Chael Sonnen Suspended For Drug Use

Chael Sonnen could have been the UFC Middleweight Champion had he finished off Anderson Silva at UFC 117. He was so close... two minutes away from the UFC middleweight title but Silva spoiled it with a late triangle choke to force Sonnen to a tapout. All of the four and a half rounds of Sonnen domination ended with a quick submission move by the Brazilian champion.

Most fans believed that after walking the talk, Sonnen deserved another shot at the title. Dana White, who is not a huge fan of rematches, set a rematch between Sonnen and Silva in early 2011. This should have brought in more pay-per-view buys and more money to the table.

Unfortunately, Sonnen admitted to drug use during testing after his title match. He was found to have high levels of testosterone brought about by the intake of performance-enhancement drugs.

Sonnen has been suspended for at least one year and fined $2,500 by the CSAC. If we are to consider all other losses such as the opportunity to fight Silva next year and his loss of potential endorsement deals, Sonnen stands to lose probably more that can reach $1 million.

Too bad... Now either Vitor Belfort or Yushin Okami would have a shot at the title after their eliminator at UFC 122.

Bobby Lashley Loses At Strikeforce: Houston

Bobby Lashley lost a second round knockout to unheralded Chad Griggs at Strikeforce: Houston on Saturday. So what was the big deal?

Lashley, just like UFC heavyweight champ Brock Lesnar, is a former WWE professional wrestler and both have legitimate amateur wrestling credentials as well. Lesnar is now the UFC champion and considered one of the best in the world. Lashley after five straight wins appeared dominating Griggs on Saturday but he got caught with an uppercut that cut and hurt him.

Griggs was obviously dominated by Lashley as he spent most of the fight on the mount. Lashley used his ground and pound but his punches did not seem to do a lot of damage. He did not have any submission moves either.

With a predictable offense, Griggs telegraphed takedowns by countering with uppercuts. Lashley was cut open in the first round, bleeding from under the corner of his left eye. By end of the second, Lashley was beat up and bleeding badly.

A single defeat may not necessarily end a career. Fedor Emelianenko lost to former UFC heavyweight Fabricio Werdum but it does not fully tarnish his 10-year undefeated run. We all know Fedor can come back from this loss.

How about Lashley? He lost a fight to a little-known fighter. His offense is predictable and he is clearly several notches below Brock Lesnar in terms of skills and potential. Yes, Lashley can become a better fighter as he evolves but being an elite fighter may not be where he is headed to.

For pro wrestling haters, he may be better off with freak shows or going back to WWE.

One lesson learned is that not all pro-wrestlers can make that successful transition to mixed martial arts.

Search Amazon.com for mixed martial arts

Cro Cop Steps Up To The Plate For Injured Minotauro At UFC 119

A rematch between Frank Mir and Antonio Rodrigo "Minotauro" Nogueira was set for UFC 119 on September 25 at the Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. This could have been a great matchup since Mir won their previous meeting with a second-round knockout. It was only later after the fight that we found out about Noqgueira's staph infection and knee injury. Seeing a healthy Minotauro fight Mir would have been interesting. However, things were not meant to be.

Nogueira had to pull out due to a reported recurring hip injury. In his place comes Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic on short notice. Cro Cop accepted the challenge feeling he owes it to the fans, to the Fertittas and Dana White who have taken him to where he is right now.

I would say that this may not be a good match right now. Cro Cop may have enough time to prepare for Mir who has, despite losing to Brock Lesnar and Shane Carwin recently, has shown improvements in his conditioning and striking. Cro Cop still has superior striking skills compared to Mir but the fight will most likely take place on the ground with Mir using his superior ground and submission skills.

Cro Cop has a shot with his head kicks but it may take more than that to beat a tough Frank Mir. Mir should submit Cro Cop once they get to the ground. Cro Cop still gets credit for taking on this fight on short notice.

UFC 117: Silva vs Sonnen

Tonight on UFC 117 at the Oracle Arena in Oakland CA, we finally get to see how trash talking Chael Sonnen walks the walk against UFC middleweight champion Anderson "the Spider" Silva. Weeks and days leading to the fight, Sonnen has talked more trash than Rampage Jackson and Rahsad Evans have combined. Ordinarily, I wouldn't be as interested in seeing Sonnen fight Silva.

