What's Jon Fitch Trying to Prove?

The rare MMA post, and here it is.

W'e're about 6 hours away from BJ Penn vs Jon Fitch from Sydney, Australia.

I've been getting texts from a lot of people, asking me about "inside" info regarding the fight. Straight up, I have no more information than anyone else. In fact my information is probably less useful because of what I know, in that I am probably over-thinking the entire thing.

I have received a few "Why is BJ fighting Fitch?" texts, and even saw Nate Quarry ask the same question on a television show yesterday.

Here's my thoughts about every aspect of this fight.

First off, BJ will fight anyone and the UFC knows it. On some level BJ is becoming a gatekeeper for the welterweight division, since he is more "naturally" a lightweight. I still wish they had weigh-ins the day of to make it truly more NATURAL, but based on the situation, he's a lightweight under these rules.

I don't believe the UFC is giving Penn another shot at GSP, nor do I have a clue if he would even want one (knowing him, in the back of his mind, he probably does...but anyway...). However, Jon Fitch will certainly get another shot at GSP, assuming he can win this fight, hence Penn being the "gatekeeper" for this division.

Penn helps the UFC by fighting guys like Fitch, or Koscheck, or Alves because they are high profile fights that will do a relatively good draw for non-title events. The UFC also doesn't want Koscheck, Alves, or Fitch (and others) knocking off sexy newcomers. So fights with Penn provide them all with a little something.

The same goes for lightweight in Penn's case. They don't want BJ beating all of their contenders, or champions, and with Anthony Pettis almost guaranteed a shot, they have to buy some time. It doesn't help the UFC at all to have Penn beating Henderson, Pettis, Maynard, or even fighting Edgar again right now. There's no doubt he can beat these guys, but how does that help the UFC? It doesn't.

Right now BJ is helping the UFC buy some time in two divisions.

I'll say this, if Sotiroplous were to lose tonight, or even win, UFC will be thinking Penn at 155.

As for Fitch, he claims he has "something to prove." Well, what is it he wants to prove? That he can defeat Penn? I don't deny he can, for he's a great fighter, and the MUCH larger man. If that's what he's trying to prove he can prove it. But if he's REALLY trying to prove something he won't do what everyone expects him to do, and that is take Penn down and try to grind out a boring decision. Maybe if he's lucky, get a mount on Penn and hope he gets a stoppage.

But would that PROVE anything to me?

Not at all.

A win is a win in this sport, and a win over Penn by Fitch is impressive. But how he goes about it is more telling than anything.

St-Pierre was clever in beating Penn the second time. He took him down, grinded on him, and wore him out. Then he was willing to stand after Penn was running on empty. On some level it seemed St-Pierre was better at all aspects, but on his feet he's really not. It was a clever plan.

As for Fitch, this is a 3 round fight, so he doesn't have the time to wear Penn, then stand late to show off hand skills.

In order to prove something to me, the bigger man would have to beat Penn on his feet from the get go. If the fight is close late, go for the takedown and use the size advantage. But if Fitch comes at from the opening bell and tries to win this fight sheerly by using his size advantage, that to me proves absolutely nothing. It would be no different to me if BJ fought Rashad Evans, who decided to hold him down and grind. It wouldn't "prove" anything, except that there's a reason we have weight classes.

My expectation is Fitch will go for the win by attempting take downs, and keeping their bodies close. If BJ avoids this I expect he will finish Fitch. If he can't avoid it my expectation is I'll fall asleep before the fight even ends, so I won't know what happens anyway...

My message to Jon Fitch: If you want to PROVE something, show us you can stand and bang with a smaller opponent. After all, you're the #1 contender in a higher weight class.

Hey Ted Williams, Good Luck With All That...

Seriously, America, we are awesome. Not so much for our alliance with Qadafi during the war on terror, but more so because we were celebrating the "golden voice" of radio, Ted Williams only a few months ago, and now? Now we shit on his head.

