And now we get to the preliminary action. Thankfully Facebook streamed all 8 preliminary fights and the stream wasn't too bad (most of the time). Definitely grateful for those free prelims so I don't have to search for the fights after the event (finding the earliest fights are usually a futile effort). We got 8 fights to cover, so let's get to it.
Jared Hamman def. CB Dollaway via TKO (Punches), Rd 2
What Happened: After very solid first round for Dollaway which saw him very nearly submit Hamman with an arm triangle and land some heavy shots from the top, Hamman came out in the second like a bat out of hell and just steamrolled Dollaway. Once he got him down he wailed on him for what seemed like forever until the stoppage.
Thoughts: Hamman really impressed at 185. I thought Dollaway had it for sure with that arm triangle, and after expending so much energy to defend himself in the first he showed no signs of fatigue in the second even after delivering enough punches to tire many guys out. He should fare well in a division where he isn't small.
Next for Hamman: He made a nice statement in his middleweight debut, and I'd like to see how he handles a well-rounded guy like Kyle Noke.
Next for Dollaway: Dollaway just can't seem to get over the hump. He needs a fight to prove whether or not he still belongs, and Tim Credeur is a good opponent.
Joseph Benavidez def. Eddie Wineland via Decision (Unanimous), Rd 3
What Happened: Benavidez was just too much for Wineland, and performed even more impressively against him than his teammate, Urijah Faber. Surprisingly deciding to keep the fight standing, Benavidez battered Wineland on the feet over 3 rounds en route to a clear-cut decision.
Thoughts: Benavidez never fails to impress, and once again shows that he can turn height and reach disadvantages into advantages. He was just too fast and seemed to come in at places Wineland didn't expect. Wineland put up a valiant effort and showed toughness, but he generally fought too timidly. He's finally developed the takedown defense to keep fights standing, now it's time for him to get aggressive.
Next for Benavidez: I know Benavidez isn't thrilled with moving to 125, but it seems a given once the flyweight division arrives. Until then he'll remain floating around the top of the bantamweight class. The winner of Brad Pickett vs Renan "Barao", or Brian Bowles, should he lose to Faber, would make for good opponents.
Next for Wineland: He has dropped two straight against top bantamweights, which he shouldn't be ashamed of. If they still want to keep him around the top, Miguel Torres would match up well. If not, maybe Takeya Mizugaki.
Ed Herman def. Kyle Noke via Submission (Inverted Heel Hook), Rd 1
What Happened: After a nice early start getting the fight to the ground by Noke, Herman proved to be too much for him on the ground, as he never let him feel safe. A bevy of submission attempts from the bottom culminated in a nice inverted heel hook that sealed the deal for Herman.
Thoughts: Very impressive performance by Herman, who showed a dangerous bottom game. Noke's stock doesn't drop far with this loss, as he had a 5 fight win streak snapped, but he was just outmatched on the ground.
Next for Herman: I remember in one post-fight interview after Chris Leben beat Aaron Simpson (I think?), Leben said that Herman was coming back with a vengeance, and that he's one of the most talented guys at 185. He might have been onto something. He should fight Costa Phillipou before jumping up in competition.
Next for Noke: His stock doesn't drop much with the loss, and I'd hate to throw Jorge Rivera out there but it makes sense to me.
Ronny Markes def. Karlos Vemola via Decision (Unanimous), Rd 3
What Happened: The decorated wrestler was out-wrestled by the jiu jitsu guy. Markes is a big guy, and showed some good technique in tiring out Vemola with a suffocating top game.
Thoughts: Least satisfying fight on the card, hands down. Markes impressed with his wrestling and not much else. Vemola looked awful on the feet, and his over-committing haymakers were part of the reason he was clinched and taken down so much. Most of the fight consisted of a tiring and frustrated Vemola being held down by Markes, who didn't show much urgency to finish the fight.
Next for Markes: It wasn't the most exciting performance, but Markes raised eyebrows with his wrestling. Fabio Maldonado or Kyle Kingsbury would make good sophomore fights for him.
Next for Vemola: Vemola's move to 205 seemingly gave him a good size and wrestling advantage over many guys in the division, but Markes quickly put a halt to that perceived advantage. He'll need to work on his stand up and MMA wrestling, and I think Ricardo Romero would be a good opponent to do that against.
Jim Hettes def. Alex Caceres via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke), Rd 2
What Happened: A frenetic pace was kept throughout on the ground, with scrambles and transitions galore. Caceres showed a great deal of aggression, but it was ultimately his undoing, as he was outdone by the better wrestler and grappler. During a tie-up he was bulldogged to the ground and immediately tapped with the RNC.
Thoughts: Impressive pace kept by this fight, but it was at a cost to Caceres. I know he wants to be exciting, but he was much too wreckless in this fight. He might have had a better chance if he took a more measured approach and worked his stand up advantage instead of diving into a grappling match with someone like Hettes.
Next for Hettes: Good performance, although Caceres isn't exactly the measuring stick. Cub Swanson could be next up for him.
Next for Caceres: Provided he gets another chance in the Octagon, it's tough to see where he goes from here. He was overmatched against Mackens Sermezier, and dropped the ball against Hettes. Maybe they should shoot for Leonard Garcia again.
