Still no power in CT, and ATT cell coverage is spotty at best. Look for blog and FB updates when we get up and running.
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Back to School Shopping!
So I meant to post this a lot sooner (hence the September-y title) but was delayed by the opening of Gracie Farmington Valley. You’d be surprised of all the stuff you need to start a karate program from scratch!
Here’s my new school shopping list with brief explanations of each item. If you’re a reader of this blog, you know I prefer DIY equipment over storebought, but there’s a pretty good mix here.
Kataaro: nifty new belt that reads “Shohei-Ryu Karate” (At a school with multiple programs, this is a must!)
Karate Depot: bo staffs, makiwara boards, shinai, instructor’s gi
Zengu: student gis, belts, sparring equipment, pads, kick shields
Lowes: small sledgehammer (for body poundig), cinder block (for knuckles) bucket with cover, 50 lbs play sand, duct tape
Big Y: 25lbs. rice
BJ’s: two big jjugs of pretzles, two small jugs of nuts
(The bucket and the rice are for grip training, the sand, jugs, and tape are for various sizes of sanchin jars.)
Dick’s Sporting Goods: dumbbells and weight plates, wrist roller, abwheel (mostly to roll on shins)
Michaels: picture frames for portraits of the masters!
Well, I hope I got enough toys to start training. If I forgot anything, let me know!
Posted in DIY, Equipment, Instruction, Karate
Tagged karate, Makiwara, Schools and Instruction, shohei-ryu
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Fun Size Facebook Fitness!
Have you bought your Halloween candy yet? I just got mine at BJ’s and have so far resisted the urge to bust open the bag. We’ll see how long that lasts!
Inspired by the candy I’d like to eat, and the fact that I need to train if I want to burn it off, I’m designing quick workouts to do early in the morning before I leave for school.
Another important reason I’m doing this is because I’m now teaching karate 5:0o-7:00PM every night at Gracie Farmington Valley, and I need to squeeze in my conditioning! (Shameless plug: Check us out, by the way!)
So here are the conditions:
1. The workout must be 15 minutes or less. (Excluding a five minute warmup.) This is because I won’t have much time to spare and because I’ll be pretty tired anyway!
2. There can’t be too much heavy lifting involved. I got sciatica by deadlifting at 4:30AM about five years ago that only recently went away. Probably not a good idea to reactive an injury by lifting with stiff muscles.
3. The workouts must maintain enough intensity to provide steadily improving cardio, muscle endurance, and strength. (As a former fat kid, I always thought Fun Size was a misnomer for candy bars; these early morning workouts certainly won’t be enjoyable!) This won’t be a problem for me at the onset, since I haven’t trained much over the last few weeks due to the new school (Shameless plug #2). However, I think I might plateau in a few weeks when I start getting back in shape. So . . .
4. Workouts can’t repeat more than twice in a month. I’d like to say I won’t repeat at all, but I will probably still roll BJJ at my old gym a while longer. Plus, it’s tough to be creative super early in the morning.
So that’s the challenge. You can follow it on our Facebook page by signing up to like us. Just click on the graphic to the right. Then you can question, comment, and post your own quickie workouts. Join in the fun!
PS – I just broke down and chowed two Milky Ways and a 3 Musketeers. I guess that’s more incentive to stick to this plan!
Posted in Fitness, Workouts
Tagged 15 minute workout, Facebook, fitness, Gracie Farmington Valley, Halloween, workout
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Street Fighter 5: MMA Edition
Street Fighter 5: MMA Edition
By ALar88
How would Ryu and Ken fare in the cage???
Here at Moai Martial Arts, we often like to think theoretically about the sport of MMA and its athletes. We toss around questions like, could Anderson Silva beat Brock Lesnar? Does BJ Penn actually train before fights? How many Big Macs could Roy Nelson eat in one sitting? But the question we keep coming back to is, who is the last guy in MMA that we would want to see waiting for us at the end of a dark alley? Clearly every guy in the organization could kick our butts, though there are a select few that would have us crying in the fetal position if we ever encountered them. Here are our choices…
5. Roger Huerta
Imagine that pad is your face...
