The ‘Taker Calls Out Brock Lesnar

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This video of a minor “confrontation” between WWE’s The Undertaker and Brock Lesnar after his defeat at the fists of Cain Velasquez is popping up on the major MMA sites.  So when the ‘Taker asks Brock…

“Ya wanna do it?” …

…what exactly is he talking about?  It’s a safe bet that the Taker’s not suggesting a real MMA match.

So could The Undertaker be trying to lay the groundwork for a Lesnar return to the WWE? The folks at Cageside Seats make a pretty good case that it was a Vince McMahon plan coming together.  It makes me wonder two things:

  1. Did Brock know it was going to happen?
  2. How will Dana react when he sees the video?

UFC 121 Results

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UFC 121 was an excellent card so let’s get right to the results:

  • Patrick Cote vs. Tom Lawlor

My prediction: Cote for the win.

The result: Lawlor won by Unanimous Decision.  Cote couldn’t stop the takedowns and it was a one-sided fight.

Making me: 0 – 1 for the night

  • Gabriel Gonzaga vs. Brendan Schaub

My prediction: Gonzaga by TKO.

The result: Schaub won by Unanimous Decision. I really thought that there would be more fireworks in this one and that both fighters would stand in front of each other and swing away.  That did happen in the final few seconds, but the rest of the fight was dominated by Schaub.

Making me: 0 -2 for the night.

  • Paulo Thiago vs. Diego Sanchez

My prediction: Diego by decision.

The result: Diego won by Unanimous Decision.  This was an exciting fight.  I had it even going into the final round and that was the round that Diego owned.  This match earned each fighter an extra $70,000 for “Fight of the Night” bonuses… and rightly so.

Making me: 1-2 for the night

  • Matt Hamill vs. Tito Ortiz

My prediction: Hamill by decision.

The result: Hamill won by Unanimous Decision.  It was an interesting fight.  Tito didn’t look bad, and although some are predicting that his career with the UFC is over, I think we’ll see him fight again with the company.

Making me: 2-2 for the night

  • Jake Shields vs. Martin Kampman

My prediction: Shields via decision.

The result: Shields won with a Split Decision.  It was an interesting battle of strategies.  Shields wanted the fight on the ground and Kampman wanted it to be a stand-up war.  Although it was a close fight, I thought it was clear that Shields won… and I’m glad two of the three judges agreed.

Making me: 3-2 for the night.

  • Brock Lesnar vs. Cain Velasquez

My prediction: Velasquez via TKO.

The result: Velasquez won via 1st round stoppage.  Although Brock came out strong throwing knees and scoring a quick takedown, Velasquez was immediately up and on the offensive.  And it was all Velesquez from that point on. Velesquez picked up an extra $70,000 for “knockout of the night.”

Making me: 4-2 for the night.

Final Thoughts:

  • Patrick Cote looked pretty bad.  I’ve always been a fan, but without a good wrestling base or at least an answer to those with grappling skills, you’re pretty limited with your options in MMA.
  • Shaub surprised me.  He controlled the fight and stuck to a good game plan.  It will be interesting to keep an eye on him.  Gonzaga didn’t look terrible, but I’m surprised he wasn’t able or willing to try and take it to Shaub.
  • Diego Sanchez is a fighter with a warrior’s heart.  I’m happy for his win and look forward to his next fight.
  • Tito looked better in his loss last night than I expected.  He may never get another title shot, but his career isn’t over.
  • Shields will get a title shot for his win over Kampman.
  • Velasquez dominated Lesnar.  He was better in all areas [punching, wrestling, defense].  In a piece at Yahoo! Sports, Maggie Kendricks wrote…

Dana White said that when watching the monitors during the main event, he thought he saw Brock Lesnar verbally submit to the Cain Velasquez, but Velasquez said he didn’t hear that.

  • In an interesting article at Bloody Elbow, Jonathon Snowden raises doubt about Lesnar’s fighting heart.  I don’t question Lesnar’s heart, I think it’s more that he doesn’t have enough experience in how to deal with fighters who have the ability to stand up to him.  He’s not been put in dangerous positions enough to know what to do when he’s getting pummeled.  In both the Carwin and Velasquez fights he basically turned away when not curling up and covering up.  Brock showed some class in his comments after the fight, but he did not make it to the press conference.
  • So what’s next for Velasquez and Lesnar?  Definitely not a rematch.  It looks like Velasquez will take on knockout artist, Junior Dos Santos.  For Lesnar, maybe a third outing against Mir?

UFC 121 Predictions

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UFC 121 is live tonight on pay-per-view and has one of the best fight cards in recent memory.  Let’s get to my predictions:

  • Patrick Cote vs. Tom Lawlor

This should be an exciting, close fight.  I’m a Cote fan, but Lawler is no pushover.  Lawler needs to get this to the ground where he would most likely have the advantage.  That advantage coupled with the fact that Cote has only fought three times in two years makes Lawlor a tempting pick.  But, as I said, I’m a Cote fan.
My prediction: Cote for the win.

  • Gabriel Gonzaga vs. Brendan Schaub My guess is this one will end early.  Either man has the ability to do the job.  If you think experience is the key, then Gonzaga is the fighter to pick.

My prediction: Gonzaga by TKO.

  • Paulo Thiago vs. Diego Sanchez

This should be another exciting fight.  At one point Diego was my favorite fighter, and although Frank Mir has moved into my top spot, Diego not too far behind.  Thiago is a slight favorite.  I think that they’re pretty equally matched, but the smart money will be on Thiago.  Since I’m not betting, it makes my decision pretty easy.
My prediction: Diego by decision.

