[Beowulf]

I'm curious to hear your thoughts on the night. Griffin/Edgar definitely stole the show. Those guys were awesome, and very complete as the seamlessly transitioned from striking to grappling to striking. Too bad Griffin seemed to be gassing in the 3rd. I think Edgar clearly one, but both were impressive. I think Griffin' could have taken it when he had that kneebar in the closing minute. He had it tight at first, but you could see that Edgar was able to push him down. Once Griffin's hips slid above the knee, moving down toward the shin, the pressure was off. Griffin was in a perfect position to transition to a toe hold. Toe hold's are pretty freaky. I don't doubt that it would have prompted the tap, even with just 30 seconds left. Great fight, nonetheless.

Huerta fight? The knee definitely looked illegal live, but in replay looked ok. My buddy said he thought Huerta's inside knee caught Halverson, not the one that hit the shoulder. I have to see it again.

Cote looked much improved. Training at Sityodtong in Boston has definitely improved his game a lot. His only issue is that for the first time in the UFC he was overly cautious. I look forward to the next fight...so I can boo him again. Just kidding, the crowd was obnoxious.

Rampage vs Eastman was a good fight. I don't know why the crowd was booing. They have zero patience. I don't remember much downtime. #1 thing Page needs to work on in the UFC is an awareness of elbows. Eastman caught him with a few nice standing elbow strikes that Rampage just did not expect. I thought Eastman was pretty impressive, and has great combos with elbows, though I do question his chin. Rampage hits hard, so maybe there is no question there. Regardless, I think Eastman has the potential to do some damage at 205. I'd like to see him fight Rashad, Jardine, Forrest, etc. He is big, strong, and he was aggressive last night. The UFC would be wise to keep him on the roster.

Crocop's debut was impressive, but definitely tarnished by having to chase Eddie in circles. If that fight were in a ring, Eddie would have had nowhere to go, but in the cage it turned into a game of tag. Looked like the LHK just barely skimmed Eddie. Probably didn't matter, b/c Sanchez looked rocked from the first time he got hit.

Silva vs Lutter was important b/c it showed Silva's range. I somewhat wonder if he wasn't content to go to the ground knowing he had a good game there. Anyone who has seen Silva's DQ vs Okami knows that the man can do some damage from his back. That upkick was brutal prior to setting up the triangle. Did anyone notice how unphased Anderson was when he was mounted and taking shots to the face? He did the same thing when he fought Rivera in Cage Rage. He held Rivera's head, ate the shots w/o flinching, and then went on to be the agressor.
I'm leaning toward thinking this was a good fight for Silva considering it really showed the depth of his skills. Subbing a BJJ black belt who was supposed to sub you if it went to the ground is definitely a good way to silence critics. The only real challenges I see for him are from wrestlers.

[Alexander]

I think Rivera's career might be over. It seems like he's been KO'd a lot over the last couple years, and he's getting old. Terry Martin is a mean lil SOB at 185. Edgar/Griffin was great. I'd like to see Edgar fight Sherk, I think he would do well. Rampage looked a little better than I expected, but still has a little ways to go, and he knows it which is good. Mirko was Mirko. Anderson got the job done, but I still feel he will be in trouble against Lindland/Filho/Hendo or maybe even Terry Martin. Any good wrestler will take him down at will. Overall I felt it was a pretty boring night. Not awful, just not great especially with all the big names.

[Beowulf]

I forgot about Rivera. You're probably right. I don't see him lasting much longer. Martin clearly seems to have heavy hands, but Rivera was just about KO'd from an upkick from Cote. He has 20 fights in his career, but from his admission, was always fighting throughout his life. The brain can only take so much abuse.

[jas123]

Silva looked decent but beatable IMO. He was taken down with ease by a depleted looking Lutter. He held tough bjj-wise, but he'll get decisioned or TKOed by a good wrestler, Linland, Tanner (if he wasn't "following the Phish"), maybe Franklin. Tito style GNP might give him some serious problems.

Edgar looked good and Griffin looked gassed toward the end. I missed the last 3 minutes, though, cause my gf was falling asleep at the bar (what a great idea to go to a bar when it's -25 outside).

Rampage gave a solid performance that will hopefully build his confidence.

CC looked dominant and gave Sanchez a solid beating.

Huerta-Halverson was weird and unsatisfying, oh well. It looked like the knee was legal, though.

Cote looked good and dealt with the boos well in his post-fight interview. The crowd was annoying as ****.

[Beowulf]

Joe Rogan posted this on the Underground Forum:

Anderson Silva had knee surgery on both knees just 11 weeks ago. That was why he was so easy to take down, and that was why he couldn't squeeze 100% when he had Lutter in the triangle. I ran into his manager after the show and he told me the whole deal. His knees were still very sore. Later that night I ran into Anderson in the hotel, and he was limping like he was just double knee barred.

Crazy ****. If Travis ever had a chance, last night was it. Great fight, either way.

BTW, Rampage's wit was in full effect when he said something about "black on black crime"

Definitely the worst UFC crowd in history.

[Alexander]

Originally Posted by Beowulf

Joe Rogan posted this on the Underground Forum:


BTW, Rampage's wit was in full effect when he said something about "black on black crime"

Definitely the worst UFC crowd in history.

Yeah, the crowd did seem pretty ****ty. Rampage definitely seemed more like his old self last night. I swear I could feel that black on black crime comment coming.

[Rogue Drone]

The only thing I'll add, at this point and probably forever, is that the three of you have become pretty damn good analysts of da game.

