Hey guys,

Here's a cool video that I just stumbled across of Chael Sonnen training with Yushin Okami.

A few observations:

1. Sonnen appears to be considerably stronger than Okami. In my mind, this has raised a question about TRT. Due to Sonnen's "condition," I would think that it's safe to say that he is still taking his testosterone replacement therapy. One of the biggest criticisms of fighters taking TRT is that they are not being tested in between fights, and what fighters are apparently doing, is they are loading up on TRT and then coasting down until fight time. This enables the fighters to train longer, harder, faster, without the risk of testing for increased levels of testosterone come the actual day of the fight. In my opinion, this type of scenario should still be considered cheating, and it adds validity to the multiple reasons why TRT should not be permitted at all.

2. By training with Okami, is this Sonnen's attempt to get into Anderson Silva's head? Because if I were Silva, and I watched this video, I would tend to think that Okami is less of a risk than Sonnen is. If anything, I would think that this video would heighten Silva's confidence. But you be the judge.

3. It is completely possible that Sonnen genuinely believes that Okami will defeat Silva at UFC 134 next month. This would make Okami the new UFC Middleweight champion, and would no doubt set up a fight between Okami and Sonnen down the road. Since I can't see Sonnen or Okami claiming that they won't fight each other because they are "friends," do you see this as a strategy by Sonnen to secretly learn all about the man that he fully intends to fight in the near future?

4. Their coach does a great job.

Enjoy.
James


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCaAj...layer_embedded

http://i55.tinypic.com/24fjy4j.jpg

Over the past two years, I have taken it upon myself to speak out against Performance Enhancing Drugs in athletic competition (I.e. steroids, testosterone replacement therapy, etc.), and during my ever-evolving examinations and discussions (particularly with people who regularly use steroids), I have tried my best to leave my original notions at the doorstep, and to try to understand this issue with more of an open mind.

Read: Anabolic Steroids: A Quick Lesson in Morality and Ethics

At the end of the day however, I have come to three major conclusions with regards to PED’s; one—athletes and fans can try to justify them any way that they want, it’s still cheating. Two—the longer the debate continues, the less people seem to actually care. And three—the use of PED’s by anyone who would dare to call themselves a “martial artist” is nothing short of disgraceful.

And it would seem that in a recent interview with MMA Fighting, UFC Legend BJ “the Prodigy” Penn, agrees with me:

“I think everyone is really of the same opinion as I am, if they want to admit it or not,” said Penn. “Stuff like this is not easy to talk about. We're talking about friends and colleagues of mine. They look at me and they hear me say these things, and they're like, ‘You know you're the only guy that doesn't do it, right?’ And I'm like, I know.

“It's a catch-22 for me. I believe so strongly in fair play and all these things, and on the other side, it's people you know and people you look up to—legends of the sport. They've been involved with stuff like that. I guess I shouldn't be so outspoken because I have so many friends and colleagues and so many people I respect in this sport that have gotten involved with stuff like TRT and hormone replacement.

“I always said no. I always believed that technique is what it was all about. That's why I always took on the bigger challenges. That's what jiu-jitsu is about. That's why they have the Absolute Division, so when you're a white belt in jiu-jitsu, you’re already practicing wrestling with bigger people. I always believed it was in the technique. I always believed the needle was not the answer. I always believed that. I still believe it today.”


Between the Lines Analysis:

First of all, I sincerely admire BJ Penn for placing his principals above his own popularity, and for standing up for what he truly believes in. It definitely shows a strong moral character on his part. I’m impressed.

Like BJ, I have known many people over the years who have used steroids—many of whom were very good friends of mine. They mainly used them for personal use in order to increase their bench press (insecure) or to look better at the beach (narcissistic), and honestly, I’ve never really had a problem with that. I definitely don’t respect it—never have, but I don’t have a problem with what other people do with their own bodies, just so long as it’s not harming anyone else.

In fact, it’s sometimes difficult to discuss this issue honestly, and to have a strong opinion against them without upsetting or offending a few “innocent” bystanders along the way. Needless to say, I’ve lost a few friends as a result of my opinions.

But such is life.

I’ve never once let the thought of some big, roided-out monster with hands of steel capable of crushing my skull, deter me from voicing out against what I feel is a much greater social epidemic for the youth of today, and let’s not forget—our future athletes.

The biggest argument in favour of PED’s is that they help to speed the “healing process” when fighters get injured.

This is true.

But please bear in mind that the number one reason why athletes, and especially fighters, get injured so often in the first place is because they constantly over-train and push their bodies beyond their physical limits. So of course they’re going to get injured, and of course the PED’s will help to speed their recovery.

That’s the main purpose of PED’s in athletic competition by the way—to heal faster, which then allows the athletes to be able to train harder—grow stronger—become faster. Training more intensely for longer periods of time allows an athlete to gain a physical advantage, as well as psychological.

And that, sports fans...is cheating.