Cole Miller def. TJ O'Brien via Submission (Guillotine), Rd 2
What Happened: After a measured first round where O'Brien began to find his range, Miller found his range and capitalized on it in the second, dropping O'Brien and quickly locking in a guillotine choke with a body triangle.
Thoughts: O'Brien did well in the first round, but in the end he once again looked like he had no business in the Octagon. Just like in his debut against Paul Kelly, once things got bad for him he was toast. Miller was a finisher as usual, jumping on the opportunity once he saw one.
Next for Miller: Miller is in an interesting spot, as he proves once again that he is a solid lightweight but he can never string together enough wins to net himself top competition. He and Charles Oliveira could put on a hell of a fight.
Next for O'Brien: As it turns out most of the lightweights I would pair him with were apparently released from the UFC after their recent losses. I guess he could get the loser of Cody McKenzie vs Wagner Rocha, provided they're kept around. Hell, provided O'Brien is kept around after this loss.
Jacob Volkmann def. Danny Castillo via Decision (Unanimous)
What Happened: Nip-tuck standard issue wrestling fueled decision by Volkmann.
Thoughts: Not much to say, really. Volkmann is the better wrestler and outwrestled a game Castillo for 3 rounds.
Next for Volkmann: He's in a spot where he's got a some choices. Charles Oliveira,Cole Miller, the winner of Edson Barbosa vs Ross Pearson, and many others make for viable next match ups for Volkmann.
Next for Castillo: Castillo didn't look bad in this fight, he was just stifled by a great wrestler. He should look to rebound against Kamal Shalorus, or in a rematch against Shane Roller.
Edwin Figueroa def. Jason Reinhardt via TKO (Elbows and Punches), Rd 2
What Happened: Reinhardt looked decent in the beginning, but quickly wilted as Figueroa found his groove and started his onslaught. Slow to rise at the end of the first round, it looked to be just a matter of time before he was finished off; it was.
Thoughts: Figueroa impressed yet again, and Reinhardt unimpressed yet again. Reinhardt looks to be on the tail-end of his career, while Figueroa is just getting started and could have a bright future in the UFC.
Next for Figueroa: Ivan Menjivar would make for an exciting fight.
Next for Reinhardt: At 41 years and an 0-3 run in the UFC where he's been utterly unimpressive, I'd be very surprised if he wasn't cut. If for some reason he isn't, Charlie Valencia. Loser leaves town.
Monday, August 15, 2011
UFC on Versus 5 Recap: The Main Card
Boy am I glad I'm not a betting man. I admittedly did atrociously in my picks tonight, but everyone has an off-night right? Maybe holding the event on Sunday instead of the usual Saturday night messed with my mojo. Either way it was a good night of fights with some good action and a few interesting surprises. So on with it:
Chris Lytle def. Dan Hardy via Submission (Guillotine), Rd 3
What Happened: Staying true to their words until the last minute, Hardy and Lytle put on a stand up war and tested each other's chins. An unexpected (and ill-advised) takedown by Hardy with a minute left in the fight sealed his fate as, he was immediately caught in a guillotine and submitted. Earlier we learned that this would be Lytle's last MMA bout.
Thoughts: What a way to go out for Lytle. Not only does he retire with an impressive win, but he snags two post fight bonuses (sub and fight of the night) AND a Harley Davidson motorcycle. Talk about going out on a high note. As soon as Hardy shot in for that takedown I knew he was making a gigantic mistake, and Lytle wasted no time in making him regret it. It didn't look as if he was getting wrecked that badly on the feet (though with the way it was going, if it had gone to decision I would've scored it 29-28 Lytle), and with his lack of grappling skills he should have known better than to take a black belt like Lytle down. Taking a training camp with Roy Nelson doesn't transform you into a grappling ace overnight.
Next for Lytle: Enjoying his bonuses, motorcycle, and extra time with his family. That was easy.
Next for Hardy: According to Lorenzo Fertitta's Twitter, Hardy will not be cut. I have mixed feelings on this, because after losing 4 straight I feel that even putting on exciting fights may not be enough. On the other hand, I feel like Hardy never should have been given his title shot or top competition in the first place until he improved his overall game. Since he's still around (and still wildly popular in the UK) he should get a winnable return fight, and Amir Sadollah might fit that mold. Loser leaves town.
Ben Henderson def. Jim Miller via Decision (Unanimous), Rd 3
What Happened: Henderson never really allowed Miller to get going, as he was just too much for him to handle in all spots. Bendo escaped and avoided numerous submission attempts, all while maintaining top control and battering Miller with vicious ground and pound en route to a lopsided decision.
Thoughts: Let's get one thing straight: I've been a big fan of Henderson since the first fight of his I watched, and I've always believed that he is underrated in the lightweight division. But this fight was the surprise of the night for me. Not because I didn't believe in Henderson, but because I thought Miller was such a tough opponent he'd never be dominated in such a fashion. I'm a fan of both guys so I tried to stay neutral, but it was hard not to pull for Miller (I have a weakness for underdogs at times) just because things seemed so bleak for him. To his credit, he never wilted, and fought until the end. He locked in a few submissions that would have tapped most lightweights. But in retrospect it almost seemed kind of foolish that he thought he could submit someone with Henderson's inhuman track record of submission escapes. Those attempts just ended up putting him in deeper waters.
