UFC 100: A View From a Noob
by Tyler Bleszinski on Jul 15, 2009 12:47 AM EDT
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Promoted from the Fan Posts by Kid Nate. Blez is the boss of me, so play nice.
You guys may not know me, but I actually started SB Nation, which Bloody Elbow is a hugely important member of this family. I started it about 5 and 1/2 years ago now and it all started with my blog Athletics Nation about my beloved Oakland A's. But I didn't come here to talk baseball. I came to talk about UFC 100.
I'm going to be as brutally honest as I can. I never liked UFC or MMA in the past. The few clips I'd seen of it (mostly after hockey games on Versus), the sport seemed overwhelmingly and unnecessarily brutal. In particular, the wailing on someone who was already unconscious was one of the more disturbing things I'd seen.
But Kid Nate and Luke have worked on me for more than a year now. They worked to try and educate me on the subtle aspects of the sport. I was skeptical at first. I wondered if there was anything beyond the bloodthirsty nature of things. At the same time, I'm not skittish about a little blood. I love hockey, played hockey and Gladiator could very well be my favorite movie of all time.
On top of all that, I love gaming and I recently got UFC 2009 for the Xbox 360 after trying the demo. I really liked the demo and the depth of it. It also helped teach me some of the finer points of the ground game and submissions. I swear I never understood the term tap out until that game. Gaming helped energize me and helped me understand the sport a little better. Much like I think NHL 94 did for many gamers back in the Sega Genesis days. But back to the story at hand...
So we settled in at the Champps in Irvine, CA (home of Rampage Jackson, baby!) at about 5:50 p.m., down some beer, chips and the Firecracker burger and waited for my inaugural MMA event. UFC 100. Sure I'd missed 99 of these before, but I figured that so many fans in the SB Nation network were so passionate about this sport that I needed to educate myself.
Thankfully Nate and Luke had really primed me on some of the finer points of things. I knew the GSP has no rival and that he was quite possibly the best pound-for-pound fighter in MMA. I knew all about the trash talking that had happened and was aimed at Henderson from Bisping. I knew that Mir had beaten Brock Lesnar who I last really knew as a rising WWE star because my brother in law is a huge WWE guy. I hadn't seen Lesnar highlights before so I didn't really know what to expect.
The fights started and I was really caught off guard by the first fight between Akiyama and Belcher and how the two combatants seemed to have so much respect for one another. They would be beating the living crap out of each other and then when they got up from a clutch or being on the ground, they would tap gloves and the go to beating each other again. Now there's a reason I mentioned the movie Gladiator because it struck me like there was a respect for each other and two men willing to step into the ring and bloody each other. There is something beautiful, majestic and humbling about that.
Course that wouldn't last long because the respect was tossed out the window with Henderson and Bisping. And let me tell you, I heard and read about much of the trash talk from Bisping and I wanted to bash Bisping in the face. I can't imagine how Henderson must've felt. And for me, in many ways, that fight was the highlight of the night. My buddy who went to the bar with me was kind of repulsed by the extra shot Henderson gave Bisping after he was out, but I've got to admit, I took some sick joy in that. And I feel a little guilty for feeling that way since I do consider myself, by and large, a rather sensitive soul.
The GSP fight was a clinic in takedowns. Course this, to me, was the lowlight of the night simply because I'm a noob and I don't understand the finer points of the ground game. It's a lot less interesting to me once the guys hit the canvas (BTW do they reuse the same canvas over and over again because it looked like there were a crapload of blood stains on there already when the evening started). I much more enjoy the kickboxing, boxing aspects of the sport. But I'm told that the appreciation for the grappling on the mat comes later.
And the Lesnar fight was awesome just in the sense that Brock really appears like he's just so freaking angry about everything. Seeing a guy that big and that downright frightening upset is great television, especially when that anger isn't directed at you. I loved the Joe Rogan analogy of hitting Mir with lunchboxes too. It seemed to perfectly fit the situation. And the comments about Bud Light made the entire bar crack up as well as the comment about getting on top of his wife. I kept teasing my buddy all the way home about whether or not his wife was going to be awake so he could be on top of her. And we both screamed with joy when we rounded the corner on his block and the light was on in his bedroom. You've got to find pleasure in the little things.
I loved when Lesnar gave the finger to the crowd and the infamous mouthpiece spitting/drooling. It was animalistic and borderline insanity. And it spoke to the id of my being.
Ultimately, I enjoyed the evening quite a bit. It's not my favorite sport now or anything. But I could see myself getting way into it, especially when someone like Rampage is fighting. The gif of Rampage body slamming another dude had me all giddy. Thanks for that, Nate. But while it's OK for us to be intelligent, respectable parents (I have a 4-year-old daughter) and hard workers, it's also OK for us to get in touch with our violent side on occasion. That's how I view the occasional hockey fight and that's how I view MMA.
I'm glad I took the plunge.
The FanPosts are solely the subjective opinions of Bloody Elbow readers and do not necessarily reflect the views of Bloody Elbow editors or staff.
