The Doombeard Report speaks with Tom Lawlor regarding his recovery from knee surgery, his recent move to the city of Richmond, his MMA career, Pro Wrestling, horrid stenches, declining property values for homeowners in Richmond, and a message to his fans.
Question: What brought you to MMA?
Answer: I wrestled my whole life. I was a competitor early on. I found it as an escape from the real world… I controlled my progress in wrestling and no one could stop me but me. When I graduated high school, I had been undefeated in wrestling for two years and I still had my drive. At first I had some personal issues that kept me from taking advantage of a D1 scholarship to VMI and without competition my life fell apart a bit. I felt lost without the goal setting and motivation that the sport brought.
Where did you finish your collegiate wrestling career? Did you graduate? If so, what was your degree?
King University in Bristol, TN. Yeah I graduated with a degree in History and a minor in coaching and secondary education. After moving to Harrisonburg I pursued a Masters Degree in Secondary Education at Liberty University but never finished. I dropped everything when I moved to Richmond to “shoot for the stars” as they say. I can go back to school at any time. I can’t say that about MMA.
Where did you begin your training?
I found a small team in my hometown and began training in Jiu-jitsu. About three weeks into training, I jumped right into MMA competition and never looked back. I met Beau Baker at my first amateur competition and began traveling to Harrisonburg (then Valley Chute Boxe) five or six days a week along with training Jiu-jitsu, Judo, and boxing at VMI and BVFC (gym in my home town). I eventually went back to college to wrestle competitively and to finish my degree. I would continue training MMA in my wrestling off season and competed as well.
When I graduated college I moved to Harrisonburg (at the time had moved to MMA Institute) and began my professional career.
So you had your first MMA fight after only three weeks of training?
Yes sir. I was young and naïve but very motivated. I was an elite athlete already and this carried me through until I began to evolve as a mixed martial artist. I started training at 18… That means I’ve put in almost 10 years.
Your nickname is “Tailor Made”. There is usually a story behind how nicknames come about. What is yours?
No big story—I believe that my life experiences and ventures have “tailored” me perfectly for this sport; I was made for this. Also my style is “tailor-made” for any opponents. Plus it rhymes dude, you know?
My nickname in college was given to me by a kid named Patrick Spano. He called me the “buffet” short for “buffet of manliness”. He said when I fought I would “give them an all-you-can eat” buffet of beat down. He was a trip and I loved that kid. Another dude named Quinton “KB” Brown used to call me M-dot because my signature is M. Wade for everything.
Personally, I think you should use “The Buffet” as a second nickname, that’s pretty awesome. Ever thought of rocking a supplementary nickname like only the best (insert sarcasm here) rappers do?
No thanks, I thought Mike Wade was enough. My dad is Mike Wade too and together we have built somewhat of a badass reputation in our own respects. But I’m sure Patrick Spano will always call me “the Buffet”.
Was your first Amateur MMA fight a Submission loss against Andrew Zai? If so, what did you take away from that fight, and how did it impact your mindset going forward in your career?
Zai was my second and I learned a lot. Sometimes a loss teaches you more than a win. Wait you are right Zai was first… It was a long time ago. Most of my influential fights for me came as a Pro.
After racking up eight Amateur MMA fights in under two years, you finished with a record of 6-2. At what point did you make the move from MMA Institute in Harrisonburg to MMA Institute’s Richmond location?
I competed as an amateur for three years off and on…. I was 8-2 as a few fights were unsanctioned. I had a “difference of opinion” with the current coach in Harrisonburg and had been planning to make the move to Richmond eventually. I moved to Richmond after being in Harrisonburg for a little over a year. I took some time off after my last amateur fight (guy was 10-0 amateur and I TKO’d him) to finish school and finish strong in wrestling
How do you like training under Rick McCoy at MMA Institute, as well as living in the city of Richmond?
The only thing I like about Richmond is the people I’ve met and work with and the gym. I love training at MMAI in Richmond. Rick is a great coach. Lots of coaches teach technique and Rick is one of the best I’ve seen but his devotion to the fighters is what makes him great. I’ll end my career here I’m sure of it. There are always tough guys in the gym and I get better all the time. Now if I could just stay a little more active then my career would be perfect.
You happen to be a part of an experienced group of fighters at MMAI. You train daily with guys like Terrell Hobbs, Brian Nielson, Donny Ooton, and Keith Bell. MMAI has also recently added UFC fighter Tom “Filthy” Lawlor to its roster. How do you feel about the level of training that you get in the gym from your teammates?
We are getting better all the time. We are one of the best and it’s time to show the world. With the addition of the new equipment and space that Rick is working on, we will have everything we need to compete with any gym and any level of fighters. I’m glad to do my part in proving our worth in the overall MMA scene.
Tom Lawlor joined an already successful and experienced team and he will only add to the stable of badasses we already had. I’m excited to work with him to prepare him for his UFC fights and to get my ass in there.
Tom Lawlor has established himself as a very entertaining fighter with a colorful personality. How have you found your experiences training and interacting with him so far.
He is still recovering from knee surgery so he hasn’t been training so far but he is definitely a character. He is a great guy and fun to be around. He will make a great fit here in Richmond and is already making friends. Last conversation I had with him is how he can sneak in the UFC fighter thing to get girls…his ideas are funny!
Since beginning your Professional MMA career in November of 2010, you have only logged six fights that appear on your record. Given your statement on how you’d like to fight more often, what do you think is the reason for you having trouble getting fights?
Since the beginning of my career I’ve been taking really tough fights against tough guys. I believe I’ve accrued too much “street cred”. Fighters just won’t take fights against me. I’ve beaten fighters that have competed for all the “big” shows. There are some political issues as well but mainly fighters just won’t put their name on the dotted line versus Mike Wade. I don’t even think I’m that scary. I have holes in my game but I’ve proven to be tough and fearless. I guess that’s scary to some.
The first opponent that has “big show” experience that you beat was recent World Series of Fighting competitor Ozzy Dugulubgov. What are your thoughts on the outcome of that fight, and what it meant to you?
Beating Ozzy D. was huge for me mentally because I went in not knowing how I could beat him and I found a way. I think he looked good and the more he wins the better I look. He is a pretty good guy actually and I wish him the best. However, WSOF currently employs two fighters I’ve beaten and several “forfeit” wins (meaning they wouldn’t fight me so to me I won without even touching them). So no matter how nice they are I believe it should be me in there. McCray competed for WSOF directly after I beat him. Granted he took a tough fight and lost a split decision but I’m still a bit envious. Same with Chris Mierzwiak and Bellator, he had competed for Strikeforce before I fought him. Mike Winters was M-1/Strikeforce and Bellator vet. McCray won on Bellator before I fought him on top of TUF/UFC and went to WSOF right after. I think I’m ready to shine in the “big” shows myself soon… It’s my time. My turn…but it’ll come soon enough. As long as I’m active I’m happy.
Your most recent fight was a victory in CFFC against former TUF Runner-Up Kris McCray. After surviving adversity earlier in the fight, you came back and dominated him in the third round, doing enough for the judges to award you the Split Decision. What are your thoughts on that fight, and what it means for your career going forward?
