Bloody Elbow :: The Official Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) Blog of the SB Nation

Were you hoping for a Couture vs. Emelianenko fight? Yes, that fight - the greatest fight in mixed martial arts history. Hang it up, folks. It's not happening:

PRIDE heavyweight champion Fedor Emelianenko has committed exclusively to the new ownership of M-1 Mix-Fight Championship, which has been purchased outright by an undisclosed America entertainment-related company, according to a source close to the deal who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

Established in 1997, the St. Petersburg-based M-1 held over 30 events under the ownership of Russian businessman Vadim Finkelstein, also the long-time manager of the much-sought-after Emelianenko. Finkelstein is also the proprietor of the Red Devil Sports Club, a facility and team that houses numerous Russian fighters, including PRIDE veteran Roman Zentsov and former UFC middleweight Andrei Semenov.

The source confirmed the new ownership has infused a substantial amount of capital into the organization. Finkelstein and others will stay on to assist in running the company, which will continue to promote under a variation of the M-1 name. The new M-1 will take more of a global stance, and Emelianenko (26-1) will headline its inaugural event as early as January or February, possibly in the U.S., the source said.

On March 27, Ultimate Fighting Championship majority owners Lorenzo and Frank Fertitta bought the assets of PRIDE, only to discover Emelianenko had previously signed a non-exclusive, non-transferable contract with its former owners, Dream Stage Entertainment.

Fedor gets what he wants and the fans get none of what they want. Congrats, Mr. Emelianenko. I hope you're happy now.

Strictly MMA has a radio interview with old school MMA legend Oleg Taktarov in which he discusses his upcoming return to the cage, his love for the old school no rules matches, his belief that wearing cups and mouthpieces would make him weak, and what he told his mom about his fights.

This fight is not a serious MMA bout, and everyone knows it. It's a sideshow spectacle. It belongs at a county fair or highway bar (what my dad would call a "juke joint", if you will). When I heard that the original plan to put it on in New Jersey fell through because an "investor" pulled out at the last minute, I thought that perhaps cooler heads had prevailed. Sadly, there's always someone ready to scoop up a match like this in the hopes of exploiting its "World's Wildest Police Chases" type appeal.

I initially opposed Kimbo's entrance into MMA, then supported it briefly, and now I'm mostly against it again.

But where Kimbo lost me was when he immediately challenged Tank Abbott to be his next opponent. That's when it started to look like he had no interest in becoming a real MMA fighter. He just wants to make some quick cash thumping on very beatable has-beens.

So fine, why shouldn't he get paid? We all sell what we have, whether it's violence or business acumen or, in the case of the ring girls, the ability to smile and hold a sign at the same time.

But does anybody think this fight will actually be interesting to watch? It's being sold purely on name value, which the promoters hope will be enough to get butts in the seats. And while it may be enough to draw a certain type of crowd, you have to wonder what people are coming to see. An MMA fight between two skilled, ambitious competitors? No. A backyard brawl with different scenery and six dollar beers? Probably.

Of course, he could always land a big haymaker and upset Kimbo, but what would that do to change the landscape of the MMA world or your perception of either fighter? It's not that I'm against this fight. I'm just against the reasons for this fight.

Riddle me this Ben, how is Kimbo vs Tank any different than Matt Hughes vs Royce Gracie or any of the Tito Ortiz vs Ken Shamrock fights the UFC treated us to in the last couple of years?

How is it that the late PRIDE was so often held up as the gold standard of world-wide MMA when their bread and butter was spectacles, many of them more grotesque and less competitive than Kimbo/Tank?

Let's touch on the PRIDE promotional tactics. PRIDE loves to add these type of fights to their card because they had a love affair pitting David vs. Goliath. One of the biggest cases of the entertainment factor is Minowa or as many know him as "Minowaman". With his grand entrances and unbelievably risky moves he pulled in the PRIDE ring, he was one of those popular Japanese fighters that PRIDE fans in Japan loved to see. He would take fights while weighting 185 against guys like Eric "Butterbean" Esch and various crossover Japanese wrestlers. Other fights include Frye vs. Takayama, and the various brawler battles that PRIDE put on as a spectacle. They didn't have really any bearing in the division. Pitting Fedor against Zuluzinho was a complete joke, but PRIDE also tapped into the popularity of fighters as well. Sapp, Crocop, Fedor, and the list goes on.

If your objection to the Kimbo/Tank fight is not the fight, but the "reasons for the fight" why are you not objecting to the rumored Chuck Liddell vs Wanderlei Silva matchup? That match certainly has little bearing on the rankings and is solely being promoted to put butts in seats.

Takanori Gomi himself defended the spectacle approach to MMA matchmaking in a (now deleted) interview on Sherdog:

To say that Gomi is somewhat surprised at this assessment of K-1 HERO'S is one thing, though according to his answer, the focus on entertainment is a natural and acceptable conclusion to him that he has never quite questioned.

"It's necessary, so it's not really a bad thing," Gomi says. "You can't have title fight after title fight after title fight, because most people will not be able to follow it and get involved. You need to have entertainment for those who don't watch too often or may be watching for the first time to say, `Ah, those fights were entertaining. Let's watch this show again, next time they put on one.' Besides, doesn't your country enjoy fighters like Charles Bennett?"

Here's Clay's fight with Tristan Yunker at King of the Cage in February 2006. Look at the fight and tell me that's the same Clay Guida competing in the UFC today. No chance you can do it. Specifically, note how much better Guida's rear naked choke defense is as well as his ability to stay calm under pressure when an opponent has back mount.

