Former NHL Enforcer Donald Brashear Coming to MMA
by Nate Wilcox on Apr 23, 2011 10:29 AM EDT
in MMA News
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PrintWe've seen a number of former NFL players come to MMA in the past few years -- Herschel Walker, Matt Mitrione, Marcus Jones and more -- but we haven't seen a similar influx from the NHL.
Steve Bosse, a minor league hockey player has racked up an 8-1 record in Canadian MMA events. Bosse's been the most high profile hockey player in MMA so far.
Now 39 year-old Donald Brashear -- a retired NHL player and currently a player for the Ligue Nord-Américaine de Hockey (LNAH) -- has signed with Canada's Ringside promotion.
MMA Die Hards reports:
Former NHL tough guy Donald Brashear is taking his game to MMA after officially signing with the Canadian-based Ringside promotion, MMADieHards.com has learned.
Brashear is signed for one fight, but the contract could be for as many as three matches.
At this time, it remains to be seen whether or not the commission (Régie des alcools, des courses et des jeux) will give Brashear his license, and as of Thursday, he had not yet applied for it. If Brashear applies and is licensed in time, he could fight as soon as Ringside 11 in Quebec City on June 4.
Ringside Report has more:
Brashear is enthusiastic about the opportunity to become a mixed martial arts fighter and could start train at Nordik Fight Club in Quebec. He (Champoux) hopes that the crossover from NHL Goon to MMA fighter will appeal to Quebec fans, similar to WWE wrestler Brock Lesnar and Boxing Champion James Toney joining the UFC and of course former LNAH hockey goon turned Quebec MMA star Steve Bosse.
From Brashear's wikipedia entry:
...played for five organizations in the National Hockey League (NHL). His main role is that of an enforcer. He was considered one of the best, and most feared, in the NHL. His aggressive style of play has led to being among the league leaders in penalty minutes six times, while currently ranking 15th all-time in NHL history, and has resulted in multiple suspensions as well. He remains the Vancouver Canucks all-time single season leader in penalty minutes, which he set in the 1997-98 season. He was the victim of one most publicized incidents of on-ice violence in NHL history, when he was slashed in the head by Marty McSorley, during the 1999-2000 season.
Hockey is a particularly brutal sport and the only stick-and-ball sport that allows actual fighting in the context of games so it seems like a natural transition. Brashear himself is already 39 years old and has done no MMA training so he won't be much more than a very athletic brawler. Of course in the talent-starved heavyweight division, Brashear could still make an impact at the regional level.
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Soon we’ll be talking about how Ice Hockey is an excellent base for a beginning MMA fighter. Would a commission allow an ice-floored ring to fight in?
Have you ever tried to fight on skates? He must have great balance ;)
by pud333 on Apr 23, 2011 12:01 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Exactly what I was thinking!
At the very least, it could be adapted as an exercise for MMA fighters for core/hip strength and awareness.
by John Danaher's Hair on Apr 23, 2011 1:55 PM EDT up reply actions
I actually think that's a great talent pool.
Hockey guys are generally huge, and tough as nails. Plus, brawling is an inherent part of the sport.
Well, obviously we have a RAPIST MMAist in Lincoln Park. He’s climbin’ in your windows, he’s snatchin’ your people high level athletes up, tryin’ to rape train ‘em. So y’all need to hide your kids big men, hide your wife contact sport athletes, and hide your husband prospects cause they’re rapin’ trainin everybody out here.
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-Socrates
by ElliotMatheny on Apr 23, 2011 12:21 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I don't see Mazzagatti anywhere.
And it takes Herb Dean three rounds to actually do anything about it anyways.
"Someone is WRONG on the internet. What do you want me to do? LEAVE? Then they'll keep being wrong!"
-Randall Munroe
Only because it's related
But I wrote something last year about Steve Bosse, who was an enforcer that turned to MMA, and what effect it may have to other hockey players.
http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2010/12/1/1848103/the-case-of-steve-bosse
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by BVandDietPepsi on Apr 23, 2011 10:35 AM EDT reply actions
WHY?!
