12/21/24
April 03, 2008
UFC Fighter Knocked Out in Eight Seconds: In a Colorado ring thronging with his fans last night, Ultimate Fighting Championship fighter Houston Alexander was knocked out by James Irvin in eight seconds, the shortest bout in the sport's history. "Houston Alexander has been utterly exposed," Michael Rome declared on the blog Bloody Elbow. (See the video.)
"Houston Alexander has been utterly exposed" I'll admit upfront that I don't watch UFC/ MMA because when someone pins an opponent and starts wailing on them it makes me claustrophobic, but I have to wade in here to address that comment. I am suspicious of everyone I've met who is really, really into UFC; they don't seem to have ever been in a fight themselves. Getting knocked out in 8 seconds is easily possible: just don't block the first blow and it lands cleanly and you're done. I don't see how that happening proves anything or "exposes" someone, like the guy's a complete fraud even though he was willing to get in the (octagonal) ring with an opponent. There seems to be a lack of appreciation for the damage that a fist or foot can do. It's not like when you're 8 years old and maybe you get a scratch.
posted by yerfatma at 08:32 AM on April 03, 2008
Point taken, yerfatma but since you admitted that you "don't watch UFC/ MMA", the one thing that you have to understand is that this isn't like when "you're 8 years old and maybe you get a scratch", these guys are actually professional fighters. These guys train as hard as any athlete and are quite aware that this is a full contact sport. To have these guys train for as long as they do and to finally have their match and to lose in 8 seconds is absolutely pathetic. Any sport that deals with punching or kicking to another individual, the first thing you learn is to protect yourself at all times and for this to happen is just a complete and total embarrassment.
posted by BornIcon at 08:49 AM on April 03, 2008
I saw the fight, it was really disappointing. I'm all for a good knockout, but 8 seconds in? That is not entertaining to watch. The punch was clean and right on the end of Alexander's chin, and he got knocked the f out. I don't think he sucks or is some kind of fraud becuase of it. He screwed up by not protecting himself as well as he should have, paid for it, and will come back better prepared next time.
posted by tj17617 at 08:49 AM on April 03, 2008
Sure, anything's possible, and obviously getting knocked out in 8 seconds can happen. I don't follow the UFC that closely, but am no stranger to getting into it (and still have a job that involves sometimes getting punched, etc.), and am well aware of the damage a fist can do. With regards to the "exposed" comment, though, I can't necessarily argue with it. It seems anyone who believes they have what it takes to dominate in ultimate fighting, boxing, whatever, will generally get passed the first 10 seconds of matches. If that's what you practice and train for and you can't avoid getting stopped that quickly, regardless of the circumstances, you're probably not going to be ultra-successful in the sport. Even the best can lose, take a beating, and even get knocked down (or out). But I don't think the legends of the sport will ever allow a 8 second defeat to happen to them.
posted by dyams at 08:50 AM on April 03, 2008
I watched that fight and I think when they mean "exposed" they are referring to this guy having a couple very convincing vicotories to begin his UFC career, but many having doubts about his actual skills. He looks like a weightlifter and has unusual training methods and many established people in the fight game felt that he was more lucky than good, and took a couple of his earlier opponents by surprise. There is a bit of controversy about it, because Alexander is quite popular with many of the fans. In this case the other guy, Irvine, hit him quickly and it appeared that Alexander went a little flat and the ref jumped in quickly. Some felt too quickly I gather. There seems to be a lack of appreciation for the damage that a fist or foot can do. It's not like when you're 8 years old and maybe you get a scratch. The flip side is true as well. Don't forget to appreciate that some people, who have experience and training, can absorb punishment that would cause me to instantly fill my shorts.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 08:54 AM on April 03, 2008
I dunno...I have my doubts that you can train to "absorb punishment" to the point of the jaw. You can train to slip a punch, or block a punch, but if someone tags you right on the chin, it's pretty much lights out.
posted by lil_brown_bat at 09:32 AM on April 03, 2008
If you're not focused enough, or just so outmatched that you can't protect yourself from your opponent for a couple of seconds after the start of the fight, you probably run the risk of getting yourself killed in a situation where fatigue might work into the equation. I remember my wrestling days, where good wrestlers would go out and pin their opponent in 10 seconds. Those opponents were known as "fish." Not good, easy pickins.
posted by dyams at 09:38 AM on April 03, 2008
I have always said that good boxing is the best technique to have in any fight. Chuck Liddel is a mediocre boxer, great by MMA standards but really would not stand up a round against a Roy Jones or other top boxer. Once a decent boxer learns how to deal with the jujitsu and defend against kicks and takedowns then there really is nothing better than fast accurate hands. I saw the fight and Alexander got hit with a telegraphed superman punch right on the button, he hit the ground and was helpless for a few seconds while he got hit cleanly a couple of more times. No matter how embarrassed or how much he bitched about an early stoppage, the ref did the right thing in protecting him from undefended blows to the head, by stopping the fight. No decent boxer would have been caught by that punch which came with a warning a mile away. Even before the fight I said to my wife Alexander looked like a tight body builder flexing to intimidate his opponent. He was stiff and pumped up. Not good for fighting. When top MMA fighters get caught by a punch like this or KO'd by Chuck Liddell, who hold his hands low, doesn't have real hand speed, and fights with his chin out, I always wonder how quickly a top boxer of the same weight would take out these guys. Sure they are good on the ground but a lot of MMA fighters and again I use Liddell as an example, utilize footwork, movement and the sprawl to avoid a takedown then most of these guys are wide open for good hands. There was another fight last night where the highly touted Tommy Spears got his ass handed to him by a better boxer. With all his strength, wrestling and ground skills, he was pummelled by a guy with reach, footwork and hand speed. I think it took about 30 or 40 seconds. Don get me wrong I love to watch MMA but the UFC is like the WWF in the sense that they give everybody a nickname before their first fight. Everybody that wins a couple of fights in their division is a contender, and basically they build up every guy they promote in their own TV show as a top fighter when they have a pro record of 3 &1. I really get irritated when some guy who has fought 3 time and lost twice has a nickname like so and so the assasin. Geez maybe when you knock out 10 opponents you deserve a nick name like the assasin or the killer. Until then should are just Joe Schmo. The UFC is in danger of a little too much hype that may hurt their credibility as a fighting sport.
posted by Atheist at 10:05 AM on April 03, 2008
Boxers would be killed in the UFC. Just too many other factors to keep tabs on. You can't adopt a classic boxing position/stance and expect to do anything except end up on your back getting filled in like an application. The reason why people keep their hands lower than they do in boxing is twofold: 1 - The gloves don't provide protection from shots in the UFC (they're too small). 2 - high-hands = low kicks and shoots. If an MMA guy were to fight a boxer then I would expect he would probably keep his hands higher knowing that he doesn't have to factor in any kicks or shoots. Many people don't respect the chess game that body positioning is in MMA. While you say Liddell looks like any boxer would easily knock him out; he doesn't fight boxers. He fights wrestlers, ju jitsu practitioners and muai thai boxers with 6 ounce gloves on their hands with figure holes. Were he to fight a actual boxer, I would imagine he would approach it differently. Now, a world-class boxer would obvioulsy have better punching, but it's such a different game that any cross-over activity would probably be desperation. Ray Mercer recently fought internet sensation (and backyard brawler) Kimbo Slice in an MMA fight. Mercer was soundly beaten.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 11:24 AM on April 03, 2008
The computer filter here at work won't allow me to see the video, but 8 seonds? That's almost difficult to pull off. That included walking to the center of the ring and touching fists before the first punch, and included the reaction time for the timekeeper to notice the ref's decision to stop the fight.
posted by grum@work at 11:31 AM on April 03, 2008
I watched that fight and I think when they mean "exposed" they are referring to this guy having a couple very convincing vicotories to begin his UFC career, but many having doubts about his actual skills. That's exactly what they are talking about. He came out of nowhere with a couple entertaining wins that more resembled bar brawls than mma matches. Cue the UFC hype machine and then cue the mma blog backlash when Houston gets more attention than better but more technical(less exciting) fighters. I think there is a bit of "I told ya so" in the Bloody Elbow comments.
posted by tron7 at 12:02 PM on April 03, 2008
I don't think Alexander has taken a backwards step in any of his UFC fights, he takes no time to gauge distance or feel the other guy out. Great strategy by Irvine to see that and come out with the superman punch. Irvine has some heavy hands too so I wasn't real surprised to see Alexander drop so quickly. It only takes one.
posted by tron7 at 12:21 PM on April 03, 2008
I used to love boxing, now I never watch it because of Don King. I've seen too many boxing matches that went to a decision that made no sense. Or watched some circus of a match that ended very weirdly. I watch MMA (specifically UFC for the most part). It's exciting and for the most part (during the fight anyway) unscripted and just a blast to watch. I think I speak for a lot of men when I say, I just basically want to watch fights. After watching MMA for so long now, watching boxing is akin to watching bowling, except in the case of bowling, the match isn't fixed.
posted by patrickje at 12:26 PM on April 03, 2008
Coming from someone who used to fight in karate tournaments, I must say that these events make films like "Idiocracy" look like documentaries. Can't wait to see the progency of those louts screaming in the stands. On second thought, I can wait.
posted by afl-aba at 01:34 PM on April 03, 2008
Could someone find a still shot of Alexander's head snapping back? I sure don't see it on that video. Also -- what's a "progency"?
posted by wfrazerjr at 02:02 PM on April 03, 2008
"progeny" I suspect.
posted by jmd82 at 02:47 PM on April 03, 2008
Yep -- "progeny." A typo, y'all.
posted by afl-aba at 02:57 PM on April 03, 2008
Good, cause I came up with a Turkish proverb, something to do with horse breeding, and a type of dog breed list as possible clues to the word "progency". I want to be thorough and helpful. As opposed to a snark-monster. Question: Would the louts in the stands be creating the aforementioned progeny together? Or would they have to find mates independently? In both cases I would think the odds were low for such an occurance. I like me the MMA.
