So I had the first kickboxing class I knew I would suck at yesterday. High kicks. I am not bendy enough in the groin or hips to throw kicks higher than waist, or maybe ribcage. Nevertheless, I soldiered through, and at least I didn't fall. We then slapped on the shin guards, and did some very light kick and checking drills. My legs are starting to get tougher, but we were going pretty light, and I know most of these guys are much better than the light drilling we did. Still, progress is progress.
Jiu jitsu was just a full class of grappling. Me and the guy I rolled with went for nearly 15 minutes, but I couldn't tap him, and he got me twice. The second time he got a choke in pretty tight, and smashed my Adam's apple, and now I got a bit of a sore throat. It kinda sucks, but it's the kind of mistake I wont make again. I did manage to tap a different guy out with a triangle choke, and escaped the ankle lock he tapped me out with a few weeks ago. Now my throat hurts, but I still have a decent idea of what I need to improve on in the grappling aspect.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
MMA and me; day 17
Another boxing class devoted to defense and core workouts has kicked my ass once again. We worked on catching jabs, and dipping into straights and hooks to minimize their impact. I'm still working the timing of really leaning into the punch to take away their power, but I'm getting there. We also did sit ups with medicine balls, and the ever popular plank position to finish things up. I'm not saying I'll have movie star abs at some point, but when my abdominal muscles finally make their triumphant comeback, don't say I didn't warn you.
Grappling was a nice amount of conditioning and technique. After getting nicely warmed up, we did a lot of work from the X-Guard, and sweeps from there. This position and subsequent sweeps necessitates a good amount of hip flexibility, which I currently don't have. Like everything else I've been learning, repetition and working with solid partners helps immensely. I feel my grappling coming along at a pace that I'm happy with, and the coaches are right, the Internet is an amazing resource for video instruction, and Marcelo Garcia is a frighteningly good grappler. Let me rephrase that. He's the best in the world. Check him out.
Grappling was a nice amount of conditioning and technique. After getting nicely warmed up, we did a lot of work from the X-Guard, and sweeps from there. This position and subsequent sweeps necessitates a good amount of hip flexibility, which I currently don't have. Like everything else I've been learning, repetition and working with solid partners helps immensely. I feel my grappling coming along at a pace that I'm happy with, and the coaches are right, the Internet is an amazing resource for video instruction, and Marcelo Garcia is a frighteningly good grappler. Let me rephrase that. He's the best in the world. Check him out.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
MMA and me; day 16
So I went camping over the weekend, and promptly came down with some kind of bug Sunday morning. I almost didn't go to MMA yesterday, flip flopped over it a couple of times actually. Then finally decided that a good sweat could be beneficial, and went and worked out. Kickboxing was fun, we started mixing punches with kicks, but eating leg kicks in the thigh doesn't feel good.
The whole jiu jitsu class was armbar, triangle, omoplata. There were three of us big guys, and we got a lot of the transitions worked through. We then got a decent amount of grappling in, and I got tapped several times. I'm chalking it up to being slightly weary, but I also need to be more aggressive, and go for the subs with a little more authority.
The whole jiu jitsu class was armbar, triangle, omoplata. There were three of us big guys, and we got a lot of the transitions worked through. We then got a decent amount of grappling in, and I got tapped several times. I'm chalking it up to being slightly weary, but I also need to be more aggressive, and go for the subs with a little more authority.
Friday, September 24, 2010
MMA and me; day 15
Boxing yesterday was AWESOME! Everything was different. Instead of jumping ropes, we ran laps for ten minutes. We did a TON of ab and core work outs, and then we worked combos on the heavy bag, plus we learned..... THE SPINNING BACKFIST!!!! Man that is a fun move that would just knock someone silly! It was a great class, and despite being sore as hell, I feel great, and the people in the classes are just amazing people.
Jiu jitsu was more sweeps form half guard, and though we did it earlier in the week, it was still fun, and still hard. A lot of these moves I try and muscle my way through, and I need to remind myself that I need to calm down, and be smooth, and firm, not super strong. I feel myself getting better at the grappling pretty quickly, but I know I still have quite a ways to go before I am happy with my performance. It's fun as hell, and I can't think of a better way to get in shape.
Jiu jitsu was more sweeps form half guard, and though we did it earlier in the week, it was still fun, and still hard. A lot of these moves I try and muscle my way through, and I need to remind myself that I need to calm down, and be smooth, and firm, not super strong. I feel myself getting better at the grappling pretty quickly, but I know I still have quite a ways to go before I am happy with my performance. It's fun as hell, and I can't think of a better way to get in shape.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
UFC 119
Normally I like this previews to be long winded, and sometimes I even throw a little of what I like to call "insightful perspective". Being a bit short on personal time this week, it's going to have to be short, and sweet, and still probably quite long.
Here we go....
Melvin "The Young Assassin" Guillard vs. Jeremy "Lil' Heathen" Stephens
lightweight
I will say this much, this fight will most likely be fight of the night. Both fighters like to stand there and trade punches with their opponents, and both guys hit like an enraged gorilla. Normally this would mean someone is going to sleep early, but with the stout chins of both fighters, this promises to be an all out war.
Stephens has been up and down in his MMA career, but has provided the UFC with some fantastic highlights so far. Stephens is becoming more than just the brawler he was when he first entered the UFC. He now utilizes his wrestling to get him out of bad spots, and is much more judicious about his striking, as evidenced by his solid performance against Sam Stout last May. All this considered, he's only 24, and has many years ahead of him, but he's becoming quite the well rounded fighter. Submission defense is a bit worrisome, but against Guillard, it's probably not much of a concern.
Guillard has an impressive highlight reel of his own, and since joining Greg Jacksons gym, has really started to become a dangerously well rounded fighter. With blinding speed, and a penchant for dropping opponents with strikes to the body (ouch) Guillard is finally starting to build off the hype he generated when he competed on TUF. An enormous lightweight, he's been susceptible to submissions on the ground, much like Stephens, but his defense is getting better, and against Stephens, it's probabl not much of a concern, as against someone like Nate Diaz.
I said it before, and I stand by it, this will be Fight of the Night. It may even go the distance, which if it does, I think Stephens gets the nod. His wrestling is better, and he has never been KO'd. For that matter neither has Guillard, but with two tough guys just going toe to toe, and being evenly matched, the slight grappling advantage lies with Stephens, and after three crazy rounds, he gets the judges nod, if only barely.
Stephens via Split Decision.
Sean "The Muscle Shark" vs. Evan Dunham
lightweight
After a 16 month layoff, Sean Sherk returns to the UFC. Several injuries have derailed fights, but now healthy, Sherk is ready to begin his ascension back to the top of the lightweight division. He'll have to do it against a new up and comer in Dunham, who has been nothing short of spectacular in his first four fights in the octagon, winning them all.
Sherk is one of the most dangerous wrestlers, and ground and pound fighters at 155, but in his last fight against current champ Frankie Edgar, he looked to demonstrate his striking skills, and completely outclassed. If he tries that against the significantly longer limbed Dunham, it could prove to be another long night. If he manages to get this fight to the ground, something wrestling standouts Tyson Griffin and Efrain Excudero had difficulty doing, he still has to contend with the submission ability of Dunham, which is also strong. All signs point to Sherk having a rough go with Dunham this Saturday.
Dunham is 28, nearly ten years the junior of Sherk, and has been on a tear in his UFC career. With strong wrestling, solid striking, and a surprisingly stout ground game, he's rapidly pushing his way to the top of the lightweight division, and with a win over Sherk, he could find himself one fight away from getting that chance. He cannot look past Sherk though. "The Muscle Shark" is always in fantastic shape, and can push the pace for the entire fight. Despite Sherk's short stature, he still has crisp, powerful strikes, and if he gets you on the ground, has smothering top control, with nasty ground and pound. Dunham may struggle in getting Sherk to the ground, and will most likely try his luck on the feet, using his length to keep Sherk at bay. If Dunham cannot stuff the takedown, he could be in for a long night of getting pounded.