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Always fun to hear the view of someone new to the sport. I ended up watching most of the card with my step-dad who only watched it because he couldn’t sleep (was home visiting in Europe when it aired). He’s almost 60 and has previously been repulsed by the entire concept, but once he got to watching the first fight he admitted that it was something very entertaining about it. He stayed and watched Hendo-bisping and the GSP fight too. Though I wouldn’t call him a fan just yet, he kept talking the next day how impressed he was with the performances, especially the athleticism and professionalism of the fighters in general, and GSP in particular. And he also admitted that he really enjoyed watching Hendo KO Bisping :) Some people will never get it, but most simply don’t get it because they’ve categorically refused to watch it. I think UFC got a ton of new at least potential fans with UFC 100 and in no way does it mark a ceiling for the sports popularity.
The bloody canvas
Can be attributed to untelevised undercard bouts that occur prior to the televised portion of the card. In this case, it was Jim Miller v. Mac Danzig, the latter of which bled pretty profusely from a cut.
It ends in an armbar or a strangle regardless.
That's good to know
I thought that was a little weird that it already had blood all over it. I was like, dude, you guys are huge now, bring clean mats.
by Tyler Bleszinski on Jul 14, 2009 10:37 PM EDT up reply actions
It has become an anticipation thing for me. When you see the PPV start and the mat already has some bloodstains in it, I wonder to myself what caused that and hope they will find time to fit in that fight during the broadcast.
A man should never waste an opportunity to keep his mouth shut.
How does the PPV work? Do they have a certain amount of time?
And then it goes off the air regardless of where it is?
by Tyler Bleszinski on Jul 14, 2009 10:41 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah they get 3 hours.
Some people might say that winning a fight makes you a better fighter but I don’t agree with that.- BlueberryMuffin
by ufc4 on Jul 14, 2009 10:42 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Which is why there was a fight after the main event, just in case the others ran long they would have cut the Fitch fight.
Some people might say that winning a fight makes you a better fighter but I don’t agree with that.- BlueberryMuffin
by ufc4 on Jul 14, 2009 10:43 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I think that is the way it works, but they have not gone over since I started watching so I do not know.
A man should never waste an opportunity to keep his mouth shut.
They do have a set amount of time and they will get cut off if they go over, but they’ve gotten very good at planning things so that doesn’t happen. That’s exactly why they have a swing bout.
100 was somewhat of a strange one though because they had 2 title fights, which can go 5 rounds instead of 3. The reason they had one main card fight pushed after the main event was because they had to be prepared to get the full potential 25 minutes of both fights on the pay per view (I think). Normally they’ll have 20-30 minutes to kill at the end of their ppv so they put a few of the shorter or exciting undercard fights onto the broadcast.
About blood though, there was a fight last year I think, Koschek vs Lytle, where a huge gash was opened on Lytle early and kept on bleeding (like a goat’s vagina I think Rogan said) as they dragged around the floor. You could literally see the bloody path around the mat for the rest of the night and see where they had stopped for more than a few seconds because the blood pool was thicker. The splatters at UFC 100 were minor in comparison. It gets much, much worse. They only stop the fight if the blood is impairing vision.
Yeah, but they have known for a couple months now that there were going to be 2 title fights, they should have planned better ahead of time. I think they just didn’t want to make people mad by only promising 4 fights on the PPV.
Some people might say that winning a fight makes you a better fighter but I don’t agree with that.- BlueberryMuffin
I understand why they did it the way they did. GSP’s claim that he popped his groin because he wasn’t given proper warm up time is really something to consider if they get in this situation again. I think they should always put McFedries or Houston Alexander as the first fight of every broadcast to give themselves a quick fight to work around.
Jon Fitch clearly got screwed by fighting while the crowd was filing out, but he didn’t do a whole lot to keep people interested in his fight anyway. And at one point his fight was tagged as on the undercard, so at least it got on the broadcast.
Google UFC 33 sometime, it was a helluva mess
Some people might say that winning a fight makes you a better fighter but I don’t agree with that.- BlueberryMuffin
by ufc4 on Jul 14, 2009 10:46 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
It’s always awkward on-air when the PPV starts and there’s bloodsmears on the mat because they rarely talk about them. At UFC 74, it looked like 1/3 of it was red, but no one mentioned why – the play-by-plays revealed Babalu had beaten David Heath to a pulp and intentionally choked him unconscious as revenge for a (perceived?) insult. He was released from his contract later that night.
Awesome website organization, BTW. I force the appropriate SBN site on all my sports-loving friends. What are the most active/popular branches of it?
Shameless self-promotion! http://twitter.com/scb0212
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better. -Samuel Beckett
by Scott C. Broussard on Jul 14, 2009 10:51 PM EDT up reply actions
Awesome. Glad it turned out well for you and kudos on the whole SB Nation thing. It’s by far the best blog community out there.
And the part about Lesnar’s antics speaking to your id is perfect. I couldn’t think of what it was, but I imagine that’s what got me too.
"I see him beating Anderson Silva. I see him picking him apart. Him at a 131 years old...(trails off)." - Tito Ortiz on Vitor Belfort at Affliction:DOR
Thanks, man
I’m glad you like the network. I started it because I was pissed that no one was covering my A’s like I wanted them to be covered. And it turned out so many other people hated the way the traditional media covered things. I wasn’t alone.
by Tyler Bleszinski on Jul 14, 2009 10:55 PM EDT up reply actions
I think SB has the best comment section of every site I visit. My only wishes for it would be ability to edit a comment (dear god please!) and the ability to send private messages to other users.
