UFC 73 Ruminations

I re-watched UFC 73 last night and would like to share with you the follwing observations:

1) I'm still sour that the UFC did not televise Frankie Edgar's first-round TKO win over Mark Bocek. They could have shown it. There was plenty of time after the Florian-Robinson beating. Either way, I'm ready for Frankie Edgar vs. Roger Huerta.

2) Sean Sherk dominated Hermes Franca. There are really no two ways around it, but I think that finishing Franca would have sent a scary message to the rest of the division. After a while, Sherk's complete control became a bit predictable. Still, I am in awe of how he absolutely suffocated and manhandled a very tough opponent in Franca.

3) The Ortiz-Evans draw was better the second time around. I was impressed with Tito's aggression (especially the head kicks) and found Rashad's boxing to be underwhelming. Tito definitely doesn't like to get punched, and I feel that Rashad could have let his hands go in combinations.

For me, the best part of the fight was the clinch work against the cage when both fighters were working for position. I could see how it may bore some of you who aren't that into wrestling, but I really enjoyed it and appreciated how Tito looked to land some nasty elbows as the action broke from the fence. Nonetheless, I'm not dying to see the rematch, but I might be warming up to it a bit.

4) I love how Kenny Florian reminded the fans - and the rest of the 155-lb. division - that he finishes fights! Kenny looked excellent against a very powerful, very aggressive Alvin Robinson.

5) I thought that Nate Marquardt fought well, charging in immediately, grabbing Anderson Silva's leg and taking him down, and later taking a very heavy shot, only to drop down and go for another takedown. As for Silva, he looked phenomenal. Poised, confident, and almost surgical in his punches. I think that a rematch with Rich Franklin will once again go to Silva, and I think I'd rather see Franklin fight Marquardt. I see Marquardt taking Franklin down and beating him up on the ground.

6) Heath Herring is a guy I definitely hope to see more of. He landed some big shots, took some big shots, and showed tremendous skill on the ground against Nogueira.


As for that Round 1 head kick from Herring, I have no problem with referee Yves Levigne not stopping the fight. Nog looked dazed but didn't seem completely out of it (maybe just 90% out of it). Herring needed to have pounced with only seconds left in the round but instead waited for Levigne to stand Nog up, which he did -- eventually. I can understand Herring's hesitation to get into Nog's comfort zone on the ground, but that was ultimately his best opportunity all night.

Overall, I thought both fighters showed a lot of heart; Herring fought like a bastard against a more skilled opponent who's beaten him twice already, and Big Nog pressed on to win the fight after a head kick that would have put most men down for the night.

7) I would like to have seen the Bonnar/Nickels and Lytle/Gilliard fights, which were stopped in the very first round. The UFC should at least show highlight clips from the undercard fights, especially when they ended as quickly as these two did. Maybe next time.

8) It was very cool to see WEC featherweight champion Urijah Faber in the crowd. My bet is that most fans had no idea who he was.

9) Mike Goldberg was OK. Nothing too stupid.

10) I'm sorry, but Bruce Buffer is insufferable. I don't care who his brother is, the UFC needs to jettison this dead wood. Even his suits sound terrible.

UFC 73: Put It in the Books!

Let's just get right to it (in no particular order).

Anderson Silva - Nate Marquardt
After some early fireworks, Nate got Silva down to the ground, where the champ looked very comfortable. The fight was then stood up, went back down again, and after escaping Nate’s guard, Silva destroyed the challenger with laser fists to earn the first-round TKO. Silva’s striking from anywhere is unreal! Thanks for coming out, Nate.

Sean Sherk - Hermes Franca
Sean Sherk is simply overwhelming.

Franca secured a tight guillotine within seconds of the opening bell and landed huge knees at the start of Rounds 2 and 4, but did little else as the champion shrugged off the big shots, secured slams, punished Franca with knees and punches from the ground, and maintained dominant position all night.

Sherk's power, athleticism, and conditioning were suffocating, and all Franca could do was survive what turned out to be a very convincing unanimous decision win for Sherk. Sherk is a nightmare at lightweight, and I'd love to see him face my man Joe "Daddy" Stevenson next.

Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira - Heath Herring

Big Nog came out to The Rolling Stones’ "Gimme Shelter," which also appeared in Goodfellas. Points for that.

Nog dominated most of the opening round, but late in the round, Herring landed a monster kick to the Brazilian's unsuspecting jaw that seemed to have sent him to another planet. Herring chose not to engage Nogueira, a BJJ blackbelt, on the ground and ran out of time to finish Nogueira in the opening period. Nogueira still seemed dazed at the start of Round 2, but he recovered and outworked Herring to win the last two rounds and secure the unanimous decision.

Overall, this fight worked out nicely. Bog Nog won his UFC octagon debut, and Heath Herring demonstrated the skill and the toughness that will make him a tough match-up for anyone in the division. A Herring-Arlovski fight could be amazing (if Arlovski engages).

