UFC 116 Lesnar Vs Carwin De-Brief
Brock Lesnar
Heavyweight Championship bout: 
Brock Lesnar (c) vs Shane Carwin (ic)
Lesnar makes his long awaited return to the cage to defend his title against Carwin. The UFC is billing this one as the Clash of the Titans and it’s easy to see why when you look at the size of Lesnar. The ex WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) pro-wrestler has evolved to the UFC. Looking at his sporting history and achievements on wikipedia he appears to be one of these people who excels at anything he turns his hand to; damn him 
Lesnar is one of the only UFC fighters I have noticed that seems to pay close attention to his stance: always maintaining a Tactical-Stance and crab-walking wherever he needs to go in the cage. This is something you don’t often see to this extent. A Tactical-Stance is one of the most important aspects in the Combat System of Zen Ki Bo, where a great deal of emphasis is put on the basics, based on the tried and tested strategy that when a human needs to defend himself he will revert back to the basics, and the stance is the foundation of everything.
Carwin completely dominates the first round with magnificent striking, knocking Lesner to the canvas and continuing to pound him. Most fighters would give up or be counted out in this position but Lesnar somehow resisted it. Wow. He seems to have sustained lacerations to his right and left eye from this onslaught. One of the cuts appears to be over the left eye of Lesner, any fighter will tell you that this is bad news for two reasons, first the ref can stop the fight and second the blood will steam down into your eye making you essentially temporarily blind in one eye.
Coming out for the second round Lesner is much more careful and both men are tired. Lesner does however go in for the take-down and once on the ground rests all of his weight on the slightly smaller man. There is limited striking going on but do not underestimate how difficult it is to have a heavy opponent on top of you.
Quick as a flash, Lesner tightens up the choke hold on Carwin and forces a tap-out, winning the match and maintaining his Heavyweight Title. Its called an arm-triangle-choke in the UFC, but of course it’s taken from the Martial Arts; usually executed in a standing position after moving inside of a strike. It compromises the flow of oxygenated blood to the brain by cutting off one of the ‘blood-highways’ on the neck, or carotid artery. See diagram:
Carotid Artery diagram
In his post-fight speech, Lesner attributes his win to god : “I am blessed by god”.. personally I would have thought it was due to the years of dedication and training to his chosen sport.
The loser, Shane Carwin also thanks “god” in his post-fight speech. I guess that means that the big man upstairs does play favourites?!? Unless he just has a gambling problem..
Undercard: Yoshihiro Akiyama vs. Chris Leben
Akiyama, apparently the traditional Martial Artist, comes to the cage in his Martial Arts uniform. Leben just comes out ready to fight.
Leben starts the 1st round with some heavy leg kicks (dropping his hands when he does so), but not making significant contact. Akiyama is ‘on the ball’ however, easily evading most of them.
Also worth noticing that Leben fights with his elbows out, which is unorthodox. Part of the 1st round sees Akiyama dominate on the ground. With 30 seconds left in the first, they stand up and resume striking until Leben is taken down again, but with no time left the round finishes.
I was somewhat dismayed to see Akiyama lean in with a single straight-punch to the body, which of course was answered by Leben with a punch to the face. Thats the ironic thing about attacking, it leaves you open to counter attack, so you better make sure your attack is strategic and with Intent.
Half way through the second round sees both men exhausted after some hard fighting. They are still fighting, but with depleted energy.
Hats off to both combatants, they both probably should have been knocked out at different stages but they kept going somehow. Amazing show of toughness – they are earning their money tonight.
It seems to me that Akiyama is the Martial Artist and Leben is the unorthodox brawler. I think if the brawler lands something significant he will probably win, however if that doesn’t happen its hard to match the skill of a Martial Artist. (Ha, just after I wrote that last sentence the “brawler” submits Akiyama with a leg triangle, so there you go!)
Well done to Leben; he did display more “bad intent” and therefore won the day.
Always makes me smile when you have a look at who is in the audience of such events; United States Senator (Nevada) Harry Reid, actor Steve Austin, actor Dwayne Johnson; all people who rely on other men to do their bidding for them and feel tough when they are somehow “associated” with the actual men who are willing to actually fight. Another case of empowerment by association. It used to be the boxing that brought together people from all walks of life, and now it’s well and truly the UFC.
Steven Seagal training with Anderson Silva
It’s interesting to see Steven Seagal‘s adaptation of more traditional Martial Arts techniques for use in the ring for his buddy Anderson Silva (UFC).
This is in principle what Zen Ki Bo does, it takes some traditional Martial Arts forms and techniques and improvises and adapts them into street-smart self-defence.
