April 20, 2012

Summit’s reign as Lady Vols coach ends!

Less than a year after announcing to the basketball world that she has an early stage of Alzheimer’s disease, Pat Summitt, 59,  has stepped down as Tennessee’s women’s basketball coach. This marks the end of a  38 year career that put Tennessee women’s basketball on the map. Summitt’s longtime assistant for 27 years,  Holly Warlick, who also played for her, will take over as head coach.

In a statement Summitt said, “I’ve loved being the head coach at Tennessee for 38 years, but I recognize that the time has come to move into the future and to step into a new role. I want to help ensure the stability of the program going forward. I would like to emphasize that I fully intend to continue working as head coach emeritus, mentoring and teaching life skills to our players, and I will continue my active role as a spokesperson in the fight against Alzheimer’s through the Pat Summitt Foundation Fund.”

Pat Summitt concludes her career with a win-loss record of 1,098-208 (NCAA record). Summitt is a seven-time SEC Coach of the year and a seven-time NCAA Coach of the year, with eight national championships (NCAA women’s record), 18 Final Fours, 16 conference titles and 16 conference tournaments. Summitt’s Lady Vols have made an appearance in every NCAA Tournament, as well as every Sweet 16, except for 2009.  She by far is the sole architect in making the Lady Volunteers a force in women’s basketball. In 38 years as a coach, she never had a losing season. Summitt also guided the 1984 Olympic women’s team to a gold medal. Every one of her players who completed their eligibility at Tennessee University graduated and 45 former players have become coaches. With that said, Holly Warlick has some enormous shoes to fill.

Summitt made the shocking announcement August 23, 2011 that she is fighting this incurable disease and the bulk of her coaching duties were passed along to her three assistants, Warlick, Dean Lockwood and Mickie DeMoss. With the stress of Summitt’s illness and the pressure to compete, the Lady Vols ended the 2011-2012 regular season with a 24-8 record, winning the Southeastern tournament. However, Tennessee would lose to Baylor in the Elite Eight game of the NCAA tournament.

With her legacy cemented, Summitt will forever be an iconic figure in the basketball world and her presence will surely be missed. For now health will be Summitt’s focal point as she fights this dreadful disease. Summitt has brought excitement and pleasure for many in the sports world. Here at TNP, we salute you. Get well Pat!

By Keith Madyun

Posted by on April 20, 2012 in Women's College Basketball.

Leave a Comment

March 30, 2012

Take No Prisoners Tribute to Bert Sugar. A True Sports Historian!

The world of boxing lost one of its greats. Bert Sugar, the boxing writer and sports historian, died Sunday March 25, 2012, at age 75 of cardiac arrest. Sugar had a long bout with lung cancer and his wife was by his side when he died at Northern Westchester Hospital in Mt. Kisco, New York.

Bert Sugar was that iconic figure often seen sitting on a stool wearing a fedora with his ever-present cigar. Sugar was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2005. The accomplishments he achieved over the years go well beyond the ring. He wrote more than 80 books, most notably “The 100 Greatest Boxers of All Time.” He also appeared in films, such as  ”The Great White Hype,” starring Samuel L. Jackson.

Sugar was born in Washington, DC in 1936. He graduated from the University of Maryland University. He also earned a MBA from the University of Michigan. After passing the bar exam, he went on to work in advertising in New York City for ten years before becoming a writer.

In 1969, Sugar bought Boxing Illustrated magazine, where he was editor until 1973.  He was editor and publisher of “The Ring,” an American boxing magazine, from 1979-83. Sugar went back to editing for Boxing Illustrated in 1988.

Sugar spent many years working with HBO, where he worked numerous live events and wrote articles for the cable network. Prior to his untimely death, Sugar was slated to work forthcoming Boxing events in the midst of his battle with lung cancer. Sugar will surely be missed and his shoes will be difficult to fill.

Rest in peace!

By Keith Madyun

Posted by on March 30, 2012 in Boxing.

Leave a Comment

February 10, 2012

Distance Came in Threes! UFC 143 Results

A golden rule that is common in all combat sports is “Never let the outcome fall in the judges’ hands.” With three of its main card fights resulting in decisions, UFC 143 was not in compliance with this law.

Here’s how three fights were determined on a night featuring a stellar card:

Josh “Kos” Koscheck defeats Mike Pierce via Split Decision- Welterweight Division Bout

For a fighter who was of the belief that he was above fighting anyone the caliber of Mike Pierce, Josh Koscheck did not do much to vindicate his claim. For the most part, this bout was a stalemate. The two welterweights were able to work in some strikes. In fact, the climactic moment of this fight came 3:17 into the first round when the two had an exchange of significant punches that found home for both fighters. Afterwards, the excitement fizzled out, remaining absent for the rest of the fight. During the break between rounds two and three, an audible chant of “Koscheck Sucks” echoed throughout Las Vegas’ Mandalay Bay Events Center.  If not for a two-to-one takedown count, which favored Koscheck, this one would’ve resulted in a draw.  Koscheck narrowly escapes a tough one.

Fabricio “Vai Cavalo” Werdum defeats Roy “Big Country” Nelson via Unanimous Decision- Heavyweight Division Bout

The shots that Roy Nelson took from Fabricio Werdum conveyed two messages:

1.    No ordinary man would be seen standing, let alone fighting, after taking such brutality.

2.    Big Country is no ordinary man.

As the two sized each other up, chants of “USA” shook the arena. With a right knee to Big Country’s midsection, Werdum landed the match’s initial shot. Nelson charged in with an attempted right hook, only to have his feet swept from under him, giving his back to Werdum. The Brazilian went to secure a rear naked choke hold, but resilience would not allow Big Country to concede the fight so soon. Nelson got back to his feet, only to find himself on the receiving end of some knees. In return, he tapped Werdum with two upper cuts in the clinch. Werdum countered with more knees and for a few seconds, the two offered a fair exchange; Werdum with knees and Nelson with upper cuts.  The artillery that these two threw at one another was nothing short of remarkable. At the 2:56 mark, it was discovered that Nelson was bleeding as a result of Werdum’s knees. The bloodshed was not enough to alter the intensity of this fight. Big Country took shots from Vai Cavalo that would’ve put just about put anyone to sleep. Not only did he eat those blows, he answered with many of his own. In fact, Nelson countered a kick from Werdum with a straight right jab that sent Werdum to the mat. The two would continue to hit one another with bombs and scud missiles, but through it all, Werdum was able to go the distance and outlast his foe in a memorable matchup.

Carlos “The Natural Born Killer” Condit defeats Nick Diaz via Unanimous Decision- UFC Interim Welterweight Title Bout

The main event of UFC 143 featured a commencement exercise that not only saw the crowning of a new Interim Welterweight Championship, but the appointment of a Mixed Martial Arts Genius. Given the aggression in which Carlos Condit and Nick Diaz bring in their attacks, the expectation was for these two to bang their way to victory. While that was the intent of arguably one of the sport’s most polarizing fighters, an X-Factor came into play that completely altered the outcome of the fight.  Knowing the danger that came with locking horns with Diaz, The Natural Born Killer did something that no other Diaz opponent has ever done. For 25 minutes, Condit made himself an elusive target. This proved to be two-edged sword for Condit. One, the difficulty it presented frustrated Diaz, who is used to landing strikes at will. Two, it granted Condit the openings needed to secure the striking advantage. Condit’s “stick-and-move” strategy minimized Diaz’s game plan and earned him a spot in the unification title fight with current Welterweight champion George St. Pierre.

With four fight cards already in the rear view, UFC has only completed one-eighth of its 2012 fight schedule. Up next is the debut of UFC on Fuel TV, which pits Diego “The Dream” Sanchez and Jake “The Juggernaut” Ellenberger in a welterweight main event. Don’t be fooled by the non-Pay-Per-View factor because broadcast televised fights have hidden gems within that are worth your viewing. As always, enjoy the fights.

By Antoine Hoffman

Posted by on February 10, 2012 in Mixed Martial Arts.

Leave a Comment

February 3, 2012

Super Bowl XLVI the Rematch!

