the UFC thread

[punky]

The quality of UFC has been on its way out for a while I think.

I'm also a bit gutted about the demise of my favourite fighters. Bisping and now Griffin - both fighters were embarassing in their last matches. Bisping might be able to bounce back from I think Griffin will struggle now.

 

[mil1lion]

UFC 101 was poor really. And the next one doesn't look to have a great fight card either really. The Couture v Noguira fight should be good, but its a few years too late really. I cant believe the Silva fight. I predicted he'd win by knock out, but didn't expect him to make it look so easy. He humiliated Forrest, could of finished it twice before the final finish. And thats Silva fighting very much within himself. He picked him apart with ease, had him rocked a few times, and then finished with a jab. Crazy. I know Hendo will give him a good fight though. His chin is granite and his clinch game and wrestling are superb. After that i'd love to see Silva challenge Machida for the LHW belt. BJ Penn vs Sanchez will be a great fight too.

 

[AngerManagement]

The quality of UFC has been on its way out for a while I think.

I'm also a bit gutted about the demise of my favourite fighters. Bisping and now Griffin - both fighters were embarassing in their last matches. Bisping might be able to bounce back from I think Griffin will struggle now.

Bisping lost too much weight for his last fight, but he was fighter way above his station in any case...Hendo is leagues above where Bisping could ever hope to be in my opinion.

Forrest was up against the best, Silva is a beast and he is just far too skilled for a plucky scrapper like Griffen. The way he picked him apart was immense, I think they should move him up to this weight full time, atleast there are some challanging potential match ups for him at 205.

I am mostly excited to see Belfort back in the UFC, he and Pedro Rizzo were two of my favourite fighters back in the good old days of UFC (well when I first became a fan anyway) and the knock out of Wanderli is still one of the most impressive things I have seen in the octogan.

 

[Davids_5]

The quality of UFC has been on its way out for a while I think.

I'm also a bit gutted about the demise of my favourite fighters. Bisping and now Griffin - both fighters were embarassing in their last matches. Bisping might be able to bounce back from I think Griffin will struggle now.

Quality on it's way out? This is the best pool of fighters Joe Silva has had the pleasure from picking from, so many well rounded exciting fighters emerging from around the globe.

As mentioned earlier, Bisping had a huge step up in competition, Hendo is a true great of the sport with a great record and Forrest will bounce back, anyone with his attitude and hard working nature will come back a better fighter.

102 looks like a great card - Legend vs Legend, Jardine vs Silva will be good, as will Maia vs Marquardt

 

[punky]

Quality on it's way out? This is the best pool of fighters Joe Silva has had the pleasure from picking from, so many well rounded exciting fighters emerging from around the globe.

As mentioned earlier, Bisping had a huge step up in competition, Hendo is a true great of the sport with a great record and Forrest will bounce back, anyone with his attitude and hard working nature will come back a better fighter.

102 looks like a great card - Legend vs Legend, Jardine vs Silva will be good, as will Maia vs Marquardt

If you think so then fair enough. I don't appear to be the only one who thinks the fight cards aren't what they used to be. I think its far too commercial these days and they try and squeeze too many fights out. We have 1 $50 PPV main event a month plus midweek Spike fight nights. Ticket prices are crazy and so is the merchandising.

That's not related to what I was saying about Griffin/Bisping. I was disappointed with the performances of the fighters.

Don't get me wrong MMA is better than almost any sport out there, but it looks like it peaked back in 2008.

 

[mil1lion]

There seems to be a changing of the guards somewhat at the moment. It'll certainly be great again. Its just that guys like Couture, Noguira, Liddell and Ortiz are at the wrong end of their careers now. I think next year we'll see the likes of Cain Velasquez, Shane Carwin, Diego Sanchez, George Sotiropoulosand Thiago Alves more in the main event bracket.

 

[riversmonkey]

UFC 101 was saved by the two co-main events. Silva put on a masterclass, and made Forrest look foolish. BJ was composed and methodical against Florian. Both were entertaining fights. The rest of the card I agree was unspectacular with a contentious decision win for Hendricks, and three other workmanlike performances from Pellegrino, Riley and Almeida.

I've heard rumours it will be Bisping vs. Wanderlei for the Manchester event, which is a heck of a risk for Bisping. Dan Hardy and the two ultimate fighter winners will also be on the card.

I disagree that MMA has peaked, however a great deal of fighters are unwilling to take risks, hence plenty of fights becoming stalemates. The classic example of this is Michael Bisping, the higher up the ladder he has gotten, the more cautious he has become. The professional aspect of MMA conflicts with what the fans want, and that will be a problem for the match makers as time goes on.