Additionally, I feel that BJ’s concerns over the use of TRT are spot on. The Athletic Commissions can’t even monitor the use of steroids properly—how on earth are they ever going to control the use of TRT so that the athletes aren’t abusing these substances as well?

According to the “Fight Doc,” Dr. Johnny Benjamin...they can’t, and TRT should be banned immediately because of this.

Have we learned nothing from “Hispanic” Chael Sonnen or Nate Marquardt?

Will we as a society just continue to stick our heads in the sand like we do with so many other of life’s problems?

I know...I know...rule #2: Nobody cares anymore. Sure we like to pretend that we do, and we certainly love to argue and debate these issues back and forth, but when it really comes down to it, no one is prepared to say, “Enough is enough.”

There’s just too much at stake for the athletes, the companies that employ them, and the fans that love to bet money on them. Plus, let’s not forget, each and every time that science figures out a new way to catch cheaters, science will also continue to find new ways to stay one step ahead of itself in order to mask PED’s from detection.

It’s a vicious cycle that keeps revolving back to conversations exactly like this one.

At this point, shouldn’t PED’s just be permitted in sports, and then those who choose NOT to use them can just make that choice for themselves?

God help us all if that ever happens.


Read: MMA: Five Things That Must Be Done To Curb Steroid Abuse

These are my opinions. If you don’t like them...I have others. Check them out at www.mrjamesryan.com
www.mmehfighter.com
www.themmatruth.com
http://www.examiner.com/user/3968546/reports
http://www.mmacrypt.com/forum/
http://www.bloodyelbow.com/
http://www.mmamania.com/
http://mmavalor.com/
http://manoamanocombat.com/
http://www.theultimatefemalefighter.com/
http://www.wfighter.com/

http://i53.tinypic.com/2wrdelt.jpg

“Only boring people get bored.”—Ruth Burke

In a recent interview with Fighter’s Only Magazine, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson discussed his upcoming UFC Light Heavyweight championship bout versus Jonny “Bones” Jones at UFC 135, and made several interesting statements regarding his perceived direction of the sport, as well as, an open criticism on the quality of the opponents that he has had to face as of late, claiming that he finds the new breed of MMA fighter; “boring.”

“Jon Jones is a tough guy and stuff like that,” said Jackson. “But I'm getting bored with these opponents. Win or lose, I'm getting bored cause these guys got these elaborate gameplans. They want to take me down and wrestle me because they think my ground is suspect.”

Jackson then added that MMA has evolved so fast that “pretty soon we're going to be like boxing if we keep fighting this way. Nobody is going to want to watch.”

[JR: So, let me try to understand this...MMA, unlike boxing, is constantly evolving, and that somehow translates into the demise of the sport?]

“I don't care about us going to the ground. Fights end up on the ground. But if this is one of those fights where it's all I end up doing the whole time is defending takedowns, it makes me look bad as a fighter too.

[JR: Only if you can’t actually defend them.]

“I got fans talking about I haven't knocked somebody out since Wanderlei. It's because Wanderlei comes to fight, Chuck comes to fight. These people come to fight, you know what I'm saying? I could have easily gotten knocked out by Chuck or Wanderlei. It's a risk you take. But those guys—they gained my respect.”


Between the Lines Analysis:

I understand to a certain extent where Jackson is coming from here, and no doubt anyone who follows this sport regularly can easily relate to the pain of having to sit through three (or even five) full rounds of a mind-numbing fight style that is more commonly referred to as “Lay-n-Pray.” It’s terrible.

The issue itself however, has nothing to do with the ground game. The issue, as I see it, has more to do with an inactive ground game.

Rarely will you ever see a jiu-jitsu practitioner take a fight to the ground and not at least attempt to posture and fight for position in order to secure that often times difficult and elusive submission hold. At least they’re trying and staying active throughout the process.

“Lay-n-Pray” on the other hand, is a style of fighting that is more commonly attributed to collegiate wrestlers that transitioned their way into MMA. They have fantastic ground skills but often times lack the confidence (and instinct) as a striker. Many MMA fighters with a strong wrestling base are fantastic at takedowns and at controlling their opponents from the top-mount position. But when it comes to finishing their opponents, many wrestlers just simply lack that ability—at first.

Take UFC newcomer Paul Bradley for instance. When Paul first appeared on the TUF 7 show, he won his first fight by essentially laying on top of his opponent. Needless to say, that did not impress Dana White (or the viewers). Despite the win, Paul was later removed from the show due to a staff infection, and sadly, was never given a second opportunity to fight in the UFC—until now.

The reason?

He needed to improve his overall skillset as a fighter. And now that he has, he’ll be looking to make very short work out of Brazilian fighter, Rafael Natal on August 6 at UFC 133. Good luck Paul!

Read: Paul Bradley Talks TUF 7 and Headlining King of the Cage: Chain Reaction

So what’s the solution for when a fighter takes his opponent down to the ground and then does nothing except lay on him and whisper sweet nothings in his ear à la Josh Koscheck?

