10 Things We Learned from the TUF 10 Finale

1. Roy Nelson, Ultimate Fighter

"Big Country" was the big favorite heading in to Season 10 and made all those who were betting the chalk come away winners, as the former IFL champion knocked out Brendan Schaub to claim the six-figure contract and entry into the UFC.

For those who have lamented Nelson's fat belly tactics, this fight showed there is far more in the arsenal of the newest member of the UFC family than smothering his opponents with his Burger King belly.

What comes next for Nelson will be interesting; he is a legitimate Top 25 heavyweight with a fairly complete game, so if ever there was a TUF winner who could be thrown to the fire without concern, it's Nelson. Cain Velasquez and Junior dos Santos both need opponents...

2. Despite the DQ, Jon Jones Looked Awesome

The letter of the law was rightfully enforced and instant replay was used for the first time to determine the decision, resulting in the first loss of Jon Jones' career.

That said, damn did that boy look good!

Two things I especially liked that might go unmentioned amidst the disqualification / rules / unnecessary complaining about Steve Mazzagatti: one, Jones shock off that early Hamill single leg pretty easily, which is impressive as hell and two, that sequence of clinch / takedown / mount / beatdown was as fluid as I've seen in a while and the kid is only 22.

You can officially remove the prospect tag from Jon Jones; he's no longer a future contender. The future is now.

3. About That Ruling

As I said, the letter of the law was followed and it resulted in "Bones" Jones being disqualified.

Personally, I understand the ruling and won't ramble on about things too much, other than to say that while the elbow certainly landed and did damage, Hamill was done. He apparently broke his shoulder, so that probably had a thing or two to do with his inability to continue.

Hypothetically speaking, if the elbow doesn't occur and Hamill makes it through the round, he doesn't get off the stool to start the second round. While the ruling was by the book, it will go down as one of those "he lost, but not really" type deals.

4. Apparently I Have No Idea How to Score Fights

See, I had the Kimbo - Houston Alexander fight 29-28 Alexander with Kimbo obviously earning the nod in Round 2. As for the other two rounds, I'm not sure how he takes either of them, yet alone both on one judges' card.

Round 1 saw Kimbo do absolutely nothing for more than half the round, while Alexander did the bare minimum, throwing a couple leg kicks. Neither fighter gained any real dominant position or landed any serious blows, so Alexander gets a boring 10-9 for initiating with the crappy leg kicks.

To me, Round 3 had two big moments: the one where Alexander knocked Kimbo down with a leg kick, leaving Kimbo in obvious discomfort on the ground and the late elbow Kimbo ate to close the round. Everything else was kind of a wash, with both guys gassed and failing to land anything really serious. Another 10-9 for "The Assassin" on my card.

Apparently, I saw something different than the three people sitting cage side charged with scoring the fight. Despite my lack of judging certification, I'm not sure I'm the one who got it wrong.

5. More Kimbo to Come

Kimbo winning was honestly my worst nightmare come to life, because it means we're going to be forced to endure more Kimbo Mania courtesy of the UFC.

Since more people are interested in watching Kimbo fight just about anyone than the best heavyweight in the sport battle an undefeated up-and-comer, Kimbo will continue to take up featured space on Fight Night cards and perhaps pay-per-view events moving forward.

My question to the UFC is: Who do you force feed to him now?

Houston Alexander was supposed to be the perfect opponent, and that just backfired miserably.

My early prediction: Seth Petruzelli and tons of people will tune in for no apparent reason.

6. Isn't Heavyweight 206 and Up?

Last I checked, that was how it worked, so why exactly was this considered a catchweight bout?

I know the answer is that they agreed to an upper weight limit, but honestly, since we knew neither guy was going to come in super huge (Kimbo had fought around 235 max previously), why not just do this at heavyweight?

Alexander will continue to fight at light heavyweight, though this performance may be his swan song with the UFC, where Kimbo fights in the future is a mystery. He apparently hated trying to cut weight all week, but being a smaller heavyweight isn't a great idea these days.

Unless the UFC decides to go forward with the oft-discussed "middle heavyweight division," Kimbo is going to have to get used to cutting weight or take his chances against the big boys.

Neither sound all that appealing to me.

