How Does Mark Hunt Still Have A Job?

I love Rulon Gardner. That guy was, and will remain, one of the most phenomenal American athletes ever. His 2000 Olympic match against Karelin was a nail-biter from the outset. But while he's never been a slender fella, he's spent the last 10 years getting FAT. Fat enough to embarrass himself on national TV.

Mark Hunt is, to me, MMA's Rulon Gardner. Never a slim guy, since his last win against Tsuyoshi Kosaka (who?) in 2006, he's basically just gotten FAT. Cruising around at well over 300 lbs, when he's not fighting he resembles a 5'10" Tim Sylvia. And that's not a good thing.



I mean, seriously - when you're weighing in AFTER CUTTING WEIGHT TO MAKE 265, if your muffin-top is still comfortably spilling out over the top of your shorts... you may need to re-examine your height-to-weight ratio.

But weight aside, if the guy had the skills to hang in the UFC's heavyweight division, it wouldn't be that big a deal. But he doesn't. Not anymore.

I want to be clear - Mark Hunt started off his career in FANTASTIC style, and even decisioned Mirko and Wanderlei before they both had their brains rattled a couple too many times. He's a hard puncher, and.... well, that's about it.

And let's be fair - yes, he's lost his last 6 fights. But other than Sean McCorkle (who?), he lost to Fedor, Alistair Overeem, Josh Barnett, Mousasi, and Manhoef. That's a pretty significant list. In fact, I don't know of too many guys who can say they've fought at that level of competition over the last several years, considering some of those names are bandied about on Greatest-Of-All-Time lists.

But what does it mean that Hunt showed up for the fight with Sean McCorkle fat, uninspired (although he did give us the Tito Ortiz "I promise it'll be different this time, guys"), and still without a shred of submission defense.

How is Mark Hunt still employed by the UFC with a 5-7 record, and with no win in the last 6 years? MAYBE you could argue he's a "fan favorite," that his presence on the card is supposed to drive up buys. If that's the case, though, why is this one of the only fights on the card NOT being shown on the PPV, Ion, OR Facebook?

It's a damn conspiracy, I tell you. I want to believe that Mark Hunt, Brandon Vera, and Tito Ortiz all have some super-secret information on Dana White, and it's got to be the only thing keeping them in the UFC. Of course, it's much simpler than that with Hunt.



Dana's got to be thankful THAT deal's about done. On a positive note, Hunt's opponent, Chris Tuchscherer, appears to have been given this fight simply to mangle Hunt. In fact, Tuch has 2 wins by legit submission, including an arm bar. Which makes him look like a jiu jitsu black belt compared to Hunt.

So here's hoping we see a big bear hug takedown and a merciful quick finish, so I can go back to remembering the guy that liver-kicked Dan Bobish (WAR BAS RUTTEN!) into submission (despite an AWESOME beer gut). Because that's how Mark Hunt should be remembered. Not as the muffin-top guy.

Food for thought - Philosophy of Fighting

This post is based on some earlier ramblings that I had written down in the wake of the Silva/Leites bought which, I'm sure we all remember (unless you were able to supress it with alcohol and punches to head). The debate which occured on the internet was "Is Silva justified in winning a fight when commits less than all of his skills but stays within the rules?", or words to that effect. I hope one day to expand these and try to form what would, if written in a book, form at least the introduction. These were my thoughts:

I think there are two issues at contention here:

1: Whether it is the duty of the UFC to provide what is generally perceived as as entertainment, in that it consists of fast, exciting actions, trading on the feet and on the ground, or a dominant showing by one competitor who pushed the pace constantly (whether on the feet or on the ground) and actively looks to finish the fight. Whilst at the same time present a sport in which the nuances of the fighters and fights have to be taken into account as well as the ability to 'win within the rules', in this case meaning 'to win without a perceived dominant showing'.

2: Whether it is a mixed martial artists duty to and obligation to do all they can to finish fights, even if they put themselves at more risk than necessarily required (for example giving up top control for a leg lock).

For this post I will not discuss number one. I believe number two comes down to what it means to be a mixed martial artist and by extension, a fighter. I do not think it wrong of us to label mixed martial artists as fighters because they have to fight to finish and win, not just put on a display of aesthetically pleasing technical displays that have no intention of hurting the opponent (such as this). The key to fighting, whether it be in a cage, ring, or full-scale war, is to defeat the opponent. As Clausewitz puts it 'War is nothing but a duel on an extensive scale. If we would conceive as a unit the countless number of duels which make up a War, we shall do so best by supposing to ourselves two wrestlers. Each strives by physical force to compel the other to submit to his will: each endeavours to throw his adversary, and thus render him incapable of further resistance.'

