My first cage fight

[Ray Pina]

http://youtube.com/watch?v=C4JDdQezaJo

Well, I lost. But I learned some important lessons:

1) Don't rush. I was down and receiving knees, but I was able to absorb most of them. However, I lost because I forced changing the position when I should have stayed and let my man spend energy.

2) I need a corner. So I don't listen to the peanut gallery outside the cage telling me to "come on Ray," when I should stay relaxed. Amatuer mistake. See point #1

3) I felt like I matched up well with my opponant, especially standing (though he was very powerful and strong in the side mount) but seeing some pros playing in the red corner locker room, I realise if I truly want to compete at a high level, I have a long way to go and have to take it to another level yet again.

Have to think about this, because the amount of focus I put into training already taxed many of my relationships and responsibilities already. I'm sure in a week though I'll be ready for the challenge.

Just want to chill right now.

Not as disapointed as I was, because I kind of feel like I made a stupid mistake, gave up my queen (position) early in the game for no reason. Amatuer mistake.

Ray

[SevenStar]

Good job just for getting out there. I haven't checked out the vid yet, but I'll take a look later.

[MasterKiller]

You're looking pretty lean, Ray. Lost all the baby-fat you were carrying around last year.

Big props for getting in there and testing yourself!

I think if you spent a few months working your ground game with some ground specialists, you would have been able to get back on your feet from that side mount.

[Oso]

Good job.


umm, have you got a grappling coach?


ooops, yea, what MK said.

[Chief Fox]

Good job man. You're out there doing it. That's awesome.

Of course this is just me being ringside quarter back but it looked like there may have been a couple opportunities for a leg sweep in the clinch.

Nice job man.

[SevenStar]

Just looked at it - the main problem is your ground game. After he took you down, I didn't see any attempt to shrimp out and get him in your guard. You did turn twice, but you turned backward - you turned your back into him instead of away. I saw a couple of bridge and roll attempts, but what was needed was shrimping. I know you wanna be a pure kung fu stylist in mma, but you gotta get some grappling in, bro.

[GunnedDownAtrocity]

props for not only getting out there but posting the vid even though you didnt win this one.

you didnt look bad at all, but i agree with the others that you might want to up your ground game a bit.

[edit] ... i dont mean that as an insult either. i also dont think anyone is saying that you've been ignoring ground work, just that you might want a little more mat time if you want to compete in that venue. then again nerves could be a factor for your first fight too .... i actually wonder if ill ever compete because i dont know if i have the nerves for it at all.

[Blacktiger]

Good on you for walking the walk and not just talking the talk

[Faruq]

The man with the balls of steel! This is the first time I've seen someone post their own fight. You walked the walk! ****, I'm impressed.

[wiz cool c]

You where beating him standing. Nice knee and some nice punches. I know it is always easier to say when your not in there but do you know the BJJ way of getting from under the side mount to the gaurd. Again I know when your wathching it is different then when your in there. I had a judo match that ended similar to that the guy had 12 years of wrestling and pinned me in the same manner. Striking look tough.

[lunghushan]

Well, props to getting up there, and more props for posting the video.

Obviously you need to work more on your clinch and ground skills. Body-blow ... body-blow ... LOL

[GunnedDownAtrocity]

not to take a **** thing away from ray, but shaolin had a fight posted here not too long ago too.

a few other people have stepped up in the past as well .... i still have some of them archived on my puter somewheres.

[mantis108]

I agreed with Seven Stars. I think it's great that you put your muscle where your mouth is. Winning or losing in this case isn't that big a deal.

Your opponent didn't seem too effective in killing your arm (the one near him). You would have a better change of shrimping out had you capitalized on that. I think his knees are more for distracting you (looks like he was working on a figure 4 lock [Americana?] on your other arm can't see well from the camera angle). I have to say I like couple of things that your opponent did. The trip takedown plus passing the guard into side position and his neck crank/choke were just beautifully done IMHO.

This is your first time and you face someone who is just a bit more experienced with the ground phase. It is his day that all. I think you are right that it would be great to have an experienced corner working for in this type of event. BTW, may I say that you are holding your hands a bit low for this type of event. If your opponent is a good boxer, it's not a good idea to carry your hands low unless of course you are too tire or you are way out of range IMHO. This is one thing that we Kung Fu people have to pay attention to.

Just some thoughts. Over all, it's great to see you in action.

Warm regards

Mantis108

[lunghushan]

Okay, so don't take this the wrong way.

What I thought was kindof sweet was the way that Ray tried to do his grab the head thing on the guy, and the guy got out of that and used the opportunity to shoot.

Okay, a sorry for not rooting for the home team, but that guy did a pretty good job there.

[Samurai Jack]

Right on, Ray. It's obvious that you've put a lot of time into this. I'm just guessing, but I'd venture that you'd have beat the hell out of most of us.