MMA Crunch

Return of the King: KJ Noons vs. Yves Edwards Video Showtime EliteXC

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June 15th, 2008

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Return of the King: Ron Waterman vs. Dave Herman

Return of the King: Murilo Rua vs. Tony Bonello

Return of the King: KJ Noons vs. Yves Edwards

Return of the King: Wayne Cole vs. Rafael Feijao

Nick Diaz vs. Muhsin Corbbrey

Noon Diaz Altercation

EliteXC, Videos Dave Herman, EliteXC, EliteXC Return of the king, KJ Noons, Murilo Rua, Mushin Corbrrey, Nick Diaz, Rafael Feijao, Ron Waterman, Tony Bonello, Wayne Cole, Yves Edwards

EliteXC gets a chance for redemption

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June 14th, 2008

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EliteXC Goes For Redemption This Saturday night, EliteXC will hold its first live event since the Kimbo Slice extravaganza that took place just two weeks ago. The event will take place in Honululu, Hawaii and will be televised live on Showtime. The cable audience will not be as widespread as the national televison audience that watched the May 31st event. In the past, the Showtime fight cards have been a positive for both the EliteXC as well as the sport. For whenever the bouts air on Showtime, there was significantly less fanfare than was seen on CBS. The organizatioin did without the elongated breaks or the elaborate entrances. It was simply a fight card featuring the main component everyone came to see, actual fighting.

EliteXC has entitled the event “Return of the King.’ It is a title in reference to the return of Hawaiian born lightweight champion KJ Noons. Noons will be defending his title in a main event bout against challenger Yves Edwards. The 24 year-old Noons brings in a 6-2 mma record and is also a very potent striker with an extensive boxing background. Edwards, on the other hand, carries with him a more seasoned career. During his career, the 31 year-old Edwards’ style of “thugjitsu” has enabled him to rack up a recrod of 31-13-1. His self-created style of thugjitsu is a combination of striking and grappling. Yet, that unique style may have ultimately hindered Edwards more than it has helped him.

Once one of the more promising fighters in the sport, Edwards continued to delve deeper into this world of thugjitsu. Perhaps a concentration on a more traditional fighting approach could have turned some of his defeats into victories. Edwards defines thugjitsu as finding a weakness in your opponent and exploiting it. That simple fact is basically one of the main ideas behind the entire sport of mixed martial arts. So such a philospohy may be preached moreso for just hype and notoriety. In fact, Edwards could be a victim of his own desire for the spotlight. Instead of concentrating on simply taking care of his business on the mat, Edwards contiuanlly shoots off about his style of thugjitsu. In all actuality, the word thug should have no placed in the world of mixed martiual arts. Mixed martial arts is a discipline that takes hard work, dedication and perserveance. A thug should have no real place inside the cage. Edwards’ devotion to the concept of thugjitsu could be one of the reasons he has wound up on the losing end thirteen times throughout his career.

Nevertheless, Noons will have his work cut out for him if he hopes to retain his title. Simply because Edwards has been handed thirteen defeats, doesn’t negate the fact that he is still a very dangerous fighter. Noons is much less experienced and has a very different fighting style. He will have the home crowd in his corner, but it will be a much more bitter defeat if the thug is able to come out and maximixe his own fighting style.

Another intriguing bout will be a lightweight match up between Nick Diaz and Mushin Corbbrey. Diaz is arguably one of the top fighters in the entire EliteXC and his record of 16-7 is a bit deceiving. He has only lost twice by knockout, one of which came by the hand of KJ Noons. The referee opted to stop the fight after the first round because of a cut above Diaz’s eye. A furious Diaz then left the cage feeling as though the referee made a rash decision. Three of Diaz’s defeats also came courtesy of some rather formidable opponents. While fighting in the UFC, Diaz lost decisons to Sean Sherk, Karo Parisyan and Joe Riggs. However, those losses came when Diaz was no older than the age of twenty-two. Now, at the ripe old age of twenty-four, Diaz has still yet to peak as a fighter.

