UFC Fight Night 21 Re-cap and Thoughts

Main Card

Kenny Florian def. Takanori Gomi via Submission (rear-naked choke), Rd 3

Gomi looked exactly as I expected him to (unfortunately), and was soundly outclassed by Florian every step of the way.  He hardly landed anything and just got peppered with jabs and well placed counters the entire fight.  Florian's technical boxing and footwork made Gomi's predictable style look pedestrian, and overall I'd say the fight was pretty uneventful, save for the last round when Kenflo stepped it up and scored a takedown en route to the submission finish.  Florian showed a good gameplan in softening and tiring Gomi out before taking it to the ground and finishing him with a sub, and clearly studied him closely (it's a pretty tried-and-true method of beating Gomi it seems).  Gomi showed his usual lack of a gameplan  or solid conditioning, and I'm dissapointed his supposed hungry and motivated self was MIA.  I still think Gomi got the usual raw deal given to the Japanese in the UFC, and should've gotten a tune-up fight to get acclimated to the organization.  If he hadn't been on a decline before even getting signed, I'd be all for him drawing someone like Florian, but anyone who's seen his last few fights can agree he wasn't ready for Florian.  He needs to seriously work on his boxing and conditioning if he ever wants to reinvigorate his career.  

As for Florian, make a match with Gray Maynard happen.  Although I still don't think yet another title shot against BJ Penn would go much differently for Florian, he probably stands the best chance out of the present contenders.  Oh, and that RNC totally deserved sub of the night; the finish and the moments leading up to it were things of beauty.

Roy Nelson def. Stefan Struve via TKO (punches), Rd 1

Not much to say here.  Nelson blasted Struve in the face before he really got a chance to do anything.  But on the plus side, just looking at the two of them square off was even funnier than I thought.  Nelson seriously looked like a dwarf in there, and had to punch vertically to meet Struve in the face.  Roy's boxing is really impressing me as of late, and he's added some heavy hands and solid boxing to his formidable gound game.  I say give Roy one of the big boys next.  Frank Mir or Minotauro could be entertaining.  Struve is still just 22 years old, so he's got time on his side.  I'd really like to see how he fares against another grappler. 

Ross Pearson def. Dennis Siver via Unanimous Decision, Rd 3

Once again Pearson impresses the hell out of me with a great display of kickboxing.  If there's one Brit I'd like to see become the first UFC champ from the UK, its this guy.  Siver was impressive in his own right, showing a good chin and solid stand up as well, but he had nothing for Pearson, who had an answer for everything he threw.  Would've liked to see Pearson finish this one, but Siver's a tough dude.  Other than the ending, I pretty much called this one exactly.  Just keep providing both of them with quality opponents and they'll continue producing bonus-winning fights. 

Jorge Rivera def. Nate Quarry via TKO (punches), Rd 2

The WTF upset of the night right here.  Went the exact opposite of how I expected.  I expected Quarry to pick Rivera apart, but Rivera picked Quarry apart with his right hand.  I mean Rivera just beat him up all over that cage.  Props to Nate for even making it out of the first round, because he looked like he was done.  He came out guns blazing in the 2nd, looking to turn the tide of the fight, but ended up eating more punches and went down again.  I don't even know what to say about this one haha.  Rivera looked focused and ready, and just took it to Nate.  End of story.

Prelims

Andre Winner def. Rafaello Oliveira via Unanimous Decision, Rd 3

Didn't actually see this one, but from the reports Winner took home a solid decision by controlling the distance, using his superior stand-up and staying away from Oliveira's ground game.  Time for Winner to come off of the undercard and face some better competition.  I've been pretty impressed with him and it's time to see how he stacks up.

Jacob Volkmann def. Ronys Torres via Split Decision, Rd 3

Volkmann surprises me yet again.  I thought he was a bit of a scrub against Thiago, he looked more solid in his defeat against Kampmann, and he looked even more improved in his must-win decision over Torres.  Torres, on the other hand, has been looking anything but impressive.  On paper he should've handled both Guillard and Volkmann, and they both made him look like a far cry from the touted prospect he came into the UFC as.  Volkmann used his wrestling (finally) to dominate the fight.  If they don't cut Torres after this bout, his next is a definite must-win.  

Nik Lentz def. Rob Emerson via Unanimous Decision, Rd 3

I said in my predictions that unless Lentz brings his takedown game up to snuff, he'll lose the decision.  Well, he did bring it up to snuff.  And he didn't lose the decision.  The takedowns were all he needed and all he did.  Yawn.

