yacman1's ProElite.com Blog

APPLY SOME ICE-MAN

yacman1 — Wed, 7 May 2008 17:47:00 CDT

Sources at MMANEWS.COM have reported that Chuck "The Iceman" Liddell was planning to step into the octagon and fight Rashad Evans, as scheduled, in spite of his torn hamstring injury. And that it was Dana White who apparently saved Liddell from himself and fans from a match that could've been a snoozefest. The news goes on to state the following:

"I was going to fight, too," Liddell says. But then White called and said to forget it, to heal up and come back 100 percent."

So first of all, a deserved kudos for Dana and his looking out for something besides the bottom line. And for likely saving us all from watching Chuck lose and then, afterwards going into that mode a lot of fighters in combat sports go into, "I'm not making excuses but...(INSERT EXCUSE HERE ANYWAY)..." - blaming it on his injury. Fighting through a migraine, yes, that's acceptable. Fighting minus an appendage? Come on Chuck!! How long have you been an athlete? It's differences like that which separates the athlete from the tough guy wannabe fighter guy. A distinction that MMA continues to work towards making clear.

	WATCH THIS CHUCK LIDDELL HIGHLIGHT REEL
	CHECK OUT THE CONTROVERSIAL CALLING OUT OF CHUCK LIDDELL, BY ELITEXC'S KIMBO SLICE

Yacman

DOUBLE O-BARNETT

yacman1 — Wed, 7 May 2008 6:24:10 CDT

(VIDEO LINKS BELOW)

Just when you may have been thinking, "Damn. Josh Barnett is fighting again but it's in Japan and I can't go watch live." BAM! He's back, slated to fight on American soil shortly after his bout against Jeff Monson, at the World Victory Road’s Sengoku II event in Japan.

In what is clearly a rematch most MMA fans would welcome, Barnett looks to even the score by grabbing a rematch win over Pedro Rizzo - keeper of a very heavy right hand.

Barnett admitted Rizzo caught him with one of those 'stop a buick' strong shots, but stated he remains willing, since that loss, to mix it up with Rizzo once again. But this time, Josh noted, he (Barnett) will be knocking Rizzo's ass out.

This could prove to be the fight of the night on the difficult to launch "Affliction" fight card, and if you ask Barnett, he is certain it is. Buddies or not, Josh Barnett says he'll be stealing the spotlight from Fedor Emelianenko on this one.

Ok, they've got my attention now. Here's to hoping Josh Barnett demolishes The Snowman so we get a high spirited, super confident Josh Barnett in the rematch with Pedro Rizzo.

	THE YACMAN INTERVIEWS JOSH BARNETT AT SHOXC
	THE YACMAN INTERVIEWS JOSH BARNETT AT FATAL FEMMES FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIP: CRYSTAL BRAWL

Yacman

Welcome to: Hipocri-City

yacman1 — Mon, 5 May 2008 20:24:43 CDT

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

–noun

1.	a person who feigns some desirable or publicly approved attitude, esp. one whose private life, opinions, or statements belie his or her public statements.

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

New Yac & J Widget for YOUR Page!

yacman1 — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 8:08:25 CDT

CLICK OPTIONS ON THIS WIDGET, TO GET THE HTML CODE TO HAVE THIS YAC & J WIDGET ON YOUR PAGE or PC!

NO LIMITS HUH? I SEE

yacman1 — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 2:37:37 CDT

lim·it (lĭm'ĭt) Pronunciation Key n.

The point, edge, or line beyond which something cannot or may not proceed.

In the past few months of attending and working MMA events around the American Southwest, hearing the words "Team Oyama" and "No Limits" has become unavoidable.

Amidst Southern California;s pleasant weather sits Coach Colin Oyama's huge MMA and Gym facility called NO LIMTS. Imagine a COSTCO bulk products-like store filled with MMA and gym gear...tons of it, and all top quality stuff.

Then imagine a quality coaching staff and crop of talented fighters. Well, ok, no need to imagine that last thing...they've got those, just go and see.

The one thing I could not help but notice is that this camp is making it a point to do two things at all of these events.

Represent their gym and the sport of MMA in a disciplined and respectable way.
WIN!

In recent events, No Limits Team Oyama has racked up a 12 wins and 1 loss record as a whole. And not just wins when they are the victors. They score serious KO's and submissions too.

Among the win-streak entourage are Bao Quach, Brent Cooper, Giva Santana and Shane Delrosario.

