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Tuesday, December 25, 2012

(Gun)FIGHTS / (Lots of) BLOOD - 'Django: Unchained' delivers

by Bowie Ibarra

 
Quentin Tarantino's 'Django: Unchained' delivers the cruelty of pre-civil war America with a great story and outstanding acting.

The story revolves around the union of dentist cum bounty hunter Dr. King Schwartz (Christophger Waltz) with liberated slave Django (Jaime Foxx).  Schwartz uses Django's knowledge of several killers he is searching for to fetch their bounty.  When Schwartz discovers Django's wife has been sold away, he promises to find her with him.

The movie is another Tarantino masterpiece of action, violence, and respect to the movies that inspired it.  Django was an Italian spaghetti western from the seventies that spawned several sequels.  This movie follows in the tradition of the previous movies filmed decades earlier with its gritty western action and storyline.

Christopher Waltz delivers an amazing performance, as well as Foxx and DiCaprio.  The supporting cast is fantastic as well.  The film even features a cameo from the original Django, Franco Nero.  Tarantino also has a hilarious cameo that provides one of the biggest laughs of the film.  And Tarantino seemingly provides tribute to another classic film maker, Sam Peckinpah, in a big gunfight near the end.

All in all, its a great movie and ZombieBloodFights.com approved!

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BOWIE V. IBARRA is the author of the 'Down the Road' zombie horror series from Permuted Press and Simon and Schuester.  His combat sports themed book, PIT FIGHTERS: BAPTISM BY FIRE, features a boxer from Scotland who transitions to mixed martial arts competition.  It is available in paperback and on Kindle for .99 cents.

Enjoy the blog?  Share it with your friends using the 'Facebook', 'Blogger' and 'Twitter' buttons below.

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You can network with Bowie and explore his other titles at his personal website, ZombieBloodFights.com.

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

FIGHTS: Notes on UFC on FX TUF 16 Finale/Khan vs. Molina

by Bowie Ibarra

It was a wonderful night for knockouts for combat sports fans as UFC on FX/Fuel/Fox related station's Ultimate Fighter Finale brought some action, along with the Khan vs. Molina card, trumping a hoped return to glory for Khan.

UFC ON FX TUF 16 FINALE

This was a great show that started with DUSTIN POIRER throw down with JONATHAN BROOKINGS in a match that had Poirer taking the win via choke.

Newcomer RUSTAM 'TIGER' KHABILOV vs VINC PICHEL found the Russian Sambo superstar throwing Pichel around the ring like the son of Zangief.  Three German Suplex's was all it took to take Pichel out of his game before the end of the first round.  It was awesome.

PAT BERRY smacked SHANE DEL ROSARIO in the face with an overhand right followed by a flurry of punches against the gate to take the knockout victory in the second round.

The mullet-laden MIKE PYLE kneed JAMES HEAD in the head in the clinch before finishing him with punches to his face for the finish in the first round.

The TUF 16 finalists American COLTON SMITH  and Canadian MIKE RICCI threw down for the title of TUF 16 Winner, with Smith dominating the whole match and taking the title by decision.  He got a big piece of glass and a Harley Davidson from Dana for his efforts.

Late replacement for the injured SHANE CARWIN, the batshit crazy MATT MITRIONE took on 'BIG COUNTRY' ROY NELSON in the superstar main event.  Nelson mixed it up on the feet with Mitrione, sending an uppercut from the outside that connected with Mitrione, dazing him for Nelson to take the victory.

KHAN VS. MOLINA

ALFREDO ANGULO went toe-to-toe with JORGE SILVA, with Angulo winning on the cards after the final round.

DEONTAY WILDER gave a tremendous heavyweight knockout to KELVIN PRICE in the third.  He might not be the next great American heavyweight, but he's well on his way.

AMIR KHAN took apart CARLOS MOLINA in his return with a new cornerman, Virgil Hunter, and new attitude.  It only took him ten rounds for the Molina camp to stop the fight, as Molina could not get an effective offense going against Khan before they called it off.  Khan broke his hand in the encounter.  We'll see if that affects his future training and continued return.

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BOWIE V. IBARRA is the author of the 'Down the Road' zombie horror series from Permuted Press and Simon and Schuester.  His combat sports themed book, PIT FIGHTERS: BAPTISM BY FIRE, features a boxer from Scotland who transitions to mixed martial arts competition.  It is available in paperback and on Kindle for .99 cents.

Enjoy the blog?  Share it with your friends using the 'Facebook', 'Blogger' and 'Twitter' buttons below.

Agree?  Disagree?  Leave a comment below using your Google+ or Blogger account.

You can network with Bowie and explore his other titles at his personal website,ZombieBloodFights.com.

