This week was pretty lackluster in giving me stuff to blog about, but I'm trying to build a routine, so off we go.
Went to a talk by Desmond Tutu, one of the main people responsible for ending apartheid in South Africa. Pretty big name for Murray, Kentucky. I was glad to see so many people there. They had to move it from a mid-size auditorium on campus to the basketball stadium. His theme seemed to be humanity, and how, as Spiked online will tell you, it is underrated. He went after not only the Iraq War but also the one in Afghanistan. You rarely hear someone bring the latter up in the negative. I'm not sure I even agree with him, but it's sort of refreshing. Sadly I had forgotten all the high points by the time I got to my car, after hearing every other person say they couldn't understand him. Wow, you have to LISTEN at a lecture. I guess that message got blocked somehow.
Still playing Mass Effect 2. It's still fun...hey, I warned you.
Attended a research presentation by a graduate student on the role of Stasi informants in East Germany. I have a boner for European affairs anyway, and Germany specifically guarantees a new set of pants. The research was interesting, showing how the methods of the Stasi changed over time and how effective they could be. He also addressed the question of why people, outside of the ones who were compromised in some way, would want to voluntarily work for the Stasi. The answer was many of them simply enjoyed doing intelligence work, which is something I never would have thought of but makes total sense. But of course, nothing can go totally well. Background: Yes, I know the guy who gave the presentation is a graduate student, so he is held to a higher standard, and especially with entering a world so congested as the one of history invites scrutiny. But man, oh man did the professors go after this guy while simultaneously trying to show off how who had read more books. A caveat: The presenter is studying German history, which in the world of historical research, means you damn well better know German or you are an insult to existence. So he has studied the language to the extent that he can interpret official records and oral interviews in German, not to mention he was in Austria for a full semester where he was able, I'm assuming, to accumulate his information across the border. I'm not saying the guy has earned a free pass, but clearly he has put some serious work in. I doubt he did all this so he can fabricate numbers to put into his master's thesis and then go on to change the way we forever look at German history on a complete lie. But sure enough, I'm setting there and a professor asks, "How accurate are your sources?" I might have fainted, I can't remember.
We had a test in HIS 403, so nothing new.
No major MMA action either. The Strikeforce Challengers card told us that Luke Rockhold is probably ready for a step up, maybe onto one of the regular shows, and that Sarah Kaufman can run through someone as over matched as Takayo Hashi any day. Was there anything else interesting? Well, perplexing stuff about Tim Sylvia, who I would think should be glad to still have a career. He apparently turned down a fight with Josh Barnett in Japan. Now obviously Barnett has lost some luster after his 'roid shenanigans effectively killed an entire promotion, but declining that fight, in Japan, where there is no drug testing, against a very region-popular fighter like Barnett seems dumb. Hell, Sylvia is a big guy. Let me put on my stereotype goggles and tell you something: the Japanese love big guys. Sylvia could be the next big thing over there and fight Jose Canseco. Instead, the "Maine-iac" (how could you ever root for someone with that nickname?) is looking at a rematch with Wes Sims. Wes Sims! The guy that just got plowed under by Bobby Lashley while looking like he should be on life support. For God's sake, the fight was already scrapped in Ohio because the athletic commission ruled it uncompetitive. How often do you hear that!? Thankfully there is a megaton of MMA coming up in March, so we can put goofus on the backburner.
Hopefully I can do better next week.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Monday, February 22, 2010
Paperwork
It's been several months since I did this. I am going to try and do posts with a lot of short items so that it will be easier to try and get momentum. I never posted anything I put much significant effort into, even though not from lack of trying. I was just never happy with any of the longer ideas I had.
I'm a couple hours into Mass Effect 2 and enjoying it. I bought Modern Warfare 2 at the end of last semester, which covered my video game base for around three months. The multiplayer is addicting, but after enough time I just needed a change. I played through a friend's copy of the first Mass Effect and liked it well enough, but it had some substantial flaws. Still, I'm a sucker for Bioware games, specifically their RPG's. Plus, I had a $40 gift card, so I went ahead and bought Mass Effect 2. Speaking of my attempted longer posts, I had a draft of a review of Mass Effect months back, after I played it. Maybe I'll try and do one for ME2 if I get time.
Complaint Department: So I got an all-essay test in my History of Modern East Asia back today and I have some qualms with my grade of an 83. I've never taken one of this teacher's tests before and we weren't provided with a study guide, so I was a little unsure of what to expect. I thought everything went pretty well. I knew the ID terms well enough and I thought I wrote a solid essay for the second part. I lost the most points on my essay, for what I see as mainly superfluous reasons. An example: in my closing paragraph about the Opium Wars and the aftermath, I wrote that Britain now controlled trade in the entire region. My teacher wrote a comment that said, "What region?" Now, clearly I meant East Asia, or what of it was available at the time, since Japan, the other main focus of the class, was still officially closed but starting negotiations with the Americans. I'm going to cut this one short because I just want to keep going and I feel like I'm being...oversensitive, maybe? An 83 is still a B, but China is in a region self evident from the damn title of the class.
Of and on, lately I've been trying to read some comic scans regularly. Previously I had only checked out notable stuff I found on Journalista, most of which was old EC/pulp stuff that is only in print in ridiculously priced hardcovers. The stuff most available is manga, so I'm going to get back into Pluto and 20th Century Boys. I started a little of Vagabond and Blade of the Immortal. The caveat is I still cannot get used to reading comics on a digital screen. I figured the uncomfortableness would fade, but it hasn't. In my last post I was a complaining 15 year old, and in this one I feel like I'm 70.
What did I interpet from UFC 110? Chris Lytle has a ground game, Cro-Cop can't run through over matched opponents anymore, George Sotiropolous is a contender at lightweight, Keith Jardine cannot get anything going, Wanderlei has actually changed his fighting style, and Big Nog could be on the downward slope. Oh, and Cain Velasquez just keeps dominating.