Giva Santana is one of the most humble of MMA fighters you'll see. And what makes it more surreal is his 11-0 record with 10 of those wins coming by way of Arm Bar. Now add more amazement to it...those 10 arm bars came consecutively. He actually said to me, "I'm just Giva Santana. Not sure why they call me The Arm Collector" - I think I know why!!

It seemed beyond deserving of a write up to note how successful this team, one that is always media friendly and professional, has been leading into and going forward in 2008.

Their camp and gym goes by the bold name, NO LIMITS - and so far, they're doing a damn good job at seeming like they just may not have any.

YACMAN'S BAKER'S DOZEN: JOEY VILLASENOR

yacman1 — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 21:11:28 CDT

13 QUESTIONS FOR ELITEXC STAR JOEY VILLASENOR

By: Ron 'The Yacman' Yacovetti

WATCH CBS & ELITEXC "SATURDAY NIGHT FIGHTS" LIVE ON CBS MAY 31st AT 9PM ET/PT!

1. Your career started out at 15-0 – Do you feel you received the respect that kind of start deserves?

Well yeah and actually my career didn’t start at 15-0, I was 3-3 then I won 16 to 17 straight or something like that. I’ve put in a lot of hard work and I’ve been in this sport for a long time, so yeah I think I’ve earned it.

2. You’ve fought for a few of the other guys before signing with EliteXC - how important is the personal and professional treatment of the fighters to you?

I think it’s probably the most important thing - how you're treated by a company and by people in that company. We’re not a dime a dozen, we’re MMA fighters and we need to be treated with respect in all facets. It sucks when you feel treated like a robot or something.

3. What role do spirituality, family and moral values play in the career and life of Joey Villasenor?

This question is pretty easy, I think that’s why I do it. I fight, not just for the passion and the love of the sport, but for the love of my friends and my family. I want to share these things with these people. It’s the number one thing. I ain't makin' millions, ya know?

4. At what point in your career did you come into contact with Greg Jackson and how did you know you wanted to work with him?

Early on in my career - about 7 years ago. 7-8 yrs ago I heard about him, met him, then started cross training with him. The rest is history. I moved down to Albuquerque like 5 years ago and I've been with him consistently since then.

5. What changes in your work ethic, style, conditioning do you feel might not be as fine-tuned as they now are, if not for working alongside Greg Jackson?

I would have to say that the biggest thing is my mental game, then being exposed to a lot of great athletes, the physical training and the conditioning. Nutrition is something that each individual athlete does himself… its not run by the gym, it’s what works for them.

6. Of all the highly talented fighters in your camp, who pushes you the hardest and makes you dig deep during training for a fight?

I think all of us would have the same answer - Mr. Keith Jardine. He’s an animal and the team captain.

7. Which fight taught you the most, good and bad, about yourself as a fighter?

I would have to say the Ninja fight. The Ninja fight really was the biggest fight mentally and physically. I learned a lot from it. We changed my training program and added different conditioning programs. I found out where my limits were and overpushed them in that fight. Similar things happened with the Jensen fight. I think the Ninja fight helped me prepare for the Jensen fight and for these types of fights mentally.

8. Which fighter(s) do you look up to the most and why?

My girlfriend, Holly Holm. She’s a pro boxer and a two time ring magazine female boxer of the year. She trains very hard and she motivates me because she trains so hard. That makes me feel like I have to go out there and match her. She's young, tough and beautiful. She carries around the weight of being a star athlete in Albuquerque. She’s regarded as the number one female boxer in the world and she handles it great. She’s very inspiring.

9. How important is being the right type of athlete in the eyes of kids, in and out of the cage?

I think it's very important. I think it's one of the most important things out there. I think it's where the word professional comes into play as an athlete - greatness in and outside of the cage. Kids want to be champions, on TV and to do all the things the athletes want to do. We need to show them the right way to carry themselves outside of the sporting event.

10. What’s your favorite joke? – be it a joke book joke, a comedian’s joke you watched, etc.

My favorite joke…hmm, that's hard...one joke that I always tell is this:

A bear and a rabbit are taking a dump next to each other, outside in woods. The bear looks down at the rabbit and asks, "Do you have trouble with shit sticking to your fur?" The rabbit says, "No. Not at all." So the bear grabs the rabbit and and wipes his ass with him.

(A pause - then Joey Laughs Out Loud (LOL)

11. You’ve been called “Smokin’ Joe” and “The Dream-Smasher” – if you were legally allowed only ONE nickname, which would you go with 100% of the time, and why?

