Posted by Dave Walsh on 27th November 2009
November 27, 2009: The November 2009 Independent World MMA Rankings have been released. These rankings are independent of any single MMA media outlet or sanctioning body, and are published on multiple web sites.
In addition to the numerous MMA web sites that publish the Independent World MMA Rankings, you can also access the rankings at any time by going to www.IndependentWorldMMARankings.com.
Some of the best and most knowledgeable MMA writers from across the MMA media landscape have come together to form one independent voting panel. These voting panel members are, in alphabetical order: Zach Arnold (Fight Opinion); Nicholas Bailey (MMA Ratings); Jared Barnes (Freelance); Jordan Breen (Sherdog); Jim Genia (Full Contact Fighter, MMA Memories, and MMA Journalist Blog); Jesse Holland (MMA Mania); Robert Joyner (Freelance); Todd Martin (CBS Sportsline); Jim Murphy (The Savage Science); Zac Robinson (Sports by the Numbers MMA); Leland Roling (Bloody Elbow); Michael David Smith (AOL Fanhouse); Jonathan Snowden (Heavy.com); Joshua Stein (MMA Opinion); Ivan Trembow (Freelance); and Dave Walsh (Total MMA and Head Kick Legend).
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Posted in Dave Walsh, Rankings | 4 Comments »
Posted by Tommy Hackett on 22nd November 2009
Pictured: Saulo Ribeiro (right) demonstrates an escape during his Fife, WA seminar last month.
As his seminar comes to a close, three time world champion Saulo Ribeiro takes a few minutes to drive home a message.
“Nowadays, everybody tries to own the identity of jiu-jitsu,” he begins. “But it’s bigger than all of us. Nobody can be the face of jiu-jitsu. We’re all the face of jiu-jitsu. You look in the mirror, you see what’s wrong, and you change. You’re using jiu-jitsu. When things get tough, you look inside yourself, and see who you really are. You face the fears.
“Jiu-jitsu is a humbling journey. Every time you think you’re there, you’re not. You open yourself. But you have to make the decisions, and jiu-jitsu helps with this. I’m so blessed this is my work.”
Ribeiro’s own humbling journey includes a visit to Rio to make a pitch to include jiu-jitsu in the 2016 Olympics to the president of Brazil, a cup of tea in Abu Dhabi with a sheik, and a few rounds with a Thai boxing champion off the Las Vegas strip…
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Posted in Interviews, Tommy Hackett, jiu-jitsu | 1 Comment »
Posted by Tommy Hackett on 15th November 2009
Congratulations to Manny Pacquiao and his supporters for another dominant win last night. As predicted, within a few rounds we learned whether or not Miguel Cotto could counter Pacquiao’s vaunted speed advantage. Unfortunately, I didn’t predict the correct answer. That advantage would prove key, and eventually lead to a 12th round T/KO stoppage.
So I was wrong, but I’m not interested in finding a Filipino preparation for crow right now (crow adobo?). Call it damage control if you want, but in attempting to handicap the bout, I maintained that no outcome would surprise me much — as it was a pairing of two guys who had never seen anything like the other. It won’t surprise anyone that I still feel that way. But here’s something Total-MMA readers may find surprising:
Right now, I couldn’t be prouder of Miguel Cotto.
(Well, other than the use of Kanye West for his ringwalk…)
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Posted in Boxing, Tommy Hackett | No Comments »
Posted by Tommy Hackett on 14th November 2009
Miguel Angel Cotto is hours away from entering a Las Vegas ring an almost three-to-one underdog against Manny Pacquiao in their catch-weight bout at 145 lbs. To the Puerto Rican’s chagrin, it seems many find it a foregone conclusion that the night will end with Pacquiao earning a knockout victory at his expense. In fact, Pacquiao himself is reportedly so confident that he has scheduled a concert performance directly after the bout, where he will sing material from his own two record albums at Mandalay Bay.
Unfortunately for the Filipino’s supporters, I think Pacquaio will be singing the blues instead of his beloved ballads, as heard here (painfully) on Jimmy Kimmell Live…
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Posted in Boxing, Tommy Hackett | 6 Comments »