UFC 115 de-brief
UFC 115..
Main Event: Chuck “The IceMan” Liddell Vs Rich Franklin.
UFC 115
Franklin wins by KO with a short sharp right.
It was during an exchange of a flurry of punches including a good right elbow by Liddell. It’s easy for me to say, but Liddell actually inadvertently walked into the knockout punch.
Amazingly, Franklin reveals in the post fight interview that during the fight his lower left arm was broken by one of Liddell’s kicks. Couple of amazing things here, the fact that a kick was responsible for actually breaking the bone in someone’s arm and secondly that Franklin kept fighting and eventually wins after he is well aware that his arm has been broken.
One of the cornerstones in Zen Ki Bo training is the Mindset. Having Survival Intent. This is exactly what Franklin displayed in this fight. Two things will win the day (whether it be real-life or in the cage): Mindset and Training. Franklin has proved that he has both.
Some are already saying that this is the end of The Iceman’s career. I suppose only he can make that decision. Hopefully he makes it at the right time.
Rich Franklin
Chuck Liddell
Undercard: Mirko Cro Cop Vs Pat Barry.
Victory to Cro Cop.
Barry lands a straight right punch early in the first round, which sent Cro Cop to the canvas. It did however do little damage because it was a combination of a slip and the punch.
Then a second knockdown with what looked to be the same punch. Cro Cop gets straight back up, but he is injured this time.
Mirko Cro Cop
Pat Barry
These two guys obviously have the greatest respect for each other, this was evident when actually during the first round they touched gloves and hugged each other after some great techniques. In fact, Cro Cop is one of Barry’s UFC idols.
Dynamic finish with Cro Cop stinging Barry with some good punching, not just landing leather but using real strategy by feinting and causing Barry to react, then monopolising on that reaction in order to counter. Just before the finish, Cro Cop landed multiple blows onto the face of Barry, some with the fist and some with the palm. These punches are not meant to knock you out but instead overwhelm the opponent with ferocity and aggression, usually used as a platform for bigger things. In this case, it was indeed a platform for a rear-naked choke. And once a rear-naked-choke is clamped on its just a short drive down the grey-tunnel until you pass out. Well-earned win Mirko.
At 35 years old, some people have said he is getting too old for the fight game, Cro Cop has said that he is keen to put that straight. He was essentially self-taught whilst growing up in a Croatian village. People used to think he was mentally deranged when they saw him training because they had no idea what he was doing.
This match was also a good lesson to see just how dangerous high kicks can be to the person throwing the kick – what often happens is the opponent shoots in, using that kicking leg as a lever taking down the kicker. Not only is this what a trained fighter will do, but its also a natural reaction, often the person you are kicking can just instinctively just put up their arms as a startle reaction, and if you get caught under the centre of gravity you can easily go down.
I enjoyed seeing some traditional kicks from Cro Cop. During this match we saw him throw an Axe Kick, a Side-Kick and a Hook-Kick. All effective kicks but not seen much in the UFC.
Another point I found worth mentioning and also indicative of the popularity of MMA was that Rory MacDonald (who was one of the fighters on the undercard, Carlos Condit V Rory MacDonald) was brought up actually learning MMA, not transitioning from a Martial Art or other system into MMA. I guess this will be happening a lot more now.
All in all, UFC 115 was pretty explosive and worth watching.
UFC 114 Results – Evans beats Rampage
Evans beats Rampage on points in a unanimous decision (29–28, 30–27, 30–27).
Rashad Evans UFC
It was interesting to see Rashad Evans‘ confidence increase after he landed that big right hand on Rampage Jackson early in the first round. It carried him throughout the rest of the fight.
It’s amazing to what extent a successful strike or technique can change your mindset during a bout. A fighter can go from having a healthy awareness of his opponent’s skills and abilities to realising that his opponent is able to be beaten. Might sound strange, but the human’s psychology is complex and certainly open to primal fears and instincts, meaning that on a very basic non-conscious level, humans experience fear as a survival tool. This same psychology is often taken into the ring or the cage, usually unbeknownst to the competitor.
They say that’s one reason Muhammad Ali was extremely successful in boxing, he apparently genuinely believed that he was the best. Therefore he had the two essential components needed to win: mindset and skills. That being the case, he would not have been as prone to fear and anxiety et cetera in the ring.
In other fights that night;
Michael Bisping defeated Dan Miller via unanimous decision (30–27, 30–27, 29–27).
And finally a knockout in the Heavyweight bout: Mike Russow defeated Todd Duffee via KO (punch) at 2:35 in round 3.