Well legally, if I was allowed just one, I’d have to go with 'Smokin Joe' because that is what most people know me as. The Dream Smasher will always be with me in my heart. He will always be my “aka” - but legally it'd be 'Smokin' Joe'.

12. Greg Jackson is respectfully referred to as ‘Yoda’ – if you had to liken other guys in your camp to other Star Wars Characters, who would they be?

Oh shoot let me see....um...(slightly long pause)

Keith Jardine would have to be Chewbacca.
Nate Marquardt would be C-3PO
Mike Winkeljohn (my coach) would be Darth Vader
Rashad Evans would be Jar-Jar Binks
I would be Wicket W. Warrick the little E-wok. The coolest, nicest E-wok.

13. If you could appear in ANY horror movie or franchise like Nightmare on Elm Street (a dream horror movie), which would you want to be in and what would you be doing in it?

Hands down, hands down Friday the 13th. I would be making love to a girl and then just killed, slashed. You know how Jason does it...those damn teens and their makin' love.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH 'A MUST SEE' JOEY VILLASENOR AND GREG JACKSON INTERVIEW

YACMAN’S BAKER’S DOZEN: GINA CARANO INTERVIEW

yacman1 — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 19:14:16 CDT

13 QUESTIONS FOR MMA STAR GINA 'CRUSH' CARANO

WATCH CBS & ELITEXC "SATURDAY NIGHT FIGHTS" LIVE ON CBS MAY 31st AT 9PM ET/PT!

1. If Gina Carano wasn’t a full-time fighter, what would she likely be doing for a living?
Maybe a journal photographer across seas, possibly a race car driver, a stunt woman, a writer, an artist.. ha who knows.

2. If you could be on any other reality show other than American Gladiators, which one would it be?
I wanna do Dancing with the Stars.. haa I know big surprise there huh.

3. One thing about the world you’d love to change if you could?
Tradegies.

4. What would you say is the most common mistake any fighter makes in preparation for an MMA fight?
Being mentally messed up.

5. If you could do a fight scene in a blockbuster feature film, what genre of movie would it be (Sci-fi, Action, Horror, etc) and what actor/actress would you love to do the fight scene with?
A Braveheart, Apocalypto, type movie.. fight against Steven Seagal...

6. What about a male or female fighter would make you want to train them if they asked you to?
I asked to train with Randy Couture and it happened Im pretty set. I think it would be awesome to train with Buakow the Thai fighter also and definetly more females.

7. What sports do you enjoy watching outside of MMA or Muay Thai?
I don’t really.. the X Games are cool though.

8. Where is one place you’ve always wanted to visit but haven’t yet?
Prague… Australia… South Africa

9. If you could go back in time and kick the ass of any bad person in history, at any time period, who would it be?
Hitler

10. What part of training do you look forward to the most?
The learning part. Physically, mentally, spiritually.

11. If you could dictate what three words people used to describe you as a person and fighter, overall, what three words would best do the job?
Unpredictable, Focused, Silly

12. In real life, if you come across a Freddy Krueger/Jason Vorhees from Friday the 13th monster – would your fight training make you feel any less scared then most people would?
Ya, I’de be a little freaked out but Id drag Freddy back into my world and choke him out.

13. Would you kick a monster like that even once just to see if it worked, then run?
Yeah. I don’t like to feel fear that’s why I fight, I like to get it out of my system that way.

CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS TO THIS HISTORY MAKING EVENT on CBS MAY 31st!

THE PREMATURE EVACUATION

yacman1 — Tue, 8 Apr 2008 22:49:30 CDT

pre·ma·ture Pronunciation[pree-muh-choo r, -too r, -tyoo r] –adjective

1.	occurring, coming, or done too soon: a premature stoppage.

e·vac·u·a·tion Pronunciation[i-vak-yoo-ey-shuh n] –noun

1.	the removal of persons or things from an endangered area.

It happens in combat sports more often than fans of MMA or Boxing would like. A fight just starts getting good, just starts heating up, or in some cases...just gets started and BAM - we hear that phrase even the fighters don't like, "...the ref calls a halt to this bout"In the moment nothing could irritate you more - but it wouldn't be fair to go any further with this greivence before pointing out that (A) there are stoppages fans will boo until they pass out from loss of air...and they're wrong. Some fights are best stopped. And (B) despite the ugly rumors and statements you may read online and in print, promoters like Gary Shaw DO care about the well-being of the fighters and that influence may cause some officials to stop a fight before realizing that they shouldn't have at all yet.Could be many referees don't want to see fighters hurt as well as not wanting to be associated with the 'should've been stopped' fight that ended up in an untimely death.

