DID BROCK LESNAR DODGE A CAREER ENDING BULLET?

June 13, 2011 1 Comment

By Nick Frank

UFC‘s cash cow and former title holder Brock Lesnar taking on Brazilian stand up specialist Junior Dos Santos in a fight that would decide the next challenger to UFC Heavyweight Champion Cain Velasquez. Bad luck in the form of a flare up of diverticulitis forced Lesnar to withdraw from the matchup and was replaced by Shane Carwin. Now The main event for this past Saturday’s UFC 131 initially pitted the in the grand scheme of things, a man’s health is a much more serious matter than title belts and bragging rights, but for my purposes here, I’m going to make the argument that being forced to withdraw from this matchup may have very well saved Brock Lesnar’s fighting career.

The show must go on and on Saturday night JDS put his striking and defensive wrestling chops on full display and completely dominated Carwin and nearly finished him with a brutal onslaught of strikes in the opening round. That’s right, the same Shane Carwin that had Lesnar reeling last year and would have taken him out had he not gassed out and collapsed at the beginning of round two, practically inviting Brock to take his neck and choke him out. Dos Santos’ speed, technique, and chin were just too much for Big Shane and in my humble opinion would have been an even bigger problem for Lesnar had the original main event taken place.

Lesnar’s last two fights have significantly diminished his mystique and possibly even his drawing power (yet that remains to be seen). He came away victorious against Carwin last year but he was battered and bruised in that first round and while he did show true fighting spirit by surviving that onslaught and coming out strong for the second round, everyone who saw the fight knew that Carwin was out of steam at that point. His next fight out was against current titleholder Cain Velazquez and he was virtually rag dolled and battered until the referee compassionately stopped the fight, ending his UFC title reign.

 

For the rest of the article please go to www.thexlog.com

Listen to Nick’s Podcast  ”Cauliflower For The Ears” 

Filed under MMA, UFC Tagged with , , , , , , , , , ,

Digital Media Convenience = Better Fans Access = Better Revenues For Teams

May 21, 2011 Leave a comment

Quick responses to short fuse events and breaking news stories is the essential thread every sports fan or sports junkie needs to survive. The digital media age has made the coverage of sports phenomenal. When I played J.U.C.O basketball in the early 1990′s the coach called the score into a newspaper to run the next day. Today with a simple tweet on twitter or a post to a website from a smart phone makes the score available to all fans of any sports or genre. Social media today makes print media obsolete tomorrow.

Todays generation of sports fans rely on the technology that we as a previous generation did not have. I can remember as a child having to hear the crackling of a radio to listen to my favorite baseball team. Today if the game is not aired on TV I can go online and watch it on my computer. In today’s generation we can receive sports news in real-time. In years past the sports news could be delayed by many hours if not a day. With the increased data stream of sports information the younger generation is kept in tune and interested in the game. A young man or woman can go shopping, attend a wedding, get married, or even go to church and keep posted on their favorite teams activities for the day. I can’t count the times in years past I have missed out of events on Sundays to stay home and watch the game. Now you can take the game with you on an iPad or iPhone.

For a sports fan knowing you won’t miss any action of the team you are following is a major relief. When you get your honey-do list and its time to go run the errand’s but your watching your favorite UFL team and its in the fourth quarter with three minutes to go. Your wife comes in to the room and gives you the look that you dread. You know its time to do what you have to do and you have put it off for at least an hour now. Just pick up the smart phone click on the app that you have downloaded just for this situation. Smile and give your wife a kiss. Then run out the door. Drive around the block and watch the game for the last three minutes the pull off and finish what you have to do.

Have you as a sports fan taken advantage of the awesome technology available today? Do you appreciate whats available for you to use? Are you one of the fans that takes the technology for granted? Maybe you’re a fan who has not tried any of the new things available. Do you read the newspaper or do you read your favorite sports blog? If you have not already bookmark our blog The Fans Opinion Sports Blog

I truly believe the modern technology used by the sports media today has helped the sports industry grow. The ease of buying your favorite jersey online is a lot better than driving 20 miles to your local mall. With better fan access to real-time data and team information the revenues that teams generate has increased. This allows the teams to sign better players which in turn brings a better game for the fans.

