BoxRec

They interviewed Julius Francis at Cage Rage - just watching a recording of it. Looks like they might be lining him up for a fight. He says he's been training MMA. Looks like they are lining him up for their September show. Oh dear.

Julius used to be a Kick-Boxer before his professional career I think. Having said that he is still to old to make any serious impact in MMA. Julius was at his fighting peak about 10 years ago.

he was strictly boxing in journeyman mode the last few fights. maybe MMA will respark his enthusiasm

lowersmiths wrote:he was strictly boxing in journeyman mode the last few fights. maybe MMA will respark his enthusiasm

Like it did for Ray Mercer??...

No, its just another avenue to secure a few more paydays in my view.

If Julius can manage to sit on someone's chest, he'll kill them.

he's fighting Gary 'Smiler' Turner. Good background in kickboxing and judo. Best keep his hands up and stay out of the clinch - or he's going for a ride.

Turner isn't bad actually, not aesthetically pleasing he does carry a bit of extra weight but he should beat Francis easily.

Cage Rage were doing well for a while but its starting to become a bit of a circus IMO with Butterbean appearing on pretty much every show and ex boxers like Francis getting fights that will have main billing. At one stage they had the likes of Ninja Rua and Anderson Silva fighting on their cards now its almost resorted to a freak show of sorts. They must be doing something right they're making plenty of coin but in comparison to UFC the matchups in Cage Rage are an absolute joke.

If those two slap heads who run Cage Rage think bringing the likes of Dave Courtney to their shows and giving their fighters silly nicknames will help mma in the UK they are sadly mistaken.

ebeneezer wrote:If those two slap heads who run Cage Rage think bringing the likes of Dave Courtney to their shows and giving their fighters silly nicknames will help mma in the UK they are sadly mistaken.

have you seen that silly tv they do it;s immmmmmmbaaaaaarrrrrrrising geez they are a pair of plums nuff said about cage rage the better

ebeneezer wrote:If those two slap heads who run Cage Rage think bringing the likes of Dave Courtney to their shows and giving their fighters silly nicknames will help mma in the UK they are sadly mistaken.

Well, I'll say this for them, they get crowds at their shows most promoters would dream of.

jamesmcdonnell wrote:

ebeneezer wrote:If those two slap heads who run Cage Rage think bringing the likes of Dave Courtney to their shows and giving their fighters silly nicknames will help mma in the UK they are sadly mistaken.

Well, I'll say this for them, they get crowds at their shows most promoters would dream of.

yes i agree you would get the crowds at boxing aswell if only the promoters put on even fights insted of some of the poo thats being put on in the last couple of years

Now Julius can fail to not throw kicks as well as punches!

TTT for predictions

Mr Boogaloo wrote:TTT for predictions

Smiler by flying arm bar!

Or more realsitically..

Turner to take the big man to the matt, take his back and choke him out (RNC).

In fairness didn't Micheal Bisping now a big nois in UFC start out in cage rage, did anyone see the artical in Boxing News the other week where they talked about the difference between boxing and mma they made some good points including that as soon as top proffessional boxers put on 4 oz gloves the sports credibility will fall rapidly.

josh fg wrote: as soon as top proffessional boxers put on 4 oz gloves the sports credibility will fall rapidly.

what because the boxers will whipe the floor with the MMA fighters?....i really don't think it is as simple as that

The point he made quite well IMO was that increasingly UFC matches so even those with wressling and Ju Jitsu specialists are winning by stand up skills (often right crosses a particularly simple boxing punch) indeed matt hughs recently got beaten by the very same punch.

As soon as a top boxer can't get the money and trains for UFC then it will be very quick (he has a point I hear butterbean has been winning in cage rage!)

yeah sure, but against the wrestlers, submission artists etc... you need more than just pure boxing ability, or a big punch....not saying you have to be Gracie, but you need to be able to avoid takedowns, and defend yourself on the ground.....it would take a determined and dedicated effort from a boxer to go into MMA and have a good deal of success

My view is that a boxer particularly a top one many of whom are leading ones and thus natural athleats would only have to spend a short time learning basic take down defence as there other advantages would be such that the other fighter would only be limeted to trying take downs.

Come on imagen someone with Naz's power in his prime whearing 4 oz gloves.

josh fg wrote:My view is that a boxer particularly a top one many of whom are leading ones and thus natural athleats would only have to spend a short time learning basic take down defence as there other advantages would be such that the other fighter would only be limeted to trying take downs.

Too simplistic a view I am afraid Josh.

A lot of people come out with the phrase "with 6 months of sprawl training".. but it isnt that easy.

MMA is about ranges and boxers cannot operate in enough different ranges to make themselves a definitive favourite against MMA fighters..

Some would succeed, undoubtedly, but others would not.

If any okay pro boxer hits a top UFC guy on the chops he'd decapitate him, but the minute the MMA guy gets any boxer on the floor he'll submit him.

chris s wrote:If any okay pro boxer hits a top UFC guy on the chops he'd decapitate him, but the minute the MMA guy gets any boxer on the floor he'll submit him.

i dont think that would happen because i know a few tough boxers who are very dangerus on the cobbles people seem to think that because they are boxers they wont be able to kick well we,ll see when julius francis becomes the UFC/CAGE RAGE world champion

As I say my understanding is that Eric Butterbean Esch has been winning a lot of fighting in Cage Rage.

josh fg wrote:As I say my understanding is that Eric Butterbean Esch has been winning a lot of fighting in Cage Rage.

Yes Butterbean has picked up a few wins recently when he has faced limited sluggers who wanted to throw down with him..

However, this is what happened to Butterbean when he faced a talented, much smaller MMA fighter..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkT3wphWSrk

Genki Sudo made light of the difference in weight in a fairly tedious outing.

He's 1-2 in Cage Rage.

http://www.sherdog.com/fightfinder/figh ... terID=9394