In the past few weeks there have been at least three fights that could have been allowed to go on, yet the official in the cage saw it differently. Each of the three instances saw the crowd on hand very much, dissatisfied by the end being declared. And what are the three fights?

Parisyan vs. Alves (UFC)
Malaipet vs. Denny (ShoXC)
Hamman vs. Suganuma (ShoXC)

Of these three it appeared Parisyan was the best candidate for being declared beaten against Thiago Alves, though he did seem ok to go on shortly after it was done. It just left you feeling incomplete because at the time, Karo had controlled the fight entirely until that moment, so suddenly it looked like this would be a nice back and forth match-up and it's done.

Thomas "the Wildman" Denny dominated the hell out of Malaipet, who was reminded Muay Thai isn't a ground fighting style, then threw in the towel due to strikes behind his head. Many thought it was BS, many agreed a hurt fighter should not fight on - but it may have been Denny's mixed message that did him the greatest disservice.

Just after the stoppage he told Stephen Quadros he was ready to go, wanted to fight but the lumps behind his head, he couldn't turn his head, etc - All people heard was his saying he was ready to go and wouldn't. Was Denny so hurt he couldn't fight on? Only he really knows but the stoppage sure did leave a near orgasmic audience with an unfulfilled feeling.

Lastly is Jared Hamman against Po'ai Suganuma. Clearly Po'ai saw Hamman's aggressive game plan and raised him one. Wow what a fast start! And Po'ai is very accurate, quick and attuned to his defensive needs when letting loose with such fury. He rocked Hamman with a right, then a flying knee that made Croching Tiger's special effects look weak. Jared Hamman hit the canvas, covered up...Po'ai pounced on top of him and before letting a single shot off, the referee waived him off - it was over.

What bothered many of us cage-side was the face that this ref, who has done a lot of boxing, didn't appear to look at Hamman at all. A stoppage is an assessment based on the opinion that a fighter cannot continue, defend himself, etc - so how do you make that call without looking at who it is you're considering unable to continue??

It also didn't hurt to see a clear minded Hamman on his feet and pissed off because the fight was over. Po'ai Suganuma should NOT be looked at unfavorably in any way because of this. The one thing he did to contribute to this stoppage was to beat down Hamman incredibly fast and extremely undaunted. But again, Jared Hamman never had a chance to show he couldn't protect himself from guard, lay and pray, rest...then scramble and fight on, possibly scoring his own KO to win.

To quote someone who says it the best, "You must protect yourselves at all times" - Oh wait...that's the ref who says that. I wonder if sometimes he isn't just talking to himself.

RETIRING, RETIRED DALEY

yacman1 — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 22:22:15 CDT

Wasn't it fairly recent when Paul "Semtex" Daley retired in his 20's, at the pinnacle of his impressive rise into the upper echelon? Wasn't it not too long ago that the question mark and TBA in this adjacent image would've ALL be placed upon the photo of Paul Daley?

So what's all this coming back business then??

Ok, if you like dynamic strikers in MMA, you cannot dislike Paul "Semtex" Daley. He's a guy you look at and wonder how far his potential goes, because you cannot realize his limits as of yet. Then coming off an impressive win at ShoXC in Atlantic City, NJ, where Paul scored a sweet KO via stand up elbow strike, he announces his retirement.

Everyone was like, "What??!" And everyone seemed to also include Paul now...

Suddenly he's defending his Cage Rage Belt on CRC 26 in London. And while his opponent is yet to be announced, one thing is for certain...Paul Daley's retirement is going to be a bitch. Apparently it includes a lot of fighting, cages, fans, training - phew! Maybe he can book a trip on Carnival Cruises and play some shuffleboard like veteran retireees do.

I for one am so, so glad to see his return. He's exciting and a tremendous athlete that commands respect from his conduct in and out of the cage. I'm just so over this whole 'retired' back in a flash crap. Ok, ok, we get it - you need a break. When my wife irritates the crap out of me I don't get a divorce, then cool down, think things through and arrange a whole new wedding - and then REPEAT!

Just to put an end to guys who do not discern between a BREAK and RETIRING, how about a mandatory time off and penalty to come back in less time than that, so we can at least get the terminology straight.