Dunham looks like the real deal, and Sherk has a lot of factors going against him in this fight. Age, ring rust, reach, and against someone as hungry as Dunham, it's just going to be too much to overcome. Dunham will beat Sherk in every aspect of the fight for three straight rounds, and get his hands raised in a very lopsided decision victory.
Dunham via Unanimous Decision
Chris "Lights Out" Lytle vs. Matt "The Terror" Serra
welterweight
In a rematch of the 170 pound finale of the fourth season of TUF, we are guaranteed to have a more exciting fight. Serra won a very close split decision, that many felt Lytle deserved the victory, and with a shot at then and current welterweight champ Georges St. Pierre, both men were very cautious, and did their best to avoid mistakes. In this fight, with a little less at stake, we're most likely going to see a great matchup with a terrific grappler and underrated striker in Serra, against a terrific striker and underrated grappler in Lytle.
Lets get one thing out of the way immediately, the chances of this fight going the distance are pretty high. Both men have durable chins, and better than average submission defense. Neither fighter has ever been submitted, and between the nearly 70 combined fights they've logged, there have been only four total losses by KO or TKO. They're tough, talented, and looking to reassert themselves in the welterweight division.
It all comes down to who can impose their will on the other, and who can keep their head when the fight plan goes out the window. Lytle needs to use his superior boxing to take advantage of his reach, and keep Serra at a distance. Mixing his punches with kicks will keep Serra off balance, and force the Long Island native to try and take the fight to the mat. Once it gets there, which it will because Serra is too determined, and too good a grappler to not score at least a takedown or two, it will be in Lytle's best interest to get back to standing as quickly as possible. Serra has a stifling top game, and is always looking to ground and pound, or snag a submission. This fight hinges on how long Serra stays on top in those situations, and how much damage he can cause from the top. If Lytle stays out of trouble on the ground, it's his fight to win. He has the better boxing, and is more than comfortable eating a few shots to counter with his own, and he's got the chin to take a few of Serra's wild haymakers. After three rounds of back and forth, Lytle gets a well deserved victory, and if not for Guillard-Stephens, probably the fight of the night.
Lytle via Unanimous Decision.
Antonio Rogerio "Minotoro" Nogueira vs. Ryan "Darth" Bader
lightheavyweight
After scoring a nasty knockout of seasoned vet Keith Jardine, Bader continues to get a higher caliber opponent as he faces off with the man affectionately known as "Lil Nog". A win against Nogueira could catapult Bader into a position to make a run at the title, whereas Nogueira needs to prove that his extremely controversial split decision victory over Jason Brilz, was a combination of a lot of odd flukes, that wont happen again.
Bader is a powerhouse wrestler, with a right hand Dan Henderson would be proud of. No longer content to rely strictly on wrestling and ground and pound, Bader has also developed a solid, simple striking skill set. Against a fighter like Nogueira, he may want to get back to his roots, considering the troubles Brilz gave Nogueira with his own wrestling, and top control. Even if the fight goes to the ground with Bader on top, Nogueira is a crafty grappler, more than capable of snaring a wayward limb if Bader isn't careful. "Darth" has a lot going for him heading into this fight, but he must take caution in all areas.
Nogueira is an extremely talented boxer, and very accomplished grappler as well. In his very close win over Brilz, who was a late replacement for Forrest Griffin, Nogueira had a hard time stopping takedowns, and was nearly choked out. He'll need to be even more wary of the takedown, and the hands of Bader as well. If this were a straight up boxing match, Noguiera would win 99 time out of 100, but adding in the factors of MMA, and you get a much better match.
Nogueira is going to want to keep the fight standing, and as soon as Bader doesn't feel comfortable there, he'll try and take things to the mat. If Nogueira hasn't improved his takedown defense, he'll end up on the bottom, where despite his impressive arsenal of sweeps and submissions, will be hard pressed to mount some offense. I'm thinking Bader is hungrier, and will look to prove he belongs in the upper echelon of light heavyweights. In the early moments of round three, a weary Nogueira will get finished, and handed his first "real" UFC loss.
Bader via TKO, Rd. 3
Frank Mir vs. Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic
heavyweight
Filling in on short notice for the injured Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Cro Cop brings an entirely different fight style to the octagon than Mir was initially preparing for. Instead of the solid boxer, with a tough chin and great ground skills, Cro Cop possesses devastating power in the standup game, from all limbs, and an underrated ability to avoid damage on the ground, before scrambling back to the feet. Mir will need to be very cautious in the striking department, and when the fight goes to the mat, he had better do everything he can to grab something and twist, because while the cardio of Mir is improving, the last thing you want to do against Cro Cop in the later rounds is hang your hands and catch a kick upside your head.
In the last year, Mir has fought with his weight as low as 245, and looked lean and fast, and as high as 265 with considerably more muscle and power. Both had their ups and downs, and it seems as though he's settled on less power lifting, and not making size and muscle as much of a factor in training. He has knock out power, but his bread and butter is grappling and submissions. If he can get Cro Cop down, his slight size and strength advantage could help end the night in a hurry, but he still has to watch out for the legs and hands of one the most devastating strikers MMA has ever seen.
While Cro Cop is no doubt approaching the twilight of his career, his win over Pat Barry has improved his stock somewhat in the UFCs heavyweight division. A win over Mir will boost it even more. A very patient striker, Cro Cop has quick counter punches and kicks, and makes his opponents come to him. If you over extend yourself, you're getting cracked. If you drop your hands, you're getting cracked. If you get sloppy with your strikes, well, you get the picture. Though not much of a ground or submission fighter, Cro Cop has had some success with avoiding damage on the ground, and eventually getting back to his feet. Mir is going to need to replicate Gabriel Gonzaga's game plan, which involved takedowns to smothering top control, and using brutal ground and pound to wear out Cro Cop. Though not well known for causing damage from the top, Mir has a nasty assortment of submissions he can throw, and then chain together if necessary. How well Cro Cop can defend these will be crucial.
All in all, this should be an entertaining fight, if not a long one. Mir should try and get it to the mat quickly, because even if he can out strike Cro Cop, the Croatian is frighteningly tough, and wont go down easily. Mir will get this fight to the ground though, and when he does, it'll be all but academic. Mir will notch another submission win, late in the first, and start his climb back towards Mt. Lesnar.
Mir via submission (kimura) Rd. 1
Here we go....
Melvin "The Young Assassin" Guillard vs. Jeremy "Lil' Heathen" Stephens
lightweight
I will say this much, this fight will most likely be fight of the night. Both fighters like to stand there and trade punches with their opponents, and both guys hit like an enraged gorilla. Normally this would mean someone is going to sleep early, but with the stout chins of both fighters, this promises to be an all out war.
Stephens has been up and down in his MMA career, but has provided the UFC with some fantastic highlights so far. Stephens is becoming more than just the brawler he was when he first entered the UFC. He now utilizes his wrestling to get him out of bad spots, and is much more judicious about his striking, as evidenced by his solid performance against Sam Stout last May. All this considered, he's only 24, and has many years ahead of him, but he's becoming quite the well rounded fighter. Submission defense is a bit worrisome, but against Guillard, it's probably not much of a concern.
Guillard has an impressive highlight reel of his own, and since joining Greg Jacksons gym, has really started to become a dangerously well rounded fighter. With blinding speed, and a penchant for dropping opponents with strikes to the body (ouch) Guillard is finally starting to build off the hype he generated when he competed on TUF. An enormous lightweight, he's been susceptible to submissions on the ground, much like Stephens, but his defense is getting better, and against Stephens, it's probabl not much of a concern, as against someone like Nate Diaz.