What did I learn in History of Europe Since 1914 last week? We ran through World War II for the whole three hours. Pretty quick treatment, but I know Dr. Pizzo wants to get past the information the majority of the class knows the most amount about. From Mark Mazower's excellent book Dark Continent, we had a chapter discussing the Nazis from 1938-1945. Some good stuff in there about Albert Speer, the later German Minister of Armaments and War Production. He was incredibly smart, didn't blindly listen to Hitler, and managed to bring their war production up to levels where they were actually competitive. The Allies were lucky he wasn't in charge from the beginning. From Benjamin Liberman's Terrible Fate, we looked at the Nazis overall plan for Eastern Europe, focusing mostly on occupied Poland. Smaller sections were devoted to the ethnic cleansing in Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania, the former Yugoslavia, Ukraine and the mass deportations and internments of the USSR. At any spot in Europe, there's probably a decent chance some group was ethnically cleansed during the 20th century, especially in the East. From our regular textbook, we looked at the broad particulars of the conflict, most of which was review for me.
I also attended a lecture from a visiting professor on honor in British India. It was a fairly standard talk, but he did have some interesting photographs from the era. I also got another reminder how brutal the Age of Empire was. After the Sepoy Rebellion of 1857, the British responded in their typical brutal fashion. Hindus traditionally cremate their dead to allow for reincarnation, but a full body is required. Seizing on this, the British took many Hindus and strapped them to the front of cannons and fired them. Christ.
Watched The Hurt Locker. Some excellent, tense action sequences throughout, and not in the traditional way you might be thinking. And yes, the film is apolitical, but it does show the ridiculous facet of fighting a 21st century counterinsurgency and how difficult it is. Very effective character development arc for Jeremy Renner's lead that reveals just enough along the way to keep you wondering until it slams you in the face during the last five minutes.
I'm a couple hours into Mass Effect 2 and enjoying it. I bought Modern Warfare 2 at the end of last semester, which covered my video game base for around three months. The multiplayer is addicting, but after enough time I just needed a change. I played through a friend's copy of the first Mass Effect and liked it well enough, but it had some substantial flaws. Still, I'm a sucker for Bioware games, specifically their RPG's. Plus, I had a $40 gift card, so I went ahead and bought Mass Effect 2. Speaking of my attempted longer posts, I had a draft of a review of Mass Effect months back, after I played it. Maybe I'll try and do one for ME2 if I get time.
Complaint Department: So I got an all-essay test in my History of Modern East Asia back today and I have some qualms with my grade of an 83. I've never taken one of this teacher's tests before and we weren't provided with a study guide, so I was a little unsure of what to expect. I thought everything went pretty well. I knew the ID terms well enough and I thought I wrote a solid essay for the second part. I lost the most points on my essay, for what I see as mainly superfluous reasons. An example: in my closing paragraph about the Opium Wars and the aftermath, I wrote that Britain now controlled trade in the entire region. My teacher wrote a comment that said, "What region?" Now, clearly I meant East Asia, or what of it was available at the time, since Japan, the other main focus of the class, was still officially closed but starting negotiations with the Americans. I'm going to cut this one short because I just want to keep going and I feel like I'm being...oversensitive, maybe? An 83 is still a B, but China is in a region self evident from the damn title of the class.
Of and on, lately I've been trying to read some comic scans regularly. Previously I had only checked out notable stuff I found on Journalista, most of which was old EC/pulp stuff that is only in print in ridiculously priced hardcovers. The stuff most available is manga, so I'm going to get back into Pluto and 20th Century Boys. I started a little of Vagabond and Blade of the Immortal. The caveat is I still cannot get used to reading comics on a digital screen. I figured the uncomfortableness would fade, but it hasn't. In my last post I was a complaining 15 year old, and in this one I feel like I'm 70.
What did I interpet from UFC 110? Chris Lytle has a ground game, Cro-Cop can't run through over matched opponents anymore, George Sotiropolous is a contender at lightweight, Keith Jardine cannot get anything going, Wanderlei has actually changed his fighting style, and Big Nog could be on the downward slope. Oh, and Cain Velasquez just keeps dominating.
What did I learn in History of Europe Since 1914 last week? We ran through World War II for the whole three hours. Pretty quick treatment, but I know Dr. Pizzo wants to get past the information the majority of the class knows the most amount about. From Mark Mazower's excellent book Dark Continent, we had a chapter discussing the Nazis from 1938-1945. Some good stuff in there about Albert Speer, the later German Minister of Armaments and War Production. He was incredibly smart, didn't blindly listen to Hitler, and managed to bring their war production up to levels where they were actually competitive. The Allies were lucky he wasn't in charge from the beginning. From Benjamin Liberman's Terrible Fate, we looked at the Nazis overall plan for Eastern Europe, focusing mostly on occupied Poland. Smaller sections were devoted to the ethnic cleansing in Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania, the former Yugoslavia, Ukraine and the mass deportations and internments of the USSR. At any spot in Europe, there's probably a decent chance some group was ethnically cleansed during the 20th century, especially in the East. From our regular textbook, we looked at the broad particulars of the conflict, most of which was review for me.
I also attended a lecture from a visiting professor on honor in British India. It was a fairly standard talk, but he did have some interesting photographs from the era. I also got another reminder how brutal the Age of Empire was. After the Sepoy Rebellion of 1857, the British responded in their typical brutal fashion. Hindus traditionally cremate their dead to allow for reincarnation, but a full body is required. Seizing on this, the British took many Hindus and strapped them to the front of cannons and fired them. Christ.
Watched The Hurt Locker. Some excellent, tense action sequences throughout, and not in the traditional way you might be thinking. And yes, the film is apolitical, but it does show the ridiculous facet of fighting a 21st century counterinsurgency and how difficult it is. Very effective character development arc for Jeremy Renner's lead that reveals just enough along the way to keep you wondering until it slams you in the face during the last five minutes.
Saturday, November 14, 2009
UFC 105: Lightning Round
Been a while since I've thrown around predictions, but I'm only going with three most prominent main card fights. I didn't watch Ultimate Fighter Season 9, nor have I ever seen Pearson or Wilks in action, so I'm passing.
Bisping vs Kang - Bisping is looking for a win after being on the receiving end of a likely candidate for knockout of the year, courtesy of Dan Henderson, at UFC 100. Kang is trying to do something he's had trouble with his whole career, string together a series of wins. Bisping is still not in the top mix at 185 lbs, but I still him as the favorite here. I see this being a standup battle that Bisping will control all the way to a unanimous decision win. Kang could make things interesting by trying to put Bisping on his back, where he seemingly never ends up. As long as Bisping avoids dangerous spots on the ground he should be alright.
