Bellator coming to Lloyd Noble Center…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
The logical first question is “what in the world is Bellator?”
I had a chance for a nice long lunch with Bellator CEO and co-founder Bjorn Rebney to discuss what the newest MMA organization is all about, how it started, what its goal is, etc.
Background
First the name. Rebney felt having another alphabet soup title wouldn’t stand out. And all credit to the name goes to his nephew Trent, an avid Latin fan. Bellator means Warrior in Latin.
Rebney has been in the fight game for some time now, which actually gives me more confidence that something like this will work.
As much as I love getting excited about any new MMA group or any new boxing promoter, you have to have the background in the sport to really know what you’re doing.
Rebney was an agent for Oscar De La Hoya right after the 1992 Olympics and served in that capacity from 1993-97. Then he teamed up with Sugar Ray Leonard to form Sugar Ray Leonard Boxing. The promotional group was on ESPN2 66 times in four years for the Friday Night Fight series.
But from talking to Rebney, it’s obvious his passion is MMA. And Bellator has been four years in the making.
Rebney started talking with co-founder and COO Brad Epstein in April 2005 about this project.
Epstein is pretty well-known in the film industry, serving as producer to “About a Boy,” “Dan in Real Life,” and “Ghosts of Girlfriends Past.” The latter title is coming out in theaters in the next couple of weeks, starring Matthew McConaughey and Jennifer Garner.
And it’s the right mix of business with presentation that Rebney believes will give Bellator a longer shelf life than Elite XC and the IFL (among others).
Epstein works on the production of the events while Rebney handles the business portion.
Rebney said the business model the group is following is giving him confidence this will succeed.
What is Bellator?
Bellator is bring MMA back to the early days of the UFC, featuring 8-man tournaments in different weight classes.
Rebney said too much nowadays is about matchmaking and marketability. He wants to bring it back to it being about the fights and letting the fighters control their destiny.
In the original UFC events, men fought three times in one night to claim a champion. That’s crazy talk in this day and age, but Bellator is a 12-week program that is looking to try to return to those roots as close as possible.
The weight classes are: 145, 155, 170 and 185 pounds. Four fights at 185 pounds will be contested Friday night at Lloyd Noble Center in Norman as well as one at 170 pounds.
Yeah, that’s right, a college campus getting a big MMA event. It’s an interesting concept and not one promotions have really attempted. The next big event is at Hara Arena at the University of Dayton in Ohio.
But that’s where the future of the sport is, Rebney said. The fans are the college kids, so why not cater to them?
The more the fighters win, the more money they can possibly make. Rebney hopes to humanize the fighters, so the audience really cares about the participants.
We want to make it about the fighters. When we’re shooting background pieces with them, you can see their environment. This isn’t reality programming. We’re not putting these guys together in a house or anything like that. This will be legit.
Epstein will be the one behind those pieces. Bellator has had two shows so far with Friday’s card being the third.
The Business Model
Rebney said flat out:
You need to build to a pay off.
Some of things he said are vital the success: cable TV distribution, building brand recognition, having a set time for everything and of course, managing your budget.
With those and other things, that brings the fan loyalty. He mentioned World Wrestling Entertainment Chairman Vince McMahon as an example.
The WWE’s flagship show is Monday Night Raw. Stories build and build on the program on a weekly basis, leading to a Pay-Per-View (ones I’ve bought WAY too many times in my life).
Bellator’s partner is ESPN. Actually, ESPN Deportes for now. The fights are live Friday and shown on the station Saturday, broadcast in both English and Spanish.
Rebney said if things can go well to start, a move to ESPN2 could be in the works and the dream of all MMA fans, a move to ESPN down the road.
Rebney is not trying to compete with the UFC, far from it. He said there is room in the sport for a second or third option, and he hopes Bellator will be one of those groups that can survive like Strikeforce has been able to.
The Fighters
Finding 32 fighters has not been difficult at all, said Rebney. Part of it was the perfect launch time.
The recruiting process started right after the failiures of Elite XC and the IFL, so many fighters were looking for a new home. Ta-da.
