J.G.’s “Trying to Catch Your Breath” Mailbag
Coughs and Thoughts
Josh Gross Mar 2, 2007
"The nighttime, sniffling, sneezing, aching,
coughing … "
Come on man, I am one of the biggest fans of Chuck Liddell (Pictures) — but that excuse is as bad as those baseball players getting caught for using steroids and saying that they took some over the counter supplement.
I am not accusing Chuck of using anything illegal, but to say that
he was messed up on Nyquil, not buying it. Respectfully –
Alex
Chuck's got a reputation as a partier, but considering he has been ill and Warner Brothers is jetting him around to push "300" he may have just hit the wall. Who knows?
Weighty Issue
The Gross One, I've heard rumblings about Ohio's weigh-in rules; I've heard they require fighters to weigh in the day before and the day of the fight and that they only you to weigh 9 lbs more then your first day weigh in. I've also heard that the UFC is trying to get them to waive this and to do the standard weigh-ins ala Vegas. Could you shed some light on this topic? Say Tim Sylvia (Pictures) who already has to cut to 265 say he weighs in at 263; does that mean for the 2nd day he would still have to be under 265 since the UFC Heavyweight cutoff is 265? I think that could take a lot out of him having to try and maintain his weigh for however long the length between weigh-ins might be and then going out to face Randy Couture (Pictures). – Joe
I contacted Ohio State Athletic Commission chief Bernie Profato for you Joe. He said the next-day weigh-in was waived, and is updated from 10 to 13 pounds for MMA fights
Bernie, whom I met two summers ago at the Association of Boxing Commission convention in Las Vegas, also expressed his excitement at the UFC's appearance in Columbus.
"This [is] not only a big week, this is a history making event for Ohio," he said. "The first state in the Midwest for the UFC to come to with this new format and a recording breaking attendance for the state. It will be the [first] ever million-dollar-plus gate. We are truly humble but excited as well."
Just, plain rank
Hey Josh, a member of the forums posted some rankings from L.A. Times. It seemed pretty solid overall besides the screwy LW rankings (IMO), although the lack of Henderson at MW is confusing. Here's a link to the forum thread in case you're interested: http://www.sherdog.net/forums/showthread.php?t=522633
Why doesn't Sherdog post rankings? I think it would make for an interesting piece to have the main staff contribute rankings and explanations for each of the more popular divisions (HW, LHW, MW, WW, LW). This could be followed up by the "Unofficial Sherdog Rankings" — a list that takes into consideration the rankings of each staff member.
One last thing: Have you heard any rumblings about a UFC event in Montreal? I was really looking forward to seeing GSP fight at home, so it sucked to learn of the events cancellation. That's all I've got. I'm gonna head back to cramming for my biochemistry midterm and preparing for med school interviews on the weekend (future ringside fight doctor right here, ;) ).
Thanks – Mike, from Montreal
P.S. - How many emails do you get a day?
The rankings discussion has been a constant one among the group here at Sherdog. I was a co-creator of the original MMA Media Top 10, but as listeners to "Beatdown" know I've since soured on the idea.
Rankings are subjective enough, but with the sport's different rules; different weight classes; and competitors that more than likely won't fight one another, it all seems too much.
At this point, I think a pound-for-pound list has more validity than anything you could do from a divisional perspective.
Take the Takanori Gomi (Pictures)-Nick Diaz (Pictures) result. That fight was at 161. First question: Do you consider it a lightweight (155) or welterweight (170) fight?
As an American news source, we'd probably have to consider it a welterweight fight, right? OK, so since Gomi has fought at 161 — not 160, as Jordan Breen is apt to point out — shouldn't he (and every other PRIDE lightweight) be ranked in the welterweight division? If so, what does that do to the lightweight and welterweight rankings?
(There are a ton of other issues, but the first one always seems to get in the way.)
You see what I'm getting at? …
Moral of the story, the sport's powerbrokers need to grow up fast and finalize a set of unified rules. I don't care what they look like — just make a uniform weight and rule structure so mixed martial arts can move forward.
All signs point to the UFC desiring a Montreal card. You'd imagine GSP would be the headliner, so if he gets past Matt Serra (Pictures) in April it stands to reason his defense after that would come in Quebec.
P.S. – Not including the 150-200 notices I get for Viagra, penile enhancement or hair replacement (which could come in handy), I receive about 30 worthwhile e-mails a day from Sherdog readers. (Props to Apple "Mail" for a sweet junk-mail filter.) When I write something decent, it can be way more than that. And I'll be the first to admit, I'm not the best at returning ‘em.