Swick vs Hardy - Dan Hardy is a guy who has impressed me in both his Octagon fights. He seems to place himself as brawler, but he seems more like a slick counter-striker to me. And I honestly think people are sleeping on him in this fight. Swick has earned the right to be the favorite here, but who of signifigance has he ever beaten? This is his first real test at welterweight and he shouldn't make the mistakes Marcus Davis did if he wants to win. I'm picking Hardy in this one by split decision. Whoever wins should enjoy the moment while they can, before the realization that they have to train to be taken down and worked over for twenty five minutes by GSP in several months.
Vera vs Couture - Eventually Couture is going to lose his tenacious fighting spirit, but he's got a good chance of keeping it going in the main event. Vera dominated in his last fight, albeit in a methodical and lackluster way that won him no fans. He also has a history of cracking under pressure against tougher fighters. Both guys have very good clinches, so look for those exchanges. I would say Couture definitely has the wrestling edge, and even though Vera isn't helpless on the ground, he should have problems with Couture being able to control him. The striking favors Vera, but he might need to be a little looser with his hands than in his last fight to score points and damage, though once again he might worry about getting taken down. While Vera is a young, solid test at his new weight of 205, I still think Randy takes it, by unanimous decision.
Bisping vs Kang - Bisping is looking for a win after being on the receiving end of a likely candidate for knockout of the year, courtesy of Dan Henderson, at UFC 100. Kang is trying to do something he's had trouble with his whole career, string together a series of wins. Bisping is still not in the top mix at 185 lbs, but I still him as the favorite here. I see this being a standup battle that Bisping will control all the way to a unanimous decision win. Kang could make things interesting by trying to put Bisping on his back, where he seemingly never ends up. As long as Bisping avoids dangerous spots on the ground he should be alright.
Swick vs Hardy - Dan Hardy is a guy who has impressed me in both his Octagon fights. He seems to place himself as brawler, but he seems more like a slick counter-striker to me. And I honestly think people are sleeping on him in this fight. Swick has earned the right to be the favorite here, but who of signifigance has he ever beaten? This is his first real test at welterweight and he shouldn't make the mistakes Marcus Davis did if he wants to win. I'm picking Hardy in this one by split decision. Whoever wins should enjoy the moment while they can, before the realization that they have to train to be taken down and worked over for twenty five minutes by GSP in several months.
Vera vs Couture - Eventually Couture is going to lose his tenacious fighting spirit, but he's got a good chance of keeping it going in the main event. Vera dominated in his last fight, albeit in a methodical and lackluster way that won him no fans. He also has a history of cracking under pressure against tougher fighters. Both guys have very good clinches, so look for those exchanges. I would say Couture definitely has the wrestling edge, and even though Vera isn't helpless on the ground, he should have problems with Couture being able to control him. The striking favors Vera, but he might need to be a little looser with his hands than in his last fight to score points and damage, though once again he might worry about getting taken down. While Vera is a young, solid test at his new weight of 205, I still think Randy takes it, by unanimous decision.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Movies
I reactived my Netflix account, so here's some capsule reviews.
Charley Varrick - 1970s crime picture that was hyped up in the excellent backmatter of Criminal, the Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips comic series everyone should be buying. Great performances by Walter Matthau as the lead bank robber and Joe Don Baker as the hitman put onto him after Varrick ends up with mob money on accident. Story is very well plotted out, with no ridiculous intrusions or characters showing up out of nowhere to solve the problem. If you like crime drama, it's well worth your time.
Blue Velvet - The first David Lynch film I've ever watched. The famous symbolism is actually more blatant than I was expecting and to some might seem ridiculously apparent and lacking in effect. I didn't really have a problem with it and at the time I can see it being totally fresh. Also now potentially stale is the focus on stripping back the idyllic framing of small-town America, but Lynch is smart enough to not go totally overboard into some hard-boiled, over-the-top thriller and instead keeps everything grounded enough to where the unease slowly creeps up on you rather than it being loud and constantly in your face. Oh, and Dennis Hopper's character is really menacing in the best, unpredictable way.
Dr. Strangelove - Peter Sellers is tremendous and the film does a great job of laughing at the complete insanity of the Cold War period and how it could affect the people in positions of power. A great black comedy.
Gattaca - I think this is considered by some to be one of the better, newer sci-fi movies but I just could not get into it. The story breaks down into a really pretentious self-empowerment tale of overcoming, no matter what the odds, don't give up hope, you can't quit! The genetics focus is kind of interesting, but as a consequence of the ever advancing nature of sci-fi (for better or worse), it all seems tame and rehashed. The art style also really bugged me, with this potential near-future technology merged with a retro American vibe that never gets an explanation. The performances seemed flat and didn't do enough to make up for the lackluster other parts.
The Constant Gardener - One of the recent tales that exposes those nasty corporations for their nefarious deeds that shit all over the world and turn us all into mindless trademark machines. Fortunately that predictable and pointless premise is overshadowed by the nuances and reality of the relationship of main players Ralph Fiennes and Rachel Weisz. The film also has a very rough, under-produced feel that helps to reinforce how the film plays out. This might be a thriller, but none of these characters suddenly morph into Jason Bourne so we can see a half-baked shootout. I mean, I like The Fugitive plenty, but enough already. The ending sadly returns to Importantville again so we can show how once we bust one corrupt person, everything will change. Don't pay attention to the legions waiting in line behind him. On actually promoting a message well, the film does prominently showcase the horrors and problems facing Africa without actually screaming it to the rafters.
Blood Simple - The Coen Bros. first movie didn't grab me as all their others I've seen have. It certainly has potential and the story contains their often requisite crazy angles that breaks down into a somewhat standard drama with crime elements. The idiosyncratic characters are toned down quite a bit or completely absent and the humor is relegated to a few sparing moments, though still embedded with the ridiculousness of everyday life that packs their later films. More so than all that is the film seems bogged down, lacking their usual verve and snap. It's by no means bad, but just sort of there. Overall, it failed to really grab me and make me take notice. Would I feel different if it wasn't a production of the two brothers I've come to heartily admire? Probably. As it is, good but they've done better.
Barton Fink - Watching this afterwards, however, was like good ol' Joel and Ethan flicking the lights straight back to bright. While definitive statements from me should be viewed with a skeptical eye and carry little meaning, this is the most postmodern film I've ever seen. So if you were agitated by No Country for Old Men, do not get near this beast. Anger will flourish and rampages will bloom. The plot is set up quickly and never really develops past an initial stage of John Turturro as a playwright reaching out to the common man, lured away by Hollywood. He's excellent as always, as is fellow Coen staple Jon Goodman. If you like heaps of metaphors, allusions, comparisons and reflections on topics ranging from intellectualism, famous writers and fascism, find this thing. I'm sure as hell glad I did.