As we learned from this viral video, you don’t mess with Roger Huerta, especially if you just sucker punched a girl. Huerta threw together an impressive 21-5-1, 1 NC record in MMA, but has since ventured away from the sport. He was recently seen in action in the Bellator Fighting Championships, and starred in the live-action movie version of the popular fighting game Tekken. Huerta was also notably highlighted on the cover of Sports Illustrated that featured an article about the future of MMA in American society. Oh, and the guy he knocked out in that video? He was an ex-linebacker for the Texas Longhorns, no slouch if you ask me. My advice: shy away from the sucker punches when Roger Huerta is around.
4. Rampage Jackson
Future World Street-Fight Tag Team Champs??? Keep reading...
If you read my last article, you know that I am a serious Rampage fan, so you know I needed to include him on this list. I mean the guy has ‘Rampage: God’s Street Soldier’ tattooed on his biceps, so you know he means business. If I was walking down an alley in a shady neighborhood and a guy wearing a chain necklace was howling at the moon like a wolf, I would be high-tailing it the other way.
3. Duane “Bang” Ludwig
Ouch!
This one may seem like a head-scratcher to some, so let me explain. Ludwig has recently started a promotion storm over the idea that he in fact holds the record for the fastest knockout in UFC history. Ludwig is credited with an 11 second knockout of Jonathan Goulet at UFC Fight Night 3, but in actuality Mario Yamasaki calls the fight after about four seconds. For some odd reason, officials recorded the time of the bout at a preposterous eleven seconds. Todd Duffee currently holds the record with a seven second KO if Tim Hague at UFC 102, but I think that record deserves an asterisk, much like Barry Bond’s home run record, until the situation is sorted out by the Nevada State Athletic Commission. Ludwig earns a spot on our list as a promotion for his righteous cause, and if we ever encountered him in a dark alley, we would be taking a nap on the concrete before we even knew what hit us.
2. KIMBO SLICE
If that isn't intimidating, I don't know what is...
Kimbo HAD to make the list. The reason he got a shot in MMA was because of his power in his viral street fights. These bare-knuckle, back alley brawls got the attention of millions of viewers on the internet who then claimed that Kimbo could hack it inside the cage. Listening to the fans, the now defunct EliteXC signed Kimbo to a contract that would eventually have Kimbo fight on the first MMA card televised on prime time network television. Kimbo won that prime time fight by an odd doctor’s stoppage when a left hook from Slice ruptured James Thompson’s cauliflower ear, leading to a referee stoppage. Kimbo went on to fight on The Ultimate Fighter Heavyweights, where he lost to eventual champion Roy Nelson in his first fight. Slice later defeated fellow striker Houston Alexander, but his MMA career fizzled after that. Kimbo’s MMA career was sadly doomed from the start, as he had no formal training in any sort of grappling; therefore, if you took down the bearded brawler, you could beat his face into the mat until the referee told you to stop. Slice has since taken up a career in professional boxing, where he won his debut in true Kimbo fashion, a first round knockout. His MMA career may have lacked legitimacy and skill, but one thing is certain, no one in their right mind would want to see Kimbo in a street fight.
1. The Diaz Brothers
Don't look so sad boys... You earned the top spot on our list!
Let it be known, the Cesar Gracie Jiu Jitsu crew rolls deep! After teammate Jake Shields defeated Dan Henderson at Strikeforce Nashville, resident MMA punk ‘Mayhem’ Miller interrupted Shields victory interview asking for a rematch. This did not sit well with the Diaz clan or Gilbert Melendez. From their post in Shield’s corner they rushed Mayhem and proceeded to throw haymakers and curb stomp all that were in their way that night. Multiple suspensions were handed out after the debacle, but the crew headed by the Diaz brothers sent out a serious ‘Don’t mess with us’ message that night. I feel as though the Diaz brothers are getting a lot of print on our blog, but they clearly deserve this number one spot. We know that if one Diaz brother is getting in a fight, or a cousin of one of the Diaz’s friend’s sister’s hairdressers is getting into a brawl, the other is sure to follow along with the rest of the Cesar Gracie crew.
Who is the last MMA fighter you would want to see in a dark alley? Let us know in the comment section!
Posted in Entertainment, Humor, MMA, Opinion
Tagged Anderson Silva, Brock Lesnar, Cesar Gracie Jiu Jitsu, Kimbo Slice, Mixed martial arts, Roger Huerta
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How to tell which type of martial arts school is best for you!
