(Los Angeles , CA) - Just three days before its November 14th event in Ontario California, the fledgling MMA Promotion, Called Out MMA, originally known as Call To Arms, a name it remains unofficially tied to somehow, canceled its third event.

The fight card was a solid one and was recently announced to be airing live on the highly regarded MMA site, Sherdog.com. The card was to feature UFC veterans Hector Ramirez, Alberto Crane and Lodune Sincaid.

Sources close to the executives said that funding due in, prior to the required deadline, did not come through.

The promotion began under CEO Michael Larson in May of 2009 and is said to have lost a significant amount of money. However in its second event, the company changed its name to Called Out MMA and a new CEO, Steve 'Stealth' Miller took over operations.

The second event, and first Called Out MMA show, featured some very talented fighters, including a newcomer to the UFC, Jay Silva.

The matchmaking for this third and now postponed show was no different, sizing up to be equally strong and exciting. The bouts scheduled were:

Hector Ramirez vs. Lodune Sincaid
Vince Ortiz vs. Georgi Karakhanyan
Wander Braga vs. Alberto Crane
Chad George vs. Greg Guzman
Sophie Bagherdai vs. Avery Vilche
Sevak Magakian vs. Jeremy Umphries
Ben Jones vs. Waylon Kennell
Juliano Prado vs. RJ Clifford
Sean Loeffler vs. Brad Harris
Maurice Jackson vs. David Mejia
Craig Wilkerson vs. Marcos Gonzalez


*Further information about what to do should you be a ticket holder, continue checking the promotion's website, www.calledoutmma.com for updates.

By Ron ‘The Yacman’ Yacovetti

The Scene: UFC 104

At the close of what was a solid night of Mixed Martial Arts action, at the Staple Center in Los Angeles, California, two co-main events ended with a collective one-two punch that irritated the crowd in attendance.

Both Cain Velasquez’s win over Ben Rothwell and Lyoto Machida’s win over Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua upset the fans that, up until that point in the evening, seemed very pleased with UFC 104.

The diagnosis for what caused so good a night to turn bad is an epidemic of bad vision, that will seemingly stricken ring or cage-side judges and officials in the combat sports community. I call it The Blind Flu. Symptoms include rendering a verdict that clashes so greatly with what actually happened that most would question if the afflicted were even at the event, had they not seen them with their own eyes.

It was in the theme of a jab, straight right hand combination, that this outbreak of Blind Flu went from bad to worse, with co-main event one, then two being ruled in such a way that a vast majority completely disagree with.

Here’s how it went down.

TYPE “A” BLIND FLU: Premature Stoppage of Ben Rothwell vs. Cain Velasquez

This particular lapse in judgment is the kind that is so close to what is a just call, that the reaction by fans and media alike is usually mixed. A majority of people in attendance at UFC 104, however, a group spearheaded by Ben Rothwell, were quite vocal about the fact that they felt the stoppage by referee Steve Mazagatti was premature.

And while the case for that is both reasonable and bothersome, it was not out of the blue. Mr. Mazagatti did walk over to Rothwell’s corner before the second round to caution him about taking unnecessary abuse. So, when he saw more of the same, he halted the action.

Round one, as I blogged that night (http://bleacherreport.com/articles/277978-ufc-104-live-blog-cageside-with-the-yacman), looked a lot like Cain and Unable. Take downs by Velasquez, then ground and pound work were all that we saw happen in this fight. These guys would stand, then as they say on shampoo labels...repeat.

Rothwell needed to stop Cain’s momentum before the man in black officiating did. However, round two was more of the same. No matter what position Ben and Cain were in, Cain was using his one free hand to slug him non-stop.

So, it is my belief that when fans witnessed the stoppage, it was not apparent to them that Steve Mazagatti had seen enough, heading into the second round, poised to save Ben from a gratuitous beating. This scenario is not horrible, as both of the possibilities, stopping the fight or letting it go on, seems fair.

Ben Rothwell is a tough and durable fighter, period. However, the sole reason why the stoppage did not seem too extreme is because there was not even a hint of evidence that the fight would look any different should it have continued. Cain Velasquez was going to continue to shoot in, score take downs and throw his free hand(s) until Steve Mazagatti did stop the fight.
Now, here is where it became a more severe case.

TYPE “B” BLIND FLU: Inability to see what is before you

The main event between former Pride FC star Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua and current UFC Light heavyweight Champion Lyoto ‘The Dragon’ Machida was a good a match up as one can hope for in MMA.

Two great strikers who can mix it up standing or on the ground entered the cage for what most also did not expect would go the distance. That was the first unexpected result to come of this bout, but certainly not the last.

Machida was an insanely heavy favorite to win. And why not? His statistics going into it made it seem easier to solve a Rubik’s cube with your feet, than to beat him.

