By: Frank Hyden, MMATorch Senior Columnist
Something very ugly has come to light that I need to rant about before getting to the events.
UGLY- Journalism Sucks
Daiana Silva (3-0, but that doesn’t matter right now) is currently in a coma after a weight cut gone wrong last month. You read that right,
last month. But we’re just now hearing about it.
She was scheduled to make her debut in Bellator on September 14th. She was trying to make featherweight, her other fights were at lightweight.
This happened over a month ago and we’re just now hearing about it because apparently MMA “journalism” is as bad as video game “journalism” and overall “journalism” in this country, though there are still some good journalists out there I’m sure.
Holy crap.
There’s even guys admitting that they knew about this, yet for some unknown reason decided not to say anything. The word is that PFL employees were told not to talk about this.
Did the people who knew about this consider themselves to be PFL employees? Why would you not talk about this? I don’t understand this
at all.
Hell, I feel like I failed and I’ve never claimed to be a journalist.
We’re talking about a human life here. This should be a tremendous
scandal for PFL.
It should be a scandal for anyone who knew about this and didn’t say anything. I’m tired of people knowing about terrible things and not coming forward.
Don’t be a Jason Schreier.
UGLY- PFL as a whole
Maybe there’s more to this and PFL aren’t the complete scumbags they
appear to be after this but why were PFL employees told not to talk about a fighter being in a coma?
That feels so slimy that you want to take a shower after hearing it.
Maybe there’s nothing there but the fact that employees were told not to discuss it makes it appear as if there is something to hide.
Why can’t people just be honest? Why can’t you just tell the truth?
I don’t want to go too far with things so I’ll end it there but this
leaves a really bad taste in my mouth.
*************
PFL: Battle of the Giants and UFC Fight Night: Pereira vs. Hernandez were both this past week and featured some huge fights. Who won and who lost? Let’s get to the rundown.
PFL: Battle of the Giants
GOOD- A.J. McKee vs. Paul Hughes
They’re trading strikes early, as McKee tries a few times for a
takedown but can’t complete it. McKee tries again but they scramble
and Hughes stands over a grounded McKee. Hughes lands a few strong punches and McKee gets up after a scramble. Hughes staggers McKee with
a powerful right hook but the first round ends and saves McKee. The second round begins with the fighters trading several kicks. They clinch and trade knees and continue trading until the second round
ends. The third round starts with more of the same. The fighters
exchange strikes as McKee tries for a takedown. Hughes has been getting the better of the striking as the fight ends. We go to the judges to render their verdict.
Hughes wins the Split Decision to improve to 13-1 and has won 7 straight fights while McKee drops to 22-2 and has his 4 fight winning streak snapped. Cool win for Hughes.
GOOD- Husein Kadimagomaev vs. Zafar Mohsen
They start off tentatively before exchanging strikes a minute in.
Kadimagomaev keeps trying for a takedown but Mohsen fights them off and the first round ends. The second round begins with more striking exchanges before Mohsen reverses a takedown attempt and lands on top.
Kadimagomaev gets to his feet and again tries for a takedown but again
Mohsen reverses and lands on top. Kadimagomaev gets to his feet and the second round ends. The third round starts with Mohsen dropping Kadimagomaev with a body kick then Mohsen picks his opponent apart for
the rest of the fight until it ends. We go to the judges to render
their verdict.
Mohsen wins the decision to improve to 14-4 and has won 4 straight fights while Kadimagomaev drops to 11-2 with 1 No Contest and has his
3 fight winning streak snapped. Good win for Mohsen.
GOOD- Johnny Eblen vs. Fabian Edwards
Eblen was seeking to defend his Bellator Middleweight Championship for
the third time here. They’re trading kicks early before mixing in
other strikes. Eblen gets a few big slams and takedowns before the first round ends. The second round begins with some striking exchanges
before Eblen gets a takedown and goes to work. Eblen gets another slam
and mat return before Edwards fights to his feet and the second round ends. The third round starts with more kicking exchanges before Eblen
gets Edwards down to the mat. Edwards again fights his way up and they
trade a bit more before the third round ends.