Yacman

PS: Welcome back Paul. Welcome back...

THE RULES ARE THERE "ARE" RULES

yacman1 — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 18:54:48 CDT

ShoXC Main Event succumbs to Clerical Error?

In what turned out to be a on- sided bout, Thomas 'The Wildman' Denny got the WIN he was after...he just happend to win by not fighting on.

In a single round of action that had Malaipet slightly more involved than the fans in the audience, Thomas Denny shined a spotlight on the one foreseeable flaw in the Thai fighter's incredible game...no ground offense.

It is quite noteworthy how Malaipet was able to maintain his breathing in what appeared to be a deep choke. And how he defended himself enough to avoid a ref stoppage via TKO while eating elbow after elbow hurled at him, compliments of the Wildman.

But it was the outcome that had fans angry, disappointed and stunned.

Some felt Denny 'could' fight on and didn't, subscribing to the notion that he was unnerved by the face Malaipet took all of that abuse, only to sieze an opening and get back to his feet as the round closed. That's what had everyone there at Chumas Casino wanting more!

Malaipet was the Jason Vorhees of MMA - just when you think he's been pummeled into oblivion - BAM - he's back for another round.

So with that kind of action, what went wrong? Malaipet siezed Thomas Denny's mistake then in true casino fashion, upped the ante and made a few of his own. His knee to Denny's head, then 3 strike in a north-south manner - 2 of which landed behind the Wildman's head - cost him any chance to continue. In his post fight interview with Stephen Quadros, Malaipet uttered the words, "...didn't know the rules" - THAT is not only a bit absurd, but totally unforgivable.

Malaipet is a cool and honroable guy - no question. But you have to know the rules when you enter a different sport. You have to. So a great night of fights was capped off with some anti-climax because he didn't know the rules. Too bad for all of us. Round 2 would've been nice to see.

And if you think for a minute the whole 'not knowing the rules' makes it ok - just imagine Michael Jordan coming back into the NBA after playing MLB and incorporating the use of a wooden bat on the court because he didn't know the rule difference between the two unique sports.

You gotta READ THE RULE BOOK before you play the game. Ignorance is not a free pass for a violation.

YACMAN

Why I do Yac & J's MMA and BOXING SHOW

yacman1 — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 0:03:51 CDT

Why I do Yac & J's MMA and BOXING SHOW and the goal behind it

Many who have seen my work on ProElite.com may also tune into watch my new internet TV show called YAC & J'S MMA and BOXING SHOW.

So with a full time career as a correspondent, blogger and fight commentator now too, why expand my workload to include this?

Here's where it becomes really interesting or really boring - ha!

IT'S FUN - Spending time with enough of these MMA fighters alone makes you realize how funny, clever and interesting these people are. I always tell fighters I interview, no one needs to sell audiences on that fact you can fight. But it's the personality and character you display that will hook fans to the point they'll watch anything you do. Yac & J's Show is very much about showing that side of these highly skilled fighters.

IT CAN INFLUENCE THE MAINSTREAM PUSH - Now as insane as this may sound, all you need to do is look at how unappealing politics were a number of years back and how informed and involved a whole new and younger generation are regarding it. Why the change in this arena? The Daily Show, The Colbert Report and Real Time with Bill Mahr. Comedic based shows that entertain, lampoon and still get the word out mainstream in a way it is far more digestible to the masses, hardcore fans and bandwagoners alike. I'm a huge fan of all 3 shows and can only hope to bring a fraction of that comedic brilliance to MMA via The Yac & J Show. Who knows...with a little luck and some viral moments we just might help show a side of MMA and those who dwell it the MMA world, to throngs of folks who still think it's an ESPN Tough Man Show. Nothing would make us happier than to make a difference that way.

WE WERE HANDED A GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY - After being a fight analyst guest on a sports show called SPORTS WIZER on TheStream.TV - I had a chance to talk to its founder Brian Gramo about the idea of doing an MMA and BOXING show. Randy J and I had an internet radio show which was a lot more low profile than our current show, but enough for us to realize we had comedic chemistry and gel well debating fights past, present and future. Of course in that new TV format we'd adopt, we needed a gal who knew MMA and would add a kick ass layer to the show...enter Miss RaRa from MMA.TV's UG! Bottom line is Brian's online TV network was and continues to be run like a top notch TV network. The production value is killer and the number of eyeballs we reach weekly is sick. One show it crested 100,000. And, adding this to the reasons stated in the previous paragraph's, it was a no brainer. Yac & J would be back, off radio, on Web Based TV.

