Blog Moving

I've moved the blog to wordpress. Here is the new link: Cardio Freak MMA

Special Commentary: When Is News Not News?

When Dana White says it at a press conference.

I love Dana White. I think he's great for the sport and I don't think MMA would be this big without him. But he's a promoter and promoters lie.

When Dana White says stuff like, "we're coming to Australia every year", it's not news. It's Dana White being a promoter and telling the local media and fans what they want to hear. Anything he says at any pre-fight or post-fight press conference shouldn't be considered news. Anyone who takes what he says at those things serious probably sends $100,000 to the Sri Lanka man who e-mails them about a business proposal.

Fabrio Werdum is still waiting for his Heavyweight title shot, Quinton Jackson is still waiting for his Light Heavyweight title shot, Dan Henderson is still waiting for his Middleweight title shot, Chuck Liddell is retired, The Philippines are still waiting for their UFC event, over 100 US cities are still waiting for the Octagon to come to their town, fans are still waiting for Fedor to be signed, fans are still waiting for a major announcement that will shake the MMA world, and the list goes on.

Dana White is no different than Vince McMahon. They're both extremely successful promoters who have taken their sports to new heights. The difference is that McMahon blew his media trust a long time ago with the steroid trials and it's tough to believe someone who promotes a sport that is essentially one big lie. Dana White lies as well. Maybe "lie" is too strong of a word. Dana White tells the media/fans what they want to hear as well. But his reputation is that he's a no nonsense promoter who does tell the truth often times so he gets away with telling the media what they want to hear and nobody really calls him out on it.

Dana White is just doing his job. I don't have a problem with him telling the media what they want to hear because that's what every promoter since the history of promoting has done. But it's not news. It's no different than David Stern saying he wants LeBron James to stay in Cleveland. That's not news yet ESPN will probably say it's the biggest story of the year. It's just what the promoter wants and what he can promote. Unfortunately the media takes any comment from anyone near the situation and passes it off as a story.

It means nothing though. It means nothing until it's official. When UFC announces their next Australian event, that's news. When UFC announces their next title fight, that's news. When LeBron James announces what team he signs for, that's news. What one man, even if that man is extremely close to the situation, wants to do something but doesn't know when it will get done; that's news that's not news.

2/22/10 Cardio Freak Quickie

Topics of Discussion:

*UFC 110: Nogueira vs. Velasquez Review
*Thoughts on Heath Herring's recent comments
*Thoughts on Bellator's Super Fight

Random Taylor Swift Mention:

Did you hear that Georges St. Pierre started dating Taylor Swift but they quickly broke up because he claims that she couldn't handle the riddum and she claims that he was just too boring. Look for a song called "Not Impressed With You Hitting Me With Your Groin" on her next album.

Swift Week Streak: 2

Sprained News:

*Cain Velasquez vs. Junior dos Santos/Gabriel Gonzaga winner
*Rodrigo Nogueira vs. Mirko "Cro Cop" (after he beats Ben Rothwell)
*Wanderlei Silva vs. Yoshihiro Akiyama
*Michael Bisping vs. Nate Marquardt
*George Sotiropoulos vs. Gray Maynard
*Joe Stevenson vs. Sean Sherk
*Ryan Bader vs. Jon Jones/Brandon Vera winner
*Keith Jardine vs. Stephan Bonnar
*Anthony Perosh vs. Joey Beltran
*Heath Herring will be back in the UFC

Full Column on 411Mania

Prediction Record after UFC 110

I've updated my UFC prediction record following last nights UFC 110. I went 4-1 on the main card and 6-3 overall.

UFC 110: Nogueira vs. Velasquez Official Predictions

MAIN CARD

*Cain Velasquez to defeat Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira by Unanimous Decision
*Wanderlei Silva to defeat Michael Bisping by TKO in Round 1
*Joe Stevenson to defeat George Sotiropoulos by Unanimous Decision
*Ryan Bader to defeat Keith Jardine by KO in Round 1
*Mirko "Cro Cop" to defeat Anthony Perosh by TKO in Round 1

PRELIMINARY CARD

*Krzysztof Soszynski to defeat Stephan Bonnar by Unanimous Decision
*Brian Foster to defeat Chris Lytle by Unanimous Decision
*CB Dollaway to defeat Goran Reljic by Unanimous Decision
*Igor Pokrajac to defeat James Te Huna by Submission in Round 2

UFC 110 Odds

Keith Jardine (+135) vs. Ryan Bader (-165)

I'm staying away from this fight. Bader seems like the smart pick to win but Jardine finds a way to win fights he shouldn't. Betting on Bader doesn't give you enough return unless it's a large bet or a parlay and I don't trust Jardine enough to win. Maybe a small bet on Jardine since he's an underdog who has a chance but that's up to you.

Final: Stay Away

George Sotiropoulos (+190) vs. Joe Stevenson (-250)

At +190 it's never a bad idea to make a small bet on the underdog but I really like Stevenson to win this fight. Usually I don't make an underdog bet unless they're +200 or better or I really think they're going to win so in the end I'm staying away.

Final: Stay Away

Michael Bisping (+125) vs. Wanderlei Silva (-155)

My heart is picking Silva to win but I could really see Bisping winning this fight. Because of that I'd make a medium bet on Bisping. +125 gives you a good enough return for a fight that could very easily go to Bisping.

Final: Medium Bet on Bisping

Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (-110) vs. Cain Velasquez (-120)

Just bet on who you think will win or stay away. I like Cain to win the fight so I'd make a medium bet on him but if you like Nogueira to win then bet on him. The odds are essentially even so just go with who you like to win.

Final: Bet on Your Favorite

Best Bet: Parlay Joe Stevenson & Ryan Bader

Odds Provided by Bodog.com

Fight Review: UFC 98 - Sean Sherk vs. Frankie Edgar

Round One: Edgar a lot of body and head movement. Edgar likes to throw a left hook to the body-right hook combo. Sherk scored with a counter left hook. Edgar very good leg kicks but drops his hands a bit when throwing them. Both guys good clinch control to create a stalemate. Edgar the quicker of the two. Edgar took Sherk down on the one leg kick Sherk threw.

Round Two: Sherk had some success with the left hook. Edgar with more very good movement although he has a tendency to move right after he kicks. Edgar likes to kick with the lead leg. Edgar scored with a lead uppercut-right hand combo. Sherk good takedown defense. Edgar good knee to the body on clinch breaks.

Round Three: Sherk again could only land the left hook with any success. Edgar continued to kick with the lead leg. Edgar continued with his great body and head movement. Edgar very good takedown defense. Edgar did a good job level changing and giving Sherk different looks.

Result: Frankie Edgar by Unanimous Decision

Conclusions: Sherk had a terrible gameplan as he only went for takedowns in the final round despite losing the striking battle. Sherk never went back to the kicks after Edgar got the takedown. Edgar was the more diverse striker and his movement was outstanding. Sherk came up short with everything he threw.