CM Punk Broke the Internet.

September 11, 2016September 28, 2016 Ray Mullan Entertainment, Home, Sports, Trending belfast, belt, Blog, blogger, championship, CM Punk, Cult of Personality, dana white, ireland, Irish MMA, jiu jitsu, journalist, Mickey Gall, mma, sports, ufc, UFC 203

As UFC 203 drew to a close, it was difficult to take my mind off the cataclysmic failure in which Phil Brooks had just endured.

For those wondering who Phil Brooks is, he’s known by most as CM Punk, a former professional wrestling champion and self proclaimed “Cult of Personality”.

The reason I call him by his real name, rather than his stage name, is to differentiate his past from his present. Nothing in his past could have prepared him for the stark realization that, when it comes to mixed martial arts, you’re either born with it or you’re the other 99.9% of the world.

Brooks got battered. There’s no debate about that. The bout lasted two and a half minutes and there wasn’t a second in the fight when he wasn’t being dominated.

BATTERED: Phil Brooks being pummelled by welterweight prospect Mickey Gall.

It was hard to watch at times. Just seconds in, it was abundantly clear that this experiment wasn’t going to have a happy ending for the Chicago native. And although the fight proved brutal, it also proved necessary.

This fight, along with other examples (James Toney VS Randy Couture & Jose Canseco Vs Hong Man Choi immediately spring to mind) are reminders to the general public that, although the term “mixed martial arts” has the word “art” in it, there’s nothing artistic about being punched in the face.

MMA is savage. On the same card, viewers witnessed a man’s finger becoming so badly dislocated that, when the footage is paused, you can clearly see a bone sticking out. Viewers also witnessed Alistair Overeem, a man with over 15 years of MMA experience, being unapologetically knocked unconscious. This isn’t a game folks.

The Phil Brooks experiment, if nothing else, provoked opinions. On one side, many admired the man for chasing his goals and following his dreams. On the other, many seen his move into professional fighting as cocky, arrogant and ignorant. He’s always been considered a controversial character and his move into MMA was cut from the same cloth.

Brooks said, “In life, you go big or you go home” after the fight. It was an admirable act of courage to step into the octagon and the man deserves respect for that alone. But there’s nothing more humbling in life than a punch to the face. And unfortunately for Brooks, he learned that the hard way on several occasions.

His Rocky story didn’t have a happy ending. His face and ego were left battered and bruised. And his reputation? Well, he’s always been known as an entertainer and his journey has certainly entertained fans and spectators alike. So, credit to him.

It’s not clear if we’ll see Phil Brooks back in the octagon. But if we do, I hope it’s to promote a Wrestlemania, rather than to venture into a world that rewards the few and condemns pretenders through violence.

His record reads zero wins, one loss. And with his 38^th Birthday fast approaching, I just can’t see that improving anytime soon.

Ronda Rousey; Revolutionary, Evolutionary, Transcendent. Also beats people up for fun.

August 9, 2015August 10, 2015 Ray Mullan Entertainment, Home, Sports, Trending bethe correia, Brazil, Fighting, Mike Tyson, mma, Rio, Ronda Rousey, ufc, UFC 190, Women's MMA

If Ronda Rousey were to disappear into obscurity tomorrow, she would still go down as one of the most influential sports figures of all time. Rousey’s a character that you only need to listen to for a few seconds to realize that she’s another level. A superior level. Both physically and mentally. Her mental toughness was developed at a young age, having had problems with her speech as a child. This, along with being the daughter of a legendary Olympian Judoka shaped her into the person she is today. A champion.

For me, her fight career is secondary to what she represents. She has personified the American dream through perseverance and hard-work. Her “never say die” attitude is something that will go on to inspire anyone who cares to watch and listen to her.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iAY2XIr1hU4

On August 1^st 2015, she faced Bethe Correia, an aggressively brash competitor and undefeated Brazilian that talked the talk and, prior to this fight, seemingly walked the walk. She dismantled two of Rousey’s close friends in Shayna Baszler and Jessamyn Duke. This, along with her controversial trash-talk (which Rousey claimed to allude to Rousey’s father’s suicide) made this fight simply unmissable.

