Awesome fights: Frank Shamrock vs. Phil Baroni + Cung Le

[Julius Seeker]

Shamrock vs Baroni (possibly the best fight of the year so far) http://www.dailymotion.com/relevance/se ... ck-vs-phil

Watch Cung Le vs Fryklund first if you plan to watch both fights, both fights are great, but Shamrock vs. Baroni was something else; plus it came later on the card. This PPV happened last night.


For anyone not following, there was A LOT of heated build-up for this one going back into last year. These two do not like each other, and Frank has a lot of enemies including his brother Ken, and Dana White; Ken is not as cold towards Frank anymore, but Dana wants Baroni to kick Frank's ass. This is the fight where the questions are answered, and it is a good one. Frank is coming off of a highly discussed DQ loss to Renzo Gracie (grounded knee strike) as some people feel Renzo put on a show in order to have the fight won instead of just delayed a couple minutes. Anyway, if you are at all a fan of MMA, here is a fight you'll want to see.

Strikeforce is a fairly new MMA/kickboxing promotion in the US which is linked to K-1. The show currently holds the record for the largest attendance in a North American MMA event at 18,265 for Shamrock vs. Gracie.

Also earlier on the card was San Shou master Cung Le vs. Tony Fryklund

The winner of this fight will later face the winner of Shamrock/Baroni for the belt.

http://www.dailymotion.com/relevance/se ... ny-fryklun

[Kupek]

I first saw Cung Le on ESPN 2 in a frequently aired Sanshou match. Cung Le took his opponent down at will, and was picking him apart standing up. He's amazing.

[Ishamael]

Great fights. Cung Le is amazing. I didn't think anyone could get away with the kind of stuff he does in a "real" fight. I look forward to seeing more of him.

The Shamrock/Baroni fight was great too. Frank won, but at the end it sounded like he'd just run a marathon - he was completely gassed. Also, seeing the old WWF sleeper hold being used in a real fight is always pleasing.

[Kupek]

It's called a rear-naked-choke, and it was used in real fights long before the WWF.

[Ishamael]

It's called a rear-naked-choke, and it was used in real fights long before the WWF.

Yes, I'm sure, though of course it was refined and perfected in the WWF (based on my studies of 80s TV wrestling). I also know that it was impossible to defeat Hulk Hogan with one of these, especially with the support of thousands of Hulkamaniacs. Once The Hulkster started pumping those fists, he generated all the energy needed to reverse the effects and eventually overcome his opponent.

[Nev]

The distinction between pro wrestling kayfabe and reality has blurred in my too, too fragile mind. I should be locked up for my own good before I murder and eat a small child in a misguided wrestling promotion.

I don't think any of us need to add anything here.

[Julius Seeker]

The term "rear naked choke" is just a recently updated technical term for the sleeper hold. Both terms fly, though, rear naked choke is the appropriate term for MMA discussion.

Also, as far as the fights go, Fryklund was outclassed, but he is certainly no chump.

Here is the third major fight that was on the card (that is online now). Ninja Rua (Shogun's older brother) vs. Joey Villasenor

http://www.dailymotion.com/relevance/se ... or-vs-ninj

[Julius Seeker]

http://www.sherdog.com/news/news.asp?n_id=8153

Looks like when Shamrock claimed Baroni was a juiced up freak he wasn't just talking trash. Baroni has tested positive for two types of steroids and will serve a 1 year suspension and fined 2.5K (not a lot). Everyone else on the card was clean.

This is the ultimate defeat of Phil Baroni by long-time rival Frank Shamrock =)

[Ishamael]

Man, Dana White is gonna start telling the athletic commsion to "take it easy" on the steroid testing. Seems like everyone is turning up juiced these days.

[Julius Seeker]

Speaking of Dana White and Roids, the contender against Anderson Silva, Nathan Marquardt, is one to look out for. He's a US born fighter who has spent the vast majority of his career in Japan, he has tested positive for roids before.