Shogun did what Dana White promised he would, he looked like the Shogun of Pride fame, aggressive, relentless and durable. This is what made the difference in the fight. Lyoto Machida did not get beaten up badly, but he did get outworked and moved backwards all but one round.
Machida seemed to be waiting for an ideal moment to open up the lightning speed strikes coupled with ghost-like defense, yet that moment did not come. Lyoto did show flashes of that technique which has made him steamroll over top competitors, but so sparingly that it did not amount to much.

The Rumor: Lyoto Machida had been dealing with an actual flu, going into this fight in a weakened state.

In a journalistic pursuit to not only know the truth, but report it as well, I reached out to Machida’s manager Ed Soares. He was, as he has always been with me, courteous and responsive, calling me right back. The lingering effect of being at odds with so many about how his fighter should have fared, was still apparent in his voice. This is a man who always makes you feel he is so glad to talk to you. This time, he was just willing to talk.

In our brief chat, Ed Soares not only addressed the possibility that Lyoto had the flu before UFC 104, but also provided an official statement about the widespread disapproval for Lyoto retaining his title.

When asked pointedly, if Lyoto had been stricken by the flu leading up to UFC 104, Ed Soares stated, “No. He did not have the flu.” As I noted this on paper, verbatim, the call fell silent. Then, I asked for his camp’s statement about the reaction to Lyoto winning the fight, to which Ed replied, “Honestly…you’re not going to like this but, no comment. We have no comment.”

Truthfully, I was indifferent towards that answer. I did not seek an inflammatory answer or an apologetic one, laced with humility. I just wanted whatever Ed would share. I thank him for it once again; he is a great man who brings a lot to our sport.

Conclusion:

UFC 104 was a stacked event that delivered on its promises. The unfortunate endings to the co-main events, which is obviously out of the UFC’s hands, merely put a damper on things.
Dana White publicly stated that he was also opposed to the Machida vs. Shogun outcome, declaring that an immediate rematch would be set.

Forecasting:

If Lyoto Machida is the elite, super-athlete he seemed to be, like Anderson Silva, GSP and even boxing’s Roy Jones Jr., then he will likely take this uproar at his retaining the title, serious. The expectation if he does, is what we often see when these gifted fighters lose in an out of the blue like fashion…a total, one-sided annihilation win over the man who beat them, in the rematch.

Let us hope whether that happens or not, that in the rematch we see the Lyoto Machida we know is inside that champion, released all over the octagon. A full on war between Machida and Rua would really be a killer main event. I sure hope we get to actually see that sometime soon!

Two of MMA’s big name heavyweights choose opposite paths at the same crossroads

By Ron ‘The Yacman’ Yacovetti

Yes, I made Fedor the neater one and Kimbo the sloppier one. Their works, at present, back this jest.

Now, a closer look at these two and what they seem to be doing with their futures.

THE WHO:

Kevin Ferguson aka ‘Kimbo Slice’: A heavyweight who holds the record for the most viewers of any one MMA fighter’s bout (CBS Primetime I, May 2008). Famous from his backyard brawls on YouTube, Slice is unproven as a mixed martial artist and has been trying to live up to his hype, which transcends the MMA community. Slice is a man in his 30’s with athletic potential, yet much like an adult school student going for an equivalency degree, he chases after something most others in his field, achieved earlier on.

Fedor Emelianenko aka ‘The Last Emperor ‘: Regarded by most MMA enthusiasts as the best heavyweight cage-fighter in the world (by some the best pound for pound fighter as well). Fedor is and has been a man who is battle tested and proven, but has little hype outside of the hardcore MMA community. Emelianenko is a well-rounded mixed martial artist who exemplifies being a polished fighter. Unfortunately for him, he hasn’t gained fame beyond his ability via the internet…or as I like to call it, pulling a Dane Cook.

COMMON GROUND:

Both Slice and Fedor would benefit from mainstream notoriety. Both men recently found themselves with two viable choices to continue their MMA careers, as their given promotions (EliteXC and Affliction) sank beneath the tide of MMA hopefuls.

THE CHOICES:

Strikeforce or The UFC.

Strikeforce comes with all the bells and whistles that make any fighter looking for exposure a happy camper. Showtime’s continued support of MMA is a major plus for the sport and especially, Strikeforce. As most know, this deal was inherited as EliteXC (Kimbo’s launching pad) went bankrupt. Should CBS add itself to the media outlet list for Strikeforce, the deal gets a whole lot sweeter.

The UFC, like it or not, is the prime brand of mixed martial arts. If not for Dana and the gang, Scott Coker would still be promoting fights longer than them, but it would most likely be only in the realm of kickboxing. The Ultimate Fighting Championship is not flawless or without room to improve, but it is responsible for putting MMA on the map. And, with its outlets on Spike TV and a successfully established following on PPV, exposure is also a very alluring characteristic to signing with them.

LOGIC WOULD SUGGEST:

The best heavyweight in the world signs a multi-fight deal with the biggest promotion in the world while the most hyped heavyweight signs with the number two promotion, as he continues to pad his record during his quest to improve.

WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED:

Kimbo Slice makes the wise choice in what is truly a win-win for the UFC as well, signing with them as a contender on The Ultimate Fighter Season 10. There is NO downside to this deal. None.

