starvenger

I think it depends on the lubrication used. Thai oil, which Guillard supposedly used against Huerta, is supposed to be effective in small doses. Don't know about vaseline, though. As a dad who has to change a shitload of diapers, I can tell you that a dot of vaseline here and there will not make much of a difference. Get a bit more and spread it around and it's somewhat slick. That's the key though - you have to make the effort to spread it around. Dabbing vaseline on someone should leave a rather obvious amount of the stuff on them.

I think something came about during Sanchez/Diaz as well - which would've been when Diego was still with Jackson's. But of course, Nick Diaz is batshit insane.

<Insert greasy Mexican and/or Diego Sanchez joke here>

True, so Manny won titles in the 126-130 division and at 147, so even if you throw out the titles he held in weight division in between, it is still pretty impressive that a guy so tiny could move up and maintain he his speed and power. Wouldn't Manny be the exception, not the rule in jumping up that much in weight in boxing? As you noted, jumping nearly 20lbs when you normally fight at 130 is a huge step up in weight. Also, don't they invent catchweight titles in boxing for the sake of making fights seem that much bigger? Anyway, doesn't it seem like the P4P rankings are there simply to stimulate discussion? Silva's in arguably the weakest division in the UFC, yet he sits atop some P4P rankings. As I said, GSP is probably on top of some others because he has dominated the deepest division in the UFC and I don't think he needs to choke out McFedries to prove that he can hang outside of 170. Fedor... well his fight with Arlovski really didn't do anything to make people think differently about him. Me, I think he still stays on top, lucky punch or no. It's not like he's a shit fighter that gets in a lucky shot each time out.

OK so by this logic you feed GSP someone like McFedries and when he whups his ass (by taking him to the ground, of course) then he's atop the P4P list? Seems like flawed thinking there. Mind you, Alves is basically a middleweight so I suppose that would count, no? That being said, I would still say that Fedor's #1 on this P4P list with GSP second due to Silva fighting inferior competition in some of his recent bouts.

I think Geoff Johns has already created a way to bring Batman back.

The thing was you're talking about a split second between "legal" and "illegal" and they don't use instant replay to judge those things. I suppose that Rosenthal's reasoning here was that Varner was trying to get back down instead of getting up, unlike Riggs who was getting back up vs Sanchez? Good fight up until the end though.

It's tough for Hawaiians to sound threatening because they're pretty laid back in general. It's almost a casual "I'm gonna kill you" sort of deal.

I have to believe that it's selective editing. Would BJ take a break from training to rest and recover? I don't see why he wouldn't. But it was probably factored in so that he peaks at the right time. I don't believe for one second that the guy is gonna be unprepared (for the ass whupping GSP is gonna give him). As BJ said, both guys have to go in there thinking that they're gonna destroy the other one. If either one doesn't do that, they're done.

Great pic. Forgot that the Hawaii flag had a Union Jack though. But shouldn't GSP have a Quebec flag then?

How did your dream not start with the reveal that Vince Russo is now the Florida Athletic Commissioner?

No, he's French-Canadian. Easy mistake to make.

Yet, people are still willing to let him kick them in the leg. Who's the bigger idiot in that case?

It appears that I gotta learn how to win playoff games...

Of course, if you let Hardonk kick you in the leg a few times, all bets are off. He has no real ground game, but he'll chop you down if you let him.

Probably not a stretch at all. Also check the Las Vegas Advisor for deals, and it probably doesn't hurt to check with a travel agent just to see what they can get you. You know, this is tangential, but I really gotta look into that independent travel agent thing just to get the IATA discounts...

Hope you're looking to leave from Buffalo. Outside of that, redflagdeals.com

Was listening to Sirius Fight Club yesterday and there was apparently talk of Lesnar/Mir II and Silva/Leites in Montreal in April. But aside from that they're saying that potential bouts are David Loiseau vs Ed Herman and Jonathan Goulet vs the Barn Cat.