7. Frankie Edgar: Good Win, Glaring Weakness

I absolutely love the guy, but Matt Veach further illuminated the blueprint for beating Frankie Edgar before "The Answer" ended things early in the second round.

Bigger fighters, especially bigger wrestlers, can manhandle the smaller Edgar. We saw it in the Gray Maynard fight and we saw it both times the larger-framed Veach picked Edgar up and slammed him to the canvas.

Seeing Veach make like Matt Hughes on the first slam makes me want to see Edgar win one more fight before getting a title shot, against either Tyson Griffin or Gray Maynard. Beat a guy who can dominate you on the ground and you've earned your title shot.

8. Count Me Out for Season 11

Honestly, when Dana White said, "The fans want to see them fight again" in reference to the freshly-announced coaches of The Ultimate Fighter's 11th season Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz, I shook my head and asked, "What fans?"

I'm a fan and I have no interest in seeing a third fight between the two for a number of reasons:

1. Liddell is up 2-0, so it's not like we need a rubber match.
2. It does nothing for the division or the company, so I don't really care who wins.
3. It'll be 2010 when they finally meet, also known as nearly three years since either guy won a goddamn fight.

At least they're not tying up a title, but this is enough for me to officially submit my "reboot the franchise or I'm not watching anymore" statement for Dana White's consideration.

9. Things Are Getting a Little Sloppy

My wife actually brought this up during the James McSweeney - Darrill Schoonover fight and I think she's right.

Just in this fight alone we saw McSweeney almost fire a big knee to his downed opponent, run his fingers over Schoonover's eyes, prompting a warning from Josh Rosenthal, and deliver an elbow after the bell to the base of the neck.

Personally, a lot of it is the fighter's themselves, the heat of the moment and the timing of blows, but part of it, at least I think, goes to the emergence of so many organizations and the tough guy image too many people buy into because they're MMA fighters / wear Affliction gear.

Accidents happen and I understand that, but there is a part of me that can help but think that some of the traditional values of Martial Arts are being left behind as more and more people flock to the sport.

Respect for your opponent and the quest to prove your dominance and honor your style and team is losing ground to talking the most trash and being the toughest douche bag in the room who can't always be expected to remember the rules.

Just something to think about courtesy of my wife and her ever-expanding knowledge of the sport. And yes, I know I'm a lucky man.

10. The Pro Wrestling Tie-In

I have to acknowledge it.

While I know TNA Wrestling also broadcasts on Spike TV and using the UFC platform to push just about anything makes sense, putting Mixed Martial Arts next to Professional Wrestling doesn't sit all that well with me.

Having Hulk Hogan on the broadcast accomplishes what for the sport of Mixed Martial Arts? Sure it bumps the numbers for TNA a little for the next couple weeks and helps them announce their intentions to start up a new version of "The Monday Night Wars" with the WWE, but nowhere in there did I say anything about the UFC gaining anything.

Because they don't.

Additionally, people have already and will resume talking about the pro wrestling connections should all the Shane McMahon rumors ever come to fruition and people keep referring to Brock Lesnar as a "heel" like he's playing a bad guy in the WWE.

I know why they did it and the UFC certainly has to continue to shill everything under the sun for Spike TV, but just know that this left me feeling a little dirty.







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TUF 10 Finale Punch Drunk Predictions

We've hit you with all the previews and breakdowns and analysis imaginable, meaning the only thing left on the schedule is taking the plunge and making some picks.

One pick I'm certain of is that this will not be the last we see of Kimbo Slice inside the Octagon, regardless of the outcome of his meeting with Houston Alexander.

As much as it pains me, the guy is a monster draw and while a win will certainly propel him onto a pay-per-view card early in the new year, a loss isn't going to stop the UFC from continuing to capitalize on Kimbo's popularity.

While I agree with Matt Lindland's hope that the loser of this fight plummets into obscurity, never to be over-hyped again, the truth is that if that person is Kimbo, "The Law" won't get his wish.