In my opinion the answer is simple—stand them up.

But take it a step further even. If the attempt at inactivity persists, then perhaps a point should be deducted as well.

Too much emphasis is being placed on the takedown in this sport. How many times have you seen a guy get taken down to the mat only to watch him immediately spring back up onto his feet? And yet sadly, the judges tend to only see the takedown and the top position, and in their minds, that’s good enough for the win. And yes, sometimes it is. But not if a fighter is content with using a simple smothering technique to glide his way to victory and in the process, boring the crap out of the fans.

Again, I feel that the solution is to educate the referees (not that they are uneducated, but just so that they are all on the same page), and train them to recognize when a fighter isn’t really fighting to win, as opposed to just trying to control the action enough not to lose.

As for Jackson’s criticisms however, I do feel that on one hand he has a valid point, but on the other hand, I can’t help but to think that he is only trying to make up for his own shortcomings as a one-dimensional fighter. Oh, how times have changed since the old Pride days.

Recently in a press conference, Jackson even began to take an exception to being referred to as old. “I’m only 33-years old,” he argued. But what he failed to recognize, was that it wasn’t his age that was being questioned or labelled, but rather his failure to evolve in a constantly evolving sport.

If all Jackson wants to do is slug it out, might I suggest that he give boxing a try? Or perhaps some old-fashioned, tough guy competitions where kicks, takedowns and submissions are no longer permitted?

Jackson has built a strong reputation for himself as a powerful striker. Meanwhile, eight out of last 11 fights have all gone to the judges’ score cards.

Sure, his other three fights all resulted with Jackson knocking his opponents out, but considering the opponents, they were also one-dimensional, stand-up fighters—Chuck Liddell (now retired), Wanderlei Silva (needs to retire), and Marvin Eastman (has lost eight out of his last 14 fights, has been KO’d in four of them).

Frankly, if anyone is boring the fans, it’s these old school fighters that can no longer compete at a higher level in this sport because they are either too stubborn or too unskilled to evolve as a complete mixed martial artist.

Fans watch because they keep hoping that the exciting fighters of old will show up once again, but the problem is that unless they are matched up against each other, we as fans never get to see these men repeat their glory because frankly, it’s not all that hard to defend against a fighter when you know exactly what he’s going to try to do—not for these youngsters anyway.

Think about the current champions for a second. Do you really believe that any one of them isn’t a fully evolved fighter, willing and capable of fighting from any square inch inside of the Octagon?

Of course they are.

So please do everyone a huge favour, Rampage—stop your incessant complaining, take an actual interest in this sport, learn to evolve, improve your attitude more than anything, and stop sexually harassing female reporters (grow up).

Or retire.


Read: “Rampage” Jackson Drops an Atomic Bomb on Both of His Careers


These are my opinions. If you don’t like them...I have others. Check them out at www.mrjamesryan.com
www.mmehfighter.com
www.themmatruth.com
http://www.examiner.com/user/3968546/reports
http://www.mmacrypt.com/forum/
http://www.bloodyelbow.com/
http://www.mmamania.com/
http://mmavalor.com/
http://manoamanocombat.com/
http://www.theultimatefemalefighter.com/
http://www.wfighter.com/

Hey guys,

This is a very nice interview with Dan Henderson, conducted by Rafael "El Alcalde" Hernandez Brito of El Octagono.

I used to write for this website when they were just getting started (I was their only English writer), and they're a great bunch of guys. Be sure to check out their website at www.eloctagono.com.

Tell 'em "El Guapo" sent ya!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HhF71pcebMY&feature=player_embedded#at=159

Read: El Octagono: MMA Education is the Key to Success in Hispanic Communities (written by James "El Guapo" Ryan)

http://i56.tinypic.com/20u8h80.jpg

Ever since Nate Marquardt was released from the UFC for submarining the UFC 132 main event only one day prior to the show for testing too high with Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT), he has been under constant attack by fans, media and many fellow fighters who have all taken a major exception to Marquardt’s use of the controversial substance.

I guess he can thank Chael Sonnen for that one.

And for the record, the problem wasn’t that Marquardt was using replacement therapy—the problem was that his testosterone levels were well above the normal range. But I suppose that could be considered as “replacement,” if his testosterone levels were always (and let’s not forget “magically”) too high throughout most of his career to begin with.

In other words, the impression that the fans and many of the other fighters are getting these days is that many of these pro athletes are now using “replacement therapy” as an excuse to make up for the fact that they were most likely abusing steroids for much of their athletic careers (either amateur or professional) in the first place.

What? No sympathy?

According to the “Fight Doc,” Dr. Johnny Benjamin, he believes that the use of TRT should not be permitted under the current methods of testing:

“I believe that TRT should not be allowed in elite-level competition. It is too easy to cheat and very difficult and time consuming to monitor the proper treatment process.

