Combat Archives

Pacquiao vs. Matthysse — Don’t Look to Counter

Boxing | 18 July 2018

Having left the tutelage of Freddie Roach for the first time in almost forever, Manny Pacquiao’s latest career decisions as far as boxing is concerned are still questionable. However, results can’t be refuted. His first knockout win in nine years doesn’t get by without some suspicion, but that’s what happens when he has the closest thing to home advantage in this card and winning a world champion at 39 years old. Pacquiao vs. Matthysse was an odd duck of a spectacle—technically interesting yet didn’t feel like that big of a deal. (more…)

Boxing, Betrayal, and a Bus Attack

by: Sonny Go

Combat | 07 April 2018

The past two weeks have been quite interesting for the fight game, and I wanted to talk about it in a show. However, with the amount of production needed and lack of time due to work, preparation for MWF 1: Kasaysayan, and chronic procrastination, I finished writing a script with neither the time nor patience to produce the actual video. I thought it would be a really good show since I’d get to talk about a lot of boxing, a freak injury, and even a bus attack. (more…)

Quintet by Sakuraba — The Proleague of Grappling

by: Sonny Go

Grappling | 14 December 2017

Here’s a video that just got uploaded with seemingly little to no fanfare, yet got me incredibly excited. Kazushi Sakuraba, the legendary Japanese MMA fighter, deserves a lot more mainstream attention. He’s now pushing 50, yet can’t stay away from competition. It’s granted that he hasn’t had a fight since the end of 2015, yet he’s nowhere near retired just yet. The man known as “The Gracie Hunter” and “The IQ Wrestler” has now come up with a new submission grappling event unlike any other. (more…)

Andy Kunz Fight Night — Impromptu Juggling Act

by: Sonny Go

Kickboxing, Vlogs | 02 December 2017

A week after MWF Balikbayan (late blog post on that coming soon), I had to do another ring announcing gig in the same venue. It was the Andy Kunz Fight Night, an amateur kickboxing event. I did think it was going to be a relaxing day of me just shouting out names of two guys about to beat the shit out of each other, but it turns out I had to do more things than that. In fact, particularly for this event, I had to do even more juggling than I usually do with MWF events. (more…)

Mayweather vs. McGregor — Kid Gloves

by: Sonny Go

Boxing | 28 August 2017

With the announcement of Mayweather vs. McGregor, I had planned to write about it here. Never mind how it has been a circus show with a ton of dosh on the line, it was still a circus show. Since it did happen anyway, let’s do something most aren’t willing to do—take it (kind of) seriously. Conor did something most wouldn’t, and Mayweather did what he needed to even at 40 to bring his record up to 50-0. I watched it (because I had to) and it was entertaining while it lasted. I then turned off the stream as soon as the referee stopped the fight. (more…)

UFC 211 — To Be in Limbo

by: Sonny Go

Mixed Martial Arts | 14 May 2017

Lately, whenever I’ve written about the UFC, I get a sense of urgency, but not outright fun. UFC 211 has made me confront these feelings because of how much in limbo the company seems to be at the moment, as well as many of those who competed in this event. I’m not one to talk bad about anything related to pro wrestling (other than those in it who are named Vince), but maybe I’m starting to change my mind when it comes to pro wrestling-style promotion of combat sports. (more…)

Anthony Joshua vs. Wladimir Klitschko — Rising Star

by: Sonny Go

Boxing | 02 May 2017

Anthony Joshua vs. Wladimir Klitschko — Uppercut in the 11th

It took me a while, but I finally got to watch Anthony Joshua vs. Wladimir Klitschko. I already had a lot to say about it when I got wind of the results, but I had to see the whole boxing match for myself before I even think about writing this. After over a decade of stagnation, the heavyweight division is exciting again. This is the first step to Anthony Joshua’s rising star, and all he has to do is to fight Deontay Wilder (or maybe a hopefully rejuvenated Tyson Fury) and get a big deal with a brand to become a household name. (more…)

UFC on Fox 24 — Setting a Record on Free TV

by: Sonny Go

Mixed Martial Arts | 16 April 2017

Be the top pound-for-pound fighter in the world and tie Anderson Silva’s record for the most number of consecutive title defenses in the UFC, but be made to do it on free television. That’s Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson’s predicament in this event, and it doesn’t help that Dana White likes to shove it into people’s faces that they know best when questioned why their champions tend to not get promoted properly. It’s understandable how he doesn’t want to be told how to do his job, but it’s also ridiculous how some of their champions are not made to look strong at all. (more…)

UFC 210 — Bizzarotown Buffalo

by: Sonny Go

Mixed Martial Arts | 12 April 2017

This one was pretty damn weird, and it took me a while to write a post about it. Perhaps it’s the growing pains of MMA in New York since it only became legal in that state recently. From the whole weigh-in controversy with Daniel Cormier and the breast implant fiasco that did get reversed at the last moment, this UFC was just weird. While it’s good that UFC 210 took place in Buffalo, New York, it did highlight just how behind the times the state is in terms of MMA regulation. (more…)

Golovkin vs. Jacobs — Double Robbery

by: Sonny Go

Boxing | 20 March 2017

Golovkin vs. Jacobs and Gonzalez vs. Sor Rungvisai

While the dream Golovkin-Alvarez match-up has yet to materialize, Golovkin vs. Jacobs was announced a few months ago, and it got me intrigued. On one hand, I’m an avid GGG fan and wanted to see him in his best form prior to the Kell Brook fight, wherein he looked sloppy after taking that big shot from Brook. On the other hand, you can never count out Danny Jacobs’ heart; this guy came back to boxing after battling bone cancer and possible paralysis, after all. (more…)

UFC Fight Night 106 — Fumbling in Fortaleza

by: Sonny Go

Mixed Martial Arts | 13 March 2017

This is an interesting card, filled with some recognizable names. Many of them have past glories, while some were seemingly destined for glory but had gotten into slumps. Being in this Fight Night card means they’re still hanging on as UFC fighters, but most of them have been backed to a corner as far as their careers are concerned. Some may be questioning why they’re still doing it, while some may even be contemplating retirement. However, most of them are just trying to get back on the winning side of things, and winning in UFC Fight Night 106 could turn things around. (more…)

UFC 209 — Dark Cloud with a Silver Lining

by: Sonny Go

Mixed Martial Arts | 08 March 2017

Well, this one was weird. There could’ve been a lot of things done right here, but it just unraveled. UFC 209 was so unlucky, I thought that bad luck would pass onto me, so I didn’t immediately watch this event live. Actually, my net was being poop during that time. But there was no way I couldn’t write about this because the pre-fight developments were more interesting than much of the event itself. That’s just too bad; if only this were a Fight Night instead. (more…)