The MMA Ten keeps you updated on the latest news from the world of the UFC and beyond. This week: Paul Daley’s “Knockout of the Year” highlight, Chael’s very bad, no good week, King Mo roasts Rampage hard on Instagram and much more!
Paul Daley’s Flying Knee of Death
It’s still only January, but Paul “Semtex” Daley’s flying knee knockout of Brennan Ward will be tough to beat for “Knockout of the Year.” Daley and Ward met last week at Bellator 170, and Daley showed why he is one of the most exciting — and dangerous — strikers in MMA.
Here’s what Ward looked like after the fight.
Paul Daley's flying knee did a real number on Brennen Ward's face. I'm going to go cry now. pic.twitter.com/ejauEYb6Eg
— Mike Bohn (@MikeBohn) January 22, 2017
Conor McGregor vs. Floyd Mayweather in Punch Out!
While we all wait for the Nintendo Classic to get back in stores, enjoy an updated version of Punch Out! with Conor McGregor, Floyd Mayweather, and Mario.
If that’s how it really ends I’d actually buy that PPV.
Tough Week for Chael Sonnen
Chael Sonnen made his long-awaited return to the cage last week at Bellator 170, but he didn’t fare very well against MMA legend Tito Ortiz, tapping to a rear naked choke in the first round.
Then Sonnen was the first contestant fired from the current season of Celebrity Apprentice. Sonnen sought to increase his team’s time on a project by creating a technical difficulty, literally cutting the cord to a computer. But “The Arnold” didn’t like Chael’s creativity, calling it cheating and then firing him from the show.
https://youtu.be/FgZFsgRe-bs
Sonnen said his behavior on the show was skewed by the editing — he was much worse than the portrayal they created!
“I wasn’t a normal contestant. I was the heel of the show. I would do every lying, cheating, dirty, offensive thing you could every week. I never missed a beat. But they would edit it so I would just look like a regular guy.”
UFC Fighter Accepts Deadspin Editor’s Challenge to Fight
We told you earlier this week how Deadspin got into it with Sen. Ted Cruz, and they ended up looking like little brats when Cruz tried to engage in some fun Twitter banter. They should have put the brakes on after telling Cruz to “Go eat s**t,” but Deadspin editor Tim Marchman decided to keep it going.
https://twitter.com/timmarchman/status/824076992060522497
https://twitter.com/timmarchman/status/824078802292719617
https://twitter.com/timmarchman/status/824097480883183616
https://twitter.com/timmarchman/status/824114693509881856
Sometimes, people forget they are on the internet for the whole world to see. They also forget that many UFC fighters are conservative. Like the recently retired Tim Kennedy, who also served his country in the Special Forces and as a Green Beret doing tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. Kennedy said he would postpone his retirement to take Marchman up on his offer.
I'm your huckleberry. I also take note that you are a pathetic cyber bully. My email is tim@rangerup.com I'm available at your leisure. https://t.co/6AS3qAllXV
— Tim Kennedy (@TimKennedyMMA) January 25, 2017
Marchman actually knows the sport of MMA very well and has written some thoughtful pieces on the sport. I have no idea if he trains, but he better get to it if he’s going to accept Kennedy’s offer. However, it’s more likely Marchman will bow out, similar to all the celebrities that were supposed to be living in Canada right about now. Marchman hasn’t tweeted since Kennedy’s response. I wonder why?
King Mo Wrecks Rampage Jackson on Instagram
King Mo was busy blasting Grams all week (I think that’s what the kids say. But maybe I’m basic?) and the focus of his jokes was Quinton “Rampage” Jackson. The two met in the cage at Bellator 170 to hype their upcoming rematch at Bellator 175, and King Mo had fat jokes for days.
Pix from Quinton’s audition as Rasputia for Norbit. #howyoudoin A photo posted by Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal (@kingmofh) on
There’s a few more at King Mo’s Instagram.
Your MMA Nickname Battle of the Week
The UFC returns Saturday night with UFC on FOX 23 from Denver. Your MMA nickname battle of the night also happens to be the main event, an important fight in the women’s bantamweight division between Valentina “Bullet” Shevchenko and Julianna “The Venezuelan Vixen” Pena.
