Countdown To Paradise!
October 20, 2009 by admin · 4 Comments
Sure beats the Canadian winters..
And speaking of training, I haven’t been doing any boxing since I’ve been back. It’s not the same here and I have no desire to drive all the way across the city to do group class where other students will be the ones holding the pads for me. I figure I might as well just save the money that I’d be paying in membership costs and just put that towards my next trip to Thailand. So instead, I’ve just been doing my regular strength and conditioning workouts.
Today was a good day though. I finally booked my next flight back and I’ll be departing back to the land of smiles in just 3 weeks. I got my usual routing which is Ottawa / Chicago / Tokyo / Bangkok, but what’s nice is that this time I have one of my buddies joining me. Since I’ve been back in Canada, I’ve been talking about Thailand non stop so some of my friends have finally decided to book tickets and see what all the hype is about.
Some are into MMA and going for the Muay Thai training and of course, some don’t train at all and are just going to chill and party. I have a feeling that they’ll end up getting hooked like me either way though. This time around - which will be my third trip back in 3 years - I plan on doing everything that I haven’t done yet. I’ll still be hitting the usual spots (Phuket, Bangkok, Pattaya), but this time I’ll be heading up to Chiang Mai and down to Koh Samui. I also plan to finally visit the Por Pramuk camp and train alongside Buakaw at some point as well.
So, I got my ticket and I’m just counting down the days now (20 days exactly!). Follow along once again and I’ll do my best to make updates at least a few times a week. Also, if you yourself or someone you know is planning on going to another country to train, then have a look at this page. Basically, we’re looking to get a few training journals going at once so there will be something new to read for our visitors each time they visit.
Anyway, if you have any requests, any specific camps you want me to visit, then just list them below and I’ll see what I can do. As usual, if you have any questions about training in Thailand, just hit me up via the “contact” tab above. Next entry will be from Thailand!!!
THINKING OF GOING TO THAILAND TO TRAIN?
I’ve developed a 70 page guide that profiles everything you need to know about training in Bangkok, Phuket and Pattaya. In the manual, I discuss the visa issues, the Muay Thai camps, the different areas, the transportation, the food, the culture and customs, the girls, the scams, the safety issues and most importantly, how to save a ton of cash along the way!
Forrest Griffin vs. Tito Ortiz
October 9, 2009 by admin · Leave a Comment
Ortiz and Griffin throwing bombs at UFC 59
“Coleman, Coleman, Coleman .. Too bad he sissies out!!! Who’s next??? I’m kicking someone’s ass on November 21st”
When Mark Coleman’s manager got word of Tito’s message, he issued a rather harsh, extremely personal statement of his own - which he later apologized for. Here’s what he had to say about Tito (and his girlfriend Jenna)..
“The only thing Coleman is afraid of when it comes to Tito is contracting swine flu from that dirty ass d-bag. We all know where he lays his head down at night. Tito wants to get personal with a legend? OK, let’s get personal - we can all go to our porn collections and watch what Tito sleeps with night after night.”
I wasn’t originally excited about watching Tito Ortiz fight Mark Coleman but now that it’s gotten so personal, I wouldn’t mind seeing it in the near future. In the meantime, it looks as though we’ll get to see a rematch between champions since Forrest Griffin has been named as Coleman’s replacement.
As you most likely recall, Tito Ortiz and Forrest Griffin fought to a split decision back at UFC 59 with Tito Ortiz narrowly out-pointing Griffin for the victory. In that first battle, Tito Ortiz came out gunning and was absolutely dominating Griffin with his ground and pound techniques from within the guard that he’s known for. I remember watching that and I actually felt sorry for Griffin at the time, I thought that he was in way over his head.
However, in the second and third round, Forrest Griffin turned it on while Tito Ortiz had slowed down. He just didn’t look the same after that first round so I imagine that something was bothering him - either his back or his knee.
And speaking of injuries, this will be Tito’s first fight back in the octagon since he underwent surgery on his lower back - which is something that he claims has negatively effected his performance for years. Now, with Tito Ortiz functioning at his full potential, and with the overall improvements that Griffin has made, it should make for an interesting rematch.
Combat Sports IMF Tech Gloves
October 7, 2009 by admin · Leave a Comment
Product Reviewed
Combat Sports IMF-Tech Sparring Gloves
Company Product Description
- Features our advanced IMF TECH molded foam core for superior hand protection and shock absorption
- All new D.U.R.A LOK closure makes it the best fitting boxing glove ever
- All leather construction
Personal Experience
I’ve been getting a lot of companies sending me gear lately in hopes that they’ll have their products reviewed on here. If I like something, I’ll write about it - which is why I’m choosing to write about these gloves. I’ve been using them for the last month or so and I have to say that I’m pretty impressed. They’re a little wider (especially around the thumb area) than most of the Thai boxing gloves I’ve used but I don’t mind it at all.
What really makes these gloves stand out though is the comfort and wrist protection that they provide. I’ve used over a dozen gloves and these particular gloves offer the most wrist protection out of them all. It can be tricky to get them on at first because there’s a stretchy piece of fabric at the entry point of the glove but it’s that piece of fabric that makes the gloves fit so well. Twins gloves, MTG gloves and Fairtex gloves don’t have it. Once these gloves are all strapped up, you feel like you can punch concrete and not have to worry about any sort of wrist injury.
They’re a little heavy for padwork but they’re decent for sparring. The weight isn’t listed anywhere on the glove but I’m guessing that they’re about 16 ounces or so. I’ve been impressed with them so far and I’ll certainly be taking them to Thailand with me when I head there in a few weeks.
Recommended?
YES!
BJ Penn vs. Diego Sanchez
October 7, 2009 by admin · 3 Comments
The horiffic experience of fighting BJ Penn at lightweight.
BJ Penn - who’s hasn’t lost in the lightweight division in almost 8 years - will be putting his title on the line for this one. He’s looked incredibly dominant at 155 pounds and he redeemed himself from the only loss that he does have the division when he toyed with, and humiliated Jens Pulver at the Ultimate Fighter 5 finale back in 2006.
Since that redemption, he’s blown through Joe Stevenson, Sean Sherk and Kenny Florian. All of those guys are top competitors and BJ Penn made every one of those fights look extremely easy. The disheartened look in their eyes after being dominated says it all. Joe Stevenson was even reduced to crying in the ring right after the fight. Tears and blood poured down his face and to add insult to injury, BJ Penn licked Stevenson’s blood off his 4 ounce gloves.
With Sherk, BJ Penn did the same thing. He approached him, wiped some of the blood from his beaten face and then licked it off his gloves. In his latest fight, he dominated Kenny Florian - who I personally thought would give him a run for his money. I mean, Florian is the more versatile striker, he’s a BJJ black belt and while his ground game isn’t on the same level as Penn’s, I figured he would at least be able to hold his own and avoid being submitted.
I was wrong. Kenny put up a fight and made it to the 4th round but eventually got submitted via a rear naked choke. As submission that actually ended up putting tens of thousands of dollars into Penn’s bank account as he earned the “submission of the night” honours for it.
Then there’s Diego Sanchez. He can strike, but he’s not the best. He can wrestle, but he’s not the best. He’s got a solid BJJ game, but he’s not the best at that either. He’s one of those guys who’s extremely well rounded, but depending on his opponents, he can be easily outmatched in a specific aspect of the fight game and in this case, he had better hope that BJ Penn doesn’t get the fight to the ground.
That being said, his best asset is the most important asset a fighter can have - he has heart! Diego Sanchez has been in some wars and no matter what happens, no matter how outmatched he is, he’ll never give up. Now that’s something that can’t be said about BJ Penn. Diego has never been knocked out, he’s never been submitted he’s gone the distance 7 times in the UFC and 6 of those fights have been incredible, back and fourth wars!
While clearly outmatched on the ground, Diego Sanchez brings in a more versatile striking attack. BJ Penn relies purely on boxing and you’ll rarely ever see him mix up his attacks with kicks and knee strikes. Diego on the other hand is coming off a victory over Clay Guida in which he displayed some awesome Muay Thai skills and even landed a technically sound head kick to Guida which to everyone’s surprise, didn’t knock him out.
So to break it down, BJ Penn has better boxing while Diego more versatile striking skills. Diego has better wrestling but I highly doubt he’ll be able to take BJ Penn down due to his flexibility - nor would he want too. BJ Penn is an incredible Brazilian Jiu Jitsu practitioner so he clearly has the advantage on the mat. Diego has more fights, but BJ Penn has been in the “big show” a little more often.
Diego has the intensity and the heart, while BJ has the technical skills. The odds makers will likely have Diego Sanchez as a heavy underdog and when the odds to come out, it might be a good bet. But it’s personally not a bet that I’d make simply because BJ Penn is just THAT good! I can’t wait for this one.
