Tuesday, January 21, 2014

THE CRIPPLER

Christian Cyrus Leben is officially retired from MMA.

Tim Kennedy, Patrick Cote, Michael Chiesa, Evan Dunham, John Maguire, Joey Beltran all expressed they emotions on Twitter about Leben leaving the sport after his loss compiling a record of 12-10 in 22 appearances for the UFC organization as one of the most feared fighter in the Middleweight division. He ran into a four fight loosing streak, but he was kept around for a reason. Leben was in the original cast member in THE Ultimate fighter series with all the names that "made" the UFC explode into the superb phenomenon that it is today.

Chris was/is one of the favorite for many, including my wife who watched him being a sensitive young kid into a not so much technical fighter, rather one of the most feared one, the relentless one who never stops coming forward. We all remember Joe Rogan's comment on the big head/great punch taking abilities theory that some of you might find insulting, but more so this might be just one of the main key for his amazing fights. Chis was more dangerous while hurt towards to the end of the round.

He fought Anderson Silva pretty early on and he KO-d the other Silva: Wanderlei among many others, TUF, and many other accomplishments on his records. The Guy has nothing to prove. If I have to put only one world to describe him it should be relentless.

Thank You so much Chris, and I really hope that we will see you back as a coach or trainer, even hall-of-famer if that whole TUF crew is going there one day. I loved witnessing your journey, listening your stories (from you and from others). Your heart kept you in our heart. You made a lot of us a fan of MMA, TUF and the UFC.

The WAR PAINT, nails, hair, the style. All gone. Amazing inspiration.
THANK YOU SO MUCH! 

Received 1000 tweets from you guys!! Overwhelming - Chris Leben. - See more at: http://www.bjpenn.com/the-mma-world-reacts-to-the-retirement-of-chris-leben/#sthash.ypWnv5RU.dpuf 




Thank you so much for mmaweekly and fighthubtv for the photos.

Monday, January 13, 2014

Ezt a UFC lábtörést még mindig nem dolgoztuk fel...


Ezt a UFC lábtörést még mindig nem dolgoztuk fel...

My second article was published in OFFLINE (hungarian) a dominantly online magazine.
This article on Anderson's legacy up to "the legbreak" was heavily altered and missing the credit, but have to give it them: They publish my crap, so I'm Very thankful and very happy about it :) #love 

Historical figures

Well, this article might be as unrelated as it comes, however this is one subject keeps me up at night.
Sounds like a spacey idea, but so often I wonder what would certain mma fighters be like if they were born just a little bit ago. When nations and tribes fought just about all the time. Would these guys with a thus to rule, unmatched power and skill rise to the occasion as they do in the sport and become a leader naturally in their own army? Yes, I'm damn serious and I'm talking about one of my favorite times, the medieval dark ages (mainly).
Just think of the fighters background/ethnicity/race and I'm sure if you let your imagination fly, you WILL get your entreatment and enjoyment out of this.
Think of shinny armors, leather and iron. Blood and dirt, sweat and tears,
Imagine Cain Velasquez as a Mexican ruler, who is not too worried about blood and violence when it comes to taking care of business as you saw it in the octagon many times before. His side is his vicious right hand man Gilbert Melendez on the black horse, on his left Diego Sanchez like a ferocious wild dog marching along the side and couldn't wait to get to the battle, and being unleashed.
From other parts of the world more fighters are coming to the big events (essentially I'm thinking title fights in big arenas) Game of Thrones styles, but so many obstacles to overcome before they get there (the road to the belt). Fighting your local circuit will bring the best guys up on top surrounded with a great team.
Imagine Alexander Gustafsson with his blond and bloodied beard and helmet marching down from the Norwegian land as a Viking warrior with Gunner Nelson (from Iceland) on his side. They meet up with the Island rebels such as Conor Mcgregor (Ireland) who is annoyed by the Brit and Roman Legion's veterans Alessio Sakara (Italy) and Bisping (UK) the Count! Once they figure out how to keep the union between them, so they can bring more names and titles home after the yearly invasions.
The East has it's solders too and in the far far the left, the Last emperor Fedor (Russia) sits on his Byzantine Throne. Even though people say his is too old and not relevant, we know that even western world's most powerful women warriors such as Ronda (US WestCoast) would have his 57 sons and daughters and his is literally considered the undisputed best ruler ever, The Last Emperor.
Hold on for a sec! The Canadian land mass produces perfect athletes like GSP with Rory on the side and I can hear the chants of Brazil carrying Anderson Silva on his shield covered with gold, but that means nothing if the battle is lost.
And who would forget a fear spreading Haka dance with Browne and Hunt so just throw something at the direction of Maori, Kiwi, Samoan Islands and their distant relatives, the Hawaiian King named BJ Penn and his lengthy weapon Kendall Grove. The Fight Teams/Camps could be just smaller individual cavalries, I mean stop pretending when in many organizations the "walk out" is not something like a small fighting group just arrived to kick some ass with they glorious entrance.
Nova Uniao Could one of the most aggressive one, they attack like Hyenas and will pick you apart, others rely on the great strategists like Winkeljohn/Jackson's behind Jones and the rest. The Invicta women helps to get the Amazons some recognition and you don't want to mess with them, they Can fight like men, no problem.
One day I will use all my photoshop skills to give you a visual idea as well.
Don't get too hang up on my clumsiness and the lack of other nations and fighters, perhaps I mix things up too. Just enjoy the ride and never stop dreaming!
More Wars are coming soon!
-Gabe M.




