Evans refuses to sign photo of his Shadface!!...
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First fight since 2008 and 50 years old...Maurice Smith head-kick KO...
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Gilbert Yvel vs Houston Alexander from last night...
Dakota Cochrane also got choked out last night!Comment -
by a dick?
heyyoooooComment -
Sportbet released Wiman as favourite over Bocek... according to bestfightodds Wiman was at -189 at one point! Would of been all over Bocek at +150, I expected Wiman to come out as +130 dog or something.
Odds for Nunes/SIver also releasedComment -
Bocek at +150 is crazy....I would be all over that
The commentary for that Yvel/Alexander fight is ******* disgustingComment -
hhaha yeah, the whole thing looked like it was set 10 years ago!Comment -
My thoughts on the Bocek/Wiman fight:
Wiman vs Bocek...
I expected Bocek to come out around about -120 favourite. If the betting public bet on Bocek as I expect they will then I'll play Wiman if he reaches +150 or better. Otherwise, I'll look at props such as Wiman by TKO/KO and Fight goes distance.
Key for either fighter is who gets the better of the wrestling - can Bocek get Wiman down and control position like he did against Lentz, or even work for a submission; or will Wiman get the takedown and work his relentless GnP like he did against Cole Miller. I think Wiman needs to incorporate a similar strategy to his fight against Magrinho - which was quite simply push forward, set a relentless pace and mix in strikng with takedowns and GnP. Doing tht against a guy of Bocek's calibre is not going to be easy tho! Bocek has shown that he is legit against Jim Miller in a fight he arguably won, and also he has probably put up the best fight out of anybody against Henderson in recent times. I have no doubts that Bocek can take Wiman down, question is whether he'll be able to control him like he did Lentz or whether he can get a sub. Wiman has shown solid sub defence in previous fights, although he perhaps hasn't faced anybody of Bocek's experiencel level or anybody tht offered the technical BJJ that Bocek possesses. Jim Miller is probably the biggest grappling threat he has faced but he stepped in on late notice (10 days) against Wiman and wasnt as aggressive as he usually is...he concentrated on getting takedowns and keeping position just to get the win. Bocek will be able to get takedowns...he took Henderson down a few times, and Wiman's wild style makes it easier to get the takedowns.
Wiman's advantages: Wiman's solid chin and ability to walk through punches and take a punch to give one. I also think he's a bigger threat in the striking realm - I can envisage Wiman dropping Bocek but cant really imagine Bocek hurting Wiman in the stand-up. The relentless pace he sets (cardio and endurance) and constant forward movement is another advantage - Bocek has faded late on in fights before, however in last couple fights he has shown better cardio, especially last fight against Lentz. However, Lentz didnt spend anytime on top of Bocek and also tired himself out from the numerous guillotine attempts...if Wiman can get some takedowns and spend some time on top Bocek will get tired. He has faded when under pressure in fights before (see Edgar and Danzig fights), and think it's vital that Wiman pushes forward and doesnt let Bocek dicate the action.
Bocek's advantages: Superior grappler - more technical, more calculated and strategic especially now with Zahabi in his corner. As the Lentz fight showed he was more about getting the takedown and establishing position and controlling rather than looking for subs.
I'd hope that Wiman and his coaches have studied the Lentz fight and realised that it may be counter-productive to try and latch on to subs against Bocek...especially the guillotine when getting taken down. Must of been three or four times where Lentz locked in the guillotine (one of his go-to moves admittedly) and squeezed tight for some time before Bocek pulled his head out. Not only did this tire Lentz's arms out but also gave up position and allowed Bocek to steal rounds with top-control. Being on your back with Bocek on top is never a position you want to be in and avoiding this situation will be key for Wiman if he wants to have a good chance of beating Bocek.
Wiman should also be able to get takedowns even if his wrestling isnt the best - it's functional enough and his tenacity is usually enough. As Bocek is BJJ orientated he will probably not put up too much resistance to takedown attempts and may look to work off his back or look for a guillotine (Wiman does offer up opportunities for guillotines - see end of second Danzig fight and the Siver fight where Siver quite smartly made Wiman re-think a couple of times because Siver locked in a guillotine posiiton whilst having his back against the cage). (guys like Bocek tend to automatically go back to their BJJ mindset and not worry to much about stopping the takedown because they are so confident in their BJJ off their back - The Miller brothers are two other guys that I feel sometimes give up the takedown so that they can look for the guillotine or work off their backs).Comment -
Adding:
9.381 units on Diego Nunes at -150 to win 6.254 units.
Wouldn't play Nunes at worse than -150 as this is what I capped him at. I think his speed advantage and endurance should be the difference in this one. I actually think his move to BlackHouse after falling out with Pederneiras at Nova Uniao might be a blessing in disguise as he's now working with a whole new bunch of killers at BlackHouse such as Rafael Cordeiro, Roger Gracie, Kenny Johnson (wrestling), Eduardo Rocha, Dos Anjos, Pedro Munhoz, Leandro Batata, Epstein, Yager, Mayhem, Machida, Bigfoot Silva and many more!Last edited by Vaughany; 03-31-12, 06:14 PM.Comment -
Very interesting latest blog from Brian stann:
UPDATED MAR 30, 2012 1:56 AM ET
Two days before Christmas my wife lost her little brother, Louie, in a very violent death. He was only 26 years old and it was horribly unexpected. Her mother lives with us and, in order to get them both through this tragedy, I decided to rearrange my whole training camp for my next fight — against Alessio Sakara on April 14 on UFC on FUEL TV — and do things differently. I relocated my camp from Albuquerque and trained from home in Scranton, Pa.
I'm still very much a part of Team Jackson, and both Greg Jackson and Mike Winklejohn have been coaching me through this camp from afar. They've been watching tape, passing on advice and will definitely be out in Sweden with me during fight week and on the night of the fight itself. I missed seeing the guys in Albuquerque, but, for the sake of my family, knew I'd made the right decision in staying home.
People lose sight of the fact that life continues when us guys are caught up in the isolation of training camp. Try as we might to focus purely on the fight, you can't ignore what life is going to throw at you along the way. My wife and I never expected such a tragedy to unfold just before Christmas, but it just goes to show that mixed martial arts is a sport, nothing more, and that family will always conquer all, as far as I'm concerned.
It goes without saying that this has been an incredibly difficult time for my wife and our family. Rather than allow it to beat us up and question my role as a fighter, however, I've tried to approach it a different way. I've used this horrible situation to regain some perspective, both on my fighting career and life itself.
Something like this only helps to remind me just why I fight. I am responsible for supporting my family, both emotionally and financially, and mixed martial arts is the way in which I am able to do this. They need my help at a time like this and, thankfully, the UFC has given me an opportunity to provide for them.
It also really put the notion of loss into perspective for me. My last professional loss, to Chael Sonnen in October, wasn't a testing time at all, in retrospect. That was just a defeat. I lost a fight. What could have gone wrong, did go wrong. That was all. Nobody got hurt and there was no irreparable damage.
Through all the trials and tribulations of my life, mixed martial arts has always been my release, my form of escapism. I've used it as my sanctuary from the genuinely harrowing events that have taken place in my life, both during my time in the military and in regular home life.
Ask any fighter and they'll tell you the same thing: The opportunity to go away and train two or three times a day and prepare for a fight is a wonderful distraction from the tougher challenges in life. After you're done from a really tough workout, and you're tired, hurt and broken down, you get these strange moments of true clarity and perspective, moments that allow you to focus on what life means to you.
Unlike the Sonnen loss, the death of my brother-in-law was a genuinely trying situation. I remember the moment I heard the news like it was only yesterday. We were in baggage claim when I got the call. It was our first time home in Pennsylvania, where we planned to spend Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with our families. I had to tell my wife the news as we landed in Pennsylvania. There is nothing worse than watching the woman you love be completely devastated and heartbroken by a piece of news you've delivered to her. It was one of the lowest points of my life.
In fact, after the tragedy I spoke to my family and all the guys at the gym, and everybody came to me with the same advice — they all said I needed to get back in there and compete as soon as possible. No good would come from contacting the UFC and asking for some time off. This is what I do, and this is what I do to provide for my family. Also, my brother-in-law was a big supporter of my career and would have hated for me to either just give up or put the whole thing on hold.A lot of people would use an tragedy like this as a potential excuse if they were then unable to perform to their best come fight night. But I can assure everybody reading this, as well as my opponent, Alessio Sakara, that I will be more than ready come April 14. There will be nothing else in the world that I would rather do on that night than step into the octagon and fight.
As we've moved closer to this April 14 date, my wife has made a conscious effort to use my fight as a necessary distraction for herself as well. She's helping me prepare and has invested emotionally into this fight. She's also turning the whole episode into a positive and is opening up a foundation in her brother's name. That really shows the strength of my wife.
Adversity is always what truly defines people, and last Christmas was the most testing time for my family — for me, my wife, my kids and everybody else. It was as tough a situation as any of us have experienced. In my mind, this fight on April 14 will go some way to memorializing Louie and showing once again that adversity can be overcome with a strong family and positive outlook. In light of everything that's happened, I've never in my life been more determined and motivated to win a fight. This is the absolute worst time to fight me right now.
How do you think I should go about winning the fight? Tweet me your thoughts @BrianStann.
Middleweight contender Brian Stann battles Italian striker Alessio Sakara in Stockholm, Sweden on April 14 live on FUEL TV.erComment -
Happy to see you are playing nunes
I have a play too but I'm a nut huggerComment -
Fedor steps in for injured Cormier
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V and Gabe are actually brothers would have been my April Fools jokeComment -
This is not an april fools
Rumor is Brock signed a 1 year deal with WWEComment -
yeee not surprising thoComment -
Adding 124.545 units on Rory MacDonald at -400, will arb out with Che Mills straight up when he reaches +450 to +500 range which I think he will by fight time. Or I'll take Mills by TKO/KO as can't see him winning by sub or decision. Either way, will act as coverage for the pending parlays I have involving Rory Mac, and I'll probably have MacDonald Submission of the Night as well.Comment -
ha Titties decisioned Buentello last night! Parisyan beat Denny by dec, McCorkle got TKO'd by Brian Heden, Rod Wallace won a decComment -
why are your units so small vaughany? i thought standards put units at about 1-3% of a betters total bankroll.Comment -
Yeah at skybet and William HillComment -
Just found this interview that SBR did with John Albert!... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJXPZ...layer_embedded
One with Walel Watson as well... http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=9lmMbQjPASI
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Here's a more active link. Funny, lol.Evans refuses to sign photo of his Shadface!!...
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This is how budget MMA events in England go down!... http://www.mmamania.com/2012/4/2/291...deo-manchesterComment -
V,
thoughts on Stann inside the distance at -140Comment -
Figured that would be your answer, makes the most sesne as Stann never attempts subs and Sakara is a Nog black belt.Comment -
I dont see Sakara tapping to strikes either. Sakara is a Nog blackbelt? Pretty sure he is a Marcus Conan Silveira black-belt (Conan being the ATT leader who did 3 years in jail for drug dealing and who arguably gives out black-belts for fun...gave Lombard a black-belt after he TKO'd a bum at CFC 12!)Last edited by Vaughany; 04-02-12, 12:23 PM.Comment -
I guess you are right. Why am I associating Sakara with Nog? Did he started bjj training with nog?Comment -
This is a follow up to your other post with Renato!Comment