Our most sincere thanks to all who support the show...ProElite, Melee Fightgear, Crooklyn and the Cage Side Live Crew, MMAWeekly, Tagg Radio and everone else I may be too tired to recall here. The MMA community is a nice place to be and we're proud to do what we can to ruin that...uh I mean enhance it.

Yacman

BAD ASS He Eva Was

yacman1 — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 21:29:25 CDT

Since Saturday night's loss to Kala Kolohe Hose at ICON SPORT'S "To Hell and Back", there has been an onslaught of criticism directed towards the 'New York Bad Ass' Phil Baroni.

Phil looked tired (or variations of this critique) - well yeah, he did. He fought hard through 4, almost 5 rounds.

Phil talked a big game and lost - Phil always talks a big game. He's a marketing genius. If you watched the fight long enough to critique his performance then you've proved it. The fight drama got your attention and you watched the fight.

The only time talking a big game is bad to do is when a fighter cannot and/or will not back it up. Phil Baroni always brings it. He cannot guarantee a win, ultimately, so if he loses, he loses. He is solid enough a fighter that most favored him over Frank Shamrock, expecting he'd stand Frank up and knock him out. If he was done, washed up or whatever, someone didn't tell Phil or the writers in MMA who picked him to win. Same goes for this fight, as he was the favorite to beat Hose.

Having watched the fight, the worst thing I can say is he may not have been as physically prepared as he was to fight Shamrock. But realisitcally, who would motivate any middleweight more to prep for a fight...Hose or Shamrock?

Bottom line is guys like Baroni make the sport exciting, dramatic and spontaneous - with KO power that can get him the win at any moment until the fight is declared over.

Thanks for the work Phil - keep it coming!

WILL THE REAL ROY JONES PLEASE 'STAND UP'

yacman1 — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 22:19:24 CDT

ANDERSON SILVA	ROY JONES JR.
ARE THEY VICTIMS OF THEIR EXCEPTIONAL TALENT??

Anderson Silva - arguably MMA's top pound for pound fighter.

Roy Jones Jr. - considered Boxing's pound for pound best for just over 11 years.

Should these two meet in a boxing match as Anderson Silva suggests, the question after a gasp and a wow is...who wins?

CLUE # 1 - Anderson Silva's incredible athleticism, dominance in fighting and natural reflexes have had many calling him "The Roy Jones Jr. of MMA"

The major hint here is that Silva's domination is being categorized by likening him TO Jones. But is he as good a fighter?

In MMA - YES. He seems to flow like water from strike to strike, submission to countering one. Anderson Silva is one of those stand out athletes anyone who likes sports - any sports - has to admire. But if they meet in a boxing ring, the real Roy Jones Jr. would make it clear why he's the Roy Jones of Boxing and a name synonymous with combatative domination. Let me also be VERY clear that in the octagon, Silva would win as handily. They are two different sports. Period. And while striking on one's feet is a major part of MMA and while Anderson is one the most skilled at it - Roy is the virtuouso performer that didn't go 11 years barely losing rounds, let alone fights, for nothing.

Clue # 2 - Roy Jones is not in his prime, despite not being too old at 39 - Anderson Silva is 32.

So how big a factor is age should Jones and Silva end up duking it out in the squared circle?

Not a very big one - Roy is not a very beat up 39 year old so he is well preserved so to speak. The age disadvantage Jones carries, quite honestly, is what makes these two boxing appear competitive. A prime Roy Jones - again in a boxing match - would hit Silva so many times with blinding accuracy that Anderson would feel like an extra from the MATRIX movies. It's just too much raw ability in a realm boxing's best all time, would've struggled to shine. Jones still possesses incredible handspeed, even if less than he once had. He has only slowed somewhat in dodging shots like he did in his youth. But in his latest bouts, he seemed to be adjusting to his modified skill set at 38/39 yrs old.

Clue # 3 - POWER

Pound for pound power, even at an even boxing light-heavyweight match of 184 lbs, would favor Jones. Could Silva land and do Roy in? Yes. Anderson is fast, accurate and can bang. But his odds of doing that clean are slim - and - enhanced by the fact Jones is not the same 32 years of age. When Roy was 32, hitting him was as rare as a bigfoot sighting.