“The bottom line is that TRT was developed and intended for the medically necessary treatment of a small subset of young boys who need this hormone to develop normally and have a shot at a more normal life—and not, amazingly, healthy young men who want a shot at the title.”

Hmmm...so then why would an elite-level athlete such as Nate Marquardt (or Chael Sonnen or Todd Duffee for that matter) need to use TRT in the first place? After all, they’re still young guys and they do “appear” to have quite a bit of muscle packed onto their incredibly fit frames.

“Some common reasons for significantly low testosterone levels in an otherwise healthy young man are pituitary-gland issues, primary gonadal issues and/or side effects of anabolic steroid use. As an FYI, pituitary dysfunction was ruled out in Sonnen's case. So, that leaves two likely choices—with one being far more likely than the other.”

So anyway, back to Nate “the Great” for a moment...

Although he has been under quite a bit of heavy fire lately, there’s really only been one other professional fighter that has been challenging him (and laying insults to him) to a point that it’s now apparently affecting Marquardt on both a mental, as well as, an emotional level. And he’s not even in the UFC.

Meet Hector Lombard...

And in case you’re unfamiliar with who he is, Lombard is currently the most revered Middleweight Champion in the entire Industry, aside from UFC Middleweight Champion, Anderson “the Spider” Silva, who many, myself included, think that Lombard could easily defeat.

[This is my opinion. If you don’t like it...I have others.]

Lombard was born and raised in Cuba and began grappling in judo by the age 10. Fast forward 23 years later, and Lombard is now a three-time College National Judoka Champion, and was a gold medal winner at the Cuban National Championships. In 2000, Lombard then had the honour of representing Cuba at the Summer Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia.

So then why should anybody be surprised that this guy is possibly the best in the world in the sport of MMA? Why is he being underestimated by so many people?

[cough...UFC Suck-ups...cough]

Lombard (29-2-1-1), who currently holds the Middleweight championship belts for both Bellator and the Cage Fighting Championships (Australia) is well-known in the MMA world as a relentless, high-powered wrecking machine, who seeks and destroys his opponents in the most punishing of ways (fastest recorded knockout was against Brazilian Jay Silva at the 0:06 second mark of the first round of their fight).

Yet despite going undefeated in his last 23 fights, Lombard is still often criticized by fans and media for fighting in a “lesser” promotion (the idea of course that all of the best talent lies within the UFC, something that the UFC constantly reinforces as part of their aggressive, brainwashing marketing strategy).

If only there were a way that Lombard could prove them all wrong.....hmmmm...

Enter Nate Marquardt.

After being released by the UFC, Marquardt was immediately called out by Lombard who is known more traditionally as a quiet, keep-to-himself type of fighter, who much prefers to do most of his talking inside of the cage. But here was an opportunity that Lombard just couldn’t pass up—the opportunity to silence his critics once and for all by defeating a man that many other “experts” consider to be a top contender amongst the UFC Middleweight elite.

Look at it this way—if Marquardt could defeat Lombard, then perhaps it would only just prove what many fans already believed, which was that Lombard wasn’t as good as his supporters claimed him to be. But if Lombard could defeat Marquardt, and do so in his usual convincing fashion, then that would instantly launch Lombard (and Bellator) into the centre media stage for the first time ever in his fighting career.

That would be a big step forward for Bellator and an even bigger step forward for Hector Lombard, as he would love nothing more than to be able to prove his critics wrong.

But I have to wonder...what would be in it for Marquardt? Seems like he’d be the one with the most to lose, right?

Well, not really.

“When asking for help, appeal to people’s self-interest, never to their mercy or gratitude. Learn to uncover something in your alliance with him, that will benefit him, and emphasize it out of all proportion. He will respond enthusiastically when he sees something to be gained for himself.”—The 48 Laws of Power (Law #13)

So let’s brainstorm here for a second...what are some possible benefits to Marquardt for accepting this fight against Lombard?

One—F#%$ the UFC. Dana White couldn’t wait to drop Marquardt like a bad habit. And he did so in a way that was both ruthless and humiliating—posting videos of himself on Twitter bashing the professional and moral conduct of Marquardt. I think it’s safe to say that Nate won’t be returning to the UFC any time soon, or according to Dana White—EVER!

Two—Bellator is a great promotion. They are known for treating their fighters fairly and with a great deal of respect. Sure, they’re not as big as the UFC, and as such, Bellator might not be in a position to pay Marquardt the type of money that he’s used to earning, but with a monopoly at hand in this Industry, what other choice does Marquardt really have? Unless of course he’s willing to drop from the North American scene altogether? Doubtful.

Three—Clearly, Marquardt wants revenge against Lombard. And now that he’s said so, he has literally painted himself into a corner where if he doesn’t now agree to fight Lombard, it’ll be Marquardt who is regarded as the coward. Combine that with the “cheater” stigma and that’s not the legacy that any fighter would want for themselves.