If Kimbo shines, he earns his MMA kudos and respect as a legitimate cage-fighter. And this is even if he does not win the show. If he merely looks good, shows improvement and pulls out a few key wins, both The UFC and Kimbo gain a lot. If he gets his ass handed to him, Dana has already said that Kimbo is “sh*t”, so an “I told you so” gets the promotion off the hook for having him.

Fedor Emelianenko ended up going to Strikeforce, making the second mega-fight he ‘could’ have had with a UFC Heavyweight Champion (the first one versus Randy Couture; this time versus Brock Lesnar), likely to never happen.

It would’ve been reasonable to assume Slice would go to Strikeforce and take advantage of the exposure, win some and lose some, all while riding his undeveloped potential to a quick and profitable end. It would be hard to fault him for it, he is in his 30’s with time ticking away fast. However, that option, he did not pick.

Kimbo chose the high road, regardless of how it works out for him. Truth be told, the only way he can ever get serious respect as a mixed martial artist is to earn his stripes in the UFC, even on The Ultimate Fighter Show. Four years of being unbeaten in Strikeforce wouldn’t have provided him the same respect from fans that a strong showing on TUF 10 will.

Fedor however, gets the utmost respect from MMA fans. He also had access to his most desirable fight according to fans, against Lesnar, the current UFC Heavyweight Champion. This bout would garner serious attention for the UFC and MMA overall.

The Last Emperor is the big fish amongst heavyweights, right? So why choose the smaller pond? This is not to say going to Strikeforce and Showtime is a bad move. It is not. But in actuality, his reign there, even if he beats Rogers, Overeem and Werdum, should he do so, would be less impactful on fans new and old, than taking on Velasquez, Carwin and of course, Brock Lesnar.

Critics of this deal and what information is available, suggests that the deal breaker was that M-1 Global would not let Fedor Emelianenko sign with The UFC because of a denial to co-promote with M-1. The deal Fedor was offered was good too. He was shown the money and all other requests that he wanted before, when trying to set up a fight with Couture. A no-brainer right? Well yes, it would seem the choice by Fedor’s management did choose to reject the UFC by using absolutely no brains.

A FLIP SIDE?

In today’s conference call with Showtime executives, President of Strikeforce, Scott Coker and Fedor Emelianenko himself, this very choice and issue inevitably, came up. In short, M-1’s Vadim Finkelchtein had this to say, when asked why they turned down The UFC:

“The advantage in making the deal with Strikeforce is really great because the UFC didn’t give us any chance to develop. The UFC wants Fedor to be a fighter only for the UFC. That’s all they offered us. They didn’t offer us anything else. Dana White stated that Fedor and M1 rejected a huge amount of money and decided to fight for nothing. But, that’s not true. Nothing special was offered to M1 and Fedor during the negotiations with UFC. When we made the deal with Strikeforce we had opportunities to show our fights in many other countries. But the UFC wouldn’t give us these opportunities.”

When asked directly about the lost match up with Brock Lesnar, the one man MMA fans would like to see him take on and how his choice to sign with Strikeforce deprives them of that match, the Last Emperor himself replied,

“I really feel sorry that the fight could not happen and I feel sorry for my fans. But, I think I also deserve some respect and I also think my personal interests should be taken into consideration.”

Fedor then addressed his point of view on The UFC and that the very offer that he and M-1 turned down from the UFC differed from the one presented to him:

“From my viewpoint, the UFC does not have the proper attitude to fighters. The UFC attitude towards fighters is not a good one. They don’t treat them like human beings. And I don’t like their policy. The offer that we got was one kind, and then on the Internet they published really different numbers. The offer they gave us was really miserable.”

So how this all washes out and what it means to the heavyweight division is yet to be seen. Perhaps the best case scenario did take place, bolstering the number two promotion even more. Maybe, just maybe, the best scenario for now is not the best one for MMA long term, as a sport.

Other promotions need to exist in order for more fighters to be able to fight full time with no day job. Their money comes in large part, from sponsors. Those folks pay more, if at all, knowing you’re going to be on TV, such as Showtime or even CBS. If the only outlet for serious TV coverage is Spike and PPV, less fighters will receive decent sponsorship checks and end up fighting part time.

The net result of this? A slower developing, weaker talent pool.

PIE IN THE SKY OR REALISTIC?

What if Fedor’s presence in Strikeforce not only means something by his personal contribution, but also what if he dominates then becomes a magnet for the current and future crop of elite heavyweights in MMA?

This scenario could boost Strikeforce as a whole, in ways that would exceed the crushed hopes and dreams Showtime and EliteXC laid upon the shoulders of Kimbo Slice himself, in 2008.

Imagine if a Shane Carwin wanted a shot at Fedor and didn’t re-sign with the UFC. Such a situation is not out of the question.

However, it is also possible that Fedor Emelianenko cleans out the Strikeforce heavyweight crop like an old attic on moving day, and then rides out his career in lackluster fashion.

