Posted by pad-up 17 May 2013, 08:19:31
Six MMA Knockouts worth Watching Again and Again
MMA fighters are loved for their implausible power and penchant to turn their rivals' lights out with a strike. This is why knockouts and heavyweights are synonymous with each another. A great number of MMA matches end via knockout leaving the loser lying on the ground and the winner standing tall.
Out of such matches given below is a list of ten knockouts that are so brilliant you’d want to watch them again and again. The list only consists of heavyweight matches, occurred within the past decade, keeping in mind the crowd reaction and the impact of the move.
1. Chris Tuchscherer vs. Mark Hunt at UFC 127 on Feb. 27th, 2011
Mark Hunt got a victory after five long years thanks to this stellar finish. In the fight’s second round, Hunt landed an uppercut to begin an impressive winning streak. The most incredible thing is Hunt’s reaction after landing the uppercut. He instantly walked away with a smile on his face knowing that the match was over.
2. Marcus Jones vs. Matt Mitrione at the Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights Finale on Dec. 5th, 2009
Although Marcus Jones entered the fight as the favorite, it was Mitrione who walked away victorious thanks to a vicious knockout. In the first few seconds of the second round, Jones moved forward only to receive a big right hand that sent him steamrolling to the ground.
3. Cain Velasquez vs. Junior Dos Santos at UFC on Fox: Velasquez vs. Dos Santos on Nov. 12th, 2011
For its debut on Fox, UFC gave away the big heavyweight fight between Velasquez and Dos Santos. The match did serve the purpose bringing in a huge audience that was left surprised with what unfolded onscreen. With only about a minute into the fight, Santos wrote the title in his name with the help of a huge right hand that ended Cain Velasquez. However, the strike required several follow up punches for the match to end.
4. Mirko Cro Cop vs. Brendan Schaub at UFC 128 on Mar. 19th, 2011
This was an acid test for Brendan Schaub who had a good few victories in his record. The man was in UFC 128’s main event with Mirko Cro Cop and sent him bouncing with the help of a massive strike. The Hyprid continued his impressive winning streak but not without a strong fight.
5. Todd Duffee vs. Alistair Overeem at Dynamite!! 2010 on Dec. 31st, 2010
Allstair Overeem makes it to the list thanks to his impressive outing against Todd Duffee. The man finished the fight at the 19 second mark with the help of a devastating hook. His opponent was left lying unconscious as Overeem celebrated his big victory.
6. Andrei Arlovski vs. Fedor Emelianenko at Affliction: Day of Reckoning on Jan. 24th, 2009
Fedor is a man who always brings something new to the table. His impressive record has gained him countless fans because they know he is capable of leaving them impressed. However, this match was looked at as an unpredictable one as Fedor’s opponent, Arlovski, is also a tough nut to crack.
The ending was shocking as Arlovski looked to have the upperhand when Fedor landed a counter hook out of nowhere sending his opponent down into the canvas.
UFC MMA Fighter Hall of Fame
Posted by pad-up 10 May 2013, 11:36:43
Two Non Fighters Who Deserve a Spot at the UFC Hall of Fame
Being in the Hall Of Fame is a big achievement for every sportsperson. UFC has its own that includes big names like Ken Shamrock, Randy Couture and Tito Ortiz. The company has mostly shied away from introducing non-wrestlers to its HOF most probably due to the negative reaction such a move may receive from the fans who are still pushing for sportsmen like Brock Lesnar to be inducted.
Nonetheless, there are many non-fighters who have given a lot to the sport and deserve a spot in the acclaimed Half Of Fame. Two such men are:
Dana White – The Company’s President
Many people credit Dana White for changing the face of the company. He became the president in 2001 and has worked hard since then to take the company to where it stands today. UFC is already at the international level giving tough competition to other federations in ratings and buy rates. This success has a lot to do with the decisions of the man who now captains this ship.
He legitimized this sport by exposing MMA to new viewers and securing a major contract with the FOX networks. World MMA Awards has already titled him “The Leading Man of the Year" due to his contributions to MMA.
