Griffin back on winning track…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
I scoured the Net on Sunday for Forrest Griffin and Tito Ortiz at UFC 106. But every time I thought I had found a copy, something happened that wouldn’t allow me to watch it.
Sounds like Griffin really took control in the final round, and that’s why he won the fight via split decision. I’ll reserve judgment until I see it, though.
Maybe a bigger shocker was Josh Koscheck beating Anthony Johnson. I thought ‘Rumble’ was going to walk right through him.
So after three straight weeks of MMA and boxing, MMA takes a backseat while HBO returns with Lucien Bute and Librado Andrade in a fight I’m sure only diehard fans know who either guy is.
We are a sick bunch.
***
After watching the replay of Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto, it’s actually going to be tougher than I thought to continue watching that fight.
The first four rounds are outstanding. They live up to what they were in my head when watching it live.
However, at the end of the sixth round when Pacquiao buckles Cotto on the ropes, it’s game, set, match.
I guess I’ve earned so much respect and admiration for Cotto that it’s extremely tough to watch those final rounds. Outgunned but still fighting.
Doesn’t take anything away from what Pacquiao did, and I still can’t wait until PacMan and Floyd Mayweather fight. But I won’t be watching those final rounds too much.
Welcome to the big time, Andre Ward…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
Wasn’t sure if he was ready. Nothing I had seen in his previous 20 fights led me to believe it was possible.
But once again, what do I know? An outstanding display of ‘power boxing’ by Andre Ward has given him the first world title of his career.
Ward battered super middleweight Mikkel Kessler with lefts, rights (and a few heads) en route to an 11th-round technical decision Saturday night in the final fight of the first stage of the Super Six World Boxing Classic.
For the record, I had Ward up 9 rounds to 2 at the time of the stoppage.
Ward won this fight early with his determination. In the first round, he was boxing from the outside, and it looked like it would be another fight where the European champion was going to stalk the American challenger.
But something changed as Ward decided he needed to earn Kessler’s respect. He fought on the inside and Kessler just wasn’t expecting it.
Ward held a little and led with the head a little, but Kessler had every opportunity to stop that from happening had he decided he wanted to fight on the inside.
On this night, he decided not to.
Ward was electric in his first title fight. Great rhythm, going in and out. I was diggin’ the jab to the body the most. It really stopped Kessler’s rhythm.
I was waiting for Kessler to get going, but he never really did. He was in slow motion for the first six, seven rounds. It wasn’t until he got cut up did it really feel like he realized he was in a fight.
On an accidental butt in the eighth round, Ward busted up Kessler. On a bull rush in the 10th, he cut the other eye. The writing was on the wall.
Kessler blamed the butts and the holding. I’ll give him that for the heat of the moment. But I’m not backing down on the fact that had he decided Ward couldn’t just bull rush him and hold, it would have been a different fight.
If Kessler would have stood his ground, Ward would have had to change up his plan of attack. But Kessler was more than cooperative in deciding he didn’t want to fight inside.
As is, give Ward a huge amount of credit for the way he fought. It was dang near close to being a perfect fight. The cuts were really bad for Kessler, so he may need a little more time before moving on.
So after the first stage, Arthur Abraham, Carl Froch and Ward are your leaders. The second stage features Carl Froch vs. Mikkel Kessler, Abraham vs. Andre Dirrell and Ward vs. Jermain Taylor. All fights will happen sometime in 2010.
Rosholt taps out to Grove…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
Coming off his best victory in his young career in the Ultimate Fighting Championship back in August, former Oklahoma State wrestler Jake Rosholt couldn’t follow up on it.
Rosholt tapped out to a triangle choke in round one against Kendall Grove at UFC 106 on Saturday night in Las Vegas.
Rosholt scored a takedown and was able to get into the mount position, but Grove maneuvered his way out of trouble. Not too long after, Grove was in control and forced the submission with 1:01 left in the first round.
With the loss, Rosholt is now 6-2 in his Mixed Martial Arts career and 1-2 in the UFC.