It was a great fight. With every storm you survive you get stronger. My confidence has skyrocketed since. I specifically remember McCray having a tough fight with top 20 Welterweight John Hathaway in the UFC. Just shows me what level I’m on and how close I am to achieving my goals. I had 28 days to prepare for the McCray fight. I like to think about the fight had I prepared a full 8-10 weeks. Not to take anything away from McCray because I highly respect the guy and he is one tough SOB. In fact I think McCray is more well rounded and tougher mentally than my upcoming opponent.
I actually believe that I am a much better fighter since the McCray fight as well. My stand up has improved three fold and I am making leaps and bounds since starting with Danny Clark and Spartan Nutrition Systems.
Your next scheduled fight is a recently announced match-up against recent UFC and Strikeforce veteran Nah-Shon Burrell. What are your thoughts on how you are going to train with MMAI’s sterling team of Pro’s to prepare for this fight?
Actually nothing will change. My cardio will be phenomenal and I’ll be ready where ever the fight goes…..as far as game plan goes I do have one but he doesn’t scare me in any discipline. He is a tough guy but I’m much tougher…bigger and stronger and I guarantee you I want it more. I can’t wait.
If you had to make a prediction for how the fight will go, what would it be?
TKO win for me. First or second round depending on how quick I break him mentally. I just want the W and I feel I’m well rounded enough to stop him a number of ways. I sure do miss those TKO wins though. I will however (like always) be prepared mentally and physically for a 15 minute war.
Do you have another occupation besides fighting?
I bounce in a few bars and though I love the people I work with I am not a fan of bouncing. At Metro Grill and Society (previously Lucky Buddha). Soon I will be working for Rick at the gym with one of the new programs that will be offered.
Given that I have met my fair share of bouncers who claim to “fight UFC” and enjoy their jobs, what makes you not like being a bouncer?
I don’t have anything to prove. I literally spend all day beating up guys that know what they are doing. I have no desire to pick on drunken, wanna-be-tough-guys. I am good at it but I’d like to think of myself as a nice guy and I don’t like the drama involved. The bouncers that claim to “fight UFC” have already lost the intimidation battle in the eyes of anyone who knows anything about the sport.
How would you assess the state of your career at the present time? Where do you see your career going in the next few years?
Present time it’s hard to say… I have definitely made some noise and proven my worth in the sport. I would definitely like to fight for the UFC and that is my goal. Once I’m there my goals will obviously adapt and career goal is to become world champ or die trying.
What is your favorite method to end a fight?
By far TKO and I can’t really explain why. I haven’t ended a fight like this as a Pro (I was close several times) but had a few as an amateur. In the end though my goal is to win and I don’t care how it happens.
If you could fight anyone, whether they are currently active or retired, who would it be, and why?
Definitely GSP because it’s my goal to be world champ. Outside of that, all fights lead to that.
The career of a professional fighter can be an arduous one. Between the rigorous daily training, fights, the fights that don’t happen, and injuries..Some would consider such a career path a daunting one. What inspires you to be a fighter?
There is in fact a lot of B.S. that people don’t hear about and there is most definitely more to it than meets the eye. I fight because it is something that makes my family, my friends, and most importantly myself proud. The key in fighting is self-development and I feel like a stronger overall person with every obstacle I overcome…..and there aren’t too many obstacles worse than get punched or eating a knee on the button.
Fighting is my chance to make a mark and be remembered for something I think.
Would you like to thank anyone who has or is currently helping you in your career as a fighter?
Wow yes… The list is pretty long. A lot of people have and still do believe in me. I’ll stick to the current and all others know how I feel: MMA Institute, Rick McCoy, Pete Hatcher, GX Supplements, Rac-e-tol-ogy (Mike Cheatham, Mike Cullather, Shane, and the rest), Kevin Knight and other trainers at Crossfit Midlo, Jeff Evans and Fluid Fightworx, Beverly and the fam over at Investors Land Co. (a brand new sponsor), Metro Grill, and I can’t forget you and your site man. Appreciate your time.
Also my striking trainers John Ward, Tiger, and Dave S. over at MMAI for the extra work over the last few months.
Left Hook Entertainment Inc. is excited to announce the Richmond Rumble, an MMA event, coming to the Richmond Coliseum on September 28. This all-pro card will feature 13 fights, including exhibitions from local MMA fighters, as well as a UFC veteran.
“I am very excited that Left Hook Entertainment has finally reached this level, and is going to be at the Richmond Coliseum with such a great card that will most definitely leave fans talking about Richmond’s MMA talent,” said Craig Yerkey, owner of Left Hook Entertainment Inc. Yerkey, who has partnered with FaceJay Promotions for the venture, is excited to be bringing this all-professional MMA event to Richmond, to help bring attention and appreciation to MMA, and it’s expanding presence in Richmond and throughout Virginia at large. In addition, Yerkey promised the Richmond Rumble fight card will live up to Left Hook’s history of organizing action-packed events, hopefully making future Richmond Rumble events a regular occurrence in Virginia’s capitol city.
The main event and co-main event are probably the most anticipated fights of the card. The co-main event will feature local MMA Institute (MMAI) fighter Mike “Tailor Made” Wade (4-2), who has already defeated numerous big-show veterans, and will take on another one as he fights Nah-Shon Burrell (9-3), who previously competed in the UFC.
“It should be the best pro-show yet in Virginia,” said Wade. “I can’t wait to shine in my backyard.”
The main event will also feature an MMAI fighter Terrell “Hollywood Hobbit” Hobbs (8-5) versus Jeremy Myers (4-10). Terrell has also fought for Bellator MMA, and is currently on a six-fight winning streak.
“It means a lot to me to be the main event on this card,” Hobbs said. “Ever since I have been on a winning streak people are starting to realize how good I’ve become, but some people still don’t know how much I’ve progressed. I’m excited that they will get to see me with their own eyes on September 28. We’re going to show people that we have real, world-class fighters right here in Richmond.”
Besides the main events, the additional 11 pro-fights are sure to be entertaining, and feature some up-and-coming pro-talent, such as undefeated Mark Strickland (2-0), and Virginia-native Ryan Hall (2-1-1), who is world-renowned for his BJJ skills.
Tickets are currently available through TicketMaster or RichmondColiseum.net. The fights will begin at 7 p.m., and attendees are encouraged to arrive early to see the action-packed night!
Left Hook Entertainment Inc. is a Richmond-based promotional company, specializing in amateur and professional MMA events. Their mission is to bring the best MMA to RVA, and to promote real fighters with heart, discipline, determination, and talent. Besides Richmond Rumble, Left Hook Entertainment is also the company behind the popular amateur fight promotion, Downtown Ground and Pound.
James Vick’s submission victory (0:58) with a power Guillotine against Ramsey Nijem was brilliant. Many people gave him no chance if Nijem got him to the ground. Vick was better known as a pure striker on TUF Live, but his training with Lloyd Irvin has obviously paid off. Nijem is a very talented grappler and former standout college wrestler, so the fact that Vick was able to beat him at his own game and submit him so quickly is even more remarkable. Vick made a mockery of the skills gap that some pundits were referring to in regards to their respective grappling abilities.
Ovince St. Preux spent the first part of the first round on the wrong end of a few striking exchanges and clinch battles, but dramatically changed his fortunes in a matter of seconds to win the fight. When his opponent, Cody Donovan, used a clinch throw to get him to the ground, St. Preux exploded and expertly executed a Whizzer technique to reverse position on his way down to land in Donovan’s guard. St. Preux immediately began raining down hard punches from inside Donovan’s guard. After connecting with a flurry of punches that easily snuck past Donovan’s defenses, St. Preux was granted the KO stoppage as Donovan’s eyes rolled into the back of his head and his defenses collapsed. I’m sure “OSP” is glad to have this win to erase the bad taste in his mouth from his controversial eyepoke-induced Majority Decision victory of Gian Villante.
Cole Miller vs. Manny Gamburyan showcased many different aspects of MMA. The importance reach in the first round was displayed, as Miller handily controlled the tempo of the striking exchanges while he landed numerous teep kicks and 1-2 combinations to great effect. Right before the end of the round, Gamburyan was working for a takedown and had Miller backed up against the cage. Miller threw a few elbows at the side of Gamburyan’s head, but as the round ended, Gamburyan appeared to be rocked and was holding the back of his head, implying that some of the elbows were illegal. After more than a few minutes of being checked out by the ringside physician, the fight was allowed to continue. The second round showcased the impressive grappling abilities of both competitors, with Gamburyan successfully executing several takedowns and Miller’s stellar guard game not allowed his opponent to capitalize of the takedowns at all. The 3rd round saw Miller take a few shots, but really utilizing his reach advantage to land a lot of shots from a safer distance. Gamburyan shot for a takedown and Miller nailed him right on the chin with a knee, but Gamburyan was able to complete the takedown. Gamburyan did a great job at maintaining his top position and keeping Miller unable to utilize his vaunted submission skills from the bottom position for the rest of the round. Manny Gamburyan wins by Unanimous Decision in a very entertaining fight that showcased the stellar grappling abilities of both fighters.
Diego Brandao vs. Daniel Pineda
RD1: Both fighters started throwing hard shots from the outset of the fight. Brandao landed a series of hard punches and knees after he originally landed a right hand flush on Pineda’s chin. Pineda appeared to be briefly on the ropes, but seemingly recovered. As Brandao landed another flurry of punches and easily shrugged of Pineda’s takedown attempt to land a takedown of his own, his strength and power is clearly evident. The round ended with Pineda looking to land kicks and punches at a distance, with Brandao avoiding the majority of them and doing his best to counter.
RD2: Pineda began second frame by landed a series of kicks and punches. Diego Brandao achieved the Muay Thai “plum” clinch and then successfully shot for a takedown. Pineda briefly threatened with a series of submission attempts but Brandao eventually got back up to his feet. Brandao secured another takedown and looked to land punches to the body and elbows to the head from inside Pineda’s guard. Pineda threatened for a Kimura and then expertly used the submission attempt to sweep into the top position in mount. Pineda than began to land a barrage of elbows and punches to the head of Brandao, who seemed to be tiring and wilting. Brandao craftily secured to ankle of Pineda and briefly attempted an Ankle Lock, but Pineda rolled through it and eventually landed on top in Brandao’s guard. Commentator Joe Rogan pointed out the fact that Brandao seemed to be quite tired as the round ended.
RD3: After a few probing striking exchanges, Brandao shot for and got yet another takedown, but almost immediately stood back up. After Pineda returned to his feet and missed with a kick, Brandao took him to the ground for a few seconds before he popped right back up. Pineda then began to look for takedowns but Brandao shrugged them off. Brando then easily achieved yet another takedown and landed an elbow to the head of Pineda. With both fighters showing signs of tiring, commentator Joe Rogan took a few seconds to apologize to viewers for the perceived lack of cardio possessed by the two fighters. Pineda is taken to the ground yet again by Brandao, where they are quickly stood up due to a lack of activity. Pineda throws a few sloppy wheel kicks, but he is far too tired to throw the kick at its intended speed. Both fighters are clearly exhausted and they end the fight with a brief exchange of punches and kicks.
Diego Brandao wins by Unanimous Decision.
Mike Brown vs. Steven Siler
RD1: Siler looks to be trying to use his length to his advantage. Siler connected with a right uppercut during a striking exchange that dropped Brown. Siler followed him to the ground and ended up stopping Brown with an expertly placed air-to-ground punch that caused Brown to wilt and then suffer under a subsequent barrage of punches. After referee Yves Lavigne stopped the fight, Mike Brown appeared to be protesting the stoppage, but it definitely seemed to be justified stoppage.
Steven Siler wins by Knockout at just 50 seconds into the first round.
Conor McGregor vs. Max Hollaway
RD1: McGregor immediately lands a head kick and is keeping Hollaway guessing with his constant adjustments in his stance and striking angles. Hollaway darts in with a few striking combinations. While McGregor is throwing a wild array of strikes, Hollaway is landing a good amount of counter strikes in return. McGregor lands yet another jumping switch-kick. While Hollaway is doing a good job at landing his fair share of strikes in return, Conor is putting his hands out to the side and yelling at Hollaway to hit him. McGregor lands a hard straight-left to the chin of Hollaway. Right before the end of the first round, McGregor misses on a cartwheel-kick and immediately rolls over again and turns it into a takedown attempt that pushes Hollaway against the cage.
RD2: McGregor immediately lands another jumping switch-kick, as well as a side-kick to the ribs of Hollaway. Hollaway is game and looks to land some leg kicks. McGregor claps his hands and continues to land a wide array of strikes against Hollaway. Hollaway clips McGregor as he jumped it for a switch kick. McGregor takes Hollaway to the ground and ends up in the guard of Max Hollaway. McGregor postures up and throws a few strikes, but Hollaway manages to tie him back up. McGregor then stands up and passes to side control as the round comes to a close.
RD3: McGregor lands two consecutive front leg side-kicks against Hollaway, then handily gets a takedown. McGregor passes to side control and then mount in quick succession, but Hollaway explodes out and briefly returns to his feet before he is dragged down again. McGregor then quickly advances to Mount again and stays tight on top of Hollaway. McGregor’s choice to spend a lot of time training with Gunnar Nelson in Iceland has clearly paid great dividends. After Hollaway tries to explode out of his bad position, McGregor stays tight and controls from the top position. Hollaway finally gets to his feet and eats a knee to the face on his way up. McGregor then gets another takedown to close out the round in Hollaway’s guard. While it is highly possible that Hollaway could lose the decision, he proved plenty of people wrong who predicted that he would be quickly dispatched by the Irish hype-machine that is Conor McGregor.
Conor McGregor won by a Unanimous Decision, including one judge scoring the fight 30-26. It was a great fight. McGregor mentioned that he suffered a knee injury early on in the fight that caused him to abandon his usual striking-heavy approach and spend the majority of the fight on the ground.
Brad Pickett vs. Michael McDonald
RD1: The speed of both fighters is evident, as both of them are landing punches simultaneously. McDonald clips Pickett and has him on wobbly legs while he does his best to avoid further damage. Pickett manages to stay composed and is able to recover. Pickett shrugs off a takedown attempt by McDonald. McDonald knocks Pickett down yet again with a head kick and subsequent punches, but Pickett is able to whether the strikes and return to his feet. Pickett throws a leg kick but is quickly countered and eats a few punches from McDonald, who then goes on the offensive and lands another few strikes as the round comes to a close.
RD2: McDonald comes in with an uppercut, but Pickett counters him and then throws a combination of his own. McDonald and Pickett are throwing strikes with great frequency and hand-speed. Pickett handily gets a takedown and starts working short punches from with McDonald’s guard. McDonald is keeping a tight hold on Pickett, limiting Pickett’s ability to work ground and pound or take advantage of Pickett’s own accomplished ground game. Pickett continues to land short punches and elbows. McDonald expertly throws up a Triangle Choke and briefly switches to an Armbar. As Pickett defends the Armbar, McDonald switches back to the Triangle and rolls Pickett over, sinking him deeper into the choke, forcing Pickett to tap or face the loss of his consciousness.
Michael “Mayday” McDonald wins by Submission (Triangle Choke) in the second round. What a great and competitive fight!
Joe Lauzon vs. Michael Johnson
RD1: Johnson lands a leg kick and a straight left to open the round, and looks to try to establish himself as the aggressor in the striking department. Lauzon seems to be hanging back and measuring Johnson, and finally lands a right hand after two minutes elapse. Johnson comes in and clips Lauzon with a hard left hand, but Lauzon is able to recover. Sensing opportunity, Johnson tires to turn up the tempo of his striking. Lauzon seems a bit tentative, and Johnson is taking every available opportunity to light him up with punches to the head and body. Johnson is fighting like he’s got the hounds of Hell on his heels, as he is coming off of two straight losses and could very well be fighting for his place in the UFC.
RD2: Michael Johnson immediately resumes his out-striking of Lauzon, showcasing his definitive speed advantage. Lauzon gets inside and attempts a takedown, but Johnson’s wrestling is pretty solid, and Johnson prevents the takedown and separates. Lauzon seems to be turning up his pace, and both commentators are noting that Johnson seems to be tiring and slowing down after the blistering pace he kept in the first round. Lauzon is landing punches with increasing frequency, and ends up clinching with Johnson against the cage. Johnson throws a few knees before both fighters separate. Johnson shoots for and gets a takedown right as the round ends.
RD3: Both fighters meet in the middle of the Octagon and begin to throw various striking combinations that are largely landing on target. After he seemed to be waning in the second round, Johnson is really turning it on against Lauzon, landing a series of hard strikes. Johnson continues to land striking combinations with near-impunity while Lauzon is mostly just covering up to try to avoid damage. Johnson lands an upward-elbow strike and another series of punches, as he continues to out-strike Johnson by a ratio of almost 2-1. Johnson ends the third round by landing a great combination and follows it up with a huge slamming takedown that sees him land in side control. Joe Lauzon recovers position and ends the fight on the bottom in full guard. Joe Lauzon’s face shows the damage that he took in a fight that he spent the majority of the time being out-struck.
Michael Johnson wins by Unanimous Decision in a fight that saw one judge score the fight 30-25! Michael Johnson rights the ship and wins a fight that saved him from the prospect of likely being cut if he were to have lost.
Uriah Hall vs. John “Doomsday” Howard
RD1: Hall immediately lands a huge double-leg takedown to open to round. Hall stays tight on top while Howard keeps him in Butterfly guard. Hall gets back up and allows Howard to stand up. Hall lands several punches to the chin of Howard while using his reach advantage to great effect. Howard lands a hard left hook to the chin of Hall, backing him up against the cage. Hall then lowers his level and goes for a takedown against the cage, but Howard defends it well. Hall gets the Muay Thai plum against Howard, but Howard nails him with an elbow and sends him backing up. Howard lands a succession of strikes and then shoots for a single leg takedown, but Hall avoids it. In what has become his hallmark, Hall throws a spinning back-kick to the head of Howard at the end of the round, but Howard backs up to avoid it.
RD2: Hall lands a snapping front kick to the body of Howard, who responds with a hard leg kick. Hall then throws a succession of kicks to varying points on Howard’s body. Hall shoots for a takedown that sees Howard backed up all the way across the Octagon, but Howard ends the attempt when he threatens with a standing Guillotine choke and then lands a few punches to the chin of Hall. Howard then goes for a takedown, but ends up battling in the clinch with Hall against the cage. Referee Mario Yamasaki separates the fighters, who then resume their efforts. Hall catches Howard with a knee to face but sees his leg caught. Hall gets Howard to the ground but Howard quickly gets back to his feet. Hall tries to control Howard’s back while standing, but Howard gets away and then chases him while looking for punches to land. Howard then takes Hall to the ground and then both fighters close out the round with both of them throwing strikes on the ground.
RD3: Hall looks for a takedown immediately looks for a takedown but Howard easily shrugs it off. Howard lands a hard punch to the jaw of Hall in return. Both fighters exchange hard leg kicks and then smile and touch gloves to congratulate each other for their respective efforts and gameness. Hall lands another knee to Howards chin, but Howard catches his leg and takes him down against the cage. Hall is attempting to get back up but Howard it holding on for dear life to keep his dominant position. Hall returns to his feet and battles within the clinch against the cage. Hall reverses position and then takes Howard down as the fight enters its final minute. Both fighters are showing the signs of an exhausting fight. Hall misses with a cartwheel kick and Howard misses with a huge leaping air-to-ground punch as the round closes out the fight.
John “Doomsday” Howard wins by Split Decision after being labeled as a 4-1 underdog against Uriah Hall. I agree with the decision for sure. What a great fight!
Mike “Quicksand” Pyle vs. Matt “The Immortal” Brown
RD1: Brown lands a leg kick to start the round. After working a few quick combinations, Brown drops Pyle against the cage. Brown then lands a few punches straight to the chin of a grounded Pyle that saw him go limp due to impending unconsciousness. The referee stepped in to stop the punishment after Pyle took two punches right to his chin after his lights went out.
Matt Brown wins by Knockout at just 29 seconds into the first round.
Urijah Faber vs. Iuri Alcantara
RD1: Both fighters clinch up and as Faber goes for a throw, Alcantara reverses position and lands in mount. Alcantara then starts landing strikes and threatens with an Armbar. Faber defends the attempt and tries to get into a better position, but Alcantara stays glued to him and takes his back. Alcantara gets his hooks in and patiently works for positioning to get a Rear Naked Choke. Faber bucks and gets back to his feet, where he immediately lands a huge slamming takedown. Alcantara briefly tries to go for a Triangle Choke, but Faber steps over his leg and starts raining down hard ground and pound. Alacantara is able to get Faber back into full guard, but Faber unrelentingly hammers him with punches and elbows to the face. Faber lands a slicing elbow as the round comes to a close.
