No. 7: Chuan Ip Mung
Discipline: Kung fu
Strengths: Also focused, also has a training partner
Analysis: You can’t say that the Ip Mung boys didn’t come prepared.
If we’re sticking with the Chinese Diaz brother comparison, then I’m guessing Chuan is like the “Elite XC” equivalent to Nick Diaz. Chuan’s fluid volume attack gets him all the way to the third day of the Kumite, before running into Chong Li, of course.
Absorbing Chuan’s offense with relative ease, Li sadly dispatches of this character in such a way that doesn’t exactly allow Chuan the luxuries that Diaz had in regards to flipping everyone the bird on the way out of the building before going on to a mid-career renaissance.
However, if Chuan was afforded such an opportunity to revive his career in MMA, I doubt he makes it much further than his brother on the Chinese regional scene due to their lack of ground game (which is a common hole among this era of martial artists).
No. 6: Ray Jackson
Discipline: Drinking beer and hitting people
Strengths: Knockout power and optimism
Analysis: Although the discipline description above sounds like it could double for a Mickey’s malt liquor slogan in the Chuck Liddell era of our sport, it’s hard to deny that Ray Jackson is a natural when it comes to those things.
As far as hitting people on a high level goes, well … that’s another story.
Oddly enough, Jackson – who is also famously known for his role as “Ogre” in “Revenge Of The Nerds” – fights like the jock he formerly portrayed, misplaced optimism and all.
According to Frank Dux, the character of Jackson was based on two people: Richard Robinson (Japanese jiu-jitsu black belt) and Kurt Peterson (Sweedish karate champion).
Now, the reality of that story or these characters is not really relevant for this discussion, because Jackson essentially shows no sign of any martial art throughout the film – though he does do a pretty sweet “Uncle Phil” impression from Fresh Prince of Bel-Air mid-way through the Kumite when tossing an opponent off the platform.
Although Jackson would be higher on this list if the context were “favorite fighters,” his actual fighting ability could arguably have him ranked lower (I mean, did you see him getting schooled by an emaciated-looking Ray Liotta before landing that one-hitter quitter!?).
In fact, if it weren’t for Jackson’s undeniable finishing power (despite the questionable fight IQ that comes along with it), I would have a hard time seeing him amount to anything more than the American version of Harold Howard. Now, that’s no knock on either man, mind you; I just believe that – if Jackson loses his bandana in the Kumite – then he probably gets choked out by that thing the second he runs into a Gracie in early day MMA.