A man should never waste an opportunity to keep his mouth shut.
Editing comments would open things up to all kinds of shenanigans
Where people could bait others then delete it out so no one could see it. It would destroy the natural flow of conversation. I view it sort of like having a conversation in real time. Sometimes you make a mistake and wish you didn’t say something, like Brock Lesnar, but you just come back and apologize for it in the result press confer…I mean comment.
As for the ability to send private messages to others, we’re talking about doing that in our list of tech priorities for sure.
by Tyler Bleszinski on Jul 14, 2009 11:27 PM EDT up reply actions
What about even a 10-30 second grace period.
I am physically incapable of noticing mistakes until just after I post.
It ends in an armbar or a strangle regardless.
I always preview my comments before permanently posting them.
Shameless self-promotion! http://twitter.com/scb0212
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better. -Samuel Beckett
by Scott C. Broussard on Jul 14, 2009 11:36 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah
That’s why we have the preview button.
by Tyler Bleszinski on Jul 15, 2009 12:24 AM EDT up reply actions
I remember the fuss that button caused..
…when it landed on Athletics Nation.
If you see Mark Coleman in person, drop $5 on the floor and watch the fun as he tries in vain to bend down and pick it up.
Yeah, there is just too many ways to abuse editing comments to make it a worthwile idea.
Some people might say that winning a fight makes you a better fighter but I don’t agree with that.- BlueberryMuffin
by ufc4 on Jul 14, 2009 11:40 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Very good perspective.
Thank you for sharing this view. Would you let your 4 year old daughter watch MMA? That is my only question.
"Stop smiling you are about to be punched in the face !"
Nope
But I have taken her to a couple of hockey games already. I think the hockey fights are a little more hidden.
Course I also never play violent video games when she is around either. I just think that there’s enough time for kids to be kids.
by Tyler Bleszinski on Jul 14, 2009 10:40 PM EDT up reply actions
MMA is a way for me
to go back to being a kid. course i was a 4 year old boy, not a 4 year old girl
he was injured. injured bad.
My 3 year old son does and he loves it.
Some people might say that winning a fight makes you a better fighter but I don’t agree with that.- BlueberryMuffin
by ufc4 on Jul 14, 2009 10:41 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I think you have to make the decision based on what you think
your own child can understand. My kid if 4 and just rediscovered the joys of watching Elmo. So she’s still pretty innocent.
by Tyler Bleszinski on Jul 14, 2009 10:46 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah, my boy likes Spongebob and Dora also, but he can appreciate a couple guys beating the crap out of each other too.
Some people might say that winning a fight makes you a better fighter but I don’t agree with that.- BlueberryMuffin
"Daddy? Why are they fighting? They don't like each other?"
-My 4 year old daughter
“No Emma, they are fighting to see who is better at it and because they love to compete to see who is the best.”
-Yours truly
I think this is the best way to answer this question. I also make sure to try to make her understand what respect is and how the fighters don’t hate each other, of course this all goes out the window when Brock Lesner is involved =P
"Cuz pacifism is for pussies."
This is why I shouldn’t have kids…
Shameless self-promotion! http://twitter.com/scb0212
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better. -Samuel Beckett
by Scott C. Broussard on Jul 15, 2009 2:05 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
‘Anyone ever pushes you on the monkey bars, throw the 2-3-2.’
How's the weather up your own ass? - Stephen Colbert
by Derek Suboticki on Jul 15, 2009 3:14 PM EDT up reply actions
Nice to hear it from a new viewer. People bicker and bable about the crap that goes on, but the fact is, if you watch this sport regularly, we were all where you are once…and that was when you could watch a fight and not give a damn who won or lost, or if they were classy enough or not…I miss it. :)
About the canvas, it’s a new one for every event, and if it’s bloody before the PPV it’s because it’s from the fights earlier in the night, not shown on the PPV.
"You guys are jerking eachother off with some pseudo deep bullshit." - Kid Nate
by Kaleb Kelchner on Jul 14, 2009 10:35 PM EDT reply actions
NOOB! =P
Glad you liked it. I myself like hockey though admittedly 90% of that is during the playoffs. Most of the newer guys just want to see a KO but when you see a really slick Sub it feels the same way. (Hazlett/Burkman is my fav)
Welcome…soon it will be your favorite sport and the sad feeling that comes from being a fan of Oakland anything will soon subside.
Hey hey hey
Don’t knock Oakland. The sports teams? Fire away.
I’m an Oakland native and as long as you completely avoid East Oakland the area is a great place to live.
"And Joe for Matt Hughes, dislike may not be a strong enough adjective!" - Mike Goldberg
by SSreporters on Jul 14, 2009 10:37 PM EDT up reply actions
Didn’t Oakland try to teach ebonics once?
Oh yeah Al Davis is a nut , DHB over Crabtree or Maclin. ROFL
Born and raised in the East Yay
Oakland has great sections. My friend has a place in the newer developments off of Broadway and it’s nice. And the A’s are statistically the greatest franchise ever in the history of ever.
BOOSH
Same here
Lived in East Bay. The Hayward area is still looking good.
Newark is still crap.
