Hyden's Take
HYDEN BLOG: Distractions for UFC 141's Alistair Overeem; UFC on Xbox
Dec 21, 2011 - 8:40:27 AM HYDEN BLOG: Distractions for UFC 141's Alistair Overeem; UFC on Xbox

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By: Frank Hyden, MMATorch contributor

Alistair Overeem passed his drug test and is now cleared to fight Brock Lesnar at UFC 141. There's been plenty of distractions for Overeem, with all this drug test stuff and his mom being sick, and I think this will all affect the fight. Distractions usually spell bad news. Sometimes off-the-field stuff can galvanize a person or team, but it often causes lapses in judgement that you wouldn't ordinarily see.

The first instance of outside happenings positively affecting a team or person that comes to my mind took place on December 22, 2003. Brett Favre's father had died the previous night, but Favre decided to play in the Monday Night Football game against the Oakland Raiders. To say that Favre played fantastic is an understatement, but also a disservice to his teammates. Favre played exceptionally well, but I remember watching that game at home, and Favre's receivers played well above their usual level. There was several times where Favre just threw the ball up for grabs and the Green Bay receivers went up and got it.

Favre played great, but he was playing on pure emotion, the type of emotion that can only come after great tragedy. Jake Shields lost his father shortly before his fight with Jake Ellenberger earlier this year, and It clearly affected him. I don't want to take anything away from Ellenberger, but Shields wasn't quite the same as he usually is.

Overeem isn't dealing with anything quite on the level of losing a loved one, though one of your parents being severely sick can certainly shake you up. Then on top of it, Overeem is dealing with constant steroid allegations. It's possible that Overeem could adopt the "me against the world" mentality and use that to his advantage, but it's more likely that this distraction proves to be detrimental.

The way I see the fight between Overeem and Lesnar playing out is that Overeem is going to come out of the gate so hyped to prove everyone wrong that he's going to gas early. Neither guy has exceptional cardio to begin with, and I think Overeem blows up early. If Lesnar can withstand the early onslaught from Overeem I think the fight will be his. I don't have great confidence in either guy, as they've both been dealing with a lot of off-the-field issues. Both guys have expressed supreme confidence in themselves, but I'd expect nothing less from them.

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UFC 141 is listed as being free on Xbox Live. Howver, that was only for the first 25,000 people who ordered it, and that number was reached very quickly. People in the east were basically the only ones with a chance because 25,000 isn't a lot of people, and you know how fast deals like this go. I haven't been on Xbox Live since Tuesday afternoon, but the app is saying that the event is sold out. I don't know if that means that you can't even buy the event, but if that's the case, that's a major misstep on Microsoft's and UFC's parts.

One of the best parts of the UFC on Xbox Live app was the ability to purchase UFC pay-per-views without a cable box, or cable subscription. The app itself also never mentioned that the UFC 141 for free offer was limited to the first 25,000 people. Combine that with people in the west seemingly getting the shaft, and this becomes an unneeded headache.

The offer was great, but its execution was lacking. I suppose it's the thought that counts, though. Let's just hope that those who want to can at least order UFC 142 over Xbox Live.


Comments and suggestions can be e-mailed to me at hydenfrank@gmail.com