I said it before, and I stand by it, this will be Fight of the Night. It may even go the distance, which if it does, I think Stephens gets the nod. His wrestling is better, and he has never been KO'd. For that matter neither has Guillard, but with two tough guys just going toe to toe, and being evenly matched, the slight grappling advantage lies with Stephens, and after three crazy rounds, he gets the judges nod, if only barely.
Stephens via Split Decision.
Sean "The Muscle Shark" vs. Evan Dunham
lightweight
After a 16 month layoff, Sean Sherk returns to the UFC. Several injuries have derailed fights, but now healthy, Sherk is ready to begin his ascension back to the top of the lightweight division. He'll have to do it against a new up and comer in Dunham, who has been nothing short of spectacular in his first four fights in the octagon, winning them all.
Sherk is one of the most dangerous wrestlers, and ground and pound fighters at 155, but in his last fight against current champ Frankie Edgar, he looked to demonstrate his striking skills, and completely outclassed. If he tries that against the significantly longer limbed Dunham, it could prove to be another long night. If he manages to get this fight to the ground, something wrestling standouts Tyson Griffin and Efrain Excudero had difficulty doing, he still has to contend with the submission ability of Dunham, which is also strong. All signs point to Sherk having a rough go with Dunham this Saturday.
Dunham is 28, nearly ten years the junior of Sherk, and has been on a tear in his UFC career. With strong wrestling, solid striking, and a surprisingly stout ground game, he's rapidly pushing his way to the top of the lightweight division, and with a win over Sherk, he could find himself one fight away from getting that chance. He cannot look past Sherk though. "The Muscle Shark" is always in fantastic shape, and can push the pace for the entire fight. Despite Sherk's short stature, he still has crisp, powerful strikes, and if he gets you on the ground, has smothering top control, with nasty ground and pound. Dunham may struggle in getting Sherk to the ground, and will most likely try his luck on the feet, using his length to keep Sherk at bay. If Dunham cannot stuff the takedown, he could be in for a long night of getting pounded.
Dunham looks like the real deal, and Sherk has a lot of factors going against him in this fight. Age, ring rust, reach, and against someone as hungry as Dunham, it's just going to be too much to overcome. Dunham will beat Sherk in every aspect of the fight for three straight rounds, and get his hands raised in a very lopsided decision victory.
Dunham via Unanimous Decision
Chris "Lights Out" Lytle vs. Matt "The Terror" Serra
welterweight
In a rematch of the 170 pound finale of the fourth season of TUF, we are guaranteed to have a more exciting fight. Serra won a very close split decision, that many felt Lytle deserved the victory, and with a shot at then and current welterweight champ Georges St. Pierre, both men were very cautious, and did their best to avoid mistakes. In this fight, with a little less at stake, we're most likely going to see a great matchup with a terrific grappler and underrated striker in Serra, against a terrific striker and underrated grappler in Lytle.
Lets get one thing out of the way immediately, the chances of this fight going the distance are pretty high. Both men have durable chins, and better than average submission defense. Neither fighter has ever been submitted, and between the nearly 70 combined fights they've logged, there have been only four total losses by KO or TKO. They're tough, talented, and looking to reassert themselves in the welterweight division.
It all comes down to who can impose their will on the other, and who can keep their head when the fight plan goes out the window. Lytle needs to use his superior boxing to take advantage of his reach, and keep Serra at a distance. Mixing his punches with kicks will keep Serra off balance, and force the Long Island native to try and take the fight to the mat. Once it gets there, which it will because Serra is too determined, and too good a grappler to not score at least a takedown or two, it will be in Lytle's best interest to get back to standing as quickly as possible. Serra has a stifling top game, and is always looking to ground and pound, or snag a submission. This fight hinges on how long Serra stays on top in those situations, and how much damage he can cause from the top. If Lytle stays out of trouble on the ground, it's his fight to win. He has the better boxing, and is more than comfortable eating a few shots to counter with his own, and he's got the chin to take a few of Serra's wild haymakers. After three rounds of back and forth, Lytle gets a well deserved victory, and if not for Guillard-Stephens, probably the fight of the night.
Lytle via Unanimous Decision.
Antonio Rogerio "Minotoro" Nogueira vs. Ryan "Darth" Bader
lightheavyweight
After scoring a nasty knockout of seasoned vet Keith Jardine, Bader continues to get a higher caliber opponent as he faces off with the man affectionately known as "Lil Nog". A win against Nogueira could catapult Bader into a position to make a run at the title, whereas Nogueira needs to prove that his extremely controversial split decision victory over Jason Brilz, was a combination of a lot of odd flukes, that wont happen again.
Bader is a powerhouse wrestler, with a right hand Dan Henderson would be proud of. No longer content to rely strictly on wrestling and ground and pound, Bader has also developed a solid, simple striking skill set. Against a fighter like Nogueira, he may want to get back to his roots, considering the troubles Brilz gave Nogueira with his own wrestling, and top control. Even if the fight goes to the ground with Bader on top, Nogueira is a crafty grappler, more than capable of snaring a wayward limb if Bader isn't careful. "Darth" has a lot going for him heading into this fight, but he must take caution in all areas.
Nogueira is an extremely talented boxer, and very accomplished grappler as well. In his very close win over Brilz, who was a late replacement for Forrest Griffin, Nogueira had a hard time stopping takedowns, and was nearly choked out. He'll need to be even more wary of the takedown, and the hands of Bader as well. If this were a straight up boxing match, Noguiera would win 99 time out of 100, but adding in the factors of MMA, and you get a much better match.
Nogueira is going to want to keep the fight standing, and as soon as Bader doesn't feel comfortable there, he'll try and take things to the mat. If Nogueira hasn't improved his takedown defense, he'll end up on the bottom, where despite his impressive arsenal of sweeps and submissions, will be hard pressed to mount some offense. I'm thinking Bader is hungrier, and will look to prove he belongs in the upper echelon of light heavyweights. In the early moments of round three, a weary Nogueira will get finished, and handed his first "real" UFC loss.
Bader via TKO, Rd. 3
Frank Mir vs. Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic
heavyweight
Filling in on short notice for the injured Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Cro Cop brings an entirely different fight style to the octagon than Mir was initially preparing for. Instead of the solid boxer, with a tough chin and great ground skills, Cro Cop possesses devastating power in the standup game, from all limbs, and an underrated ability to avoid damage on the ground, before scrambling back to the feet. Mir will need to be very cautious in the striking department, and when the fight goes to the mat, he had better do everything he can to grab something and twist, because while the cardio of Mir is improving, the last thing you want to do against Cro Cop in the later rounds is hang your hands and catch a kick upside your head.
In the last year, Mir has fought with his weight as low as 245, and looked lean and fast, and as high as 265 with considerably more muscle and power. Both had their ups and downs, and it seems as though he's settled on less power lifting, and not making size and muscle as much of a factor in training. He has knock out power, but his bread and butter is grappling and submissions. If he can get Cro Cop down, his slight size and strength advantage could help end the night in a hurry, but he still has to watch out for the legs and hands of one the most devastating strikers MMA has ever seen.
While Cro Cop is no doubt approaching the twilight of his career, his win over Pat Barry has improved his stock somewhat in the UFCs heavyweight division. A win over Mir will boost it even more. A very patient striker, Cro Cop has quick counter punches and kicks, and makes his opponents come to him. If you over extend yourself, you're getting cracked. If you drop your hands, you're getting cracked. If you get sloppy with your strikes, well, you get the picture. Though not much of a ground or submission fighter, Cro Cop has had some success with avoiding damage on the ground, and eventually getting back to his feet. Mir is going to need to replicate Gabriel Gonzaga's game plan, which involved takedowns to smothering top control, and using brutal ground and pound to wear out Cro Cop. Though not well known for causing damage from the top, Mir has a nasty assortment of submissions he can throw, and then chain together if necessary. How well Cro Cop can defend these will be crucial.