Planet Terror - I don't see how people can condemn Death Proof while anointing this as hugely superior. Well, I guess I can, and what I'm really saying is I disagree. The big flaw I see is that Rodriguez cared more about making a tribute to the Grindhouse ideal than actually creating a strong overall work, which in a way is the opposite of what Tarantino did. In the face of the praise I just couldn't get past being underwhelmed. There are some good performances and running ideas throughout, like the restaraunt owner who never gets a customer yet still searches for the perfect BBQ sauce and Bruce Willis. Everything else was taken to the extreme, seemingly just to show that they could.
Tell No One - French thriller that resembles a dish of The Fugitive with a small helping of Gone, Baby Gone. While I don't want to sound stupid, this thing is pretty complex, maybe even a bit too much so. A few of the angles are there, but they're straining. It might be a little easier to follow if I could understand the original dialogue, or maybe I'm just a horrible subtitle reader. Either way, this is a quick mover that boasts a great turn from Francois Cluzet in the lead.
Let the Right One In - Believe the hype. I still don't know if I saw the version with the first translation subtitles or the later one, with the "dumbed-down" edits. If this was the latter, even though the former should always be preferred, it doesn't hurt the film enough to matter. While I guess this could be considered a genre film, it has little in the way of bombarding action or mystery. Instead, any sort of set piece comes quick and end quick, leaving you little time to ponder an interpretation of the actions as good or bad until they start piling up and relationships end and begin. In fact, the movie can trick you into thinking things when you're not considering what might really be occurring. Maybe a better word than thinking is believing, or wanting to believe. Even the title gets in on the act. The great thing is, you don't even need to look at the section underneath, and can instead just see a vampire story with enough character and slight twists to make it stand out. In fact, when you do take a look below, what's on the surface might turn irrevocably tragic.
Charley Varrick - 1970s crime picture that was hyped up in the excellent backmatter of Criminal, the Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips comic series everyone should be buying. Great performances by Walter Matthau as the lead bank robber and Joe Don Baker as the hitman put onto him after Varrick ends up with mob money on accident. Story is very well plotted out, with no ridiculous intrusions or characters showing up out of nowhere to solve the problem. If you like crime drama, it's well worth your time.
Blue Velvet - The first David Lynch film I've ever watched. The famous symbolism is actually more blatant than I was expecting and to some might seem ridiculously apparent and lacking in effect. I didn't really have a problem with it and at the time I can see it being totally fresh. Also now potentially stale is the focus on stripping back the idyllic framing of small-town America, but Lynch is smart enough to not go totally overboard into some hard-boiled, over-the-top thriller and instead keeps everything grounded enough to where the unease slowly creeps up on you rather than it being loud and constantly in your face. Oh, and Dennis Hopper's character is really menacing in the best, unpredictable way.
Dr. Strangelove - Peter Sellers is tremendous and the film does a great job of laughing at the complete insanity of the Cold War period and how it could affect the people in positions of power. A great black comedy.
Gattaca - I think this is considered by some to be one of the better, newer sci-fi movies but I just could not get into it. The story breaks down into a really pretentious self-empowerment tale of overcoming, no matter what the odds, don't give up hope, you can't quit! The genetics focus is kind of interesting, but as a consequence of the ever advancing nature of sci-fi (for better or worse), it all seems tame and rehashed. The art style also really bugged me, with this potential near-future technology merged with a retro American vibe that never gets an explanation. The performances seemed flat and didn't do enough to make up for the lackluster other parts.
The Constant Gardener - One of the recent tales that exposes those nasty corporations for their nefarious deeds that shit all over the world and turn us all into mindless trademark machines. Fortunately that predictable and pointless premise is overshadowed by the nuances and reality of the relationship of main players Ralph Fiennes and Rachel Weisz. The film also has a very rough, under-produced feel that helps to reinforce how the film plays out. This might be a thriller, but none of these characters suddenly morph into Jason Bourne so we can see a half-baked shootout. I mean, I like The Fugitive plenty, but enough already. The ending sadly returns to Importantville again so we can show how once we bust one corrupt person, everything will change. Don't pay attention to the legions waiting in line behind him. On actually promoting a message well, the film does prominently showcase the horrors and problems facing Africa without actually screaming it to the rafters.
Blood Simple - The Coen Bros. first movie didn't grab me as all their others I've seen have. It certainly has potential and the story contains their often requisite crazy angles that breaks down into a somewhat standard drama with crime elements. The idiosyncratic characters are toned down quite a bit or completely absent and the humor is relegated to a few sparing moments, though still embedded with the ridiculousness of everyday life that packs their later films. More so than all that is the film seems bogged down, lacking their usual verve and snap. It's by no means bad, but just sort of there. Overall, it failed to really grab me and make me take notice. Would I feel different if it wasn't a production of the two brothers I've come to heartily admire? Probably. As it is, good but they've done better.
Barton Fink - Watching this afterwards, however, was like good ol' Joel and Ethan flicking the lights straight back to bright. While definitive statements from me should be viewed with a skeptical eye and carry little meaning, this is the most postmodern film I've ever seen. So if you were agitated by No Country for Old Men, do not get near this beast. Anger will flourish and rampages will bloom. The plot is set up quickly and never really develops past an initial stage of John Turturro as a playwright reaching out to the common man, lured away by Hollywood. He's excellent as always, as is fellow Coen staple Jon Goodman. If you like heaps of metaphors, allusions, comparisons and reflections on topics ranging from intellectualism, famous writers and fascism, find this thing. I'm sure as hell glad I did.
Planet Terror - I don't see how people can condemn Death Proof while anointing this as hugely superior. Well, I guess I can, and what I'm really saying is I disagree. The big flaw I see is that Rodriguez cared more about making a tribute to the Grindhouse ideal than actually creating a strong overall work, which in a way is the opposite of what Tarantino did. In the face of the praise I just couldn't get past being underwhelmed. There are some good performances and running ideas throughout, like the restaraunt owner who never gets a customer yet still searches for the perfect BBQ sauce and Bruce Willis. Everything else was taken to the extreme, seemingly just to show that they could.