Next for Henderson: With this upset, he is thrust into the realm of top contenders at lightweight. Provided Melvin Guillard gets past Joe Lauzon, he would make the perfect opponent for a title eliminator. Clay Guida may also be a viable choice.
Next for Miller: It was at tough loss, but with a 7 fight win streak prior to this, he didn't fall far down the ladder. The winner of Anthony Pettis vs Jeremy Stephens or Donald Cerrone would make for solid match ups, as would Clay Guida if Zuffa brass doesn't feel he's quite ready for a title eliminator.
Donald Cerrone def. Charles Oliveira via TKO (Punches), Rd 1
What Happened: Oliveira looked relatively sharp, but a slight step behind the more battle-tested Cerrone in their brief encounter. Cerrone kept him at bay with hard leg kicks and picked his shots until an uppercut to the body caused Oliveira to drop to the ground and fish for a leg. Cerrone, who is usually a slow starter, decided to pull the trigger and rain down punches while Oliveira covered up until the ref saw enough and made the save.
Thoughts: I always like a good finish, but I was a bit disappointed that this one wasn't a competitive war. I like watching both guys fight and they both go in there to get it done no matter where the fight goes. I would have also liked to see it go to the ground, what with both guys being so good there. Nonetheless, a great win for Cerrone, and a pretty tough loss for Oliveira.
Next for Cerrone: Cerrone has flown a bit under the radar and put together some impressive performances as of late. It's about time he gets a step up against someone proven in the UFC. Jim Miller, the winner of Pettis vs Stephens, or the winner of Denis Siver vs Sam Stout should be in his immediate future.
Next for Oliveira: After two breakout performances in the UFC, it appeared as if Oliveira might have been prime for a fast-tracking up the lightweight ladder. Disappointing losses to Jim Miller and Cerrone have shown that those thoughts were premature. Still, his dominant performance against Nik Nentz showed that he still belongs against solid competition, illegal knee notwithstanding. A slight step back in competition against someone like George Sotiropoulos or Yves Edwards might be in the cards; and there's always a rematch against Lentz.
Duane Ludwig def. Amir Sadollah via Decision (Unanimous), Rd 3
What Happened: Ludwig put on a kickboxing clinic, as he battered Sadollah with accurate counter-punching and took a lopsided decision.
Thoughts: I'm definitely not trying to take anything away from Ludwig, he looked great, but Sadollah didn't look like what I'm used to seeing. Granted, Ludwig is definitely the best striker he's faced; but even so, he didn't look as sharp as he usually does. He usually displays great defense, making sure to always keep his hands high; in this fight he kept them relatively low, and didn't seem as concerned with protecting himself during his combos. Ludwig is a much more decorated kickboxer though, so maybe this is just what happens when you throw Sadollah in there with a good striker. On paper Sadollah had the wrestling and grappling edge and even those things weren't working in his favor, forcing him to stay standing and take a beating. He showed heart and determination in trying to rally back in the 3rd, but it was too late.
Next for Ludwig: Ludwig may have put on an impressive performance against Sadollah, but his best days are definitely behind him, and his UFC tenure suggests that he won't have to go much further up in competition before he hits a wall in the welterweight division. With that said, he's good for some fun fights and as an upper-mid level gatekeeper. Martin Kampmann has fallen on some hard times of late, and Ludwig would be a good indicator of whether or not he still belongs in the mix. With his improving takedown defense he could also prove a good barometer for guys like John Hathaway and Matt Riddle as well.
Next for Sadollah: It appears Sadollah has hit a bit of a wall. Before this fight it appeared he had the striking to give everyone fits, and the one hole in his game was his lack of wrestling. Ludwig showed that his striking needs improvement as well, and that he's not quite as far along as we thought. His technical style of striking would make for an interesting pair with Dan Hardy's brawling, and with the both of them looking quite disappointing as of late, they may need to fight it out to determine who belongs in the company.
Chris Lytle def. Dan Hardy via Submission (Guillotine), Rd 3
What Happened: Staying true to their words until the last minute, Hardy and Lytle put on a stand up war and tested each other's chins. An unexpected (and ill-advised) takedown by Hardy with a minute left in the fight sealed his fate as, he was immediately caught in a guillotine and submitted. Earlier we learned that this would be Lytle's last MMA bout.
Thoughts: What a way to go out for Lytle. Not only does he retire with an impressive win, but he snags two post fight bonuses (sub and fight of the night) AND a Harley Davidson motorcycle. Talk about going out on a high note. As soon as Hardy shot in for that takedown I knew he was making a gigantic mistake, and Lytle wasted no time in making him regret it. It didn't look as if he was getting wrecked that badly on the feet (though with the way it was going, if it had gone to decision I would've scored it 29-28 Lytle), and with his lack of grappling skills he should have known better than to take a black belt like Lytle down. Taking a training camp with Roy Nelson doesn't transform you into a grappling ace overnight.
Next for Lytle: Enjoying his bonuses, motorcycle, and extra time with his family. That was easy.