What type of martial arts school is best?
Here’s something I’ve been thinking about for awhile. There are many different types of martial arts school to choose from. But it’s not easy to pick based on the name, the instructors, or even the styles offered. Here is a guide to help you decide which school is best for you!
Do you prefer to train at a gym, dojo, or academy? I believe all three have their pros and cons. But before we begin conversation and debate, here are my working classifications for each type of martial arts school.
Gym, Dojo, or Academy?
A gym is a health club or martial arts school that focuses on workouts. Training may or may not include a traditional art, but the school generally includes programs like MMA conditioning, bootcamp fitness, and cardio kickboxing. The facility is generally modern in aesthetics and houses top-of-the-line cardio machines, free weights, and modern martial arts equipment. A gym is fitness intensive and helps most of its clients meet their health and wellness goals above all else. Fighters train at gyms to work on basic skills and to prepare for fights.
A dojo is primarily a place to study a traditional martial art. Dojo owners generally stress the transmission of their style as taught to them, allowing for little deviation in curriculum. Students at a dojo use old-fashioned training methods and equipment to meet their health and wellness goals. They sign up to learn more about the culture and values of a martial art rather than to master modern self-defense techniques. Some dojo owners train fighters in the intricacies of their particular arts, but they don’t offer strength and conditioning programs.
An academy, for the sake of this article, is an equal blend of gym and dojo. Instructors at an academy emphasize the mastering of techniques but also help clients get in shape and prepare for fights. An academy may host several martial arts, and it will often have classes taught by masters of many different disciplines such as karate, jiu-jitsu, boxing, wrestling, muay thai, krav maga, etc. Usually, an academy can be many different things to many different people due to the number and variety of classes offered. This allows people to train as if studying different “subjects” at school (i.e. English class, math class, history class). Some academies may actually only offer one style, however, consisting of a hybrid system or sometimes MMA.
How to choose a good school for you
It seems that neither the location of each type of school, nor the equipment it houses dictates its classification. Instead, study the focus and attitude owners and instructors have toward training. Does a flat-topped drill sergeant shout at his students while they do pushups in pools of sweat? Does a quiet, senior citizen explain theories on how to deliver the most efficient blocks and strikes? Does a young fighter break down a technique for a group of students ready to enter the cage?
Ultimately, you need to make a decision based on your goals. Take the time to research the school that best meets your needs. Ask lots of questions and make sure you feel completely comfortable before committing to training.
Do you have any thoughts or questions? Please leave them in the comments. A survey to see your preferred school is coming soon, so study up!
Posted in Instruction, Philosophy
Tagged dojo, martial arts, Mixed martial arts, Schools and Instruction
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ALar’s UFC 136 Preview: Title Fights x2!
Previews and Predictions
It seems like there has been a UFC card every weekend recently, not that I am complaining. Last weekend we were treated to a great card, where three of my four predictions were correct, not to toot my own horn or anything… After a great bantamweight title fight last weekend we are treated to not one, but two more title fights this weekend. Looking past the title fights, we have two matchups that have major title shot implications. The winner of the Chael Sonnen v. Brian Stann booking is looking at facing Anderson Silva for his belt; while competitor Melvin Guillard will be paying close attention to the Main Event because he may be next in line for a shot at the strap.
Prelims (Aired on Spike TV)
Anthony “Showtime” Pettis (13-2) v. Jeremy Stephens (20-6)
In his last bout, Pettis was stifled by Clay Guida’s superior wrestling ability. On Saturday Showtime will be looking to further establish himself in the lightweight division with a win over Stephens. Stephens is no pushover though, he is 4-1 in his last five bouts and will look to use his heavy hands to further derail the up and comer Pettis.
Prediction: Pettis is a gifted striker, as is Stephens. This should be a great stand-up battle. I really expect the young Pettis to rebound after his loss to Guida. Pettis by Decision
Demian Maia (14-3) v. Jorge Santiago (23-9)
Here we have a match up of two fighters with incredible Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu skills. Maia is regarded as having one of the strongest ground games in MMA, while Santiago has obtained twelve of his twenty-three wins by submission. On Saturday, these two will be looking to take the fight to the ground in order to utilize their submission skills.