Tell No One - French thriller that resembles a dish of The Fugitive with a small helping of Gone, Baby Gone. While I don't want to sound stupid, this thing is pretty complex, maybe even a bit too much so. A few of the angles are there, but they're straining. It might be a little easier to follow if I could understand the original dialogue, or maybe I'm just a horrible subtitle reader. Either way, this is a quick mover that boasts a great turn from Francois Cluzet in the lead.
Let the Right One In - Believe the hype. I still don't know if I saw the version with the first translation subtitles or the later one, with the "dumbed-down" edits. If this was the latter, even though the former should always be preferred, it doesn't hurt the film enough to matter. While I guess this could be considered a genre film, it has little in the way of bombarding action or mystery. Instead, any sort of set piece comes quick and end quick, leaving you little time to ponder an interpretation of the actions as good or bad until they start piling up and relationships end and begin. In fact, the movie can trick you into thinking things when you're not considering what might really be occurring. Maybe a better word than thinking is believing, or wanting to believe. Even the title gets in on the act. The great thing is, you don't even need to look at the section underneath, and can instead just see a vampire story with enough character and slight twists to make it stand out. In fact, when you do take a look below, what's on the surface might turn irrevocably tragic.
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Random
1. Starting Darren Sproles in place of Thomas Jones in fantasy football this week. With LT out, Sproles is going to have an even bigger workload than last week when he put up over 20 points against the Ravens defense. Jones's weakness is his incosistency, highlighted by a big week one and abysmal week two. Also hurting his value is Leon Washington getting the majority of the work near the goal line. This week the Jets play Tennessee, who have shut down the run so far but been weak against the pass. That could increase his value some, as he traditionally gets close to half or more of his points receiving out of the backfield. Sproles, meanwhile, is facing an improving Miami defense that nontheless likely won't be able to shut down the run as well as the Ravens did. That's why I'm going with Sproles, in my first big decision of the season.
2. I still can't tell if Quinton Jackson is seriously going to retire. Rampage certainly has been prone to rash statements and actions in the past, and this could be just the latest. On the other hand, Jackson has enough of a name and personality to sustain himself without ever stepping back into a cage or ring. From my angle, some of his gripes seem ill-founded and preposterous. Refusing to drop the fans booing him when he beat Liddell got old a long time ago. Rampage has to be one of the popular fighters in the organization now, but he seems to think everyone's against him. Equally hollow is his assertion that his fans saw him as being afraid of Machida. You don't have to be an MMA expert to know Rampage is not going to back down from anyone because he is afraid. For other reasons, like he talks about, sure, but not that. Him bringing up Dana White in particular as a reason is interesting, even though I think White had some ground to voice the opinions he did, even if he did so in his usual irritating, childish way. I'm assuming we won't know anything at least until the A-Team movie is done filming.
3. I love cooperative multiplayer video games. I think it's one of the best new trends emerging in development today. However, not having people you know and are halfway reliable is a huge crutch that needs to be overcome, even though don't ask me to figure it out. Constantly being at the mercy of the host in games where you progress through levels or waves, like in Gears of War 2's Horde Mode or presumably Halo: ODST's Firefight Mode, can get really frustrating when the game suddenly ends and you're back at square one. Like I said, a solution isn't something I can think of. Potentially the players who drop out could receive a penalty of some sorts in-game, but I don't know if that's really the answer because of all that it implies. So somebody else get on it, because I want to play Horde Mode.
2. I still can't tell if Quinton Jackson is seriously going to retire. Rampage certainly has been prone to rash statements and actions in the past, and this could be just the latest. On the other hand, Jackson has enough of a name and personality to sustain himself without ever stepping back into a cage or ring. From my angle, some of his gripes seem ill-founded and preposterous. Refusing to drop the fans booing him when he beat Liddell got old a long time ago. Rampage has to be one of the popular fighters in the organization now, but he seems to think everyone's against him. Equally hollow is his assertion that his fans saw him as being afraid of Machida. You don't have to be an MMA expert to know Rampage is not going to back down from anyone because he is afraid. For other reasons, like he talks about, sure, but not that. Him bringing up Dana White in particular as a reason is interesting, even though I think White had some ground to voice the opinions he did, even if he did so in his usual irritating, childish way. I'm assuming we won't know anything at least until the A-Team movie is done filming.
3. I love cooperative multiplayer video games. I think it's one of the best new trends emerging in development today. However, not having people you know and are halfway reliable is a huge crutch that needs to be overcome, even though don't ask me to figure it out. Constantly being at the mercy of the host in games where you progress through levels or waves, like in Gears of War 2's Horde Mode or presumably Halo: ODST's Firefight Mode, can get really frustrating when the game suddenly ends and you're back at square one. Like I said, a solution isn't something I can think of. Potentially the players who drop out could receive a penalty of some sorts in-game, but I don't know if that's really the answer because of all that it implies. So somebody else get on it, because I want to play Horde Mode.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
UFC 103 Preview
Later this month UFC 103 will go down in Dallas, featuring the return of a legendary heavyweight trying to resurrect his career and the second catchweight main event in the last five main shows the UFC has held. A few thoughts before the fight breakdowns.
- This is the first time I can remember since following MMA that a promotion is going up against a noteworthy boxing PPV. That is especially significant because Floyd Mayweather Jr., one of the biggest money draws in the sport, is in the main event against Juan Manuel Marquez. The UFC card contains some solid names, but nothing that can compete with Mayweather. So to the surprise of no one, Dana White emerges to blow smoke up the ass of everyone who will listen, claiming that this is not the fight the fans want, citing Pacquiao vs Mayweather as the real fight. I don't follow boxing enough, but that is logically the best possible fight between guys who can hit a common weight. White failed to even remember Marquez's name, despite referencing his background as "a huge boxing guy." Keep in mind Marquez is ranked #2 on Ring's pound-for-pound list, right behind Pacman, who he's given two good showing efforts against despite losing both times. So while Marquez doesn't have mainstream recognition, he is a very legitimate threat to Mayweather and the next best opponent after Pacquiao. White is insinuating that the UFC always gives the fans the big fights they want. Sadly, you have to look no further than Anderson Silva, the UFC's big gun, to find lackluster matchups. Patrick Cote and Thales Leites are both names that would not set the fires alight in the eye of the casual fan if they had them at point blank range with a flamethrower. His most recent fight against Forrest Griffin provided a bigger name, albeit one that was hopelessly overmatched. White later goes on to dismiss Mayweather basically as a defensive fighter who spends his time running and not engaging. Don't let those similar phrases being applied to Anderson Silva up until the Griffin fight distract you from the gospel according to DW. White does come up with one good point by the end, that being how most boxing PPV's can be hollow purchases, offering up only a few decent fights. However, the UFC is always only putting on quality fights, says White. To an extent this is true, but I think it owes more to the unpredictability and multiple outcomes inherent in the sport than some intrinsic quality that comes with the letters UFC. Boxing is a business and so is MMA. White knows this, and if he could tone down his Herculean-hype sometimes he'd probably reduce some of his detractors.
- Rich Franklin fighting again at the 195 catchweight after his win over Wanderlei Silva at UFC 99 comes across as a mixed signal. The UFC has been quick to denounce talk over there being an actual division created at 195, but here it pops up again. Franklin has said if it did exist it would be his new home but whether or not any other fighters feel the same in unknown. The conflicting actions by the UFC probably contribute to this, because until they come up with something concrete, everything is speculation. I'm also not sure if Franklin would be enough to carry the division if it did come to fruition. I personally think less divisions mean higher competition and more meaningful fights within them, but I also am not against additions or catchweight fights. The problem with catchweights is it can undermine the divisional structure in some instances. If Franklin does eventually move up to 205, it would be interesting to see how he fit into the mix in the wake of his results at 195. Would he get a title shot sooner assuming he secured wins or would he have to wait longer? With the UFC eventually adding the bantamweight and featherweight classes, it will be interesting to see where they go with 195.
Now that those diatribes are done, we can move onto the predictions. Nothing on the undercard really stood out to me, so I just did the five main card bouts.
Tyson Griffin vs Hermes Franca - With Kenny Florian coming up short in his bid for the lightweight belt against BJ Penn and Diego Sanchez next in line, the division really has no one that stands out from the large mix of competitors, with the possible exception of Gray Maynard. Griffin and Franca both hope to take the first step towards gaining that vacant status. Griffin had reeled off four straight wins until he ran into Sean Sherk at UFC 90 before bouncing back with a win over Rafeal dos Anjos at Fight Night 18. Franca has been on the shelf since October of 2008, nursing a torn ligament in his knee. I'm expecting Griffin to dominate the fight from every position. Franca is a decent opponent but he has historically had trouble with strong wrestlers like Sean Sherk and Frankie Edgar. I'm predicting Griffin keeps that tradition going.
Prediction - Griffin by Unanimous Decision
Josh Koscheck vs Frank Trigg - Trigg makes his return to the UFC after a four year absence against top welterweight Koscheck, himself trying to get back into the title mix after an equally devastating and surprising knockout loss to Paulo Thiago back in February. Trigg has won four straight, but against very light competition and all by lackluster decision. He's one of several older fighters past their prime but still active the UFC has recently picked up. Like fellow return signee Mark Coleman, the UFC has thrown Trigg to the wolves in his first fight back. Koscheck is superior in every aspect and should rout Trigg early and claim a stoppage victory.
Prediction - Koscheck by TKO
Martin Kampmann vs Paul Daley - Originally slated to be Kampmann vs Mike Swick to determine the next opponent for Georges St. Pierre's welterweight title, Daley was moved up from the preliminaries after Swick was injured. Daley had been scheduled to fight on the Affliction: Trilogy card and signed with the UFC afterwards, adding another popular British fighter to their ranks. Kampmann has won two straight since he dropped to 170 and looks to be on the fast track to a title shot. He needs to be cautious of Daley's striking, which has netted him every stoppage win on his record. Kampmann might look to put Daley onto the ground where he was quickly overwhelmed in his fight with Jake Shields after looking good on the feet. Even with the better standup, I don't see him overwhelming the very well-rounded Kampmann.
Prediction - Kampmann by Submission
Mirko "Cro-Cop" Filipovic vs Junior dos Santos - With all the drama behind Cro-Cop's contract negotiations over, he now looks to resurrect his career and reclaim the magic of the PRIDE days against dangerous fellow striker dos Santos. To put it bluntly, Cro-Cop has not looked good despite winning three of his last four against the dregs of the worldwide heavyweight crop. dos Santos will be a stern test and should show if Cro-Cop's UFC return has any legitimate weight. He's dispatched his last two opponents in just over two minutes and I'm expecting Cro-Cop to sadly suffer a similar, if slightly elongated, fate.
Prediction - dos Santos by TKO
Rich Franklin vs Vitor Belfort - Of all the returning fighters the UFC has plucked, Belfort looks to have the biggest upside. His hand speed has reemerged with his power to potentially allow him to win a fight with one punch. Like Trigg, however, Belfort is matched straight up with a top level fighter in Franklin. I can see Franklin respecting Belfort's stand-up and staying on the outside and scoring with methodical, pinpoint striking of his own on the way to a decision victory. Belfort has room to challenge him though, especially if Franklin slows down like he did in his last fight with Wanderlei Silva. Whatever the result, I hope Belfort stays prominent and can eliminate the consistency issues that have plagued him in the past. His explosiveness could turn him into one of the most dangerous fighters in the UFC.
Prediction - Franklin by Unanimous Decision
- This is the first time I can remember since following MMA that a promotion is going up against a noteworthy boxing PPV. That is especially significant because Floyd Mayweather Jr., one of the biggest money draws in the sport, is in the main event against Juan Manuel Marquez. The UFC card contains some solid names, but nothing that can compete with Mayweather. So to the surprise of no one, Dana White emerges to blow smoke up the ass of everyone who will listen, claiming that this is not the fight the fans want, citing Pacquiao vs Mayweather as the real fight. I don't follow boxing enough, but that is logically the best possible fight between guys who can hit a common weight. White failed to even remember Marquez's name, despite referencing his background as "a huge boxing guy." Keep in mind Marquez is ranked #2 on Ring's pound-for-pound list, right behind Pacman, who he's given two good showing efforts against despite losing both times. So while Marquez doesn't have mainstream recognition, he is a very legitimate threat to Mayweather and the next best opponent after Pacquiao. White is insinuating that the UFC always gives the fans the big fights they want. Sadly, you have to look no further than Anderson Silva, the UFC's big gun, to find lackluster matchups. Patrick Cote and Thales Leites are both names that would not set the fires alight in the eye of the casual fan if they had them at point blank range with a flamethrower. His most recent fight against Forrest Griffin provided a bigger name, albeit one that was hopelessly overmatched. White later goes on to dismiss Mayweather basically as a defensive fighter who spends his time running and not engaging. Don't let those similar phrases being applied to Anderson Silva up until the Griffin fight distract you from the gospel according to DW. White does come up with one good point by the end, that being how most boxing PPV's can be hollow purchases, offering up only a few decent fights. However, the UFC is always only putting on quality fights, says White. To an extent this is true, but I think it owes more to the unpredictability and multiple outcomes inherent in the sport than some intrinsic quality that comes with the letters UFC. Boxing is a business and so is MMA. White knows this, and if he could tone down his Herculean-hype sometimes he'd probably reduce some of his detractors.
- Rich Franklin fighting again at the 195 catchweight after his win over Wanderlei Silva at UFC 99 comes across as a mixed signal. The UFC has been quick to denounce talk over there being an actual division created at 195, but here it pops up again. Franklin has said if it did exist it would be his new home but whether or not any other fighters feel the same in unknown. The conflicting actions by the UFC probably contribute to this, because until they come up with something concrete, everything is speculation. I'm also not sure if Franklin would be enough to carry the division if it did come to fruition. I personally think less divisions mean higher competition and more meaningful fights within them, but I also am not against additions or catchweight fights. The problem with catchweights is it can undermine the divisional structure in some instances. If Franklin does eventually move up to 205, it would be interesting to see how he fit into the mix in the wake of his results at 195. Would he get a title shot sooner assuming he secured wins or would he have to wait longer? With the UFC eventually adding the bantamweight and featherweight classes, it will be interesting to see where they go with 195.
Now that those diatribes are done, we can move onto the predictions. Nothing on the undercard really stood out to me, so I just did the five main card bouts.
Tyson Griffin vs Hermes Franca - With Kenny Florian coming up short in his bid for the lightweight belt against BJ Penn and Diego Sanchez next in line, the division really has no one that stands out from the large mix of competitors, with the possible exception of Gray Maynard. Griffin and Franca both hope to take the first step towards gaining that vacant status. Griffin had reeled off four straight wins until he ran into Sean Sherk at UFC 90 before bouncing back with a win over Rafeal dos Anjos at Fight Night 18. Franca has been on the shelf since October of 2008, nursing a torn ligament in his knee. I'm expecting Griffin to dominate the fight from every position. Franca is a decent opponent but he has historically had trouble with strong wrestlers like Sean Sherk and Frankie Edgar. I'm predicting Griffin keeps that tradition going.
Prediction - Griffin by Unanimous Decision
Josh Koscheck vs Frank Trigg - Trigg makes his return to the UFC after a four year absence against top welterweight Koscheck, himself trying to get back into the title mix after an equally devastating and surprising knockout loss to Paulo Thiago back in February. Trigg has won four straight, but against very light competition and all by lackluster decision. He's one of several older fighters past their prime but still active the UFC has recently picked up. Like fellow return signee Mark Coleman, the UFC has thrown Trigg to the wolves in his first fight back. Koscheck is superior in every aspect and should rout Trigg early and claim a stoppage victory.
Prediction - Koscheck by TKO
Martin Kampmann vs Paul Daley - Originally slated to be Kampmann vs Mike Swick to determine the next opponent for Georges St. Pierre's welterweight title, Daley was moved up from the preliminaries after Swick was injured. Daley had been scheduled to fight on the Affliction: Trilogy card and signed with the UFC afterwards, adding another popular British fighter to their ranks. Kampmann has won two straight since he dropped to 170 and looks to be on the fast track to a title shot. He needs to be cautious of Daley's striking, which has netted him every stoppage win on his record. Kampmann might look to put Daley onto the ground where he was quickly overwhelmed in his fight with Jake Shields after looking good on the feet. Even with the better standup, I don't see him overwhelming the very well-rounded Kampmann.
Prediction - Kampmann by Submission
Mirko "Cro-Cop" Filipovic vs Junior dos Santos - With all the drama behind Cro-Cop's contract negotiations over, he now looks to resurrect his career and reclaim the magic of the PRIDE days against dangerous fellow striker dos Santos. To put it bluntly, Cro-Cop has not looked good despite winning three of his last four against the dregs of the worldwide heavyweight crop. dos Santos will be a stern test and should show if Cro-Cop's UFC return has any legitimate weight. He's dispatched his last two opponents in just over two minutes and I'm expecting Cro-Cop to sadly suffer a similar, if slightly elongated, fate.
Prediction - dos Santos by TKO
Rich Franklin vs Vitor Belfort - Of all the returning fighters the UFC has plucked, Belfort looks to have the biggest upside. His hand speed has reemerged with his power to potentially allow him to win a fight with one punch. Like Trigg, however, Belfort is matched straight up with a top level fighter in Franklin. I can see Franklin respecting Belfort's stand-up and staying on the outside and scoring with methodical, pinpoint striking of his own on the way to a decision victory. Belfort has room to challenge him though, especially if Franklin slows down like he did in his last fight with Wanderlei Silva. Whatever the result, I hope Belfort stays prominent and can eliminate the consistency issues that have plagued him in the past. His explosiveness could turn him into one of the most dangerous fighters in the UFC.
Prediction - Franklin by Unanimous Decision
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Recapping UFC 102
I'm going to skip most of the undercard because the majority of the bouts didn't contain noteworthy fighters or spotlight guys to keep watch on.
Gabriel Gonzaga vs Chris Tuchscherer - Gonzaga once again proved he's the guy you send in to destroy overmatched opponents. He'll now likely step up in competition once again and hope to get his first meaningful win since he knocked out Mirko "Cro-Cop" Filipovic over two years ago. He always seems one win away from really being a contender in the UFC's weak heavyweight division.
Aaron Simpson vs Ed Herman - These two went at it close to nonstop until Ed Herman's knee injury ended things early in the second round. The loss keeps Herman in the gatekeeper role, while Simpson's strong performance and remaining undefeated keep him as a solid prospect in the middleweight ranks.
Brandon Vera vs Krzysztof Soszynski - Vera was originally slated to face Matt Hamill, but an injury allowed Soszynski to step in late, making this his third fight in five months. There was little action and Vera comfortably cruised to a decision. The win does little for him though. Despite a dominating effort against a game, rising opponent, Vera still lacks quality wins at light heavyweight, even though his competition should now rise. Soszynski loses little, as he was a replacement that hasn't faced the level of fighters Vera has.
Chris Leben vs Jake Rosholt - Something of a minor upset? Leben hadn't fought in nine months due to a steroid suspension, so ring rust is going to be a factor. None of his haymakers connected and he had few answers for Rosholt's superior wrestling, eventually falling prey to an arm triangle. Leben's comeback fight being spoiled deters any advancement in the congested tier of decent middleweights. Rosholt, after losing to Dan Miller in his first UFC bout, secures his place in the organization.
Nate Marquardt vs Demian Maia - Maia's run as one of the hottest prospects got stamped out by Marquardt, who needed just 21 seconds and a single punch to put the first blemish on the jiu-jitsu ace's record. Maia has been working on his standup with Wanderlei Silva, but he looked strikingly similar to Shinya Aoki in his last fight, trying to downplay his obvious strength in favor of looking and/or actually being more well-rounded. Aoki got a win because he was more active against a fighter whose standup was equally as limited. Unfortunately for Maia, Marquardt is one of the handful of elites in the UFC's middleweight crop and dangerous from any position. Given the short time the match and its quick end, it's hard to tell if Maia was simply overwhelmed or whether his point of attack was wrong. Whatever the case, Marquardt solidified his position for a rematch with Anderson Silva. The Brazilian's camp oddly floated talk that suggested a title eliminator with Marquardt and Silva's once expected next challenger Dan Henderson. Whatever occurs, Marquardt stands a much better chance than "The Spider's" last two opponents.
Thiago Silva vs Keith Jardine - Going into this, I predicted that Silva would either dispatch Jardine quickly or the Team Jackson fighter would frustrate and execute a patented gameplan en route to a decision over the American Top Team fighter like he did over Chuck Liddell. Silva's power proved too much for Jardin'e suspect chin under two minutes into round one. With two losses in a row for the first time in his UFC career, Jardine is in danger of getting left behind in the stacked 205 lb. division. Silva, meanwhile, regains his footing after failing to solve the puzzle that is Lyoto Machida back in January. Expect nothing but quality opponents with title ramifications in the explosive Brazilian's future.
Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira vs Randy Couture - I was fairly skeptical of this matchup going in, but the results proved better than I ever would have expected. Both fighters showed that the recent talk of them being near the end of their careers was premature. Nogueira's superhuman-esque ability to absorb damage returned, while Couture himself survived several knockdowns and submission attempts en route to losing an entertaining unanimous decision. The performances bode well for a UFC heavyweight division that severely lacks depth. Nog is likely right back into the title picture, maybe next against the winner of the Cain Velasquez/Ben Rothwell fight. Whoever is next for Couture in the wake of his new contract will be a big fight based on "The Natural's" name alone, though I really have no idea who the UFC will line up.
Gabriel Gonzaga vs Chris Tuchscherer - Gonzaga once again proved he's the guy you send in to destroy overmatched opponents. He'll now likely step up in competition once again and hope to get his first meaningful win since he knocked out Mirko "Cro-Cop" Filipovic over two years ago. He always seems one win away from really being a contender in the UFC's weak heavyweight division.
Aaron Simpson vs Ed Herman - These two went at it close to nonstop until Ed Herman's knee injury ended things early in the second round. The loss keeps Herman in the gatekeeper role, while Simpson's strong performance and remaining undefeated keep him as a solid prospect in the middleweight ranks.
Brandon Vera vs Krzysztof Soszynski - Vera was originally slated to face Matt Hamill, but an injury allowed Soszynski to step in late, making this his third fight in five months. There was little action and Vera comfortably cruised to a decision. The win does little for him though. Despite a dominating effort against a game, rising opponent, Vera still lacks quality wins at light heavyweight, even though his competition should now rise. Soszynski loses little, as he was a replacement that hasn't faced the level of fighters Vera has.
Chris Leben vs Jake Rosholt - Something of a minor upset? Leben hadn't fought in nine months due to a steroid suspension, so ring rust is going to be a factor. None of his haymakers connected and he had few answers for Rosholt's superior wrestling, eventually falling prey to an arm triangle. Leben's comeback fight being spoiled deters any advancement in the congested tier of decent middleweights. Rosholt, after losing to Dan Miller in his first UFC bout, secures his place in the organization.
Nate Marquardt vs Demian Maia - Maia's run as one of the hottest prospects got stamped out by Marquardt, who needed just 21 seconds and a single punch to put the first blemish on the jiu-jitsu ace's record. Maia has been working on his standup with Wanderlei Silva, but he looked strikingly similar to Shinya Aoki in his last fight, trying to downplay his obvious strength in favor of looking and/or actually being more well-rounded. Aoki got a win because he was more active against a fighter whose standup was equally as limited. Unfortunately for Maia, Marquardt is one of the handful of elites in the UFC's middleweight crop and dangerous from any position. Given the short time the match and its quick end, it's hard to tell if Maia was simply overwhelmed or whether his point of attack was wrong. Whatever the case, Marquardt solidified his position for a rematch with Anderson Silva. The Brazilian's camp oddly floated talk that suggested a title eliminator with Marquardt and Silva's once expected next challenger Dan Henderson. Whatever occurs, Marquardt stands a much better chance than "The Spider's" last two opponents.
Thiago Silva vs Keith Jardine - Going into this, I predicted that Silva would either dispatch Jardine quickly or the Team Jackson fighter would frustrate and execute a patented gameplan en route to a decision over the American Top Team fighter like he did over Chuck Liddell. Silva's power proved too much for Jardin'e suspect chin under two minutes into round one. With two losses in a row for the first time in his UFC career, Jardine is in danger of getting left behind in the stacked 205 lb. division. Silva, meanwhile, regains his footing after failing to solve the puzzle that is Lyoto Machida back in January. Expect nothing but quality opponents with title ramifications in the explosive Brazilian's future.
Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira vs Randy Couture - I was fairly skeptical of this matchup going in, but the results proved better than I ever would have expected. Both fighters showed that the recent talk of them being near the end of their careers was premature. Nogueira's superhuman-esque ability to absorb damage returned, while Couture himself survived several knockdowns and submission attempts en route to losing an entertaining unanimous decision. The performances bode well for a UFC heavyweight division that severely lacks depth. Nog is likely right back into the title picture, maybe next against the winner of the Cain Velasquez/Ben Rothwell fight. Whoever is next for Couture in the wake of his new contract will be a big fight based on "The Natural's" name alone, though I really have no idea who the UFC will line up.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)