For one, Silva has been far from exciting in his last few fights, even his boss Dana White was so embarrassed at his showing against Demian Maia in Dubai. Fans are also upset they feel they are not getting the entertainment they deserve. There is some truth in it as Silva has made some mockery of the game seeing that challengers are way below his skillset. On the other hand, Silva cannot engage with another fighter who is not willing to engage himself. How can a counter puncher like Silva counter punch when his opponents are just lying on their back waiting for Silva? Oh well, this could go on and on and we can still conclude that Silva bores us to death.

Now in comes Sonnen, an NCAA Division I wrestler with far less impressive MMA credentials. What he lacks in MMA skills and credentials, he compensates with his trash talk. In fact Sonnen has made things far more entertaining even before they step into the Octagon. No one would have cared about him and Silva before. Now people are curious with how Silva has taken all the trash talk and how Sonnen can back up all his blabber.

Depending on how it has affected Silva, I still see him winning in dominating fashion. I would prefer that he use his knees using his Muay Thai fighting style. He can choose to knock Sonnen out early or he can make it agonizingly painful like waht he did to Maia. What remains to be seen is if Sonnen can pull of an upset. He just might get lucky with a takedown or two and grind out a close decision. It is a long shot though. It's like throwing a basketball from backcourt for a three-point shot... in front of Kobe Bryant's outstretched arms.

Get to read more sports news from Omar Mercado at http://www.sportsnewcaster.com/.

Marquez vs Diaz II: Predictions

We are expecting another boxing match that offers some consolation after another failed attempt to stage Pacquiao versus Mayweather in November.

On Saturday night in Las Vegas, Juan Manuel Marquez and Juan Diaz face off for the second time for the WBA and WBO lightweight titles. In their first meeting, Diaz was ahead in the earlier rounds until Marquez set him up for a stoppage in the ninth round.

In the areas of skill and defense, Marquez still has the edge as he is considered one of the best in the pound for pound list. Conditioning is pretty much even as Marquez has stayed in shape at age 36. Marquez may have the stronger chin as he has not been knocked out before. Marquez should also be favored in terms of experience but the wear and tear of his past fights may also take on toll on him.

What we may not know is how Marquez has taken his beating from Floyd Mayweather Jr. earlier this year. Some fighters are never the same after a bad loss although Marquez has never been knocked out.

My prediction... Juan Manuel Marquez by a close decision.

Search Amazon.com for boxing equipment

Is Mayweather Ducking Pacquiao?

The first time they tried negotiating a fight between two of the world's best pound for pound boxers, they failed miserably as mudslinging came from both camps under the public microscope. Manny Pacquiao would not agree to Floyd Mayweather Jr.'s terms of Olympic-style blood testing days leading to the fight.

This time around, Pacquiao is so willing to give in to blood testing terms, the money supposed to be split evenly. The deadline for the deal has passed and there was no word from Mayweahter. Days after the so-called deadline for a deal between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao to square of in the boxing ring, "Money" says that he is "on vacation". Now we are stuck with a consolation fight between Pacquiao and dirty boxer Antonio Margarito.

The Pacquiao-Mayweather fight has the biggest prize money that "Money" can possibly earn in a fight and he would rather be "on vacation"??? Easily they could put up a $100 million pot in this superfight but it looks like "Money" doesn't seem interested in this indecent amount of potential earnings.

And yes... Mayweather doesn't care what the casual and hardcore boxing fans want to see. No wonder mixed martial arts has taken over the fight game. Before we could even get to see "Money" and "Pacman" fight, if ever it will happen, we would have seen Brock Lesnar fight Cain Velasquez in October and BJ Penn possibly become a UFC champion again by August. Hopefully we can get to see Chael Sonnen beat up Anderson Silva in a few days, although it could be a long night for Chael. There could be at least 25 mixed martial arts contests that are quite interesting before the year ends. This I tell you, these are far more interesting than seeing or hearing from a diva called Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Go ahead, Mr. Mayweather. Keep ducking Pacquiao and find out for yourself that you are way below the all-time greats like Sugar Ray Robinson and Muhammad Ali. The best fighters would always want to fight the best. This is where Dana White and what used to be a tiny promotional group called UFC is great at... matching up the best with the best.

Sooner or later, Mayweather might find the necessity to fight again for money but his skills may have diminished by then. Mayweather is not worth $45 or so on pay-per-view. Floyd Mayweather is one good reason why boxing is a dying sport.