Prediction: Maia is another favorite here at Moai Martial Arts. With bias aside, I still expect Maia to outclass Santiago on the ground. Maia by Submission.
Main Card (Pay-Per-View)
Leonard Garcia (15-7-1) v. Nam Phan (16-9)
This featherweight fight is a rematch of the controversial split decision that Garcia won at the The Ultimate Fighter 12 Finale. Neither competitor has had much luck in the cage recently. Phan is on a two fight losing streak, one being the controversial loss to Garcia, the other to former champ Mike Brown. Garcia is 1-2 in his last three fights, with his only win against Phan. He was the victim of the first twister submission in UFC history when he lost to Chan Sung Jung in March of 2011.
Prediction: Both fighters will be looking to rebound after recent losses, as well as put the controversial decision of their last booking in the past. I believe Garcia will be in top form in order to prove the judges were right in awarding him the split decision victory at the TUF 12 Finale. Garcia by Decision.
Joe Lauzon (20-6) v. Melvin “The Young Assassin” Guillard (29-8-2, 1 NC)
Another booking that is a classic striker versus grappler matchup. Of Lauzon’s twenty wins, sixteen have come by decision. Whereas Guillard is just the opposite, nineteen of his twenty-nine wins have come by knockout. Guillard is a rising star in the lightweight division, after overcoming some speed bumps outside of the Octagon, Guillard has put together a five fight win streak. The recent hot streak in the cage has put him in the talk for a possible shot at the title. Lauzon is 2-2 in his last four bouts. He will certainly be looking for a submission win on Saturday, as The Young Assassin has proved susceptible to a tap out, with seven of Guillard’s eight losses have come in that fashion.
Prediction: Guillard has looked highly impressive lately. He dominated wrestler Shane Roller with his striking, and will look to do the same to the grappling focused Lauzon. If Guillard can keep Lauzon on his feet, The Young Assassin will have a decisive advantage. Guillard by KO.
Chael Sonnen (25-11-1) v. Brian Stann (11-3)
I am not a Chael Sonnen fan, I will say that now. From his elevated testosterone levels, to his money laundering schemes, the guy just annoys me to no end. I am also a red-blooded patriotic American. Therefore I can tell you that I will be pulling for Marine Captain Brian Stann on Saturday night. Stann is one of the great stories of MMA. Stann was a decorated infantry soldier in Iraq, with some of his accomplishments being praised by then President George W. Bush. This fight serves as a number one contender’s bout for a shot at Anderson Silva’s middleweight belt. We all know that Sonnen gave Silva the business for four rounds in their match at UFC 117, and Silva miraculously submitted Sonnen in the fifth and final round to retain his belt. Though that performance is marred to me by Sonnen’s failed drug test and Silva’s rumored rib injury entering the fight. Sonnen is highly ranked throughout the MMA community, but I am not truly convinced with his skills.
Prediction: After over a year out of the cage, and now regulated testosterone levels, I do not know if Sonnen will be the same fighter we saw against Silva. He will certainly be facing a solid test against Stann who has won his last three bouts, none of them going to decision. This prediction may be more with my heart than my mind (similar to when I picked Rampage to beat Jon Jones…) but I think Stann outlasts Sonnen to create a great storyline for the next middleweight title bout. Stann by decision.
Featherweight Championship Fight
Champ Jose Aldo (19-1) v. Kenny Florian (15-5)
Back in July when I published my top ten rankings, Jose Aldo came in at number three. Clearly I think highly of his skills in the cage and believe him to be one the top fighters in the world. His next title challenger on Saturday is none other than Kenny Florian A.K.A. KenFlo. I feel as though Kenny may have earned this title shot through all of the publicity work he does for the UFC, as well as his notable positive public image. Kenny is a great face for the UFC, and with his recent move to featherweight, putting his name up against the less notable Aldo is a great way to promote one of the organization’s newest divisions. Kenny seemed to never be able to get over the hump during his tenure in the lightweight division. He would go on great runs defeating contender after contender, but when his time for a title run would come, he somewhat folded under the pressure. This move to featherweight may be a last shot at Championship gold for KenFlo, and sadly, I believe that Jose Aldo is the last person he would want to face to realize his title dreams. Aldo is an absolute phenom in the cage, his strikes come lightning quick and hit like a Mack truck. I have a feeling this could be a short trip to the cage for the co-host of MMA Live on ESPN…
Prediction: Florian is ten years older than Aldo, and he still has less cage experience than the champ. Florian will always be a positive influence in the MMA community, but his days as a title contender may be numbered. Aldo has been an absolute dynamo in the Octagon, and I expect him to continue this trend on Saturday. Don’t blink your eyes during this one, it could end quicker than Ron Artest’s run on Dancing with the Stars. Aldo by Knockout. Aldo retains Featherweight belt.