The fighters are under contract with the group, and Rebney said he’s gets about 100 solicitations from fighters per week.
Some of the top names are: Eddie Alvarez, Hector Lombard, Jorge Masvidal. But the potential is definitely there to build new stars.
One of them could be Central Oklahoma product Jared Hess. Hess competes Friday in a 185-pound tournament bout.
The Card
Friday night’s card begins at 8 p.m. Tickets range from $20-100. The $100 is for cage-side seating.
Tickets are available through TicketMaster and at the LNC box office.
Tournament bouts
185 pounds: Jared Hess (6-0-1) vs. Daniel Tabera (12-1-3)
185: Alex Andrade (8-4) vs. Damien Stelly (8-2)
185: Virgil Lozano (6-1) vs. Hector Lombard (18-2)
185: Edwin Aguilar (20-12) vs. Yosmany Cabezas (7-1)
170: Dave Menne (42-15-2) vs. Norman Paraisy (5-0)
Non-Tournament bouts
205: Mike Messina (2-1) vs. William Albrecht (5-6)
Hwt: Amedio Viola (0-1) vs. Tyler East (2-0)
Hwt: Jay White (4-5) vs. Eddie Sanchez (8-3)
Lt. hwt: Rudy Lindsay (0-0) vs. Wayne Cole (13-9)
For more information on Bellator, here ya go.
Special thanks to all involved with Bellator and Rebney for taking the time out to meet with me this week.
The Golden Boy hangs ‘em up…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
If I was a betting man, this is one fighter who is going to stay retired. He has so many other interests in his life that I don’t feel he’ll ever feel lost in his life.
He may get the itch, but if he can’t fight at the most elite level there is, don’t think we’ll see Oscar de La Hoya ever stepping foot in the ring to fight again.
All credit goes to the Associated Press on the following story:
LOS ANGELES — Oscar De La Hoya stopped battling himself Tuesday, deciding after much internal turmoil to retire and end a career in which he won 10 world titles in six divisions and became boxing’s most popular fighter.
He made his announcement at an outdoor plaza across the street from Staples Center, where a 7-foot bronze statue of the 36-year-old Golden Boy stands.
“I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s over,” the East Los Angeles native said before hundreds of fans, including comedian George Lopez and Oscar-nominated actor and former fighter Mickey Rourke. “It’s over inside the ring for me.”
De La Hoya retired four months after he was thoroughly beaten by Manny Pacquiao, his fourth loss in his last seven fights. He has not defeated a formidable opponent since Fernando Vargas in 2002. Age and diminished skills led to losses in recent years to Felix Trinidad, Shane Mosley, Bernard Hopkins and Floyd Mayweather Jr.
He won his last title in May 2006, beating Ricardo Mayorga in six rounds for the WBC 154-pound belt. He finished with a record of 39-6 and 30 knockouts.
“This is the love of my life, boxing is my passion, boxing is what I was born to do,” De La Hoya said. “When I can’t do it anymore, when I can’t compete at the highest level, it’s not fair. It’s not fair to me, it’s not fair to the fans, it’s not fair to nobody.”
De La Hoya transcended his sport, generating crossover appeal among Latinos and whites. He was especially popular among women, who filled his news conferences and fights while screaming their approval of the boxer blessed with a magnetic smile and movie-star looks.
Unlike many fighters, De La Hoya walks away with his mind and his face intact. But he wavered often in making a final decision, and he credited his wife Millie Corretjer and business partner Richard Schaefer in helping him “realize what life is all about.”
“Even this morning, I said, ‘Are you sure?’ and he said, ‘Yes, I am ready,’” said Corretjer, a Puerto Rican singer. “I knew after that fight in December, but it took him four more months to make his decision.”
De La Hoya said he didn’t want to let down his fans or himself.
“Now I understand why athletes have such a tough time retiring from something that you feel so passionate about, from your sport that you’re always thinking you can try one more time,” he said.
“I can still train hard and I can still compete, but when you’re an athlete that has competed on the highest level for a lot of years, it’s not fair. It’s not fair to step inside the ring and not give my best.”
