Sizing up UFC 94…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
(B.J. Penn, left, and Georges St. Pierre in their first fight in March 2006. photo courtesy of MMAweekly.com)
UFC is going to make me bankrupt. And because of that, I have to pick and choose when I want to fork over the dough.
Sorry, going to have to pass on Saturday’s very intriguing UFC 94, featuring the rematch between welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre and lightweight champion B.J. Penn.
I’ll be following sherdog.com all night, most likely. It’s tough to keep spending the money that you don’t really have anyway.
There are a bevy of events coming up with the UFC. I get the logic of doing it when the gettin’s good, but it’s tough in this economy.
Enough whining, how about the mega showdown.
I’ve enjoyed the UFC Primetime shows leading up to this one. It’s almost like St. Pierre is the epitome of the perfect fighter.
He’s getting all the great training from great sparring partners. In essence, if you had to create a fighter in a factory as a prototype, it might look like St. Pierre.
On the other hand, there’s Penn. I’ve heard words like gutter and ghetto to describe Penn. I won’t go that far, but he’s a different breed as well. I mean, running with rocks underwater? Where do you come up with that stuff?
St. Pierre beat Penn in the first meeting all the way back at UFC 58: USA vs. Canada. That was nearly three years ago in a split decision.
Penn’s gotten older. St. Pierre’s gotten more experienced. Sounds like an easy one, right? Not so sure.
Penn comes across as a punk, but there is a certain charisma with The Prodigy. He’s won his last three fights, and he’s only two years older than St. Pierre. It’s just Penn started fighting in the UFC in 2001, back at UFC 31.
Sherdog polled 30 professional fighters and 15 picked St. Pierre while 14 picked Penn and one did not offer an opinion.
Can’t get much closer than that, huh?
I like the progression St. Pierre has made as a fighter. He’s become one of the most consistent fighters and has made his name.
Their last fight only went three rounds, so should be a fun one Saturday.
Official prediction: St. Pierre UD over Penn. Need to get back on the plus side after failing miserably with Sugar Shane Mosley last week.
Other fights worth checking out: Lyoto Machida vs. Thiago Silva (both are 13-0); Stephan Bonnar vs. Jon Jones (JJ’s nickname is “Bones” c’mon, I’m the Boneman); Nate Diaz vs. Clay Guida and Jon Fitch vs. Akihiro Gono (Fitch had a memorable bout with St. Pierre last year).
On a sad note, Grandmaster Helio Gracie passed away this week. You can debate all you want about how much the Gracie family really means to the birth of MMA/UFC, but you can’t deny Helio’s more than 80 years of work and dedication to the sport.
There is a petition for the UFC to have a tribute to Helio this weekend. Here’s the address to send your support: press@UFC.com.
And in boxing, all the rumblings are toward a Mosley-Floyd Mayweather fight. The only one not rumbling is Mayweather.
If this gets made, I’ve gots loads of stories to tell on both guys. This dates back to 1998 and 1999 stuff. Will Mayweather come out of hiding?
This type of mini-tournament (Manny Pacquiao-Ricky Hatton and Mosley-Mayweather) can make boxing relevant nationally for 2009 without the name Oscar de La Hoya.
Local scene update…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
C3 Fights going mobile
Not all locations are a perfect spot for major events. But C3 Fights booking manager Howard Pollack may have found a solution to that.
Pollack will introduce the first EventTent on Friday for the MMA event at the Lucky Star Casino in Clinton.
“This is a first of its kind,” Pollack said. “We’re basically saying we have a venue, and we’ll travel wherever.”
The EventTent is mobile 3,000-seat and 30,000-sq. ft. tent that Pollack said will be perfect for concerts and fights.
C3 Fights is based out of Norman, but Pollack said he hopes to build the brand name nationally and internationally.
“With the EventTent, we’ll be able to go to a lot of different places and have fights more often,” Pollack said.
Ultimate Fighting Championship veterans Drew Fickett and Gerald Harris are among some of the fighters competing as well as local product Brandon Shelton.
Tickets are available at the casino, at tickets.com and zooamp.com or by phone at (800) 511-1552 or (405) 364-3700.
(Anyone else absolutely intrigued by this whole EventTent? It’s either the coolest thing ever or a major trainwreck. David Beerley and Howard Pollack, the C3 Fights masterminds, have a strong idea of what they’re doing. I can’t wait until they send me the pictures of this thing.)
Rosholt’s UFC debut next week
After having his opponent changed for his UFC debut a couple of weeks ago, former Oklahoma State wrestler Jake Rosholt said he is ready.
