Thursday, December 20, 2012

ATT Vero Beach Fla

Got wrist locked (2x) and various other submissions by Renato Tavares. The guy is a beast.

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Training Trip & UFC 157-Meh Edition



Heading down to Florida to train.
Back Sunday.
Hope to have some info about some schools I visit down there.
Good luck and happy trainingz everyone.

Some more fights announced: Rowdy Rousey will fight a female fighter you've probably never heard of.
Urijah Faber will fight someone Ivan Menjivar so that he can fight Barao again for the belt. Faber has an "every other fight" must "be for the belt" agreement/clause in his contract.

Henderson will fight Lyoto Machida for what might be a title shot but no one ever really knows just ask Karo Parisiyan, Johnny Hendricks, Nick Diaz, Michael Bisping, Chris Weidman et al.

UFC 157-Meh
  • Ronda Rousey vs. Liz Carmouche - for women's bantamweight title
  • Dan Henderson vs. Lyoto Machida
  • Urijah Faber vs. Ivan Menjivar
  • Lavar Johnson vs. Brendan Schaub* WHO CARES.
  • Neil Magny vs. Jon Manley*  WHO?
  • Court McGee vs. Josh Neer*

Monday, December 17, 2012

BJJ Kumite: AJ Agazarm vs Garry Tonon


Lloyd Irvin threw this up on his facebook page earlier, just stumbled across it, enjoy:

End of the Year UFC Meh: Talkin' the Jive about UFC Cards


From over at MMAJunkie....
So....the end of the year card, arguably the biggest card OTHER than the SuperBowl Weekend one...has a main event for the UFC HW title (which is technically a rematch form which Cain didn't last one round despite, I know, the cage rust coming off of injury/shoulder surgery....regardless, it's a rematch of a fight that didn't last 5 minutes the first time).

Followed by...are you ready?????
Joe Lauzon vs Jim Miller. For a vague, might be moving closer to a LW title shot might not be type of bout. I know, I know....you can't believe what an awesome card this is going to be already.
Then we have that guy that squeaked by a passive debut'ing Lombard (someone made a ton of money, maybe Lombard and company betting on the "not a snowball's chance in hell Boetsch).
It's obviously the UFC doesn't see Boetsch as anything other than what he is b/c this is the guy he gets after beating the much-ballyhooed Lombard).


Belcher takes on Okami (another rematch...le sigh) in what will likely go to a decision this time.
2nd time's the charm for Belcher as I think he's improved quite a bit more than Okami has since they both debuted against one another.



And Chris Leben comes off his second drug suspension and gets to fight on the main card of the 2nd biggest card of the year.

Aside from Pickett vs Wineland and Guillard vs Varner, the undercard barely registers on the richter scale of "better than a Strikeforce" undercard.
UFC 155: Dos Santos vs. Velasquez 2

Monday's TUF Finale Multimedia Mailbag

Busy MMA weekend.
Some interesting match-ups in ze UFC, some coaches actually fought for what seems like the first time in several years.

There were some impressive stoppages and some careers saw resurgence while others seem to have taken a step or two backward.


 
First up, Big Country finishes Mitrione for the first time in his career:




Pat Barry extends his impressive HL reel KO ways to keep his mild relevance in the UFC HW division


Poirer who was once poised to fight Jose Aldo, finishes Jonothan Brookins via Brabo/head n' arm strangle

A new Russian Import, Rustam Habilov, suplexes then pounds out his opponent.
 

And some quick Bellator highlights. I'm still upset Jansen didn't get to have his fight with Marcin Held b/c it was in a casino and he's not 21.
Le sigh.
  

Friday, December 14, 2012

Thursday, December 13, 2012

Marcelo Garcia Rolling with a Rickson Black Belt

It is what it is.

Online UFC/TUF Articles: Cageside MMA



I've got some articles up over at the Cageside MMA's blog.
The owner, Boomer, has been involved in MMA and supporting grappling both in NC and nationally as long as I've been around the sport(s).

His brand kicks @$$, he is a great guy, and he's supported myself, and a ton of other fighters I know personally.
Poor timing on my part with the photo, there had been some actual rolling going on heretofore.
 
