Botter’s Twitter Mailbag: July 21, 2010

Does Cain have a shot against Lesnar? (TonyG916)

Cain has more than a shot against Lesnar, Tony. He has all the tools needed to beat Brock, and a lot of people believe that he’s going to win the fight. For starters, his cardio is among the best in the business, and he’s not going to tire out during the fight — even if it goes to the championship rounds. The technical side of his boxing game is better than anything Brock has faced in the past, and given that the standup game seems to be Lesnar’s real weakness right now, that gives him an edge. And his wrestling game is just as good, if not better, than Lesnar’s. Lesnar won an NCAA heavyweight championship, but Cain faced better competition during his college career. In the gym, Cain has been able to get out from under wrestlers who are just as big as Lesnar.

It’s a very interesting fight, one of the best heavyweight attractions in a long time. At this point, I believe Lesnar takes it, but it’s going to be a close, drawn-out war and there’s a good chance it goes to a decision.

Who would you rather get in the ring with for 2 minutes — Urijah Faber or Cris Cyborg? (the_raheel)

Do I really need to answer this question? Urijah Faber, without a doubt.

This is not a slight on Urijah Faber in the least, because there’s no question Urijah would murder me in roughly 20 seconds if I made a dumb decision and stepped in the cage against him.

But there’s just something foreboding about Cyborg. Maybe it’s the notoriously brutal Chute Box training program she comes from. Perhaps it all comes down to the simple fact that she’s got some animalistic tendencies when she gets in the cage. Whatever the reason, the very idea of stepping in the cage with Cyborg scares me more than just about any other potential opponent with the exception of Brock Lesnar.

I had a friendly argument with Mike Goldberg following UFC 116 that relates to this. See, I’m of the belief that Cyborg would be able to compete with many of the male fighters in the WEC bantamweight and featherweight divisions. This isn’t a slight on the talented WEC roster, by the way. It’s simply an indication of how good she is. Mike scoffed at the idea, saying that any male fighter in the world would easily starch her. I wonder, though, how well her power and speed would match up against men who are the same size. We’re talking about a female fighter who trains with and gets the best of male fighters on a regular basis.

It’s a question that will never be answered. Just like you’ll never find out what would happen if I stepped in the cage with her — because I’m not stupid enough to do so in the first place.

Should fighters walk out to the BRAAAAHM sound from Inception? (watchkalibrun)

That would certainly be intimidating, wouldn’t it? But it would also remind me that Inception made my brain hurt, and the last thing I need on fight night is a headache.

Fighter entrance music usually falls into one of two categories: rap or rock. I’ve got nothing against either of those two genres, but what I really like is when fighters go against the grain and choose something unique and different. Mirko Cro Cop and Wanderlei Silva are two obvious choices; both guys have entrance music that defines them and has defined them for years. When “Wild Boys” blasts through the arena, you know Cro Cop is making his way to the cage. Same thing goes for “Sandstorm.”

Out of current UFC fighters, I’d say that Stephan Bonnar’s use of “Eminence Front” appeals to me the most. It’s a rock song, but it’s a different type of rock song. It makes for a unique vibe during his entrance and sets him apart from the rest of the fighters on the card. B.J. Penn’s usage of a classic Hawaiian folk tune is unique and interesting. Karlos Vemola used the classical tune “Carmina Burana” for his entrance at UFC 116, and it made him seem all the more intimidating. Sadly, that effect was completely lost once the fight began.

A few songs I believe fighters could use to set a unique atmosphere.

1. “Mars,” from the seven-part orchestral suite by Gustav Holst. It’s an intimidating song that gives you the feeling that you’re going to war. I always thought “Mars” would be a good song for Brock Lesnar, but he’s using “Enter Sandman,” which is also a fine choice.

2. The opening sound from Lost. They’d have to loop it and that would probably get old quickly, but it would still be awesome.

3. “Lux Aeterna” from the movie “Requiem for a Dream.” This song was used to great effect during the final episode of the Rashad Evans/Rampage Jackson countdown show. Has a sense of foreboding that builds to a big climax — perfect for the long walk to the cage.

4. “Ain’t No Grave” by Johnny Cash. Pounding drums and a great lyric makes this a pretty intense song.

5. “Written In Reverse” from Spoon’s latest record. I choose this mostly because of one great line: “I’m writing this to you in reverse/someone better call a hearse.” You can’t tell me that’s not intimidating.

How does Jake Shields fare in the UFC? (email)

He’s going to do well, I think. The jump from Strikeforce to the UFC means he’s going to be facing more top competition on a regular basis, but Jake has all the skills needed to survive near the top of the division. It may not be the most exciting thing to watch, but he can probably get the job done against many of the top contenders.

Against GSP? That’s a different story. Jake thrives in controlling his opponents on the ground and catching them in submissions. St. Pierre isn’t going to be controlled by anybody on the ground. Against St. Pierre, Shields would find himself on his back, and St. Pierre is far too methodical to allow himself to be caught in a submission.