Silva and Thales are those two wrestlers. I conceed that Silva did enough to win the fight within the rules, yet he failed to not only submit Thales to his will (sure, he didn't fight him on the ground, but then didn't inflict significant damage upon Thales for me to consider it imposing his will). Furthermore, Silva did not render Thales incapable of further resistance. The proof of this? It went to decision. A TKO win would have displayed Thales incapable of resistance.

As such, since Silva was able to win despite not doing the two things required to win a duel, I lay the fault at the unified rules. By changing the rules, introducing details such as yellow cards, and expanding the rules to allow for a greater arsenal of attacks will help to prevent fights of timidity and limitation. Ultimately I am contending that fighters will more often than not look to take the easier route when winning a fight, especially when fighting for a championship belt. Allowing the referee to force the action with yellow cards and the like should ensure for more fights with finishes.


Excuse me if these still appear rambling and perhaps without point, they are more here to inspire debate as well as potentially some helpful and constructive feedback. My next post lined up is to take a closer look at the UK MMA scene, focusing on lesser well known MMA stars who are currently making waves.

MMA Highlight Video of the Day

Pro Wrestlers That MMA Missed Out On: Tonga Fifita

This is a Tag Team (get it?) effort between Matt aka ThisRedEngine and I to educate the masses about old school Mixed Martial Artsts and Athletes that would have done well in MMA. I'll be focusing on Pro Wrestlers over the next month or two. This week the spotlight is on Tonga Uliuli Fifita, most notably known as "Haku" in the WWF and "Meng" in WCW. Numerous Pro Wrestlers and industry insiders have called him "The toughest man that they've ever met" due to his imposing demeanor and violent reputation.

It's hard to decipher the facts from the fiction when it comes to Fifita. He's like the Rickson Gracie of Pro Wrestling when it comes to brawls. I've both read and heard tales of his inhuman feats of brutality. They range from somewhat believable to being outright ridiculous.

Just a few of these include him lifting Brutus The Barber Beefcake 2 feet off of the floor while choking him over an in ring dispute, gouging Jesse Barr's eye out during a backstage brawl, yanking a mans teeth clean out of his mouth during an altercation at a bar, and biting a mans nose off. From those accounts, I'd say he's not to be fucked with. Of course I take these stories with a massive grain of salt, but rumors tend to have a bit of truth to them. And I'll vouch to him having an imposing presence, as I saw him before a WWF event when I was a kid. He was a scary ass dude.

Anyway, here are the facts....well let me not say facts because there is no concrete info on him. So, I'll muster up what I can about him and let you decide what you want to believe. Apparently he was sent to Japan to learn the art of Sumo (by the King of Tonga) as a teen but was forced to retire in his 20's due to some sort of dispute. Before retiring he would reach the rank of makushita. Shortly after this he entered into the world of Puroresu and would eventually make his way stateside with the WWF. And the rest is history as far as that aspect is concerned.

So why do I think he'd do well in MMA? I'll admit that he'd probably get eaten alive by todays crop of well rounded Mixed Martial Artists. But back in MMA's infant years when Vale Tudo was legal and UFC PPV events were little more than semi-controlled street fights, I think he'd have thrived. His size (6'2, 250-300lbs), strength, athleticism, training in Sumo, and reported aggression would have made him a handful for even the most skilled Martial Artist. And if there was one ethnic stereotype that full contact sports has proven true, it's that Polynesians are inhumanly durable. It doesn't matter if it's Rugby, Boxing, Kickboxing, or MMA. You can expect them to take an insane amount of damage without flinching and then try to short out your nervous system by trying to open your skull, with their own head.

These days Mr. Fifita is the Manager at a Toyota Car Spa in Florida. No longer is he the wild haired Tongan that struck fear in the hearts of his competitors and fans alike. But a mild mannered citizen that has made a good living for himself after his Pro Wrestling Career. Would he have made it big in MMA? Who knows. But I do know one thing. If I ever get my Car detailed at David Maus Toyota in Sanford, Florida. I won't be complaining if they do a bad job. Because I'm not trying to get my ass kicked by the manager.

