Sep

4

RC In a shocking turn of events, Randy Couture, once thought to be banished from the UFC forever, signed a three-fight deal with the company.  In an even more shocking announcement, the UFC stated yesterday that Couture would fight the flamboyant, and somewhat sideshow-like, Brock Lesnar.   Only a few days ago did it even seem like a reality that “The Natural” would even consider coming back to the UFC, and to that end, it was rumored to be only a one-fight gig.  Many thought that the “one fight” was going to be against the winner of the fight between the interim Heavyweight champ, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Frank Mir, which will take place this December.

In theory, that one fight deal would nullify Couture’s previous disputed deal, and might have paved the way for an amicable exit for one of the top three MMA fighters of all time.  As it is, Couture’s  new three fight deal  will start with Lesnar, and if he wins that he will then fight the winner of the December  Nogueira/Mir fight in order to unify the UFC heavyweight and interim heavyweight titles.  When speaking of the Couture/Lesnar fight, UFC president Dana White said that this fight could possibly be the highest grossing MMA pay-per-view ever.  Given the respect and fan base of Couture, and the sideshow draw that is Lesnar, that may very be the case.  It also may be safe to assume that any fight card boasting Couture’s presence will be a huge draw.    

The fight as it stands, experience and records not included, appears to look great on paper.  This will ultimately be a wrestling lover’s delight.  Couture is as good as it gets on the mat, and we all know Lesnar’s wrestling qualifications, WWE exempt, even.  Couture, while he is definitely a legend, is only 6-5 over his last 11 fights, which can add a little confidence to the self-assured Lesnar, but he should not read too much into those losses, as those losses came at the hands of some of the best in the business.  Nonetheless, Lesnar will use the recent won/loss record of Couture to bolster his case to all who will listen before the fight. 

Ironically enough, Kim Couture, wife of Randy, went on record as saying that Lesnar doesn’t pose any more difficult a challenge to “The Natural” than Gabriel Gonzaga or Tim Sylvia.  We will go on the record as saying that Lesnar is a better pure wrestler and way stronger than either Sylvia or Gonzaga, or both combined for that matter.  With this being said, given Couture’s record and his legend, it is kind of comical to think that an ordinary upstart in the sport could challenge a legend.  Then again, the Legend is 45 years old.  Conversely, the upstart in question is anything but ordinary and isn’t your average newcomer to the sport.

Couture accepts three fight deal from UFC; Faces Lesnar in November

Sep

1

Kimbo SliceShamrockSome call him a hero, some call him a fluke.  Some call him cash cow, golden goose, or even golden boy.  No matter what he is called, Kevin “Kimbo Slice” Ferguson is definitely a polarizing figure.  He hasn’t fought many fights that have been sanctioned by the sport of MMA, but already he has dominated legends, plowed through soup cans, and has been tested by questionable talent.  Ferguson is obviously the poster child for a company that is floundering and fighting for its very existence.   To date, Ferguson has yet to be tested by anyone with notable skills and has yet to fight anyone of any significant MMA talent.  That will soon change because on October 4, 2008 Ferguson will face an older, but still dangerous “World’s Most Dangerous Man,” Ken Shamrock.  The event will air live on CBS. 

Some are saying that Shamrock is simply a shell of his former self.  The 44 year-old Shamrock, loser of his last five fights, hasn’t won since he beat Kimbo back in June of 2004.  Yes, that’s right; I said he beat Kimbo, Kimbo Leopoldo, that is, not Kimbo Slice.  If that doesn’t sound bad enough, over his last 10 fights, dating back to August of 2000, Shamrock has a record of 2-8, with 1 loss coming by way of decision (Don Frye) and the other seven losses coming via KO or TKO.  Ken definitely leads with his face, which is why some fans are saying that Shamrock has been hand-picked for the strike-happy/strike-only Ferguson. 

So, who better to throw in front of your punch-happy golden boy who has no ground game, than a man who can’t defend a jab or a right hook?  “Not so fast” Shamrock implied as he told ESPN’s MMA Live that he believes Ferguson has been gift wrapped for him and not the other way around.  Later, when asked by Kenny Florian if he was afraid to stand with Ferguson, Shamrock said that he believed Kimbo Slice was overrated and the guys he (Ferguson) has fought have either “gassed out,” have had limited skills, or didn’t have “the will to want to fight.”  Shamrock went on to say that he didn’t feel that Ferguson was a threat to him anywhere in the octagon.