FIGHTS: New NWA World Tag Team Champs crowned in SATX

by Bowie Ibarra

Photo credit Scot Summers official Facebook  page

ZombieBloodFights.com salutes the newly crowned National Wrestling Alliance World Tag Team Champions, Scot Summers and Ryan Genesis: The Kingz of the Underground.

The National Wrestling Alliance has been wallowing in the mire of mismanagement and neglect for over a decade now, and in spite of the history and tradition the organization represents and the wrestlers who tried to keep the spirit and respect alive (including Adam Pierce, Colt Cabana, and Blue Demon, Jr.), no one was willing to resurrect the group.

But the controversial Bruce Tharp and a management team including the motivated NWA Vice-President/CFOTony Brooklyn (of NWA-Houston) are hoping to return the name to glory.

Being a Texas indy wrestling fan, giving the KotU a shot at the NWA world tag-titles was a step in the right direction.  The Dark City Fight Club has held the titles for a very long time now.  Whether that was a matter of not having quality competition or lack of actual contests is debatable.  Considering the way NWA was run prior to this year, there's lots of reasons people could speak up against the legitimacy of the Dark City Fight Club's title reign.

The fact remains that they earned the titles and defended them during that long time period, so whoever wanted them could fight them for it.

With Branded Outlaw Wrestling taking on the NWA mantle, the KotU were ready to make a run at the titles.  Jon Davis, one half of the champs, was absent in the defense and replaced by a more-than-capable replacement Lance Hoyt, one half of the IWGP World Tag Champs in Japan, who teamed with Kory Chavis.

In the end, the more prepared tag team took the titles.  And its this blogger's opinion that the KotU will represent those titles with respect and honor to the tradition it holds.

On that note, Lance Hoyt offered a challenge to the new world champs.  His claim was to be able to call themselves 'real' world champs, they should battle it out with the IWGP World Tag Champs, The Killer Elite Squad of Hoyt and DH Smith.

If that matchup is to ever go down, it will be a huge step in returning the glory and respect the NWA titles hold.  And there's no better tag team in Texas, and perhaps the nation, to defend that honor than Scot Summers and Ryan Genesis: The Kingz of the Underground.

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NWA Branded Outlaw Wrestling Notes

-- New Branded Outlaw Heavyweight Champ Jax Dane was crowned Sunday as well, defeating his ally Ray Rowe.  Rowe was game, but could just not handle the power advantage Dane had, which makes me wonder who can beat the 'Vanilla Godzilla'.  The NWA championship committee needs to consider Jax Dane a top contender for TokyoMonster Kahagas' title.

-- Houston Carson defended his NWA North American Title against Mike Dell and Jaykus Plyskin.

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BOWIE V. IBARRA is the author of the 'Down the Road' zombie horror series from Permuted Press and Simon and Schuester.  His combat sports themed book, PIT FIGHTERS: BAPTISM BY FIRE , features a boxer from Scotland who transitions to mixed martial arts competition.

Enjoy the blog?  Share it with your friends using the 'Facebook', 'Blogger' and 'Twitter' buttons below.

Agree?  Disagree?  Leave a comment below using your Google+ or Blogger account.

You can network with Bowie and explore his other titles at his personal website,ZombieBloodFights.com.

Sunday, December 9, 2012

FIGHTS: UFC on Fox 5/Pacquiao vs. Marquez IV - A great night for fights

by Bowie Ibarra

If Elton John has taught me anything, it's that Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting.  And it proved true in this amazing night for combat sports.  ZombieBloodFights.com takes a look at the night.

UFC ON FOX 5

Mike 'Quick' Swick vs. Matt 'Immortal' Brown

The show started strong with these two UFC vets.  Matt Brown documented how he found salvation in MMA to keep him from drugs.  Swick was on a comeback from health issues.

It played out fine by me, with both guys fighting it out on the ground and feet with some MMA science.  Brown KO'd Swick, and it was a great knockout.  I was happy Swick got finished with such cruelty as I've had a problem with the dude when he tried to rename the 'guillotine choke' after himself.

BJ Penn vs. Rory McDonald

BJ Penn was fighting for relevance that has long passed him by.  Rory McDonald was not to be denied in the most douchey way possible.  The young Canuk showed little respect to the MMA legend in promos leading up to the fight, as well as the actual fight.  Penn could not handle McDonald's youthful offense and weight, and fans like myself will have to wait until another time to watch this cocky jerk from the great white north get his comeuppance.

It was nice, though, to hear the fans boo him as he tried to call out Carlos Condit.  He stood in the ring like a pendejo, wondering why everyone was booing him as he tried to be the 'respectful mixed martial artist' Mike Goldberg has tried to hammer into our brains for years.

Even Joe Rogan couldn't get him over with the crowd, hugging McDonald's nuts in front of the Seattle crowd that was having none of it.  Joe, we understand he's a talented young up-and-coming star, my man.  But he's an arrogant and disrespectful dick, and I just want to see someone whip his ass.  He would do well to work on some of those Canadian manners us ugly Americans are always told canuks have.

Maybe start by having him NOT cut 'Arrogant Young Heel' promos before a fight.

We see through your act, McDonald, you hoser.  Take off, eh.  You're loaded.

(insert caption here)
Ronda Rousey gets booked in her first UFC Match

Ronda Rousey is granted an official UFC Women's Title Belt to defend, and is booked for her first fight.  She's real excited about all that.










Alexander 'The Mauler' Gustafsson vs. Mauricio 'Shogun' Rua

This was a big test for Guffstasson.  Rua is not a man to be trifled with, event his far into his illustrious career.

But Gustafsson was able to weather the Brazillian's storm and shut down Rua with cruel strikes.  Well done, Gus.

UFC LIGHTWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
Benson Henderson (C) vs. Nate Diaz

Benson Henderson is a great and dominating UFC Lightweight Champ.  Diaz has never been considered a class act, but he's a pretty good fighter.  He uses his tremendous reach to pepper foes with punches like his brother to great success.

But Benson showed why he was the champ, dominating Diaz on the feet and the ground.  As per the Diaz brothers, he talked trash and even flipped Henderson off, which was edited by Fox to avoid fines by the FCC.

Great job there putting such a loose cannon in the main event there, Dana.  The Diaz brothers are fighters through and through, and I enjoy watching them because they are pretty exciting fighters.  This sport is clearly a good career choice for them with their bad attitudes and lack any social skills or class.  They just need management.

PACQUIAO/MARQUEZ IV
From Juan Manuel Marquez's official Facebook page

The undercard was alright.  The Miguel Vasquez vs. Mercito Gesta was garbage, and was highlighted by an in-between rounds backstage shot of Juan Manuel Marquez getting his hands taped while watching the above UFC Fox 5 main event.

The Filipino Micheal Farenas fight against the returning Cuban Yuriorkis Gamboa was competative, with Farenas even knocking Gamboa down late.  Gamboa won by decision, but it was a hard-earned victory, as every time Gamboa had Farenas in trouble, the dude would fight his way back out.

50 Cent also came down from the roof before the Gamboa fight, singing a rap song.  He was strapped to cords that lowered him from the rafters.  Owen Hart is dead, yet 50 Cent continues to make records.  Life is unfair.

There were even celebrity guests at the event, including Mitt Romney, who looked so scared trying to mix in with the people.   I imagine him telling Pacquiao it was great that he was representing Brazil, or calling the cops when he met 50 Cent.  He was to sit in the crowd near Pacquiao's corner, which is a bad omen when you think about it.

After this match was the headliner.  But before that, we had to do the national anthems.  Apparently, the sound guy forgot the national anthem CD or MP3, because they were all done A Capella.  C'mon, guys.  In this day and age, no one could download the karaoke version of the songs?

Also, the US national anthem was sung as well after the Mexican and Filipino.  I guess for the referee, or what? 

The main event that was outstanding.  The guys came out swinging, and it hearkened back to their very first match years ago.

In the third round, after an exchange, Marquez knocked Pac down.  Then in the fifth, Pac answered by sending Marquez to the mat.

It was in the 6th that Marquez put Pac's lights out in the final seconds of the round.  Eating a punch from Pac, Marquez took the shot to deliver one of his own, an overhand right that clocked Pac straight in the mouth, sending him hopping off his feet and face first to the mat.

I swear, I thought he was dead.  He was out for a little bit, and it was reminiscent of Pac's fight against Ricky Hatton.  What goes around comes around, and Pac went out a warrior.

And that's the great thing about Pacquiao:  He is a warrior.  It's just what he does.  He fights.  He fights very well, and he knows it.  He said he would be fine with a rematch with Marquez.  That would be good.  He's a warrior.  Set the pay, and he'll do it.  That's his profession.

But it looks like first a match between Marquez and Brandon Rios is on the horizon, which sounds pretty good.

It's too bad that Pacquiao/Mayweather, the greatest fight to NEVER happen, never took place.  The cowardly loudmouth Mayweather dodged Pac for so long, making excuses, saying Pac was taking performance enhancing drugs.  He thinks Pac is a cheater.

Mayweather is a total douche, but he's good.  He's real good, and a great boxer and athlete.  You cannot take that away from him.

He's also smart.

He knows Pac could beat him back in the day.  He knew Marquez would beat him, too.  That's why he put on several extra pounds and paid off Marquez with $500,000 to get away with it on the night of their fight.  Some would call that cheating to win, in spite of the payoff.

Hell, he even cheap-shot KO'd the foolish Victor Ortiz when Ortiz was turning up the heat.  Granted, the shot was within the rules, but there's not one person who can say it was not a cheap shot, a shitty win, and a slap in the face to everyone that paid to see a boxing match.

But that's the kind of cowardly turd Mayweather is.  A cowardly turd who's an amazing boxer.

Last night, Pacquiao showed he's not a yellow bastard.  He showed he's a warrior that will fight the best fighters put in front of him.  And on that fateful night, when boxing history was made, not only did Pacquiao cement himself as one of boxing's immortal warriors, but so did Marquez.  And that's something Mayweather can never say.

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BOWIE V. IBARRA is the author of the 'Down the Road' zombie horror series from Permuted Press and Simon and Schuester.  His combat sports themed book, Pit Fighters: Baptism by Fire , features a boxer from Scotland who transitions to mixed martial arts competition.

Enjoy the blog?  Share it with your friends using the 'Facebook', 'Blogger' and 'Twitter' buttons below.

Agree?  Disagree?  Leave a comment below using your Google+ or Blogger account.

You can network with Bowie and explore his other titles at his personal website, ZombieBloodFights.com.

Thursday, December 6, 2012

FIGHTS: The controversial Eddie Mansfield threatens Texas wrestlers, horns in on Kahagas title run

by Bowie Ibarra


Looks like some old dogs from pro-wrestling's past can smell money.

Eddie Mansfield, the controversial grappler from the 80s, has joined the camp of Kahagas and set his sights on dominating the wrestling rings of Texas.  Mansfield claims he was one of the greats in Texas, and perhaps he was.  But he is most remembered as one of the people who participated in the infamous John Stossel 20/20 segment where he allegedly outed some of the 'secrets' of pro-wrestling.

I would like to know the working relationship between manager Dontay Brown, who finagled Kahagas to the controversial NWA title win, and Mansfield.  Brown would be foolish to let Mansfield in on his contract with the Tokyo Monster.  But I'm not sure if Brown still has a hand in Kahagas' pocket, or if he's transferred managerial rights to Mansfield.

One thing's for sure, Mansfield is nothing but trouble.  And if he's looking for fights in Texas, he's got them.  There are plenty of Texas wrestlers who are worthy of a shot at the 'ten pounds of gold'.  Texas heavyweight standouts include Scot Summers, Mike Dell, Jax Dane, Ryan Genesis, Ray Rowe, Jaykus Plyskin, Michael Faith, Ann Dromeda, James Claxton, among many others.

No disrespect for Kahagas, he's good.  The question is, if Mansfield is going to run him hard like this across Texas, how long can Kahagas put up an effective offensive against the state.  He'll be scouted every match, and weaknesses will be assessed by each subsequent competitor.

Careful what you wish for, Mansfield.

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BOWIE V. IBARRA is the author of the 'Down the Road' zombie horror series from Permuted Press and Simon and Schuester.  His combat sports themed book, Pit Fighters: Baptism by Fire , features a boxer from Scotland who transitions to mixed martial arts competition.

Enjoy the blog?  Share it with your friends using the 'Facebook', 'Blogger' and 'Twitter' buttons below.

Agree?  Disagree?  Leave a comment below using your Google+ or Blogger account.

You can network with Bowie and explore his other titles at his personal website, ZombieBloodFights.com.


Wednesday, December 5, 2012

ZOMBIES: RECAP - 'Walking Dead: Made To Suffer' until February, S3 Ep.8

by Bowie Ibarra



THE PRISON POPULATION GROWS

This weeks episode opens with the appearance of Tyrese, apparently another popular character from the comic, regulating zeds in the woods with his friends.  We are treated to an example of his football acumen as he runs through the woods with skill and athleticism with a big backpack to help his team.  Though one of their team is bit, they end up finding sanctuary in a broken down wall and its building.  Look familiar?

Axel gets creepy with Beth, but is cut off by Carol, who pulls him aside.  He's pretty plain about his motivations, having spent so much time behind bars without the company of a female.  He thinks Beth is his only option, stating he thought Carol was a lesbian because of her haircut.

Later, young Carl, with his dad's hat, keeps tabs on the group and his little sister.  They hear a scream from the interior.  There's a funny moment when Herschel says it can't be Carol because she's in the guard tower with Axel.  We all remember the fun Maggie and Glenn had in the guard tower from a while back.  I wonder how Daryl's going to feel about that.

At any rate, Carl goes to investigate and finds Tyrese and his friends.  He helps them fend off the zeds, who seem to have followed them in, and leads them back to a secure room.

Its there that one of their team passes from a bite suffered in the woods.  Before they can smash her face in with a hammer before she rises, Carl locks them in the space.  That's when one of the team named Sasha's voices that she's not much for being 'secured', but Tyrese sees the advantage and they relax about it.


