Mixed Martial Arts

In a recent article, a very respectful Gray Maynard paid humble "homage" to his newly crowned fellow UFC 155 Champion, Frankie Edgar.

"I was like damn!" Frankie's doing good! He just kept coming, and coming, he did good. It was a great fight. My hat's off to him," Maynard said.

The 31 yr. old Maynard, a phoenix Ariz. native, is the proud owner of an unblemished 11-0 record, and—along with a previous win over champion Edgar at UFC Fight Night 13: Florian vs Lauzon in April 2008—is also coming off his greatest victory to date.

Maynard defeated Kenny Florian last month at UFC 118 to become the UFC's new No. 1 lightweight contender.

"This is the best time. I went through all the top guys. Nobody can say, 'Oh he didn't do this, or this.' This is mine, I deserve this, I earned it!"

According to this just released article the worlds biggest and best cage-fighting promotion, Ultimate Fighting Championship, will be motoring it's way into Motown next month.

Although not officially announced, the article states that the status-quo for the ever-growing-combat sports promotion's next event, UFC 123, is planned to illuminate from The Palace of Auburn Hills on Nov. 20.

The source names, and quotes  Dr. James Weber—who is the chairman of the Michigan Unarmed Combat Commission, as saying that.." the UFC has inked the date and will bring to town some of its best fighters."

“My understanding is that it is a done deal, Detroit deserves this. It is a boxing and MMA town. It would be a great boost to the economy and represents the character, fight and will of the people in this area. It is a dream of mine come true.”

Here are some classic Nathaniel Stanley Fleischer boxing columns.

Fleischer (November 3, 1887, New York – June 25, 1972) was a noted American boxing writer. Fleischer inaugurated in 1922, encouraged by Tex Rickard, the Ring Magazine publication. In 1929 Fleischer acquired sole ownership of the magazine, which he led as editor in chief for fifty years, till his death in 1972.

In 1942, Fleischer began to publish the magazine's annual record book and boxing encyclopedia, which was published until 1990. In addition to that, Fleischer wrote several other books about the lives of some world champions and about boxing history.

In 1954, General Pichai of Thailand invited Fleischer as a special guest to his homeland, as a way to ensure that the world championship bout between world Bantamweight champion Jimmy Carruthers of Australia and challenger Chamroen Songkitrat would follow the international boxing rules.

The great boxing sportswriter and founder of The Ring Magazine, Nathaniel (Nat) Fleischer, would never own-up to the greatness of Muhammad Ali.

In an article he wrote in June of 1970, Fleischer called Ali a racist, and disrespectfully continued to refer to him as Clay—even after the fighter had long since joined the Muslim faith. The hard-nosed bantering editor-in-chief would also purposely leave Ali's name off his highly-regarded "top-ten" heavyweight list.

Today in hindsight, we can simply sigh apathetically, and know in our hearts just how wrong Fleischer was.

Hilo, Hawaiian native B.J. "The Prodigy" Penn, once the UFC's 155 mainstay—and former top five pound for pound MMA fighter, was thoroughly given a "woodshed" style beating last Saturday night at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts, at UFC 118.

With the upcoming predicted war between Nick Diaz and K.J. Noons, and “Mayhem” Miller agreeing to face Japanese MMA urban-legend Kazushi “The Gracie Killer” Sakuraba at Dream 16, it seems as though the grudge match between the two fighters may have to wait for another day.

Miller, along with former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Gegard Mousasi—who will fight for the first ever Dream light heavyweight title against Tatsuya Mizuno—will headline the upcoming Dream event, tentatively scheduled for Sept 25, was announced by its partner HDNet fights.

The highly publicized Miller/Diaz charade has been over-hyped, mostly by Miller, since the—Apr 17, Strikeforce: Nashville, CBS nationally televised—post-fight brawl, involving Jake Shields.

Miller had previously fought Shields in a past Strikeforce match, and had "nearly" beaten him with a bjj choke-submission, so he naturally assumed that the Shields on-air interview would be a great opportunity to barge-in and ask Shields for a rematch.

Wrong.

Former top UFC 155 lb. lightweight contender Kenny "KenFlo" Florians mental toughness is once again being questioned, and commented upon, by the man who signs his paycheques.

The first time was when UFC president Dana white stated  in The Boston Herald last May, that he," liked the way Kenny Florian fights when he’s NOT fighting for a championship title."

The Quote, at the time, was in reference to Florian's second "lost title opportunity" last August to then lightweight champion B.J. Penn, and in addition, the previous title shot loss in October of '06 against Sean Sherk.

This past Saturday night, at UFC 118 at the Garden, the Dover native once again went down in a virtual " hail of gunfire." This time to Gray Maynard, in what could have been—with a victory—Florians third crack at the UFC lightweight crown.

Hilo, Hawaiian native B.J. "The Prodigy" Penn, once the UFC's 155 mainstay—and former top five pound for pound MMA fighter, was back in action Saturday night at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts, at UFC 118.

Penn, in his last outing, at UFC 112 “Invincible,” in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, lost his beloved lightweight title in a "narrowly" scored contest to a "game" young contender from Toms River, NJ, named Frankie Edgar.

This weekends rematch would be Penns opportunity for redemption, but the defending champion Edgar—who seemingly has the strength and quickness, and certainly the cardio of a small Mountain Lion, would have none of it.

Penn was once again beaten at every turn. Even his—once legendary—jui jitsu seemed to be of no use to him, as Edgar continuously out boxed, out wrestled, and thwarted his every submission attempt.

The once elite cagefighter is only 31 yrs old, yet it seems as if he has been in the game forever. Who knows, maybe it's now time for him to retire?