Change is kneeded
Hey Josh just wanna say that I'm a big fan of the beatdown and I rarely miss it. My question is what would the UFC or anyone else have to do to get the commissions to allow knees to the head on the ground? I've heard Dana White say that he'd like to have them and also you say it before and I agree. I'm tired of wrestlers being able to take sloppy shots and not have to worry about getting a knee to the face. So to wrap it up: How can we get knees on the ground legalized and do you think its something we'll realistically see in the near future? Thanks – Seth
The good old Gan McGee (Pictures) rule. Zuffa clearly has enough influence with the state regulatory bodies to push for a change, and you'd like to see them do it before the Unified Rules become so entrenched it would be a chore to lobby for amendments. I think as the UFC goes, so will the rules. If it's something Dana and Marc Ratner really have an interest in, Heath Herring (Pictures) might have a shot to win in the UFC.
No one cares about cricket
I would like to make an analogy. Josh Gross insinuated that the UFC's promotion of Mirko Filipovic (Pictures) as a top heavyweight fight would stir up interest in PRIDE amongst American fans. This is like claiming that the signing of Daisuke Matsuzaka by the Red Sox will stir up interest in the Japanese baseball leagues, or that the import of David Beckham will win American fans for Man-U. American sports fans only care about American athletes and American athletic leagues. – Jimmy in Omaha
Interesting, Jimmy. I guess it comes down to whether or not mixed martial arts becomes about leagues (or organizations or promoters) or the fighters.
Major League Baseball is regarded across the board as the destination for the world's best players. So Dice-K crosses the Pacific and heads to Boston for a ton of cash. Major League Soccer, however, is generally dismissed as weak competition. Beckham, clearly on the downside of his career, signs a huge deal more to help prop up the sport up than anything else.
Ask most soccer fans which is the premiere soccer team in the world and you'll hear a lot more "Manchester United" than "New England Revolution."
Team sports are clearly different. If the Dodgers signed Dice-K I wouldn't care if he pitched for the Seibu Lions or Las Vegas 51s the prior year. As long as he's striking out hitters and helping the boys in blue win, great.
But I really think, and maybe because I'm so firmly entrenched in the sport, that MMA — and other individual sports — force a different reaction. Under what umbrella does Roger Federer compete? It doesn't matter. What people care about is that he's a killer forehand-wielding monster that destroys his opposition. Given time, it's my hope that mixed martial artists are looked at in the same light.
Dice-K's armbarring dudes rather than throwing nasty sliders? I think I'm gonna be curious as to where this guy came from. Why, all of a sudden, is some guy I've never heard of before beating people that are allegedly the best at what they do?
If "Cro Cop" does what he does, then his story will be told and, simply by osmosis, his previous endeavors will receive attention.
There are NASCAR fans and there are auto-racing fans. I can see that same scenario playing out in mixed martial arts.
Appreciate the e-mail.
Come on man, I am one of the biggest fans of Chuck Liddell (Pictures) — but that excuse is as bad as those baseball players getting caught for using steroids and saying that they took some over the counter supplement.
Advertisement
Chuck's got a reputation as a partier, but considering he has been ill and Warner Brothers is jetting him around to push "300" he may have just hit the wall. Who knows?
Regardless, he should not have appeared in public like that. By the
early afternoon the UPS guy who picks up Sherdog.com shipments
already knew about it. Actually, Chuck's lucky: A year from now, a
slurring "Iceman" might've made SportsCenter — for now, that
gem is relegated to Hall of Fame status on YouTube.
Weighty Issue
The Gross One, I've heard rumblings about Ohio's weigh-in rules; I've heard they require fighters to weigh in the day before and the day of the fight and that they only you to weigh 9 lbs more then your first day weigh in. I've also heard that the UFC is trying to get them to waive this and to do the standard weigh-ins ala Vegas. Could you shed some light on this topic? Say Tim Sylvia (Pictures) who already has to cut to 265 say he weighs in at 263; does that mean for the 2nd day he would still have to be under 265 since the UFC Heavyweight cutoff is 265? I think that could take a lot out of him having to try and maintain his weigh for however long the length between weigh-ins might be and then going out to face Randy Couture (Pictures). – Joe
I contacted Ohio State Athletic Commission chief Bernie Profato for you Joe. He said the next-day weigh-in was waived, and is updated from 10 to 13 pounds for MMA fights
Bernie, whom I met two summers ago at the Association of Boxing Commission convention in Las Vegas, also expressed his excitement at the UFC's appearance in Columbus.
"This [is] not only a big week, this is a history making event for Ohio," he said. "The first state in the Midwest for the UFC to come to with this new format and a recording breaking attendance for the state. It will be the [first] ever million-dollar-plus gate. We are truly humble but excited as well."
Just, plain rank
Hey Josh, a member of the forums posted some rankings from L.A. Times. It seemed pretty solid overall besides the screwy LW rankings (IMO), although the lack of Henderson at MW is confusing. Here's a link to the forum thread in case you're interested: http://www.sherdog.net/forums/showthread.php?t=522633
Why doesn't Sherdog post rankings? I think it would make for an interesting piece to have the main staff contribute rankings and explanations for each of the more popular divisions (HW, LHW, MW, WW, LW). This could be followed up by the "Unofficial Sherdog Rankings" — a list that takes into consideration the rankings of each staff member.
