UFC

[Modo]

BTW where is Dana White. Hasn't said a thing about the UFC 127 debacle and I'm not talking about Bisping - Rivera.

BJ Penn vs Fitch, was one of the most boring fights I've ever seen, thanks to Fitch. What could I expect from Fitch, really??
He's wrestler and he's won like 8 straight fights by decision. The UFC definitely doesn't need that type of fighter if they want more mainstream success. Some fans, especially in the US, don't appreciate Jiu jitsu and wrestling. If someone isn't knocked out within a minute the crowd starts booing.

Bisping vs Rivera was a good fight, until the illegal knee and from there on it went from bad to worse.
Dana White and the UFC does not need this kind of publicity if they want to attract the big sponsors and networks.
Not showing up for the post fight press conference or any post match interviews at all is inexcusable.
It's like he pulled a Forest Griffin and ran away.

 

[Delinquent]

[quote author=darkstarexodus link=topic=41902.msg1294420#msg1294420 date=1299194619]
I have tended to think he was more misunderstood than anything (and I agree about the anti-English, American bias) but Bisping was a thundercunt after the Rivera fight.
[/quote]

Not to mention during it.

 

[themn]

Just saw the Anderson Silva fight.

DAYUM !

 

[darkstarexodus]

Wow. Diego Sanchez's face. Wow. All I'm going to say. (No spoilers this time...)

 

[Modo]

[quote author=darkstarexodus link=topic=41902.msg1294823#msg1294823 date=1299273209]
Wow. Diego Sanchez's face. Wow. All I'm going to say. (No spoilers this time...)
[/quote]
Haha...

daylight robbery.

 

[Farkmaster]

Yea, Americans hate Bisping because he's English, and they can't grasp his sophisticated sense of humour. Or it might be stuff like him kneeing people in the head illegally.

 

[Farkmaster]

[quote author=Modo link=topic=41902.msg1294856#msg1294856 date=1299285250]
[quote author=darkstarexodus link=topic=41902.msg1294823#msg1294823 date=1299273209]
Wow. Diego Sanchez's face. Wow. All I'm going to say. (No spoilers this time...)
[/quote]
Haha...

daylight robbery.
[/quote]

Enh, this wouldn't make top 50 worst UFC decisions, and there have been a lot of them recently. I can even see an argument for Diego taking it, given that stuffing a take down doesn't give you anything in the current system really. Kampman lacks the cardio and will power to stick to his game plan. You see it all the time in boxing (which was effectively all this match was since Kampman stuffed every take down but one) the skilled boxer dictates range, scores a lot, then gets tired and lazy and gets sucked into some slug fest where he probably still has a better chance, but he's leaving it to chance, and things can snowball.

But yea, if we went by Lennox Lewis "state of his face", then Kampann took that 10-8 each round.

 

[darkstarexodus]

I agree with you, Fark. Diego finally getting the takedown secured him the win. I feel for Kampmann, especially after the close decision loss to Shields, but he didn't do enough in the third to put it out of doubt. Once he showed that he had a hand injury, I knew he wouldn't be able to do anything but stall for the remainder of the fight. Most of Diego's shots didn't hit but he kept coming forward and dictating the pace in the second half of the fight.

 

[ibromurph]

Kampmann won the fight. You can make a case for Diego "trying" and "pushing the pace" but beside that, he really got picked apart from a superior skilled fighter (and stuffing takedowns does factor into the scoring system - octagon control - as he's dictating where the fight takes place). I think the decision was just favouritism towards the American fighter.

 

[darkstarexodus]

I disagree that it was favouritism, Ibro. Kampmann was clearly the more technical fighter and inflicted the most damage over the course of the fight. But the fights are scored each round, not as a whole, as you well know. Kampmann clearly won the first round (although I'm not sure it was a 10-8). The second round could have gone either way (I would have given it to Kampmann but Diego imposed himself in the second half of the round and scored a couple clean, big shots at the end that wobbled Kampmann, so I can see the argument). The third round again could have gone either way, Kampmann with picking his shots, or Diego by pushing the pace. Ultimately, it was finally securing the takedown that gave him the win. The fight somewhat reminded me of Machida-Rampage, another close fight where the superior technician did not notch a victory on account of a more cautious style that does not appeal to the judges. It's a systemic flaw, not an individual travesty or personal victimization.