Punch Drunk Predictions
Record: 116-84-1

Preliminary Card

Mark Bocek over Joe Brammer via Submission, Round 2
John Howard over Dennis Hallman via Unanimous Decision
Rodney Wallace over Brian Stann via T/KO, Round 2
Justin Wren over Jon Madsen via Submission, Round 1
James McSweeney over Darrill Schoonover via T/KO, Round 2

Main Card

Matt Mitrione over Marcus Jones via T/KO, Round 1
Frankie Edgar over Matt Veach via Unanimous Decision
Houston Alexander over Kimbo Slice via T/KO, Round 1
Jon Jones over Matt Hamill via Unanimous Decision

And in the Main Event of the Evening...

Brendan Schaub over Roy Nelson via T/KO, Round 2 to become the new Ultimate Fighter.

Now touch gloves and come out swinging!







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Fight Week Previews: TUF 10 Finale, Part III

We've covered the undercard and we've covered the co-main events, now the time has come to turn our attention to the fights featuring the cast of The Ultimate Fighter. First up, a Kimbo rant.

While I don't begrudge Dana White for capitalizing on the income potential of Kevin Ferguson, we're at a point now where it needs to be about more than the money he brings in. The dude needs to show something in the cage, giving credence to the tremendous opportunity he is receiving.

Otherwise, it's a farce and the hype and marketability of the man called Kimbo will die and take some of the UFC's credibility with it.

Onto the fights...

Jon Madsen (3-0-0) vs. Justin Wren (10-1-0)

Wrestler versus wrestler here, though the chances of it turning into a slugfest like often happens when similar styles clash are fairly low.

Madsen is 100% based on the ground and Wren showed in his fight against "Big Country" that he's got about four minutes of serious standup in him before the gas tank reads empty.

When they get to the ground - and it will happen quickly - Wren is the bigger of the two and has decent enough submission skills to put away his former teammate.

Darrill Schoonover (10-0-0) vs. James McSweeney (3-4-0)

Somehow, the UFC website has McSweeney showing a record of 12-5-0... interesting.

The Brit proved to be a bit of a douche on the show, though he looked better early against Roy Nelson than he did in his wind-sucking contest against Wes Shivers. "Titties" beat the last guy picked and then got owned by Marcus Jones.

Honestly, this is one of those, "Well, they made it to the semis so we should give them a fight on the Finale" type deals that I could certainly do without.

"Kimbo Slice" (3-1-0) vs. Houston Alexander (9-4-0, 1 NC)

For a guy portrayed as a serious tough guy, Kimbo sure had a solid list of excuses for not stepping in for Matt Mitrione when Dana gave him the opportunity. And for all the talk about his hands, the only guy he's ever knocked out clean was a 43-year-old Tank Abbott.

Houston Alexander dropped Keith Jardine.

Now, "The Assassin" was also on the receiving end of the fastest knockout in UFC history courtesy of current middleweight James "The Sandman" Irvin, making him the perfect opponent for the glorified puncher with a greater drawing power than Fedor Emelianenko.

This ends early and for the sake of the sport and all things right in the world, I hope Alexander is the one left standing.

By the way, nothing like having Kimbo fight after Frankie Edgar... one is a win or two away from a title shot, the other is Kimbo friggin' Slice.

Roy "Big Country" Nelson (13-4-0) vs. Brendan Schaub (4-0-0)

The heavy favorite going in - emphasis on the heavy - Nelson has coasted into the finals as many expected, easily beating Kimbo and punching James McSweeney in the mouth the second he got too big for his britches.

Many people liked Schaub going in and he too has done nothing to disappoint, choking out Demico Rogers, knocking out Jon Madsen and escaping the mount against Marcus Jones en route to dropping "The Darkness" in the semis.

Nelson is still the favorite and rightfully so; he has the pedigree and the professional experience, but don't count Schaub out. He's a terrific all-around athlete and has the benefit of being training with the best team in the business.

As always, Fight Day means Punch Drunk Predictions, so come back tomorrow to find out who I'm picking.






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Love Me or Hate Me: The 5 Most Polarizing Figures in the UFC

One of the great things about sports is the inevitable debates that come up when certain athlete's names get mentioned.

Best friends can become heated rivals as they take up the argument for and against figures who have as many fans as they do detractors.

Just as every other major sports league has a cast of characters that are equally loved and hated, the UFC is no different.

Here are the Top 5 Polarizing Personalities in the UFC.

5. Kimbo Slice

As his exposure on The Ultimate Fighter continues, more and more people are becoming fans of the man born Kevin Ferguson.