Filed under MMA, NBA, NCAAFB, NFL, NHL, UFC, UFL Tagged with , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Who is @MAttGriceMMA ?

May 18, 2011 2 Comments

                                        The Fans Opinion Show!

Today on The Fans Opinion Radio Show I had the honor of interviewing a fine young man named Matt Grice. Not only is Matt an MMA fighter; he is a father, husband, and a police officer in his local community.

The determination and drive to succeed just emanated from his voice as I was asking him questions on the show. You could hear the love for his family and the passion to make it as a champion in the UFC. I have no doubt in my mind he will get there one day.

For those of you who do not know who Matt is I will give you a little of his background history.

Matt was born in 1981 and grew up to become a 4-time Oklahoma State Wrestling champion at Harrah High School.

He was the most recruited wrestler at his weight class in the nation out of high school. Matt chose to attend the University of Oklahoma for his collegiate career.

Unfortunately Matt was involved in an automobile accident which required many surgeries and it cut his college career short.

Did that stop him? Hell No! He went on to fight in X-1, Freestyle Cage Fighting, Ultimate Texas Showdown and the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

In 2007 he put his career on hold to secure a future for his family. He joined the police academy which put his fighting career on hold for a year and a half.

Not only does Matt have a heart of a lion and champion fighter he has a heart of gold. He understands the importance of securing a future for those who love and support him the most. At 29 years old he is still a young athletic man. But he understands he won’t be able to fight forever.

The career path he chose I believe say’s a lot about his character. He went into a profession where he puts his life on the line on a daily basis to help his community.

After coming out of the police academy he showed his drive once again. He went on the local Oklahoma fight circuit and won 4 fights in a row to show the UFC he was still in shape and ready to take on any Featherweight at 145 lbs they wanted to put in front of him. It worked!

On June 26th, 2011 Matt Grice has a bout VS Ricardo Lamas in Pittsburg, PA at the Consol Energy Center on the UFC on Versus 4 fight card. Lamas is from Chicago and has an overall record in MMA of 9-2 (4-2 WEC).

Like many other times in his life Matt is considered an underdog in this fight. I asked him how he felt about that on the show today. He said he prepares for a fight the same way whether he is the favorite or underdog. Once the bell rings its time to fight!

This fight card will be shown on the Versus network. I don’t know if it will make live TV. But I promise you that Matt will put on a show. He knows no other way.

When talking to him earlier we talked about his progression as a fighter and what he brings with him to the UFC the second time around. He insured me that he is a more dedicated fighter this time around.

Making sure he is constantly in reach of 145 lbs keeps him driven to his training program. He is eating right and taking care of his body more.

He has trained hard and his submission game has improved over years past. He is in the best shape of  his life and in my opinion ready for any battle thrown at him.

He has learned the patience of fighting a fight plan. He also trains and is a natural athlete that can adapt to another plan if the one he brought to the fight is not working.

The second coming of Matt Grice  brings the same grounded fighter with a strong wrestling background. A renewed self-discipline which drives him to succeed everyday. A love for his family that will never be broken. A dedication to his community that is an example for young men and women everywhere.

No matter the outcome of this fight on June 6th, 2011 I have been blessed to talk to an outstanding role model for our society. I have been able to introduce him to you through these words.

I am forever a better man for meeting and getting to know Matt Grice.

WE SPEAK OUR MIND!

Filed under MMA, UFC Tagged with , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

HOLYFIELD RETIRE! IT’S PASTURE TIME!

May 3, 2011 Leave a comment

Evander Holyfield says he is eying a championship bout after his fight with Brian Nielsen . Let me start out by saying I have all the respect for what Evander Holyfield has accomplished as a champion in the sport of boxing. I just feel that he is way past his time in the sport. His boxing skills have diminished to the point to where he is just eating punches like he is at an all you can eat punch buffet.

On Nov 16, 2004 Evander Holyfield was indefinitely suspended by the New York State Athletic Commission. Ron Stevens, chairman of the New York State Athletic Commission stated that ”to my practiced mind, Holyfield shouldn’t be fighting anymore. It’s the responsibility of the state athletic commission to save a boxer from himself.” At that time Holyfield was 42 yrs old and 2-5 over his last seven bouts. Holyfield told the New York Daily news in 2004 that it was a “conspiracy” to get him out of boxing.

