Live From Mohegan Sun Arena: Bellator 144

On October 23^rd, 2015, Bellator Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) brought its brand of entertainment to the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT. Fans filed in when the doors opened for the event that was set to go live on Spike TV at 9:00pm. They were able to visit the fan experience station, and even meet two of the company’s athletes: Kimbo Slice and Light Heavyweight World Champion Liam McGeary.

My observations and match results:

Preliminary (Prelim) Fights

1. Lightweights: T.J. Hepburn (4-1-0) vs. Sam Watford (0-0-0)-Watford was making his debut, hoping for a victory over the more experienced Hepburn. This fight went to a decision after 3 rounds, with the three judges ruling in favor of Sam Watford.

2. Catchweights: Marius Enache (2-3-0) vs. Pete Rogers (2-2-0)-Their two records differentiated by one loss, this match could have gone either way. It went to two rounds, with Enache luring his opponent into an arm lock submission hold at 2:37.

3. Welterweights: Jeremie Holloway (7-0-0) vs. Matt Secor (6-2-0) - Matt Secor and Jeremie Holloway grappled on the mat throughout the first round; the bell rung to end the round with both fighters having no clear advantage over the other. Round 2 would be a different story as Matt Secor zeroed in on Holloway’s ankle, applying pressure to the heel to force a submission victory at 4:54.

4. Light Heavyweights: Kevin Haley (3-3-0) vs. Mike Zichelle (7-3-0)-Zichelle was busted open by his eye during the bout, which presented Haley with an opening for his onslaught. Though cut, Zichelle made Haley pay with punches and kicks of his own. The fight went all 3 rounds and went to the judges’ decision. After deliberation, the scores were as follows: 30-27, 29-28, 29-28, all in favor of the winner Kevin Haley.

5. Featherweights : Matt Bessette (15-7-0) vs. Kevin Roddy (15-15-0)-Both fighters circled one another, exchanging takedowns and strikes. Bessette had to deflect Roddy’s air kicks while getting in a few shots of his own to his opponent’s hamstrings. An Inverted Heel Lock put an end to the fight as Kevin Roddy verbally tapped out at 3:47 of Round 1

6. Flyweights:  Billy Giovanella (8-4-0) vs. Brandon Polcare (1-0-0)-This match did not get out of Round 1. Giovanella drew Polcare into the Triangle Choke submission, earning the victory at the 2:19 mark.

7. Bantamweights: Kin Moy (7-2-0) vs. Walter Smith-Cotito (3-3-0)-Mat-based grappling took place throughout the bout as Moy tried to take down Smith-Cotito.  Both tried to establish a power base to varying degrees of success in the first two rounds of the fight.  Finally, Kin Moy utilized a Rear-Naked Chokehold to take down his opponent at 3:53 into Round 3.

Spike TV Live Broadcast

  1. Welterweights: Michael Page (8-0-0) vs. Charlie Ontiveros (6-3-0)-In his Bellator Debut, Ontiveros went up against a quick striker in Michael Page. Page took every opportunity to send his opponent into the mat. The undefeated fighter viciously targeted his opponent’s head with elbow shots until the ref ruled the contest a Technical Knock Out (TKO) in 3:20 of Round 1*Fight protocol was followed as Ontiveros was taken out on a stretcher*

 2. Featherweights: Isao Kobayashi (17-2-4) vs. Goiti Yamauchi (18-2-0) – Kobayashi was making his United States MMA Debut against the Japanese Brazilian Yamauchi. This three round fight could be summed up in exciting moments that saw the two men try to weaken the other with submission holds and takedowns. At one point, Kobayashi was able to break out the Kimura Lock, a move which placed his shoulder at an unnatural angle, by twisting the affected arm out of the hold. As the fight wound down to the third and final round, Yamauchi wrapped his legs around his opponent and applied the Rear-Naked Chokehold for the win 3:50 of Round 3.

3. Welterweights: Dennis Olson (14-9-0) vs. Brennan Ward (11-3-0)-Brennan Ward was the local hero, an MMA athlete with an interest in skateboarding and taking out opponents in the MMA cage. Dennis Olson was the one who did not care about crowd reaction, flipping “the double bird” to anyone and everyone. Olson’s attitude did not win him any cheers or sympathy. Ward grappled with his opponent on the mat to establish a powerbase, but Olson seemed to prefer the ground game. The ref halted this strategy, forcing the men to restart the bout in the center of the ring. After the restart, Ward used his impressive punches to slow down Olson. Olson had no defense for the brutal assault and the ref ruled the fight a Round 1 Knock Out (KO) at the 4:37 mark.

