"Critiquing the Cage" Who Are They: Oleg Taktarov

Oleg Taktarov is a Russian mixed martial artist, known for his style of Sambo and Judo. He competed in both the UFC and Pride fighting Championships, holding notable wins over Mark Kerr, Marco Ruas, David Abbott and many more. Taktarov has never been submitted in a MMA fight, a feat that many mixed martial artists never achieve, staying relaxed during fights and performing athletic sambo takedowns.

In April 1995, Oleg entered the UFC 5, and was coined the “Russian Bear.” Despite injuring his knee before the tournament, Taktarov competed in and won his first fight, but was defeated in the semi-finals. Holding the record for the fastest submission in UFC history against Anthony Macias, Taktarov submitted Macias in twelve seconds at UFC 6, becoming the tournament Champion.

Taktarov, being the reigning tournament champion, was set up to fight his friend and reigning UFC Champion Ken Shamrock in UFC 7 for the UFC Superfight Championship. The fight ended in a draw after an amazing performance put on by both men. In his most famous non-UFC fight, Taktarov faced Renzo Gracie in the MARS Reality Fighting event. He lost by KO, while trying to defeat Gracie by leg submission.

After temporarily retiring from mixed martial arts, Taktarov took on acting, starring in movies Bad Boys II, Air Force One, and many others. Prior to making a successful comeback to MMA in 2007, Taktarov's last bout was in 2001.

"Critiquing the Cage" Who Are They: Randy Couture

Randy Couture, a former three-time UFC Heavyweight Champion, two-time Light Heavyweight Champion and Interim Light Heavyweight Champion, is the oldest title holder in the UFC and all of MMA. Born in June 1963, Couture is best known for his ground and pound, take down and wrestling skills. During his high school years, Couture won a State Championship in wrestling and from 1982-1988, served in the U.S. Army, reaching the rank of Sergeant, also wrestling and boxing.
Couture made his first MMA debut at UFC 13 in 1997, defeating opponent Tony Halme with his signature ground and pound in under a minute in the first round. At UFC 15, Couture went up against Vitor Belfort to determine who would become the number one contender for the UFC Heavyweight Championship, with Belfort being the favorite to win. Couture dominated Belfort, and beat him in one the biggest upsets in MMA at the time. He then moved down to Light Heavyweight and fought Chuck Liddell, again being considered the underdog. Couture defeated Liddell for the Light heavyweight Championship, and went on to fight  and win against other big names, such as Tito Ortiz.
After a short retirement, and becoming a broadcast commentator for the UFC, Couture announced his comeback in January of 2007. He went head to head against Tim Sylvia, defeating him by unanimous decision, and successfully defended his title against Gaabriel Gonzago at UFC 74. In his bout with Lyoto Machida, he suffered a knockout loss and eventually retired indefinitely in 2011 at the age of 47.
Couture has competed in fifteen title fights and is the fourth member of the UFC Hall of Fame. He is the first fighter to hold two UFC Championship titles in two different divisions and most recently, has starred in movies such as, Expendables 1 and 2, Setup, alongside 50 cent and Bruce Willis and many others.

"Critiquing the Cage" Who Are They: B.J. Penn

B.J. Penn is a former Lightweight Champion in the UFC and is considered one of the best light and welterweights in the sport's history, having been a pioneer of mixed martial arts, helping to bring legitimacy to the sport. Born in 1978, Penn became an MMA and Jiu-Jitsu practitioner. Nicknamed the "Prodigy," Penn became a rising star in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, earning his black belt in under three years, and became the first American Gold Medalist of the World Jiu Jitsu Championship. He debuted and competed in the UFC, as well as a brief stretch in K-1.
In the UFC, Penn competed in the lightweight, welterweight, middleweight and light heavyweight divisions.  He was a former UFC Lightweight and Welterweight Champion, making UFC history, by winning titles in multiple weight classes. Penn ultimately unified the UFC Lightweight Championship against Sean Sherk, becoming the divisions first Undisputed Champion. Penn went undefeated for eight years, simultaneously holding the number one rank in lightweight and welterweight.
Renowned boxing coach Freddie Roach has described Penn as the best boxer in all of mixed martial arts. Penn's record at retirement stands at (16-9-2), holding notable victories over Matt Hughes, Kenny Florian, Matt Sera and Rodrigo Gracie.