Shevchenko earned her “Bullet” nickname from her trainer due to her amazing speed, shortly after she flattened a 22-year-old fighter at age 12. She is a highly accomplished kickboxer and Muay Thai fighter and currently the No. 1-ranked bantamweight. Pena, the No. 2-ranked bantamweight, is a force in the cage and features a devastating combination of skill, speed, and power. She has vicious ground and pound but also an exceptional ground game that UFC fans have yet to see in full. Webster defines vixen as one who’s a “shrewish, ill-tempered woman.” Pena is indeed all that, something Shevchenko will discover Saturday night. The winner of this fight will get the next title shot with Amanda Nunes.
All Hail the Return of The Last Emperor
Fedor Emelianenko, aka “The Last Emperor,” was long considered the G.O.A.T. in MMA. It’s an arguable point now, but just a few years back there was little discussion. Fedor dominated his opponents during a 27-fight win streak compiled from 2001-2009. He had huge power in both hands and a world class Sambo game to match. His ground and pound is legendary.
But 2010 found Fedor searching for wins — and answers. He lost three straight fights and was finished in each one. He was submitted by former UFC heavyweight champion Fabricio Werdum. Bloodied and battered by Antonio Silva. Knocked out by Dan Henderson. It was a shocking turn of events. He fought three more times after the losing streak, notching wins in each contest, but retired in 2012. He made his comeback in 2015 and has recorded two straight wins. He’ll fight former UFC fighter Matt Mitrione at Bellator 172 on Feb. 18 and it’s your chance to see a living legend do his thing.
https://youtu.be/qWrWJVTUX2k
Big John McCarthy Gets His Revenge on Roy Nelson
Last September “Big Country” Roy Nelson threw a soft foot to the butt of referee Big John McCarthy after finishing Antonio Silva in the cage. Nelson was angry that McCarthy didn’t stop the fight sooner, causing him to land more big shots on Silva. Here’s the video:
But McCarthy finally got his revenge the other day. Sort of.
Mike Goldberg Talks About Leaving the UFC
Corporate buyouts are usually accompanied by some cost-cutting, mostly in the form of releasing employees. While it was great for Zuffa to sell the UFC for $4B, it has meant that many UFC employees were let go. The most notable of these employees is former UFC announcer Mike Goldberg, who talked about his release on The MMA Hour.
“I watched everything around me be shattered. It took 15 years to build this wonderful family, and it felt like it was taking 15 minutes to destroy it. And it just was a really tough time, and it may still be tough. There may be more to come throughout the UFC family. This is not uncommon in an ownership change with anything. It might just be corporate America, it might be on Wall Street. In this instance, it’s a sports property. So what reason were they going to give me? And would that make me feel any better or any worse? No, not at all. So honestly, I just felt respect for the other members of the family that also were released, and I’m no better than any of those guys. So, it is what it is. Extremely disappointing, don’t get me wrong. But mostly disappointing because our family has really been torn, and that’s what I’ll miss the most.”
Also puzzling was that Goldberg did not receive so much as a phone call or email from UFC president Dana White. “No conversations, no contact. Nothing, really. Nothing,” Goldberg said. “Which was surprising. Disappointing, certainly. But nothing was said, and I’ve got to live with that. At the end of the day, what matters to me is my family, my children. But no, to answer your question directly, there was no conversation. Nothing at all.”
No on-air sendoff for Goldberg, and no follow-up or even a call from Dana White. Sports fans often get irritated at the lack of “loyalty” from their favorite players or fighters. The UFC’s actions with Goldberg speak to why the notion of loyalty in pro sports is utter nonsense.
Rousey Joins Standing Rock Protests
Ronda Rousey joined the protesters at Standing Rock by bringing them supplies as they fight against the Dakota Access Pipeline.
I had one of the best road trips of my life with @rondarousey to deliver supplies to the protesters at Standing Rock! This was such an incredible experience, & I can’t thank my friend enough for allowing me to be a part of it! #NODAPL #StandWithStandingRock #StandingRock #ArmbarNation #NoDak #UFC #RondaRousey #PitaLiving #TeamPita #TeamRousey #Activist #mma #wmma #judo #ijf #RoadTrips #RV #StandingRock #TeamBG @ballengeegroup A photo posted by Pauline Macias (@paulinepitamacias) on
It’s been an ugly incident with reports of protesters being strip-searched after their arrests, and a security firm using dogs to actually bite protesters. Props to Rousey for coming to the aid of the protesters and doing it under the radar so as not to bring attention to herself.
