Glad I Only Play Poker -- Thoughts on the TUF Finale

Wow, after going 6-1 picking the EliteXC/Strikeforce card the other night, I thought I was on a roll. Last night was ... not so good.
As I mentioned on Luke Thomas' radio show, Any Given Saturday, I picked Jens Pulver to beat BJ Penn in round two via GnP or by submission. Did I thing Jens would submit him with a slick oomaplata? No, I was thinking more along the lines of a mounted RNC or tapout to strikes. Well, I was right in the ending, but happened to pick the wrong fighter. I spoke with a contact of mine from Miletich Fighting Systems who told me that Jens was in his best shape in years, that his cardio was good, and that the team felt they put together a good game plan for Jens to win. This isn't someone who is just feeding me the standard lines of bullshit, so I took what he said as truth. And he was on the money, Jens looked great last night. But who woulda thought BJ Penn would come in looking like he did? Wow, that is the best shaped I have ever seen BJ in. And that makes me happy. I've been dissing Penn for years because I cant stand fighters who have the world's talent and then waste it. I'm gonna have to see him like this again, but if there is a new BJ, then count me as a fan.

The Emerson vs Maynard fight was one of the craziest endings ever in MMA. Serious loss of respect for Gray for not admitting what was blatantly obvious, that he was TOTALLY knocked out after the slam. Rampage you are not kid.

Props to Cole Miller the striker for a nasty Lil' Crocop high left leg kick. Was the stoppage premature, yeah. But look who he was fighting. Wang has about as much business in a cage as Corey Hill does at this point, maybe less.

That is what a fresh and uninjured Joe Lauzon looks like. I wish he woulda fought Wiman or Gray or Garcia. That kid is on the rise. Now if Dana could pay him a decent wage, the kid could train full-time and not have to worry about his student loans.

Nate Diaz wins the TUF 5 contract. Did you see the guy in the stands over is shoulder freaking out? With all the crap between Nate and Nick we see on Youtube, you know those two are close as hell. "Do I mind being in the shadow of Nick Diaz? Why would I be? Better his shadow that Karo Parisyan's." I almost choked on my beer.
Manny's shoulder injury has been recurring for along time. It's a common injury among Judo practitioners. I did know that he hurt it fighting Lauzon in the semifinals of the show, and also knew that the Gracie team planned on attacking it in some way. I just didnt anticipate Nate letting Manny shoot so that he would dislocate it on his knee! Was it a bit of a let down? Sure, but then again it should have been Nate v Joe in the finals anyway, but injuries are a part of this sport. Manny fought through his, and Joe didn't.

Any Given Saturday Post-Fight radio show
Pre-fight show with Clay Guida

Props out to Luke Thomas. He's getting better on the radio with every show. Give a listen.