Rosholt (5-0-0) will fight Feb. 7 in Tampa at UFC Fight Night 17 against Dan Miller. Depending on time restrictions, the bout could be televised by Spike.
Norman’s Matt Grice will make his third appearance in the UFC. He will fight on the non-televised undercard.
(That’s why VCRs were made. I’ll be at an Oklahoma City Blazers game that night and won’t catch the live showing. Trying to snag an interview with Rosholt for a big piece next week.)
Comanche Boy, Jones keeping busy
Lawton middleweight George Tahdooahnippah and Oklahoma City junior middleweight Carson Jones are only a couple of weeks removed from earning wins in Tulsa.
But both are going to return to the ring in the next couple weeks.
Jones (18-6-1) takes on the toughest opponent of his career when he fights Jesus Soto Karass on Feb. 6 in California.
Tahdooahnippah, the Comanche Boy, will fight at Remington Park on Feb. 13. Other fighters include Oklahoma lightweight champion Noah Zuhdi, former Oklahoma City Blazers enforcer Ron Aubrey and Oklahoma City welterweight Kyle Sherman.
For more information on the Remington event, call (405) 408-3599 or visit www.catboxentertainment.com.
(Have a very unique angle for this event. This won’t be your normal write-up of a fight. Kinda excited about it. As for Carson, this is a huge step up. I’m pumped for him. This is exactly the type of fighter he needs to be beating right now to take that proverbial next step.)
Antonio Margarito and his trainer have been temporarily suspended after the hand wrap fiasco Saturday. I really hope there is nothing more to this. Margarito has been a guy people can rally behind. I haven’t, but I know plenty of people who have.
If there is anything found in this investigation, it’s not going to be pretty.
Be back with a UFC 94 preview tomorrow.
Faber is back…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
(after being humbled, Urijah Faber was all business Sunday)
A little thing happened when trying to write this Monday. All the sudden, Oklahoma has become ice central.
Bad, icy conditions are ripping through the state. But with some down time, thought I would hit you up for some thoughts from World Extreme Cagefighting.
Is Urijah Faber back or is Jens Pulver done? Faber, with a beautifully placed left hand to the body, dispensed of Lil Evil in less than two minutes.
Commentator Frank Mir thought Pulver may have been trying to set a trap. But I’ve watched enough boxing to know that when you get caught with the perfect body shot, it’s game, set, match for the other guy.
Faber went in for the kill and locked in a guillotine choke for the official win. Something about the California Kid I can’t get enough of.
He’s now 22-2 and desperately wants another shot at champion Mike Brown, who was in attendance.
In the main event, saw a great pitched-battle between Jamie Varner and Donald Cerrone for the championship.
It was a cryin’ shame the fight ended on an accidental illegal knee to Varner’s head by Cerrone when Varner was still on the ground early in the fifth round.
Varner was awarded a split-decision win with scores of 49-46 (twice) and 47-48. I was in line with the dissenting vote. I scored it for Cerrone.
This was a fun bout and one of the few WEC matches I’ve seen that felt like it was big time (if that makes any sense).
Varner did a phenomenal job of attacking Cerrone’s guard and busting him up. It looked like Cerrone was going to head the way of Hasim Rahman with a subdural hematoma. But the swelling didn’t get nearly that bad.
Cerrone, for his credit, remained poised throughout. He never landed his roundhouse kick flush, but he got Varner’s attention.
By the fourth and fifth rounds, felt there was a swing where it was Cerrone dictating everything and Varner just holding on and hoping he had done enough.
Granted, Varner was still fighting, but he was on the defense and Cerrone even scored a takedown of his own in the fifth.
And what was with Cerrone taking his hand and grabbing his own foot in the guard? I couldn’t figure it out. Neither could the commentators.
Excellent fight that cries out for a rematch. Both said they’d be willing. But Varner said he broke his hand. If so, the wait may be a little longer than any of us would like.
In boxing news, a rumored Final Four has me beyond giddy. There is talk of the Manny Pacquiao and Ricky Hatton winner fighting the winner of a proposed June bout between Shane Mosley and Floyd Mayweather. Winners battle it out in Nov. or Dec. and the easy claim to Fighter of the Year.
All up to Mayweather now. After what would be two years off, does he just want to rush in and fight Mosley? Interesting, but at least it seems like HBO is trying to do the right things here early in 2009.
Later this week look for your UFC 94 preview with Georges St. Pierre against B.J. Penn.
