St-Pierre's Manila Visit

   Last week, UFC welterweight champion George St-Pierre visited Manila and he thought that it was just another visit to another country. And he was wrong. Fans crowded the Ninoy Aquino International Airport just before his arrival at 5 AM. From there on, it was all amazement for GSP as he roamed Manila. He stopped by ABS-CBN's top-rating Showtime to promote his activities. He also dropped by in a gym where his idol, boxing champ Manny Pacquiao trains. He even had some tips from Pacquiao's trainer Freddie Roach. The day after he went on a MMA clinic at SM Mall of Asia where thousands of Filipino MMA fans gather to see one of UFC best top fighters.

   GSP's next bout is against Josh Koscheck on UFC 124, December 14, 2010.



(TheBloggerSays: This is one big proof, that MMA or UFC is really the fastest growing sport anywhere.)

Jones Jr. Injured, Fight Postponed

   Former pound for pound king Roy Jones Jr. may take have to wait longer before his scheduled bout with Danny Santiago on October 7 due to an injury he suffered while training. A swollen hand while doing a sparring session that kept giving him pain forced Jones Jr. to take a rest for a while before coming back to training again, although the doctors said that the x-rays showed that there were no fractures on Jones Jr.'s hand.

   His camp also said that they will re-schedule the fight as soon as possible.



(TheBloggerSays: Jones Jr.'s bones are really getting brittle. Haha. He should hang his gloves after this. But he should take down Danny in a hard way to end his career with a bang!)

UFC 119: Mir Back In Winning Ways, Defeats Cro Cop

   After a loss suffered from Shane Carwin 6 months ago, heavyweight Frank Mir showed again his might knocking out Mirko Filipovic in the 4:02 of the 3rd round at main event of UFC 119 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

   Cro Cop,who replaced Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira due to injury, ducked while attacking but unaware if a Mir knee strike. That strike sent him down to the octagon's canvass and also ended the fight. Both fighters were criticized for lack of offensive attacks in the fight prior to the knock out.



(TheBloggerSays: I really liked the way Mir knocked Cro Cop. But that's it. The KO was the only thing in the fight. I almost fell asleep. I just wish Mir will go up again in the ranks.)

Knucklehead's Official Trailer

Out on theaters this fall in the US, WWE films' releases it's official trailer for Knucklehead. It stars WWE's The Big Show as a 35-year old giant and church orphan turned mix martial artist Walter Krunk who joins a former MMA champ turned promoter and a chaperone heading to a big MMA tournament in New Orleans.

(TheBloggerSays: I think this one will be a hit, finally, for the WWE films. After busting it out with Cena and Austin for their action flicks, this one really fits well and I think will do good for The Big Show.)

Klitschko Dominates Peter

   Proving to be one of most dominating heavyweights today, Wladimir Klistchko stopped Samuel Peter in their rematch, ten years in the making, via 10th round KO at Frankfurt, Germany.

   Klitschko, 55-3, 49 KOs, controlled the fight right from the opening bell, battered him all through out until dropping the Nigerian in 10th.



(TheBloggerSays: Who else now is left at the heavyweight division after this? Will Wladimir face David Haye or finally, his brother and also one of the top heavyweights, Vitali Klitschko.)

Morales KOs Limond

    For the second time after almost 3 years of retirement, former 3 division world champion and Mexican legend Erik "El Terrible" Morales won against Willie Limond of Scotland via 6th round KO at Monumental Plaza de Toros Mexicao in Mexico City.

   It also marked as Morales' second fight at welterweight division. With the win, Morales improved his record to 50-6 with 35 KOs.



(TheBloggerSays: With his age, I don't know how long Erik can stay at this shape. Great win for Erik.)

The Battle Of Combat Sports

   After last weeks "Boxing vs. MMA" bout between boxing champ James "Lights Out" Toney against UFC star Randy "The Natural" Couture live on UFC 118 PPV, many fans and sports athletes have been wondering on which combat sport is dominating the other, based on PPV sales, gate attendance and the winner between two fighters of different sport.

   Today's sport stars like UFC Heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar, Bobby Lashley and Bob Sapp all became professional wrestlers first before trying out their skills in MMA.While Anderson Silva, Eric "Butterbean" Esch, Marcus Davis hanged up their gloves to pursue a MMA career. Other notable fighters like Vladimir Kozlov, Ken Shamrock, Sylvester Turkay and Daniel Puder are all trained MMA fighters who transitioned to WWE, a sports-entertainment wrestling brand. 

   With all people buzzing around and wondering, The Fighting Pride asked some sports analyst to take on topics varying from transitioning fighters to which brand is better than the another.