***
This loss hurts as Rosholt was really gaining some momentum after his win vs. Chris Leben. Now it’s back to the drawing board.
He should get another shot, but the road just became that much tougher for the former OSU star. Friend and Team Takdedown member Johny Hendricks fights at UFC 107 in Memphis.
***
Getting ready for a bevy of goodies right now. We have UFC 106 in 35 minutes with Tito Ortiz and Forrest Griffin as well as Andre Ward and Mikkel Kessler in the Super Six super middleweight boxing classic on Showtime. Fun time to be a fight fan. Back later tonight or early Sunday.
Roller earns huge win…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
Former Oklahoma State wrestler Shane Roller scored a third-round submission victory at the World Extreme Cagefighting event in Las Vegas on Wednesday.
Down early, Roller worked himself back into the fight before making Danny Castillo tap out to a rear-naked choke in the third round.
It is the second consecutive win for Roller, who is now 7-2. Roller also earned a $10,000 bonus for “Submission of the Night.”
The victory has put Roller in line for a potential WEC lightweight championship bout in the future.
***
I give Roller a lot of credit, both in this fight and his career. I had all but counted him out once he was 5-2, but he’s made some real strides in the last year.
Watching this fight late late Wednesday, thought Castillo was going to win. But Roller stuck with it and absorbed the early blows.
Now that Roller has won, it’ll be interesting to see if former OSU wrestler Jake Rosholt can earn a win at UFC 106 on Saturday to keep the good times rollin’ for the Team Takedown members.
***
The story from WEC 44, of course, was the dismantling of Mike Brown by Jose Aldo. Wow, what a showing. Never thought it would happen like that.
Aldo was just too strong all night for Brown. Too slick, too. Impressive display.
Ortiz vs. Griffin intriguing…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
When UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar pulled out of UFC 106, I wasn’t sure how the promotion was going to make me care about the card.
Job well done when it was announced Tito Ortiz’s return to the Octagon would be against Forrest Griffin in a rematch from their bout several years ago.
Griffin needs this win…badly. He’s a very popular figure among the Average Joe, but back-to-back losses (albeit against some of the best in the world) have hurt his marketability.
How much does Ortiz have left? No idea. He says he’s in great shape and all the time off to have surgeries has him ready to go. That might be true in training, but what is going to happen when he takes a hit?
I’m just not sure how Ortiz can come back after such a long layoff and win this one. If he does, hey, it adds to his all-time credentials. But that is really asking a lot.
I hate to say Ortiz can’t win this fight, but I do believe that his best chance is if Griffin hasn’t mentally recovered from his last two fights, and he’s the one that makes the mistake.
Also very interested in seeing if one of “my boys” Anthony Johnson can deliver against Josh Koscheck. Johnson is one heuckva entertaining fighter, and it seems like he should be ready to take that next step. A win Saturday will certainly help his cause.
***
In a prelim bout to UFC 106, former Oklahoma State star Jake Rosholt will be taking on Kendall Grove. Normally these bouts aren’t shown on PPV depending on time restrictions.
However, this one will be different. Spike will show a select number of bouts and this looks like it will be the unofficial ‘main event’ for Spike.
Rosholt is coming off the biggest win of his career in August while Grove has won two of his last three fights.
***
Good to hear Brock Lesnar is home from the hospital. Who knew how sick he really was? It’ll be a while before he’s healthy, but he’ll be a force once he gets back.
***
Bored on a Wednesday night? Former OSU wrestler Shane Roller is competing tonight on VS. during the WEC 44 card.
Mike Brown, twice the conqueror of Urijah Faber, is taking on Jose Aldo in the main event.
Roller is taking on Danny Castillo in a bout that all the sudden looms large for the former Cowboy. The division has no clear-cut star, and a win here might put Roller in line for a title shot.
***
Saturday will also mark the rubbermatch between boxing and MMA (Boneman’s note: Slip up there). Strikeforce won round 1 with Fedor’s KO of Brett Rogers totally destroying a boring boxing match with Chad Dawson beating Glen Johnson.
