Comments on: 5 Oz. of Pain Presents: The DUEL

By: Grappo

Grappo — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 08:48:29 +0000

Once again I lose to one of Huckaby’s patented sweeping proclamations.

I’ve always wanted to be in the Kool Kids Klub (KKK) though. Bittersweet to learn that i’m only in because I’m faking my enjoyment of Machida’s style. Maybe one day I’ll make it on my own merit.

By: Brendhan Conlan

Brendhan Conlan — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 04:27:16 +0000

Unfortunately, that also means BJ Penn will probably pimpslap me if I ever meet him in person.

By: Imbecile

Imbecile — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 23:57:52 +0000

Conlan wins on his accurate assessment of BJ Penn alone! Finally someone not afraid to call him as everyone should have seen him for a long time – supremely talented, and incredibly self-centered and entitled. Oh yeah, and pretty lazy, too.

By: Patrick

Patrick — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 22:10:50 +0000

As far as the P4P list goes Fedor has to be on top. I find it hard to mention Anderson Silva as the best fighter in the world. He fights in the most watered down division in the UFC and does not fight top fighters on a consistant basis. Dana hypes him up so much. If he is that good put him in with Rampage or someone else close to Rampage’s ability. Just because you bet a sloppy striker like Franklin or a Henderson who gassed after one round does not make you great and the guy he is going to face Thales Leites lost to Martin Kampmann who now fights at welterweight.

By: Cathedron

Cathedron — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 19:33:52 +0000

1. Barnett’s probly going to put this one on the ground immediately. His standup is good enough to survive Fedor at least. I think we’ll see Rd 3.

2. I really want to see Fedor in the UFC, but he really doesn’t need the UFC at all.

3. Surprising an opponent with your wreckless aggression isn’t exactly a fluke. It isn’t exactly a gameplan either. Sokoudjou has plenty of talent, but he needs some experience to put it all together.

4. I think BJ’s gas tank at 170 will not be enough to last into the 4th and 5th Rds. GSP has proven that he doesn’t gas easily. He’s just too much of a natural athlete. Tough one, but I think the last three rounds will be all GSP.

5. Um, no. But, both will still be top 5 to me. They might switch places on the list, but I don’t see how it pushes one of them out or suddenly elevates one all the way to the top. If you’re #2 and you beat a #3 guy, that’s what’s supposed to happen and you’ve proven why you’re ranked #2. If the #3 guy beats you, he just takes your place and moves you down a notch.

More important than subjective P4P lists, the UFC is trying to make great matches happen. Let’s all push for GSP vs Silva, BJ vs Faber, Faber vs Torres, Silva vs the next LHW champ. If GSP vs Penn does really well, the UFC will have to consider these huge superfights.

6. As a former music reviewer, I loved Huck’s point about the indie band. Dead on. I personally don’t hate Machida as much as 90% of MMA fans, but I am annoyed with how much he lacks a killer instinct. For example, Florian, Liddell, and Silva are all primarily counter fighters, but they will take risks to finish an opponent and they are fun to watch. Still, it’s MMA and every form of martial art should be represented. I mean, BJJ can be far, far less exciting than Machida’s karate style, but submissions became an essential element to the evolution of the sport. I think the same thing is happening here.

By: Caleb Newby

Caleb Newby — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 19:01:40 +0000

That’s exactly the reason I asked the Machida question. I have no doubt that some people legitimately find him entertaining (albeit in a different manner than most fighters), and significantly less find him exciting. The number of people that will admit to it is the real curious part as we are expected as the hardcore MMA audience to say we are so refined in our appreciation of the sport (and therefore “real” fans) that we take great joy from the nuances of Machida’s style. It’s kind of like when we started watching MMA. UFC 1 for everyone!

By: Brendhan Conlan

Brendhan Conlan — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 18:43:47 +0000

Zuffa Zombie is a term I use to describe fans of “Ultimate Fighting”, not “Mixed Martial Arts”; people whose only association with the sport is what they see inside the Octagon without ever recognizing the wealth of MMA talent/history out there that has nothing to do with the UFC or Dana White.

I can’t defend against your elusive logic, Huck. You win.

By: Bmur

Bmur — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 18:22:13 +0000

Great Duel guys.
Can you elaborate on what your definitions are of a Zuffa Zombie? It’s gotta be good for some laughs.

As far as Fedor coming to the UFC to solidify his legacy, nah not necessary, but it would be nice to see it happen anyways, since after Barnett there isn’t really anyone else out there I’d like to see him fight outside of the UFC. Unless Verdum or Overeem vs Fedor gets you hot and bothered, but to me they are no challenge.

By: Michael Huckaby

Michael Huckaby — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 17:58:38 +0000

You are. No one can find Lyoto Machida “entertaining.” You can appreciate his movement and style but I find saying you certainly find him entertaining is very necessary to be in the cool kids club. It’s just predictable.