   Asked about why do fighters, despite being on the peak of their career, switched from boxing or pro-wrestling to MMA, one of Philippines' most-respected sport analyst Ed Tolentino said: "MMA offers an intriguing challenge  to anyone who is engaged in particular discipline. The offer of big bucks for short bouts is very tempting. In most cases, wrestlers and boxers who are already over-the-hill switch to MMA switch to salvage whatever remains in their careers. Rare is the case of Brock Lesnar. But note that he only joined MMA after he failed make it as a football player in NFL."

   In 2009, MMA's "UFC 100" PPV garnered the most PPV buys for the year while boxings "Fire Power: Manny Pacquiao vs. Miguel Cotto" have the second most buys. That's why the fight fans are having thoughts, is the boxing losing it's fans to MMA world? "No. Die hard boxing fans as are loyal as they come." says Anthony George of Zutes Sports Show. "There seems to be more MMA gyms in the U.S. than boxing gyms.UFC is the biggest brand in all of combat sports and young guys are attracted to that. The trouble is, boxing is not attractive enough to young people." Archer added. Tolentino seems to agree with the boxing's rich stories by saying that: "Boxing has a lot of history behind it. However, they need to police it's ranks to keep MMA at a safe distance." 

   With Couture of MMA defeating Toney of boxing, some fans assumed that MMA is the one really dominating the world of combat sports. But Lesnar, a NCAA champion and former WWE wrestler himself, proved to be that even a man form another sport can become a MMA champ. How do really former boxers and wrestlers fare in MMA? "Nowadays, there is not just one discipline that will amke it in MMA, you have to be well rounded. Wrestlers do well in MMA because it allows most of them to pick-up the BJJ discipline a lot easier than folks with no wrestling base." says Archer. 

   And asked if Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr., two of the boxing world's best fighters, do stand a chance in MMA, Tolentono said: "Yes. As long as you have legitimate martial arts background, you can excel. Pacquiao and Mayweather are legit boxers."

(TheBloggerSays: It's good to have Mr. Tolentino and Mr. Archer to have this conversation. I do really believe in what they say, and I respect it.. Thank you guys.)

Ricky Hatton: "I'm Done."

   Sixteen months after being knocked out in the second round by Manny Pacquiao in Las Vegas, Nevada, Ricky Hatton officially announced in BBC Radio at Manchester that he may never come back to the boxing ring and fight again.

   "You can never say never. But if I was to put my last pound on it, i would say 'no, that's me done'" Hatton said. Hatton also said that he'll just concentrate on promoting other fighters. He added: "I announced that I was going to make a comeback. I came back off holiday and went into a training camp for three weeks, but it wasn't just the same."

   But Hatton himself hinted about his return. Hatton recently renewed his boxing license with Bristish Boxing Board of Control. Asked why, he answered "Just in case one day I do wake up and think 'come on, let's give it another go.'"



(TheBloggerSays: I thinks Ricky's retirement is made just too soon. There's still so much left in him. He can still have good match up and bouts with Juan Manuel Marquez or Amir Khan. Or even maybe Michael Katsidis.)



  

Roy Jones Jr. To Fight Next Month

   Former Pound for Pound King Roy Jones Jr. is scheduled to face former championship challenger Danny Santiago next month, October 7. The fight will take place probably on Jones' hometown, Pensacola, Florida. Further announcements about the bout will be made next week.



(TheBloggerSays: I wonder why these senior citizens of boxing (Hopkins, Jones Jr.) keep fighting. But for me, win or lose, they should be hanging up their gloves after their respective fights.)

Marquez To Fight Katsidis On November; Hopkins Vs. Pascal On December

   After a failed negotiation to fight Manny Pacquiao for the third time, Mexican warrior and champion Juan Manuel "Dinamita" Marquez agreed to fight the Australian slugger Michael "The Great" Katsidis on November 27 at MGM Garden in Las Vegas, Nevada.

   The bout will be for Marquez's WBO lightweight belt.

   Another champion, Jean Pascal, is also scheduled to fight a boxing warrior, former champion Bernard "The Executioner" Hopkins. The bout will be on December 18. This will be Hopkins' second fight this year after defeating Roy Jones Jr. last April. This will be also Pascal's second fight this year after defeating Chad Dawson and successfully defended his WBC light heavy weight championship for the third time.



(TheBloggerSays: All-out war is what I am expecting for the Katsidis-Marquez bout. But Hopkins against Pascal? These promoters are really getting really bad for the sport. Why not Luciano Bute?)