Another week in the books, though technically Sunday is the first day of a new seven days. This week to be presents only four days of work before a three-day weekend thanks to the July 4 holiday. Besides fireworks, here's hoping July ushers in consistent sunshine.
I had the privilege of spending a half hour this morning speaking with UFC welterweight contender Brock Larson for a feature I'll be penning for FIGHT! Magazine. He had just landed in Minnesota after seconding Kyle Jensen at an event in Pittsburgh, where Jenson was victorious after a broken clavicle felled opponent and UFC veteran Rich Clementi.
As of now I have no deadline because they want to time it to promote Larson's next fight, in which a date and opponent are both TBD. Larson, who debuted in FIGHT's monthly rankings at No. 10 in his division thanks to his tremendous triangle submisison victory over Mike Pyle at UFC 98, made it clear he desires a rematch with Carlos Condit, who handed Larson his last defeat on August 5, 2007 when both competed in the since discontinued WEC welterweight division.
Since then Larson has won five straight - all via first round TKO - and owns an overall MMA record of 26-2. Not only is Larson a great fighter who at age 31 has yet to peak, he's a great person with an everyman attitude that keeps him grounded, a lot like WEC featherweight king Mike Brown. Larson is hoping to sign on his next fight in a couple of weeks, so stay tuned.
UFC 100 is in two weeks. My Junkie colleague John Morgan took part in a conference call with Georges St. Pierre, who will defend his welterweight crown against Thiago Alves. GSP called it the biggest challenge of his career, one which he's taking seriously. The Pitbull told me exclusively in May he promises to knock GSP out and "shock the world."
Brock Lesnar's success still hasn't swayed the ignorant who consider professional wrestling as "fake" or a joke. Like Lesnar, Bobby Lashley is a former WWE competitor turned Mixed Martial Artist that has yet to be taken seriously. His first-round submission win over veteran Bob Sapp at Saturday's Ultimate Chaos event in Biloxi, Mississippi, should sway a few more who have yet to grasp the concept of wrestling's realism. (Sadly, there are those who never will.)
Another Junkie colleague, Steve Sievert, was in Biloxi. I'm looking forward to his "Building Bobby Lashley" story next week.
"To all the heavyweights out there, if you're not looking at me, you better, because I'm coming. I'll take on all challengers," Lashley (4-0) said.
Three out of Lashley's four MMA wins have come in Round 1, with only Jason Guida, a last-minute replacement for the suspended Ken Shamrock, taking him the distance. It sounds to me like he's ready to compete in any of the Big Three.
Speaking of UFC competition, Affliction vice president Tom Atencio competed at Ultimate Chaos at age 42 and TKOed Randy Hedderick in Round 2. He's made it clear he'd love to do the same to Dana White.
“Screw Dana White for what he said about you," Atencio said to Hedderick. "Anybody who steps in the ring deserves a lot of respect. Win, lose or draw, at least you had the balls."
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Friday, June 26, 2009
Checking in
No blogging this past week with me being on vacation. Alas, I return to work on Monday, but with it brings the Yankees back home hosting the Mariners and Blue Jays, the July 4 holiday and the push towards UFC 100.
I haven't covered the Nets in a couple of years, but it was hard not to notice that the last of the Big Three was traded away. Vince Carter was dealt to the Orlando Magic on draft day in what was a salary purge for the Nets to place them in position to make a play for LeBron James or any out of the big free agent class of 2010. It's a great move for the future, but unless Rod Thorn somehow reels in a big name, it'll be a long and quiet season in the Swamp. Right now the biggest name on the roster is Devin Harris, but Brook Lopez and Courtney Lee look like future stars and one player they got back in the deal, Rafer Alston, is a native New Yorker with an expiring contract.
Tragically, the NBA Draft was overshadowed by the deaths of two cultural icons, Farrah Fawectt and Michael Jackson. I was a mere tot during Fawectt's Charlie's Angels days, but from what I recall and read she was the first of the modern-day supermodels and revolutionized what was "hot" and what became known as the "diva."
Jackson was the Elvis of my generation and possibly the biggest pop star who ever lived. You knew that he wasn't in perfect health but his death yesterday was flat-out shocking. His music bridged generations, races and genres. Whether you're a metalhead or classical is more your speed, you enjoyed Jackson's music. It's a shame he could never find happiness off the stage.
I haven't covered the Nets in a couple of years, but it was hard not to notice that the last of the Big Three was traded away. Vince Carter was dealt to the Orlando Magic on draft day in what was a salary purge for the Nets to place them in position to make a play for LeBron James or any out of the big free agent class of 2010. It's a great move for the future, but unless Rod Thorn somehow reels in a big name, it'll be a long and quiet season in the Swamp. Right now the biggest name on the roster is Devin Harris, but Brook Lopez and Courtney Lee look like future stars and one player they got back in the deal, Rafer Alston, is a native New Yorker with an expiring contract.
Tragically, the NBA Draft was overshadowed by the deaths of two cultural icons, Farrah Fawectt and Michael Jackson. I was a mere tot during Fawectt's Charlie's Angels days, but from what I recall and read she was the first of the modern-day supermodels and revolutionized what was "hot" and what became known as the "diva."
Jackson was the Elvis of my generation and possibly the biggest pop star who ever lived. You knew that he wasn't in perfect health but his death yesterday was flat-out shocking. His music bridged generations, races and genres. Whether you're a metalhead or classical is more your speed, you enjoyed Jackson's music. It's a shame he could never find happiness off the stage.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Slice-Petruzelli II?