All in all, this should be an entertaining fight, if not a long one. Mir should try and get it to the mat quickly, because even if he can out strike Cro Cop, the Croatian is frighteningly tough, and wont go down easily. Mir will get this fight to the ground though, and when he does, it'll be all but academic. Mir will notch another submission win, late in the first, and start his climb back towards Mt. Lesnar.
Mir via submission (kimura) Rd. 1
MMA and me; day 14
In kickboxing yesterday, I realized that if I ever want to be able to throw high kicks, I'm going to need to improve my flexibility. That being said, I'm starting to get the form for a proper mid level 10 down pretty well. I'm still having issues with the 9, but that's mostly due to it being my off leg, and again, flexibility.
We did more half guard work in jiu jitsu again, except this time we covered passing the half guard from top, instead of sweeps from the bottom. This was a lot of fun, and it was cool rolling with a new guy. I did feel bad for him when we added an arm triangle to the end of the final pass. Being a broad shouldered, thick necked individual, it's difficult for someone with slightly shorter arms to sink that choke in really deep, but he still did well.
Fun classes, and at the two week mark, I feel like things are coming along nicely.
We did more half guard work in jiu jitsu again, except this time we covered passing the half guard from top, instead of sweeps from the bottom. This was a lot of fun, and it was cool rolling with a new guy. I did feel bad for him when we added an arm triangle to the end of the final pass. Being a broad shouldered, thick necked individual, it's difficult for someone with slightly shorter arms to sink that choke in really deep, but he still did well.
Fun classes, and at the two week mark, I feel like things are coming along nicely.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
MMA and me; day 13
Boxing was nice and simple. Worked on the jab, the 1-2. And the 1-2-3. I'm starting to feel much more comfortable when throwing my 2, but I'm still not putting enough of my body into the three. I'm starting to get a lot more power in the entire combo, and that feels awesome.
In jiu jitsu, we once again went over the armbar-triangle-omoplata transition, which is one of my favorites. We then covered 4 sweeps from half guard, and since I was rolling with one of the more experienced members, I got a very thorough and step by step instruction of each.
Side note, Tony, the guy I was doing the jiu jitsu with, has lost over 130 pounds since he started doing MMA two years ago. Also, he's not just a guy who does this to stay in shape, he's quite good at it, and a great teacher. Pretty inspiring!
In jiu jitsu, we once again went over the armbar-triangle-omoplata transition, which is one of my favorites. We then covered 4 sweeps from half guard, and since I was rolling with one of the more experienced members, I got a very thorough and step by step instruction of each.
Side note, Tony, the guy I was doing the jiu jitsu with, has lost over 130 pounds since he started doing MMA two years ago. Also, he's not just a guy who does this to stay in shape, he's quite good at it, and a great teacher. Pretty inspiring!
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
MMA and me; day 12
Yesterday was a rough day of training, but it was all my fault. Going to the Puyallup Fair for six hours and eating a bunch of garbage, does not prepare your body properly for working out. I did go though, and despite not feeling 100%, made it through both classes. Kick boxing was more body kicks, and all we did was work on 9s and 10s. Hopefully tomorrow we'll add punches to those combinations, but I think that until I learn to throw the kicks properly, I'll stick with those.
Grappling was mostly new stuff. Working in a leg lace from bottom half guard, and then three different sweeps from there.Getting the legs wrapped around your opponent will not always be easy, but once you do, there are a ton of options to gain the upper hand. I really liked these sweeps, and if my brother and I hadn't been in such crappy condition, we probably would have done some free grappling after class. As it is, I'll get some in today.
Grappling was mostly new stuff. Working in a leg lace from bottom half guard, and then three different sweeps from there.Getting the legs wrapped around your opponent will not always be easy, but once you do, there are a ton of options to gain the upper hand. I really liked these sweeps, and if my brother and I hadn't been in such crappy condition, we probably would have done some free grappling after class. As it is, I'll get some in today.
Saturday, September 18, 2010
MMA and me; day 11
SO I wasn't actually planning on going to the gym yesterday, but when I got home, Cherrish had work she needed to get caught up on, and I had an hour to kill. I figured, why not go check out a class I've never been to before? On the schedule, they had an MMA class, not just boxing or grappling, and I headed over to get my seat on.
When I arrived, I found out that it was going to be a sparring class, and I became concerned. I don't have all the equipment, or hours logged in classes yet to be comfortable with sparring, but I figured, what's the worst thing that could happen. An hour later, my lips are bloody, my head is spinning, and I'm the most tired I've been in quite a while. It may be a few more months before I'm ready to spar again, but that was a great experience to show me what I need to work on.
When I arrived, I found out that it was going to be a sparring class, and I became concerned. I don't have all the equipment, or hours logged in classes yet to be comfortable with sparring, but I figured, what's the worst thing that could happen. An hour later, my lips are bloody, my head is spinning, and I'm the most tired I've been in quite a while. It may be a few more months before I'm ready to spar again, but that was a great experience to show me what I need to work on.
Friday, September 17, 2010
MMA and me; day 10
Another day of boxing and grappling in the books, and another tired and sore body the next day. In boxing, we worked on combos where after two punches, we slip the jab the person holding the focus throws, then follow up with more punches after that. Footwork, and balance are so much more important when it comes to punching then I ever realized. When your feet start to get out of whack, your punches start to look terrible. I still find myself throwing my punches really hard, instead of being fluid and smooth. Power will come in time. Until then, fluidity and form need to be my most important focuses.
In grappling, it was more of a conditioning, and free grappling day, than a technique day. Coach ran us through several drills to work strength, physical and mental, and then had us grapple for the last half hour. I tell you, sometimes grappling for any amount at the end of two hours is rough, but for this long of a period, WHEW! Again, this makes me realize that I need to work even harder to get into the shape I need to be in, if I have any serious aspirations of competing in any capacity. Still, I'm having a hell of a good time.
In grappling, it was more of a conditioning, and free grappling day, than a technique day. Coach ran us through several drills to work strength, physical and mental, and then had us grapple for the last half hour. I tell you, sometimes grappling for any amount at the end of two hours is rough, but for this long of a period, WHEW! Again, this makes me realize that I need to work even harder to get into the shape I need to be in, if I have any serious aspirations of competing in any capacity. Still, I'm having a hell of a good time.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
MMA and me; day 9
Whoo hoo! No leg kick drills involving shin guards yesterday! Wait, we still did leg kick drills, and despite the quite thick kick shields we were using, my leg still doesn't feel happy. Outer thigh, no problem. Inner thigh, on the other hand, oochamagooch! Have I mentioned that my brother kicks like a mule? I never truly appreciated how much leg kicks could affect a fight, but after this week's kickboxing drills, I am starting to understand how firing off 10+ of these suckers in a three round fight could really alter your movement, and change the momentum.
Jiu jitsu was all about passing the guard. These drills really drove home the fact that I need to work on my flexibility, and when it comes to elbows on the inner thigh, my pain tolerance is pretty much none existent. We did the breakdown of the guard, passing the inner knee across instead of the outer into high judo, transitioning to side control, and from there we worked a snap armbar. I really liked this series, mostly because it showed how to get past the guard in ways I had never seen before, plus anything that ends in an armbar is pretty sweet!
