Author: Craig Zablo

Sly Stallone Confirms EX2 Poster is Unofficial

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I just received the following e-mail from Sly Stallone:

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The poster that everyone is seeing on line is completely unofficial and bogus. The official poster is far from being completed so unfortunately people like to pull pranks. Please everyone spread the word that the real poster won’t be out for several months.

Best,

Sly

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So there you have it. Someone with some skills decided to have a bit of fun. Thanks to Sly for letting us know. – Craig

UFC 139 Results and Thoughts

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UFC 139 featured several outstanding fights and a main event war that Dana White called “one of the top three fights in UFC history.”  So, let’s see who won and how I did on my predictions.

Ryan Bader (12-2-0) vs Jason Brilz (18-4-1)
Prediction: Bader takes the win via stoppage
Result: Bader won by 1st round KO making me 1-0for the night

Stephan Bonnar (13-7-0) vs Kyle Kingsbury (11-2-0)
Prediction: Bonnar wins by decision
Result: Bonnar won by unanimous decision making me 2-0 for the night

Rick Story (13-4-0) vs Martin Kampmann (20-6-0)
Prediction: Kampmann wins via decision
Result: Kampmann won via decision making me 3-0 for the night

Brian Bowles (10-1-0) vs Urijah Faber (25-4-0)
Prediction: Faber wins by decision in what could be the fight of the night
Result: Faber won via submission due to a choke in the 2nd round making me 4-0 for the night

Wanderlei Silva (33-11-1) vs Cung Le (7-1-0)
Prediction: Le wins via KO
Result: Silva won via 2nd round TKO making me 4-1 for the night

Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua (20-5-0) vs Dan Henderson (27-7-0)
Prediction: Henderson via TKO. 
Result: Henderson via unanimous decision making me 5-1 for the night

Final Thoughts:

  • Michael McDonald earned KO of the Night and the $70,000 bonus that came with it.
  • Urijah Faber picked up the 70K bonus for Submission of the Night.
  • Dan Henderson vs Mauricio “Shogun” Rua and  Wanderlei “The Ax Murderer” Silva vs Cung Le earned Fight of the Night bonuses of $70,000 for each fighter.
  • Hats off to Wanderlei who showed doubters [including me] that he is still a force to be reckoned with.
  • Faber’s win over Bowles should show naysayers that Faber IS worthy of another title shot.
  • While many are saying that Henderson vs Rua was one of the greatest UFC fights ever, almost as many are saying that it should have been a draw.  To those folks, I say, should have, would have and could have.

    Complaining     about the decision makes about as much sense as a  Hendo fan saying, “Yeah, but if the fight had only been three rounds [since it was a non-title match], Hendo would have been seen to have totally dominated Rua.  The fight wasn’t scheduled for just three rounds and the judges didn’t score the last round 10-8.  Let’s deal with the facts.  Hendo won and Rua deserves a rematch!  

UFC 139 Predictions

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UFC 139 is live tonight on pay-per-view.  Here are my predictions…

  • Ryan Bader (12-2-0) vs Jason Brilz (18-4-1) – This fight live on SPIKE!
    Prediction: Bader takes the win via stoppage
  • Stephan Bonnar (13-7-0) vs Kyle Kingsbury (11-2-0)
    Prediction: Bonnar wins by decision
  • Rick Story (13-4-0) vs Martin Kampmann (20-6-0)
    Prediction: Kampmann wins via decision

  • Brian Bowles (10-1-0) vs Urijah Faber (25-4-0)
    Prediction: Faber wins by decision in what could be the fight of the night

  • Wanderlei Silva (33-11-1) vs Cung Le (7-1-0)
    Prediction: Le wins via KO

  • Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua (20-5-0) vs Dan Henderson (27-7-0)
    Prediction: Henderson via TKO.  Rua is the favorite, but I think Hendo at some point will catch Rua and it will be lights out.

Mail Order Mysteries Revealed

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When I was a kid I was always intrigued by the mail order items available in comic books.  Who didn’t think about ordering the X-Ray Specs, the footlocker full of soldiers, or the Ventrillo Voice-Thrower?  After seeing this trailer for Mail-Order Mysteries Revealed, I’m glad that I didn’t… although the lifesize submarine might have been fun… for the 30 minutes or so until it fell apart.

Daytona Beach Comic & Toy Show

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If you live within traveling distance to Daytona Beach, Florida, you might want to make the trip this Sunday to check out a small comic book convention. It will be held at the Holiday Inn & Suites, 930 N. Atlantic Ave., (A1A), Daytona Beach, Florida from 10 am to 5 pm.

Admission and parking are FREE.
Special Guests are: 
  • John Beatty ( Marvel/DC Inker from 1 pm to 3 pm):  John will be doing 4.5 ” x 6.5 ” head shot sketches on colored paper for $ 20.00.  Proceeds will go to a non-profit organization.
  • Bill Black ( AC Comic Publisher/Director/Artist):  Bill will be promoting his latest DVD releases and selling his line of 200+ page reprint trade paperbacks (SRP: $30.00) for $15.00 each.
  • Rachel Pandich (IDW Writer):  A new face on the comic scene will be promoting the story she did for IDW that will come out early next year.
  • Nick Cuti (Writer/Artist, co-creator of E-Man):  Will be set-up with vendor Tim Gordon and be signing autographs and talking with fans.

It should be a fun afternoon!

Dos Santos KOs Cain

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Last night, in the first professional heavyweight title fight see live on a major “free-tv” station since 1985, Junior Dos Santos scored a major upset victory by KOing Cain Velasquez in the first round.  Not only did Dos Santos win the title but he also won the $65,000 KO of the Night bonus.  Not bad for a less than a minute and a half’s work.

Although I had picked Cain to win by TKO, as the fighters entered the cage, I looked at my son, Mike, and said, “I’ve got a feeling that this could be Dos Santos’ night.”  That doesn’t change the fact that I picked Cain and therefore was 0-1 for the night.  : (

Seeing the UFC on FOX was different in a cool, MMA is a legitimate big-time sport sort of way.  Maggie Hendricks at Yahoo Sports pretty much sums up my thoughts on the telecast.

Ryan Cody Sets His Sites on Barney Ross

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This week Ryan Cody is back with Sly from The Expendables.

I usually try to space out the work of the artists that I spotlight, but Ryan is running such an unbelievable sale [where you get a free sketch with every purchase. That’s right. Buy Volume 1 of his sketchbook for five bucks and get a free sketch. Same if you buy Volume 2 or the Icarus Convention Issue] that I want to help him promote it.

So far I’ve ordered both sketchbooks [accidentally ordered Volume 1 twice] and 2 copies of the Icarus convention issue. If you want to see more of his art then check out Ryan’s blog and his DA site.

Thanks to Ryan! – Craig

Cain vs Dos Santos Prediction

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Tonight at 9pm EST, live on FOX, Cain Velasquez [9-0] defends his UFC Heavyweight Title against the number one contender, Junior Dos Santos [13-1].  Although Velasquez is a 2-1 favorite, he’s returning to the octagon after a year long absence to allow his torn rotator cuff to heal [injured in his first round KO and complete domination of Brock Lesnar].

Do Santos will want to keep the battle a stand-up fight since he’s much better on his feet than grappling on the mat.  This could be dangerous for Dos Santos, because although Cain is the better wrestler, he’s also the bigger puncher.  Of course anything can happen when two talented fighters enter the cage.

My prediction is Cain will win via a TKO in a battle worthy of a title fight.