Munoz stops Leben in UFC 138 main event
The former two-time NCAA champion wrestler did exactly that with a hard-fought performance and victory over Chris Leben to cap off UFC 138. Munoz won via TKO when Leben couldn’t continue after the second round.In what had to be one of the craziest rounds of the year, Munoz and Leben went after each other with reckless abandon during the first five minutes of their fight, throwing the fact that they had 25 minutes to battle out the window.
Leben on a couple of occasions looked to put Munoz away with guillotine chokes, as well as launching his signature sledgehammer lefts and rights. Meanwhile, Munoz played a very smart and tactical strategy putting Leben on his back and wailing away with what has become the most vicious ground and pound in the sport.
Munoz has learned so much about MMA since he started fighting that some wondered if he was going away from his wrestling too much, but he fought Leben with the best strategy available to him and he says that was the game plan all along.“I paid my dues in this weight class and I think I deserve a title shot,” Munoz said. “The thing is, Anderson Silva is by far the best pound-for-pound fighter. I give him all the respect and honor, but I think I deserve a title shot right now. I consider him a friend, but right now I would love to get a title shot.”
Munoz and Silva have spent considerable time training together in the past, although recently the two middleweights haven’t worked together. The UFC’s reigning middleweight champion would appear on a collision course for a rematch with Chael Sonnen, but if the UFC opts to go another direction Munoz seems to be the perfect choice.
Leben on a couple of occasions looked to put Munoz away with guillotine chokes, as well as launching his signature sledgehammer lefts and rights. Meanwhile, Munoz played a very smart and tactical strategy putting Leben on his back and wailing away with what has become the most vicious ground and pound in the sport.
Munoz has learned so much about MMA since he started fighting that some wondered if he was going away from his wrestling too much, but he fought Leben with the best strategy available to him and he says that was the game plan all along.“I paid my dues in this weight class and I think I deserve a title shot,” Munoz said. “The thing is, Anderson Silva is by far the best pound-for-pound fighter. I give him all the respect and honor, but I think I deserve a title shot right now. I consider him a friend, but right now I would love to get a title shot.”
Munoz and Silva have spent considerable time training together in the past, although recently the two middleweights haven’t worked together. The UFC’s reigning middleweight champion would appear on a collision course for a rematch with Chael Sonnen, but if the UFC opts to go another direction Munoz seems to be the perfect choice.
NBA Lockout Negotiations : A Fan’s Take
Cohen has a difficult task of trying to get both sides to come to agreements in the labor dispute that is now on its 128th day. They met for more than five hours again on Saturday after derailed talks last week that led them no closer, it seems, to a conclusion.Owners don't want to give the players more than a 50-50 split on basketball-related income. Players were guaranteed 57% under the old agreement and have now proposed a reduction to 52.5%, which leaves the sides about $100 million apart annually.
However, owners are not happy with this and say they will take nothing less than a 50-50 split. When neither side would back down last Friday, Commissioner David Stern cancelled all games to the end of November and warned that extraordinary losses would be had from missed games if the talks continued.It seems like some of the owners want this as some are seeking a deal at 53-47 in their favor plus a hard cap and then there are others who will not go past a 50-50 split. While there have been issues with the salary cap when discussed, it seems as if the BRI split is the main obstacle that neither side can get past at this time.
The last two times that it has been discussed has gotten them nowhere, including when mediator Cohen was there. In fact, Cohen really doesn't seem to be accomplishing much at all at these meetings with the two sides. They met for three days straight in October and it was said that owners insisted on a "take it or leave it" split before they would discuss anything else.
Now with the hardliners seemingly unwilling to budge, some players are talking about decertifying the union as an option if they don't get what they consider to be a fair proposal. If they take it to the courts then it is pretty much guaranteed to cost the entire season.
Bargaining would be the best deal but no one seems willing to make that happen. In the meantime, the fans continue to suffer. Frankly, it's all growing a little old by this point.
