My latest piece is up on MMA Convert. Here's a sneak peak,

Evans vs. Machida: A fight dorks dream

Ah to be a dork this summer. X-Men Origins: Wolverine is already out. Then the Star Trek and Terminator franchises are receiving a makeover. Don’t forget the sixth Harry Potter hits the silver screen this summer and how could I forget Michael Bay’s ode to himself in Transformers 2. Did I mention that Rashad Evans and Lyoto Machida will be fighting as well?

That’s right Evans vs. Machida is a fight that only a fight dork could love. Luckily for me that’s exactly what I am. 

Check it out at MMA Convert.

For those that are viewing it here  for the first or second time, I want to offer some more insight as to why I am excited for Evans vs. Machida. Another way to explain why I like this match up is a football analogy, forgive me if I get a bit ranty.

I hate college football and would never watch it over the superior pro-product.

Why do I hate the collegiate ranks? It isn't because the BCS is a joke and blatantly corrupt system or that I have to watch the Buckeyes get blown out every year (Sidenote: grwoing up in Columbus makes you a Buckeye fan by default, that all changed with the 2007 NCAA tournament. Damn you Greg Oden!). The reason why I can't stand college football is that the sport is basically Single-A football for the NFL and who in their right mind likes Single-A anything?

Look, what college football comes down to is getting the ball in the hands of your athletes, or on defense letting your athletes run wild. The spread, the option, the wishbone, all are simple offenses designed to take advantage of you being a better recruiter than your opponent. Because in college the pool of athletes is so large it creates great disparity between the top ahtletic teams and the bottom teams. Thus it becomes a simple matter of getting your athlete the ball.

The worst part about it is that these 'athletes' very rarely make it in the pros, Reggie Bush or Vince Young anyone?

And you want to know why? It's because they cruised on their athletic gifts and never became good football players. Now when faced with equal athletic competition they are far from what they were in the college game.

Why am I bemoaning the simplicity of the college game. Because it is fucking simple that's why. I like my football intellectually challenging which is what the NFL is compared to college ball. Because in the NFL linebackers and lineman are just as fast as running backs, so you can't run bullshit option plays. That's why scheme and play calling is so much more important in the NFL then in college, and that's what I like about football (I told you I am a dork).

The same premise holds true for Machida and Evans. Yeah they may not be the flashy Reggie Bush's, Vince Young's or Matt Leinart's but god damnit they are the best and smartest fighters in the light heavyweight division. So you know what, I am going to watch these guys fight and enjoy the little tactical things they do and be amazed at watching the highest level of MMA competition around.