The original disdain for the bearded brawler wasn't even his fault to begin with; blame for the initial opposition to Kimbo belongs squarely on the shoulders of the people at EliteXC, who used an Internet street fighter as a marketing tool in our much loved sport's first foray onto network television.

His lack of experience and fundamentals came shining through, and as quickly as he was built up, Kimbo came crashing down courtesy of a Seth Petruzelli punch. Now he's back on TV and showing himself to be a humble, hardworking man intent on improving his game and learning everything he can to evolve in the sport.

But there are still haters and there always will be. That's just the way it goes.

4. Matt Hughes

On one hand, he's one of the most dominant champions in UFC history; a welterweight Goliath who beat some of the best in the business over seven title defenses and two reigns as champ.

On the other hand, he comes off as one of the most arrogant men to ever set foot in the Octagon. He rarely gives his opponents any credit in victory, rationalizing away his losses because of the mistakes he made, as opposed to getting beaten by a better man.

Currently, he's openly questioning why welterweight up-and-comers are interested in fighting him, despite the fact that he seems more interested in getting his own hunting show than setting foot inside the cage.

Hughes might be the one guy on this list that you can love and hate at the same time without question. Love him for his dominance and stellar career, but hate him for his superior attitude and unwillingness to accept the fact that sometimes, even the best get beaten by a better man.

3. B.J. Penn

It wasn't long ago that Baby Jay would have topped this list. The lightweight champ held down the top spot for a long time, cementing his standing by combining dominant performances in the ring with accusations of cheating and steroid use against the universally-loved Georges St-Pierre.

Whether it was his outstanding performance in defending his title against Kenny Florian at UFC 101 or simply an increase in attention for the two figures to follow, Penn's position in the pantheon of polarizing figures is slipping.

That could also mean that another B.J. outburst is just around the corner, as "The Prodigy" doesn't like being overshadowed by anyone.

2. Dana White

This one is pretty self-explanatory.

Some people praise the UFC President for his business acumen, the impact he's had on the sport as a whole and take no issue with his foul-mouthed rants and occasional lack of tact.

Then there are his detractors, who see him as a tyrannical dictator who is out for one thing and one thing only: his own personal gain.

They despise his frequent use of "The F Word" and the way he ridicules fighters who make decisions he disagrees with, wanting nothing more for the former aerobics instructor and childhood friend of the Fertitta's to fall off the face of the MMA landscape, never to be heard from again.

Somewhere in the middle of the two would probably be best; still passionate and dedicated to the sport, but with a little less cursing and more of a filter from time-to-time would work perfectly.

1. Brock Lesnar

All he does is lay on people. He's not a real fighter. What talent does it take to be bigger than everyone else?

The guy is a freak athlete and the next evolution of the sport. There have been big guys before him and no one had issue with them. Why should Lesnar be any different?

His WWE past has pretty much dissipated from the debate, as Lesnar has been around MMA for more than a minute now and made his mark as a guy who is in this long-term and not just for a quick paycheck.

That being said, he is easily the most polarizing figure in the UFC and probably the sport as a whole. His detractors discredit his wins based on his size advantage and find flaws in his opponents so that his victories are less meaningful in their eyes.

Supporters trumpet him as the next wave of fighters in the heavyweight division, a combination of size and athleticism the likes of which the sport had not seen until the mammoth Minnesota Golden Gopher stepped on the scene.

Let the debates begin...



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K2 Interviews: Undefeated Prospect Cody "Donnybrook" Donovan

One of the goals of Keyboard Kimura is to introduce you to some of the names you may not know; the guys fighting for smaller promotions, trainers who plan strategies and work corners while their fighters are household names or fellow MMA writers penning pieces to continue the growth of the sport in the mainstream media.

Today is an historic day, as we bring you the first of hopefully many interviews from the world of Mixed Martial Arts.

Cody Donovan is an emerging light heavyweight prospect fighting out of Denver, Colorado with a professional record of 4-0-0, including first round stoppages in each of his last two fights. The man known as “Donnybrook” took time out from training to talk with us earlier in the week.