Yep. That's how we do:

After getting into an altercation with his daughter, an altercation for which he was not arrested, Williams was pressured into going into rehab for alcohol addiction by TV psychologist Dr. Phil McGraw. He then left almost immediately, saying he felt rushed and that the process (i.e. being broadcast on Dr. Phil live from rehab) felt "scripted." Williams then checked himself into a sober living house for voiceover actors in Los Angeles, where he could come and go as he pleased, but where he still needed to submit to drug tests and promise to remain clean.

Eventually came word that Williams had long ago abandoned his nine children. And then The Smoking Gun released his rap sheet...Kraft hasn't brought him back, his TV ads have been pulled, and the Cavaliers' job offer has been reneged. He's been abandoned almost as quickly as he was embraced, and for nothing more egregious than any other common celebrity infraction.

Well, eff you Kraft cheese, I don't eat your trash anyway.

The Cavs? Well, there's really nothing more I can do to you. Lord knows you've gotten the shit punished out of you.

But to us, Americans, who cared so much for the man on the side of a Columbus highway, do we even care anymore? Do you really thing that an argument with his daughter, or the fact that he's trying to get remain clean is reason enough to dump this guy?

We feel so good about pretending we're doing good by celebrating in this guy's rebound, but if we allow what's now taking place to continue as it is, he'll be dead real soon. And while we can blame him for his drug use, we'd be just as responsible in this case for having lifted him up on our shoulders and then dropping him on his head.

There's no better truly American drug than the way we make ourselves for having done something great, which is often pure bullshit. Like in this case.

I Hate the Star Alliance

I'm not sure how many of you know about my issues with Continental and United, but there seems to be a new one every time I fly.

Just last week I was flying to Florida for a special occasion and sometime around 10 PM I received an email saying my flight was cancelled. I happened to notice this late at night, and it was disturbing since my flight from SFO to IAH to PBI was scheduled at like 6 AM. There was a lot of late night scrambling, but eventually I got it done, or I should say, they got it done (credit to the Continental service rep who stayed on the phone with me for over an hour. As she put it, "if I'm not talking to you I'm talking to someone else.").

The thing about that flight which bothered me so much is Continental claimed there was a problem with the in-bound flight, so they had to cancel. Basically, a plane was supposed to come in the night before, and wasn't going to make it, so they had to cancel the morning flight. Seriously? Should I buy that Continental/United cannot FIND A PLANE in 6 hours to take it's place?

It was bullshit.

The real reason is the plane from SFO to Houston was hardly sold, and since the service reps are already working, we may as well cancel the flight, put all the people on other planes, make our reps work, and save the airline some cash. This happens.

I noticed the day before how empty the flight was, so when this happened I wasn't that surprised. The service rep couldn't even lie on behalf of the airline and claim I was mistake. She basically just said, "How can I help?"

Tonight I just scheduled another flight from NYC to SFO for March 23rd. When I started my search at 11:50 PM there were MANY options for $170. I could fly on Friday, Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday. When I tried purchasing the ticket I was continually told there was an error. Eventually there were no seats available at that price until Wednesday. Miraculously, in a span of 15 minutes Friday, Monday and Tuesday had gone up over $100. Go figure.

Add to it, when Continental was not with United I could fly into Newark for a reasonable price. Right now the flight from Newark to SFO on Continental is over $650 one way. Out of JFK the flight is $170. For real?

For real.

Couple all of this with the fact I was assaulted on a Continental flight, and nothing was ever done. They supposedly investigated the matter, but claimed there was no harm. I kid you not, I have not been comfortable on an airplane since that time. Never in my life did I have a problem flying, but since that day, never been the same.

There have been other things as well, like recently I was told that I had no status at all (I'm platinum) because even though I purchased the flight through Continental's website, it was a United flight, yet operated by USAIR! Therefore I get no status, nothing, zero, zilch. Like I've never flown with either airline before.

I'm seriously fed up with flying, fed up with these airlines, and most of all, fed up with Continental.

They don't care about their customers, and in fact, have changed my emotional state regarding flying 180 degrees.

I am in the market for a new airline; not that I expect things to be different. I just can't imagine they'll be any worse.

knicks

wow. the knicks actually got it done! shocking :-)

who knows if it makes them better, but it definitely sells more jerseys and makes them more exciting to the media.

can we bring back a reincarnation of derek harper? oh, right, chauncey billups.