The fourth round opens with more striking exchanges and Edwards has
success with a nice punch but Eblen gets a takedown and wears Edwards down more before he stands before the fourth round ends. The fifth round begins with Edwards fighting off some Eblen takedown attempts
and scoring big with his strikes. Eblen is too tough, though, and
survives. Edwards wins the round but not the fight. We go to the
judges to render their verdict.
Eblen wins the decision to improve to a perfect 16-0 and has
successfully defended his Bellator Middleweight Championship for the
third time while Edwards drops to 13-4. Good win for Eblen.
GOOD- Cris Cyborg vs. Larissa Pacheco
This fight is for the inaugural PFL Super Fights Featherweight
Championship. They strike off exchanging strikes before Cyborg gets a takedown. Pacheco stands and they exchange more strikes before Cyborg
gets another takedown and the first round ends. The second round begins with a lot of stinging strikes. Cyborg is cut over both eyes but she gets another takedown. Cyborg works a little ground-and-pound
and they stand shortly before the second round ends. The third round starts with more heavy striking exchanges before Cyborg goes to the ground after a Pacheco right hand to her chin. Pacheco works some damaging ground-and-pound before the third round ends.
The fourth round opens with a lot of stinging kicks being exchanged.
They both mix in some punches as well and the fourth round ends. The fifth round begins with some powerful striking exchanges. Pacheco
shoots in for a takedown but Cyborg fights her off. Both women land a
lot of heavy strikes and the fight ends with both of them showing their toughness and surviving. We go to the judges to render their verdict.
Cyborg wins the decision to become the first PFL Super Fights
Featherweight Champion and improves to 28-2 with 1 No Contest and has
won 8 straight fights while Pacheco drops to 23-5 and has her 10 fight winning streak snapped. Great win for Cyborg.
GOOD- Francis Ngannou stops Renan Ferreira
This fight was for the inaugural PFL Super Fights Heavyweight
Championship. They trade powerful leg kicks before Ngannou gets a
takedown. Ferreira threatens with a submission but Ngannou postures up
and begins unloading a relentless series of punches that knock
Ferreira out and force the referee to finally jump in to stop the
fight just over three and a half minutes into the first round. I don’t know what he was waiting for, Ferreira was completely turned around
and not defending at all.
Ngannou becomes the first PFL Super Fights Heavyweight Champion and
improves to 18-3 and has won 7 straight fights while Ferreira drops to
13-4 with 3 No Contests and has his 4 fight winning streak snapped.
Good win for Ngannou.
UFC Fight Night: Pereira vs. Hernandez
GOOD- Darren Elkins vs. Daniel Pineda
They trade strikes early until Pineda gets the fight to the ground
with a guillotine choke off an Elkins takedown attempt. They scramble around and Pineda drops some nice elbows down onto Elkins as the first
round ends. The second round begins with some big striking exchanges
until Pineda again grabs a guillotine off of an Elkins takedown
attempt. They stand quickly and resume trading strikes until Elkins again shoots for a takedown but this time he fights off any Pineda submission attempts and uses his ground-and-pound to land some huge
strikes before the second round ends. The third round starts with Elkins getting a takedown attempt but Pineda is quickly back to his feet. They’re grappling and trading strikes until they go back to the
mat and Elkins unloads some heavy ground-and-pound that bloodies
Pineda into a horror movie victim but Pineda survives until the fight ends. We go to the judges to render their verdict.
Elkins wins the decision to improve to 29-11 while Pineda drops to 28-17 with 3 No Contests. Good win for Elkins.
Pineda retired after the fight. He had a good career and I wish him well in his life after fighting.
GOOD- Jake Hadley vs. Cameron Smotherman
They’re trading strikes early and often, with Smotherman effectively
attacking the body. The first round ends with Smotherman likely
winning being ahead on the scorecards. The second round begins with
more striking exchanges until Hadley kicks Smotherman low before later
poking him in both eyes. Smotherman is able to recover enough to continue fighting and the referee thankfully takes a point. Hadley
protests for some unknown reason and we resume fighting. Hadley gets a
takedown before the second round ends. The third round starts with more striking exchanges before the grind on the fence for a while.
Hadley lands some nice strikes before Smotherman kicks him low. They
resume and trade strikes until the fight ends. We go to the judges to render their verdict.
Smotherman wins the decision to improve to 12-4 and has won 4 straight fights while Hadley drops to 11-4. Good win for Smotherman.
GOOD- Charles Johnson vs. Su Mudaerji
They trade a bunch of heavy strikes throughout a close first round.
Both men landed some good strikes there. The second round begins with
more striking exchanges until Johnson starts nailing Mudaerji with some heavy punches. Johnson drops Mudaerji with a big combination but
Mudaerji survives and even threatens with his grappling enough to
stave off a finish. The third round starts with Mudaerji getting a
trip but Johnson is quickly back up and they resume trading strikes all the way until the fight ends. We go to the judges to render their verdict.
Johnson wins the decision to improve to 17-6 and has won 4 straight fights while Mudaerji drops to 16-7 and has lost 3 straight fights.
Good win for Johnson.
GOOD- Rob Font vs. Kyler Phillips
Phillips gets an early takedown and they spend the rest of the first
round grappling until Font gets to his feet shortly before the first round ends. The second round begins with Phillips getting another
early takedown but Font is quickly back up and they resume striking.
Font is relentlessly coming forward and is willing to take a strike to
land a strike. Font lands some heavy strikes and the second round ends. The third round starts with another early Phillips takedown.
Font is again quickly back to his feet and they’re back to striking.
Font is in Phillips’ face over and over as they trade and the fight
ends. We go to the judges to render their verdict.
Font wins the decision to improve to 21-8 while Phillips drops to 12-3
and has his 3 fight winning streak snapped. Good win for Font.
GOOD- Anthony Hernandez vs. Michel Pereira
They’re trading strikes early and Hernandez is hurt. He survives,
though, and comes out swinging. Both men land damaging strikes before
Hernandez gets a takedown to end the first round. The second round
begins with Hernandez poking Pereira in the eye. Hernandez gets a few
takedowns and nails Pereira with some big right hands as the second
round ends. The third round starts with Hernandez getting an early takedown but Pereira quickly getting back to his feet. Hernandez gets
a takedown and starts working his ground-and-pound to viciously beat
on Pereira, who somehow survives.
The fourth round opens with Hernandez getting stuffed on a takedown
attempt but he won’t quit and finally gets another one. Hernandez
lands some big elbows but Pereira gets back up. Hernandez gets another
takedown and they’re up and down a few more times. Pereira is showing
incredible toughness and grit by surviving this, as Hernandez is
relentless with his attacks. Pereira again gets up but is taken down and the fourth round ends. The fifth round begins with another
Hernandez takedown and he lets loose with a punishing elbow that cuts
Pereira badly. Hernandez turns up the heat and lays into Pereira with more elbows until the referee is forced to jump in to stop the fight
not quite halfway through the first round.
Hernandez improves to 13-2 with 1 No Contest and has won 6 straight
fights while Pereira drops to 31-12 with 2 No Contests and has his 8 fight winning streak snapped. Good win for Hernandez.
My new epic fantasy book is out. It’s called Kingdom of Zarias: The End’s
Beginning. The exciting epic fantasy series Kingdom of Zarias returns with the 4th book in the series. After the harrowing events of
Book 3 the residents of the Kingdom of Zarias continue on their paths.
Serena Summers continues to learn and grow as a fighter, desperately
seeking to become stronger before she loses anyone else in her life.
Daniel Summers discovers new parts of the world that open his eyes to
just how little he truly knows. A new hero, Lamar Abeers, arrives to
join the fight against evil. Plus, Zach Summers, Tiana Highsmith, and Xavien Ekens continue their journeys with their friends, and a new ruler of Vhaharen is crowned. The world has found a little peace.
However, that peace is only temporary. In a shocking act of violence,
the monstrous villain Galren strikes from the shadows and changes the
world forever. This is Book 4 in the series. There’s lots of action,
magic, and monsters in the Kingdom of Zarias. It’s like a tabletop
game in novel form. It’s on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and many other places. If you’re interested, I would greatly appreciate it if you would check it out and support me. Also, here’s the link to my Compendium book about the Kingdom of Zarias series- KoZ Compendium Thank you
very much, have a good day.
Comments and suggestions can be emailed to me at
hydenfrank@gmail.com and you can follow me on Twitter at @hydenfrank.
Thanks for reading and have a good day.
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