BloodyElbow.com Talks UFC 88 in Debut Column on Sherdog.com
by Luke Thomas on Sep 9, 2008 8:41 AM EDT
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My first column on Sherdog.com is out today and it's a breakdown of the winners and losers from UFC 88. Here's one of the winners, Kurt Pellegrino:
An always-promising fighter with well-rounded skills, Pellegrino couldn’t ever seem to break through intriguing-prospect status. Seemingly unable to cobble together the components necessary for a meaningful career inside the unforgiving cage walls of the Octagon, Pellegrino grappled with anonymity and even identity.
Yet, amidst weight-class changes, personal and familial turmoil and gut-wrenching losses, Pellegrino found a way Saturday to persevere through the sort of adversity that would cripple anyone without an indefatigable will to carry on. If there were ever an underdog pick to root for, Pellegrino is it.
And here's "one" of the losers, the fans who booed Dong Hyun Kim:
Rooting for the home team is rarely objectionable, but is Dong Hyun Kim -- a Korean fighter who voluntarily chose to leave his country to fight for an American company -- really the "away team"?
Like any other fighter under UFC contract competing in America, Kim’s participation in UFC events helps generate revenue for those American entities promoting the fight, to say nothing of how important Kim is for the UFC’s international expansion efforts. Obviously Kim’s contribution in making UFC 88 financially solvent isn’t make or break, but it should prevent him from being unnecessarily booed by Americans driving home in their Japanese imports.
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I agree regarding the fans in Atlanta.
That was disappointing to me for certain, but I’m not sure what good comes of talking about it too much, unfortunately. I’m not complaining, it’s a valid point and I’m glad you wrote about it. I’m just not sure that anyone other than Dana can do anything preventing that in the future.
Regarding Kurt, I just got done watching that fight for the first time, and I was really impressed. He had some tank issues at the end of the last round, but he stepped up and put on a really good performance.
As for Tavares, I know the loss hurts him, but that was a really good fight. He didn’t do as much damage in round 2 and Kurt did in round 1, but it was comparable in my eyes. Cuts don’t impress me too much, unless the placement really messes with the guy’s vision. But that fight was certainly nothing to be ashamed of for Thiago.
There is no such thing as innocence, only degrees of guilt.
I've been one of the people harping on it since Saturday
So I’m glad he addressed the booing, actually.
Pellegrino is becoming one of those guys that’s always a blast to watch. He keeps a good pace and I endear myself to anyone that clearly loves to fight (even guys that will likely never be in contention, like Leben and Saunders).
Great Column, Luke.
You were spot on about a lot of things, particularly about TUF and the Atlanta audience. Their treatment of Kim was terrible. Kim won the fight. It was absolutely clear. I have no idea what fight they were watching, but I was really surprised when he was treated like that, particularly by Rogan, who I guess may have been taken up by the general discontent of what seemed like a largely uphappy crowd? I don’t know. Regardless, it was lame.
Interesting
It was a good article. Kinda curious how writing for Sherdog worked out. I guess you don’t see each other as competitors. I would love to hear the story if there is one.
by Nick Travaglini on Sep 9, 2008 10:31 AM EDT reply actions
I think
This blog/forum is revered as supporting opinionation and Sherdog gets a lot of traffic linked in from here. I don’t want to say echo chamber, because that term seems marginally insulting.. But yeah, I’d say a blog of this nature supports more traditional news sites like Sherdog.
I’ve used it in academic papers. I’m still not sure how to pronounce it.
by AJB on Sep 9, 2008 3:31 PM EDT up reply actions
Sadly...
it is wasted effort to bother talking about booing of foreign fighters or chanting of “USA” during fights. That isn’t ever going to change for fighters like Kim who don’t have the rep of a lot of the higher level Brazilians.
Would I like to see it change? Sure. Will it ever? Naw…
Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.
by Brent Brookhouse on Sep 9, 2008 2:03 PM EDT reply actions
Brown won one round. Dong had the first convincingly and the third thanks to takedowns and gnp. Matt surely had the most exciting round (2nd), and did a hell of a job to survive in the first, but by any reasonable scoring system, Dong won.
Others have said it, but let’s keep in mind: the one judge who scored it for Brown was Cecil People. CECIL PEOPLES.
by AJB on Sep 9, 2008 7:26 PM EDT up reply actions
Kurt is such a winner...
That his fight, one of the best matches of the evening, didn’t even make the PPV broadcast. Good job UFC. There are a number of fights I would have preempted in order to show Pellegrino-Tavares.
freaking travesty.
I much preferred the handling of the booing situation in this column to some of your earlier statements. This column pinpointed the stupidity in that kind of behavior. I hope that, if we’re going to address this particular situation, we’ll also address similar situations in the future. This isn’t the first time MMA fans have acted like morons, and it certainly won’t be the last.
Congrats on the Sherdog gig.
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