Managing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.
by Brent Brookhouse on Apr 23, 2011 2:33 PM EDT up reply actions
I remember him getting into a wrestling match with GSP on Off the Record with Michael Landsberg a few months ago. GSP wrecked him and was like 1/4 the size hahaha. But it was just for fun and kind of entertaining.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJQkxuvJVhQ
Theres the link to the video of it.
and by Brashear i meant Laraque. Damn i’m stupid today. Totally pointless post.
by AHutch on Apr 23, 2011 11:19 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Cheer up
At least they’re both athletic and explosive.
by Ikuhisa Quinoa on Apr 23, 2011 3:11 PM EDT up reply actions
Indoor Lacrosse also allows it, and the fights are actually pretty brutal, since they arent on skates
Hockey is a particularly brutal sport and the only stick-and-ball sport that allows actual fighting in the context of games
I’ve seen this. No idea how they get away with it. It’s basically bare-knuckle boxing. In hockey, a decisive punch is actually kind of rare — these guys mangle their hands far worse than they mess up anyone else’s face. But fighting on an unfrozen surface, where you can actually get leverage?
Maybe we should ask New York while they allow indoor lacrosse and not MMA.
Human cockfighting is only acceptable under the pretense of a different sport.
Give the MMA fighters lacrosse sticks at the start of a fight and have them throw them on the ground and fight for 15 minutes. Suck on that New York!
It's just a world, it's just a life.
by DirtyML on Apr 23, 2011 2:36 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I’ve seen a few hockey fights, and while the ability to throw big looping hooks with one hand, while grasping a jersey with the other hand…all while standing on knives is no doubt impressive, I don’t see it being the best basis for professional combat sports.
Takedown. Armbar.
Tatum: I think he's a good man. I like him. I got nothing against him, but I'm definitely gonna make orphans of his children.
Considering hockey brawlers tend to
hang onto their opponent with one hand while punching with the other, you gotta figure the flying armbar is right there…
by pud333 on Apr 23, 2011 12:07 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I think the take-away points should be that hockey is a pretty brutal sport so the guy can most likely take some punishment, also as somebody stated earlier a hockey player will have great balance, core strength, and hip control.
That said, this guy is almost 40 and with no formal training he is not the one likely to make a successful transition. Though it will be interesting to see…
You don't think the Inglewood Jack has a place in modern combat sports?
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by lowellthehammer on Apr 23, 2011 12:55 PM EDT up reply actions
Who cares if he doesn’t have a background in fighting. And just because he came from hockey, doesn’t mean his fighting history in hockey is going to be the basis for his MMA career which it obviously won’t. Can’t people understand that most professional athletes LOVE to compete?? His hockey time is up so he wants to find something new to challenge himself with…and most of the time for retired athletes, it’s MMA. He’s is trying something new…failure is not always a bad thing.
Why? Well because some things are and some things are not. Why? Well because things that are not can't be. Why? Because than nothing wouldn't be. You can't have nothing isn't. Everything is!
by InfamousProfessorPlum on Apr 23, 2011 12:05 PM EDT reply actions
I went to a fight and a hockey game broke out.
by High Knee Destroyer on Apr 23, 2011 12:07 PM EDT reply actions 3 recs
You must mean:
@scb0212
The Machiavellian.
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better. -Samuel Beckett
by Scott C. Broussard on Apr 23, 2011 3:02 PM EDT up reply actions
I am interested to see how he does.
Always curious to see how athletes from other sports will do. Too bad it’s usually after they have retired.
by pud333 on Apr 23, 2011 12:09 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
When Brashear was a Ranger...
he must’ve lived near me because I saw him and his trashy-hot French Canadian GF quite often. If I saw him eating pizza, or buying his girl a vase, I got nervous. Dude looks so intimidating it’s crazy… of course it’s way too late for him to make any waves in MMA, but I’d guilty pleasure-watch a fight of his.