Next for Hardy: According to Lorenzo Fertitta's Twitter, Hardy will not be cut. I have mixed feelings on this, because after losing 4 straight I feel that even putting on exciting fights may not be enough. On the other hand, I feel like Hardy never should have been given his title shot or top competition in the first place until he improved his overall game. Since he's still around (and still wildly popular in the UK) he should get a winnable return fight, and Amir Sadollah might fit that mold. Loser leaves town.
Ben Henderson def. Jim Miller via Decision (Unanimous), Rd 3
What Happened: Henderson never really allowed Miller to get going, as he was just too much for him to handle in all spots. Bendo escaped and avoided numerous submission attempts, all while maintaining top control and battering Miller with vicious ground and pound en route to a lopsided decision.
Thoughts: Let's get one thing straight: I've been a big fan of Henderson since the first fight of his I watched, and I've always believed that he is underrated in the lightweight division. But this fight was the surprise of the night for me. Not because I didn't believe in Henderson, but because I thought Miller was such a tough opponent he'd never be dominated in such a fashion. I'm a fan of both guys so I tried to stay neutral, but it was hard not to pull for Miller (I have a weakness for underdogs at times) just because things seemed so bleak for him. To his credit, he never wilted, and fought until the end. He locked in a few submissions that would have tapped most lightweights. But in retrospect it almost seemed kind of foolish that he thought he could submit someone with Henderson's inhuman track record of submission escapes. Those attempts just ended up putting him in deeper waters.
Next for Henderson: With this upset, he is thrust into the realm of top contenders at lightweight. Provided Melvin Guillard gets past Joe Lauzon, he would make the perfect opponent for a title eliminator. Clay Guida may also be a viable choice.
Next for Miller: It was at tough loss, but with a 7 fight win streak prior to this, he didn't fall far down the ladder. The winner of Anthony Pettis vs Jeremy Stephens or Donald Cerrone would make for solid match ups, as would Clay Guida if Zuffa brass doesn't feel he's quite ready for a title eliminator.
Donald Cerrone def. Charles Oliveira via TKO (Punches), Rd 1
What Happened: Oliveira looked relatively sharp, but a slight step behind the more battle-tested Cerrone in their brief encounter. Cerrone kept him at bay with hard leg kicks and picked his shots until an uppercut to the body caused Oliveira to drop to the ground and fish for a leg. Cerrone, who is usually a slow starter, decided to pull the trigger and rain down punches while Oliveira covered up until the ref saw enough and made the save.
Thoughts: I always like a good finish, but I was a bit disappointed that this one wasn't a competitive war. I like watching both guys fight and they both go in there to get it done no matter where the fight goes. I would have also liked to see it go to the ground, what with both guys being so good there. Nonetheless, a great win for Cerrone, and a pretty tough loss for Oliveira.
Next for Cerrone: Cerrone has flown a bit under the radar and put together some impressive performances as of late. It's about time he gets a step up against someone proven in the UFC. Jim Miller, the winner of Pettis vs Stephens, or the winner of Denis Siver vs Sam Stout should be in his immediate future.
Next for Oliveira: After two breakout performances in the UFC, it appeared as if Oliveira might have been prime for a fast-tracking up the lightweight ladder. Disappointing losses to Jim Miller and Cerrone have shown that those thoughts were premature. Still, his dominant performance against Nik Nentz showed that he still belongs against solid competition, illegal knee notwithstanding. A slight step back in competition against someone like George Sotiropoulos or Yves Edwards might be in the cards; and there's always a rematch against Lentz.
Duane Ludwig def. Amir Sadollah via Decision (Unanimous), Rd 3
What Happened: Ludwig put on a kickboxing clinic, as he battered Sadollah with accurate counter-punching and took a lopsided decision.
Thoughts: I'm definitely not trying to take anything away from Ludwig, he looked great, but Sadollah didn't look like what I'm used to seeing. Granted, Ludwig is definitely the best striker he's faced; but even so, he didn't look as sharp as he usually does. He usually displays great defense, making sure to always keep his hands high; in this fight he kept them relatively low, and didn't seem as concerned with protecting himself during his combos. Ludwig is a much more decorated kickboxer though, so maybe this is just what happens when you throw Sadollah in there with a good striker. On paper Sadollah had the wrestling and grappling edge and even those things weren't working in his favor, forcing him to stay standing and take a beating. He showed heart and determination in trying to rally back in the 3rd, but it was too late.
Next for Ludwig: Ludwig may have put on an impressive performance against Sadollah, but his best days are definitely behind him, and his UFC tenure suggests that he won't have to go much further up in competition before he hits a wall in the welterweight division. With that said, he's good for some fun fights and as an upper-mid level gatekeeper. Martin Kampmann has fallen on some hard times of late, and Ludwig would be a good indicator of whether or not he still belongs in the mix. With his improving takedown defense he could also prove a good barometer for guys like John Hathaway and Matt Riddle as well.
Next for Sadollah: It appears Sadollah has hit a bit of a wall. Before this fight it appeared he had the striking to give everyone fits, and the one hole in his game was his lack of wrestling. Ludwig showed that his striking needs improvement as well, and that he's not quite as far along as we thought. His technical style of striking would make for an interesting pair with Dan Hardy's brawling, and with the both of them looking quite disappointing as of late, they may need to fight it out to determine who belongs in the company.