Beyond that he's got a training facility IN HIS WAREHOUSE that features MMA, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu training. I was actually rolling there on Black Friday at open mat while my wife was shopping the post-Thanksgiving Day sales.
If there was ever someone with a business related to the sport that is NOT one of those guys trying to cash in on a fad, Boomer is that guy.

His brand is at not just the MMA events but at most of the grappling events in NC and in other states as well.

If you're going to buy a Gi, funny MMA/Grappling related T-shirts, training gear or anything else, go check out Cageside first.
It's a 'Merican owned business and the owner is literally one of the nicest guys I know.

So, at your leisure, peruse some of my thoughts on the following:
The Death of TUF

The UFC Interim Belt

UFC: Over-Saturation

Bellator 84 Predictions from MMAMania



In case you care about some Bellator Heavyweights yes, yes, I know, I didn't know they still had Heavyweight bouts either, well, not since the groin region axe kick of doom.
Read it in full HERE:
"Headlining the main event of Bellator 84 will be the season seven heavyweight tournament final between Russian striker Alexander Volkov and former light heavyweight finalist Richard Hale for the vacant heavyweight title. The belt is now on the line after champion Cole Konrad retired unexpectedly earlier this year."
In what will no doubt be the best bout of the night  "Dave Jansen and Polish submission ace Marcin Held" will fight for the LW tournament finale.
In other you probably don't care news, two fighters almost no one has ever heard of are fighting:
"Lastly, a rematch between female 115-pounders Felice Herrig and Patricia Vidonoc will open up the main card."


Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Bellator in the New Year = Big Things

Bellator Goes Brock Samson


Read it here....but basically Bellator is coming out full guns blazing with its move to Spike.

I've always had love for Bellator namely b/c they guys fight to win rather than not to lose *ahem* UFC mainstays and others:

From over at Cagepotato - 
"Michael Chandler will make his first official lightweight title defense at the event (aka Bellator 85) against Rick Hawn, the 14-1 Olympic judoka who won the Season 5 lightweight tournament earlier this year.
...featherweight champion Pat Curran...will be putting his belt on the line against explosive contender Patricio “Pitbull” Freire.
...Season 8 will last 12 weeks, and will feature five tournaments in the featherweight, lightweight, welterweight, middleweight and light heavyweight divisions.
- Via MMAJunkie: “[Bellator 85] will feature Seth Petruzelli and Mike Guymon, plus the Bellator debut of Renato ‘Babalu’ Sobral in the light heavyweight tourney against Russian Mikhail Zayats.” UFC vets Jason Lambert and Hector Ramirez are also scheduled to compete."

Rolling 5 Months Post Op ACL Surgery


Quick rollsies at Judo class with a teammate.
5 months since my ACL surgery
 

Thesis Wednesday + 1: Drill to Win - JJLab

Got this from over at the Jiu-Jitsu Lab:

Go Drill.

Drilling the same thing a million times feels familiar to me, b/c in Judo, most players, have 2-3 main throws, and everything else other than just playing around, is built around setting those up.
H*ll, in Judo we drill and train just the opening gripping sequences and grip breaks.

Anyhow, go drill. Virtually no one, myself definitely included drills enough, forgoing the boredom of drilling to just roll, roll, and roll some more.

Dedicated and focused practice, I'm willing to bet, it was separates the Mendes' and others from the rest of the world if what I've read and heard is any accurate indication.

Free Cagefighting/Face Punching Weekend: MTV2, FX and such.


In case you missed it, some mildly if not somehow necessary exciting match-ups take place this weekend on free TV.
I'll be looking to see Dave Jansen win the lightweight tournament final in Bellator after 2 other impressive wins. The guy has only gotten better since the WEC and he truly seems to be putting his skillsets together as his IQ in the cage continues to improve.

In other news, Toquinho Palhares the "Simple Jack" of the UFC, takes on the winner of the most disappointing UFC debut in recent memory award Hector Lombard.

In UFC TUF/Smashes wtf does that even &^%$ing mean? One guy that won't ever likely fight for the title (Ross Pearson) is taking on a guy that was once about to get a title shot yes, I know that's about as definite as the likelihood of Barnett making his way back after multiple hot piss tests for teh ROIDZ, but has since lost 2 fights in convincing fashion (G. Sotiropolous).

Saturday has some mildly interesting match-ups with Mitrione I'm too busy for VADA testing, suuuuuuuure bro taking on Big Mac/Country Nelson, Jamie Varner vs Melvin the tomato can opener but chokes against legit top level contenders Guillard, as well as Poirer who was once a shot away from Aldo but now fights TUF Alumni Jonothan Brookins instead.
Bellator 84 -
Friday -
MTV2 - 8pm
 
Friday -
FX - 9pm

Saturday -
FX - 9pm

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Gui Mendes Rolling with Beneil Dariush



Watch and learn.

Sean Roberts - Team Ralph Gracie at the BJJ Kumite

Friend of mine knows/trains with Sean Roberts, here's his lead up/intro piece to him inthe Brown Belt submission only tourney with Keenan Cornelius and others

Matt Mitrione "too busy" for VADA testing


Typos and poor writing aside, the stoy is true.

Matt Mitrione doesn't want the distraction of VADA testing.


LOL.


Sure. It's the distraction he doesn't want.

Flex and Bust Out Alert: Toquinho VS Lombard this Friday




Yep. Palhares is back. Against the most expensive UFC import in awhile: Hector Lombard yes, yes, I know he lost a decision to Tim Boetsch b/c he would rather look at his muscles and wave his hands rather than dole out a beating.
Tune in this Friday for the flex and the bust out.

BJJ Kumite Week: Lloyd Irvin & Co.



For those who don't know, after a long saga of brown belt debating and what not, Lloyd Irvin's got a bunch of top notch brown belts out at Camp Springs Maryland in a week of training then doing a submission only style tournament with the last man standing of the pack facing Keenan Cornelius.

So rather than read rumors on internet forums and even comments from those who would rather speculate than confirm the truth, here it is from the source:

"To add further to the excitement, Master Lloyd asked the group “so which one of you thinks you’re the best brown belt in the world?” Everyone in the confident group raised their hand. However one guy is more accomplished than the rest, Master Lloyd called Luke Costello down from the bleachers to the mat. “Luke you are the most accomplished brown belt here. You get to choose your first opponent.” Luke shifted back and forth on his feet and turned bright red. “Well I suppose I should’ve done some due diligence.” “I don’t know, I’ll pick the smallest guy here (points to Victor Silverio).” Victor Silverio took to the mat. Master Lloyd asked Victor, “do you want this match to be gi or no gi?” Victor quickly answers, “no gi.” Victor later explained that Luke beat him in a previous no gi match so he was anxious to get his revenge. Everyone in the room was a bit surprised – “why didn’t he choose Keenan?” one competitor whispered to another. Then Master Lloyd asked, “who’s the second most accomplished brown belt in the room?” Garry Tonon quickly stepped up the plate. Garry, in true warrior form, chose Keenan for his first match. Keenan chose to face Garry in the gi. In interviews, Garry explained that he picked Keenan because he’s the man to beat. Garry lost a close match to Keenan at NAGA and is anxious to exact revenge. When asked, Keenan revealed his strategy, “to choke Garry from the back.”
The matches officially start Tuesday, December 11:
Luke Costello vs. Victor Silverio
Garry Tonon vs. Keenan Cornelius
AJ Sousa vs. Thomas Oyarzun
Darragh O’Conaill vs. Eduardo Salazar
Sean Roberts vs. Ilke Bulut
Luca Anacoreta will get a bye in the first round. AJ Agazarm will join the tournament on Wednesday, December 12."

"I Can't"- Your Argument is Invalid


I've talked on here about limiting beliefs and accepting failure or obstacles as impassable or impossible.

As difficult as it is, you have to decide if and when you let a circumstance determine how far you think you can and thus how far you are actually able to go.

I found a way to train through 9 months without an ACL and win Judo and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu matches in competition. Advisable? No. Possible? Yes.
That being said...the following are two people well acquainted with proving the doubting Thomas' of the world woefully incorrect.

Exhibit A: one armed MMA fighter



Exhibit B: one legged wrestler

Monday, December 10, 2012

Monday's Multimedia MMA Mailbag: Bellator 83 Edition

2 upsets.
In pretty short order.

Can't wait until Bellator moves to SpikeTV in January, a channel a bunch of people actually have.

Bellator 83 Highlights
Get More: Bellator 83 Highlights

Monday's MMA Multimedia Mailbag: UFC on FOX 5 Edition

All in all, a good night of fights on the prelims and the main card.
The card kept chugging along, there wasn't a lot of down time between fights.

I had figured I'd be simultaneously watching the IBJJ Pro league and the prelims, but my work laptop needs admin access to install the player the IBJJ stream required, so in first world fashion, I was stuck only watching free fights on FX then on FOX.

Onto the gif' -->

Ben Henderson dropping Nate Diaz:


Ben Henderson slamming Nate Diaz:


Rory putting his combinations together when he wasn't doing a weak sauce Ali shuffle. How do you lose fans while putting on a dominationg performace? See here.

Mike Swick looking like a concentration camp survivor whilst getting KTFO by Mike Brown:


 

IBJJ Pro League Results: Caio, Lo, Romulo, Tussa,


From over at Graciemag:

Caio Terra, Leandro Lo, Romulo Barral, and Tussa Alencar took their respective divisions.

As for the other world class competitors invited to compete that opted out, stop complaining about no cash prizes or BJJ as a professional sport. They did an event with free streaming to reach a big audience with $5k to the winner and cash to 2nd place......and you skipped it.
So typical of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.


This is why we can't have nice things.

Friday, December 7, 2012

IBJJ Pro League Free Stream Website



CLICK HERE TO WATCH
.

From IBJJF.org -
The IBJJ Pro-League will start at 3PM, December 8th.
IBJJ Pro-League Confirmed Athletes:
Up to 64 kg (141lb): 
  1. Caio Terra
  2. Koji Shibamoto
  3. Laercio Fernandes
  4. Daniel Beleza G. de Andrade
  5. Rafael Freitas
  6. TBD
  7. First place Long Beach Fall rooster division  
  8. First place Long Beach Fall light-feather division
Up to 76 kg (167.5lb): 
  1. Leandro Pereira do Nascimento
  2. Lucas Alves Lepri
  3. Samir José Chantre Dahás
  4. Augusto Lopes Mendes
  5. Osvaldo Moizinho
  6. TBD
  7. First place Long Beach Fall feather division  
  8. First place Long Beach Fall light division
Up to 88.3kg (194.6lb):
  1. Otavio Ferreira de Sousa
  2. Rômulo Claudio Barral
  3. Rafael Monteiro Barbosa
  4. Bruno Augusto Togni Antunes
  5. Vitor Henrique Silva Oliveira
  6. André Luiz Leite Galvão
  7. First place Long Beach Fall middle division
  8. First place Long Beach Fall medium-heavy division
Over 88.3 kg (over 194.6lb):
  1. Gustavo dos Santos Pires
  2. Bruno Bastos Cruz
  3. Ricardo Ferreira Evangelista
  4. Roberto Camargo de Alencar
  5. Stephen Hall
  6. First place Long Beach Fall heavy division
  7. First place Long Beach Fall super-heavy division
  8. First place Long Beach Fall ultra-heavy division
IBJJ Pro League sets criteria for choosing athletes who will compete for the U$20,000. Free Live Internet Broadcast.

The IBJJ Pro League has defined the criteria for choosing the athletes that will take part in its debut event, next December 8th, at the California State Walter Pyramid, in Long Beach, California. There will be four divisions and each one of the four divisions will have eight competitors. This first edition of the event is male black belt exclusively, Gi only, and will be webcasted for free over IBJJF TV (ibjjftv.com). The winner of each division will get a US $5,000 prize.

Weight Divisions (with Gi)

Up to 64 kg (141lb) - includes Rooster weight and Light-feather weight athletes
Up to 76 kg (167.5lb) - includes Feather weight and Light weight athletes
Up to 88.3 kg (194.6lb) - includes Middle weight and Medium-heavy weight athletes
Over 88.3 kg (over 194.6lb) - includes Heavy weight, Super-heavy weight and Ultra-heavy weight athletes   

Qualifying Criteria
The competitors up to 64 kg, up to 76 kg and up to 88.3 kg divisions will have six athletes qualified by the IBJJF competitors ranking and two other athletes qualified for winning their divisions at the 2012 Long Beach Fall International Open, which will take place at the same day and venue as the Pro League.
The competitors over 88.3 kg division will have five athletes qualified by the ranking and three athletes qualified for winning their divisions at the Long Beach Fall International Open.

Rules and Regulations
IBJJ Pro League fights will be ruled under the Official IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu rules. The brackets will work in a single elimination system. To avoid brackets close-outs between athletes from the same academy, the Pro League decided that competitors from the same team will have to face each other before the final match of each category.

Ranking
The competitors ranking is built with the sum of points each athlete gathered in all the competitions he took part in and reached at least the third place since the 2010 European Open Championship until the 2012 London Open International. The points scored in each tournament have to go through the following mathematical formula:

STANDINGS VALUE X WEIGHT OF THE CHAMPIONSHIP X WEIGHT OF THE YEAR = POINTS


STANDINGS VALUE WEIGHT OF THE CHAMPIONSHIP WEIGHT OF THE YEAR
Weight Divisions:
1st Place– 9 pts
2nd Place – 3 pts
3rd Place – 1 pt

Open Class:
1st Place – 13.5 pts
2nd Place – 4.5 pts
3rd  Place– 1.5 pts
Worlds – 7x
European, Pan Ams – 4x
Brazilian Nationals - 3x
American Nationals, South American, Asian Open– 2x
International Open – 1x
2012 – 3x
2011 – 2x
2010 – 1x


IBJJ PRO-LEAGUE CONT:

Examples of How to Count Points
1st Place Medium-Heavy weight Worlds 2010 = 9 pts x 7 x 1 = 63 pts
2nd Place Absolute Pan Ams 2011 = 4.5 pts x 4 x 2 = 36 pts
3rd Place Light weight Houston Open 2012 = 1 x 1 x 3 = 3 pts

Current top 10 List of best ranked athletes by division (the final list of qualified athletes for the 2012 IBJJ Pro League will be released after the Asian Open IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship and London International Open IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship results being processed).

Open Guard Friday: Beneil Dariush


I think there's a word for it, when you come across something, be it an idea, a word, or a movie, phrase whatever, then all of a sudden you begin seeing/noticing it everywhere.

At any rate, I've been recently stumbling across this Beneil Dariush guy recently, and here's a bit more about how he plays open guard.

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Judo Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2012: 1st Post Olympic Grand Prix


One of my Favorite Matches: Kron Gracie vs Sergio Moraes



Thesis Wednesday: You Are What You Think


The power of belief is curious. It can cripple or it can empower.

Sports and performance represent some of the best proofs of this idea: that belief can be nearly if not more powerful than training. If nothing else, to maximize performance you must believe in order to achieve (the vast majority of the time) at the highest levels of any endeavor.

Failure like success is a self-fulfilling prophecy.
As we lose, it becomes more likely that we doubt our ability, preparation, and ability to perform on a given date/at a given time/against a certain opponent.

Winning becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.
As we believe we will win and know this will be the outcome we are not beset by the insecurity, self-doubt, and hesitancy that often results in losing.

You are what you think you are.
You will perform as you expect.

For much of my time spent training, I eschewed the mental aspect of positive affirmations and self-encouragement.
I expected that if I did the work, that the results would follow.
But after my first loss in MMA and the subsequent 2 that followed, then couple with my ACL injury, I looked back and saw how far my barometer of confidence had fallen.

I won my first 2 MMA fights with nothing that resembled MMA training. The opponents were no less tough or skilled than the last 3 guys I fought.

So what was the variable?
I had overtrained for my 3rd fight, experienced a crushing loss, and that shook my confidence to the core. I neglected to come to terms with what had happened and that fear, the paralyzing doubt and wish to avoid what had happened and having it happen again became a toxic, cancerous force in my mind.

I accepted that I was not as capable as I in fact am.

This limiting belief, this acceptance of a lack of ability or whatever trait on my part then became reality as my belief manifested in physical form by limiting my performance.

The vaaaaaaaaaaast majority of people that will tell you that you cannot do something have not done the very thing being considered.
Ever notice that self-made (a bit of a misnomer, I know, as no one is truly self-made entirely) people will tell you that you can achieve and be successful?
And ever notice that those people who are unsuccessful are the ones who will often explain and excuse and list reason after reason why they or you are not or cannot be successful?

Consider the source when someone tells you something, my Mom once told me. Consider the source.

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

IBJJ Pro League Updated Line-UP


From over at ADC combat:

Up to 64 kg (141lb):
  1. Caio Terra
  2. Koji Shibamoto
  3. Laercio Fernandes
  4. Daniel Beleza G. de Andrade
  5. Pablo da Silva Santos
  6. Rafael Freitas
  7. Fist place Long Beach Fall rooster division
  8. First place Long Beach Fall light-feather division
Up to 76 kg (167.5lb):
  1. Leandro Pereira do Nascimento
  2. Jonathan Torres
  3. Lucas Alves Lepri
  4. Samir José Chantre Dahás
  5. Augusto Lopes Mendes
  6. Rubens Charles Maciel
  7. Fist place Long Beach Fall feather division
  8. First place Long Beach Fall light division
Up to 88.3kg (194.6lb):
  1. Otavio Ferreira de Sousa
  2. Rômulo Claudio Barral
  3. Rafael Monteiro Barbosa
  4. Bruno Augusto Togni Antunes
  5. Vitor Henrique Silva Oliveira
  6. Andre Galvao
  7. First place Long Beach Fall middle division
  8. First place Long Beach Fall medium-heavy division
Over 88.3 kg (over 194.6lb):
  1. Gustavo dos Santos Pires
  2. Bruno Bastos Cruz
  3. TBD
  4. TBD
  5. TBD
  6. First place Long Beach Fall heavy division
  7. First place Long Beach Fall super-heavy division
  8. First place Long Beach Fall ultra-heavy division
Weight Divisions (with Gi)
Up to 64 kg (141lb) - includes Rooster weight and Light-feather weight athletes
Up to 76 kg (167.5lb) - includes Feather weight and Light weight athletes
Up to 88.3 kg (194.6lb) - includes Middle weight and Medium-heavy weight athletes
Over 88.3 kg (over 194.6lb) - includes Heavy weight, Super-heavy weight and Ultra-heavy weight athletes "

The Arm Collector Takes a Knee

The Arm Collector mixed it up and took home a win by kneebar.
He's on my list of people I want to train with eventually.
I blogged about him briefly HERE.



Non-Tournament Proof Tuesday - Life Outside the Mats: DJ Jackson


Brief documentary on DJ Jackson on and off the mats.
The internet will have people saying he's won his matches with strength and wrestling.
I would counter that if you're a ** year black belt and all it took to beat you was some wrestling, then you should work on your wrestling and/or your Jiu-Jitsu.
There's more to it than that.
People saying that just want to rationalize their own deficiency in wrestling and why they don't want to go outside their comfort zone in training.

Monday, December 3, 2012

Road to the Octagon: UFC on FOX 5



Team Lloyd Irvin: The Next World Champion Episode 2



Monday's MMA Multimedia Mailbag: Bellator 82 Recap


4 Free UFC Fights in the blast from the past form of Nate Diaz versus some folks and Benson "Smooth" Henderson versus some folks. Enjoy.




Tiger gets back in the win column against a guy he's supposed to beat.
Doug "The Rhino" Marshall shows how he won the WEC belt awhile ago with his striking power.
Koreshkov decisions Good to win the tournament.


Bellator 82 Highlights
Get More: Bellator 82 Highlights

MMA debut and Wins 3 Fights: Marcos Souza Edition


For those that don't know, Marcos Souza (brother to the inimitable Roberto Satoshi de Souza) made his MMA debut in China over the weekend, winning 3 fights in one night to win a tournament.

Pretty bad*&^.