At one time the most anticipated MMA fight was Chuck Liddell versus Wanderlei Silva. Now that we were able to witness that battle, the next super fight on everyone’s mind, is the possible fight between Randy Couture and Fedor Emelianenko. This could be the battle to determine the best heavyweight in MMA history. These fighters are both great, but have been doing very different things of late. One has denied all odds and seems to get better with age, while the other seems to be fighting subpar competition around the world. Many hold Fedor as the top heavyweight in the world, while others hold Randy at that spot. It seems they both are deserving of the title, but who deserves it more? Who is the real heavyweight champion of MMA?

Randy “The Natural” Couture could be the most amazing 44 year old fighter on the planet. He is one of the most popular fighters in the UFC but lately he has done more fighting with Dana White and the UFC, than in the Octagon. Even though he isn’t fighting right now he should be considered one of the top 2 big guys in the world. The only other person in my eyes that could be ranked above him is Fedor. Randy is a smart fighter with a wrestling background, a veteran in the game of MMA, and has fought all levels of competition. If there is one argument why he should be ranked over Fedor, it is the caliber of recent opponents. In his last 3 fights he has fought Gonzaga, Tim Sylvia, and Chuck Liddell. After he lost to Chuck, no one expected him to return from retirement and fight Timmy for the heavyweight title. Not only did he fight him, but he dominated Sylvia throughout the entire fight, and almost finished it very early. Randy has an amazing amount of built up aggressions toward Dana and the UFC, and if he is bottling that up for his next fight, the opponent could be in trouble. Randy is a legend in the sport of MMA, and is the best heavyweight in UFC history. In a recent turn of events, it appears that he has reached a deal with Mark Cuban’s HDNet fights, and could be fighting again by the end of the year.

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I’m a sucker for a circus act in the fight game. I love the ridiculousness of cartoon like characters, fighting thugs and monsters of all shapes and sizes, brought from depths of strange parts of the world to beat the hell out of each other for our enjoyment. What can I say? I love a freak show. When I heard Kimbo Slice was set to fight Tank Abbot In Miami, a short ride from my home, I bought tickets immediately and danced with glee knowing I would see at least 1 minute of pure chaos and destruction. Turns out I wasn’t the only one.

After some very entertaining preliminary fights of prospects giving everything they had, the arena started to fill up and fast. I noticed many “Team Kimbo” shirts and lots of gold grills. After inspecting the t-shirt stand I bought myself a classic Kimbo shirt complete with a shiny gold grill to fit in. What amazed me beyond the Kimbo fashion was the crowd that was milling about for the fights. These were not your average mma fans. These were Kimbo fans. There is a difference. Many of these people had never seen a true MMA fight before or really seemed to care about it. The minute any fight was without action or went to the ground for longer than thirty seconds they booed. They were bloodthirsty, they wanted action and they wanted it now.

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Kimbo Slice is living proof that you can make a living via the internet. This one time backyard brawler made a name for himself on YouTube. I just did a search for “Kimbo”, it resulted in what it says is “about 3,860 videos”. I am confident that he doesn’t have that many fight videos, but the popularity alone for one man on that site is insane. If this can transfer into MMA popularity, it could mean big numbers for EliteXC. EliteXC’s new baby will have his next test this weekend against UFC legend Tank Abbott. In the professional world of Mixed Martial Arts this matchup seems more of a sideshow at the circus. Imagine this headline; Former Champ vs. Backyard Champ. The actual name of the event is “Street Certified”. If nothing else this promises to be a fight of two big men with real punching power.

