Getting the weekend started…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
I’m not quite in the 21st century yet. No TiVo or DVR service – just a trusty old VCR. So I figured I would program UFC Fight night and Ultimate Fighter: US vs. UK.
Good idea…in theory. But I made a simple mistake I haven’t done in ages, thus I haven’t seen either show.
Might be a good thing as I’ve enjoyed watching Carlos Condit fight in WEC and in his first UFC appearance, Martin Kampmann pulled out a split-decision victory.
Scores were 29-28 across the board. I’m a little guy (hence Boneman), so I pull for the WEC guys moving up to the UFC but give Kampmann credit.
Also of note, Ryan Bader, in his first fight since winning The Ultimate Fighter, had no trouble (it seemed) vs. Carmelo Marrero.
Bader won 30-27 on all cards and showed a good variety of technique (armbar, mounting, arm-triangle choke, short punches).
Definitely try to catch a replay.
Coming up this weekend is a WEC event on VS. Sunday. Former Oklahoma State wrestler Shane Roller will be fighting in that one, so I’ll make sure I catch a glimpse of that.
Before that, Showtime returns with a very intriguing junior welterweight bout between Timothy Bradley and Kendall Holt.
I’m pretty high on Bradley, so my judgment is a little clouded. After being thoroughly impressed with Holt and how he came back vs. Ricardo Torres last summer, I was equally unimpressed with his decision win vs. Demetrius Hopkins a few months ago.
Bradley was just supposed to be an “opponent” for Junior Witter last year but won in the UK.
He followed that with a 12-round decision win vs. Edner Cherry. But maybe I’m most excited because he’s only 25. A fresh, young fighter ready to make waves, what’dya know about that?
Holt is only 27, so he’s not filling out retirement papers anytime soon, either. The bout will be for the WBC/WBO titles.
But how does a bout with a California native (Bradley) and a New Jersey guy (Holt) end up in Montreal? I love, repeat love the Montreal crowds, but will they care about two Americans going at it?
In the co-feature, Librado Andrade will take on Vitali Tsypko. Andrade is from Mexico and now lives in CA. Tsypko is from the Ukraine. Again, why Montreal? Those Canadian fans will prove me wrong, I bet and be a great crowd.
Though my love of professional wrestling is dwindling, it’s WrestleMania weekend as well. Oklahoman Bill Watts will be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame on Saturday with Norman resident Jim Ross doing the honors from the Toyota Center in Houston on Saturday.
Then WrestleMania XXV will be Sunday from Reliant Stadium in Houston. Houston city officials are hoping for $50 million to be pumped into their economy with this event. Strong chance it will happen.
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