Gleison Tibau def. Caol Uno via TKO (punches), Rd 1

VW Beetle vs. semi truck....who wins?  Pretty much the same result when you put Uno, who could (and should) cut to 145 against Tibau, who could (and for his health, should) move up to 170.  Uno stayed relatively competitive for the short time he was upright, but c'mon.  There was no way he could really overcome Tibau's ridiculous power advantage.  Once Uno was in trouble, there was no way he could keep Tibau off of him.  However, For all the shit I talk about Tibau's crazy weight cutting and offense that revolves almost entirely around taking people down over and over again, I have to say that I was impressed with how improved his stand-up has gotten, and that he decided to show it off instead of use his normal boring takedown strategy.  All the same, I don't find much fault in Tibau cutting so much (hey if you can make the weight, why not?), but I'm really disappointed in the matchmakers when they put on such blatant mismatches as this one.

Yushin Okami def. Lucio Linhares via TKO (doctor stoppage), Rd 2

I just realized I totally forgot about this fight in my predictions.  I dunno how that happened.  Well the prediction would've been Okami via dominant decision, but he did me one better by destroying Linhares on the feet to the point the doctors deemed him unfit to continue.  Really impressed that Okami showed off some striking, even if it was against a grappler like Linhares.  I really hope Okami can build himself up into the contender that so many blind fans thought he was before Chael Sonnen derailed his "Yushin Okami is the true #1 contender" hype train.  Now with a more exciting win under his belt, lets get this guy on a main card!

As for those other two fights (which I didn't see), Charlie Brenneman did exactly to Jason High what I thought High would do to him, earning him the unanimous nod.  Gerald Harris pulled off his second UFC win via TKO against Mario Miranda.

So I went 7-4 in my predictions.  Not bad.  I always tend to do a lot better with main cards (I went 3-1).  Maybe because I know those fighters more.

My UFC Fight Night 21 Picks

Fight Night 21 totally snuck up on me.  I'm still fresh off of UFC 111 and four days later they're hittin' us up again.  I'd say this has been a great month for MMA fans.  These are my picks for the event.  I usually refrain from calling the rounds unless I feel its a given, and I might skip matches where I don't know enough about one or both of the competitors or just plain can't call it.   Anyway, on with it.

Main Card

Kenny Florian vs. Takanori Gomi

I've been a big fan of Gomi since his run in Pride and a moderate Florian fan for a couple years now, so I'm rooting for Gomi to take the win.  However, its clear that Gomi has lost a sizable step in his game since his heyday in Pride.  The Gomi of old had some solid, powerful boxing and effective wrestling that allowed him to work a dangerous top control game.  The Gomi of late swings looping, predictable haymakers at his opponent, eschews his considerable wrestling skills in favor of wild exchanges, and gasses fairly easily.  He basically fights like he doesn't care anymore.  Florian on the other hand seems to be improving every time we see him in the cage, and has developed into a solid boxer and tactical counterpuncher.  In the battle of predictable haymakers vs accurate counterstrikes, the latter is a safe bet to win on paper.  However, if Gomi is really as prepared as he says he is, it could definitely go his way.  Gomi's granite chin makes for high durability, so the chances of Florian finishing him, or even hurting him are in question.  And the wild card is that although Gomi's punches have become predictable, he hits hard as hell and it only takes one connection to change the tide of the fight.  But with all this said, I see a strong opening for Gomi, but Kenflo will weather the first round and pick Gomi apart as the fight goes on en route to a decision victory.

Roy Nelson vs. Stefan Struve

I'm excited for this fight if only for the visual wtf factor it'll provide.  Physically, Nelson and Struve are polar opposites, and I think this along with their respective styles could make for an interesting fight.  Both are grapplers with considerable chops on the ground, but the difference maker will be on the feet.  Nelson has shown himself to be a very competent boxer who can stand comfortably with strikers, where as Struve's stand up is extremely limited and he has yet to figure out how to employ his long and rangy frame on the feet (he's still very young, he's got time on his side to develop).  On the ground, I can see Struve frustrating Nelson from the bottom, but I really don't see him doing incredibly much to stop him from putting the pressure on with his large frame.  Struve will be competitive throughout, but Nelson gets the unanimous nod. 

