[quote author=darkstarexodus link=topic=41902.msg1279244#msg1279244 date=1296973358]
Wow! @ Anderson tonight. I felt Anderson would win (even though I had money on Belfort at 3:1) but that was a spectacular finish. The man is leaps and bounds above everyone else in the game. St-Pierre should want no part of him. (Dana has apparently confirmed in the post-event conference that if GSP beats Shields, the superfight will be made.)
Very impressive from Jon Jones. While he has dominated every opponent put in front of him, a part of me wondered if he was perhaps a little over-hyped and made to look good by sub-par, past-their-expiry-date opponents. Bader is a real blue-chipper and got dominated completely. I think the title shot is a bit early still and having only five weeks to prepare is ridiculous (unless the UFC moves the fight to a later date) but wish him the best. Definitely time for a real step-up in competition and even if he loses to Rua he will still have a great career ahead of him.
Griffin-Franklin was a bit dull and I don't think either will be making a run at 205. Torres is a new subscriber to the GSP-Tristar "how not to go for the kill" tactics. He used to be so exciting but didn't show it tonight against whatever midget that was put in front of him.
Ellenberger was fortunate to come out his fight with a victory (though I thought the judges made the right call). He looked like he was too cocky coming into the fight, having been taken out of a fight scheduled with Jon Fitch. But after the first it looked like he had no idea how to deal with Rocha when he realised he wasn't going to roll right through him. Finally, towards the end of the second he took a point-scoring takedown that won the round and probably turned the fight. Rocha's transitions were brilliant but he looked lost in the third, unsure of how to score the points with the judges to win the fight. Bright future for him though, I think.
[/quote]
+1.
Though I felt Bones was the real deal before this fight. His ease in controlling Bader confirmed it.
I think a title shot against Rua is bit too early for him though. He'll get KO or submitted. Shogun is just too experienced and better on the ground and the feet. The only things Jones has is his wrestling, strength (which was amazing last tonight) and his reach. I would have liked to have seen him up against a former champion first, before fighting the deadliest fighter in the toughest weight division. I think someone like Griffin or Rampage would have been ideal.
As for Anderson Silva. My goodness. I knew he was good, but that kick was ridiculous. I felt bad for Vitor. He came in with the right game plan. Being patient, and waiting for the openings to score points. Was winning the round and not overcommiting (as we all know Anderson loves to COUNTERstrike). What Vitor wasn't expecting was Silva LEADING an exchange with a front kick to face. The surprise more than anything did the damage. He saw it, but it was on his chin before he could do anything about blocking it. Great highlight reel KO. Also, I've noticed whenever Silva gets someone rocked, his punch accuracy seems to be out of this world. Both follow-up shots landed perfectly right on the chin. The man is a deadly finisher, whenever he has you hurt. And he's lean, so you wouldn't think he was the most powerful, but the speed and accuracy of his shots rock/KO most of his opponents.