If lady luck starts to deal Diaz a better hand and if he can continue to progress, Diaz could very well turn out to be one of the top mma fighters of the future. Before every great champion can taste the sweet victory that comes from being on top, they must all learn the misery of defeat. Diaz has learned that lesson and since his loss two Sherk more than two years ago, he has lost only one of his last seven fights. That loss was the questionable stoppage that came against Noons.

On Saturday, Diaz will be looking to make it seven out of his last eight against Corbbrey. It will defintely be a step up in class for the 8-2 Corbbrey who will be participating in his third EliteXC fight. Corbrrey emerged victorious in his previous two EliteXC bouts, although each was against a much lesser opponent. Corbbrey will have to be at his very best if he has any hopes of pulling off an upset against Diaz.

The other three fights on the undercard will feature Murilo “Ninja” Rua vs. Tony Bonello in a match up of middlewerights. Light heavyweights Rafael Feijao and Wayne Cole will also mix it up while
Dave “Pee Wee” Herman takes on veteran Ron Waterman in a clash of heavyweights. The event was originally supposed to feature a main event between Jake Shields and Drew Fickett for the first-ever EliteXC welterweight title. However, the bout was canceled because of an injury suffered by Fickett.

This weekend’s fight card will not only be an opportuniy for fighters like Diaz and Noons to heighten their prominence in the sport, but it will also be a chance for the EliteXC to get back in good standing with mma fans. The Return of the King should be appropriately titled “A chance for redemption” as the EliteXC will get back to basics and feature some quality young fighters doing battle. That fact alone should be enough to carry the sport of mixed martial arts no matter which organization sponsors the fight.

EliteXC, Recent News Dave Herman, Drew Fickett, EliteXC, EliteXC Return of the king, Jake Shields, Kimbo Slice, KJ Noons, Murilo Rua, Mushin Corbrrey, Nick Diaz, Rafael Feijao, Ron Waterman, Tony Bonello, Wayne Cole, Yves Edwards

The Revolution of Women in MMA

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June 12th, 2008

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More and more during the modern era, women are stepping onto stages once dominated by men. The world of sports is no exception. A few extraordinary women have made recent footprints through sporting world. Those footprints have not only brought these female athletes to the forefront, but they have also paved the way for the female athletes of tomorrow. Mixed martial arts is just the latest sport to experience the revolution of the female athlete.

That revolutionary experience was hoisted up on center stage during EliteXC’s recent fight card seen on national television. Gina Carano put on an explosive performance when she defeated Kaitlin Young in a May 31st bout that the referee called after the second round. It was arguably the most exciting bout of the night. Where the male fighters failed to deliver, the women picked up the slack.

However, EliteXC will not be able to follow up with another exciting women’s match-up on its next fight card which will take place on June 14th. Carina Damm was scheduled to fight Debi Purcell, but was suspended for a year after testing positive for steroids. EliteXC never replaced Damm, opting to go with an all male fight card.

Now that Purcell is left without a fight, the possibilities of a future opponent are rather entertaining. An upcoming Purcell-Carano bout could prove to be a huge draw. It may not be a main event, but would definitely garner a significant amount of interest. Only five pounds separate the two fighters, but a common ground could surely be reached. While Carano may have the advantage of youth, Purcell is relentless. The two could prove to set a torrid pace that could dazzle spectators. Plenty of male fighters have come out and set similar paces in knock-down, drag-out dogfights. Yet, there is something special about watching a woman perfect a rear naked choke, no pun intended.

That doesn’t imply that women’s mixed martial arts is simply a novelty. It has just yet to be promoted anywhere near a high level. It is quite possible that Carano could be the one who brings women’s MMA into the limelight. Danica Patrick has sent the racing world into a frenzy with her recent success. When Patrick first came onto the scene, many focused on her vanity as opposed to her ability to handle a race car. But the focus shifted with the more success that came her way. The attractive Carano could very well find herself speeding down the same path as Patrick. Not only is she easy on the eyes, she is quite capable of handling herself in the cage.

