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.
Monday, July 4, 2011
Monday, June 27, 2011
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.
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.
UFC on Versus 4 Recap: The Main Card
One of the best UFC events of 2011 saw everything from improbable finishes to controversial ones. Even with several spots of questionable refereeing, the quality of action was enough to allow UFC on Versus 3 to shine. Here is my recap of the main card.
Chieck Kongo def Patrick Barry via KO (Punch), Rd 1
What happened: After a short feeling out process, Barry got off to an incredible start, dropping Kongo and almost finishing him twice. But just as it seemed the end was on hand Kongo, wobbly legs and all, unleashed a right hook behind the ear and a follow up right uppercut that shut Barry's lights off immediately. It was a comeback from the brink so sudden you really could miss it if you blinked.
Thoughts: People are quick to be high on Kongo for this victory, and they should be, but the also must remember that Barry very well could have finished him. Kongo's lack of defense may not do him any favors against other hard hitters. Still, he showed explosive punching power while still visibly rocked, which is very impressive. Barry's only obvious mistake is that he maybe underestimated how gone Kongo really was.
Next for Kongo: Immediately after the KO, my mind went right to Shane Carwin. Carwin may be a former title challenger, but with 2 straight losses, he needs to face a middle of the pack guy like Kongo to prove he still belongs in there. He may also be a nice step up in competition for Matt Mitrione.
Next for Barry: Barry's career is still pretty young, and he has alternated wins and losses in 6 UFC appearances. Right now I think he's in a similar place as Stefan Struve in the division, and this would make for a hell of a fight. If not, I think he'd also make fireworks with Roy Nelson, who is in need of a win.
Charlie Brenneman def Rick Story via Decision (Unanimous)
What happened: Brenneman, to the surprise of many, out-wrestled and out-worked Story for 2 rounds before surviving a rough 3rd round, where Story threatened with a pair of tight triangle chokes. Story looked strong in the 3rd but failed to finish.
Thoughts: No one saw it coming. Story was on the verge of title contention, and would have likely gotten it with a win over Nate Marquardt, who was making his debut at 170. Nate fails to get medically cleared and is dropped from the fight (and the UFC) and Brenneman fills in. Brenneman was viewed as a much easier fight than Nate, and Story was expected to deal with him fairly easily, but it didn't happen that way. Brenneman showed superior wrestling and positioning, stole the first 2 rounds, and survived the 3rd. Many say Story may have been over-trained, having fought just 3 weeks prior, winning a decision of Thiago Alves, but I just think he was handled by a better wrestler. In some way I felt it to be poetic justice, as now Story knows what it's like to be held down and stifled long enough to win a decision.
Next for Brenneman: With the win Brenneman moves significantly up the latter, and figures to usurp Story's spot in the division. He should face the winner of Carlos Condit/Dong Hyun Kim, or maybe a returning Jon Fitch.
Next for Story: A major setback for Story, but it shouldn't set him back too far in the ranks. He could square off against the loser of Condit/Kim or the winner of Sanchez/Hughes.
Matt Brown def John Howard via Decision (Unanimous)
What happened: Brown simply out-worked Howard, showing much improved wrestling and submission defense, and choosing the right moments to come alive standing up.
Thoughts: This fight shows how good Brown can be if he fights smart. He didn't just go out there, try to kill his opponent, and get subbed. He kept his striking sharp, forced Howard to shoot, defended the takedowns, and became aggressive once he felt Howard tiring. It was a nice display of strategy from a normally reckless fighter. Howard may have done well to stick throwing hard leg kicks instead of working so hard for takedowns and tiring himself out, but I figure he had a reason for doing so, and Joe Rogan made it sound like a bigger issue than it probably was.
Next for Brown: An impressive win for Brown, but I don't think he should advance too much just yet. The winner of Brian Ebersole/Dennis Hallman will do.
Next for Howard: Assuming he and Daniel Roberts keep their jobs, they should fight a "loser leaves town" rematch next. If Roberts is gone, re-book Martin Kampmann.
Matt Mitrione def Christian Morecraft via KO (Punches), Rd 2
What happened: It was all Mitrione from the opening bell. Save for a couple takedowns for Morecraft and an ill-timed stand up by the ref, this fight was about Mitrione using smooth striking and hand speed to pick Morecraft apart before scoring a pimp-esque walk away knockout from a flurry of punches standing up.
Thoughts: Mitrione just keeps looking better and better. His speed and fluidity are rare things to see in such a big heavyweight, and his calm, loose demeanor are a rarity in any weight class. Morecraft was game but ultimately outgunned in this one. It would have been great to see how far Mitrione would go if he came into the game at a younger age.
Next for Mitrione: at 5-0 in the UFC (and his career), Mitrione may be still relatively new, but has earned a step up in competition. Chieck Kongo or maybe even Roy Nelson could be in the cards for him.
Next for Morecraft: Morecraft has shown to be a big strong man who can't cut it with the upper-mid level guys in the UFC. He should face the loser of the upcoming Ben Rothwell/Mark Hunt match up.
Chieck Kongo def Patrick Barry via KO (Punch), Rd 1
What happened: After a short feeling out process, Barry got off to an incredible start, dropping Kongo and almost finishing him twice. But just as it seemed the end was on hand Kongo, wobbly legs and all, unleashed a right hook behind the ear and a follow up right uppercut that shut Barry's lights off immediately. It was a comeback from the brink so sudden you really could miss it if you blinked.
Thoughts: People are quick to be high on Kongo for this victory, and they should be, but the also must remember that Barry very well could have finished him. Kongo's lack of defense may not do him any favors against other hard hitters. Still, he showed explosive punching power while still visibly rocked, which is very impressive. Barry's only obvious mistake is that he maybe underestimated how gone Kongo really was.
Next for Kongo: Immediately after the KO, my mind went right to Shane Carwin. Carwin may be a former title challenger, but with 2 straight losses, he needs to face a middle of the pack guy like Kongo to prove he still belongs in there. He may also be a nice step up in competition for Matt Mitrione.
Next for Barry: Barry's career is still pretty young, and he has alternated wins and losses in 6 UFC appearances. Right now I think he's in a similar place as Stefan Struve in the division, and this would make for a hell of a fight. If not, I think he'd also make fireworks with Roy Nelson, who is in need of a win.
Charlie Brenneman def Rick Story via Decision (Unanimous)
What happened: Brenneman, to the surprise of many, out-wrestled and out-worked Story for 2 rounds before surviving a rough 3rd round, where Story threatened with a pair of tight triangle chokes. Story looked strong in the 3rd but failed to finish.
Thoughts: No one saw it coming. Story was on the verge of title contention, and would have likely gotten it with a win over Nate Marquardt, who was making his debut at 170. Nate fails to get medically cleared and is dropped from the fight (and the UFC) and Brenneman fills in. Brenneman was viewed as a much easier fight than Nate, and Story was expected to deal with him fairly easily, but it didn't happen that way. Brenneman showed superior wrestling and positioning, stole the first 2 rounds, and survived the 3rd. Many say Story may have been over-trained, having fought just 3 weeks prior, winning a decision of Thiago Alves, but I just think he was handled by a better wrestler. In some way I felt it to be poetic justice, as now Story knows what it's like to be held down and stifled long enough to win a decision.
Next for Brenneman: With the win Brenneman moves significantly up the latter, and figures to usurp Story's spot in the division. He should face the winner of Carlos Condit/Dong Hyun Kim, or maybe a returning Jon Fitch.
Next for Story: A major setback for Story, but it shouldn't set him back too far in the ranks. He could square off against the loser of Condit/Kim or the winner of Sanchez/Hughes.
Matt Brown def John Howard via Decision (Unanimous)
What happened: Brown simply out-worked Howard, showing much improved wrestling and submission defense, and choosing the right moments to come alive standing up.
Thoughts: This fight shows how good Brown can be if he fights smart. He didn't just go out there, try to kill his opponent, and get subbed. He kept his striking sharp, forced Howard to shoot, defended the takedowns, and became aggressive once he felt Howard tiring. It was a nice display of strategy from a normally reckless fighter. Howard may have done well to stick throwing hard leg kicks instead of working so hard for takedowns and tiring himself out, but I figure he had a reason for doing so, and Joe Rogan made it sound like a bigger issue than it probably was.
Next for Brown: An impressive win for Brown, but I don't think he should advance too much just yet. The winner of Brian Ebersole/Dennis Hallman will do.
Next for Howard: Assuming he and Daniel Roberts keep their jobs, they should fight a "loser leaves town" rematch next. If Roberts is gone, re-book Martin Kampmann.
Matt Mitrione def Christian Morecraft via KO (Punches), Rd 2
What happened: It was all Mitrione from the opening bell. Save for a couple takedowns for Morecraft and an ill-timed stand up by the ref, this fight was about Mitrione using smooth striking and hand speed to pick Morecraft apart before scoring a pimp-esque walk away knockout from a flurry of punches standing up.
Thoughts: Mitrione just keeps looking better and better. His speed and fluidity are rare things to see in such a big heavyweight, and his calm, loose demeanor are a rarity in any weight class. Morecraft was game but ultimately outgunned in this one. It would have been great to see how far Mitrione would go if he came into the game at a younger age.
Next for Mitrione: at 5-0 in the UFC (and his career), Mitrione may be still relatively new, but has earned a step up in competition. Chieck Kongo or maybe even Roy Nelson could be in the cards for him.
Next for Morecraft: Morecraft has shown to be a big strong man who can't cut it with the upper-mid level guys in the UFC. He should face the loser of the upcoming Ben Rothwell/Mark Hunt match up.
Monday, June 20, 2011
Strikeforce: Overeem vs Werdum Re-cap
It's been a very long time since my last post, but hopefully now that I have a bit more free time on my hands I can get back to posting on here more frequently after events. Without further ado, let's get to it!
Alistair Overeem def. Fabricio Werdum via Decision (Unanimous)
What happened: Overeem shut down Werdum's countless attempts to drag the fight to the ground, while getting a few shots in during the brief standing exchanges for the first 2 rounds. In round 3 Werdum became desperate, charging forward with sloppy striking that actually found its mark on several occasions, but nonetheless put Overeem in no danger. Overeem appeared to be in control most of the fight, thus taking home 30-27s on every scorecard.
Thoughts: Anderson Silva vs Thales Leites all over again. I expected Overeem to easily keep the fight standing and score a stoppage due to strikes in the 2nd round, but Werdum proved more slippery than I thought. This was a good fight for supporters and detractors of Overeem to see, since he's only been out of the first round once since bulking up dramatically and tearing through 10 opponents. Overeem has never been a well of good cardio, and in this fight he slowed down considerably by the third round. Official stats had Werdum landing more shots and winning the fight, and while it was clear he did land more strikes, this fight proved why stats are insufficient for sole use in judging fights. Werdum may have landed more, but his strikes were sloppy and lacked technique and power. Overeem on the other hand landed with less frequency, but with more accuracy and power. Moreover, Werdum's constant flopping and failed takedown attempts only served to make Overeem look like he was in control of the fight, and even more dominant than he really was, hence the 30-27s. Disappointing performances by both men, and one has to figure that Overeem's in particular gave Antonio Silva much more confidence heading into their fight.
Next for Overeem: He draws Antonio Silva in the 2nd semifinal matchup. Overeem will need to work on his cardio and defense, or Bigfoot may walk away with the upset, as he is potentially a considerably tougher fight than Werdum.
Next for Werdum: One can't fault Werdum too much for trying to get the fight to his domain, but he should know by now that constant flopping and begging rarely works against an opponent who is simply unwilling to go to the ground. This fight showed that perhaps his win over Fedor Emelianenko wasn't so much an indicator that he is a top heavyweight. A rematch against Andrei Arlovski, who has a decision victory over Werdum, will show where he really fits in the div. The loser of Kharitonov vs Barnett would also make for an entertaining fights.
Josh Barnett def Brett Rogers via Submission (Arm Triangle), Rd 2
What happened: Barnett made Rogers look like an amateur, immediately taking him down and easily mounting him in the first, content with tiring him out with smothering top control. In the second Rogers already looked off his game, as Barnett tagged him with a right hand and clinched. An ill-advised lateral drop attempt from Rogers ended with Barnett landing right in mount again. This time he finished it off with an arm triangle, which Rogers likely tapped to just as much from fatigue than from the choke itself.
Thoughts: Barnett looked solid in his first showing on American soil since roughing up Gilbert Yvel in Affliction. He handled Rogers with as much, if not more ease than Overeem did in their meeting, and I really felt he could have finished him in the first if he wanted to. For Rogers this fight proved once and for all that he just doesn't belong with the big players at heavyweight. He was rushed onto the big stage with his quick blitzing of Arlovski, his stock went up after giving Fedor a tough fight (though he was ultimately KO'd), and ever since then has looked awful; getting manhandled by Overeem in an undeserved title shot, winning a controversial decision against unheralded journeyman Ruben Villareal, and finally being dominated by Barnett.
Next for Barnett: Sergei Kharitonov in the 1st semifinal matchup. Barnett will have to stay alert and crafty on the feet, but he's durable, and once it goes to the ground he shouldn't have too much trouble securing his spot in the final.
Next for Rogers: Rogers needs a major step down to build himself back up to the monster he appeared to be when he was knocking out scrubs the majority of his career. He may prove a similar foil to Jeff Monson that Daniel Cormier did. If not, Mike Kyle always seems willing to move up to HW and lose to bigger guys.
Jorge Masvidal def KJ Noons via Decision (unanimous)
What happened: In what I found to be the most surprising bout of the evening, Masvidal dominated Noons en route to an easy decision victory, in what could prove to be a lightweight title eliminator. He used his reach to batter Noons from the outside, and well-timed leg kicks to take him off balance when he tried to close the distance; it was arguably the most impressive fight of his career in terms of gameplanning. Noons showed the toughness and heart that proves why he's still a valuable commodity at LW. After being dropped with a headkick and blasted with follow-up punches late in the first, he not only survived but even continued to bring the fight to Masvidal until the final bell. He tried to mount a late comeback, as Masvidal had tired in the third, but it was too little, too late. I thought Noons would hold a boxing advantage here, but Masvidal's range, leg kicks, and wrestling proved to be too much for him.
Next for Masvidal: He has a few options here. With JZ Cavalcante/Justin Wilcox ending in a no contest, Masvidal appears to be a front-runner for a title fight against Gilbert Melendez. I personally don't think that is a fight he'll win at this point, what with his cardio (he didn't do much for the first 2 rounds to justify being gassed in the 3rd against Noons), and he'll need every bit of it against Melendez. Another option for him would be to take on the winner of the upcoming Josh Thomson vs Maximo Blanco fight, which could then earn him a title shot.
Next for Noons: Despite the beating he took, he's still a player in the Strikeforce LW division. Billy Evangelista would make for a solid next match for him.
Daniel Cormier def Jeff Monson via Decision (Unanimous)
What Happened: Cormier surprised by choosing to show off his vastly improved striking, and none of his considerable wrestling, against the veteran Monson. Without shooting for one takedown, Cormier battered the durable Monson all over the cage while stopping his clinch and takedown attempts. It was a great performance that went a long way in showing Cormier's evolution from wrestler to mixed martial artist. Monson on the other hand showed heart but looked flat from early on, realizing that he didn't have much to offer Cormier. He may have been expecting Cormier to take the fight to the ground, where he excels. Without his BJJ at his disposal, there wasn't much Monson could do to Cormier.
Next for Cormier: Cormier is one of the few prospects who are brought up the right way, and after running a 7-0 professional record he took his first step up in competition and passed with flying colors. It's time for him to step up once more. Provided his "prospect vs prospect" fight with Shane del Rosario isn't rebooked when the latter is healed, Cormier should take on one of the lesser members of the grand prix. Fights against Arlovski or Rogers could do well to boost his status even further.
Next for Monson: Monson got into the game when being a grappler with a wrestling base was a great recipe for success. The game has since evolved, and Monson has not. When he cant take opponents down and submit or control them, he's like a fish out of water. However, there are still guys who will happily oblige him on the ground/aren't as adept at keeping it from going there. Werdum or Bobby Lashley could prove good matchups for him.
Chad Griggs def Valentijn Overeem via Submission (Punches), Rd 1
What happened: It was the story of Overeem's career, and yet another good chapter in Griggs' still developing one. Overeem, at 29-26, is no stranger to buckling under pressure, and that's exactly what he did. Following a beautiful lateral drop, Griggs moved to a dominant position and started unloading on Overeem, who could do nothing but turtle up under him. Griggs didn't appear to be landing too flush, but was pooring it on when the ref stopped the fight. What was initially viewed as a premature stoppage turned out to be even worse (for Overeem), as the replay showed Overeem tapping to Griggs' partially blocked strikes. Another breakout performance for Griggs, and another unsurprisingly disappointing one from Overeem.
Next for Griggs: Griggs has gone up against 3 opponents who were supposed to beat him, and walked away with 3 stoppage victories. It's time for him to step up. Daniel Cormier or Shane del Rosario could be perfect opponents for the burgeoning heavyweight, who is smallish like they are.
Next for Overeem: Perhaps Valentijn should leave the fighting to his little bro. It's funny that he was the one who introduced Alistair to martial arts, yet he appears to lack the mental fortitude that makes a great martial artist. If he continues, Monson could work.
Alistair Overeem def. Fabricio Werdum via Decision (Unanimous)
What happened: Overeem shut down Werdum's countless attempts to drag the fight to the ground, while getting a few shots in during the brief standing exchanges for the first 2 rounds. In round 3 Werdum became desperate, charging forward with sloppy striking that actually found its mark on several occasions, but nonetheless put Overeem in no danger. Overeem appeared to be in control most of the fight, thus taking home 30-27s on every scorecard.
Thoughts: Anderson Silva vs Thales Leites all over again. I expected Overeem to easily keep the fight standing and score a stoppage due to strikes in the 2nd round, but Werdum proved more slippery than I thought. This was a good fight for supporters and detractors of Overeem to see, since he's only been out of the first round once since bulking up dramatically and tearing through 10 opponents. Overeem has never been a well of good cardio, and in this fight he slowed down considerably by the third round. Official stats had Werdum landing more shots and winning the fight, and while it was clear he did land more strikes, this fight proved why stats are insufficient for sole use in judging fights. Werdum may have landed more, but his strikes were sloppy and lacked technique and power. Overeem on the other hand landed with less frequency, but with more accuracy and power. Moreover, Werdum's constant flopping and failed takedown attempts only served to make Overeem look like he was in control of the fight, and even more dominant than he really was, hence the 30-27s. Disappointing performances by both men, and one has to figure that Overeem's in particular gave Antonio Silva much more confidence heading into their fight.
Next for Overeem: He draws Antonio Silva in the 2nd semifinal matchup. Overeem will need to work on his cardio and defense, or Bigfoot may walk away with the upset, as he is potentially a considerably tougher fight than Werdum.
Next for Werdum: One can't fault Werdum too much for trying to get the fight to his domain, but he should know by now that constant flopping and begging rarely works against an opponent who is simply unwilling to go to the ground. This fight showed that perhaps his win over Fedor Emelianenko wasn't so much an indicator that he is a top heavyweight. A rematch against Andrei Arlovski, who has a decision victory over Werdum, will show where he really fits in the div. The loser of Kharitonov vs Barnett would also make for an entertaining fights.
Josh Barnett def Brett Rogers via Submission (Arm Triangle), Rd 2
What happened: Barnett made Rogers look like an amateur, immediately taking him down and easily mounting him in the first, content with tiring him out with smothering top control. In the second Rogers already looked off his game, as Barnett tagged him with a right hand and clinched. An ill-advised lateral drop attempt from Rogers ended with Barnett landing right in mount again. This time he finished it off with an arm triangle, which Rogers likely tapped to just as much from fatigue than from the choke itself.
Thoughts: Barnett looked solid in his first showing on American soil since roughing up Gilbert Yvel in Affliction. He handled Rogers with as much, if not more ease than Overeem did in their meeting, and I really felt he could have finished him in the first if he wanted to. For Rogers this fight proved once and for all that he just doesn't belong with the big players at heavyweight. He was rushed onto the big stage with his quick blitzing of Arlovski, his stock went up after giving Fedor a tough fight (though he was ultimately KO'd), and ever since then has looked awful; getting manhandled by Overeem in an undeserved title shot, winning a controversial decision against unheralded journeyman Ruben Villareal, and finally being dominated by Barnett.
Next for Barnett: Sergei Kharitonov in the 1st semifinal matchup. Barnett will have to stay alert and crafty on the feet, but he's durable, and once it goes to the ground he shouldn't have too much trouble securing his spot in the final.
Next for Rogers: Rogers needs a major step down to build himself back up to the monster he appeared to be when he was knocking out scrubs the majority of his career. He may prove a similar foil to Jeff Monson that Daniel Cormier did. If not, Mike Kyle always seems willing to move up to HW and lose to bigger guys.
Jorge Masvidal def KJ Noons via Decision (unanimous)
What happened: In what I found to be the most surprising bout of the evening, Masvidal dominated Noons en route to an easy decision victory, in what could prove to be a lightweight title eliminator. He used his reach to batter Noons from the outside, and well-timed leg kicks to take him off balance when he tried to close the distance; it was arguably the most impressive fight of his career in terms of gameplanning. Noons showed the toughness and heart that proves why he's still a valuable commodity at LW. After being dropped with a headkick and blasted with follow-up punches late in the first, he not only survived but even continued to bring the fight to Masvidal until the final bell. He tried to mount a late comeback, as Masvidal had tired in the third, but it was too little, too late. I thought Noons would hold a boxing advantage here, but Masvidal's range, leg kicks, and wrestling proved to be too much for him.
Next for Masvidal: He has a few options here. With JZ Cavalcante/Justin Wilcox ending in a no contest, Masvidal appears to be a front-runner for a title fight against Gilbert Melendez. I personally don't think that is a fight he'll win at this point, what with his cardio (he didn't do much for the first 2 rounds to justify being gassed in the 3rd against Noons), and he'll need every bit of it against Melendez. Another option for him would be to take on the winner of the upcoming Josh Thomson vs Maximo Blanco fight, which could then earn him a title shot.
Next for Noons: Despite the beating he took, he's still a player in the Strikeforce LW division. Billy Evangelista would make for a solid next match for him.
Daniel Cormier def Jeff Monson via Decision (Unanimous)
What Happened: Cormier surprised by choosing to show off his vastly improved striking, and none of his considerable wrestling, against the veteran Monson. Without shooting for one takedown, Cormier battered the durable Monson all over the cage while stopping his clinch and takedown attempts. It was a great performance that went a long way in showing Cormier's evolution from wrestler to mixed martial artist. Monson on the other hand showed heart but looked flat from early on, realizing that he didn't have much to offer Cormier. He may have been expecting Cormier to take the fight to the ground, where he excels. Without his BJJ at his disposal, there wasn't much Monson could do to Cormier.
Next for Cormier: Cormier is one of the few prospects who are brought up the right way, and after running a 7-0 professional record he took his first step up in competition and passed with flying colors. It's time for him to step up once more. Provided his "prospect vs prospect" fight with Shane del Rosario isn't rebooked when the latter is healed, Cormier should take on one of the lesser members of the grand prix. Fights against Arlovski or Rogers could do well to boost his status even further.
Next for Monson: Monson got into the game when being a grappler with a wrestling base was a great recipe for success. The game has since evolved, and Monson has not. When he cant take opponents down and submit or control them, he's like a fish out of water. However, there are still guys who will happily oblige him on the ground/aren't as adept at keeping it from going there. Werdum or Bobby Lashley could prove good matchups for him.
Chad Griggs def Valentijn Overeem via Submission (Punches), Rd 1
What happened: It was the story of Overeem's career, and yet another good chapter in Griggs' still developing one. Overeem, at 29-26, is no stranger to buckling under pressure, and that's exactly what he did. Following a beautiful lateral drop, Griggs moved to a dominant position and started unloading on Overeem, who could do nothing but turtle up under him. Griggs didn't appear to be landing too flush, but was pooring it on when the ref stopped the fight. What was initially viewed as a premature stoppage turned out to be even worse (for Overeem), as the replay showed Overeem tapping to Griggs' partially blocked strikes. Another breakout performance for Griggs, and another unsurprisingly disappointing one from Overeem.
Next for Griggs: Griggs has gone up against 3 opponents who were supposed to beat him, and walked away with 3 stoppage victories. It's time for him to step up. Daniel Cormier or Shane del Rosario could be perfect opponents for the burgeoning heavyweight, who is smallish like they are.
Next for Overeem: Perhaps Valentijn should leave the fighting to his little bro. It's funny that he was the one who introduced Alistair to martial arts, yet he appears to lack the mental fortitude that makes a great martial artist. If he continues, Monson could work.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
UFC 127 recap
After a lengthy hiatus I figure this was as good an event as any to return to the blog, as it had a nice mix of upsets and controversy. Let's get right down to it.
Jon Fitch and BJ Penn fight to a Majority Draw, Rd 3
Prediction: BJ starts strong in the first round, but Fitch fights through it and takes the latter two rounds for a come from behind, and likely controversial, decision win.
What Happened: After a competitive but clear first round for BJ, and a very close second that arguably could have gone either way, Fitch completely dominated Penn in the 3rd, drawing a 10-8 round on two scorecards. This proved to be the deciding factor of the bout, as those same two judges scored the bout a draw (the third judge had it 29-28 for Fitch).
Thoughts: I want to start by saying that I scored the fight 29-27 in favor of Fitch. I thought Fitch did enough in the second round to narrowly take the round, and although he never really had BJ in danger of being finished in the 3rd, something must be said about the complete and utter domination he displayed there. On the other hand, I see the draw ruling as fair, as round 2 was very close and it's not hard to imagine the judges giving it to Penn instead of Fitch. Fitch proved why he's the #2 welterweight in the world, and Penn proved that he certainly has more than enough left in the tank. With that said, this fight convinced me that given a rematch, Fitch would likely win since BJ probably won't catch him off guard like he did early in this fight.
Next for Fitch: A draw is as good a reason as any for a rematch, and as two top welterweights, some closure may be in the best interest of the UFC brass in order to figure out the title picture in the near future. If not, a Fitch/Condit match up makes a lot of sense.
Next for Penn: For as good as he looked in the first two rounds, the two problems that have plagued his entire career were still present: cardio and will. He gassed in the 3rd and looked all but resigned as Fitch smothered him from the top. If the rematch doesn't happen, Thiago Alves would be eager to play into his game.
Michael Bisping drf. Jorge Rivera via TKO (punches), Rd 2
Prediction: The Bisping Special: Bisping uses his superior speed, technique, and footwork to elude and pick apart his more knockout oriented opponent, mixing in some of his ground game to keep it interesting. Bisping via unanimous decision.
What Happened: Bisping exploited Rivera's complete lack of a ground game with takedowns to throw him off. Upon returning to his feet from one of these takedowns, Bisping threw a blatant illegal knee that connected flush. Rivera continued to fight and made it out of the first, despite clearly not being the same since the blow. Bisping eventually wore him down with punches and finished him against the cage in the second.
Thoughts: I hate situations like these. What if Bisping hadn't connected that knee? Would it had gone differently? I think Bisping would have still won, but it would have been a lot more competitive. The friction between the two leading up to and during the fight really clouds the idea of whether or not the knee was really intentional, and the fact that the outcome of this fight was likely affected by the illegal blow is unfortunate. What is even more unfortunate is Bisping's actions after the fight. Flame me all you want, but I had actually been starting to warm up to Bisping lately. He's shown vast improvements in his game since the loss to Dan Henderson and he's truly become a well rounded fighter. His attitude also appeared to get a tad better. Then not only does he deliver an illegal knee and allegedly flip off Rivera's corner while he's recovering, he gets in Rivera's face talking trash after he wins the fight and spits in the direction of Rivera's cornermen. I know this was an emotional fight for him, but those actions were uncalled for. Bisping is always quick to talk trash, and yet his opponents seem to be able to refrain from doing such actions to him, yet when someone calls him out he flies off the handle? Not very professional, Mike. You almost made me a fan. Almost.
Next for Bisping: Quite frankly, this was a fight Bisping could win, as has been the trend with him through much of his UFC tenure. It's not a knock on Bisping, but it's the truth. It's time for him to really step up. Since he's been so willing to test out his wrestling and ground game, Demian Maia would be a good fit for him. If he can take out Maia, he's really ready to start being a serious contender.
Next for River: This fight really highlighted just how pedestrian Rivera's takedown defense and ground game are, and it's something he really needs to work on if he wants to make it in the division. Still, pairing him with someone like Alan Belcher would make for an exciting fight.'
Dennis Siver def. George Sotiropoulos via Decision (unanimous)
Prediction: George would pull off a decision or late submission in a match everyone would find surprisingly competitive.
What Happened: Siver displayed crisp striking (as usual) and exponentially better takedown defense to shut down all of George's takedown attempts. After a dominant first round that saw Siver score two knockdowns, George adjusted his game a bit and was surprisingly competitive on the feet for the final two rounds. However, it wasn't enough and Siver took a clear decision.
Thoughts: Don't let my prediction fool you. I couldn't for the life of me figure out why so many people were thinking Siver was going to get steamrolled by Sotiropoulos. I knew the fight wouldn't be easy for George, but in the end I thought he'd be able to get Siver to the ground, and he couldn't. Once I saw Siver shuck him off like a child, I knew it was going to be a long night for George. I'm a fan of both, but I was kind of rooting for Siver because I have gotten behind his resurgence as of late. George doesn't have much to be ashamed of with his performance, and it's a good thing these holes in his game were exposed before he really moves up the ladder.
Next for Siver: Siver has earned a nice step up in competition, and Sean Sherk would be a great test of his newfound takedown defense, and a win would likely boost him into the top 10.
Next for Sotiropoulos: Both George and Evan Dunham were somewhat close to title shots before getting knocked off by guys people thought they would handle (for Dunham it was Melvin Guillard), and I think they should square off to see who still belongs near the top of the heap.
Brian Ebersole def. Chris Lytle via Decision (unanimous)
Prediction: A very eventful fight would end with Lytle snaring a submission in the 2nd or 3rd round.
What Happened: Lytle just couldn't find his rhythm against the unorthodox Ebersole, and ate a hard knee on the chin that dropped him in the 2nd. He fought valiantly, but was just outworked by Ebersole's wrestling and stout submission defense. Lytle, holding true to his reputation of being one of the most durable guys in the game, suffered his 16th decision loss.
Thoughts: This one wins upset of the night, surpassing Siver/Sotiropoulos. Lytle was originally supposed to face the ranked Carlos Condit, and many figured he would run through Ebersole, a journeyman who has a few good wins but lost to most decent competition he's faced. Ebersole had none of it, as he threw Lytle off balance with his quirky stand up, effective wrestling, and surprisingly androit submission defense. I was pulling for Lytle to continue his career rebirth, but it wasn't to be. It'll be interesting to see where he goes next.
Next for Ebersole: Ebersole is in an interesting position because Lytle's name was being thrown around in the title contender pool if he were to be successful against Condit. Now that Ebersole has beaten Lytle, where does this put Ebersole? Should he get someone higher up than Lytle? I'm thinking perhaps, and maybe that should be Jake Ellenberger. If not, Carlos Eduardo Rocha, who was recently defeated by Ellenberger could provide an interesting match up.
Next for Lytle: Lytle's situation is just as difficult, but with Johny Hendricks needing an opponent, Lytle may be a good fit, and hopefully his takedown defense will have improved.
Kyle Noke def. Chris Camozzi via Submission (rear-naked choke), Rd 1
Prediction: Noke would have the upper hand for most of the fight, but it would remain competitive for the most part. Noke takes a decision or late submission.
What Happened: Camozzi looked good improved standing for the brief amount of time the fight last ed there, then Noke jumped all over him and locked in a tight RNC.
Thoughts: I have to say, I was a bit miffed when Camozzi got that decision of Dongi Yang so I got a bit of satisfaction out of seeing him get handled the way he did. Either way, Noke looked good and got a nice win in front of the hometown crowd.
Next for Noke: I'm gonna have to agree with Sherdog and say pair him up with Court McGee. They're keeping it all in the family with the TUF 11 guys, so why stop now?
Next for Camozzi: He still holds a respectable 2-1 UFC record, and just found himself in a bad position early in this fight. I say a match up with Nick Ring (if they're treating him as the loser in his BS decision win over Riki Fukuda), or Fukuda (if they treat him as the loser).
Prelim Notes
-Ross Pearson was just good enough to take a decision from the experienced Spencer Fisher. He didn't quite pick Fisher apart the way he did his opponents previous to his loss to Cole Miller, but he still has time to work on his game. Fisher was game the whole time and made it a close one.
-Alexander Gustafsson showed great composure and an improved all around game in escaping early trouble on the ground from hometown favorite James Te Huna to immediately take him down, mount him, and slap on a rear-naked choke in the first. Aside from his loss to the surging Phil Davis, Gustafsson has looked very impressive, and could have a bright future in the division.
-Nick Ring defeated Riki Fukuda via straight up robbery. A case could be made for giving Fukuda all three rounds, and if not that, then definitely the latter two. Not only does poor MMA judging need to be addressed, but why is it that Asian fighters so often get screwed in the UFC? If it's not a BS decision it's brutal matchmaking or screwing out of title shots. I doubt it's some racial conspiracy, but it definitely raises my eyebrow. I only hope that the UFC brass treats Fukuda as if he won, or allows him to start from scratch (maybe even a rematch).
-Anthony Perosh showed what he can do at his natural weight class and dominated Tom Blackledge on the ground en route to a rear-naked choke victory halfway through the first.
-Tiequan Zhang used his newfound favorite submission, the guillotine choke, to choke 11 year veteran Jason Reinhardt unconscious in 48 seconds. Reinhardt may have run up a gaudy 20-1 record (all finishes) before entering the UFC, but he seemed to be brought in as a winnable fight for Zhang.
-Mark Hunt finally put an end to his woeful losing streak and scored on of the most gangstafied knockouts in recent memory over Chris Tuchscherer. After tagging him repeatedly in the first round of the fight, Hunt opened up a nasty cut on Tuchscherer's left eyelid, that almost caused the fight to be stopped. Not long after the restart, Tuchscherer ran right into a Hunt uppercut that sent him crashing to the canvas. Hunt knew he had the fight won as soon as the blow connected, and walked away raising his hands in victory, not even bothering to check and see whether Chris was actually done. Hunt knows what kind of power he has in his hands, and obviously knows what it feels like when a knockout punch connects.
-In the only fight I didn't see, Curt Warburton handed Maciej Jewtuszko his first career loss with takedowns and top control. I guess thats a very mild upset.
All in all it was a pretty decent event. The draw in the main event may have left a sour taste in some people's mouths, but the fights were solid overall. Next up on the agenda: UFC Live3 - Sanchez vs Kampmann, which looks like it could turn out to be a damn good card.
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Jon Fitch and BJ Penn fight to a Majority Draw, Rd 3
Prediction: BJ starts strong in the first round, but Fitch fights through it and takes the latter two rounds for a come from behind, and likely controversial, decision win.
What Happened: After a competitive but clear first round for BJ, and a very close second that arguably could have gone either way, Fitch completely dominated Penn in the 3rd, drawing a 10-8 round on two scorecards. This proved to be the deciding factor of the bout, as those same two judges scored the bout a draw (the third judge had it 29-28 for Fitch).
Thoughts: I want to start by saying that I scored the fight 29-27 in favor of Fitch. I thought Fitch did enough in the second round to narrowly take the round, and although he never really had BJ in danger of being finished in the 3rd, something must be said about the complete and utter domination he displayed there. On the other hand, I see the draw ruling as fair, as round 2 was very close and it's not hard to imagine the judges giving it to Penn instead of Fitch. Fitch proved why he's the #2 welterweight in the world, and Penn proved that he certainly has more than enough left in the tank. With that said, this fight convinced me that given a rematch, Fitch would likely win since BJ probably won't catch him off guard like he did early in this fight.
Next for Fitch: A draw is as good a reason as any for a rematch, and as two top welterweights, some closure may be in the best interest of the UFC brass in order to figure out the title picture in the near future. If not, a Fitch/Condit match up makes a lot of sense.
Next for Penn: For as good as he looked in the first two rounds, the two problems that have plagued his entire career were still present: cardio and will. He gassed in the 3rd and looked all but resigned as Fitch smothered him from the top. If the rematch doesn't happen, Thiago Alves would be eager to play into his game.
Michael Bisping drf. Jorge Rivera via TKO (punches), Rd 2
Prediction: The Bisping Special: Bisping uses his superior speed, technique, and footwork to elude and pick apart his more knockout oriented opponent, mixing in some of his ground game to keep it interesting. Bisping via unanimous decision.
What Happened: Bisping exploited Rivera's complete lack of a ground game with takedowns to throw him off. Upon returning to his feet from one of these takedowns, Bisping threw a blatant illegal knee that connected flush. Rivera continued to fight and made it out of the first, despite clearly not being the same since the blow. Bisping eventually wore him down with punches and finished him against the cage in the second.
Thoughts: I hate situations like these. What if Bisping hadn't connected that knee? Would it had gone differently? I think Bisping would have still won, but it would have been a lot more competitive. The friction between the two leading up to and during the fight really clouds the idea of whether or not the knee was really intentional, and the fact that the outcome of this fight was likely affected by the illegal blow is unfortunate. What is even more unfortunate is Bisping's actions after the fight. Flame me all you want, but I had actually been starting to warm up to Bisping lately. He's shown vast improvements in his game since the loss to Dan Henderson and he's truly become a well rounded fighter. His attitude also appeared to get a tad better. Then not only does he deliver an illegal knee and allegedly flip off Rivera's corner while he's recovering, he gets in Rivera's face talking trash after he wins the fight and spits in the direction of Rivera's cornermen. I know this was an emotional fight for him, but those actions were uncalled for. Bisping is always quick to talk trash, and yet his opponents seem to be able to refrain from doing such actions to him, yet when someone calls him out he flies off the handle? Not very professional, Mike. You almost made me a fan. Almost.
Next for Bisping: Quite frankly, this was a fight Bisping could win, as has been the trend with him through much of his UFC tenure. It's not a knock on Bisping, but it's the truth. It's time for him to really step up. Since he's been so willing to test out his wrestling and ground game, Demian Maia would be a good fit for him. If he can take out Maia, he's really ready to start being a serious contender.
Next for River: This fight really highlighted just how pedestrian Rivera's takedown defense and ground game are, and it's something he really needs to work on if he wants to make it in the division. Still, pairing him with someone like Alan Belcher would make for an exciting fight.'
Dennis Siver def. George Sotiropoulos via Decision (unanimous)
Prediction: George would pull off a decision or late submission in a match everyone would find surprisingly competitive.
What Happened: Siver displayed crisp striking (as usual) and exponentially better takedown defense to shut down all of George's takedown attempts. After a dominant first round that saw Siver score two knockdowns, George adjusted his game a bit and was surprisingly competitive on the feet for the final two rounds. However, it wasn't enough and Siver took a clear decision.
Thoughts: Don't let my prediction fool you. I couldn't for the life of me figure out why so many people were thinking Siver was going to get steamrolled by Sotiropoulos. I knew the fight wouldn't be easy for George, but in the end I thought he'd be able to get Siver to the ground, and he couldn't. Once I saw Siver shuck him off like a child, I knew it was going to be a long night for George. I'm a fan of both, but I was kind of rooting for Siver because I have gotten behind his resurgence as of late. George doesn't have much to be ashamed of with his performance, and it's a good thing these holes in his game were exposed before he really moves up the ladder.
Next for Siver: Siver has earned a nice step up in competition, and Sean Sherk would be a great test of his newfound takedown defense, and a win would likely boost him into the top 10.
Next for Sotiropoulos: Both George and Evan Dunham were somewhat close to title shots before getting knocked off by guys people thought they would handle (for Dunham it was Melvin Guillard), and I think they should square off to see who still belongs near the top of the heap.
Brian Ebersole def. Chris Lytle via Decision (unanimous)
Prediction: A very eventful fight would end with Lytle snaring a submission in the 2nd or 3rd round.
What Happened: Lytle just couldn't find his rhythm against the unorthodox Ebersole, and ate a hard knee on the chin that dropped him in the 2nd. He fought valiantly, but was just outworked by Ebersole's wrestling and stout submission defense. Lytle, holding true to his reputation of being one of the most durable guys in the game, suffered his 16th decision loss.
Thoughts: This one wins upset of the night, surpassing Siver/Sotiropoulos. Lytle was originally supposed to face the ranked Carlos Condit, and many figured he would run through Ebersole, a journeyman who has a few good wins but lost to most decent competition he's faced. Ebersole had none of it, as he threw Lytle off balance with his quirky stand up, effective wrestling, and surprisingly androit submission defense. I was pulling for Lytle to continue his career rebirth, but it wasn't to be. It'll be interesting to see where he goes next.
Next for Ebersole: Ebersole is in an interesting position because Lytle's name was being thrown around in the title contender pool if he were to be successful against Condit. Now that Ebersole has beaten Lytle, where does this put Ebersole? Should he get someone higher up than Lytle? I'm thinking perhaps, and maybe that should be Jake Ellenberger. If not, Carlos Eduardo Rocha, who was recently defeated by Ellenberger could provide an interesting match up.
Next for Lytle: Lytle's situation is just as difficult, but with Johny Hendricks needing an opponent, Lytle may be a good fit, and hopefully his takedown defense will have improved.
Kyle Noke def. Chris Camozzi via Submission (rear-naked choke), Rd 1
Prediction: Noke would have the upper hand for most of the fight, but it would remain competitive for the most part. Noke takes a decision or late submission.
What Happened: Camozzi looked good improved standing for the brief amount of time the fight last ed there, then Noke jumped all over him and locked in a tight RNC.
Thoughts: I have to say, I was a bit miffed when Camozzi got that decision of Dongi Yang so I got a bit of satisfaction out of seeing him get handled the way he did. Either way, Noke looked good and got a nice win in front of the hometown crowd.
Next for Noke: I'm gonna have to agree with Sherdog and say pair him up with Court McGee. They're keeping it all in the family with the TUF 11 guys, so why stop now?
Next for Camozzi: He still holds a respectable 2-1 UFC record, and just found himself in a bad position early in this fight. I say a match up with Nick Ring (if they're treating him as the loser in his BS decision win over Riki Fukuda), or Fukuda (if they treat him as the loser).
Prelim Notes
-Ross Pearson was just good enough to take a decision from the experienced Spencer Fisher. He didn't quite pick Fisher apart the way he did his opponents previous to his loss to Cole Miller, but he still has time to work on his game. Fisher was game the whole time and made it a close one.
-Alexander Gustafsson showed great composure and an improved all around game in escaping early trouble on the ground from hometown favorite James Te Huna to immediately take him down, mount him, and slap on a rear-naked choke in the first. Aside from his loss to the surging Phil Davis, Gustafsson has looked very impressive, and could have a bright future in the division.
-Nick Ring defeated Riki Fukuda via straight up robbery. A case could be made for giving Fukuda all three rounds, and if not that, then definitely the latter two. Not only does poor MMA judging need to be addressed, but why is it that Asian fighters so often get screwed in the UFC? If it's not a BS decision it's brutal matchmaking or screwing out of title shots. I doubt it's some racial conspiracy, but it definitely raises my eyebrow. I only hope that the UFC brass treats Fukuda as if he won, or allows him to start from scratch (maybe even a rematch).
-Anthony Perosh showed what he can do at his natural weight class and dominated Tom Blackledge on the ground en route to a rear-naked choke victory halfway through the first.
-Tiequan Zhang used his newfound favorite submission, the guillotine choke, to choke 11 year veteran Jason Reinhardt unconscious in 48 seconds. Reinhardt may have run up a gaudy 20-1 record (all finishes) before entering the UFC, but he seemed to be brought in as a winnable fight for Zhang.
-Mark Hunt finally put an end to his woeful losing streak and scored on of the most gangstafied knockouts in recent memory over Chris Tuchscherer. After tagging him repeatedly in the first round of the fight, Hunt opened up a nasty cut on Tuchscherer's left eyelid, that almost caused the fight to be stopped. Not long after the restart, Tuchscherer ran right into a Hunt uppercut that sent him crashing to the canvas. Hunt knew he had the fight won as soon as the blow connected, and walked away raising his hands in victory, not even bothering to check and see whether Chris was actually done. Hunt knows what kind of power he has in his hands, and obviously knows what it feels like when a knockout punch connects.
-In the only fight I didn't see, Curt Warburton handed Maciej Jewtuszko his first career loss with takedowns and top control. I guess thats a very mild upset.
All in all it was a pretty decent event. The draw in the main event may have left a sour taste in some people's mouths, but the fights were solid overall. Next up on the agenda: UFC Live3 - Sanchez vs Kampmann, which looks like it could turn out to be a damn good card.
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Tuesday, January 4, 2011
K-1 Dynamite!! 2010 recap
K-1 Dynamite!! is typically an extravagant year-end event in which Japanese management company FEG joins its talents from Dream (and previously Pride) and K-1 to put on a huge super-card full of freak shows, gimmick matches, and a few legitimate scraps thrown in for good measure. This year was no different, except in my opinion it did a bit more for those craving more legitimate fights than in the past few years (excluding last year's), culminating in a pretty decent event overall. The godawful Bob Sapp vs some Japanese guy I've never heard of in some kind of "special rules" (which included the lack of gloves and prohibition of open-handed strikes) was thankfully cancelled when Sapp "lost the will to fight." I pulled out my washed up talentless hack-to-English dictionary and found out that means "I want more money." Anyway, lets get on with it.
Hiroyuki Takaya def. Bibiano Fernandes (c) via Decision (unanimous), Rd 3
Prediction: Let it be known that I thought Takaya did enough to win their first scrap to crown the inaugural Dream Featherweight Champion. Therefore, in this fight I predicted Takaya would do it again and get awarded the belt this time.
What Happened: Exactly that. The bout was about as close as it gets in the first two rounds, with Takaya edging out the first, and the second being a draw (slight edge to Fernandes) on my cards. The third round was pivotal, and Fernandes' decision to pull guard to work his BJJ proved to be his undoing, as Takaya refused to be submitted; he pounded and controlled Fernandes until the final bell, effectively stealing the round and the fight.
Thoughts: The president of FEG claimed this fight did more to drive away fans than bring them in, and that he was very disappointed by it. That may be true for the casual fan, but for me the fight had a nice amount of tension and back-and-forth battling despite its deliberate pace. Takaya slightly got the better of the standup exchanges, and perhaps sensing he needed to do something major, Fernandes pulled guard expecting his BJJ to take the match. Takaya then showed that he is more well-rounded than previously thought, as he fearlessly dove into Fernandes' dangerous guard and roughed him up as if he was untouchable. Despite what Sherdog says, I think this fight earned Takaya a slot in the Featherweight Top 10.
Next for Takaya: It's hard to say who's next in line for a shot at the title. Kazuyuki Miyata could be primed for a shot, as could Yoshiro Maeda and Mitsuhiro Ishida, who are both on 2 fight win streaks. My pick here is Miyata.
Next for Fernandes: There is no shame in losing the title in such a close fight, and he should be right back in the mix following the loss. Perhaps a match against Mitsuhiro Ishida to give his BJJ a workout is in the works for him.
Tatsuya Kawajiri def. Josh Thomson via Decision (unanimous), Rd 3
Prediction: This was the hardest fight on the card for me to call. I pretty much considered it a toss-up and decided to just enjoy the fight and see what happens, as I am fans of both guys.
What Happened: Thomson showed lots of toughness, heart, aggressiveness, and great cardio, but in the end was dominated by Kawajiri's smothering wrestling and top control. In the brief portions of the fight that took place that were on the feet Thomson was clearly the better striker and landed some good shots, but he just couldn't stop Kawajiri from dragging him to the ground.
Thoughts: Thomson didn't disappoint too much in defeat, but Kawajiri was a beast that night. Thomson's potent kickboxing was in full display, but his usually solid wrestling was virtually non-existent against the bulldozing power of Kawajiri. Kawajiri even managed to lock in two tight arm triangles, but Thomson's savvy and composure got him through; Kawajiri, sensing the submissions weren't coming, jumped back to mount on both occasions. I'd say that he is in line for a trip to the U.S.
Next for Kawajiri: His next opponent should be in Strikeforce. In fact, I think he should be the next challenger to Gilbert Melendez's lightweight strap. I know, he hasn't exactly earned it, but since when is that a prerequisite in Strikeforce? Hell, Melendez won the interim belt in his very next fight after losing to Thomson for the belt.
Next for Thomson: Tough to determine where to put him in the lightweight picture. Maybe a fight with KJ Noons in a title eliminator would suffice. Like I said, it's Strikeforce; no one earns anything.
Jason High def. Hayato Sakurai via Decision (split), Rd 3
Prediction: High would do pretty well with his wrestling, but Sakurai (though definitely past his prime) would do enough to score a late stoppage win.
What Happened: In a fairly uneventful fight, Sakurai proved a bit gun shy in the early rounds, but still kept the fight very close. After two difficult to score rounds, Sakurai came alive late in the 3rd, dropping High with strikes but giving up a takedown has High instinctually shot in. It proved not to be enough, as High took the decision on two judge's cards.
Thoughts: Sakurai is still competitive, but this fight made it clear he is really over the hill. Despite having a definite skill advantage on the feet he refused to let it all out during the exchanges until it was too late. He also looked a bit out of shape and slow from the start. He either needs to start training seriously or hang 'em up. I won't take anything away from High though, he did perform well, but really needs to improve his standup. As evidenced by his lone UFC fight (and loss) against Charlie Brenneman, he pretty much runs out of offense once he can't impose his will through wrestling.
Next for High: Hell if I know, Dream's welterweight division sucks. Maybe a title rematch against Zaromskis.
Next for Sakurai: Same as above, though with his recent skid anyone will do.
Marius Zaromskis def. Kazushi Sakuraba via TKO (HOLY CRAP HIS EAR FELL OFF! I mean doctor stoppage), Rd 1
Prediction: Sakuraba is one knockout away from death. I hoped to God Zaromskis would win by something other than knockout, but either way he wins.
What Happened: He won by something other than knockout. Damn near ripping Sakuraba's ear clean off his head with a glancing punch. I was actually relieved; they can sew his ear back on, but Saku doesn't need anymore trauma to the head.
Thoughts: Zaromskis finally got a win in 2010, even though you could attribute the win more to Sakuraba falling apart than to Zaromskis' actual skill. Hard to know where Zaromskis actually is as a welterweight, but Sakuraba's drop to 170 was way too little, way too late. The man seriously needs to retire, and he's needed to for a while now. I'm seriously concerned for his health, and I'm practically cringing the entire time he fights now in anticipation that his career will be forcefully ended.
Next for Zaromskis: Like I said, unless I'm missing someone, the Dream welterweight division is barren. Maybe Jason High, like I mentioned earlier.
Next for Sakuraba: Retirement. Seriously.
Satoshi Ishii def. Jerome Le Banner via Decision (unanimous), Rd 3
Prediction: Ishii has become a lay-n-pray specialist. Le Banner is a K-1 kickboxer who has proven more effective than most pure kickboxers when it comes to not getting subbed. Doesn't take a rocket scientist. Ishii by unanimous decision.
What Happened: Le Banner did a pretty admirable job on the ground, but all that muscle expectedly did a number on his cardio, which left him too tired to capitalize on his advantages. Ishii by unanimous decision.
Thoughts: Le Banner is wildly popular in Japan, and Dream has been trying their damnedest to push Ishii and make him a big draw. The problem is he lacks finishing ability and is content to just hold down his opponents and pepper them with strikes. Not a very fan-friendly style. His uneventful win over Le Banner was met with a cascade of boos from the normally docile Japanese crowd. If he is to gain the support of the fans, he has three options: 1) Fix those holes in his game and take some risks to finish his opponents, 2) Develop an exciting style, or 3) Take a page out of pro wrestling and develop an over-the-top personality. For his sake, he should choose number 1.
Next for Ishii: He needs a legitimate opponent in order for fans to care about him, but he also needs to work on his overall game. But hell, he'll probably fight James Thompson or something.
Next for Le Banner: Well seeing as how this isn't his sport, I assume he'll return to K-1.
Alistair Overeem def. Todd Duffee via KO (punches), Rd 1
Prediction: Duffee would be in way over his head as he's a decent boxer who's relatively green facing a really good striker with a wealth of experience. Duffee might hold his own at spots, but it wouldn't stop Overeem from notching a (T)KO.
What Happened: For some reason Duffee decided to run in swinging like a madman, and one hard knee to the body, a left, and a right hook, and Duffee's out cold. We all knew it would happen, but thought it'd take longer than 19 seconds.
Thoughts: Duffee took a big risk accepting a fight with Overeem coming off a deflating knockout loss and being released from the UFC; it didn't pay off. At least he got a nice payday for getting knocked out so quickly; he reportedly earned $60,000 for the bout. Turns out this one was for the Dream interim Heavyweight Title, which gives Overeem his 3rd belt in a combat sport (he is the Strikeforce champion, and recently won the K-1 World Grand Prix in 2010). Best part about the fight was Overeem's girlfriend at the end. Usually not my type but I gotta admit that is an attractive woman.
Next for Overeem: Thankfully, we can now confirm that Overeem will finally be taking on Fabricio Werdum in the first round of an 8 man heavyweight tournament in Strikeforce. This also may mean that Overeem will have a 2011 full of good competition, provided he gets past Werdum.
Next for Duffee: That's a tough one. Dream probably won't bring him back, so he'll have to hit up one of the less orgs like Shark Fights. I think Strikeforce should sign him; they have some good up-and-comers for him like Daniel Cormier and Shane Del Rosario. I wouldn't be surprised if he was the final reserve entrant.
Sergei Kharitonov def. Tatsuya Mizuno via KO (knee and punches), Rd 1
Prediction: Mizuno has mad considerable strides in his game as of late, but still wouldn't be ready for someone of Kharitonov's abilities. Kharitonov by (T)KO.
What Happened: See above....brutally.
Thoughts: Mizuno, God bless him, tries really hard out there and has improved a lot over time, but I'm not sure he'll ever be able to do well against any good heavyweight. He just doesn't have the skill or the athleticism. It's definitely commendable that he's dedicated to the sport but he should stick to lower level guys, especially if he wants to gain confidence in the ring. Melvin Manhoef will probably be the biggest win of his career, not that it wasn't impressive.
Next for Kharitonov: Andrei Arlovski, as a part of the Strikeforce tournament.
next for Mizuno: Maybe he should call it quits and go back to being a police officer. I felt bad watching his wife crying as he lay unconscious. If he continues, I think he should stay at 205. He's displayed some decent skills and could actually do well against lower-end 205ers.
Mixed Rules Bout: Yuichiro Nagashima def. Shinya Aoki via KTFO (knee and punches), Rd 2
Prediction: Aoki would avoid major action in the opening 3 minute striking round and survive, then he'd take the fight to the ground and easily sub Nagashima in the following 5 minute MMA round.
What Happened: Little surprises in the 1st round: Aoki practically avoided fighting in the round altogether by using such techniques as dropkicks and rolling hell kicks to flop to the ground and waste as much time as possible. He also shot in for clinches and did several other stalling tactics that are illegal in K-1. All thought Aoki would easily sub Nagashima in the MMA round, but what happened next was arguably a winning last minute entry for upset of the year: Aoki immediately shot in, was blasted by a flying knee, and slumped to the ground where a few unnecessary followup punches sealed the deal.
Thoughts: Everyone including myself pretty much wrote out Nagashima after Aoki's antics in the first round, and I'm sure many of those same people were hoping Aoki would get his comeuppance as well. Well he did, and it was sweet. I have a love-hate situation with Aoki and his willingness to participate in useless fights have had me on the latter end lately. I hope Aoki bounces back nicely from this, but I'm glad he got flattened by that knee, in the MMA round no less.
Next for Nagashima: Back to K-1, where he is a champion. A cross-dressing, cosplaying, champion.
Next for Aoki: Hard to say. There aren't really any viable challengers for his lightweight title. A rematch with JZ Cavalcante seems one of the few options, but after having lost 3 of his last 4 (including his last fight) he's not really in a deserving spot. Katsunori Kikuno recently defended his Deep title, and may look to become a champ in Dream too, but his last fight in Dream was a loss. That and he'd most likely lose. Perhaps Aoki needs to come to America along with Kawajiri.
Hiroshi Izumi def. Ikuhisa Minowa via TKO (punches), Rd 3
Prediction: I really think they called Minowa in against Ishii just to try and get Ishii over with the fans because they knew he'd beat Minowa, whom the fans love and respect. I think the same thing was done in pairing Minowa with Izumi. Izumi by decision.
What Happened: As expected Minowa had nothing for Izumi, but Izumi showed more tenacity than Ishii did and managed to hammer out a stoppage late in the fight. He wasn't exactly destroying Minowa, but the fight needed to be stopped.
Thoughts: Minowa looks to be on his way to the bottom. He was never a top fighter, but lately he's just looked flat and uninspired. I've said many times that Minowa only really does well against big lumbering oafs who will clumsily tumble to the ground at some point during his dogged attempts to get them there, where they are damn near powerless against what is really his only weapon: leglocks. When you put Minowa against guys who are bigger than he is, but still skilled and relatively quick and athletic, there is nothing he can do. With Ishii's and Izumi's extensive judo backgrounds there's no way he'd submit them, and without the ability to submit them he's got nothing. It seems they've found another job for Minowa besides freak show fighter: prospect builder-upper.
Next for Izumi: Back in Sengoku I think it'd be interesting to see him fight Dave Herman. Or if they still want to protect him, Yoshihiro Nakao.
Next for Minowa: He should stick to freakshow fights, if there are even anymore freaks left for him to fight; he's just about faced them all. OR here's an idea: why not put together a rubber match between Minowa and fresh UFC castoff Phil Baroni. At this point I'd go with Baroni.
Kazuyuki Miyata def. Caol Uno via Decision (unanimous), Rd 3
Prediction: Tough one to call with Miyata's great improvements recently, but I figured Uno would be too crafty and savvy, and walk out with a late submission or decision win.
What Happened: After being outstruck for much of the 1st round, Miyata decided to go to his bread-and-butter: his dominant wrestling. For the final two rounds, Miyata shut down Uno's offense with smothering wrestling, and even landed three of his trademark German suplexes to take a clear-cut decision.
Thoughts: Miyata has really been looking impressive lately, and if he keeps it up could find himself in the top 10 come Dynamite!! 2011. After a rough start to his career, he has figured out how to apply his wrestling to MMA properly, and has developed enough striking to set up his powerful takedowns. He seems to have forgotten how to finish fights, with all but one of his wins on his current 6 fight streak going the distance, but you could also make the argument that it's because he's been facing much greater competition. Prior to facing opponents people have actually heard of he was getting his wins via submission. Perhaps as he improves he will start submitting top guys.
Tough break for Uno, who had his debut at 145 spoiled here. He's clearly past his prime, and I doubt he'll make a run at the title, but there are still some interesting fights for him in the division.
Next for Miyata: One could argue that he is ready for a title shot, but if not he should be one win away, and I would nominate Mitsuhiro Ishida for that fight. Pitting two powerful wrestlers like them against each other could make for an interesting bout, and may spell trouble for the champ.
Next for Uno: He's had a long career and has done a lot. Maybe he deserves a small step down in competition against someone like Daiki Hata. If he still wants to stay in the thick of it Akiyo Nishiura or Hideo Tokoro could make for good matchups.
Other Stuff
- Hideo Tokoro took a surprisingly long time to submit boisterous (see: asshole) boxer Kazuhisa Watanabe. Tokoro seemed to be dead set on locking in a nearside armbar from the top, which Watanabe apparently learned how to defend pretty well. In fact, Watanabe proved to be very tough (and stubborn) in general throughout the affair. Not too impressive for Tokoro, who should have tried to utilize more than armbars and rear naked chokes (which he probably trained for) to put Watanabe away.
- Gegard Mousassi impressed once again bringing his kickboxing record to 5-0 as he took a decision from current K-1 Heavyweight Champion Kyotaro under K-1 rules. It was a close fight, but Mousassi convincingly snagged the decision. Kyotaro lost a hard fought decision to Semmy Schilt just two weeks prior, which may have affected him in this fight, but Mousassi was very impressive regardless and may have a future in K-1.
- In a K-1 MAX bout, colorful MMA fighter Akiyo Nishiura and K-1 MAX World -63kg Tournament winner Tetsuya Yamato fought to a majority draw, with the dissenting judge scoring the fight for Yamato. Akiyo's twitchy, unorthodox style was difficult for Yamato to figure out in the first two round, but he found his range in the third, tagging Akiyo repeatedly toward the end of the bout. Akiyo scored the better shots in the previous two rounds, but apparently the third round is the one that really matters to K-1 judges, which might explain one judge scoring it for Yamato.
Well that was exhausting, but when is it not. One of these days I'll do a recap that doesn't take half a day to read through, you'll see! Then again, it's not like anyone reads them anyway, so I might as well just keep up what I'm doing. Hopefully I'll get around to covering the events of Sengoku 16 in the next couple days. That'll be another long one. Oh joy.
Hiroyuki Takaya def. Bibiano Fernandes (c) via Decision (unanimous), Rd 3
Prediction: Let it be known that I thought Takaya did enough to win their first scrap to crown the inaugural Dream Featherweight Champion. Therefore, in this fight I predicted Takaya would do it again and get awarded the belt this time.
What Happened: Exactly that. The bout was about as close as it gets in the first two rounds, with Takaya edging out the first, and the second being a draw (slight edge to Fernandes) on my cards. The third round was pivotal, and Fernandes' decision to pull guard to work his BJJ proved to be his undoing, as Takaya refused to be submitted; he pounded and controlled Fernandes until the final bell, effectively stealing the round and the fight.
Thoughts: The president of FEG claimed this fight did more to drive away fans than bring them in, and that he was very disappointed by it. That may be true for the casual fan, but for me the fight had a nice amount of tension and back-and-forth battling despite its deliberate pace. Takaya slightly got the better of the standup exchanges, and perhaps sensing he needed to do something major, Fernandes pulled guard expecting his BJJ to take the match. Takaya then showed that he is more well-rounded than previously thought, as he fearlessly dove into Fernandes' dangerous guard and roughed him up as if he was untouchable. Despite what Sherdog says, I think this fight earned Takaya a slot in the Featherweight Top 10.
Next for Takaya: It's hard to say who's next in line for a shot at the title. Kazuyuki Miyata could be primed for a shot, as could Yoshiro Maeda and Mitsuhiro Ishida, who are both on 2 fight win streaks. My pick here is Miyata.
Next for Fernandes: There is no shame in losing the title in such a close fight, and he should be right back in the mix following the loss. Perhaps a match against Mitsuhiro Ishida to give his BJJ a workout is in the works for him.
Tatsuya Kawajiri def. Josh Thomson via Decision (unanimous), Rd 3
Prediction: This was the hardest fight on the card for me to call. I pretty much considered it a toss-up and decided to just enjoy the fight and see what happens, as I am fans of both guys.
What Happened: Thomson showed lots of toughness, heart, aggressiveness, and great cardio, but in the end was dominated by Kawajiri's smothering wrestling and top control. In the brief portions of the fight that took place that were on the feet Thomson was clearly the better striker and landed some good shots, but he just couldn't stop Kawajiri from dragging him to the ground.
Thoughts: Thomson didn't disappoint too much in defeat, but Kawajiri was a beast that night. Thomson's potent kickboxing was in full display, but his usually solid wrestling was virtually non-existent against the bulldozing power of Kawajiri. Kawajiri even managed to lock in two tight arm triangles, but Thomson's savvy and composure got him through; Kawajiri, sensing the submissions weren't coming, jumped back to mount on both occasions. I'd say that he is in line for a trip to the U.S.
Next for Kawajiri: His next opponent should be in Strikeforce. In fact, I think he should be the next challenger to Gilbert Melendez's lightweight strap. I know, he hasn't exactly earned it, but since when is that a prerequisite in Strikeforce? Hell, Melendez won the interim belt in his very next fight after losing to Thomson for the belt.
Next for Thomson: Tough to determine where to put him in the lightweight picture. Maybe a fight with KJ Noons in a title eliminator would suffice. Like I said, it's Strikeforce; no one earns anything.
Jason High def. Hayato Sakurai via Decision (split), Rd 3
Prediction: High would do pretty well with his wrestling, but Sakurai (though definitely past his prime) would do enough to score a late stoppage win.
What Happened: In a fairly uneventful fight, Sakurai proved a bit gun shy in the early rounds, but still kept the fight very close. After two difficult to score rounds, Sakurai came alive late in the 3rd, dropping High with strikes but giving up a takedown has High instinctually shot in. It proved not to be enough, as High took the decision on two judge's cards.
Thoughts: Sakurai is still competitive, but this fight made it clear he is really over the hill. Despite having a definite skill advantage on the feet he refused to let it all out during the exchanges until it was too late. He also looked a bit out of shape and slow from the start. He either needs to start training seriously or hang 'em up. I won't take anything away from High though, he did perform well, but really needs to improve his standup. As evidenced by his lone UFC fight (and loss) against Charlie Brenneman, he pretty much runs out of offense once he can't impose his will through wrestling.
Next for High: Hell if I know, Dream's welterweight division sucks. Maybe a title rematch against Zaromskis.
Next for Sakurai: Same as above, though with his recent skid anyone will do.
Marius Zaromskis def. Kazushi Sakuraba via TKO (HOLY CRAP HIS EAR FELL OFF! I mean doctor stoppage), Rd 1
Prediction: Sakuraba is one knockout away from death. I hoped to God Zaromskis would win by something other than knockout, but either way he wins.
What Happened: He won by something other than knockout. Damn near ripping Sakuraba's ear clean off his head with a glancing punch. I was actually relieved; they can sew his ear back on, but Saku doesn't need anymore trauma to the head.
Thoughts: Zaromskis finally got a win in 2010, even though you could attribute the win more to Sakuraba falling apart than to Zaromskis' actual skill. Hard to know where Zaromskis actually is as a welterweight, but Sakuraba's drop to 170 was way too little, way too late. The man seriously needs to retire, and he's needed to for a while now. I'm seriously concerned for his health, and I'm practically cringing the entire time he fights now in anticipation that his career will be forcefully ended.
Next for Zaromskis: Like I said, unless I'm missing someone, the Dream welterweight division is barren. Maybe Jason High, like I mentioned earlier.
Next for Sakuraba: Retirement. Seriously.
Satoshi Ishii def. Jerome Le Banner via Decision (unanimous), Rd 3
Prediction: Ishii has become a lay-n-pray specialist. Le Banner is a K-1 kickboxer who has proven more effective than most pure kickboxers when it comes to not getting subbed. Doesn't take a rocket scientist. Ishii by unanimous decision.
What Happened: Le Banner did a pretty admirable job on the ground, but all that muscle expectedly did a number on his cardio, which left him too tired to capitalize on his advantages. Ishii by unanimous decision.
Thoughts: Le Banner is wildly popular in Japan, and Dream has been trying their damnedest to push Ishii and make him a big draw. The problem is he lacks finishing ability and is content to just hold down his opponents and pepper them with strikes. Not a very fan-friendly style. His uneventful win over Le Banner was met with a cascade of boos from the normally docile Japanese crowd. If he is to gain the support of the fans, he has three options: 1) Fix those holes in his game and take some risks to finish his opponents, 2) Develop an exciting style, or 3) Take a page out of pro wrestling and develop an over-the-top personality. For his sake, he should choose number 1.
Next for Ishii: He needs a legitimate opponent in order for fans to care about him, but he also needs to work on his overall game. But hell, he'll probably fight James Thompson or something.
Next for Le Banner: Well seeing as how this isn't his sport, I assume he'll return to K-1.
Alistair Overeem def. Todd Duffee via KO (punches), Rd 1
Prediction: Duffee would be in way over his head as he's a decent boxer who's relatively green facing a really good striker with a wealth of experience. Duffee might hold his own at spots, but it wouldn't stop Overeem from notching a (T)KO.
What Happened: For some reason Duffee decided to run in swinging like a madman, and one hard knee to the body, a left, and a right hook, and Duffee's out cold. We all knew it would happen, but thought it'd take longer than 19 seconds.
Thoughts: Duffee took a big risk accepting a fight with Overeem coming off a deflating knockout loss and being released from the UFC; it didn't pay off. At least he got a nice payday for getting knocked out so quickly; he reportedly earned $60,000 for the bout. Turns out this one was for the Dream interim Heavyweight Title, which gives Overeem his 3rd belt in a combat sport (he is the Strikeforce champion, and recently won the K-1 World Grand Prix in 2010). Best part about the fight was Overeem's girlfriend at the end. Usually not my type but I gotta admit that is an attractive woman.
Next for Overeem: Thankfully, we can now confirm that Overeem will finally be taking on Fabricio Werdum in the first round of an 8 man heavyweight tournament in Strikeforce. This also may mean that Overeem will have a 2011 full of good competition, provided he gets past Werdum.
Next for Duffee: That's a tough one. Dream probably won't bring him back, so he'll have to hit up one of the less orgs like Shark Fights. I think Strikeforce should sign him; they have some good up-and-comers for him like Daniel Cormier and Shane Del Rosario. I wouldn't be surprised if he was the final reserve entrant.
Sergei Kharitonov def. Tatsuya Mizuno via KO (knee and punches), Rd 1
Prediction: Mizuno has mad considerable strides in his game as of late, but still wouldn't be ready for someone of Kharitonov's abilities. Kharitonov by (T)KO.
What Happened: See above....brutally.
Thoughts: Mizuno, God bless him, tries really hard out there and has improved a lot over time, but I'm not sure he'll ever be able to do well against any good heavyweight. He just doesn't have the skill or the athleticism. It's definitely commendable that he's dedicated to the sport but he should stick to lower level guys, especially if he wants to gain confidence in the ring. Melvin Manhoef will probably be the biggest win of his career, not that it wasn't impressive.
Next for Kharitonov: Andrei Arlovski, as a part of the Strikeforce tournament.
next for Mizuno: Maybe he should call it quits and go back to being a police officer. I felt bad watching his wife crying as he lay unconscious. If he continues, I think he should stay at 205. He's displayed some decent skills and could actually do well against lower-end 205ers.
Mixed Rules Bout: Yuichiro Nagashima def. Shinya Aoki via KTFO (knee and punches), Rd 2
Prediction: Aoki would avoid major action in the opening 3 minute striking round and survive, then he'd take the fight to the ground and easily sub Nagashima in the following 5 minute MMA round.
What Happened: Little surprises in the 1st round: Aoki practically avoided fighting in the round altogether by using such techniques as dropkicks and rolling hell kicks to flop to the ground and waste as much time as possible. He also shot in for clinches and did several other stalling tactics that are illegal in K-1. All thought Aoki would easily sub Nagashima in the MMA round, but what happened next was arguably a winning last minute entry for upset of the year: Aoki immediately shot in, was blasted by a flying knee, and slumped to the ground where a few unnecessary followup punches sealed the deal.
Thoughts: Everyone including myself pretty much wrote out Nagashima after Aoki's antics in the first round, and I'm sure many of those same people were hoping Aoki would get his comeuppance as well. Well he did, and it was sweet. I have a love-hate situation with Aoki and his willingness to participate in useless fights have had me on the latter end lately. I hope Aoki bounces back nicely from this, but I'm glad he got flattened by that knee, in the MMA round no less.
Next for Nagashima: Back to K-1, where he is a champion. A cross-dressing, cosplaying, champion.
Next for Aoki: Hard to say. There aren't really any viable challengers for his lightweight title. A rematch with JZ Cavalcante seems one of the few options, but after having lost 3 of his last 4 (including his last fight) he's not really in a deserving spot. Katsunori Kikuno recently defended his Deep title, and may look to become a champ in Dream too, but his last fight in Dream was a loss. That and he'd most likely lose. Perhaps Aoki needs to come to America along with Kawajiri.
Hiroshi Izumi def. Ikuhisa Minowa via TKO (punches), Rd 3
Prediction: I really think they called Minowa in against Ishii just to try and get Ishii over with the fans because they knew he'd beat Minowa, whom the fans love and respect. I think the same thing was done in pairing Minowa with Izumi. Izumi by decision.
What Happened: As expected Minowa had nothing for Izumi, but Izumi showed more tenacity than Ishii did and managed to hammer out a stoppage late in the fight. He wasn't exactly destroying Minowa, but the fight needed to be stopped.
Thoughts: Minowa looks to be on his way to the bottom. He was never a top fighter, but lately he's just looked flat and uninspired. I've said many times that Minowa only really does well against big lumbering oafs who will clumsily tumble to the ground at some point during his dogged attempts to get them there, where they are damn near powerless against what is really his only weapon: leglocks. When you put Minowa against guys who are bigger than he is, but still skilled and relatively quick and athletic, there is nothing he can do. With Ishii's and Izumi's extensive judo backgrounds there's no way he'd submit them, and without the ability to submit them he's got nothing. It seems they've found another job for Minowa besides freak show fighter: prospect builder-upper.
Next for Izumi: Back in Sengoku I think it'd be interesting to see him fight Dave Herman. Or if they still want to protect him, Yoshihiro Nakao.
Next for Minowa: He should stick to freakshow fights, if there are even anymore freaks left for him to fight; he's just about faced them all. OR here's an idea: why not put together a rubber match between Minowa and fresh UFC castoff Phil Baroni. At this point I'd go with Baroni.
Kazuyuki Miyata def. Caol Uno via Decision (unanimous), Rd 3
Prediction: Tough one to call with Miyata's great improvements recently, but I figured Uno would be too crafty and savvy, and walk out with a late submission or decision win.
What Happened: After being outstruck for much of the 1st round, Miyata decided to go to his bread-and-butter: his dominant wrestling. For the final two rounds, Miyata shut down Uno's offense with smothering wrestling, and even landed three of his trademark German suplexes to take a clear-cut decision.
Thoughts: Miyata has really been looking impressive lately, and if he keeps it up could find himself in the top 10 come Dynamite!! 2011. After a rough start to his career, he has figured out how to apply his wrestling to MMA properly, and has developed enough striking to set up his powerful takedowns. He seems to have forgotten how to finish fights, with all but one of his wins on his current 6 fight streak going the distance, but you could also make the argument that it's because he's been facing much greater competition. Prior to facing opponents people have actually heard of he was getting his wins via submission. Perhaps as he improves he will start submitting top guys.
Tough break for Uno, who had his debut at 145 spoiled here. He's clearly past his prime, and I doubt he'll make a run at the title, but there are still some interesting fights for him in the division.
Next for Miyata: One could argue that he is ready for a title shot, but if not he should be one win away, and I would nominate Mitsuhiro Ishida for that fight. Pitting two powerful wrestlers like them against each other could make for an interesting bout, and may spell trouble for the champ.
Next for Uno: He's had a long career and has done a lot. Maybe he deserves a small step down in competition against someone like Daiki Hata. If he still wants to stay in the thick of it Akiyo Nishiura or Hideo Tokoro could make for good matchups.
- Hideo Tokoro took a surprisingly long time to submit boisterous (see: asshole) boxer Kazuhisa Watanabe. Tokoro seemed to be dead set on locking in a nearside armbar from the top, which Watanabe apparently learned how to defend pretty well. In fact, Watanabe proved to be very tough (and stubborn) in general throughout the affair. Not too impressive for Tokoro, who should have tried to utilize more than armbars and rear naked chokes (which he probably trained for) to put Watanabe away.
- Gegard Mousassi impressed once again bringing his kickboxing record to 5-0 as he took a decision from current K-1 Heavyweight Champion Kyotaro under K-1 rules. It was a close fight, but Mousassi convincingly snagged the decision. Kyotaro lost a hard fought decision to Semmy Schilt just two weeks prior, which may have affected him in this fight, but Mousassi was very impressive regardless and may have a future in K-1.
- In a K-1 MAX bout, colorful MMA fighter Akiyo Nishiura and K-1 MAX World -63kg Tournament winner Tetsuya Yamato fought to a majority draw, with the dissenting judge scoring the fight for Yamato. Akiyo's twitchy, unorthodox style was difficult for Yamato to figure out in the first two round, but he found his range in the third, tagging Akiyo repeatedly toward the end of the bout. Akiyo scored the better shots in the previous two rounds, but apparently the third round is the one that really matters to K-1 judges, which might explain one judge scoring it for Yamato.
Well that was exhausting, but when is it not. One of these days I'll do a recap that doesn't take half a day to read through, you'll see! Then again, it's not like anyone reads them anyway, so I might as well just keep up what I'm doing. Hopefully I'll get around to covering the events of Sengoku 16 in the next couple days. That'll be another long one. Oh joy.
Monday, January 3, 2011
Hot and Cold: UFC 125
Of course UFC 125 had its winners and losers (and draws), but how have the fighters been affected in the big picture? Who won or lost more than just the match they fought this past Saturday? Thought I'd try out something new, so here's what I think.
Who's HOT
Frankie Edgar: To many, the mark of a true champion is the ability to overcome adversity. Edgar showed one of the greatest examples of this against Gray Maynard, as he took one of the most hellacious beatings ever seen in a title fight, and not only survived the round but somehow came back to take round 2 clearly. Edgar is very disappointed that the fight came out to a draw, but the fact that he even made it to a decision at all is incredibly impressive by itself. He came back from a 10-8 first round to take a draw on one scorecard, and even win the fight on another. He has nothing to be ashamed of.
Brian Stann: Stann took a huge risk in calling out a fighter like Chris Leben while still trying to establish himself since dropping to 185. He was rewarded in the best way possible for his risk by not only beating Leben, but finishing him with strikes; something only middleweight champ Anderson Silva has managed to do. Stann arguably shot up from unheralded middleweight to top 15 in one fight.
Thiago Silva: After a year layoff to correct a back injury he's fought with for a while, Silva dominated and humiliated Brandon Vera on Saturday. With his performance, there are already suggestions from fans to give him Rampage or the winner of Jon Jones vs Ryan Bader for his next fight, which would put him in the mix.
Dong Hyun Kim: Kim impressed with a dominant grinding win over Nate Diaz, where he showed off his great strength and excellent awareness on the ground. He's not quite ready for GSP yet, but he definitely needs a top 10 opponent.
Clay Guida: Guida seems to be hitting a stride. His guillotine choke victory over for Pride lightweight king Takanori Gomi was his third straight submission victory, and in those fights he has displayed improvements in just about all facets of his game. It may be time to enter Guida in lightweight contender talks.
Dustin Poirer: A dominant decision over Josh Grispi has surely earned Poirer a top 10 featherweight spot, and likely has him close to earning a title shot.
Brad Tavares: Tavares showed some heart after getting dropped and nearly finished by a dangerous Phil Baroni, only to turn around and impressively TKO him shortly after.
Diego Nunes: The first round may not have been pretty, but Nunes is now arguably a top 5 featherweight after edging out former king Mike Brown via decision.
Who's COLD
Chris Leben: After the impressive 2010 Leben had, just losing to Stann didn't put him on the cold list. However, getting stopped due to strikes for just the second time in his career in a territory he usually calls his own (a brawl) justifies his entry. Reports have risen that Leben was sick during the fight (and he did look more sluggish than usual), but I hate excuses, and I doubt it would have gone too much differently. Leben is still a threat to most 185'ers so I'm sure he'll bounce back.
Brandon Vera: It's bad enough that Vera has now lost 3-straight, which is usually grounds for extermination in the UFC; but Vera also lost in lackluster and embarrassing fashion against Thiago Silva. After being dominated for 2 rounds, he practically did nothing while Silva rode his back, slapped his head, and drummed on his body in the 3rd. Vera was definitely one of the bigger losers Saturday.
Marcus Davis: Also in the 3-straight loss crowd is Marcus Davis, who had his debut at 155 spoiled when he suffered a 3rd round KO at the hands of Jeremy Stephens. All the more disheartening for Davis is that he was arguably winning the fight before the KO; he was soundly outboxing Stephens and overpowering him in the clinch and on the ground. As one of the more exciting fighters he may get another chance, and he definitely showed signs of being competitive in the division.
Josh Grispi: After his performance against Dustin Poirer it's hard to believe Grispi was originally slated to face Jose Aldo for the featherweight strap on at UFC 125. He's still very young so he has plenty of time to develop, but he is clearly not ready for upper-level featherweights yet.
Phil Baroni: The third and final entrant in the 3-straight loss club at UFC 125, Baroni is likely in the most danger of getting cut. After a strong start in which he seemed dropped Brad Tavares and almost locked in a tight guillotine, Baroni was shocked with a barrage of strikes.
Antonio McKee: McKee's mouth is what got him onto this list. His close decision loss to Jacob Volkmann (ending a 15 fight, almost 8 year unbeaten streak) is only a minor setback, but when you consider the amount of cocky trash talk and promises of coming into the UFC and taking reign over the lightweight division in brutal fashion, McKee was a pretty big loser that night. Usually eager to shoot off at the mouth when given the chance, he has been pretty quiet since the loss.
Who's....at ROOM TEMPERATURE
Gray Maynard: Maynard looked great in the first round of his title fight against Frankie Edgar. But after trying so hard to finish in that round, he was decidedly slower and less effective for the following 20 minutes. He still did well, but how do you go from destroying someone for 5 minutes to getting slammed on your ass and outworked by that same guy in the very next round?
Nate Diaz: Diaz is still a solid fighter, but Dong Hyun Kim just showed us what we already knew: Diaz can't handle the combo of good wrestling and submission defense. His performance against Kim was his typical fare, where he is taken down and nullified for 2 rounds, and finishes strong due to his great cardio, but it doesn't make up for being dominated for the majority of the fight.
Takanori Gomi: Gomi's susceptibility to submissions rears its ugly head once more against Clay Guida. Aside from that, he's faced nothing but tough competitors and he didn't look bad against Guida. Knowing how the UFC seems to deal with Japanese fighter, I sadly wouldn't be too surprised if Gomi was cut after going 1-2 in the UFC, but he still has a lot to offer them so I don't see it happening.
Jeremy Stephens: An impressive knockout doesn't erase the fact that Marcus Davis outworked him for much of the match. Nothing major, but Stephens will need to tighten up his game if he wants to compete at a higher level.
Mike Brown: Despite his decision loss to Diego Nunes, Brown looked solid in the fight, especially in the first round where he was aggressive with his striking and closed Nunes' left eye. He still has good fights to give in the UFC, but I fear the division is starting to pass him by.
Jacob Volkmann: You'd figure that with his third straight win he'd be in the hot column right? Not when you consistently deliver uneventful decision wins. Outwrestling Antonio McKee is a very impressive feat, but Volkmann won't get onto the main card anytime soon with his style.
Frankie Edgar: To many, the mark of a true champion is the ability to overcome adversity. Edgar showed one of the greatest examples of this against Gray Maynard, as he took one of the most hellacious beatings ever seen in a title fight, and not only survived the round but somehow came back to take round 2 clearly. Edgar is very disappointed that the fight came out to a draw, but the fact that he even made it to a decision at all is incredibly impressive by itself. He came back from a 10-8 first round to take a draw on one scorecard, and even win the fight on another. He has nothing to be ashamed of.
Brian Stann: Stann took a huge risk in calling out a fighter like Chris Leben while still trying to establish himself since dropping to 185. He was rewarded in the best way possible for his risk by not only beating Leben, but finishing him with strikes; something only middleweight champ Anderson Silva has managed to do. Stann arguably shot up from unheralded middleweight to top 15 in one fight.
Thiago Silva: After a year layoff to correct a back injury he's fought with for a while, Silva dominated and humiliated Brandon Vera on Saturday. With his performance, there are already suggestions from fans to give him Rampage or the winner of Jon Jones vs Ryan Bader for his next fight, which would put him in the mix.
Dong Hyun Kim: Kim impressed with a dominant grinding win over Nate Diaz, where he showed off his great strength and excellent awareness on the ground. He's not quite ready for GSP yet, but he definitely needs a top 10 opponent.
Clay Guida: Guida seems to be hitting a stride. His guillotine choke victory over for Pride lightweight king Takanori Gomi was his third straight submission victory, and in those fights he has displayed improvements in just about all facets of his game. It may be time to enter Guida in lightweight contender talks.
Dustin Poirer: A dominant decision over Josh Grispi has surely earned Poirer a top 10 featherweight spot, and likely has him close to earning a title shot.
Brad Tavares: Tavares showed some heart after getting dropped and nearly finished by a dangerous Phil Baroni, only to turn around and impressively TKO him shortly after.
Diego Nunes: The first round may not have been pretty, but Nunes is now arguably a top 5 featherweight after edging out former king Mike Brown via decision.
Chris Leben: After the impressive 2010 Leben had, just losing to Stann didn't put him on the cold list. However, getting stopped due to strikes for just the second time in his career in a territory he usually calls his own (a brawl) justifies his entry. Reports have risen that Leben was sick during the fight (and he did look more sluggish than usual), but I hate excuses, and I doubt it would have gone too much differently. Leben is still a threat to most 185'ers so I'm sure he'll bounce back.
Brandon Vera: It's bad enough that Vera has now lost 3-straight, which is usually grounds for extermination in the UFC; but Vera also lost in lackluster and embarrassing fashion against Thiago Silva. After being dominated for 2 rounds, he practically did nothing while Silva rode his back, slapped his head, and drummed on his body in the 3rd. Vera was definitely one of the bigger losers Saturday.
Marcus Davis: Also in the 3-straight loss crowd is Marcus Davis, who had his debut at 155 spoiled when he suffered a 3rd round KO at the hands of Jeremy Stephens. All the more disheartening for Davis is that he was arguably winning the fight before the KO; he was soundly outboxing Stephens and overpowering him in the clinch and on the ground. As one of the more exciting fighters he may get another chance, and he definitely showed signs of being competitive in the division.
Josh Grispi: After his performance against Dustin Poirer it's hard to believe Grispi was originally slated to face Jose Aldo for the featherweight strap on at UFC 125. He's still very young so he has plenty of time to develop, but he is clearly not ready for upper-level featherweights yet.
Phil Baroni: The third and final entrant in the 3-straight loss club at UFC 125, Baroni is likely in the most danger of getting cut. After a strong start in which he seemed dropped Brad Tavares and almost locked in a tight guillotine, Baroni was shocked with a barrage of strikes.
Antonio McKee: McKee's mouth is what got him onto this list. His close decision loss to Jacob Volkmann (ending a 15 fight, almost 8 year unbeaten streak) is only a minor setback, but when you consider the amount of cocky trash talk and promises of coming into the UFC and taking reign over the lightweight division in brutal fashion, McKee was a pretty big loser that night. Usually eager to shoot off at the mouth when given the chance, he has been pretty quiet since the loss.
Gray Maynard: Maynard looked great in the first round of his title fight against Frankie Edgar. But after trying so hard to finish in that round, he was decidedly slower and less effective for the following 20 minutes. He still did well, but how do you go from destroying someone for 5 minutes to getting slammed on your ass and outworked by that same guy in the very next round?
Nate Diaz: Diaz is still a solid fighter, but Dong Hyun Kim just showed us what we already knew: Diaz can't handle the combo of good wrestling and submission defense. His performance against Kim was his typical fare, where he is taken down and nullified for 2 rounds, and finishes strong due to his great cardio, but it doesn't make up for being dominated for the majority of the fight.
Takanori Gomi: Gomi's susceptibility to submissions rears its ugly head once more against Clay Guida. Aside from that, he's faced nothing but tough competitors and he didn't look bad against Guida. Knowing how the UFC seems to deal with Japanese fighter, I sadly wouldn't be too surprised if Gomi was cut after going 1-2 in the UFC, but he still has a lot to offer them so I don't see it happening.
Jeremy Stephens: An impressive knockout doesn't erase the fact that Marcus Davis outworked him for much of the match. Nothing major, but Stephens will need to tighten up his game if he wants to compete at a higher level.
Mike Brown: Despite his decision loss to Diego Nunes, Brown looked solid in the fight, especially in the first round where he was aggressive with his striking and closed Nunes' left eye. He still has good fights to give in the UFC, but I fear the division is starting to pass him by.
Jacob Volkmann: You'd figure that with his third straight win he'd be in the hot column right? Not when you consistently deliver uneventful decision wins. Outwrestling Antonio McKee is a very impressive feat, but Volkmann won't get onto the main card anytime soon with his style.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
UFC 125 recap
After a long hiatus from blogging, I couldn't resist returning after such an awesome string of fights both to close out 2010 and open up 2011. I'll cover UFC 125 right now, but I can't ignore Sengoku: Soul of Fight and Dynamte! 2010, as both proved to be quality events despite Japanese year-end shows usually being chock full of gimmicks and throwaway matches. UFC 125 delivered what I hoped it would, and then some, even if I may not have done so hot in predicting the outcomes. I called 2010 the year of upsets, and I think the trend may carry over to 2011. And here we go! Not holding back on this one, it will be lengthy haha.
Frankie Edgar (c) and Gray Maynard fight to a Split Draw, Rd 5
Prediction: In a repeat of their first encounter, Maynard's strength and size would be too much for Edgar in the early going, and a late surge against a more weary Maynard would prove too little, too late. Maynard by Decision.
What Happened: After a disastrous 1st round in which Edgar was nearly finished with punches multiple times, Edgar did the improbable and not only survived the round but came back to convincingly win the 2nd. What resulted was a close fight in which the scores were 48-46, 46-48, and 47-47, a split draw.
Thoughts: Wow. The fight that had long been predicted to be painfully boring turns out to be perhaps the most exciting, drama-filled fights on the entire card. I thought for sure Edgar was done in round one, and how he survived is beyond me. He came back to outwrestle Gray in several spots, effectively showing that Maynard's size and strength advantage isn't as dramatic as it once was. The fight was also a draw if I've ever seen one. It's disappointing but absolutely the right call. If it weren't for the the 10-8 round I would have scored it for Edgar in what would have been one of the greatest comebacks of all time. Hell, it still is.
Next for Edgar: An interesting situation has risen. Anthony Pettis is scheduled to face the winner of this fight....but there is no winner. Still, as much as an immediate rematch makes sense, I think the sensible thing to do is to give Pettis his shot since it involves a title unification and it is unfair to make him wait so long. Still, Maynard does deserve a rematch.
Next for Maynard: If he doesn't get a rematch, his choices are to either sit back and wait for the winner of Edgar vs Pettis or take another fight in the interim. If he chooses the latter, the winner of the upcoming Melvin Guillard vs Evan Dunham fight may make sense.
Brian Stann def. Chris Leben by TKO (knee and punches), Rd 1
Prediction: Stann would hold his own on the feet, but would succumb to the Leben Special: get caught up in a firefight, where Leben's chin and punching power usually allow him to come out on top in brutal fashion.
What Happened: Talk about the complete opposite. Stann did well in the early going not allowing Leben to draw him in, and using footwork and a good jab to jump in and out with his strikes. However, it was just a matter of time before he was in Leben's world....or so we thought. After being sucked into a firefight and even getting wobbled, Stann dropped Leben with a hard right hand. In typical fashion, Leben didn't mustered up the ability to get back to his feet, where Stann buckled him once again with sharp lefts. Once again, Leben somehow came back like a zombie from the grave. However, this time Stann would inflict the proverbial shot to the head: a hard knee and followup punches and Leben was done.
Thoughts: Leben still amazes me with his ability to absorb shots and keep coming. Just about any other guy would have been done after Stann landed that right hand and pounced for the finish, and if not would surely be done after the next volley of punches. But even more impressive was Stann's performance. According to most (including myself) this was Leben's fight to lose, but Stann made sure there was no doubt as to who ended the fight. Leading up to the fight Leben said Stann couldn't punch his way through a paper bag. Well maybe so, but he sure could punch his way through Leben's face.
Next for Stann: A win over such a highly regarded opponent should earn Stann a crack at an upper level middleweight. Michael Bisping would be a perfect opponent for him. Stann's more tactical approach since joining Greg Jackson's camp would be greatly tested against Bisping's methodical style. Not to mention pairing an arrogant Brit like Bisping against a humble, former Marine captain like Stann speaks for itself in terms of pre-fight build up. A lot of American fans want to see Bisping beaten regardless of who else he's facing; an all-American guy like Stann would have the America vs. Britain rivalry at an all time high.
Next for Leben: After a fantastic 2010, it looks like Leben's 2011 has started out on quite a bad note. Not only was he finished in the 1st round but it was due to strikes, something no other man but current middleweight kingpin Anderson Silva has done. Since it looks like he won't get Wanderlei Silva, Leben might look to rebound against the loser of Bisping vs Rivera or better yet, the loser of Mark Munoz vs CB Dollaway.
Thiago Silva def. Brandon Vera via Decision (unanimous), Rd 3
Prediction: Silva would stay aggressive and go for the kill, landing the more effective strikes and controlling the ground portions of the fight for a close decision win.
What Happened: Vera showed a definite advantage standing up throughout most of the fight, but unfortunately for him he spent the majority of the fight underneath Silva, who bullied and completely shut Vera down with potent ground and pound and superior strength and positioning. To seal the deal, Silva spent most of the 3rd round riding Vera's back while landing several punches, slaps, forearm strikes, and even took some time to drum on Vera's back and punch him in the backside. Oh, and in the process managed to completely destroy Vera's nose.
Thoughts: Thiago Silva is back. After fighting a while with an injured back, he finally showed why he was such a feared contender before running into Lyoto Machida. With a healthy back he was able to demonstrate his physical dominance and excellent ground game to make Vera, a seasoned veteran, look like an amateur on the mat. Vera's extensive Greco Roman skills looked nonexistant as Silva was able to bully him in the clinch and forcefully take him to the ground (something Randy Couture couldn't even manage). Silva made it looked easy, and clowned and embarrassed Vera in the process. That wasn't a fight, that was 3 rounds of rape.
Next for Silva: Phil Davis would be a perfect opponent for him. He's on fire right now, will have the wrestling advantage (and Silva the striking advantage) and the fight give great insight as to where they both belong in the rankings. Otherwise, the winner of Forrest Griffin vs Rich Franklin would make a fine choice.
Next for Vera: I suspect that Vera will be cut after yet another disappointing performance. He has been hot-and-cold most of his career and I think the UFC brass may have grown tired of him never reaching his potential. If he sticks around, Tim Boetsch may be a good person to show where he really is in the division.
Dong Hyun Kim def. Nate Diaz via Decision (unanimous), Rd 3
PredictionNate Diaz has always had trouble with physically strong guys that have good takedowns and can avoid submissions while controlling the action on the ground. Kim is one of those guys. Kim via close decision.
What Happened: I was pretty spot on with that one. Diaz did well standing up in the fight (especially in the 3rd), but the fact remains that he is able to be taken down almost at will, and adding good submission defense all but guarantees he'll drop a competitive decision.
Thoughts: If you know me you know I can't stand Nate Diaz (I'm warming up to Nick a bit, but I'm still not a fan). I was happy seeing him once again get stifled by a good wrestler, though I would be tickled pink if someone actually managed to finish him. You'd think that with the way a lot of his fights go he'd be seriously drilling some defensive wrestling. Kim showed decent standup but definitely still needs to sharpen up that area of his game if he wants to go further in the division.
Next for Kim: He says he wants GSP, but at this point he's definitely not ready. It'd be interesting to see how his strength and grappling match up with GSP's but with the standup deficit, GSP may not even need to seek takedowns. The winner of Diego Sanches vs Martin Kampmann (thanks Sherdog) would be a good barometer of where he is in the division. Paulo Thiago may also be a solid matchup for him, even if he is coming off of two losses.
Next for Diaz: He needs to go back to 155. I still don't know why he thought he'd set 170 on fire when he can't even get past the good wrestlers at 155. Both divisions are ruled by great wrestlers, so maybe he should fatten up and go to 185 if he wants to avoid them. If he stays at 170, maybe he should get Paulo Thiago or John Howard. If he moves back down, Tyson Griffin or Takanori Gomi could be good opponents.
Clay Guida def. Takanori Gomi via Submission (guillotine choke), Rd 2
Prediction: Gomi would have the tools to wear down and beat Gomi, but is so prone to getting wreckless on the feet that Gomi would tag him and end his night in round 1 or 2. However, that is if Guida doesn't fight smart. A smart Guida could decision Gomi or score a late sub.
What Happened: Guida fought smart. He used his high energy level to move unpredictably in all directions and employ constant head movement. The result was highly confusing and frustrating for Gomi, who even got tagged a few times by Guida's spontaneous striking. Gomi did land a few good shots, but one knee to the body was proved a big mistake, as it allowed Guida to take him down and lock in a fight-ending guillotine.
Thoughts: I guess the Gomi hope train is derailed yet again, and it's sad to see. His susceptibility to submissions is what got him once again this time around, but Guida's frantic pace and confusing movement clearly left Gomi scratching his head, as he could not find his rhythm or his range. However, Guida's stock went way up, and he seems to be enjoying an evolution in his mental game at this point.
Next for Guida: Guida has won 3 straight and looked impressive along the way. His current resurgence has earned him a look at becoming a contender. Ben Henderson would make for an amazing fight between two guys with great wrestling, great chins, and no off-button. Potential fight of the year material if you ask me. Otherwise, a fight with Sean Sherk may also make sense and will show how well Guida holds up against another great wrestler.
Next for Gomi: I take it he gets one more chance to make an impact, and why not against someone else who has their back against the wall and likes to slug? Paul Taylor fits this mold. The fight would surely be fireworks, and should show if Gomi really is done being considered a viable contender. A fight against Nate Diaz would also make for a good story, considering Gomi had an epic battle with his brother Nick that ended with Gomi tapping to a gogoplata late in the fight, only to have the result declared a no contest later on due to Diaz's "herbal self medication." Nate has an iron jaw, great submissions, and is prone to getting into brawls on the feet just like Nick, so the fight could prove to be as epic.
The Prelims
- Marcus Davis looked very solid for his debut at 155 for two rounds. Then he ran into Jeremy Stephens' fist and was knocked unconscious. Davis actually staggered Stephens with a punch in the 1st, but chose to run in and clinch instead trying to go for the finish. As soon as it happened I said he'd regret it because it will probably cost him the fight. Turns out I was right.
- In one of the big shockers of the night, Dustin Poirer thoroughly dominated almost-featherweight title challenger Josh Grispi on the feet and shut down his submission skills on the ground en route to a dominant decision. Jose Aldo's injury may have been a blessing for Grispi because judging from this fight Aldo would have annihilated him if he got that title shot.
- Not surprisingly, Phil Baroni lost to Brad Tavares. The shocker was that he was TKO'd in round 1 after nearly finishing Tavares early on. Baroni can take a ton of damage so you figure if he was going to be stopped it'd be after the first round, where he typically gasses. Baroni will surely be cut now, at just 3-7 in the UFC.
- Diego Nunes took home a close split decision over former champ Mike Brown. Tough fight to predict but I called it, saying that Brown would start off strong but be unable to finish, and Nunes would use his speed and striking to take rounds 2 and 3. The featherweight division seems to have passed Brown by, and he has alternated wins and losses in his last 6. Nunes' stock continues to rise, and he may soon have to make the choice of whether or not to fight Nova Uniao teammate and UFC Featherweight champ Jose Aldo.
- Daniel Roberts survived an early scare to pull off a beautiful kimura submission over of Greg Soto in the 1st round. As soon as Soto's arm was available, Roberts grabbed a hold of it and impressively locked in the submission in lightning quick fashion. Roberts can be a major player at 170 if he works on his standup, and for the record, this should have been award Submission of the Night.
- After loads upon loads of trash talk and self promoting Antonio McKee lost his promotional debut, dropping an uneventful and at times dreadful to watch split decision to Jacob Volkmann. McKee sees a 15 fight, almost 8 year unbeaten streak come to an end, while Volkmann has now won his 3rd straight since dropping down to lightweight. It's quite ironic to see that after so much talk from McKee about how being derided for grinding out decisions by critics has brought out a monster in him who will violently run through everyone he faces, he loses this fight by being outwrestled and grinded down by a guy he was supposed to outwrestle. Kinda funny.
Whew! Okay, that does it. It was a very good event overall, which makes me even more excited for what is to come in 2011. I'll be writing back soon with recaps of the J-MMA year-end events, but until then good fight and good night!
Frankie Edgar (c) and Gray Maynard fight to a Split Draw, Rd 5
Prediction: In a repeat of their first encounter, Maynard's strength and size would be too much for Edgar in the early going, and a late surge against a more weary Maynard would prove too little, too late. Maynard by Decision.
What Happened: After a disastrous 1st round in which Edgar was nearly finished with punches multiple times, Edgar did the improbable and not only survived the round but came back to convincingly win the 2nd. What resulted was a close fight in which the scores were 48-46, 46-48, and 47-47, a split draw.
Thoughts: Wow. The fight that had long been predicted to be painfully boring turns out to be perhaps the most exciting, drama-filled fights on the entire card. I thought for sure Edgar was done in round one, and how he survived is beyond me. He came back to outwrestle Gray in several spots, effectively showing that Maynard's size and strength advantage isn't as dramatic as it once was. The fight was also a draw if I've ever seen one. It's disappointing but absolutely the right call. If it weren't for the the 10-8 round I would have scored it for Edgar in what would have been one of the greatest comebacks of all time. Hell, it still is.
Next for Edgar: An interesting situation has risen. Anthony Pettis is scheduled to face the winner of this fight....but there is no winner. Still, as much as an immediate rematch makes sense, I think the sensible thing to do is to give Pettis his shot since it involves a title unification and it is unfair to make him wait so long. Still, Maynard does deserve a rematch.
Next for Maynard: If he doesn't get a rematch, his choices are to either sit back and wait for the winner of Edgar vs Pettis or take another fight in the interim. If he chooses the latter, the winner of the upcoming Melvin Guillard vs Evan Dunham fight may make sense.
Brian Stann def. Chris Leben by TKO (knee and punches), Rd 1
Prediction: Stann would hold his own on the feet, but would succumb to the Leben Special: get caught up in a firefight, where Leben's chin and punching power usually allow him to come out on top in brutal fashion.
What Happened: Talk about the complete opposite. Stann did well in the early going not allowing Leben to draw him in, and using footwork and a good jab to jump in and out with his strikes. However, it was just a matter of time before he was in Leben's world....or so we thought. After being sucked into a firefight and even getting wobbled, Stann dropped Leben with a hard right hand. In typical fashion, Leben didn't mustered up the ability to get back to his feet, where Stann buckled him once again with sharp lefts. Once again, Leben somehow came back like a zombie from the grave. However, this time Stann would inflict the proverbial shot to the head: a hard knee and followup punches and Leben was done.
Thoughts: Leben still amazes me with his ability to absorb shots and keep coming. Just about any other guy would have been done after Stann landed that right hand and pounced for the finish, and if not would surely be done after the next volley of punches. But even more impressive was Stann's performance. According to most (including myself) this was Leben's fight to lose, but Stann made sure there was no doubt as to who ended the fight. Leading up to the fight Leben said Stann couldn't punch his way through a paper bag. Well maybe so, but he sure could punch his way through Leben's face.
Next for Stann: A win over such a highly regarded opponent should earn Stann a crack at an upper level middleweight. Michael Bisping would be a perfect opponent for him. Stann's more tactical approach since joining Greg Jackson's camp would be greatly tested against Bisping's methodical style. Not to mention pairing an arrogant Brit like Bisping against a humble, former Marine captain like Stann speaks for itself in terms of pre-fight build up. A lot of American fans want to see Bisping beaten regardless of who else he's facing; an all-American guy like Stann would have the America vs. Britain rivalry at an all time high.
Next for Leben: After a fantastic 2010, it looks like Leben's 2011 has started out on quite a bad note. Not only was he finished in the 1st round but it was due to strikes, something no other man but current middleweight kingpin Anderson Silva has done. Since it looks like he won't get Wanderlei Silva, Leben might look to rebound against the loser of Bisping vs Rivera or better yet, the loser of Mark Munoz vs CB Dollaway.
Thiago Silva def. Brandon Vera via Decision (unanimous), Rd 3
Prediction: Silva would stay aggressive and go for the kill, landing the more effective strikes and controlling the ground portions of the fight for a close decision win.
What Happened: Vera showed a definite advantage standing up throughout most of the fight, but unfortunately for him he spent the majority of the fight underneath Silva, who bullied and completely shut Vera down with potent ground and pound and superior strength and positioning. To seal the deal, Silva spent most of the 3rd round riding Vera's back while landing several punches, slaps, forearm strikes, and even took some time to drum on Vera's back and punch him in the backside. Oh, and in the process managed to completely destroy Vera's nose.
Thoughts: Thiago Silva is back. After fighting a while with an injured back, he finally showed why he was such a feared contender before running into Lyoto Machida. With a healthy back he was able to demonstrate his physical dominance and excellent ground game to make Vera, a seasoned veteran, look like an amateur on the mat. Vera's extensive Greco Roman skills looked nonexistant as Silva was able to bully him in the clinch and forcefully take him to the ground (something Randy Couture couldn't even manage). Silva made it looked easy, and clowned and embarrassed Vera in the process. That wasn't a fight, that was 3 rounds of rape.
Next for Silva: Phil Davis would be a perfect opponent for him. He's on fire right now, will have the wrestling advantage (and Silva the striking advantage) and the fight give great insight as to where they both belong in the rankings. Otherwise, the winner of Forrest Griffin vs Rich Franklin would make a fine choice.
Next for Vera: I suspect that Vera will be cut after yet another disappointing performance. He has been hot-and-cold most of his career and I think the UFC brass may have grown tired of him never reaching his potential. If he sticks around, Tim Boetsch may be a good person to show where he really is in the division.
Dong Hyun Kim def. Nate Diaz via Decision (unanimous), Rd 3
PredictionNate Diaz has always had trouble with physically strong guys that have good takedowns and can avoid submissions while controlling the action on the ground. Kim is one of those guys. Kim via close decision.
What Happened: I was pretty spot on with that one. Diaz did well standing up in the fight (especially in the 3rd), but the fact remains that he is able to be taken down almost at will, and adding good submission defense all but guarantees he'll drop a competitive decision.
Thoughts: If you know me you know I can't stand Nate Diaz (I'm warming up to Nick a bit, but I'm still not a fan). I was happy seeing him once again get stifled by a good wrestler, though I would be tickled pink if someone actually managed to finish him. You'd think that with the way a lot of his fights go he'd be seriously drilling some defensive wrestling. Kim showed decent standup but definitely still needs to sharpen up that area of his game if he wants to go further in the division.
Next for Kim: He says he wants GSP, but at this point he's definitely not ready. It'd be interesting to see how his strength and grappling match up with GSP's but with the standup deficit, GSP may not even need to seek takedowns. The winner of Diego Sanches vs Martin Kampmann (thanks Sherdog) would be a good barometer of where he is in the division. Paulo Thiago may also be a solid matchup for him, even if he is coming off of two losses.
Next for Diaz: He needs to go back to 155. I still don't know why he thought he'd set 170 on fire when he can't even get past the good wrestlers at 155. Both divisions are ruled by great wrestlers, so maybe he should fatten up and go to 185 if he wants to avoid them. If he stays at 170, maybe he should get Paulo Thiago or John Howard. If he moves back down, Tyson Griffin or Takanori Gomi could be good opponents.
Clay Guida def. Takanori Gomi via Submission (guillotine choke), Rd 2
Prediction: Gomi would have the tools to wear down and beat Gomi, but is so prone to getting wreckless on the feet that Gomi would tag him and end his night in round 1 or 2. However, that is if Guida doesn't fight smart. A smart Guida could decision Gomi or score a late sub.
What Happened: Guida fought smart. He used his high energy level to move unpredictably in all directions and employ constant head movement. The result was highly confusing and frustrating for Gomi, who even got tagged a few times by Guida's spontaneous striking. Gomi did land a few good shots, but one knee to the body was proved a big mistake, as it allowed Guida to take him down and lock in a fight-ending guillotine.
Thoughts: I guess the Gomi hope train is derailed yet again, and it's sad to see. His susceptibility to submissions is what got him once again this time around, but Guida's frantic pace and confusing movement clearly left Gomi scratching his head, as he could not find his rhythm or his range. However, Guida's stock went way up, and he seems to be enjoying an evolution in his mental game at this point.
Next for Guida: Guida has won 3 straight and looked impressive along the way. His current resurgence has earned him a look at becoming a contender. Ben Henderson would make for an amazing fight between two guys with great wrestling, great chins, and no off-button. Potential fight of the year material if you ask me. Otherwise, a fight with Sean Sherk may also make sense and will show how well Guida holds up against another great wrestler.
Next for Gomi: I take it he gets one more chance to make an impact, and why not against someone else who has their back against the wall and likes to slug? Paul Taylor fits this mold. The fight would surely be fireworks, and should show if Gomi really is done being considered a viable contender. A fight against Nate Diaz would also make for a good story, considering Gomi had an epic battle with his brother Nick that ended with Gomi tapping to a gogoplata late in the fight, only to have the result declared a no contest later on due to Diaz's "herbal self medication." Nate has an iron jaw, great submissions, and is prone to getting into brawls on the feet just like Nick, so the fight could prove to be as epic.
The Prelims
- Marcus Davis looked very solid for his debut at 155 for two rounds. Then he ran into Jeremy Stephens' fist and was knocked unconscious. Davis actually staggered Stephens with a punch in the 1st, but chose to run in and clinch instead trying to go for the finish. As soon as it happened I said he'd regret it because it will probably cost him the fight. Turns out I was right.
- In one of the big shockers of the night, Dustin Poirer thoroughly dominated almost-featherweight title challenger Josh Grispi on the feet and shut down his submission skills on the ground en route to a dominant decision. Jose Aldo's injury may have been a blessing for Grispi because judging from this fight Aldo would have annihilated him if he got that title shot.
- Not surprisingly, Phil Baroni lost to Brad Tavares. The shocker was that he was TKO'd in round 1 after nearly finishing Tavares early on. Baroni can take a ton of damage so you figure if he was going to be stopped it'd be after the first round, where he typically gasses. Baroni will surely be cut now, at just 3-7 in the UFC.
- Diego Nunes took home a close split decision over former champ Mike Brown. Tough fight to predict but I called it, saying that Brown would start off strong but be unable to finish, and Nunes would use his speed and striking to take rounds 2 and 3. The featherweight division seems to have passed Brown by, and he has alternated wins and losses in his last 6. Nunes' stock continues to rise, and he may soon have to make the choice of whether or not to fight Nova Uniao teammate and UFC Featherweight champ Jose Aldo.
- Daniel Roberts survived an early scare to pull off a beautiful kimura submission over of Greg Soto in the 1st round. As soon as Soto's arm was available, Roberts grabbed a hold of it and impressively locked in the submission in lightning quick fashion. Roberts can be a major player at 170 if he works on his standup, and for the record, this should have been award Submission of the Night.
- After loads upon loads of trash talk and self promoting Antonio McKee lost his promotional debut, dropping an uneventful and at times dreadful to watch split decision to Jacob Volkmann. McKee sees a 15 fight, almost 8 year unbeaten streak come to an end, while Volkmann has now won his 3rd straight since dropping down to lightweight. It's quite ironic to see that after so much talk from McKee about how being derided for grinding out decisions by critics has brought out a monster in him who will violently run through everyone he faces, he loses this fight by being outwrestled and grinded down by a guy he was supposed to outwrestle. Kinda funny.
Whew! Okay, that does it. It was a very good event overall, which makes me even more excited for what is to come in 2011. I'll be writing back soon with recaps of the J-MMA year-end events, but until then good fight and good night!
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