Photo credit goes to Myspace and Obsessed with Wrestling

Bad Gameplans: It’s your own damn fault that you lost

Every event we see a fighter come in with the boneheaded notion of trying to challenge their opponents strengths. Whether it be a Striker trying to grapple with a BJJ Black Belt or a BJJ Practioneer trying to box with a KO Artist or the Kickboxer that tries to Wrestle someone with a D1 Pedigree. 97.8625% of the time they lose…Okay I made that stat up, but it doesn’t change the fact that it’s a stupid thing to do. I get the whole “I want to challenge myself as a Mixed Martial Artist” angle of doing something like that. But come on son. Don’t be dumb. That’s playing with fire, and you know what happens when you play with fire right? Someone steals your wallet and then you can’t buy Ice Cream. If you know that you can submit someone, take them down. If you know that you’ll light someone up on the feet, don’t even entertain the thought if playing around on the ground. I’m not saying play it safe, I’m just saying don’t be dumb.

Encyclopedia MMA-ica: Power

What is this “Encyclopedia MMA-ica” you ask? Well, it’s a series that I’m putting together of overly used terms and hyperbole in MMA. Todays entry is Power.

What exactly is Power? We hear it spew out of commentator’s mouths numerous times at nearly every MMA event after someone is KO’d (“That dude has some serious power in his hands!!!”). But Knockout power isn’t the only kind of power that exists in MMA (and other combat sports). In my opinion there are three types of power: Knockout, Functional, and Destructive.

Knockout power is pretty obvious. This is the kind of power that sends fighters into the Land of Wind and Ghosts. It can change the outcome of a fight instantaneously and usually makes for exciting finishes. It’s something that a fighter is born with. It’s not something that a fighter can develop. You either have it or you don’t. A good example of a fighter with pure Knockout power is Takanori Gomi. He can throw a punch with horrendous technique and still shut a fighter’s lights off if it connects. This is the kind of thing that we usually associate with power as MMA fans.



Other Examples: Jens Pulver, Shane Carwin, Paul Daley, Robbie Lawler

Functional power is a bit different. It’s more utilitarian in its nature and tends to get overlooked by many fans. It’s in the push kick that knocks a fighter out of striking range, the well timed knee that a wrestler eats when shooting in for a double and the Jab that staggers a fighter back a few feet when it connects. A good example of a fighter that has this is Josh Thompson. His well timed push kicks kept Gilbert Melendez at bay in their first meeting and won him the Strikeforce LW Title. This kind of power is usually seen amongst “technical” fighters.



Other Examples: Gina Carano, Frankie Edgar, Lyoto Machida, Rich Franklin

Destructive power is just that, destructive. This is the power that turns fighters faces into distorted caricatures of the regular forms. Fighters that have this power break ribs with hooks to the body and turn legs into bruised objects that resemble vegetables with vicious leg kicks. A really good example of this is Cristiane Santos. What she lacks in KO power she makes up for with raw destructive power. Her last fight was nothing more than a savage beating. This kind of power sucks the soul from fighters and in some cases can leave them “Broken”.



Other Examples: Junior Dos Santos, Cain Velasquez, BJ Penn, Rick Story

This concludes my 1st entry in the Encyclopedia MMA-ica.

Music That Doesn't Suck!: Spaces

I first discovered Spaces through arguably the best MMA media site AllElbows as the background music to a video on Mo Lawal. They are an all instrumental band based out of Brooklyn, NY that create a wall of sound with effects pedal driven guitar riffs. What makes these guys different than most experimental rock is that they teamed up with an artist to create artwork based on each individual track. I listen to this on the regular with two tracks making it onto mixtapes (Decent and Abyss We Miss).

The band's description of the album: Spaces is an experimental/instrumental band formed in 2008, comprised of Franco Colon and Duke Ahrens; two Florida natives currently residing in Brooklyn, NY. The two write and record all songs, with the occasional help of guest performers.

This album is made of conceptual songs that will be released monthly, collectively telling a story bound together by similar sounds and sonic qualities. Artwork inspired by each respective track will also be released along with the songs, created by local artist and friend, James Sanford.

8 fighters to avoid as an MMA prospect

As MMA’s old guard begins to fade, the new generation of fighters has quickly risen to take their places. New prospects appear every few months, but many are snuffed out before they can reach their full potential. Here’s a list of fighters that you should avoid early in your MMA career.


1. Masakazu Imanari
The” Ashikan Judan” or “10th Dan/Master of Leglocks” was put on this planet to separate limbs from bodies. He looks like a villain from an old school Kung-Fu flick. Like he could block your punch and remove your femur in one swift move. 13 of his 20 wins are submissions and 8 of those submissions are leglocks.

Why should you avoid him? Because he can and will break your shit if he latches onto one of your limbs. (see Gurgel, Jorge and Brown, Mike Thomas).