"Critiquing the Cage" Who Are They: Chuck Liddell

Chuck Liddell is a former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion, with a vast striking, kickboxing, and grappling background.  Along with Randy Couture, Liddell is widely credited for bringing mixed martial arts into the mainstream. 
Born on December 17, 1969 in Santa Barbra, California, Liddell was raised by a single mother, and his grandfather who taught him boxing techniques.  Liddell made his UFC debut in 1998 during UFC 17, with a decision over Noe Hernandez. In his next bout, he faced the Brazilian fighter, Jose "Pele" Landi-John, which was bare-knuckle. Liddell was the heavy underdog in the fight and won the match by decision.  Liddell began establishing his reputation as a top contender with victories over MMA greats Vitor Belfort and Tito Ortiz. Liddell was also the first UFC fighter to fight in Pride.
Liddell finished his career with the second most knockouts in UFC history, behind Anderson Silva, and in 2009, Liddell was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame and is currently an actor in advertising by Miller Light.

"A Way of Life" Sport Karate's Legitimacy

The sport of karate doesn't always get the respect and notoriety that is deserves compared to other combat sports.  Some of you reading this will think aloud, "Karate is a combat sport?" And the answer: It most certainly is! It may not be a hard hitting, ground and pound blood sport as in MMA and boxing, but it has aspects that those other sports can compare to.  In what other sport can your opponent get knocked out, awaken and regroup, to continue fighting and possibly win the match-up? In the world of the UFC and boxing, once your opponent is KO'd, the fight is over, but not in sport karate. 

Sport karate fighters can be considered the toughest athletes, and have to have a lasting endurance and consistency during their match-ups, because 100% of their fights are run tournament style. They enter into fights not knowing who they are matched up against, and fight up to TEN matches to win the tournaments grand championship.  Sport karate fighters also enter into other aspects of the tournament that includes katas and weapons, showing form and skill of a particular style.
Many people don't consider sport karate a professional sport, because the sport lacks professional organizations.  Sport karate fighters are not offered contracts or paid fights that big name MMA and boxing athletes receive, through the many organizations that those sports have established over the years.  Over time, sport karate fighters move on to boxing and MMA in order to receive contracts and endorsements, but you rarely see fighters that have fought in those organizations convert to sport karate for this particular reason.  Sport karate fighters confidence levels become obsolete in regards to this matter, they want to be taken serious as professional athletes and sport karate has not caught up to the professionalism of what makes boxing and mixed martial arts renowned worldwide.
Sport karate is a legitimate sport that can be compared to the likes of MMA, boxing and other combative sports.  For many, karate is not only a sport, but a way of life.  Fighters embrace the aspect of the sport, but understand that karate is in everything that they do.  It is time that sport karate be mentioned in the same breath as any other professional sport played around the world.  So consider this question after reading this article, Is sport karate real? It most certainly is!

 

"Critiquing the Cage" Overeem vs Browne: All or Nothing

On Saturday, August 17th, at UFC Fight Night 26, Alistair "The Reem" Overeem will clash against Travis "Hapa" Browne, in a bout that will make or break the careers of these heavyweights. This match is promising to action packed, with both men fighting to solidify themselves as elite heavyweight fighters in the UFC.

Let's just put it all out there: Alistair Overeem NEEDS a win against Browne to keep him relevant as a UFC heavyweight. His latest loss against Antonio "Big Foot" Silva, devastated Overeem, as he was the favorite to win. His taunting, underestimation and lackadaisical 2nd and 3rd round performance, earned "Big Foot" a knockout victory. Overeem is also looking to redeem himself after his bout against Junior dos Santos was canceled because of a failed drug test a month before the fight was to take place.

Browne's first and only loss also came at the hands of Silva. He tore his left hamstring during the fight, and believes Silva's TKO victory was a lucky break for Silva. After rehab for his injury, Browne scored a knockout win against Gabriel Gonzaga in the first round of The Ultimate Fighter 17 Finale.

Both Overeem and Browne have something to prove in this fight. A win for either fighter will keep them in contention for a future title shot. For Browne, a win means becoming one of UFC's elite and for Overeem a win means hushing his doubters and becoming "The Redeemer"!