Not for a long time, but seeds were planted first when Kimbo Slice was picked to compete on The Ultimate Fighter, Season 10. Curious if Seth Petruzelli, the man who knocked out a cult creation in 14 seconds, felt slighted, I conducted an interview with him for Junkie and the story was posted today. The Silverback took the high road, only saying he was surprised considering Dana White's smack talk after the night that infamously took Elite XC down. Despite his release from the UFC in 2006 and White's harsh words about him being a UFC reject, Petruzelli is open to doing business with White again and has been talking with Strikeforce.
If Petruzelli wins his next fight in August (TBD) and Slice shows something in the TUF house, there's enough money to be made for a rematch, whether it's in the UFC, Strikeforce or elsewhere. The fight will hardly be a classic, but it'll be a better production without the presence of the Elite XC boneheads.
I spent last Friday night in the Bronx working Game 1 of the Subway Series. Like everyone else I had it documented that Alex Rodriguez failed in the clutch yet again until Luis Castillo dropped his pop up. Between Castillo's faux pas and the craziness of the subsequent two days, it was a wild and bizarre weekend, but one New York fans took in to the fullest.
If Petruzelli wins his next fight in August (TBD) and Slice shows something in the TUF house, there's enough money to be made for a rematch, whether it's in the UFC, Strikeforce or elsewhere. The fight will hardly be a classic, but it'll be a better production without the presence of the Elite XC boneheads.
I spent last Friday night in the Bronx working Game 1 of the Subway Series. Like everyone else I had it documented that Alex Rodriguez failed in the clutch yet again until Luis Castillo dropped his pop up. Between Castillo's faux pas and the craziness of the subsequent two days, it was a wild and bizarre weekend, but one New York fans took in to the fullest.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Brown Pride
My feature on Cain Velasquez was posted on Monday. Besides his fight against Cheick Kongo at UFC 99 Saturday in Germany, the story is on his development as an MMA fighter and the reasoning behind the "Brown Pride" tattoo on his large chest.
The ink has made him a lightning rod. Many of the 200-plus who commented on the thread made this a racial issue, which if you study closely is not. A win over Kongo and more people (unfortunately) will be pushing buttons, but many more will be talking about Velasquez's chances at a heavyweight title shot. Yeah, he's a UFC newbie, but so is Brock Lesnar.
It was a banner evening for the WEC in Sacramento. Mike Brown shut more people up by defeating Urijah Faber in one of the greatest bouts - and overall cards - I've ever seen. But even in defeat, Faber elevated himself. I'd love to see Brown-Faber III, but it'll be awhile.
The ink has made him a lightning rod. Many of the 200-plus who commented on the thread made this a racial issue, which if you study closely is not. A win over Kongo and more people (unfortunately) will be pushing buttons, but many more will be talking about Velasquez's chances at a heavyweight title shot. Yeah, he's a UFC newbie, but so is Brock Lesnar.
It was a banner evening for the WEC in Sacramento. Mike Brown shut more people up by defeating Urijah Faber in one of the greatest bouts - and overall cards - I've ever seen. But even in defeat, Faber elevated himself. I'd love to see Brown-Faber III, but it'll be awhile.
Friday, June 5, 2009
Yankees, MMA, rock June's first week
The Yankees continue to roll, and it's not that they're just winning, it's how they're doing it. When you're 17-5 and finding new ways to rally from behind, you're doing a lot of things right. There's a special aura around this team. Just like in April when even though the team was scuffling and looked old, tired and already finished, the season wasn't over, it's not yet the All-Star break. Still, there's a unique vibe around the Yankees not seen in years. My colleague and friend Jerome Preisler documented many layers from Thursday's victory.
It's an exciting weekend for MMA fans with Strikeforce tomorrow night and WEC 41 (Brown vs. Faber II) Sunday night. Yours truly has been assigned to interview the loser of that highly-anticipated rematch once he's decompressed and has a chance to evaluate his next step. Writing for a moment as a fan, I'd be happy if either wins. Mike Brown and Urijah Faber are two first-class individuals and it would be with a touch of regret to do my job and discuss why one of them had to lose.
On Monday, Junkie is publishing my feature on Cain Velasquez in advance of his fight against Cheick Kongo at UFC 99. Trust me when I tell you that there is more to this intimidating presence than meets the eye. I also have a message out to Seth Petruzelli in hopes of getting his reaction to Kimbo Slice - the man he knocked out in 14 seconds - getting his shot at a UFC contract on The Ultimate Fighter, Season 10.
FIGHT! Magazine has me working too. We confirmed a feature on Brock Larson, a rising welterweight contender brought to the UFC when the WEC discontinued the division.
It's an exciting weekend for MMA fans with Strikeforce tomorrow night and WEC 41 (Brown vs. Faber II) Sunday night. Yours truly has been assigned to interview the loser of that highly-anticipated rematch once he's decompressed and has a chance to evaluate his next step. Writing for a moment as a fan, I'd be happy if either wins. Mike Brown and Urijah Faber are two first-class individuals and it would be with a touch of regret to do my job and discuss why one of them had to lose.
On Monday, Junkie is publishing my feature on Cain Velasquez in advance of his fight against Cheick Kongo at UFC 99. Trust me when I tell you that there is more to this intimidating presence than meets the eye. I also have a message out to Seth Petruzelli in hopes of getting his reaction to Kimbo Slice - the man he knocked out in 14 seconds - getting his shot at a UFC contract on The Ultimate Fighter, Season 10.
FIGHT! Magazine has me working too. We confirmed a feature on Brock Larson, a rising welterweight contender brought to the UFC when the WEC discontinued the division.
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