At what age did you get into your first fight and what brought it on? Who won and did either of you cry?
My first fight was in elementary school I'm sure. I got beat up a lot back then. They've all kinda blurred into one. I do remember being about eight years old and getting punched in the nose by this kid named Mike Owney. A girl I had a crush on was standing there watching us talk trash and saw the whole thing. I'm standing there trying not to cry and my mom comes running up thinking that she was saving the day (laughs), I started balling. I must have looked like such a wuss. Mom winning my fights for me. Needless to say I didn't get the girl.

When and how did you first get started in MMA?
I studied Brazilian jiu jitsu in college. MMA was just kind of the next step. I took a trip to Jackson's with Christian Allen about five years ago. We trained with Joey (Villasenor) and Keith (Jardine) while we were down there. That's when I started getting serious about it. A few months later I was training 5 days a week back in Denver.

Where do you train and who do your fight for?
I train out of T'sKO Fight Club in Denver, and Jackson's MMA in Albuquerque. We’re like a big family. When one of us has a big fight, we all get together in one of those cities. I guess Montreal would be on that list too. I was able to go up there for Georges' fight with B.J. Penn. That was a tough camp.

Your training partner at T'sKO Brendan Schaub has been rumored as one of the contestants on TUF 10. Can you give us any insight into what to expect from him?
(Laughs) I can't comment about the TUF show, or whether or not Brendan will be on it. I can tell you that Brendan is a beast. You can expect big things from him wherever he goes. He is one of the most explosive athletes I have ever met. He is a great boxer, and picks things up faster than most fighters. People better watch out for him. And don't call him a football player.

Kimbo Slice is also going to be on the show. What are your thoughts on Slice as a fighter and do you think his inclusion on the show is good for the sport?
Kimbo has the potential to be a good fighter, someday. Right now he is just a slugger. It’s not hard to beat up a bunch of regular guys in some parking lot, and throw it up on YouTube. If Kimbo were to step in the ring with any of the heavy weights I train with, they would take his lunch and hand him his ass. I’d like to see him do well. I hope he sticks with it. I'm sure having him on TUF will be great for their ratings.

Tell us a little about your relationship with Nate Marquardt.
Nate's kinda like a big brother to me. He's already been through a lot in this sport, and is always willing to sorta lead me in the right direction. He’s a teacher to me as well. His technique is insane. He spent the last ten years traveling the world learning martial arts. A true mixed martial artist. I'm always picking his brain.

Is that relationship with Nate what brought you to Jackson's MMA?
It definitely got me in the door. People took me serious right from the start because I was "Nate's guy". Being the same size and weight as [Keith Jardine] helped as well. I was invited back the first couple times as an extra body for him to throw around. (Laughs)

What is it that makes Jackson's team such a strong group in the sport?
We are like a big family. We really want to see each other do well. With as hard as we all work, it’s pretty tough to find opponents that can match our training camps. I think the other part is that we have the best coaches and trainers in the world. Everyone knows Greg is the man, but there are so many others as well. We have stand up coaches like Trevor Wittman - the best boxing coach on the planet - Mike Winklejohn, Christian Allen, Phil Nurse and Firas (Zahabi). Wrestling coaches like Mike Van Arsdale and Leester Bowling, and strength and conditioning from Jonathan Chaimberg and Chris Lattrel. In Colorado we train our jiu jitsu with Amal Easton and the rest of his black belts; he is a genius on the ground.

Have you been down to Albuquerque since UFC 98? How's Rashad reacting to the loss?
I have not. I'm sure he's not happy about it. But I know that Rashad is not in MMA to take easy fights. He wants to challenge himself and leave a mark on this sport. I think it will just push him to fight that much better the next time around.

Where are you fighting right now and what are your goals for the next year?
My last two fights were in D.C. with the UWC. I really like that organization and I’m hoping they will have me back soon. Over the next year I want to continue to move up the 205 ranks. I'm not going to take any steps backwards. I don't like to have anything to do with choosing the opponents I fight though. I feel like if I have to say yes or no to a fight, it takes away the very thing that makes me a fighter. I let my manager and trainers make those decisions. I’ll fight whoever they put in front on me. I just train hard and enjoy the ride.

What song(s) do you use for entrance music?
Johnny Cash, Dropkick Murphys, Atreyu. I think I'm gonna mix it up on this next one and come out to some Jay-Z.

