Breaking Bread: UFC for the Troops
UFC Fight for the Troops
Spike TV and the UFC are treating their fans to a free event on Wednesday, which is a good thing because these pay-per-views have been breaking Bread like a church communion. The card is hardly fantastic. Tonight and Saturday evening’s events are mere teasers leading into UFC 92 in a couple weeks, which is loaded from top to bottom. This is not to say that there aren’t any intriguing matchups here…there are. As always, the potential to win some money exists, and if you pay attention, you just might learn a thing or two.
The cause is a noble one: UFC Fight for the Troops. There will be opportunities for viewers to phone in donations that will go towards building an advanced facility dedicated to research, diagnosis and treatment of military personnel and veterans suffering from traumatic brain injury. UFC announcer Mike Goldberg suffers from something similar from years of sitting next Joe Rogan’s screaming commentary. Won’t you give to Mike Goldberg?
Josh Koscheck -250
Yoshiyuki Yoshida +200
There has been a storm brewing for several weeks now in the UFC pertaining to merchandising and licensing. One of the main issues seems to be the fighters’ likeness being used in video games. This all came to a head as fan favorite Jon Fitch was actually released from the UFC for a day until some kind of agreement was met. Now Koscheck (13-3-0) is unhappy with the deal, and it is rumored that win or lose, this could be his last UFC fight.
I have never been a fan of Kos, and I would love nothing more than to see him bounced out of the UFC with a brutal beatdown. My hopes rest on Japanese fighter Yoshiyuki Yoshida (10-2-0). In his first UFC venture back in May, Yoshida put Jon Koppenhaver to sleep with an anaconda choke…literally. When the ref pulled him off, Koppenhaver had Z’s floating above his head.
But it’s not my birthday and my wish will not be coming true. As much as I can’t stand him, Koscheck is a talented fighter. He has been working on his striking to compliment his superb wrestling skills. I may as well make some money in my disappointment. Koscheck is the play here, as he will be wanting to make a statement to Dana White should he actually leave the organization. Until a Japanese fighter does something to impress me in the UFC, I’m going to keep betting (and cashing) against them. Sorry Charlie.
Mike Swick -370
Jonathan Goulet +300
Swick (12-2-0) gets the nod here. Although he never seems to do anything spectacular to stand out, he does win fights. He will look for his third consecutive victory when he fights Goulet (22-9-1). The fight could be uneventful, as Swick has gone to the judges’ cards in his last four matches. What this fight might lack in excitement, it will make up for in comedy.
Goulet calls himself “The Road Warrior”. He does resemble one of the apocalyptic criminals in ‘Mad Max’, but he is hardly scary. I think it might actually be Steve-O with multi-dyed hair. When asked about fighting Swick, Goulet said “I think we are similar fighters - he is aggressive and he likes to bang.” OK then.
Steve Cantwell -310
Razak Al-Hassan +250
I don’t know much about Cantwell (6-1-0), but it looks like he dominated his last three fights in the WEC. That is not important. What is important is his opponent, Razak Al-Hassan (?-?-?).
There are a few interesting things about Al-Hassan, besides the fact that he is a dead ringer for a one of the old Nintendo ‘Mike Tyson’s Punch Out’ video game characters. First of all, who the heck is he?? He has no MMA record. Upon doing a little research, I have learned that he currently works full time at Wells Fargo. This got me to thinking, what could possibly help this event to get more donations pledged? How about having an All-American looking kid pound some random guy with a Muslim name for a few rounds? That’ll do it!
I’m convinced that this was the plan. And Cantwell has to win. This is for the troops for crying out loud! Dana White is a genius sometimes.
Ben Saunders -355
Brandon Wolff +285
You know it’s not the greatest card when you find yourself picking all huge favorites. Sometimes that’s the way these freebies go. The only other fight I like is buried on the undercard, where Saunders (6-0-2) takes on Wolff, who also has no MMA record.
Saunders will have a six inch height advantage on his opponent, but it’s not his reach you have to watch out for. When asked what his favorite technique is, Saunders says “I like to kick people in the head.” It’s fun to watch. Looks a bit like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s fighting scenes in ‘Game of Death’. Between his kicks and permanent goofy smile, Saunders puts on entertaining fights. I hope this one manages to get aired.
