Lance Storm: MMA

[hollywood]

For all the MMA fans, I give you Lance's latest commentary...

MMA

It should come as no surprise to anyone that I have been somewhat less than thrilled with the current pro-wrestling product. I find myself less and less compelled to tune in each week and I’m finding this fact both sad and frustrating. TNA has a locker room full of guys I want to see work, but seldom get too. Impact has been slowly improving since going to 2-hours, but still has a long way to go, and they are as yet to book one angle on TV that has left me longing for next week’s show. WWE hasn’t been any better, although a lot of that isn’t entirely their fault. WWE has been suffering from talent departures, talent injuries, talent suspensions, and two very unfortunate McMahon angle disasters (his death and illegitimate son), leaving WWE branded shows far from must see TV.

I still follow the shows as best I can, I likely always will, but I’ve found myself broadening my horizons lately and have been catching more and more MMA. I’ve always had an interest in MMA; I’ve just never had the time to devote to it before. Now that I am off the road, I have a lot more free time, and since WWE and TNA haven’t been gripping me terribly much of late, I’ve started making a point of following a few MMA shows regularly.

I’m not an exclusive UFC fan either, although they certainly are the leader of the pack, and I’ve made a point to catch The Ultimate Fighter this season, and catch UFC Unleashed as often as possible. They haven’t hooked me enough to get me to buy a PPV event yet, but that likely isn’t too far off. I’ve finally order a digital cable box and upgraded my cable package in order to have the capability if the mood should strike me. The truth is unless they manage to hook me earlier, I will definitely initiate myself into the world of UFC PPV with Brock Lesnar’s UFC debut, which I believe is scheduled for February.

As big as UFC is, the MMA product I’ve been watching more than anything else is BoDog Fight, which airs on The Score here in Canada. I think it also airs on The Fight Network but I don’t get that channel until my cable box and cable upgrade kick in on Tuesday. I discovered BoDog through my buddy Paul Lazenby who does commentary for them, I watched a few shows to see him and fell in love with the product. BoDog Fight takes place in a regular boxing style ring, which I don’t necessarily like as much as the cage, but regardless of that, the fights have been awesome.

I’m not expert enough to judge whether the BoDog fight guys are more or less talented than the UFC guys, but as the saying goes, “I may not know much about art (MMA), but I know what I like” and BoDog Fight has been great. Most UFC shows lately seem to be almost all stand up and I find BoDog gives me more of a balanced show. I really like the ground game so seeing a few fights go to the ground is a real plus for me, and the fights that have stayed on their feet have been incredible slugfests as well.

Another bonus to BoDog Fight is that they have women competitors. At first I didn’t know if I would enjoy watching women’s MMA, but it turns out I do. I’ve seen maybe 3 or 4 women’s matches thus far and they were all great. I think one of the real plusses to women’s MMA is that the girls don’t have the same knockout power as the men, so the slugfests, when they occur, last longer, and the ground game, due to increased flexibility, is often more compelling too. The girls have to do more to get their wins, so they bust their ass and work even harder.

If you haven’t checked out BoDog Fight you really should, it’s a great product, and my buddy Paul is a great commentator as well as a great guy. If that isn’t enough Royce Gracie has been doing some guest commentary so you’ll get to hear him offer his insightful tidbit of wisdom “I think he should go for submission” at least twice a fight!!!! Sorry Royce, you’re a great fighter and an MMA legend, but you are the MMA equivalent of WWE’s Dave Batista on commentary. (LOL).

I’m certainly not giving up or bailing on my pro-wrestling roots, and I hope now with Edge’s return and Jericho’s pending return tonight, that WWE will become far more compelling, but I’ve definitely broadened my horizons and am a full fledge MMA fan now as well.

Till next week,
Lance Storm

[Mozenrath]

Cool. Not sure what else to say than that.

[The OP]

Not you too Lance! Say it ain't so!

Just kidding, I like MMA too. Though I still say pro wrestling will always be more entertaining until they start fixing more of the MMA fights.

[Mozenrath]

taxcollector said:

Not you too Lance! Say it ain't so!

Just kidding, I like MMA too. Though I still say pro wrestling will always be more entertaining until they start fixing more of the MMA fights.

True. I already think the world's of boxing and MMA try to replicate the wrestling feud building, so to speak, with "rivalries" that are likely at least in part played up for bucks.

[The OP]

Absolutely. And I have seen a couple of UFC fights that I think were mostly legit, but the guys seemed to be trying to make it last longer.

For example, in one of the Lidell/Ortiz fights there was a point in the first round where it seemed like Chuck could've finished him off but for some reason he didn't. I was like "what the hell, Ortiz is down and Chuck is just standing there. Why doesn't he finish him off?"