Tank Abbott is a monster as he is the original street fighter. Tank’s MMA skills were developed from bar fights in Huntington Beach California. He is known for his punching power, and raw fighting talent. Throughout his fighting career is 9-13. He has fought in the UFC, Pride, and was once a professional wrestler. On the night when he made his debut as an MMA artist he knocked out a 400 pounder in 18 seconds! Unfortunately Tank’s career hasn’t gone the best. He is coming off of his third string of at least 3 losses in a row. Some of the notable fighters that Tank has fought are Frank Mir and Pedro Rizzo. Tank wasn’t scared to fight them, and he is not scared to fight Kimbo. If there is one downfall that Kimbo can exploit against Abbott, it would have to be his cardio. Tank has had problems with his cardio and it could become an issue if this fight of haymakers lasts into the later rounds. In many interviews Tank has said that he isn’t taking Kimbo lightly. He is down from 296 to 261 and according to Tank, he is ready for Kimbo! In my opinionI don’t feel that Tank has much to gain from this fight. If he loses he either rides off in the sunset to the closest bar, or is the guy that beat Kimbo. Either way, he is not on his way to the best heavy weight in the world.

Kevin Ferguson AKA Kimbo Slice is a result of camcorders, digital cameras, and the internet. His popularity exploded as his videos emerged online, as well as his pornography job. He is the huge guy with the beard. Like Tank, he is a street fighter. Kimbo could be in the same class as Tank minus one key man named Bas. Bas Rutten is one of the best MMA fighters of all time with a record of 28-4-1 and all wins since 1995. Bas sees something in Kimbo and he has taken the young fighter under his wing. Tank didn’t have such an influential fighter to mentor him and this could be a key factor in the professional development of Kimbo Slice. If Kimbo stays committed to MMA he will be able to achieve victory, but just like Tank, he wont be in anyone’s top 10 anytime soon; If ever.

Saturday night at the U, fans will get something they love at that school; a good fight. This fight could and will probably be won by one massive punch. Kimbo and Tank will both look like homerun hitters swinging for the fences early. If they both can weather the storm, we will see if either have any technique. Although this fight is not in the UFC Octagon it is drawing a good amount of popularity. I know I am planning on watching it. Neither of these two fighters will be fighting Fedor or Randy any time soon, but this should be an entertaining fight to watch.

Last night in Virginia Beach snow fell and the only sounds that could be heard were that of the ocean. Inside the Surfside Oceanfront Suites it wasn’t as quiet. The cheers and screams of 500 of Virginia’s best MMA fans echoed throughout the business hall turned fight arena. King of the ring 24 was an outstanding stage for 28 amateur fighters from local gyms to showcase their fighting skills. This event had a little bit of everything; great submissions, knockouts, and of course great fights. Some of the fighters were starting their career with their first MMA fight like Scott Cozart, while others continued to claw their way to a championship shot. There were bouts in almost every weight class, and even had a few female fights. The numbers of participants show the growth of the sport in this area. This growth is also generating a handful of serious fighters, including one that will be fighting in the IFL next season. As the popularity for this booming sport grows, more events like this will be held in this area, and the rest of the nation.

The fighters competing in the event were from several local gyms. The most impressive gym of the night was Bushido MMA. Bushido went undefeated with two fighers on the night. These two fighters performed impressively, as they were part of the fight of the night and submission of the night. The submission of the night came from a nasty triangle to arm bar transition, which led to a picture perfect arm bar, and submission. The fight of the night came from our selected fighter Scott Cozart and his opponent Lee Higgins. Cozart has been training MMA for the past two years, and needed every bit of this training to become victorious. Cozart started a bit slow in the first round and was cut over his left eye. Higgins seemed to be getting the better of him on his feet so Cozart decided to attempt a few takedowns, but unfortunately his ankle was injured on one of the attempts. When the fighters went to their corners after the first round, Cozart was in pain, but did not let it affect his solid mental focus. At the start of the second round it was apparent that Cozart was there to fight. He proved this by landing a solid left hook and multiple leg kicks. At the midway in the second round Cozart shot a double leg that Dan Gable would have been proud of, pushing his opponent into the ropes. The ropes slowed the momentum, but he eventually got the takedown. After the second round, the fans could tell this battle had yet to be won, and the third round would be an amazing showcase of heart and determination. When the third round started, Cozart decided to bring the pain train. In the third round alone he connected on two left hooks that rattled his opponent. One of which knocked out a tooth. In this round Cozart had complete control, as he used his leg kicks and hands to keep his challenger at bay. When the final bell rang the crowd went wild. This was the type of fight that made the event worth the cover charge. In the end Cozart was the better fighter, but both deserve a large amount of credit. Fights like this are the reason the sport is growing in popularity everyday. This displayed the best parts of the sport, and was exciting from bell to bell. If there was someone in the crowd that wasn’t a sure fan, they were after this fight.