Although the second half of his career wasn’t as successful, De La Hoya was a champ at the ticket window. His bouts were guaranteed pay-per-view successes, and he was a cash cow for HBO, which broadcast 32 of his fights — most of any boxer — and generated millions in profits for the cable network.
De La Hoya’s last title bout was in May 2007, when he lost to Mayweather for the WBC 154-pound title in Las Vegas, the site of most of his bouts.
De La Hoya kept a serious expression during his announcement, his voice breaking only when he thanked his father, Joel, who sat on the stage with the boxer’s wife.
“I remember the times when he would take me to the gym and never gave up on me,” De La Hoya said. “We’ve lived some tough moments inside the ring, we’ve been through everything, but my father was always there for me. Thank you for pushing me as hard as you can.”
De La Hoya began boxing at age 5, following in the path of his grandfather and father. He won an Olympic gold medal at the 1992 Barcelona Games, delivering on a promise to his late mother, Cecilia, who died of breast cancer two years earlier. It was the performance that launched his pro career after he was 223-5 with 163 knockouts during his amateur days.
“Many of us remember watching him during the Olympics, feeling the pride and seeing one of our sons accomplish everything he did,” Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said. “This wasn’t a young man that was born with a silver spoon. He struggled and fought for everything he had. This entire city is proud of what you’ve done.”
De La Hoya will stay involved in the sport as a promoter with his successful Golden Boy Promotions company. He had been juggling the roles of boxer and promoter in the last few years, preparing for his eventual retirement.
His varied business interests include ownership stakes in the Houston Dynamo of Major League Soccer and the sugar substitue Equal. He has dabbled in singing and hosting a reality boxing show.
De La Hoya began his pro career against Lamar Williams on Nov. 23, 1992, at the Forum in nearby Inglewood, winning with a first-round knockout while fighting at 133 pounds. When he lost to Pacquiao in Las Vegas on Dec. 6, De La Hoya fought at 147.
His last victory came against Steve Forbes on May 3, 2008, in Los Angeles, where he won in 12 rounds at 150.
“I am very happy for Oscar and his family,” Pacquiao said in a statement. “I think he made the correct decision. Fighters of my generation owe him a great debt. I wish him nothing but the best.”
In keeping with his Mexican roots, De La Hoya followed his announcement with comments in Spanish.
De La Hoya has donated money to fund a cancer hospital wing named for his late mother in East Los Angeles and a charter high school downtown that bears his name.
“It hurts me that he’s not going to fight no more,” said Dian Romero, a 16-year-old student who heard about the boxer’s retirement on the school’s campus. “I really appreciate him in my life. Because of him, I’m hopefully going to college.”
Williams makes statement, but…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
Two big boxing/MMA events this last weekend and both had pretty conclusive results. Not much disputing anything that happened this weekend.
Let’s start with boxing. Heavyweight Chris Arreola did what he was supposed to do in knocking out the now-faded Jameel McCline in the fourth round.
Not going to act like it was something special. Still hoping with all hope that Arreola turns out to be the future of the division, but when he comes in as big (and soft) as he was, it’s disheartening.
You might call McCline a gatekeeper. If you beat him, you might be ready for a big test. But this version of McCline didn’t offer much, so can’t say I learned much.
What would Ray Mercer and Riddick Bowe and heavyweights of that ilk do vs. this bunch right now?
In the main event, Paul Williams did what most thought – outworked Winky Wright for 12 rounds in an easy unanimous decision.
Sadly, the one-sided bout probably hurt his chances at getting a big fight anytime soon. That’s just the way the business works.
For any top contender, there’s just not much to gain in fighting Williams. What do you vs. a welter/middleweight who can throw more than 100 punches a round, fight on the inside, has a solid chin and just keeps throwing and throwing?
Whispers of a Williams and Mosley bout. I’m not seeing it. Still see Shane Mosley’s future including a second bout with Miguel Cotto.
You know Williams is one of my favorites, so right now, just hoping he gets that chance to really showcase what he can do.