Plus -- Roy Jones Jr., in making history by being the 1st fighter in over 100 years to go pro at middleweight, then capture a heavyweight title, hit a 235 lb., hard-chinned John Ruiz and stopped him in his tracks...something that made Ruiz hesitate the rest of the night. And if you hesitate against Jones, pack it up.

Clue # 4 - Intelligence under pressure and the ability to outthink one's opponent

This one is a dead heat. Both men are so brilliant and incredibly adept at modifying their attack in a flash to turn the tables in their favor. So how does a shared advantage play into one of their hands more than the other? See CLUES 2 & 3. Once the mutually respectfull chess match has Silva tasting Jones' power and how quickly it arrives on target, Anderson, being highly intelligent, will begin to rethink his offense, his defense and that spells disaster. In the cage he can do that better than anyone - adapting and winning like it always was how he planned to win. But in a boxing match, he won't be as fluid in doing it and it will show.

This is an amazing revelation for these two to even consider mixing it up, if in fact both are...but i honestly believe the governing factor is the sport of origin will prevail. And if they box, that sport of origin advantage belongs to Roy Jones Jr.

Anderson Silva would likely give a ton of problems to other middle, super-middle and light-heavyweight boxers who are average skilled guys.

Roy has always been faced with those who he easily outclassed, being labeled inadequate...comments followed on how he never took on top level opponents. Yet the only reason those fighters got disrespected that way was because of how Roy made them look. Before announcing their fights with Jones, a lot of his opponents shared a top 10 ranking, a title belt and respect. One can only hope MMA doesn't look back after a few more Anderson Silva dismantling his opponent fights and say, "...he didn't fight anyone. Henderson was this, Marquardt was that...blah, blah." - If all the fighters out there when Jones rose up were not elite level, why didn't everyone or anyone else do what Roy did? 3...2...1...EXACTLY. Point made.

I am thrilled to love both sports and have both of them in the same lifetime to enjoy watching as they work.

YACMAN

TWO WON'T PLAY AT THAT GAME

yacman1 — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 20:23:52 CDT

reluctant [adjective]

1. disinclined to become involved; "he was reluctant to engage"; "reluctant to fight"

Shogun, Iceman, Sugar - three nicknames that sound a lot like a mix of comic book superhero and animated characters.

The three men who bear those names also happen to be three of the best fighters that the light-heavyweight division in MMA has to offer.

As most know, an injury forced Mauricio 'Shogun' Rua to back out of his match up with UFC icon and former champ Chuck "The Iceman" Liddell. And when such a compelling fight falls through, well...you can't just get anybody to fill in. You need a name, a respected fighter and a realistic threat to a bad ass like Liddell. But come on...who would ever just step up for...oh wait, I'm being told someone did.

Rashad "Sugar" Evans grabbed the opportunity like an irreversible arm choke. He even stressed his excitement to face such a legend and dominant fighter in his class. Rashad realizes he has a shot to prove he IS amongst the best at 205...but will he?

Last time Rashad had an MMA icon in the cage, Tito Ortiz, he didn't launch a realistic effort geared towards winning until midway through round 3. It was as if he awaited approval on his working papers before actually getting his attack underway.

He cannot do that with Liddell.

The Iceman is one fight back on the road to showing he is far from done. If Rashad even thinks twice about pressing the attack, Chuck Liddell will control him, the pace and fire shots at him until he goes away. Now I'm not claiming to know HOW he should fight, beat or handle Liddell - just that he should have a clue as to how HE wants to before Chuck whacks the thought of winning out of his head by way of an easy KO victory.

This is a fight fans can talk about for weeks - ultimately, it'll be up to Rashad if it's an exciting memory or a recap he'll prefer not to watch on ESPN, ever.

LESS-NAR a MIR AMATEUR IN MMA

yacman1 — Sun, 3 Feb 2008 18:22:04 CST

I agree with many who say that Brock Lesnar - new or not - will be able to come back better - but that despite that potential, at this point in time he seems to have ONE viable game plan in mind, and it involves the ref as his unofficial partner. He just goes in planning to get mount or half guard and then punch and punch and punch until the 3rd man in the cage has seen enough to call a halt to the action -

I called it EXACTLY how it started too. Those who watched UFC 81 with me wondered if Brock would sqaure off and punch or kick and I said, "No chance. Inside 30 seconds he'll shoot in an begin his blueprint that appeared better suited to flattening pizza dough than a former UFC Champion and BJJ wizard like Frank Mir. And sure enough, within that inside 30 seconds Lesnar DID shoot in, take him down and try to GnP him out - and by the way, his GnP also looked a bit sloppy and unpolished - it's all about pure attrition - just reckless abandon with regard to what even a moderately decent BJJ guy could do while covering up from aimless strikes from mount.

