Sharpshootin' with The Franchise
He’s Baaaack: One of the most anticipated matches in UFC history goes down this weekend at "UFC 68: Uprising" when 43-year-old MMA legend Randy Couture comes out of retirement to face UFC Heavyweight Champion, Tim “The Maine-iac” Sylvia. Couture, who retired last February after losing to Chuck Liddell, can make history by becoming the first three-time UFC heavyweight champ. And you know what? I like his chances. The UFC would be hard-pressed to find two fighters with such distinct fighting styles. Sylvia is a 6”8, 265 pound lanky fighter known for his striking. Couture, aka Captain America, is one of the best grappling/submission masters in UFC history. Despite the fact that Couture is 13-years Sylvia's senior, I think he will shock the world. I have never been impressed with Sylvia. He is simply a product of weak heavyweight division. I'm surprised that Couture came back as a heavyweight, but I guess he feels that he has more of shot at making things happen against the likes of Sylvia as opposed to a Liddell or Quinton Jackson. Can’t argue with that. But if he does win, how smart is he going to look defending the title against Cro Cop?
Matt Hughes also will be trying to get his career back on track at UFC 68. Fresh off his Welterweight title loss to Georges “Rush” St.Pierre in November, Hughes returns to the Octagon to face The Ultimate Fighter finalist, Chris Lytle. Lytle is no slouch but I expect Hughes to dominate early and often leading to a rematch with St. Pierre later this year. Also, Rich Franklin, coming off his shocking Middleweight title loss to Anderson Silva, faces the VERY dangerous Jason Macdonald. I can't quite figure out why Franklin would take this fight after losing the belt the way he did in October. The pride of Red Deer, Alberta, Canada, MacDonald is one of the best young fighters in the Middleweight division. Just ask Ed Herman and Chris Leben. I can definitely see Franklin going down in this one. All in all, it should be an amazing night culminating with one of the greatest MMA ambassadors returning to the Octagon for one more moment in the sun. I get goose bumps just thinking about it.
History in the Making: I hope you took my advice from last week and ordered the Pride FC PPV because it may go down as the greatest night in the history of Mixed-Martial-Arts. Remember when I called Wanderlei Silva the baddest Middleweight on the planet? Well, that no longer holds true as he was knocked out by American Dan Henderson in the third round of their title fight. Now, on any other night, just knocking out Silva would be historic enough, but the win made Dan Henderson, of all people, the first fighter to hold two titles at different weight classes simultaneously (Henderson was also the Welterweight champ going in). If that wasn’t enough, one of Pride's greatest fighters, Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, was knocked out by a Pride rookie, Sokodojou, in 23 seconds. On top of all that, Takanori Gomi and Nick Diaz engaged in an epic slugfest. I hate to throw these hyperboles around but to say this show was one of the best ever would be the understatement of the century. Below is video proof of the shocking Nogueira KO. The announcing makes it extra special.
Welcome to the Show, Bobby: The worst-kept secret in wrestling was announced this week when Donald Trump picked ECW champ, Bobby Lashley, to be his representative against Vince McMahon’s choice, Umaga, in their hair vs. hair match at Wrestlemania 23. Great start to the feud between both wrestlers as their melee on Monday had a lot of heat. Next, its time for them to announce the return of Stone Cold Steve Austin as special guest referee. It also seems as though they are planning on having Kane go up against the Great Khali. Good lord, I hope they keep that one short because it has the chance of being one of the worst matches in Wrestlemania history. Which got me to thinking... what is the worst match in Wrestlemania history? Right now, I am leaning towards Goldberg vs. Lesnar at WM XX simply because it had so much hype and fell so flat. But I'm open to other suggestions.
Speaking of ‘Mania, for the next month I will be counting down the top 23 moments in Wrestlemania history every Friday. I think everybody will enjoy reliving these amazing moments of yesteryear so look out for that tomorrow.
Happy Birthday Naitch: “The Nature Boy” Ric Flair, arguably the greatest wrestler to ever live, celebrated his 58th birthday this past Sunday. Flair was born on February 25, 1949. I mention his date-of-birth because just looking at it and realizing he is STILL wrestling is absolutely amazing. There will never be another Nature Boy and since its Wrestlemania time I thought we should pay tribute to “The dirtiest player in the game” by showing one of his greatest promos ever before his most memorable Wrestlemania match. So let’s set the mood: Wrestlemania VIII. Hoosier Dome. April 5, 1992. Flair, the WWE Champ, and Mr. Perfect had been teasing Macho Man Randy Savage for several months saying they had a sultry centerfold of his wife, the lovely Miss Elizabeth. They claimed that if Flair won their title match that they would show the centerfold on the big screen at the Hoosier Dome. Briliant. Right before heading out to the ring he spoke to former WWE interviewer Sean Mooney backstage. Here he is in all his Nature Boy glory.
Matt Hughes also will be trying to get his career back on track at UFC 68. Fresh off his Welterweight title loss to Georges “Rush” St.Pierre in November, Hughes returns to the Octagon to face The Ultimate Fighter finalist, Chris Lytle. Lytle is no slouch but I expect Hughes to dominate early and often leading to a rematch with St. Pierre later this year. Also, Rich Franklin, coming off his shocking Middleweight title loss to Anderson Silva, faces the VERY dangerous Jason Macdonald. I can't quite figure out why Franklin would take this fight after losing the belt the way he did in October. The pride of Red Deer, Alberta, Canada, MacDonald is one of the best young fighters in the Middleweight division. Just ask Ed Herman and Chris Leben. I can definitely see Franklin going down in this one. All in all, it should be an amazing night culminating with one of the greatest MMA ambassadors returning to the Octagon for one more moment in the sun. I get goose bumps just thinking about it.