OK, I see where the confusion comes from. I'm thinking that GSP would garner a TKO via GnP (i.e. ref stoppage) because again, he uses those punches and kicks (or at least the idea of them) to set up his takedowns (vintage GSP = takedown, pass guard, pound the shit out of opponent, repeat as necessary). You can never say never about a standing KO but that's really not his game, and unlikely against Penn who isn't gonna stand in the pocket and bang. In fact, standing and banging with Penn is probably the dumbest thing GSP could do.

BJ has one punch KO power as displayed in his past fights, he doesn't chose to go for the one shot. If BJ sees an opening for the KO, he's going to take it. Sure, KOs against Uno and Thomas - in 2001, in his second and third career fight. Who has he beat with one punch lately? Give BJ credit for evolving as a fighter - as you say, he's looking for an opening, but he's not gonna be looking for that one punch to finish a fighter. Sherk stayed in the pocket and perhaps BJ could've finished him with one punch, but tactically it's not a smart move and we saw BJ pick him apart with some smart standup. Yes I am using Lyoto as an example considering he's twice the striker GSP is, and he is much more heavier and stronger. Lyoto Machida who has KO'd Rich Franklin, and rocked numerious of natural middleweights/light heavyweights like Tito Ortiz, Nakamura, Sokodjou etc. wasn't able to rock or hurt and overweight BJ Penn who looked like was pregnet. You can make the point BJ arguably won that fight. That's a bit of a sideways argument. I say that Lyoto isn't a guy you'd say is gonna knock you out, and you talk about how good his striking is. And see, I can't disagree with you - he strikes very effectively, and over three rounds (or less) you are gonna be worn down from the punishment he gives you (in true "Dragon" style). And he may rock you with a strike or two, but he's not the type of guy that definitively knocks you out - it's simply not his style. He'll punish you for 3 rounds instead. Where is there overestimation? His striking strength is his kicks, which he uses to set up the takedowns. He's a GnP guy at heart, which is why I was saying that should BJ get stopped, it's by TKO. BJ isn't getting KO'ed from a standing strike. Of course, some people equate GnP with striking, so maybe that's what you're thinking here?

Dude, if Matt Serra was able to crack GSP's chin... BJ who is a better striker, and a harder puncher certainly can. Dubious on the harder puncher part. But I would say that BJ is a better BOXER than Serra. Serra was more than willing to wade in and take a hit to connect with one. I just don't see BJ as a guy to strike in that style. You're using Lyoto as an example of people being unable to KO BJ? I've come to like Lyoto, but KO is not something I'd associate with the guy. Anyway, a TKO is a possibility, although I would agree with you that a true KO is not likely. The X-Factor here is whether GSP can get past guard and stay past it. He gets into half or beyond and he might be able to use enough elbows and GnP to get the TKO. GSP tends to pass practically the moment he gets you down, so that will be one of the interesting battles here - Penn has enough flexibility that if he gets St. Pierre in guard, it's a stalemate. GSP passes, and that flexibility will come into play to get him back to guard. St. Pierre should have enough JJ that he can recognize the shit BJ tries from the bottom, but that damn flexibility worries me.

GSP isn't gonna stand in the pocket with "please hit me" tatted on his face like Sherk did, so let's forget this KO nonsense unless we're talking BJ losing by TKO. If GSP loses I gotta believe it'll be by tapout. Penn's flexibility is ridiculous and I'm sure he'd love to get a tap here just to show that he can. I think that one mistake will be all it takes for one of the two to earn a stoppage victory. I can't really predict those (although if it does happen it won't be due to BJ gassing) so I think that this fight goes five, with the difference being Greg Jackson's strategy carrying GSP to the decision victory.

I thought I had opted in way back when - just didn't add the sig until recently though...

Wouldn't getting jobbed involve losing? Split decision or no, the right guy (Rashad) still won that fight.

So overall this season, I managed to lose about 10% of my initial stake in the betting section. I should really stick to blackjack.