By: the myth

the myth — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 17:48:28 +0000

fedor does not need the UFC to be considered a legend……BUT….imagine if he does come to the UFC and beats Mir,Randy & Brock – then he will be classed as the best martial artist who ever lived trancending era’s and skill sets – maybe he should sing a 3 fight deal for those three fights only (one can dream)

By: Brendhan Conlan

Brendhan Conlan — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 17:37:41 +0000

Actually, your love of the Colts is exactly why I said it. Peyton Manning doesn’t have the razzle-dazzle of a guy like Vick (or Vince Young) but his professionalism, methodical approach to the sport, and overwhelming talent are far more entertaining to me than a guy who can look good in a losing performance. In the same way I think Machida is an entertaining fighter even if he doesn’t have the flash of other Mixed Martial Artists. Maybe all he needs is a commercial for Fogo de Chao where he chants “chop that meat” before it’s okay to feel that way without giving the impression I’m trying to butter people up because I feel some sort childish peer-pressure to do so?

By: Michael Huckaby

Michael Huckaby — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 17:22:51 +0000

“Clearly Huckaby would rather watch Michael Vick play rather than Peyton Manning. To each their own.”

You say this to the Colts fan from Indianapolis? For shame Bren, for shame.

By: House

House — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 16:45:17 +0000

Grappo…. #4…. amazing. Now I have to go meet with my boss to tell him why I was laughing like a little girl.

By: Max

Max — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 16:09:59 +0000

You don’t believe GSP has great ground defense? The old cliche that the best defense is a good offense is absolutely true, and the fact that GSP so rarely ends up on his back is prove positive that his ground defense is incredible.

By: Smatchimo the Trumpeteer

Smatchimo the Trumpeteer — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 15:44:40 +0000

I can’t make a great argument against fedor as the p4p champ, but I think that GSP is #2 without a doubt, and I actually lean closer to having him as my #1.

While Anderson Silva is no doubt great, i don’t feel the competition he’s beaten has been as great as GSP’s tear through the ww division. He’s beaten every ww of consequence short of Thiago Alves and would probably beat him. Plus, he’s got 4 titleholders on his kill list. After that there’s nobody left.

Yeah, Silva’s in the same boat, but the mw division isn’t nearly as deep as the ww. And I think that Marquardt would beat him in a rematch, though most people will probably disregard my entire other argument based on that statement.

By: Lord Faust

Lord Faust — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 15:20:13 +0000

Until someone trains to defeat Machida’s specific style, he’s going to keep making everyone he fights look incredibly stupid. I do find his fights exciting; seeing a guy outclass his opponents in such a decisive fashion is interesting to me. Seeing guys like Ortiz get their faces busted up and then get frustrated to the point of saying stupid things like “he was running away from me” is awesome.

I see a weird paradox here… Some complain that Machida is boring, but then others complain when guys like Lytle and Davis decide to have a K1 match instead of MMA. Machida wins without taking any unnecessary damage; that makes him one of the smartest / most successful fighters in the game. There’s no glory in taking excessive damage to win a fight.

By: Brendhan

Brendhan — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 15:18:10 +0000

Clearly Huckaby would rather watch Michael Vick play rather than Peyton Manning. To each their own.

By: triangleman

triangleman — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 14:58:00 +0000

I wanted to Rant a bit about 2 topics, 1 Fedor is the best ever period. He lost when rules were crap and he was cut then avenged that by basically killing the man months later. He doesn’t have an equal I don’t see any heavyweight alive beating him. The only way I could see him challenged is if Anderson went to Lhw and Fedor went down now that could be a war!!! 2. Machida is not exciting as far as I am concerned, I will go watch Sancho and Cung Le tool people for that type of excitement. I hope alves comes with his A game cause if he does its nite nite for machida and if he loses here he will go to from title shot to back of the bus!

By: Grappo

Grappo — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 08:14:53 +0000

1) False
Barnett will do better than recent opponents, but not make it into the 3rd round.

2) False
Doesn’t need it to cement his legacy, though It wouldn’t hurt, and I’d love to see it.

3) True
Maybe false. Flukes in that I don’t think they would happen again now that people have figured him out.

4) False
BJ will surprise, and there’s nothing better than a surprise BJ.

5) False
My P4P doesn’t go up and down. Fedor is at the top and has been since I cared to make up my own P4P.

6) True and False
So Huckaby says, “false” then goes on to say Machida is entertaining. Is the false for his being “exciting” then? I don’t find him all that exciting to watch (though he has moments) but I do find him “interesting” and entertaining. That’s how I feel about most fights and fighters though. It’s a rare fight that I find exciting for more than a few seconds at a time.

By: takimeathead

takimeathead — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 08:08:57 +0000

Wow.

this is probably some of the best Feodor vs. Whoever break down that I’ve read in a while, only because it’s clear as day that any opponent that goes against him needs to step up their game if they wanna excel against him.

Well done, guys.