
(Bennett’s bringin’ the Krazy to BET tomorrow night.)
It’s tomorrow night, Ladies and Gents. I’m referring, of course, to BET’s “Iron Ring” which kicks off its debut show at 11 p.m. (ET). MMAPayout has a solid rundown of the show, being described as a mix of TUF and the IFL with a twist. The twist being hip hop celebrity types owning the teams. The show is thirty minutes, but the debut will be two back-to-back joints.
Here’s what MP is saying:
The one hour premier episode (two thirty minute episodes combined) focuses largely on the celebrity owners and their coaches. The show has a gritty feel provided by low key production and locations as well as a strong hip hop influence. The opening scenes looks more like the rawness of fight club than the spectacle of major MMA. Whether this will be the case once the actual competition begins remains to be seen, but the product definitely has a distinctive feel, unlike any other MMA production. Street Certified may be a more appropriate title for the series than it was for EliteXC’s previous offering.
There are six teams with fighters reppin’ lightweight – 170 lbs by “Iron Ring” terms – middleweight, and the heavies. Jamie Foxx’s pal, Rashon Kahn, will be the token speech-maker. Chuck “Krazy Horse” Bennett and Shonie Carter are two of the coaches and the other four are Roberto Traven, Abdul Mutakabbir, Jermaine Andre, and Novell G. Bell. WTF? you might be asking, so we have the scoop on those dudes after the jump.
Roberto Traven is nicknamed “Spider” and comes from Rio de Janeiro, so naturally he’s trained in BJJ. He fought in UFC 11 and UFC 34, losing via submission to Frank Mir in the latter. After starting his career with six straight wins, he lost three in a row and last fought in 2005. He is 6-3-1 overall.
Abdul Mutakabbir is the head of the SWAM Academy of Modern Martial Arts and has been a martial artist since he was eleven. He was the New York State Triple Crown Champion for 20 years. That’s decent I guess, but I was once runner-up in a Mario Brothers tournament on my block. Beat that. Mutakabbir is also the creator of the FuJuKa Boxing System which combines various martial arts and emphasizes practical street fighting.
Jermaine “Bam Bam” Andre is 13-4 in MMA and founded Andre’s Mixed Martial Arts Training Academy. He is also a Muay Thai Kick Boxer, Shootboxer, San Shou KickBoxer, Streetfighter, and Body Guard. He’s a three-time U.S. champ and a World champ. The dude is thick – he’s 5’7″ and 185 lbs. And the kid can get all literate, too: he’s written seven books.
Novell G. Bell goes by the “Black Taoist” and is trained in several martial arts by like a million “masters”. He’s big into the spiritual side of things, so that’ll be an interesting mix what with uber-mellow dudes like Lil John running around.
The team run-downs:
MONEY MAYWEATHER BOYS
Owner – Floyd Mayweather
Coach – Roberto Traven
LW – Andy Roberts
MW – Dymond Jones
HW – Abdelaziz Essafoul
TEAM LUDA
Owner – Ludacris
Coach – Abdul Mutakabbir
LW – Joe Comacho
MW – John Fields
MW – Franz Mendez
HW – Joe McCall
TEAM NELLY
Owner – Nelly
Coach – Jermaine Andre
LW – Eric Marriott
MW – Darryl Cobb
HW – Mike Cook
TEAM GRAND HUSTLE
Owner – T.I.
Coach – Charles “Krazy Horse” Bennett
LW – Josh Gaskins
MW – Primus Moore
MW – Jamie Yager
HW – Joe Thomas
TEAM DIPSET
Owner – Dipset
Coach – Novell G. Bell
LW – Josh Key
MW – Daniel Akinyemi
HW – Carlos Moreno
HEAD BUSTERS
Owner – Lil John
Coach – Shonie Carter
LW – Macrus Brimmage
MW – Brian Rodgers
HW – Abongo Humphrey








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commentsTraven was Abu Dhabi absolute champ (maybe you've never heardof it because the Zuffas didn't sell it to you). He was also IBJJF mundial absoluto champ
Maywether coaching striking, Traven teaching ground?? Sounds solid to me.
Mutakabbir has a blackbelt in BJJ from Jacare Cavalcante as well as many other martial arts. I've Trained with both and I just happen to be a "Cracker".
Crazy Horse, Wel touche', he is a little wild.
Novell Bell is a total fraud.
Guy you don't know what the hell you are talking about. Novell G. Bell is a good fighter, HE REAL AS THEY COME! The reason you may feel this way is because BET first 2 episodes really misrepresents the Man and I'm sure it does the same for other on the show. Because take my word you ever meet Mr. Bell in person he a cool and down to earth individual and highly skilled martial artist. Nothing fake about this brother one bit. He sure as hell just some strret fighter as BET presents him to be on iron ring ...Mr. Bell fought and study with many martial art experts in China and Japan, there nothing Fraud about the man. Do your research and stop the hate!
Abdul Mutabakkir is unknown and unproven.
