Quick results: • Lightweight: Benson Henderson d. Frankie Edgar to win the UFC Lightweight Championship, unanimous decision • Light Heavyweight: Ryan Bader d. Quinton Jackson, unanimous decision • Heavyweight: Mark Hunt d. Cheick Kongo, KO • Welterweight: Jake Shields d. Yoshihiro Akiyama, unanimous decision • Middleweight: Tim Boetsch d. Yushin Okami, TKO • Featherweight: Hatsu Hioki d. Bart Palaszewski, unanimous decision • Lightweight: Anthony Pettis d. Joe Lauzon, knockout • Lightweight: Takanori Gomi d. Eiji Mitsuoka, TKO • Bantamweight: Vaughn Lee d. Kid Yamamamoto, submission • Middleweight: Riki Fukuda d. Steve Cantwell, unanimous decision • Bamtamweight: Chris Cariaso d. Takeya Mizugaki, unanimous decision • Featherweight: Issei Tamura d. Tiequan Zhang, knockout
Maybe I'm biased because I picked up my first Bodog win (ten Canadian dollars!) with Bader's victory over Rampage, but I thought this was a pretty decent show. Kongo and Hunt was a short slobberknocker, Rampage threw a crazy powerslam, Boetsch won a crazy comeback, and the main event was a great fight. Sexyama vs. Shields was pretty boring, but you can't win them all.
There's a UFC on FX this Friday with Thiago Alves and Martin Kampmann in the main event, and Strikeforce is on Saturday headlined by Miesha Tate defending agains Ronda Rousey.
Boetsch v Okami was just off the hook. It played out like a movie fight (or WWE). A Rocky 2 like comeback.
I always pay attention to Cheick Kongo fights because I think he is the gatekeeper to the heavyweight upper card. When that counter left hook landed I said to the people I was watching with "Let's keep an eye on Cheick now, that punch could have just taken his heart away." All academic anyway as Hunt finished strongly. He hits hard and is crazy accurate. Not real good on the stick though.
I've thought this for a little while now. Rampage is in the same paddock as Cro Cop, etc. The name is probably still a draw, but their days as a contender are done. Aside from the slam, he looked exactly like a guy who came in heavy, but not because he fucked up the cut. And speaking of the slam, how lucky was Bader to not get injured there. The way he landed I thought straight away of Benoit / Sabu.
I'm conflicted about the main event. I have no issue with the judges awarding the fight to Henderson. I had him winning too. But I'd like the victory to be a little more emphatic when it comes to changing the title. To be the man you've got to beat the man as someone once said. Not eke out a points decision. But at the same time I don't want repeats of Tim Sylvia fighting not to lose rather than for the finish. As I said, conflicted. Anyway, I guess the first title match booked for Henderson might be Henderson Edgar 2 and it should draw gangbusters.
Joe badgering Edgar about dropping down a division annoyed me. He only just lost a points decision (indeed in his mind I think he thought he should've won) and he's beaten every one else he's faced recently including BJ Penn twice. He is obviously fine at lightweight.
Originally posted by Big GI've thought this for a little while now. Rampage is in the same paddock as Cro Cop, etc. The name is probably still a draw, but their days as a contender are done.
I mean, I don't have super high expectations for Rampage going forward, but he just came off lasting until the fourth round against Jon Jones.
The Big Bossman raised the briefcase.
Go Pack Go! Owner of one (1) share. Let's Go Riders! Owner of one (1) share.
Originally posted by Big GI've thought this for a little while now. Rampage is in the same paddock as Cro Cop, etc. The name is probably still a draw, but their days as a contender are done.
I mean, I don't have super high expectations for Rampage going forward, but he just came off lasting until the fourth round against Jon Jones.
Would you buy "the exception that proves the rule"?
Originally posted by Big GI've thought this for a little while now. Rampage is in the same paddock as Cro Cop, etc. The name is probably still a draw, but their days as a contender are done.
I'm not sure I buy that. Cro Cop really hasn't looked like beating anyone resembling a contender for almost five years. He's probably in the third or fourth tier of fighters in the HW division.
Rampage is not long after beating Machida and Hamill and losing a decision to Rashad. Outside of Jon Jones there isn't much between the guys at 205 and Rampage would probably be a threat to any of them on his day.
Originally posted by dMrRampage would probably be a threat to any of them on his day.
It's the on his day bit that's tripping me up.
I'm really basing this opinion on nothing more than a gut feel. I've watched enough MMA to be reasonably comfortable with my opinions and sweeping generalisations, but I could very easily be wrong. I thought the same thing about Tito but have stepped back from that a little bit.
Anyway, maybe I need to go back and re-watch Rampages last x fights and provide the opinion with a little more fresh information?
Either way, I'm happy to agree to disagree for the time being and stand corrected should I change my view.
Originally posted by Big GAnyway, maybe I need to go back and re-watch Rampages last x fights and provide the opinion with a little more fresh information?
By all means, but if I add the disclaimer that I thought Arlovski was relevant looooong after that ship had sailed, you might want to save yourself the time ;)
With Dale Jr’s Retirement, what looks like Matt Kenseth’s also and now Danica Patrick’s as well, it’s going to be a different look in NASCAR next year. Kenseth was always tough.