Pride 33 had some interesting upsets and was filled with a lot of great fights. You really couldn’t ask for better action than the fights presented. Congratulations to Dan Henderson for toppling the long-standing champion, Wanderlei Silva. Of course, in two bouts between these fighters, we have each holding one victory. A tie-breaker is in order.
I was stunned to see Nogueira drop like he did, but then, that’s why we watch these things. Very impressive debut from Sokoudjou. I always enjoying watching “Shogun” Hua, and even Frank Trigg made a Pride comeback. Sadly, Nick Diaz slipped up and won another fight. His worst enemy is his own ego; until he defeats that opponent, I’ll continue to boo him at every opportunity I get. So, boo!
It looks like Pride 34 is scheduled for April 7, which is the same night as UFC 69: Shootout. I know scheduling is a complicated process, but this is just stupid. I can’t watch both events at once. I know there are a lot of diehard Pride grognards out there (personally, I think Pride is outstanding), but here in the States, UFC still reigns supreme. When I’m gathering my buddies for a fight, we’re going to pay to watch UFC. With all the rumors of Pride’s troubles and possible demise, I’m not going to suddenly switch to favoring Pride when UFC is solidly grounded and growing.
The next season of The Ultimate Fighter begins on April 5th, following Ultimate Fight Night Live.
More of the fight details on upcoming UFC events have been posted on the UFC site. Here are the interesting additions I saw.
- UFC 69: Shootout (April 7)
- Brad Imes vs. Heath Herring
- Josh Haynes vs. Luke Cummo
- UFC 70: Nations Collide (April 21)
- Mirko Cro Cop vs. Gabriel Gonzaga
- Michael Bisping vs. Elvis Sinosic
- Andrei Arlovski vs. Fabrico Werdum
- Forrest Griffin vs. Lyoto Machida
My latest Pop Tart special offer order has not shown up on the Kellogg’s web site yet. I did get a post card regarding my first order. Apparently, the knit hat offer has been so popular, they are now back ordered.
There is a new Ultimate Fight Night Live planned for April 5th, making for three UFC events that month. Getting busy with it, apparently. Fight card includes Joe “Daddy” Stevenson vs. Melvin “The Young Assassin” Guillard, Frank Mir vs. Antoni Hardonk, and even Kenny “KenFlo” Florian gets a crack at an unannounced opponent.
No sign of my latest order, but the Special Offers Status Inquiry page finally lists my original order sent several weeks before the one we are tracking here. It lists “In Process”, with a note saying to wait 60 days for delivery. The good news is, it is coming. The bad news is, who needs a knit hat in the Spring to Summer months?
It was game session 26 of the Age of Worms campaign. While moving through the streets of Waterdeep, the party encountered a strange street prophet who spouted off about the Age of Worms. They also encountered a parade of entertainers and caged animals, including a blue chimera that broke free of its restraints! The party’s new litorian ritual warrior proved his bravery by charging headlong at the beast and attacking it with just his biting jaws! The group made short work of the creature and then proceeded to locate the home of Dagsumn the sage.
Dagsumn was eager to research the items they brought but warned the group it could take a week or so to gather the necessary information. In the meantime, he encouraged them to stay at the Crooked House inn located in the Trade Ward. The party hit it off well with the proprietor, Tarquin Shortstone XXIV. As evening wore on, they were entertained by traveling comedian, Barty the Buffoon. During his act, a pair of courtesans went upstairs with party member Grot Bloodtunneler. Shortly thereafter, Grot walked back downstairs and stabbed Tarquin through the chest with a dagger. He then ran back upstairs.
The inn erupted into commotion and panic with people calling for the guards and patrons accosting the party. Another courtesan ran down the stairs yelling at the party and urging the crowd to detain or attack the group. After feigning being attacked by Evo, she drew forth a hidden short sword and stabbed him viciously. Aker quickly disarmed her, while Lyrin used magical wind to keep the crowd back. Valgen was detained as he tried to make his way upstairs, but Evo used his tumbling skills to evade the wench and the crowd and run to the third floor. Meanwhile, the disarmed woman began striking Lyrin, Aker and Valgen with hammering barehanded blows, dealing far more damage than anyone expected.
Evo found Grot upstairs enjoying the company of the two courtesans, completely oblivious to the events transpiring below. Both of them ran downstairs back to the commotion. The party fought against the woman and she died beneath the crushing hammer of Morak Beardfist. As she died, she resumed her true form, that of a doppelganger! The crowd realized they had been duped, and Morak was allowed to use his healing prayers on Tarquin.
The Watch soon arrived and took a report on the entire incident. They also charged a fine of 100 gp to Grot for engaging in lascivious activity with known ladies of the evening. No arrests were made. The party also discovered a key on the doppelganger’s corpse that matches the markings on an old warehouse in the Dock Ward called Sodden Hold. The party then retired for the evening with plans of seeking out Sodden Hold at their first opportunity.
The UFC is having two events in April, UFC 69 and UFC 70. On April 21st, UFC 70 will be held in the United Kingdom for the first time in many years. No fights have yet been announced.
After an embarassing introduction to the UFC, the Texas Crazy Horse, Heath Herring gets another chance to prove himself. This time it is at UFC 69 in April. I am glad to see the UFC give him another chance. I’ve enjoyed watching Herring for years. I’m not sure what happened to him a few weeks ago; that was not the Heath Herring I’ve watched in Pride all this time. Good luck, Heath, show us something special!
Well, it has been one week since my three trusty UPCs went sailing through the postal system toward the Kellogg’s special promotions center. A quick check of the Kellogg’s Special Offers Status Inquiry shows that neither my latest order, nor the one I sent several weeks earlier, are in the system. I’m beginning to suspect they are less than efficient.
Stay tuned for breaking news.