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JR's Blog: MMA Thoughts...Lesnar Needs To Fight...Toughest Pro Wrestler/Street Fighter since '90...WWE All Stars

Posted: Jun 29th 2010 By: mikeiles

Thanks for dropping by....let's roll...busy week...lots of good things going on...

Thought Strikeforce had a solid TV show Saturday night on Showtime. Their TV production isn't at WWE levels for a Raw or a PPV but nonetheless that's not why most people watch events such as MMA but the classier a show looks the better its perceived by casual fans. Hardcore fans will watch as a rule no matter what. It's the casual fans that any organization wants and needs to attract and then to subsequently keep.

Werdum's upset of Fedor was obviously a shocker. Fedor's 'people' lost a good deal of negotiating leverage but that's not to say that Fedor Emelianenko isn't still a bigger than life character but his mystique has been lessened somewhat. The Russian made a simple mistake that found him in BJJ skilled individual's wheelhouse. Strategic error plan and simple that Fedor, exhibiting a great deal of class and humility, admitted in his post match interview.

Fedor has one fight left on his existing contract with Strikeforce and friends and that one has to be a rematch with Werdum and obviously NOT a title bout even though Fedor is still the most marketable heavyweight in the organization.

The Cyborg-Finney fight should have been stopped earlier by the referee but I was pleased to see a female official be utilized. Seems progressive and made sense to me. Cris Cyborg has an amazing persona and people will continue to tune into see her fight even though most fans knows that the chances of Cyborg losing are long.

In MMA, any fight is, in reality, only one punch from being over and that applies to a freak of nature like Cris Cyborg. After seeing Cyborg's performance Saturday night one would assume that Gina Carano's desire to step back on the mat lessened even more.Who could blame her? Movies or Cyborg? Not a tough choice.

Jan Finney became some sort of a folk hero for the ass whipping that she endured and continued to battle. My hat's off to her. I think that women in MMA have a place and Strikeforce and company will be smart to continue to promote the ladies fights.

Frank Shamrock was smart to get out of the cage when he did for a variety of reasons both health and business oriented. Smart guy with a great gift of gab and who should be a great rep for MMA for years to come.

We are excited to make the trip to Vegas this week to see the Lesnar-Carwin Heavyweight Title Bout at this Saturday night's UFC PPV. This one could very end when the first guy lands his best right hand but I'm sticking solidly with Brock to leave the Octagon as the undisputed Heavyweight Champion of the World. I've said all along that this will be Lesnar's toughest fight especially with so many unanswered questions about Brock's long inactivity and what affects suffering from diverticulitis may have had on the athletic beast of a man.

I know that Shane Carwin is a fabulous athlete and his record speaks for itself. However, I do know Brock Lesnar on a personal level and I also know that his intensity and focus are amazing traits and that he is at his best when he is either doubted or forced into a corner. Many MMA insiders feel that Brock's layoff due to illness will be his downfall in Saturday night's main event on pay per view. I happen not to share in that opinion and am counting the down the hours as this is one airplane trip with which I'm anxiously looking forward.

Texter...When I said Daniel Bryan had become relevant in the 13 or so weeks that he had been on WWE TV I meant that in a positive light and stand by the statement as many outside the WWE world had no familiarity with the talented grappler before he appeared on NXT no matter his exposure on Ring of Honor which does not have a large TV audience.

Emailer...No...I do not expect JBL to EVER wrestle again. Last time John and I talked he was playing golf in St. Andrews Scotland which is a helluva lot better gig than traveling up and down the road with 'the boys.' Sorry...but that's a fact.

Emailer...who's the toughest street fighter type guy I've ever seen in the biz since 1990? The emailer said to exclude Lesnar and Ken Shamrock and whether I did or not I would still say without question the toughest man I was ever around as it relates to street fights, brawls, etc was Steve "Dr. Death" Williams who beat cancer once and was a man that I would never bet against in a down and out, nasty fist fight. Yep, I'm partial but many of my peers will concur.

Emailer...Yes...I agree that the state of New York is foolish to not willingly sanction MMA and to actively recruit the UFC to hold major events in the city. If NYC hosts pro boxing, why in the name of every thing that makes common sense isn't UFC welcomed into the Garden, the world's most famous arena, or even to Yankee Stadium? The UFC is the NFL of their genre.

I started the THQ voice overs today for the WWE All Stars video game which will be released in early 2011. I'm really enjoying the process and will hit it hard two more days this week to get us rolling and will be staying busy with this project throughout July. The King and I will be the announcers on the game with the Fink handling the ring announcing.

Thanks to those of you that are ordering from us as we appreciate your business. Keep your shelves stocked and your fridge loaded with all our products especially through the grilling season which lasts 12 months a year at our house.

Hit our Twitter account at http://twitter.com/JRsBBQ.

Facebook folks are welcome at http://facebook.dj/jrbbq/.

Be well and thanks for the visit.

Boomer Sooner!

J.R.

Tags: Jim Ross, WWE, Steve Williams, Jerry Lawler