ZERO DEAD THIRTY:  THE RAID ON WOODBURY

Andrea volunteers to help scientist Mr. Mamet cremate Mr. Coleman.  As she leaves the governor's side, it gives the governor special time with Penny.  He plays music like Mr. Mamet's experiment, Penny runs at her dad, but is restrained by a leash.  He tries to calm her by undoing her bonds and singing to her.  Too bad she's interested in the blood pudding he made for her.  He shouts at her, losing patience, and puts her back in her cell.

Meanwhile, Maggie and Glenn are trying to come to terms from their respective forms of torture, and 'forget what people do'.  Glenn gets motivated and rips the arm off a zed in the room, taking its bones for use as weapons.

Meanwhile, outside, the WD Crew Fireteam of Michone, Rick, Oscar, and Daryl follow Michone's lead and begin their infiltration of Woodbury to find their friends.

The Governor and Merle are planning an assault on the prison.  Though Merle is concerned about his brother, the Gov feels they can get Daryl on his side.

The WD Crew move deeper into enemy territory, breaking into a building.  Rick thinks Michone might be leading them into a trap.  But they are spotted by some schmuck from the wall who walks in on them.  The dude doesn't think they are much of a threat.  But when Rick jumps the dude and asks where his friends are, its too late.

They end up finding out where the prisoners are when Maggie and Glenn make a move on enemies entering the room they were in.  They jump them and stab them with their bones, but its short lived because they had backup.

It gives enough time for the WD Crew to initiate an assault, freeing their friends and leading to a mad dash out of Woodbury.

The Governor tells the regular citizens not to worry and go home, but tells his militia to gear up.

Michone leads the team to a safe building to make another run at the wall before she runs off.  Its here that Glenn tells the team about Merle and the Governors knowledge of the prison.  Daryl wants to see his brother, but Rick tells him he needs him with the WD Crew.  We once again see that Rick's relationship with Daryl is just like the Governor's to Merle.  It's another striking moment when you see the duality of the two teams, just like when Michone first joined the WD Crew at the prison.  It was like Woodbury without the trappings of normalcy.

The Governor mobilizes his team against the 'terrorists', and tries to keep Andrea out of the action, who again gets all women's libbed up and ready to fight back.  But the Governor can't let her see the enemy.

That's when the WD Crew makes their move.  The set off smoke bombs and race to the wall.  Andrea claims she sees them.  The Governor thinks she was able to see them because she was able to identify the prisoner, Oscar.  Not by name, actually, but by clothes.  But that could spoil his plan to assault the prison, so he demands she goes to hide.

While the WD Crew is running and gunning their way to their escape, the ghost of Shane comes to haunt Rick and even shoots Oscar dead.  Rick puts the Shane-Ghost down to find it was a real man that was not really Wolverine Shane.

Rick clearly is still not well.


PENNY



Michone infiltrates the Governor's house and waits at the door for her revenge.  But she hears Penny in the side room.  She kicks open the Governor's rec room to find the heads and Penny locked up.  She thinks Penny is just a kid and takes off her chain.  But then she takes off the bag on her head to find she's dead.  When she tries to bite her, Michone takes control to set up a fatal strike with her Hanzo.

But that's when the Governor shows up and begs her not to hurt her.  He even puts his gun away and submits to her, offering himself up to Michone to spare his 'little girl'.  Michone sees the best way to hurt the Governor by killing Penny, which she promptly does by stabbing her through the neck and out her mouth.

A fight ensues, as you might imagine, breaking the fish tanks with the heads and brinking their biting into to the equation.  That's when Michone uses some glass to go Lucio Fulci on the Governor and stab him in the eye.

Its then that Andrea appears to see it all, and the two former BFF's have a face off.  Michone walks off because the Women's Libber can't pull the trigger.  The other problem is she is now exposed to the Governor's sick secrets in his rec room.

At the doctor's office, Andrea confronts the Governor about the heads.  But he doesn't have much to say.  When Merle arrives, he tells the governor he'll go after them.  But the governor is thinking about a different angle.

Rick mentions to Michone upon her return that Daryl moved back into Woodbury to find his brother.  But the problem is he gets caught and put in the arena of sport, the ZombieBloodFights.com Arena, where the Governor sets up a speech about how he's failed the city and sets up Merle to take the fall as a 'terrorist', saying he is responsible for letting the terrorists in for the attack.

Problem is, Daryl gets added into the mix, too, and all of Woodbury calls for their heads.

And that's it.  That's the mid-season finale.  Damn this mid-season finale bulls**t.

Anyway, enough of that.  We'll see you in February.

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Enjoy the blog?  Share it with your friends using the 'Facebook', 'Blogger' and 'Twitter' buttons below.

Leave a comment below using your Google+ or Blogger account.

Follow Bowie on Twitter @wingback20

Follow Bowie's Facebook page.

Bowie Ibarra is the author of the 'Down the Road' zombie horror series from Permuted Press and Simon and Schuester.  His latest zombie story, The Fall of Austin, tells the story of military, police, convicts, and citizens of the Texas capitol as they deal with the zpoc.  It is available in Kindle and Paperback.

You can network with Bowie and read about his Tex-Mexploitation stories and check out his book trailers at his personal website, ZombieBloodFights.com

Monday, December 3, 2012

ZOMBIES: RECAP - The Walking Dead 'When the Dead Come Knocking' lights the fuse, S3, Ep7

by Bowie Ibarra

Here's how last week ended...

And here we go with this weeks episode, 'When the Dead Come Knocking'...

THE WOODBURY INTERROGATION

Merle has captured two of the WD Crew and begins by interrogating Glenn, pushing his buttons by insulting the cultural background of Glenn's friends and pushing him to say where the others are by threatening Maggie, who is in the next room and can hear it all.  Glenn draws first blood by catching Merle with a headbutt, and the beating begins.

Realizing how stubborn Glenn is, Merle uses one last cruel attempt to get Glenn to talk by unleashing a zombie on him.  But the once meek Glenn, who hid behind a trash can when it was 'go time' in season two, ups his game.  During a struggle, he escapes from his chair that he was bound to and kills the zed.

Merle reveals to the Governor that his brother is still alive, but doesn't know where.  So the Governor takes it upon himself to interrogate Maggie.  He's cordial, even unties her bonds.  But when she doesn't answer his plain and simple non-threatening questions, he begins a sexual humiliation of her and threatens rape.  I hate to think she's been in this predicament before, because it came across that this wasn't the first time by the way she handled herself with some real courage and repressed rage to call the Governor's bluff.

Turns out the Governor might be a weirdo, but he's not a rapist, and he diffuses the situation.  He pulls her into the next room with Glenn and forces her hand by putting a gun to Glenn's head.  That's all that needed to be done, as Maggie sings like a bird to spare Glenn.  The Governor adds insult to injury by attempting to console Maggie with a hug and a kiss.

THE WOODBURY EXPERIMENT

Andrea gets assigned to work with the scientist Mr. Mamet to help scientifically determine if the zeds have any conscious thoughts.  And before that, we get a Van Damme-style 'Put on my Calzoncillos after Banging it out' shot of Andrea by the window.  You remember the Van Damme 'Put On My Calzoncillos after Banging it out' shot from 'Bloodsport', right?  Yes, you do.

Anyway, when Andrea arrives, the scientist is trying to program Mr. Coleman with audio and visual cues to see if the recently deceased and risen Mr. Coleman will remember the cues.  Andrea is doubtful, but the scientist somehow insists.  It seems the results could be of some value to the Governor when you think of his daughter.

When Mr. Coleman turns, Mr. Mamet tries to make a run with the audio and visual cues.  When he thinks Coleman might respond, he loosens the bonds only to get attacked.  Andrea puts a stop to the experiment with a knife to the head.

With that revelation, the Governor questions Merle's loyalty as well as Andreas.  Little does he know, the raid from the WD fireteam is about to happen.

MICHONE GETS LOCKED UP



Michone makes it to the fenceline of the jail with 'Lil' Ass Kicker's' baby food.  Rick and co. decide to make a move to help her before she is overrun by the zeds and bring her in.  Its this time that Carol is revealed by Daryl to the crew to much warm fuzzies.

Look at all this space
Then Rick and the crew help patch up Michone before they interrogate her on how she got there.  I have to admit, this felt like the duet scene that Michone probably got the role from, as she does a pretty good job here.  She even stares down the crossbow from her loose cannon rogue equivalent in Daryl.  She reveals the location of Woodbury, and the Governor.  Rick and his team mobilize, using the roomy and luxurious comfort of the Hyundai Death Dealer: Zombie Crusher Edition.  Rick puts the burden of protecting the prison on Carl, who apparently hates the nickname 'Lil' Ass Kicker' and gets Rick's approval to call the baby Judith in what I believe is a Freudian nod to Judith O'Dea, or Barbara from 'Night of the Living Dead'.

When the WD fireteam arrives near Woodbury, they are nearly overrun by zombies.  They requisition a house to hold off the zeds.  They don't realize the house has someone in it.  When the dude freaks out in spite of Rick trying to be calm about it, the dude almost runs out to let the zeds in, Michone takes matters into her own hand and kills the dude with her Hanzo sword for the safety of the team.

They feed the dead body to the zeds and the WD Fireteam makes a break for it.  And we get a great Greg Nicotero special effects gore feast.

Before long, they find Woodbury and gird their loins for the raid.

Looks like the mid-season finale (WTF?  C'mon, Walking Dead) is going to be filled with some action.  Until next time.

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Enjoy the blog?  Share it with your friends using the 'Facebook', 'Blogger' and 'Twitter' buttons below.

Leave a comment below using your Google+ or Blogger account.

Follow Bowie on Twitter @wingback20

Follow Bowie's Facebook page.

Bowie Ibarra is the author of the 'Down the Road' zombie horror series from Permuted Press and Simon and Schuester.  His latest zombie story, The Fall of Austin, tells the story of military, police, convicts, and citizens of the Texas capitol as they deal with the zpoc.  It is available in Kindle and Paperback.

You can network with Bowie and read about his Tex-Mexploitation stories and check out his book trailers at his personal website, ZombieBloodFights.com.

Sunday, December 2, 2012

FIGHTS: Cotto is nowhere in sight in loss to champ Trout

by Bowie Ibarra



Apparently, Puerto Rican challenger Miguel Cotto (40-4) didn't show up in his alleged 'home' in Madison Square Garden when he had the opportunity to take the WBA Light Middleweight title from Texan Austin Trout (26-0).  Trout was able to defend against the atypically non-aggressive Cotto to defend his title as best in the WBA Light Middleweight class.  And, in the end, Cotto's undefeated MSG record was cracked.

Cotto did not display enough of his aggression and science and instead defended against the crisp and clean shots from Trout.  Cotto only made inroads with flurries at the end of some rounds, gaining some advantages at the end from rounds that were usually dominated by the efficient Trout.

It was a disappointing showing from Cotto, whose last fight was against the upstart boxing master, Floyd Mayweather.  Before these last two losses, Cotto looked good in wins against the Shabbas-honoring Yuri Foreman, the wild brawler Ricardo Mayorga, and the bitter rematch against Antonio Margarito.

Cotto had stretched Mayweather more than anyone else had up to their fight, but did not bring any of that crisp science or aggression that worked so well against Mayweather to Trout.

For the undefeated Trout, it was his first big test that he passed with flying colors.  Cotto was able to hurt Trout during the bout, but it wasn't enough to keep the champ from earning a unanimous decision victory.

Trout also had no problem calling out rising Mexican star, Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez.  If Cotto challenged Trout, then Alvarez is a good next step.  Alvarez has rolled through his opponents, and if Trout can handle Cotto, then its a good match up for both.  And Trout openly wants Canelo's belt.

Boxing fans have a good match up waiting for them in the near future.  Make it happen, boxing gods.

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Bowie Ibarra is the author of the "Down the Road" zombie horror series from Simon and Schuester and Permuted Press.  His upcoming books, "Pit Fighters: Baptism by Fire" and "Pit Fighters: Double Cross" feature adventures of a fight stable in the world of combat sports, including a Scottish boxer who crosses over to MMA.

You can network with Bowie at his website:  http://www.zombiebloodfights.com

Saturday, December 1, 2012

ZOMBIES: Wild Speculation for the Walking Dead Finale - Will we see Zombie Lori?

by Bowie Ibarra


We come back to this picture from the 'Killer Within' episode.  You remember the moment, right?  Where Rick found a bullet that did not seem to have any blood on it.  Then a blood trail away from the apparent scene of the grisly birth and subsequent 'death' of Lori.

Well, ZombieBloodFights.com speculated wildly that perhaps we would find Carol had found a dying Lori and stitched her up.  Well, since then, Carol has been found, with still no sign of Lori.  We're led to believe that the fat zombie ate her up completely:  bones, skull, and all.

So here's this weeks ZombieBloodFights.com Wild Speculation:  Will the season finale feature a Zombie Lori?  A revelation that though Carl insisted he shot his mother in the face after turning, a murder we did not see happen with our own eyes, that he did not, in fact, kill his mother.


Let's see what happens in the mid-season finale (Damn you, Walking Dead)!

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Leave a comment below using your Google+ or Blogger account.

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Bowie Ibarra is the author of the 'Down the Road' zombie horror series from Permuted Press and Simon and Schuester.  His latest zombie story, The Fall of Austin, tells the story of military, police, convicts, and citizens of the Texas capitol as they deal with the zpoc.

You can network with Bowie and read about his Tex-Mexploitation stories at his personal website, ZombieBloodFights.com.

ZOMBIES - RECAP: Lots of 'action' in The Walking Dead: Hounded, Season 3, Ep. 6

by Bowie Ibarra

Things start of pretty fast in 'The Walking Dead: Hounded'.  Here's how it played out.


MERLE AND FRIENDS HUNT MICHONE
- Merle took a small team of killers with him to hunt down the exiled Michone.  They stumble across a warning from the Hanzo-sword wielding killer made up of dismembered zed body parrts.  One of the crew, an openly frightened Gargulio, deciphers the message as 'Go Back'.  Before they know it, Michone jumps the Woodbury crew and takes out two of the members.  Merle gets a shot off that wounds Michone, and the chase is on.

