By Ron ‘The Yacman’ Yacovetti –Commentator for Call to Arms MMAwww.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
Post a Comment