Lightweight Championship Fight
Champ Frankie Edgar (13-1-1) v. Gray Maynard (10-0-1, 1 NC)
I never thought Frankie Edgar had a shot when he faced BJ Penn for his title at UFC 112. I never thought Frankie Edgar had a shot when he faced BJ Penn AGAIN at UFC 118 to defend his title. I was wrong… Frankie is not your prototypical UFC champion. He does not finish fights in exhilarating fashion, he does not have a cartoonish ego outside of the cage, nor does he have a prior career as a professional wrestler… (But you can check out his reality TV career here). Edgar simply grinds out victories in the cage; he does whatever he can to win a fight. No one would ever question Frankie Edgar about his heart or determination when he enters the cage. He has ridden that heart and determination to the top of the lightweight division, and on Saturday he faces the only fighter that has proven to be able to derail that heart, Gray Maynard.
Gray Maynard has never lost in his MMA career. His career resume features a No Contest where judges determined Maynard and his opponent were not fit to continue a bout, as well as a draw in a title fight against Frankie Edgar at UFC 125. Saturday will be the third time that Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard have fought. Maynard has seemed to always have the edge in the cage against Edgar. He utilizes his size advantage and wrestling prowess to control the gritty, gutty Edgar. Maynard is one of the most gifted wrestlers in the UFC, and on Saturday I think he will further prove this point. Dana White has said that no matter the outcome, this will be the last fight in the Edgar/Maynard saga. The winner here will hold bragging rights for quite some time.
Prediction: Gray Maynard has been the only fighter to confuse, control, and conquer Frankie Edgar in the cage. In the last installment of their trilogy, I think Maynard emerges as the new UFC Lightweight Champion. Maynard by Decision. Becomes new UFC Lightweight Champion.
As always, enjoy the jam-packed card on Saturday! If your opinion differs from mine, feel free to share it in the comment section.
-ALar
ALar’s Quick Picks for UFC on Versus 6
A Quick UFC on Versus 6 Preview
As I am still lamenting over Rampage’s loss this weekend, I decided to get my mind off of the subject by previewing this weekend’s FREE UFC on Versus 6 card. This preview may be a little less in depth than my previous entries, but it should give viewers a good idea of what to expect from the solid free card presented on Saturday. Rarely does the UFC show a title fight for free, but that is exactly what they are doing this weekend with the bantamweight title bout between Champ Dominick Cruz and challenger Demetrious Johnson. The card also features an exciting bout between two young heavyweight contenders, Pat Barry and Stefan ‘The Skyscraper” Struve. Fights highlighted by perennial Octagon contestants, Anthony ‘Rumble’ Johnson and Mac Danzig, round out the four-fight card.
Mac Danzig (20-8) v. Matt Wiman (13-6)
In the first booking of the evening we see a rematch between two Ultimate Fighter contestants. Danzig was the winner of Season Six, while Wiman was a contestant on Season 5. Their first fight at UFC 115 was controversially won by Wiman when used a guillotine choke to technically submit Danzig. Referee Yves Levigne’s decision to stop the fight was deemed too quick by the Danzig camp, as Danzig claims he was still conscious and had not submitted to the choke. Therefore these two grapplers will be going all out to put an end to the controversy at hand.