"And Joe for Matt Hughes, dislike may not be a strong enough adjective!" - Mike Goldberg
by SSreporters on Jul 14, 2009 10:53 PM EDT up reply actions
Newark, CA should be the sister city
"And Joe for Matt Hughes, dislike may not be a strong enough adjective!" - Mike Goldberg
by SSreporters on Jul 14, 2009 10:57 PM EDT up reply actions
Stockton shouldn’t even be considered a part of the Bay Area. Way too hard and real for all y’all.
BOOSH
I lived in Sacramento for 7 years
And I went to Stockton for A’s minor league games. It’s freaking HOT there. Even hotter than the hell that was Sacto.
by Tyler Bleszinski on Jul 14, 2009 11:13 PM EDT up reply actions
Heh
Went to Sacramento 4 years ago.
Zzzzzzzz.
Luckily that was in February so the weather was nice. Gas is cheaper there than further north.
"And Joe for Matt Hughes, dislike may not be a strong enough adjective!" - Mike Goldberg
by SSreporters on Jul 14, 2009 11:14 PM EDT up reply actions
They do have a surprisingly amount
of good restaurants in Sacramento though. Lucky Cafe is awesome breakfast. Giovanni’s pizzeria is the best East Coast pizzeria on the West Coast. And Shanghai Garden was killer Chinese for not much dinero.
by Tyler Bleszinski on Jul 14, 2009 11:17 PM EDT up reply actions
Yes I have
As a matter of fact, my first interview with Billy Beane was in the dugout at the Rivercats Stadium.
by Tyler Bleszinski on Jul 14, 2009 11:25 PM EDT up reply actions
Pleasanton, Castro Valley, Hayward, Union City, and Fremont
Are okay in my book.
Let’s not forget that 580 > 880.
880 was traffic hell on the weekends when I grew up. But when you go on 580 it’s not nearly as crowded.
Hopefully it’s stayed that way.
"And Joe for Matt Hughes, dislike may not be a strong enough adjective!" - Mike Goldberg
by SSreporters on Jul 14, 2009 11:11 PM EDT up reply actions
GTFO WHITEBELT!!!! :D
Hi Boss, thanks for dropping by! What is your favorite hockey team? [note: i have the Sens logo because I lost a bet about Hendo/Bisping]
The nice thing about UFC 100 is that all the populat succesful people are starting to watch MMA now.
Keep firing Assholes!
Thanks to Bisping's reenactment of the Battle of Cowpens, walla walla walla I'm an idiot.
The Sherdog forums are the worst
Look at the number of people banned or should be banned and it’s hilarious.
"And Joe for Matt Hughes, dislike may not be a strong enough adjective!" - Mike Goldberg
by SSreporters on Jul 14, 2009 10:46 PM EDT up reply actions
Nobody messes with the Devils
We’re the Devils! The Devils! Hssssssss…
by Tyler Bleszinski on Jul 14, 2009 10:48 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
</Puddy)
Some people might say that winning a fight makes you a better fighter but I don’t agree with that.- BlueberryMuffin
I've got the tee shirt, the hat AND the VHS tape
Course I don’t have a VHS player anymore.
by Tyler Bleszinski on Jul 14, 2009 10:52 PM EDT up reply actions
Trap hockey = Lay and Pray in my books, man.
Keep firing Assholes!
Thanks to Bisping's reenactment of the Battle of Cowpens, walla walla walla I'm an idiot.
They haven't played the true trap in years
As a matter of fact, the Rangers played the trap much more often since Tom Renney was the coach. Maybe that will change with Torts.
I’m hoping the Devils don’t go back to the trap.
by Tyler Bleszinski on Jul 15, 2009 12:14 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Good luck with Lemaire
I’m a Wild fan, and loved his style of coaching, but I don’t think it’s enough to win a title in today’s NHL. I do like the Devils, though. Brodeur is arguably my favorite NHL player of all time.
I poop rainbows.
Not coincidentally
he’s one of mine too ;-)
I think hiring Lemaire was a mistake. But we’ll see. Lou often seems to make the best move when no one expects it.
by Tyler Bleszinski on Jul 15, 2009 3:18 AM EDT up reply actions
Patrick Roy.
How's the weather up your own ass? - Stephen Colbert
by Derek Suboticki on Jul 15, 2009 3:14 PM EDT up reply actions
Two words: Ray Bourque. Two more words: Game 7. I promise this is it: Alex Tanguay.
How's the weather up your own ass? - Stephen Colbert
by Derek Suboticki on Jul 15, 2009 4:41 PM EDT up reply actions
Thanks for your perspective.
Doesnt sound to me like you quite ‘get it’ yet though. For those of us who are passionate about this sport, the ‘hyper-violence’ isnt its primary appeal.
"Like a ballet of violence clothed in fine Brazilian silk." ~ MMASuPreMaCy
I'll be the first to say I don't get it yet
But I also do realize how difficult it was for a guy with a torn groin muscle to do the things that GSP did and for Lesnar to completely hold Mir in a position to wail on him while not putting himself in a position to get put into submission.
I’ll get there.
by Tyler Bleszinski on Jul 14, 2009 10:51 PM EDT up reply actions
The best place to start is Nate’s own history of MMA series. He did one all about its origins in vale tudo and how it changed & certain styles became fashionable. Also, he worked with USA Today to write down the most important UFC fights. Simple google searches can find videos of most of them he mentions. With the context he gives each one, it’s easy to understand who and what shaped modern MMA.