***
And may have seen the end of the Shamrock Era on Showtime. After Ken Shamrock tested positive for three different steroids prior to a scheduled bout with Bobby Lashley, brother Frank Shamrock was defeated soundly by Nick Diaz.
Diaz scored a second-round KO that simply became a matter of when and not if the win was going to happen.
Some people are born at the wrong time, and that’s what happened with Frank Shamrock. When he was the best fighter in the world (because he was), MMA was not where it’s at today. He’s a legend, but he should be revered in rarefied air.
Instead, he’s going to become a footnote in history (maybe) instead of having a whole chapter dedicated to his greatness.
Shamrock never did one thing great but a variety of things well. Nowadays, that doesn’t cut it.
Diaz is a perfect example of how the sport has evolved. Trained by the Gracie family, Diaz showed he had some striking skills as well.
And at 25, he’s thrown his name in the mix as well.
Tomorrow, an exclusive interview with Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney. Bellator is another MMA group and is having an event at the Lloyd Noble Center in Norman.
Much more on Bellator and what it’s all about Wednesday.
Doc review: Thrilla in Manila
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
Hmm, that was an interesting (for lack of a better word) documentary Saturday night on HBO on the “Thrilla in Manila.”
The legendary bout was the third and final fight between two of the greatest heavyweights of all time, Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier.
But without any perspective at all from Ali during the entire 90-minute documentary, some fans feel cheated.
Rightfully so.
I would have liked an acknowledgment of something saying “HBO attempted to get in touch with Ali, but he declined.” Something to justify the way it was portrayed.
It wasn’t so much a hatchet job on Ali, but it was definitely told from a Frazier slant. There is no doubt about that.
There is a big difference though in slanting it toward Frazier and selling propaganda. And when it comes to the things Ali said and did to Frazier, if it’s hurtful to Ali fans, it’s only because that is what Ali actually did.
Take off the rose-colored glasses for a second and realize both men have their faults.
As a writer, it absolutely disgusted me watching writers just eat up and laugh at every last thing Ali did. Oy. I get that he was a polarizing figure, but that kind of media savvy has given Ali a free ride throughout most of his career.
Best part of the doc: Sunni Khalid and his comments about Ferdie Pacheco. Pacheco said Frazier was dumb and childish for getting upset about the “I’m gonna beat the gorilla in Manila.”
Loved Khalid’s response to that, basically putting Pacheco in his place and explaining what it meant (how derogatory it was) to have Ali call Frazier a gorilla. Good stuff.
I don’t know if it set out to paint Pacheco as a bad guy or maybe that’s just the way he is. Needless to say, Pacheco came off as a ignorant jerk.
Why no words from Angelo Dundee, Ali’s trainer? Some very peculiar things missing from this piece.
As a Frazier fan in the trilogy, was happy some of the stuff found the light of day. Wish Joe would forgive and move on, but I wasn’t him and don’t know what that period of his life was like. Not just for him but for his family.
I don’t agree with his assessment of God punishing Ali with Parkinson’s for the way he acted as a young man. But I’m also in no position to judge.
Part of the problem (for someone like me) is that I’ve read “Ghosts of Manila” by Mark Kram. I’ve read Joe Frazier’s life story. I’ve seen the HBO documentary One Nation Divisible (chronicling the first Frazier-Ali fight). I know a lot of this stuff, so I’m interested in what some common people thought of the doc.
Love the way it built up the fight and showcased the ebbs and flow of the classic. It’s funny that they were talking with some boxing scribes about how close the fight was.
And in the eyes of many observers, it was. But not in the eyes of the judges who had Ali comfortably ahead on his way to victory.
I said in the preview that I thought the last half would be tough to swallow. It was tough but for the odd reason that they just focused on Frazier’s plight with his eye.
They made it a tragic scene when Eddie Futch stopped that fight. Love that Futch had no regrets about stopping that fight. It ends any controversy. Futch saw eight men die in the ring in his time, and he wasn’t going to let Frazier go that same way.
Interesting to hear the perspective of Marvis Frazier. His side of the story is one that’s never ever really told.