Ross Pearson vs. Dennis Siver

I don't know incredibly much about Siver, I became an instant Pearson fan from his first fight on TUF 9.  I was very impressed with both of them in their last fights against Paul Kelly and Aaron Riley respectively, but Pearson's destruction of Riley really opened my eyes as to just how crisp a striker he is.  Siver throws a lot of flashy powerful kicks, Pearson plays it more tight and tactical with his kickboxing.  As for this match, Siver will come out swinging and flailing, but Pearson's superior movement and solid defense will keep him out of trouble.  Siver on the other hand won't have much left in his toolbox once his style proves ineffective, allowing Pearson to pick him apart and earn a TKO victory.

Nate Quarry vs. Jorge Rivera

This should be a slugfest.  Both guys like to stand and bang, and aren't afraid to take a few hits to give a few more.  I find Quarry's skills more solid overall, so I'm inclined to think they'll slug it out for however long it takes Nate to notch a TKO.

Prelims

Andre Winner vs. Rafaello Oliveira

Winner, much like his Rough House teammate Pearson, also impressed the hell out of me in his last outing.  He should strong, accurate striking and great footwork en route to a devastating KO of Roli Delgado.  Oliveira is a BJJ blackbelt who isn't a fish out of water standing up, but is still closer to a guppy than a shark in the area.  He has decent power, but no technique, and Winner will be happy to exploit that fact.  I really just don't think Oliveira has much of anything for Winner, who's footwork and takedown defense should keep him upright long enough to tee off.  I smell a knockout, and Winner once again lives up to his name.

Ronys Torres vs Jacob Volkmann

Volkmann came into the UFC pretty highly touted, but has thus far been thrown to the sharks in in the form of top 10 welters Paulo Thiago and Martin Kampmann for an 0-2 record in the promotion.  Against Thiago he was durable but awkward, if not a bit clumsy and seemed to be on his heels the entire fight.  Against Kampmann he showed much more aggression, but received a guillotine choke for his troubles.  Torres was touted as the next big welterweight grappler, but failed to impress against Melvin Guillard, who's very kryptonite is good grappling, in his UFC debut, losing a decision.  Although Volkmann is a former Div. I wrestler, it sure doesn't show in the cage, and he doesn't have the takedown defense or power to stop Torres from putting him on the wrong end of a decision.

Rob Emerson vs. Nik Lentz

Emerson is an accurate kickboxer with improving takedown defense.  Lentz is a....decent wrestler.  Unless Lentz has been working on his takedowns, it doesn't look good for him.  After tiring himself out on failed takedown attempts, Emerson will pick him apart and take the decision.

Caol Uno vs. Gleison Tibau

I've been a Caol Uno fan since he drew with BJ Penn the first UFC Lightweight Title match, but he's definitely past his prime (this is sounding familiar).  He's still got plenty of tricks up his sleeves, and he's still very durable, but he's just plain not as good as he used to be.  Tibau is a bulldozing takedown machine that cuts over 9000 lbs to make 155.  What's the deal with the UFC being so tough on Japanese guys anyway?  Are they trying to send a message telling them to cut weight or they'll get thrashed in the US?  First 170-something Yoshiyuki Yoshida gets the most gigantic welter on the planet in Anthony Johnson, now this.  And Japanese fighters never get tune-ups, as evidenced by Gomi fighting Florian in his UFC debut.  Not to mention the BS decision loss Uno lost against Spencer Fisher a while back.  This might as well be another screw you to the Japanese, because I don't see this fight ending any way other than a unanimous decision for Tibau....unless Uno taps out due to frustration from being taken down over and over again and held there.

There are  2 more fights on the undercard, but of the four guys the only ones I can really talk about is Jason High and Gerald Harris, so I can't really give an accurate prediction.  But just for the hell of it, I'll go ahead and predict that both High and Harris will get wins.  Probably decisions.

The Second First Blog

I decided to start this blog as a dump for everything not art or animation related (for that, go to http://splinaltap.blogspot.com). I realized that if I'm going to show a blog to anyone in a professional or semi-professional manner it shouldn't have so much of the random stuff in it that doesn't pertain to my craft. So here it is. Anything MMA, cooking, funny, or just random thoughts and rants will be posted here.  I spent a decent amount of time creating a bitchin' logo for the This Is Splinal Tap blog....I'm not doing the same here.  Unless I have the free time, which I don't.  So I'll keep this one relatively simple.  Enjoy