Saturday, February 09, 2008 Quijano: Lesnar is for real By Jingo Quijano Last Round
IT looks like the MMA world is still abuzz about the Brock Lesnar-Frank Mir UFC match.
Apparently, some fans are of the opinion that referee Steve Mazagatti did not give a warning to Lesnar when he was raining murderous blows on the back of Mir’s head.
I, for one, thought that he could have stopped the fight anytime as it was apparent that Mir initially appeared to be quite helpless in repelling Lesnar’s fearsome version of ground and pound.
According to Mazagatti, he did issue a warning to Lesnar but it couldn’t be heard on the video due to the noise.
Be that as it may, I thought it wasn’t a good match-up for Lesnar. Mir is a former UFC heavyweight champ and an accomplished ring technician who once defeated giant Tim Sylvia in 50 seconds of the first round, and also owns a win over brawler Tank Abbot whom he beat in just 46 seconds.
I was of the opinion that matching him up against another striker would have been a great way to trumpet his entry into the UFC. A highlight-real knockout would have created tremendous impact.
As can be culled from the Mir fight, Brock’s inexperience allowed Mir to literally snatch victory from the jaws of defeat when he allowed himself to be trapped in a kneebar.
E-MAIL. Thanks to Last Rounders Louie Rusiana, Carlo Camaya, and Chaplain Jack Hall who emailed me their reactions to my last column.
Louie also thought Darchinyan deserved the nod, but nonetheless clarified that he will always be a Z Gorres fan.
Carlo, who also happens to be my batch-mate from SHS ’89, says that watching a fight live was an amazing experience for him since he could actually hear the missed punches.
Bro, are you sure you were not hearing the water bottles whizzing past your ears?
Z TO SUPERFLY? Speaking of Z, I thought he looked smallish compared to Darchinyan’s sculpted physique. Z has been fighting at the super fly limit for a couple of years now and at 25 years of age, he is slowly filling out.
He might still be able to make 115 lbs., but it’s also quite possible that it might not be the optimal weight for him anymore.
He could have weakened himself considerably trying to make the weight, resulting in a lack of stamina during the later rounds of the fight.
GERRY TAKES IT EASY. After some postponements, Gerry’s fight with Ratanachai Sor Vorapin (72-9, 48 KOs) is finally on for April 6 at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
Also featured on the undercard will be Rey “Boom-boom” Bautista who faces Mexican Genaro “Duro” Camargo (16-3-0, KOs 10) and AJ “Bazooka” Banal who will be facing his toughest test in WBC Latino super flyweight Caril “El Raton” Herrera of Uruguay. (21-0-0, KOs 13)
The Banal fight will probably be dandier than the main event. Why?
Gerry already beat Vorapin 8 years ago inside 6 rounds. Vorapin also lost to Johnny Gonzales (whom Gerry beat last year) in 7 rounds in October 2005.
I hope this will be the last get-busy fight for my favorite local boxer. At age 35, Gerry needs to be doing the big fights for big purses, win or lose.
QUOTE OF DAY. “Yeah, I did. Brock’s excited. It’s a big, big opportunity for him, and—in my opinion—he looked down and saw the head there, and he took three shots at him and caught him. I jump in and say, “Don’t hit at the back of the head.” -UFC Referee Steve Mazzagatti
THE LAST ROUND. It’s on a couple of Feb. 7 birthday celebrators- the original Last Rounder and my idol, my dad Atty. Froilan V. Quijano, and a good friend and companero, Cebu City Councilor Joey Daluz. Cheers!