For the second time in four years, the New England Patriots and New York Giants will face each other in a Super Bowl. New England is already established as one of the great NFL dynasties, and is looking to win their fourth Lombardi trophy in 11 seasons. The New York Giants are seeking its second Super Bowl victory in four seasons. With four titles, “The G-Men” will be tied with last year’s Super Bowl champions, the Green Bay Packers.

Even though the Vegas odds have the Patriots favored to win by three points, there’s a sense behind the scenes that the Giants are the real favorites. If you look at the last couple of meetings between the two, the Patriots haven’t really given us the feeling that they can beat New York. Although the Pats are 15-3 coming into Sundays game, they don’t put fear in their opponents’ hearts like they use to. This may be due to being ranked 31st in total defense this season. New England’s secondary hands down is the weakest part of their defense and they aren’t that much better stopping the run. Having said that, New England still has “Ole’ Number 12″ under center, who can light up any defense. Just ask the Denver Broncos!

Look for New York to have a balanced mix of running and passing. On the other side of the ball, the Giants will give Brady heavy doses of Justin Tuck, Jason Pierre-Paul and Osi Umenyiora. A group of defensive ends of that caliber are a quarterback’s worst nightmare. Eli Manning is solidifying his legacy as one of the premier quarterbacks in the league. A win on Sunday will seal the deal.

Take No Prisoners Sports will give you two key story lines to look for in this game:

Brady vs Eli

Tom Brady and Eli Manning will go at it again this Sunday in the house that Peyton Manning built. Brady would love to avenge his Super Bowl loss to Manning , who derailed his “Perfect Season”. You’ve got to believe Ole “Tommy Boy” is salivating at this opportunity. In 08′, it was Brady who won in the head-to-head match up in the regular season, only for Manning to win it when it counted most. Four years later, Eli beat Brady in the regular season. Does this mean that Brady will get his revenge on Sunday? Maybe!

Coughlin vs Belichick

Giants head coach Tom Coughlin and Patriots Bill Belichick meets again! Both served under Bill Parcels from 1988 to 1990. Coughlin was the wide receivers coach and Belichick was the defensive coordinator. So both coaches share a mutual bond. Both coaches have similar coaching styles fueled by a no-nonsense approach. Each have a great sense of evaluating talent and always get the best out of their players. These two coaches are the best at instilling discipline, toughness and resilience. The war of wits between these two coaches will once again be something to behold.

Take No Prisoner’s Prediction: 31- 20 Giants

The New York Football Giants are on a roll and the ball will not stop until they hoist the Lombardi trophy Sunday night. New York’s defensive front will terrorize New England’s O-line and get to Tom Brady at will. New York’s defensive will slow down the Patriots’ offense. Tight end Rob Gronkowski is New England’s biggest threat on offense, but is hobbled with a high ankle sprain. That doesn’t bode well for the Pats. Eli Manning should have a field day on Sunday along with running backs Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs.

By Keith Madyun

Posted by on February 3, 2012 in National Football League.

Leave a Comment

February 2, 2012

Clash of the Titans. Cotto vs Mayweather

To the fight fans who were expecting to see a Mayweather vs Pacquiao fight May 5 2012…Sorry it’s not going to happen. What will happen on this date is Floyd Mayweather Jr. will move up in weight to fight WBA Light Middle Weight champion, Miguel Cotto, at the MGM Casino in Las Vegas Nevada. The Nevada State Athletic Commission made it official when they granted Mayweather a one-fight license on February 1, 2012.

Mayweather, a seven-time world champion in five different weight classes, will face a serious test against Cotto. Miguel Cotto is an extremely skilled boxer that is relentless. Add that with Cotto’s heart and determination….this could be Floyd’s toughest fight to date.

“Miguel Cotto is a world-class fighter who can never be taken for granted and continues to prove he is one of the best in boxing,” said Mayweather, who will fight at Light Middle Weight for the second time in his career. The first came when he took Oscar de la Hoya’s WBC belt in May 2007. “It will be a challenge for me to compete with him at this weight, but this is the type of test I thrive on and gives me the motivation to train even harder. I have no doubt in my mind that my title belt collection will increase once again and Cotto’s reign as champion will come to an end on May 5.”

Cotto will be defending his crown for the second time, coming off a TKO win over the much hated Antonio Margarito in December 2011. Cotto will be ready for Mayweather and he acknowledges that this contest will be his greatest challenge.

“I am here to fight the biggest names in boxing,” said Cotto. The heart of Puerto Rico is eager for the challenge of facing the undefeated Mayweather. “I’ve never ducked anyone or any challenge in front of me. I have accepted everything to give the fans what they like…great and exciting fights. That is what the sport of boxing is all about; making the fights that the fans want and deserve to see. On May 5, stay tuned, because I will convincingly beat Floyd Mayweather.”

Mayweather (41-0, 25 KO’s), remains a hot commodity, bringing in record Pay Per View numbers. His resume includes victories over Zab Judah, Oscar de la Hoya, , Diego Corrales, Jose Luis Castillo, Arturo Gatti, Ricky Hatton, Juan Manuel Marquez and Shane Mosley. In his last fight against Victor Ortiz, Mayweather out boxed the young champion in the first three rounds before he KO’d Ortiz in a bazaar fourth round.

Since 2004, Cotto (36-2, 29 KO’s), has not gone a single year without being a champion. In a two-year span (2004-2006), Cotto  has successfully defended his Jr Welterweight title before winning the Welterweight crown in late 2006. He held that title until his controversial loss to Antonio Margarito in 2008. Cotto would bounce back in 2009 and capture the WBO Welterweight title, knocking out Michael Jennings. Unfortunately, he would lose his belt in a title defense against Manny Pacquiao. In June of 2010, Cotto scored a victory over Yuri Foreman and became the WBA Light Middle Weight champion. So far, Cotto has successfully defended his crown twice, courtesy of a 12th round TKO victory over Ricardo Mayorga and avenging his 08′ loss to Margarito, stopping him in round 10.

Hopefully this May 5 bout will bring the excitement that everyone’s expecting. With the continued growth of Mix Martial Arts, the sport of boxing will need it.

By Keith Madyun

Posted by on February 2, 2012 in Boxing.

Leave a Comment

February 2, 2012

What’s In A Name?

Remember when I projected UFC on Fox 2 was a pay-per-view caliber card? With the exception of one match, I swung for the fences and missed on this one, didn’t I?

When the Ultimate Fighting Championship announced its new television deal with Fox Network back in August 2011, fight fans were provided the options of news, rebroadcasts and live action, pertaining to the sport they cherish.  Fox, Fuel TV and FX are the three host networks that have been assigned the task of airing non-Pay-Per-View, UFC programming.

As big of a deal as the Fox Sports-UFC merger is, the marquee network of the aforementioned outfit has struggled to meet the hype of this blockbusterannouncement.  With now two cards under its belt, both of which carried a combination of top-tier fighters, a title fight and two bouts with title implications, the UFC on Fox has not been much to brag on.  Meanwhile, UFC on the debut of UFC on FX (January 20th, 2012) can stake claim to a “Fight of the Year” candidate (Mike “The Hulk” Easton unanimous decision over Jared Papizian) and a “Knockout of the Year” contender (Pat “HD” Barry victory over Christian Morecraft).  If UFC on Fuel TV’s forthcoming debut, featuring the main event of Diego Sanchez vs. Jake Ellenberger follows suit of its sister station and outperforms UFC on Fox, the flagship channel could find itself in a place where its digging deep to reel in viewers for its third installment.

On to the fights from this past weekend!

Chris “The All-American” Weidman defeats Demian Maia via Unanimous Decision- Middleweight Division Bout

The most memorable highlight of this pairing was Weidman’s ability to cut 30 pounds to take this fight on 10-day’s notice.  The fight in itself, thanks largely to Maia’s conditioning, or lack thereof, rendered me to insomnia.