In the same galaxy not so far away, what if Kimbo Slice wins the Ultimate Fighter Season 10? That would be insane and boost his cache excessively. Again, even a solid showing where sincere effort and improvement show, will help Kimbo and The UFC for taking him in.

Should Kimbo be a wash and get eliminated as quickly as William Hung on an old American Idol (go ahead, Google it), then he goes back to obscurity and trying to make a living as a pseudo-celebrity.

Ultimately, what’s best for MMA as a sport is what would be best to see happen. The UFC isn’t going away and a solid, second promotion who serves up a lot of cage-fighting to the public sure is great to have around too.

-Yacman

By Ron ‘The Yacman’ Yacovetti
Commentator for Call to Arms MMA- www.calltoarmsfights.com

It’s the half-way point in the year 2009.

We’re told this recession thing is in its final throws.

Major corporations, like General Motors, is battered like a mismanaged start up company. Yet, the Mixed Martial Arts industry continues to grow. Has it slowed in its blooming? Sure.

Nevertheless, it is not a bad idea to look at some of the things that have not only bolstered this sport we love, but also struck almost everyone as a negative at the time it happened.

ELITEXC:

This MMA brand, under the parent company of ProElite Inc., received brutal reviews at almost every stage of its existence. It seemed that no matter what adjustment they did or did not make to the fans’ reaction, a ton of MMA fans simply hated it.

It is no mystery that I, The Yacman, was employed with ProElite for its entire run. My main arena was for ProElite.com. And now that the company is gone, some web bloggers continue to beat the dead horse at any opportunity to take a shot at EliteXC despite its being expired.

However if any of them consider themselves a fan of the sport itself, then they should look at the bigger picture.

SHOWTIME AND CBS:

No matter what anyone else claims, says or thinks, EliteXC broke ground with being the first MMA Promotion on premium cable television as well as being first on primetime network TV. It is an undisputed fact.

Now anyone can suggest why they were able to, in such a way as to discredit this major achievement, but it is desperate at best.

Dana White stated that companies like EliteXC were themselves desperate and willing to give away the farm to be on those media outlets. He continued saying that the UFC would not stoop to that level, or so to speak.

The truth is, the UFC didn’t and didn’t need to accept the same type of deal that EliteXC did. They are the brand that made the sport. It is also reasonable that different companies at different stages of development will not all be best served by the same type of deal.

No start up promotion should hold onto as much control in a TV deal, as the UFC would’ve wanted to have with HBO or CBS. The Ultimate Fighting Championship is a fine tuned machine. But others, such as EliteXC, the IFL and Bodog for example, had enough to worry about without the broadcast intricacies.

That all said, EliteXC and its two television breakthrough’s were not the failures many made them out to be, at all. Plus, let us not forget that the exposure their TV deals reaped is now paying dividends to Strikeforce in its taking of the MMA baton and running with it on SHO and CBS.

EliteXC, still seen by many as a bad brand, sure did benefit MMA, some of its best fighters and Scott Coker’s Strikeforce.

MAINSTREAM = MONEY

Sorry hardcore people, but if the UFC was still like its early days, the sponsors and media attention and every aspect of commercialization would not exist either. MMA would be like grunge music, in one day, out the next. At best, it would’ve remained a small buzz on and underground level.

Nowadays, it can be like soccer, a global success yet not quite as big a thing in the United States as the NFL or NBA.

So if you consider that, and a thinking person should, then EliteXC’s exposure on Showtime, a solid broadcaster of quality boxing, is a big deal. Additionally, the primetime expansion onto the airwaves of CBS was monumental.

Those two advances of MMA by EliteXC are like a nitrous kick in a tricked out car. It didn’t last very long after it kicked in, but man did it make a difference while it lasted.

Even the now defunct IFL played a role in this building process, along with the initial Strikeforce deal on NBC. These promotions made steps forward and reached larger audiences, that at one time, were about as reachable for them as other solar systems are to NASA.
THE IFL:

Say what you will about this team driven league but it made some of the fighters currently making waves in MMA, major names and players by exposing thousands to their craftsmanship.

Ben Rothwell, Benji Radach, Chris Horodecki and Jay Heiron, to name a few, were all IFL fighters who continue to look impressive when they fight in other promotions.

No one would’ve cared to see Radach against Scott Smith on the new Strikeforce shows in Showtime, if they hadn’t had the chances to see how good he is when he fought on the IFL’s televised shows. The TV exposure made a difference.

KIMBO SLICE:

Ok, I have addressed this topic before so I’ll try to be succinct in my points here.
Kimbo Slice, in my opinion, made the best choice of his career when he took the olive branch from the UFC to be a competitor on The Ultimate Fighter, TV show.
Would he be the superstar that Strikeforce and Showtime would likely have billed him as again? No chance. Dana and company are making Slice climb the ladder of success, if he can in fact do it.

To me, this is a much more solid direction for Kimbo if he ever wants the respect that a legitimate mixed martial artist should receive. A place in the Strikeforce roster for him would’ve been like seeing one more season of ER. Why bother, it’s not going to evolve anymore?