Search Amazon.com for boxing equipment

Search Amazon.com for mixed martial arts

Houston Rockets' Yao Ming Pondering Retirement

Yao Ming may just play one more season. That is if his nagging foot injury doesn't fully heal. He has disclosed this during an interiew while promoting a charity event in China. He missed the whole of last season as the Rockets also missed the playoffs after finishing the 2010 season with a 42-40 record.

It is quite sad to see such talent leave the game while he is still considered one of the league's best big men. At 7 fee and 6 inches, he has great all-around skills but as luck would have it, the Rockets never made it deep into the playoffs in the past. Maybe not with Tracy McGrady hogging the ball, running down the clock until the shotclock makes him take forced shots. Besides, Yao and T-Mac never got to play a lot of games together as they were sidelined by injuries one after another.

Now that the Rockets seem to have a better lineup next year with unselfish players, it would be interesting to see how Yao and the Rockets perform next season. Kevin Martin may be less talented than T-Mac but he should be a better fit for Yao. Trevor Ariza and Shane Battier are solid defenders. Luis Scola and Kyle Lowry have just been re-signed. Aaron Brooks continues to improve while there are young and promising players in Chase Budinger and Jordan Hill. Add to this already formidable lineup new acquisition Brad Miller who can offload some minutes from Yao.

The Rockets should have a better season with a better roster. If this will be Yao's final season, I just hope they make it all the way to the finals and get that elusive NBA ring.

UFC Heavyweight Pat Barry A Class Act

Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweight Pat Barry made it publicly known that he was a huge fan of Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic. At UFC 115, the gates of the octagon closed behind with that in our minds. In the first round, Barry knocked Cro Cop twice with the right hand. The effect was immediately visible as Cro Cop's face started to swell.

Rounds 2 and 3 went a different direction. Cro Cop came back strong and ended the fight in the third with a rear naked choke, causing Barry to tap out.

Critics were quick to pounce on Pat Barry, saying he was tentative after the first round. He stopped punching and kicking unlike in his previous fights wherein he displayed awesome power and technique in kickboxing. Others were saying he had too much respect for his longtime idol.

Dude, that was no way to become an elite fighter. Manny Pacquiao idolized Oscal dela Hoya but he never let it get in the way to beating Oscar to submission. In the same manner, Barry was not starstruck as he was perceived in that fight. Remember, he knocked Cro Cop twice in the opening round.

Truth be told... he actually broke his right hand and right foot. For a someone to keep fighting in pain like that, he deserves some respect. Right after the loss, he never made excuses about it so as not to take anything away from Cro Cop.

Pat Barry may have lost that fight with Cro Cop but he stands for what is good about mixed martial artists. He is a real class act, with respect for other fighters that I did not see in Anderson Silva when he faced off with Demian Maia. I hope someone beats the lights out of Silva sooner than later. Chael Shonnen has this tough task in UFC 117 about twelve days from now. I am rooting for Chael but the money is still on Silva. Let's talk about that next time.

As for you Mr. Barry... good job.
















Search Amazon.com for UFC

Pacquiao-Mayweather: Fight Or No Fight?

I have been a fan of the Ultimate Fighting Championship from its early beginings with UFC legends Royce Gracie, Ken Shamrock, Dan Severn, Oleg "Russian Bear" Taktarov, Mark Coleman, Don Frye, Randy Couture to current stars Chuck Liddell, BJ Penn, Georges St. Pierre, Anderson Silva, Shogun Rua, Lyoto Machida, Brock Lesnar... and yes, Randy Couture is still up there with the current stars.

The reason why I liked this sport is that the action can be so fast you can miss it with a blink of an eye. Even as a kid, I found boxing matches boring as I watch them on TV. All that clinching and holding would always give me the urge to switch channels.

Floyd Mayweather is no exception. He probably has more excitement in his mouth than in his boxing style. Mayweather is one cautious fighter... perhaps a case of trying to protect a perfect win-loss record.

How about Manny Pacquaio? Now this is one exciting fighter. Like I said, I was never a boxing fan but was converted after seeing the Pacman beat opponents with speed, power and a no fear attitude. I became a fan that I actually took up boxing.

Now talks about the much awaited fight between Pacquiao and Mayweather is going down the drain once again. For this very reason, I am still a mixed martial arts fan. What is it about boxing and its business that this fight, the fight that everyone wants to see cannot be made?

For whatever reason, only Bob Arum of Top Rank, Golden Boy Promotions, Team Pacquiao and Team Mayweahter probably know. I just hope that the sport of boxing cleans up its act because mixed martial arts, thanks to Dana White and company, is ahead of boxing from my perspective.

Give fans the fight that they want!

Dealing WIth A Calf Injury

About five weekends ago, I was playing basketball in our neighborhood. It was a smalltown basketball league that brings together selections from different basketball clubs in our area. I thought, this was probably another chance to play competitive basketball in my own way.

Now that I'm pushing 40, I had to play alongside and against players almost half my age. It is a lot different when you're playing with people within your age group. As your skills and athleticism diminish, so does your co-players'. I have been weekend warrior, getting to play ball only once in a week for the last 5 years.

On that fateful Sunday, I was chasing after the ball when I tried changing directions... then POP! It felt like someone just hit my right calf with a bat. I felt the popping in my calf and a second later, I could hardly run. Man... I could hardly even walk.

Consultation with a physician and x-rays did not show any bone fracture but there was surely damage to my calf muscle. Worst case, it could have required surgery to reconstruct the connecting tissues between my calf and heel.

The first two weeks were agonizing even while sitting. Imagine having muscle cramps 24 x 7 and that was exactly how I felt.

To deal with calf muscle strain, here are some simple reminders. It was my first calf injury after more than decades of physical activity but it does not mean it cannot happen to younger people in their 20's.

Prevention is always a good measure. Warm up and stretch properly before engaging in physical activity. It is also recommended to stay in shape if you are playing any type of physical sport. Good conditioning includes cardio, muscle strength and flexibility that should be appropriate to your chosen sport.

However, prevention is not a guarantee that injuries won't happen. In case Murphy's Law catches up with you, RICE has always been my first aid procedure. This acronym stands for rest, ice pack, warm compress and elevation. Depending on the degree of calf injury, your muscles should heal up and regenerate on its own. At close to 40 years old, my muscles no longer heal as fast as I want them to. Consulting with a doctor is always recommended because worse cases require surgical repair.

Until next time... I hope I never have to write about injuries again.

Raja Bell Joins Utah Jazz

NBA veteran Raja Bell could have signed with the Los Angeles Lakers and play alongside long-time nemesis Kobe Bryant. Who could ever forget that Bell clothesline defense on Kobe in 2006? Bryant back then even said he had “bigger fish to fry than Raja Bell”. Bell is recognized as a tough defender in the perimeter, one that would give Kobe a hard time all game.

Ironically, Kobe has been recently vocal about wanting Bell to join him and the LA Lakers. The Lakers could offer what is left of their mid-level exception at roughly $1.8 million. The 34-year old Bell chose to sign with the Utah Jazz for a bigger payday for three years worth about $10 million.

He probably figured it would make more sense to earn more with not much of a legacy through the course of his basketball career. That ‘clothesline’ incident was not how you should build a reputation. Don’t get me wrong. Bell is a tough defender and can contribute with shots from beyond the arc. I just felt he just used the Lakers to get some leverage in striking a bigger deal. Now this makes good business sense.

I'm A Blogger Now

I have never imagined myself blogging since I already spend so much time on the computer in my day job. My constant interactions with my co-workers made me realize that I had so many things to share with just about anything.

Hey, I don't intend to post blogs on just any random thought. Let's talk about more relevant topics- for men at least. Sports, music, technology, lifestyle and health... aren't these relevant to us guys? The NBA free agency drama starring LeBron James, Chris Bosh and Dwayne Wade are just our equivalent to the ladies' guilty pleasure of watching reality shows and TV soaps.

Don't get me wrong, ladies. I am all for equal opportunities. However, my thoughts may be limited to a guy's point of view, which is why my far superior half and I would always tend to agree to disagree. You just might pick up a nugget or two of valuable insights from here, helping you understand your male counterparts. Who knows? You just might impress your partner or 'prospect' with what you know and your opinions about man-stuff.

In the coming days, weeks, months and years, allow me to share my thoughts on what interests us men. Please feel free to leave your comments. Discussions can be healthy when we maintain respect for each other. We may not all agree in our opinions on particular topics but like I said... let's agree to disagree and respect each other's viewpoint.