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.

RIP: Smokin’ Joe Frazier

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Last night the world lost one of the greatest fighters to ever enter a boxing ring.  Smokin’ Joe Frazier passed away at the age of 67 from liver cancer.

Joe Frazier only lost 4 times [twice to Muhammad Ali and twice to George Foreman] in his career which saw him crowned the heavyweight champion of the world.   Joe Frazier will forever be remembered as the first man to beat Muhammad Ali.

Although he fought Ali two more times [losing by decision in the first rematch], it is their third meeting, The Thrilla in Manilla that many consider to be the greatest boxing match ever.   After the fourteenth round, with Joe’s eyes swelling shut, his trainer, Eddie Futch called the fight.  Futch then said to Joe, “Sit down, son. “It’s all over. Nobody will ever forget what you did here today.”

And we won’t.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Joe Frazier’s family, friends and fans.

Rare Marilyn Monroe + Nate Heller

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Would you like to see some rare photos of Marilyn Monroe taken in 1953 when she was filming [my favorite] Monroe film, River of No Return [with Robert Mitchum]?  Thanks to The Huffington Post, you can.

If you have any interest in Marilyn Monroe and/or  historical fiction you should check out Bye Bye, Baby by Max Allan Collins.  It’s one of my favorite Nate Heller books and they are all excellent.

 

Krayola Kidd Treats Us to a Sly Pun

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Mike Torrance aka The Krayola Kidd is back and he brought Sly dressed as The Punisher.

You can see more of Mike’s art at The Daily Sketch with The Krayola Kidd and his Deviant Art site. Mike is available for commissions and his prices are very reasonable. You’re also going to be happy to know that once a month Mike has a contest for someone to win a free sketchcard! That is how I came to own this cool piece. I won the contest [Halloween Edition] and told Mike to pick a Sly character. He chose Sly as the Punisher and I salute him!

RIP: Andy Rooney

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Andy Rooney, the long time [1978 – 2011] closing commentator for CBS’ 60 Minutes, died yesterday after complications following an undisclosed minor surgery.  Mr. Rooney was 92.

Although best known for his “A Few Minutes with Andy Rooney” segment on 60 Minutes, Mr. Rooney actually started working in television right after World War II.  Mr. Rooney worked as a writer for Arthur Godfrey, Garry Moore, Victor Borge, and others.   Yet it was Mr. Rooney’s commentaries on 60 Minutes that made him a household name.  We came to know his likes likes [football, books, shined shoes, President Dwight D. Eisenhower, Christmas, etc.] and dislikes [ads in magazines, roadmaps that you can’t fold back, people who ask for autographs, etc.].  Mr. Rooney said what we thought and came to feel like a friend of the family.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Mr. Rooney’s family, friends and fans.