Kevin ‘Kimbo Slice’ Fergueson is to me, one of MMA’s most extreme (no I won’t spell extreme as xtreme) silver linings, while it appeared to be nothing more than a dark cloud.

After the loss to Seth Petruzelli, a barrage of MMA fans and writers were going on about how much EliteXC and Kimbo’s majesty with them was going to damage the sport. So far, no one had produced an exhibit A, let alone, B, C or N. It simply did not happen.

For those who do think it did damage MMA, I urge you to watch Dream 9 on HDnet. Then, ask yourself why Dana White hasn’t extended the same offer to be on TUF 10 Heavyweights, to Jose Canseco.

TUF TIMES CALL FOR TUF 10:

Slice and his legacy in MMA as the most watched fighter in a single fight event, remains a statistical fact. People who know of the UFC and cage-fighting in mainstream America often cannot tell you who Dan Henderson is, or who Fedor Emelianenko is, but they know Kimbo Slice. Once again, like it or not, it is simply a point of fact.

The disaster that once was the main event wreck on EliteXC’s last primetime event, is now the potential nitrous kick for the biggest promotion in MMA, on the TV show they produced that launched the sport to begin with. That’s one hell of a silver lining.
STRIKEFORCE:

This well oiled fight promotion is undoubtedly on its way to a long and fruitful future. Scott Coker built the company up with a team of wise people and a level of intelligence not seen enough in combat sports.

Strikeforce had already held contracts on some of MMA’s best athlete’s before ProElite folded. But now, with additions like Robbie Lawler, Jake Shields and Brett Rogers, their roster is easily that of an A-level promotion.

GINA CARANO: WOMEN’S STATUE OF LIBERTY

Well, Gina is sort of holding the torch, though she did not ask to do it.
Look, this one is a scenario not to different than the much less proven Kimbo Slice. She is one of the two biggest names and audience draws in all of MMA, like Kimbo. Gina is also at a point where, if she is lucky, she can select either a UFC/WEC deal or a Strikeforce deal.

Which to choose, which to choose?

If Gina wants to make a living, continue being the star she is and fight top level opponents such as Cris Cyborg and Erin Toughill, she should go to Strikeforce. She will be royalty there and deservedly so, too.

But if Gina Carano wants to be the Rosa Parks of women’s MMA and make a difference in its overall acceptance, then a UFC oriented choice would be best.
Like it or not again, the UFC is the front runner and maker of what sells in MMA. If they can grab a star like Gina and get her fights that fans won’t view as a festival of worthless cans, then Gina will put women fighting in the cage on the map big-time.

This is a key difference from continuing how she had with EliteXC’s successor, Strikeforce, just doing MMA and gradually drawing in more fans from her other endeavors such as American Gladiators and Maxim Magazine.

One major difference between Kimbo Slice and Gina Carano, despite both being major celebrities in MMA, is that Gina is a highly respected fighter, while Kimbo is chasing the hype that precedes him everywhere.

THE WRAP UP:

Mixed Martial Arts is a phenomenon that continues to thrive in the toughest of times. New promotions emerge on the coattails of older one’s collapsing.

There are so many things that happen in this sport on a weekly basis that it often becomes a bit too convenient to drop things into categories that designate them as negative.

We love MMA and we love seeing it grow. Ask any doctor, growth comes with growing pains and sometimes you just cannot see the benefits of them when they are painfully making themselves known.

But rest assured, even the biggest of blunders can aid in the sport’s continual progress year after year.

YACMAN
www.yacandjshow.com

By Ron 'The Yacman' Yacovetti
MMA Commentator - Call to Arms MMA
(www.calltoarmsfights.com)

The newest and upcoming season of the UFC and Spike TV hit, The Ultimate Fighter, what most consider the catalyst for MMA's success as a widespread phenomena, is every bit the big deal that Dana White said it would be.

Not only are two of the sports premier light-heavyweights coaching, referring to two former champions of the division, Rashad 'Sugar' Evans and Quinton 'Rampage Jackson, but it also includes the most watched fighter (per one solitary event) in all of MMA, Kimbo Slice.

Dana White, the UFC president admits the show should be intriguing to watch, taking into account many of his rants and derogatory remarks about slice, when he sailed under the EliteXC flag.

This season, originally slated to be heavyweights and middle-weights will now be solely heavyweights. Anyone wondering why still? I thought not.

One would hope, and when I say one, I mainly mean the UFC and Spike, that Kimbo fights well and lasts a while. It would be an understatement to say it would simply add fuel to the show's fire. I will be a lot more like nitrous oxide.

Well, it is safe to assume any MMA fan will be tuning in to this season, present company included. The show already has action, suspense and drama. Now it's been amped up to drama comparable to "The Days of our lives."

The UFC continues to make what is potentially old, new again. The show, much like successful dramas such as "Law and Order" uses the same formula every season. The content itself is what needs to remain interesting and top-notch, if you expect to grow your audience or even sustain a sizable one.