Also, I love seeing fighters watching their old fights. It might be tough, but hearing their thoughts is one of my favorite things. So when Frazier was watching the fight again, sent goosebumps.
If you don’t know the stories behind Ali and Frazier, this is a pretty good piece as well as the doc on the first fight. For Frazier fans, it gives their hero his day in the sun. For Ali fans, it’s a tough pill to swallow but one that’s worth it if you want the whole story.
Setting up the boxing weekend…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
Nothing has me more excited this weekend than the documentary on the third fight between Joe Frazier and Muhammad Ali. Even more giddy about the fact it’s 90 minutes on the “Thrilla in Manila” instead of the traditional 60-minute HBO doc.
If memory serves me correctly, this was one of HBO’s first big fights. So talking to my brother about it this weekend, it gets me excited about all of the rare/unseen footage they should have stored in their vault.
Always wanted Frazier to win these battles, but not stubborn enough to not respect both men for what they gave to the sport.
Might be kind of tough to watch the last portion. One, the Frazier beating is bad. Don’t want to see that side of his face again.
Two, not really a happy ending for either guy (that’s a lot more depressing). While Ali is revered, Frazier is but a footnote in history.
Ali’s gone through his trials and tribulations as well, and I almost feel like people feel sympathy when they see him instead of just being in awe and feeling like a little kid meeting your hero.
Interesting to see what road they go down in the final parts of the doc.
**
And then we get another 24/7 with Manny Pacquiao and Ricky Hatton. Going to be tough to restore the legitimacy of the series as it’s come off rather contrived lately. For the record, Pacquiao by KO in this one unless something changes.
But the live fight between Paul Williams and Winky Wright might be the least interesting part of the evening. Not Williams’ fault. Just Wright has that aura of being in one stinker after another. And his biggest problem is what so many boxers have nowadays: overestimating their worth.
He’s not a draw, never has been and never will be. He doesn’t fight a crowd-pleasing style, which is fine. No one says you have to enthrall the crowd to be successful.
But you have to realize if you’re not doing that, then you don’t command the $$$.
Also, he has a penchant for feeling like he’s screwed when he simply just doesn’t close out fights well. In his loss to Fernando Vargas and draw with Jermain Taylor, he gives away the last two rounds in each bout (and three in Vargas).
While Williams is a Boneman fave, especially after beating Antonio Margarito. And now that we know about Margarito and his handwraps, makes what Williams did that much more impressive.
After losing to Carlos Quintana by decision, smoked Quintana in a rematch five months later by first-round KO and TKO’d Verno Phillips in November.
Got blinders on when it comes to P-Will right now, so gots to say Williams by easy unanimous decision.
MMA, boxing doc highlight weekend…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
So, what’s your pleasure as a fight fan? Because we’re being treated this weekend with so many events it’s as if we’re being rewarded for such a slow March.
Showtime has a Strikeforce card featuring Frank Shamrock vs. Nick Diaz.
HBO counters with three boxing-related events Saturday.
First, there will be a documentary on the Thrilla in Manila between Joe Frazier and Muhammad Ali.
Then there will be episode No. 1 of 24/7: Pacquiao-Hatton.
Finally, there will be a live bout between Paul Williams and Winky Wright.
***
You’ve never heard of Strikeforce, you say? That’s alright. That doesn’t mean you don’t know what’s going on in MMA.
While PRIDE, IFL, Elite XC have all tried to go national/global, Strikeforce has remained content doing what it does.
So what does it do? Build some new stars while also showcasing some of the sport’s better fighters in the past.
But the promotion doesn’t kid itself. It features Bay Area (California) fighters and sticks to that fanbase.
To me, there’s nothing wrong with that. This card is the latest example of that as both Diaz and Shamrock are California guys.
This is the first card under the new contract with Showtime, so it will be interesting to see how it comes off.
Shamrock was with Mickey Rourke at WrestleMania last weekend and has long been of the Boneman faves and a legend in MMA.
Shamrock is the naturally bigger guy (by a good 10 pounds) but Diaz is only 25 compared to Shamrock being 36.
This bout stems from one of the oldest rivalries in MMA: the Gracie family vs. the Shamrock.
