Strikeforce and Herschel Walker: A Perfect Marriage
By curtis on Jan 30, 2010
Josh Stein put together a very though provoking piece about Strikeforce and how they are using their fighters(Strikeforce:The things that matter, and the things that don’t ). It was a good article, unfortunately I didn’t agree with him.
Duke vs. FSU: How the Devils Can Dominate the Noles
By curtis on Jan 27, 2010
The Duke Blue Devils have one less foe to worry about for the ACC title this season. The Tarheels are ACC cellar dwellars and an ACC Championship run is the first goal of many at the mid-point of this season.
NFL Playoff Picks Week 3
By David on Jan 24, 2010
NFL Playoff Picks Week 3
I suspect the Colts will win, but the Jets should cover a big line for a playoff game.
New York Jets +8.5
Jets – Colts Over 40
New Orleans -3.5
New Orleans – Minnesota Under 53.5
Good Luck All!
UFC Primetime Is Back; But For The Wrong Bout
By Bryan on Jan 19, 2010
Most mixed martial arts fans can remember exactly where they were when Matt Serra shocked the world and defeated Georges St. Pierre for the UFC welterweight championship.
It is to this day what many people, excluding Gus Johnson, claim to be the biggest upset in the history of mixed martial arts.
Now MMA fans are claiming that another miracle is necessary if No. 1 contender Dan Hardy has any chance of wrestling that belt off of the waist of St. Pierre.
The bout is scheduled for UFC 111 and the organization has done an incredible job of stacking the card.
Frank Mir vs. Shane Carwin for the interim heavyweight title. A rematch between former No. 1 contenders Thiago Alves and Jon Fitch.
If the UFC truly believes that the Hardy-St. Pierre fight will be a hotly contested battle between two equal martial artists, they are truly out of their minds.
Now comes the news that the UFC is bringing back their Primetime special. You know the one they created to help promote the BJ Penn-GSP rematch at UFC 94.
The series which played out over the course of three weeks cost the company $1.7 million.
Are they really that confident that GSP-Hardy will be a match for the ages or are they trying to pull the wool over the fans eyes and get us to believe this isn’t a serious mismatch?
Why waste the money on a match-up between two guys who have no history between them?
In my mind they would have been better off producing a series on the Lyoto Machida-Mauricio Rua rematch.
Better yet, what is more intriguing than the Rashad Evans-Quinton Jackson grudge match that is currently scheduled for UFC 114 in May?
This is a clear case of the UFC trying to get the fans to believe that this bout isn’t going to be a one-sided affair.
Yes, Hardy will always have that puncher’s chance but when it comes down to it, if he couldn’t finish Akihiro Gono, Marcus Davis and Mike Swick, what is the chance he will knock St. Pierre out.
No matter how hard they try the UFC can’t fool their fans.
UFC 108 was certainly a card from top to bottom but in the end it wasn’t much better than one of their Fight Night cards.
The fans will watch Primetime, it’s free and it’s about mixed martial arts. That doesn’t mean they will all of the sudden start believing that Hardy is a worth contender.
Something Has Been “Weighing” On My Mind
By Bryan on Jan 18, 2010
The subject of fighters moving up and down between weight classes has always been an interesting topic.
Fighter A could prosper by cutting down a weight class, or Fighter B should make the jump because of issues meeting the requirements of the division he is in now.
The topic has really gained a lot of steam in the past year or so. Especially when the UFC has three champions who are dominating the other fighters in their weight class.
BJ Penn wants to move back up to welterweight, the fans want Georges St. Pierre to move up to middleweight to challenge Anderson Silva.
UFC 109: Former Champ Matt Serra Looking Forward to Having Fun in the Octagon
By Bryan on Jan 18, 2010
Former UFC welterweight champion Matt Serra is never afraid to speak his mind. In fact, his brash attitude is what causes MMA fans to either love him or hate him.
Whether or not you are a fan of Serra, you have to pay the man some respect. In 2000 he became the first American to be awarded a black belt under the legendary Renzo Gracie.
Although his record isn’t imposing there are few men who have faced the caliber of opponent that Serra has which includes B.J. Penn, George St. Pierre, and Matt Hughes.
When it’s all said and done Serra can retire to Long Island where he will continue to run his two successful Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu schools – and being a world champion is one thing that no one can ever take from him.
As he prepares for next month’s UFC 109 bout with Frank Trigg, Serra spoke of one of the habits he has had to break himself of – his love of carbs.
