Jun
30

Alphas title image WIDE 560x282 Insights on Alphas: Darker than Eureka and Warehouse 13

As we have been reporting, Syfy’s new scripted show Alphas is scheduled to premiere on Monday, July 11 after the mid-season and season premieres of Eureka and Warehouse 13. SciFi Mafia recently attended a Q&A panel with Alphas Executive Producer Ira Steven Behr (The 4400, Crash), and cast members Ryan Cartwright (Bones, Mad Men) and Azita Ghanizada (Psych, NCIS: LA) to find out a little bit more about their specific characters and the show in general.

First, a quick reminder from Syfy about the premise of the show:

Alphas is an action-packed thriller from writers Zak Penn (The Avengers, X-Men: The Last Stand) and Michael Karnow.  In the series, five ordinary people are brought together to form one extraordinary team of Alphas — people with the unique power to stretch the capabilities of the human mind giving them superhuman physical and mental abilities.

Operating within the Defense Criminal Investigation Service of the U.S. Department of Defense and led by preeminent neurologist and psychiatrist Dr. Lee Rosen (Emmy Award-winner and Academy Award-nominee David Strathairn), an expert in Alpha phenomena, the team investigates cases that point to others with Alpha abilities. As they work against the clock to solve this new brand of crime, they must prevent their own personality differences and disparate backgrounds from interfering with their ultimate mission to catch the enemy.

One of the most notable clarifications about the show came fairly early on; this is NOT a superheroes show. The abilities were referred to by the panelists as “neuroconditions.” That alone shifts this show from the X-men/Heroes mold into more of the “these people have SKILLS” mold. Honestly, I’m a little disappointed but maybe this will save the show from becoming ridiculous or silly or too eye-rolling.

RedEye asked Ryan Cartwright about developing his character, whose name is Gary, and how Gary compared to Mr. Nigel Murray, his character on Bones:

ryan cartwright Insights on Alphas: Darker than Eureka and Warehouse 13Obviously the first thing that came up was the fact that he is autistic. And I’m not sure Nigel Murray was. I think he was just a bit mad, see? I think he was a little bit just eccentric.

But this guy is like 32 on the Karr scale and that was the first thing that I had to tackle just because if you’re playing anything like that you have to go in with a lot of respect and it was fascinating actually just getting to research that. I just read a load of books on the subject and saw a lot of documentaries and stuff and spoke to advisors.

And it was really good actually. It got me thoroughly interested in neuroscience and stuff, which is great for this job because it’s like every week there’s a new kind of extreme neuro condition that we get to investigate. So what was lovely was like once I had researched the condition/syndrome part of it, it was really good piecing together Gary to the point where I could actually give him a good sense of humor and lift him like all actors say, you want to lift the guy off the page and not have him.

You don’t want to play the syndrome, you want to play the character and the person. And the way it was written as well was really good. He had a voice already there. So yes, it was a really good challenge but a fun challenge and now he’s up and running it’s really good to be Gary every day.

Pop Culture Zoo asked Azita Ghanizada about her preparation for her part:

azita ghanizada1 Insights on Alphas: Darker than Eureka and Warehouse 13Because I got the part last and everybody was already up here and god, I was scared sh*tless. So I read the script I don’t know, a dozen times between the day I got it on the plane and the first day of shooting.

I think I was really up the second day was Rachel’s entire introduction. And I kind of started to look online for different things in regards to people that actually have the ability to super see and hear. I did a little bit of work on echolocation.

Yes. And kind of saw how people’s bodies physically passed out as they were hearing/seeing with their ears and then kind of tweaked that into Rachel as much as possible as far as trying to find her abilities and how to do that as honest and human as possible.

So I just kind of looked at all that stuff online and really kind of tried to look at the news and documentaries and things that were, people that actually had abilities or are really known for things like being able to hear really well or see microscopic pieces of writing on microscopic pieces of rice and all that stuff and how they just did it really honestly.

Then I watched a bunch of sci-fi stuff like scanners and all those things and just tried to tap into you know, what other people were doing in the past and what’s been done before and just kind of have a general understanding of it.

As for the show in general, Blastr asked Ira Behr about the direction for the season:

Yes, that’s the question. Well, oddly enough in about 3-1/2 hours I will be going into the network and pitching the final episodes of the season and telling the network where the series is going.

So I’m going to be very interested to see if they agree with us. One of the things that really appeals to me about the show is you know, in line with some of the other stuff that I’ve done is that this is a show that is going to evolve and is always evolving and is not a cookie cutter kind of series where every episode is exactly the same and plays out basically as the episode the week before and the episode the week after.

So this show is evolving. It evolves in five episodes and it’ll evolve more when we get to the tenth episode. And so I think what’s obviously going to happen without giving anything away is this is a group of people who are not really your first choice to be an investigative unit or to be going out into the field and getting shot at as Ryan said.

They are kind of working for the government but the government doesn’t totally know whether to trust them, they don’t know whether to trust the government. They’re working against this organization of alphas called Red Flag and Red Flag keeps telling them that they’re on the wrong side. And it’s a very precarious position to be in.

And as we like to say in the writers office, the center cannot hold. Eventually you know, things are going to start cracking. You know cracks are going to appear on the surface and I think by the end of season one there will be cracks appearing all over the surface.

Both Ira Behr and Ryan Cartwright are very enthusiastic about the humor of the show, that there is a fair amount but that it’s dry, and natural, and not silly. I asked Ira Behr if he is familiar with their lead-in shows Eureka and Warehouse 13 and if Alphas is different in tone:

Ira Behr: Well, I’m not totally familiar. I have seen a couple of episodes of each. I think they’re both lighter in tone. We have a lot of humor in our shows but our shows do tend at times to get dark in their plotlines. I think we’re the 10:00 show and we deserve to be the 10:00 show. That said, I do think we all share this kind of character driven humor and obviously we’re all ensemble shows. So we have similarities and some strong differences.

I asked if the tone of the series changes over the span of the season, and if there have been any adjustments to the initial plan.

Ira Behr: Well, the show evolves every week and the show is different every week. I mean we could have a really kind of tense, like I said, dark episode.

And then we do an episode which has the title Bill & Gary’s Excellent Adventure, which gives you an idea that it might not be the darkest show in the history of television where Bill and Gary go off on an assignment or not even an assignment and get to work together. So you know, I think that the episodes are a little different from week to week.

And the show is evolving you know, at a pace that you know, I had hoped for and expected it to. In terms of the actors, actors always impact on characters and you find relationships that work. Certainly since I’ve already mentioned it, the Bill and Gary relationship has kind of sparked all the writers. There is a nice give and take there that we’re kind of writing toward and enjoying.

You know, but actors always impact on how you view the characters and what an actor brings to the character is so real compared to what you have in your imagination. It’s suddenly there and they’re doing it and you start seeing things that you might not have expected and that’s part of the fun of the process.

Okay, so it’s not a superhero show, but there is some darkness, some science, some dry humor, and what looks like a nice bad-guys-trying-to-bring-good-guys-over-to-their-side dynamic going on. What do you think? Keep an eye here on SciFi Mafia and you’ll be seeing a review that may give an indication of how well they pull this off.

Alphas premieres on Monday, July 11 at 10/9c on Syfy.

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Jun
30

tinker tailor soldier spy images released 57537 02 470 75 First Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy trailer arrives online

The first trailer for John le Carré adaptation Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy has landed online at the Guardian.

Let The Right One In director Tomas Alfredson directs this new take on the Cold War thriller, with Gary Oldman starring as retired spy George Smiley.

The teaser is saturated with class, boasting one of the year’s most impressive ensemble casts: Oldman is joined by Colin Firth, Tom Hardy, Mark Strong and Benedict Cumberbatch.

An ominous score, crisp dialogue and moody period detail has seen Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy leap several places up our must-see list.

Check it out now:

Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy opens on 16 September 2011.

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Jun
30

14 Dunham Guillard Melvin Guillard   The Best Hes Ever BeenA double take is almost mandatory when Melvin Guillard talks about getting older, as if his 40th birthday just came through in March, and not his 28th. But to him, a life in the fight game that began when he was just a teenager gives him a unique perspective on the aging process – at least in an MMA sense.

“You don’t know what can happen in this sport,” he said. “I’m getting older and there’s a lot of young talent coming along. When I look back on my career, I’ve had a long career already. Before I was a just a kid myself beating grown men. I’ve seen a lot of careers end, I’ve ended a lot of careers, and you think about those things.”

Bottom line, “I’m tired of losing fights because of me. I’m gonna make a good run at this, and now is the time.”

If Guillard sounds wiser, and okay, older, it’s because he’s reached the point in his life and career where he can’t take the missteps he took early on. In fact, few would have made it this far after all the ups and downs he’s weathered. But a year and a half away from his 30th birthday, Guillard can finally call himself a veteran and a contender.

And just because he sports a 45-9-3, 1 NC, that doesn’t mean the title of “veteran” is given to him haphazardly. Sticking around for a couple dozen fights doesn’t earn you such a description. It’s sticking around, learning your craft, and realizing what it takes to make it to that next level. Guillard has figured that out, and with four wins in a row leading up to his UFC 132 bout with Shane Roller this Saturday, he’s showing the best form of his career.

“I’m definitely on the right track,” said “The Young Assassin.” “It took me a while to figure it out, but if I would have won the title at 23 like (teammate and UFC light heavyweight champion) Jon Jones did, I probably would have screwed myself over. I would have been young and immature, and sometimes you get a taste of that glory at a young age, and a youngster can’t deal with it. I probably would have been that guy. Just being in the UFC alone and being on The Ultimate Fighter, I was already feeling like a rock star and I was already partying like a rock star and that’s how I got in trouble. Now I look back on all that and I don’t regret anything, but I look back and say that was the biggest learning tool but it was also the hardest road to take, and I made it a lot harder than it should have been. That’s what’s making me strong now as an individual and as a husband and a family member and as a teammate. I look back at all the bad I’ve done and all the tough roads I’ve taken and I know there’s nothing else standing in front of me that can be nearly as hard as the things that I’ve been through already. So putting somebody in front of me to fight me for a gold belt, that’s nothing to me. That’s gonna be easy takings for me.”

In his last four bouts, Guillard nullified the ground game of Ronys Torres, knocked out Waylon Lowe with a knee to the body, stuck to a rock-solid gameplan against Jeremy Stephens, and stunned fight fans with a first round finish of highly regarded Evan Dunham. His game has evolved by leaps and bounds, and if he continues with his winning ways, a leap into the title picture would have to be next, right?

“It’s kinda surreal, but I’m excited at the same time, and I’m not really looking at the title just yet because I’m only on a four fight winning streak,” he said. “You’ve still got guys like Jim Miller, who’s on an seven fight winning streak, and the fights I need to put me in that spot I’m not getting just yet, but I’m gonna keep winning. If I don’t get a title shot this year, I do want to go undefeated. So I’m just gonna sit back and watch what unfolds in the division.”

The way he sees it, Saturday’s bout won’t be the magic one that pushes him to the top of the contenders’ list, even though his clash with top-notch wrestler and submission artist Roller is an intriguing one. Instead, he’s looking at Roller as the perfect foil for him to nab his second straight Knockout of the Night award.

“I’m motivated for every fight, but I think what motivates me the most is knowing that with a guy like this, he’s tailor-made for me to knock him out and I could possibly go home with a knockout bonus,” he said. “Fights like this, I take them and I always think to myself ‘man, I want to go home with that extra check.’”

It used to be that all Guillard thought about on fight night was unleashing his explosive power and earning another clip for his highlight reel. And when he was on point, finishes of Rick Davis, Gabe Ruediger, and Dennis Siver were something to see. But back then, if he couldn’t get you out of there, your odds of winning skyrocketed.

Yet after setting up camp with Greg Jackson’s team in Albuquerque and realizing that he needed to mature both in and out of the Octagon, things changed…fast. But even with the 180 degree turn in his fortunes, he isn’t going to push things. The way he sees it, by the time he gets his title shot, there will be no question that he’s the number one challenger.

“A lot of guys ask for something and they’re not ready,” he said. “I’m not really asking for it; I just want to keep preparing myself so when I do have that opportunity, I don’t choke like some of these guys are doing. Some of these guys have gotten these big opportunities and some have gotten that opportunity more than once and they choke in the big show. I won’t be nervous. I never thought of myself fighting for a title and saying ‘oh, I’m gonna be so nervous.’ To me, it’s just another fight. I’ve been doing this for years and right now, if I haven’t been nervous all those years, I’m not gonna start now. And when it (a title shot) comes, nobody can question it and say ‘well, did Melvin deserve it?’ Because I’m gonna work to get there. I don’t want nobody to give me anything.”

“Me personally,” Guillard continues, “my job means more to me than an actual title. If I get blessed with a title shot, I’ll be thankful. But in the meantime, I want to keep fighting and keep winning so I keep my job. I don’t see myself fighting back on small shows, I don’t see myself going back and trying to work a regular job because I don’t fight for the UFC anymore. I wouldn’t even wake up and feel right if I had to tell a kid that I don’t fight in the UFC anymore. Those are the things that I’m afraid of. I’m not afraid of not getting a title shot; I’m afraid of losing my job, and that’s why I fight so hard and why I like to put on a good show. Win or lose, I always get called back, and that’s my motivation and my drive.

Married, mature, motivated, yet still menacing in the Octagon? This is Melvin Guillard 2011, the best version yet.

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Jun
30

When will Ashton Kutcher debut on Two and a Half Men? When will you get your first taste of new CBS fare such as Person of Interest? TV's most-watched network released its fall premiere schedule today...

296483 1 CBS Reveals Fall Premiere Dates
Person of Interest Preview

Wednesday, September 14
8 p.m. Survivor: South Pacific

Monday, September 19
8 p.m. How I Met Your Mother (one hour)
9 p.m. Two and a Half Men
9:30 p.m. 2 Broke Girls (new show)
10 p.m. Hawaii Five-O

Tuesday, September 20
8 p.m. NCIS
9 p.m. NCIS: Los Angeles
10 p.m. Unforgettable (new series)

Wednesday, September 21
9 p.m. Criminal Minds
10 p.m. CSI

Thursday, September 22
8 p.m. The Big Bang Theory (one hour)
9 p.m. Person of Interest (new show, previewed above)
10 p.m. The Mentalist

Friday, September 23
8 p.m. A Gifted Man (new show)
9 p.m. CSI: NY
10 p.m. Blue Bloods

Sunday, September 25
8 p.m. The Amazing Race
9 p.m. The Good Wife
10 p.m. CSI: Miami

Criminal Minds - TV Fanatic

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Jun
30

see robert pattinson in david cronenberg s cosmopolis 60341 03 470 75 See Robert Pattinson in David Cronenberg’s Cosmopolis

Robert Pattinson may be waiting for the final Twilight films to hit cinemas, but he’s already putting the vampire flicks behind him with David Cronenberg’s new film Cosmopolis.

Seeing as it’s filming right now, a handful of on-set photos have landed online – and they show Pattinson rocking a slick suit and even slicker hair.

Based on the Don DeLillo novel, Cosmopolis has Pattinson playing a newlywed billionaire who loses everything that’s important to him over the course of just one day.

Check out the images below…

see robert pattinson in david cronenberg s cosmopolis 60341 00 470 75 See Robert Pattinson in David Cronenberg’s Cosmopolis

see robert pattinson in david cronenberg s cosmopolis 60341 01 470 75 See Robert Pattinson in David Cronenberg’s Cosmopolis

see robert pattinson in david cronenberg s cosmopolis 60341 02 470 75 See Robert Pattinson in David Cronenberg’s Cosmopolis

see robert pattinson in david cronenberg s cosmopolis 60341 04 470 75 See Robert Pattinson in David Cronenberg’s Cosmopolis

Cosmopolis has yet to receive a release date. Twilight 4, AKA The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1, opens 18 November 2011.

mf See Robert Pattinson in David Cronenberg’s Cosmopolis

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Jun
29

A new version of the George RR Martin book (the one that spawned the HBO series) is coming soon. Just like winter.

 Another Version of Game of Thrones Coming in September  Another Version of Game of Thrones Coming in September  Another Version of Game of Thrones Coming in September  Another Version of Game of Thrones Coming in September  Another Version of Game of Thrones Coming in September  Another Version of Game of Thrones Coming in September  Another Version of Game of Thrones Coming in September  Another Version of Game of Thrones Coming in September  Another Version of Game of Thrones Coming in September  Another Version of Game of Thrones Coming in September  Another Version of Game of Thrones Coming in September

 Another Version of Game of Thrones Coming in September
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Jun
29

first poster for the three musketeers rides in 58569 470 75 Paul WS Andersons The Three Musketeers gets a second trailer

A second trailer for The Three Musketeers has hit the web.

Paul WS Anderson’s The Three Musketeers stars Logan Lerman, Luke Evans, Ray Stevenson, Matthew Macfadyen, Christoph Waltz and Orlando Bloom, to name a few.

This new take on the classic Alexandre Dumas novel follows a young D’Artagnan (Lerman) who seeks out the trio to be one of them and fight the evil Cardinal (Waltz).

This second trailer gives us a better indication of the storyline than the first, thanks to an exposition-spilling voiceover from Macfadyen's Athos.

It also gives us a preview of the outrageous action scenes we are used to seeing from Anderson (Resident Evil, AVP: Alien vs Predator), as Milla Jovovich refuses to let a corset get in the way of some ludricrous combat scenes.

Check it out now:

The film opens on 12 October 2011 in 3D.

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Jun
29

brave wide 560x282 Pixar Channels Their Inner Highlander in BRAVE

Pixar can do no wrong in my book. Except employing Larry the Cable Guy, that is. I’m sure I’d enjoy Cars if not for his idiocy stinking up the whole thing. But I digress.

Their latest project Brave looks to rival The Incredibles in my book. Check out the discription and trailer below.

Since ancient times, stories of epic battles and mystical legends have been passed through the generations across the rugged and mysterious Highlands of Scotland. In Brave, a new tale joins the lore when the courageous Merida (Kelly Macdonald) confronts tradition, destiny and the fiercest of beasts. Merida is a skilled archer and impetuous daughter of King Fergus (Billy Connolly) and Queen Elinor (Emma Thompson). Determined to carve her own path in life, Merida defies an age-old custom sacred to the uproarious lords of the land: massive Lord MacGuffin (Kevin McKidd), surly Lord Macintosh (Craig Ferguson) and cantankerous Lord Dingwall (Robbie Coltrane). Merida’s actions inadvertently unleash chaos and fury in the kingdom, and when she turns to an eccentric old Witch (Julie Walters) for help, she is granted an ill-fated wish. The ensuing peril forces Merida to discover the meaning of true bravery in order to undo a beastly curse before it’s too late.

Click here to view the embedded video.

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Jun
29

wec4811aldovsfaber004 The Blueprint: Cruz vs. FaberUrijah Faber is the most famous 135-pound mixed martial artist in America—period.

The man with the million-dollar smile and elite skills was the face of the WEC for the three years leading up to the decision by Zuffa to fold the fledgling promotion into the UFC. He has probably signed thousands of autographs during and after his record-setting reign as a WEC champ. Faber has used his star power to successfully market himself like no other bantamweight in domestic MMA history. The net result is a burgeoning business empire in his native Sacramento and, of course, regular headliner status on fight cards, which means big checks for strapping on the gloves and fighting.

Dominick Cruz doesn’t have any of that. He isn’t famous. Cruz hasn’t appeared in major market commercials, unlike Faber’s K-Swiss cameos.

But none of that matters because Cruz has one thing that Faber desperately wants:  the UFC Bantamweight Championship.

Yes, that is right. Cruz is the reigning 135-pound champion, despite the fact that he will be making his UFC debut on Saturday night. The crown was won in his final WEC fight, and it was a well deserved honor. The little ball of fire is in the midst of a seven-fight winning streak, including three straight when WEC gold was at risk.  He has been as dominant over the last three years as any WEC fighter not named Jose Aldo.

But here is the kicker. Faber already owns a win over Cruz. Yes, you read that correctly. The pair squared off in a March 2007 fight. Faber was the reigning 145-pound champion at the time. Cruz was making his WEC debut after a long, successful career in regional promotions.

Faber dispatched him in 98 seconds via guillotine choke. That loss remains the lone blemish on Cruz’s otherwise perfect professional record.

For those who haven’t seen the fight, I’ll lay out how it unfolded.

The pair came out circling for the first 30 seconds, throwing some crazy kicks and punches without landing anything of consequence. It was definitely a feeling out period. Cruz landed the first strike of consequence 45 seconds into the bout—a right uppercut on the button. Faber shook it off like raindrops falling on his shoulders.

Faber pressed the action with wild strikes. Cruz countered with a big takedown. Faber brilliantly transitioned it into a sprawling guillotine, using it to quickly work back to his feet, while controlling his foe.

Once back up, Faber landed a monstrous knee to the forehead. It snapped Cruz’s head back. The challenger instinctively took down his foe, though it was apparent (to me, at least) that he was still suffering from the knee because he literally did nothing with the takedown, other than lay in place.

Faber quickly moved for a guillotine while the fight was transitioning. Cruz initially was in a good position, with his arm inside the guillotine, preventing Faber from finishing the hold. Yet, Cruz did nothing else to improve his position or defend. After a few seconds, Faber adjusted his upper body and slipped his left arm under Cruz’s chin, rolled to mount and finished the hold.

Cruz is 8-0 since that fight. Faber is 7-3. Both have since dropped down to 135 pounds.

I think the drop in weight favors Faber much more than Cruz. The champion is at least two inches taller than Faber, which means he is extremely tall and presumably will face a significant strength disadvantage at 135 pounds.  Both men are lightning fast. Both could be mistaken on any given day for the Energizer Bunny, but few men in the sport, across any division, possess a gas tank that rivals Faber’s. He is a conditioning machine, able to fight at a frenetic pace for five full rounds. That conditioning advantage should only get better for Faber, who has shed some unnecessary bulk.

Of course, Cruz is the champion. He has only tasted defeat once in his professional career. He is wec 1216 dominick cruz vs scott jorgensen 12 17 10 17 31 43 525 The Blueprint: Cruz vs. Faberprobably the more motivated of the two because of the way the first fight ended. I’d be shocked if Faber was taking the fight lightly because Cruz owns two wins over Faber’s teammate, Joseph Benavidez, as well as wins over tough competitors Brian Bowles and Scott Jorgensen. Cruz remains the only man to ever defeat Benavidez (he did it twice) and Bowles. Those are huge wins.

But again, the motivation advantage probably lies with Cruz. I imagine this guy living and breathing nothing but Faber on a daily basis. It has to burn white hot in his gut knowing that he is the champion, yet Faber is the one receiving all the pre-fight attention.

Cruz has been very vocal in his pre-fight interviews about his belief that he possesses the better standup skills. I’m not so sure about that. Cruz may have the more impressive 33 percent knockout ratio (six out of 18 total fights), compared to Faber’s 24 percent (seven out of 29 total fights). Nonetheless, Faber has definitely been in there with more of a murderer’s row of strikers during his career, typically doing just fine on the feet, if not getting the edge in the action.

I don’t think Cruz seeking to keep the fight on the feet is the answer. I instead think that his biggest key to victory is putting Faber on his back and keeping him there.

In the first fight, I was fairly shocked to witness Cruz score two quick, relatively easy takedowns. Of course, he did nothing with those two takedowns. But that is not the point. Faber is dangerous in every position, but his offensive guard is probably the one area of his game that lags a bit behind the others. Cruz should look to exploit that weakness with a series of takedowns followed by active, yet controlled, ground and pound.

Getting the former featherweight champ to the ground is often easier said than done. The key, as Cruz showed in the first fight, is to counter his punches with aggressive takedown attempts, rather than leading with them. Faber is too good of a wrestler to get taken down and controlled with lead double leg attempts. He is also excellent in the clinch, so I don’t see Cruz dragging him down. Changing levels in the face of a Faber lead right hand, by contrast, is just what the doctor ordered, if the champion wants to keep his 135-pound strap.

For his part, I think Faber also needs to put Cruz on his back. That is definitely his weakest offensive position. In 17 professional fights, Cruz has only a single submission win. Compare that to Faber’s 13. Plus, Faber already has a submission win over him, something that could wreak havoc on Cruz’s mind, if the “California Kid” locks in even a semi-tight submission at any point in the fight.

Faber can get the fight to the ground in a number of ways. Many people often forget that he holds the record for all-time wins in collegiate wrestling at the University of California, Davis. He is, by far, the better wrestler in this matchup. He can take down Cruz in a number of ways—shooting from the outside, dragging him down or throwing him from the clinch, executing a high crotch against the cage, or, best of all, using his striking to get Cruz’s weight back on his heels and then slamming him with a double leg.

Whatever the case, Cruz is in a world of trouble if he finds himself on the ground with Faber pounding away. He should do whatever it takes to stand up in that situation. Faber will likely be the crowd favorite on Saturday night, so time spent in the top position mixed with cheers from his fans every time he lands even grazing shots is a perfect recipe for a judges’ decision. Cruz needs to keep that in mind and stay off his back.

In my breakdown of Wanderlei Silva versus Chris Leben, I stated that there are two types of mixed martial arts fans. The gladiatorial type, who love drop-down, drag-out wars, and the cerebral type, who prefer combat chess matches. This fight definitely will appeal to the latter. Neither guy has show stopping power in their hands. Both are fairly elusive targets on the feet. Neither man is easy to take down or control on the ground. And both fight as much with their brain as their brawn.

With that said, this may also turn into a serious slugfest. That is the great thing about the little guys. The lack of jaw-dropping striking power is replaced with amazing speed, deep gas tanks and constant action.

To be honest, I like Faber to win in any scenario. His power and speed should carry the day in a slugfest, though anything can happen when two guys plant their feet and swing away. His speed and elusiveness should carry the day in a hunt-and-peck scenario. His wrestling should carry the day in determining where the fight unfolds. And, if he is unable to dictate the position of the fight, his submissions and ability to work back to his feet almost at will should decide the outcome.

Then again, Cruz is the champion for a reason. This guy is no joke. He often appears to face significant disadvantages on paper. Yet, he always finds a way to win. Always, except in his previous bout with Faber.

We will see what happens on Saturday night.

QUICK FACTS:

Dominick Cruz
•    26 years old
•    5’8, 135
•    68-inch reach
•    17-1 overall (7-1 WEC)
•    5-0 in last 5
•    9-1 in last 10
•    59% of win by decision (10/17)
•    35% of wins by KO/TKO (6/17)
•    6% of wins by submission (1/17)
•    Lone professional loss to Faber by submission
•    Won Fight of the Night in WEC once
•    Linear WEC Bantamweight Champion (2 successful defenses)
•    Current layoff is 198 days
•    Longest layoff of career is 364 days

Urijah Faber
•    32 years old
•    5’6, 135 pounds
•    69-inch reach
•    25-4 overall (10-3 WEC/UFC)
•    3-2 in last 5
•    7-3 in last 10
•    52% of wins by submission (13/25)
•    28% of wins by KO/TKO (7/25)
•    16% of wins by decision (4/25)
•    4% of wins by DQ (1/25)
•    Former WEC Featherweight Champion (5 successful defenses)
•    WEC Submission of the Night three times
•    WEC Fight of the Night twice
•    Current layoff is 105 days
•    Longest layoff of career is 217 days

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Jun
29

The Glee brain trust is expanding the show's writing staff for Season 3.

Co-creators/executive producers Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk and Ian Brennan have written every one of the Glee episodes to date. Next season they will have help in the form of Allison Adler (Chuck, No Ordinary Family) as co-executive producer.

Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa (Spiderman: Turn Off the Dark musical) was tapped as co-producer, with Marti Noxon (Buffy, Angel) and Michael Hitchcock hired as consulting producers.

Matt Hodgson and Ross Maxwell will serve as staff writers.

Brittany on Stage

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