One last thing: Have you heard any rumblings about a UFC event in Montreal? I was really looking forward to seeing GSP fight at home, so it sucked to learn of the events cancellation. That's all I've got. I'm gonna head back to cramming for my biochemistry midterm and preparing for med school interviews on the weekend (future ringside fight doctor right here, ;) ).
Thanks – Mike, from Montreal
P.S. - How many emails do you get a day?
The rankings discussion has been a constant one among the group here at Sherdog. I was a co-creator of the original MMA Media Top 10, but as listeners to "Beatdown" know I've since soured on the idea.
Rankings are subjective enough, but with the sport's different rules; different weight classes; and competitors that more than likely won't fight one another, it all seems too much.
At this point, I think a pound-for-pound list has more validity than anything you could do from a divisional perspective.
Take the Takanori Gomi (Pictures)-Nick Diaz (Pictures) result. That fight was at 161. First question: Do you consider it a lightweight (155) or welterweight (170) fight?
As an American news source, we'd probably have to consider it a welterweight fight, right? OK, so since Gomi has fought at 161 — not 160, as Jordan Breen is apt to point out — shouldn't he (and every other PRIDE lightweight) be ranked in the welterweight division? If so, what does that do to the lightweight and welterweight rankings?
(There are a ton of other issues, but the first one always seems to get in the way.)
You see what I'm getting at? …
Moral of the story, the sport's powerbrokers need to grow up fast and finalize a set of unified rules. I don't care what they look like — just make a uniform weight and rule structure so mixed martial arts can move forward.
All signs point to the UFC desiring a Montreal card. You'd imagine GSP would be the headliner, so if he gets past Matt Serra (Pictures) in April it stands to reason his defense after that would come in Quebec.
P.S. – Not including the 150-200 notices I get for Viagra, penile enhancement or hair replacement (which could come in handy), I receive about 30 worthwhile e-mails a day from Sherdog readers. (Props to Apple "Mail" for a sweet junk-mail filter.) When I write something decent, it can be way more than that. And I'll be the first to admit, I'm not the best at returning ‘em.
Change is kneeded
Hey Josh just wanna say that I'm a big fan of the beatdown and I rarely miss it. My question is what would the UFC or anyone else have to do to get the commissions to allow knees to the head on the ground? I've heard Dana White say that he'd like to have them and also you say it before and I agree. I'm tired of wrestlers being able to take sloppy shots and not have to worry about getting a knee to the face. So to wrap it up: How can we get knees on the ground legalized and do you think its something we'll realistically see in the near future? Thanks – Seth
The good old Gan McGee (Pictures) rule. Zuffa clearly has enough influence with the state regulatory bodies to push for a change, and you'd like to see them do it before the Unified Rules become so entrenched it would be a chore to lobby for amendments. I think as the UFC goes, so will the rules. If it's something Dana and Marc Ratner really have an interest in, Heath Herring (Pictures) might have a shot to win in the UFC.
No one cares about cricket
I would like to make an analogy. Josh Gross insinuated that the UFC's promotion of Mirko Filipovic (Pictures) as a top heavyweight fight would stir up interest in PRIDE amongst American fans. This is like claiming that the signing of Daisuke Matsuzaka by the Red Sox will stir up interest in the Japanese baseball leagues, or that the import of David Beckham will win American fans for Man-U. American sports fans only care about American athletes and American athletic leagues. – Jimmy in Omaha
Interesting, Jimmy. I guess it comes down to whether or not mixed martial arts becomes about leagues (or organizations or promoters) or the fighters.
Major League Baseball is regarded across the board as the destination for the world's best players. So Dice-K crosses the Pacific and heads to Boston for a ton of cash. Major League Soccer, however, is generally dismissed as weak competition. Beckham, clearly on the downside of his career, signs a huge deal more to help prop up the sport up than anything else.
Ask most soccer fans which is the premiere soccer team in the world and you'll hear a lot more "Manchester United" than "New England Revolution."
Team sports are clearly different. If the Dodgers signed Dice-K I wouldn't care if he pitched for the Seibu Lions or Las Vegas 51s the prior year. As long as he's striking out hitters and helping the boys in blue win, great.
But I really think, and maybe because I'm so firmly entrenched in the sport, that MMA — and other individual sports — force a different reaction. Under what umbrella does Roger Federer compete? It doesn't matter. What people care about is that he's a killer forehand-wielding monster that destroys his opposition. Given time, it's my hope that mixed martial artists are looked at in the same light.
Dice-K's armbarring dudes rather than throwing nasty sliders? I think I'm gonna be curious as to where this guy came from. Why, all of a sudden, is some guy I've never heard of before beating people that are allegedly the best at what they do?
If "Cro Cop" does what he does, then his story will be told and, simply by osmosis, his previous endeavors will receive attention.
There are NASCAR fans and there are auto-racing fans. I can see that same scenario playing out in mixed martial arts.
Appreciate the e-mail.