Prediction: I think Danzig will be looking to avenge his controversial loss and grind his way to a three-round decision victory. Danzig by Decision
Anthony ‘Rumble Johnson (9-3) vs. Charlie Brenneman (14-2)
This welterweight fight features two promising prospects for the division. Johnson is a superior athlete who has incredible kickboxing skills. His striking will only get better as he trains with one of the most skilled strikers in the fight game, Cung Le. Brenneman is a great athlete in his own right, as he won the first season of the reality show Pros vs. Joes, that puts one-time professional athletes in competition against regular ‘Joes’. Brenneman was one of those average ‘Joes’, and after winning the show decided to focus his life on a his fledgling mixed martial arts career.
Prediction: Both fighters have shown promise in their early ventures into the cage, but I expect Johnson’s eight-inch reach advantage to be decisive in this fight. Johnson by TKO.
Pat Barry (6-3 MMA, 13-6-1 Kickboxing) vs Stefan Struve (21-5)
This is a heavyweight booking that features two of the most promising fighters in the division. Struve at just 23 is still learning to adapt his massive 6 foot 11 inch frame to best suit him in the cage, while Barry is attempting to cater his devastating strikes to earn him victories in the UFC. Struve has run through the lower ranks of the heavyweight division, but when presented with higher level competition like Junior Dos Santos, Roy Nelson, or Travis Browne, he has succumb to knockout losses. Barry has also struggled against top-flight fighters, with his losses coming to Cro Cop, Cheick Kongo, and Tim Hague. Barry is focused on striking, while Struve is predominantly looking for a submission. Each fighter proves to be a foil of the other’s style. With both fighters looking to assert themselves into the conversation for contention within the heavyweight division, I think whoever imposes their own style into the early moments of the fight will eventually gain the victory.
Prediction: This is a tough one to call but if Struve can get Barry to the ground, I believe he will be able to use his lanky frame to submit the striker. Struve by Submission.
I think the tall guy might win...
Bantamweight Title Fight
Champ Dominick Cruz (18-1) vs. Demetrious Johnson (10-1)
Neither of these fighters want to have two losses when they leave the cage on Saturday night. Cruz is coming off an impressive title defense against Urijah Faber, where he outpointed ‘The California Kid’ in five rounds, whereas the diminutive Johnson is coming off a gutty decision victory over former champion and the ever-dangerous Miguel Torres. Even for the Bantamweight division, Johnson is considered small. He is only five foot three inches compared to the champ who is five foot eight inches. Johnson plans to use his smaller frame to drive Cruz to the ground and use his exemplary wrestling skills to control Cruz from the top. But I believe Cruz is too well rounded of a fighter to be dominated by a wrestler; if Faber couldn’t put a stop to Cruz’s title run I don’t think Johnson stands much of a chance either.
Prediction: Look for Cruz to have the advantage while striking and on the ground. Johnson must catch Cruz early and deliver damage to hurt the Champ’s chances at retaining. But I think Cruz cruises (Yes, I did that) to victory. Cruz by Decision.
That was my quick rundown of Saturday’s event. Let us know what you think will happen in the comment section. As always, enjoy the fights!
Posted in Commentary, MMA
Tagged Demetrious Johnson, Dominick Cruz, Ultimate Fighting Championship
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New School Update – Gracie Farmington Valley
I’ve been alluding to this over the last few weeks, so here’s the official news! I will be the head karate instructor at Gracie Farmington Valley in Tariffville, CT.
Click our logo for more information. The school’s site is still a bit under construction, but you can see all we have to offer in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, MMA, wrestling, boxing, self-defense, and of course, Shohei-Ryu karate!
I’m very excited about this opportunity, and I hope to see many of you at the open house coming in November. Better yet, check out the site to learn more about joining us. If you have any questions, you may also contact me directly at bill@graciefv.com.
For those of you who already knew about this, thanks for your continued support. For those new to the news, let us know what you think. Stay tuned for more updates as we approach the grand opening!
Posted in Affiliates, Fitness, Instruction, Jiu-jitsu, Karate, MMA, News
Tagged boxing, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, karate, Mixed martial arts, Schools and Instruction, shohei-ryu, wrestling
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Moai Martial Arts 
UFC 137 Preview
UFC 137 Preview: GSP v. Diaz, GSP v. Condit… Penn v. Diaz?!?!