"Some of the fighters that think they're so cool and tough by kicking a guy when he's down—as far as my career, this has been one of the worst times of my life, and these guys are calling me a cheater and talking crap – I've taken note as to who those guys are, and I'm going to come for them. Eventually, I'll get them. I don't care if it's in a superfight or if they want to come down to my gym. I'll beat them up for free. I think you know who these guys are – Ben Askren, B.J. Penn, Paul Daley, Hector Lombard, cowards talking crap about a guy when he's in such a situation. They're trying to take advantage of the situation. They're bullies. Those are the guys I want to beat up."—Source

Four—Redemption. He needs it BADLY and he needs it FAST. If Marquardt is truly upset with the fact that everyone is now calling him a “cheater,” then what better opportunity would there be going forward than this one, to prove them all wrong? Short answer—there’s not.

Five—An immediate shot at the Bellator title. Look at it this way—if UFC fighters are indeed that much superior to any other fighters in this world, than Marquardt should have no problem whatsoever in defeating Lombard, and if he does, he will have instantly become the new Bellator Middleweight Champion. Unless he’s planning on retiring from MMA altogether, this is his best opportunity for sure.

Not accepting the challenge by Hector Lombard would be a HUGE career breaking mistake by Nate Marquardt.

Not sure that he can afford another one. Let’s just hope for Marquardt’s sake, that his managers agree.



There are my opinions. If you don’t like them...I have others. Check them out at www.mmehfighter.com
www.mrjamesryan.com
Please add me on Twitter for a chance to win a copy of my new book, Desolate Warrior.

I would definitely not consider myself a fan of either UFC fighter, Chael Sonnen, or of Media Ass-kiss Extraordinaire, Ariel Helwani, so from that standpoint, what possible reason could I have to watch these two videos?

Nothing more than simple curiosity I guess. At least Sonnen has that going for him.

It's like that old Simpson's episode with the lemon tree...

"Hey everyone...look!! An old man is talking!"

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I particularly enjoyed Sonnen's take on the Pound-for-Pound debate, something that I have personally argued is a total waste of time and thinking. You know you're in trouble when you start agreeing with a guy like Chael Sonnen, but as offensive as he can be (watch the second video where he describes the time when the Egg Nog brothers confused a bus for a horse), he also speaks the truth, in a twisted sorta way.

He just tends to be a little bit too out there with his opinions, and as such, the average person doesn't respect him because he seems to lack total self-discipline. Plus, he's a cheater (in the first video, he sure makes it sound good though). Gotta love that selective memory.

Anyway, enough from me, enjoy the videos. You will likely be both offended and entertained. That's Sonnen's goal after all, right?

Well...mission accomplished.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryqx7rAOF44&feature=player_embedded

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zP9QS-UuePA&feature=player_embedded

Read: Will Ribeiro Cries for Help, Black House Turns Back on Injured Fighter

www.mmehfighter.com
www.mrjamesryan.com

Twitter @coachjamesryan

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Recently, Tito Ortiz took a major exception to the fact that Ryan Bader referred to him as a “stepping stone” in their upcoming bout at UFC 132.

Yeah right! Tito wishes he were that important.

The truth is, no fighter ever likes to be referred to as a stepping stone because it naturally implies that the “steppee,” and not the “stepper” is slowly on his way out of the sport—which Tito most certainly is.

But what Tito’s ego has severely overlooked is the fact that he hasn’t been an actual contender for a very, very long time. In fact, Tito hasn’t won a fight since he defeated the very over-the-hill Ken Shamrock back on October 10, 2006.

2006!!!

Calling Tito a stepping stone is actually quite the compliment.

Sure Tito Ortiz has a name that has become synonymous with the sport of MMA, and on paper, one might think that it’s a pretty nice feather in the cap for anyone to be able to have, but from a fan perspective, it could easily be argued that Bader is in fact the stepping stone here, and not Tito.

Think about it. Prior to getting dismantled by the now reigning Light Heavyweight Champion Jonny “Bones” Jones, Bader was on top the world, and was recognized by many as the next rising star in the UFC.

Five months later and Bader is now facing a hapless Tito in what definitely has to be considered a “do or die” fight for Ortiz. In other words, Bader went from facing the top of the division, to the bottom, in one fell swoop.

Oh, how the mighty have fallen.

If Bader wins at UFC 132, he will have successfully beaten a fighter who hasn’t won in nearly five years, and who many argue should have retired long ago. Therefore, however you want to slice it, name or no name, that’s really not all that impressive to be honest.

In fact, should Tito win, and I predict that he will (seriously...did I just say that?), Bader will have officially taken himself out of the upper echelon of the division and launched Tito into a position where not only does he live to fight another day, but he will likely get a shot at someone ranked as high as the Top 3 of the division.

Oh the humanity...

If anyone has anything to lose, it’s Bader.

If anyone has anything to gain, it’s Ortiz.

So who’s the real stepping stone in this whole scenario?