Lets bring this up to the year 2011. Holyfield is now 48 yrs old. he did retire briefly between 2004-2006 after he was suspended indefinitely by the New York State Athletic Commission. He came back and fought 4 fights against ‘walk through’ competition. He was given a title shot against  Sultan Ibragimov that he lost.  Everyone was wondering at his comeback why he was still fighting. It soon became clear that he was in massive debt which Holyfield denies is the reason for his continuing to fight.  Holyfield declared “I’m not going to stop until I become heavyweight champion of the world again. However long it takes, I’m going to do it.”

Now lets get a few things straight MR Holyfield. You are not George Foreman! Your skills have slowed down as much as your speech has slurred over the years. The medical community in the USA determined you were not fit to fight almost 7 yrs ago.

It makes you wonder what kind of person would promote his fights and make a dollar of the punches he is eating If no one is willing to put his fights on then he will be forced to get the message.

I am all about freedom and being able to do what you want to do with your life. But if Evander has brain damage due to his boxing career and is not able to stop due to some compulsion to box or the inability to make a clear and wise decision for the benefit of his health then someone needs to stop him! The people in his inner circle need to stop leeching off of him and due whats best for the human being he is. Evander is not a money train! He is a father and a good man.

Someone please read this and help Evander Holyfield out. Convince him to stop before it is to late. If its not to late already! Give him some quality of life for the rest of the days he has left!

WE SPEAK OUR MIND!

Filed under MMA Tagged with , , , , , , ,

BRASHEAR TO GET SMEARED!

April 26, 2011 Leave a comment

      

So you think you can fight? You have done some boxing training in the off season to help you be the enforcer on your hockey team. Now your retired and the best thing to do is sign an MMA deal right?

WRONG! Just because you can grab onto a jersey with one hand and swing with the other in a rapid manner does not mean you can take on some of the best trained athletes in the world.

Even amateur MMA fighters are gym rats. They dedicate their life to the sport. They sacrifice their bodies to learn the arts of mixed martial arts. Its more than just a fight. It’s a family of men and women devoting their life to the arts of fighting to better themselves and the world around them.

To just sign a deal without even training in the sport or dedicating your life to the training is a blatant disrespect to any MMA fighter out there today!

Yes there have been athletes in the past to do the same thing for money.  Jose Canceco tried his hand at the sport and was humiliated. Even though Jose is a black belt in his art he was not up to the dedicated level these athletes put forth day in and out.

Yes there are some street fighters that have a ‘punchers chance’ when they get into an octagon with any MMA fighter in the world. But a well-rounded fighter who trains in striking, grappling, muay thai, jiu-jitsu etc will defeat the puncher in the end. Training and experience in the octagon will win.

Donald Brashear is throwing his hat into the ring because he was known as a bad ass on the hockey rink. I predict he will be the submitted on the canvas of an octagon. He might be able to go into his local bar and win a tough man competition. But when you step into the world of MMA you enter a bedlam of tough, respectful, well-trained, dedicated, devoted, and well-rounded men and women.

If Donald Brashear would have gone to a gym and started to train and submerge himself into the sport. Then a manager or promoter came along and saw potential in his skills. And saw the dedication and his passion for the sport of MMA then signed him to a deal for a fight. I would have no argument. I would be behind Brashear 100 percent.

But just for a promoter to sign Brashear for a ‘pay day’ for the fighter and the promoter in a sport where there are so many dedicated athletes I say shame on them both! Yes they will sell ticket or pay per view spots to NHL fans or just curious by standers to watch this hockey goon go out there and throw his fists around. But the true dedicated MMA fan will scoff in his face. There will be plenty of smiles all around when he get taken out by a triangle choke or even better a rear naked choke hold.

Lets go true MMA fighters! Smash the Brashear! Show him what true dedication and devotion to your sport means!

WE SPEAK OUR MIND!

Filed under MMA, NHL Tagged with , , , ,

Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.