2012: The Ones to Watch

January 31st, 2012   Filed under: Guest Articles Add Comment 
Get in on the action!  Online sports betting with 888sport! Join NOW!

.

In 2011, we were treated to some of the top MMA action in history and we also saw the biggest promotion of all time and the new UFC TV deal with FOX is giving the average viewer a lot more MMA action and there is more to look forward to in 2012.

2011 saw some top fights, including the rise of Jon Jones and the epic battle between the legends Dan ‘Hendo’ Henderson and Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua. Top level competition saw the Middle and Welterweight champions further extend their dominance and top their divisions time and time again. It’s hard to pinpoint the fight of the year but looking back, it’s hard to think of anything better than Alistar Overeem’s one body shot blow to Brock Lesnar, which sent him hurtling into retirement. Now, looking into 2012, there is lots of scope for new talent to continue to shine. With Lesnar in retirement and veteran stars Anderson Silva and Georges St-Pierre believed to be out for the most part of 2012, fans of the sport are going to have to look to more prodigious up and coming talents for the next season. Here’s a closer look at five of the most promising fighters set to succeed in 2012.

Dan Henderson

We’ve already mentioned Hendo but 2012 may be his year to prove that veterans can still do it in style. One of the favorites to grab the light heavyweight title, Hendo will be 42 this year and wants a crack at current title holder Jon Jones, who had a storming season last year. There’s a few more bouts to get to before he’ll get a shot at Jones, but with his skill and speed, there’s nothing to say he won’t get there.

Daniel Cormier

With an undefeated 9-0 records behind him, Cormier is a potential heavyweight champion in the making. Despite still recovering from a broken hand, Cormier has Josh ‘the Warmaster’ Barnett in his sights. All that needs to happen for Cormier to shine is for UFC to give Cormier a chance in the top promotion and in a division which is gaining depth and talent by the fight, so adding Cormier into the mix could really shake things up.

Nick Diaz

Nick Diaz is one of the few light heavyweight fighters who has an ego to match that of Jon Jones and potentially the skill to back it up. He’s got power and strength as well as speed and great grappling tactics. He finishes strong and has a great record; the only thing he’s missing is one of those BIG title fights which will truly set his name in lights. Diaz has the ability to win, the skills to make him a champion, he just needs to be pushed and UFC needs to push him. One big fight could be enough to show the world how much Diaz has to offer. With Carlos Condit coming up in February, live on pay per view, Diaz can show us all what he’s made of.

Alistair Overeem

Overeem has grown in popularity and has become a favourite of many MMA fans, especially after his bout with Brock Lesnar and it will be a surprise if he doesn’t tear a hole in the Heavyweight division. He has the size, strength, striking skills and is the complete package to become the Heavyweight Champion before the year is out. Junior dos Santos isn’t going to give his title up easily so Overeem needs to match his abilities to prove he really has got what it takes Fans believe he has but it’s going to take some serious hard work to make 2012 his year.

These are five of the top talents who could be going places over the next year. The UFC light heavyweight division is probably going to be the most exciting to watch as Jon Jones’ position as Champion looks to be cemented in place, with nearly a year behind it. As a populous division, there’s nothing to say someone won’t be able knock Jones of his perch and there are plenty of worthy contenders, we’ll just have to wait to see who exactly manages to do it.

The schedule for 2012 is looking exciting and like 2011, there are bound to be some hidden surprises along the way.

–

When Sally Dwight abandoned her dolls and teddies in favour of practicing MMA on the home theater seating, her father despaired. Two decades later and she’s still obsessed with watching it and writing about it.

 

Tags: , , ,

Punching Bags

December 12th, 2011   Filed under: Guest Articles Add Comment 
Get in on the action!  Online sports betting with 888sport! Join NOW!

.

For over one hundred years, punching bags have been the tool of choice for those wanting to improve their strength, quickness, endurance, punching power and coordination. If a person considers straw dummies and sandbags used by ancient Chinese for martial arts training, then one can say that punching bags have been in use for thousands of years. During the rise of aerobic classes in gyms beginning in the 1980s, punching bags have also been used for simple gym-goers that are seeking a great cardio workout. There are several types of bags used for specific types of training. The very advanced mixed martial artist uses multiple types of bags for a wide range of exercises. For example, the speed bag which is generally only used for rapid punching, can be used to refine kicking, flying knees, spinning elbows, etc.

Hanging Bag (Heavy)
One of the most popular punching bags is the heavy bag, used by boxers and mma practitioners to develop strength and explosive power. The swaying as it is hit also helps the fighter develop a sense of timing when delivering heavy (full force) punches. This bag is hung from a metal railing or the ceiling and a good trainer will work with his client on footwork, circling the bag as it sways to vary combinations and directions of attack. Mma artists have also developed routines with the heavy bag on the floor to practice ground and pound techniques, kicking and wrestling practice (takedowns, throws, etc).

Speed Bag
Speed bags are generally a teardrop shaped bag hung about at head height to the fighter. It weighs about 1 1/2 to 2 pounds and has a rhythmic sound when hit rapidly and repeatedly as it bounces off the guard it hangs from. One of the main uses of this bag is to develop shoulder strength and endurance. During a boxing match, a fighter could be forced to keep his arms up for nearly 45 minutes while delivering and taking blows. One of the first signs of tiring in a boxer is the lowering of his hands. Since your arms are you primary defense, a well-trained boxer will immediately identify when the competitor lowers his guard and exploit the opening. Keeping your hands up and repeatedly punching the speed bag will exhaust your shoulders and arms, increasing your endurance, hand-eye coordination and speed. Since this bag offers a small target, advanced athletes use the bag for elbows, kicks and knees.

Uppercut Wall Bag
Uppercut bags are generally placed on the wall, the shape of this bag is especially good to train in proper form for upper cuts. The bulging upper part mimics an opponent’s chin or upper body if in the clinch. If a boxer was doing precise form for an uppercut on a heavy bag, he would be hitting air since a properly thrown uppercut forms a ‘C’ shape with the “hit” occurring at maximum strength at the top part of the curve of the ‘C’. Since a heavy bag has straight edges, the punch would graze the bag and hit nothing, not allowing the boxer to feel impact or be able to judge coordination.

Double End Bag/Mexican Double End Bag
These are hourglass shaped bags (sometimes a smaller one on top, bigger one on bottom affixed on a rope tied floor to ceiling. It is used for rhythm, hand-eye coordination, and establishing punching distance. It sways different than a heavy bag and is lower than a speed bag so body and head punches are practiced. The odd movement is similar to throwing an American football on the ground and trying to catch it. The shape of the bag makes each punch thrown sway the bag to odd angles, helping the boxer practice for a moving opponent.

Hide me
Enter Your Name And Email And Get FREE Workouts Sent Straight To Your Inbox!
Name: Email:
Show me
Build an optin email list in WordPress [Free Software]