"Alistair Overeem retires Brock Lesnar, earning himself a title shot. Nate Diaz and Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone deliver fight of the night. Johny Hendricks knocks out Jon Fitch in 12 seconds."
Friday December 30th, in the last UFC event of 2011, Alistair Oveeem (36-11-1) defeated Brock Lesnar (5-3) via TKO at 2:26 of the first round, in the main event of UFC 141.
Before the fight, Overeem promised to get the job done within two rounds and he delivered with a great performance in the biggest fight of his career.
Overeem stood on the outside, and used his K-1 level striking to keep Brock at a distance. The distance took away Lesnar's wrestling, and forced Brock to play right into Overeem's game. Overeem took full advantage and burned Lesnar with vicious knees and shots to Lesnar's surgically repaired body.
The end came when Overeem landed a big kick to Lesnar's liver, which dropped the former UFC Heavyweight Champion, causing him to cover up and wait for the referee to stop the contest.
Overeem's victory, sets him up to next fight Junior dos Santos for the UFC Heavyweight Championship.
However, the event was not all smiles as during the post fight interview, Brock Lesnar officially announced his retirement from the sport.
The last two years have been very difficult for Lesnar, due to his disease with diverticulitis and I believe this was the best move for him. Lesnar has been a fighter his whole career, however his biggest fight has always been with his health and I hope Lesnar gets better.
MMA fans have to respect Brock Lesnar, because the man made a huge impact and contribution to the sport.
Brock had the toughest road for any athlete to ever compete in MMA as from the beginning of his career he was thrown to the sharks in the deep end of the pool. Brock's first fight in the UFC was against former champion Frank Mir and his third was against UFC hall of famer Randy Couture.
Lesnar never had an easy fight in his MMA career, and one look at his opponents shows what great leaps and bounds he made in such a short period of time.
Still, I can't help but wonder what Lesnar would have done in MMA had he been healthy. The guy is a freakish athlete, who is a legit 265 pounds, but moves like he is 100 lbs. lighter.
However I'm happy Lesnar won the most important fight against a potential life threatening illness. Lesnar did what he could and deserves nothing but absolute respect.
If anything, I' sure Vince McMahon is happy as this could potentially mean a return for Brock Lesnar and the F5 in the WWE.
The co-main event of the night, was my most anticipated fight on the card and it delivered as Nate Diaz (15-7) and Donald Cerrone (17-4-1NC) was nothing but fireworks and the fight of the night.
There was a lot of bad blood heading into this contest and both fighters badly wanted to defeat each other. However, it was Diaz who put forth the best performance of his career and earned a unanimous decision victory.
Diaz was surgically precise with his boxing and landed brilliant, stiff, accurate, sharp punches in bunches throughout the bout, overwhelming Cerrone.
Cerrone ate a lot of punches throughout the fight and looked like a stationary target with little to no head movement. While this was uncharacteristic for Cerrone, Diaz deserves more of the credit because he shined when it came to the sweet science of MMA and moved one step closer to earning a UFC Lightweight Championship opportunity.
In the other featured contest of the evening, it took only 12 seconds for Johny Hendricks (12-1) to become the newest Welterweight contender.
Taking on Jon Fitch (23-4-1-1NC), the number two Welterweight in the world, Hendricks delivered the perfect punch for a huge knockout win.
With his only loss to Welterweight Champion Georges St. Pierre, Fitch came into this bout with a 13-1-1 record inside the UFC. However, he was sent back to the drawing board after he was tagged with a big left hand courtesy of Hendricks that put him completely stiff on the mat and wrestling the referee.
Welcome to the big time Johny Hendricks and a SportsCenter top 10 list.
Alexander Gustafsson also made loud noise, as he knocked out Vladimir Matyushenko via TKO in the first round and could be in line for a big 2012.
Fight of the Night: Nate Diaz vs. Donald Cerrone
Knockout of the Night: Johny Hendricks
Submission of the Night: None
Results:
Alistair Overeem def. Brock Lesnar via TKO (strikes) - Round 1, 2:26
Nate Diaz def. Donald Cerrone via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Johny Hendricks def. Jon Fitch via knockout (punches) - Round 1, 0:12
Alexander Gustafsson def. Vladimir Matyushenko via TKO (punches) - Round 1, 2:13
Jim Hettes def. Nam Phan via unanimous decision (30-25, 30-25, 30-26)
Ross Pearson def. Junior Assuncao via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
Danny Castillo def. Anthony Njokuani via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Dong Hyun Kim def. Sean Pierson via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Jacob Volkmann def. Efrain Escudero via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Diego Nunes def. Manny Gamburyan via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
"It doesn't get any bigger than this. Brock Lesnar takes on Alistair Overeem for a chance to compete for the UFC Heavyweight Championship. Nate Diaz fights Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone and Jon Fitch makes his return to the UFC."
Friday December 30th 2011, the UFC end's its 2011 campaign with the biggest fight in UFC history, as former UFC Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar (5-2) takes on the debuting Alistair Overeem (35-11-1) at UFC 141 in a five round, title eliminator bout.
Brock Lesnar is a former UFC Heavyweight Champion who has only fought the best of the best since entering the UFC. Thrown to the wolves right from the start, Lesnar has never had a “gimme” fight and has only faced the elite of the Heavyweight devision including Frank Mir (twice), Randy Couture, Shane Carwin and Cain Velasquez.
A true Heavyweight who must cut weight to make the 265lbs. limit, Lesnar is one of the best pure athletes to ever compete in MMA. A hard hitting, intense, explosive wrestler with unmatched speed and quickness, Lesnar moves with the agility of a Lightweight inside the cage.
In order to win his fight against Overeem, Lesnar is going to have to rely on his wrestling to dictate where this fight takes place. Every opponent who has faced Lesnar has been taken down at some point of the contest, and if Lesnar has any hope of winning he needs to force this fight to the ground.
While he is a tough matchup for any fighter, due to his freakish speed and strength, if Lesnar wants to wear UFC gold around his waist again, he needs to take Overeem down as quickly as possible.
The reason Lesnar needs to get this fight to the ground as fast as he can, is because Alistair Overeem is not only one of the best Heavyweight fighters in the world, but is unquestionably the best striker the UFC Heavyweight devision has ever had.
Alistair Overeem is one of the most decorated fighters in MMA history and is currently the champion of three separate organizations. The Heavyweight DREAM and Strikeforce Champion, Overeem is also the current K-1 champion and is the first fighter to ever simultaneously hold titles in kickboxing and MMA.
The UFC Heavyweight Championship is the only major Heavyweight title Overeem has not yet claimed, and if Overeem is able to get past Lesnar, he will earn the opportunity to fight for the prestigious UFC Heavyweight Championship.
A fighter whose striking is on a completely different level, Overeem is instantly the best striker in the UFC upon arrival. Last December, Overeem defeated three of the top strikers in the world on one day to win the K-1 2010 World Grand Prix, the highest honor in kickboxing.
Still, while Overeem is much more decorated in his professional career and has much more experience, Lesnar is still arguably the best Heavyweight fighter Overeem has ever faced. Lesnar has competed against the absolute best in the world, while Overeem's most notable Heavyweight opponent has been Fabricio Werdum.
This is also Overeem's UFC debut, and while I'm always leery about choosing a fighter to win when he has never fought in the UFC before, I am making an exception for Overeem and predict he wins by knockout in the first or second round.
In my opinion, Lesnar could not be a better opponent for Overeem to make his debut against, since all of Brock Lesnar's weaknesses are Overeem's strengths. While Lesnar does have a chin, he does not like to get hit and that is exactly what Overeem is best at doing.
Lesnar has also not competed since October of 2010 and is returning after his second battle with diverticulitis, in which he had 12 inches of his colon removed and repaired. I don't trust Lesnar being a hundred percent, and I still consider him to be a baby in this sport, so a full year away from learning and improving, makes me think that at the end of the night, Overeem will be the man with his hand raised.
Another factor, is that every fight starts on the feet and Lesnar is going to have to stand with Overeem at the start of every round. Overeem has solid takedown defense, and if Lesnar rushes in like he normally does, he is going to leave himself open and Overeem will capitalize.
Even if Lesnar gets the takedown, he is still in danger. Overeem is a very underrated grappler and possesses fantastic submissions, especially his guillotine choke. Out of Overeem's 35 career wins, 19 have come via submission, 8 of those by guillotine.
The common MMA fan might not know the name Alistair Overeem now, but come 2012, he will be known as a serious threat to the UFC Heavyweight Championship.
The co-main event of UFC 141, is an outstanding Lightweight match between Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone (17-3-1) and Nate Diaz (14-7), in what could possibly be the best fight of 2011.
Competing for the fifth time in 2011, Cerrone has had arguably the best year of any MMA fighter. Currently on a six fight winning streak, Cerrone has looked fantastic since coming over to the UFC. Improving in every fight, Cerrone last fought at UFC 137 in October where he submitted the top ranked Denis Siver in the first round via rear naked choke.
An outstanding kick boxer who holds a 28-0 record, Cerrone is one of the best strikers in the Lightweight devision but also possesses a great ground game with 13 of his 17 MMA wins coming via some form of submission.
His opponent Nate Diaz, is the TUF Season 5 champion and younger brother of Nick Diaz. A brown belt in BJJ under Ceaser Gracie, Diaz is coming off the best performance of his career, submitting Takanori Gomi, with one of the best submissions of 2011.
This fight is without a doubt going to be a high paced chess match, as both fighters are highly technical and always come to fight. Diaz has drastically improved his boxing and if this fight hits the ground, the fans are in for a late Christmas present, as both are a treat to watch and Diaz is one of the best in the world at transitions.
Also on the card, is the return of perennial Welterweight title contender Jon Fitch (23-3-1-1NC). Fitch has been out of action since February with a shoulder injury and is taking on fellow wrester Johny Hendricks (11-1). A win over Hendricks, should put Fitch in line for a shot at the interim Welterweight championship.
Predictions:
Alistair Overeem defeats Brock Lesnar via KO in Round 2
Donald Cerrone defeats Nate Diaz via Unanimous Decision
Jon Fitch defeats Johny Hendricks via Unanimous Decision
Alexander Gustafsson defeats Vladimir Matyushenko via Unanimous Decision
Jim Hettes defeats Nam Phan via Submission in Round 2
Ross Pearson defeats Junior Assuncao via TKO in Round 2
Danny Castillo defeats Anthony Njokuani via Unanimous Decision
"2011 was a great year for music, especially hard rock and heavy metal. A lot of big name bands put out records this year, but only 11 releases shall be deemed worthy enough to be recognized as my favorite albums of the year!"
So without further ado, here are my 11 favorite albums of 2011!!
11. Falling In Reverse - The Drug In Me Is You
I waited a long time for this record, and it matched every expectation I had upon it. Ronnie Radke is one of my favorite vocalists and I waited two and a half years for him to get out of prison and release this album.
Apparently, Radke's prison sentence did him good as his screams and growls are more vicious sounding and his singing is more melodic.
“The Drug In Me Is You” is a very diversified record as it has a great combination of poppy catchy rock songs in the beginning and heavy brutal hardcore tracks at the end.
I smiled like a 14 year old girl who shops at Hot Topic when I first heard “Raised By The Wolves”, as it is classic Ronnie Radke and a perfect blend of all the tracks on the album combined. The title track is infectious with a great chorus and I haven't stopped listening to “I'm Not A Vampire” since I first heard it.
I still listen to this album all the time and find it to be a triumphant return for one of today's greatest rock stars.
10. Amon Amarth - Surtur Rising This summer I saw Amon Amarth live and it was undoubtably the best concert I ever attended.
With their latest release, the melodic Swedish death metal vikings deliver a great followup to their masterpiece “Twilight of the Thunder God.” "Surtur Rising" lives up to the saying if it ain't broke don't fix it, and Amon Amarth gave us another crushing death metal record at the highest caliber with this release.
The lyrics are all about Norse God's and vikings, but the musicianship of the band is the best part of the record. The bulldozer catchy riffs performed by Amon Amarth are legendary and emotive providing the perfect soundtrack to pillage and rampage a town too.
The songs on “Surtur Rising” are a little heavier than on “Twilight..” and deliver a big viking boot right up your Asgard. The rallying anthem “ For Victory Or Death” is my favorite song and has a breakdown at the end which always brings a malicious grin to my face.
One of the greatest modern metal bands alive, Amon Amarth are unlike any other death metal band you can find, plus their name is the Sindarin translation of Mount Doom from the “Lord of the Rings” books. You do not get more metal than that!
9. Chickenfoot – Chickenfoot III
The best way to avoid the sophomore slump, skip it. That is what Chickenfoot did with their second record, “Chickenfoot III.”
Comprising of two former members of Van Halen (Michael Anthony & Sammy Hagar), the drummer from the Red Hot Chilli Peppers (Chad Smith) and Joe Satriani, the greatest guitarist in the world today, Chickenfoot is by all definitions a super group.
A diversified record, “Chickenfoot III” is a great front to end album. From bluesy vibes to soulful grooves to touching ballads to big rock and roll anthems, “Chickenfoot III” delivers from all aspects.
All the tracks compliment each other, and the band has progressed and seem more in tune with one another, creating the best possible songs, while showcasing each band members individual legendary talents.
“Chickenfoot III” is a great hard rock album from great musicians and is a fun record just to put on and have a good time too.
8. Trivium – In Waves
I've been with Trivium since the beginning of their career, and I'm a huge fan of theirs. “Shogun” is a record that I will always hold close to my heart, so I was expecting big things from “In Waves.”
The album is a step in the right direction, but it is clear Trivium is still experimenting and toying with their sound. “In Waves” shows moments of brilliance and the new element of blast beat drumming by new drummer Nick Augusto, really spices up the album.
“In Waves” is also by far Trivium's most mainstream record, especially with the radio friendly single “Built To Fall” and it is obvious, Trivium is trying to take that next step and write catchier tunes.
Singer/guitarist Matt Heafy has always been an extraordinary guitar player, but on “In Waves” his vocals have vasty improved. His screams and growls are filled with such venomous rage, and his clean melodic singing is light years better than it was in the past, as evident by their live performances.
“In Waves” features some of Trivium's best work, and while I doubt it is going to be considered their magnum opus, the band is improving on every new release. I am excited to see where Trivium goes from here because “In Waves” has some strong features which could elevate and push Trivium to the next level and into that upper echelon of the metal world.
7. Korn – The Path Of Totality
Korn has never been a band that plays by the rules and is a band which is always reinventing themselves.
After last year's fantastic “Korn III: Remember Who You Are” which showed the band returning to their metal roots, their latest release “The Path Of Totality” is a complete 180.
A full out experimental release, Korn delves into new territory and collaborated with some of the top dubstep and electronica musicians from around the world including Skrillex, Datsik and Kill The Noise amongst others on “The Path Of Totality.”
Although Korn is not the first band to mix electronica and dubstep into their music, they are the first band to write songs with this sound in mind. These are not a bunch of remixed tracks, as Korn actually wrote these songs with this intended sound and worked with the featured artists to create something totally unique and creative to them.
“The Path Of Totality” is pure adrenaline and is completely different from anything else you will listen too. Korn created something special with this record, and while it remains to be seen if they will continue to release albums like this in the future, you have to give credit to a band which keeps pushing boundaries into unexpected territories 20 years into their career.
6. Sebastian Bach - “Kicking & Screaming”
Sebastian Bach is one of the greatest rock singers to emerge in the 90's and the first two Skid Row records are two of my all time favorite albums.
Due to an awkwardly timed October snowstorm, I was able to see Bach live and the guy sounds just as good today as he did when he first arrived on the scene in the late 80's, plus his showmanship and rock and roll spirit is unmatched.
Even though, Bach's last solo album “Angel Down” was incredible and super heavy, for some reason I was not expecting a lot from “Kicking & Screaming.” However, I could not have been more wrong, as the record is undeniably fantastic.
“Kicking & Screaming” is better than “Angel Down” and is a highly enjoyable album. Bach's vocals are just as great as they have always been and the record has a youthful energy, which makes the listening experience that much more exciting.
There is so much more on this release than their was on “Angel Down” as Bach has let go some of the metal elements and returned back to his roots. The title track is potentially my favorite song of the year and it goes without saying that Sebastian Bach has released one of the best hard rock albums of 2011.
5. Mastodon - The Hunter
It does not get any better than progressive sludge metal.
I never really got into Mastodon before this record, cause I could not bother with trying to patiently sit through their concept albums, but that all changed with “The Hunter” and now Mastodon is one of my favorite bands.
The fret work on “The Hunter” is something Tony Iommi would be proud of and along with monstrous chorus' and powerful drumming, Mastodon's latest release is catchy and unique only too them.
The songs are short and easy to get into, featuring a variety of intriguing sounds on each track, plus “The Hunter” provide some interesting lyrics such as “I killed a man cause he killed my goat, I put my hands around his throat” on “Curl of the Burl.”
“The Hunter” is a very focused and immediate album which captivates and holds the listener in from the very first song until the ending note, and is a record I will consistently play for the foreseeable future.
4. Machine Head – Unto The Locust
In 2007, Machine Head released “The Blackening” which is the greatest musical release of the 21st century.
With that said, Machine Head faced a difficult task in matching the excellence displayed on that masterpiece and followed it up with an equally captivating release with “Unto The Locust.”
Catchier and a little more melodic, “Unto The Locust” features seven non-skippable intense tracks. The energy on this record is unmatched and sums up everything I love about metal.
The band even takes a detour and experiments with a slower ballad type song “Darkness Within” which is easily the best thing on this record. Brilliant and totally unexpected, the lyrics are exceptional and moving, and made the hairs on the back of my neck standup.
Machine Head is the top band out in the metal world today and have released back to back flawless masterpieces. There appears to be no end to this band's inspiration at this point, and God only knows what they'll come up with next.
3. Iced Earth – Dystopia
One of the most surprising records of the year for me, I never listened to Iced Earth before this record and only gave them a chance because I was so bored with my iTunes collection and needed to hear something different.
I am very happy I did, because even though a lot of legendary thrash metal bands such as Metallica, Megadeth and Anthrax put out records this year, Iced Earth an unknown band to me at the beginning of the year put out my favorite thrash metal album of 2011.
A confidence boosting record, I religiously listen to “Dystopia” all the way through every time I put it on, and could never stop or skip a song once the album starts.
Rhythm guitarist, Jon Schaffer lays down mind bending work and Stu Block has a wide vocal range delivery, which always keeps things interesting. Iced Earth made me a lifelong fan with “Dystopia” and I eagerly await seeing them live in 2012 and look forward to their future releases.
I recommend every metal head give “Dystopia” a chance, you won't be disappointed.
2. Foo Fighters – Wasting Light
If there were any qualms about the Foo Fighters being the biggest rock and roll band to emerge in the last 20 years, one need not look further than “Wasting Light” to cease any and all doubt.
A great ride from start to finish, like all Foo Fighters albums, the music on “Wasting Light” is incredible and instantly charming. Fun, energetic, and unendingly catchy, every track could be a potential single and I assure you, you will be singing along midway through each tune.
Remarkably, “Wasting Light” is also the heaviest record the Foo Fighters ever put out, but the focus and catchiness upstage and distract you from noticing how hard this album hits.
In my opinion, “Wasting Light” is the best Foo Fighters album yet. The record also features the return of original guitarist Pat Smear, who helped create some of the Foo Fighters biggest and earliest classics such as “Everlong” and “My Hero.” Smear's addition not only brings back the classic Foo Fighters sound, but also marks the first time the Foo Fighters operated with three guitarists.
“Wasting Light” is as close as you get to the perfect album, as everything from the songwriting, to the production, to the performances of the band members is absolutely spot on. Dave Grohl and the boys created a big rock and roll record, which both long time fans and new fans will highly enjoy. The album deserves all the praise it has been getting, as “Wasting Light” is potentially the best musical release of the year.
1. Times Of Grace - The Hymn Of A Broken Man
Duh!
If you know me, you know I love this record, it's UN-FUCKING-BELIEVABLE! Such an inspiring album, this record got me through the toughest, most difficult time period of my life.
Never before, have I ever been so connected to a piece of music and been able to relate to every single song. It's SO real and meaningful!
I have always been a huge Killswitch Engage fan, especially their record “Alive Or Just Breathing” with Jesse Leach, so when Adam D. announced he was reuniting with his former band member, I was ecstatic.
The lyrics are about overcoming obstacles and are heartfelt, but very intense, which fit's right into Leach's vocal delivery. When you listen to the album, you can tell that Leach has some serious problems, and is not just playing into a gimmick, and it was something I needed to hear. The record is filled with such passion and still just gives me goosebumps every time I listen to it, as well as giving me a positive outlook on life, and the ability to carry on.
“The Hymn Of A Broken Man” makes you look inward, and as soon as you listen to the album, it's going to deeply affect you. However, the album is also extremely dark at times, which makes the listening experience that much more intense, but also makes the optimistic songs that much more impactful and powerful.
Even today, I still find inspiration when I listen to this record. Every time I put it on, I learn new things about myself and my outlook on life changes for the better. I'm never going to get sick of Times of Grace and even if the band was only a one time thing, it will always be a classic to me.
This album restored my faith in music, and I knew it was going to be game changing the first time I heard it. I never once had any doubts that it was going to be my favorite record of the year.
Music fans of any genre, need to listen to this record, cause it is one of the greatest releases of our time.
Best record of the year by far, “Live In Love” and listen to it!
Honorable Mentions: Megadeth "Th1rt3en" - the most consistently good band out of the Big 4. "Public Enemy #1" is mind numbingly good. Anthrax "Worship Music" - their best release yet. "Fight 'Em Til You Can't" "Devil You Know" and "In The End" are spectacular. Five Finger Death Punch "American Capitalist" - bro metal at its finest. "Under & Over It" is great and the ballad "Remember Everything" risk payed off, and showed their improvement. Sixx A.M. "This Is Gonna Hurt" - great hard rock record, however it is not as good as their classic first release. Crowbar "Sever The Wicked Hand" - the riff master Kirk Windstein put out the best Crowbar record yet. Sludge metal with punk influences. Ghost "Opus Eponymous" - only reason it's not on my list is because it came out in 2010, however 2011 was the first time I heard it. Have not stopped listening to it since. Hemoptysis "Misanthropic Slaughter" - the future of thrash metal. Listen to "M.O.D." and you'll understand why. Wednesday 13 "Calling All Corpses" - call it the ghoul in me, but horror punk will always be my favorite sub-genre. Wednesday 13 also has an awesome and unique voice.
Andre Ward in his battle with top-ranked Mikkel Kessler (11/21/09)
"Andre Ward the Super Six Champion and future of professional boxing."
“Mayweather vs. Pacquiao bro.”
“Bro, Mayweather vs. Pacquiao is the only fight boxing has left, after that the sports dead.”
“The only way boxing survives is if Tyson makes a comeback and starts knocking people out in 10 seconds again.”
These are the types of ludicrous statements I hear while watching a fight at a bar, and one of the reasons why I despise going out to public places to watch sporting events.
Added on to the fact that I'm surrounded by sloppy, breath stinking “experts” who claim to know everything about the “sweet science” known as boxing, but meanwhile can't name five other marquee prize fighters other than the two ESPN and HBO shove down our throats.
One “genius” I had the pleasure of watching the Super Six Finale with on Saturday, was yapping in my ear the entire night of why the bar was showing old replays of the Golden Gloves Classic (idiot).
While I am aware that boxing has suffered a major decline in viewership and appeal, mainly because of the lack of a marketable Heavyweight Champion presence in the States, and also because most of the up and coming fighters are following the trend into MMA, boxing is still very much alive and is not dead as most extra small Ed Hardy wearing, tribal tattooed, have three shots of Jack Daniel's and they're falling down the stairs, bar room “experts” acclaim.
There are many great, exciting boxers competing at the highest level today such as Sergio Martinez, Lucian Bute, Miguel Cotto, Carl Froch, Juan Manual Marquez, Bernad Hopkins (my all time favorite) and the two Heavyweight kings, Vitali and Wladimir Klitschko. However, the most exciting prospect by far, is the man who won the Super Six Tournament on Saturday, Andre Ward.
The WBA, WBC, The Ring Super Middleweight & Super Six Champion.
For most people, this might be the first time ever hearing the name Andre Ward, and that is unfortunate.
An undefeated (24-0, 13 KO's) Super Middleweight American boxer, Ward is also an Olympian Gold Medalist at the 2004 Summer Olympics.
A fighter with a pure classic boxing style, Ward is an exciting technical boxer who is good everywhere between the ropes.
A punishing puncher who wares on his opponents and takes their will away, Ward can fight on the inside with crushing body blows, on the outside with devastating hooks and is composed while leaning on the ropes. He sets a frantic pace from the opening bell, and never takes his foot off the gas, always coming forward applying pressure, which breaks and tires out the competition.
Ward's speed both in his hands and defense, keep his opponents off balance, making them easier targets and him more elusive. Constantly moving, Ward slips and slides around the ring and does what he needs to do in order to win.
He is by no means the flashiest boxer in the sport today, but like Tim Tebow he always wins. However that is where the comparisons end as Ward is terrific and accurate from the opening bell to the end and sadly no one talks about him after his performances.
ESPN and the rest of the sports world, only seem to talk about outlandish athletes with unnatural athletic abilities, who have everything handed to them on a silver spoon, but always seem to pass on the hard working individuals who have to earn everything they achieve.
Ward is obviously the latter, having had to change his whole boxing style from amateur to professional after he made the leap. (Olympic style boxing is much different than the actual sport we are used to seeing and is a whole different game in terms of practicing and scoring.)
Ward is also soft-spoken and humble, so he is never going to go on a Mike Tyson-esque post-fight rampage telling reporters he will only give them interviews in return of “fornication” or telling the world he is going to eat his opponents children.
Instead, Ward praises the efforts of the man he just went to war with and contributes all his success to hard work and the Lord above.
The Super Six Tournament was a great platform for Ward, and he was really able to shine, despite almost getting looked over and conceived to be an afterthought. He dominated each and every opponent he faced in the two and a half year tournament and Saturday night laid the smackdown on Carl Froch, outboxing Froch for 12 rounds and landing almost every vicious left hook he threw.
The scores of the contest were closer than how the fight actually went down (115-113, 115-113, 118-110), as Ward put on a one-sided performance, landing shots at will by being the busier, faster, and mentally tougher fighter. Ward frustrated Froch by constantly moving, not allowing Froch to ever find his rhythm, while connecting with the cleaner and harder punches for the duration of the fight.
On my scorecard, I gave every single round but one to Ward and scored the bout 119-109.
Ward reminds me very much of a young Bernard Hopkins, in that he knows every trick in the book and uses them to his advantage. Besides his impeccable skill, Ward is a very smart and cerebral fighter, which has cost every single opponent he has ever faced, since they underestimated his boxing prowess.
Andre Ward should be rewarded as the 2011 Fighter of the Year and is a name any so called “expert” boxing fan should know, as he is the future of the sport.
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There was a lot of bad blood heading into this contest and both fighters badly wanted to defeat each other. However, it was Diaz who put forth the best performance of his career and earned a unanimous decision victory. 