RD2: Faber misses with a head-kick that sees Alcantara attempt to pounce on him. Alcantara tries to grab Faber’s arm, but Faber violently throws him to the ground and starts working some nasty ground and pound. Faber stays tight on top of Alcantara and works a gnarly succession of elbows to the head of Alcantara. Faber gets up to his feet to work some air-to-ground strikes, and returns to the ground and has Alcantara turtled up against the cage. Faber is battering Alcantara almost non-stop. Alcantara gets back to his feet and gets underhooks against Faber, but sees himself reversed on a takedown attempt with Faber landing on top yet again.
RD3: Faber lands a leg kick to open the round. Alcantara then eats an overhand right from Faber. Alcantara lands a punch but then has to contend with a takedown attempt from Faber, which he successfully defends. Faber then shoots in and takes control of Alcantara’s back and drags him to the ground against the cage. Alcantara again finds himself on the ground against the cage on the wrong end of elbows and punches from Faber. Alcantara attempts a sweep but Faber defends it and continues to batter him. Faber looks up at the clock and turns up his pace of strikes on the ground. Alcantara threatens Faber with a chain of submission attempts but Faber rides it out and ends up in side control on top. Faber closes out the fight while landing solid punches and elbows from the top.
Urijah Faber wins by Unanimous Decision. Two judges saw fit to score it 30-26, which really speaks to Faber’s dominance in the fight.
Alistair Overeem vs. Travis “Hapa” Browne
RD1: Overeem immediately begins to stalk Browne, connecting with a good combination and then a knee to the body of Browne against the cage. Overeem nails Browne with another set of punches at varying levels. Overeem then clips Browne and unleashes a huge barrage of strikes against him, but referee Mario Yamasaki does a good job of letting Brown continue to fight and recover. Browne lands a few punches of his own to back up Overeem. Browne looked to have been on the ropes but he is still hanging in there. Overeem is keeping a more measured pace, while Browne is landing numerous front kicks to the body of Overeem. Browne then lands a rear-leg front kick to the chin of Overeem, who topples to the ground. Browne follows up with two hammer-fists that see Overeem cross into the realm of unconsciousness. Referee Mario Yamasaki waves off the fight and separates the two combatants.
Travis Browne wins by Knockout at (4:08) in the first round. Travis Browne is quite durable, as he weathered the same types of body shots that absolutely floored Brock Lesnar.
Chael Sonnen vs. Mauricio “Shogun” Rua
RD1: Sonnen immediately gets a huge double leg takedown, but Rua gets back up to his feet and then takes Sonnen down. Sonnen works for a Guillotine but just uses it to sweep Rua and get back to his feet, where he then Suplexes Rua to the ground. Sonnen gets into side control, with Rua getting into half guard and looking to stay tight and sweep from the bottom. Rua gets Sonnen into a tight butterfly guard, but Sonnen gets back into guard and continues to work his ground and pound. Sonnen is smothering Rua on the ground with effective top control and punches from half guard. Sonnen locks up a Guillotine Choke and gets to his feet with Rua standing up as well. Sonnen then pulls guard and gets Rua deeper into the choke, causing him to eventually tap after he was unable to remove his head. Great win for Chael Sonnen!
Chael Sonnen wins via Submission (Guillotine Choke) in the first round.
The Doombeard Report is proud to announce it’s official sponsorship of professional MMA fighter Mike “Tailor Made” Wade. Mike Wade fights out of MMA Institute in Richmond, VA, and has an overall professional record of 4-2. He holds victories over WSOF vet Ozzy Dugulubgov, Strikeforce/Bellator vet Chris Mierzwiak, and UFC vet/TUF Season 11 runner-up Kris McCray. Wade is currently preparing for his September 28 fight against another big-show vet, Nah-Shon Burrell (formely of UFC/Strikeforce) at the Richmond Rumble.
Mike Wade has become renowned for his otherworldly toughness and his highly-developed grappling abilities that he crafted while he put together a very successful high school and collegiate wrestling career. Wade’s accomplishments and victories over top competition in MMA have caused more than a few potential opponents (who shall remain unnamed) to refuse to take a fight against him due to a lack of confidence in their ability to achieve victory. The aforementioned facts make Mike Wade the perfect fighter to be the first to join the Doombeard Legion, which encompasses The Doombeard Report’s sponsored fighters.
Going forward, The Doombeard Report will be conducting regular interviews with Mike Wade, showcasing some technique videos, and giving viewers a greater glimpse into his personality and lifestyle. Along the way, we will also be doing our best to provide some funny and enjoyable content as well. The Doombeard Report is greatly looking forward to showcasing all of the awesomeness that Mike Wade has to offer, and is glad to be supporting him in his endeavors as his career continues to progress.
Originally planned to be held in an outdoor pavilion, The Victorium II was moved inside to a smaller venue at the Fredericksburg Fairgrounds. After various factors (such as a tardy, goofy, and utterly unprofessional Fire Marshall) caused delays in the start of the event, Victorium President and Emcee Giovanni Lemm kicked off the event with a lively speech where he thanked all the fans for their patience and support. After a rousing rendition of the National Anthem by Isabelle Lemm, Giovanni Lemm’s daughter, the event officially kicked off at 8 p.m. Please enjoy the play-by-play of every single fight, from one of the more exciting local events I have seen in a long time.
Photo courtesy of Jessica Foster Photography
Jojo Stringfield vs. Nathan Miller (145lbs)
RD1: Both fighters touched gloves, and begin gauging each other for distance. Stringield is keeping a stance with his hands very low. A brief exchange sees both fighters battling in the clinch. Nathan Miller landed a flush head kick that dropped Stringfield. After a brief ground exchange, Miller allowed Stringfield to get back up. Miller then almost immediately floored him with a hard right hand, and Springfield was down for the count. The ref mercifully waved off the fight as Stringfield lay on the canvas.
Quick first round TKO victory for Nathan Miller. Check out my post-fight interview with JoJo Stringfield on Facebook.
Photo courtesy of Jessica Foster Photography
Soslan Abanakov vs. Shelby “Shogun” Graham (145lbs)
RD1: Gauging distance, Graham throws a few probing kicks, eats a few punches, then lands a spinning back-fist right on the button. Abanakov then gets a takedown after eating the punch, and lands in side control and starts working to improve his position. Graham is holding onto a Guillotine from half guard, but he looks to be holding position more than working for a submission. Abanakov is grappling well and achieves mount. Graham rolls out and gets back up. Both guys are measuring distance again. Graham lands a leg kick, then misses with another head kick, but connects with a punch. Abanakov ducks under a punch and gets another takedown and immediately lands in guard, with Graham working for a Guillotine. Abanakov handily passes his guard and goes between side control and North South, all while looking to land hard punches. He has a North-South Choke if he wants it, but doesn’t take it. Graham gets back up, then Abanakov goes for another takedown but Graham reverses him and lands on top right before the round ends, landing a few punches.
RD2: Both fighters begin the round by circling to establish their range. Both fighters exchange missing punches, Graham lands a few kicks, but is really telegraphing them. Abanakov is clearly looking to use his superior grappling skills to smother his opponent. Graham goes for a wild Superman punch, but is taken down at the end of it. Abanakov immediately drops back for an Ankle Lock, but Graham seems to defend it well enough to fend it off. Abanakov gets back into Graham’s guard, but isn’t striking with much power or frequency. Graham is keeping his guard wide open, and is gamely throwing short punches and elbows from the bottom position. It is clear at this point that Abanakov is a very skilled grappler who is looking to use positional control to win the fight. Graham deftly reverses and gets on top, fends off a good Armbar attempt, and then lands a thunderous air-to-ground punch. Abanakov then reverses and gets on top in to mount again, staying tight in the top position until the end of the round.
RD3: Both fighters touch gloves, then start gauging distance. Graham throws a telegraphed kick, then another. Both fighters are showing the signs of two rounds of solid grappling, breathing quite heavily from their exertion. Graham goes for a spinning back kick when he is backed up against the cage, but is quickly clinched and pushed against the cage by Abanakov. Abanakov goes for a Suplex of sorts but it is deflected, and he ends up on his butt. Graham goes for a wild spinning air-to-ground punch, but after a subsequent scramble Abanakov eventually gets on top and works ground and pound. Graham reverses and ends up in mount raining down hard punches, knowing that he might be behind on the scorecards as the round ends.
The judges scored a Unanimous Decision for Soslan Abanakov, who used a smothering grappling game to achieve victory. Shelby Graham was clearly disappointed in the result of the fight, as he surely felt that he was the aggressor in the fight. Check out my post-fight interview with Shelby Graham on Facebook!
After that fight, Giovanni Lemm graciously brought 135lb fighter Marcus Daniels and 170lb. fighter Brad Mountain into the ring to talk to them in front of the crowd, as both of them had opponents pull out of their fights at the last minute. Mountain’s opponent pulled out on the day of weigh-ins, notifying promoter Giovanni Lemm by e-mail that very morning.
Photo courtesy of Jessica Foster Photography
Angel Ortiz vs. Dusty Shaw (170lbs)
RD1: Both fighters begin the fight by circling and gauging distance. Ortiz is the shorter fighter (5’6”), and trying to find range he lands a leg kick. Shaw lands a leg kick in response. Both fighters seem to be taking their time while trying to find range. Shaw wings an overhand right, but it’s blocked. Shaw lands a really hard leg kick. Shaw then pounces on Ortiz, throwing a flurry of hard punches that drop Ortiz and have him turtled up against the cage on the ground. Shaw then takes his back and gets both hooks while looking for a Rear Naked Choke. Ortiz seems to be fighting it, but he is stretched out and eventually succumbs to the choke.
First round Submission (Rear Naked Choke) victory for Dusty Shaw at the (2:59) mark. Watch my interview with Dusty Shaw after his submission finish!
Photo courtesy of Jessica Foster Photography
Joe Hipps vs. Cris Rodriguez (125 lbs)
RD1: Both fighters touch gloves. Hipps feints for a takedown. Rodriguez presses him up against the cage in the clinch, looking to establish under-hooks and work some clinch strikes. Rodriguez gets a big slam takedown and lands in side control. Hipps tries to throw up his legs for some type of submission, but Rodriguez easily shucks them off and gets into mount. Rodriguez lands elbows and punches from the top with increasing frequency, causing Hipps to roll over and gives his back. Rodriguez handily takes Hipps’ back and immediately sinks in a Rear Naked Choke and forces the stoppage by the referee. Hipps tried to deny that he tapped, but it seemed clear he submitted either by tap or verbal submission, forcing Referee Todd McGovern to step in and do his job.
First round Submission (Rear Naked Choke) victory for Cris “Sugar Glider” Rodriguez at the (2:07) mark.
Photo courtesy of Jessica Foster Photography
Craig “C-Machine” Yerkey vs. Sam “ The Streetshark” Eure (145lbs, but it’s a 150lbs catch-weight fight)
RD1: Both fighters touch gloves. Yerkey wings an overhand right, but gets clipped on the way in by a hard combo from Eure. Eure immediately pounces on him and hammers him with tons of hard punches from the mount position. Yerkey attempts to roll over and give up his back to mitigate the worst of the incoming damage, but Eure just peels him back and continues to hit Yerkey in the face with numerous hammer-fists. With Yerkey rocked and no longer able to intelligently defend himself, the fight is waved off by Ref Todd McGovern, granting Eure the stoppage victory. Yerkey is bleeding profusely and remained on the ground for several minutes while being attended to by his coaches and the ring physicians. Craig suffered a broken nose that was fountaining blood.
First round victory for Sam Eure by TKO in just 21 seconds. He won exactly how he predicted he would during our weigh-in interview, via hard punches to the head. Check out my post-fight interview with Sam Eure on Facebook!
Photo courtesy of Jessica Foster Photography.
Jesse McBroom vs. Justin Rodger (185lbs.)
RD1: Both fighters touch gloves and begin gauging distance with punches. Rodger starts pumping a hard jab. McBroom throws a teep kick but it gets caught and he eats a hard punch. Rodger is landing his jab repeatedly. McBroom deftly lands a Superman punch, but Rodger eats it and responds with a hard uppercut. McBroom looks to be winging an overhand right, but keeps missing with it. Rodger then lands a hard uppercut that drops McBroom. Rodger follows him to the ground and after about two dozen hard, unanswered punches on the ground, Referee Todd McGovern steps in and waves off the fight.
First round TKO victory (Strikes) by Justin Rodger at the (1:23) mark. I’ve got post-fight interviews with both Justin and Jesse on my Facebook page – watch them now!
Photo courtesy of Jessica Foster Photography
David Perez vs. Jon “The Scarecrow” Hughes (155lbs.)
RD1: Both fighters respectively touch gloves and begin circling to gauge distance and range. Hughes misses with a leg kick. Both fighters are flicking out jabs to try to gauge distance, as well as exchanging leg kicks. Perez shoots for a takedown and gets one with a big slam. Perez lands in guard, Hughes looks to be throwing his legs up to work for a submission, but Perez is doing his best to keep his opponents legs down. Hughes then uses a guard sweep to great effect to get into mount. Hughes then proceeds to land a flurry of punches until Perez is able to work his way back to his feet. Perez then immediately shoots for, and gets, another takedown. Hughes then sweeps him again, getting on top in side control and starts raining down hard punches. Perez is doggedly trying to get up from the turtle position, but Hughes is holding onto him and forces him back to the ground, where he takes his back and sinks in a Rear Naked Choke, forcing the referee to call an end to the fight. Hughes gets a ton of applause from the crowd of supporters he brought to the show, with many of them sporting Disciple MMA (the home of UFC fighter Dustin Pague) shirts to show their allegiance.
First round Submission (Rear Naked Choke) victory for Jon “The Scarecrow” Hughes. Watch my post-fight interview with Jon on Facebook!
Photo courtesy of Jessica Foster Photography
Devin “The Omega” Izzard vs. Devon “The Silverback” Mosley (185lbs)
RD1: Both fighters respectfully touch gloves. Mosley quickly lands a leg kick. Izzard is throwing hard shots, but Mosley briefly clinches with him against the cage. Izzard throws another few hard punches followed by a kick and a successful takedown. Izzard’s takedown also happened to see Mosley get a hold of a Guillotine choke while he was on his way down. Despite landing a hard slamming takedown, Izzard was forced to tap because his takedown caused him to sink deeper into the Guillotine.
First round victory via Submission (Guillotine) for Devon Mosley in front of a huge hometown crowd, including his mother, who cried tears of joy as they announced her son’s victory. A great moment to watch!
Photo courtesy of Jessica Foster Photography
“Ruthless” Joe Ray vs. Tony “Father Time” Horn (Heavyweight)
RD1: Both guys immediately get to work, throwing a flurry of hard punches and elbows. Ray gets Horn up against the cage and is working short knees to the legs. Ray landed an accidental low blow, but Horn easily shook it off. Horn landed a hard leg kick, but Ray pressed him against the cage again and looked to work short punches and knees to the body. Both fighters separate briefly and throw a flurry of punches before Ray pushes Horn up against the cage again. Horn lands a few hard punches to the head of Ray, but Ray keeps him pressed up against the cage. Both fighters have kept a pretty fast pace of action so far, but do not seem to be waning one bit. Horn is winging leg kicks but leaves his head unprotected, Ray pounces on him and throws more hard punches and presses him against the cage to keep working his dirty boxing. Ray gets a leg trip takedown to end the round.
RD2: The round begins with both fighters gauging distance. Both fighters are showing no ill effects from the blistering pace that they set in the first round, and get right back to business. Ray gets a takedown and is postured up and raining down punches on Horn. Despite being mounted, Horn is gamely throwing punches from the bottom. The referee waves off the fight as Horn might be suffering from some sort of rib injury. The injury was quite possibly sustained during the takedown, as Ray is 264 pounds landing on top of him, and that cannot feel pleasant. Ray showed great speed and cardio for a guy of his size, which is very impressive. While I know enough about the sport and have seen more than enough fights to know that you should never judge a book by it’s cover, the crowd didn’t seem to understand such a thing. It therefore brought me great pleasure to watch Ray put up a pace that outstripped that of many lower weight fighters, and make those certain members of the crowd eat their words and maybe come to the realization that being an armchair-fighter is quite silly, to say the least.
Ray wins by TKO due to injury in the second round. Ray graciously offered Horn a rematch when he is healed from his injury, which is a very gentlemanly thing to do. Great post-fight interviews from both Ray and Horn are on the Facebook page!
Photo courtesy of Jessica Foster Photography
Samir Farid vs. Brian Robey (115 lbs) — First mens Strawweight bout in US MMA History
RD1: Both fighters touch gloves. Farid pumps a jab then lands a leg kick. Robey throws a one-two. Farid lands a snapping kick to the body. Robey misses with a push kick. Farid pushes Robey against the cage, looking to establish under-hooks, and then gets a takedown. Working on the top in guard, Farid moves into side control. Robey is trying to hold onto his head, but it’s not effective. Farid jumps for an Armbar, but Robey gets out and gets back to his feet. Farid pumps fast combos then a hard pair of leg kicks. Robey wings hard punches and backs Farid up against the cage, but Fareed reverses and pushes Robey against the cage where they are exchanging short knee strikes and battling for position within the clinch. Fareed briefly drops down for a takedown but abandons it, getting back up to work some short punches. Robey tries to jump for a standing Guillotine, but slips off. Farid then gets another takedown and ends in back side control as the round ends. Both fighters kept up a very fast pace for the round.
RD2: Farid pumps the jab, with both guys looking to gauge distance. Farid throws a kick then a flying knee to back Robey up against the cage, where they clinch. They separate then Robey rushes Farid and tries to clinch up, but is taken down by Farid who lands in side control again. Robey then rolls over, then Farid takes his back. Farid throws some punches and then goes for a Rear Naked Choke. He quickly stretches Robey out and sinks it in.
Second round Submission (Rear Naked Choke) victory (2:25) for Samir Fareed.
Photo courtesy of Jessica Foster Photography
John “Cage” Attia vs. Matt “The Barbarian” Douglas (Heavyweight), Co-Main Event
RD1: Both fighters touch gloves. Douglas lands a hard leg kick, and then another. Douglas pumps a jab. Attia continues to circle away, feinting well but not doing much offensively. Douglas gets a takedown and lands in guard. He intelligently pushes Attia against the cage and then practically steps into Mount. Douglas then starts to throw audibly hard strikes while John just holds onto him ineffectively. Douglas continues to rain down audibly hard strikes and then the ref waves it off due to a Verbal Submission from Attia due to strikes. The legion of fans Matt “The Barbarian” Douglas brought with him are cheering in celebration at a deafening level.
Matt Douglas wins in the first round due to Verbal Submission (2:28) due to strikes. Matt and John caught up at the Victorium II after-party to discuss the fight. See what they had to say to each other post-fight!
Photo courtesy Jessica Foster Photography
Brett “Unbreakable” Glass vs. Jeffrey “ The Glass Breaker” Peterson (155lb), Main Event
RD1: Both fighters start winging hard punches immediately. Glass pushes Peterson against the cage, but then Peterson gets a surprising takedown and lands in Brett’s guard. Glass is working his butterfly guard, but Peterson passes to side control. Glass then sweeps and rolls to the top, but then they both get up soon after. Peterson pushes Glass against the cage and gets another trip takedown, which drags Glass to the ground again. Peterson postures up to throw hard punches, but Glass uses a submission attempt to sweep and get back to his feet. Sensing a good opportunity, Glass pounces on Peterson and proceeds to batter him with dozens of unanswered punches, elbows, kicks, and knees. Glass has Peterson backed up against the cage where all he can do is cover up and attempt to avoid the worst of the blows. Glass unrelentingly continues to batter Peterson at a merciless pace against the cage, and the ref starts to take a closer look at the action. After watching Peterson absorb a huge volume of strikes, the ref separated the fighters and waved off the action with a TKO stoppage. Upon the separation, Peterson collapsed to the ground, clearly battered after absorbing a truly huge amount of strikes without being knocked unconscious. Great credit is due to both fighters for showing a great bit of skill and resilience. The fight truly embodied what a Main Event fight is supposed to be in every way possible.
Brett Glass wins by first round TKO stoppage in front of a huge hometown crowd. Check out my interview with Brett post-fight on the Facebook page!
Thanks to Jessica Foster Photography for the permission to use these photos.
Fighters seemingly “playing it safe” en-route to a (usually) Unanimous Decision victory has been a hot-button issue for both MMA promoters and fans alike for quite some time. Fans routinely fill up MMA forums decrying such performances, lambasting fighters with such terms like “Lay-N-Pray” and “Wall-N-Stall”. Fans are also very quick to criticize when a fighter’s style blurs the lines between an elusiveness and counterstriking style vs. continually circling away and not taking any chances. Being routinely accused of being a “boring fighter” is generally not looked upon favorably, and can be known to have some adverse consequences in regards to a fighter’s career. Conversely, fighters who throw caution to the wind and adopt a more “crowd-pleasing” style are not only beloved by MMA fans, but are also afforded more chances to right the ship by their employers if they happen to lose in an exciting effort. After all, UFC President Dana White commonly refers to the fact that exciting fights “…put asses in seats…”, so he has given numerous exciting fighters a lot more leeway, whereas a 2-3 fight losing streak is most definitely going to earn a less exciting fighter his release from the organization. I will save my thoughts on what this means for the sport itself for another article, as I can personally appreciate the various facets of MMA so as to enjoy virtually almost every fight I watch, with a few exceptions of course! This two article series will include lists of fighters on both sides of the aforementioned equation.
Five Fighters Who’s “Non-Exciting” Style Hurt(s) Their Career or Legacy
Photo courtesy of http://fightersxchange.com
1. Ben Askren — To most people, this will not come as a surprise. Ben Askren seems to be the most widely panned Champion in any major MMA organization. While I would personally sell my soul to possess his wrestling abilities, he hasn’t really managed to gain much of a fan-base outside of MMA fans that are also hardcore wrestling enthusiasts. Askren’s fighting style essentially consists of top-notch “funk” wrestling with some cursory ground striking and light submission attempts thrown in for good effect. Watching the average Askren fight for the past few years is often akin to watching paint dry. If I happen to have the urge to take a gnarly dump, I can get up and do so at the beginning of his fight and know that when I return in the 3rd of 4th round, he will still be wrestling his opponent to death. His latest victory against Andrey Koreshkov was a TKO victory in the 4th round, but only after wrestling his opponent for 4 ½ rounds until Koreshkov was essentially too exhausted to continue. While I applaud Askren for defending his Bellator Welterweight title once again, I doubt he has endeared himself to many new fans in the process.
Photo courtesy of http://www.mmamania.com
2. Jon Fitch — A longtime UFC mainstay in the Welterweight division, Jon Fitch’s tenure in the UFC lasted from 2005-2013. After a few finishes were achieved as part of an eight-fight winning streak to start his UFC career, he was granted a title shot against Georges St. Pierre, which he ultimately lost by Unanimous Decision. After that is when the proverbial wheels started to fall off, and his favor with fans really began to wane. His subsequent (and much maligned) wrestling-heavy Decision wins against Akihiro Gono, Paulo Thiago, Mike Pierce, Ben “Killa B” Saunders, and Thiago Alves lead many fans, and UFC President Dana White as well, to decry such a fighting style even though it was ultimately a victorious one. Soon after, people began to refer to someone getting “Fitched” if a fighter was wrestled and held down en route to an unentertaining defeat by Decision. After a lackluster Draw against BJ Penn, Jon Fitch was confronted with the fact that a large share of the MMA community did not even desire a rematch of the fight. Jon Fitch’s next fight saw him on the wrong end of a gnarly Knockout loss to Johny Hendricks in just 12 seconds. After going 1-1 in his next two fights, Jon Fitch was released from the UFC. Official reasoning that was given for his release included his high price tag for delivering losing efforts, but it doesn’t take a genius to realize that the UFC was quite ready to jettison Jon Fitch into the open market, despite his overall UFC record of 14-3-1.
Photo courtesy of http://www.bleacherreport.com
3. Yushin Okami — Despite an overall UFC record of 13-4, Yushin Okami has come under some fire in the past few years for his clinch-heavy fighting style. While his last victory by stoppage happened at UFC 150 against a clearly overmatched Buddy Roberts, Okami has still become widely known for getting his opponents up against the cage and utilizing his wrestling and dirty-boxing to stifle any of his opponents attempts at mounting much of any kind of offensive effort. This fighting style is what made him a hard sell for a Championship match versus Anderson Silva in the first place. After being handily dismantled at the hands of the (until recently) reigning Middleweight Champion of the UFC, Okami has certainly found himself in a position where he will be hard pressed to ever be granted a title shot again. His recent Split Decision victory over Hector Lombard did little to improve his prospects in the Middleweight Division, or his standing with fans in general.
Photo courtesy of http://fansided.com
4. Lyoto Machida — Before you decry my inclusion of Lyoto “The Dragon” Machida on this list, I’d ask you to hear me out. I am not necessarily saying that Machida is a consistently boring fighter, I am merely pointing out that he is the present-day poster child for how a conservative striking-based style can also sometimes be detrimental to a fighters efforts to achieve victory. While “The Dragon” has some highlight-reel finishes of Thiago Silva, Ryan Bader, Rashad Evans, and Randy Couture to his name…he also was a part of some of the worst fights I can remember in these past few years. He lost a Decision to Quinton “Rampage” Jackson by spending the majority of the fight circling away and sparingly throwing strikes at his opponent, demonstrating very little for the judges to even attempt to score in his favor. His most recent effort against Phil Davis was marred by the same overall strategy and outcome. Machida’s recent fight against Dan Henderson was, quite frankly, pretty awful as well. While he won a Decision victory against Henderson, he did very little to improve his stock in the Light Heavyweight Division because of it. His Karate-based counterstriking style is often described as “elusive” or “unpredictable”. While I give Machida all the credit that is due for being the only person to ever win a round against current Light Heavyweight Champion Jon “Bones” Jones, some of his recent outings leave a lot to be desired for the average viewer, as well as his prospects at getting another shot at the title.
Photo courtesy of http://www.theprovince.com
5. Georges St. Pierre — I will be the first person to say that Georges “Rush” St. Pierre is a future UFC Hall-of-Famer and will go down as one of the greatest MMA fighters of all time. His accomplishments in the UFC’s Welterweight division are second to none; as he has been competing in the UFC since 2004, with the majority of his fights being for (or mainly defending) the Welterweight Championship belt. Despite his overall record of 24-2 (18-2 UFC), GSP has seen his favor with some MMA fans wane in the past few years. Despite his utter dominance in the UFC’s Octagon, many have grown weary of Georges St. Pierre’s long streak of Unanimous Decision victories. Whether he utilizes his dominant wrestling skills to grind his opponents against the mat for 25 minutes, or uses his jab to set up a winning striking effort from a distance, GSP has the longest slew of Unanimous Decision victories of any Champion in UFC history by far. The last time GSP won via any form of stoppage was when BJ Penn refused to answer the bell in their title fight in January of 2009. While his accomplishments are certainly laudable, I have had a hard time finding many MMA fans that aren’t wishing that GSP would get back to his old ways of finishing the majority of his opposition.
Honorable mentions for other fighters who fall under this category include: Jacob Volkmann, Colton Smith, Cole Konrad, Kris McCray, Francis Carmont and Shane Roller.
My next article will cover a list of fighters whose careers have greatly benefited from being regarded as “exciting” by the MMA community at large.