Personally, I’d say it’s Ryan Bader.

Lighten up, Tito, and learn when to take a compliment.

Read: Tito Ortiz: The Self-Promoting Champion of Guerrilla Marketing



These are my opinions. If you don’t like them...I have others. Check them out at www.mmehfighter.com

Blog: www.mrjamesryan.com

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Often times I get asked by my readers who I might like in a particular fight, and I never know if I should answer with who I want to win, or with who I think will actually win. After all, they’re not always the same person.

As many mixed martial arts fans will attest, one of the best aspects to following the sport of MMA, is that we as fans, all have the benefit of being able to get caught up in the daily, on-going soap opera of useless debates and information, better known as the UFC.

All hail social media!

Whether you hate a fighter or you love him, chances are that you will tune in each and every month just to watch your favourite fighters win, or better yet, to watch your least favourite fighters lose, and get punched repeatedly in the face for their failing efforts.

Read: Like It or Not, Brock Lesnar is Still Alive

There is this strong connection to the personalities and moral character of the athletic celebrities that we all enjoy watching. Human nature usually dictates that we will more often than not allow our emotions to cloud our better judgement when it comes down to predicting the outcomes of MMA fights correctly.

Read: MMA Fighters and Why Personality Matters (Or Does It?)

Therefore, I recently decided that I would stop wasting your time (but mostly my own) by trying to accurately predict who I think will actually win a selected fight.

Frankly, I could care less about who has the best chance of winning—I’m still going to root for (or against) my favourite (or least favourite) fighters, by flaunting my tremendous bias when it comes to rooting for the fighters that I would love to see win.

Or lose.

For example, given my recent relationship with former WEC fighter, Will Ribeiro, I decided that I would NEVER cheer for ANY fighter who was ever connected with Black House ever again. That included Anderson Silva, Lyoto Machida (one of my past favourites), Jose Aldo, and of course, the Egg Nog’s.

And until yesterday, that also included Junior dos Santos, but don’t worry, he is now officially “all good” in my books.

Read: Junior dos Santos Fires Ed Soares: Tough Media “Family” in a State of Dysfunction

So forget about the WHO...and please enjoy the WHY.


UFC 132 Fight Card Premonitions and Wishful Thinking

Brian Bowles vs. Takeya Mizugaki: The last person that Will Ribeiro lost to in his promising career as a professional fighter in the WEC was none other than Brian Bowles, who later went on to defeat Miguel Torres to become the new WEC Bantamweight Champion. Bowles then immediately lost his title to Dominic Cruz as a result of a doctor stoppage, and then went on to win his next UFC debut by way of guillotine submission choke in the first round against Damacio Page. By all rights, Bowles should probably be the one fighting Urijah Faber in the main event of UFC 132, not Cruz...but he isn’t.

Takeya Mizugaki’s career on the other hand, most closely resembles that of a yo-yo. Win, lose, win, lose, win, lose...but at least he’s lost to some pretty notable opponents over the years, such as; Miguel Torres, Scott Jorgensen, and Urijah Faber. Come to think of it...it makes no sense at all that Mizugaki would be able to win this fight against Bowles.

Bowles...the same guy who promised me an interview for my Will Ribeiro book but then chickened out at the last minute. Needless to say, I’ll be cheering heavily for Mizugaki in this one. Go Japan!!!

Read: Will Ribeiro Cries for Help, Black House Turns Back on Injured Fighter


George Sotiropoulos vs. Rafael dos Anjos: This fight is not an easy one to predict. I really enjoy watching Sotiropoulos fight, and the last time that I watched dos Anjos fight, it was against my favourite “dude” in the entire UFC, Clay “the Carpenter” Guida (who broke dos Anjos’ jaw with a shoulder strike up against the fence). Nothing against dos Anjos, but he needs to stop fighting crowd favourites if he ever expects North American fans to stand behind him. Still though, despite being from Brazil, he’s not affiliated with Black House, so even if he wins, I’ll still be happy about it. Just because I despise Black House and all that they represent, doesn’t mean that I don’t support Brazilian fighters in general. Quite the opposite in fact.


Melvin Guillard vs. Shane Roller: Shane Roller is a strong American wrestler who is coming off of a couple of very impressive wins against Jamie Varner and Thiago Tavares. Melvin Guillard on the other hand is a Jackson’s prodigy, and a very good friend and student of another close friend of mine, Coach DJ Jones. Nothing personal against Roller, but Guillard was an absolute beast in his last fight and I predict that he will be a UFC champion in the very near future...and that’s not just my biased talking. Okay...maybe a little.

Read: Coach DJ Jones from Jackson–Winklejohn’s MMA: One Tough Family


Tito Ortiz vs. Ryan Bader: Tito Ortiz hasn’t won a fight since 2006. Ryan Bader is coming off of his first loss to the now UFC Light Heavyweight Champion, Jonny “Bones” Jones. I have never been a Tito fan, in fact, quite the opposite. I despise his whole attitude and seemingly unethical behaviour as a professional athlete, and despite his popularity with most MMA fans, I don’t see that he does anything good for the sport. And yet, in this match-up, I strangely find myself pulling for him to win.