Kenny Florian - Alvin Robinson
Florian demonstrated great tosses, takedowns, and ground fighting early on, passing Robinson and landing shots from on top. Robinson escaped Florian's mount, popped up, threw some nice shots, but was taken down again. It was then that Florian mounted and showered Robinson with elbows and punches. Robinson had enough and tapped out to give Florian the first-round TKO win. Very impressive.

As Randy Couture said, Florian looked very composed under some heavy pressure from Robinson. Naturally, the BC grad masterfully talked the viewing public through the dreaded Mickey’s replay.

Tito Ortiz -Rashad Evans

I didn't care for either fighter and had no problem with this fight going either way. Fittingly, it went neither way and was ruled a draw. Yuck. I predicted earlier that a close decision would go to Tito. And it would have, but a second-round point deduction from Tito for grabbing the fence cost him the dubya.

Tito looked like a monster tonight and started the fight well, but - to Rashad's credit - was never able to get his trademark ground-and-pound going. Rashad, on the other hand, did plenty of dancing around the perimeter of the cage but never mounted any real effective, efficient offense. He secured a third-round takedown with ten seconds left in the fight and almost seemed pleased that the draw, though not a win, kept his loss total at zero.

Predictably, Tito expressed his feelings that he won the fight and called for another fight to settle it. No thanks.

Undercard
Frankie Edgar def. Mark Bocek at 4:55 of Rd. 1 by TKO!!!!!
Chris Lytle def. Jason Gilliam 2:15 of Rd. 1 by triangle choke.
Jorge Gurgel def. Diego Saraiva by unanimous decision.
Stephan Bonnar defeated Mike Nickels by Rear Naked Choke at 2:14 of Rd. 1.

This was a great night of fights, but now it's bed time. Giggidy.

Pre-Fight Jitters

- I have a very good feeling about Anderson Silva tonight. I know how tough Marquardt is, but at some point, Silva will keep Nate off of him and outstrike him.

- Tito vs. Rashad still doesn't excite me. Their rivalry seems fabricated, the trash talk forced, and both have shitty nicknames.

- I really hope Nogueira puts on a good show tonight against Herring. He has the most complete game in the heavyweight division (and possibly beyond) and displays tremendous heart always. I really believe that within a year, he'll be the heavyweight champ.

- As I was telling my friend Ralph earlier this week, if Frankie Edgar's fight isn't televised, I'm going to slap a gogoplata onto my neighbor. (Not that the two are connected in any way. I happen to dislike a particular neighbor, and I really hope to see Edgar fight tonight.)

- Alvin Robinson could turn out to be the surprise fighter of the night, with Robinson-Florian possibly being the match of the night. I was watching some video, and this guy is gooooood.

The Kodiak's UFC 73 Picks

Lets' do this by descending weight division, starting with the big boys, shall we?

Antonio Rodrigo “Minotauro” Nogueira vs. Heath “The Texas Crazy Horse” Herring

Big Nog is a former Pride champion and is currently the #2 ranked heavyweight on the planet for good reason. He’s not only beaten Herring twice already (and very convincingly), but his only losses have come to Fedor Emelianenko, Dan Henderson, and Josh Barnett. And I just can’t see adding Herring’s name to that company.

This fight is a coming-out party for the celebrated Nogueira, and I expect the Texas Lazy Horse to succumb to Minotauro’s superior boxing and grappling skills. I really hope that Big Nog finishes this fight and lets the fans and the rest of the division know that greatness is in the building.

Now that I think of it, Big Nog's UFC debut isn't getting the press that it deserves. Big Nog in the UFC is a big deal. Pride fans know what I'm saying.

Tito Ortiz vs. Rashad Evans

I’m really not a fan of either fighter – or this fight – so it’s been hard for me to get excited for this one, despite the heavy press. Evans is a renowned wrestler who has shown improved striking against Jason Lambert and Sean Salmon, and he told MMAWeekly that he’s looking to knock out Ortiz.

For Tito, taking down Evans may prove easier said than done. Then again, I’d be surprised if Ortiz opted to keep the action standing. To his credit, Ortiz has mastered the art of ground and pound (just ask Ken Shamrock), but I've been underwhelmed with his striking against Chuck Liddell (twice) and Forrest Griffin. Then again, Rashad isn't the puncher that either Liddell or Griffin is, so if Tito can sprawl and brawl with Rashad and land some of those powerful hooks, this could be interesting.

I see this one going to a decision, and if it's really close, Tito will get the win. The UFC and the LHW division don't need him to be in title contention, but a Tito win is definitely good for business.

Stephan “The American Psycho” Bonner vs. Mike Nickels

While neither fighter is a legitimate contender at the moment, this has the makings to be an exciting fight. Both have shown a propensity to slug it out, but I’ve been much more impressed with Bonnar’s overall game. I expect the Chicago native to overwhelm Nickels with crisp boxing and damaging leg kicks and finish him by any means necessary.

