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This is what has happened this week PART 2
31 Aug 2009 2:47PM
MMA noise
Let's talk about fighters growing old. It happens in lots of sports, unfortunately in combat sports it can happen over night. The level of training, the weight cutting and the impact of fighting, often means that fighters are right on the edge of blade when it comes to peak performance. The downside of that is that even the best of fighters suddenly drop off the edge. Even though they see it coming one day, fighters are rarely able to see the exact moment that they are simply "too old". It's a painful time. It hurts to realise that, even though the mind is sharp and you train hard, the body simply isn't capable of doing what is asked of it. Recently there are a few fighters that concern me, some may prove my concern unfounded, but other may have to realise that the time to stop is here. If you look at fighters like Coleman, Kerr, Ortiz, Liddell etc they are all at that stage. yet all of these guys are actively competing. This weekends UFC saw Randy Couture lose a decision against Nog. Randy is a tough guy and Nog is good... but I still find myself asking if this is the the fight where Randy turned old? I hope not, cause he is a legend in the sport. Randy has signed a new contract with the UFC, so we will see soon. The other reason that fighters have to be able to identify when it is time to quit, is that this is how the sport evolves. There are new fighters out there, looking for opportunities to show what they have got. Top shows like the UFC, Strikeforce, Dream, etc should be looking to give more new guys an opportunity to impress. It's these new guys that will be the future of the sport and pave the way for further evolution of MMA. To be honest, I don't really want to see a 'legends' studded card (well maybe as a special one off), I want to see new fighters on their way to their peak, demonstrating the sport at it's finest. Hungry, focused athletes with lots to prove. Anyway... it just noise, just my thoughts... ignore it if you want :)
I'm on a well deserved family holiday next week (I cancelled my last one to go to Kansas with M-1!), so nothing until I get back.... until then...
Chin down, hands up
Aaron
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