Jon Jones vs. Matt Hamill
October 6, 2009 by admin · Leave a Comment
Jon Jones seen here showcasing his unorthodox, crowd-pleasing striking skills
However, it wasn’t until his fight with Stephan Bonnar at UFC 94 that the world started to take notice. In that fight, he absolutely dominated the veteran and he did so in an incredible way. He whipped Bonnar all around the octagon and rocked him with flashy kicks and spinning elbows. After the fight, when asked where he learned how to strike, he joking said “you tube”.
In his last outing, it was obvious that “Bones” Jones had become a fan favourite by the reaction of the crowd when he fought Jake O’Brien. In that fight, he picked up his first “finish” in the Octagon as he submitted Jake with a Guillotine choke in the second round. Now, with a 3-0 record in the UFC and a 9-0 record in total, he’s stepping up the competition with about against Matt Hamill.
Matt Hamill - who’s coming off a devastating head kick KO victory against Mark Munoz at UFC 96 - will be looking to add to his win streak and his already impressive record inside the Octagon. His only real loss thus far has come from Rich Franklin and well, that’s understandable seeing as how Franklin is one of the best. Technically, Matt Hamill has a loss against Michael Bisping but it’s hard to consider that as an actual defeat. Watch the fight for yourself if you want to see why.
As for how these two guys match up, well ..they’re both monsters when it comes to Greco roman wrestling. Based on what I’ve seen so far, I’d give Jon Jones the edge in the striking department but Matt Hamill has shown a lot of improvement in the last couple of his fights. That being said, he got absolutely picked apart by Rich Franklin and he tends to look somewhat sloppy at times.
He’s improved a lot, he has a powerful jab, but he drops his hands way too often and that’ll most likely be a problem against a 6’4 striker with an 84.5 inch reach. Franklin utilized Thai style kicks to finish him and it just so happens that Jon Jones has been working his Muay Thai with Phil Nurse lately - who’s one of the best Thai boxing trainers in the country.
The best chance for Matt Hamill to win is to take him down, control him and pound him for either a stoppage or a decision victory. It should be interesting to see how this one plays out.
Tito Ortiz vs. Mark Coleman
October 1, 2009 by admin · 4 Comments
What Tito has been up to during his long Hiatus from fighting.
If you’re unfamiliar with Mark Coleman, he was the UFC’s very first heavyweight champion. He’s been in the game for about 13 years now and during that time, he’s faced some of the toughest competition possible. He’s been in there with Fedor, he’s been in there with Shogun, he’s been in there with Crocop, he’s been in there with Nogueira - basically, he’s faced the best in the world. And now, Tito Ortiz is yet another big name that will be on Coleman’s fight record.
That being said, in each fight with those “big name” fighters, Coleman has ended up getting knocked out or submitted. His most notable victory would have to be against Volchanchyn back when he won the PRIDE grand prix finals back in 2000. However, his most notable contribution to the sport was his implementation of the “ground and pound”. He’s actually referred to by some as the “godfather of ground and pound”, since he changed the way a lot fighters approach the sport.
All that being said, he’s turning 45 years old in December and I have the feeling that the UFC just brought him in for the name recognition and to basically feed him to the up and coming stars that they want to showcase. He was originally supposed to fight Brock Lesnar last August but he sustained a knee injury and had to pull out of that one - which was most likely for his own good since we know how that would have went.
He ended up fighting Shogun in his debut, which was booked as an “easy fight” for Shogun to redeem himself after his loss to Forrest Griffin. That fight was a joke as both fighters gassed early. Ultimately, Coleman ended up getting knocked out though. His next fight was against Stephan Bonnar, which once again, was booked as an “easy fight”. Bonnar had just come off a hard loss to newcomer striking/wrestling sensation Jon Jones and seeing as how Stephan Bonner is one of the reasons for the current success of the UFC, Dana White set him up with Coleman as a comeback fight but Coleman shocked the world and pulled out a victory.
In the fight against Bonnar, Coleman showed greatly improved cardio as he relied on his wrestling ability to pull off a decision victory. However, I have no doubt that this Tito Ortiz vs. Mark Coleman fight has been booked for the sole purpose of ensuring that Tito’s return to the octagon is a successful one.
While they have fighting similar styles, Tito Ortiz is younger, quicker and I believe he’ll likely be a little too much for Coleman to handle. Coleman showed a lot of improvement in his last fight, and with Tito’s long withdrawal from competition, there’s still a few question marks. In the last training clip I’ve watched of Tito, he was looking out of shape and literally puking after what seemed to be a mild training session.
However, this fight isn’t going down until the end of November so I’m sure Tito will be in shape again. Come to think of it, I can’t remember a fight where Tito has gassed out. He always comes prepared and I imagine this time will be no exception. This should be a good fight that will mostly likely end with some ground and pound.