  • Matt Hamill vs. Tito Ortiz

Another interesting fight.  Despite the fact [as MMA Fighting points out] that “that the last time he [Ortiz] finished someone not named Ken Shamrock was in 2001,” many folks think that he’ll beat Hamill.  I don’t see how.  Hamill can wrestle and should be able to stuff any of Ortiz’s takedowns.  Hamill is stronger than Ortiz.  He’s younger than Ortiz.  Of course Hamill is coming off of a brutal loss to Bones Jones and that may play mind games with him for this first fight back.
My prediction: Hamill by decision.

  • Jake Shields vs. Martin Kampman

This is Jake Shields’ first fight since his dramatic upset of Dan Henderson.  Shields’ game plan will be to dominate via ground and pound.  Kampman will want this to be a standup war.  I think at some point the fight will go to the ground and Shields will do enough to win.
My prediction: Shields via decision.

  • Brock Lesnar vs. Cain Velasquez

The fight that will get everyone to tune in.  And it should be an exciting one.  Lesnar is a beast.  He improves with every fight.  Cain is undefeated with punching power, wrestling ability and stamina.  But will all those attributes be enough to stop Lesnar?  We saw the chink in Lesnar’s armor when he fought Carwin.  Of course Lesnar saw it too.  Has he had enough time to shore up his boxing defense?  We’ll find out tonight.
My prediction: Velasquez via TKO.

This should be the best card in recent memory.  Every fight has the potential to be “fight of the night.” I’ll post the results tomorrow.

Stallone & DeNiro in a Grudge Match?

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Earlier today Slashfilm reported on a rumor that Sly Stallone and Robert DeNiro may team up for “Grudge Match.” Sly and DeNiro would play…

… “retired boxers Billy “The Kid” McGuigan and Henry “Razor” Sharp, lifelong bitter rivals who are coaxed out of retirement and into the ring for one final grudge match — 50 years after their last title fight.”

Although fans would love to see Rocky take on The Raging Bull, I’m not sure now is the time for this type of movie. Sly has Expendables II on deck and then hopefully something like Hunter or even Expendables III. And let’s face it, according to the synopsis of Grudge Match, Sly and DeNiro were supposed to have fought 50 years ago in a title fight — so they’d have been what 14, 15 years old? Perhaps when Sly and DeNiro have aged a bit, Grudge Match would be right.

Cause It’s a Thriller… Thriller

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Back in September I posted about the dvd release of the 1960’s tv series Thriller.  You know, the series that Stephen King called…

“Probably the best horror series ever put on tv.”

My guess is Uncle Stevie’s quote is better known than the series itself.  But that doesn’t mean that it ain;t true.  Over at Mulholland Books, writer David J. Schow [Internecine], makes a case that King was on point with his assessment of the series.  And don’t forget that

The Walking Dead Books It

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One of my favorite comics, The Walking Dead, may soon become one of my favorite tv shows.  It may also become one of my favorite novel trilogies.  That’s right, it’s been announced that…

…Thomas Dunne Books, a division of St. Martin’s Press, will publish a trilogy of original novels set in The Walking Dead “universe,” beginning in 2011. Kirkman will conceptualize and outline the books, which will then be developed by horror novelist Jay Bonansinga (Perfect Victim, Shattered).

There’s a Killer on the Road

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A passerby found the severed head on Feb. 10, wrapped in two plastic bags and stuffed inside a backpack in Barstow, Calif. Authorities still haven’t identified the victim or her killer, but the circumstances point in a particular direction

So begins Blake Morrison’s article on highway serial killers for the USAToday.  According to Morrison…

,…In the past four decades, 459 deaths and 41 attempted homicides are believed to be linked to serial killers who are using the nation’s highways to find and dispose of their victims.

Although the story has the makings of a very creepy movie or novel, it’s even more frightening to imagine that it’s true.  You can read the full article and check out how many “highway killings” in each state are thought to be the work of serial killers by clicking here.

Darwyn Cooke Takes on The Outfit

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Darwyn Cooke’s adaptation of Richard Stark’s classic crime novel The Outfit is now available.  In case you’re late getting in the game, The Outfit is Cooke’s follow-up to his award-winning adaptation of Richard Stark’s The Hunter.  Stark aka Donald Westlake gave his blessing to the original plus three additional adaptations.  In honor of the release of The Outfit Darwyn Cooke sat down for an in-depth interview with Tucker Stone for the Comics Alliance.  Here’s a taste:

Palance was Westlake’s only visual reference. When I changed Parker, the idea was always to use plastic surgery as a metaphor for his emotional regression. He’s meant to look like a rawer, more stripped down version of himself… His jaw, and most importantly, his eyes, are the same. The rest is meant to reflect a man drained of things like remorse and compassion. A loveless, unadorned man.

I’ve got two more of these books to do. My plan is to finish the fourth one for my 50th birthday… I can tell you that it’s not wearing on me, working on this character. I can see him being a part of what I do for a long time. Maybe not constantly, but he’s going to be there.

Again, this is the benefit of having a few exchanges with Donald. One of his concerns was that I understood that Parker doesn’t operate out of anger. He never commits a violent act out of anger. He does it because it’s the expedient thing to do. It’s the practical thing, a survival mechanism.

I could continue to pull interesting quotes from the interview, but why not just read it.  You’ll get insight into Cooke’s process in adapting the Stark novels, his [and Stark’s] take on what makes Parker tick, which crime movies were influences [and which modern crime classic Cooke thinks is over-rated], and so much more.  Congrats to Tucker Stone and Comic Alliance for a great read and thanks to Darwyn Cooke for bringing Parker back.

CBR.com also has a nice little interview with preview art from Darwyn Cooke’s adaptation of Richard Stark’s The Outfit.