Only a few moments after looking for her, she jumps them again.  After a struggle, zeds join in the fun, giving Michone a chance to run.  But not before she cuts open the stomach of one of the ghouls while stuck on the ground, providing the viewer with some great Greg Nicotero special effects gore.



Merle calls it off, saying Michone is going into the 'red zone' and is as good as dead.  Gargulio speaks up and wants to make another run at finding and killing Michone, stepping up to Merle.  But Merle blasts the boy for speaking up and returns to Woodbury.

Trying to escape, Michone accidentally learns that the caked-on gore from the belly of the zed has disguised her to the walking dead.  So she moves on and into a nearby town.  Its here where she sees Glen and Maggie rolling in for supplies.  The problem is Merle arrives as well.  After setting up a false sense of security, Merle captures Glenn and Maggie and forces them to go drive Woodbury, leaving the baby food.

ACTION IN WOODBURY

Andrea tells the governor she didn't like the ZombieBloodFights from the night before and wants to work wall.  So she's assigned with this young girl who has a compound bow.  But the girl sucks with the bow she claimed she killed her father for, so Andrea has to go all women's lib on the zombie the girl tried to kill by jumping off the wall, stabbing the zed in the head, and making the girl look stupid.  But the girl rats her out to the governor.

In the proverbial principals office, the governor takes her off the wall.  But to get back in to his good graces, she changes her position (no pun intended) for the governor on the ZombieBloodFights.

The Governor sees that she's opening up to him (no pun intended), so he takes her back to his super mini garden for a drink and conversation.  It's here that he gets all Jim Jones on her and charms her with words and whiskey and gets her in the sack.  That's when Merle returns and lies about the expedition but the capture of Maggie and Glenn.
MYSTERY AT THE PRISON
The mysterious phone call is answered by Rick.  The people on the other line claim to be survivors, but they hang up on him.

After checking with the team, Rick returns to the room and a dude calls him back, asks if he's killed anyone and how many, then asks about his wife because he mentioned a boy and a baby to the lady who called the first time.  When he doesn't answer, the dude hangs up on Rick.

Herschel shows up to help sooth Rick, and Rick tells Herschel about the phone call.  Herschel listens on the phone, then offers to stay with him.  Herschel suggests the phone isn't working, and gives Rick some space.

Another few phone calls later, he then starts talking to Lori, and you know he's gone off the deep end.  But the message she has for him is a kind of consolation that helps get his focus back.  He returns to the team to hold his baby for the first time.

Oscar, Daryl, and Carl do some cleaning up of some of the prison.  While doing their search, Daryl shows off some acting chops with a monologue about how his mom died in bed when he was young in a fire.  Daryl says how unreal it was to him.  But Carl comes back with his experience shooting his mother in the face and saying 'That was real.'  They both console each other for their loss.

They had discovered a door that seemed to contain another zed.  They knew it couldn't be much of a threat if it couldn't open the door.  Later, when Carl and Oscar return to the team, Daryl moves to kill the zed after a moment of brooding.  It's then that he finds out it is Carol.

Meanwhile, Rick is having his moment outside with his baby, but notices something by the gates.  As he approaches, he finds Michone... with the baby food Glenn and Maggie left behind.

Just how will Michone be treated by the Walking Dead crew?  We'll see very soon.

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Enjoy the blog?  Please, share it with your friends using the 'Facebook', 'Blogger' and 'Twitter' buttons below.



Leave a comment below using your Google+ or Blogger account.

Follow Bowie on Twitter @wingback20

Follow Bowie's Facebook page.

Bowie Ibarra is the author of the 'Down the Road' zombie horror series from Permuted Press and Simon and Schuester.  His latest zombie story, The Fall of Austin, tells the story of military, police, convicts, and citizens of the Texas capitol as they deal with the zpoc.

You can network with Bowie and read about his Tex-Mexploitation stories at his personal website, ZombieBloodFights.com.

BLOOD: RUMOR from Horror Town USA: 12.1 Jason Vs. Tommy Jarvis?

Check out this great rumor from the Horror Town USA blog.

Technically, this would be Vorhees vs. Jarvis III, as the two first mixed it up in Friday the 13th IV and then again in part VI when Tommy dug Jason up from the grave to fight him again.

Anyway, check it out and follow the Horror Town USA blog while you're at it!

Horror Town USA: 12.1 Jason Vs. Tommy Jarvis?: Jason Vs. Tommy Jarvis? Sure, Maybe, Probably not.. Anyways, in a recent interview Corey Feldman aka Tommy Jarvis (The First Act) talke...