! Hilarious.

Jason 'Mayhem' Miller fielded a question one reporter asked, regarding who approached who first between himself and HD Net Fights. His response was, and this is almost verbatim:

MAYHEM MILLER: Ya know it was funny. I was driving on the highway in my car when my cell phone rang. It was Mark Cuban. He said to me, "Hey, look out your window!" - and when I did, there he (Mark) was hanging on a rope ladder that was dangling from a helicopter above me. He (Mark) was waving a contract at me from outside the window and I thought, "Damn, he really means business..."

Yes, yes...Jason Miller is a complete clown, but likely the most dangerous and well-trained fighting clowns around. This guy is a very complete fighter and not even near his incredible potential yet. Stay tuned on this storyline for sure.

In the end of this call, a few seeds for future endeavors did stick with me.

One, the idea that if Mayhem beats Salman and Trigg beats Dewees, we could be looking at a Trigg vs. Miller rematch sometime in early 2008. How sweet would that be?

And lastly we all realized that MMA is still blowing up, still spreading across the globe and TV providers everywhere...and that the MMA community is no longer a 'one acronym town' anymore.

YACMAN

Assauged by the Bell:

The Unfortunate Byproduct of a Fight Stoppage

By: The Yacman, Ron Yacovetti

as·suage (ə-swāj') Pronunciation Key
tr.v. as·suaged, as·suag·ing, as·suag·es
To make (something burdensome or painful) less intense or severe: assuage his beating.

Nick 'The Bad Boy' Diaz vs. KJ 'KO Artist' Noons - what happened and what we should take away from this fight.

Ok, I have no problem with the obvious, so let's once again, get that out there and overwith - A Rematch would be great. Tah-dah.

Now...what exactly happened?

Allow me to start skeletal and add some meat as I go.

NIck Diaz, one of MMA's best, got bested. Period. For the duration of that fight, a round, he got whacked like an extra on The Sopranos. Just beat up.

Was it shocking, the extent to which KJ pummeled him? As much as I like KJ, I'd have to say YES. It was unexpected to see Diaz struggle to get the fight to the ground and get pot shotted (some jargon isn't tense friendly) like that, considering he too is a skilled boxer.

So what about the point to all of this...the stoppage.

Was it premature? Most likely, taking into account how Diaz would fight through any amount of pain and blood and still have a shot to win, YES. But was the stoppage a blasphemous act? Oh heck no. He had two bad cuts, bleeding and even upon the beginning of a second round, there was no reason for the man who holds the decision making power to believe that Nick Diaz would've been able to protect those wounds from opening and bleeding more and more and more...KJ would've found his mark repeatedly, again.

It's reasonable, even if one disagrees, to assume a stoppage was most like inevitable. Can't ever say 100% with the memory of Diaz vs. Gomi living on...but the head start on justifiable damages was certainly there.

As a fan it's a little disappointing - but still, I'd rather see Diaz come back 100% sooner and not be seriously hurt too. Conflicting emotions on that end for sure. This also proves that Gary Shaw is not full of it when he repeats the same song over and over, about caring for the fighters first and foremost...He truly does, and in cases like this, at the cost of angering a few fans.

The sin of this all is many out there are holding the stoppage over the head of KJ Noons, taking a little or a lot away from his win and performance.

Listen carefully people - Nick's bloody and cut face that caused a man to halt the action...it was made that way by excellent take down defense, allowing KJ to stand and throw knees and strike like a computer programmed simulator. IF you're upset it was stopped and IF you must be angry at KJ for something...let it be for putting a beating on Nick, NOT the stoppage. Win, lose or draw you can bet your as* KJ would've fought his way to the finish if the officials who called it off, had not done so.

KJ Noons IS the Lightweight Champion of EliteXC - his win was tainted slightly by a stoppage - but like it or not folks...digest this...if he hadn't been winning convincingly and battering Diaz, NO ONE 'could have' called it off. And when it was called off, neither warrior wanted it to be.