This is a brilliant move by the UFC, considering their position prior to signing Slice. Having mocked him so much, Dana is now in a win-win situation with fans and skeptics alike.

If Kimbo wins or goes far, he gave him a shot and helped bring him to the next level in the most dominant MMA promotion, bar none. If Slice gets whipped like egg-beaters at a diner around breakfast, then the UFC president solidifies himself as Dana Whitestradamus, having predicted the street brawler being devoured in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

So kudos Mr. White. Kudos UFC. The only way to have set the show up for even higher ratings would've been to book Eminem against Bruno the Supermodel (Sascha Baron Cohen).

-Yacman
www.yacandjshow.com

By Ron ‘The Yacman’ Yacovetti –Commentator for Call to Arms MMA
www.calltoarmsfights.com

On June 6, 2009 in St. Louis, Missouri at Scottrade Center, Strikeforce will host another solid MMA fight card that promises fireworks as usual.

One bout, however, could generate more hype, action and an exciting finish worthy of stealing the show. That fight, in my opinion is ‘The New York Bad Ass’, Phil Baroni versus Joe ‘Diesel’ Riggs.

If you break this fight down from the roots on up, it is already a great match up on paper. Both men have a body of work that qualifies them as experienced. Both have fought in the UFC, in addition to various other promotions, since embarking upon their MMA careers.

Both Baroni and Riggs have fought successfully, many times, at a weight that is heavier than the 170 lb. contest they are about to do.

It is also very difficult to peer at the records of both Riggs and Baroni and say who has fought the bigger names, holds the bigger wins, as both of them can make a case in those categories. Riggs lost to Diego Sanchez, yet holds a win over a younger Nick Diaz.

Phil Baroni’s record shows a loss to the likes of Frank Shamrock but also a KO win over Ryo Chonan, the last man to legitimately defeat Anderson Silva (Yushin Okami holds a DQ win over Silva shortly after).

So if being seasoned isn’t a major factor in this fight, and age really isn’t either, then what is?

STYLES, SUBTLE DISTINCTIONS AND INTANGIBLES:

The New York Bad Ass and Diesel Riggs are both also solid wrestlers, boxers and comfortable on the ground, so no major advantage for anyone there. Baroni is a two-time All American collegiate wrestler, while Riggs has mirrored this achievement in his pre-MMA career.

In Baroni's initial years as a fighter, he had seven kickboxing matches and ten amateur boxing matches. He won every single one of those seventeen fights by knockout.

Is the need to split hairs to find an edge becoming apparent now?

There is no question that Phil Baroni and Joe Riggs are not taking easy fights or dodging a legitimate challenge. This is going to be a fight. Robbie Lawler and Jake Shields may be pressured more by trying to follow this fight, than by each other.

One key difference coming into this welterweight showdown is momentum. Riggs is fifty-fifty in his last 4 fights, with two wins and two losses. Phil Baroni is on a three fight win streak since descending from the middleweight division.

Riggs and Baroni can both claim to be KO artists at the level of a cage-fighting Picasso. Over his career, Riggs has fought in the Heavyweight, Light Heavyweight, Middleweight and Welterweight divisions.

Taking this into account, one can easily think that Riggs will not be overly disheartened by Baroni’s power, having fought as high as Heavyweight. This notion could not be more wrong.

I have had a long conversation or two with Frank Shamrock, my friend and a fighter I respect greatly, about Baroni’s move down to welterweight and how hard he hit at middleweight.

In a nutshell, Shamrock said Baroni hit like a freight train at 185 lbs. and upon hearing Phil would be fighting at 170 lbs., instantly knew the KO ratio Baroni touts would increase. So far, by the way, Baroni has added a KO and TKO in his three bouts at welterweight.

So, while Riggs has been in with the big men, Baroni’s punching power can quickly render that fact irrelevant.

One style point that Riggs brings that is uncommon yet not rare, is being a right-handed fighter who has been schooled to box as a south-paw. His lead left is his power shot and he delivers it with bad intentions.

In his most recent win over Luke Stewart at Strikeforce “Destruction”, Riggs used that very weapon to dispose of Stewart in the second round.

THE BULLSEYE CHIN:

When two heavy handed men go at it in the cage, chances are both chins will be tested somewhat, regardless of who wins the fight. Baroni may hold the advantage here. One thing that makes a one-punch power fighter even more dangerous is when he can walk through your power, if he must, in order to deliver his.

You can expect Phil Baroni to take a shot and not crumble. Riggs’ best shot with strikes is attrition.

THE SUBMISSION GAME:

13 of Joe ‘Diesel’ Riggs’ 29 wins are by submission. ‘The New York Bad Ass’ Phil Baroni has just 2 submissions in his 13 wins. It would seem this is more than a slight edge for Riggs, with his chances of tapping Baroni being much higher than being tapped by Baroni. This is another very deceptive statistic.