History in the Making: I hope you took my advice from last week and ordered the Pride FC PPV because it may go down as the greatest night in the history of Mixed-Martial-Arts. Remember when I called Wanderlei Silva the baddest Middleweight on the planet? Well, that no longer holds true as he was knocked out by American Dan Henderson in the third round of their title fight. Now, on any other night, just knocking out Silva would be historic enough, but the win made Dan Henderson, of all people, the first fighter to hold two titles at different weight classes simultaneously (Henderson was also the Welterweight champ going in). If that wasn’t enough, one of Pride's greatest fighters, Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, was knocked out by a Pride rookie, Sokodojou, in 23 seconds. On top of all that, Takanori Gomi and Nick Diaz engaged in an epic slugfest. I hate to throw these hyperboles around but to say this show was one of the best ever would be the understatement of the century. Below is video proof of the shocking Nogueira KO. The announcing makes it extra special.
Welcome to the Show, Bobby: The worst-kept secret in wrestling was announced this week when Donald Trump picked ECW champ, Bobby Lashley, to be his representative against Vince McMahon’s choice, Umaga, in their hair vs. hair match at Wrestlemania 23. Great start to the feud between both wrestlers as their melee on Monday had a lot of heat. Next, its time for them to announce the return of Stone Cold Steve Austin as special guest referee. It also seems as though they are planning on having Kane go up against the Great Khali. Good lord, I hope they keep that one short because it has the chance of being one of the worst matches in Wrestlemania history. Which got me to thinking... what is the worst match in Wrestlemania history? Right now, I am leaning towards Goldberg vs. Lesnar at WM XX simply because it had so much hype and fell so flat. But I'm open to other suggestions.
Speaking of ‘Mania, for the next month I will be counting down the top 23 moments in Wrestlemania history every Friday. I think everybody will enjoy reliving these amazing moments of yesteryear so look out for that tomorrow.
Happy Birthday Naitch: “The Nature Boy” Ric Flair, arguably the greatest wrestler to ever live, celebrated his 58th birthday this past Sunday. Flair was born on February 25, 1949. I mention his date-of-birth because just looking at it and realizing he is STILL wrestling is absolutely amazing. There will never be another Nature Boy and since its Wrestlemania time I thought we should pay tribute to “The dirtiest player in the game” by showing one of his greatest promos ever before his most memorable Wrestlemania match. So let’s set the mood: Wrestlemania VIII. Hoosier Dome. April 5, 1992. Flair, the WWE Champ, and Mr. Perfect had been teasing Macho Man Randy Savage for several months saying they had a sultry centerfold of his wife, the lovely Miss Elizabeth. They claimed that if Flair won their title match that they would show the centerfold on the big screen at the Hoosier Dome. Briliant. Right before heading out to the ring he spoke to former WWE interviewer Sean Mooney backstage. Here he is in all his Nature Boy glory.
13 Comments:
God bless the nature boy.
Worst match? Def. Undertaker vs. Sid Justice at Wrestlemania 13. I have a feeling we might be seeing the second version of that match in a month.
Nice choice. You can make a lowlight tape of all Taker's crap-tastic matches at Mania. May I also present The Red Rooster vs. Heenan at WM V. That was kind of funny but pretty bad too.
just read that interview on inqmnd
beter drop some puma pics or im gonna have to shake down some reps.
Naitch is my idol. His greatest WWF promo was after winning the
Rumble in Albany. Anyone who says Hogan was better than him deserves a
head-check
I don't follow what you are saying Kevin. What Intv? puma?
As for the worst match in 'mania hisory. I gotta go with the blindfold match between Rick Martel and Jake the snake Roberts at WM VII. Boy did that suck.
http://www.inqmnd.ca/blog/2007/02/no-mas.html
Ok now I know what you were talking about...
all this wrestling talk got me checking out "no holds barred" again. have you seen it, the franchise? anyway, i had no idea both hogan and macho man randy savage had record albums.
check out samples here (at your own risk)
http://www.i-mockery.com/bad-albums/default.php
No Holds Barred? Of course. I rememebr being scared of Zeus and his freaky eye as a kid. WWF even brought him in to feud with Hogan at Summerslam. Nothing like a little cross-promotion.
Unfortunately, I have heard both Savage's and Hogan's album. I understand Hogan's because it came out in 80s and was marketed towards kids. But Savage's came out a couple of years ago and is a supposed to be a diss towards the hulkster. Hence the name of the album "Be a Man."
that imqmnd article was really interesting. chess and horse racing shirts? out of this world, i'm on board. also, the part on intellectual property issues/originality/inspiration was a good read.
zeus was the president of the world.
werd to leeloo.
Did they botch the spelling of Isenberg on purpose?
Yeah it was special tribute. This dude is so ill let's upgrade him from Jewish to German.
I misspelled Mathew Modine's name in the Sports Issue after he came out and took pictures for us so I can't really throw stones, but worse than that was quoting Ali as saying "I ain't got no quarrel with them Vietnam". You can even spell my name Eizenbarg, but let's get my man's words right.
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