2. Chris Lytle
He’s been a middle of the pack Welterweight in the UFC since ’03. He’s far from a world beater, but he’s highly skilled on the feet and on the ground. He’s got more “of the night” awards than anyone in the UFC, and has only been beaten by elite level fighters.

Why should you avoid him? Because you can’t KO him and you probably can’t out grapple him. And if you do try to grapple with him, you’ll end up looking foolish. (see Foster, Brian and Brown, Matt)


3. Nik Lentz
If the sin of sloth had a human form that competed in MMA, it would be Nik Lentz. Many don’t like his style (myself included) but it’s ridiculously effective. It’s not the most exciting thing to watch but I’ve yet to see someone else stall a fight so effectively, save for maybe Antonio Mckee.

Why should you avoid him? He makes exciting strikers look helpless as he slowly nullifies their offensive weapons. And if you don’t have good takedown defense, you’ll probably end up like his last opponent. (see Winner, Andre)


4. Maximo Blanco
Most fighters have to learn how to fight, Maxi was already born with this knowledge. Striking that shouldn't work outside movies and aggression that can only be described as borderline hysteria is what you can expect when fighting Maximo Blanco.

Why should you avoid him? VIOLENCE (see Kim, Chang Hyun)


5.Chris Leben
We all know and love/hate him as the whipping boy from TUF season 1, having his head used as a Piñata by Anderson Silva, and being willing to fight ANYONE at ANYTIME at ANY PLACE. He’s tested positive for steroids and probably will never be a champion, but he always shows up to brawl.

Why should you avoid him? He’s like a Christmas Fruitcake. Impossibly tough, can knock you out if he hits you, and no matter what happens he’s always there…year after year after year. Also, he’s got the innate ability to force technical fighters into all out brawls. (see Akiyama, Yoshihiro)


6. Dong Hyun Kim
The South Korean judoka made his UFC debut by lambasting Jason Tan with like 972 elbows. He’s an inexperienced grapplers nightmare. Watching him clown fighters on the ground is an arduous affair, but it’s beautiful to watch.

Why should you avoid him? He’s human Velcro. Don’t expect to strike against him at all, because you’ll be defending a never ending chain of Judo throws, sweeps, guard passes, and submission attempts. (see Sadollah, Amir)


7. Dan Miller
Wrestlers fear 2 things in MMA. Eating a well timed knee while shooting in for a double and getting caught in one of Dan Miller’s Guillotine Chokes. He locked Dave Phillips in the most insane Guillotine in MMA history. I mean, he literally turned a man into a human Question mark. What more needs to be said?

Why should you avoid him? His fights tend to be ugly wars and shooting in on him is an extremely high risk/low reward situation. (see Phillips, Dave and Salter, John)


8. Hiroyuki Takaya
The “Streetfight Bancho” is a brawler. Plain and simple. No fancy throws. No BJJ wizardry. Just crazy amounts of fists being thrown at your face. Is he an unbeatable phenom? Nope, but unrelenting pressure and a good deal of power in his hands is more than enough to end any fighters night quickly.

Why should you avoid him? It won’t matter how elusive or technical you are, the fight will end up being a brawl. And if you don’t have a sturdy chin, you’re getting KTFO’d. (see Beebe, Chase)

Premature Deification: A (short) cautionary tale

It happens at least once a month. An up and coming fighter or a “reborn” veteran pulls off an exciting KO or crazy submission and the online MMA Community goes nuts. Talks of being a contender fill message boards and comment sections. The hype machine builds them up as a “KO Artist” or a “Submission Master” before their next fight. Then the unthinkable happens…. they lose. Usually in a way that makes us fans complete disown them.

Take Todd Duffee for example, one of the UFC’s latest cast-offs. He made his debut with an outlandishly fast KO at UFC 102. That performance coupled with his chiseled physique [PAUSE] garnered him a huge wave of hype. Then he fought Mike Russow, who was supposed to lose, and got KTFO’d. Sure, he beat the piss out of Russow for nearly 3 rounds, but that means nothing to the ravenous MMA Fan. Getting KO'd means that you have a glass chin and need to retire. The next day he was thrown out like 3 week old Chinese Food by the online MMA community. All of a sudden he was overrated and his 1st win was a fluke. But wait...wasn't this the man that was supposed to be the next BROCKLESNAR?

The same thing has happened countless times in MMA. Brandon Vera, Houston Alexander, Marius Žaromskis, et cetera et cetera. What's the moral of the story? Don't deify a fighter after one or two exciting performances, because anything can happen in MMA.