KEEP IT REAL

MMA UFC, Pride, WEC and any of the big show promotions we see today are a far cry from what used to be. If you recall, or maybe you don't, in the beginning there were no 5 minute rounds there was no 1 minute rest and you fought all weights classes all night until there was one winner. The whole concept was "Keep It Real", as real as possible. When you stepped into the octagon you fought and kept fighting until someone was knocked out, choked out or tapped out!

It has changed but why? Let me give you my opinion. I believe in an effort to make it a legal sport and actually make money you have to make the powers that be happy and organize, regulate and oversee the fights. It all gets down to money. From the Athletic commission to State legislators and so fourth.

Okay fine, it is what it is. My point is this, today's fighters are under a lot of pressure to perform and what I mean by that is they are obligated to make an exciting fight so ratings and viewer interest is kept high. Once again money rearing it's ugly head. Doing this forces a fighter to change their game to please others. Fighters are fighting to stay popular, keep their contracts, sponsorship and endorsements.

Sure MMA is about training all aspects, boxing, Muay Thai, wrestling, bjj etc. But if your strength is wrestling and you are forced to make it a boxing match how smart is that and vice versa. Watch some of the recent fights and you'll notice guys who are good on the ground are standing toe to toe more! I say have good hands but for the purpose of going to your strength. Have good wrestling and take down defense if your Muay Thai and boxing is awesome. Know other arts to facilitate the way to staying within your area of proficiency because you can't be all all things there's just not enough time in the day. Crazy Dragon speaks his mind!

Check out the dog brothers video as this is how I like to train: Street serious with brotherhood vibe. MMA with weapons!

CONTRACT KILLER

I'm always on the prowl for fresh MMA gear. I stumbled across this at MMA Warehouse.com it's from Contract Killer and it's their Messenger design. It's has some tight graphics and a strong feel to it. Word of caution: when it's time to get down be sure to hand it over to a friend as the T is not blood friendly. But, I guess you knew that already - right?

Up and coming I'm hunting down T-shirts the fighters wear when they enter the Octagon. Usually custom and limited editions for fighters and entourage only but they're out there and soon we'll all know where to get them. Crazy Dragon - OUT!

MMA EN"TRANCE" THEME MUSIC

The band is called OVERSEER and the song is SLAYED. I've heard this song being played by some of the top MMA fighters as their entrance theme song and it has a funk coolicious feel to it. It's chill but gets you pumped up! ENJOI...

THIS IS WHAT'S POPPIN AT AFFLICTION

This Affliction T has and edgy cool vibe to it and everyone will be asking you what's poppin when you're at the next event in this. The Tian Bao Xing V-Neck is what's happening also, as an added plus it's got a dark chaotic look to it so if you get into a little scuffle and some fool bleeds on you nobody can see the blood. NICE!

MMA IS WATER

After UFC 98 I attempted to keep up with all the news, just as you did, but found so many articles that said the same thing and yet even more with their own unique spin. In any event, it's staggering to think where MMA as a Martial Art and then as a Sport will be in 10 plus years. The growth is spectacular.

MMA is dynamic! It is ever changing, evolving and morphing into the Universal Martial Art. Absorbing what is useful from arts around the world and discarding the rest.

MMA is water as it can take any shape we give it. Now that metaphor can be construed in many different ways all of which would apply I'm sure. From my perspective as a practitioner, a seeker of martial truth and self improvement perfectionist it inspires me, drives me and pushes me to ask more of myself and those around me and in many ways I hope it does for all who enjoy it around the world.

As the late great Bruce Lee once said: "Be Water My Friend"

MACHIDA WINS BY KNOCK OUT!

Lyoto Machida is the New UFC Light Heavy Weight Champion! In devastating fashion and a beautiful display of martial arts Lyoto Machida and his Karate style fighting with perfect timing and cobra like reflexes devastates Evans in a 2nd round knock out! What a perfect fight.
I can't say enough about this guy all I know is he's going to be around for a long time.

Diamond In The Rough: Hughes vs Serra

Matt Hughes
Former UFC WW Champion#5 Welterweight

Matt Serra
Former UFC WW Champion#11 Welterweight TUF 4 Winner

Okay so these two guys have a burning desire, a desire so hot that Lucifer himself would need a trip to the North Pole and he'd want a room in an ice hotel with air conditioning, to beat the living hell out of each other! However, with this dynamic heat and friction we could see a diamond in the rough. This could turn out to be one of the "fights of the night!" Why? Well listen up fight fans, there are so many trade offs in Strengths and Weakness here it really will get down to who can maintain their fight plan the longest! Can Serra stay off his back? If not, can he strike well from his back and can his superior jiu Jitsu submit Hughes as we've seen in the past? Can Hughes close the mid fighting range and take Serra down to finish him with strikes? Will Hughes be a new man and bring proficient hands into the cage to surprise us all or has the "CURSE" of the cage fighter struck yet another veteran who has long out stayed his peak performance years in this sport we call MMA? One can only speculate but we will speculate with a sense of awe and sadistic enjoyment!