Shameless self-promotion! http://twitter.com/scb0212
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better. -Samuel Beckett
by Scott C. Broussard on Jul 14, 2009 11:00 PM EDT up reply actions
Speak for yourself.
"I see him beating Anderson Silva. I see him picking him apart. Him at a 131 years old...(trails off)." - Tito Ortiz on Vitor Belfort at Affliction:DOR
by Rundownloser on Jul 14, 2009 10:55 PM EDT up reply actions
Don’t sigh.
You may not like it, but it’s the way it is. Some people like it because they train martial arts. Some people like it because they enjoy the sport. Some people like it because they like the violence.
The reality is, most people probably like it because of the pure violence. you might not fit in that group, but lots of fans do, there’s no point in getting upset about it.
no one is getting upset
Saying you like MMA for the violence is like someone eating a gourmet chocolate cake for the sugar. They are missing out on all the complexity and depth the sport has to offer.
Hope that metaphor wasn’t too shitty.
"Like a ballet of violence clothed in fine Brazilian silk." ~ MMASuPreMaCy
From a MMA fan since i was about 17 now 24 iv got to witness the great things that happen in the cage, ring, fighting quarters whatever. Im glad to see more and more people show a little respect to the sport that has taken ahold of me ever so violently. And welcome all new fans but as he send in his statment of fanhood “I’m told that the appreciation for the grappling on the mat comes later.”Once your a ground enthusist like myself its all over for you. Football and mainstream sports will still be a main factor in your fanhood but will eventuly lose its intencity and you will ern for the next big MMA fight.
CONGATS welcome to the Family
p.s. Smashing faces is fun, try it.
great post.
I do think that watching MMA with friends is the best way to get the most enjoyment from the event.
Normally my wife and I watch the PPVs by ourselves but with 100 we invited a bunch of brave souls (my more casual friends typically find MMA too gory) over to enjoy the fight. While some of them still didn’t change their minds a few actually came around and decided they would watch an event again.
The big difference I found when watching with friends is that often an opinion you’ve formed about the fight/action/combatants is significantly different that the other people watching, so it’s fun to bounce your feelings off your friends to see if they agree. You can do that online (which I do here at BE) but in the spur of the moment you can get a very fresh perspective on something everyone is watching but from a totally different angle.
In order to fully interact online, you have to first learn that everyone who disagrees with you is doing so in bad faith, and also that they want to kill your pets. Then just proceed accordingly!
It ends in an armbar or a strangle regardless.
by capital L on Jul 14, 2009 10:57 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Yeah
You know I should’ve included that in the story. I think it made a huge difference that we went out somewhere to watch it. Had we stayed in, just my buddy and myself, there wouldn’t have been the same energy in the room and people all reacting the same way. People were roundly cheering GSP. The funny thing is, while Lesnar was getting booed at the arena, he was being loudly cheered in the bar with people laughing in unison at his comments.
by Tyler Bleszinski on Jul 14, 2009 11:01 PM EDT up reply actions
There is the fact that they were fighting in Frank Mir’s home town to consider when taking the boos into account.
A man should never waste an opportunity to keep his mouth shut.
Ah
That didn’t dawn on me. That makes tons of sense now.
by Tyler Bleszinski on Jul 14, 2009 11:28 PM EDT up reply actions
Another thing is the Las Vegas UFC 100 crowd is the most hardcore MMA crowd you’ll ever find. They’re not really representative of UFC fans as a whole. These people paid anywhere from 500 dollars to 15,000 per seat to be there.
by Michael Rome on Jul 15, 2009 12:03 AM EDT up reply actions
i'm glad
that you gave it a chance and had an open mind about it. You’ll really be sucked in when you decide that there’s a fight you’d like.
The next one I have penciled is in Rampage's next fight
He’s my Irvine brethren. People from this town are HARD.
NOT.
by Tyler Bleszinski on Jul 14, 2009 11:02 PM EDT up reply actions
Don’t miss Lyoto Machida in October, the guy is freaking amazing.
Some people might say that winning a fight makes you a better fighter but I don’t agree with that.- BlueberryMuffin
Might as well start it now...
Shogun will figure out Machida. A balls to the wall MT blitzer will crack the Machida code.
Keep firing Assholes!
Thanks to Bisping's reenactment of the Battle of Cowpens, walla walla walla I'm an idiot.
Oh Jesus, I thought you were better than this. You realize Machida is fighting UFC Shogun, not PRIDE Shogun right?
Some people might say that winning a fight makes you a better fighter but I don’t agree with that.- BlueberryMuffin
by ufc4 on Jul 15, 2009 1:19 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Yeah, we’re going to have to bet on that fight, too. (fights uncontrollable urge to smile)
How's the weather up your own ass? - Stephen Colbert
by Derek Suboticki on Jul 15, 2009 3:15 PM EDT up reply actions
Hire me.
How's the weather up your own ass? - Stephen Colbert
by Derek Suboticki on Jul 14, 2009 11:08 PM EDT reply actions
You are a good crazy magnet to gather them up so they can be shipped off to sherdog.