Another factor in this fight was the fact that Rousey decided to fight Correia in her native Brazil. Brazil is incredibly nationalistic, and when UFC fighters from outside Brazil fight there, the crowd often chant “Uh vai morrer”, which is Portuguese for “You’re going to die”. It’s also worth noting that it’s not customary for a champion to fight the challenger in the challenger’s home country. Put yourself in Rousey’s shoes; How thrilled would you be about walking through a crowd that wished for your death? Doesn’t sound pleasant, right? Ronda Rousey isn’t a normal human being though, and seemingly those variables didn’t do anything to her confidence.

The main talking points of the fight were three fold; Firstly, Ronda Rousey’s entrance was one of the most terrifying things I’ve ever seen. I’m not one for putting much merit into “psyching out” an opponent by a fight entrance, but this was something reminiscent of Mike Tyson’s entrance for his Leon Spinks fight. The reception she received sounded similar to a Justin Bieber concert (personally I’m not a fan of the Biebs), which seemingly rattled Correia. As she arrived to the cage, it was apparent Correia’s confidence had waned.

Another talking point was the strategy Rousey implemented. She usually fights with the strategy of forcing her opponent to grapple with her. Rousey’s Olympic pedigree in judo makes her impossible train for and defend against, therefore she usually exploits her world-class Judo skill-set. In this fight however her approach was reminiscent of legendary Brazilian MMA legend “Wanderlei Silva”, in that her focus was on winging as many punches toward her opponent’s head as she could, without having much technique behind them. She got hit, but she hit more, totally disregarding the risk of being damaged by her opponent.

The third talking point was the spectacular finish to the fight. Rousey delivered a crisp two-punch combination to Correia’s head, which left her faceplanted on the mat, in the very first round. The word “devastating” is overused in combat sports, but for this occasion, i’d say it’s the perfect description. As the referee pulled Rousey away from Corriea, she was heard sarcastically saying “don’t cry” to her unconscious opponent, adding insult to injury and putting a stamp on the fight. Not only did she beat Correia at her own game, but she looked menacing doing it. And not only did she knock out an undefeated and highly touted challenger, but she also put the rest of the division on watch. I think the lesson here is, don’t make Ronda Rousey mad.

Similar to Conor McGregor, Mike Tyson, Muhammad Ali, King Kong and even Jesus Christ, she’s a polarizing character. With regards to her competition, she dominates on a regular basis. Think about this; she hasn’t once come close to being vulnerable to defeat, something that is rare in a sport with so many ways to lose. She has not only advanced the fight game, but she’s also a vehicle for female empowerment through her achievements inside and outside the cage. I think she’s undoubtedly one of the most inspirational characters of the 21^st centaury, and at 28 years old, she’s really only getting started.

Album Review: Kendrick Lamar – To Pimp a Butterfly.

April 17, 2015April 17, 2015 Ray Mullan Entertainment, Home, Trending 2015, Aftermath, Album Review, belfast, Blog, blogger, Books, conflict, enlightenment, hip hop, Kendrick Lamar, Music, Rap, Revolution, Revolutionary, Rolling Stone, To Pimp a Butterfly

For those of you that have been living on Mars for a few years; Kendrick Lamar is one of the most highly touted and well-respected rappers to emerge in recent times. Adored by both rap fans and fellow musicians, he has been compared to the likes of Tupac Shakur, Ice Cube and Bob Dylan. And before you ask….Yes, I said Bob Dylan. Well, Pharrrel Williams did.

Album Cover: Kendrick Lamar -To Pimp a Butterfly.