Boxing turned it around the next week with Manny Pacquiao’s 12th-round TKO of Miguel Cotto against a rather pedestrian decision win for Randy Couture at UFC 105.
Now we get UFC 106 against the final bout of the Super Six: Andre Ward vs. Mikkel Kessler. As a fight fan of all styles, November has been very very good to me.
Mayweather-Pacquiao the only option…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
I like to think I’m not naive. I get it, sometimes the best things in boxing – the most logical things – don’t ever actually happen.
If it did, Oscar De La Hoya and Felix Trinidad would have had a rematch in 2000. Roy Jones Jr. and Bernard Hopkins would have met in 2002. The list goes on and and on and sadly, on further.
But if Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather don’t fight within the next 6-12 months, something is seriously wrong with the sport.
The blame would be everywhere. It would be with the egos of the fighters, the promoters being unable to hammer out a deal. It would be devastating in trying to earn that common fan back.
Boxing is riding a high right now after back-to-back PPVs that put up monster numbers with Floyd Mayweather’s wipeout of Juan Manuel Marquez and Pacquiao’s legendary outing Saturday vs. Miguel Cotto.
Strike while the iron is hot. Heck, you don’t know when it will be this good again.
There is no doubt in my mind that Pacquiao wants this fight. None. You look at his resume. Believe me, if he wanted to avoid a fight, he would have done it by now. Three fights with Erik Morales, two with Marco Antonio Barrera and Marquez. Battles with De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton and now Cotto.
The ball is in Mayweather’s court. I won’t say it is in PacMan’s.
Pacquiao can fight anybody he wants because he won’t duck anybody, but if Mayweather wants anyone to take him seriously again, his options are: retire or fight Pacquiao.
Even Shane Mosley has taken a backseat in the Mayweather stakes. It has to be Pacquiao. And it has to be within the next year.
Everyone loved Pacquiao before Saturday but after the Cotto fight, all the sudden these all-time pound-for-pound lists are being released.
I don’t have enough boxing knowledge to say anything like that, but I’ll say don’t count out Mayweather. There isn’t a smarter fighter in the ring. I don’t know the last fighter who has the type of intelligence that Money Mayweather has.
I don’t think Mayweather would knock out Pacquiao, but I’m not sure if PacMan would ever find Mayweather with his shots. I get giddy just thinking what could be, though.
This is as close to the biggest fight we could possibly see. It would easily be the biggest fight of the decade…easily. I actually think, age-wise, both guys are a year or two removed from their prime. No biggie, you can’t notice it because they’re so much better than everyone else.
It would also be a personal conundrum as not only would I be torn on who I think would win, I would be just as torn on who I want to win. I’ve been a huge fan of each guy for a long, long time. I remember the Pacquiao with the hilites in the hair and the No Fear gear. I remember the baby-faced Mayweather against the likes of Genaro Hernandez.
So half-jokingly I say give ‘em each $30 million. I don’t care about how bad the economy is when it comes to this fight. Pay ‘em, and let’s see who really is the best fighter of the generation.
***
Seems I struck a chord with a reader or two regarding showing Miguel Cotto’s wife and son Saturday night. Let me clarify my stance: it’s all about the context when you’re doing something like that. All about context.
What I didn’t like was this was like at the end of the ninth or 10th round in a fight Cotto was taking a beating. I don’t need to be reminded of something like that during that particular moment.
If it was a back and forth battle and you could still see Cotto perhaps winning, I think I would have been OK with it. Like after the third round would have been fine with me, the fight was still up in the air at that point.
***
Been fun riding the PacMan wave and the buzz he’s created. But now it’s time to look ahead to the final matchup of the first round of the Super Six between Mikkel Kessler and Andre Ward. I’ll also have some UFC 105 thoughts as well as some thoughts on UFC 106 this weekend featuring Tito Ortiz vs. Forrest Griffin.