A man should never waste an opportunity to keep his mouth shut.
subo’s like that goat from Jurassic Park.
Keep firing Assholes!
Thanks to Bisping's reenactment of the Battle of Cowpens, walla walla walla I'm an idiot.
by Ubernoober on Jul 14, 2009 11:40 PM EDT up reply actions 3 recs
Yeah, if the goat kicked everyone’s ass.
How's the weather up your own ass? - Stephen Colbert
by Derek Suboticki on Jul 14, 2009 11:46 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah, if the goat kicked everyone’s ass. got eaten by a T-Rex and then used as a prop gag
Agree 100%
Keep firing Assholes!
Thanks to Bisping's reenactment of the Battle of Cowpens, walla walla walla I'm an idiot.
Who’s the T-Rex?
How's the weather up your own ass? - Stephen Colbert
by Derek Suboticki on Jul 15, 2009 1:12 AM EDT up reply actions
Supremacy
Some people might say that winning a fight makes you a better fighter but I don’t agree with that.- BlueberryMuffin
by ufc4 on Jul 15, 2009 1:20 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
This whole ‘mobile commenting’ thing is looking worse and worse.
How's the weather up your own ass? - Stephen Colbert
by Derek Suboticki on Jul 15, 2009 3:25 PM EDT up reply actions
Sorry I had to do it subo
Some people might say that winning a fight makes you a better fighter but I don’t agree with that.- BlueberryMuffin
Watched 100 with a 1st timer
My new neighbors moved from New Mexico to across the street a few months ago, nice enough guy, likes to drink beer and bbq so I thought what the hell, come on over. His wife was saying how much she “hated blood” and I told everyone she came to the right place! As I was subconsciously looking forward to her reaction to some good action in the cage.
He confessed his love for 80’s-early 90’s boxing as was the same with me so I knew he’d be hooked. He loved the back and forth of the Sexyama-Belcher fight, the wicked KO of Bisping, GSP’s domination and he was laughing/entertained at Lesner’s antics.
All in all, tonight he asked me when 101 was and that he was really looking forward to it. This is what you’d call the virus spreading and what Dana White and co. is aiming for with 100 and the overall future vision and growth of the sport that he always talks about.
Add one more PPV buying fan to the mix.
Thank god, I was afraid with all the people saying they would never watch another event with Brock Lesnar as the headliner that the UFC might go under.
Some people might say that winning a fight makes you a better fighter but I don’t agree with that.- BlueberryMuffin
by ufc4 on Jul 15, 2009 1:23 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Interesting read.
Delighted to hear you were open enough to check it out, I’m a fan of anybody who can attempt to enjoy something they don’t think they will.
When I first started about 15 months ago, my roommate talked up the early UFCs he’d seen when he was younger, and the skinny ground fighter who swept the tournaments back when they were open weight, no gloves, no rules, and you had to fight 3-4 times a night. I found that since everyone at the time knew as little about jiu-jitsu as I did, it was a decent way to learn about it. You also gain a healthy appreciation for how easily somebody can be beaten with it when they don’t understand it.
There’s a semi-famous jiu-jitsu quote floating around that I think that early fighter (Royce [pronounced Hoyce] Gracie) exemplifies: “The ground is my ocean, I am a shark, and most people don’t even know how to swim.”
I hope you enjoy your time with the sport, and I’m pleased you decided to share your impressions with us.
The ULTIMATE ultimate proving ground.
Great write up. I also find myself trying to get everyone into MMA like Kid Nate and Luke with you. It’s not for everyone but once you are educated and see that there are indeed rules (yes people still think its no holds barred pit fighting) you end up loving it. I agree that the love for the groundgame comes later. I was one of those haters as well.
To me, if you like Boxing you’ll LOVE MMA. I can never go back to boxing. Other than 1-2 superfights a year that are put on I hardly watch it anymore. Boxing is so one dimensional and boring to me now. :( After playing so damn much UFC Undisputed 2009 and then trying FNR4, man did that game seem boring as hell.
Slowly but surely I have been turning my friends into MMA fans. I should be put on UFC payroll for all the promoting I do for them. lol I figure if I keep sending texts out when a fight is on or TUF or whatever eventually they will give in and take a look. Its working ;) I wish I could put something in the water supply and get everyone on the same page as me. :)
MMA FOR LIFE!!!!!!!!!!
GSP: I pulled my groin.
Greg Jackson: I don't care Georges! HIT HIM WITH YOUR GROIN!
I always like hearing from people that are new to the sport. In a lot of ways, the beginning is the most exciting time, because you learn the most. But to really appreciate the sport, you have to participate in some way. And that isn’t as crazy as it sounds.
There are so many ways that you can become involved in combat sports, it is almost too many to list. And they are all good. Jiu jitsu is a popular avenue for fans because it is relatively low impact, but much thinking is required. While guys raised with an amateur wrestling mindset seem to be the most immediately acclimated to active competition.
To virgin eyes, the fighting does seem to be chaotic. But it slows down and the finer points emerge the more you expose yourself to mma. The vast majority of fans never really get over the visceral attraction one way or the other. They either love it or they hate it. I’m kind of numb to it.