After taking an almost 3 year hiatus, The Compton native released “To Pimp a Butterfly”, his first album since the critically acclaimed “Good Kid, M.A.A.D City”. The story behind the album title is a strange one; after ditching several other planned titles, Kendrick claimed, “I just really wanted to show the brightness of life and the word “pimp” has so much aggression, and that represents several things. For me, it represents using my celebrity for good. Another reason is, not being pimped by the industry through my celebrity.”

The anticipation for this album is something that’s been lost from Hip-hop in recent times. In all honesty, the last time I can remember a hip-hop album release becoming so captivating was on September 11^th 2007, when both Kanye West and 50 Cent released their respective albums (“Curtis” and “Graduation”).

The pressure was well and truly on Kendrick, who at this point has become a rap deity to his fans. With titles such as “savior of hip-hop” and “the new Tupac Shakur” synonymous to Kendrick, there’s no question many were expecting a classic in the proportions of “Illmatic”.

Did the album live up to expectations? I don’t think it did. I think it surpassed them.

Many expected him to release a music album and what his fans got instead was a socio-political manifesto, the likes of which I personally haven’t experienced through the medium of modern hip-hop music (on this level anyway). The album is both contextually poignant and thought provocative. There are many layers to the album and to mention them all in this article would read similarly to a college dissertation. So I’ll try and keep it brief.

After first listening to the album, I was completely flabbergasted. I was overawed by his consistent challenges to black culture’s ethos, as well as the condemnation and reluctance to allow himself to become “pimped” or bought by the entertainment industry in the name of selling out his morality. This theme has been heard by many black entertainers before; Dave Chappelle for example quit his show and allegedly turned down £50 million dollars to stay, in the name of his morality and racial integrity. “And if I gotta brown nose for some gold, then I’d rather be a bum than a motherfuckin’ baller” sums up his argument in “King Kunta”. Pretty heavy stuff, considering we’re only on track 3.

The constant idea that Kendrick is the new face and voice of the black community is constantly reinforced. He has mixed views on this idea and can be heard In “Mortal Man” interviewing Tupac Shakur posthumously about this. The complexities associated with Kendrick taking on this role are consistently referred to. “I remember you was conflicted, misusing your influence, sometimes I did the same” is heard repeatedly throughout the album to reinforce this.

His overall disgust and confusion about himself is also referred to in “Blacker the Berry” when he says, “So why did I weep when Trayvon Martin was in the street, when gang banging make me kill a n***a blacker than me? Hypocrite”. The mention of both the Trayvon Martin case and black gang culture are very sensitive subjects, but Kendrick shows bravery by going headfirst into it. He holds nothing back and condemns his own actions and thoughts. More importantly, this lyric directly condemns the gang elements related to civil rights cases, such as the events surrounding the Trayvon Martyn case. The term “paradigm shifting” isn’t a strong enough expression for a message as powerful as this, and sets this album apart from other modern hip-hop albums. Truly revolutionary material.

Kendrick’s brutal honesty and constant referral to historical context and political influence is a breathe of fresh air in modern hip-hop. Kendrick’s taken the genre of politi-rapping to a previously unattainable level, and has embedded this poetic message into a beautifully produced music album. His unique commentary on black culture is an audio masterpiece and his take on entertainment and show-business is fascinating. This, in my opinion, is the best album I’ve heard in years and a true lyrical masterpiece. I’d rate this album 10/10, 5 microphones out of 5 and reward the album all the accolades I could. I don’t think anything rap/hip-hop related holds a candle to this. Nothing even comes close.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6AhXSoKa8xw

Conor McGregor: The Uncrowned UFC King?

October 20, 2014April 16, 2015 Ray Mullan Home, Sports belfast, belt, blogger, columist, Conor McGregor, dana white, Dublin, Featherweigh, Featherweight, fights, ireland, Irish MMA, Irish Sport, journalist, mma, O'Connell Street, Ray Mullan, The Underground, ufc

The takeover is complete; on the 9^th October 2014, history was made as a huge banner displaying an image of UFC Featherweight contender and Irish patron Conor McGregor was displayed on Dublin’s famed “O’Connell Street”.

