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5 Questions: UFC 106
By: Jake Rossen
D. Mandel/Sherdog.com
Is Tito Ortiz ready for an encore?
Ortiz’s recent performances displayed a fighter far removed from the kind of dominating, aggressive cage-wrestling he used to great success early on; he blamed back issues, corrected by a new and less invasive surgery. But even if Ortiz reverts to old form, he’ll be a 2002 fighter in 2009: up against athletes who can stuff his takedown, shut him down on the ground, and pester him standing. Aggressive wrestlers will always have a chance -- even fresh off the college mat -- but it’s not as good a guarantee as it used to be.
Can Forrest Griffin handle another loss? Read more -
A Rude Homecoming for Phil Baroni?
Video courtesy of UFC.com. Read more -
UFC 106 Primer
By: Jake Rossen
S. Albanese/Tailstar.com
When the UFC’s hype engine fails to deliver any real, palpable anticipation for a fight -- as in the case of Saturday’s Tito Ortiz/Forrest Griffin rematch, which is fine but far from the Epic Super Rematch of Mega Titans some clever editing and music are presenting it as -- you can make up your own narrative.
In this instance, UFC 106’s four light heavyweights might potentially be participating in a four-man tournament for a chance at the title without knowing it. In addition to Ortiz/Griffin, a debuting Antonio Rogerio Nogueira will face Luis Arthur Cane; the respective winners would have time to meet before May 1’s Lyoto Machida/Mauricio Rua rematch. It may be all that you need to sit a little closer to the television. Read more -
Baroni Back in UFC; Strikeforce, UFC Sniping Continues
By: Jake Rossen
Onetime UFC-associated athlete Phil Baroni appears to be back in the fold: Sherdog.com reports that the former middleweight is close to signing a new deal with the Las Vegas-based promotion.
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Baroni has been an inconsistent commodity over the years: after surging with some lip-splitting victories in 2001-2002 -- including a KO over Dave Menne that that turned Menne’s eyes from blue to green -- the fighter ran into conditioning walls and was set loose overseas, where he notched some impressive wins against durable talent. Most recently, he’s earned a 3-1 mark at 170 lbs.
Already, there’s speculation Baroni could be an indication that the UFC will begin grabbing talent from new rival Strikeforce as soon as their contracts allow; Strikeforce countered the rumors late Thursday by circulating a release that spun the transaction as a “release” of Baroni, with Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker hoping “he can revive his career” somewhere else. Yeah. Nothing to see here. Move along.
If the UFC’s strategy is simply to out-spend Strikeforce, then Coker’s company has some serious problems. Unless CBS intervenes with some major-money deals for star talent like Cung Le, it’s entirely possible they’ll become what the UFC once was to PRIDE: a cash-strapped farm system. -
Baroni on Bisping: ‘A Lot Better Than I Thought’
By: Loretta Hunt
Phil Baroni is impressed with Michael Bisping. Photo by Terry Goodlad.
LAS VEGAS -- When you think of team players, does Phil Baroni’s name come to mind? Well, it should.
Hearing that Michael Bisping’s training camp was forming in Las Vegas in anticipation of his featured middleweight bout with Dan Henderson at UFC 100, the outspoken “New York Bad Ass” requested a spot on the squad.
The first one laced and padded up, Baroni was a constant man in motion Monday night at the Tapout gym, where the team congregated for its evening session. Baroni, Josh Hall, Mario Neto and Zach Light all rotated in on Bisping with sparring for five-minute intervals to keep the Brit on his toes. Read more -
Strikeforce Port-Mortem: New Questions
By: Jake Rossen
Because the cycle never ends.
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Q: Where does Phil Baroni go from here?
A: He’s an easy punch line, but Baroni has an obvious work ethic and respect for the sport. What he needs is to consider MMA less of a posedown competition and more a battle of technique. Whatever his conditioning routine has been for the past few years is clearly not the answer.
Q: Will Kevin Randleman fight again?
A: Yes. And he will swear he’s changed his training, his mindset and his approach. And we will all believe him. -
Strikeforce Port-Mortem: Awards
By: Jake Rossen
The awards are in.
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The-I Am Holding-a-Betting-Ticket-on-Kevin-Randleman-and-Will-Soon-Be-Foreclosed-On Award: Kevin Randleman
There is no one in mixed martial arts who looks as foreboding, frightening or capable as Kevin Randleman: Wanderlei Silva would run from this guy in an alley. But all of that energy and ambition seems to get used up just before the opening bell. Against Mike Whitehead, Randleman couldn’t keep him down, couldn’t maintain Whitehead’s pace and couldn’t finish the bout when he created a huge opportunity to do so. Randleman swore he was a changed man, but the results remained the same.
Ring Attire of the Night Award: Phil Baroni
The Tom Hanks of this division, Baroni entered the ring wearing shades that had him prepared to view “Star Trek” in IMAX.