Diaz is a Gracie pupil and is one tough nut to crack.
Don’t know how much Shamrock has left in the tank, so that alone makes it worth watching.
I like Shamrock to win, but I would’t bet any money on it. Smart money says it goes the distance, though.
Tomorrow, going to take a look at the loaded boxing schedule this Saturday on HBO. Three boxing things in three different showcases (documentary, 24/7 and a live fight). That sounds like a recipe for success.
Book Review: Oklahoma Shooter
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
Here is the best thing I can say about Oklahoma Shooter: The Dan Hodge Story: the author (Mike Chapman) has such a great relationship with Hodge that at times it feels like you’re listening to a conversation more than a written piece.
What I mean by that is it doesn’t come off as contrived or “ghost-written” in any way. You could visualize Chapman talking with Hodge about these events every step of the way.
Chapman has known the Hodge family for more than 30 years and that gives him a lot of authority on Hodge’s life and combine that with his knowledge of amateur/professional wrestling, it made him the perfect person to write this book.
I had a chance to visit with Chapman and Hodge less than two months ago when Hodge was at JR’s Bar-B-Q restaurant in Moore for a book signing. The foreword is written by the WWE Hall of Fame announcer Jim Ross.
And the admiration from Hodge’s peers that litters this book was very prevalent on that day as well.
When you sit and talk with Hodge, it’s tough to imagine him as this legendary, dare I say iconic wrestling figure. He is such a gentle man (as pointed out several times in the book).
If you want to know about Hodge’s days as a high school, college, Olympic or professional wrestler, it’s in this book. If you want to know about his boxing days (where he was never paid for any bout), it’s here.
My favorite story is about Hodge wrestling a bear. I’ve heard a lot of Hodge stories over the years, but the bear one is new to me.
Not only did he wrestle the bear, he WANTED to wrestle the bear. And from the accounts, looks like Hodge had his way with the bear.
What Chapman does best I feel is give context to all of Hodge’s accomplishments in the various arenas.
It’s so tough to try to gauge how fighters of one era compare to fighters of another, but I feel Chapman through his knowledge and interviews with several of wrestling’s greatest superstars, gives a better picture in trying to decipher the best.
Hodge is very open on everything, good and bad. And thought it was interesting that Hodge himself wonders how he would have done in MMA if it was around in his day.
Many notable aficionados have said Hodge would clean up if MMA was around in his prime or if Hodge was in his prime today.
Hodge’s story has so many layers and there’s not one thing that sets him apart from most. It’s the collection of everything about who he is that has made him one of the most intriguing sports figures.
For anyone who wants to know about Hodge or wants a history on amateur and professional wrestling, Oklahoma Shooter isn’t a bad place to start.
Bradley perseveres to victory…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
With 20 seconds left in the first round Saturday night, I was ready to start singing the praises of junior welterweight boxer Kendall Holt.
After flooring Timothy Bradley with a picture-perfect left hook seconds earlier, thought it was going to be a quick night and another wrong prediction.
But like so many modern American boxers, Holt showed no sense of urgency for the next 11 rounds and lost a unanimous decision despite dropping Bradley again in the 12th round.
Bradley had never been knocked down in his amateur or professional career until that shot. A shot so picture-esque that Bradley’s eyes rolled into the back of his as he thudded onto the canvas.
But then he hopped back up. And in a true veteran move, he took a knee until the 8 (or 9) count and cleared his head.
Bradley put on the pressure all fight. Holt was complaining of headbutts but instead of doing anything about it, was content to back into the ropes round after round and let Bradley take the fight on pure determination.
Not to say Bradley didn’t land some shots, especially to the body. But the now WBC/WBO champ didn’t hurt Holt one time but never backed down after the brutal knockdown.
It said a lot about both fighters. The heart and desire of Bradley compared to the absolutely frustrating complacency of Holt.
I had it 114-112 as did one judge while the two other judges had it 115-111 for Bradley.
Think about that for a second. With the two knockdowns, I saw it 8-4 Bradley while two judges saw it 9-3 for Bradley.