Pacquiao: A true superhero…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
For those that don’t know, Manny Pacquiao is starring in movie in the Philippines where he is playing a superhero. He doesn’t need a costume as far as I’m concerned.
It’s a day later, and I’m still marveling at what Pacquiao did in 12 rounds to Miguel Cotto to win a title in his seventh different weight class.
Some more random thoughts
- Pacquiao’s right hook is devastating. For years, he was a one-handed fighter. But adding that right to his left, he’s close to unbeatable. The right started the damage against Ricky Hatton, and a right dropped Cotto in the third round.
- The undercard was pathetic. Brutal, sleep-inducing. If ever an event was saved by its main event, this is it. Let’s never talk about those fights again.
- Not only does Pacquiao have speed and power, he’s got some stones, too. He covered up and let Cotto take the best whacks he could at him. Nothing. Free shots, and Miguel couldn’t mount anything.
- Laughed at Manny Steward when he said he was happy this was on TV because if it was on radio, it would be the biggest mess ever with everyone talking over each other. It was so true at that point.
- Furious at Jim Lampley in this one. No. 1, if Cotto had won the third round, it would have been 10-9 Cotto. Not 9-9. You get knocked down and win the round, the other guy doesn’t get deducted a point – you earn that point back. For the record, I had the third round 10-8 Pacquiao.
No. 2 – “That punch was comically slow by Cotto.” Comically? Here is one of the best fighters in the world, and he’s leaving every inch of his soul out there, and this is what you’re saying? Wow. Yea, Cotto doesn’t have the speed of PacMan. Nobody does. Unnecessary comment.
No. 3 – But nothing tops this. The insistence on showing Cotto’s wife and son when Cotto was taking a beating. Real classy move there. That took away from my enjoyment of a beautiful performance by Pacquiao. I’m still angered by this.
- If Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather are going to fight, it’s going to be because of Freddie Roach. PacMan won’t press it and say something. If Roach is outspoken enough to start getting to Floyd’s pride, book it, this will happen. And give ‘em each $30 million while you’re at it. That’s how bad I want to see this fight.
- There is nothing like seeing a big fight like this live. I’m wondering how rounds 2-4 are going to come off the second time around when I watch it next week on HBO. Will it still be as great? That’s thing about Marvin Hagler and Tommy Hearns. Those three rounds NEVER ever get old. EVER.
- How comfortable must Cotto be in his own skin to be so gracious afterward? I don’t know if I would have been able to do that. I hope he can bounce back from this. I don’t know how you can, but here’s to hoping.
No derailing the Pacquiao legend…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
By round 4, I was in awe. Round 8 was pure amazement. By round 12, I was just begging someone to call it off.
It’s a little after 1 a.m., but I have to write this now while it’s all still fresh in my mind.
In an absolutely remarkable (use any superlative you want) performance, Manny Pacquiao cemented his all-time status and knocked out Miguel Cotto in the 12th round to win the welterweight championship.
A.MA.ZING.
Going in, I picked Cotto by split-decision and expected an all-time classic. Figured Cotto’s power was going to wear down Pacquiao and each would fight like there’s no tomorrow down the stretch. I don’t feel that bad because Pacquiao is just a different animal than anyone else I’ve ever seen fight in my life.
Where did this chin come from by Pacquiao? Where is the guy that was getting rocked by Erik Morales and Juan Manuel Marquez? He was an indestructible force against Cotto. He took Cotto’s best shots (some dang good ones, too) and kept coming back. Cotto could not do the same.
I actually gave Cotto round 1 as he used a booming jab to snap Pacquiao’s head back several times.
Rounds 2-4 are time capsule rounds. Furious back-and-forth action, and Pacquiao dropped Cotto with a right in the third and a thudding left at the end of the fourth that changed the whole complexion of the bout.
Watching those rounds live made me remember why boxing is and always will be my favorite sport. It wasn’t Marvin Hagler and Tommy Hearns, but man, it was dang close.