How do you mentally prepare for a fight?
I did some work with Brian Cain a while back. He helped me a lot as far as understanding sports psychology and fighting. I also use conditioning drills, high altitude training, and circles to instill confidence in my cardio. If I'm not gassing out, the other guy is screwed. (Laughs)

If you could fight anyone - past or present - who would and be and who would be the winner?
Good question. I’d wanna fight some old school warriors. Guys like Achilles, Alexander the Great, or William Wallace. That would be a fight. And I'd crush them because they don't know jiu jitsu. (Laughs) Maybe Jack Dempsy, he’s from Colorado too.

Time to get your picks on some of the upcoming fights:

Mike Brown vs. Urijah Faber II?
I'm pulling for Faber. He's good buddies with Tyrone Glover, who is one of my jiu jitsu coaches. Brown's a beast though. I wanna see my boy Leonard get another shot at him.

GSP vs. Thiago Alves?
Come on...

Anderson Silva vs. Rich Franklin?
I think there is only one middleweight that can beat Silva. Hopefully he'll get his chance again soon.

Normally, I’d call you a total homer, but (1) I can’t blame you for supporting your team and (2) I don’t want you choking me out, so we’ll just move to Lesnar - Mir II?
Mir. Lesnar is a monster, but Mir is much more well-rounded. My good friend Eliot (Marshall) trained with him on TUF. He said Mir is a freak athlete.

And now the non-fighting stuff so people can know a little more about you outside of the ring:

Favorite movie?
Right now it would have to be Step Brothers. Of all time, maybe Gangs of New York or The Departed. Or some old school Chris Farley stuff.

Ever teabag a drum kit? Wait... don’t answer that.

Favorite food?
Sushi

Favorite athlete?
John Elway

Best place you've ever traveled to?
Tokyo

Anyone you want to give a shout out to?
My friend Joe Ban. He makes it possible for me to pursue my fight career, he's the man. My boy Ryan at 5280 Fighter. He does a lot for the up and coming guys in Colorado. My friends and fam, I’m lucky to have so many good people around me.

Thanks for doing this.
No problem.

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K2 Interviews will appear periodically on Keyboard Kimura. If you're interested in being featured in this segment, contact me at spencerkyte@hotmail.com and we'll try to put something together.

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KIMBO!

As of yesterday afternoon, this week was already a pretty outstanding week in the world of Mixed Martial Arts.

Strikeforce has a solid card on tap for Saturday (which I'll cover later this week) and the highly-anticipated Mike Thomas Brown versus Urijah Faber rematch goes down on Sunday night. Yes, I'll be breaking that one down too.

So just before I turned in for bed last night, I do a quick check of the web and find a monster announcement.

Kimbo Slice is going to be on Season 10 of The Ultimate Fighter.

Say what you will about the man born Kevin Ferguson, but this is an absolute stroke of genius for Dana White, Lorenzo Fertitta and the UFC.


While people currently like to use Kimbo as the example of everything that was wrong with EliteXC and call him out for getting dropped in fourteen seconds by Seth Petruzelli, remember that he was also the catalyst for a whole shitload of people turning on their television sets and paying attention to MMA for the first time in their lives.

For better or for worse, people were interested in this guy and his place on TUF gives an instant jolt of electricity to a show that was looking like it needed life support.

You think people aren't going to tune in each and every week to see how a guy who has been an international Internet sensation fairs in a house with a bunch of guys we've never heard of? That part alone will be interesting, not to mention waiting to see if he improves his game under the guidance of either Rampage or Rashad and if the contenders he's matched up with can get out of the way of those still very dangerous face-smashers he calls fists.

Now, I'll be the first to agree that the approach of building an organization up around an unproven like Kimbo was suicide for EliteXC; it be like the Yankees giving me millions to a guy who throws a perfect game in beer league ball. But that is what makes this move absolutely brilliant for the UFC.

Should Kimbo win the whole thing, they have an already well-known, thoroughly interesting heavyweight contender to throw into the mix right off the bat. If he gets dummied, all the shit-talking Dana did back in the day is justified, he can say, "Look, I gave the guy a shot and he's shit" and they still got a huge audience for another season of their flagship show.

As if this wasn't enough to spice up the week, White alluded to an earth-shaking announcement that is still to come that will change the UFC forever.

And to think - it's only Tuesday!
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