Chael Sonnen defeats Michael “The Count” Bisping via Unanimous decision- Middleweight Title Contention Bout

Many analysts called for this one to be a squash match in favor of Sonnen.  Clearly, they overlooked Bisping’s ability to scrap with the best of them, which is exactly what the Englishman did.  Yes, Sonnen did what he knows best, throwing hammers and forcing his opponent to the mat, but his efforts did not go without being met by some fluent shots from The Count.  In fact, Bisping did so well, there should be no hesitation in noting that he did a better job landing strikes on Sonnen than Anderson Silva. Knees, elbows, punches, you name it. Bisping was able to find home with just about every strike he threw.  He even defended displayed an ability to defend Sonnen’s takedowns, again, something Silva couldn’t do against the mouthy Middleweight.  But alas, just like Sonnen’s performance against the Middleweight king, almost doesn’t count.  In the striking department, Sonnen met Bisping’s attack with an onslaught of shots.  Yes, The Count showed he can defend the takedown, but the majority of his attempts were all for not.  Sonnen, with his uncanny ability to push the pace and his matchless motor (endurance), he was able to drive his foe to the mat at almost any given point.  Although some feel that Bisping took the first two rounds, the judges felt otherwise, awarding the fight to Sonnen.  While opinions differ about how this one panned out, the consensus abroad is that these bitter rivals came together to give a stellar performance.

“Suga” Rashad Evans defeats Phil “Mr. Wonderful” Davis via Unanimous Decision- Light Heavyweight Title Contention Bout

One can only guess what contributed to Davis’ lackluster performance, but whatever the culprit was, it projected an image of him that said he was thrown onto the main stage too soon.  The strikes he threw didn’t have much precision.  They were wild and inaccurate, which left him in compromising situations.  Mentally, Evans was on his A-game.  He had an answer for everything Davis threw at him.  Davis threw kicks, Evans would take a hold of his leg, land some shots and force Davis to the mat.  Davis threw punches, Evans would respond with counter punches.  Suga was the better man of the two, but this wasn’t his sweetest performance.  Evans has been more accurate with his strikes.  Even with his motor wasn’t quite up to par.  Maybe he wasn’t himself because this is his first five-round fight.  Whatever the case is, a win is a win.

Despite the paths taken, both Evans and Sonnen get what they want…their long awaited title shots.  It’s been said that a fighter is as good as his last fight.  With that said…I’ll wait until we’re closer to these contenders’ respective title fights before I give you my take on them.  What I will share with you is the lesson that MMA Nation is being taught this early in the new year.  Don’t base your viewership of fights on names alone.

By Antoine Hoffman

Posted by on February 2, 2012 in Mixed Martial Arts.

Leave a Comment

January 27, 2012

Mishaps Begets Blessings

Going into the second installment of UFC on Fox, UFC Vice President of Talent Relations and Matchmaker Joe Silva knew the January 28th card had to surpass the outcome of its predecessor (UFC on Fox, November 12th 2001). Televising three fights instead of one has peaked the interests of the company’s constituency. Of the three fights scheduled, two carry title implications.  This is the type of card that vindicates  UFC, when it comes to giving the people fights they want.

Without further adieu, here’s why the United Center will undergo pandemonium without any involvement from the Chicago Bulls:

Demian Maia vs. Chris “The All-American” Weidman- Middleweight Division Bout

The marketing department of Duralast should consider Maia as a spokesman for its products because he resembles the company slogan…”Built To Last”.  In his last six fights (4-2), Maia’s fate came by way of unanimous decision, which included a loss to the best pound-for-pound fighter in the game and current Middleweight king Anderson Silva.  That span alone is one short of Weidman’s entire fight career. At 7-0, The All American has won three by way of submission, two with knockouts and two duplicating Maia’s most recent result. Because an unfortunate occurrence caused Weidman to take this fight on an 11-day notice, experience will prevail over youth. Maia outlasts The All American!

Chael Sonnen vs. Michael “The Count” Bisping- Middleweight Title Contention Bout

Originally, Sonnen was set to face Mark The Filipino Wrecking Machine Munoz to decide Anderson Silva’s next opponent. The unfortunate occurrence mentioned earlier, came in the form of bone spurs in Munoz’s elbow, forcing him to bow out of his shot. In comes Bisping!  In case you’re unaware, Bisping and Sonnen have absolute contempt towards one another. They’ve been involved in a war of words that has sparked anticipation for this long-awaited meeting. While Munoz’s mishap is nothing to celebrate, it is the reason these bitter rivals will finally put their words to action. This contrast of styles will bring about a synergy that could result in an early “Fight of the Year” candidate. Given my uncertainty of The Count’s takedown defense and Sonnen having yet to face a man he can’t get to the mat, my expectation is for Sonnen to see Silva a second time, come Summer 2012.

“Suga” Rashad Evans vs. Phil “Mr. Wonderful” Davis- Light Heavyweight Title Contention Bout

While Evans and Davis’ history with words is only a fraction of Sonnen and Bisping’s, the exchanges between the light heavyweights have been memorable. Davis declared the only way he would miss a title shot is if he breaks his hand from hitting Evans too hard. Evans, fired back, taking the  pre-fight press conference to a place of hysterical laughter when he called Mr. Wonderful a crossbreed of John Salley and Arsenio Hall. Back to the fight. Both fighters are Division I collegiate wrestlers. Davis out of Penn State and Evans out of Michigan State…a Big-10 conference rivalry. The only other attribute to Evans’ game is his striking, which improves with every fight. Davis uses submissions and strikes, but the latter has ways to go before reaching comparability to Evans’. Looking at the numerous injuries that have postponed Evans’ title shot, the former Light heavyweight champion should be the hungrier of the two combatants, willing his way to the fight in which he is due.

Three Pay-Per-View caliber fights…on the same card…for free?  If you are not knowledgeable of Mixed Martial Arts,  UFC on Fox 2 is the event that will enlighten you on why UFC is the fastest growing sports organization to date. Enjoy the fights and I’ll see you soon with this weekend’s recap.

By Antoine Hoffman

Posted by on January 27, 2012 in Mixed Martial Arts.

Leave a Comment

January 20, 2012

Casa Nunca Me Senti Melhor

When examining UFC’s existence, specifically the many places in which events were held, it’s borderline impossible to find a comparable region/nation that brings forth the pageantry and fanfare that Brazil does. The decibel levels could have very well rattled the foundation of the Rio De Janiero’s HSBC Arena. It was enough to make even the greatest of self loathers believe they could slay giants.

Here’s a look back at what kept UFC Rio’s crowd ignited:

Vitor “The Phenom” Belfort defeated Anthony “Rumble” Johnson via Rear Naked Choke (0:13 Mark of First Round)

Vitor Belfort was assigned a task within a task. In addition to welcoming Anthony Johnson to the middleweight division, he had to do so against a fighter that checked in 11 pounds overweight at the official weigh-in. The lack of professionalism not only garnered the contempt of the UFC masses, it proved to be counterproductive on fight night.

The bout opened with Johnson unleashing strike attempts that only gave Belfort quick breezes. His strikes appeared slower than usual Rumble then landed a front kick to The Phenom’s ribs, which preceded a few upper cuts from Belfort after an attempted rush from Johnson. Belfort went for a head kick, but it resulted in a takedown by Johnson. Johnson mounted on top by way of full guard, connecting with a few punches. Belfort countered out briefly but was a recipient of a falling punch from Johnson. Johnson got in a few more mounted punches, but after controlling Johnson’s right arm, action was stalled and referee Dan Margliato broke the position for the two to return to their feet.  As the two stood, the audience rang out, repeatedly chanting “OLE OLE OLE OLE…VITOR VITOR”. Belfort missed with a left and right hook, but was able to stuff Johnson’s takedown attempt, meeting him with upper cuts.  The two went to the cage, found themselves again in stalled action, prompting for Margliato to call for a second clean break. Johnson missed with a wild left hook, taking some upper cuts and hooks for his efforts.  Belfort connected with a jumping knee.  Johnson went for another takedown but was stuffed and forced to the ground.  Johnson was able to counter and gain full guard a second time.  Action once again ceased and Margliato called for a third break.  Although Johnson was out to be the aggressor, he fell short of expectations thanks to plodded and inaccurate delivery.  Johnson missed yet another takedown, this time receiving right hooks, which slowed Johnson’s momentum.  Belfort adjusted his stance to deliver left hooks.  From there, Belfort took Johnson’s back, rendering Johnson defenseless.  The Phenom continued to shower down punches onto Rumble, which led to an opening.  The Phenom got his right arm under Rumble’s chin, locked in a rear naked choke and forced Johnson to tap out with 0:13 left in the opening round.

Jose “Scarface” Aldo Jr. defeated Chad “Money” Mendes via Knockout- UFC Featherweight Title Bout (0:01 Mark of First Round)  

When Jay-Z’s “Run This Town” blared through the HSBC Arena’s sound system, not only did it segue Jose Aldo’s arrival, it raised the audience’s noise level, proving to be a prelude for the evening’s marquee match.  The bout opened with an inaudible, yet resounding chant for the hometown hero.  The two combatants sized one another up, leading Mendes to start the first strike, in the form of two inside leg kicks.  After two more kicks from Mendes, Aldo responded with a kick of his own, carrying the kind of impact that forced Mendes to take an unwanted 45 degree turn.  After a few combined missed kicks, Money went in for his first takedown attempt, drawing nothing in return.  A few missed punches were thrown and Scarface followed through with another leg kick, buckling the challenger.  Money attempted a jab-uppercut combo, only to find air. Aldo landed a thunderous uppercut that sent Mendes to the ground.  Mendes responded with another shot at a takedown, only to come up empty-handed. Mendes rushed again and landed a left uppercut to Aldo’s stomach.  Aldo answered with another chin kick.  Aldo missed an uppercut.  Mendes shot in for another takedown, making him 0-3 in that department.  Money landed a few punches and leg kicks, but none of them carried significant impact.  Aldo missed a two-punch, kick combo, which gave Mendes an opening for a takedown, but elusiveness again helped Aldo escape the challenger’s clutches. The combatants found themselves against the cage.  Mendes went for a belly to back takedown, but Aldo held the fence to avoid a possible meeting with the mat. The cage proved to be not much of aid as Mendes went to repeat the takedown, which was to no avail.  Scarface replied with a back elbow to Money’s face.  Mendes found a bit of success with knee shots to the back of Aldo’s thighs.  Unfortunately, they didn’t serve the complete purpose, as Aldo’s legs were in no way weakened by those shots.  Mendes took another shot at a takedown off the fence but again got nothing in return.  Aldo was able to break Mendes hold and follow-up with a left knee that send Mendes crashing to the mat.  With 0:01 left in round one, Scarface ended Money’s championship hopes with three mounted punches, thus retaining his title.

The energy was so radiant in the HSBC Arena, Aldo made a U-turn from greeting his corner, opting to share his big win with fellow natives.  Before having his hand raised in victory by referee Mario Yamasaki, he was perched on the shoulders of his Brazilian brethren, processing throughout the arena.

On a night where two Rio De Janeirians faced insurmountable odds, Vitor Belfort and Jose Aldo Jr. will forever look back on January 14th, 2012 as a night in which “Home Has Never Felt Better”.

By Antoine Hoffman

Posted by on January 20, 2012 in Mixed Martial Arts.

Leave a Comment

January 13, 2012

Favorable Firsts?

The two marquee bouts of UFC 142, better known as UFC Rio, will see an inaugural moment for two combatants. First, Anthony “Rumble” Johnson will make the jump from welterweight (170 lbs.) to middleweight (185 lbs.). Finally, Chad “Money” Mendes gets his first crack at UFC gold. The bouts at hand brought about serious deliberation. Far be it from me to label myself “MMAstradamous”, but I couldn’t just sit on these fights without providing a forecast. Here is my stab at the lasting impression Rumble and Money will set in their respective experiments:

Vitor “The Phenom” Belfort vs. Anthony “Rumble” Johnson- Middleweight Division Bout

Opting to debut in the deepest end of the Middleweight division pool creates a huge splash. Accepting a fight against a recent number one contender makes Johnson’s intentions quite clear.  He has to lock horns with the fastest and arguably heaviest hands in the class. Given Belfort’s experience, it’s no question why he’s favored to succeed as Johnson’s welcoming committee. Ah, but not so fast!  With every fighter comes vulnerability. As menacing as The Phenom’s pressure can be, he’s not impervious to a knockout. Rumble has gained notoriety for his imposing size and knockout power. What overlooked about the Georgia native is his wrestling/takedown ability. As memorable as this one will be, there is a malicious intent behind Johnson’s strikes that I see leading him to victory in his Middleweight debut.

Jose Aldo Jr. (Champion) vs. Chad Mendes (Challenger)- UFC Featherweight Championship

If you have followed Jose Aldo Junior since his World Extreme Cagefighting and beyond, you have become accustomed to the manner in which he finishes opponents. Twelve of his 20 wins are by way of knockout or technical knockout. Since strapping on the gloves under the UFC brand, Aldo seems to have been a shell of his WEC self. Against Mark Hominick and Kenny Florian, the outcome fell in the judges hands. This does not bode well, going into a bout with the Featherweight division’s best wrestler. The undefeated Mendes takes down his opponents at will. If you’re in his clutches, prepare yourself for a trip to the mat. On the flip side, the closest Mendes has come to facing an elite striker like Aldo is being a training partner of Urijah Faber, who Aldo tortured in April 2010.  If Aldo wants to stay champion, he’ll need intellect to see him through. His timing with counterattacks must be flawless.  I’ll go with the mystique of Rio De Janiero to help the hometown hero defend his crown, but if he detours from his game plan, the division’s power wrestler will emerge as champion.

As always, enjoy fight night and I’ll see you soon with my UFC Rio recap.

By Antoine Hoffman

Posted by on January 13, 2012 in Mixed Martial Arts.

Leave a Comment

January 3, 2012

No need To Prolong Things

For fight fans, the Main Event of UFC 141 was supposed to be a matchup that conjured such images as “When Worlds Collide” or a head-on wreck between two speeding locomotives. Two forces no doubt collided, but one packed more impact than the other.

In this Heavyweight Title contention bout, where the winner would move on to face present champion Junior Dos Santos, Brock Lesnar was assigned the task of welcoming Alistair Overeem to the Ultimate Fighting Championship. While the UFC is foreign territory to Overeem, the sport of Mixed Martial Arts is anything but. “The Reem” broke into the sport in 1999, has a 47 fight career (36-11) and is the last champion of three organizations that no longer have Heavyweight divisions (Strikeforce, Dream and K-1). One title is missing from his prestigious collection, and Overeem made his desire known to Lesnar, as well as the world.

After landing a chin kick to open the round, Lesnar found himself operating in the standing game, only for his punches to find air. Lesnar attempted a standing takedown, but the grizzled veteran escaped with ease.  Again, Overeem was able to evade Lesnar’s punches, this time responding with two knees to the midsection, with the latter shot briefly curling the former WWE star into a ball. Overeem was able to get Lesnar into his clutches, land two more knees to the gut, followed by a two-piece uppercut combo that proved to be painful.

Overeem went for a kick, which Lesnar tried to counter into a takedown, but again, to no avail. Lesnar threw another punch that found air and Overeem zeroed in with another knee to the ribs, followed by an uppercut, a left jab and a left hook. Again, Lesnar was hurt! Overeem followed up with a left kick to Lesnar’s ribs, which sent him crumbling to the mat, grimacing in pain. In retreat mode, Lesnar attempted to cover his head from eventual punches. A few landed, but the one punch that sealed the deal was a crouching right hook to Lesnar’s left rib and 2:26 into the opening round, Overeem got his first UFC win by way of Technical Knock Out, which ultimately sent Lesnar into retirement.

With a dominant performance in his UFC debut, Alistair Overeem finds himself on standby, waiting for the scheduling committee to announce when he will get a shot to add a fourth heavyweight championship to his trophy case. While I have plenty of time to complete my forecast, I’ll say this much…Don’t look for Overeem’s encounter with Junior Dos Santos to be as leisurely as this one.