Monday, July 4, 2011
UFC 123 Re-cap: The Main Card
Although I didn't like many of the results, UFC 123 was a hell of an event. We witnessed one career rise out of the ashes and another potentially fall into them. Add to that an action packed title affair and lots of finishes and you've got some happy fans.
Dominick Cruz (c) def Urijah Faber via Decision (Unanimous)
What Happened: Faber had a nice start and some good spots in the fight, landing solid shots and even rocking and dropping Cruz on a couple occasions, but in the end was out-hustled by the ever-moving Cruz and dropped a close decision.
Thoughts: Great fight, it went pretty much just as I thought it would. Urijah did well throughout, but ultimately couldn't figure out Cruz's herky-jerky movement, well timed takedowns, and great takedown defense. He was game as he always is, and in my eyes it was even going into the 5th, but Cruz fought with the greater urgency and really took the final round and the fight. And whoever scored the fight 50-45 Cruz was on crack.
Next for Cruz: Some would like to see an immediate rubber match; I think Faber should win at least another fight first. Until then, I say Demitri Johnson has pulled together enough of a streak to test his mettle against the champ.
Next for Faber: I mentioned above that there is desire for a rubber match, and it would be another great fight, but I think he should fight Brian Bowles or Miguel Torres if Bowles gets the next shot.
Chris Leben def Wanderlei Silva via KO (Punches), Rd 1
What Happened: Wanderlei ran out of the gates swinging like the wild man of his Pride days, tagging Leben with a good shot, but Leben fired back (as he does when tagged) and rocked Silva with a shot behind the ear. Silva grabbed a clinch, but a few uppercuts up the middle put him face down on the canvas, and follow-up punches sealed the deal. It wasn't quite the slugfest everyone hoped for because it only lasted 27 seconds.
Thoughts: What the hell happened the Wanderlei that decided to change up his style because his old aggression cant cut it anymore? You know, the smart Wanderlei? That wasn't who showed up against Leben. After 16 months away, it looked like he was just too eager to fight. Running in throwing wild hooks with your chin up in the air doesn't work anymore, and for a couple fights it looked like he realized that. Wanderlei is my favorite fighter, and the reason I got hooked on MMA, and it stung to see him go out like that when I know he could have at least been competitive if he just came out smart. From the moment this match-up was announced I was nervous for Silva because I knew there was a good chance he'd get knocked out. Imagine my surprise when I discover that an overwhelming majority of odds-makers, MMA news sites, and fight fans alike picked Silva to win. I was hoping more than anything they were right, but I just couldn't see it realistically. But man I wish they were right.
Next for Leben: Leben did what he does, and there was no time to really take anything away from it. Since his last few opponents have opted to slug with him, we need to be reminded that he does have some other skills. Next up should be Demian Maia or Vitor Belfort, should he get past Yoshihiro Akiyama.
Next for Silva: It's not even fun watching him fight anymore because of the nervousness over the possibility of him getting knocked out again. It took a good number of shots from Leben to put him out, but he did go out. I'd say it's time for him to hang 'em up because he has nothing left to prove, but it's not my say. If he does get another fight it should be against Jorge Santiago, who I think is just about at Silva's level; and if it were up to me it'd be his retirement fight.
Dennis Siver def Matt Wiman via Decision (Unanimous)
What Happened: Over a hotly contested 3 rounds, we saw Siver get the better of the stand up, and Siver score takedowns. Although he didn't do much with them in the 1st and 3rd rounds, he dropped nasty elbows in the 2nd that cut Siver up and were clearly the most damaging offense of the fight. Siver was awarded the fight based on the other two rounds, which were much closer than that 2nd.
Thoughts: First off, I scored the fight 29-28 Siver, and I think all the talk of Wiman getting robbed are utterly ridiculous. He lost the fight based on the scoring system. Yes, he did the most damage, but he did all of it in one round; and it was not enough for a 10-8, as Siver was bloody but nowhere near being finished. The other two rounds were close, but you can pretty much whittle them do Siver soundly out-striking Wiman (he even out-struck him in the 2nd), and Wiman scoring takedowns and doing nothing with them. Sounds to me like he stole two rounds. Cry about the scoring all you want, Wiman lost a close decision. A close one. No robbery.
Next for Siver: Although his ground game is phenomenal, Charles Oliveira will gladly strike with Siver (which will produce fireworks). If Oliveira does try and take it to the ground we'll see how well Siver can keep it standing (he did great against Sotiropoulos). If not, Donald Cerrone if he makes it past Paul Taylor unscathed.
Next for Wiman: He shouldn't fall far, as he had a good performance and was just edged out. Nik Lentz might make a good target for his aggressive style.
Tito Ortiz def Ryan Bader via Submission (Guillotine Choke), Rd 1
What Happened: Bader had no time to trade punches and takedowns with Ortiz caught him with a right that sent him stumbling to the canvas. By the time he regained his wits, Ortiz had already slapped on the guillotine that would end his night.
Thoughts: Talk about upset. Tito was a 4-to-1 underdog going into this fight, and rightfully so, as on paper Bader is basically Tito with a better wrestling pedigree, better hands, and KO power. It was pretty ironic that a punch from Tito dropped Bader. Either way, I've been saying Bader was overrated since he won the Ultimate Fighter, and I never found him that impressive. Not to take anything away from Tito, who I actually dislike, but he performed well and revitalized his career for the time being.
