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Odds and ends: March 15th, 2009

By Zach Arnold | March 15, 2009

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The London Times has a long article talking about UFC’s worldwide expansion plans. I feel contractually obligated to point out that, yes, the Zuffa Myth about the Unified Rules is in full effect here. The end.

Roy Nelson wants you to get interested in his upcoming fight against Jeff Monson. Interested?

Actor Tom Hardy is preparing for a new movie role as an MMA fighter, with production starting this July.

Dan Severn’s son, David Severn, just won a state amateur wrestling title in Michigan.

Rickson Gracie was in the Nashville area this week to do an open seminar.

Dana White is not happy with referee Steve Mazzagatti. Is the heat Mazzagatti receiving fair or unfair?

Boxer Enzo Maccarinelli would have went to MMA if he had been offered, but read Mark Pickering’s article for the caveat.

Topics: Boxing, Media, MMA, UFC, UK, Zach Arnold | 16 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |

16 Responses to “Odds and ends: March 15th, 2009”

  1. 45 Huddle says:

    This is really a do or die fight for Nelson. Already with loses to Arlivski and Rothwell. If he can’t beat Monson, it’s not a good sign for him.

  2. Alan Conceicao says:

    Nelsom/Monson is a fight between two guys that are pretty good but not elite, which isn’t exactly the kind of thing that gets me to spend money on MMA or boxing. The most hilarious of the articles was Macca talking about being offered a TUF spot. His managers must have shook their heads in amazement if he even considered it. Maybe he can ask again now though that he’s been laid out by Afolabi.

  3. Fluyid says:

    I saw Nelson and Monson grapple to basically a stalemate in a sub-grappling tournament a few years ago. Don’t know what that means for this fight, if anything, but I know that Nelson thinks he is a better grappler than Monson.

  4. Ultimo Santa says:

    Firing Steve Mazagatti would be the best thing that could happen to the UFC. I have no idea how he got that job in the first place, but it`s clear he shouldn`t have it now.

    EVERY referee has made a mistake, but this guy has proven he simply doesn`t know what he`s doing on too many occasions.

  5. 45 Huddle says:

    I think Lavigne is one of the best out there. And he even made a huge mistake at UFC 96. It’s a tough job, much tougher then being a boxing ref.

    I was thinking about spending my money on the RJJ PPV when it was Lashley/Shamrock, Nelson/Monson, & Rhino/Seth. Nothing great, but 3 interesting fights for $30. Right now, I have no intentions of purchasing it.

  6. Chuck says:

    It’s looking like it will be Lashley vs. Jason Guida. I have no problem with that fight. Jason Guida is a decent opponent for anyone in their second or so pro fight. He would have probably been more competitive at this point than Ken Shamrock.

  7. Rollo the Cat says:

    I don’t think Mazz is all that bad and I don’t think Dana is being fair by calling him out publicly. On the other hand, I never got all the Big John hype. He was the first big name ref in the sport, but that is all that can be said about him. I saw plenty of bad stops from BJM too.

  8. Marc says:

    “Firing Steve Mazagatti would be the best thing that could happen to the UFC. I have no idea how he got that job in the first place, but it`s clear he shouldn`t have it now.”

    I don’t think that’s possible seeing as how the referees are supplied by the Athletic Commissions.

    “On the other hand, I never got all the Big John hype. He was the first big name ref in the sport, but that is all that can be said about him. I saw plenty of bad stops from BJM too.”

    Really? Name some.
    I think John is the best in the biz, along with Herb Dean. Hopefully he’s back on UFC cards soon.

  9. 45 Huddle says:

    The bad stoppages were annoying enough from BJM. What was worse was the way he would bulldozer the fighters to stop the action. I’m still surprised more fighters weren’t hurt because of him.

  10. Ultimo Santa says:

    The fact that even fighters hate Mazagatti is a good sign that he shouldn`t be a referee.

    His mistakes weren`t just too early or too late a stoppage – they were calculated judgment calls that bordered on retarded.

    Although Mazagatti`s Lesnar vs. Mir call was the pinnacle of his stupidity, there have been numerous other instances that I could make for his dismissal.

  11. Marc says:

    “The bad stoppages were annoying enough from BJM. What was worse was the way he would bulldozer the fighters to stop the action. I’m still surprised more fighters weren’t hurt because of him.”

    Once again, I’d love to hear examples of “bad” stoppages from McCarthy from the last 3-4 years.

    Bulldozing the fighters is necessary, and I’ve never heard of a fighter ever getting hurt from that technique.

    Wanderlei wouldn’t have unnecessarily received multiple shots from Quinton in December if a referee like Big John had been in there:

    http://www.fightreport.net/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/quinton-jackson_wanderlie-silva.gif

  12. Chuck says:

    “The fact that even fighters hate Mazagatti is a good sign that he shouldn`t be a referee.”

    Dude, referees are ALWAYS hated in ALL sports. It’s a fact. Go ask John McEnroe about referees and officials. Just because the players in any sort of sport don’t like any specific referees doesn’t mean he or she shouldn’t be a referee. Go do any sort of competitive and organized sport (pick up and play games with your buddies don’t count) for at least a few months (and actually compete in actual games/matches/meets/scrimmages/whatever) and tell me what you think of referees and officials as a whole. You will HATE them with a burning PASSION with few exceptions.

  13. Ultimo Santa says:

    Watching Rampage pound Wanderlei while he`s unconscious – with his hand above his head – is pretty disgusting.

    I don`t know how that`s not the same as Sobral holding a choke for an extra second. It was malicious and designed to injure an opponent with no regard for the referee`s instructions.

  14. Jeff says:

    I really think Nelson is delusional. This is the second interview I’ve read of him where he says he’s “definately top 10”. Hell I think before the Arlovski fight he said he was top 5. He’s a talented guy, but he’s literally beaten no one that would even be in the top 30. The big difference between the records of Dos Santos/Carwin and Roy is that Junior/Shane have wins over top 10 opponents. When Nelson fights top competition he loses and then marginalizes it, but in the same breath he wants to put down Lesnar because Couture “should be at LHW” because of his weight. Forget the fact that Randy decisively beat two big guys of Sylvia and Gonzaga. With that said, Jeff Monson is a step in the right direction and I hope he continues fighting better competition.

  15. Steve4192 says:

    “Bulldozing the fighters is necessary, and I’ve never heard of a fighter ever getting hurt from that technique. ”

    Big John broke Brian Johnston’s nose with one of his flying tackles.

  16. Alan Conceicao says:

    The worst example of what can happen when a ref tackles a guy is Antoine Skinner getting his knee blown out in a King of The Cage show by an overzealous ref in an attempt to make a stop when he was caving some poor jobber’s head in.

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