UFC 98 Shaping Up To Be A Big Show

It's midnight on Thursday the 21st of May and outside it's unnervingly quiet and calm yet there is a distinct feeling of electricity in the air crackling like an overloaded transformer about to blow as all forms of media such as News, Radio, Blogs and even Tweeters are all ranting and raving about the upcoming UFC 98. All I have to say is place your bets, hold onto your seats and if you're not lucky enough to be there get that pay-per view ordered cause baby it's coming.

You know I have to admit, I always get hyped up before a big fight as a fan and as a practitioner. When I see two combatants enter that octagon and watch that drama unfold before my very eyes it just makes me all warm inside. I'm sure this will be a spectacle we won' t soon forget.

I'll be posting results and hope you'll be on the edge of your seats during fight night along with

me.Adios MMA sports fans!

How Long Can You Stay At The Top

If you take a look over the years at the title holders in all the big MMA shows you'll be hard pressed to find one who stays on top for more than 2 years that has laid everything they had out on the canvass each and every single time they fought. Sure there are a lot of factors involved but my question is this; Is there a fighter out there NOW who can put it on the line every single time and bring the exciting action we all expect or once they've reached the top are they destined to protect their precious belt. Do they become the slaves of fame and fortune.

Let's face it most of these fighters love to fight, C'mon lets get real here, they wouldn't do it if they didn't love it but the money is what their after and as the paydays become bigger and bigger so does the pressure to stay on top and that my MMA friends is what causes lackluster fights. Take a look at Silva's last couple of fights. He's certainly not bringing it like he used to.

Something to think about going into this weekends UFC 98....

MMA Evolution

In my never ending quest for something different I have to ask myself what will MMA evolve to? What does the future hold for MMA? What influences will alter the state of MMA as we know it today. Certainly UFC has changed from no rounds and everyone continues fighting until there is only one left standing to structured weight classes and restrictive rules. As sports fans we want intense excitement, furious action and breathtaking drama, that's what we pay for. As individuals we are inspired by the primal challenge of combat - survival of the fittest! Who knows however, I know it will be around for a long time to come in some way, shape or form. Ever hear of Bully Beatdown? What's next well I let you know as soon as I think of it!

Machida and Evans

Let's get it on! Everyone I'm talking to seems to be excited about the upcoming fight between Machida and Evans. I'm keeping up with all the news and it's interesting even Rashad admits in an interview that he has to train not to get frustrated by Machida. Wow! What does that tell you? I think he knows it will prove to be a problem for him and I honestly think he'll be the one feeling the pressure.

With UFC 98 roughly 10 days away excitement is building and MMA fight fans are betting much more than they had been two or three years ago. Here's a look, parentheses are odds ranges from the various sites listed at BestFightOdds.com:



Crazy Dragon Predictions:


Lyoto Machida (-220 to -205) vs. Rashad Evans (+180 to +165): This matchup will prove to be one of the best we'll see in the Light Heavyweight Division this year! I'm pumped up about this one. My pick is MACHIDA wins in round 3! Both fighters have the goods but I'm just not an Evans Fan and Machida's elusiveness will prove to be frustrating I think for Evans. I believe Evans will step away from his game plan and make mistakes that will cause him to loose.





Matt Hughes (-260 to -250) vs. Matt Serra (+220 to +190): Okay we know these two guys can't stand one another and this will be an exciting fight. My prediction is Hughes in round 2!





Frankie Edgar (+240 to +190) vs. Sean Sherk (-280 to -265): Sean Sherk all the way! Hands down no more to say! Just too much for Frankie.



Dave Kaplan (+120 to +110) vs. George Roop (-140 to -150): You 'member these two from Ultimate Fighter 8 - Two fighters decent skills but I'm going with the slight underdog as Kaplan should squeeze out a 3 round decision on this one over Roop.



Kyle Bradley (+290 to +280) vs. Phillipe Nover (-350 to -365): I'm not really excited about this fight but if I had to choose I'd go with Nover to submitt Bradley in the 2nd round.



Brandon Wolff (+365 to +350) vs. Yoshiyuki Yoshida (-460 to -550): Crazy Dragon says Yoshida wins in round numero uno!



Pat Barry (-300 to -350) vs. Tim Hague (+250 to +225): Who cares? I don't!



Brock Larson (+120) vs. Chris Wilson (-167): Yawn! Go get some food and time to hit the restroom.



Drew McFedries (-227) vs. Xavier Foupa-Pokam (+157): Okay, here we go! McFedries is always game and I like him as the favorite as he's a shoe in to win. McFedries will knock out Foupa-Pokam in Round 3!



Andre Gusmao (-118) vs. Krzysztof Soszynski (-118): I don't know, this one may be a hidden gem! Two tough 205'ers. I have to give the edge to Gusmao to pull out a decision here.



What do you think?



Crazy Dragon says:

"Let's Get It On!"