posted by THX-1138 at 03:06 PM on April 03, 2008
I dunno...I have my doubts that you can train to "absorb punishment" to the point of the jaw. You can train to slip a punch, or block a punch, but if someone tags you right on the chin, it's pretty much lights out. Proof.
posted by BoKnows at 04:23 PM on April 03, 2008
I'm not clear on what that proves, BoKnows, other than the fact that wrestling is well-written.
posted by rcade at 04:44 PM on April 03, 2008
Proof. Proof of what? Where in that video did anyone hit anyone on the point of the jaw?
posted by lil_brown_bat at 06:08 PM on April 03, 2008
That was quite the fight, though not quite the devastation I was expecting. I was expecting "out like a light". Anyone who wonders just how hard these guys train needs to track down the Wanderlei special that aired earlier this year on Spike that showed his training regimen. Absolutely fucking insane! I love MMA. Not a big fan of UFC, though really I have no choice but to watch them. Was a big fan of PRIDE but sadly they got fucked into a hat with the Yakuza stuff. Not sure how badly he'll be hurt by that loss. You're only as good as your last fight, but an eight second loss COULD (not the word COULD) be a fluke. I don't know enough about the guy. What amazes me is people who say MMA is "barbaric" and then get all excited over some big boxing match, bloody hypocrites.
posted by Drood at 06:21 PM on April 03, 2008
I agree with your comment 100% lbb. I was attempting to make a joke. From now on, I'll leave that to THX.
posted by BoKnows at 06:49 PM on April 03, 2008
wow
posted by 4ArmShiver at 08:34 PM on April 03, 2008
dyams, did you say you are required to get punched at work? If so... awesome!
posted by everett at 08:45 PM on April 03, 2008
From now on, I'll leave that to THX. I'm off the junk. My opinion is that Houston was absolutely unprepared mentally for the possibility that he was about to get his clock cleaned. It was outside his realm of understanding that the punch was going to occur. He didn't even seem to want to accept the reality that it had happened afterward. Good stoppage. Now we know why it's a good idea to at least entertain the tactic of defense at the beginning of a fight. That is if you're not going to throw a haymaker at the start like Irvin.
posted by THX-1138 at 10:22 PM on April 03, 2008
So if the guy who got caught was or is all hype, is Kimbo Slice all hype? Did anyone see the Cung li/Shamrock fight? Classic.
posted by sportsblitz at 12:01 AM on April 04, 2008
dyams, did you say you are required to get punched at work? I work with court-placed kids from tough, often-violent backgrounds. Unfortunately, one of their main defense mechanisms is intimidation, or flat-out fighting when they don't get what they desire. When keeping control in this setting, I, along with many co-workers, absorb punches, elbows, kicks, etc. You stand your ground against them, they'll sometimes lash out. It's part of the job, and definitely not something I fear. But being ready to defend your jaw from a possible punch is a necessary requirement. I don't punch them, though.
posted by dyams at 07:33 AM on April 04, 2008
I must say that these events make films like "Idiocracy" look like documentaries. Are you sure you wanna admit to watching that piece of shit of a film? The horror!! It's part of the job, and definitely not something I fear. But being ready to defend your jaw from a possible punch is a necessary requirement. I don't punch them, though. How about a quick roundhouse to the solar plexus?
posted by BornIcon at 08:21 AM on April 04, 2008
How about a quick roundhouse to the solar plexus? No, I don't do that either. And I, personally, look first to defend my face and head area so I don't get knocked cold. Alexander didn't fare too well in that department.
posted by dyams at 08:44 AM on April 04, 2008
You're a good man dyams.
posted by everett at 08:52 AM on April 04, 2008
Thank you. I honestly do try.
posted by dyams at 09:23 AM on April 04, 2008
Are you sure you wanna admit to watching that piece of shit of a film? Yes.
posted by yerfatma at 10:05 AM on April 04, 2008
I don't know about this sport yet. I've been a big fan of boxing all my life, but a sport that allows you to keep beating on your opponent when he's down? Reminds me of too many bouncers I've seen in action over the years. I am glad to see they've cleaned it up a bit though, when this sport first started it was sickening to watch more often than not. Speaking of bouncers, a little remark about bouncers a comedian made who's name I can 't remember. How to be a bouncer; #1 be a dick #2 stand by a door
posted by MGDADDYO at 10:29 AM on April 04, 2008
How to be a bouncer; #1 be a dick #2 stand by a door I can handle that! Where do I apply?
posted by dyams at 11:18 AM on April 04, 2008
Yes. This is coming from Mr. Red Dawn himself. Just sayin'. (Is that archived, btw?)
posted by lil_brown_bat at 11:25 AM on April 04, 2008
No, it's lost to the ages. I just find great irony in someone crapping on Idiocracy in a thread about UFC.
posted by yerfatma at 11:52 AM on April 04, 2008
Would it lose irony if it were in an NFL thread?
posted by tron7 at 01:14 PM on April 04, 2008
Would it lose irony if it were in an NFL thread? Not if you put enough electrolytes in it. Yeah, I saw Idiocracy, too. Sue me.
posted by tahoemoj at 03:27 AM on April 05, 2008
The computer filter here at work won't allow me to see the video, but 8 seonds? That's almost difficult to pull off.