Spike TV and the UFC are treating their fans to a free event on Wednesday, which is a good thing because these pay-per-views have been breaking Bread like a church communion. The card is hardly fantastic. Tonight and Saturday evening’s events are mere teasers leading into UFC 92 in a couple weeks, which is loaded from top to bottom. This is not to say that there aren’t any intriguing matchups here…there are. As always, the potential to win some money exists, and if you pay attention, you just might learn a thing or two.
The cause is a noble one: UFC Fight for the Troops. There will be opportunities for viewers to phone in donations that will go towards building an advanced facility dedicated to research, diagnosis and treatment of military personnel and veterans suffering from traumatic brain injury. UFC announcer Mike Goldberg suffers from something similar from years of sitting next Joe Rogan’s screaming commentary. Won’t you give to Mike Goldberg?
Calm down Joe Rogan
Josh Koscheck -250
Yoshiyuki Yoshida +200
There has been a storm brewing for several weeks now in the UFC pertaining to merchandising and licensing. One of the main issues seems to be the fighters’ likeness being used in video games. This all came to a head as fan favorite Jon Fitch was actually released from the UFC for a day until some kind of agreement was met. Now Koscheck (13-3-0) is unhappy with the deal, and it is rumored that win or lose, this could be his last UFC fight.
I have never been a fan of Kos, and I would love nothing more than to see him bounced out of the UFC with a brutal beatdown. My hopes rest on Japanese fighter Yoshiyuki Yoshida (10-2-0). In his first UFC venture back in May, Yoshida put Jon Koppenhaver to sleep with an anaconda choke…literally. When the ref pulled him off, Koppenhaver had Z’s floating above his head.
But it’s not my birthday and my wish will not be coming true. As much as I can’t stand him, Koscheck is a talented fighter. He has been working on his striking to compliment his superb wrestling skills. I may as well make some money in my disappointment. Koscheck is the play here, as he will be wanting to make a statement to Dana White should he actually leave the organization. Until a Japanese fighter does something to impress me in the UFC, I’m going to keep betting (and cashing) against them. Sorry Charlie.
Mike Swick -370
Jonathan Goulet +300
Swick (12-2-0) gets the nod here. Although he never seems to do anything spectacular to stand out, he does win fights. He will look for his third consecutive victory when he fights Goulet (22-9-1). The fight could be uneventful, as Swick has gone to the judges’ cards in his last four matches. What this fight might lack in excitement, it will make up for in comedy.
Goulet calls himself “The Road Warrior”. He does resemble one of the apocalyptic criminals in ‘Mad Max’, but he is hardly scary. I think it might actually be Steve-O with multi-dyed hair. When asked about fighting Swick, Goulet said “I think we are similar fighters - he is aggressive and he likes to bang.” OK then.
Yet another separated at birth
Steve Cantwell -310
Razak Al-Hassan +250
I don’t know much about Cantwell (6-1-0), but it looks like he dominated his last three fights in the WEC. That is not important. What is important is his opponent, Razak Al-Hassan (?-?-?).
There are a few interesting things about Al-Hassan, besides the fact that he is a dead ringer for a one of the old Nintendo ‘Mike Tyson’s Punch Out’ video game characters. First of all, who the heck is he?? He has no MMA record. Upon doing a little research, I have learned that he currently works full time at Wells Fargo. This got me to thinking, what could possibly help this event to get more donations pledged? How about having an All-American looking kid pound some random guy with a Muslim name for a few rounds? That’ll do it!
I’m convinced that this was the plan. And Cantwell has to win. This is for the troops for crying out loud! Dana White is a genius sometimes.
Hey kid, wanna take one for the troops?
Ben Saunders -355
Brandon Wolff +285
You know it’s not the greatest card when you find yourself picking all huge favorites. Sometimes that’s the way these freebies go. The only other fight I like is buried on the undercard, where Saunders (6-0-2) takes on Wolff, who also has no MMA record.
Saunders will have a six inch height advantage on his opponent, but it’s not his reach you have to watch out for. When asked what his favorite technique is, Saunders says “I like to kick people in the head.” It’s fun to watch. Looks a bit like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s fighting scenes in ‘Game of Death’. Between his kicks and permanent goofy smile, Saunders puts on entertaining fights. I hope this one manages to get aired.
Ben likes to kick people