 

[mil1lion]

Theres also rumours that it'll be Wanderlei Silva vs Thiago Alves at Middleweight for Silvas next fight. That would be a stand up war. As for Bisping, it was his first big fight. I hope he keeps at it. Hendo has knocked Silva and Jackson out before, so its no embarassment for Bisping. He'll learn a lot from that fight.

 

[AngerManagement]

Theres also rumours that it'll be Wanderlei Silva vs Thiago Alves at Middleweight for Silvas next fight. That would be a stand up war. As for Bisping, it was his first big fight. I hope he keeps at it. Hendo has knocked Silva and Jackson out before, so its no embarassment for Bisping. He'll learn a lot from that fight.

Not to be so predictable and continiusly circle towards an opponents power hand I hope for one.

It was as poor a display of basic boxing technique I have seen in the UFC since Chucks lazy body shot against Rampage (left his chin wide open and Quintin greatly tore his head off)

As for the decline of the UFC's quality...

I think it's more of an image change, much like boxing.

As has been iluded to earlier in this thread, the iconic characters of the sport are largely at the arse end of their career and or have few large character competitors to face them (leading to few wars to capture everyones imagion ala Chuck vs Tito)

The sport is expanding rapidly, there are so many more fighters all wanting a piece of the action now. It's becoming more technical and losing is becoming less of an option (leading to fighters taking less chances and making sure of victory before the spectular)

There is also a demand for constant fights and cards all around the states and even world. THis means the talent is spread somewhat thin and you see less and less 'stacked' cards. Couple this with the likelyhood for less excitment from a fight due to the increased need to win and you see more technical less obviously exciting fights than before.

The UFC is smart though, they are pretty much the only game in town (so will always have the pick of the best fighters) and have cohesive marketing which means they will never lack for publicity and showmanship before/after a fight.

They just need a few more characters, people with the mic skills to match their fighting technique. Image is a big thing in any sport.

I agree that it is just a slight low in this respect until the likes of Chuck and Randy/Tito etc are replaced by new Icons of the sport. Plus the percieved excitment of the Pride fighters has died down with the lack of success of Wanderli and Cro Cop etc.

Rampage vs Evans is a huge fight though I think, and the UFC will start putting some big names head to head soon to ensure they stay up on their pay per view numbers I think (already we can look forward to Franklin vs Vitor and Tito vs Coleman)

Shogun hopefully will be back to his best soon and he/was pure excitment.

Keep watching, things will improve I have no doubt

 

[Mullers]

I watched the Brock Lesner v Shane Carwin match. Boy can Brock take a punch, he was battered by Carwin in the first round if that was any other person they'd be out for the count. Brock showed all the doubters that he is a true champion.

 

[punky]

Yeah Lesnar is unbeatable. Superhuman even.

He lacks a technical ability but even when opponents don't they just can't defeat him. Although I think the ref was a bit lenient as there were a few punches that went undefended.

 

[haxman]

Yeah Lesnar is unbeatable. Superhuman even.

He lacks a technical ability but even when opponents don't they just can't defeat him. Although I think the ref was a bit lenient as there were a few punches that went undefended.

Rematch? I think Carwin would beat him if he got another chance, he punched himself out, reckon he'd be smarter the next time. As you said, other refs would have stopped that, Lesnar took a serious amount of punishment.

 

[punky]

Rematch? I think Carwin would beat him if he got another chance, he punched himself out, reckon he'd be smarter the next time. As you said, other refs would have stopped that, Lesnar took a serious amount of punishment.

I'm guessing they'd be setting up some kind of rematch int he future. I should imagine they'd set up a rematch with Frank Mir first. Especially for the grudge match aspect to it.

 

[Evolution]

UFC 118:

BJ Penn - TKO Round 4
Randy Cotoure - TKO Round 1
Damian Maia - Submission Round 1
Kenny Florian - Decision Unanimous
Nate Diaz - Submission Round 3

Can't wait...

 

[riversmonkey]

Anyone going to UFC 120? Got my tickets in the post yesterday. It's a card that lacks star power but I really can't wait for October 16th.

As for tonight. It will be interesting to see how Winner and Osipczak go tonight on the lower card.

Predictions:
Davis: TKO Round 1
Florian: Decision
Maia: Submission Round 2
Couture: Submission Round 1
Edgar: TKO Round 2 (shock of the night)

 

[AngerManagement]

I went to UFC 114 in Las Vegas, was great

Looking forward to the BJ Penn rematch tonight, hopefully Randy will destroy Tony and will be a good day of sport for me today.

Off to the Lane now then UFC tonight with a few beers, can't complain COYS

 

[riversmonkey]

Interesting night of fights. Nate Diaz impressed me with his accuracy and punching range, I didn't expect him to out box Davis, but he did so emphatically. Florian choked again, it seems mentally he cannot overcome that final hurdle. Maia controlled Miranda, though this was probably a poor piece of matchmaking with Miranda completely out of his depth. Couture handled a pathetically out of shape Toney with ease.

Then the main event, what a glorious title defence from Frankie Edgar. In control, dominant, he made BJ Penn look like a chump.

 

[AngerManagement]

It was (in my opinion) a pretty poor card, none of the fights were particularly exciting but it was decent enough.

The Couture/Toney fight was an interesting concept but it went pretty much how every one assumed it would with a boxer out of his depth being taken down with ease and beaten quickly and without resistance.

The main even was a good performance by Edgar, he looked sharp and strong and totally outclassed BJ both standing and with his take downs (even when BJ got his back he was able to reverse it and maintain the dominant postion at will)

I can see why UFC are having so many cards now days but the talent gets spread too much in my opinion and there are simply not enough exciting fights togther on one card now days.

 

[riversmonkey]

True, but contrast that to most Boxing cards, and cards in other MMA organizations and the UFC still manages to put together two or three decent fights per PPV. The way the UFC offers up its product is admirable.

I quite like the Bellator concept of tournaments taking place over a few weeks alongside title fights, it certainly means that each fight has a little more edge to it. Though Bellator is going to struggle when its assets look to jet off to the big leagues.

As far as its biggest rival Strikeforce, that company seems hell bent on sabotaging itself like Affliction did. There is room for a rival to the UFC, but no company seems to be able to build a fanbase, or operate to any gameplan other then putting their eggs all in one basket and backing one or two fighters.

 

[Evolution]

UFC 118 Summary

• Lightweight bout: Andre Winner vs. Nik Lentz

Lentz defeated Winner via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 30-27).

Andre Winner fought Nik Lentz's fight and paid the price for it. He looked so much stronger in the stand-up then lentz and his Take Down defence was excellent but he could not break from Lentz's clinch. Very boring to watch but Lentz stuck to his wrestling and dirty boxing and got the win. Andre is ever improving but now needs to focus on handling/escaping the the clinch

• Lightweight bout: Joe Lauzon vs. Gabe Ruediger

Lauzon defeated Ruediger via submission (armbar) at 2:01 of round 1.

Joe Lauzon came out like a man possessed with his home crowd support behind him (take note Spurs) :wink:, and absolutely dominated Gabe. Great performance from Joe!

• Welterweight bout: Nate Diaz vs. Marcus Davis

Diaz defeated Davis via technical submission (guillotine choke) at 4:02 of round 3.

Nate looked really good in this fight and out boxed Davis which I thought personally was a surprise. Diaz utilized his reached advantage to maximum and made Davis face look like putty. Was a real nasty cut. Great submission finish at the end.

Florian vs. Gray Maynard

Maynard defeated Florian via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28).

Was that the same Ken-Flo? It looked like he choked again. I'm afraid this once again proved for me that he is only a gatekeeper in the lightweight division. Gray done what Gray always does and out wrestled/pummelled his opponent for the win.

• Middleweight bout: Demian Maia vs. Mario Miranda

Maia defeated Miranda via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27).

Maia suprised me in this one in that he looked impressive on his feet and not so impressive on the ground with his BJJ. A well earned victory for Maia and looks like he's been working hard on his standup

• Heavyweight bout: Randy Couture vs. James Toney

Couture defeated Toney via submission (arm-triangle choke) at 3:19 of round 1.

No surprises here. My only worry was the opening 10 seconds with a fresh James Tony that Couture might get sloopy and get caught. As it was, I don't think Tony even through a punch. Complete washout...

• Lightweight Championship bout: Frankie Edgar (c) vs. B.J. Penn

Edgar defeated Penn via unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 50-45).

What the hell is with BJ Penn. Is Frankie Edgar actually that good or is Penn passed his sell by date. He looked focused when he came into the octagon but had no answer for Edgar's speed at all. He was embarrassed tonight and not sure where he goes from here. Hats off to Frankie though. Great display and if her can stay on his feet, should see off Gray in their upcoming title bout.

That's my 2 cents on UFC 118

Not a great card and it really needed the Tony v Couture (MMA v Boxing) to sell it. Roll on UFC 119

Ev0