Fighters like Cozart and Higgins make it easy to love this sport. They both showed the heart and desire it takes to be successful. The best part of this type of event is that the athletes fight for the love of the game. It is their love for fighting and the overall sport of MMA that pushes them. It is the adrenaline of the fight and the roar of the crowd that keeps them coming back for more. The next ring event is in April, but there are several events before then. At this point there are a handful of fighters that I follow and feel could have a future in the sport. Cozart is now the newest addition to this list, and be sure; the next time he fights I will be in attendance.

   

Mixed Martial Arts is a sport that is on an amazing popularity high. Daily you can turn on your television and view some sort of MMA show. There are many fans that see the shows on television, and have no clue what it takes for a fighter to get to that level of competition. To become a professional fighter it takes years of training and dedication. B.J. Penn is known as one of the most naturally gifted jiu-jitsu artists, and it took him years to fight in the UFC. This weekend there is an event for amateur fighters in Virginia Beach and other nearby areas. For this card, there are fighters driving as many as 4 hours to compete. To shine a light on my local MMA scene, I want to focus on one school and a fighter, as well as the things needed to prepare for the fight. This is part 1 of a 2 part series of articles that will focus on one of the local fighters and his gym, as he steps in the ring for his first amateur fight.

Scott Cozart by record is new to the sport of Mixed Martial Arts. This weekend he will be participating in his first full contact fight. Even though his record is 0-0, he has been training for this for several years in many different ways. He is a physical beast at his 170 pound weight class, and will be a tough draw for any upcoming opponent. Cozart was a solid wrestler in high school, placing top 3 in the grueling state tournament in California twice. Having a wrestling background like Cozart creates a solid foundation for hip movement and mat presence crucial to the ground game in MMA. Cozart also boxed for a few years, and has been preparing for this fight for almost 2 years. During this tenure he has trained BJJ, Muay Thai, and other Mixed Martial Arts skills at Bushido MMA in Chesapeake Virginia. This is one of the premier gyms in the Hampton Roads area, and does very well in all areas of competition. Having a great place to train is also important in fine tuning or establishing your skills. It helps tremendously to have great teachers, training partners, and friends to push you in every aspect of your training. Having a great camp around you can help you get that desired win.

King of the Ring this Saturday will showcase many different styles and experience level of athletes. Cozart is just one fighter that is on the card. This event typically has 15 to 20 fights, including title fights. The fighters come from all around, and represent many different gyms. It is so popular, there are Independent fighters that are self trained. However, this is not the recommended path as these fighters typically lose more than win. The promoter attempts to match fighters up by style and in ring experience as well. The close and interesting fights are what the fans want to see. When they purchase their tickets, they want to get their money’s worth. Looking at the big picture, this sport is growing daily. The smaller shows are proof of that. Check the Internet, magazines, and newspapers for an upcoming event in your area. You never know when you might get to watch the makings of the next George St. Pierre, Chuck Liddell, or future champion.

I know I am late at jumping on the wagon for criticizing Fedor and his decision making process that has had him face, shall we say less than stellar competition on NYE and over the past two years. I know this “sport” is a business and grown men are going to make which ever decisions that will pocket them the most money and I cannot blame them for that. It’s when these figures like Fedor, who are our heroes, choose fights that don’t push them as athletes that we are disappointed with the outcome of their decisions.

Yes, I am a huge Fedor nuthugger. I own a Red Devil fight club shirt, as will as every single fight of his on DVD and I even have an odd coffee cup with his face on it I bought on EBay. I am amazed at his work ethic, his natural born talent and laid back way of ass kicking that has made him the best P4P fighter in the world. No one can question the example he has set, the history he created and potential that lays in his future. What we can argue is our own belief that there is something better for him than fighting Hong Man Choi and Zulu.

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Paulo Fihlo is a bad bad man. In last fight, he took a beating, stayed relaxed and pulled out an arm bar from his ass that would have ripped Chael Sonnen arm off if the ref did not stop it. I know many people believe his performances in the WEC are nowhere near the destruction he caused in his Pride days. Maybe that’s because he is bored? It cannot be easy going from fighting top tear talent in front of audiences in the thousands to the gymnasium that is Hard Rock. So why is Fihlo shoved off into the corner of the WEC when he is ranked #2 in the world? Because he will not fight his friend, the #1 185er in the world, Anderson Silva.

Friend’s fighting each other is not something I thought I would ever support. But when you think about in terms of a sport then it becomes ridiculous for these athletes not to square up, man up, and get it on. Can you conceive of the Patriots saying, “We’re so sorry, we can not play against the Cowboys. They are our friends.” Or if Dale Earnhardt refused to race Richard Petty because they were drinking buddies. It would never happen.

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Well it looked pretty on the monitor, but it was a small crowd in the venue. Still, great as independent MMA goes. Perhaps a move out of the comfort zone of Vegas, much like the TUF series, would do WEC some good. After all, there was enough room last night at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino for me to come off the couch, I mean out of the press box, and actually have a seat on press row.

Business aside, the fights were good, the favorites mostly won, but the road to getting to the finishes was at least exciting. In more then one fight the favored fighter took a beating and faced some real adversity, but then came back to win. The trade off to that may have been a few very quick fights, and one suspect ref stoppage. Entertainment with a touch of controversy packed in a sport. I think that’s what we call a good show.

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Let’s face it, the International Fight League is not your typical MMA organization. Mixed Martial Artists who are lucky enough to land in the IFL are rewarded with consistent salaries, health insurance, and regular weekly fight schedules across the country. Forget about unvarying one-on-one training or fighting as well. The IFL utilizes teams that are headed by MMA veterans like Renzo Gracie and Dan Severn and based out of major cities like Los Angeles, Tokyo, Japan and New York City. The shows are televised on MyNetworkTV and Fox Sports Net and include former light-heavyweight fighter Bas Rutten as a ringside color commentator. Welcome to the “fighter friendly” Mixed Martial Arts organization.

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If the UFC and Dana White want the best guys who are quickly moving up through the ranks, they should have paid more attention to Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou, a young and dangerous Judo and Muay Thai fighter. Why Sokoudjou? Well, any fighter who comes off of two knockout wins against Brazilian Top Team light-heavyweight fighters Ricardo Arona and Antonio Rogerio Noguiera, while up against 16-1 odds, should be given a chance to showcase more of their skills in the largest MMA Organization in the world.

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Amazing things can happen when you combine money and ego. In a recent interview Dana White called Calvin Ayre a “criminal” and compared the billionaire owner of BodogFIGHT to Brewster from the movie Brewster’s Millions saying “he’s like that guy in Brewster’s Millions who is trying to spend all his money in 48 hours.” Well Mr. Ayre has fired back on his blog “Ayre Waves” making White “an offer he can’t refuse.”

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On June 2^nd of 2007, the Gracie hunting season came to an end. The previously Gracie-undefeated Kazushi Sakuraba barely fell to Royce Gracie at the hands of the judges during the latest K-1 Heroes promotion on June 2^nd, 2007. Gracie barely prevailed with scores of 30-27, 29-28, and 29-28 at the end of the three rounds while Sakuraba looked mildly confused and waited for the next round to start. It’s been 7 years since the first matchup at the 2000 Pride Grand Prix and an end to Sakuraba being undefeated in the ring with the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu family.

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