If aliens were observing humanity, the only sports that would pique their interest are track n field, power lifting, mma, that ironman shit, and maybe yoga. Who is the fastest? Who is the strongest? Who kicks the most ass? Who has the most stamina? Who can contort themselves in the most extreme manner? These are the things that really test our limits as humans… everything else is a bizarre tradition like water polo or feeding on the son of god.
But yeah, mma is the greatest sport on earth, in my opinion. Go to a live event. You can actually feel the energy. It’s pretty sweet.
by penxv on Jul 15, 2009 12:01 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
The fight that really “won me over” was when Randy beat Chuck the first time. I think Randy is almost always the best guy for newbs to watch because his story is so relatable. It’s a man over 40 trying to do the impossible. I would suggest penciling in UFC 102 in late August.
I always try to find
UFC 1-3 when I’m trying to convert someone. It takes a couple hours, but it is sooooo worth it. You let them watch those, then let them ‘marinade’ for a few weeks, and they are totally amped for the modern version.
But Randy is so admirable that it’s impossible to dislike the guy, and you’re right about his human story. It’s awfully compelling, and what’s more, he’s basically been ‘the old guy’ ever since he started fighting.
There is no such thing as innocence, only degrees of guilt.
by misterjonez on Jul 15, 2009 12:31 AM EDT up reply actions
The Sylvia/Couture is my favorite fight. The energy of the last twenty seconds is too epic for words.
"I see him beating Anderson Silva. I see him picking him apart. Him at a 131 years old...(trails off)." - Tito Ortiz on Vitor Belfort at Affliction:DOR
by Rundownloser on Jul 15, 2009 12:40 AM EDT up reply actions
It’s my favorite fight too.
It’s hard to explain why it was so great to people, because it was only truly amazing live. But the fact that it was so incredible but could also go away so quickly was an incredible dynamic that had me standing the entire fight. The last 30 seconds is the best moment in UFC history thus far, and the best call of Rogan’s career.
by Michael Rome on Jul 15, 2009 1:03 AM EDT up reply actions
I think...
It is impossible to explain to a casual fan why that fight was so great. You had to have followed the majority of Randy’s career, through the highs and the lows, and then see him take off a year and comeback to win a fight like that. If you didn’t take the ride over the long haul, the meaning of the fight is sorta lost.
by Nick Travaglini on Jul 15, 2009 1:27 PM EDT up reply actions
I had no real idea who Couture was, outside of an old guy who was pretty good, but just too damn old for this matchup. 25 minutes later he seals the deal with “not bad for an old man”. Serious pimp.
"I see him beating Anderson Silva. I see him picking him apart. Him at a 131 years old...(trails off)." - Tito Ortiz on Vitor Belfort at Affliction:DOR
by Rundownloser on Jul 15, 2009 4:05 PM EDT up reply actions
Sakuraba was the one who gave me my love affair with MMA.
He wasnt tattooed or ‘hard’ and he brought a fun factor to the sport that was full of rough and tough fighters at the time. The way he used to school everyone back in the Gracie era was something special indeed.
"Like a ballet of violence clothed in fine Brazilian silk." ~ MMASuPreMaCy
I am with you
Sakuraba and Wanderlei Silva got me started back in 2001. Been a huge MMA fan ever since. That is also why I am a diehard Pride nuthugger for life. I love the UFC also, unlike most Pride nuthugggers. I wonder if Blev has ever heard the term “nuthugger” before? I think its pretty unique to mma.
by Nick Travaglini on Jul 15, 2009 1:30 PM EDT up reply actions
I use “nuthugger” in everyday parlance and it always confuses the hell out of people, even when explained.
Shameless self-promotion! http://twitter.com/scb0212
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better. -Samuel Beckett
by Scott C. Broussard on Jul 15, 2009 2:05 PM EDT up reply actions
Haha.
People always tell when I’m serious because I’ll lapse into slang and a slight Cajun accent. Freaks them out the first time they hear it.
Shameless self-promotion! http://twitter.com/scb0212
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better. -Samuel Beckett
by Scott C. Broussard on Jul 15, 2009 2:16 PM EDT up reply actions
nuhugga?
How's the weather up your own ass? - Stephen Colbert
by Derek Suboticki on Jul 15, 2009 4:22 PM EDT up reply actions
Smith/Sell got me hooked. Two guys beating the crap out of each other and having a hell of a lot of fun. Then one of the best endings to a fight I have ever seen.
A man should never waste an opportunity to keep his mouth shut.
by iiowyn on Jul 15, 2009 8:00 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Well
Now I presume we’ll see you around here more often. You’ll be hooked in no time.
I poop rainbows.
Oh I'm around
I love the stuff that Luke and Nate and the rest of the crew produce here. It actually had a hand in getting me interested in the first place.
by Tyler Bleszinski on Jul 15, 2009 3:09 AM EDT up reply actions
You have no idea how lucky you are.
You’re getting to see all the great fights for the first time, while we’ll never have that experience again. There are so many fights I’d love to watch like that again, especially if I didn’t know the result ahead of time (which was rare).
Shameless self-promotion! http://twitter.com/scb0212
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better. -Samuel Beckett
by Scott C. Broussard on Jul 15, 2009 3:52 AM EDT up reply actions
Welcome
and thanks for not firing the BE writers. i don’t care what others say, they’re alright in my book.