Cotto found his footing in the fifth, but that would be the last round he would win on my card. And with each progressive round, the beating got worse. His face became more swollen, the blood was dripping everywhere.
I gave Pacquiao a 10-8 round in the ninth despite not knocking Cotto down because he was THAT dominant.
If this was stopped after eight or nine rounds, I think everybody is talking about what a war this was between two of boxing’s best.
But the drama was sapped as Cotto did all he could to survive the onslaught. He started getting on his toes and boxing more. He was no longer willing to go in there and trade with the Filipino icon.
Fans were actually booing Cotto in rounds 10 and 11. I was furious that his corner didn’t stop this bout. Referee Kenny Bayless had no legit reason to step in and stop it. It was all up to the corner. I truly believe the punches he took in rounds 9-12 are career (maybe even life)-altering rounds. The absolute definition of unnecessary punishment.
One last flurry forced Bayless to step in a little less than a minute into the final round and declare Pacquiao the victor.
Cotto fought his heart out, left everything he had out there. He was even cool enough to talk with HBO after the fight. All he knows is boxing, so he’ll be back. Honestly, he’ll probably win another title if this didn’t destroy him physically and mentally.
At times, Cotto fought intelligent and crowd-pleasing, all at the same time. His jab was working. He hit Pacquiao hard to the body and buzzed him a few times with left hooks on the ropes. But nothing really fazed Pacquiao.
As for Pacquiao, seriously have no idea what to say about this guy. It is an honor to watch one of boxing all-time greats fights. With each fight, I’m more impressed.
From the brilliant battle with Marquez last year to dismantling David Diaz to whipping Oscar De La Hoya to annihilating Ricky Hatton to overpowering Cotto – downright legendary stuff.
There is only one name not on that list: Floyd Mayweather Jr. Much more on that later in the week. This night belonged to the PacMan.
‘Firepower’ ready to explode…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
I’ve looked at the weigh-in photos (yea, I look like those guys, too). I’ve watched every episode of 24/7. Hours away from the fight, and I’m still torn on who will win between Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto.
All I know is this is one that shouldn’t disappoint. All the combustible elements are there, and we should all be treated to a classic, if not an all-time epic.
Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach almost has me drinking his Kool-Aid. I’m not sure what Joe Santiago will add to Cotto’s corner. You know what Roach is going to give ya. Santiago is unproven in this type of atmosphere, but that doesn’t mean he won’t deliver the performance of his life, too.
My thought has been that Cotto has never wanted a fight more. So then the thinking is maybe he’s put too much of himself into this one. It is very easy to overthink this matchup between two great plyers of their craft and two guys who came off pretty dang likeable on the 24/7 series.
The media buzz has been sensational. As a boxing diehard, it’s great to see the type of attention to this fight. A fight between a Filipino icon and a Puerto Rican warrior, and it’s doing well in the US? That’s terrific. And I give credit to both fighters for speaking English. It’s a little thing, but it goes a long way.
As for the fight, still torn. Pacquiao has blazing speed. Cotto is the most powerful puncher Pacquiao has faced. Can Cotto catch the PacMan? Can PacMan take Cotto’s shot?
Going to be very interesting to see what strategy Cotto uses from the outset. He has been boxing more instead of slugging.
I’m not seeing a knockout in this one. Think both men have too much heart and will and both will hear the final bell.
And if I have to pick, I’m going to say Cotto by razor think split-decision in the Fight of the Year (to this point).
Either way, I’ll be updating all night on Twitter with live scoring, and I’ll be back Sunday to break it all down between Pacquiao and Cotto.
Video: Eric Fields TKO 4 Adam Harris…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
It took a little longer than Eric Fields may have liked, but he was never in any serious trouble against Adam Harris.
Fields’ size and speed pretty much kept Harris at bay all night. It seemed like Harris was reluctant to pull the trigger.
As was a theme Thursday night at Remington Park, it was a left hook to the body that spurred Fields to the win.
I had a chance to catch up with Fields following the victory.