Jiu jitsu was all about passing the guard. These drills really drove home the fact that I need to work on my flexibility, and when it comes to elbows on the inner thigh, my pain tolerance is pretty much none existent. We did the breakdown of the guard, passing the inner knee across instead of the outer into high judo, transitioning to side control, and from there we worked a snap armbar. I really liked this series, mostly because it showed how to get past the guard in ways I had never seen before, plus anything that ends in an armbar is pretty sweet!
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
MMA and me; day 8
I'd like to consider myself a decent athlete, and I know that despite that athleticism, I still wont be picking things up right away. In my head, I expect myself to get the hang of things right away, and when I don't, I get frustrated. During boxing class last night, I was having a hard time with my footwork, and it was really bugging me. I'm not going to be a world class boxer, I know this. I'm also not going to be a half decent striker, so I think I need to stop being so hard on myself and remember why I'm doing this. All in all, I'm having fun, and the weight is starting to come off, so all else be damned.
Jiu jitsu class was more arm triangles, which was fun, and then some light grappling. My downfall, was not eating properly yesterday. I had a decent breakfast before noon, but then didn't eat hardly at all between then and class, big mistake. I need to make sure I'm fueling my body, as well as hydrating it. I've been going to the gym for nearly a month now, and that was the second worst I felt after a class, with number one being the first day. Let's just say, it wont happen again.
Jiu jitsu class was more arm triangles, which was fun, and then some light grappling. My downfall, was not eating properly yesterday. I had a decent breakfast before noon, but then didn't eat hardly at all between then and class, big mistake. I need to make sure I'm fueling my body, as well as hydrating it. I've been going to the gym for nearly a month now, and that was the second worst I felt after a class, with number one being the first day. Let's just say, it wont happen again.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
MMA and me; day 7
Well, we did those damn leg kick and leg kick defense drills. Thankfully, I have an awesome brother who picked up shin guards for us. You still don't want to be kicking super hard, but with those bad boys in place, you can actually start do the drills properly. When I was drilling with this guy Tony (I'm pretty sure he could kick my leg in half if he wanted) he showed me that I was kicking incorrectly, and straightened out my technique. A properly thrown leg kick does not feel good, even at less than %50. When we did the plank position, leg lifts, and sit ups at the end of class, I was able to do all of these exercises much better than I have been. I think I'm starting to get in better shape. :)
In jiu jitsu, we worked on obtaining butterfly guard, and then sweeps to get to top position from there. I now know that I need some different shorts for this class, because basketball shorts are too stretchy and absorbent. I also am very glad that I have the leg strength that I do, because a couple of the drills for the butterfly guard are much easier if you have strong legs. The rest of my body still has a ways to go, but as with pretty much any sport, you start from the ground up.
In jiu jitsu, we worked on obtaining butterfly guard, and then sweeps to get to top position from there. I now know that I need some different shorts for this class, because basketball shorts are too stretchy and absorbent. I also am very glad that I have the leg strength that I do, because a couple of the drills for the butterfly guard are much easier if you have strong legs. The rest of my body still has a ways to go, but as with pretty much any sport, you start from the ground up.
Monday, September 13, 2010
UFC Fight Night 22
This Wednesday, the fight card that the UFC is putting up for their 22nd Fight Night is full of fights that will have some significance down the road, but for now, will just be a lot of fun to watch. The main event may have some title relevance for the middleweight division down the road, but with Anderson Silva and Chael Sonnen heading for a rematch early next year, and the Vitor Belfort/ Yushin Okami winner getting the next title shot, all other challengers for the 185 pound strap will just have to continue to prove their worth. The other three main card scraps are all up and coming lightweights, who are scrambling for the right to prove they deserve a shot at new division king, Frankie Edgar. Will we see the next lightweight contender emerge on Wednesday? Perhaps, but until then, lets hope for some great fights.
Ross "The Real Deal" Pearson vs. Cole "Magrinho" Miller
lightweight (155)
Since winning season 9 of The Ultimate Fighter, Pearson has rattled off two more wins against very tough opponents. He'll look to keep his UFC record unblemished against jiu jitsu expert, Miller, and continue his rise to the top of the lightweight division. Miller, also a veteran of the UFC's reality show, has beaten some of the 155 pound stalwarts, and is going to need to keep that up, if he expects to get by Pearson.
"The Real Deal" brings the fight to his opponents, and doesn't let up. With constant pressure, be it in the striking department, or with his heavy top control on the ground, Pearson likes to wear out the other fighter and force them to make mistakes. Against Miller, Pearson is going to need to find a way to get inside the long reach, and do damage from in close. If the fight goes to the ground, Pearson will need to proceed with caution from the top or bottom, due to Miller's extensive submission savvy.
Miller is quite tall for the lightweight division. At 6'1", he stands quite a bit taller than the average 155 pound fighter, and likes to mix up kicks and punches to take advantage of the height, and reach advantage he enjoys. Though far from a novice on his feet, "Magrinho" really excels on the ground. With an extensive array of submissions from both top and bottom positions, he is dangerous everywhere on the ground. Pearson will look to negate the reach by darting in and out with his strikes, and making Miller leave himself open to counter shots. Though the more experienced submission artist, Miller does need to be cautious of the ground and pound of Pearson, which is hard and relentless.
Miller may be the more technically sound fighter, but his ability to absorb damage is not nearly as proven as Pearson, as the UK fighter has been through several three round wars, and come out as the victor. Pearson will want to make this an ugly fight, and drag it into the later rounds. Miller needs to avoid the bulldog-like ability of Pearson to dictate pacing, and keep the fight where it benefits him the most, instead of getting baited into exchanges with Pearson, where the ability to take a punch is definitely not in Miller's favor. This will be a back and forth battle, with Pearson doing more in the standup, but Miller getting the best on the ground. In the end, Pearson's stock continues to rise with a hard fought, well deserved split decision.
Pearson, via Split Decision
Jim Miller vs Gleison Tibau
lightweight
This fight is going to be a clash of two fighters who like to make the fights less than technical, and then take advantage of mistakes by their opponents during scrambles. Tibau is an absolute monster at 155 pounds. I don't know how he makes the weight cut, but he looks like he weighs well over 175 pounds come fight day, yet has never really shown that it affects him too much during his fights. Despite the size advantage he enjoys, along side his wrestling background and bjj black belt, Tibau has never really put it together and strung together wins over quality opponents. Currently on a two fight winning streak, he looks to get a quality win under his belt against the very tough Miller.
Miller has been fighting quality opponents since he first stepped foot in the octagon. With his only loss coming to current number one contender Gray Maynard, Miller is only a few wins away from perhaps getting a title shot of his own. With more than a few similarities to Tibau (strong wrestling experience, and submissions) Miller will need to find a way to overcome the size and strength advantage Tibau enjoys, and continue his own ascent up the lightweight ladder.
Fighting out of the always tough American Top Team, Tibau likes to use his physical tools to bully his opponents, and pressure them into making mistakes he can take advantage of. Having won four of his last five fights, and the lone loss coming via a controversial split decision loss to Melvin Guillard, it seems that Tibau is finally combining mental strength with his already prodigious physical talents. Against Miller, he's going to need to keep calm, and dictate where the fight takes place. When he gets too anxious, he tends to rush things and get sloppy, something he cannot do against a fighter of Miller's level.
With a wrestling background that includes D-1 level college experience, and a bjj black belt of his own, Miller is fighting an opponent who's skill set closely mirrors his own. Where they differ though, is in between the ears. Miller is a very cerebral fighter, and incredibly tenacious. Miller has quick, accurate striking, and quick, vise-like submissions. In this fight, he's going to want to put pressure on Tibau, and force him into scrambles where the Brazilian doesn't usually keep his calm. Provided he can keep the fight where he wants, Miller should be able to do what he wants, when he wants. With someone as big and strong as Tibau, he will need to be very cautious, because a knockout, or submission is right around the corner, if you let your guard down.
