Issue 170
November -0001
MMA tournaments; Mayweather v GSP; another chance for CM Punk; Greg Hardy; and Hall of Fame contenders from four top pros.
The Pro's
1) Bellator has brought the tournament style back to MMA. What are your thoughts on MMA tournaments? Would you be open to competing in one?
Ryan LaFlare
- I really like what PFL is doing with the tournament. You have to not only prepare to win but make sure you’re able to fight again even that night. But when I step in the Octagon I’m prepared to die, and here that can’t be your mentality.
Paul Bradley
- I am definitely open to tournaments. I plan on competing in one starting in October with the PFL. I like the idea that the best man wins.
Saad Awad
- I think it’s awesome. I would love to compete in another tournament because you can’t be denied a title fight when you win. I’ve already asked to be a replacement in the heavyweight tourney but I think they’re afraid to have a light weight win!
Timothy Johnson
- I love the tournament format, even moreso I like it for its randomness. Say there’s a division that’s been locked up for a while and you suddenly throw a tournament in the mix, it shakes everything up again.
2) Firas Zahabi said he would like to see GSP face Floyd Mayweather Jr. in the boxing ring. Do you have any interest in seeing that fight?
LaFlare:
- Not really, I liked the Conor fight because he was interesting and does a tremendous job at hyping fights. I can’t see GSP doing even close to the same. No disrespect to GSP, of course.
Bradley:
- I don’t think that’s a great idea for GSP. We are talking about the best boxer on the planet!
Awad:
- I would definitely watch that fight. I would definitely give the edge to Floyd, being that he is so fast and elusive. But I’d still watch just as almost every other MMA fan would.
Johnson:
- Nah, I’m not too big into the criss crossing of sports. Say both these men competed in both sports for a while or in the past, then yeah I could get behind it. But more than that, it’s just a spectacle.
3) CM Punk now stands at 0-2 inside the Octagon. Does he deserve yet another shot in the UFC?
LaFlare:
- No. He doesn’t deserve a shot because he clearly doesn’t deserve to be in the UFC.
Bradley:
- CM Punk absolutely does not deserve another shot. It’s actually a slap in the face to us real fighters that he was given that type of opportunity and money with no experience.
Awad:
- Personally, I don’t think so. I think they should have built him up in the smaller shows so he knows what it’s like to actually be in there and fight without all the added pressure of being on such a big stage.
Johnson:
- I give him credit for going into the cage and competing, but I do not believe he deserves another shot in the UFC. That said, I can’t fault him for his “show me the money” moment either. Heck, for that kind of cash, I would go in there and fight DC and Stipe at the same time!
4) Former NFL player and accused domestic batterer Greg Hardy is competing on the newest season of Dana White’s Contender Series. Does he deserve this opportunity?
LaFlare:
- I think he brings a lot of baggage with him that UFC/ MMA doesn’t need. I can’t deny his athleticism but I don’t think it’s good for the sport. At least he’s putting him on the series and not a pay-per-view card right o the bat.
Bradley:
- I believe everyone deserves a second chance. As long as it doesn’t happen again, I don’t see a problem.
Awad:
- I don’t follow the guy, so I really don’t know what he did so I can’t comment on this issue.
Johnson:
- Well, I suppose everyone deserves second chances. The real question is, does he actually feel sorry for the things he’s done and learned from his mistakes, or is he just saying the right things to make it appear that way? Only time will tell with that one.
5) The UFC Hall of Fame is growing again. Who is the one fighter that deserves to be enshrined that hasn’t to this point?
LaFlare:
- I don’t know who’s in it and who isn’t, so I wouldn’t be able to answer that.
Bradley:
- I believe that Jens Pulver deserves it, 100 percent.
Awad:
- I’m not too sure who’s on that list. I think BJ Penn is in there already, but if he isn’t, he should be!
Johnson:
- Hands down Rich Franklin in my books. He was one of my favorite fighters when I started following the sport so maybe I’m just biased. But I feel he had an important part in building the sport and the UFC itself.