By Antoine Hoffman

Posted by on January 3, 2012 in Mixed Martial Arts.

Leave a Comment

December 22, 2011

The Value of 1

Week 15 of the National Football League’s regular season saw two teams experience unlikely firsts. For starters, the Green Bay Packers suffered their first loss of the season, at the hands of the Kansas City Chiefs. Going the opposite direction, the Indianapolis Colts got its first win against a division foe in Tennessee. Finally, in a double whammy, once acclaimed wide receiver Chad Johnson found pay dirt for the first time this season, which helped the Patriots give the Broncos their first loss in seven games.

Looking at these scenarios, the question is how will the number one impact these teams? For Green Bay, I think that “1″ loss was needed. The team did an excellent job maintaining a reasonable temperament, operating under the one-game-at-a-time philosophy. It can’t be accused of arrogance in any way. While losses tend to beget negative vibes, this particular one could serve as fuel to propel The Pack throughout the postseason. NFC, get ready!

Indianapolis is all but assured the first pick of the 2012 NFL draft. For years, this team has rested on the abilities of Peyton Manning. It’s understandable to some degree, given he’s one of the more prolific passers in the league’s history, which has resulted in a Vince Lombardi to call his own. However, the organization was not ready for the worst case scenario, which is the 2011 campaign. The hope is that this rare season for the Colts will cultivate in bringing in not only a quarterback for the future, whether remains a Colt or goes elsewhere, but it inspire the organization to broadly equip itself with players that can compete, even when marquee players suffer significant injury.

In the case of Chad Johnson, his lone touchdown at this point of the season, along with the allegations about his inability to grasp New England’s system, and not to mention his age, could deplete his value as a highly desired receiver.

Finally with the Broncos, how will this unit respond to adversity, coming off a Mile High run for a nice chunk of the season?

Who knew a number so small could carry so much volume?  Here’s week 16′s forecast:

Texans over Colts

Browns over Ravens

Broncos over Bills

Panthers over Buccaneers

Bengals over Cardinals

Chiefs over Raiders

Patriots over Dolphins

Jets over Giants

Steelers over Rams

Titans over Jaguars

Redskins over Vikings

Lions over Chargers

Eagles over Cowboys

49ers over Seahawks

Packers over Bears

Saints over Falcons

Last week was bananas, to say the least.  I broke even at 8-8.  I’ve gotta keep my head above water.  Come back next week for my results.  Please have a safe, blessed and joyous Holiday Season.

By Antoine Hoffman

Posted by on December 22, 2011 in National Football League.

Leave a Comment

December 21, 2011

Season Preview 2011-2012 Eastern Conference

Looking ahead to the 2011-2012, Take No Prisoners Sports will preview the Eastern Conference.

ATLANTIC DIVISION

Boston Celtics (56-26 last season/ Division winner)- The Celtics will benefit the most from a short season. If the “Big Four” (Rondo, Pierce, Allen and Garnett) can stay relatively healthy, they can make a run at title number 18. The amount of back-to-back games will be challenging for Boston. Boston’s experience will be an advantage as they will capture another Atlantic Division crown.

New Jersey Nets (24-58 last season)- New Jersey has a lot at stake before they move to Brooklyn. If they don’t get Dwight Howard, it’s a good chance that they will lose Deron Williams. No disrespect to Brook Lopez but he isn’t a player that teams want to build around. The advantage of having salary cap flexibility can also be a detriment if they can’t land a player of Howard’s stature. The uncertainty of this team’s future will ultimately kill its team’s chances of competing for a playoff spot.

New York Knicks (42-40) - How scary is New York’s front court, now that they have Tyson Chandler ruling the paint? I’d say very scary. Add that with Carmelo Anthony and Amare Stoudemire playing a full season with the club and you have a formidable front court. Now the back court is a different story. Mike Bibby is the projected starter. Landry Fields will try to bounce back from a horrible post season. Finally, who knows when Baron Davis will return from his back injury? This team will score but how well they play defense will determine this team’s success.

Philadelphia 76ers (41-41)- Philadelphia is a team that will compete night in night out. However, competitiveness alone won’t win most games. Philly lacks an inside presence, as well as a consistent deep threat. With that said, the 76ers are good enough to reach the playoffs as a seven or eight seed.

Toronto Raptors (22-60)- Toronto will have the same issues that plagued them last year and the year before and the year before….Poor defense, lack of outside shooting, inexperience and turnovers. A recipe for a bad season.

CENTRAL DIVISION

Chicago Bulls (62-20 last season/ Division winner)- Coming off 62 wins last season, the Chicago Bulls was a pleasant surprise. League MVP Derrick Rose agreed to a five-year extension  with the Bulls….Carlos Boozer is fully healthy…..Richard “Rip” Hamilton is signed…..Joakim Noah will control the boards and second year head coach Tom Thibodeau will have his team working on all cylinders defensively. Look for the Bulls to be more competitive in the Eastern Conference Finals against the Heat!

Cleveland Cavaliers (19-63 last season)- Attention Dan Gilbert! You don’t have LeBron anymore! Get over it! Time to move on! Cavs fans will have little joy this season even though they should improve from last season. Rookies Kyrie Irving and Tristan Thompson are the future. With enough cap room to acquire quality players, Dan Gilbert should learn from his mistakes and not put all of his eggs in one basket as he did with LeBron James.

Detroit Pistons (30-52 last season)- Detroit’s future isn’t very promising. The Ben Gordon/Charlie Villanueva experiment has failed. Ben Wallace is washed up. Tashaun Prince is playing at a fraction of what he used to be. The ability to rebuild isn’t a reality for this team, mainly due to bad contracts to players who aren’t playing well.

Indiana Pacers (37-45 last season)- The Indiana Pacers are one of those teams that have great potential but lacks leadership. Small Forward Danny Granger is an excellent player. But is he the player that can take a team to the finals and win it? Probably not. David West was a great acquisition. When healthy, West is a handful in the low block. He also will provide toughness to this group. The Pacers shouldn’t have any problems reaching the playoffs this season.

Milwaukee Bucks (35-47 last season) - This team will live or die with Andrew Bogut. His health will be key. Stephen Jackson is a great fit for Milwaukee. Brandon Jennings is the point but he’s really a two guard and the Bucks are definitely in need of a point guard.

SOUTHEAST DIVISION

Atlanta Hawks (44-38 last season)- Atlanta would like to build on what they accomplished in the playoffs last season by knocking out the Orlando Magic in the first round of the playoffs. Compensating for the lost of Jamal Crawford via free agency will be a huge challenge for the Hawks. Look for Atlanta to finish in second place in the division and a possible 5 seed in the playoffs.

Charlotte Bobcats (34-48 last season)-  Charlotte is in rebuilding mode. Rookies Kemba Walker and Bismack Biyombo are good prospects for the future. Bobcat fans will have to be patient as team owner Michael Jordan is looking at all avenues to cut team costs. Good Luck!

Miami Heat **(58-24 last season/Division winner)- Anything less than a title this season will be a complete failure for head coach Eric Spoelstra and the Miami Heat. No excuses! In fact, Miami has been under the radar entering this season, a far cry from a season ago. A shorten 66 games season should favor the reigning Eastern Conference champs. Newly acquired small forward Shane Battier is a huge asset. His perimeter defense is underrated. Barring any major injuries, the Heat will make another NBA Finals appearance. Will they be good enough to defeat the team representing the West in the Finals? That remains to be seen.

Orlando Magic (52-30 last season)- The main topics of discussion this season for Orlando is…..When are they going to trade Dwight Howard and to which team?

Washington Wizards (23-59 last season)- Got to love those new Wizards uniforms! Reminds you of the Ole’ Bullets days. As for Washington’s hope for a playoff berth this season…probably not. However, I predict that the “Wiz kids” will collect more wins than last season.

** Conference Champions

By Keith Madyun

Posted by on December 21, 2011 in National Basketball Association.

Leave a Comment

December 20, 2011

Season Preview 2011-2012 Western Conference

Heading into the 2011-2012 NBA season, the Western Conference remains as the deeper conference. Take No Prisoners Sports will give a team by team preview of the conference.

NORTHWEST DIVISION

Denver Nuggets (50-32 last season) – When the Nuggets lost Carmelo Anthony, they were supposed to be in decline. I guess that’s why they play the games. Denver won games that everyone thought that they would lose. They ended up winning 50 games, becoming the fifth seed in the playoffs. Ty Lawson is holding his own. He and veteran Andre Miller are a great one/two punch at the point guard position. Al Harrington, Arron Afflalo, Nene and Danilo Gallinari provides a lot of firepower offensively. I don’t know if the Nuggets can improve their win total from last season but they will compete.

Minnesota Timber Wolves (17-65 last season) - Last season was a long one for the Timber Wolves. Look for that trend to continue in Minnesota.

Oklahoma City Thunder (55-27 last season/Division Winner) - This is the most dangerous group of young talent in the west. Kevin Durant is the most dynamic player in the game. Barring any injury, Durant will get his third scoring title and a possible league MVP crown. The sky’s the limit for point guard Russell Westbrook. He’s proven to be one of the best at that position. Serge Ibaka controls the paint defensively. The Thunder will be one of the front-runners in the West.

Portland Trail Blazers (48-34 last season) - Injuries have plagued the Trail Blazers in the past, yet they continue to be competitive. With Brandon Roy retiring and Greg Oden being injury prone, Portland will continue to ride on the shoulders of LaMarcus Aldridge, Gerald Wallace, Marcus Camby, Wesley Matthews and Raymond Felton. These starters bring speed and toughness but will it be enough? Probably not!

Utah Jazz (39-43 last season) -  Last season, Jazz fans saw their hall of fame coach Jerry Sloan step down, ending his feud with Deron Williams, only to see Williams leave for New Jersey soon after. As a result, Utah missed the playoffs. The Jazz now have Al Jefferson. Add Paul Milsap, and they have a pretty decent front court. But it’s the back court that is in question. Utah fans will have to endure another season without a playoff berth.

PACIFIC DIVISION 

Golden State Warriors (36-46 last season) - The back court of Monta Ellis and Stephen Curry will always bring it. Dorell Wright will put up numbers as well. Preventing opponents from scoring has been the “Achilles Heel” for this team. Rookie head coach Mark Jackson will try to change that as he will attempt to implement a defensive mindset into Northern California’s club.

Los Angeles Clippers (32-50 last season) – Once known as the other team in Los Angeles, the Clippers have made some dramatic changes to their lineup. Acquiring arguably the best point guard in the game in Chris Paul (Thanks to David Stern) , Chauncey “Mr. Big Shot” Billups, Caron “Tough Juice” Butler and Mo Williams, the Clippers will be a team to be reckoned with this season. Power forward Blake Griffin and center DeAndre Jordan are human highlight reels. The Clippers abused its home town rival Lakers in their first preseason game with the new lineup. If that was a sign to come, watch out Lakers!

Los Angeles Lakers (57-25 last season/Division Winner) - This has been an interesting off-season for the Lakers. New coach….New players…. New scheme. When Lamar Odom was shipped to the defending champion Dallas Mavericks and Shannon Brown moving to Phoenix to play for the Suns, LA created major challenges matching that talent. The two combined for 23.3 points last season off the bench. By adding sharp shooter Jason Kapono, Troy Murphy and Josh McRoberts, as well as having Metta World Peace lead the second unit, Los Angeles is optimistic in salvaging a depleted bench. Let’s be honest, they will look different in all aspects but they still have their core group of players, along with the potential of being a dangerous group. However, LA has a lot of work to do and the likelihood of a 17th banner going up at Staples Center next fall is slim.

Phoenix Suns (40-42 last season) - Steve Nash can still make plays but the question is…..for how long? Looking at a team that consists of mainly guards and small forwards, I see the Suns just about breaking even in total wins and losses.

Sacramento Kings (24-58 last season) - Limited talented and no real sense of direction, the Kings will continue to be the bottom feeders of the conference.

SOUTHWEST DIVISION

Dallas Mavericks (57-25 last season)** - It’s only fair to place the defending champs as one of the front-runners in the West. Dirk Nowitzki along with Jason Terry, Jason Kidd and newly acquired Lamar Odom, will be offensive juggernauts. However, the Mavs took a hit defensively when they lost Tyson Chandler to free agency. If Dirk can duplicate what he did in last year’s playoffs, watch out!

Houston Rockets (43-39 last season) - Houston was somewhat of a surprise last season. The play of Luis Scola and Kevin Martin were key last season for the Rockets. They will be expected to carry the load this season as well, along with point guard Kyle Lowry who will run the offense full-time this season. It will be interesting to see if they can compete in the west.

Memphis Grizzlies (46-36 last season) - Memphis looks to build on what they did last season. Zack Randolph is an unbelievable talent at the power forward position. He can score almost at will. Mike Conley is establishing himself as one of the better point guards in the NBA. Couple that with the return of Rudy Gay and a deep bench, the Grizzlies will shake things up in the Southwest Division. Youth, talent, hunger and confidence will put teams in the west on notice.

New Orleans Hornets (46-36 last season) - Two weeks ago, a trade was made, the Commissioner abused his authority and voided the trade, the Hornets looked like a team in disarray. Then another trade was made, it got approved by the league and the Hornets actually got a better deal. But when it’s all said and done, the Hornets will still  miss the playoffs. Hopefully they will get an owner soon.

San Antonio Spurs (61-21 last season/ Division Winner) - San Antonio was the surprise team last season, earning the number one seed entering the playoffs. The Spurs also made a surprise exit in the first round of the 2011 NBA playoffs as they were knocked off by the Memphis Grizzlies. Head coach Gregg Popovich will always have his team ready. In fact, he coached the Spurs to its first title during the 1998-1999 locked out shortened season. A 66 game season favors an old veteran team. Although Tim Duncan is at the twilight of his career, he can still put up solid numbers. However, Manu Ginobli and Tony Parker will have to shoulder the weight offensively. With one of the best benches in the league, San Antonio will remain in the mix of things.

**NBA champion

By Keith Madyun

Posted by on December 20, 2011 in National Basketball Association.

Leave a Comment

December 15, 2011

Not Easily Broken

In all the hoopla that has been the 2011 National Football League season, there is one story that has been lost in translation. One team that isn’t getting the attention it deserves. That story or team is the Houston Texans.

All they’ve done is produce a top-10 offense, stand alone as the league’s best defense and generate a 10-3 mark, which places them in a four-way fight with Baltimore, New England and Pittsburgh for home-field advantage. What makes this season more remarkable is the ability to sail smoothly while top-tier players such as Arian Foster, Matt Schaub, Mario Williams and Andre Johnson suffer significant injuries.

Born in 2002, Houston made its reputation known early, pulling off a major upset in its debut against the Dallas Cowboys. Nine years later, the Texans are pretty much set to win their first division title. I can’t say I know where they’ll end up ultimately, but to endure a number of injuries and still have a choke hold on your division and possibly the conference speaks on the resolve this team has. I don’t think the rest of the AFC will be excited to visit H-Town come playoff-time. Until then, here’s my Week 14 forecast:

Jaguars over Falcons- There’s something about night games and this new life as a result of interim coach Mel Tucker that makes me lean towards the upset.

Cowboys over Buccaneers- Dallas will get one win in December, won’t it?

Dolphins over Bills- What has happened or isn’t happening in Buffalo?

Seahawks over Bears- Who knew Skittles enhanced performance?

Texans over Panthers- Houston will continue to click on all cylinders and pull out a tough one against some feisty felines.

Titans over Colts- Will the 2008 Detroit Lions have company just three years after their shameful mark in history?

Packers over Chiefs- Todd Haley out, Romeo Cremmel, on at an interim note. That won’t be enough to save Kansas City from the inevitable.

Saints over Vikings-  This will be like a home game for the N.O.

Giants over Redskins- Washington finds ways to lose games, so a season sweep is very unlikely.

Bengals over Rams- There’s a tandem establishing itself in Cincinnati…Dalton to Green…#GetFamiliar!

Lions over Raiders- Too close to call!

Cardinals over Browns- Is John Skelton about to be what Kevin Kolb was supposed to be?

Broncos over Patriots- New England’s defense allowed a sub par offense a window of opportunity a week ago. In addition, I’m a believer of divine intervention. Critics will go bananas after this one!

Jets over Eagles- Thanks to recent revelation,  I have learned my lesson about the New York Jets…In December, BET ON GREEN!

Ravens over Chargers- In Takeo Spikes’ 14 year career, he’s never played in a playoff game. Playing with the Bolts was supposed to change that for him. Unfortunately, the more things change, the more things stay the same.

49ers over Steelers- Two of the league’s top five defenses will battle it out under the Monday Night lights. I foresee San Francisco’s defensive front running roughshod against Pittsburgh’s offensive line.

Last week, 13-3…need more numbers like those. Let’s do it again next week.

By Antoine Hoffman

Posted by on December 15, 2011 in National Football League.

Leave a Comment

December 14, 2011

Jones The Dragon Slayer

A technical knockout of Mauricio “Shogun” Rua at UFC 128 left critics to deliberate on the kind of shape Rua was in coming off an extended layoff. Rendering Quinton “Rampage” Jackson into submission led skeptics to dismiss that achievement as a victory over an MMA legend who is a shell of his former self. Now that he’s beat a third consecutive future hall of famer in Lyoto ”The Dragon” Machida, in impressive fashion, will the critics find fault in Jon “Bones” Jones’ latest achievement? They can try!

The Light Heavyweight champion faced a former champion in Machida who was ready to fight. The two opened the bout at a stale mate, sizing one another up for the perfect opportunity to strike. Opportunity knocked on Machida’s door first. The Dragon worked in some shin kicks that were rather resounding throughout the Toronto’s Air Canada Centre. In addition, he was excellent with sticking and moving on the champion, countering punches, staying out of Jones’ reach and initiating some punches that caused the champion to back pedal a time or two. Jones’ patented back spinning elbow, was unable to find a home. Machida’s aggression and wisdom allowed him to stake claim of the opening round.

After getting a feel of what Machida had to offer, the champion did not take long to remind fight fans why he sits atop the Light Heavyweight mountain. Jones was able to close distance between himself and Machida with punches and kicks of his own. Jones went to one of his strong suits, wrestling Machida down to the mat.  Bones landed a left elbow to Machida’s forehead, leaving a deep cut, which ultimately turned the tide of this bout. After the doctor cleared Machida to continue fighting, Bones caught The Dragon with a staggering jab, forcing the action onto the fence. Jones secured a standing guillotine choke and just :34 into the second round, the champion completed his second title defense, leaving Machida lying motionless.

Jones is the first Light Heavyweight champion to successfully defend his title in consecutive fights since Chuck Lidell did so in 2005. Given the adversity presented and the resolve shown to retain the title, Jones has completed his toughest fight to date. He has elevated his stock in the best pound-for-pound ranking, as well as solidified his status as the 2011 Mixed Martial Artist/Fighter of the Year.

What’s next, a well deserved vacation, while simultaneously seeing who’s next in line for a title shot.  His next challenger will emerge from UFC on Fox 2′s main event between Phil Davis and former Light Heavyweight Champion and ex-training partner Rashad Evans. Will the “Enigmatic Prodigy” cross paths with his past, or will he lock horns with an X-Factor?

By Antoine Hoffman

Posted by on December 14, 2011 in Mixed Martial Arts.

Leave a Comment

December 9, 2011

Dictatorship!!!!!

Hours after the New Orleans Hornets struck a deal with the Los Angeles Lakers and Houston Rockets on a three-team trade that would have seen perennial All-Star point guard Chris Paul throwing alley-hoops to Kobe Bryant, NBA commissioner David Stern informed the “League-Owned” Hornets that the trade will not happen.

The decision was made primarily due to the overwhelming displeasure of certain NBA owners. Particularly, Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert. Yahoo Sports obtained an email that was sent to Stern from Gilbert expressing his displeasure in the deal. Gilbert felt that the deal would be a “travesty” and that “the 29 owners of the Hornets” should put the deal to a vote. In the letter, Gilbert also stated that “the Lakers would save approximately 20 million in salaries and 21 million dollars in luxury taxes…..”that 21 million goes to non-taxpaying teams and to fund revenue sharing”.  He further wrote….”I cannot remember ever seeing a trade where a team got by far the best player in the trade and saved over $40 million in the process. And it doesn’t appear that they would give up any draft picks, which might allow to later make a trade for Dwight Howard. (They would also get a large trade exception that would help them improve their team and/or eventually trade for Howard.) When the Lakers got Pau Gasol (at the time considered an extremely lopsided trade) they took on tens of millions in additional salary and luxury tax and they gave up a number of prospects (one in Marc Gasol who may become a max-salary player). I just don’t see how we can allow this trade to happen. I know the vast majority of owners feel the same way that I do. When will we just change the name of 25 of the 30 teams to the Washington Generals?”. It seems like Mr. Gilbert cares more about his revenue split instead of his fellow small market team in the New Orleans Hornets, who would have received a great deal in the trade.

Let’s look at the proposed trade and the league’s explanation on blocking it shall we?

Paul would have gone to Los Angeles, Pau Gasol would go to Houston and the Hornets would get  Kevin Martin, Luis Scola, Goran Dragic and Lamar Odom. Those are some pretty darn good players the Hornets could have gotten if you ask me. Not to mention that Odom is the reigning Sixth Man of the Year! The league’s explanation…..”The deal was never discussed at the Board of Governors meeting and the league office declined to make the trade for basketball reasons.” OKAY!!! So if the deal was never discussed and the league owns the Hornets, why did they allow the trade talks to go as far as an agreement in principle? What does “basketball reasons” really mean?

There is no way that this deal shouldn’t have gone through. Period! It’s not as if the Hornets organization was getting low-balled. Los Angeles was willing to give up their All-Star power forward and the Sixth man of the Year. There’s no guarantee that the Lakers would have even acquired the Dwight Howard from the Orlando Magic. In fact, giving up Lamar Odom would have lowered their chances of obtaining Howard.

On a day that the NBA officially ended a senseless lockout, David Stern gave the NBA another black eye in allowing certain league owners to manipulate things and use poor judgment. The owners signed off on the new Collective Bargaining Agreement and the league has no place in dictating where a player should go. Trying to keep a great player in a small market just isn’t going to happen folks. New Orleans had a great opportunity to get better as a team and allow a great player that wasn’t going to resign in the first place to go where he felt best suits him. As a result, Paul not only threatens to sue the league but he’s made it clear that he will not report to training camp.

At the end of the day, Los Angeles will always be an elite team regardless, Chris Paul will not sign an extension with the Hornets and he will go to the  team of his liking. If this rule by David Stern stands, the real loser in this is New Orleans, who might lose their star player with nothing in return.

By Keith Madyun

Posted by on December 9, 2011 in National Basketball Association.

Leave a Comment

December 9, 2011

Riddle Me This, Riddle Me That

If styles make fights, one can only imagine the kind of bout that will come forth as a result of the synergy that UFC 140′s main event combatants will bring.

The marquee matchup for this anticipated card presents the most difficult challenge to date. Not only will complexity be an issue for the fighters involved, but every fight fan watching this epic battle will deliberate carefully on who will emerge victorious.

This is where prognostication comes in TNP Nation. While anything can happen on any given night, I’ll do my best to forecast what could be an artistic fight.

The Challenger, Lyoto ”The Dragon” Machida stands in a class of his own. Not only did he introduce MMA Nation to Karate as a legit Martial Art in a sport of variety, he rode that wave to a 16-0 start in his career that included a dominant title win over former champion Rashad Evans. His elusiveness has ironically garnered him acclaim and criticism. He circles his opponent, goes in for strikes and pulls away before you can counter his attack. Machida’s timing is impeccable. As learned in his last two bouts against Quinton Jackson, and Randy Couture, “The Dragon” can also be the aggressor, pushing the pace with rapid fire punches, kicks and leg sweep takedowns. With wins over the likes of BJ Penn, Rich Franklin and Tito Ortiz on his resume, along with being the former UFC Light Heavyweight champion, Machida has what it takes to reclaim UFC’s most transitional title.

Coming out the opposite corner will be the reigning champion Jon “Bones” Jones. Like his opponent, Bones also sits in a unique class, albeit a different subject. At the conclusion of 2011, the champ will have four fights in a calendar year. With each fight, he gets better. In a mere seven months, the 24 year old has progressed from up-and-comer to title contender to champion to defending champion. With expertise in Jiu-Jitsu, Wrestling and Muay-Thai, Jones is the most perplexed fighter in the sport. Whatever he throws at his opponents, strikes, takedowns, submission attempts, comes from the most unfathomable positions. With wins over Mauricio “Shogun” Rua and Jackson, Jones has a chance to outlast a third future hall of famer in Machida.

Machida can be likened to a rubix cube. Upon sight, he looks simple, but once you’re engaged in him, he presents difficulty. Jones is the enigmatic prodigy. He’s young, yet possesses a fighting style that is inexplicable.

As imposing as The Dragon can be, like many rubix cubes before him, he can and will get solved. Jones will have the remedy to ward of Machida’s attack, completing a second title defense, thus perpetuating inquiry that asks, “Who can stop Jones?”

By Antoine Hoffman

Posted by on December 9, 2011 in Mixed Martial Arts.

Leave a Comment

December 8, 2011

Let The Record Show

Maybe there’s some sort of incentive for bashing Tim Tebow that I’m oblivious to because the number of people that are in line for this is borderline astronomical. Whether it’s his spiritual beliefs, throwing mechanics or the way he shovels snow, there appears to be a new game amongst NFL constituents called “Find Tebow’s Flaws”.

Okay, so he has yet toreach the fundamental soundness of Aaron Rodgers. And no he doesn’t give the media controversial, bulletin board material week in and week out. All he has is the one thing that can’t be coached, HEART.

As much of a fan as I am of the kid, I’m not so much of a mark that I overlook the other factors that have contributed to Denver’s recent success. The Denver Broncos, led by what seems to a rejuvenated Willis McGahee, have the league’s top rushing offense, averaging 159 yards per game. As far as the defense is concerned, do not be fooled by its 24th place ranking. That unit finds ways to get its offense back on the field, while making key plays that alters the outcome of games.

Going back to Tebow, the way he plays has become infectious. That “Will to Win” has embodied every Bronco that steps on the field. The refusal to disappoint one another in battle cannot be more clear.

The National Football League is a bottom-line kind of sport, which to me says winning takes precedent over anything else. ”Tebow can’t throw”…”the defense ranks in the bottom half of the league”…BIG FROOPIN’ WHOOP. No it doesn’t meet everyone’s cosmetic standards, but Denver is the third hottest team behind Green Bay and Houston. This team puts on the hard hats and goes to work. Trust me, there are 16 teams wishing they had a five-game winning streak to call their own.

Can the Mile-High City keep it going for another week? Here we go:

Steelers over Browns

Ravens over Colts

Falcons over Panthers

Bengals over Texans

Lions over Vikings

Jaguars over Buccaneers

Dolphins over Eagles

Jets over Chiefs

Saints over Titans

Patriots over Redskins

49ers over Cardinals

Broncos over Bears

Packers over Raiders

Chargers over Bills

Giants over Cowboys

Seahawks over Rams

Last week, 11-5.

By the way, Tebow will just be 20 games into his two-year career, which includes 11 starts going into week 14.  If given a chance to lead this team through 2012 and beyond, one can only wonder what his potential wil be moving forward.

By Antoine Hoffman

Posted by on December 8, 2011 in National Football League.

Leave a Comment

December 7, 2011

Mission Accomplished!

“He means nothing to me”! These were the words uttered out of Miguel Cotto’s mouth when asked of his thoughts of Antonio Margarito, after a lopsided victory over the former Mexican champion. Miguel Cotto vowed to avenge his loss to Antonio Margarito and he didn’t disappoint. Cotto whipped Margarito with a dramatic TKO victory in front of a jam-packed Madison Square Garden.

The early going of the fight was similar to the first. Cotto landed clean shots while avoiding Margarito’s counters. Margarito applied the pressure affectively but not affective enough. Cotto was the more accurate puncher and won all the first three rounds. Round four was the beginning of the end for Margarito. Cotto delivered a left hook to Margarito’s right eye which produced a cut. This was the same eye that got badly damaged in his bout against Manny Pacquiao. As promised, Cotto went to work on that right eye, eventually shutting it.

Despite the cut, Margarito continued to bring the pressure. Through the middle rounds, specifically round seven, it looked like he might have  turned the corner, as he appeared to gain momentum. Unfortunately, Cotto’s punches along with Margarito’s eye, wouldn’t allow that momentum to carry on to the latter rounds.

By the ninth round, Margarito’s eye was completely shut and fatigue became an issue as well. He made it through that round, but it was evident that the end was near. Three seconds into the tenth, referee Steve Smoger asked doctor Barry Jordan twice if he wanted to stop the fight which Margarito’s camp clearly opposed to. After the second attempt, Smoger called the fight and Cotto retained the belt. Cotto landed 43% of his punches. The same amount landed in the first fight. But this time he got his revenge and furthered the notion that Margarito’s gloves was loaded in the first matchup.

Margarito future seems bleak. With a bum eye, Margarito will have a hard time getting license to a major fight again. I guess you can say that its “Mission Accomplished” for Cotto!

By Keith Madyun

Posted by on December 7, 2011 in Boxing.

Leave a Comment

December 2, 2011

Is it Payback Time! Cotto vs Margarito 2 Preview/Prediction

With 24 hours left until the rematch between Miguel Cotto and Antonio Margarito, it’s time for “Take No Prisoners” to predict this anticipated bout. Here are questions that should be answered come fight night. Will Cotto avenge his loss to Margarito? Will Margarito duplicate what he “appeared to do” in the first bout and will a second win against Cotto restore his credibility?  Let’s take look at what we think the outcome will be, shall we?

MIGUEL COTTO VS MARGARITO 2 PREDICTIONS

This fight will be very entertaining. I expect the rematch will meet the same exciting standards of the first bout, and possibly exceed it. Especially with all the drama that it brings. In my opinion, Miguel Cotto would have won easily against  Antonio Margarito in their first fight, had it not been for Margarito’s advantage. Yes, I do believe that Margarito’s gloves had a hardened substance inside of  them. The fact that Cotto basically dominated 3/4 of the bout and Margarito couldn’t gather himself until round 11 to stop Cotto, speaks volumes on Cotto’s durability. Considering the controversy and the explosive exchanges between the two camps, you can’t help but to come to the conclusion that these two fighters downright despise one another. The bad blood between them will carry over in the ring on Saturday night in front of a packed Madison Square Garden crowd. Once again, it’s Puerto Rico vs Mexico and this time it’s for the Super Light Middleweight title. With New York having a huge Puerto Rican population, Cotto will have an advantage.

Given that Cotto’s had stamina problems as of late, I see him attacking Margarito’s surgically repaired right eye early in the bout. Margarito has a very strong chin. With that said, I’ll be surprised if Cotto knocked him out. Let’s face it, if he couldn’t do it as a  welterweight, the odds wouldn’t be in his favor to do it at super light middleweight. Margarito will look to do what he does best and that’s applying pressure. The big question is..will that plan be as effective in this fight? Margarito stunk it up in his last two fights against Shane Moseley and Manny Pacquiao. Add that to a bad eye, the loaded gloves controversy and in turn, losing his license, we’ll see on Saturday whether or not Margarito has the physical and mental capacity to redeem himself or is he’s just damaged goods. My prediction, Cotto wins in a unanimous decision.

Thank you fight fans for checking out my predictions and look for my recap next week. Enjoy the fight!

By Keith Madyun

Posted by on December 2, 2011 in Boxing.

Leave a Comment