UFC 141 Recap

I really wanted to do an entry for UFC 140, which was one of the best events of 2011, but was just plain too busy; so I had to get this one out. That urgency was just exacerbated by the fact that we have all witnessed Brock Lesnar's last fight in the octagon, which was of no surprise given how trying times have been for him in the past couple years. Overall the event was decent; it started off pretty slow but picked up when the main card started. I predicted a decision-heavy event and it definitely delivered on that front. IT also delivered in the realm of upsets, including a major one that definitely makes the welterweight division more interesting. Here we go.


Alistair Overeem def. Brock Lesnar via TKO (Liver Kick and Punches), Rd 1
What Happened: Lesnar threw out his usual plan of bull rushing at the bell in favor of a more calculated approach, but it was all for naught. After stuffing an early takedown, Overeem proceeded to walk Lesnar down, throwing punches and tagging him in the process with hard knees to the body. A well-placed body kick spelled the end for Lesnar, as he collapsed against the cage and covered up as Overeem rained punches. Most of them were blocked, but the end was academic; Lesnar was done.
Thoughts: I went back and forth on picking for this fight because of the multitude of variables involved. Aside from the typical "anything can happen when heavyweights get in there" factor, there was Lesnar's 14 month layoff and his bout with diverticulitis, as well as Overeem's lackluster last showing against Fabricio Werdum and his recent drama with the NSAC. In the end I settled on Overeem by TKO, and by fight time I felt confident in that choice. I've said it before and I'll say it again: Lesnar's MMA wrestling is overrated. Guys like Jon Fitch, Cain Velasquez, Cole Konrad, Chael Sonnen, Jacob Volkmann, etc are very successful with their wrestling because the are relentless in the pursuit of a takedown. If you stuff one, they'll transition to another and pressure you the whole time. Lesnar is in the same boat as guys like Mark Munoz and Johny Hendricks in that they tend to give up after they are initially stuffed and back up. This is why they struggle working a wrestling-centric top control game. The difference with Lesnar is that unlike a Munoz or Hendricks, he doesn't have the striking skill offense or defense to make up for it. If he can't take someone down quickly, he gets hit; and when he gets hit, he doesn't react well. Once Overeem easily stuffed him and hit him with that first body shot Lesnar looked lost and hopeless, and I knew it was just a matter of time because Lesnar wasn't going to really push the pace and make the fight ugly.
Next for Overeem: Junior dos Santos for the title. Overeem made a bold statement in disposing of Lesnar and making it look easy. Overeem is one of the best strikers at heavyweight, and this upcoming title fight will likely settle the question of who the best striker in the division really is.
Next for Lesnar: Sitting on the couch in his huge ranch laughing at all the haters who view his MMA stint as a failure when he did in 7 fights what most guys won't do in their entire careers, and made millions doing it. He may not have earned his initial title shot, and he may have trouble taking a hit, but Lesnar chose to take the hardest possible road in this sport and did pretty damn well considering he came into the game late and with wrestling as his sole skill. The man deserves respect.

Nate Diaz def. Donald Cerrone via Decision (Unanimous), Rd 3
What Happened: It was a slugfest, and Diaz's boxing proved superior. He landed punches in high volume at will, and although Cerrone had some success with leg and body kicks in the 2nd and 3rd rounds, he couldn't do enough to avoid a lopsided decision loss.
Thoughts: This was considered an upset and I'm not entirely sure why. I picked Cerrone along with most people, but I couldn't believe so many were writing Diaz off. I might write him off against a great wrestler, but not a striker. Now although I acknowledge that Diaz is looking more and more like his brother with each fight (which is a very good thing), something seemed very off with Cerrone. Though he's not usually a paragon of striking defense, this time around he seemed to just allow Diaz to hit him constantly. Cerrone has always had a habit that I didn't like: he tends to close the distance by just walking into his opponents instead of moving in quickly. Thus far it has done him well (I usually cringe a little when he does it), but against someone he didn't have such a height and reach advantage over it proved to be part of his undoing. There were several occasions where he walked right up to Diaz to close the distance and took 3 and 4 punch combinations right to the face. Overall, it was just a bad performance for Cerrone, and a great one for Nate. Still not a fan of Nate or his brother, but I can't deny that they are great at what they do.
Next for Diaz: It's about time he starts getting mentioned in the title conversation. He should fight the winner of Anthony Pettis vs Joe Lauzon, in what could possibly be a title eliminator.
Next for Cerrone: Taking 5 fights in 10 months may have just been too much for Cerrone, but I think he should come back stronger. The loser of the aforementioned Pettis vs Lauzon fight, or perhaps that beef he has with Cole miller should finally come to a head.

Johny Hendricks def. Jon Fitch via KO (Punch), Rd 1
What Happened: It only took 12 seconds, so not much. Fitch let his guard down and caught a thunderous left hand which had him out immediately. Fitch took another bomb and immediately sought to recover and look for a tie-up, but he was done.
Thoughts: Not much to say about the fight itself, but this is bound to happen when you've had as much success as Fitch. MMA is unpredictable and anyone can get caught; you just have to get to the top before that happens. It's difficult for guys like him (unmarketable for title shots) because they have to win more fights to get another shot at the belt. Fitch's 5-0-1 record since his last title bid would be more than enough for a marketable contender to get another shot, but instead he had to keep fighting, and like anyone else it was a matter of time before he lost. I thought Hendricks had a decent style for stifling Fitch's game, but this was a huge upset.
Next for Hendricks: He has catapulted himself to the contender's list with this emphatic win. He could face the winner of Jake Ellenberger vs Diego Sanchez in a title eliminator. If that winner is catapulted to a title shot Hendricks could fight the Josh Koscheck, provided he gets past Mike Pierce in February.
Next for Fitch: Anyone can get caught, and this loss doesn't take away from the fact that Fitch is an amazing 13-2-1 in the UFC. He is still a major player in the division. He should take on the loser of Sanchez vs Ellenberger, Martin Kampmann should he fall to Thiago Alves, or even the loser of the upcoming interim title fight between Nick Diaz and Carlos Condit.

Alexander Gustafsson def. Vladimir Matyushenko via TKO (punches), Rd 1
What Happened: Gustafsson made short work of Matyushenko dropping him with a jab as Matyushenko jumped in sloppily with a strike of his own, and sealing the deal with punches on the turtling veteran.
Thoughts: Gustafsson is looking more and more like the prospect to watch at 205. Matyushenko made a quick but glaring mistake and Gustafsson capitalized on it big time. It seems Matyushenko became a little too comfortable with how well he has been doing in the striking department and his carelessness really cost him in this bout, similar to Mark Hominick's blunder against Chan Sung Jung. Gustafsson is showing smooth striking, and with his ever evolving grappling game he could be a force to be reckoned with in the near future.
Next for Gustafsson: Gustafsson is arguably the top prospect in the UFC that has not been booked in a high profile fight, so I think the UFC should take care in how they match him up. They rushed Jon Jones and he ran away with it; we will soon see how Phil Davis does; and I think Gustafsson has at least a couple fights left before going high profile. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira seems to be viewed as a gauge for up and comers, and if that doesn't work out then Brandon Vera might make a great next fight for him.
Next for Matyushenko: One of the premier veterans at 205, it's clear he won't make a run at the title but he can still serve as a stern test for any prospect. A respectable 4-2 in his recent UFC run, his only losses have come to the current champ and Gustafsson, and he has looked very impressive in his wins. Kyle Kingsbury or Krzysztof Soszynski could be next for "the Janitor."

Jimy Hettes def. Nam Phan via Decision (Unanimous), Rd 3
What Happened: From bell to bell Hettes completely dominated Phan, taking him down almost at will, landing hard punches from the top, and threatening with submissions. Phan simply had nothing for him and couldn't muster any meaningful offense on the feet.
Thoughts: Nam Phan is a blackbelt? A purplebelt, Hettes made him look more like a "blechbelt." Hettes was my underdog pick for this fight, but I had no clue he would dominate Phan so thoroughly (although I've thought Phan was overrate since even before he fought in the UFC; it was the basis for picking Hettes over him). He's utterly relentless in his pursuit of takedowns, he's got great timing for judo throws and sweep takedowns, his ground and pound is nasty, and his overall grappling is very solid. And he's only 24. Watch out for this kid.
Next for Hettes: Hettes has risen as a great new prospect at 145, and should be built up carefully. Sherdog.com suggested the winner of Jonathan Brookins vs Rahni Yahya, and I think that would be a good choice, as it would be a steady increase in competition and either would provide for entertaining grappling.
Next for Phan: Just 1-3 in the UFC, it wouldn't surprise me a whole lot if Phan was served his walking papers, but I don't really expect it. This latest loss was only decisive one, as he was outright robbed in his UFC debut against Leonard Garcia and fought to a very close decision with Mike Brown. If he gets another chance in the Octagon they might put him in with Josh Grispi in a loser leaves town fight.

Prelim Notes
- Ross Pearson took a decision over Junior Assuncao that was apparently not as close as I made it out to be. I feared Assuncao might squeak by on the scorecards (I scored it 29-28 Pearson) from scoring ineffectual takedowns and clinching a lot, but thank god the judges made the right decision, as Pearson tagged him numerous times in the 2nd and 3rd. One judge and two members of the Sherdog theme didn't seem to think it was all that contentious however, as they scored it 30-27 for Pearson.
- Danny Castillo took a close split decision over Anthony Njokuani. Njokuani showed improved defensive wrestling and ground game compared to his previous few fights against wrestlers.
- Dong Hyun Kim took a nip-tuck decision over Sean Pierson in which he showed improved stand up. Pierson, who in his previous two UFC appearances seemed content to slug it out on the feet, showed some impressive grappling but ultimately came up short.
- Jacob Volkmann used superior grappling to take a one-sided decision over Efrain Escudero. Escudero closed out the fight with a very tight brabo choke locked in, but Volkmann somehow survived for a very tense minute. In all three rounds, Escudero jumped into guillotines early and ended up on his back for extended periods. Stupid. Does he train with Teiquan Zhang or what?
- Diego Nunes used his superior striking and reach to take a decision over Manny Gamburyan. Though he was hurt in the 2nd, Nunes did enough to convincingly take the 1st and the 3rd rounds. This is Gamburyan's 3rd straight loss, so it'll be interesting to see where he goes from here.

UFC 139 Recap

What an event! UFC 139 housed one of my favorite cards of the year, and that's saying a good deal. A perfect mix of competitive decisions and finishes, topped off by what could easily be called the fight of the year. So without further ado...

Dan Henderson def. Mauricio Rua via Decision (Unanimous), Rd 5
What Happened: A fight many thought would end in a knockout turned into perhaps the greatest 5 round war in recent memory. Rua survived scare after scare at the behest of Henderson's lethal right hand and kept pushing forward. It nearly paid off in the final two rounds, especially in the 5th where Rua mounted Henderson 5 times and utterly dominated him; but it was too little, too late. Henderson took the fight 48-47 on all 3 scorecards.
Thoughts: First off, I'll say that it looks like the curse of Fedor has been lifted. Everyone who has beaten or performed well against Fedor has gone on to lose immediately following. Second, I scored this fight a draw, and I think it's the best example of a draw since Edgar vs Maynard 2. Hendo performed great in the first 3 rounds and had Rua in serious trouble on a few occasions, but Rua always put out enough offense to ward off a 10-8, even wobbling Henderson a few times. Rua definitely took the last 2 rounds, but round 5 was a definite 10-8, and I found it odd that none of the judges saw constantly mounting and completely dominating your opponent, even causing the referee to threaten to stop the fight, anything but a 10-8 round. This scoring was echoed by most MMA news outlets, and I felt a draw was the most fitting end to the fight, even if it does throw things out of whack in the division. What really bugged me was not that the judges gave the fight to Henderson, but that not one of them scored the final round a 10-8. Ridiculous.
I felt the fight could have gone much differently if Rua respected Henderson's power early and decided to focus on slowing him down instead of rushing into the pocket to exchange. It looked to be another case of Rua following a great performance with a terrible one, but he came back to show why he has one of the best chins in the sport, and that he can dig deep and not only come back from the brink of defeat but come back and bring the fight to his opponent. In the end both men should get a ton of respect for their performances.
Next for Henderson: Henderson is in the interesting position of now being considered a contender in both the middleweight and light heavyweight divisions. As of my latest findings, he seems to be leaning towards 205 lb king Jon Jones (should he get past Lyoto Machida), which I think might be a good choice, considering how drawn out he is cutting 20 lbs at 41 years of age.
Next for Rua: This was a tough loss for Rua, but he really shouldn't feel too badly about it because he showed the heart of a champion and let us all know why he is still considered a top 205er. The only fight that makes sense for him at this point is a rematch against Quinton Jackson, who is coming off a loss of his own. It's unlikely the fight could be booked for the Japan show, but that would be perfect.

Wanderlei Silva def. Cung Le via TKO (Knees and Punches), Rd 2
What Happened: Le started off as many expected: winging flashy kicks and seemingly baffling Silva. Le scored with several kicks, and even dropped Silva with a a spinning backfist, but his flashy offense took a toll as the fight wore on. Noticeably slower in the second stanza, Le became a much less mobile target and vintage Silva emerged, rushing him with wild flurries. After dropping Le with a straight right, Silva furiously swarmed Le with punches and vicious knees that absolutely destroyed Le's nose. The stoppage came soon after.
Thoughts: As a huge fan, I absolutely love that Silva won this fight. It took some of the sting out of the Rua loss (of whom I am also a huge fan). I've said for a long time that Le's style will give him problems against more legitimate competition that can survive his kicks. He throws too many energy sapping kicks, and if he can't put his opponent away he slows down, which is dangerous against someone like Silva, who had a lot of trouble with Le in the first round, but fought smart in deciding to swarm late in the 2nd after Le had slowed down. Still, Silva's performance wasn't one that should convince anyone that he's back in a big way; it was a great win, but Le isn't the hardest hitter and I've considered him a overrated ever since his fight with Frank Shamrock. While I thought Le could walk away with a victory, I didn't think he had what it took to knock Silva out. I thought he'd kick his way to a decision.
Next for Silva: I would be ecstatic if Silva decided to call it a career and go out on a dominant win that hearkened back to his days as an unstoppable Pride champion, but I know that won't happen. Sherdog suggested he get the winner of Anthony Johnson vs Vitor Belfort, which I think is utterly ridiculous. Le isn't even top 20, and Belfort is likely a couple wins away from a title shot. If Johnson beats Vitor, he's gotta be in the mix. Silva is not. They seem to have some obsession with Silva being fed to Vitor and I get it (because they have beef), but it's not smart matchmaking. Silva should get the winner of Jarred Hamman vs Constantinos Phillipou.
Next for Le: He might consider retirement too. Le will never be able to compete at a high level so long as he's more concerned with making movies than he is with training and growing as a fighter. If he fights again it should be against Jorge Rivera or Alessio Sakara, which would prove whether or not he really belongs.

Urijah Faber def. Brian Bowles via Submission (Guillotine), Rd 2
What Happened: Bowles really didn't have any answer for Faber's speed, athleticism, and skill. After being slammed and outstruck in the first round, Faber fired an uppercut right up the middle that sent Bowles stumbling back into the cage. Faber swarmed, landing heavy punches and knees while Bowles worked to scramble, ultimately leading to Faber snagging a guillotine choke for the tap.
Thoughts: Great performance by Faber. I said it the moment Faber moved down to 135 and I'll say it again: I don't really see anyone beating him there but Cruz. Bowles also displayed what I've said about him for a while: he's slow...for a bantamweight. I really get surprised by the amount of people that said he'd get by Faber and possibly had what it took to beat Cruz the second time around. In his first fight he looked very slow compared to Cruz and had absolutely nothing for him. He's showed me nothing to indicate that has at all changed, and this fight proved it further. Bowles is very good, but I think he'll be that guy who's stuck in the top 5 but never makes it back to the top.
Next for Faber: He's got the next crack at Cruz. It seems like their last fight just happened, but everyone likes a good rubber match. Faber put up a valiant losing effort against Cruz the first time and is constantly improving. Let's see if he can capture the tie-breaker.
Next for Bowles: Demetrious Johnson makes a lot of sense. Bowles and Johnson are pretty much in the same positions as Rua and Jackson, respectively. They should battle it out to determine who belongs in the mix.

Martin Kampmann def. Rick Story via Decision (Split), Rd 3
What Happened: One finally went Kampmann's way. He used his stout kickboxing, defensive wrestling, and surprisingly his offensive wrestling to take a hard fought decision over a tough Story.
Thoughts: First of all, this should have been a unanimous decision. Of course a minimum of one judge has to be smoking crack instead of watching the fight. I think Kampmann allowed the fight to devolve into a brawl in the first round, which played to Story's strenghts and conceivably gave him the round. However, in the next two rounds Kampmann took a more measured approach and found his range, tagging him repeatedly with right hands and displaying solid wrestling both offensively and defensively. Kampmann finished the fight strong, ending the round on Story's back with a body triangle locked in threatening with a rear-naked choke. The judges finally made the right call where Kampmann is concerned.
Next for Kampmann: I like the idea of Kampmann getting the winner of Jon Fitch vs Johny Hendricks, or maybe even Mike Pierce.
Next for Story: A tough loss for Story, who finds himself in the midst of a 2 fight skid after flirting with contendership. I actually think a rematch with Charlie Brenneman (with a proper training camp for both) wouldn't be a terrible idea. However, I think Chris Cope is a more viable choice.

Stephan Bonnar def. Kyle Kingsbury via Decision (Unanimous), Rd 3
What Happened: After banging it out early in the fight, Bonnar unexpectedly chose to utilize his ground game to secure a dominant decision win over Kingsbury (I scored it 30-25), who simply had no answer for Bonnar's top game.
Thoughts: This was the upset of the night for me. Kingsbury is a beast of a light heavyweight and I thought he'd muscle Bonnar around the cage; but up until the weigh-ins I had forgotten that Bonnar is a huge 205er himself. When I saw them stand next to each other, Kingsbury didn't look so huge. This fight showed how much that size and power advantage matters to Kingsbury. Once was dragged to the ground, he didn't have the strength to power his way back up, and lacked the skills to mount much offense or do much but survive. Very impressive win for Bonnar.
Next for Bonnar: Bonnar has quietly pieced together 3 straight wins following a 3 fight skid (which should be a 2 fight and one no contest skid). Bonnar showed he's still solid, and might do well to get the winner of the upcoming Vladimir Matyshenko vs Alexander Gustafsson fight or Anthony Perosh.
Next for Kingsbury: Kingsbury showed that the really has some work to do on his ground game. If they prefer not to test him there at this point, he should get Cyrille Diabate or Igor Pokrajac. If they do, Matt Lucas or Eliot Marshall (if he's still around).

Prelim Quick(er) Hits

- Ryan Bader knocked out Jason Brilz with a right hand behind the ear a little more than a minute into the fight. Brilz has been KO'd quickly in his last two fights, and will likely be looking at a pink slip. Bader snaps a two-fight losing streak, and this win should give him a good confidence boost.
- Michael McDonald absolutely crushed Alex Soto just under minute into the fight. After dropping him hard with a stiff overhand right to the jaw, Soto somehow survived the onslaught and retreated, only to be dropped along the fence and removed from consciousness with follow up right hands. He looks to have landed awkwardly on his left knee during that last knockdown as well. After a couple of close decisions in his first UFC fights, McDonald finally looked like the top prospect he's touted as.
- Chris Weidman snagged a brilliant first round Brabo Choke victory over Tom Lawlor that left him unconscious, and garnered a little controversy as the referee appeared to step in late. Weidman felt Lawlor go limp, and when he told the referee he just asked aloud if Lawlor was limp and decided to stand and stare at the two combatants instead of checking Lawlor's clearly exposed hand to make sure. Every event has to have one I guess.
- Gleison Tibau vs Rafael dos Anjos was very even for much of the 15 minute affair, but it was a flurry and near finish from Tibau in the second round that ultimately secured the fight for him. Both fighters looked solid, and seemed to cancel each other out a bit.
- Miguel Torres cruised to a decision over and overweight Nick Pace. Torres fought slightly more aggressively than he has been recently, but still favored a patient approach to the fight. He landed some good shots on Pace, but never had him in any serious trouble. Pace, who has lost 2 straight and came in 6 lbs overweight, may be on his way out. Torres should fight Renan Barao next to determine the next contender.
- Seth Baczynski took advantage of Matt Brown's impatience to score a second round guillotine choke. Getting too eager and rushing right into submissions has always been Brown's Achilles heel, and it looks like that hasn't changed.
- Danny Castillo put on a dominant performance against Shamar Bailey, picking him up and slamming him at will, and exercising smothering top control and excellent ground and pound en route to a late first round stoppage. Castillo's ground and pound looked pretty nasty from the guard, and he couldn't have hoped for a better performance to bounce back from his loss to Jacob Volkmann. Bailey is in the same boat as Pace, having lost 2 straight and missing weight for this fight. I'd like to see Castillo take on Even Dunham next.

UFC on Fox 1 Re-cap

We may have only gotten to see little more than a minute of fighting for UFC's much anticipated network television debut, but it didn't make it any less huge for the sport. There were some nice fights that the viewing public didn't get to see on TV, but they have to start somewhere, and a heavyweight title fight is a nice place to do so. Hopefully UFC and Fox have a bright future together. Time for a recap.

Junior dos Santos def. Cain Velasquez (C) via Knockout (Punches), Rd 1
What Happened: And just like that, it was over. Many pegged it to be a long, back and forth war, but dos Santos needed just over a minute to drop Velasquez with an overhand right behind the ear, and remove him from consciousness with punches.
Thoughts: Great performance from dos Santos. Some people called his finishing ability into question following his decision victories over Shane Carwin and Roy Nelson, but it looks like he put those thoughts to rest tonight in dramatic fashion; and he did it with a torn meniscus. One has to wonder how much the layoff affected Velasquez; he looked considerably slower than dos Santos, and time will tell whether that was due to ring rust, or because dos Santos is just that much faster than he is.
Next for dos Santos: The new champion will face the winner of the upcoming fight between Brock Lesnar and Alistair Overeem. Should be good.
Next for Velasquez: Velasquez is still one of the best heavyweights out there, and shouldn't fall far down the ladder. I could see him taking on the loser of Lesnar vs Overeem or Frank Mir if he gets past Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira.

Benson Henderson def. Clay Guida via Decision (Unanimous), Rd 3
What Happened: As has been the case lately, Henderson was just too much for his opponent. Guida made it a spirited battle as per usual, but Henderson was just a step ahead in every position and took home a clear cut decision in a high-paced battle.
Thoughts: Henderson continues to improve and look great since entering the UFC. Guida put up a good fight, but it seemed Henderson's size advantage played a large part in him getting the better of the grappling portions. The brief exchanges on the feet were wild, and while both men had their moments, Henderson scored the most significant strikes of the fight, dropping Guida in the first. Great fight overall, and both guys put on a hell of a show.
Next for Henderson: As this was a #1 contender fight, Henderson will fight Frankie Edgar for the lightweight strap in Japan. Fight of the Year anyone?
Next for Guida: Gray Maynard, having just lost to Edgar, seems like a logical next step for Guida. Jim Miller would also be a solid choice for Guida, and although I'm usually not a fan of guys running to other divisions when the going gets tough, a drop to 145 may not be a terrible idea for him.

Dustin Poirer def. Pablo Garza via Submission (Brabo Choke), Rd 2
What Happened: Poirer showed the expected advantages on the feet, but it was on the ground that he finished the fight. During a transition Poirer slapped on a textbook Brabo choke, forcing an over-matched Garza to tap.
Thoughts: Poirer looks like he could have a bright future at featherweight. Still only 22 years old, he possesses the kind of well-rounded game that could make him a problem for any 145er. Garza couldn't get into his groove and it was clear Poirer was just a step above him, but he's still a solid talent and should bounce back from this loss.
Next for Poirer: It's about time he steps up a bit in competition. Sherdog suggested the winner of Mark Hominick/Chan Sung Jung, which is a good choice. I think another good choice would be to pit him against fellow fast rising star Eric Koch.
Next for Garza: I'd like to see Garza and Jonathan Brookins try to get back on track at the expense of each other. Garza has the stand up and submissions to threaten Brookins from many positions, and Brookins has wrestling that could stifle all that. It could be interesting to see who comes out on top.

Ricardo Lamas def. Cub Swanson via Submission (Arm Triangle Choke), Rd 2
What Happened: Swanson started off strong in the first round, landing good shots that stumbled Lamas standing up and almost choking him out with a tight guillotine. After an early takedown by Lamas in the second round, Swanson got a bit careless on the ground and Lamas took the opportunity to slap on an arm triangle.
Thoughts: Swanson looked good in the first round, and looked to have the advantage overall; but as has happened to him previously, his tendency to get wild cost him. It causes him to give up takedowns and get caught on the ground. He can be a factor in the division if he learns to calm down a bit. Lamas was impressive in locking in the submission so quickly, but otherwise just looked okay.
Next for Lamas: Darren Elkins or Mike Brown.
Next for Swanson: Cub is a fun fighter, but at this point I'm not sure he'll ever work his way to the upper crust of the division even though you could argue he possesses the tools. Jason Young will oblige him in an exciting stand up war.

Demarques Johnson def. Clay Harvison via KO (Punches), Rd 1
What Happened: From the start Johnson came out looking to box, favoring a boxing stance that is ill-fitted for kicks or defending takedowns. It didn't seem like the best idea initially, but it paid dividends. A left uppercut put Harvison on his back, and after prematurely celebrating, Johnson throws a right to seal the deal.
Thoughts: What can I say about this one? It was a bad night for guys named Clay. Johnson has clearly been working hard on his striking after getting worked by Amir Sadollah. Johnson is always willing to stand, but until tonight he lacked the skills and power to make a difference in striking battles. If tonight's performance was any indication, Johnson may become as dangerous on the feet as he is on the ground
Next for Johnson: Tough call. He's 4-3 in the UFC, and has alternated wins and losses in his last 5. I'll throw Dennis Hallman's name out there.
Next for Harvison: Harvison could be staring at a pink slip with one more loss. Pit him against Paul Bradley, who also lost his second straight at the event.

Darren "BC" Uyenoyama def. Norufumi "Kid" Yamamoto via Decision (Unanimous), Rd 3
What Happened: Kid was no match for BC's high level BJJ. Kid established his wrestling and willingness to grow to the ground early with a couple nice hip tosses, but BC was by far the more talented of the two on the ground. The only other offense Kid really showed was a hard right hand that cut and wobbled BC, forcing him to shoot for a takedown. However, the majority of the fight was spent with Kid fending off submissions and being controlled on the ground.
Thoughts: I really had high hopes for Kid in this fight. I thought this would be a good fight for him to get back on track, as his great wrestling and striking seemed to be good foils for BC on paper. I'm sure the UFC is disappointed that Kid failed to impress yet again, and were hoping he'd get a win so he could be pushed for the Japan card in February. I've been a Kid fan for a long time, and it's just time to admit that not only is he past his prime but the game has really passed him by.
Next for Uyenoyama: I wouldn't be surprised to see him get as spot on the Japan card. Against Kid he showed a good chin, and ability to get inside. Once he did get inside he showed great confidence and skill in his BJJ. Ken Stone or Jeff Hougland could provide entertaining grappling battles.
Next for Yamamoto: Kid can't seem to put it together in the UFC, not that it's incredibly suprising when considering his losses to a green Joe Warren and losing a clear cut decision to Masanori Kanehara, whom everyone thought he'd destroy. Kid may get a shot at the Japan show since he's such a big star there, but he'll likely be fighting for his job. Maybe his originally scheduled fight with Damacio Page will get booked. It'll be entertaining, and in theory Kid should win it.

Robert Peralta def. Mackens Semerzier via TKO (punches), Rd 3
What Happened: After a good first round for Semerzier in which he scored a knockdown, Peralta turned the tides in the second with a knockdown of his own. Semerzier fought much more cautiously after that, allowing Peralta to better find his groove. Peralta dropped Semerzier in the 3rd, and this time Semerzier couldn't recover. Post-fight replays showed that a headbutt led to the finish.
Thoughts: I was rooting for Semerzier so the result was disappointing to say the least. Semerzier looked great in the first round, but after getting tagged in the second he just seemed to lose his aggression. It was turning out to be a good and close fight until the unfortunate end. Hopefully the fight will be reviewed and changed to a no contest; the headbutt dropped Semerzier, and the ending was only made possible because of it.
Next for Peralta: Barring a no contest and rematch, I'd like to see him take on Darren Elkins or Javier Vazquez.
Next for Semerzier: Tough loss for him if it stays a loss. He'd have a hell of a fight against Leonard Garcia.

Alex Caceres def. Cole Escovedo via Decision (Unanimous), Rd 3
What Happened: Caceres put on a clinic, outworking Escovedo with flashy and effective strikes alike, as well has giving him trouble on the ground where Escovedo was supposed to hold a clear advantage.
Thoughts: It was the second most suprising performance next to Uyenoyama's domination of Yamamoto. Caceres pretty much tooled Escovedo on the feet, never allowing him to put anything significant together. When Escovedo finally got Caceres to the ground where many thought he would dominate, he was met with a flurry of close submission attempts that might have held if Caceres was a bit more seasoned. I never thought either guy particularly belonged in the UFC, but Caceres may have changed that in his move to the bantamweight division.
Next for Caceres: Yves Jabouin will give him a good battle on the feet.
Next for Escovedo: This fight had all the makings of a "loser leaves town" fight, so I suspect Escovedo will get his walking papers with 3 straight losses.

The Rest
- Mike Pierce took a nip-tuck decision over Paul Bradley. Pierce bounced back nicely since his close split decision loss to Johny Hendricks, while Bradley has lost his second straight.

- Aaron Rosa took a clear cut, albeit uneventful, decision over Matt Lucas. Rosa looked a lot better physically at 205, and put on a decent performance despite the slight dullness of the bout. Lucas definitely didn't impress, as his wrestling was nullified and he didn't have in the way of striking skills.

UFC 137 Re-cap: The Main Card

It's been a good while since I've updated, but I figure now is as good a time as any since two great careers came to an end tonight. The event definitely suffered as a result of a myriad of injuries (most notably a welterweight title fight scratched altogether), but overall it was a decent night of fights, and the main event really ended it on an exciting note after a pretty tepid co-main. Let's get to it!

Nick Diaz def. BJ Penn via Decision (Unanimous), Rd 3
What Happened: For one round BJ looked to have things under control as he landed good shots, dodged much of Diaz's perpetual punches, and even took him down and briefly took his back. Then Diaz's size and cardio advantage came into play. He used his overwhelming style of constant pressure and sharp boxing to wear Penn down, and even hurt him on a couple occasions en route to a clear-cut decision victory.
Thoughts: This was a case of Diaz doing what he does best. I envisioned the fight going exactly as it did, and I knew that if it went into deeper waters Diaz would tire him out. Before the fight I thought it might be possible for Penn to utilize wrestling to neutralize Diaz and preserve energy, and initially it looked as if he might be going that route. I figured if he could do this against Fitch it should be no problem taking Diaz down, but I guess Diaz's size advantage was a bigger factor than I thought. It's still odd to me that he had such trouble taking Diaz down after the first one, but then again Chael Sonnen has been training at Cesar Gracie's recently; maybe he picked up some things. Either way, I may not like Diaz much but as usual he put on a hell of a performance and definitely took a major step towards being better accepted as a truly elite welterweight. We still don't know if he can now handle a great wrestler, but I guess we will soon....
Next for Diaz: After his vitriolic post-fight comments aimed at champion Georges St. Pierre, it looks as though Diaz will get his wish. St. Pierre is furious, Carlos Condit has agreed to step aside, and Dana White has re-booked GSP vs Diaz for the title on Superbowl weekend.
Next for Penn: I've always had a bit of a love-hate relationship with Penn, but I was sad to hear him announce that he's done. Recently I had grown to like him a lot more because he seems to have matured and is taking things more seriously, but I guess one sign of maturity is knowing when to hang 'em up. Penn strikes me as the type of guy who at this stage in his career wants to be on top or nowhere at all. He has nothing left to prove, so if he's no longer in the mix he might as well move on.

Cheick Kongo def. Matt Mitrione via Decision (Unanimous), Rd 3
What Happened: After two largely uneventful rounds, Kongo scored the most significant offense of the fight by taking Mitrione down and swelling up his left eye with ground and pound, giving him the round and the fight.
Thoughts: Call me crazy, but I definitely had this scored a draw. Very even first round, Mitrione narrowly getting the better of round 2, and Kongo easily taking round 3 (but not nearly enough for a 10-8). I could see the fight going either way, but honestly if I had to give the fight to someone it would have been Mitrione. Maybe it was his footwork and "Octagon control" but he just seemed to be more in command of the fight until the 3rd round. He also seemed to land the more significant shots. However, it was a close fight so I can't be mad at the decision.
Next for Kongo: He has built up a pretty impressive streak and is enjoying a bit of a resurgence. Many expected this to be a showcase for Mitrione, but Kongo showed why he can still be a factor in the division. Another respectable gatekeeper type would be good for him at this point, and Roy Nelson or Mark Hunt could make for a good fight. Another option could be a Travis Browne rematch.
Next for Mitrione: Still young in his MMA career, Mitrione will only learn and improve from this loss. He showed a little too much respect for Kongo's power, and was content to chase him around the ring instead of pulling the trigger and putting his smooth striking on optimum display. Ben Rothwell would make a good rebound opponent for him, as he lacks the wrestling to handle Mitrione as Kongo did, and may oblige him on the feet as well. Or they can continue to follow the pattern of Mitrione and his friend and training partner Pat Barry playing "me too" with each other and give him Stefan Struve.

Roy Nelson def. Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic via TKO (punches), Rd 3
What Happened: In what Mirko pegged to possibly be his last fight regardless of the outcome, he went out fighting. In spots, the fearsome Cro Cop of old reared his head, suddenly exploding with aggressive combinations and even throwing his famous left high kick. However, Nelson refused to wilt under Cro Cop's offense and delivered strong offense of his own. After taking Cro Cop down and threatening to end the fight with strikes from the mounted crucifix position at the end of the 2nd round, Nelson staggered him in the 3rd with a strong right hand, seized back mount after a slip from Mirko, and rained down hard punches until the ref had seen enough.
Thoughts: In his recent UFC run, Cro Cop has made a habit of being competitive (in some cases maybe even winning) during the first 2 rounds, only to be unexpectedly finished in the 3rd. This has occurred in each of his last 4 losses. During the fight Joe Rogan mentioned that Cro Cop misses out on a lot of opportunities because he doesn't utilize his jab, and he's 100% correct. This is why he is no longer the feared striker he once was; his strategy of stalking with single shots worked during his heyday, but the game has evolved and his stand up hasn't. He became predictable, and that's why he has failed to pull the trigger or look all that impressive in the UFC. Roy's performance was solid; he didn't show us anything new but did show why he'll always be a good gatekeeper. Also he landed a lot of punches to the back of Mirko's head in the finish, not that it would have changed the outcome much.
Next for Nelson: Having previously dropped 2 straight, he needs to get back on the road to the top 15. Cheick Kongo or Travis Browne would be good for him.
Next for Filipvic: After about a year of his fans (myself included) calling for him to retire following tepid performances and brutal losses, he finally obliged; and much like Chuck Liddell did in his final fight, he decided not to go away easily. It's the kind of thing that makes you wonder whether they really should retire or give it one more shot. There were moments in the Nelson fight where I thought "this Cro Cop might be able to make a splash with a few more adjustments." He didn't get the win, but I'm satisfied his last fight was one in which he looked to fight to win, and not just for a paycheck.

Scott Jorgensen def. Jeff Curran via Decision (Unanimous), Rd 3
What Happened: Curran was wily and game as always, but his high level BJJ couldn't get it done against Jorgensen's superior wrestling and top control. He scored well on the feet, but Jorgensen wouldn't let it stay there long enough for it to make a difference. The result: a nip-tuck decision.
Thoughts: To be honest, I didn't really have much interest in this fight. I knew how it would go, and I knew it'd be semi-frustrating to watch because Curran wouldn't have would it takes to keep himself from being taken down and nullified.
Next for Jorgensen: He hasn't done anything to show that a rematch with champ Dominick Cruz would be any less embarrassing than the first one, but Jorgensen deserves someone near the top of the heap now. Joseph Benavidez or Demetrious Johnson (Benavidez more likely) could make for interesting fights since they're more prepared for Jorgensen's wrestling, and willing to dish out some of their own.
Next for Curran: Curran's return to the UFC was spoiled simply because of a bad style match up for him. I would like to see him face someone who won't just stifle his game and win a decision against him, as has happened in almost every loss he's had in the past few years. Cole Escovedo will be hungry for a win and won't hesitate to trade leather or submissions with Curran. Eddie Wineland could also provide an exciting match up.

Hatsu Hioki def. George Roop via Decision (Split), Rd 3
What Happened: They had very different gameplans: Roop wanted to push the pace and strike; Hioki wanted to get the fight to the ground and work submissions. Despite being out-struck much of the fight, Hioki's control on the ground won over two of the judges and they awarded him a close, albeit controversial, split decision.
Thoughts: FINALLY it's a Japanese fighter's turn to steal away a decision in the UFC for a change. I had Roop winning the 1st and the 3rd, though the 1st was admittedly the closest round of the fight. Moreover, Hioki just didn't look very impressive; nothing at all like the man who beat former UFC title contender Mark Hominick twice and who dominated Marlon Sandro for 5 rounds to take the Sengoku strap. Maybe we can chalk it up to just how awkward it is to fight someone like Roop, who is very tall and long for the division, and is unpredictable (although unrefined) on the feet. He's been trouble for almost everyone he's faced at featherweight because of these things, despite not appearing to be the savviest guy in the cage. I'm glad Hioki got the win, but I really hope this was a case of Octagon jitters, and he performs much better next time around.
Next for Hioki: Based on the rankings I would say Hioki should get a top 10 guy next, but he didn't look as though he's ready for that yet. Sherdog.com mentioned Bart Palaszewski, who made an impressive debut at 145 at the same event, and I can agree with that. However, it seems to me that the #2 ranked featherweight in the world should probably be facing someone more along the lines of Dustin Poirer or Eric Koch, which would be much more relevant to the rankings and the featherweight title picture.
Next for Roop: Roop has shown himself to be a good gatekeeper at 145, and although he got the short end of the stick this time, it shouldn't reflect badly on his performance. He took the fight to Hioki when he could and never gave up the whole way through. He showed much improved takedown defense and all-around game in this fight, and I think he'll need to continue that path if he wants a chance to break out of that gatekeeper status. He shows potential, and has the physical tools to frustrate opponents but lacks the technical tools, though as mentioned before they are steadily improving. Jonathan Brookins could prove a stern test for his takedown defense and ground game.

UFC on Versus 5 Recap: The Prelims

And now we get to the preliminary action. Thankfully Facebook streamed all 8 preliminary fights and the stream wasn't too bad (most of the time). Definitely grateful for those free prelims so I don't have to search for the fights after the event (finding the earliest fights are usually a futile effort). We got 8 fights to cover, so let's get to it.

Jared Hamman def. CB Dollaway via TKO (Punches), Rd 2
What Happened: After very solid first round for Dollaway which saw him very nearly submit Hamman with an arm triangle and land some heavy shots from the top, Hamman came out in the second like a bat out of hell and just steamrolled Dollaway. Once he got him down he wailed on him for what seemed like forever until the stoppage.
Thoughts: Hamman really impressed at 185. I thought Dollaway had it for sure with that arm triangle, and after expending so much energy to defend himself in the first he showed no signs of fatigue in the second even after delivering enough punches to tire many guys out. He should fare well in a division where he isn't small.
Next for Hamman: He made a nice statement in his middleweight debut, and I'd like to see how he handles a well-rounded guy like Kyle Noke.
Next for Dollaway: Dollaway just can't seem to get over the hump. He needs a fight to prove whether or not he still belongs, and Tim Credeur is a good opponent.

Joseph Benavidez def. Eddie Wineland via Decision (Unanimous), Rd 3
What Happened: Benavidez was just too much for Wineland, and performed even more impressively against him than his teammate, Urijah Faber. Surprisingly deciding to keep the fight standing, Benavidez battered Wineland on the feet over 3 rounds en route to a clear-cut decision.
Thoughts: Benavidez never fails to impress, and once again shows that he can turn height and reach disadvantages into advantages. He was just too fast and seemed to come in at places Wineland didn't expect. Wineland put up a valiant effort and showed toughness, but he generally fought too timidly. He's finally developed the takedown defense to keep fights standing, now it's time for him to get aggressive.
Next for Benavidez: I know Benavidez isn't thrilled with moving to 125, but it seems a given once the flyweight division arrives. Until then he'll remain floating around the top of the bantamweight class. The winner of Brad Pickett vs Renan "Barao", or Brian Bowles, should he lose to Faber, would make for good opponents.
Next for Wineland: He has dropped two straight against top bantamweights, which he shouldn't be ashamed of. If they still want to keep him around the top, Miguel Torres would match up well. If not, maybe Takeya Mizugaki.

Ed Herman def. Kyle Noke via Submission (Inverted Heel Hook), Rd 1
What Happened: After a nice early start getting the fight to the ground by Noke, Herman proved to be too much for him on the ground, as he never let him feel safe. A bevy of submission attempts from the bottom culminated in a nice inverted heel hook that sealed the deal for Herman.
Thoughts: Very impressive performance by Herman, who showed a dangerous bottom game. Noke's stock doesn't drop far with this loss, as he had a 5 fight win streak snapped, but he was just outmatched on the ground.
Next for Herman: I remember in one post-fight interview after Chris Leben beat Aaron Simpson (I think?), Leben said that Herman was coming back with a vengeance, and that he's one of the most talented guys at 185. He might have been onto something. He should fight Costa Phillipou before jumping up in competition.
Next for Noke: His stock doesn't drop much with the loss, and I'd hate to throw Jorge Rivera out there but it makes sense to me.

Ronny Markes def. Karlos Vemola via Decision (Unanimous), Rd 3
What Happened: The decorated wrestler was out-wrestled by the jiu jitsu guy. Markes is a big guy, and showed some good technique in tiring out Vemola with a suffocating top game.
Thoughts: Least satisfying fight on the card, hands down. Markes impressed with his wrestling and not much else. Vemola looked awful on the feet, and his over-committing haymakers were part of the reason he was clinched and taken down so much. Most of the fight consisted of a tiring and frustrated Vemola being held down by Markes, who didn't show much urgency to finish the fight.
Next for Markes: It wasn't the most exciting performance, but Markes raised eyebrows with his wrestling. Fabio Maldonado or Kyle Kingsbury would make good sophomore fights for him.
Next for Vemola: Vemola's move to 205 seemingly gave him a good size and wrestling advantage over many guys in the division, but Markes quickly put a halt to that perceived advantage. He'll need to work on his stand up and MMA wrestling, and I think Ricardo Romero would be a good opponent to do that against.

Jim Hettes def. Alex Caceres via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke), Rd 2
What Happened: A frenetic pace was kept throughout on the ground, with scrambles and transitions galore. Caceres showed a great deal of aggression, but it was ultimately his undoing, as he was outdone by the better wrestler and grappler. During a tie-up he was bulldogged to the ground and immediately tapped with the RNC.
Thoughts: Impressive pace kept by this fight, but it was at a cost to Caceres. I know he wants to be exciting, but he was much too wreckless in this fight. He might have had a better chance if he took a more measured approach and worked his stand up advantage instead of diving into a grappling match with someone like Hettes.
Next for Hettes: Good performance, although Caceres isn't exactly the measuring stick. Cub Swanson could be next up for him.
Next for Caceres: Provided he gets another chance in the Octagon, it's tough to see where he goes from here. He was overmatched against Mackens Sermezier, and dropped the ball against Hettes. Maybe they should shoot for Leonard Garcia again.

Cole Miller def. TJ O'Brien via Submission (Guillotine), Rd 2
What Happened: After a measured first round where O'Brien began to find his range, Miller found his range and capitalized on it in the second, dropping O'Brien and quickly locking in a guillotine choke with a body triangle.
Thoughts: O'Brien did well in the first round, but in the end he once again looked like he had no business in the Octagon. Just like in his debut against Paul Kelly, once things got bad for him he was toast. Miller was a finisher as usual, jumping on the opportunity once he saw one.
Next for Miller: Miller is in an interesting spot, as he proves once again that he is a solid lightweight but he can never string together enough wins to net himself top competition. He and Charles Oliveira could put on a hell of a fight.
Next for O'Brien: As it turns out most of the lightweights I would pair him with were apparently released from the UFC after their recent losses. I guess he could get the loser of Cody McKenzie vs Wagner Rocha, provided they're kept around. Hell, provided O'Brien is kept around after this loss.

Jacob Volkmann def. Danny Castillo via Decision (Unanimous)
What Happened: Nip-tuck standard issue wrestling fueled decision by Volkmann.
Thoughts: Not much to say, really. Volkmann is the better wrestler and outwrestled a game Castillo for 3 rounds.
Next for Volkmann: He's in a spot where he's got a some choices. Charles Oliveira,Cole Miller, the winner of Edson Barbosa vs Ross Pearson, and many others make for viable next match ups for Volkmann.
Next for Castillo: Castillo didn't look bad in this fight, he was just stifled by a great wrestler. He should look to rebound against Kamal Shalorus, or in a rematch against Shane Roller.

Edwin Figueroa def. Jason Reinhardt via TKO (Elbows and Punches), Rd 2
What Happened: Reinhardt looked decent in the beginning, but quickly wilted as Figueroa found his groove and started his onslaught. Slow to rise at the end of the first round, it looked to be just a matter of time before he was finished off; it was.
Thoughts: Figueroa impressed yet again, and Reinhardt unimpressed yet again. Reinhardt looks to be on the tail-end of his career, while Figueroa is just getting started and could have a bright future in the UFC.
Next for Figueroa: Ivan Menjivar would make for an exciting fight.
Next for Reinhardt: At 41 years and an 0-3 run in the UFC where he's been utterly unimpressive, I'd be very surprised if he wasn't cut. If for some reason he isn't, Charlie Valencia. Loser leaves town.

UFC on Versus 5 Recap: The Main Card

Boy am I glad I'm not a betting man. I admittedly did atrociously in my picks tonight, but everyone has an off-night right? Maybe holding the event on Sunday instead of the usual Saturday night messed with my mojo. Either way it was a good night of fights with some good action and a few interesting surprises. So on with it:

Chris Lytle def. Dan Hardy via Submission (Guillotine), Rd 3
What Happened: Staying true to their words until the last minute, Hardy and Lytle put on a stand up war and tested each other's chins. An unexpected (and ill-advised) takedown by Hardy with a minute left in the fight sealed his fate as, he was immediately caught in a guillotine and submitted. Earlier we learned that this would be Lytle's last MMA bout.
Thoughts: What a way to go out for Lytle. Not only does he retire with an impressive win, but he snags two post fight bonuses (sub and fight of the night) AND a Harley Davidson motorcycle. Talk about going out on a high note. As soon as Hardy shot in for that takedown I knew he was making a gigantic mistake, and Lytle wasted no time in making him regret it. It didn't look as if he was getting wrecked that badly on the feet (though with the way it was going, if it had gone to decision I would've scored it 29-28 Lytle), and with his lack of grappling skills he should have known better than to take a black belt like Lytle down. Taking a training camp with Roy Nelson doesn't transform you into a grappling ace overnight.
Next for Lytle: Enjoying his bonuses, motorcycle, and extra time with his family. That was easy.
Next for Hardy: According to Lorenzo Fertitta's Twitter, Hardy will not be cut. I have mixed feelings on this, because after losing 4 straight I feel that even putting on exciting fights may not be enough. On the other hand, I feel like Hardy never should have been given his title shot or top competition in the first place until he improved his overall game. Since he's still around (and still wildly popular in the UK) he should get a winnable return fight, and Amir Sadollah might fit that mold. Loser leaves town.

Ben Henderson def. Jim Miller via Decision (Unanimous), Rd 3
What Happened: Henderson never really allowed Miller to get going, as he was just too much for him to handle in all spots. Bendo escaped and avoided numerous submission attempts, all while maintaining top control and battering Miller with vicious ground and pound en route to a lopsided decision.
Thoughts: Let's get one thing straight: I've been a big fan of Henderson since the first fight of his I watched, and I've always believed that he is underrated in the lightweight division. But this fight was the surprise of the night for me. Not because I didn't believe in Henderson, but because I thought Miller was such a tough opponent he'd never be dominated in such a fashion. I'm a fan of both guys so I tried to stay neutral, but it was hard not to pull for Miller (I have a weakness for underdogs at times) just because things seemed so bleak for him. To his credit, he never wilted, and fought until the end. He locked in a few submissions that would have tapped most lightweights. But in retrospect it almost seemed kind of foolish that he thought he could submit someone with Henderson's inhuman track record of submission escapes. Those attempts just ended up putting him in deeper waters.
Next for Henderson: With this upset, he is thrust into the realm of top contenders at lightweight. Provided Melvin Guillard gets past Joe Lauzon, he would make the perfect opponent for a title eliminator. Clay Guida may also be a viable choice.
Next for Miller: It was at tough loss, but with a 7 fight win streak prior to this, he didn't fall far down the ladder. The winner of Anthony Pettis vs Jeremy Stephens or Donald Cerrone would make for solid match ups, as would Clay Guida if Zuffa brass doesn't feel he's quite ready for a title eliminator.

Donald Cerrone def. Charles Oliveira via TKO (Punches), Rd 1
What Happened: Oliveira looked relatively sharp, but a slight step behind the more battle-tested Cerrone in their brief encounter. Cerrone kept him at bay with hard leg kicks and picked his shots until an uppercut to the body caused Oliveira to drop to the ground and fish for a leg. Cerrone, who is usually a slow starter, decided to pull the trigger and rain down punches while Oliveira covered up until the ref saw enough and made the save.
Thoughts: I always like a good finish, but I was a bit disappointed that this one wasn't a competitive war. I like watching both guys fight and they both go in there to get it done no matter where the fight goes. I would have also liked to see it go to the ground, what with both guys being so good there. Nonetheless, a great win for Cerrone, and a pretty tough loss for Oliveira.
Next for Cerrone: Cerrone has flown a bit under the radar and put together some impressive performances as of late. It's about time he gets a step up against someone proven in the UFC. Jim Miller, the winner of Pettis vs Stephens, or the winner of Denis Siver vs Sam Stout should be in his immediate future.
Next for Oliveira: After two breakout performances in the UFC, it appeared as if Oliveira might have been prime for a fast-tracking up the lightweight ladder. Disappointing losses to Jim Miller and Cerrone have shown that those thoughts were premature. Still, his dominant performance against Nik Nentz showed that he still belongs against solid competition, illegal knee notwithstanding. A slight step back in competition against someone like George Sotiropoulos or Yves Edwards might be in the cards; and there's always a rematch against Lentz.

Duane Ludwig def. Amir Sadollah via Decision (Unanimous), Rd 3
What Happened: Ludwig put on a kickboxing clinic, as he battered Sadollah with accurate counter-punching and took a lopsided decision.
Thoughts: I'm definitely not trying to take anything away from Ludwig, he looked great, but Sadollah didn't look like what I'm used to seeing. Granted, Ludwig is definitely the best striker he's faced; but even so, he didn't look as sharp as he usually does. He usually displays great defense, making sure to always keep his hands high; in this fight he kept them relatively low, and didn't seem as concerned with protecting himself during his combos. Ludwig is a much more decorated kickboxer though, so maybe this is just what happens when you throw Sadollah in there with a good striker. On paper Sadollah had the wrestling and grappling edge and even those things weren't working in his favor, forcing him to stay standing and take a beating. He showed heart and determination in trying to rally back in the 3rd, but it was too late.
Next for Ludwig: Ludwig may have put on an impressive performance against Sadollah, but his best days are definitely behind him, and his UFC tenure suggests that he won't have to go much further up in competition before he hits a wall in the welterweight division. With that said, he's good for some fun fights and as an upper-mid level gatekeeper. Martin Kampmann has fallen on some hard times of late, and Ludwig would be a good indicator of whether or not he still belongs in the mix. With his improving takedown defense he could also prove a good barometer for guys like John Hathaway and Matt Riddle as well.
Next for Sadollah: It appears Sadollah has hit a bit of a wall. Before this fight it appeared he had the striking to give everyone fits, and the one hole in his game was his lack of wrestling. Ludwig showed that his striking needs improvement as well, and that he's not quite as far along as we thought. His technical style of striking would make for an interesting pair with Dan Hardy's brawling, and with the both of them looking quite disappointing as of late, they may need to fight it out to determine who belongs in the company.

UFC 123 Re-cap: The Main Card

Although I didn't like many of the results, UFC 123 was a hell of an event. We witnessed one career rise out of the ashes and another potentially fall into them. Add to that an action packed title affair and lots of finishes and you've got some happy fans.

Dominick Cruz (c) def Urijah Faber via Decision (Unanimous)
What Happened: Faber had a nice start and some good spots in the fight, landing solid shots and even rocking and dropping Cruz on a couple occasions, but in the end was out-hustled by the ever-moving Cruz and dropped a close decision.
Thoughts: Great fight, it went pretty much just as I thought it would. Urijah did well throughout, but ultimately couldn't figure out Cruz's herky-jerky movement, well timed takedowns, and great takedown defense. He was game as he always is, and in my eyes it was even going into the 5th, but Cruz fought with the greater urgency and really took the final round and the fight. And whoever scored the fight 50-45 Cruz was on crack.
Next for Cruz: Some would like to see an immediate rubber match; I think Faber should win at least another fight first. Until then, I say Demitri Johnson has pulled together enough of a streak to test his mettle against the champ.
Next for Faber: I mentioned above that there is desire for a rubber match, and it would be another great fight, but I think he should fight Brian Bowles or Miguel Torres if Bowles gets the next shot.

Chris Leben def Wanderlei Silva via KO (Punches), Rd 1
What Happened: Wanderlei ran out of the gates swinging like the wild man of his Pride days, tagging Leben with a good shot, but Leben fired back (as he does when tagged) and rocked Silva with a shot behind the ear. Silva grabbed a clinch, but a few uppercuts up the middle put him face down on the canvas, and follow-up punches sealed the deal. It wasn't quite the slugfest everyone hoped for because it only lasted 27 seconds.
Thoughts: What the hell happened the Wanderlei that decided to change up his style because his old aggression cant cut it anymore? You know, the smart Wanderlei? That wasn't who showed up against Leben. After 16 months away, it looked like he was just too eager to fight. Running in throwing wild hooks with your chin up in the air doesn't work anymore, and for a couple fights it looked like he realized that. Wanderlei is my favorite fighter, and the reason I got hooked on MMA, and it stung to see him go out like that when I know he could have at least been competitive if he just came out smart. From the moment this match-up was announced I was nervous for Silva because I knew there was a good chance he'd get knocked out. Imagine my surprise when I discover that an overwhelming majority of odds-makers, MMA news sites, and fight fans alike picked Silva to win. I was hoping more than anything they were right, but I just couldn't see it realistically. But man I wish they were right.
Next for Leben: Leben did what he does, and there was no time to really take anything away from it. Since his last few opponents have opted to slug with him, we need to be reminded that he does have some other skills. Next up should be Demian Maia or Vitor Belfort, should he get past Yoshihiro Akiyama.
Next for Silva: It's not even fun watching him fight anymore because of the nervousness over the possibility of him getting knocked out again. It took a good number of shots from Leben to put him out, but he did go out. I'd say it's time for him to hang 'em up because he has nothing left to prove, but it's not my say. If he does get another fight it should be against Jorge Santiago, who I think is just about at Silva's level; and if it were up to me it'd be his retirement fight.

Dennis Siver def Matt Wiman via Decision (Unanimous)
What Happened: Over a hotly contested 3 rounds, we saw Siver get the better of the stand up, and Siver score takedowns. Although he didn't do much with them in the 1st and 3rd rounds, he dropped nasty elbows in the 2nd that cut Siver up and were clearly the most damaging offense of the fight. Siver was awarded the fight based on the other two rounds, which were much closer than that 2nd.
Thoughts: First off, I scored the fight 29-28 Siver, and I think all the talk of Wiman getting robbed are utterly ridiculous. He lost the fight based on the scoring system. Yes, he did the most damage, but he did all of it in one round; and it was not enough for a 10-8, as Siver was bloody but nowhere near being finished. The other two rounds were close, but you can pretty much whittle them do Siver soundly out-striking Wiman (he even out-struck him in the 2nd), and Wiman scoring takedowns and doing nothing with them. Sounds to me like he stole two rounds. Cry about the scoring all you want, Wiman lost a close decision. A close one. No robbery.
Next for Siver: Although his ground game is phenomenal, Charles Oliveira will gladly strike with Siver (which will produce fireworks). If Oliveira does try and take it to the ground we'll see how well Siver can keep it standing (he did great against Sotiropoulos). If not, Donald Cerrone if he makes it past Paul Taylor unscathed.
Next for Wiman: He shouldn't fall far, as he had a good performance and was just edged out. Nik Lentz might make a good target for his aggressive style.

Tito Ortiz def Ryan Bader via Submission (Guillotine Choke), Rd 1
What Happened: Bader had no time to trade punches and takedowns with Ortiz caught him with a right that sent him stumbling to the canvas. By the time he regained his wits, Ortiz had already slapped on the guillotine that would end his night.
Thoughts: Talk about upset. Tito was a 4-to-1 underdog going into this fight, and rightfully so, as on paper Bader is basically Tito with a better wrestling pedigree, better hands, and KO power. It was pretty ironic that a punch from Tito dropped Bader. Either way, I've been saying Bader was overrated since he won the Ultimate Fighter, and I never found him that impressive. Not to take anything away from Tito, who I actually dislike, but he performed well and revitalized his career for the time being.
Next for Ortiz: The winner of Rich Franklin/Lil Nog is the only fight that really makes sense for him. He wants Forrest Griffin again, but he's the only one.
Next for Bader: Tough loss for Bader, who has gone from top 10 undefeated prospect to losing his last two fights in dominant fashion. Losing the Jon Jones was nothing to be ashamed of, but this is a fight he needed to win. How about we welcome Brandon Vera back to the octagon against Bader?

Carlos Condit def Dong Hyun Kim via TKO (Flying Knee and Punches), Rd 1
What Happened: Kim got one early and effortless takedown, and Condit promptly swept him and ended up on top. After making it back up to his feet, Condit threw a beautiful flying knee that hit Kim flush on the jaw, sending him backwards in a seated position against the fence. Condit flurried on a dazed Kim and got the win.
Thoughts: Stellar performance by Condit, while Kim was shown why his limited style may not cut it at the higher level in the division. It pretty much went the opposite of how I thought: Kim would use his judo to score takedowns and his stifling top game to take the first 2 rounds before fading in the 3rd, but taking a decision. And I knew Condit is a great finisher (26 finishes in 27 wins...yeah I think so), but I just didn't see him doing that to Kim.
Next for Condit: He could very well get the next title shot against the winner of Georges St. Pierre/Nick Diaz. I think it might suit him to fight the winner of Jake Shields/Jake Ellenberger, Jon Fitch, or even Josh Koscheck to show that he can handle a good wrestler in the top 10...because he'll need to.
Next for Kim: Tough loss, but it's the first of his career, and there's no shame to losing to Condit. He may look to rebound against the winner of Mike Pierce/Johny Hendricks or Rick Story.

UFC 123 Re-cap: The Prelims

Although the main card fights really stole the show with their unusual number of finishes and great stories they told, the prelims still contained a lot of solid, quality action. After starting the show with four straight decisions, they picked it up at the end with two explosive, quick finishes. Here's how it all went down.

Melvin Guillard def Shane Roller via KO (Punches), Rd 1
What Happened: Guillard proved too fast for Guillard, as he easily avoided shots and easily landed his own. It was just a matter of time before Guillard landed something big, and he did. dropping Roller to the canvas twice before removing him from consciousness with hammerfists.
Thoughts: Guillard looked like he was fighting Roller in bullet-time out there. This is what happens when you put a relatively slow fighter like Roller in there with one of the fastest, and without a doubt most physically gifted fighter in the division. Some people actually believed Roller had a chance after his knockout of Thiago Tavares in his last fight; I had no doubts Guillard would walk over him.
Next for Guillard: There's no good excuse for putting Guillard on the prelims in this event when in his last fight he knocked out a former top 10 lightweight in the headlining bout (even if it wasn't pay-per-view). Guillard deserves a top guy and a spot on the main card. He should either get Clay Guida or the winner of Jim Miller/Ben Henderson, possibly in a title eliminator. Period.
Next for Roller: In my eyes that's two very poor performances in a row for roller, and he needs a win to get on track. Curt Warburton or Maciej Jewtuszko may be more manageable for him.

Rafael dos Anjos def George Sotiropoulos via KO (Punch), Rd 1
What Happened: After a brief feeling out process, the two entered an exchange and only dos Anjos made it out with his senses intact. A looping right hook counter right on the chin put Sotiropoulos down, and although dos Anjos didn't feel it was enough the ref certainly did. The end came only 59 seconds into the first round.
Thoughts: Can't really say too much about this one; Sotiropoulos had a momentary defensive lapse and paid dearly for it. It was funny that Joe Rogan was right in the process of raving about how Sotiropoulos had started varying up his attacks more when the knockout happened. Apparently it didn't help. Sotiropoulos was a favorite in this one, but I didn't think it was wise for people to sleep on dos Anjos' skill set. His stand up is capable and his BJJ is solid. He just needs to learn to stop with the ref tries to pry him off his opponent.
Next for dos Anjos: He was doing well against Guida before tapping to a broken jaw, and did the job here. Personally I'd like to see him against Gleison Tibau.
Next for Sotirpoulos: Tough outing for Sotiropoulos, who has dropped two straight for the first time in his career. Mark Bocek or Nik Lentz would make good opponents for him.

Brian Bowles def Takeya Mizugaki via Decision (Unanimous)
What Happened: It wasn't dominant, but Bowles just managed to stay a step ahead of Mizugaki down the stretch. After apparently re-injuring hand in the second round, his performance dropped-off a bit in the 3rd, but he did enough to pull it off.
Thoughts: I wasn't too impressed with either guy after this fight. Bowles' oft injured hand played a significant part in his drop-off, but Mizugaki had no real excuse that I know of. He didn't seem hungry for the win, and after landing some good shots in the first looked tepid in the latter two rounds. He's alternated wins and losses in his last 8 bouts, and I've noticed that all of those losses except the first (a rousing 5 round decision loss to then-WEC champ Miguel Torres) were against guys that could out-wrestle him.
Next for Bowles: He could be next in line for a title rematch with Dominick Cruz, but I'm not so sure he's done much to convince anyone it'd go any differently than it did the first time. If he can beat Urijah Faber, he may stand a chance.
Next for Mizugaki: He's looked a bit flat in his last few fights, and really needs step up his game if he wants to keep competing at this level. Perhaps he could take on the winner of Kid Yamamoto/Damacio Page. The upside of him facing Kid is that we'll finally have a Japanese winner in the octagon one way or another.

Aaron Simpson def Brad Tavares via Decision (Unanimous)
What Happened: There were a few rough moments on the feet for him, but Simpson's wrestling pedigree carried him through it, as he expertly controlled and grinded his way to a victory.
Thoughts: Wasn't the prettiest victory but Simpson got it done, not that he was so impressive in doing so. Tavares on the other hand was very impressive with his takedown defense, and managed to score the biggest takedown of the fight, a big slam in the 3rd round. However, Simson's wrestling know-how was a little too much, and he managed to get back to his feet and reverse to a favorable position immediately. Good learning experience for Tavares, workmanlike performance for Simpson.
Next for Simpson: Simpson has rebounded nicely from back-to-back losses to pick up a couple wins against game opponents. Demian Maia would be a nice step up for him, and a potentially entertaining wrestler vs grappler match-up.
Next for Tavares: Tavares has been looking more impressive with every outing, even with this defeat. He might look to get back in the win column against the loser of Court McGee/Dongi Yang.

Anthony Njokuani def Andre Winner via Decision (Unanimous)
What Happened: In a boxing vs Muay Thai match-up, the latter won by a landslide. Njokuani battered Winner with punches, kicks, knees, and elbows, almost finishing him in the first round, and instead settling for an utterly dominant decision win.
Thoughts: I thought Njokuani might have edge with his more diverse attack style, but I had no idea it was going to be that one-sided. Winner simply had no answer for Njokuani's reach and kicks. He was a hair from finishing Winner in the first, but credit should go to Winner for remaining standing the entire time and showing tremendous heart. He's tough as nails, getting battered throughout the fight, but he clearly needs to work on incorporating more kicks into his game, or at least learn some wrestling; this straight boxing thing is causing him to waste his considerable talent. When he first came to the UFC I thought he'd make a nice splash, but against mid and upper-mid level competition he has disappointed. Njokuani on the other hand looked great in a losing effort against Edson Barbosa, and even better here.
Next for Njokuani: He looks great in kickboxing matches, but he's shown major weaknesses against guys who can take him down. It's time to see if he's improved; it's also time to see if Kamal Shalorus finally realizes he should use his wrestling. It could be a fun match-up.
Next for Winner: After losing three straight and going just 2-5-1 in his last 8, I would be shocked if he didn't get released. If by some miracle he doesn't, and they want him to pick up a win, Vagner Rocha may be the man for him.

Jeff Hougland def Donny Walker via Decision (Unanimous)
What Happened: A highly competitive bout with lots of grappling saw Hougland a step above Walker most of the time. He threatened with multiple submissions when he was on the bottom and controlled the action when he was on top.
Thougts: I had never heard of these guys before this fight, so I don't have to much to say about them. The fight was entertaining, and both showed some slick ground work, but neither of them have any notable wins (Walker has 3rd round losses to Jeff Curran and Cub Swanson, while Hougland has a 2nd round loss to current Strikeforce Lightweight champ Gilbert Melendez), so who knows how good they really are?
Next for Hougland: The bantamweight division isn't too densly populated, so he may find his next fight against Ruben Duran or Edwin Figueroa.
Next for Walker: Chris Cariaso or Cole Escovedo.

UFC on Versus 4 Recap: The Prelims

The UFC on Versus Prelims delivered in a huge way, and the best part was that they were all streamed for free on Facebook (which means I actually got to see them all, hence this seperate in-depth recap). There were ups and downs, and downs and outs so lets get right down to it.

Tyson Griffin def Manny Gamburyan via Decision (Majority)
What happened: After a shaky first round that had Gamburyan playing the aggressor, Griffin put in work for two rounds using leg kicks and superior defensive wrestling to take a close decision.
Thoughts: Griffin looked decent in his return to featherweight, though he didn't make any significant waves with the performance. However, Gamburyan's a tough fight for most guys at 145, so I can't knock Griffin too much for it. Gamburyan's style of throwing mostly haymakers standing is really wearing thin, and he needs to learn to strike to set up clinches and takedowns if he wants to be more effective.
Next for Griffin: Considering he made his UFC featherweight debut against a man whose previous fight was a title shot against Jose Aldo, I figure Griffin will be placed firmly in the mix. He should get the loser of the upcoming Chad Mendez/Rani Yahya bout or the up-and-coming Dustin Poirer.
Next for Gamburyan: Gamburyan, as solid as he has proven to be at 145, needs a step down. After dropping 2 straight, a fight with Josh Grispi would determine who belongs.

Javier Vazquez def Joe Stevenson via Decision (Unanimous)
What happened: Stevenson just couldn't get anything going, as he was taken down early in the fight, and out-boxed later in the fight. Stevenson also showed a puzzling lack of urgency in the final round, and was content to dance around making faces at a tired Vazquez instead of going for the gusto.
Thoughts: It's sad to see, but Stevenson just doesn't have it anymore. It seems as if just overnight he turned from a solid gatekeeper at 155 to a lethargic and uninspired shell of his former self. He's been in the game for a long time, and maybe it all just caught up to him. In this fight with Vazquez he just didn't look like he wanted to be there, and managed to actually look lethargic without being tired.
Next for Vazquez: Because of injuries his best days are behind him, and he showed issues with cardio later in the fight, but Vazquez is still a solid competitor. A wrestler like Darren Elkins or Gamburyan should be on tap for him next.
Next for Stevenson: I'm fairly sure he'll be cut after his 4th consecutive loss, but if he isn't, Michihiro Omigawa may be a good match up for him.

Joe Lauzon def Curt Warburton via Submission (Kimura), Rd 1
What happened: For the first minute or so it appeared Lauzon was having trouble finding his range, then he found it in an instant, wobbling Warburton with a right and dropping him with a followup left. Always conscious of submission opportunities, Lauzon saw an opening whilst pounding away and quickly locked on a picture-perfect kimura and coaxing a tap just shy of 2 minutes in.
Thoughts: When Lauzon can find his groove early he looks like an unstoppable force, but it's when he's taken deeper into the fight that the pace he runs causes his cardio to betray him. He's looked fantastic in bouts against Warburton and Gabe Ruediger, but one can't forget his lackluster showings against Sam Stout and George Sotiropoulos, where poor cardio led to lethargic performances, and ultimately, losses.
Next for Lauzon: He claims he's now hitting his prime, and if this performance was an indicator then he's on his way to big things; but he'll need to prove it as he's shown to be inconsistent. I would love to see a rematch between Lauzon and Jeremy Stephens, but otherwise I think he should get the loser of Melvin Guillard/Shane Roller.
Next for Warburton: Honestly, I don't know much about Warburton, so he'll probably be put against someone else I don't know much about or a debuting prospect.

Rich Attonito def Daniel Roberts via Decision (Unanimous)
What happened: Attonito showed sharp boxing and good defensive wrestling in picking apart Roberts over 3 rounds. He nearly finished a gassed Roberts late in the fight with a headkick and punches, but Roberts showed that what he lacks in stand up and cardio, he has in heart.
Thoughts: Attonito looked good, not overly impressive, but he's making improvements in his game and looked good in his debut at 170. Roberts turns in yet another disappointing performance where his striking, though improving, is still rudimentary and lacks technique, and his cardio is troubling. He was practically a zombie for much of the third round and just took shots while backing up. One point of concern is his insistence on executing explosive, lunging strikes even when he's already tired. Those techniques take significantly more energy than standard strikes, and it's not smart to continue doing them when you're already low on gas.
Next for Attonito: A solid showing at 170 nets a step up in competition. Claude Patrick could be next for Attonito.
Next for Roberts: If he doesn't get cut following this loss, James Wilkes would make for an interesting fight.

Charles Oliveira def Nik Lentz via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke), Rd 2
What happened: After one of the best first rounds in recent memory in which Oliveira got the better of Lentz standing up, and went for submissions aplenty on the ground, an amazing fight was tainted by an errant illegal knee by Oliveira, directly leading to his submission victory.
Thoughts: This really was a tragic outcome. Oliveira looked great standing up and on the ground, and was surely well on his way to winning the fight (fairly) until he threw a blatant illegal knee to the head of a downed Lentz, hurting him badly and allowing Oliveira to finish. Oliveira was very apologetic and insisted that it was accidental, but most of the blame falls on the referee, who was standing right in front of the action and had no reaction to the illegal move. Oliveira looked fantastic, and Lentz didn't look to bad either, but I wouldn't be surprised if this fight is ruled a no contest after it is reviewed by the commission.
Next for Oliveira: If the fight is ruled a no contest, a rematch should be in order. Hell, even if it isn't I still think there should be a rematch. If not, Oliveira should get the winner of George Sotiropoulos/Rafael dos Anjos.
Next for Lentz: Win or lose, you can't deny Lentz was impressive in running up a 5-0-1 record in his first 6 UFC bouts, and you have to respect his work ethic and humble demeanor. If a rematch with Oliveira doesn't happen, he should take on the loser of Sotiropoulos/dos Anjos, and if he wins he should get off the prelims.

Ricardo Lamas def Matt Grice via TKO (Head Kick and Punches), Rd 1
What happened: A fairly even fight, with Lamas having a slight edge standing, until he blasted Grice with a headkick. Grice tried as best he could to stay in the fight, but follow-up punches sealed the deal.
Thoughts: Both fighters looked fairly solid up until the end, with Lamas proving to be the superior stand up fighter. Grice is now 1-4 in the UFC and may face termination, but Lamas should be a nice addition to the 145 lb weight class.
Next for Lamas: Perhaps Javier Vazquez, what with Lamas' wrestling background.
Next for Grice: A pink slip. Or Joe Stevenson, for a pink slip.

Michael Johnson def Edward Faaloloto via TKO (Punches), Rd 1
What happened: Faaloloto looked good early, showing a lot of aggression and landing some good strikes, but that pace seemed to take its toll on him, as he quickly slowed down. Johnson took full advantage of this, showing off his improved striking and scoring the TKO>
Thoughts: For a second it looked as if Faaloloto might pull off a mild upset, but his cardio betrayed him. Johnson made some nice improvements, and they carried him to an impressive victory. He's still got some things to fix, such as his clinch work and striking defense, but he's making progress.
Next for Johnson: No idea where he goes from here, that's what Joe Silva is for.
Next for Faaloloto: If he sticks around, give him Warburton.