Sadly, an unfortunate training incident has forced Welterweight Champ Georges St. Pierre to bow out of his fight with challenger Carlos Condit on this card, but the UFC is still presenting MMA fans with pretty solid card this Saturday. The card loses a lot of drawing power with the lack of a title bout, but plenty of former champs and fan favorites will still be showing their skills in the Octagon. The explosive and mercurial Nick Diaz faces off against former champ BJ Penn, while perennial octagon contenders Cheick Kongo, Mirko ‘Cro Cop’ Filopovic, and Roy Nelson all enter the cage looking to have their hands raised at the end of the night.
Prelims
Denis Siver (19-7) v. Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone (16-3, 1 NC)
Both of these fighters enter the cage Saturday sporting impressive win streaks. Siver has won his last four bouts, with wins of Andre Winner and George Sotiropoulos, whereas Cerrone has won his last five, with impressive finishes of Chris Horodecki, Paul Kelly, and Charles Oliveira. Both fighters will be looking for a submission victory, as both athletes have obtained a majority of their victories by forcing their opponents to tap.
Prediction: Cerrone’s stand up game looked very impressive last time he entered the cage against Oliveira, I expect him to continue to bring his A Game and not leave this one to the judges. Cerrone by Submission
Tyson Griffin (15-5) v. Bart Palaszewski (34-14)
This featherweight fight features two fighters looking to improve their standing in one of the UFC’s newest and most competitive divisions. Griffin saw his career at lightweight come to an end when he faced 3 consecutive losses at 155. Palaszewski has also spent most of his career at lightweight but will be bringing his heavy hands to 145 to face the baby-faced Griffin.
Prediction: Palaszewski has struggled against top-flight talent; his greatest accomplishment was earning a split decision win over a 22-year-old Anthony Pettis. I expect Griffin to use his experience in the octagon to grind this one out. Griffin by Decision.
Main Card
Hatsu Hioki (24-4-2) v. George Roop (12-7-1)
This will be the experienced Hioki’s first fight in the UFC. He is an interesting prospect who is a former Shooto and Sengoku Champion, as well as a competitor in the Pride organization. Hioki is 9-1 in his last ten bouts, and I expect him to continue this trend against Roop on Saturday. Roop is just 2-2-1 in his last five bouts, and I feel as though he is being thrown to the wolves with this booking against Hioki.
Prediction: Hioki is a highly ranked featherweight among various MMA media outlets. I believe he steamrolls Roop on Saturday. His only challenge will be adapting to his first bout stateside. Hioki by Submission.
Scott Jorgensen (12-4) v. Jeff Curran (33-13-1)
This is an interesting matchup between Jorgensen, who is looking for another title shot after losing to Dominick Cruz at WEC 53, and Curran who is looking to resurrect his career after a tough run following a loss in a title bout to Urijah Faber at WEC 31. This bout marks Curran’s first fight in a major organization since defeating Dustin Neace in a Strikeforce bout in 2009. Jorgensen is also looking to establish himself as a top contender for Cruz’s Bantamweight belt against the experienced Curran.
Prediction: I expect this one to be left in the hands of the judges. Curran will be looking for a submission, but the younger Jorgensen has only been submitted once in his career. I expect Jorgenson to grind this one out and climb a rung in the Bantamweight division ladder. Jorgensen by Decision.
Mirko ‘Cro Cop’ Filopovic (27-9-2, 1 NC) v. Roy ‘Big Country’ Nelson (15-6)
Casual fans may have been scratching their heads at who some of the previous contestants I described in this preview were. Now we are into the meat of the card: these two guys are worldwide fan favorites and consistently put on entertaining bouts. Cro Cop is the ultimate badass. He has impressive kickboxing and amateur boxing records to go along with his MMA accolades, while also being a member of the Croatian Special Forces and Parliament. The guy has become a MMA legend by cracking skulls with his devastating leg kicks on countless occasions. But sadly, ever since Mirko has come to the UFC, his career has been somewhat lackluster. He is 3-4 in the organization, but the explosive, brutal Cro Cop of Pride seems to have left his better days behind him. Things like this are making Cro Cop’s image as a policy passing, terrorist killing, knockout machine go by the wayside.
