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Deontay Wilder: America’s next great heavyweight champion?
In my interview with Wilder he shares his thoughts on becoming the next great heavyweight champion. Can he bring excitement back to the heavyweight division?
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Lucha Underground to Netflix? I hope so
When the upstart wrestling promotion Lucha Underground aired on the fledgling El Rey Network back in fall of 2014 the wrestling community took notice. Hollywood film director Robert Rodriguez, TV Show Executive Mark Burnett and company made waves as they introduced fans to the “Temple”.
Lucha Underground was billed as a TV Show not a promotion. Former WWE talent with TV talent made for an interesting concept. Lucha Underground has not necessarily been pedal to the medal since the premier episode but there may be a move that could rejuvenate the brand.
There are rumors swirling that Lucha Underground may move from the El Rey Network to the streaming juggernaut Netflix.
A fresh start with new episodes on a new network will be great start to keeping the Temple alive. Of course keeping the core cast of characters is key.
Very soon believers of the temple who are subscribers of Netflix will once again have in their lives Dario Cueto, Johny Mundo, Rey Mysterio Jr. Melissa Santos and Catrina!
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What did we learn from Ortiz vs. Sonnen?
We learned that Sonnen is a better wrestler and Ortiz is a better fighter. Who is a better apprentice? That remains to be seen.
This past weekend Bellator MMA threw another old timer fight our way. Former UFC Light Heavyweight champion and Hall of Fame member Tito Ortiz and Chael Sonnen settled their rivalry inside the Bellator cage. It was not much of a fight as Ortiz was able to make quick work of Sonnen by submitting him via rear naked choke at the 2:03 mark in the first round.
The two will forever be linked in history despite only fighting each other once. Back in 1998 Sonnen and Ortiz competed against each other as collegiate athlete. It was Sonnen, a student athlete at the University of Oregon who pinned Ortiz, a Cal State Bakersfield wrestler in just 44 seconds.
For you reality TV fans out there, did you know that the two were also contestants on Celebrity Apprentice?
Tito Ortiz competed in season seven of the show. He did hold his own against the likes of Piers Morgan and Omarosa as he even earned a victory as team captain while raising funds for St. Jude’s Children Research Hospital.
Ortiz was ultimately fired by our current President Donald Trump!
Chael Sonnen is still holding his own on the current season of Celebrity Apprentice which is now hosted by former Governor of California Arnold Schwarzenegger!
Cool things coming up in combat sports
One month into the new year the world of combat sports seems set to make an impact in 2017.Will former UFC women’s champion Ronda Rousey every return to MMA competition? Never mind Canelo vs. GGG in 2017, will we see Floyd Mayeather vs. Conor McGregor?
So far things good things are on the horizon for fight fights.
Golden Boy Promotions recently announced a multi year TV deal with ESPN with will begin this March. Catch the details in this article by ESPN Senior Writer Dan Rafeal.
The anticipated showdown between Keith Thurman and Danny Garcia is set for March 4. Garcia’s trainer and father Angel Garcia set this feud into motion by spewing harsh words and racial slurs towards Thurman at a recent press conference. WATCH HERE
It seems like two fighters that were expected to remain inactive in 2017 are dominating headlines. Retired boxer Floyd Mayweather was on a press tour of sorts to discuss a potential showdown with MMA Champion Conor McGregor who at the conclusion of 2016 outline plans for other projects outside the UFC’s Octagon.
In order for this fight to happen someone is going to have to write a big check. How much? That seems to be the entertaining topic of discussion. Check out this interview with Floyd Mayweather.
What fight are you looking forward to in 2017?
This should be a good fight for the top pound-for-pound spot in the sport of boxing. How does this fight end?
Jose Ramirez returns to the ring December 2
Growing up in California’s Central Valley there is an understanding of certain principles, a common ground that is shared by every family from every background. Nearly every Central Valley resident understands the concept of a strong work ethic. For many families there is a core principal that has been instilled by families from one generation to the next. It is a core principal that makes the agriculture capitol of the world a great place to live.
A resident of Avenal, California Jose Ramirez took notice the work ethic his family displayed on a daily basis. For someone with the drive and determination like Ramirez, that work ethic was all he needed. He would make a deal with himself to never take a step back in anything he would do in life, especially boxing.
“I grew up with humble beginnings with a Mexican family that came to the united states to work and to give us a better future,” Ramirez recalls of his life growing up, “My parents have gone so far so for me and to take a step back is not fair to them so I have always wanted to continue to fight forward because they did so much i don't want to be unappreciative; my work ethic has been there from the beginning because of my parents.”
With the support of his parents he gravitated toward the sport of boxing where his skills rapidly developed. From time-to-time he would secure small sponsorships to pay for boxing shoes and trips to compete in various boxing events. But it was his parents that would do what they could to earn extra income to support Ramirez in developing as a boxer. As a result he amassed an impressive amateur pedigree which earned him a spot on the 2012 Olympic team. It was during that time he met hall of fame boxing trainer Freddie Roach.
“I like people with good work ethic,” said Roach, “he was the only guy on the olympic team that would want to sneak back to the gym to get a work out in.” As a result of the extra workouts Roach was asked to leave the 2012 Olympic team. During that Olympic appearance no U.S. boxer returned home with a gold medal. The last U.S. Gold Medalist was Andre Ward who earned gold in the 2004 games. Now back together Ramirez is developing his trademark left hook at the world famous Wild Card Gym.
Through the early part of his professional career he made an impact on the boxing scene and in the community. His fights were billed as, Fight for Water which is a cause he created with the Latino Water Coalition as he noticed the severe repercussions from water restrictions and impact the drought had in his hometown and other central valley communities.
His fights would set attendance records and generate high ratings as part of Top Rank’s Solo Boxeo series which airs on Univision. Locally, he fought on the campus of Lemoore Jr. College, Tachi Palace, Selland Arena and the Save Mart Center. To date that event at the Save Mart Center was the pinnacle of his career and gave fight fans a glimpse to his potential as boxing star. His hard work shows in the gym and on fight night.
He is steadily progressing from prospect to contender and a title shot is a matter of time. When that time comes he will certainly have the support of a loyal fan base in the Central Valley.
Lucha Underground: Karlee Perez gives life to the 'Queen of Death'
Lucha Underground is a high flying, fast paced tribute to the traditions of lucha libre. The production is simply described as cinematic which is something to expect from Lucha Underground’s executive producer Robert Rodriguez. Currently, the show is progressing through season two and fans have come to appreciate a hybrid of Lucha Libre mixed with North American pro-wrestling complemented by a feel of a novela tv show.
Through the course of two seasons, Lucha Underground has proven to be a great wrestling show but also has displayed the ability to develop characters and produce quality backstage vignettes.
Karlee Perez portrays Catrina on Lucha Underground. Catrina is known as the Queen of Death. She is mysterious, seductive and is the foundation of the weekly wrestling series. While other promotions have a segregated division for women, Lucha Underground breaks the mold and integrates women with the men. Each week Catrina is doing her best to take control of the “Temple” from her bitter rival, Dario Cueto, played by Luis Fernandez-Gil. If you are a fan of content produced by Robert Rodriguez you know he has a knack to create strong women characters. If you are a fan of pro-wrestling you know Perez has the wrestling chops to mix it up in the ring and the ability to create a personality that is captivating, strong and of course sexy. “I wanted Catrina to be raw and in your face,” Perez told examiner.com, “that is where the lick of death came from, she is a bad ass with a presence and as the series progresses fans will see how complex Catrina is.” Perez learned from the best. She came up through the pro-wrestling ranks under the guidance of the legendary Dusty Rhodes who emphasized quality wrestling along with character development, “The character aspect is something I am passionate about, I learned everything from Dusty Rhodes” said Perez. Her ring experience mixed with her persona is perfect for the brand of wrestling Lucha Underground presents. Her mentor Dusty Rhodes would be proud. When the announcement was made in 2014 that a wrestling show produced by top Filmmaker Robert Rodriguez and Hollywood TV Executive Mark Burnett would appear weekly on the El Rey Network, no one knew what to expect, including Perez, “We took a chance and when I started to see how this was filmed and written I thought for sure we were going to have a winner.” The word is out and fans understand where it takes place in the Temple, which is the site located in Boyle Heights, California where the luchadors battle. Such battles are promoted and described as pure violence by head honcho Dario Cueto. Lucha Underground is advertised as a show about wrestling. On this show, Karlee Perez is in top form as an athlete and performer. The life she has given to Catrina is why Lucha Underground is must see TV. Find out who is next to receive Catrina’s lick of death by tuning into Lucha Underground each Wednesday at 5 pm on the El Rey Network.
What is your favorite Lenny & Larry’s flavor of cookie?
Top five head kick knock outs!
Since the very first UFC event in 1993, MMA fans have witnessed amazing submissions, sensational knockouts and fantastic fights by the world’s toughest athletes. Throughout the history of the UFC, no other conclusion to a fight has created a fan frenzy like the head kick knockout. From the early days of the UFC, a head kick was just as legal as a head butt or a punch to the groin. Despite the brutality of the early days in MMA, it was the head kick that brought fans out of their seats and in some cases sent teeth flying from the cage. Here are the top five head kick knockouts in UFC history:
Randy Couture vs Lyoto Machida The technique used by Lyoto Machida to knockout MMA legend Randy Couture was made popular by the character Daniel LaRusso, played by Ralph Macchio in the cult classic The Karate Kid. Perhaps Machida was paying homage to Danielson or staying true to his Karate roots when he brought the Crane Kick to life in spectacular fashion as he knocked out Randy Couture at UFC 129. After Couture came to his senses the first of only two fighters to hold two UFC championship titles in two different divisions announced his retirement inside the UFC’s Octagon.
Gabriel Gonzaga vs. Mirko Cro Cop Throughout the career of Cro Cop he was known for his devastating head kicks. UFC fans were anticipating a dominant run through the heavyweight division. However in his second fight in the UFC Cro Cop was on the receiving end of one of the most brutal knockouts in the promotion’s history. Gabriel Gonzaga delivered a perfect high kick that crumbled the Croatian in the closing seconds of the very first round.
Ronda Rousey vs. Holly Holm UFC’s first ever female champion Ronda Rousey was not only the face of women’s MMA but arguably the face of the entire sport. She was thrashing opponents in record time, literally seconds until she met Holly Holm in Melbourne, Australia at UFC 193. Holm, from Albuquerque,New Mexico literally defied the odds and dethroned the champion by delivering a brutal head kick that crumbled Rousey and created a frenzy the MMA world. This fight is perhaps the greatest knockout in a championship fight and is certainly one of the most devastating knockouts in the history of the UFC.
Gerard Gordeau vs. Teila Tuli Gerard Gordeau and Teila Tuli are two names in MMA that are not really associated with the legacy of the UFC but their fight will be remembered as the first in the history of the UFC. The head kick knockout delivered by Gordeau introduced the fight world to the brutality of ‘cage fighting’. See the knock out in the video by Fox Sports titled Brutal beginnings of the UFC.
Uriah Hall vs Adam Cella Uriah Hall’s spinning back kick KO was the highlight of The Ultimate fighter: Jon Jones vs. Chael Sonnen. Since the fight was only witnessed live by teammates and crew members the sound of the kick was just a brutal and the actual contact. The sound of Hall’s foot to Cella’s face was one thing. The sound of Cella’s body bouncing of the surface of the Octagon was another and the silence of the athletes from both teams communicated to the viewing audience how severe the knockout was. The knockout was described by UFC president Dan White as one of the nastiest knockouts he has ever seen. Click Here to see the knockout!
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One of the most impactful sites in American sports history is now a salvage yard in Reno, Nevada. On July 4, 1910 it was the site to a prize fight between Jack Johnson and James Jeffries. This fight is known as the “Fight of the Century”.
The early 1900’s was a racist America and when Jack Johnson defeated Tommy Burns in Australia to become the first black heavyweight champion the stage was set for a collision between black and white on a grand scale. Reno was where the battle would take place.
There was a big movement to find someone to wipe the smile of Johnson’s face and take back the prestigious heavy weight tittle. So white America began to search for their champion, their great white hope. James Jeffries was it.
Although undefeated in his career Jeffries had not laced gloves in over five years and was working on his California ranch since retiring in 1905. He was far from championship form.
Jeffries came out of retirement weighing in over 300 pounds. He had to cut nearly 70 pounds for the fight.
When word got out that Reno would play host to the fight the Biggest Little City got bigger over night. Reno’s population at the time was just around 10,000 and over 30,000 boxing fans came through to watch the epic prize fight.
It was a huge event. The bars downtown did big business, the few hotels that existed at the time were booked solid, Reno was the center of the universe on that day.
The fight was scheduled for 45 rounds, it lasted 15. Jeffries was knocked down twice in the fifteenth round and at one point was nearly knocked completely out of the ring. Finally the corner of Jeffries came to realize he was too old, too heavy and was simply outclassed. His corner had seen enough and called a stop to the fight.
Fans wanting to see Johnson suffer defeat could only wash away their sorrows at nearby bars and realized that their hope was simply an illusion. The impact of that fight transcends professional prizefighting. The biggest and most significant sporting event of that era took place on our Independence Day in 1910.
This was an article I wrote originally published on Examiner . com
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Eduardo Dantas once again world champion
Bellator MMA presented a world championship fight at the Save Mart Center in Fresno, California. Marcos Galvao and Eduardo Dantas battled for Bellator’s version of the Bantamweight championship. The fight card featured fighters from the Central Valley including Chris Honeycutt from Fresno, CA. READ MORE
Karlee Perez gives life to the Queen of Death:
Karlee Perez portrays Catrina on Lucha Underground. Catrina is known as the Queen of Death. She is mysterious, seductive and is the foundation of the weekly wrestling series. While other promotions have a segregated division for women, Lucha Underground breaks the mold and integrates women with the men. Each week Catrina is doing her best to take control of the “Temple” from her bitter rival, Dario Cueto, played by Luis Fernandez-Gil. READ MORE
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I had the chance to chat with WBC Heavyweight Champion Deontay Wilder. Can he bring excitement back to the Heavyweight Division? Find out in this video.
This a brief clip of my phone conversation with Wilder from my hotel room in Sacramento, California.
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RIP Prince.
What was your favorite Prince music video?
(Richard de Ocio) Clip from my interview with Karlee Perez known as Catrina on Lucha Underground. Here her thoughts on the passing of former WWE Superstar Chyna
I recently had the chance to chat with Karlee Perez who portrays Catrina on the wrestling series Lucha Underground. In this interview for Examiner.com she shares her thoughts on the passing of former WWE Superstar Chyna. READ MORE
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Sergey Kovalev shares his thoughts on a potential showdown with Andre Ward.
