Video game styles help knock a man spark out, plus a football coach goes on the rampage

Regular readers of this blog will know that I'm more than a bit partial to a spot of mixed martial arts (MMA) action and this weekend, while trying to avoid chocolate at all costs - less than three months now before I make an honest woman of the Angry Blonde and a fat groom is not a good look - I discovered an incredible highlight reel knock out.

A small hall show in Canada earlier this month saw Capoeira fighter Marcus Aurelio pitted against Keegan Marshall, and it did not last long. No surprise there, but the manner of Aurelio's victory was truly jaw-dropping, or jaw-breaking for his unfortunate opponent. He may still be looking for his teeth.

A bit of background first. Capoeira is usually more of an exhibition martial art, lending itself to choreographed displays of rhythm and artistry rather than the mayhem of flying fists and feet that you see in the MMA ring.

In fact, I think the only Capoeira fighter I've ever seen beating people up on the regular is Eddie Gordo, and he's a video game character in the Tekken series. Not any more though, as Aurelio skipped and jumped around the ring before getting Ronaldinho-ugly on Marshall with a couple of roundhouse kicks that almost decapitated his foe. 

Those in MMA circles are already talking about it as a contender for the best knockout ever, and it's hard to argue against it being up there. I'd still be tempted to go for the superbly-named Rampage Jackson's ridiculous power bomb slam which separated Ricardo Arona from his senses back in 2004. While we're on the subject, here's another reason I love Rampage - he dances worse than I do.

One more link before I go, and it continues the fistic theme. Unearthed by non-league football maven and colleague Stuart Watson, it shows a Brazilian manager reacting less than well to relegation.

Wonder how he'd feel about the Respect campaign? It is also worth noting how the player that he knocks over still manages to execute a roll and clutch his face like he's just seen Ivan Campo without makeup - I can only guess that it must be bred into Brazilian footballers to always grab the face when the victim of a foul, regardless of where you've been hit. Rivaldo was the pioneer. I hope he's still ashamed of that, but I doubt it.

Right, duty calls. Have a good one.

Cheers!

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