Guy your post show just how little you know about African american martial artist, Abdul Mutabakkir was one of the first Kung fu guys to fight in a no holds bar full contact open style match back in N.Y.C. in the 70s. Guy just do your research. Only thing I will say is Mr. Mutakabbir is pro-black is the feeling I got when I met him. Mr. Bell when I visit his classes in Harlem was more friendly and did not care about race.
Sijo Mutakabbir remained undefeated for ten (10) consecutive years as a triple crown competitor in the Martial Arts/Karate Circuit. To his credits, he has achieved over 1000 awards in trophies and medals.
Listed below are key points of these accomplishments:
Kumite: Ying Yee Peter Urban Cup Invitational Karate Grand Champion 1977, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, and 88
Kata: Trimm's Long Island Gold Cup Grand Champion 1985 and 1986
Kumite: Trimm's Long Island Gold Cup Grand Champion 1985 and 1986
Kumite: Tri Area Semipro Grand Champion 1985
Kata: Harlem Goju Champion 1984 and 1985
Kata: New York Golden Cup Champion 1985</l
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=5757831
I wanted to see good athletes, new fighters I had never seen before, I wanted to see real MMA, but instead what was shown was guys that have nothing to do with MMA managing teams and some "fighters" that look like TMA rejects.
I didn't like the packaging/marketing for TUF, but at least you got some real fighters and the focus was always on them not anybody else. Why do we need Ludacris' and Dipset's views on fighting? What do they have to possibly say about fighting that could be anywhere close to reality?
If they absolutely needed somebody black to coach, couldn't they have called Quinton Jackson, Rhadi Ferguson, Yves Edwards, Mike VanArsdale, Kevin Randleman, Kevin Jackson, Darrell Gholar, Lloyd Irvin, Tyrone Glover, Din Thomas, Marvin Eastman, Houston Alexander, Melvin Guillard, Reggie Orr, Mike McDonald, etc?
And if they wanted only black fighters, couldn't they call up any one of those guys and find somebody?
Shonie is good. Andre is good. Traven is good.
Novell Bell is a total fraud. Abdul Mutabakkir is unknown and unproven. And Crazy Horse? He's a legit fighter, but that man should not be coaching anyone.
I'm pretty disappointed.
I think some people forget that if you're going to be racially insensitive when you tell a joke, it won't go over well unless it's actually *FUNNY*. When you're not funny, you make yourself look like a racist douchebag.
I’m all for giving fighters an opportunity for some type of exposure and the show is still on basic cable not a premium or pay per view. If the fighters are terrible, the show will be quickly dismissed and no one will care. If some of these fighters actually have potential, then we may see them turn up on some other shows. Free MMA is still free MMA so I will be watching.
If you are so turned off by the idea of Hip Hop guys being involved with the show, and so turned off by the way some of these guys may talk. You just might be a racist/bigot. In fact, it's pretty obvious some of you are. You guys are pretty funny, in a sad kind of way. So if you are cool living your life that way, I’ll say a prayer for you guys.
i see the sarcasm in your comment, and i'll assure you.. i'm not a nazi..
i've got like 3 fighters tied for my fav. and like 2 fighters tied for my second fav.
i'm weird like that..
but..
back to the point..
why isn't Melvin Guillard a coach??
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA..
yup. it was hard keeping a straight face while typing that..
i just think it's pretty sad that out of all the coaches.. Mayweather's probably the only one that even knows what MMA is.. or even how to spell it for that matter..
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA..
ahhh, man.. i need to quit with the low blows..
but yea..
i didn't think my comment was racist..
it's just that there's always some wise-crack that doesn't even know what racism is, pulling the race card..
there was nothing racist about that comment at all, by the way, whos your favorite fighter? I bet its Melivin Costa.
I don't see why anyone would have a problem with it or hate on it. If this is the type of show it takes to introduce MMA to the African-American culture and get more of them to watch, I would think that's a good thing.
So "YEAAAAAAAA SON"...can't wait to see who the future UFC light heavyweight champion could possibly be (ya'll musta forgot that MMA already has "flava").
“AHHHHHH HELLLLL NAHHHH”
“WHAT NIGGA?? WHAT??”
oh, and i’m sure random gangsters are gonna wanna step in with the big dogs now..
which would be good..because it would ultimately lead to them getting KTFO’d..
i’m not racist.. i’m just stating the facts.."
That isn't racist in the least... I mean hell, everyone knows black folks can't hold normal conversations and that they're overly aggressive animals.
I'm not being a dick... I'm just stating the facts.
jk this show is gonna be lame as fuck
we're gonna hear a bunch of:
"YEAAAAAA, SON!!!"
"AHHHHHH HELLLLL NAHHHH"
"WHAT NIGGA?? WHAT??"
oh, and i'm sure random gangsters are gonna wanna step in with the big dogs now..
which would be good..because it would ultimately lead to them getting KTFO'd..
i'm not racist.. i'm just stating the facts..
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