Carano could wind up being one of the main draws in the EliteXC as female mixed martial arts has yet to make its way into the UFC or the WEC. Both are the top two avenues for mixed martial arts and yet only testosterone emanates from both the cage and the octagon. The WEC does have their own girls, however their lone job is to hold up cards with the number of the round written on it. Both organizations still manage to produce quality fights and each fight card has its share of diversity. Different styles of fighting and various weight classes offer a tremendous amount of variety. Adding women to the fight card would only enhance that diversity.

The next televised women’s MMA fight will take place on June 20th when UK Thai Boxing Champion Julie Kitchen takes on WIKBA World Muay Thai champion and number one female Muay Thai fighter, Germaine de Randamie of Holland. The event has been dubbed The International Muay Thai Champion of Champions Fight Night and it will take place in Montego Bay, Jamaica. All the action will be able to be seen live on-line via pay per view. That is hardly a stage as widely recognized than the UFC or even the WEC for that matter. And each woman is far from being a household name.

The Elite XC has made its share of mistakes in its attempt to bring mixed martial arts to the masses. Nevertheless, it cannot be criticized for its revolutionary use of women in the sport. Women are proving all over the sports world that they can compete with men. Even before Patrick made headlines for her performance on the race track, Annika Sorenstam teed up against the men on the PGA tour. Women are constantly revolutionizing sports and now it may be up to another female to bring that revolution to the world of MMA.

As of now, it looks as though Carano may be the most viable candidate to take over that role. But before women can establish themselves in the world of MMA, there must first be some consistency. That leaves fight promoters with the task of providing quality opponents. In the ever blossoming world of mixed martial arts, new fight venues and events are popping up by the day. The talent is out there, it just needs to be brought to the forefront.

So while a Carano-Purcell match up may just be speculation, it is an example of what could be. In the future, there could be a lot more candidates to throw into the mix. And while women may not be ready to headline an major MMA event, they are definitely ready to make it worthwhile. Just ask the EliteXC and their internet street fighter who recently made a mockery of the sport.

EliteXC, Recent News Debi Purcell, EliteXC, EliteXC women, Gina Carano, Kaitlin Young, women's MMA

Faber-less WEC opens the door for new stars to shine

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June 5th, 2008

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The WEC will have to find a new poster boy for its ever growing organization over the next six months. Featherweight Champion Urijah Faber, the WEC’s most recognized face, will be on the shelf with an injured hand. The California Kid could receive medical clearance before his six-month medical suspension is up, however it is a certainty that he won’t be stepping back into the cage in the immediate future.

The injury came during Faber’s victorious decision over Jens Pulver in which Faber pummeled him for five straight rounds. Usually more reliant on his wrestling skills, Faber continually used his quick hands to batter the body of Pulver. As a result, Pulver was also issued a six-month medical hiatus because of an orbital injury in his right eye compliments of Faber.

The epic battle between the two also couldn’t have come at a more opportune time. Approximately twenty four hours before Faber moved his record to 20-1, Kimbo Slice did his best to sully the name of MMA in front of a national television audience. A day after the EliteXC put on a show more comparable to the WWE, Bantamweight champion Miguel Torres (33-1) also helped the MMA cause. Torres also emerged victorious in a five round grudge match against Yoshiro Maeda. That twenty-five minute battle coupled with the Faber-Pulver clash not only helped both MMA and the WEC that night, but it could have a lasting effect.

Now it is up to other fighters to claim the spotlight inside the cage. On the heels of Faber’s latest victory, WEC just announced a trio of matches that will take place during its next Las Vegas extravaganza on August 3rd. During this triple championship affair, new fighters will have the opportunity to ride the wave of momentum that was created last weekend.

The fighter with perhaps the best chance of stepping to the same podium on which Faber now stands is welterweight champion Carlos Condit. Condit (22-4) has made quite a splash since signing with the WEC. He’ll headline the August 3rd event when he defends his welterweight championship against Japan’s Hiromitsu Miura. Miura will have his work cut out for him as Condit hasn’t much trouble mowing down opponents in the WEC. Furthermore, the WEC recently recognized Condit’s prominence and rewarded him with another four fight contract.

Condit may be one of the more underrated welterweights in MMA, nevertheless the WEC doesn’t seem him in such a light. In fact, the way he has been dominating recent opponents is very emblematic of the way Faber manhandled his competition. Although ‘The Natural Born Killer’ may not have the flair of ‘The California Kid’, he could very well find himself as one of the new poster boys fro the WEC.

Light heavyweight champion Brian Stann (6-0) also seems to be headed down a similar path. He’ll also be a part of the triple championship card when he squares off against Steve Cantwell (5-1). Stann has been laying people out ever since his arrival in the WEC, including Cantwell whom he disposed of in 41 seconds in March of 2007.

There’s nothing an audience loves more than a knockout, particularly when it involves bigger fighters. If Stann can continue a repeat his past performances, his popularity should also threaten to rise to the ranks of a Faber. But before he can truly attempt to reach that status, the WEC will have to supply Stann with more formidable opponents.

Rounding out the trio of matches already set for the August 3rd event will be a matchup between lightweight champion Jamie Varner (14-2-1) and Marcus Hicks (6-0). Coming off his toughest match in the WEC, lightweight champion Varner will be facing another rising star. This match figures to be a win-win situation for the WEC as both fighters are up and coming. Hicks holds a nine year age advantage over the 23 year old Varner, although Varner has the edge in experience. Both fighters are undefeated in WEC competition and another notch in the win column will unquestionably boost their status among the WEC elite.

More bouts for the August 3rd fight card, will be introduced in the future, but none figure to have the hype which the Faber-Pulver bout carried into last weekend. However, the hype generated by that Faber-Pulver bout should generate more widespread interest. It is now up to this new set of fighters to keep that interest level high. No one person can truly carry any organization, particularly in the world of sports. But what athletes can do is raise the bar and hope that their peers can also climb to that elevated status.

So while WEC’s next big event will not include its most recognizable face, it could have the makings of another historic event. But that is a something that will have to be decided inside the cage. Regardless of how much hype is pumped into an event, it all comes down to one man against another. The EliteXC learned that painful fact as it stumbled in its attempt to sensationalize the sport. But the WEC bailed MMA out of the proverbial gutter with a sensational effort one day later. On August 3rd, the organization will get another prime opportunity to solidify its status in the world of mixed martial arts. Faber-less as it may be, someone else in the WEC should be ready to create a new wave of momentum in sin city.

Recent News, WEC Brian Stann, Carlos Condit, EliteXC, Hiromitsu Miura, Jamie Varner, Jens Pulver, Kimbo SClice, Marcus Hicks, Steve Cantwell, Urijah Faber, WEC, WEC August 3rd, WEC triple championship

EliteXC On CBS And The Humiliation Of The MMA Sport

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June 1st, 2008

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Kimbo Upon finishing my viewing of the inaugural EliteXC on CBS last night, I couldn’t decide which I felt worst about:

1) Wasting over 2 hours of my time on that pathetic show

2) The fact that a lot of people had their first MMA viewing experience last night watching a “production” that embarrassed, humiliated, misrepresented and called the integrity of the Mixed Martial Arts world into question. Those people now have an image of what MMA is about, and it doesn’t even resemble what it should have been.

Before getting into my long laundry list of complaints about the show, let me first play “positive Pete” and mention the one thing I did enjoy about the evening… the girl fight.

Look, I’ll tell you right up front I’ve only ever seen 1 female MMA fight before and I didn’t care for it at all. I’ve never given watching a female fight event another chance. After watching Gina Carano and Kaitlin Young go at it last night, I just may have to re-evaluate my position on that. It was (sadly) the best and most entertaining fight of the night. These girls BROUGHT IT. Tons of heart, tons of skill and it made for a solid and surprisingly entertaining fight. Too bad the fight was stopped after the second round… but I’ll get to that in a moment.

So for now, here is my bitching list about that embarassment to the MMA sport they called EliteXC on CBS:

a) I’m curious if they purposefully tried to get announcers who sounded like WWE commentators or if that just happened by accident? I swear I half expected Mean Gene’s face to appear on the screen each time the put the camera on the commentators. At least it’s given me a whole new appreciation for amazing job Joe Rogan and Mike Goldberg do on UFC events.

b) Dancing girls? Are you fucking kidding me? I don’t want to drag out the pro wrestling comparisons, but I thought I was supposed to be watching MMA, not Monday Night Nitro or the defunct XFL. I remember when the show just started and the camera went to the dancing girls I said: “Dear lord, this whole show is in trouble”. Prophetic words.

c) BUSTA RHYMES coming out with Brett Rogers was a pure disgrace.

Ok… so so far not a single punch had been thrown in the event, and already we had WWE announcers, dancing girls, and Busta Rhymes coming out with the fighter. It was a 3 ring circus and the fights hadn’t even started yet. On we go….

d) Brett Rogers vs Jon Murphy looked like two clumsy walruses flailing around like drunk sailors. Ugly ugly fight. For a lot of people watching the show, it was the first pro MMA fight they’d ever seen… and now they all probably think MMA is just a couple of brutes slowly and awkwardly throwing wild punches at random. Bad, ugly fight.

e) Phil Baroni vs Joey Villasenor. Another bad fight. At least these two guys looked like they had some skills… but Baroni’s entrance just added to the side show freak exhibit feel of the whole broadcast and neither looked like they really knew what they were doing in the ring. I’m not saying they’re bad fighters… but they LOOKED like bad fighters.

f) Robbie Lawler vs Scott Smith stoppage. This fight was not bad at all… a title fight. So Smith takes an inadvertent finger in the eye and needs a few moments to re-compose himself. No problems right? WELL THEY STOP THE FIGHT! Smith looked fine… he even said he was totally good to go. This was a title fight and the stop the fight and call no contest over a simple thing like a finger in the eye that the guy looked totally fine afterwards and said he was fine. EMBARRASSMENT! I understand the safety of the fighters being the first priority… and I agree with that philosophy… but this was not warranted whatsoever. The first decent fight of the night and it ends that way. Pathetic.

g) Gina Carano and Kaitlin Young stoppage. This was a great fight and I was quite impressed. But Young had a big mouse under her eye. SO WHAT? The eye itself wasn’t swollen shut at all… she wasn’t bleeding, and even if she had been bleeding the injury was under her eye so blood wasn’t going to effect her vision at all. Yeah Young looked a bit battered, but she also looked totally fine to continue fighting. Make no mistake, Carano was going to win that fight if it had continued… but Young battled so hard she deserved the chance to take that next round. Poor decision in my opinion.

h) What the hell was James Thompson doing in the main event when an undefeated Brett Rogers just beat him recently? Oh that’s right, because EliteXC is just padding their poster boy Kimbo. This organization has no credibility.

i) The biggest embarassment was easily the Kimbo vs Thompson fight. You all know what happened… Kimbo got his ass handed to him for 2 rounds… some say he even tapped at one point… and then once he was totally exhausted and has almost no gas left in the tank he mounted an offensive in the third round and the ref stopped the fight?!?!?!?! Thompson at that point was still on his feet, still not looking all that hurt… maybe Kimbo would have finished him if the fight had been allowed to continue, but I don’t think he had the gas to do it. I’m no conspiracy theorist at all, but Kimbo was about to lose that fight… the poster boy… and it looks to me like EliteXC wasn’t about to let that happen by hook or by crook.

As an MMA fan I was totally embarrassed that this sport I love so much was represented in such a freak show, humiliating and pathetic way for its debut on network TV. So many people out there now have the wrong idea of what MMA is all about, and that is a damn shame.

EliteXC was supposed to be a great landmark in the growth of MMA. Turns out it hurt the sport far more than we could have possibly imagined. What a joke that entire night was.

We may all have to re-evaluate what we think of Dana White and the job he does with the UFC. Maybe the man and his crew deserve a lot more respect that we give him.

EliteXC Editorial, EliteXC, Kimbo

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Return of the King: KJ Noons vs. Yves Edwards Video Showtime EliteXC

EliteXC gets a chance for redemption

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Faber-less WEC opens the door for new stars to shine

EliteXC On CBS And The Humiliation Of The MMA Sport

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Return of the King: KJ Noons vs. Yves Edwards Video Showtime EliteXC

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EliteXC On CBS And The Humiliation Of The MMA Sport

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