Brock Lesnar CAN come back better - but not so soon and not on the level of Mir. And this does support the mismatching concept of an 1-0 guy versus a former champion that some online seemed to be bothered by MMA allowing it - but remember they (the UFC) dimissed the former champion mismatch idea alot by playing the whole "Which Mir will show up?" card - making Mir appear overwith and beatable by a big freight train like Brock.

So while some may be critical of the gradual development of a guy like Kimbo Slice with his line up of Bo Cantrell to Tank Abbott, let us remember how quickly it blows up in one's face when they rush a newbie into a top level fight, cash in big pronto by billing it a main event, then suddenly find themselves trying to look DOWN the ladder of progress for a rung that will allow the rising star turned falling star, to rise once again.

THE YACMAN on SPORTSWIZER

yacman1 — Wed, 5 Dec 2007 17:27:21 CST

Sportswizer - Viewers Choice

Watch This Episode also featuring ProElite.com's 'YACMAN', Ron Yacovetti, on: www.theStream.tv

BOXING: Felix Trinidad vs. Roy Jones Jr.

yacman1 — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 1:36:52 CST

Felix Trinidad vs. Roy Jones Jr.

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

HD NET FIGHTS PRESS CONFERENCE IN RETROSPECT

yacman1 — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 4:59:45 CST

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

yacman1 — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 19:17:48 CST

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

No More Not-An-Excuse, Excuses Please

yacman1 — Sun, 28 Oct 2007 3:22:59 CDT

ex·cuse [v. ik-skyooz; n. ik-skyoos] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation verb, -cused, -cus·ing, noun

–verb (used with object)

1.	to regard or judge with forgiveness or indulgence; pardon or forgive; overlook (a fault, error, etc.): Excuse his bad performance.

I thought it best to lay the foundation for context, then begin the actual write-up...so here goes...

In the latest, and very exciting ShoXC fightcard, headline fighter Aaron Rosa came up short on fulfilling the superstar on the rise prophecy. Is he a great fighter? Hell yes. But as it sometimes goes in MMA, he was beaten. Aaron is a great guy too, but he stepped into territory that is kind of getting old...giving an excuse preceded by the opening line, "I'm not making any excuses, but..."

Here's what was quoted post fight:

Rosa of San Antonio, by way of Del Rio, Texas, conceded afterward he was not at full strength.

“I don’t make excuses, but I was not 100 percent,” he said. “I got sick recently and it totally messed up my cardio. I got tired in there. I would definitely love to fight him again.”

Would a rematch be great? YES - Aaron is solid and resilient. It just pains me to hear this phrase after a fighter loses. Here's what I find to be kind of straight forward and honest - If you don't WANT to make excuses, actually refrain from doing so. Period. Notice I don't mention whether it is a valid one or not. Doesn't matter.

I take Aaron to be an honest guy who is not making that whole thing up. But don't try to shroud an excuse by denying one at the same time. It's like shooting someone while denying taking a shot...even if the target seemingly had it coming...like a criminal.

The opposing end of this excuse spectrum is also what makes this a tired old thing to entertain. I've had the priveldge to witness Frank Shamrock and his torn ACL, take the Baroni fight, win it then mention his state of being afterwards. Had he lost, I doubt a guy like Frank would use it as an excuse. He had every reason to bail prior to the fight, so if he'd lost, he would have no valid reason to mention it - he chose to fight with it...sound familiar?

So in the end the main point to this is that maybe fighters should take the loss, get the rematch then win. Or how about we institute a pre-fight damage assessment report along with bodily stats, record and strengths and weaknesses? So afterwards if a Shamrock wins as he did, it's admirable...he took a shot with a bad ACL and pulled it out. And if a Rosa had cardio and illness issues, we'd expect the rising superstar to be a little more vulnerable and a little more likely to lose.

Yacman

A PAIR OF "ACES"

yacman1 — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 3:33:06 CDT

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

The Daily Show with Jon Stewart: MMA SPOOF

yacman1 — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 4:14:44 CDT

THE DAILY SHOW DID A SPOOF ON MMA. CLICK THE LOGO: