Chris Heathman. I'm a journalism student at UClan. This blog is part of my work as part of my Journalism studies at the University of Central Lancashire. You can contact me at caheathman@aol.com
UFC 124 saw George St Pierre face-off against Josh Koscheck with GSP's Welterweight title on the line in Montreal. It turned out to be an MMA fight like no other.
The video above tells the whole story of the fight, a dominant striking performance from probably the P4P best fighter in the world, GSP. What is different about this fight is how controlled it was by the jab of the champion. Something never seen as much as this in MMA.
What made GSP's jab so good? some might say like a boxer. Pierre has always been seen as one of the great strikers in the UFC so surely he didn't need much work. Only a boxing mind such as the great Freddie Roach could see shortfalls in George's stand up.
Too stiff and square to be a totally effective stand up so GSP worked with Roach and the results are there to see. This shows that boxing and MMA do not have to compete, they can work together because the results can be great.
As for GSP himself, it shows he is still growing as a fighter which for the rest of the MMA world is a frightening prospect. Who can challenge GSP now? This also shows that MMA is still growing as a sport and is a sign of things to come. You can expect the jab to crop up more frequently from now on.
Chelsea have been here before with Roman Abramovich, undermining the manager leading to an implosion at chelsea. The question is why didn't he learn from the mistake the first time?
In 2006/2007 season Manchester United win the title from Jose Mourinho's Chelsea, the start of the season after showed a poor start for the blues. There were rumours of unrest behind the scenes after Abramovic allegedly bought players Mourinho didn't want, including Shevchenko. Sure enough Mourinho left shortly after the rumours started and in came Avram Grant.
2010/2011 season now and we're seeing it again, Ray Wilkins was sacked by Roman, and Anchelotti has been given an assistant hes only just met for the first time. Since Wilkins' dismissal it has gone all wrong for Chelsea's season after starting so well. You may say it is down to injuries but even without Lampard and Essien in the past it has never been this bad.
The strikers get the chances and don't put them away like against Birmingham, If you score one goals against them it is more than likely you won't lose. Not the Chelsea we've been used to since their first title winning season.
Anchelotti's job doesn't look safe and it is down to the owner undermining the manager. It shouldn't happen, manager should have control over their staff and the team. If the owner goes over the manager's head there is only one way it is going to go and thats down the pan. The fact Abramovich has done it for a second time and hasn't learnt his lesson shows he is not really football wise, and probably not the best owner for Chelsea anymore.
This is however just one example of ownership ruining clubs. You just have to look north to see the problems Liverpool and Manchester United have had. Football is a business now, and it is ruining the sport.
All the build up in the world would not have prepared us for what happened in the latest El clasico.
Camp Nou, a perfect setting for a near perfect performance. Barcelona delighted its' home crowd once again just over week after their 8-0 win over Almeria. It is amazing how they topped their record equalling away win.
5-0 demlolition over their greatest rivals may sound like a perfect perfomance but it would have been 8 or 9 if it was truly perfect. They out played, out passed, out ran and out shone the "new galacticos", which quite frankly looked pathetic to the great galacticos which included Ronaldo, Zidane and Figo.
In my opinion it was a victory for football, and what football should be. Home grown talent, the perfect brand of football, what every football fan dreams of their team of being, and why football is such a loved sport. Almost the complete opposite to Real Madrid who represent some of the darker sides of what football can be.
Millions upon millions spent on talent not brought through by your own country let alone by the academy. The attitude that the players showed was disgraceful, Cristiano Ronaldo pushing Guardiola was just one huge display of disrespect. Like everyone says El Clasico is a clash of cultures.
Barcelona is the one example in club football of why we love this sport, the one example of youth system and policy that every team should aim to emulate.
A team and performance close to perfection, can and will anything ever come close to this? Only perfection
July, 27 2010, 70th minute in Bloemfontein. Thomas Muellar scores to make it 4-1 to Germany against England. Outclassed, completely humiliated, surely a wake-up call?
I remember Chris Waddle on 5 live. Furious and rightly so, England were obviously technically inept compared to the Germans. Everyone was asking how do the Germans keep coming out with such talent? Well its obvious, their youth development is light years ahead of ours. Chris Waddle, Graham Taylor well... everyone on 5live got it.
Now after such a humiliation you would think the FA would realise we need a new development centre and take after Germany because it works! No nothing happened until now.
November , 17 2010, exactly 5 months after, England are outclassed by France in a 2-1 defeat at Wembley.
Les Bleus, back from world cup shame, turned around by Lauren Blanc showed off the talent they do have. More people were waking up to the reality that our player development and our players are just not up to standard. Finally forcing the FA to approve the National football academy in Burton-on-trent, to start building in January and finished in 2012.
Finally seeing sense, a move 10 years too late, but a step foward at least. Open in 2012... Bring on World cup 2030!!
This weekend of sport has seen a lot of talking points across a number of sports. football, rugby, boxing and F1 all come to mind
We'll start with the highly anticipated fight between David Haye and Audley Harrison in the best of enemies. David wanted to finally shut Audley up and Harrison, well.... he wanted to shut David up.
So much talk before the fight from both and of course the favourite was the Hayemaker. Only one would come good on his promises, and it wasn't the southpaw.
The worst 1st round i've ever seen and of course it was part of both plans. No punches thrown at all, boos rang round the MEN arena. The 2nd round was slightly better from Haye he tried a few more punches, but Audley still no sign of taking a risk.
The 3rd round was more like it from Haye, on the front foot and landing bombs, Harrison offered nothing. He hit the canvas got back up quite bravely, but Haye never let up and a few more shots forced a stoppage.
Haye of course was asked about the Klitchkos. He said it is coming and lets hope so aswell.
Chris Ashton brilliant try
After getting over the initial shock of the result this put a huge smile on my face. Absolutely fantastic performance to crush the aussies at Twickenham.
The video above shows the pick of the tries from Chris Ashton, who was absolutely fantastic and the Captain Lewis Moody lead the team brilliantly.
Definately the best performance under Martin Johnson and his second over the wallabies as manager, England just need to build on that and keep it up with world cup in New Zealand less than a year away.
picture by- inkiboo
The title race was cracked wide open in the premier league in unbelievable fashion and Liverpool were unable to take any momentum from their win over Chelsea
Starting with the early kick-off on Saturday, Manchester United fought back from 2-0 down vs Aston Villa to draw 2-2. Another draw to add to their unbeaten record this season. Vidic was the hero in te 85th minute after Macheda was able to get one goal back.
That same day Liverpool were beaten 2-0 away to stoke, a dreadful performance carrying on the theme from mid-week. Why haven't they been able to push on from such a great result against the champions? Is it now time to turn to the manager? It's hard to see how their season can get up and running.
After United dropped 2 points Arsenal had a chance to take advantage, which they did with a 2-1 win away to Everton. A deserved victory which saw Fabregas grab what would be the winner due to Cahill's consolation in the 89th minute.
Then to Stamford bridge, Sunderland the visitors you'd think a win for Chelsea. With Essien, Lampard and Terry all out it wasn't to be. 3-0 win for the black cats who move to 6th and fantastic performance. If it wasn't for Cech in the Chelsea goal it would have been more.
So what now for the title race? Chelsea are there for the taking again but still no one can sustain the pressure. We'll have to wait untill next weekend to see if more pressure is mounted on the champions.
