Babalu's, Bodog's and Bears oh my!

Written by Josh Barnett

Tuesday, 11 September 2007

So amidst the storm between me and one Dana White, sometimes affectionately referred to as BLAF, many other and more interesting things have been going on in my life. These past couple months have been very busy for me and some of the great people around me so I think its due time to fill all of you readers in. First off, I’d like to talk about all the fighters that I have been working with recently. Some of you are aware that I was helping train and cornered Renato “Babalu” Sobral in his victory against David Heath at UFC 74. He performed very well and more importantly, used many of the techniques and strategies that we worked on in training. His ground and pound was very effective and came straight after Heath setting the pace and place of the fight from go. In the end, Babalu locked in modified Dave Schultz Front Headlock, also referred in BJJ as an Anaconda choke (Which is a pretty cool name as well) and put the fight to an end. Unfortunately there was some controversy in the finish that I won’t go into right now out of respect to Babalu and his handlers that will appear in front of the NSAC soon. All I can say is that I wasn’t aware of any intention on Babalu’s part to hold any choke or intentionally injure Heath, nor was what I saw as extreme as the punishments being handed down by Dana White and the NSAC. Similar actions in the past would say that there is inconsistency in the punishment but the biggest thing to me was after the fight. Babalu and I both checked on David Heath to make sure he was OK and Heath himself said to Babalu “I don’t disrespect you. I have a lot of respect for you.” to which Babalu acknowledged his comment and replied in kind. In the end, the fighters themselves have mutual respect for each other and have no further ill will towards one another and that means much I would say. On my end of things I just returned from my latest foray in the world of professional wrestling where I matched up against the legendary Don Frye at the IGF’s second show in Nagoya Japan. Don and I were the main event for the sold out arena of 8,000 and we want at it for 14 minutes. Smashing, locking, and throwing each other around until I was able to lock in my new submission finisher, the “Gotch Special”. To me it was a big deal to use one of the techniques that Gotch showed me when I visited him in Tampa last year and I am proud to help spread his name to the newer fans. Erik Paulson also climbed back into the ring for the first time in 7 years soccer kicking and then stretching his former sumo opponent, Wakashoyo, with an STF. There isn’t a set date for the next show but we will both be back to take out the opposition. One interesting note was that at the Hilton where we stayed they have developed a unique color coded system to help you pick foods that meet certain criterias such as: Low Fat & Low Calorie, High Fiber, High Energy, Low Cholesterol and Big Time! What's that? You aren't familar with needing foods classified as Big Time! in your meals? Well, while we were devoid of such knowledge here in the US with our pyramids and all, I had a hearty breakfast that was low in cholesterol and high in Big Time! as suggested by the Japanese Surgeon General of Super Healthy Food Eating. Late this August I was up in Vancouver B.C. with Megumi Fujii and Hiroyuki Abe for Bodog fight’s sixth TV season tapings. Megumi was taking on Fatal Femmes champion and recent FILA World Grappling gold medalist Lisa Ward who was on a six fight winning streak. Abe was set to face former Olympic wrestler and undefeated fighter Sami Aziz from Sweden. First up was Megumi and Ward with Megumi putting her undefeated 11-0 record on the line. Megumi fought strong and dominated her way to another first round victory, this time by armbar. Abe fought the next day and was stopped in the first by TKO but relayed that he was not hurt too bad and it was unfortunate that he ended up in a bad spot. Look for more big things from the both of them and perhaps a future 125lb title fight in Bodog between MEGA MEGU and Rosi Sexton. Listening to: Symphony X: Twilight in Olympus and The Divine Wings of Tragedy. Watching: Armor Hunter Mellowlink OVA Abayo, Josh

 

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