Big Country Nelson is a very interesting opponent for the Croatian Cop. Who knows what kind of shape Nelson will come in the cage with. I have an image in my head of him polishing off a massive hoagie right before he gets his gloves taped up to walk into the arena… Besides his physical fitness, or lack thereof, Nelson is known to have explosive knockout power and phenomenal Jiu Jitsu skills. Both fighters are 2-2 in their last four bouts, but Dana White did suggest that Cro Cop should retire after two consecutive knockout losses. But Cro Cop is a proud fighter and wants to go out with a vintage performance to remind his countless fans of his headhunting days in the past.
Prediction: You never know what to expect from Roy Nelson when he enters the cage, but a combination of Cro Cop’s solid takedown defense and still impressive striking power could spell trouble for Roy. This may be another instance of my MMA fanaticism coming out, but I think Cro Cop goes out with a bang. Mirko Cro Cop by… Knockout?? Sure!
I must break you...
Cheick Kongo (16-6-2) v. Matt Mitrione (5-0)
If you haven’t seen Kongo’s last performance in the ring, you must watch it before you read any further. That performance was absolutely incredible. Kongo has all the looks of a Heavyweight Champion, but he has not been able to put together a run in the cage to earn himself a title shot. I feel as though after his two losses to Mir and Velasquez, Kongo has refocused himself on earning a shot at the strap.
Mitrione is an interesting prospect who has notable victories over Kimbo Slice and Tim Hague. Mitrione was highly impressive in his last win over Christian Morecraft where he knocked his fellow heavyweight down twice before knocking him out in the 2nd round.
Prediction: Mitrione has never faced anyone of Kongo’s caliber in the ring. I think Cheick’s experience in the ring will allow him to withstand the barrage that Mitrione will throw at him and eventually put the former NFL player to sleep. Kongo by KO.
Main Event: BJ Penn (16-7-2) v. Nick Diaz (25-7, 1 NC)
This fight will be great. I have no issue saying that. These fighters are two of the most skilled athletes in the MMA world and have no issue putting on great shows for the fans. Both guys could stand and bang with anyone in their division, and both have all-world skills on the mat in BJJ. If Penn and Diaz were simply rolling in a BJJ exhibition, I’m sure countless fans would still be watching on the edge of their seat. With Diaz being demoted from a title fight on this card for being stubborn idiot and not attending a press conference, he faces Penn in an eliminator bout for a shot at GSP’s strap.
BJ Penn is a true question mark in the world of MMA. He has more talent in his thumb than many fighters that train every single day to possibly earn a chance to fight on the undercard of a UFC event, but he seems to not truly care about bringing the best BJ Penn possibly to the cage every time he is booked to fight. Questions about his training schedule have circulated around him for years, and his dedication to success is often doubted. He reminds me of Darryl Strawberry, all the talent in the world, just didn’t care enough to put it all together and work to be one of the greatest of all time. His early success, earning the nickname ‘The Prodigy” may have been a gift and a curse to Penn. He has earned a championship in two divisions, but it seems like the career of BJ Penn could have given MMA fans so much more. Penn fought to a disappointing draw with Jon Fitch (who actually deserves another title shot, but that’s for another article…) at UFC 127. Prior to that Penn knocked out an aging Matt Hughes, who can be knocked out by a strong gust of wind these days.
Opposing Penn in the cage will be the outspoken Nick Diaz. Diaz has not lost in his last ten fights going back to 2008. He is a BJJ stud as well as a victorious amateur boxer. Diaz brings untapped skill to the cage. If he didn’t carry the brash attitude and have that Diaz brother “Screw Everyone” mentality, I believe he could have had a shot to defeat GSP if he actually got to fight the champ. But due to poor business decisions, Diaz must defeat The Prodigy in order to achieve the goal he set for himself when he joined the UFC, to be Welterweight Champion.
Prediction: I think Diaz will have a chip on his shoulder, as he always does, when he enters the cage of Saturday. I think he will out strike Penn and control the ground game. The only thing that scares me is that Diaz actually has respect for BJ Penn; this is a rare trait for the Diaz clan. Diaz spoke of having an old VHS tape with BJ’s first professional fight on it, a tape he does not know if even BJ has seen. The two have trained together in the past, but I expect Diaz to put that outlandish feeling of respect behind him and decisively beat Penn. Diaz by decision.
As always enjoy the fights! If you have any different opinions about the card let us know in the comment section!