He has made some wrong and controversial decisions as well over the years, but these cannot overshadow the success he has brought to the sport that at one point was struggling to stay alive. On various occasions he has shown his desire to include the sport in the Olympics so that it can get a push. UFC’s reality show is also a big step that he took to find and appraise new talent in the sport.
Like him or not, there is no denying that Dana White has done a lot for the company and definitely deserves a spot in the hall of fame. Nonetheless, many believe that this may not happen until he gives up his position as the President.
Greg Jackson – MMA Trainer
Greg Jackson, famously called the Professor, is one of the best trainers in MMA. His students have gone on to reach great heights and include names like Georges St. Pierre, Rashad Evans, Carlos Condit, Brian Stann, Nate Marquardt and as Clay Guida. A lot of these fighters have won gold in the sport making the master proud.
Many believe that Jackson has the Midas touch. The man opened his first training school in 1992 from where almost a dozen world champions have graduated. This also is the reason why his team stands at the highest victory percentage in the UFC.
He has already won several awards and accolades for what he has done for the sport. This includes winning “Best Coach” and “Best Gym” awards from the Global MMA Community.
Nevertheless, he has his shares of controversies as well. He was recently in trouble for the cancellation of UFC 151, the blame for which partly fell on his shoulders, and of reportedly discouraging his fighters from aggression in support of defensive point-fighting.
We don’t know when this would happen but these two are destined to be stars in the Hall Of Fame one day. In addition to these two several other names deserve a mention as well including Joe Rogan, Jacob ‘Stitch’ Duran and Herb Dean. All these men have given a lot to the sport in some capacity for which they deserve to be applauded.
Posted by pad-up 01 May 2013, 11:52:00
Controversies in MMA they Wish Had Not Occurred
Like any other sport, MMA has its share of controversies. The sport that is often criticized for the violence involved in it has seen several controversial decisions and happenings, some of which are highlighted below. Since it is difficult to rank controversies per se, the below given list is selected at random.
Jon "Bones" Jones Talks about His Hatred for Toy UFC Belts
This moment may not be considered controversial by some, but it deserves to be on the list for the kind of roar it received from fans. Jon Jones stated in an interview that he hates the plastic UFC belts sold in stores because people are able to get those without having to put it any effort.
This simple statement ended up damaging Jones’s image as fans started looking at him more as a loudmouth than a friendly fighter.
Dana White Uses Anti Gay Language
UFC’s president Dana White received an angry reaction from the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) when he used foul language against Loretta Hunt, an MMA journalist, and an unknown source. This was as a response to the criticism UFC received for the treatment of managers.
Dana White, taking it a step further, ended up including anti-gay slur ticking off many people the wrong way. The GLAAD thought that the president of a chief sports organization should not indulge in such acts. This not only brought bad publicity to UFC but also tarnished Dana White’s image who had to apologize.
Kimbo Slice-Seth Petruzelli Post Fight Fiasco
The original card for EliteXC was Kimbo Slice vs. Ken Shamrock, but the later had to back out as he got injured on the day of the fight and was replaced by Seth Petruzelli. This put Seth, a lightweight, against Kimbo Slice, a heavyweight and resulted in one of the most controversial fights in history.
Slice got knocked out by an off-balance jab by Petruzelli at the 14 seconds mark. This resulted in EliteXC not only losing one of its most marketable stars but the aftermath resulted in more damage.
Petruzelli confessed in a radio interview that the promoters persuaded him to just stand with Slice instead of taking him down. His comments attracted the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation and brought bad name to the organization and Kimbo Slice, even though no evidence of wrongdoing was found.
Chael Sonnen’s Trial
Chael Sonnen vs. Anderson Silva was considered a predictable match until Sonnen ended up dominating Silva for the better part of the match. He, however, ended up losing thanks to a triangle choke but received a huge round of applause for his performance.
Nonetheless, the main news was not his performance but what followed. Eventually it was announced that Sonnen's testosterone levels were above the normal level as per his post-fight test. This resulted in Sonnen’s suspension. He appealed against it and was given a slap on the wrist.
Things got worse when the man got in more controversy (money laundering, etc.) later on losing a major portion of his fans.
Did we miss anything? Feel free to share what you think is the most controversial moment in MMA.
