The MMA Ten keeps you updated on the latest news from the world of the UFC and beyond. This week: Jake Shields takes on Berkeley rioters, Kickboxer goes all Matrix, UFC goes Sumo and much more!
Kickboxer’s Insane Matrix Move
Let’s kick off The Ten with the amazing Matrix-like defense from kickboxer Rafael Fiziev.
I wonder if Rafael takes requests? Maybe he can do John Wick in the ring next. A lot of the moves and skills used by Keanu Reeves in that film were Judo and Jiu Jitsu-based, so we’re not sure how Rafael would incorporate that into a kickboxing match. But if you watched the video above you’ll agree that he can somehow pull it off.
Reeves was considered to be an outstanding pupil in his preparation for the John Wick role. Here’s a little sample of the training he did.
John Wick 2 premieres in theaters next week and you can expect more killer fight sequences with Reeves and Co.
Jake Shields Takes on Rioters
Jake Shields is one of the best grapplers in the world and he’s enjoyed a long, successful MMA career. He’s also a good citizen. Check out this video of Shields confronting some of the rioters in Berkeley the other night, who were there due to a speaking engagement for conservative pundit Milo Yiannopolous.
The aftermath of me helping a guy after being jumped by thugs. The police and 100's of civilians stood and watched. pic.twitter.com/7hN2iJ4kkf
— Jake Shields (@jakeshieldsajj) February 2, 2017
One of the main focuses of martial arts schools across the nation is anti-bullying. Words are wonderful, and always the preferred method of deescalating a potential physical situation, but bullies don’t care much for other people’s opinions. Shields entered the fray because the rioters were ganging up on one person. You can hear him in the video saying, “20 people jump a guy, I’m going to do what I have to, it’s not okay.”
My favorite exchange came after Shields told them they were attacking people for no reason. One of the masked protestors said they were all there because “There was a f—ing Nazi thing at the f—ing university.”
Shields was sort of dumbfounded by that statement. “What Nazi thing? Who’s a Nazi? The Jewish guy that was speaking?” Milo’s mother is Jewish and he’s also gay and a supporter of Israel. I’m just left with one question: What conference does F—ing University belong to?
Ais “The Bash” Daly Retires From MMA Due to Head Trauma
We know more than ever about the risks associated with fighting and other contact sports like football and hockey. And technology has allowed for these athletes to make much more informed decisions about their health and careers.
Aisling Daly, aka Ais (pronounced Ash) The Bash, sadly had to retire from MMA this week due to an abnormality found on what she called “a routine brain scan.”
Daly appeared on The Ultimate Fighter and was a veteran of Bellator and the UFC. She ends her career on a win and with a 16-6 pro record.
Your MMA Nickname Battle of the Week
Your MMA Nickname Battle of the Week is brought to you by D-Pants. Jessica “Bate Estaca” Andrade takes on Angela “Overkill” Hill at UFC Fight Night this Saturday in Houston. “Bate Estaca” means pile driver in Portuguese, and it’s an apt nickname for the No. 5-ranked Brazilian fighter. She had a fantastic 2016 that included an absolute slaughter of Jessica Penne and an upset submission win over contender Joanne Calderwood. Andrade says a win over Hill on Saturday should earn her a title shot.
Hill is the former Invicta FC champ who appeared on season 20 of The Ultimate Fighter. She really enjoyed farting around all the fighters on the show. According to her bio on UFC.com, Hill’s training regimen goes like this: “Wake up, eat horse meat, lift, chase chickens, spar 5-foot tall men, sleep, repeat.” Hill is a major underdog at +415, so this one could be over quickly.
Dana White: Ronda Rousey Probably Done
We told you earlier this week that UFC president Dana White said he thinks Ronda Rousey is done with the fight game. “In the conversation I had with her, if I had to say right here right now – again I don’t like saying right here right now because it’s up to her – but I would’t say she fights again,” White told UFC.com’s “UFC Unfiltered” podcast. “I think she’s probably done.”
I don’t see it that way at all, and there are multiple reasons to expect Ronda back in the cage in 2017. The first is she has no health ailments or injuries. Rousey took a beating from Amanda Nunes at UFC 207, but she remains healthy overall and just turned 30 a few days ago. Fighters of her caliber usually don’t quit until their bodies make them. Rousey isn’t at all near that stage of her career. If Rousey plans on continuing a post-fight career in entertainment, it would be better if she did so on a win, and not consecutive losses. Although weaknesses have been revealed in her game, she could still beat over half the ranked fighters in her division. She could also get a fresh start by getting a new coach and perhaps joining one of the many teams in MMA. She could easily win at least one more fight and get that Q score back up again, which would in turn increase her earning potential.