[Nitrox]

Not much else to add. I think you guys pretty much saw it the same way I did. Ok overall, nothing great.

FWIW I think Huerta's knee got Halverston at the base of the neck because I could swear I saw some head recoil from the strike.

And yes, terrible crowd last night. The more popular the sport gets, the more meatheads there will be complaining if they don't see blood and brain matter in the first 30 seconds. They should pick out one of the loudest booer's with an SPL meter and then tell them they have to do a round with Mirko if they want to stay in the arena...

[Rodja]

The thing that I took from that event last night was this: the future of the UFC is the LW division. The Griffin/Edgar fight was one of the best, not only in entertainment, but also technically, fights that I have ever seen.

Silva impressed the hell out of me with his composure and BJJ. Crocop and Rampage did well in their debuts and the post-fight interview was classic (black on black crime).

[SJA]

Originally Posted by Rogue Drone

The only thing I'll add, at this point and probably forever, is that the three of you have become pretty damn good analysts of da game.

That's why I came here to get the low down. I missed the fight...but now I got the skinny

Thanks for the info guys.

[Sir Savage]

I pretty much agree with everything said.

And I'll just add that I was impressed with Lutter. A lot of people, myself included, didn't think it would get past the first.

[Rogue Drone]

I was'nt impressed with Lutter at all, maybe a little on his ability to get the takedown, but he looked disheartened and physically weak, his punches from the mount were practice speed arcing grazers, not straight downward pounders with force. He coulda shoulda been able to end it there with solid strikes and hip control to keep Silva down.

He blew his shot, doubt we'll see him again for a long while.

Eastman is what I suspected he was, a bulked up middleweight, he's strong in the clinch, with the middleweight's jaw and neck muscles that will get punched out by a good striking LHW.

[Sir Savage]

Hmm. Good points.

What about Machida??? Anyone know how he looked? I can't believe they never aired his fight. I was pissed.

[size]

I have only seen the Crocop fight but I will give my opinion anyway.

Sanchez looked like a fighter that knew he had little to no chance of victory as he did not look confident at all. Crocop had to chase him around the ring in order to end it. While I can understand why Sanchez did not want to get hit, I just do not think this is the proper approach for a professional heavyweight. Crocop looked solid and ready for business as usual.

The "booing" by the UFC crowd is typical. I get frustrated often when I watch UFC events as the crowds seem to always boo and jeer. It seems obvious to me that the UFC crowd is cheering more for punishment and blood than it is for the skill and tactics that a fighter uses. The UFC should be ashamed of the crowd they are attracting.

On rest of the fights, I can only comment about what I read, but maybe some of you can confirm or deny it.
Hoger vs Machida- My thoughts, Hoger is a tough guy and a surviver. I know alot of guys do not like him but if you look at his losses they are all via decision. So I definitely think he has potential. I was happy to read especially after discussing it in another thread that Machida used LEG KICKS! From what I have read, these leg kicks were destroying Hoger and his attack.

Cote vs Scott- I think Cote is a good fighter. He is able to stirke and grapple so I think it is a good win for him.

[Mulletsoldier]

Originally Posted by size

I have only seen the Crocop fight but I will give my opinion anyway.

Sanchez looked like a fighter that knew he had little to no chance of victory as he did not look confident at all. Crocop had to chase him around the ring in order to end it. While I can understand why Sanchez did not want to get hit, I just do not think this is the proper approach for a professional heavyweight. Crocop looked solid and ready for business as usual.

The "booing" by the UFC crowd is typical. I get frustrated often when I watch UFC events as the crowds seem to always boo and jeer. It seems obvious to me that the UFC crowd is cheering more for punishment and blood than it is for the skill and tactics that a fighter uses. The UFC should be ashamed of the crowd they are attracting.

On rest of the fights, I can only comment about what I read, but maybe some of you can confirm or deny it.
Hoger vs Machida- My thoughts, Hoger is a tough guy and a surviver. I know alot of guys do not like him but if you look at his losses they are all via decision. So I definitely think he has potential. I was happy to read especially after discussing it in another thread that Machida used LEG KICKS! From what I have read, these leg kicks were destroying Hoger and his attack.

Cote vs Scott- I think Cote is a good fighter. He is able to stirke and grapple so I think it is a good win for him.

I agree on what everyone has said about the crowd issue, I personally like to call it the 'Billy Madison Effect'. You see it happening with most sports, as it begins to attain 'mass appeal' media coverage those individuals who only wish to view the end result, and the not the journey like we do, begin to dominate the viewing public. I think of Golf, and the crowds Tiger attracts; likewise, they do not appreciate his swing, or how he approaches each shot, where he leaves himself, or how he dissects a green, they are just drunken fools who like to scream 'WAAAAHOOO' whenever he hits a drive or makes a putt. Conversely, they do not wish appreciate a slick transition from a guard to a sub, nor do they appreciate how a HK is set-up, only that it is landed and caused somebody pain.


*Mullet removes himself from Philosophical soapbox*

[jas123]

Originally Posted by Rodja

The thing that I took from that event last night was this: the future of the UFC is the LW division. The Griffin/Edgar fight was one of the best, not only in entertainment, but also technically, fights that I have ever seen.

No doubt. There are great LW coming out of the woodwork. Just when you think you know who will rise to the top (Griffin), another great one shows up and beats him. Sherk, Franca, Pulver, maybe BJ, Fisher, Lauzon, Edgar, Griffin, Kenflo, ...