First there was Cher. Then Madonna. You know, famous people that go by only one name. Now wait for it....That's right, Japanese Sumo wrestler Asashoryu may be joining those famous one named people, that is if he decides to start competing in the fastest growing sport in the world- MMA . 

Admittedly, that was a weak introduction.  Anyway...

Asashoryu retired from Sumo at age 29 this past Thursday and already has Sengoku and DREAM officials showing interest.  The Mongolian born wrestler won 25 tournaments at the elite level and was one of the few non-Japanese to ever be named Yokozuna.  So he's a hot commodity in the Japanese community.

The hope, of course, is that he would fare better than Sumo wrestlers in the past have in MMA because he's more athletic.  That said, unless he's going to put in a lot of time to learn the new sport, he'll be in trouble.  Sumo just doesn't translate well to no holds barred competition.

Better watch out for the Keith Hackney open hand punch, Asashoryu!

Mark Coleman had just lost the most important fight of his life to Randy Couture (his words, not mine).  And just as he began his interview wih Joe Rogan in the Octagon afterwards, The Huntington Beach Bad Boy Tito Ortiz and girlfriend Jenna Jameson started ripping him a new one. 

Not really all that classy. 

Coleman almost made it out of the cage to have a word with them when he was brought back in.  Upon speaking to Rogan again, he said, "F--- you, Tito. Anytime, f---in time, Tito.  Anytime d---bag."  Of course, it would also seem important to note, no matter how poor Ortiz's timing was here, that the two had been talking smack about one another leading up to what had almost been a UFC 106 fight.  During that time, a member of Coleman's camp said something about Jameson, which likely angered Ortiz greatly.

Afterwards, UFC President Dana White said, "when isn't there bad blood with Tito?" 

Good point.

Before taking on Randy Couture at UFC 109, Mark Coleman said, "I've been in a lot of big fights.  .  . But none of those compare to this fight."  Never have truer words been spoken.  The bottom line: if Coleman won, all of the notoriety that he should've gotten through the years would be his.  But this was Couture he was coming up against.

Couture started the fight off by connecting with jabs and a nice one-two.  In fact, it became immediately obvious that Coleman had a tendency to drop his hands during exchanges, which would not help him in the fight.  That said, Coleman connected with a nice hook and right that seemed to momentarily stun his adversary.  Couture came back with a hard right that hurt Coleman.  Then after a flurry, he hit home with another.  In fact, from there Couture connected with some serious dirty boxing along the cage wall on his opponent.  The usual Couture fare- big time uppercuts as he held the back of Coleman's head.  Though "The Hammer" survived, he did little else.

Randy Couture wins the first round easily.

The second round saw Couture clinch with his opponent along the cage wall.  Then he took Coleman down, took his back, and choked him out.  That's that.

In the end, Coleman was tough, as usual.  But Couture was just a much better all around fighter.

Randy Couture defeats Mark Coleman via choke at 1:09 of round two.

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In the co-main event of the evening at UFC 109, Chael Sonnen came forward looking for a takedown early in the first round and ate some wild shots from Marquardt.  But after a nice punch by the Jackson's Submission fighter, Sonnen took him down.  For a moment, Marquardt looked like he had a guillotine choke sunk in, but Sonnen had a defending hand in there.  And for the most part the rest of the round saw Sonnen deliver ground and pound on his opponent amidst a couple of changing positions.

Clearly the round went to Sonnen.

Early in the second, Sonnen took Marquardt down once again.  After some ground and pound, Marquardt looked for a kimura that fell by the wayside.  Then came some serious ground and pound from Sonnen.  I mean big stuff.  That said, a cut opened up on Sonnen's forehead from a Marquardt elbow that began to bleed like crazy.  Spurt, even.  However, that didn't stop Sonnen from destroying his opponent for the rest of the stanza with punches on the canvas.

Another obvious stanza for Sonnen.  Given that the cut isn't in a dangerous spot, Marquardt needs a stoppage in order to win.

Early in the third, Marquardt tried for a takedown and missed, which allowed Sonnen to once again take him down.  From there, came some serious ground and pound for awhile.  But after Marquardt got up, Sonnen's next takedown nearly left him the loser via a guillotine.  That said, Sonnen escaped and started in with the ground and pound again before his opponent turned things over on him.  Then came some nice ground and pound by Marquardt before the bell.  

Chael Sonnen defeats Nate Marquardt via unanimous decision.  A very impressive showing for the fighter from Oregon.  In the end, it was too little, too late from Marquardt.

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