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Tuesday, July 18, 2006
Taneo: GnP ties and thighs
By Paul J. Taneo
Free-for-all
‘I don't know if you noticed but GnP 1 seemed to be a lengthy event. Some of my friends (two who are foreigners who wanted to see full action) left the Cebu Coliseum when the matches seemed to get better. There’s no stopping them because it was already 30 minutes before midnight and they had been there as early as 6:30 p.m. Five to six hours of ‘human cockfighting’ is not really easy to stomach, unless one is a hardcore fight fanatic like us.
I was left with six ringside chairs vacant. Pre-main events and exhibition fights should have started earlier. If not for the ‘intermission girls’ and the one-and-only round girl, I wouldn’t have stayed longer. USF promotions should have screened more entertaining matches, but since this is just the first installment, there is this big room for improvement.
“See, the problem with promotions coordinating with a sponsoring fight club, we get to see a lot of their fighters in most matches, obviously winning most matches, creating an air of preconceived notion that this club will dominate...and the crowd may not take it well. Take for example the MMA fight of Yong from Yaw-Yan Musang and the fighter from Christian And Law Martial Arts or Calma – I only got Yong’s name because he was declared the winner – the Calma fighter showed some grappling skills that should have scored high on aggression and form as the Yaw-Yan brawler displayed resilience standing up but below- average ground skills. I personally think that the Calma fighter won, nevertheless the judges thought otherwise.
“And how about the Engie Piloto-Pablo Santillan match? My amateurish opinion would say that it should have been a draw. Piloto gave it his all in executing the shoot-and-grapple but it was evident that he was gassing out, not performing proper locking techniques. Santillan, on the other hand, had the endurance to avoid submissions but lacked the aggression to win. They exchanged punches and kicks well but that was it. The judges, for whatever reason, favored Piloto.
“If there was going to be a submission ending, I was hoping for Cary Bullos to end it that way. Unfortunately, I didn’t get my wish. Bullos just made emphasis that that night was ground-and-pound night, and referee Richard ‘Lionheart’ Tan did not waste time in stopping ‘The Prince’ from causing further damage on ‘Striker.’ At that point, I seemed to miss the Negros Top Team. (Obviously, Fox, you have a strong bias for submissions over knockouts and TKOs – PJT). I wonder why they didn’t dare to take part in this awesome event (OTSS signed them up first). I was dying to see some real time grappling and submission (There you go again).
“I can’t comment much on those pure kickboxing matches, although the main event was an absolute crowd-pleaser, and some of the kickboxing matches were quite interesting, but without the slamming sound of bodies on the ground, my eyes would have been totally shut for the night (I rest my case).
ANOTHER EVENT. “Just overheard the news that USF is planning another event this year. Well, promotion-wise the USF has the better edge than Mixed Martial Arts Entertainment Inc. or MMAEI of OTSS. I just hope that they come up with some weight champions, flashing some belts around their waists – a proof of professionalism for this sport here in Cebu. Though it seems impossible to merge the two MMA promoters for now, I am looking forward for an event called Champions versus Champions in Cebu MMA.
“Thank you, Paul, for letting me be a part of your column. We wish you more choking power and pounding strength, keeping us MMAniacs updated and informed about our world.
“And if The Rock Ballesta is really not pleased with Fox Moulder, I suggest that he better do something about it. J
Fox, are your initials NQA?
“Paul, You’ll just have to continue guessing. J I am really a nobody but it doesn’t matter, what matters is that I am one of the biggest fans of your column, especially if it is all about the MMA world. It will be a great honor to grapple with you – just pure grappling – I’m sure that Ido not have staying power in striking and as far as I know, you do have good striking skills. J Thanks again and more power. Fox.”
If I grappled with you, Fox, or anybody, even my wife, I will last only two minutes...or less. I won’t take chances grappling with someone with grappling knowledge like you. You’re right, I’d rather strike than grapple or bite and pinch when grappled. If you insist, don’t say you weren’t forewarned or forearmed.
Keep writing and reading FFA, Fox. (To be concluded...compromise)
(paulotaneo@yahoo.com)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (July 18, 2006 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
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