Mixed Martial Arts

Uncertain Proving Grounds: Barnett vs. Cormier & Bellator 69

May 18, 2012
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My introductory post for Spike TV is up!

Hey, quit harping on fights that won’t happen like the one between Josh Koscheck and BJ Penn (he already told you he was retired! Leave BJ alone!). There’s plenty of interesting stuff that IS going down this weekend, even if many of the fighters involved face more uncertainty once their evenings are over.

Read more: http://www.spike.com/articles/fxjx89/uncertain-proving-grounds-barnett-vs-cormier-and-bellator-69

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Also, as a reminder, I’ll be live-blogging tonight’s Star Boxing card at the Times Union Center, part of which will broadcast live on ESPN as part of Friday Night Fights. You can check that out over at the Mixed Marshall Arts blog. The live blog will kick off at 7:30pm EST.

Now Blogging for Spike TV; ESPN Friday Night Fights live from the Times Union Center live blog

May 18, 2012
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Hey everyone!

Firstly, some big news: I’ve joined the ranks of Viacom (kinda) and will now be blogging for Spike TV’s new MMA blog. It’ll go live, and the first post will be up, later today.

Also, tonight is Star Boxing’s second foray into promoting boxing at the Times Union Center in Albany. As an added bonus, they’ll be broadcasting live on ESPN2 for Friday Night Fights. I’ll be providing live, round by round coverage of it over on the Mixed Marshall Arts blog.

Is that it for now? I think that’s it for now. My ribs still hurt but they’ve gotten noticeably better over the last twenty-four hours.

 

Cage Wars 12 Results: I Done Got My Ass Kicked

May 14, 2012
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I lost, and badly, in the first round by TKO. That put me in a depressive state for a couple days. But god DAMN was it fun. Hats off to my opponent, Josh Beretz, to whom I was all like “come at me, bro” and holy shit did he ever.

The right side of my jaw is still sore and my side still kills me every time I move thanks to a solid front kick. Nothing broken, just bruised. Only thing that hurts more is my pride and the disappointment I felt in the outcome. I’m putting on a good face but it’s fucking killing me that I didn’t and couldn’t do more. Nice guys, all involved, including the other fighters who were nothing but great before and after the fight. But FUCK I wanted to win. I recognize a big part of this are my own character flaws. I hate that I lost and that I didn’t go out on my shield. I feel ashamed that a fight was stopped and I was able to simply walk away from it. And there’s nothing anyone can say, despite their earnestness, that can convince or make me feel otherwise. I know just from viewing and knowing about combat sports that I shouldn’t feel that way, but I do, for better or worse.

But, again, god DAMN did I love it. The whole experience. Right up to and including getting owned by a vastly superior opponent and getting my bell rung. It was walking away, and every step I’ve taken afterwards, that is killing me. That shame, and the depression, is fading. Slowly. Very, very slowly. But I don’t regret a goddamn second and would do it again in a heartbeat.

Anyways. Thanks to Shannon Miller and Shawn Miller for prepping me the last few weeks. Kudos as well to Ed Kinner who made me privy to some more techniques the day of the fight. Also to Ryan Thompson and Kyle Spiak for cornering and Cage Wars for hosting the damn thing.

For a much more competitive (and damn good) fight, check out the main event title match after the jump.

Read more »

Junior Seau’s Suicide and MMA

May 3, 2012
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A lot is going through my head right now in the wake of Junior Seau’s suicide. If you’re a fan of sports, I’m sure a lot is going through yours as well. If not, then it should be. This should be giving everyone from the front offices to the bleachers pause and cause for concern, particularly in the NFL where the suicide rate among former players is nearly six times(!) the national average.

The links between concussions, CTE/TBI, depression, and suicide are far from “inconclusive” and it’s not tasteless nor is it irresponsible to bring it up. The only uncertainty is the vague metaphysical notion of universal uncertainty; the kind that people apply when they want to dismiss an argument because they’d prefer not hear it or don’t have the emotional or intellectual maturity to participate in the discussion. There’s no avoiding it: Seau killed himself, but before he did it, concussions killed Seau.

Red more over at the Mixed Marshall Arts blog

The Top 10 Most Annoying Things in the World (Right Now)

April 18, 2012
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>:O

  1. Lists that purport to comprehensively rank uber-subjective and intangible concepts like “funniest.”
  2. Lists that purport to comprehensively rank uber-subjective and intangible concepts like “influential.”
  3. People complimenting other people on their tweets. It’s not a skill and it doesn’t deserve an “award” on a Best Of or any other thing. It’s like giving someone an award for Best Masturbater.
  4. The trailer for “The Raven” starring John Cusack as Edgar Allen Poe up against Jigsaw from “Saw,” complete with 19th century voice modulator.
  5. Airhorns in hip-hop songs.
  6. That “Just for Men” commercial where they CGI’ed a beard onto a baby’s head that’s CGI’ed onto a midget’s body.
  7. The awful song in that aforementioned “Just for Men” commercial.
  8. Readers asking things that common sense and just a tiny bit of initiative would answer for them. Not linking because it’s too stupid to refer to.
  9. Chael Sonnen. Well, not him necessarily but the stupid gimmick he walks around with. Moreso the people that say “right on” not realizing he’s either being facetious and/or a complete tool.
  10. NERDS/GEEKS. Actually, that’s not true. But seriously, guys, you need to stop reveling in the fact that you like things. It’s not an accomplishment.

Fights and Fits of Laughter: boxing coverage & my upcoming comedy shows!