Then the answer came to me. Because it's a big fight and no one wants it to end in the first round.

[Mozenrath]

taxcollector said:

Absolutely. And I have seen a couple of UFC fights that I think were mostly legit, but the guys seemed to be trying to make it last longer.

For example, in one of the Lidell/Ortiz fights there was a point in the first round where it seemed like Chuck could've finished him off but for some reason he didn't. I was like "what the hell, Ortiz is down and Chuck is just standing there. Why doesn't he finish him off?"

Then the answer came to me. Because it's a big fight and no one wants it to end in the first round.

Exactly. There will never be an MMA fight, in all likelihood, that would be as interesting as a wrestling match could become in my opinion.

Before anyone calls me "ignorant" or some other moniker, I DO watch a deal of MMA. My problem with it is that I could not care less about the fighters because one guy does a rear naked choke about as well as the next. No individual identities.

[The OP]

It's true. You will never see a big shocking swerve in an MMA fight. A guy could knock a guy out or choke him out when you didn't expect it, but that's about the extent of any surprises you're gonna get.

[joeman]

The thing why some people watch MMA isn't because of the fighters, but the fights. Of course the fighters are not going to have a flashy character like pro-wrestling has, but they don't need to be. MMA is a sport, Pro-Wrestling is entertainment. That is what separates them apart.

[The OP]

Right, and that's why there's still a reason to watch MMA. The point is though, since it's not inherently as much of an entertainment product they sometimes try to follow the pro wrestling model to make it more of a show. They do the same thing in other mainstream sports.

[Mozenrath]

joeman said:

The thing why some people watch MMA isn't because of the fighters, but the fights. Of course the fighters are not going to have a flashy character like pro-wrestling has, but they don't need to be. MMA is a sport, Pro-Wrestling is entertainment. That is what separates them apart.

I understand that and all, but that's where problems arise.

What happens when you shell out cash and a guy takes a hard punch and BOOM, the match is over? You just blew cash for a crap fight.

In wrestling, you're assured you will get something. Some matches suck, but it's usually more worthwhile than a one punch knockout would be.

[Mozenrath]

taxcollector said:

Right, and that's why there's still a reason to watch MMA. The point is though, since it's not inherently as much of an entertainment product they sometimes try to follow the pro wrestling model to make it more of a show. They do the same thing in other mainstream sports.

Exactly.

TO is given the kind of coverage to make him out to be a "controversial" figure, when really, is he that controversial?

["Nature Boy" Ric Moranis]

I'd like to congratulate Mr. Storm on his upgrade to digital cable. And his use of "LOL" at the end of his Batista burn.

[ghettooverlord]

kiddobradley said:

taxcollector said:

Right, and that's why there's still a reason to watch MMA. The point is though, since it's not inherently as much of an entertainment product they sometimes try to follow the pro wrestling model to make it more of a show. They do the same thing in other mainstream sports.

Exactly.

TO is given the kind of coverage to make him out to be a "controversial" figure, when really, is he that controversial?

Probably the part where signed a seven year, forty-nine million dollar dear and then tore apart the NFC Champion Eagles by demanding more money.

[Sir Nintendo]

Wait wait wait wait.


Lance Storm actually likes something? There's no way he typed that up. He hates everything!

[Mozenrath]

uwflive said:

Wait wait wait wait.


Lance Storm actually likes something? There's no way he typed that up. He hates everything!

No, just TNA.

[Mozenrath]

ghettooverlord said:

kiddobradley said:

Exactly.

TO is given the kind of coverage to make him out to be a "controversial" figure, when really, is he that controversial?

Probably the part where signed a seven year, forty-nine million dollar dear and then tore apart the NFC Champion Eagles by demanding more money.

I guess, but at least now he's playing like he should.

[Adam Pacman Khan (akkilla)]

TNA gaining slight praise from Lance storm?

[Reverend BTY]

For some reason, the image of Lance Storm watching BoDog Fight makes me laugh. Although, the fact that he can actually get it seems miraculous.

[doctorhillbilly]

kiddobradley said:

joeman said:

What happens when you shell out cash and a guy takes a hard punch and BOOM, the match is over? You just blew cash for a crap fight.quote]

I don't know; when Mike Tyson was well Mike Tyson, that would describe most of his fights and people couldn't shell out money fast enough for the next one. There's something about anticipating the big knock out the hooks you in.

Now honestly, I prefer a great wrestling match but if you watch UFC's TUF, they do a better job in building up a fight between 2 guys who won't even make it to the finals, then most wrestling organizations do in building up a ppv main event.