4. Middleweight Title on the Line: Rafael Carvalho (11-1-0) vs. Brandon Halsey (9-0-0)-After failing to make weight for a fight, Brandon Halsey had the Middleweight Title taken away from him. Halsey re-focused on earning back what was his, leading up to this night. Bellator gave him another chance to get his belt back against Rafael Carvalho.  Carvalho was a no-nonsense opponent who vowed to end the bout quickly with his accurate strikes and punches; after a kick to the liver and a follow-up punch to the head, Halsey went down 1:42 into Round 2. With the.Knock Out (KO) victory, Rafael Carvalho became the new Bellator Middleweight Champion.     

   Post-Live TV Fight Card

  1. Catchweights: Keenan Raymond (2-1-0) vs. Damien Trites (6-6-0)-Both fighters had a tentative first round, each trying to gain an offensive advantage over the other. Early into Round 2, Trites was able to put Raymond into the Kimura Lock armbar; his opponent tapped out in 1:17 of that second round.  

2.Welterweights: Ilya Kotau (1-0-0) vs. Kemran Lachinov (1-1-0)-Both utilized their grappling skills during the first round.  In Round 2, Kotau tapped out after being put into a knee bar submission hold at 2:57.

Overall, it was a great night of MMA action. Every contest had fighters that were willing to give their all with local fans, their friends, and their family members in attendance. 

Bellator can be seen on Spike TV. Check Spike TV’s website for more information.

Sources http://bellator.spike.com/events/64gvja/bellator-144-halsey-vs-carvalho

http://www.mmafighting.com/fight-card/749/bellator-144

http://www.sherdog.com/events/Bellator-144-Halsey-vs-Carvalho-47333

Hockey Hodge Podge: National Hockey League 2008 Flashback

The National Hockey League resumes in less than a month. I am looking forward to this exciting occasion and have decided to look back on my collection of NHL experiences while awaiting the drop of the puck.

Here are a few photos from the 2008-2009 NHL season to get fans back into the mood for hockey:

Atlanta Thrasher Ilya Kovalchuk(# 17) prepares to face the New York Rangers 10/30/2008

Boston Bruins goalie Tim Thomas(# 30) in action as his team battles the Dallas Stars at TD Bank Garden in Boston 11/1/2008

Edmonton Oiler Jason Strudwick (# 43) during warm-ups at Madison Square Garden 11/10/2008

Vancouver Canuck Pavol Demitra (# 38) gets ready to play the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden 11/19/2008

The Chicago Blackhawks-The 2015 National Hockey League Stanley Cup Champions

This week, Chicago Blackhawks won the 2015 National Hockey League Stanley Cup. In an exciting 6 game series, The Blackhawks of the Western Conference played the Tampa Bay Lightning of the Eastern Conference in close games that were decided by no more than 2 goals. Both teams were evenly matched and had players that could get the puck to the net.

Here is a quick summary of how the series unfolded:

Game 1: Alex Killorn got Tampa Bay on the scoreboard with a goal earlier in the game…The Lightning held the lead until the third period when Teuvo Tervainen and Antoine Vermette of Chicago scored in the game’s final minutes, breaking the tie and getting ahead to win Game 1…Chicago was excellent at closing the open ice that would allow Tampa Bay to play their style of hockey. Final Score: Chicago Blackhawks 2-Tampa Bay Lightning 1

Game 2: Close game…Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Ben Bishop injury left game early, putting backup goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy into the Stanley Cup Finals game…A deflection off a stick led to a Tampa Bay goal...Jason Garrison of Tampa Bay scored the game winning power play goal. Final Score: Tampa Bay Lightning 4-Chicago Blackhawks 3

Game 3: Tampa Bay’s Ondrej Palat and Cedric Paquette scored to quell a 2-1 Chicago lead…Ben Bishop returned to the net after his injury in Game 2.Final Score: Tampa Bay Lightning 3-Chicago Blackhawks 2

Game 4: Chicago Blackhawk Brandon Saad broke a 1-1 stalemate in the third period…After playing in Game 3, Ben Bishop ceded the netminding duties to backup goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy. Final Score: Chicago Blackhawks 2-Tampa Bay Lightning 1

Game 5: Nikita Kucherov of the Lightning was hurt on a play when he attempted to crash the Blackhawk’s net and did not return to the game…While Kucherov was being taken to the locker room, Ben Bishop was back in the net trying to protect his team from falling into a do-or-die Game 6 situation…Steven Stamkos tried to get Tampa Bay on the scoreboard in the hope of solving his own scoring difficulties…Chicago would take advantage of a shaky Ben Bishop. Final Score: Chicago Blackhawks 2-Tampa Bay Lightning 1

Game 6: This game was everything a final game for the Stanley Cup could ever be…Nikita Kucherov played Game 6 after being injured in Game 5…Tampa Bay’s Ben Bishop held the Blackhawks scoreless in the first period … Corey Crawford of Chicago stood tall in net as well, stopping every shot from the Tampa Bay Lightning…Duncan Keith and Patrick Kane came up big with the only two goals need to secure Chicago’s 2015 Stanley Cup victory. Final Score: Chicago Blackhawks 2- Tampa Bay Lightning 0

Dynasty Created: With this win, the Chicago Blackhawks have 3 Stanley Cup wins in 6 years (2010, 2013, and 2015). Their 2015 Game 6 victory was also on home ice in Chicago for the first time since 1938.

