Weekend Wrap: “Rocky” moments make UFC event a knockout show

“It ain’t about how hard you can hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit – and keep moving forward.”

Rocky Balboa

Will we ever see a more dramatic 30 seconds of mixed martial arts than the conclusion of the Pat Barry/ Cheick Kongo fight this past Sunday?

With Kongo knocked down twice in quick succession and the commentators screaming “IT’S OVER”, the Frenchman was staring not just at defeat, but at the end of his UFC career.

Out of nowhere, he dragged himself back up and unleashed a right hand that will go down in Octagon history.

Pat Barry was on the floor, the crowd were off their seats.

What a moment.

What a sport.

Brenneman goes from zero to hometown hero

Nate Marquardt’s dramatic withdrawal from the co-main event had briefly threatened to derail the whole show.

The UFC had invested a huge amount in promoting Marquardt’s bout with rising star Rick Story and his subsequent withdrawal – for a failed medical - remains shrouded in mystery.

Dana White looked as disappointed as I’ve seen him when he announced that Marquardt would “never, ever fight in the UFC again.”

However, the UFC boss channelled that disappointment into finding a replacement and ensuring that fans weren’t short-changed.

Step forward Charlie Brenneman. The Pennsylvania native and mid-card fighter took the fight at a day’s notice and duly upset red-hot favourite Rick Story.

The rapturous reception he got walking to the ring was only eclipsed by the jubilation when his hand was raised.in victory.

At that moment, I didn’t think he show could get any better.

How wrong I was.

Ralph Welch

@ralphwelch

Macklin woes should act as warning to Haye

If David Haye wasn’t already wary of the task that awaits him in Hamburg on Saturday, then he is now.

This past Saturday he saw a fellow Briton go into the German equivalent of the lion’s den, outbox a hugely popular titleholder and come away empty-handed.

That man was Matthew Macklin.

Macklin learnt the hard way that the age-old maxim about Germany being a “home” fighter’s territory is still entirely well-deserved.

Over 12 rounds, Macklin out-worked WBA middleweight strapholder and home favourite Felix Sturm. Whilst the latter’s power and accuracy were always a threat, Macklin consistently landed more punches in a tireless display.

His herculean effort went unrewarded. Sturm was the recipient of the sort of controversial split decision for which Germany is renowned.

There’s no denying that it was a close fight. But one could argue that the two judges who gave the fight 116-112 to Sturm were watching an entirely different sporting contest.

So what does this mean for the “Hayemaker”?

Ahead of his superfight with Wladimir Klitschko, much attention has been focussed on the strength of the combatants’ chins.

Haye supporters feel that the Bermondsey man has the brute force to KO a man who has been on the canvas twelve times in his career. Others believe that Haye, himself no stranger to the canvas, has never faced anyone with Klitschko’s knockout power.

The general feeling is that we’re in for an explosive contest and that Haye’s best chance of victory will come in those early rounds. Avoiding Klitschko’s merciless right hand at all costs, he needs to take big risks to get into range and land the big shots that will poleaxe the giant Ukrainian.

“Risk” is not a word one frequently associates with Haye’s trainer and mentor Adam Booth. Booth’s incredibly meticulous approach to boxing strategy has earned him the moniker “The Dark Lord” by his own fighters. His finest achievement of late came in the Groves-DeGale showdown. Thanks to Booth’s tactical mastery, the unfancied Groves nullified his more gifted rival en route to the tightest of tight points victories.

I expect Booth’s gameplan for Klitschko to centre around David’s speed and agility, not dissimilar to the tactic that earned Haye victory over Nikolai Valuev in 2009. That night the giant Russian barely landed a single punch. Haye danced his way to the title, landing infrequent jabs to the midsection in an effective, if uninspiring, display.

Yet Klitschko, schooled in recent years by legendary trainer Emanuel Steward, is no Valuev. His victims all testify that he’s quicker and more technical than they expected.

Under Steward’s guidance the crude, vulnerable style of old has been replaced by a more cautious, balletic approach. He’ll cut down the ring quickly and Haye won’t have the same wide open spaces to enjoy that he did against the cumbersome Valuev.

Even if Haye executes this gameplan perfectly, it’s likely that most rounds will be close affairs. Haye will land more frequently. But each of Klitschko’s shots will be roared on by his legion of fans, which will undoubtedly influence the officials.

David might find himself entirely at the mercy of the ringside judges in Germany. As Matthew Macklin will testify, that is a very dangerous place to be.

So what will it be; power or prudence?

Right now David Haye is stuck between a rock and a hard place.

Rhodes should carry on despite Alvarez defeat

Boxers are notorious for their stubborn refusal to call it quits. There’s always one more fight. One more shot at redemption. One more opportunity to prove to the doubters – and perhaps even to themselves – that they can still compete at the level they’ve become accustomed to.

The latest fighter having to justify his future in the sport is Ryan Rhodes. After a comprehensive defeat by Saul Alvarez in Mexico on Sunday morning, the 34-year-old Sheffield warrior has faced inevitable calls to retire.

Rhodes lost every minute of every round before finally succumbing to Alvarez’s power in the twelfth. For his fans, who had approached the fight with genuine hope that Rhodes’ experience would cause an upset, it was painful viewing. Their subsequent pleas for Rhodes to walk away are borne out of genuine concern for his health.

But are we being too hasty to write off this extraordinary fighter?

Let’s put Sunday into some kind of perspective. Most importantly, we learnt that 20-year-old Alvarez is a special talent. This has been a year of upsets. Unbeaten prospects such as David Lemieux and James Kirkland have floundered just as TV networks looked set to give them their big push. They’ve since faced scorn that their records were padded by promoters eager to keep that most over-rated of boxing commodities; an unblemished record.

That’s not a charge that can be aimed at Alvarez. Despite his tender years he has an astonishing 35 fights on his record already. His backers, Oscar de la Hoya’s highly influential Golden Boy Promotions, have matched him hard at the right time. His last two fights, versus Britons Matthew Hatton and Rhodes, have been a significant step up in class. Alvarez has responded magnificently.

In an age where fighters are hyped too quickly, there can be few doubts that this young Mexican has an enormous future in the sport.

It is also worth remembering that Saturday’s defeat was Rhodes’ first in five years. Pre-Alvarez he had produced some of the most spectacular performances of his career. He still has the skill and the experience to be a major player on both the European and domestic scene.

This is not a fighter in decline.

This is not an ageing fighter on the slide.

This is a very good fighter who took on a truly exceptional one, in his own back yard, and lost.

There is no shame in that.

Ralph Welch

@ralphwelch

Weekend wrap: Victories for Barnett and Overeem, but fans unimpressed

Many observers saw Saturday’s Strikeforce event at the American Airlines Center as an audition for Josh Barnett and Alistair Overeem to take starring roles in the MMA heavyweight ranks. Both Strikeforce fighters have been subjected to harsh criticism from fans who felt they compared unfavourably to top UFC big men such as Cain Velazquez, Junior Dos Santos and Brock Lesnar.

Saturday was a chance to prove them wrong. Unfortunately, despite both emerging victorious, neither man particularly enhanced his reputation.

Overeem toils as Werdum spoils

In fairness, Overeem wasn’t helped by a bizarre display from his opponent, Fabricio Werdum, whose histrionics did little to endear him to the arena crowd. At times the Brazilian clasped his hands in prayer in a desperate attempt to goad big-punching Overeem to the mat. Given that Overeem has built his career on powerful striking, it was an insane ploy and showed the lengths to which Werdum would go to avoid engaging with the Dutchman.

This defensive display was particularly confusing, given that when Werdum did curl his hands into a fist, he had reasonable success with his right-hand. Ultimately his lack of ambition was recognised by the judges who handed Overeem a unanimous decision.

Barnett bulldozes Rogers

Barnett, whose PED (performance-enhancing drugs) controversies have been well-documented, had looked particularly focussed in the build-up to his contest with Brett Rogers. His impromptu wrestling promo at an open media workout brought some much-needed positive PR, becoming an overnight internet sensation.

The “Baby-faced Assassin” had been widely expected to dominate the crude-but-powerful Rogers, and did so in routine fashion. His style of catch wrestling was simply too much for his opponent, whose failure to mount any kind of attack prompted some very unfair booing from the crowd.

The win, by arm triangle, was solid if unspectacular. But Barnett can only beat what’s in front of him.

The future

The fact that we’ve heard so little from the UFC upper management doesn’t bode well for either fighter.

Of the two, Barnett will be more satisfied. He outclassed his opponent and his entertaining promos, both before and after the fight, were a glimpse at the intelligent, creative character beneath an occasionally abrupt surface.

Yes, he’s had his controversies. And yes he’s made mistakes. But Josh Barnett’s comeback is gaining momentum. It will take a very talented fighter to stop him.

Ralph Welch

Email: info@ultimatefightclub

Twitter: @ralphwelch

UFC shows boxing how to make the big matches

The much-anticipated UFC superfight between Georges St-Pierre and Nick Diaz has been set for October.

Barely four weeks after St-Pierre strolled through a unanimous decision victory over Jake Shields, UFC supreme Dana White signed, sealed and delivered the biggest fight in welterweight history.

Typically, it was done with the minimum of fuss. No elaborate press conferences, no publicity stunts, no to and fro between the opposing camps. White, always open to engaging with his fanbase, gave a brutally simple message via his twitter account; “It’s on!!!!”

Dana White: “The fans wanted it”

His reasoning, much like his approach, was remarkably simple; “the fans wanted it”. And that was that. The fans wanted a big fight; he gave them a big fight.

In the UFC if you’re the number one fighter in the world, then you fight the number two. There’s no cherry-picking an easy title defence.

If you want to be the best, then you’ve got to prove it. Or you’re out.

White, known for his colourful use of Her Majesty’s English, has a mantra with which he greets potential fighters; “In the UFC, we like fighters who f*ckin’ fight. If you don’t want to fight, then go home”.

It’s an attitude that puts boxing to shame.

In two weeks’ time, the heavyweight division in boxing will finally have the big showdown the fans have been craving: Haye vs Klitschko. The build-up has been protracted and at times descended into farce.

It started with Haye ambushing Wladimir on the escalators at Waterloo. This was soon followed by Haye sporting the infamous t-shirt depicting him holding aloft the severed heads of the Klitschko brothers at a press conference – a stunt the Ukrainian described as “unspeakable”. And then we had Wladimir’s open challenge to Haye via Youtube.

There was a lot of talk, but still no fight.

As Haye readily admits, the fighters have spent over two years arguing over everything from purse splits to ring entrances. With such a fragile build-up, few of us will believe that the fight is actually happening until the opening bell sounds on July 2^nd in Hamburg.

But even Haye vs Klitschko pales into comparison with the struggle to get the two best welterweights in the world to share a ring.

Mayweather vs Pacquiao; the best fight we’ll never see

Boxing fans have been imploring Filipino superstar Manny Pacquiao and undefeated Floyd Mayweather to prove once and for all who is the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world today.

A fight between these two icons would produce hundreds of millions in gate receipts and pay-per-view buys. But even the dollar signs aren’t enough to dissuade the two camps from unnecessary posturing. The closest we came to a fight breaking out was in 2009, only for Mayweather’s camp to insinuate that Pacquiao’s legendary conditioning may be the result of illegal substances.

The fight now seems more unlikely than ever with Mayweather now choosing to fight Victor Ortiz, amidst the ongoing rift between rival promoters and TV companies.

It tells you everything you need to know about the problems in boxing today. The great contests aren’t waged in the ring with a pair of 10oz gloves. The real battles take place in the offices of TV executives and promoters, with lawyers poring over the small print.

Nobody is benefiting from it. Least of all the fans.

Dana White puts the UFC fans first

The UFC may be a dictatorship. But at the helm is a man with a clear vision.

The truth is that there is no bigger fan of MMA than Dana White. He may be a billionaire, he may be one of the most powerful men in sports, but at heart he’s the same as the millions of MMA fans across the world.

He loves nothing more than seeing two great fighters touch gloves and go to war.

He’s committed to giving the fans the best possible spectacle every time they hand over their dollars to watch a UFC event. He will never let politics get in the way of that.

St-Pierre vs Diaz is another example of Dana White listening to the fans. It’s why the sport of MMA keeps growing.

And it’s why boxing is standing still.

Ralph Welch

info@ultimatefightclub.co.uk

twitter: @ralphwelch

Labels: St-Pierre v Diaz, UFC, Georges St-Pierre, Nick Diaz, Haye vs Klitschko, Dana White UFC,

Kurt Angle in Olympics return

In perhaps one of the most extraordinary stories of the week, Impact wrestling superstar Kurt Angle has revealed that he will be attempting to return to the Olympic wrestling scene at London 2012.

Angle told The Sun: “I won an Olympic gold medal but last time I didn’t really enjoy it.

“I’m wiser, I’m smarter and I won’t make the mistakes I did last time and I’m going to enjoy it”.

Angle burst to fame after winning gold at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. His background in wrestling, similar to Brock Lesnar, made him a prime candidate to make the switch to sports entertainment. He duly signed a multi-year deal in 1998.

However, where Angle differed from Lesnar and others who attempted the transition to sports entertainment was his remarkable charisma. He displayed a natural talent for mic work. His character in WWE played on his Olympic triumph and Angle excelled in his often comedic role as an arrogant, egocentric and cowardly heel.

In his thirteen years in the business, Angle has become one of the industry’s biggest stars. Over the years he’s produced a showreel of outstanding matches with the biggest names of the era: The Undertaker, Shawn Michaels, The Rock, Stone Cold Steve Austin and Triple H.

Since leaving WWE in 2006, Angle has been a mainstay of Dixie Carter’s Impact wrestling promotion. He remains a standout performer. Indeed, in 2010 Angle was named “Wrestler of the decade” by the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

Like many of his peers in an industry which takes a relentless toll on the human body, Angle has reportedly had ongoing issues with substance abuse and injuries. It’s the consequence of a decade spending 300+ days a year on the road, performing across the world and performing when stricken with injuries.

Given these circumstances, how can it possibly be realistic to expect a 43-year old, out of competition for 15 years, to qualify for the US Olympic team?

A few years ago I had the pleasure of reading Angle’s autobiography “It’s True, It’s True”. The story behind his 1996 gold medal triumph is an inspirational tale of beating the odds. He overcame fractured vertebrae in his neck to win the US Olympic trials, and a few months before the Games his coach and mentor David Schultz was murdered. Kurt trained on and emerged victorious in Atlanta, despite only being able to compete with the aid of painkilling injections in his neck. 

The Angle of that era was phenomenally driven; a fearsome competitor willing to push his body – and mind - to the very limits in order to reach his goal.

If this Olympics can inspire Kurt to such devotion once again, then who can say what might happen?

Angle maintains: “I’ve been training for the past two months. I have another nine months to train until the Olympic try-outs, so I’ll be ready”.

I know one thing for sure; it’s hard to bet against Kurt Angle when he picks up a pair of wrestling boots.

It’s true, it’s damn true.

Ralph Welch

Email: info@ultimatefightclub.co.uk

Twitter: @ralphwelch

Froch Wins, Ward awaits

Froch wins, Ward awaits


6^th June, 2011

As predicted, Carl “Cobra” Froch successfully defended his WBC Super Middleweight belt in the semi-final of the Super Six. We warned beforehand that Glen Johnson would be no pushover, and the veteran pushed Froch until the very end. It was an absorbing contest and a fantastic way for the Briton to re-announce himself back on Sky Sports.

Once again, Froch was indebted in part to his granite chin which absorbed several heavy right-hands from Johnson throughout. However, the Nottingham fighter showed his class with some effective counter-punching to take a deserved victory on the scorecards.

Now his focus will switch to Andre Ward, his opponent in the Super Six final. And it’s a huge test. The American, an Olympic gold medallist, has beaten all of his opponents thus far without breaking a sweat. That run included a convincing victory over Mikkel Kessler, who notably went on to defeat Froch in a contested decision in April 2010.

Froch vs Ward: the gameplan

Froch has been successful of late boxing on the back foot, slipping shots and then responding with punches in bunches. Where he struggled most in this tournament, as he openly admits, was against the speed and movement of Jermain Taylor. Unfortunately for the “Cobra”, Ward is both quicker and more elusive than his fellow American.

Ward is a defensive master; hard to hit with lots of movement. On the rare occasions that he is vulnerable on the inside, he’s quick to hold and smother his opponents before their punches can do any damage. It’s an incredibly effective style, though not particularly entertaining.

Respected trainer Rob McCracken will have to devise a plan to take Froch forward, slip Ward’s razor-sharp jab and hit his opponent with quick flurries. It’s easier said than done. Ward’s barely lost a round in this tournament to date.

It will surely take the performance of Froch’s career to claim victory. But if we’ve learnt anything about him during his extraordinary career, it’s that he should never be written off.

The Cobra Returns

Return of “The Cobra”

May 31, 2011

This Saturday in Atlantic City sees the return of arguably the best entertainer in boxing today.

When I say “entertainer” I don’t mean the man with the best ring entrance, or the man with the best trash talk. I mean the man who offers the best value for money:

Carl “The Cobra” Froch.

Seriously, can you even remember seeing a bad Carl Froch fight?

You can’t say that about the likes of Amir Khan or even pound-for-pound champ Manny Pacquiao.

Khan’s tussle with Paul McCloskey was as messy in the ring, as it was outside. Following the farcical last-minute TV switch from Sky, the Bolton man produced six uninspiring rounds. Meanwhile, Filipino superstar Pacquiao’s recent bout with Shane Mosley was derided by many pundits as a friendly sparring session.

These days too many champions are criticised for their caution – either for avoiding opponents or adopting a safety-first approach when actually in the ring.

But neither criticism can be aimed at Froch.

His last five fights with Jean Pascal, Jermain Taylor, Andre Dirrell, Mikkel Kessler and Arthur Abraham have all made utterly compelling viewing. It’s a huge shame that so few fans have been able to see them.

After some questionable decisions by his former promoter Mick Hennessey, Froch has been isolated on the little-known subscription channel Primetime. At a time when his career, his reputation and his earning power should have been peaking, “the Cobra” has found himself cruelly under-exposed.

Froch back on Sky Sports

Boxing fans should be delighted that Sky have realised the error of their ways and welcomed Froch back into the fold. The Froch-Sky Sports partnership will offer the Nottingham fighter the high profile he richly deserves.

The bout with Glen “Road Warrior” Johnson (51-14-2) should serve up another dose of brutality. Both have granite chins and aren’t afraid to let their punches go. Johnson may be 42, but he’s durable, battle-hardened and has been in with a host of big names.

Expect it to go the distance and expect it to be the sort of fight that takes another few months off Froch’s lifetime as a boxer.

He’s no Bernard Hopkins, who spectacularly became the oldest world champion in history last week by defeating WBC and IBO light-heavyweight champ Jean Pascal in Canada.

Using every bit of ring nous he’s acquired over two decades in the sport, Hopkins, 46, unashamedly nullifies his opponents. He takes few clean shots and in truth his fights can be pretty drab at times.

Less of a tactician and more of a gladiator, Froch prefers to go to war. He relies on his power and his extraordinary punch resistance. He takes risks. Huge risks, in fact.

But that’s what makes him so entertaining.

Hopefully new promoter Eddie Hearn, master of the blossoming Matchroom stable, can get Froch the big paydays he deserves as he enters the twilight of his career.

We should enjoy him while we can. It may be some time before we see another British fighter like Carl Froch.

Ralph Welch

info@ultimatefightclub.co.uk

* Carl Froch v Glen Johnson can be seen on Saturday night  on Sky Sports 1.