The final reason, and most important in my opinion, is that Rousey is a competitor. She medaled at the Olympics, changed MMA forever, and made it to the top with an utter dominance over her competition never seen until she entered the sport. Does that resume strike you as one of a fighter who will quit just because of a few bad losses? I’m not arguing that she could win the title again, although it is possible. I’m saying she doesn’t seem like the type to lay down, admit defeat and go out on a loss. All that makes me think we will see Ronda fight in the UFC again, and that’s a good thing.
Paige VanZant: Fighter, Dancer, Author
You’d be hard-pressed to find a fighter that has made more of her celebrity than Paige VanZant. She entered the UFC at age 20, put together an impressive three-fight winning streak, then stole the hearts of America on Dancing With the Stars.
VanZant has hit a bump in the road when it comes to her fight career — she’s just 1-2 in her last three fights — but she recently scored a publishing deal to release her first book. She will work with the Hatchette Book Group to release a memoir based on her life and how she made it to the UFC.
CM Punk Still Wants To Fight in UFC
FOX Sports caught up with CM Punk at a Blackhawks game, and the pro wrestler sports entertainer turned MMA fighter said he is itching to get back into the cage.
.@CMPunk told @CarrlynBathe that he's hungry to get back in the Octagon again and has been throwing names at Dana White. pic.twitter.com/Cb4uP0Px4X
— FOX College Hoops (@CBBonFOX) January 29, 2017
Punk was obviously overmatched when he fought Mickey Gall in his UFC debut and likely would be against any legit UFC fighter. But you have to give him credit. He’s likely a multi-millionaire with a millionaire wife. He doesn’t need to fight and he doesn’t need to work, at least not because he needs money. Yet he continues to pursue a dream that made him the butt of many jokes.
You may not like pro wrestling sports entertainment, and you may not consider Punk a legit fighter. But you’ve got to respect his drive and desire to succeed at something so very difficult, especially since he is now 38 years old.
Yair Rodriguez Will Kick Conor McGregor’s A**
Yair “El Pantera” Rodriguez is one of the hottest prospects in the UFC, and he destroyed MMA legend BJ Penn in his last fight. Now 10-1 with an eight-fight win streak, Rodriguez talked with NESN and let the world know what would happen if he fought Conor: he’d kick his a**.
“I think it will be crazy and I think fans will love it. I don’t want to bring McGregor up because then people are going to think, ‘Oh, now he’s trying to use McGregor, you know?’ but no, I don’t want McGregor’s success. He’s got his own stuff and he’s been smart enough to build his own empire and I don’t want that. I want my own stuff. I don’t really care about him or whatever he wants to do with his own life. If he wants to go and fight in boxing, I don’t really care.
“I care about my career and if he’s in front of me, I don’t care — I will go and kick his ass. I’m just being honest, I prepare myself. I’m a winner and people don’t remember losers. People remember winners, and I’m a winner. I’ve been one all my life.”
You can watch the entire interview below.
Dillon Danis Really Doesn’t Like Jon Jones
Dillon Danis is one of the world’s best grapplers, a BJJ Black belt, and a training partner for UFC champion Conor McGregor. Danis owns a grappling win over UFC fighter Joe Lauzon and most recently beat A.J. Agazarm at SUG 3. After winning that match, Danis made it known that he has no love at all for Jon Jones. Cue the NSFW video:
.@dillondanis sends a message to @JonnyBones @ZPGIFs @FloCombat @FloGrappling pic.twitter.com/GS0gYhG9IU
— FloCombat (@FloCombat) January 30, 2017
Perhaps Danis will challenge Jones in a grappling match soon. Danis is said to want to transition to MMA, and a submission win over Jones would give him a lot of juice to start his career.
Ice Cube and Charlie Day Watch Florian and Cormier Sumo Wrestle
Let’s end The Ten with a little fun. Ice Cube and Charlie Day appeared on UFC Tonight to promote their new movie Fist Fight. They got to watch Daniel Cormier and Kenny Florian teach them the finer workings of sumo wrestling.
I think it would have been much better TV had they all played a game of CharDee MacDennis, aka The Game of Games.