Wednesday, January 8, 2014

Dominick Cruz Injured, Vacates Belt; Renan Barão to Defend Against Urijah Faber at UFC 169

WOW! This is obviously something thats need to be mentioned, regardless of my schedule.
I mean Holy crap!
The guy is one of the great ones:  An innovator, a record breaker, an idol to many. Waits on the sideline for about 2 years, heals up, finally gets the fight to make sure everybody remembers how and why he got that belt. Than another injury happens, nothing and nobody will wait any longer including his status, rank, job, belt, so he vacates belt, and that's it.
Sometimes we don't know why things happen, but here is a weird pattern to watch about Champs in the near past:
-Jones (Light Heavyweight champ) breaks toe, gets insane high level competition, very close fight with Alexander Gustafsson (underdog).
-GSP (now ex-Welterweight champ) struggles with motivation in the last few fights, basically leaves scene, looses belt.
-Anderson Silva (now ex-Middleweight champ) gets finished twice in a year by the same guy (crazy underdog) Chris Weidman and breaks an insane way, looses belt.
-And now Dominic (now ex-Bantamweight champ) looses belt...

We are living the unapologetic times of mayor upsets and it's time to wake the fuck up! Everybody has an expiration date and in these days Champions are being tested by (BIG) time, by fighters growing up on MMA/UFC and times are tough my friends! This is heartbreaking and harvests amazing drama and close competition. At the end of the day, the fans Win!
As unfortunate this happened to @theDomin8r, we finally got to say our praises about him. 
We can now look back and now acknowledge and embrace his speed, angles, style, that his footwork changed the game so much, that even heavyweights started doing it. ( while people were debating if his weight class should or shouldn't exist!) Think about that!
Thanks Dominic! I wish you the best and hope to see you back! Still contributing, teaching, analyzing, and yes even fighting too if you are ready. -G. Molnar


Monday, January 6, 2014

Happy New Year (fighters to watch) 1.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!
This post had no research behind it at all. Only, I think this is not something you can really research, it's   a lot more like based on your 'gut feeling thing.
Yes, I'm talking about the fighters/things to watch in 2014. What I think this really cover is what impressed you/me the most in 2013, what moved my imagination, who do you see more than probably to succeed, who looked promising and impressive...rememberable - is not a bad world for it either.
So here is my list.
The Number one person that can potentially reach the sky and win even more people over to his side this year is, yes it's a male Featherweight fighter named Conor McGregor straight outta Ireland. The mainly striker fighter is the owner of 10 first round finishes and is on a 10 fight winning streak.
This 'GQ fly cat' sounds like a guy don't know how to pull back with the confidence, he just can not silence the voice inside his head: nobody can fuck with me ~ In all honesty: I actually think it's discipline more than anything. You just can not be this loose with those kicks of his and not to work insanely hard. That takes dedication. I say to be that loose physically in the Octagon, takes hardcore intensity in the mind and in the gym. I believe it needs balance, I think the two comes together. Ideally we all do:)
How about his fighting, besides being very entertaining?
Fast, flashy, precise, stylish, for me seems like ton of karate,, ton of kicks, great boxing, great on the ground, amazing footwork. All this with the the menace borrowed from the Stockton and Co. aka the Diaz brothers. Talking to the opponent, never a big issue either.
Other fascinating thing about him: close friend and training parter with Gunnar Nelson.
Which takes me to the second guy on the list. The number 2 guy to watch in 2014 is Gunni, who is from Iceland, therefore cool as fuck to begin with. I'm sorry, how many Icelandic, more authentic guy you know who is also an amazing fighter. Both guys are unorthodox, Gunner - a dangerous Welterweight - probably even more so. I would consider him a ground fighter - I am considering him:) . Not sure, if I can pull a parallel between his demeanor and approach to fighting, but he is WAY too calm, and as far as what I got out of his fighting style: Unique, powerful, loves the ground fight,  and minimal - meaning he does what it needs to be done not less, not more. I say both guys are easily top 10 or will be this year for sure. Both are 25 years old, both takes risks, loves to fight and very good at them. Another reason, I have never heard of them before last year, but as the year progresses, we all learned their name and all I was hearing is the mentions of their name among others, but these too just stood out for me.


Fighters to watch in 2014:
Conor McGregor  (25yr, 14 - 2) Featherweight
Gunnar Nelson (25yr, 10 - 0 - 1) Welterweight
Also need to mention this guy, who I think might have stole the show in 2013 is Alexander Gustafsson (26yr, 15 - 2 - 0) LightHeavyweight. He deserves his own separate article dedicated only to him. Now I know what am I going to do, later tonight/this week.
Nite!

-G. Molnar


Conor 
Gunni