UFC – Rich Franklin Vs Wanderlei Silva. Zen Ki Bo reverse elbow strikes
The fight between Rich Franklin and Wanderlei Silva at UFC 99 in Germany..
During final stages of the last round, when Franklin moved in behind Silva it became a battle of attrition; reverse elbow strikes Vs punches.
The reverse elbows being thrown in this bout are the same elbows taught in Zen Ki Bo to fight off an offender who attacks you from behind. One of the differences in Zen Ki Bo is that after several reverse elbow strikes to the face/head, you turn around to face the offender and knee-strike him in the groin, then take an eye, thus taking away the offender’s offensive capabilities. This of course is not allowed in the cage or the ring and therein lies the difference between competition fighting (UFC / MMA) and real-life self-defence (Zen Ki Bo).
Only one rule at Zen Ki Bo: “Insist on your Survival”.
Zen Ki Bo - eye gouge
UFC 114 Sunday 30th May
UFC 114 on pay TV this Sunday (30th May 2010). Starts 12 midday. Live from Las Vegas USA.
Main Card:
Rampage Jackson Vs Rashad Evans (Light Heavyweight).
Bisping Vs Miller (Middleweight)
Todd Duffee Vs Mike Russow (Heavyweight).
Click here for UFC’s pre fight banter between Rampage and Evans.
Click here for you-tube video of Rampage Jackson Vs Rashad Evans fight Preview.
UFC – Dan Henderson KO’s Michael Bisping
Was just watching the UFC fight: Dan Henderson Vs Michael Bisping (I believe it was 12th July 2009, but this was the first time I’ve seen it).
During the first round I was excited to see the bio-mechanics Henderson was using in his punches – starting from the feet, working up through the knees, into the hips, up into the shoulders and out into the punch. Manifesting into massive energy that resonates even after the punch.
It was no surprise that in the 2nd round, Henderson caught Bisping with a wonderful punch to the face, knocking him out (what looked to be almost instantly). I believe he was unconscious before he even hit the canvas – this was substantiated by the fact that Bisping hit the back of his head on the ground as he fell – something that your MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) training tells you not to do..
I hope the Tactical Zen students have a look at this you-tube clip and see the wonders of bio-mechanics. The same bio-mechanics that I am always going on about at training
Click here for images of Henderson.
Click here for images of Michael Bisping.
Did anyone else see the fight? Any thoughts on the bio-mechanics?
Mc-Blackbelt disgrace
UFC’s Rashad Evans apparently received his BJJ (Brazilian Jiu Jitsu) black-belt recently.
It is claimed that fighters in the UFC can pick up black-belts “as easy as a Big Mac”.
Well it’s not just in the UFC; this farce is alive and well in other Martial Arts areas.
I have witnessed this disgraceful betrayal a number of times. I use the word “betrayal” because that’s exactly what it is to any legitimate and dedicated Martial Artist.
To be eligible for your Mc-Blackbelt “grading” you will need to brush up on your Cronyism (basic and advanced levels) and ensure you have displayed a demonstrated history in furthering the cause or income of the person grading you. Don’t worry yourself with those tiresome and antiquated things such as Dedication, Time in position, Attendances, Competency, Skills etc..
Sound good until you try to put your new black-belt into action. When you actually apply or teach your newly acquired “skills” you suddenly realise that because you have been fast-tracked you do not possess the skills or level of competency even close to be able to teach it to someone else. One of the things about legitimate Martial Arts is Repetition. Ever wondered why proper Martial Artists train so much and over the course of many years do each technique many thousands of times? Well its basically so you learn it properly and burn it into your muscle-memory. And because at a legitimate Martial Arts school you will learn each technique properly and thoroughly AND your organic progression will involve being taught how to instruct or teach, therefore you will not only know how to do each technique and know how to apply them, but you will also have the skills to convey that information to someone else.
For me, the saddest and most insidious part of fast-tracking is what happens to the students of the so-called black-belt. Their capacity to instruct is compromised to such an extent that it has no discernible quality or integrity. Unfortunately the humble and often experienced student is unable to identify that their instructor is fraudulent. This is a disgrace.
If this applies to you, you are not a real Black-Belt, you are a clown.
Feel free to agree or disagree with me; just leave a comment..
UFC 113
UFC 113 live from Bell Centre Quebec.
Available on “Main Event” Sunday 9th May 2010 (Melbourne, Australia time).
UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Lyoto “The Dragon” Machida Vs Mauricio “Shogun” Rua.
Kimbo Slice (ex street-fighter and sometimes explosive MMA fighter) is on the under-card also.
Here is the trailer video: