[quote]JokerFMJ wrote:
I didn’t say anything about Denver or his shop. :)[/quote]
I think he was responding to Bodyguard.
Does anyone else think (hope?) that the quality of the matches will improve now that theyre in the semis?
In Mike’s defense, it looks like he just had a serious case of stage fright. Even though some folks like to equate MMA with street fighting, they are NOT the same thing. There are plenty of legitimate badasses who would get crushed in an MMA bout, and there are plenty of MMA fighters who would get their clock cleaned in an anything goes street fight.
Some guys just can’t get pumped up for a sanctioned sport-fight and need that ‘this guy might literally kill me’ adrenaline rush to perform their best. Not to mention that a street fight includes all kinds of techniques (weapons, groin/throat strikes, eye gouges, headbutts, etc.) that they can’t use in an MMA fight.
Let’s also keep in mind that most street altercations don’t end in a fight. 90% of the time, if you show you are willing to fight, the other party will back down. I don’t doubt that Nickel’s was able to chase most guys off just by being confrontational, nor do I doubt he is a much different fighter in an uncontrolled environment.
As far as the last fight went, sometimes it just isn’t your night and you don’t perform well under pressure. Mike looked tense going in and was gassed about 30 seconds into it…I don’t know if it was a result of the adrenaline or what, but after the first minute the fight was pretty much over due to his inability to overcome being tired or nervous or whatever it was holding him back.
As far as the rest of the heavyweight crowd goes, the only one with a realistic shot at Bisping(in my opinion anyways) was Noah because he at least showed some submission skills. The dude that replaced him is basically the same as Matt, but not as good at wrestling. The guy with blue hair may throw bombs(that has yet to be seen) but is absolute trash on the ground and too short for Bisping.
I’m still taking Kendall to make it to the finals, and I think he’ll be facing Kaleb
Don’t count Matt out yet. If his arm heals he probably can dominate anyone on the ground.
[quote]Zap Branigan wrote:
Don’t count Matt out yet. If his arm heals he probably can dominate anyone on the ground.
[/quote]
Dominate yes, But he will get submitted or knocked out. His skills are just not there yet. IMO
[quote]Thad wrote:
Zap Branigan wrote:
Don’t count Matt out yet. If his arm heals he probably can dominate anyone on the ground.
Dominate yes, But he will get submitted or knocked out. His skills are just not there yet. IMO[/quote]
Given the level of his opponents I think he can lay on top for 2 rounds and pull off a decision.
[quote]Steve4192 wrote:
In Mike’s defense, it looks like he just had a serious case of stage fright. Even though some folks like to equate MMA with street fighting, they are NOT the same thing. There are plenty of legitimate badasses who would get crushed in an MMA bout, and there are plenty of MMA fighters who would get their clock cleaned in an anything goes street fight.
Some guys just can’t get pumped up for a sanctioned sport-fight and need that ‘this guy might literally kill me’ adrenaline rush to perform their best. Not to mention that a street fight includes all kinds of techniques (weapons, groin/throat strikes, eye gouges, headbutts, etc.) that they can’t use in an MMA fight.
Let’s also keep in mind that most street altercations don’t end in a fight. 90% of the time, if you show you are willing to fight, the other party will back down. I don’t doubt that Nickel’s was able to chase most guys off just by being confrontational, nor do I doubt he is a much different fighter in an uncontrolled environment.[/quote]
good post.
[quote]KBCThird wrote:
I think he was responding to Bodyguard.[/quote]
Correct.
[quote]Steve4192 wrote:
In Mike’s defense, it looks like he just had a serious case of stage fright. Even though some folks like to equate MMA with street fighting, they are NOT the same thing. There are plenty of legitimate badasses who would get crushed in an MMA bout, and there are plenty of MMA fighters who would get their clock cleaned in an anything goes street fight.
Some guys just can’t get pumped up for a sanctioned sport-fight and need that ‘this guy might literally kill me’ adrenaline rush to perform their best. Not to mention that a street fight includes all kinds of techniques (weapons, groin/throat strikes, eye gouges, headbutts, etc.) that they can’t use in an MMA fight.
Let’s also keep in mind that most street altercations don’t end in a fight. 90% of the time, if you show you are willing to fight, the other party will back down. I don’t doubt that Nickel’s was able to chase most guys off just by being confrontational, nor do I doubt he is a much different fighter in an uncontrolled environment.[/quote]
I agree with this. But, as I mentioned, I’m no expert.
[quote]slimjim wrote:
As far as the last fight went, sometimes it just isn’t your night and you don’t perform well under pressure. Mike looked tense going in and was gassed about 30 seconds into it…I don’t know if it was a result of the adrenaline or what, but after the first minute the fight was pretty much over due to his inability to overcome being tired or nervous or whatever it was holding him back.
As far as the rest of the heavyweight crowd goes, the only one with a realistic shot at Bisping(in my opinion anyways) was Noah because he at least showed some submission skills. The dude that replaced him is basically the same as Matt, but not as good at wrestling. The guy with blue hair may throw bombs(that has yet to be seen) but is absolute trash on the ground and too short for Bisping.
I’m still taking Kendall to make it to the finals, and I think he’ll be facing Kaleb[/quote]
Agreed…pressure, especially when a big-money contract is on the line, is a tough thing for some guys to handle. Hopefully Mike will get another shot to prove himself.
I really hope the fights will be more competitive now that we’re in the semis…this season started off great but has gone downhill the past few weeks, IMO.
[quote]Zap Branigan wrote:
Don’t count Matt out yet. If his arm heals he probably can dominate anyone on the ground.
[/quote]
I think he could take out Jesse or the dude with blue hair…I don’t think he could deal with Bisping at this juncture though.
Broken/cracked rib!
2 back to back episodes next Thursday.
I have to say that was the most entertaining episode of the season. I was laughing my ass off when Shamrock schooled Tito in pool. Also, seeing “Team Dagger” back was good for a laugh. I was upset to see Matt unable to return. Speaking of returns, whats everyones take on them bringing the others back to help train etc?
Ken schooling Tito in pool was funny as hell… Nice little hustle he played there.
I liked the idea of bringing back the other fighters. The last two seasons in the semi’s, as Dana White said, it became hard to train for them because of the slim numbers… Now they may be able to do some round robins and keep a fresh partner in against the other guy.
It’ll be good for them, I think.
I can’t believe Kalib quit like he did, it was pretty sad… I think he could’ve taken Kendall if he’d have just attacked harder a few times. He landed some nice blows but didn’t follow up on them. Also, as Shamrock was saying, the upper cut was there.
I had it a draw after the second round - the whole shorts thing I think Kalib was just winded. Even though I can’t stand him, I think Kendall would’ve won the fight if the third round had continued even if Kalib hadn’t lost that point for the shorts.
I thought it was a great fight for sure. Easily the best thusfar. I think more than the others, it actually looked like a real MMA fight instead of a sloppy brawl. IMO we probably just watched the best fight theres gonna be this season.
This was my favorite episode of the season. The pool bit was hilarious, Ken tooled Tito pretty good. The fight was excellent, they were very evenly matched. I gave Kalib the first and Kendall the second, but if had went to the third I think Kendall would have took the decision. He came on real strong at the very end of the first round and carried that momentum into the second. Kalib’s heart gave out after that second round, and I think he was just looking for an out. His ribs might have been hurt, but mentally he had already quit, and if his mind was still in it he could have fought on. Word to Ross for being a crazy guy and taking the fight in Matt’s stead.
I am a Maui Boy so I was pulling for Kendal, but I was still disapointed to see Kaleb punk-out that way.
IMHO Kendal is going to win. It’s gonna be sweet cuz I hate Rory and Ed.
WTF was with Tait and Christian? They wasted a second chance.
Finals predictions:
the Light Heavy finals will be:
Bispig - vs - Josh
Middle weight finals will be:
Kendel - vs - Ed
La’
Redsol1
This was the first time in 3 weeks I had actually bothered to watch the whole show, (2 weeks ago I just tuned in for the fight, last week I skipped entirely) and I suppose I am glad I did.
I’m gonna put a disclaimer here - it’s been a long time since I wrestled in hs, and some awkward 15 year olds wrestling is a world away from what these guys do, so maybe I have no frame of reference, but … WTF?! You bust your ass for 6 weeks, you talk about how this is your dream, and then you punk out on it. I know I dont understand exactly what MMA is like, but I DO understand what competition is like. Conditions are not always ideal, to put it mildly. It’s comparable to people who post videos on the interenet of gym lifts and then dont understand why people say “I don’t care. It’s not in competition, it doesnt count.” It’s easy to lift when you feel like it, when youre 100% healthy, when you’ve had a good warmup, when your familiar with your own equipment. It’s not so easy when you’re a little banged up, when you missed your peak, but the meet promoters arent changing the date of the show for you, when the warmup room is overly crowded, when the bar is thicker than the bar you’re used to, whatever. What about all those fighters who take fights on short notice, or in unnatural weight classes? How can these clowns bust their butts for 6 weeks, sit there with a straight face telling the camera how it’s their dream and then pass up an opportunity? Sometimes you just gotta suck it up and do it. The more I think about it, the more this bothers me.
What a dissapointing end to what had been a very even fight, and the only one of this season that even surpassed “mildly decent.” Again, I’ve never cracked a rib, I’ve never fought with a cracked rib, but shamrock had a good point, if you break your rib, youre in too much pain to yell at someone how your rib is broken.
Finally, why do I feel like the pool match was a setup? Shamrock was clearly very good at it, so is it just a “coincidence” thats what they decided to play? Maybe, theyve had a table in the house each season, I think most reality shows do. But I just find it hard to believe someone would be quick enough on their feet to play down their abilities when theres no real incentive to. teh match was already made! its not like he suckered tito into it, he coulda just said “yeah I’m gonna whup ya” and been right
Oh, and for the record, this is an astonishingly boring group of semi finalists. Almost every match is lose lose for me, I hate em both. I hated Kalib, but not as much as kendall. Rory’s a whiner (“tell me why I’m gonna win” STFU) and neither the guy with the blue hair nor jesse should even be in the finals, they both SUCK - HARD! Ross vs bisping should be good, i like em both, and if ross actually pulls it off he’ll have a great story going into the finals. Course, if he loses, I’m fine with bisping taking it anyway.