This fight has a decent chance of being Fight of the Night. Both fighters like to impose their will on opponents, and break them mentally. If they continue with how they've been fighting, Tibau will come out fast and hard, but Miller will weather the storm. If Tibau can't force Miller to make a mistake early, he may falter, something that Miller is unlikely to do. Tibau will most likely take the first round due to aggression, and pressure, but Miller will use octagon control and striking precision to win the next two, and take the unanimous decision.
Miller via Unanimous Decision
Efrain "Hecho in Mexico" Escudero vs. Charles "do Bronx" Oliviera
lightweight
Escudero has been very impressive in the UFC since winning The Ultimate Fighter almost two years ago. Winning thee of his four UFC fights, he looks to continue his rise through the lightweight ranks against the undefeated, but unproven Oliviera. With only one fight in the UFC under his belt, Oliviera is going to try and keep his undefeated record intact, and prove that he belongs in the upper echelon of lightweights in the world.
Oliviera posted his first 11 wins in smaller brazilian shows, frequently competing in one night tournaments where he would fight multiple opponents in one evening. He holds the rank of brown belt in bjj, and uses his long, lanky frame to lock submissions in tight on the ground, and keep his opponents at bay with his reach, on his feet. When he made his debut in the UFC, it took him only 41 seconds to submit his opponent with an armbar, and now will try and do the same against much stiffer competition.
Escudero burned through season 8 of The Ultimate Fighter, and dominated Phillipe Nover in the final. With a strong wrestling background, and improving stand up, Escudero is going to prove to be the toughest opponent Oliviera has faced to date. Escudero has very good submission defense, and if necessary, has the ability to keep the fight standing, if he doesn't like how the fight is going on the ground. Much like Ross Pearson in his fight against Cole Miller, Escudero is facing a much taller opponent, and will need to get inside the reach of Oliviera to strike effectively, but that may leave him open to getting taken down. The 'X' factor here is how Oliviera deals with being shut down, if the fight stays standing. Escudero is the better wrestler, and will have an easier time keeping the fight where he wants it. How Oliviera deals with that could be the turning point of the fight.
Ultimately, Escudero will decide where this fight takes place, and that could make for a long night, for Oliviera. Escudero has more experience with higher levels of competition, and is unlikely to lose his head if things don't go his way. Oliviera, on the other hand, is less experienced, and there is no way to tell how he'll deal with adverse situations. Expect Escudero to proceed with caution, but pick his spots well, and eventually catch Oliviera with a punch midway through the second round, and pounce on him until the referee calls for the stoppage.
Escudero via TKO, Rd. 2
Nate "The Great" Marquardt vs. Rousimar "Toquinho" Palhares
middleweight (185)
In the main event, we have the only main card fight that is not a lightweight bout, and the winner could very well be headed towards a title shot, should they win convincingly. Palhares, has won four of his five UFC fights, three via submission, and only losing to Dan Henderson. Marquardt has three times the MMA experience that Palhares has, and holds wins over notable fighters such as Martin Kampmann, Jeremy Horn, and Demian Maia. With both men looking to rebound from their last fight, albeit in different ways, this bout should be spectacular.
Even though he won his last fight, Palhares was subsequently suspended for 90 days, due to not releasing the heel hook that forced his opponent to tap out to, in a timely fashion. While his striking game is ever improving, and his takedown offense and defense is strong, his bread and butter remains his grappling and submissions. A bjj black belt, and an incredibly strong fighter, Palhares has a technical wizardry on the ground, that is matched by few in the 185 pound weight class. Against Marquardt though, he may not even get a chance to use that submission acumen.
A former seven time champion of Pancrase in Japan, Marquardt has been fighting professionally since 1999, and is a black belt in bjj as well, though not nearly on the level of Palhares. Marquardt is one of the most well rounded fighters in MMA, with stellar wrestling, strong stand up, and very good grappling skills. A very strong individual, and fairly big for the middleweight division, Marquardt uses crisp stand up, excellent footwork and head movement, to keep his opponents off balance, and when he can work from the top on the ground, has nasty ground and pound. He struggles off his back when on the ground, as evidenced by his fight against Chael Sonnen, and if Palhares can get Marquardt down, it may be a short night for Marquardt.
Palhares is the better submission fighter than Marquardt, but Marquardt is better in every other aspect of the fight game. I expect Marquardt to do everything he can to keep the fight standing, and try to negate the grappling of "Toquinho". With his five inch reach advantage, Marquardt should be able to dictate the stand up, and pick his spots standing. At some point, Palhares will get the fight to the ground, but if it's later, and he's on the bottom, it may not even matter. Marquardt takes this fight, and may even get a stoppage late, by battering Palhares after frustrating him for the majority of the first two rounds.
Marquardt via TKO, Rd. 3
Ross "The Real Deal" Pearson vs. Cole "Magrinho" Miller
lightweight (155)
Since winning season 9 of The Ultimate Fighter, Pearson has rattled off two more wins against very tough opponents. He'll look to keep his UFC record unblemished against jiu jitsu expert, Miller, and continue his rise to the top of the lightweight division. Miller, also a veteran of the UFC's reality show, has beaten some of the 155 pound stalwarts, and is going to need to keep that up, if he expects to get by Pearson.
"The Real Deal" brings the fight to his opponents, and doesn't let up. With constant pressure, be it in the striking department, or with his heavy top control on the ground, Pearson likes to wear out the other fighter and force them to make mistakes. Against Miller, Pearson is going to need to find a way to get inside the long reach, and do damage from in close. If the fight goes to the ground, Pearson will need to proceed with caution from the top or bottom, due to Miller's extensive submission savvy.
Miller is quite tall for the lightweight division. At 6'1", he stands quite a bit taller than the average 155 pound fighter, and likes to mix up kicks and punches to take advantage of the height, and reach advantage he enjoys. Though far from a novice on his feet, "Magrinho" really excels on the ground. With an extensive array of submissions from both top and bottom positions, he is dangerous everywhere on the ground. Pearson will look to negate the reach by darting in and out with his strikes, and making Miller leave himself open to counter shots. Though the more experienced submission artist, Miller does need to be cautious of the ground and pound of Pearson, which is hard and relentless.
Miller may be the more technically sound fighter, but his ability to absorb damage is not nearly as proven as Pearson, as the UK fighter has been through several three round wars, and come out as the victor. Pearson will want to make this an ugly fight, and drag it into the later rounds. Miller needs to avoid the bulldog-like ability of Pearson to dictate pacing, and keep the fight where it benefits him the most, instead of getting baited into exchanges with Pearson, where the ability to take a punch is definitely not in Miller's favor. This will be a back and forth battle, with Pearson doing more in the standup, but Miller getting the best on the ground. In the end, Pearson's stock continues to rise with a hard fought, well deserved split decision.
Pearson, via Split Decision
Jim Miller vs Gleison Tibau
lightweight
This fight is going to be a clash of two fighters who like to make the fights less than technical, and then take advantage of mistakes by their opponents during scrambles. Tibau is an absolute monster at 155 pounds. I don't know how he makes the weight cut, but he looks like he weighs well over 175 pounds come fight day, yet has never really shown that it affects him too much during his fights. Despite the size advantage he enjoys, along side his wrestling background and bjj black belt, Tibau has never really put it together and strung together wins over quality opponents. Currently on a two fight winning streak, he looks to get a quality win under his belt against the very tough Miller.
Miller has been fighting quality opponents since he first stepped foot in the octagon. With his only loss coming to current number one contender Gray Maynard, Miller is only a few wins away from perhaps getting a title shot of his own. With more than a few similarities to Tibau (strong wrestling experience, and submissions) Miller will need to find a way to overcome the size and strength advantage Tibau enjoys, and continue his own ascent up the lightweight ladder.