Holt has no one to blame but himself for what happened.
***
Former Oklahoma State wrestler Shane Roller got off to a good start but couldn’t make it last, losing to Ben Henderson on Sunday in a WEC event on VS.
Roller dropped Henderson early in the bout and tried for a guillotine choke to end things but couldn’t.
Back on their feet, a left hand dropped Roller and Henderson finished the job at 1:41 of the first round.
Team Takedown (Jake Rosholt, Roller and Johny Hendricks) have suffered some setbacks recently. But that’s the beauty of MMA: there will be another day, and you’re always one fight away from bringing yourself back into the picture.
***
Sounds like two of my all-time favorites put on a show at WrestleMania XXV with The Undertaker defeating Shawn Michaels in a 30-minute match.
Haven’t seen it but all reports are giving it glowing reviews. It’s the only reason I would have bought the show, so glad the two legends did their thing and gave everyone another moment to remember.
***
Now we turn the page to a fun weekend. Here’s what ya got Saturday: A “Thrilla in Manilla” documentary on HBO. Paul Williams vs. Winky Wright on HBO. And UFC 97, featuring Anderson Silva and Chuck Liddell in separate bouts (whoops, a little ahead of myself. That’s April 18. This week is Strikeforce with Frank Shamrock and Nick Diaz).
Might be the best thing about March Madness ending (go Spartans, by the way). Time for the fight game to take over the landscape again.
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.
Now the fun begins…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
Been a little problem in the blogosphere world at HQ, so apologize for lack of updates. We made it. After not much worth reporting on in February and March, the fight game is loaded in the next two months.
Today will just be a recap of the last week, and then tomorrow, we’ll look ahead to another good weekend of fights.
Friday
Eddie Chambers majority decision over Samuel Peter. Ugh. I don’t know what else to say about this. One slow, out of shape guy did just enough vs. an even slower, more out of shape guy.
The sad thing is I like both Chambers and Peter, but this was tough to watch. You show friends fights like this, and they start to wonder what’s wrong with you?
No sense of urgency from either guy. Can count the number of crisp, impact punches on one (maybe two) hand.
What may have been even more depressing was how happy Chambers appears to be with his effort.
I want to ask some of the older readers out there. The early ’80s were considered a horrible time in the heavyweight division. Fighters like Tim Witherspoon, Tony Tucker and Bonecrusher Smith were some of the elite fighters.
If those guys fought today’s crop of heavies, who would win? Would we be saying “oh, there is a dominant heavyweight, and his name is Tim Witherspoon?” And if we were saying such things, how bad of a sad indictment is that on today’s guys?
Saturday
Harry Joe Yorgey KO 9 Ronald Hearns. If you ask me, Hearns is done. He got leveled from someone not known as a power puncher.
The second and third knockdowns were vicious, concussive-like knockdowns.
Hearns has come a long way since being someone who hadn’t even thought about fighting 5-10 years ago. But if he doesn’t have the whiskers, doesn’t have the power, he can only rely on his boxing skill.
With his late start, it’s not on par with where I feel it would need to be in order to become a champion at this level.
He will probably still fight because that name attracts $$$ signs, but I hope he tries to improve from the defeat and not just pick even safer competition from now on.
Also on the card, Oklahoma City’s Carson Jones earned another win. He’s been busy, which you know I like. He’s already got a bout set up with Michi Munoz in Tulsa the first week of May.
Also, Andre Dirrell won again. It went six rounds, should have went two. Stuff like that gets frustrating. He broke the guy’s nose in the first round and then carried him. He could have put on the pressure and put him out, I think.
The test results came in for Antonio Margarito, and they found traces of plaster of Paris in the handwraps.
Wow.
I won’t say too much about it because I’ve never really liked Margarito, and this does absolutely nothing to change my opinion of him for the better.
Still think in today’s world, if he is contrite, he’ll be forgiven. We’ll see.
Tonight is UFC Fight Night. I’ll be at a minor legue hockey game, so I won’t see it live.
Back tomorrow with some UFC thoughts as well as running down the crazy schedule we have coming up.