Phil Baroni has only tapped out once in his entire career as an MMA fighter. Let me repeat that. Baroni has only tapped out once, “eva.” In 2005, at UFC 51, Pete Sell was able to execute a guillotine choke on Baroni, in the third round of their fight.

Even when Phil was in a rear naked choke against Frank Shamrock in 2007, he did not and would not tap. His loss was ruled a TKO (technical submission). He is that tough.

Joe Riggs is a smart fighter without question, which means if he can secure a submission on Baroni, he will. But it also means he won’t enter this match expecting to tap Phil.

I am very excited to see this match. Riggs and Baroni are fighters, not runners or survivors or lay and pray guys. It is very likely that the judges cage-side will be about as necessary as a lifeguard at a Jacuzzi.

This fight will finish, not just end. If it does go to a decision, every single ticket holder will have received their money’s worth on this fight alone.

PERSONALITY:

Joe Riggs and Phil Baroni are two guys who may never have crossed paths with shyness. I know firsthand with Baroni. I have been fortunate enough to interview Phil a few times and each time he let the fans and me know what he was thinking, what he didn’t care to share and what a dumb question that was, that I just asked.

That is the reality show element that any fan based sport needs. Riggs and especially Baroni, are characters, real complex characters.

Love him or hate him, and most are on one side or the other on this, Phil Baroni is a master showman. It does not matter if you do call yourself a fan of Baroni or if you mock him in private. You know his name and his persona. The New York Bad Ass is a known brand name, and that is masterful marketing.

Shamrock versus Baroni was one of the best hyped fights in MMA. The trash talk started over a year and a few failed attempts to make the fight, earlier. It continued until the match was over.

If Baroni can continue to rack up more wins than losses, he can write his own ticket, champion or not. People will flock to see him smash or get smashed, period. That is the best case scenario for a fighter, putting asses in the seats for whatever reason.

Just like the Howard Stern movie, where people who hated him and people who loved him, all listened non-stop just to see what he would say next, ratings don’t discern emotions, they only show numbers.

When a known brand name talks smack, shows up and produces KO’s, takes punishment and keeps coming, that brand should stay in demand.

Watch Phil Baroni's first step into the welterweight division at Cage Rage: http://dailymotion.virgilio.it/video/x63zrp_cage-rage-27-phil-baroni-vs-scott-j_sport

-YACMAN

By Ron 'The Yacman' Yacovetti

• Waking Dream - "Nightmare" was the original term for the state later known as waking dream
• night·mare (ntmâr) n. - An event or experience that is intensely distressing.
  

So please allow me to begin with the hack lines that I must clear off of my case like years worth of dust, before I make my point about this fight.

"Did Canseco lose a bet?"
"Did a Temp Agency get Jose that gig?"
"Battered Up!"

Ok, now I feel a little better.

Wow!! I cannot even believe I saw that fight. A sighting of Bigfoot himself, seated in my recliner chair, watching "Harry and the Henderson's" would shock me less than that did.

When did MMA become American Idol? Was it open cage night at the Dream Club? It truly boggles my mind. Exactly how does a guy who is just a tough guy, yet has no MMA training, get to walk in at one of the sport's most celebrated venues like that?

Jose Canseco entered the ring with a baseball bat, or as I like to call it, his calling card of relevance. He is an amazing athlete. I had the chance to interview him before and I know he has about twenty years of Tae Kwon Do training under his belt. But it does not and should not come with a free pass into a professional fight.

Not to mention, Canseco does this after he was knocked out in a boxing match against former NFL great, Vai Sikahema.

The ring walk starts it out bad, no question. Then he enters the ring and is wearing what looks to be his pajamas. At least put on MMA shorts, board shorts or even the tight St. Pierre style shorts. The clown theme continued.

Then Jose, a very big man for sure, stands face to face with the behemoth Choi, who looked like the Green Giant of vegetable fame, next to him.

The fight begins and immediately I begin to realize that it may have been better if Jose had kept that bat with him.

What happened next had me thinking that either Dana White passed out from laughter watching this, or he's vacated the planet. No way he would fail to vlog about this!

Canseco circled Choi, slipping inside in spurts, launching a big right hand in the manner which Mighty Mo had when he knocked Hong Man Choi out. Jose however, did not connect clean more than once and clearly does not have the power Mighty Mo does, in one clean shot.

The get in and out quick dance continued, as Jose Canseco used side kicks, front kicks and a few Tae Kwon Do techniques rarely used in MMA. The impact was comparable to that of a fly hitting your windshield at 70 mph.

The big rig that was Choi, kept on a' coming, while Jose Canseco kept on running away.

Finally, Choi connects and send Jose Canseco to the canvas. From this point forward, Canseco turtles up in a quasi-fetal position, showing no desire or ability to defend himself or fight on the ground. He knew the fights can go to the ground in MMA, didn't he?

He seemed to have quit on contact. Choi did what a seasoned professional would do, he pounced in for the finish. Jose Canseco was more than accommodating and surrendered on the spot.

