Category — Strikeforce

A lot of fighters could learn a lesson from Matt Hamill. No, not how to take a beating. I’m pretty sure that’s not something that can be taught. Following his second-round TKO loss to Alexander Gustaffson on Saturday’s UFC 133 undercard, Hamill announced he was hanging up the gloves. His body just couldn’t take the punishment after 14 pro MMA bouts, and I’m sure the realization that he was never going to get a title shot, that his toolbox is limited and that getting punched just isn’t a fun way to earn a living also played a part in his decision.

If only Fedor Emelianenko would bow out as gracefully instead of clinging to the cage after his most-recent loss and subsequent dismissal from Strikeforce. He’s accomplished far more than Hamill, fought in more than twice as many battles and taken an immeasurable amount of damage. He’s also earned worldwide acclaim (within MMA circles) and banked enough cash to buy half of Russia. Isn’t it time he step away, with a little class, and not embarrass himself further?

It’s no surprise that Strikeforce has cut Fedor Emelianenko following his third straight loss. UFC boss (and confirmed Fedor hater) Dana White made the announcement during today’s UFC 133 press conference while declaring once again that he thought the former pound-for-pound greatest has been over-rated for years.

I’m not sure Fedor was ever over-rated, although it’s clear he’s not the fighter he used to be and his legend has certainly been tarnished. Or rather, he’s exactly the fighter he used to be while everyone else has evolved. Still, you can’t tell me that he doesn’t deserve a place on the Strikeforce roster, even if it’s on the undercard or better yet, as part of some crazy old school super fight. It’s not like the promotion has a lot of big names with fan recognition. Of course, this is just the latest step towards Strikeforce’s demise, which I alluded to yesterday.

How much longer will women’s MMA have a home in Strikeforce? How much longer will Strikeforce even exist? The writing’s on the wall.

Just look at the recent cuts the promotion has made, most notably former 135-pound champ Marloes Coenen, who lost her belt to Miesha Tate on Saturday, and Alistair Overeem, the promotion’s heavyweight champ (who gets the boot over a contract dispute of some kind and thus makes a mockery of the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix). Those are big fish in a very small Strikeforce sea. Add to that the loss of welterweight champ Nick Diaz, who’s off to the UFC to challenge Georges St. Pierre, and Cung Le, who says he’s only interested in fighting for the UFC if he ever fights again. Really, how can we take Strikeforce seriously any more?

And the biggest loss when Dana White finally does take Strikeforce out behind the barn to shoot it is to women’s MMA, which currently doesn’t have a high-profile home. And with White adamantly against bringing women into the UFC unless they’re wearing booty shorts and carrying a numbered card, that doesn’t leave too many options or much of a future. Which is too bad, considering that women’s MMA has delivered some of the most-exciting fights in the sport in the last 12 months and is only now really starting to come into its own in terms of depth and breadth of talent and personality. Just when it’s starting to gain some traction among fans who never would have taken “girl fighting” seriously, it looks like it won’t have a promotion to stand on.

Who do we blame for the atrocious outcome of Saturday’s Dan Henderson vs. Fedor Emelianenko bout? Referee Herb Dean? The stoppage was quick, especially when it’s Fedor on the ropes, a fighter who’s come back from the brink on more than a few occasions. But Dean stands by his call, and besides, that’s not really my issue.

Okay, it’s a little bit my issue, but mostly it’s that after Henderson landed that first quick right uppercut that rocked Fedor, dropped him onto his face, he followed up with two solid skull-crunchers to the back of Fedor’s head. I’m not saying they were intentional – it’s the heat of the moment, after all – but they were thrown with intent, and accidental or not, they were illegal, 100 percent no questions asked. They were illegal, they put Fedor on Queer Street and Dean jumped in, handing Henderson the victory instead of a disqualification.

No way there should be any celebrating over that win. No way it proves anything. Which is too bad, because until that point the bout was about as exciting as you could hope for, with both fighters trying to land a knockout blow. Instead, we get this… mess, and more questions about Fedor’s future.

It was not the fight I expected. I’m pretty sure it’s not the fight you expected. In fact, I’d wager most of us were looking for a KO finish. After all, anvil-fisted Alistair Overeem hadn’t been to a decision in MMA in more than five years. He hadn’t gone past the first round in four years. But there he was on Saturday night with a mildly dull unanimous decision over Fabricio Werdum in the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix quarter-finals. And he just barely won.

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I would love to see Fabricio Werdum drop Alistair Overeem into an armbar (as he demonstrates at the 1:30 mark of the video below) when the two meet at Saturday’s Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix. It’s a slick submission. I’ve been on the receiving end of that move a couple of times during practice, but have never come close to pulling one off myself. Besides, it always felt a bit like a crotch-crusher.

Josh Barnett gave me another reason to be glad he’s back fighting Stateside. At yesterday’s Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix media workout, he put on a little wrestling show, hamming it up for the reporters and photographers. Entertainment, man, that’s what Zuffa needs now more than ever; fighters who are characters and who entertain me.

Say what you want about his PED use, his role in the collapse of the Affliction promotion, the robbing fans of a chance to see him tangle with Fedor Emelianenko back when Fedor was still considered invincible. Josh Barnett is an entertaining interview (and he’s got a decent bedside manner, to boot).

This interview, ostensibly to promote Saturday’s Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix tilt with Brett Rogers, covers a lot of ground, from Barnett’s licensing problems, his less-babyfaced appearance, his relationship with Battlestar Galactica babe Katie Sackhoff and fighting in outer space. It’s worth the listen, which is more than I can say for most MMA interviews.

I have to admit this video of Josh Barnett shoving a couple of pens up some guy’s busted beak to straighten it makes me cringe. I’ve had my nose broken a couple of times – never from bad snatch, though – and there’s nothing pleasant about it. There’s even less to like about having it straightened, although I’d have a hard time telling Barnett to leave my nose alone, too. Granted, Barnett does have a good cageside manner and seems to know what he’s doing.

Barnett, of course, faces Brett Rogers at Saturday’s Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix event headlined by man-monster Alistair Overeem and Fabricio Werdum. Yes, Barnett has been licensed by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, so that’s a non-issue. And he’s a heavy favourite against Rogers, whose only hope is to land a knockout blow before Barnett takes him to the ground and twists off a foot.

As for the “snatch” jokes, this is the second sexist video MMA HEAT’s Karyn Bryant has been involved with recently. A couple of weeks ago, her interview with Quinton “Rampage” Jackson drew heavy fire because of the fighter’s questionable – yet hilarious – behaviour involving a motorboating incident.

I will admit this is just an excuse to post a photo of Gina Carano. The face (and body) of women’s MMA is set to make her return to the cage on June 18 after almost two years spent licking her wounds from the Cris “Cyborg” Santos beating and making movies with Ocean’s 11 director Steven Soderbergh. Carano will face grappler Sarah D’Elelio on a card that also features Strikeforce World Grand Prix participants Alistair Overeem, Fabricio Werdum, Josh Barnett and Brett Rogers, in addition to a heavyweight pairing between Valentijn Overeem and Chad Griggs.