Windy City MVP: The Conn Smythe Award is given out every year to the NHL Playoffs' Most Valuable Player. This year’s recipient was Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Duncan Keith.

Congratulations to the Chicago Blackhawks on winning the Stanley Cup. It should be an interesting off-season for them as the organization defends its status as the best in the NHL.   

Chicago Blackhawks Patrick Kane (#88) and Duncan Keith (#2)

Chicago Blackhawks Captain Jonathan Toews(#19)

Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Corey Crawford(#50)

Chicago Blackhawks Patrick Sharp(#10) and Jonathan Toews(#19) at MSG during New York Rangers Game

In This Corner: A Boxing Fan’s Take on Daniel Geale Versus Miguel Cotto (6/6/2015)

June 6^th, 2015-HBO Boxing was live from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY for a 1 match event. The crowds gathered to see WBC Middleweight Champion Miguel Cotto (39 wins-4 losses-32 knockout victories) put his title on the line against Daniel Geale of Australia (31 wins-3 losses-16 knockout victories). Jim Lampley was joined by broadcaster Max Kellerman, former boxer Roy Jones Jr. and fight scorer Hal Lederman.

  

The night began with Jim Lampley setting up the bout for those at home

The Contract:  Miguel Cotto had signed the contract to face Daniel Geale. However, there were stipulations. In this deal, Geale had to accept the condition of attaining a “catch-weight” of 157 pounds.

Back to Form: Miguel Cotto had acquired the services of trainer Freddie Roach recently. This move allowed Cotto to reconnect with what made him great. It also helped the WBC Middleweight Champ rediscover his focus.

A Chance at Redemption: In July of 2014, Daniel Geale was defeated by Gennady “GGG” Golovkin via 3^rd round knockout in New York City’s Madison Square Garden…Nearly a year later, Geale returns to New York to try to gain the WBC Middleweight Title and a chance to change his luck.

After the competitor profiles were shown, the fight was on

Pre-Match: Daniel Geale was the first to enter the ring, followed by Miguel Cotto… Michael Buffer introduced the fighters, the judges, and the referee for the night’s contest…The referee relayed the pre-match instructions.

Bell-to-Bell Action: This match was all Miguel Cotto for the most part. The taller of the two, Daniel Geale was only able to work the perimeter around Cotto with glancing blows around the head and body…Cotto was quick to begin his reinvigorated offensive strategy on Geale. His left hook connected early on in the first round, targeting first the liver of Geale with a body shot that effectively lowered Geale's guard. Head shots followed this blow, making Geale decide where he wanted to deflect any shots…Geale had to shift his positioning to stay on Cotto’s right side to avoid the left hook, which he did to some extent…In Round 4, Cotto was already leading by Lederman’s scorecard 3 rounds to none (30 points -27 points) when his body shot-head shot combinations came into play. Geale was brought down by a huge shot that sent him through the ropes. The ref asked him if he was ok and allowed the fight to continue. Further punches took their toll on Geale; he was felled by a head shot and stumbled to the canvas before the consequent body shot could connect with the targeted liver from Round 1. The ref once again asked if Geale could continue; it was obvious he could not… Message received, the bout was ruled a Technical Knockout (TKO) at the 1:28 minute mark of the 4^th Round.

Winner: Current WBC Middleweight Champion Miguel Cotto. Cotto’s record improves to 40 wins-4 losses-33 knockout victories.

Match Stats: Miguel Cotto outpunched Daniel Geale by at least 50%...Daniel Geale  absorbed 36 punches to the head and 32 body shots throughout the fight

Post-Match Interview:  Miguel Cotto is looking ahead to a presumably future bout with Canelo Alvarez. When asked about this, Cotto told Max Kellerman that Canelo is just another champion in his opinion…In regards to the time and place of his next fight, He wants to spend time with his family before deciding when to fight Canelo Alvarez…After initially ducking questions about Gennady “GGG” Golovkin, Cotto had to face the issue directly. Golovkin was in Barclays Center to watch the spectacle that night and had repeatedly issued a challenge to Miguel Cotto in the past;  Cotto’s response to Golovkin: he would face Canelo Alvarez first; then he would fight “GGG” only if the competitor was available…When asked about his middleweight classification within the sport, Cotto remarked that he did not need to be a middleweight to be great.