Nothin’ like some crow in the mornin’…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
(Antonio Margarito, left, had no answers for Sugar Shane Mosley. Photo by Chris Cozzone of Fightnews.com)
After another extremely fun day of HS basketball, I popped in the ol’ Shane Mosley and Antonio Margarito fight around 2 a.m. this morning.
And the excitement had me up until about 4.
Never have I been so glad to have been so outlandishly wrong. Mosley dominated nearly every minute of every round before stopping Margarito in the ninth.
Before the fight, Margarito was forced to have his hands wrapped three times because Mosley’s new trainer Naazim Richardson had issues with the amount of tape Margarito had.
In unwrapping his hands, a plaster-like substance was found.
Oh boy.
For those not fully aware of what this means, what that does is basically give the fighter a cast to work with.
The fighter can hit the bejeesus out of you and not have it hurt their own hand. The last time this was mentioned was ironically enough with Richardson in Bernard Hopkins’ corner on Felix Trinidad on Sept. 29, 2001.
It definitely casts, no pun intended, a cloud over Margarito’s career-defining win aginst Miguel Cotto in July.
But we’re not here to debate that. When more info becomes available, yeah sure, we will. But this night belonged to Sugar Shane Mosley.
Where to start? How about the game plan of Richardson? In his first bout with Mosley after taking over for Shane’s father, Jack, this was a perfect plan.
Use Margarito’s aggressiveness against him. I gotta agree with HBO commentator Emanuel Steward who brought up two things: 1) Mosley’s consistent body attack and 2) Mosley’s use of a solid, stiff jab.
Mosley has always been what he’s referred to as a power-boxer. He’s got the power to starch you, but the skills to frustrate you.
On this night, he put it all together. And he’s 37.
Mosley hit Margarito at will with his right hand and pestered him enough with the jab. And of course a trademark for Mosley is that leaping left hook.
Through five, it was clearly Mosley up 5-0. I can’t/don’t understand why Margarito didn’t force the action. Where was the arrogance/confidence that he had against Cotto? Cotto has beaten Mosley (not in my opinion, but in the record books).
Margarito throws on average more than 100 punches per round. I don’t have the official stats in front of me, but I don’t think he got over 80 once and maybe not even 70 but a couple of times.
Mosley doesn’t wilt under pressure, and that was huge. Margarito is used to imposing his will and breaking down a fighter. You don’t do that with Mosley.
He gets hit, he wants to hit you back. And he was man enough to hold. Sounds like a contradiction, right?
Wrong.
Whenever Mosley’s back hit the ropes, he lunged in and grabbed. Got the fight back to his distance and went back to work.
A glancing right uppercut followed by a home run left hook started the beginning of the end late in round eight. With seconds to go, the patented leaping left hook sent Margarito sprawling into the ropes before overhand rights dropped him.
Fight should have been over. Not the ref’s call to make. Margarito got up and staggered back to the corner where it should have been stopped.
But since it wasn’t, it allowed Mosley to have some fun and batter Margarito for the first minute of the ninth before Margarito fell, the ref stopped it and the corner threw in the towel.
It was the ol’ Floyd Mayweather-Ricky Hatton perfect trio.
So Mosley is the top dog again at welterweight. And Hopkins is one of the best fighters in the world. What is this, 2001 again?
In Affliction, Fedor knocked out Andrei Arlovski in one round, much to no one’s surprise. Until it’s Fedor/Brock Lesnar, not going to get too excited.
Back tomorrow with WEC thoughts.
Quickie preview…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
Because a crazy day in HS basketball yesterday, this will be brief. Also, Thomas Gerbasi of maxboxing wrote a splendid piece with my sentiments on Shane Mosley.
Once again, the maxboxing guys have stolen my thunder 
Anyway, we’re all hoping for an epic showdown tonight between Mosley and Antonio Margarito.
I’m just not seeing it. Margarito either wins via late TKO or wide unanimous decision. I’m hoping Mosley has one last miracle left in him, but it’s not against Margarito.
Mosley was rumored to have been fighting Andre Berto. Now that I could have seen him winning.
But Margarito is a MANster, half man, half monster. He’s in impeccable shape. I figured he might have issues getting to 147, no sir. He was in at 145.8 while it Mosley who needed a second opportunity to hit the mark.
I’m taping it and when I get home from HS basketball, will be thrilled to watch it. But I’m going to try to not get my hopes up about it.
Also, you didn’t hear anything from me on Manny Pacquiao and Ricky Hatton being off because the cynic in me said there was no way this fight was off.
And sure enough, terms were agreed to Friday for the May 2 showdown.
Sunday is another night of WEC on VS. Main event should be fun with Urijah Faber, coming back from a stunning KO loss, against Jens Pulver.
So be back tomorrow with Margarito-Mosley thoughts and Monday for WEC observations.
Charity Night thoughts…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
Charity Fight Night has come and gone. Good event, great atmosphere, noble cause = good time.
I was able to speak more in-depth with lieutenant David Williams of the Oklahoma City Police Athletic League.
If you ever want someone to convince you about a cause, go to Williams.
But I didn’t get the sense of feigning enthusiasm. He admitted to being assigned to the PAL. But ever since, he’s developed a strong passion. I mean a STRONG passion for it.
All donations from the Fight Night go to PAL, Williams said it will be put toward a PAL center on the south side of OKC. Right now, the PAL just sort of borrows venues from various places for their sports and would like to have a place they could call their own.
The estimated cost is $3 million so every little bit helps.
You can visit their site, donate money by sending it to the OKC PAL 701 Colcord Ave. OKC, OK. But even the little things like volunteering go a long way, said Williams.
The phone number is (405) 297-1137. Fax is (405) 316-1152. And their e-mail address is okcpal@theshop.net.
Sugar Ray Leonard sat through every last request like a trooper. I wonder how many “put your fist by your chin” photos he smiled for? Over/under 200?
In the most notable news from the fights, Fort Worth’s Kendrick Releford (18-12) scored an impressive second-round KO of Terry Porter of Arkansas. It was perfect right hand that had Porter out for a couple of minutes before becoming coherent again.
There were silent and live auctions that brought in some good money, too, for the PAL. The goal was $50,000. When the numbers get tabulated, I will post it.
Leonard a hit in Oklahoma City…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
(photo by Sarah Phipps)
I’ve been to the Azteca Boxing Club a couple of times. It’s hot, it’s sweaty, you know, everything you would expect from a boxing gym.
But today the air conditioning was on, and there were a lot more people than your normal young future hopefuls.
All this for the Boneman? Ha, you wish.
No, boxing legend Sugar Ray Leonard visited the Club today and left an indelible impression on the young boys.
Leonard is in town for OKC Charity Fight Night at the Coca-Cola Bricktown Events Center on Thursday night.
Leonard sat with the boys in the ring and asked them individually how old they were, their style, their record, etc.
He also played the role of trainer, too, as he let the boys throw one-twos into his hand.
But once a fighter, always a fighter. Or at least competitor. As he did on The Contender TV show, Leonard picked up a jump rope and did his thing. At 52, he’s still got the ability to make jaws hit the ground.
Judging from the kids’ reactions, as much as it was great for him to box with them a little, they were listening to Leonard’s words more than anything.
Leonard preached about staying in school and getting a good education and always believing in your dreams. He told them how he didn’t even start boxing until he was 14. And how in boxing and life, you’re going to fall down, but the key is to always get back up.
It’s one thing to relay those type of messages, but what made it work was how he applied it to his own life. That made it a lot more real to the kids.
Leonard has said time and time again that all the fame means nothing if you don’t give back to the community.
On a personal note, I think the fact he came to the gym is a testament to that. He could have shown up at a better-known place and the kids would have flocked there. But he went to the gym (and not the easiest place in the world to find).
It wasn’t just the kids who were left a little awe-struck. There were plenty of adults and police officers who were just as giddy about getting items signed by Leonard.
The event Thursday is all about helping the Police Athletic League. The PAL does everything that it can to keep kids off the streets and lead them into a productive life.
Be back late Thursday with some Charity Fight Night thoughts. And then, oh yeah, there happens to be a Shane Mosley and Antonio Margarito fight coming up, right? You’ll get the “exclusive” Boneman preview this weekend.
Leonard in town this week…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
SUGAR RAY LEONARD VISITS PAL KIDS
Boxing Legend Inspires Young Hopefuls to Keep Fighting for Success
WHAT: Boxing great, Sugar Ray Leonard, in Oklahoma City to host OKC Charity Fight Night, meets with aspiring young contenders to inspire and motivate their fight towards success.
WHEN: Wednesday, January 21st at 3:45 p.m.
WHERE: Azteca Gym located at 330 SW Hudson, 1 block south of 25th & SW Hudson. Enter through alley, above Capitol Hill Graphics. Look for the Police truck.
WHY: Combining his passion for the sport of boxing and his desire to help children, Sugar Ray Leonard meets with young Oklahoma City Police Athletic League (PAL) boxers offering inspiration, wisdom, encouragement and motivation.
HOW: Support this important local program by attending OKC Charity Fight Night on Thursday, January 22nd. All proceeds benefit PAL. Contact (405) 706-7484 or Nicole@okcfightnight.com for ticket information.
I’ll be there, and then I’ll also be at the OKC Charity Fight Night event Thursday.
Berto grows up…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
(Andre Berto finally has the Boneman’s Stamp of Approval in a gutty effort Saturday)
I hate to repeat the words of Max Kellerman, but he was right when he said what a way to start 2009.
Great weekend of fights.
In Tulsa on Friday, Oklahoma City light middleweight Carson Jones took that next baby step with a third-round knockout.
He’s so young, so talented and is starting to put it all together. Word on the street (what street?) is Tulsa would love Jones to come back in the spring.
And the main event saw a mini-upset with Orlando Cruz knocking out Leonilo Miranda in the fifth round.
In UFC 93, it was rather ho-hum from the reports I read. Dan Henderson won a decision against Rich Franklin while Shogun Rua stopped Mark Coleman in the third round.
The big news was that it appears UFC 96 will feature Rampage Jackson vs. Keith Jardine and UFC 97 will have Chuck Liddell vs. Rua.
And then late Saturday night, Andre Berto went through “his Baptism by fire.” Berto eked out a unanimous decision 114-113 (twice) and 116-111.
Personally, I had it 6-6 and with Berto losing the point for holding, a win for Luis Collazo.
However, the point deduction was a little harsh for me. Didn’t think it was warranted. Also, it is tough, extremely tough to give someone a fight who loses the final two rounds in a back-and-forth affair.
Berto dug deep in the championship rounds to pull this one out. Kudos to Oklahoma judge Gary Ritter for getting a respectable 114-113 nod to Berto.
Thumbs down to whoever had it 116-111 for Berto. Really, nine rounds to three?
Excellent way to kick off the year. I wanted to tell HBO’s Bob Papa that Berto was not knocked down in round 1. He was hurt but there was no knockdown.
The rounds in multiples of three were fantastic. All 12 were pretty solid, for the most part but 3, 6, 9 and 12 were the best.
I’ll stop knocking Berto because he showed he’s got the jam to be a warrior. I don’t know what to say about Collazo.
Again, kinda with Kellerman about that. How long do you say “well, he lost a tough fight.” He gets one more shot in the Boneman’s book (it’s a great book, by the way).
Fantastic fight and a great way to kick off my latest boxing DVD.
And now the good gets better as we head into the mega-showdown between Antonio Margarito and Shane Mosley.
Because of dumb spending by HBO in 2008, we’re the lucky ones as this fight will be on regular HBO next Saturday and not PPV.
Live events again…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
We made it. Those first two weeks of January are the toughest in the fight game as absolutely nothing is going on.
That all ends this weekend with several live and intriguing cards to follow. Starts Friday night in Tulsa with ShoBox.
Then Saturday, we get a dose of boxing and mixed martial arts. UFC 93 is from Ireland. And while the card itself isn’t anything special, Mark “The Hammer” Coleman brings me back to my MMA crash-course introduction in the late ’90s.
Coleman takes on Shogun Rua in the semi-main event. Coleman was one of the first people I ever saw use the ground-and-pound effectively. His rise in the UFC was crazy. His fall was just as fast.
I’ll be honest. I was floored when I found out Coleman was still fighting last year. I thought for sure he was done.
The main event features Rich Franklin and Dan Henderson. The fight still has some meaning in the current landscape. But this is a card I will be passing on even if I didn’t have to cover an Oklahoma City Blazers hockey game at night.
Boxing features the return of Andre Berto against Luis Collazo. As I said before, Berto has regressed as a fighter because of spotty matchmaking. This is his first real test, or is it?
I was introduced to Collazo when he “beat” Ricky Hatton. Hatton won the decision, but Collazo, ooh, if he had one more round. But then Shane Mosley handled him pretty easily.
Berto wins this one, but it’s going to be fun and entertaining.
And a Sugar Ray Leonard anecdote to close this out.
When I was, I think, 6 years old, I received a pair of Sugar Ray boxing gloves. I can’t tell you why I wanted them, but I know I loved those things.
I would take unnecessary cheap shots on my three older brothers all the time. I was/am a little guy. I’ll look for any advantage possible.
Funny thing is growing up, I wasn’t a huge Leonard mark. I was more of a Tommy Hearns guy. As I’ve gotten older, I don’t have a “my guy” from that era. I watch all the classics with Leonard, Hearns, Marvin Hagler and Roberto Duran and just enjoy an era of great boxing that I wish I could have been around for.
Be back Sunday with weekend fight thoughts.