Anderson Silva vs Ryo Chonan stands out as my favorite fight. http://tiny.cc/XTyXW
For a display of amazing skill, check out this Bones fight http://tiny.cc/zMKtD , or any old Machida fights http://tiny.cc/oz3RH
Next one’s a picture of machida’s nuts in my mouth: http://tiny.cc/p0XLL
But not all about MMA is good. Some things to avoid:
Bobb Sapp, Akeebono, giant silva, hong mon chui
you know, it’s good that the UFC doesn’t have a superHW division. If you don’t believe me, ask youtube.
Any fight in Alabama [i’m looking at you kyle]
Don’t forget about our friends over at the WEC.
Other promotions are hit and miss IMO.
anyway, good to have you around
PS: i have some good quality fedor fights if interested.
I think my next goal is to see Machida (sp?) fight
I think he’s fighting next in UFC 102, right?
Our head tech guy loves MMA and he’s been talking about him for a long time. I think for the untrained eye, I want to see the biggest names in the sport fight right now. I’m so new to it that I don’t really have a “favorite” fighter yet. So I wanted to see GSP and Mir and Machida and Rampage. I think sports that are based on individual success are all about finding someone you can connect with and enjoy.
As someone who liked boxing quite a bit, it’s interesting to see that even some of the best fighter have losses. Because in boxing the top guys were almost always seemingly undefeated.
by Tyler Bleszinski on Jul 15, 2009 10:40 AM EDT up reply actions
Machida is fighting at 104 in October.
But if you get a chance, I think 101 might be a good one to watch as well. BJ Penn, Forrest Griffin, and Anderson Silva are all big names to take a look at.
by dumbwhiteguy on Jul 15, 2009 11:17 AM EDT up reply actions
About the losses, it’s about the styles. Sometimes a guy just doesn’t match up with you style-wise, and you get beat. And also, anything can happen in an mma match, so a loss isn’t the end of the world like it is in boxing.
After watching UFC 100, especially if you’ve only seen UFC 100, it’s hard to remember/comprehend that Mir beat Lesnar in 90 seconds last year.
Try Rampage vs Sakuraba. A really exciting match that was basically Rampage’s coming-out party to the MMA world.
Machida is a tough nut – his early UFC fights are slow and methodical, and if you don’t understand the techniques, they can be quite a bore. Often, people have to share gifs of his fights to break down his techniques because he’s so quick.
Shameless self-promotion! http://twitter.com/scb0212
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better. -Samuel Beckett
by Scott C. Broussard on Jul 15, 2009 2:10 PM EDT up reply actions
My Jon Jones Gif Folder is probably sucking up half my memory.
"I see him beating Anderson Silva. I see him picking him apart. Him at a 131 years old...(trails off)." - Tito Ortiz on Vitor Belfort at Affliction:DOR
by Rundownloser on Jul 15, 2009 10:39 AM EDT up reply actions
When I saw Jones live at 87 in his debut, I told my brother and friends that he’s a fucking ninja. His nickname should be some variation on that.
"The reason a rabbit outruns a fox is because the rabbit is running for his life and the fox is running for his dinner."
+1 for the NHL 94 reference
still the pinnacle of the sega genesis
"Brock Lesnar is a Bi-Polar Bear"
Blez
Thank you for stopping by with such a terrific and candid post. The perspective you shared is helpful and refreshing for our MMA community.
Thank you for sharing your passion with me
Otherwise I would’ve remained ignorant like when we first met in Austin ;-)
by Tyler Bleszinski on Jul 15, 2009 10:35 AM EDT up reply actions
Great write-up!
This should be mated to UFC4’s write-up about attending the event as a big fan.
I never try to sell people on MMA unless they bash it due to typical ignorance about the sport. But I do have a wealth of gifs I fwd to guys in the office that never fail to impress non-fans.
I must say, Athletics Nation is one of the very best baseball blogs on the internet.
Top-notch content and knowledgeable fans makes it a great place to visit.
I like using semi-colons; they make me feel smart.
Thanks!
I’m glad you feel that way. The guys put a ton of work into it.
by Tyler Bleszinski on Jul 15, 2009 9:52 PM EDT up reply actions
I fucking love semi-colons - they're my favorite punctuation mark!
Shameless self-promotion! http://twitter.com/scb0212
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better. -Samuel Beckett
by Scott C. Broussard on Jul 16, 2009 2:04 AM EDT up reply actions
wtf, is this seseame street?? and the punctuation mark of the day is...
well, apparently for you, the hyphen.
by fuzzy wuzzy on Jul 17, 2009 12:42 AM EDT up reply actions
Quick Q:
Can someone give me a rundown of the fights that were actually broadcast? My memory is a little bit fuzzy, and I will blame something that is not drugs and alcohol all day long. Whatever that is.
I can recall seeing the 3 big fights: the 2 championship bouts and Henderson/Bisping. I also recall the FotN (Akiyama/Belcher) and Fitch/Thiago. Thats 5. I think I remember the Bonnar fight, but thats where I stop having real memories and start thinking I think things.
What other fights were actually in the PPV?
Guns don't kill people. Lamar Woodley kills people.
So Nate, you’re saying I shouldn’t edit this?
How's the weather up your own ass? - Stephen Colbert
by Derek Suboticki on Jul 17, 2009 2:30 AM EDT reply actions
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