Next for Ortiz: The winner of Rich Franklin/Lil Nog is the only fight that really makes sense for him. He wants Forrest Griffin again, but he's the only one.
Next for Bader: Tough loss for Bader, who has gone from top 10 undefeated prospect to losing his last two fights in dominant fashion. Losing the Jon Jones was nothing to be ashamed of, but this is a fight he needed to win. How about we welcome Brandon Vera back to the octagon against Bader?
Carlos Condit def Dong Hyun Kim via TKO (Flying Knee and Punches), Rd 1
What Happened: Kim got one early and effortless takedown, and Condit promptly swept him and ended up on top. After making it back up to his feet, Condit threw a beautiful flying knee that hit Kim flush on the jaw, sending him backwards in a seated position against the fence. Condit flurried on a dazed Kim and got the win.
Thoughts: Stellar performance by Condit, while Kim was shown why his limited style may not cut it at the higher level in the division. It pretty much went the opposite of how I thought: Kim would use his judo to score takedowns and his stifling top game to take the first 2 rounds before fading in the 3rd, but taking a decision. And I knew Condit is a great finisher (26 finishes in 27 wins...yeah I think so), but I just didn't see him doing that to Kim.
Next for Condit: He could very well get the next title shot against the winner of Georges St. Pierre/Nick Diaz. I think it might suit him to fight the winner of Jake Shields/Jake Ellenberger, Jon Fitch, or even Josh Koscheck to show that he can handle a good wrestler in the top 10...because he'll need to.
Next for Kim: Tough loss, but it's the first of his career, and there's no shame to losing to Condit. He may look to rebound against the winner of Mike Pierce/Johny Hendricks or Rick Story.
Dominick Cruz (c) def Urijah Faber via Decision (Unanimous)
What Happened: Faber had a nice start and some good spots in the fight, landing solid shots and even rocking and dropping Cruz on a couple occasions, but in the end was out-hustled by the ever-moving Cruz and dropped a close decision.
Thoughts: Great fight, it went pretty much just as I thought it would. Urijah did well throughout, but ultimately couldn't figure out Cruz's herky-jerky movement, well timed takedowns, and great takedown defense. He was game as he always is, and in my eyes it was even going into the 5th, but Cruz fought with the greater urgency and really took the final round and the fight. And whoever scored the fight 50-45 Cruz was on crack.
Next for Cruz: Some would like to see an immediate rubber match; I think Faber should win at least another fight first. Until then, I say Demitri Johnson has pulled together enough of a streak to test his mettle against the champ.
Next for Faber: I mentioned above that there is desire for a rubber match, and it would be another great fight, but I think he should fight Brian Bowles or Miguel Torres if Bowles gets the next shot.
Chris Leben def Wanderlei Silva via KO (Punches), Rd 1
What Happened: Wanderlei ran out of the gates swinging like the wild man of his Pride days, tagging Leben with a good shot, but Leben fired back (as he does when tagged) and rocked Silva with a shot behind the ear. Silva grabbed a clinch, but a few uppercuts up the middle put him face down on the canvas, and follow-up punches sealed the deal. It wasn't quite the slugfest everyone hoped for because it only lasted 27 seconds.
Thoughts: What the hell happened the Wanderlei that decided to change up his style because his old aggression cant cut it anymore? You know, the smart Wanderlei? That wasn't who showed up against Leben. After 16 months away, it looked like he was just too eager to fight. Running in throwing wild hooks with your chin up in the air doesn't work anymore, and for a couple fights it looked like he realized that. Wanderlei is my favorite fighter, and the reason I got hooked on MMA, and it stung to see him go out like that when I know he could have at least been competitive if he just came out smart. From the moment this match-up was announced I was nervous for Silva because I knew there was a good chance he'd get knocked out. Imagine my surprise when I discover that an overwhelming majority of odds-makers, MMA news sites, and fight fans alike picked Silva to win. I was hoping more than anything they were right, but I just couldn't see it realistically. But man I wish they were right.
Next for Leben: Leben did what he does, and there was no time to really take anything away from it. Since his last few opponents have opted to slug with him, we need to be reminded that he does have some other skills. Next up should be Demian Maia or Vitor Belfort, should he get past Yoshihiro Akiyama.
Next for Silva: It's not even fun watching him fight anymore because of the nervousness over the possibility of him getting knocked out again. It took a good number of shots from Leben to put him out, but he did go out. I'd say it's time for him to hang 'em up because he has nothing left to prove, but it's not my say. If he does get another fight it should be against Jorge Santiago, who I think is just about at Silva's level; and if it were up to me it'd be his retirement fight.
Dennis Siver def Matt Wiman via Decision (Unanimous)
What Happened: Over a hotly contested 3 rounds, we saw Siver get the better of the stand up, and Siver score takedowns. Although he didn't do much with them in the 1st and 3rd rounds, he dropped nasty elbows in the 2nd that cut Siver up and were clearly the most damaging offense of the fight. Siver was awarded the fight based on the other two rounds, which were much closer than that 2nd.