A famous chapter in the Bible tells us the story of a simple man, Job. (pronounced with a long " o.")

Job is described in the story as being an honest man who is blessed with the skills of a hard worker, he also lives righteously, a devoted follower of God; thus is rewarded( by God) with the best things in life.

Satan however, ...doesn't buy it.

He believes Job is a false prophet or a "fair-weather" follower of God. Satan contests that if the circumstances were different, and Job had no riches, he would curse God.

To further prove his point, Satan then proceeds to test the man by taking his wealth, his children, and everything else he had worked hard his entire life to possess.

Nonetheless, even when all his worldly riches are gone, Job stands firm.

UFC 118 will illuminate this weekend from the TD Garden in Boston, and hometown boy, top five lightweight contender and Dover MA. native, Kenny Ken-Flo Florian is set to square off against undefeated Phoenix, Arizona native, Gray Maynard for the next UFC title shot at the winner of the main event between BJ Penn and current Lightweight champion Frankie Edgar.

Florian lost his most recent title attempt last August via rear naked choke to then champion B.J. Penn at the UFC's 101 event, which was ironically held in the city of "brotherly love," Philadelphia PA.

"Ken Flo" also interestingly enough, has another title shot loss on his resume, this one dating back to Oct. of 06 against Sean Sherk.

UFC 118's main event is Saturday at the TD Garden in Boston, and features newly crowned 155 lb. champion Frankie Edgar vs. the man who desperately  wants his title back, B.J. Penn.

Saturday nights event at the "Garden" will mark the first time an MMA has even been held Massachusetts.

UFC President Dana White, who was born in Connecticut,..but went to college in Boston—stopped by ESPN Tuesday to promote the event, and to offer a rare "G" rated interview.

In regards to the follow up article which I wrote back in July concerning Jason "Mayhem" Miller and his continuous attempts to get "under the skin" of fellow Strikeforce cagefighter Nick Diaz, here is the latest video concerning the two

Diaz and Miller are still going at it, both extremely bitter over a feud that took place at "Strikeforce Nashville," back in April of this year.

The Diaz brothers grew up having a "hard knock" life in Stockton CA., with a "street-cred" mentality.

The "eye for an eye" credo—which they obviously live by, may be partially the reason they are both such tremendously talented prizefighters inside the cage, but display such roguery outside of it.

Miller had previously fought recent UFC fighter Jake Shields in a past Strikeforce match, and had "nearly" beaten him with a bjj choke-submission, so he naturally assumed that here would be a great opportunity to ask Shields for his "well earned" rematch.

"Strikeforce Houston:" Results:

Main Card:

Light Heavyweight Championship bout: United States, Muhammed Lawal vs. Brazil Rafael Cavalcante -  Cavalcante defeated Lawal via KO (strikes) at 1:14 of round 3 to become the new Strikeforce Light Heavyweight champion.

Middleweight Championship bout: Brazil Ronaldo Souza vs. United States Tim Kennedy- Souza defeated Kennedy via unanimous decision (49-46, 48-47, 48-47) to become the new Strikeforce Middleweight champion.

Lightweight bout: United States KJ Noons vs. Brazil Jorge Gurgel - Noons defeated Gurgel by TKO (punches) at 0:19 of round 2.

Heavyweight bout: United States Bobby Lashley vs. United States Chad Griggs - Griggs defeated Lashley by TKO (strikes) at 5:00 of round 2.

According to this recent article, Fedor Emelianenko—the recently exposed, sub-par, Russian fighter—who was stopped and "tapped out" for the first time in his career by Fabricio Werdum in 69 seconds—will next face Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva (14-2 MMA, 1-1 SF) on Dec. 4 in what is starting to resemble a Joe Louis type "bum of the month" club.

Werdum submitted the Russian quite easily last time out, at Strikeforce and M-1 Global: " Fedor vs. Werdum," and normally it would be blasphemous to mention the name Emelianenko—and that of a man who is possibly the No. 2 greatest heavyweight boxer of all time, Joe “The Brown Bomber” Louis, in the same sentence, I feel it is applicable and somewhat appropriate in this case.

My fellow scribe Steve Cofield, in a recent article, stated that "James Toney has been fighting the battle of the bulge for most of his time at heavyweight in boxing."

I respectfully disagree. My feeling is that the 41 yr. old boxer does well in that "mammoth" weight class, mainly because he doesn't have to concern himself about cutting a ton of weight before the weigh-ins.

Toney faces 47-year-old Randy Couture next weekend at UFC 118, and the comments were in regard to the latest photos featuring Toney's conditioning.

Former UFC heavyweight champion Tim "The Maine-iac" Sylvia—once one of the most detested fighters in the game—is now experiencing somewhat of a rebirth. The 6'8", 265 lb., Elsworth, ME. native—along with recently being crowned "Powerhouse World Promotions" Heavyweight Champion—is also currently enjoying a much deserved three fight win streak.

When interviewed recently by sbnation.com Sylvia stated that he wasn't totally prepared to become the UFC champion when it happened at UFC 41, on Feb. 28, 2003, however, the "Maine-iac" stated that he made the best of the opportunity.

"I wasn't ready for it, but it happened. It was like 'I just got in the UFC and already I'm getting a title shot?' I was thinking I'd work my way up, fight a few guys first before I got a title shot. But I was hand picked. Ricco (Rodriguez) picked me because he thought he could beat me and retain his title. And the UFC thought he was going to be the next big thing. We took the fight knowing that we had a good shot at beating this guy. And low and behold-it happened. It wasn't necessarily a bad thing. After that fight I've never worked a single day at a job ever again. You know? It set me up for the rest of my life and made training full time a lot easier," said Sylvia.