Ufc

Anybody watch UFC? It’s pretty amazing stuff. These guys are ridiculously fit, strong, skilfull and tough. A few of my mates from home are into it so I gave UFC 73: Stacked a look a few weeks ago. Cracking stuff and much more technical than you’d think. There’s a fair bit of grappling and action on the ground which can be a little boring but it’s worth watching to marvel at the skills and the tactical aspect of the fights. It’s brutal stuff - these lads absolutely batter the fook out of each other. Some of the striking would land a lay person in the morgue. It’s televised on Bravo. I can see myself getting into it as WWE ain’t really what it used to be imo.

Is this stuff fixed “entertainment?” DIdn’t think it was but after your reference to WWE I’m not sure.

therock67 wrote:

Is this stuff fixed “entertainment?” DIdn’t think it was but after your reference to WWE I’m not sure.

Are you implying something there rocko?

therock67 wrote:

Is this stuff fixed “entertainment?” DIdn’t think it was but after your reference to WWE I’m not sure.

No, it’s not fixed at all. Clearly you don’t watch it then Rocko as they do beat the lard out of each other. But there are similarities with WWE I suppose, not that one would have to pick one or the other. I’m rambling here. Bye.

Yes, I got very into the UFC when I got the digital in. It’s highly entertaining at first watch but then crucially has quite a bit of technique to it so you can get more and more into it as you learn more.

I think when it started out in the early 90’s it was basically just a free-for-all. There were no weight divisions and a lot of the fellas in it were just bar-room brawlers who fancied themselves a bit. The refs weren’t the quickest on the stoppages either and some of the early footage is a bit of a guilty-watch tbh.

Then those Gracie brothers came along with their Brazilian ju-jusitu and destroyed everyone by getting every fight into a grapple on the floor and choking out or submitting people. Technique and tactics developed from there and now I personally think it’s a highly creditable sport. They call it mixed martial arts but its nearly a sport in itself because the tactics and techniques have evolved over fifteen years. There’s multiple weight divisions and, with the exception of some heavyweights, you can see from the fellas physiques that if nothing else they’re extremely physically prepared.

If you think about it (even remembering back to being a kid or teenager), fighting is probably the most knackering thing you can do. You’re wrecked after a couple of minutes. UFC is three five minute rounds for regular bouts and five five minute rounds for title fights. That’s unbelievably draining so if they’re not extremely well conditioned they get nowhere. It’s also sanctioned by the Nevada State Athletice Commission and an increasing number of other States, including California and Florida, so there is increasing official recognition of it as a sport. If you watch it, you can actually recognise some of the cut-men and ring doctors from professional boxing.

Where it big-time lets itself down I think is in it’s governance. This is where it does resemble the WWE a bit because, as far as I can tell, it seems to be basically owned and run by one fella, Dana White (though he could be just the frontman). There is no discernible hierachy to title challengers and “the UFC” (who I take to be White) seem to match up all the fights. Crucially, the majority of the fighters appear to be centrally contracted to the UFC. While there is no doubt over fixing or the integrity of the fights (it is not sports entertainment), this does raise questions about the best fellas getting a shot. It’s also worrisome the way Dana White has a prominent persona, comments on fighters ability and most cringingly is buffed up himself and full of tough talk. Also, I imagine the drugs testing is non-existent.

Overall though, it’s a great watch and its genuinely interesting to see fellas from different disciplines come up against each other.

I had to get rid of NTL digital cos I was staying up till half one every night watching shit like Dog the Bounty Hunter and Booze Britain, but the UFC is the only thing I genuinely miss.

I expect that once they’re state regulated that they’re open to all sorts of doping tests but it’s probably not as stringently regulated as sports that enforce their own rulings.

UFC isnt fixed but there are rumours of fighters being told to throw fights to get more popular fighters into the limelight. This in my opinion is worse than WWE because of the the fact the WWE does not purport to be real.

Flano wrote:

UFC isnt fixed but there are rumours of fighters being told to throw fights to get more popular fighters into the limelight. This in my opinion is worse than WWE because of the the fact the WWE does not purport to be real.

Someone warn Bandage not to come into this thread. Bandage - if you’re reading this, Flano was only joking and Santa is real.

Flano’s making a show of himself as usual on this thread. What’s got into you lately?

What the fook?

Saying WWE is fixed - get real Flano.

Was watching an old UFC last night (didn’t realise Setanta showed them). Great Welterweight fight for the title between Matt Hughes and Frank Trigg(onometry). Matt got caught with an unintentional low blow. Referee didn’t see it and Trigg got the takedown and pounded the sh1t out of Matt. Matt gave Trigg his back before too long and Trigg tried a rear naked choke hold - the same move that Matt had used to choke Trigg out in their previous bout. Matt showed great strength and guile to get out of the hold though (although it was poor of Trigg to let him) and ended up slamming Trigg to the canvas and basically doing what Trigg had just done to him. Matt managed to lock in the rear naked choke though and Trigg submitted. Best UFC fight I’ve seen so far. Haven’t seen many though. Advertised as being on the card was Ortiz vs Shamrock but it wasn’t on. Dunno why, but I was disappointed.

There’s some big UFC tournament on Setanta this weekend - don’t follow it so I haven’t a clue what it is but I’ve seen plenty of hype about it.

Class. Cheers for that. Thought it was going to be on Bravo and I was going to have to send a message home to record it. I’ll watch that.

Is that UFC thing being held in Ireland? I think thats what it is.

No it’s London.

Yeah, I think the English guy who won their reality show the Ultimate Fighter, Michael Bisping, is fighing that deaf guy who was also on the reality show but I can’t remember if it was the same series. Matt something. Maybe Hoffman.

The deaf dude is an awesomely strong wrestler but doesn’t like getting hit. Bisping is strong all round with especially good striking. Fancy Bisping. He can alter his style to suit the tactics of the fight. The deaf dude can’t. (Really have to find out his name.)

Think Rampage Jackson might be fighting on the same card. Is Chuck Lidell not going to get a rematch then?

Just remembered that Matt Hoffman is a BMX rider.

Matt something though.

Yes indeedy. Matt Hoffman is a BMX rider. He was in a Tony Hawks game as far as I remember. I love posting late at night/morning. Glitterball really is the Ultimate drunk tv, except some geezer is on now and he just said Alex Kramer isnt back until tomorrow.

Fats wrote:

Just remembered that Matt Hoffman is a BMX rider.

Matt something though.

Matt Hamill apparently. Bisping won by split decision.

Cro Cop got beaten (unanimous decision).

Rampage beat Dan Henderson by unanimous decision.

Liddell fights Jardine at the next event on 23 September.

Didn’t get to see the one at the weekend unfortunately.