I guess I’m starting to enjoy the fact that Tito has become this enormous thorn in Dana White’s side, who just simply refuses to go away. I hope Tito sticks around for another 10 years actually, just to drive White and the rest of the Zuffa clan insane. Sure he’s a douche, but it’s not like he hides it well. With Tito, you always know what to expect—excuses and all.

Read: Ryan Bader is Tito’s Best Shot at Victory in the UFC


Wanderlei Silva vs. Chris Leben: Both of these men come to fight each and every time that they step into the Octagon and it’s always with very bad intentions. The hope, undoubtedly, is to knock their opponent’s head clean off into the fifth row of the stands. Both of these men fight in a way that excites the fans and sells pay-per-views. So how is it possible to predict a fight that lends itself to the best punch landed by the luckiest of the two? That’s easy.

Chris Leben might be a jerk whose past behaviour includes acting like a total embarrassment for the sport on national television (the TUF show), testing positive for steroid use, and more recently, getting busted for a DUI, but at least with Leben, you know exactly what you’re getting.

With Wanderlei on the other hand, the fans adore him because he has a sick-ass nickname and the personality of what appears to be a kind, gentle man...the same man who posted a video on YouTube over a year ago talking about how he was going to help Will Ribeiro by auctioning off a pair of his fight shorts, in order to donate the proceeds to Ribeiro in his desperate time of need. How spectacular of him.

Too bad the shorts were never actually put up for auction, and as such, Silva received a tonne of praise and fan worship for something that he never actually did—or likely intended to do.

I’ll take an irresponsible jerk over a guy who doesn’t stay true to his word any day of the week.

Read: Desolate Warrior: The Inspirational Story of Will Ribeiro


Dominic Cruz vs. Urijah Faber: This main event championship title fight should be highly entertaining. Assuming of course that Cruz can stop running backwards long enough to actually engage Faber. Best way to decide who’s going to win this fight—flip a coin. I doubt that the occasional fan really cares (or knows who they are) anyhow.

Personally, I’d probably pull for Faber in this one, if only because of this video, which I found to be quite hilarious.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtoaeMppl5s&feature=player_embedded

Because that’s all that really matters in this sport, right? Being entertained?

I don’t know...I’m starting to think maybe it is.



These are my opinions. If you don’t like them...I have others. Check them out at www.mmehfighter.com
Blog: www.mrjamesrayn.com
Follow JR on Twitter at www.twitter.com/coachjamesryan

Attachment 545

As you may or may not have heard, in a recent move that has shocked millions of MMA fans from around the world, Black House fighter and top UFC Heavyweight contender, Junior dos Santos, announced via his Facebook and Twitter accounts (how’s that for an official press release?) that he is no longer under the strained and questionable management skills of Ed Soares, Jorge Guimarães, and/or Tough Media Inc.

“I am officially no longer managed by Tough Media Inc. or Ed Soares. For any press requests, sponsorship inquiries, or other matters, please contact Ana Claudia Guedes at anaclaudiaguedes@mac.com.”

So I did.

Interestingly enough, it would seem that JDS’ new “representation” is in fact...his lawyer.

So who or what is Tough Media?

Tough Media is a management company directed by Ed Soares and Jorge Guimarães. Both of these men also happen to be the co-owners and operators of Black House MMA.

Black House is a mixed martial arts fighting team and gym (originally based out of Brazil) that currently trains many of the existing and former champions in the sport of mixed martial arts.

Black House is self-described as a “private facility where the Tough Media family can converge and train.”

According to their website (www.blackhousemma.com), the individuals that make up the Tough Media family have their own individual teams, but Black House then provides a place where those teams can meet when they are in Los Angeles.

Who is Jorge Guimarães (aka “Joinha”)?

As per the Black House website, Jorge Guimarães claims to have been “born” into Jiu-Jitsu, even though he didn’t really begin his training with Rolles Gracie until the age of 12.

In 1997, Guimarães eventually launched his own MMA-based television program in Brazil, called “Passing the Guard.” He was the creator, producer and host of the show, and used this program to “further cement his importance in the MMA community.”

Guimarães describes himself as “the Larry Merchant of MMA.”

For those of you who might not already know, Larry Merchant is a long-time commentator for HBO Sports and is considered by many sports enthusiasts as being the “greatest television boxing analyst of all time.”

Guimarães also claims to be one of the “most influential businessmen in all of MMA.”

Again, this is all self-described.

Who (or what) is Ed Soares?

Unlike his counterpart, Ed Soares was not actually born in Brazil. He is an American citizen, currently residing with his family in Southern California.

He is the former owner of the Sinister Clothing brand, which was recently sold to the Authentic Brands Group in 2010. Sinister Clothing is now marketed as the exclusive “high-end” MMA clothing brand in all nationwide Kmart stores.