March 15, 2012
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Firstly, in case you missed ARES Fight Night 8 last Saturday (best local boxing card top to bottom I’ve ever seen in person), select fights and highlights are going to be aired on Time Warner Cable Channel 4 on Saturday with commentators WTEN sports anchor Dan Murphy and Ring Magazine columnist and Troy Record boxing analyst Mike Rivest. It airs from 8:00pm until 9:30pm. Tune in and watch people punch each other in the face before you go out, get drunk, and watch people punch each other in the face (with far less prowess).

I covered the event for the Knick Ledger:
Count ‘Em Up, Shawn: Troy brawler scores fourth knockout at ARES Fight Night 8 in Albany

I also posted full results and analysis over on the Mixed Marshall Arts blog:
Full results for @ARESpromotions Fight Night 8 at the Empire State Plaza Convention Center

For other takes, check out coverage from The Hudsonian (page 5) and Michael Rivest’s feature story for the Troy Record.

 

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UPCOMING COMEDY SHOWS

 

FRIDAY, MARCH 16th -THE ROAST OF JENNIFER McMULLEN

@ The Comedy Lounge at Waterworks (2nd floor, 76 Central Ave Albany,NY)
THIS FRIDAY! Local comedian Jennifer McMullen gets ROASTED by her compatriots including but not limited to Shawn Gillie, Luke Donovan, Joe Dragon, Ava Kaye Levy, Kevin Marshall, Sandy Beach, Sharon Dyer, and Jennifer’s mother, Cindy McMullen! Doors open at 8:30pm and seating is limited. The event’s free, but reserved seating (highly recommended – they’re going fast!) is available for only $5 if you get them ahead of time. PLUS, if you reserve a seat in advance you get Happy Hour prices on all your drinks!

 

 

FRIDAY, MARCH 23rd – KEVIN MARSHALL, RICK CONETY, OTHERS

@ Broadway Brew (254 Broadway, Troy, NY)
FREE SHOW! Featuring myself, Rick Conety, and more TBA!

 

 

FRIDAY, MARCH 30TH – KEVIN MARSHALL & FRIENDS for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

 @ The Comedy Lounge at Waterworks (2nd floor, 76 Central Ave Albany,NY)
This is going to be a HUGE night for comedy and LLS! Chris Wessell, this big-headed guy I know (figuratively AND literally!) is in the running for LLS Man of the Year, and this is one of the major events in his campaign. Click the link above for more info and to get tickets a ($10, with drink specials!). Make sure you order them now because they’re going to go fast. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

 

NEW! MANville Episode 53: the one where we find out Brendan Fraser went completely bald

January 4, 2012
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There’s a new episode of the MANville podcast up!

CLICK HERE FOR MORE (MANvilleShow.com)

You can also find us on iTunes.

If that’s not enough Kevin Marshall Audio for you, don’t forget to check out my guest shot on this week’s edition of The Unpaid podcast!

Brothers and fighters Shawn & Shannon Miller get KOLD on December 16th

November 28, 2011
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click for full size

The only other time professional boxers and brothers Shawn and Shannon Miller fought on the same card, it was for the former’s (and younger of the two) professional debut. On December 16th they’ll share the bill for a second time, but with greater significance for both. And not just because it’s Shannon’s return after a self-imposed retirement.

Both will fight on December 16th at The Egg in Albany to raise money for KOLD, or Knock Out Liver Disease, an organization started by Shannon to assist others financially that suffer from liver disease. Both Shawn and Shannon will donate their entire purses to the foundation, as well as a percentage of all ticket and t-shirt sales.

The idea came to Shannon after he donated sixty percent of his liver to his Uncle Ray last year. It was the hope of doctors that the surgery would repair the damage done by his uncle’s liver cancer and restore him to health.

Staying true to his reputation inside the ring, Shannon recovered much sooner than expected. Unfortunately, months after the operation, doctors found that Ray’s cancer had spread. Even still, Shannon’s sacrifice did not go unnoticed by those around him, and it gave his Uncle a fighting chance and time he otherwise would not have had.

“Nothing is promised and ever 100%,” Shawn recently told me. “But we’re hopeful.” Read more »

Bison Smith, 1973-2011

November 23, 2011
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One day I’ll write a memoir about my former obsession with professional wrestling, how I fell out of it, and the tragedies of the business and how they paralleled changes in my own personal life.

For now, I only glance at it from a safe distance. But just a few short years ago, I was still ordering DVDs online from guys like Chris Schoen over at IVP Productions to watch guys like Mark “Bison” Smith do their thing overseas, thousands of miles and oceans away from the turmoil in the States.

In addition to being one of the better “big men” working in the business (and probably better than anyone comparable to his size working stateside), he was from all accounts one of the good guys. Sadly, he passed away yesterday in Puerto Rico due to complications from a heart attack.

Zach Arnold at Fight Opinion, who extensively covered the Japanese wrestling scene before making the same transition I did to full MMA devotion, was a friend of Smith and has a great piece on him. I urge you all to check it out.

He was 38.

Fight of the Year

November 22, 2011
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Normally I’d reserve this for the Mixed Marshall Arts blog, but this is too good not to share here.

 

NOTES:

1. Black Kitty is over confident in his jiu-jitsu. He keeps pulling guard and in doing so, he keeps giving away points and position.
2. Despite the lack of a colored belt, Orange Kitty is clearly the better grappler of the two.
3. Black Kitty almost ends it early with a nice heel hook attempt.
4. Orange Kitty definitely knows how to work the ring, which is one of the criteria judges use in scoring.
5. At the 0:40 mark, Black Kitty performs Undertaker’s old school rope walk.