Thoughts: First off, I scored the fight 29-28 Siver, and I think all the talk of Wiman getting robbed are utterly ridiculous. He lost the fight based on the scoring system. Yes, he did the most damage, but he did all of it in one round; and it was not enough for a 10-8, as Siver was bloody but nowhere near being finished. The other two rounds were close, but you can pretty much whittle them do Siver soundly out-striking Wiman (he even out-struck him in the 2nd), and Wiman scoring takedowns and doing nothing with them. Sounds to me like he stole two rounds. Cry about the scoring all you want, Wiman lost a close decision. A close one. No robbery.
Next for Siver: Although his ground game is phenomenal, Charles Oliveira will gladly strike with Siver (which will produce fireworks). If Oliveira does try and take it to the ground we'll see how well Siver can keep it standing (he did great against Sotiropoulos). If not, Donald Cerrone if he makes it past Paul Taylor unscathed.
Next for Wiman: He shouldn't fall far, as he had a good performance and was just edged out. Nik Lentz might make a good target for his aggressive style.
Tito Ortiz def Ryan Bader via Submission (Guillotine Choke), Rd 1
What Happened: Bader had no time to trade punches and takedowns with Ortiz caught him with a right that sent him stumbling to the canvas. By the time he regained his wits, Ortiz had already slapped on the guillotine that would end his night.
Thoughts: Talk about upset. Tito was a 4-to-1 underdog going into this fight, and rightfully so, as on paper Bader is basically Tito with a better wrestling pedigree, better hands, and KO power. It was pretty ironic that a punch from Tito dropped Bader. Either way, I've been saying Bader was overrated since he won the Ultimate Fighter, and I never found him that impressive. Not to take anything away from Tito, who I actually dislike, but he performed well and revitalized his career for the time being.
Next for Ortiz: The winner of Rich Franklin/Lil Nog is the only fight that really makes sense for him. He wants Forrest Griffin again, but he's the only one.
Next for Bader: Tough loss for Bader, who has gone from top 10 undefeated prospect to losing his last two fights in dominant fashion. Losing the Jon Jones was nothing to be ashamed of, but this is a fight he needed to win. How about we welcome Brandon Vera back to the octagon against Bader?
Carlos Condit def Dong Hyun Kim via TKO (Flying Knee and Punches), Rd 1
What Happened: Kim got one early and effortless takedown, and Condit promptly swept him and ended up on top. After making it back up to his feet, Condit threw a beautiful flying knee that hit Kim flush on the jaw, sending him backwards in a seated position against the fence. Condit flurried on a dazed Kim and got the win.
Thoughts: Stellar performance by Condit, while Kim was shown why his limited style may not cut it at the higher level in the division. It pretty much went the opposite of how I thought: Kim would use his judo to score takedowns and his stifling top game to take the first 2 rounds before fading in the 3rd, but taking a decision. And I knew Condit is a great finisher (26 finishes in 27 wins...yeah I think so), but I just didn't see him doing that to Kim.
Next for Condit: He could very well get the next title shot against the winner of Georges St. Pierre/Nick Diaz. I think it might suit him to fight the winner of Jake Shields/Jake Ellenberger, Jon Fitch, or even Josh Koscheck to show that he can handle a good wrestler in the top 10...because he'll need to.
Next for Kim: Tough loss, but it's the first of his career, and there's no shame to losing to Condit. He may look to rebound against the winner of Mike Pierce/Johny Hendricks or Rick Story.
UFC 123 Re-cap: The Prelims
Although the main card fights really stole the show with their unusual number of finishes and great stories they told, the prelims still contained a lot of solid, quality action. After starting the show with four straight decisions, they picked it up at the end with two explosive, quick finishes. Here's how it all went down.
Melvin Guillard def Shane Roller via KO (Punches), Rd 1
What Happened: Guillard proved too fast for Guillard, as he easily avoided shots and easily landed his own. It was just a matter of time before Guillard landed something big, and he did. dropping Roller to the canvas twice before removing him from consciousness with hammerfists.
Thoughts: Guillard looked like he was fighting Roller in bullet-time out there. This is what happens when you put a relatively slow fighter like Roller in there with one of the fastest, and without a doubt most physically gifted fighter in the division. Some people actually believed Roller had a chance after his knockout of Thiago Tavares in his last fight; I had no doubts Guillard would walk over him.
Next for Guillard: There's no good excuse for putting Guillard on the prelims in this event when in his last fight he knocked out a former top 10 lightweight in the headlining bout (even if it wasn't pay-per-view). Guillard deserves a top guy and a spot on the main card. He should either get Clay Guida or the winner of Jim Miller/Ben Henderson, possibly in a title eliminator. Period.
Next for Roller: In my eyes that's two very poor performances in a row for roller, and he needs a win to get on track. Curt Warburton or Maciej Jewtuszko may be more manageable for him.
Rafael dos Anjos def George Sotiropoulos via KO (Punch), Rd 1
What Happened: After a brief feeling out process, the two entered an exchange and only dos Anjos made it out with his senses intact. A looping right hook counter right on the chin put Sotiropoulos down, and although dos Anjos didn't feel it was enough the ref certainly did. The end came only 59 seconds into the first round.
Thoughts: Can't really say too much about this one; Sotiropoulos had a momentary defensive lapse and paid dearly for it. It was funny that Joe Rogan was right in the process of raving about how Sotiropoulos had started varying up his attacks more when the knockout happened. Apparently it didn't help. Sotiropoulos was a favorite in this one, but I didn't think it was wise for people to sleep on dos Anjos' skill set. His stand up is capable and his BJJ is solid. He just needs to learn to stop with the ref tries to pry him off his opponent.
Next for dos Anjos: He was doing well against Guida before tapping to a broken jaw, and did the job here. Personally I'd like to see him against Gleison Tibau.
Next for Sotirpoulos: Tough outing for Sotiropoulos, who has dropped two straight for the first time in his career. Mark Bocek or Nik Lentz would make good opponents for him.
Brian Bowles def Takeya Mizugaki via Decision (Unanimous)
What Happened: It wasn't dominant, but Bowles just managed to stay a step ahead of Mizugaki down the stretch. After apparently re-injuring hand in the second round, his performance dropped-off a bit in the 3rd, but he did enough to pull it off.
Thoughts: I wasn't too impressed with either guy after this fight. Bowles' oft injured hand played a significant part in his drop-off, but Mizugaki had no real excuse that I know of. He didn't seem hungry for the win, and after landing some good shots in the first looked tepid in the latter two rounds. He's alternated wins and losses in his last 8 bouts, and I've noticed that all of those losses except the first (a rousing 5 round decision loss to then-WEC champ Miguel Torres) were against guys that could out-wrestle him.
Next for Bowles: He could be next in line for a title rematch with Dominick Cruz, but I'm not so sure he's done much to convince anyone it'd go any differently than it did the first time. If he can beat Urijah Faber, he may stand a chance.
Next for Mizugaki: He's looked a bit flat in his last few fights, and really needs step up his game if he wants to keep competing at this level. Perhaps he could take on the winner of Kid Yamamoto/Damacio Page. The upside of him facing Kid is that we'll finally have a Japanese winner in the octagon one way or another.
Aaron Simpson def Brad Tavares via Decision (Unanimous)
What Happened: There were a few rough moments on the feet for him, but Simpson's wrestling pedigree carried him through it, as he expertly controlled and grinded his way to a victory.
Thoughts: Wasn't the prettiest victory but Simpson got it done, not that he was so impressive in doing so. Tavares on the other hand was very impressive with his takedown defense, and managed to score the biggest takedown of the fight, a big slam in the 3rd round. However, Simson's wrestling know-how was a little too much, and he managed to get back to his feet and reverse to a favorable position immediately. Good learning experience for Tavares, workmanlike performance for Simpson.
Next for Simpson: Simpson has rebounded nicely from back-to-back losses to pick up a couple wins against game opponents. Demian Maia would be a nice step up for him, and a potentially entertaining wrestler vs grappler match-up.
Next for Tavares: Tavares has been looking more impressive with every outing, even with this defeat. He might look to get back in the win column against the loser of Court McGee/Dongi Yang.
Anthony Njokuani def Andre Winner via Decision (Unanimous)
What Happened: In a boxing vs Muay Thai match-up, the latter won by a landslide. Njokuani battered Winner with punches, kicks, knees, and elbows, almost finishing him in the first round, and instead settling for an utterly dominant decision win.
Thoughts: I thought Njokuani might have edge with his more diverse attack style, but I had no idea it was going to be that one-sided. Winner simply had no answer for Njokuani's reach and kicks. He was a hair from finishing Winner in the first, but credit should go to Winner for remaining standing the entire time and showing tremendous heart. He's tough as nails, getting battered throughout the fight, but he clearly needs to work on incorporating more kicks into his game, or at least learn some wrestling; this straight boxing thing is causing him to waste his considerable talent. When he first came to the UFC I thought he'd make a nice splash, but against mid and upper-mid level competition he has disappointed. Njokuani on the other hand looked great in a losing effort against Edson Barbosa, and even better here.
Next for Njokuani: He looks great in kickboxing matches, but he's shown major weaknesses against guys who can take him down. It's time to see if he's improved; it's also time to see if Kamal Shalorus finally realizes he should use his wrestling. It could be a fun match-up.
Next for Winner: After losing three straight and going just 2-5-1 in his last 8, I would be shocked if he didn't get released. If by some miracle he doesn't, and they want him to pick up a win, Vagner Rocha may be the man for him.
Jeff Hougland def Donny Walker via Decision (Unanimous)
What Happened: A highly competitive bout with lots of grappling saw Hougland a step above Walker most of the time. He threatened with multiple submissions when he was on the bottom and controlled the action when he was on top.
Thougts: I had never heard of these guys before this fight, so I don't have to much to say about them. The fight was entertaining, and both showed some slick ground work, but neither of them have any notable wins (Walker has 3rd round losses to Jeff Curran and Cub Swanson, while Hougland has a 2nd round loss to current Strikeforce Lightweight champ Gilbert Melendez), so who knows how good they really are?
Next for Hougland: The bantamweight division isn't too densly populated, so he may find his next fight against Ruben Duran or Edwin Figueroa.
Next for Walker: Chris Cariaso or Cole Escovedo.
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, 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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