Fighting out of the always tough American Top Team, Tibau likes to use his physical tools to bully his opponents, and pressure them into making mistakes he can take advantage of. Having won four of his last five fights, and the lone loss coming via a controversial split decision loss to Melvin Guillard, it seems that Tibau is finally combining mental strength with his already prodigious physical talents. Against Miller, he's going to need to keep calm, and dictate where the fight takes place. When he gets too anxious, he tends to rush things and get sloppy, something he cannot do against a fighter of Miller's level.
With a wrestling background that includes D-1 level college experience, and a bjj black belt of his own, Miller is fighting an opponent who's skill set closely mirrors his own. Where they differ though, is in between the ears. Miller is a very cerebral fighter, and incredibly tenacious. Miller has quick, accurate striking, and quick, vise-like submissions. In this fight, he's going to want to put pressure on Tibau, and force him into scrambles where the Brazilian doesn't usually keep his calm. Provided he can keep the fight where he wants, Miller should be able to do what he wants, when he wants. With someone as big and strong as Tibau, he will need to be very cautious, because a knockout, or submission is right around the corner, if you let your guard down.
This fight has a decent chance of being Fight of the Night. Both fighters like to impose their will on opponents, and break them mentally. If they continue with how they've been fighting, Tibau will come out fast and hard, but Miller will weather the storm. If Tibau can't force Miller to make a mistake early, he may falter, something that Miller is unlikely to do. Tibau will most likely take the first round due to aggression, and pressure, but Miller will use octagon control and striking precision to win the next two, and take the unanimous decision.
Miller via Unanimous Decision
Efrain "Hecho in Mexico" Escudero vs. Charles "do Bronx" Oliviera
lightweight
Escudero has been very impressive in the UFC since winning The Ultimate Fighter almost two years ago. Winning thee of his four UFC fights, he looks to continue his rise through the lightweight ranks against the undefeated, but unproven Oliviera. With only one fight in the UFC under his belt, Oliviera is going to try and keep his undefeated record intact, and prove that he belongs in the upper echelon of lightweights in the world.
Oliviera posted his first 11 wins in smaller brazilian shows, frequently competing in one night tournaments where he would fight multiple opponents in one evening. He holds the rank of brown belt in bjj, and uses his long, lanky frame to lock submissions in tight on the ground, and keep his opponents at bay with his reach, on his feet. When he made his debut in the UFC, it took him only 41 seconds to submit his opponent with an armbar, and now will try and do the same against much stiffer competition.
Escudero burned through season 8 of The Ultimate Fighter, and dominated Phillipe Nover in the final. With a strong wrestling background, and improving stand up, Escudero is going to prove to be the toughest opponent Oliviera has faced to date. Escudero has very good submission defense, and if necessary, has the ability to keep the fight standing, if he doesn't like how the fight is going on the ground. Much like Ross Pearson in his fight against Cole Miller, Escudero is facing a much taller opponent, and will need to get inside the reach of Oliviera to strike effectively, but that may leave him open to getting taken down. The 'X' factor here is how Oliviera deals with being shut down, if the fight stays standing. Escudero is the better wrestler, and will have an easier time keeping the fight where he wants it. How Oliviera deals with that could be the turning point of the fight.
Ultimately, Escudero will decide where this fight takes place, and that could make for a long night, for Oliviera. Escudero has more experience with higher levels of competition, and is unlikely to lose his head if things don't go his way. Oliviera, on the other hand, is less experienced, and there is no way to tell how he'll deal with adverse situations. Expect Escudero to proceed with caution, but pick his spots well, and eventually catch Oliviera with a punch midway through the second round, and pounce on him until the referee calls for the stoppage.
Escudero via TKO, Rd. 2
Nate "The Great" Marquardt vs. Rousimar "Toquinho" Palhares
middleweight (185)
In the main event, we have the only main card fight that is not a lightweight bout, and the winner could very well be headed towards a title shot, should they win convincingly. Palhares, has won four of his five UFC fights, three via submission, and only losing to Dan Henderson. Marquardt has three times the MMA experience that Palhares has, and holds wins over notable fighters such as Martin Kampmann, Jeremy Horn, and Demian Maia. With both men looking to rebound from their last fight, albeit in different ways, this bout should be spectacular.
Even though he won his last fight, Palhares was subsequently suspended for 90 days, due to not releasing the heel hook that forced his opponent to tap out to, in a timely fashion. While his striking game is ever improving, and his takedown offense and defense is strong, his bread and butter remains his grappling and submissions. A bjj black belt, and an incredibly strong fighter, Palhares has a technical wizardry on the ground, that is matched by few in the 185 pound weight class. Against Marquardt though, he may not even get a chance to use that submission acumen.
A former seven time champion of Pancrase in Japan, Marquardt has been fighting professionally since 1999, and is a black belt in bjj as well, though not nearly on the level of Palhares. Marquardt is one of the most well rounded fighters in MMA, with stellar wrestling, strong stand up, and very good grappling skills. A very strong individual, and fairly big for the middleweight division, Marquardt uses crisp stand up, excellent footwork and head movement, to keep his opponents off balance, and when he can work from the top on the ground, has nasty ground and pound. He struggles off his back when on the ground, as evidenced by his fight against Chael Sonnen, and if Palhares can get Marquardt down, it may be a short night for Marquardt.
Palhares is the better submission fighter than Marquardt, but Marquardt is better in every other aspect of the fight game. I expect Marquardt to do everything he can to keep the fight standing, and try to negate the grappling of "Toquinho". With his five inch reach advantage, Marquardt should be able to dictate the stand up, and pick his spots standing. At some point, Palhares will get the fight to the ground, but if it's later, and he's on the bottom, it may not even matter. Marquardt takes this fight, and may even get a stoppage late, by battering Palhares after frustrating him for the majority of the first two rounds.
Marquardt via TKO, Rd. 3
Friday, September 10, 2010
MMA and me; day 6
Yesterday was the first time at the gym that was really hard. It wasn't physically difficult though, it was mentally demanding. After a few defensive drills in the boxing class, we did some light sparring from our knees, and let me tell you, getting punched in the face is not an enjoyable thing. I know what you're saying, and it's not how you might think. Yes, getting punched in the face hurts, that's not it though. I am a competitive person, and I cannot stand being bad at anything. I just started this training less than a month ago, so I have a LONG way to go before I will even consider myself competent, but in my head, I want to be good, immediately. All this adds up to getting pummeled, and really not liking it. Where a lot of people would be turned off from this though, I am even more motivated to succeed. Yes, getting punched in the face, but instead of complaining, I'm going to do something about it. I will not be a great boxer, but I will be a good one.
In jiu jitsu, there was only one other guy that stuck around, and we went over three arm triangles; one from mount, one from side control, and one from turtle. The first two I was familiar with, and the third was just cool! It was very familiar from a positional standpoint, harking back to my wrestling days, but it went went in an entirely different direction after that. When we were done with instruction, the other fella, and I, alternated grappling with the instructor Eric. For a guy that professes to not be that strong, he sure has a steel grip.
I'm getting better, slowly but surely. I'm looking forward to where I'll be at three months, six months, and a year, but until then, I'll take my lumps one day at a time, hand some out along the way.
In jiu jitsu, there was only one other guy that stuck around, and we went over three arm triangles; one from mount, one from side control, and one from turtle. The first two I was familiar with, and the third was just cool! It was very familiar from a positional standpoint, harking back to my wrestling days, but it went went in an entirely different direction after that. When we were done with instruction, the other fella, and I, alternated grappling with the instructor Eric. For a guy that professes to not be that strong, he sure has a steel grip.