NOTORIOUS: (Left to Right) Aisling Daly, Paddy Holohan, Cathal Pendred and Conor McGregor posing in front of banner displaying image of Conor McGregor seen on O"Connell Street. — Left to Right: Aisling Daly, Paddy Holohan, Cathal Pendred and Conor McGregor posing in front of banner displaying image of Conor McGregor on O’Connell Street.

The significance of this event is staggering. London is known for Soho. New York is known for Fifth Avenue. Dublin is known for O’Connell Street. And yet most people still consider mixed martial arts a largely underground sport. In Ireland however, the reach of the UFC has came leaps and bounds as a result of one man and one man only; “The Notorious” Conor McGregor. RTE channel “3e” has become the official Irish platform for Conor’s most recent UFC fights, much to the delight of Irish fight fans that get to view these events for free. Furthermore, the UFC is delighted to keep the freebies coming, with McGregor and the UFC signing a deal to broadcast his next fight on 3e (free of charge, of course). TV3 Group Head of Sport Kieran Holden commented on this, saying “(McGregor’s last fight) reached a massive 600,000 viewers, proving how quickly Mixed Martial Arts has grown in Ireland. Conor McGregor has quickly become one of the biggest names in Irish sport and we are thrilled to be able to show his next fight to the free-to-air viewers in Ireland.”

And yet, there’s a level of mystique and allure to the attraction that is, Conor McGregor. How did this happen? How did McGregor single handedly galvanise an entire country into viewing a sport favourably? And furthermore, how did McGregor provoke pre-existing UFC fans into “believing the hype” and following the fighter so relentlessly? For a start, there’s no question that the guys got talent, and his accolades speak for themselves. He was crowned an Irish amateur boxing champion at a young age, and was Cage Warriors first and only two-division champion. Partner that with the fact that he’s got a 16-2 MMA record, with 14 of his wins coming by way of knockout. It’s worth noting that his 2 loses came quite early in his career, and he’s evidentially improved dramatically since then.

But to suggest his talent for fighting is the only reason behind his native nation’s interest in the fighter (and the sport) would be ridiculous. McGregor is blessed with what’s known by many as “the gift of the gab”. His speeches are incredible. He hypes fights with a passion like no other. His poetic linguistics often hypnotises viewers into watching his fights. To summarise, he creates interest through what he says and how he says it. And let’s not get it twisted. This isn’t completely unheard of. It’s been done before. Muhammad Ali did it. Prince Naseem Hamed did it. Chael Sonnen did it. Floyd Mayweather continues to do it. Talking gets people into the tent. People tune into McGregor’s fights for two conflicting reasons; either they want to see the cocky, brash, Irish dude get his head knocked off his shoulders OR they want to see him triumph with a level of flair and confidence rarely seen in fighting.

There’s entertainment value to his words. There’s also entertainment value to his style of fighting. His managing of distance on the feet, as well as his crisp punching and acrobatic kicks are an enigma. He fights with the mentality that he has to finish his opponent, to the delight of his fans. And what’s amazing about McGregor, is that he usually does. You can’t tie down the reasoning behind McGregor’s meteoric rise in the UFC to one action or event. He’s a multifaceted character that appeals to an entire nation, and provokes dialogue from an entire sport. What’s most interesting about Conor McGregor though, is that he’s just getting started. At 26 years old, he’s ranked number 5 in official UFC Featherweight rankings, and seems to be posturing strongly for a title shot. He’s got everyone talking, including UFC President Dana White, who recently said: “If you go down the list (of UFC Featherweights), every one of those guys has fought Jose Aldo already. Conor hasn’t. So who do you line up next for the champ other than Conor?” He’s become Ireland’s most interesting man in less that 3 years, and continues to grow in popularity. And with whispers of the Aviva Stadium being mentioned as the venue for his next fight, it’s worth paying attention to how the next few months play out.

My heart says one thing, but my head says another; the BJ Penn phenomenon.