Any way you paint it, Ferguson has never fought a fighter the caliber of Shamrock, aged or not.  Even creeping up in the years, Shamrock still has a better ground game than all the fighters Slice has faced…combined!  Ferguson was exposed on the ground when a bag of tuna fish and coffee grinds named James “The Colossus” Thompson almost stole the show, and a win, from Kimbo Slice. Look for Shamrock to take Ferguson to the ground and attempt several submissions.  If this fight does go to the ground expect Shamrock to teach Ferguson a valuable lesson in MMA-ology, but if Shamrock continues to consider stopping strikes with his face an actual defense, you can expect the Kimbo Slice legend to grow, at least until he faces another aged, slightly past-his-prime fighter.

Kimbo Slice to take on Ken Shamrock

Aug

29

The newest member of the MMA Bulletin Team comrad101 does not disapoint with this his latest video offering. 2007 may have been the year of the upset but since the dim distant days of its beginnings anything can and does happen, in MMA. Enjoy!

Top 10 MMA Upsets (video)

Aug

28

UFCChuck Liddell over Rashad Evans
Evans is a deceptive fighter.  He is a guy who has a stunning record for as new as he is to the sport, and if we were looking at records in a vacuum, then this might be a classic matchup.  The problem with this matchup comes twofold.  Firstly, Liddell is one of the best ever, age be damned, and secondly, Evans isn’t a finisher, he’s a wrestler who often hangs on and does just enough to win a decision.  Of Evans’ 12 fights he has had one draw (Ortiz, 2007) and six decision victories.  Of those six, three could have gone the other way very easily (Bisping, Hoger, Imes).  We all know what “The Iceman” is capable of and who he is.  This shouldn’t go past the second round, but Evans might stay true to his past and find a way to stay in it until the end. 

Rich Franklin over Matt Hamill
It is utterly stunning how a 23-3 fighter in the prime of his career is so readily written off by so-called “experts.”  Franklin has gone 3-2 over the last two years, and the only two losses have come against the best in the world, Anderson Silva.  The other loss came back in 03 against All-World Lyoto Machida.  So, when the numbers are crunched, the combined record of the two guys who have beaten “Ace” over the past eight and a half years are a combined 35-4.  Can a guy get some love, please?  Many are hyping this fight saying that Hamill’s wrestling will give Franklin fits, but Franklin, a puncher who calls himself a wrestler, has done fine against great wrestlers.  He won’t win on the ground, but he won’t lose there against Hamill either.   While Hamill’s wrestling is superb, his striking and striking defense is not.  “The Hammer” often leaves his chin open and leads with his face.  Ace will punch the kid’s lights out in two.  

Yoshiyuki Yoshida over Karo Parisyan
This is going to be a fight that will determine where “The Heat” goes from here.  Everyone knows that Dana White doesn’t keep fighters around long after they lose a couple in a row, especially if they’re not “golden boys.”  If Parisyan loses against Yoshida then he’ll get one more chance to redeem himself, but that’s it.  In Karo’s defense, he’s lost five fights, but he’s lost to Sean Sherk twice, and GSP, Diego Sanchez, and Thiago Alves once.  Those guys have a combined record of 83-10-1, so it’s not like “Heat” is losing to Wal-Mart stock boys.  Like Rashad Evans, though, “Heat” has a tendency to fall into the rut of not finishing fights.  10 of his last 11 wins have gone to decision, while “Zenko” Yoshida has only had one of his 10 wins go to the judges.  This trend continues as Yoshida cools off “The Heat” by TKO in the third round.  

Dan Henderson over Rousimar Palhares
It’s true that “Toquinho” Palhares is on a tear, but Henderson is one of the best ever in this sport.  Palhares is going to try to take this to the ground so he can attempt a submission or two, but he gets a lesson on paying dues in the cage.  Ultimately he will be better for having Henderson kick his tail all over the octagon, but he’s going to taste Dan Henderson for a while after this fight.  Henderson is going to catch “Toquinho” with more than one uppercut because of lazy take down attempts, and ultimately wins by TKO in two. Click here to see all of MMA Bulletin's picks for the full UFC 88 card

UFC 88 Preview and Predictions

Aug

27

MMA Bulletin is very pleased to announce that comrad101 will be joining the team as MMA Bulletin’s official video artist. You might have caught his videos on MMA Bulletin recently. If you did you know that he puts out some awsome quality work. If you haven’t then take a look through the pages of MMA Bulletin (see bottom of the page) or click the link above to see his YouTube profile.

Coming soon will be a video compilation of the top 10 or top 20 upsets of MMA. As always if you feel you have something to contribute to MMA Bulletin then contact the editor@mmabulletin.com.

The MMA Bulletin Team Grows Yet Again

Aug

26

Thanks goes to comrad101 once again for this awsome video.

Top 10 MMA Counter-Strike Knockouts (video)


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