Between Edson Berto and Nick Diaz failing to show Krazy Horse's win over Noons to be anything but a fluke by doing it themselves, it'd be fair now, to let KJ relish in his victory and stellar performance against a man who remains one of the division's best.

YACMAN

THE 77TH UFC Event reveals two "ACES" from the promotions stable. One by nickname, RIch "Ace" Franklin and another by expectaion, Brandon "The Truth" Vera...a heavyweight ace in the hole. Let's get the obvious, yet fun pun out of the way up front...Sylvia CAN HANDLE THE TRUTH...manhandle is more like it too.

What exactly happened to the vicious attacking, strikes and athleticism of the long awaited comeback of Brandon Vera? He looked sharp and aggressive in very few spots...but not much moree than the guy expending energy to sound off the horn that signals the round is over. But why? No one denies Brandon is an elite level fighter, which is why many of whom I've talked to felt he came up a few bucks short on cashing in on his PPV appearance.

And yes, it was revealed after the fight that he'd broken his hand early on in the fight but still, he never used it as a way out of the fight. He never said, "I can't continue, I've broken my hand." That would've commanded more respect. It was almost as if he'd done that very thing in a gradual version of charades, acting like he didn't want to be in there anymore.

YES - if you're hurt, live to fight another day. That's smart. But if you're going to hang in there and remain IN the fight, then fight. It was hard watching it without expecting that at any moment, Brandon would explode, scramble or something on Tim Sylvia...who looked prepared physically and mentally. The maniac picked the right time to bring back the guy who handed a loss to Arlovski.

(Toasting a wine glass) Here's to Brandon making a bold statement next go round - like we all knew and expected he would.

The 2nd ACE in this is RIch "Ace" Franklin. Rich looked prepared as well. He had a calculated approach...patient in his attack and sure did look confident...yet it was not enough in the end.

The Spider, Anderson Silva looked every bit the virtuoso fighter that Joe Rogan explained him to be, when he likened Silva to boxing all-time great, Roy Jones Jr.

If there's one thing I know a lot about, it's Roy Jones Jr. And if you're going to draw ANY parallel to him, it better be sensible. This one seemed to be just that.

Roy Jones Jr. would enter the ring for the better part of 11 years, and most conscious adults would feel like he pretty much had no chance to lose. None. Hence the shock when Antonio Tarver scored a K.O. to beat RJJ. Anyway, I digress...

Anderson Silva has initiated that same aura of invincibility about himself now. He has mowed over guys who were, on paper, easily going to be trouble for him and likely even could beat him. Yet somehow, Nate Marquardt and Rich Franklin (twice) just could not get into their fights with Silva. the man with whom they shared the same cage.

The UFC middleweight champion really has made a deep division look a lot more shallow. And not just by winning - but HOW he wins as well. If submissions are your strong suit, he submits YOU. If striking is, he knocks you out. He moves offensively and defensively with the fluidity of a violent ballet dancer...poised, practiced and instinctually sound.

Fighters in ALL sports train, rehearse moves, holds, etc - but it's when those moves not only become second nature, but also adaptable to situations in a flash that one becomes a truly well-rounded master in MMA combat. Anderson "Spider" Silva has done just that.

So after a good night of fights, these two ACES both got played in front of a full house and lost. In all fairness, neither tarnished their cache value in defeat. Franklin just kind of cemented the idea that a triology wouldn't really be necessary. There's no reason to even suspect he'd win over Silva at this point, though anything IS possible.

And Brandon Vera really didn't get beat up - he just got beat. If he'd tried to pull out a win somehow, a more than fair expectation for a guy who is choosing NOT to quit, than he would've earned that warrior respect. People would say, "Man, even with a broken hand, that guy kept on coming..." - something I'd bet Anderson would do - and why not? Roy Jones Jr. did.

My respect, praise and admiration to all the fighters on the card with Franklin and Vera and including them. They all are talented, sportsmen who deserve it...

Yacman