July 5, 2014November 26, 2017 Ray Mullan Home, Sports

How you choose to view Hawaiian MMA legend BJ Penn is all about context; in one hand, you have the former Welterweight and Lightweight UFC champion. In the other, you have a 35-year-old veteran, whose only won one fight since 2010.

The case of BJ Penn is a complex one; because his fans find themselves making excuses for some of his so called “failures”. His fight record (16 wins, 9 losses and 2 draws) isn’t exactly exemplary at first glance. But when you consider the nature of this record, it’s something to marvel upon.

Consider the idea that most people view BJ Penn, as a lightweight, one of the scariest individuals the sport of Mixed Martial Arts has ever seen. His record is a reflection of many ventures to unsuitable weight-classes; he’s fought a staggering twelve times outside his optimum weight of lightweight, and even won a title at welterweight by dethroning UFC Hall of Famer Matt Hughes at UFC 46. In the modern era of combat sports, that’s complete lunacy.

BJ Penn Highlight Reel

But then again, in many ways, BJ Penn personifies lunacy. He’s from the old school breed of fighter; A breed that is remembered for fighting at open-weight and one known for a focus on the passion for fighting, rather than sporting performance. Because of this view, his stance on weight cutting is, in many ways, inexcusable in 2014. He’s also a strong opponent of PED’s and sporting supplements. His recent venture to welterweight is considered by many as a “shut your eyes and pretend it never happened” moment in MMA, with dominant defeats dished out by both Nick Diaz and Rory MacDonald.

BJ Penn VS Nick Diaz Highlights

And even after these heartbreaking performances, many still find themselves in his corner, expecting the “Old BJ Penn” to come to fruition and deliver the blistering performance we all know he can deliver. Or is that even true anymore? Maybe we’re all victims of wishful thinking, blindly and mindlessly assuming he can still perform at a level he once did, and counting out the effect “Father Time“ has on athletes.

There are also other variables to consider. He’s fighting at a weight he’s never been at (Featherweight, or 145 pounds for our Non-European readers). Basic mathematics dictates this is 10 pounds below his perfect weight of lightweight, but what basic mathematics can’t dictate is what effect this will have on his body. Will he lose stamina, a common effect from a grueling weight cut, or will he be faster, stronger and sharper than he’s ever been?

BJ Penn thinks he’s found a home at Featherweight

He will also has to combat “cage jitters”, a common psychological effect from an extended leave of absence from UFC competition. Although he’s no stranger to the bright lights of fight night, he’s been out of action for more than a year and a half. He will need time to acclimitise himself with an atmosphere he’s had so much wars in, and get a renewed feel of what competing in the UFC is all about.

But most importantly, Frankie Edgar has beaten him already…twice! Edgar, a former lightweight champion in his own right, looked to be faster, hungrier and more youthful than BJ Penn in their previous bouts, and it remains to be seen what BJ Penn can do differently to beat him. This fight perhaps exemplifies Frankie Edgar’s nickname, with Edgar previously being “The Answer” to the jigsaw puzzle that is, BJ Penn.

Frankie Edgar Highlight Reel

It’s an interesting predicament, and definitely a fight that UFC fans will pay attention to.

BJ Penn definitely has a mountain to climb, and I wouldn’t be a true MMA fan if I didn’t watch him try and reach the top. He’s truly got his back against the wall, with UFC President Dana White claiming “If he wins, we’ll see what he does from there, but if he loses, I will actually push for him to retire”.

In regards to the fight, Dana White also said, “It could be possibly watching Michael Jordan playing his last basketball game”, “It could be Tiger Woods’ last golf game”. Or it could be the glorious return to a sport Penn truly epitomizes. Could he defeat the odds one last time, and rubbish the idea that “the old dog cant hang anymore”.

The Ultimate Fighter 19 Finale (Headlined by Frankie Edgar and BJ Penn) is on July 6^th and broadcast from the Mandalay Bay Events Center, Las Vegas. To find out how you can watch the fights, click here.