Ballet of Violence

If there were any living embodiment of Rocky Balboa, most MMA fans will tell you without hesitation that it is Rodrigo Minotauro.  Hell, I might say that as well.  But let’s consider the following:

Minotauro is actually really, really good.  Yes, he takes an inordinate and unnecessary amount of punishment for someone who is so good, but no one doubts that he is world class.  He was the world’s greatest Heavyweight until Fedor appeared.

Scott Smith, on the other hand, is a Contender on his best days, a Gatekeeper most likely, and a Journeyman at the very least.  Is he dangerous?  Certainly.  But most fighters can count on Smith’s head and body being available to hit and his grappling to me mostly unthreatening (if existent at all), provided they can keep their jawline away from his fists.  It isn’t the tallest order for the tops of the Middleweight division.

And that’s how it plays out, right?  Cung Le did not just KICK HIS ASS for 2 and a half rounds, he downright clowned the guy.  He ran a San Shou clinic.

Until he got knocked out.

Benji Radach smashed the guy’s head into near oblivion.  The guy was still in outer space even after the fight.  But he got knocked out.

Terry Martin didn’t even have enough time to realize he was knocked out.

Pete Sell pulverized the poor guy’s liver with a brutal shot to the body, and when he went in for the kill…he got knocked out.

Pretty amazing pattern there, right?

Much more amazing when you look at his losses:

• To Nick Diaz by Submission, 3rd round.
• To Robbie Lawler by TKO, 2nd round.
• To Ed Herman by Submission, 2nd round.
• To Patrick Côté by decision.
• To David Terrell by Submission in the 1st.
• To James Irvin by Knockout in the 1st.

His ledger doesn’t inspire a lot of confidence, nor does his fighting style.  It leads one to believe that he’s counting on his chin to keep him standing.  This is false.  His chin is neither granite nor flawless.  He’s been finished before, and he’s been out on his feet plenty of times.  It’s his heart that is flawless.  Because who writhes in pain from a liver shot and even thinks to throw a hail-mary punch?

Rocky himself would take his hat off to this guy.