“Since your office is in Woodbury, you aren’t too far away from Patsies Pizza! Too bad I can’t eat there anymore. I know I joke around with Joe Rogan a lot about eating Lasagna but the truth be told I can’t eat any pasta when I am three months out from a fight.”
What MMA Would Look Like If Run By Vince McMahon
By Bryan on Jan 18, 2010
For those of you wrestling fans who have always wanted Vinnie Mac to get into the MMA business I present to you tag team MMA. Yes, it looks as ridiculous as it sounds!
Props to CagePotato
NFL Playoff Picks Week 2
By David on Jan 16, 2010
Baltimore vs Indianapolis Over 44 (-110)
Indianapolis -6.5 (+100)
NY Jets vs San Diego Chargers Over 42 (-110)
Have a great weekend everybody!
My Crystal Ball: Who wins this weekend!
By curtis on Jan 15, 2010
No need to hype the games, they speak for themselves. Lets just get down to business!
Arizona at New Orleans: In the game that many think will be a scoring battle, more than likely will not be. I beg you, bet the under. This reminds me of a trap game in Vegas. Both teams are offensive juggernauts and will look to run up the score, but this will be a game about defense. It is unknown how drained the Cards will be, but the Saints will be ready to roll!
In all of their losses this season, the Cards have scored less than 21 points. This means that if the O is struggling their D can’t keep them in the game. That fact alone makes me want to pick the Saints, whose D will be ready to punish those high flying birds.
Baltimore at Indy: Last weekend the Ravens punched Tom Brady and his dynasty in the mouth. They said we are going to run the ball, and you can’t stop us. Turns out, they were correct. The Pats looked like a team that was failing a part at the seams. While many feel that Peyton is no Tom, I disagree, and the Colts are far from fading.
While I do feel that it is a matter of time before the karma of sitting Peyton catches up with them, this wont be the week. The Cards can’t get into a striking match with the Saints, but the Colts can with the Ravens.
Ed Reed is getting healthier but he is still lacking a step. Reggie Wayne will use that lack of a step to show him some “cane” love. Indy and Peyton will be ready and put a whoopin on the Ravens at home.
Dallas at Minnesota: Who woulda thunk it…All of the off season talk about Mr. Wrangler him self… Now he is on one of the best team in the league, and it is not because of AP.
The funny part about this game is the confidence of the Dallas faithful. Win one playoff game in more than 12 years and they go crazy…Start talking Super Bowl…I have to be honest, Dallas is getting better, but no rings this year…
This is a bad match up for “America’s Team”. The Vikings are going to load the box and try to stop the high powered running game of the Boys. If they are successful in doing so, then it will all be in the hands of Tony Romo…Are you comfortable with that? Neither is he…
This will be the closest game of the weekend, but I expect Brett to have a typical 2 TD game and lead his team one step closer to his final retirement!
NY at San Dawg: This is the easiest to pick of this week. With four games to go in the regular season the jets weren’t even considered playoff hopefuls, now they are ready to make the presence known.
The J-E-T-S, Jets, Jets, Jets have one of the best defenses in the game. Their star corner is the definition of shutdown corner, but they have a rookie QB. Big Ben was a fluke his first year. Wont happen for the guys in green…
San Diego has been the quiet horse all year. Did you know that they have only lost 3 games all season and have won 11 straight? Not many people do! This could be a Super Bowl winning team! Rivers is playing great, they have a RB, top WR, and a solid D! Watch out, this game is going to be a blow out. The Jets are building for the future, but their season stops here.
Smooth as Always: An Interview with WEC Lightweight Champ Ben Henderson
By Bryan on Jan 14, 2010
Newly crowned WEC lightweight champion Ben Henderson is just a baby in mixed martial arts. In fact, this past November marked his third anniversary as a professional fighter.
After watching him compete, you’d think you were watching a seasoned pro.
He wasn’t given the nickname of Smooth for no reason; he combines speed, strength, and some amazing intestinal fortitude with a solid wrestling background that has complemented his ever growing boxing and jiu-jitsu skills.
Some people may question how Henderson is able to separate the intelligent, God-fearing, family man from the intense, focused individual who makes his living by hurting other people.
After speaking to him yesterday, it was pretty clear how he can turn that switch on and off so easily.
Bryan Levick: Congratulations on unifying the WEC lightweight championship. How are you feeling now that you have had some time to let it all soak in?