*Sources used: HBO Boxing Broadcast from June 6^th, 2015

The 2015 National Hockey League Stanley Cup Playoffs: Series Analysis

As the 2015 NHL Stanley Cup Finals get underway, I would like to dissect this series between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Chicago Blackhawks. This should be a good primer for a fan of the sport as well as those just flipping past NBC on their way to other programming. What follows are factors that can decide who is awarded the Stanley Cup:

Goaltending: Tampa Bay Lightning : Ben Bishop stands tall in net figuratively as well as literally. At 6’7’’ tall, he has a 5 inch height advantage over Chicago’s  goalie Corey Crawford…Ben Bishop has been able to rely on his team’s defense to prevent shots getting to the net, which give him less traffic to deal with. However, Bishop can make excellent saves when his team is protecting a lead.

Chicago Blackhawks: Stanley Cup Champion netminder Corey Crawford is a great goaltender… Chicago’s style of play evenly distributes the burden of defense between the three forwards, the two defensemen, and the goaltender on the ice during every shift…Crawford has seen more offense-minded teams in the Western Conference, which gives him the edge in fielding shots that approach his net.

AHL Calder Cup Finals Experience v.s NHL Stanley Cup Finals Experience:  Tampa Bay Lightning: This team has not been in the NHL finals since they won the Stanley Cup in 2004. While the franchise has no recent championships to speak of, that does not mean that their roster of former American Hockey League (AHL) stars lacks recent experience. In the 2011-2012 Calder Cup Tournament, the Norfolk Admirals went on to defeat the Toronto Marlies for the AHL championship. While they would go on to become the Syracuse Crunch the following season, the following names were etched into the Calder Cup as the 2011-2012 Champion Norfolk Admirals: Forwards Mike Angelidis, Tyler Johnson, Alex Killorn, and Ondrej Palat; Defenseman Mark Barberio. 

  

Chicago Blackhawks: They last appeared in the NHL finals in 2013, when they defeated the Boston Bruins to win the Stanley Cup. The team’s chemistry has remained mostly intact, which only enhances the experience edge in this match-up. Among the Blackhawks to be a part of the journey to a 3^rd championship in 6 years, here  are a few examples of players who were  a part of the 2010 or 2013 championship rosters: Forwards Bryan Bickell, Marian Hossa, Patrick Kane, and  Patrick Sharp; Defensemen Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook; Goaltender Corey Crawford. 

Team Dynamics: Tampa Bay Lightning:  They have the veteran leadership to nurture the youth on their team. Through their AHL Affiliates -Syracuse Crunch and Norfolk Admirals-Tampa Bay has been able to create the solid offense it has today. These players, among many, have made contributions there and continue to do so: Tyler Johnson, Ondrej Palat, Alex Killorn.

Chicago Blackhawks:  An Original 6 team, Chicago relies on their championship roster for its experience and effectiveness. History shows that Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane have matured into their leadership roles....Duncan Keith has been able to anchor their defense...Cory Crawford has proven himself a Conn Smyth Trophy candidate in the playoffs.

New York Rangers Effect: Tampa Bay Lightning: The New York Rangers tie to this NHL team comes with the trade that sent Tampa Bay’s team captain Martin St. Louis to the Rangers in exchange for Rangers’ team captain Ryan Callahan...Free agency would see further intrigue as Brian Boyle and Anton Stralman signed with Tampa Bay after their Rangers' contracts expired and Tampa Bay's Michael Kostka agreed to terms with the New York Rangers...While Stralman and Boyle remained on the Tampa Bay Lightning roster for much of the season; Kostka split his time between the New York Rangers and their AHL affiliate, The Hartford Wolfpack.

Chicago Blackhawks: As part of the new CBA, the New York Rangers were gifted two compliance buyouts. While the first was used on Wade Redden, the Rangers waited until June of 2014 to use their second on Brad Richards. Richards signed with the Blackhawks as soon as Free Agency began a month later. He has added to the leadership on his new team, and is now facing former teammates Ryan Callahan, Anton Stralman, and Brian Boyle in the 2015 Stanley Cup Finals.

 

Key Players:  Tampa Bay Lightning: Forwards Brian Boyle, Ryan Callahan, Tyler Johnson, Alex Killorn, Nikita Kucherov, and Steven Stamkos; Defensemen Anton Stralman, Andrej Sustr; Goaltender Ben Bishop

Chicago Blackhawks: Forwards Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, Patrick Sharp, and  Antoine Vermette; Defensemen Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook; Goaltender Corey Crawford

Final Overall Assessment: This series is really about youth versus experience. The Blackhawks have been at the pinnacle of hockey supremacy twice before in recent memory...While they have that knowledge on their side, Chicago should not take Tampa Bay lightly; Tampa Bay has been able to use their speed against the more experienced teams and won...This series will come down to the age-old sports question: “Who wants it more?”

Tampa Bay Lightning Forward Ryan Callahan(#24)

Chicago Blackhawks Forward Patrick Sharp