I understand that an American celebrity is also big news in Japan, but this was taking it too far. MMA remains at odds with mainstream America and conventional sports journalists who see it as a barbaric, tough man contest. This fight does everything to bolster that perspective.

I must also say, that to me, anyone who took issue with EliteXC and their touting of Kimbo Slice as a top heavyweight, is a complete hypocrite to not lash out at this bout as well. At least Kimbo tried and trained with a legend like Bas Rutten.

DREAM is doing amazing things. Their branding, their fights, their fighters and the production is reminiscent of the stuff that made PRIDE Fighting Championships a fan favorite. MMA needs DREAM to keep it strong and blossoming.

I am also aware that many of the folks who run DREAM were with PRIDE too. That's a big plus in my opinion. But man, if anyone felt EliteXC may have damaged MMA with its run at the business, then this fight alone should be viewed as a tsunami of mass miscalculation.

I remain a fan of DREAM. I remain a fan of HDNet but the next time someone decides to book a Jose Canseco MMA bout, I don't want it in high definition. I just want a highly defining answer to one question...Why?

- Yacman

Cage-side Commentator for Call to Arms MMA
(www.calltoarmsfights.com)
Correspondent for InsideFights.com; TheBleacherReport.com; TheYacmanSez.blogspot.com
Co-host of MMA with Yac & J
(www.yacandjshow.com)

Watch the fight yourself at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtyULXOZMOk

By Ron 'The Yacman' Yacovetti
Commentator for Call to Arms MMA (www.calltoarmsfights.com)

hue (hyōō) n.

1.Appearance; aspect: a man of somber hue.


At UFC 98, two prominent names in the organization who share the same first name, Matt, squared off for a place in the welterweight division's top ten.


Matt Hughes, the MMA legend and one-time master of the slam, took on Matt Serra, a solid BJJ practitioner who also possesses heavy hands. Hughes, admittedly or not, is fighting for relevance in a division he no longer rules. Serra ruled over the 170 lb. class more recently, but for a time frame similar to how long humans have ruled the Earth in comparison to how old the planet is...a proverbial blink of an eye.


Matt "The Terra" Serra looked ready. He appeared prepared to continue waging his ongoing battle to crawl out from under the "one hit wonder win over Georges St. Pierre" shadow. Going into this fight, it seemed ideal in that respect too. Serra would be dangerous, being the heavier handed fighter, should it remain a stand up war, and with his high level of Jiu-Jitsu equally dangerous against a wrestler who will look to dump him on his back.


So what exactly happened?


We saw a hue of Hughes we continue to see more of since he's lost in recent years. He no longer provides the crowd pleasing, high, back-breaking slams, but instead, churns out a slew of outside leg trips and smooth double-leg take-downs.


Now what, you may ask, is wrong with that? - Well, nothing at first.

The problem comes when Hughes does what MMA fans the world over call "laying and praying." It's often done by one fighter, to simply smother their opponent so as to get a rest, tire them out or literally make time to pray that the referee stands both fighters back up.


It is a pretty strong accusation to make, especially when talking about one of the UFC's finest, in Matt Hughes. However, I cannot recall one submission attempt by Hughes, at any point when the action (or lack thereof) was on the ground.


Hughes did what a wrestler who does not know any submissions would do, merely controlling his opponent, holding him down and sustaining dominant position (See Lesnar versus Herring for another example, as Brock took his back and rode him like a rodeo bull, ignoring the rear naked choke entirely).


The frustrating thing to watch was how Serra was unable to move fluidly beneath him, making Hughes work and fend off submissions. It was only in the third round that the official began to stand them up more and wait less time before doing it.


Round two was very much like watching Hughes laying on a raft in a pool.

He got on top of it, stayed balanced on it and chilled out. No question he is strong as an ox to be able to smother a guy like Serra, but he really did not help his cause very much either.


Having recently read reviews of the entire fight card, which was awesome to me, but more specifically, about Hughes and if he deserves a title shot now, I am not unsure about how I see that, at all.


Did Matt Hughes win the fight over Matt Serra? Yes.


Was the fight close enough to be a split decision? Yes, I thought it was going to be a split.


Did Hughes' performance scream title shot against St. Pierre? I'd say it did not even whisper it.


It would not be a bad thing to have Hughes take on another fight or two, against top level guys, before saying, "He's back!"How about testing his resolve and desire to reign over the welterweights by making him take on Anthony "Rumble" Johnson, who will relentlessly push the pace and not likely get pinned down like a beaten WWE guy about to lose?


This review is an assessment of what happened in UFC 98, Hughes versus Serra. There is no question how talented, strong and iconic Matt Hughes has been in his dominant UFC career. But, in all of combat sports, you do not get to declare superiority long after your performances stop displaying it.


The old hues of Matt Hughes will always remain impressive. Sadly, fighters often remain competitive when it is no longer within their ability or desire to be that great anymore. As a result, fans like us are let down because after having heard their name mentioned on a fight card, we found hope that the hues that made us love them, just might inexplicably, show up that night too.

- YACMAN
www.yacandjshow.com