I'm getting better, slowly but surely. I'm looking forward to where I'll be at three months, six months, and a year, but until then, I'll take my lumps one day at a time, hand some out along the way.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
MMA and me; day 5
Okay, I didn't go for four hours yesterday, but I did go for three. Did two hours of boxing, and an hour of jiu jitsu. The first hour of boxing was combos involving tilting the shoulders off center and throwing punches from different angles. I liked that drill quite a bit. I think its the idea of digging a hook into someones ribcage that appeals to me. Not the act itself, I'm not looking to crack people in the ribs everyh chance I get. Instead, it's body shots in general. It seems fighters are always looking for the home run, and trying to knock people out. It's much easier to take somebody's will to fight away, if you've drastically altered their ability to breath.
The second hour was all footwork, and let me tell you, that exposed a lot of holes. Don't get me wrong, I had no misconceptions about being the next heavyweight champ of the world, but when we were working forward, backward, and lateral movement, it showed me that I'm still VERY new at this.
In jiu jitsu, we drilled leg locks, just like Monday. This time, we incorporated the heel hook, where on Monday, we just briefly touched on it. This move is responsible for a lot of torn up knees, and broken ankles, so you can imagine how slowly we went through it.
All in all, it was a solid day, and my weight is starting to come down. When I get started on the weight training program a buddy at work is throwing together for me, it should all start to come together even better.
Man this is fun!
The second hour was all footwork, and let me tell you, that exposed a lot of holes. Don't get me wrong, I had no misconceptions about being the next heavyweight champ of the world, but when we were working forward, backward, and lateral movement, it showed me that I'm still VERY new at this.
In jiu jitsu, we drilled leg locks, just like Monday. This time, we incorporated the heel hook, where on Monday, we just briefly touched on it. This move is responsible for a lot of torn up knees, and broken ankles, so you can imagine how slowly we went through it.
All in all, it was a solid day, and my weight is starting to come down. When I get started on the weight training program a buddy at work is throwing together for me, it should all start to come together even better.
Man this is fun!
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
MMA and me; day 4
Well, I learned a few things yesterday. 1) I need to get some shin guards, because learning how to check leg kicks without them sucks. 2) When you've never thrown a kick other than while playing soccer (which if you know me, hasn't happened in an actual game since 1995) your attempts at the KICK part of kickboxing look positively atrocious. 3) Ankle locks hurt, a lot.
I woke up this morning with bruises on my shin and foot, sore abs, and the realization that fighters with strong leg kicks are scary dudes indeed. The funny thing, is that I'm not discouraged in the slightest. I'm going back at noon, for two hours, and then going back tonight for another two.
I may be nuts, but I'm going to get my body back into shape, starting with my mind.
I woke up this morning with bruises on my shin and foot, sore abs, and the realization that fighters with strong leg kicks are scary dudes indeed. The funny thing, is that I'm not discouraged in the slightest. I'm going back at noon, for two hours, and then going back tonight for another two.
I may be nuts, but I'm going to get my body back into shape, starting with my mind.
Friday, September 3, 2010
MMA and me; day 3
When you've never been taught how to throw a punch, boxing can be a little difficult. I woke up this morning with an extremely sore knuckle on my left hand, but that could be the result of a number of things, not just throwing punches like a six year old.
I can feel my boxing technique improving, albeit quite slowly. I know I drop my hands, and that is definitely a big no-no. I think it's mostly due to not being in shape, and that's part of the reason I joined the gym in the first place. Luckily I'm familiar with weight transfer, and not using solely my arms, thanks to a lifetime of baseball, so the concept of "punching from the floor up" isn't completely foreign.
In jiu-jitsu, we went over the concept of chain submissions, and having a solid base of techniques to draw from. This is another area where I think I will eventually be very good, but it's just going to take a lot of repetition. After going over a bit of "game theory" as I liked to think of it, we worked on several different arm triangles. Since my brother was there, we of course were matched up. Side note, Daniel joined the gym! Rolling with another big guy, is quite tiring, and showed me that I have a long way to go in the conditioning department. I'll get there, but in the meantime, it's practice, practice, practice! By the way, Daniel is strong as hell, and getting choked by him sucks!
I can feel my boxing technique improving, albeit quite slowly. I know I drop my hands, and that is definitely a big no-no. I think it's mostly due to not being in shape, and that's part of the reason I joined the gym in the first place. Luckily I'm familiar with weight transfer, and not using solely my arms, thanks to a lifetime of baseball, so the concept of "punching from the floor up" isn't completely foreign.
In jiu-jitsu, we went over the concept of chain submissions, and having a solid base of techniques to draw from. This is another area where I think I will eventually be very good, but it's just going to take a lot of repetition. After going over a bit of "game theory" as I liked to think of it, we worked on several different arm triangles. Since my brother was there, we of course were matched up. Side note, Daniel joined the gym! Rolling with another big guy, is quite tiring, and showed me that I have a long way to go in the conditioning department. I'll get there, but in the meantime, it's practice, practice, practice! By the way, Daniel is strong as hell, and getting choked by him sucks!
Thursday, September 2, 2010
MMA and me; Day 2.
So after a breif break to watch Felix Hernandez pitch (surprise! The Mariners scored no runs for him!) I headed back to Shoreline MMA. Again, I spent the first hour doing striking, but this time it was Muy Thai.
We started out doing drills involving the Thai clinch, and knees to the body. We then moved to working with a partner, and throwing the knees three different ways. I feel for the guy I was working with. In these drills, you get paired up with people of comparable size, but I usually end up being a good 30+ pounds bigger than my partner. It doesn't make much of a difference most of the time, but for these drills, we were almost hanging on the other person's neck while throwing the knees into pad that they held. I got a good workout, but I think poor George got put through the wringer when he had to hold up my *ahem* considerable bulk. We finished off with the plank position, and then holding our legs six inches off the ground while laying on our backs, for three minutes each. This was maybe the sweatiest I've been after just one hour of class.
Only a handful of people hung around for jiu-jitsu, which meant that for the armbars we were learning, I got paired up with the instructor, Jack. Whoo hoo! He actually said that my armbar was nice and tight, and it felt much more fluid and solid than the first time we drilled these positions. I'm starting to understand the concepts of going down the checklist of body positioning, and securing certain things before moving on. Jack said he could see me landing armbars a lot, which definitely made me smile. I'm nowhere near thinking about entering any type of competition, but I can see getting amped up for one though. Gotta keep it simple, and work on crawling before I start walking.
We started out doing drills involving the Thai clinch, and knees to the body. We then moved to working with a partner, and throwing the knees three different ways. I feel for the guy I was working with. In these drills, you get paired up with people of comparable size, but I usually end up being a good 30+ pounds bigger than my partner. It doesn't make much of a difference most of the time, but for these drills, we were almost hanging on the other person's neck while throwing the knees into pad that they held. I got a good workout, but I think poor George got put through the wringer when he had to hold up my *ahem* considerable bulk. We finished off with the plank position, and then holding our legs six inches off the ground while laying on our backs, for three minutes each. This was maybe the sweatiest I've been after just one hour of class.
Only a handful of people hung around for jiu-jitsu, which meant that for the armbars we were learning, I got paired up with the instructor, Jack. Whoo hoo! He actually said that my armbar was nice and tight, and it felt much more fluid and solid than the first time we drilled these positions. I'm starting to understand the concepts of going down the checklist of body positioning, and securing certain things before moving on. Jack said he could see me landing armbars a lot, which definitely made me smile. I'm nowhere near thinking about entering any type of competition, but I can see getting amped up for one though. Gotta keep it simple, and work on crawling before I start walking.
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