In case you wondered what the disparity looks like.    PicProps: MsTracyLee/CombatLifestyle

Well, it took our boy Pat Barry about two years to get a fight that he’s long thought would be fun: he’s set to face off with Stefan Struve in October at UFC Live on Versus 6. UFCLoV 6 (that acronym is still roughly half as ludicrous as DREAM’s last show) is expected to go down in Washington, DC; so far it has not been confirmed that all fights on the card will take place in five-sided cage dubbed The Pentagon (Trademark Pending), which will be manufactured under contract by KBR for a taxpayer cost of six million dollars.

MMAJunkie reported that verbal agreements had been made for the bout, and we assume smear campaigns and sex scandals are being developed as we speak.

Skyscraper comes into the bout off of a pretty gnarly KO loss to Travis Browne at UFC 130 in May.  For the record, Struve is 6’11″ with 83 inches of reach.

Our boy HD comes off of a KO loss as well, in a bout that you may remember with Cheick Kongo last month.  Barry stands at 5’11″ in his tighty whiteys with 74 (and 1/2) inches of reach.

This is happening, people.  There’s going to be raw viciousness and genuine dislike in the air, plus we’re going to send trained fighters who like to kick people really hard into a cage and let ‘em fight.  Should be awesome.  Did we mention this shindig is supposed to go down in DC?  Man, Congress is full of scum — won’t this hurt the sanctioning effort?

[RX]

(The good old days — when men were men and briefs were shiny.)

Hello to all of my Cage Potato friends and thanks again for your interest and questions. It’s been a busy 2011 so far and things are only looking better from here. Thank you for the wonderful night before UFC 129 in Toronto. To those who missed it, there was a Cage Potato: Banned party that week and I had the opportunity to meet many loyal readers and Cage Potato “Big Wigs.” As you may know, I’ve reached a different stage in my career and I hope to provide you with more honest insights into many of the things that I’ve learned. I’m pleased to be black by popular demand. Ask away for my next column. Also, add me on Facebook, Twitter, and my blog www.bigdaddyfightteam.com.

All the best and Happy Humping,
Gary Goodridge

‘Bob Villa’ asks: How do you feel about all the lay and pray we’ve been subjected to lately? What do you think about guys like GSP who seem to fight not to lose and never go for the finish?
You’re asking the wrong guy because I always went for the finish. I think just lying on top of somebody is just crap and ridiculous. However, when fighters start doing that they pay the price because the promotions are not going to bring you back. You already know I like Wanderlei Silva and Chris Leben; I also like a lot of the U.K. fighters like Dan Hardy because they always provide entertaining fights.

GSP is a different animal though. He is a champion. He doesn’t have to finish these guys. They have to finish GSP. His job is to keep his belt any way that he can because the belt means prestige and, more importantly, money. If I were him I would use every fibre in my body to walk away with the belt. I never won a championship beyond the International Vale Tudo Championship so I was never in a position to have to try and retain my belt. I was the guy who tried to shatter the myths of others fighters as champions.

People need to understand that guys like GSP are facing the top competition in the world every fight. There is no room for a mistake. It may not look like he’s doing much but trust me, he is.

‘bgoldstein’ asks: At PRIDE 11, you gave Yoshiaki Yatsu one of the most savage beatings I’ve ever seen in my life. Why did PRIDE book a rematch of that fight the next year? Did you feel bad accepting it?

(Antoni Hardonk vs. Sherman Pendergarst @ UFC 65, 11/18/06)

Leg kicks may not seem impressive to everybody, particularly certain MMA judges whose names rhyme with Schmecil Feeples, but as anyone who has ever been hit with a good one knows, they really, really hurt.  Sometimes they hurt so much that you want to quit fighting.  Other times they hurt so much that you have to quit fighting.  Still other times they just gradually chip away at you until you’re a fraction of the man you were when you entered the cage.  Leg kicks are not only an effective weapon that deserves to be scored with some respect for their cringe-inducing power, they can also end a fight.  They have ended fights, in fact, and probably will end a few more before this grand MMA experiment draws to a close.

And so, as a tribute to the power and majesty of the leg kick, we offer the following.  Take note, Cecil.