Also, Nate-I’m glad that you mentioned his athleticism, but you forgot about his explosiveness. Please revise. :)
by John Danaher's Hair on Apr 23, 2011 1:59 PM EDT reply actions
Hockey is a particularly brutal sport and the only stick-and-ball sport that allows actual fighting in the context of games so it seems like a natural transition.
Fighting is allowed in box lacrosse as well.
It's just a world, it's just a life.
EPIC HOCKEY BRAWL
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvUs-Ggrjj8&feature=related
Xtreme Couture- The best never rest!
"I swear it upon Zeus an outstanding runner cannot be the equal of an average wrestler."
-Socrates
This is what this thread needs to turn into
just a playlist of hockey fights and their greatest hits. I used to follow this aspect of the sport with a passion. Look up PJ Stock, Rocky Thompson, or prime Tie Domi. But since we’re talking Brashear (who Don Cherry-ites loathed for his style of fighting), this was a fun moment.
Follow me at Head Kick Legend
by David Castillo on Apr 23, 2011 2:49 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I like the way you think
Here is Colton Orr, aka the greatest person alive, KOing Todd Fedoruk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlG8qjbKAiA
by Brad Ackerson on Apr 23, 2011 4:08 PM EDT up reply actions
No love for Joey Kocur?
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Tweeter!
Sigh
I’ve been a big Brashear fan ever since his AHL days when he played in Fredericton, so I really really hate to see this. He can barely even take a punch any more in the context of hockey, it will be terrifying to see what happens to him if he fights an MMA fighter with any power whatsoever.
The Goon Patrol: Rating Hockey's Fighters
The Wall Street Journal rates the best NHL fighters :)
PLAYER, CURRENT/LATEST TEAM
WINS LOSSES TIES
Georges Laraque Canadiens
32 5 6
Derek Boogaard Wild
35 11 4
D.J. King Blues
17 2 4
Donald Brashear Rangers
31 15 7
Brian McGrattan Flames
25 18 6
Wade Belak Predators
20 12 9
Colton Orr Maple Leafs
38 25 10
Raitis Ivanans Kings
25 13 10
by High Knee Destroyer on Apr 23, 2011 5:07 PM EDT reply actions
And GSP vs Laraque in wrestling.
by High Knee Destroyer on Apr 23, 2011 5:16 PM EDT up reply actions
I admit I would watch him fight
While watching GSP dummy Laraque doesn’t give me much hope for Brashear, he can hit hard and he took a golf swing to the head with a hockey stick and survived so who knows. Now on a side note, Kevin Bieksa throwing a superman punch in a hockey fight was one of the coolest things ive seen in a hockey fight.(on the train and can’t go to youtube to post the link…)
A few of my all time faves
Danny Cloutier throwing a beatdown on a young Tommy Salo and then challenging the Isles bench.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZrdJpW3fbI
Little Ricky going lights out vs Brent Johnson
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5sdOh7Bcvs&feature=related
Fedoruk having his jaw broken by The Boogie man
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-p0PfKSTR2g
Boogie Man knocks out Trevor Gillies
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZrnc7FLdEo&feature=related
One of the best of all time Bob Probert (excuse the crappy music)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSuRKuu_n7A
And here’s what I hope to see Huggy Bear (look it up) end up like in his MMA debut
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pziHpRdLZTc
Check out my pic a day for a year project-
Life Through My Lens
by ChillMike on Apr 23, 2011 11:39 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
rec’d for Probert :) I’m not a huge hockey guy but growing up a lot of my friends liked the Wings. Thanks for this.
No problem
Not a big fan of the wings but anyone who enjoys hockey fights has to tip his/her hat to Probert, the guy was an absolute beast when it came to throwing down.
Check out my pic a day for a year project-
Life Through My Lens
This post made me think
about how absolutely hilarious it is that fighting is allowed in hockey. Ridiculous, but awesome.
Xtreme Couture- The best never rest!
"I swear it upon Zeus an outstanding runner cannot be the equal of an average wrestler."
-Socrates
by ElliotMatheny on Apr 25, 2011 4:02 AM EDT up reply actions
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