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Wed Jan 21, 2009 1:45 pm EST

Barnett says Roach has no clue about MMA striking

By Steve Cofield

There's been a lot of bluster coming from Andrei Arlovski's camp in anticipation of his fight this weekend against Fedor Emelianenko. Arlovski isn't a trash talker but his new boxing trainer, Freddie Roach has done his share of dropping smack on the world's best pound-for-pound fighter. Roach, who has worked with top levels boxers like Oscar De La Hoya, Manny Pacquiao and Bernard Hopkins, said weeks ago that Fedor's striking is unimpressive and sloppy.

He may be one of the most well-regarded boxing trainers in the world but does his expertise apply to mixed martial arts and is he qualified to trash Fedor? Josh Barnett is also on the card and has 28 MMA fights under his belt, he thinks Roach sounds like a clown:

"As far as his striking not being impressive, I guess Freddie Roach is going to eat crow. It’s not like what Freddie Roach is used to and what he would normally step into a boxing ring and see across the way. Fedor's striking for MMA is very precise and it's been very successful for him."

Click below to listen to part two of Cage Writer's conversation with Barnett:

Roach stated the gameplan will be to push forward against Fedor. That's a bad move says Barnett:

"The minute you push him, he doesn't go back, he comes forward and he just immediately punches and tries to take you down. If he encounters trouble on the feet, he doesn't try to stay and work his way out of that, he changes gears."

Barnett says Fedor takes the fight where he's going to be successful. He's not married to one style of fighting. You have to wonder with all the boxing training Arlovski is working on, could it turn out to make the Belarussian one-dimensional?

The conversation turned to pro wrestling. Barnett, who also wrestles professionally in Japan, says he would've loved to have been a big pro wrestling star in the '70's when MMA didn't exist. Ask about who he liked better, the entertainers like Hulk Hogan or the tacticians like Bob Backlund, Barnett said he appreciates both types. He did mention that Hogan might surprise a lot of people with the fact that he was a real badass outside the ring.

Check out part one of Cage Writer's interview with Barnett.

Cage Writer will be ringside/cageside with live updates at both Affliction 2 on Saturday and WEC 38 on Sunday.
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45 Comments

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  1. Chocolat
    1. Posted by Chocolat Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:13 pm EDT

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    I think Roach is talking too much for someone who is a boxing trainer and not a striking trainer. There is a reason strikers didn't always bode well and it's because they rely on boxing instead of other stand up striking forms like karate or muay tai.
  2. me
    2. Posted by me Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:55 pm EDT

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    I have said this very thing a million times.
  3. Patrón
    3. Posted by Patrón Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:01 pm EDT

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    Striking in MMA is totally different. Leg kick's, takedown's, glove sizes are all huge variables that you don't have in boxing. Roach needs to slow his role, this isn't boxing
  4. Clint
    4. Posted by Clint Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:27 pm EDT

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    I have yet to see one boxer win an MMA fight. I remember the old days of the UFC where the guy with a "Boxing" background would get taken down and smashed immediately and had no chance of getting off his back. Striking is needed in today's game but boxing cannot be a fighters primary background or they have no chance. Boxing and MMA are kind of like 2 different animals. Can really compare fairly.
    How long until we get some positive articles about the upcoming Affliction Card?
    It would nice to see coverage even a quarter of what UFC gets!
  5. AdamG
    5. Posted by AdamG Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:45 pm EDT

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    Nutcracker:
    Liddell is a skilled striker, in that he is powerful and effective. Where he lacks is in his striking defense. Liddell leaves himself open a lot, and Rampage and Rashad both took advantage of that with technical boxing counters. No MMA fighters use traditional boxing stances, because they'd get legged kicked or taken to the mat.
    Did Freddie Roach talk about how many times Arlovski has been knocked out?
  6. KJ-MMA Armchair
    6. Posted by KJ-MMA Armchair Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:52 pm EDT

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    Clint, Marcus Davis comes from a boxing background and has adapted to MMA. He's scored some great KO's too.
    I'd even say Anderson Silva has blended muay thai and boxing as his striking game.
    Great boxing adapted to MMA (to throw while bearing in mind kicks and possible takedowns) is a skill every fighter should want to have.
    Also don't forget with Fedor's effective punching style, he's broken his hands on numerous occasions including against Sylvia. Fedor is a swarmer and that works for him.
  7. The Great White
    7. Posted by The Great White Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:27 pm EDT

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    Damn Nut, even Barnett is saying what a lot of us have been telling you for a LONG LONG time. Striking in MMA is different than striking in a boxing ring. I guess the people who do MAY know what they are talking about????
  8. Ron M
    8. Posted by Ron M Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:12 pm EDT

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    All the guys have boxing coaches. that's nothing unusual. The punches and the mechanics of throwing the punches are the same. However, there are a soome subtle differences as far as stance, blocking and slipping punches etc. Although, I agree Roach needs to stop running his mouth. That's just giving Fedor some bulletin board material.
  9. HAHA
    9. Posted by HAHA Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:08 pm EDT

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    The second installment of UFC Primetime -- featuring a behind the scenes look at Georges St. Pierre and B.J. Penn leading up to their mega-fight next week at UFC 94 -- airs tonight on Spike TV, although not without a little more controversy than might have been planned.
    During recent taping for the "up to the minute" series, Penn apparently became disenchanted with the way he was being portrayed on the show, according to a report on MMAJunkie.com, and cut off filming in the middle of an interview segment, denying further access to his gym.
    (UPDATE) MMAWeekly.com on Wednesday spoke with Penn's press representatives who did confirm the report with J.D. Penn, the fighter's brother/manager. J.D. verified that it is true that B.J. was unhappy with his portrayal on Primetime and cut off access to himself and his gym. Neither J.D. nor B.J. would comment any further, other than verifying the fallout.
    The ratings for the first episode -- which is scheduled to air on three consecutive Wednesdays on Spike TV -- drew an average of 880,000 viewers for the initial airing and followed with 690,000 viewers in its repeat performance.
    The rift with Penn may be another headache for UFC President Dana White to deal with, but Spike TV officials have to be salivating with the added drama to the fiery relationship between White and Penn, which is likely to drive further interest in the new series.
  10. Darrell S
    10. Posted by Darrell S Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:49 pm EDT

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    Comparing Boxing and MMA is like comparing soccer to hockey. Sure some of the concepts are the same, like in hockey and soccer both are trying to score by putting an object in the net, you have high sticking and high kicking, offsides, out of bounds, tripping, etc, etc. But if you were to put a soccer player in a hockey rink, Fuker couldn't skate, even if he could a little he would be no match for the hockey players. The opposite is true, put a hockey player on the soccer field he would be no match for the soccer player except for a lucky shot. Same with boxing and MMA, some of the concepts are the same, but taking a boxer to the ground would be like the soccer player in the hockey rink. And put an MMA fighter in the boxing ring under boxing only rules, he would be no match except for maybe a lucky punch.
  11. boxy55
    11. Posted by boxy55 Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:49 pm EDT

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    Once again we have to hear NUTCRACKER speak his gospel about boxing. Keep talking fool because we know you can't walk the walk!!
  12. Darrell S
    12. Posted by Darrell S Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:49 pm EDT

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    And Page got his legs tore up by Griffin from a boxers stance, but I think somebody else mentioned that earlier.
  13. Darrell S
    13. Posted by Darrell S Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:49 pm EDT

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    sorry phrased that wrong, got his legs tore up from being in a boxing stance.
  14. vudusup
    14. Posted by vudusup Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:38 pm EDT

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    Probably the only person in MMA right now that could hang with a top-level boxer would be Kimbo Slice.
  15. benny
    15. Posted by benny Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:08 pm EDT

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    kimbo got beat with a jab!stop shining his helmet with your tongue and get over it...........
  16. Joe J
    16. Posted by Joe J Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:30 pm EDT

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    it's not always about boxing... machida comes out in a karate stance and does pretty well for himself.
  17. KJ-MMA Armchair
    17. Posted by KJ-MMA Armchair Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:52 pm EDT

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    Nutcracker, how many years ago did Anderson box in Brazil? You think he's not improved since then, especially with interest from Roach to train him, just as he's training Arlovski?
  18. fightchica
    18. Posted by fightchica Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:53 pm EDT

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    oh jeez c'mon already what's he gonna say??? Emalienko has all the skills he needs to Kill you AA? Great confindece builder for his fighter wouldn't you say! PROPAGANDA to the opposing forces! Hell you all can't believe he isn't training to defend takedowns and submissions too! HYPE. In MMA you need to be well rounded and proficiant at reading your opponent to succeed, from whatever background you have adding on as many skills as you can as you go.
  19. fightchica
    19. Posted by fightchica Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:53 pm EDT

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    Besides this is great for Roach to promote himself to the hilt! You can't see him not taking that opportunity can you?
  20. AdamG
    20. Posted by AdamG Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:45 pm EDT

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    "And Adam G. Go look at the tape.. Liddell threw a lame left hook to the body and Page came over the top from a boxing stance and Chuck was sucking canvas.. Against Evans he threw a lame uppercut from too far out, with his body squared up and Evans put his mohawk to sleep... Also from a traditional boxing stance, throwing a typical overhand right, followed by a left hook (that missed as Chuck was already drooling on the canvas).. Boxing 101 kid...."
    I don't get what you mean by "boxing stance." Do you mean that Rampage and Evans had their hands up when defending Liddell's strikes? Boxing stances are much more closed than MMA stances, and everyone if the UFC uses a wider stance to prevent take downs and block leg kicks. Also, Chuck threw a right hook to Rampage's body from way outside. Chuck's problem is that his non-striking hand is at his waist instead of guarding his mohawk.
    So really, in all the crap you spew about boxing, I've learned nothing. Thanks, and keep truckin.
  21. boxy55
    21. Posted by boxy55 Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:49 pm EDT

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    Hey NUTCRACKER!!!! Where can I buy you tutorial on boxing for dummies??? It is obvious you are far and beyond any boxer, trainer , commentator , corner man , cut man , promoter and spectator in the mystical realm of boxing!! YOU ARE THE MAN!!!
  22. fightchica
    22. Posted by fightchica Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:53 pm EDT

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    Nut I think she loves you. LMAO
  23. benny
    23. Posted by benny Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:08 pm EDT

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    Nutlicker is my heroe!!you go get em fatboy
  24. Mitcy1z
    24. Posted by Mitcy1z Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:20 pm EDT

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    Hey nut I would love to box you too, I only boxed Golden Gloves so what you say?
    We can have video and post it like you have said at youtube.
    Bring it on!
  25. Dorian
    25. Posted by Dorian Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:36 pm EDT

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    Boxing sucks now, the Klitchko brothers should go into gay porn with Nutcracker directing.

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