Secondly, Guida may have the same "advantage" as Huerta. Namely, the UFC keeps giving Huerta match-ups that not only force him to persevere, but teach him how to deal with very different styles and attacks. Well, I don't know if you've been paying attention, but Guida's been getting his fair share of tough fights with opponents who have different styles and attacks. In fact, while Guida hasn't won all of his contests, he's certainly faced a higher level of competition than Huerta.

See for yourself: since joining the UFC, Huerta has faced Jason Dent, John Halverson, Leonard Garcia, Doug Evans, and Alberto Crane. Not bad, but take a look at Guida's line-up: Justin James, Din Thomas, Tyson Griffin, and Marcus Aureilio. If you discount the fight that wasn't against Halverson, Huerta's really only had one more fight in the Octagon. More importantly, not one of Huerta's opponents is as accomplished as Thomas, Griffin or Aureilio. If you factor in that a case can be made for Guida to have won both his fight against Thomas or Griffin, you begin to see the picture a little clearer.

Huerta can beat Guida, no question. But he'll have to rise to the occasion to do so.

I respect Guida as a person and as a fighter, but he stands in the way of my quest for the title. It seems there are doubters out there, and this fight will serve as another opportunity to make them believers. I will be more explosive than ever. I will be, quicker, stronger, and it goes without saying that my goal is to have the UFC belt around my waist.

This is a tailor-made fight for the UFC, it has `Fight of the Night' written all over it. I'm looking forward to it, I'm sure Roger is preparing, and so am I. I am so excited to fight him and so honored to headline this card. It's going to be an action-packed fight to say the least.

See the difference? Huerta is talking about winning and Guida is talking about having a good fight. At the level these guys are fighting at every little edge matters. I'm picking Huerta, the guy with the killer instinct.

One, Silva is a very gracious champion. He never has an unkind word to say about Rich Franklin or former colleagues. He is a true, professional sportsman, something any sport would be happy to have.

Two, heading into this fight I'm far more impressed with his training partners than I am with Franklin's. Lyoto Machida, Big Nogueira, Vitor Belfort, and the entire Black House team are pretty tough to beat.

Three, he always says just enough without ever really saying anything. Obviously it's a strategic move, but it's clever nonetheless. He would easily be one of the first guys whose brain I'd like to pick once he was done with the sport and more open to revealing his true thoughts and beliefs.

I wish both he and Rich Franklin the best of luck on October 20th. Win or lose, the UFC will have a very deserving champion. If for no other reason, that's a great moment to celebrate.

Joe Riggs is a great middleweight with lots of athleticism and power, but is he really going to help you prepare for the lanky, rangy Thai specialist that is Anderson Silva? I'm not so sure. More pics of Franklin's training camp here.

His decision to write for Yahoo! Sports is both good for the goose and the gander. MMA Opinion thinks Meltzer is finally going to get the recognition that he deserves. Notable quote:

Meltzer's ascension is not only deserved, but it could shape the way we read and digest thoughts and ideas on MMA. Coverage effects how we all view our MMA. The Sam Caplans' and Todd Martins' of the world are excelling because they understand the synergy and goals of business and entertainment as much as true sport. They are equally necessary. And somewhere in between Josh Gross and noted Negative Nancy Zach Arnold (great for community of MMA journalism, but often a malcontent when the sky isn't falling) there is Dave Meltzer. Well, in between it all is Fight Linker, but that's commentary.

Meltzer has waited a lifetime for compliments like the one given to him by famous sports writer Frank Deford this past summer. Often the object of disrespect, Meltzer (who writes a giant newsletter or two by himself, did radio shows, and covered ten times what anyone felt was required), was called the best sports journalist in the world by Deford. Here's hoping he gets to make his mark at Yahoo Sports (he'll dwarf Kevin Iole in months) and gets to retire from his newsletter. Dave deserves to watch his child grow up and not worry about losing another friend in pro wrestling.

Congratulations, Dave. You've more than earned it. But it will be too soon if I ever hear another professional wrestling story reported.

So even after Cage Fury Fighting Championship couldn't make the Kimbo Slice vs. Tank Abbott match happen, Elite XC, Palace Fighting Championship, and Canada's Hardcore Fighting Championship all decided they'd like to give it a crack.

On the one hand, you could say the fact that many second or third tier promotions are looking for this fight is evidence of its "more spectacle than sport" character. What's more, you could also say the fact that the fight is being shopped so heavily is also evidence the fight is "more spectacle than sport". After all, are there any other fights that can be so easily transplanted and still be relevant? Not hardly. You need something else to make it that marketable.

On the other hand, the fact that the fight is so highly coveted by fight fans all over North America and by rival promotions grasping at the opportunity to showcase this fight is indicative of a fight that's got something special. There's no denying there isn't at least a little spectacle factor built in to the appeal of this fight, but is that so wrong? Buentello vs. Tank wasn't much more than a sparring session for Paul and we let that ride.

Kimbo is training to become the best MMA heavyweight he can be. He needs fights to help him build that foundation required for progress. Tank Abbott presents a perfect opportunity at this juncture to test Kimbo and the fight also happens to be a promoter's dream. I fail to see the problem in endorsing Slice or this fight. I hope Sherdog sees it the same.

Update [2007-10-10 11:11:14 by Luke Thomas]:: It looks like ESPN is on board with Kimbo. Maybe they can talk some sense into Sherdog.

BJ Penn has said it a number of times: you must be well-rounded in MMA, but you must also remember what your foundational strengths are. If you're a striker, don't try to sub a guy just for the sake of subbing a guy. And if you're Hatsu Hioki, take the fight to the fucking floor, for crying out loud.


	Bloody Elbow : The Official Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) Blog of the SB Nation

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