As a former night club promoter, Soares felt that with his “background in management, it was a natural evolution for him to start representing fighters.”

Personally, I don’t see the connection between promoting night clubs and managing the careers of professional athletes, but that’s just me.

Soares is also a famous on-air Interpreter for many of the Brazilian fighters that Black House represents, which has made him somewhat unpopular with many fans of the sport. In particular, Soares has become extremely well-known in the MMA community for handling all of the interviews for the current UFC Middleweight Champion, Anderson “The Spider” Silva.

“Our company is more like a family than a business. That’s one of the differences with us, I believe—we’re a very tightly knit group. Eventually, the goal is to be a larger agency.”—Ed Soares

[tear]

Some of you may also remember Tough Media as the management group that was recently made famous for initiating the post-career smear campaign of former WEC fighter, Will Ribeiro, which garnered them International notoriety amongst the MMA community.

“James, just finished your book earlier today, and I must say I am disgusted with Ed Soares and his way of treating someone who literally put his life in his manager’s hands. The language barrier never helped the Ribeiro family of course, but at the end of the day, someone in Ed Soares’ position should be taking care of his fighters and treating them like his family. Instead, he did the opposite when his help was needed the most. Perhaps I am naive and expect too much from people, but it really has shocked me with how many lies they were willing to give you, to make themselves look good, and Will/Wladimir look bad. But hey, after reading your book, my conclusion is that Ed Soares is the new Don King of MMA.”—John Peterson, MMA Fan

Article: Will Ribeiro Cries for Help, Black House Turns Back on Injured Fighter

Book: Desolate Warrior (Canada Day Sale 25% off)

Despite Soares’ ongoing claims that his management team and their fighters are like one big, happy “family,” it would seem obvious to anyone that is at all familiar with the story of Will Ribeiro that those claims are nothing more than a conveniently clever facade, designed to hide the ugly truth that currently exists behind the Black House curtain.

Unfortunately, after speaking directly with dos Santos’ lawyer, the reasons for the split are still very much unknown:

“Hello James, thank you for your message. I researched your subject, Mr. Ribeiro at desolatewarrior.com, and it is a shame he suffered such a terrible motorcycle accident. All my best to him. As to your question of me, I apologize, but it would be grossly unethical for me to divulge details regarding my clients. Best, Ana Claudia Guedes, Esq.”

Oh well, I tried...

In any event, one thing is for certain...the Tough Media family is beginning to show serious signs of dysfunction and that has to be weighing very heavily on the minds of the other fighters that they currently represent.

After all, if you were a professional fighter, would you really want to be represented by a business that places their own personal fame and celebrity above your own?

In the case of Junior dos Santos, it’s safe to assume, NO.

Read: Tami Carswell Reveals Secrets to MMA Management Success



These are my opinions. If you don’t like them...I have others. Check them out at www.mmehfighter.com
Blog: www.mrjamesrayn.com
Follow JR on Twitter at www.twitter.com/coachjamesryan

Hey guys, our Rep system is on the weaker side of things to be honest. When I have more time, I'll try to enhance it a bit more but to be honest, it sucks right now and I know it.

But anyway, I've added something call "Rep Power" to our user info area. You've always had this "power" is just wasn't visible before.

http://content.screencast.com/users/...05-08_1219.png

There are several things that go into your power, here's how it breaks down.

http://content.screencast.com/users/...05-08_1222.png

And if you don't know how to use it which is to be expected since is not a very clear option at all.

At the bottom of each post in the lower left hand corner, you will see this.
http://content.screencast.com/users/...05-08_1223.png

The first option is pretty clear, turn the post into your Blog.

The second which I think is supposed to be a little gay sheriff badge is the rep system. If somebody makes a good post or posts a good story, give them a little love for it and give them a rep. It also allows you to give a comment for why you are showing the love. It's not required but an option.

Again, it's a weak system, all us mods know it. It's also a system that can be abused and ruined, some of us mods have also seen that also. But I think we have it set up where it's a pretty fair system. And it's not a popularity contest, it's just a way to show a little love for those that take the time to make a good post. Give a positive rep cause somebody types "I agree" isn't how it should work. Look at the types of posts that Mu-Shin makes, those are great examples of how the rep system should be used. If a guy like James writes a good blog, show him the love for it. If guys like Wolunt, Drock or Kickass share a good story, give them the love. If a wonderful, kind admin like Misfit takes the time to share this info with you, give me, DOH, him the love. And on that last part, Misfit (went 3rd person) will give you the love back to show you how it works and such. But remember, my love is 5x the power of yours most likely so you get much more love in return. Also keep in mind the guys putting together the contests, the mods of the site that do stuff to make the site a bit better.

None of this is required, but we all like to hear the thanks for a good post, maybe a funny post and such. And while I wish it was a better system, it's the best we got for now.

Brian