It's a fact that the judges give too high an emphasis on getting a takedown when scoring rounds, even if the takedown doesn't lead to anything. And, unfortunately (and as Fark mentioned), little scoring advantage is given to stuffing takedowns. I think this is poor because it's dictating where the fight takes place which is part of Octagon Control, one of the components of scoring, as you state. However, it is a fact of judging, wrongly as I believe, that they don't count for much in general, not just for Kampmann.

I could tell early in the third round that though it was going to be a close one on the scoring cards, Kampmann still needed to do something significant to seal the fight. And as soon as he showed signs of the hand injury I knew he wouldn't be able to do it.

Personally I would like to see more 10-10 rounds given out and the second round would likely have received that score from me. Which may or may not have affected the overall result, depending on whether you count round 1 as a 10-8.

Though I would have scored the fight in favour of Kampmann, I don't particularly think it's a travesty, nor an example of bias or favouritism that Diego got the nod. Kampmann needs to be conscious of how fights are scored and also needs to choose game plans that will win fights (his stupidity in the Shields fight being a better example). Or finish the fight.

 

[darkstarexodus]

Zuffa, the UFC's parent company, has just bought Strikeforce. Strikeforce will continue to operate as a separate entity and Coker will remain on as head, but the promotion is now owned by Zuffa.

 

[cobrastatus]

I just heard about this right now on the MMA messageboard I frequent, and it doesn't sound good. In the short term it probably will be, I don't think it's good for the long term health of MMA.

 

[Modo]

[quote author=cobrastatus link=topic=41902.msg1299183#msg1299183 date=1299977882]
I just heard about this right now on the MMA messageboard I frequent, and it doesn't sound good. In the short term it probably will be, I don't think it's good for the long term health of MMA.
[/quote]

It's not that much of a surprise. They can't compete with UFC.
UFC is a globally known and Strikeforce have fallen behind.
Every top fighter except Henderson and what's his name "the russian" wants to be in the UFC.

The question is now if they will try to unify the belts?

 

[darkstarexodus]

Apparently they're going to keep things separate for now, though I think that's just until Strikeforce's contract with Showtime is fulfilled. At that point they'll likely merge the brands.

 

[ibromurph]

This is really bad for MMA and the fighters especially. No competition means the UFC can pretty rape fighters in contract negotiations now knowing they can't go anywhere else.

Also we'll see some of the best fighters excluded for the UFC (like Paul Daley/Fedor/Hendo) because Dana White has blacklisted them.

 

[Modo]

After watching a couple of interviews with Dana White about the Strikeforce purchase, I'm starting to think that Strikeforce will became the AHL to the NHL.

We won't see any changes until the contract with Showtime has run out.

The whole deal is a great one for the fans but the fighters are gonna get screwed.

 

[darkstarexodus]

[quote author=ibromurph link=topic=41902.msg1299708#msg1299708 date=1300136249]
This is really bad for MMA and the fighters especially. No competition means the UFC can pretty rape fighters in contract negotiations now knowing they can't go anywhere else.

Also we'll see some of the best fighters excluded for the UFC (like Paul Daley/Fedor/Hendo) because Dana White has blacklisted them.
[/quote]

I don't necessarily think any of those fighters will be blacklisted from the UFC. Hendo has gone on record as saying he's fine with everything and left only because Strikeforce offered more money. Diaz I think will eventually join the UFC to test himself against better competition. And, at this stage in his career, Fedor is more likely to retire than to join the UFC, regardless of other circumstances.

 

[Modo]

AAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!

What a fight!!!!


No spoilers yet guys UFC 128 this morning.

Please don't write anything about the gala until about 5 hours afterwards when people in this part of the world wake up.

 

[Modo]

[size=14pt]NO SPOILER[/size]

Jon Jones Stops Criminal Hours Before UFC 128 Title Fight with Mauricio “Shogun†Rua
Written by Tim Ngo
March 19th, 2011

With the opportunity to don UFC gold at the tender age of 23 only hours away, Jon Jones and his coaches were out and about in New York on Saturday when a evildoer decided to break a window of a woman’s car to steal a GPS system.

That’s when Jones, Mike Winklejohn and Greg Jackson dropped everything to chase the thief down.

Here’s “Bones’†account of the situation via his Twitter page:

So while we were at the park today a crack head smashed this old ladys car window and took off running with her gps just as we were pulling up

Right away….Coach Wink goes after this guy. Without hesitation, Coach Jackson went after him…I was shocked and stood there for a second

then I threw my phone down and went with my coaches. Before you know it, we’re sprinting up a steep hill chasing after him.

I turned the jets on….we caught the guy. We got the lady’s gps back

Sounds pretty unbelievable, right? Well, Jones’ driver took a picture of Jackson, Winklejohn and the budding superstar subduing the criminal as proof.

UFC 128 takes place tonight inside the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. Jones challenges light heavyweight champ Mauricio “Shogun†Rua for his crown in the night’s main event.

Did somebody say, ‘Good karma?’

 

[cobrastatus]

MASSIVE SPOILER DO NOT READ
















bones will rule 205 for a long time. Also, Rashad will rue the day that he left the Jackson camp. He is going to be eaten alive by Bones. In addition, the only way I see Bones losing is if Anderson Silva decides to move up, but even then, there are two things stopping him - Bones has an inch in height and 5 inches in reach on him still, and he is really really good at what Silva is bad at.

It will be very exciting to see Bones eventually fill out his frame and move up to heavyweight, which I think he eventually will do. He is only 23 and has a long way to go. What is scary is I don't see ANYONE at 205 giving him trouble. We may actually have our first champion that has any kind of a reign at 205.

Sad for shogun 🙁

 

[Modo]

[quote author=cobrastatus link=topic=41902.msg1302212#msg1302212 date=1300610592]
MASSIVE SPOILER DO NOT READ
















bones will rule 205 for a long time. Also, Rashad will rue the day that he left the Jackson camp. He is going to be eaten alive by Bones. In addition, the only way I see Bones losing is if Anderson Silva decides to move up, but even then, there are two things stopping him - Bones has an inch in height and 5 inches in reach on him still, and he is really really good at what Silva is bad at.

It will be very exciting to see Bones eventually fill out his frame and move up to heavyweight, which I think he eventually will do. He is only 23 and has a long way to go. What is scary is I don't see ANYONE at 205 giving him trouble. We may actually have our first champion that has any kind of a reign at 205.

Sad for shogun 🙁
[/quote]

Wait a minute did Rashad leave the Jackson camp? So they didn't split the camp.

Jones is a superhero by day and a ufc fighter by night. Monster of a fighter.
Unbelievable reach, cardio, wrestling, flair, I can go on and on.

It's scary to see these athletes in the UFC now. Bones could have been a basketball player or a football player. MMA practitioners are usually people who suck at other sports especially those requiring a ball.

But here's a warning watch out for PHIL DAVIS! A division 1 wrestling champion and also built like an athlete. He's making a name for himself in the UFC right now.

 

[cobrastatus]

I don't know if he has officially done it, but in the main event post fight interview, he said he is "done with the Jackson camp."

Also, Phil Davis is quite good, but if they fight anytime within the next year, he will be a healthy underdog to Jones, for sure. I am a fan, but Bones just has too much of an advantage in the striking, and Phil's edge is not big enough on the ground to counter it in my opinion. But it will be a great fight when it happens!

 

[Modo]

[quote author=cobrastatus link=topic=41902.msg1302221#msg1302221 date=1300612122]
I don't know if he has officially done it, but in the main event post fight interview, he said he is "done with the Jackson camp."

Also, Phil Davis is quite good, but if they fight anytime within the next year, he will be a healthy underdog to Jones, for sure. I am a fan, but Bones just has too much of an advantage in the striking, and Phil's edge is not big enough on the ground to counter it in my opinion. But it will be a great fight when it happens!
[/quote]

Saw the "I'm done interview" with Rashad. Apparently he's disappointed that Greg Jackson refuses to take his side in this fight. Jackson told Rashad that he doesn't want team-mates to fight.
Rashad felt betrayed and decided to challenge Jones any way. Major fuck up by Rashad.

Re: Davis
I reckon Davis needs about a year. I'd like to see him against a LHW contender. He's a raw talent.
He needs a bit more experience and he needs to work on his stand up.

Back to Jones, who can beat Jones in the LHW division?
The only contender I see is Machida. Jones is going to rape Rashad, Rampage or anyone else they put in front of him. Machida's style might be a problem for Jones.

 

[cobrastatus]

[quote author=Modo link=topic=41902.msg1302223#msg1302223 date=1300612899]
[quote author=cobrastatus link=topic=41902.msg1302221#msg1302221 date=1300612122]
I don't know if he has officially done it, but in the main event post fight interview, he said he is "done with the Jackson camp."

Also, Phil Davis is quite good, but if they fight anytime within the next year, he will be a healthy underdog to Jones, for sure. I am a fan, but Bones just has too much of an advantage in the striking, and Phil's edge is not big enough on the ground to counter it in my opinion. But it will be a great fight when it happens!
[/quote]

I reckon Davis needs about a year. I'd like to see him against a LHW contender. But he's a raw talent.
Back to Jones, who can beat Jones in LHW division?
The only contender I see is Machida. Jones is going to rape Rashad, Rampage or anyone else they put in front of him. Machida's style might be a problem for Jones.
[/quote]

I agree with the Machida assessment for the most part. Another messageboard I'm a part of, an MMA messageboard, most of the members reckoned that Machida could hold his own in the striking, but that Jones' frame would be the difference. Also, even though Machida is one slippery bastard, I still can't see that stopping Jones' from dominating him on the ground if he gets him there, and I think he can get him there, he has more than enough athleticism. So I tend to agree with their view.

I think the Machida fight will definitely happen, hopefully he steamrolls through Couture, maybe takes someone like Bader on, and if he beats him too, gets a title shot.

On another note, I am a huge fan of Gegard Mousasi, and I think that could be an interesting fight for Jones as well now that Strikeforce has been purchased by UFC.

In the long term, the most exciting fights for Jones will be at HW. Just imagine if in 2-3 years, he has added 20-25 lbs to his frame and takes on someone like Ubereem. 😱

 

[Modo]

Don't know enough about Mousasi to have an opinion.

It would be interesting to see him in the HW division in the future, but I fear that he will lose some of his athleticism if he does gain that weight. The HW division sure needs someone of Jones calibre though, considering that they're basically all very average sluggers.
The LHW division is more exciting and has more top class fighters, I want him to stay there as long as possible. I definitely dont want him to start going up and down the weight divisions, thats the beginning of the end for a fighter. Pick a weight class and stay there I say.

On another note I find it interesting that both the MW and LHW champs are so much bigger than their opponents. You could argue that Silva is actually a LHW fighting in the MW division while Bones is a HW fighting in LHW division.

 

[darkstarexodus]

Shogun's cardio was shocking and, once he was damaged by the first two or three significant strikes, he didn't even look like he belonged in the ring. He also looked out of sorts, in my opinion, on the way to the ring and during the pre-fight, much the way BJ did in his second fight against Edgar.

Jones looked gassed at parts of the second round but managed to perserve and dominate. I can't help but thinking those long arms are vulnerable to armbars though, especially the way he leaves them in guard when he tried to post up. Shogun was too exhausted and hurt to try to take advantage. Jones keeps managing to improve at an exponential rate. Massively impressive.

 

[Modo]

Fight night was shite. My boy did it though.

 

[Modo]

Nick Diaz is an impressive fighter. Chin made of titanium it seems. Takes too many punches for my liking. We'll see how he does against the top ranking fighters in the UFC.

 

[Modo]

Fighter from Liverpool on TUF last night.

 

[darkstarexodus]

Jon Jones injured, so Rashad will be fighting Phil Davis instead. Davis is a good prospect but I think it's a step too far too soon for him. Word is that the fight will be a title eliminator (ie. winner gets a shot), which again seems a weird decision. Obviously Rashad is in line for the shot and would get it if he won but I'm surprised Davis would get the shot if he beats Rashad. I hope the fight doesn't derail Davis' progress as he looks to have some potential.

Looking forward to the card this weekend. I've got a bunch of friends going and I was going to head to Toronto as well but then I booked my other vacations instead.

Does anyone give Shields a decent chance at winning? I think he's a very impressive fighter, striking aside, and hope he gives St. Pierre a tough fight. Ultimately I think GSP will be too much though it will be tough to break his streak of decision victories.

I'm really hoping Hominick can dethrone Aldo but I'm not holding my breath. Couture-Machida should be an interesting, if not necessarily exciting, fight. On the undercard, I hope Jason Macdonald can save his job and come through. I was at the fight in Montreal where he broke his ankle and it looked awful. Hope he can get it back on track.

I love Nick Diaz as a fighter. Hope he doesn't end up doing boxing instead and that Zuffa can offer him matchups and money to keep him interested.