Nate “The Great” Marquardt vs. Anderson “The Spider” Silva (Middleweight Championship)

Marquardt has an uncanny ability to smother and negate a fighter’s game plan, but I think that Silva brings a cache of kicks, punches, elbows, and submissions that will be too much for Marquardt.

Rich Franklin and Chris Leben are powerful strikers. Silva outstruck them both - badly! Travis Lutter is a great Brazilian jiu-jitsu fighter. Silva submitted him - from his back. He’s had an answer for everyone he’s faced in the octagon so far, and he’s faced tougher opposition that Marquardt. Still, I like both fighters and will be a happy man no matter who wins.

For more on Nate Marquardt, click me.

Chris “Lights Out” Lytle vs. Jason “The Gizzard” Gilliam

First of all, “The Gizzard” is an amazing nickname. You don’t necessarily need to agree; it’s a fact. Gilliam (9-1) had won his first eight MMA fights all by KO or submission, five of which ended in Round 1. Lytle, however, is a big step up in competition for Gilliam, and looked solid against Matt Hughes. I was very impressed with Lytle’s boxing and ground fighting against Hughes, and I expect the Indian native to turn the lights out on Gilliam and get back on the winning track after four straight UFC losses.

Sean “The Muscle Shark” Sherk vs. Hermes Franca (Lightweight Championship)

In all honesty, I don’t love Sherk as lightweight champ. He’s a welterweight (and a damn tough one) who shed some pounds and managed to outmuscle Kenny Florian for the belt, despite being busted up pretty badly. Franca, meanwhile, possesses a much more well-rounded game than the champion.

Franca is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt and former WEC lightweight champ who’s captured KO wins over Spencer Fisher and Caol Uno. He’s got power in his hands and top-notch groundfighting skills, but will it be enough? Sherk’s most recent wins have been over Nick Diaz and Kenny Florian, both of whom have more complete games that Franca.

I’d love to see a new lightweight champ crowned on Saturday, but I just don’t know how Franca will handle Sherk’s relentless wrestling, suffocating power, and ability to take a big shot.

Kenny Florian vs. Alvin Robinson

Kenny Florian is a Boston College alumnus, Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt, and a highly decorated grappler with very dangerous elbows and vastly improved Muy Thai attacks. In Robinson (8-1), Florian faces a former wrestler and Ring of Fire lightweight champ who won all of his first eight fights by choke. Look for Florian to outclass an overmatched Robinson and put himself back in the lightweight championship scenario.

Frankie “The Answer” Edgar vs. Marc Bocek

I want very badly for Frankie Edgar to win this fight, and it sickens me that this fight may not be televised. Against Tyson Griffin, Edgar put on an amazing show, transitioning from one element of MMA to the next almost seamlessly. He never stopped fighting and proved to be too much for the heavily-favored Griffin.

This time, Edgar faces an undefeated Mark Bocek, who’s managed to finish all four of his opponents in the very first round. Bocek is World Cup BJJ champ, 3-time Pan Am medalist, a 2007 ADCC trials champ, and a NAGA champ. And Frankie Edgar is a badass who beat up Tyson Griffin. This has the making to be another showstopper, folks.

Jorge Gurgel vs. Diego Saravia

I’ve never been terribly impressed with Gurgel as a fighter, and I feel like I should be. He holds a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and has competed professionally as a kickboxer. That said, I’m assuming that his decision win over Danny “I’m an Ultimate Fighter!!!” Abbadi was due to a nagging knee injury he’d been dealing with. Either way, I expect to see a healthy, dynamic Gurgel outlast Saravia, a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt with much less refined striking skills.

The Kodiak vs. 10 White Castle Cheeseburgers & Fries

The Kodiak has dropped down to middleweight and has needed very little training for this challenge. In the past week and a half, he's put down at least 5 cheeseburgers for lunch several times under rather hostile conditions at the White Castle in Jamaica, Queens. Most notable was last Tuesday's performance, when he put away 7 cheeseburgers, an order of fries, and an order of chicken rings without taking a single sip of his drink. Expect another dominating performace by The Kodiak, who's poised to take on a much greater chanllenge.

Morning Droppings

- Renzo Gracie has eagerly responded to Frank Shamrock’s challenge to a rematch. "I never get invited to a party that I didn’t show up. I’d love to do it again."

- The David Heath-Renato “Babalu” Sobral fight is official and will take place on August 25 at UFC 74.

- Jason Gilliam will fill in for the injured Drew Fickett at UFC 73 against welterweight Chris Lytle.

Nate Marquardt: More Than Worthy

There's been some recent Internet discussion as to whether middleweight Nate "The Great" Marquardt is truly deserving of his July 7 championship fight with Anderson Silva. He does, and here's a quick list why:

- Nate is a 7-time King of Pancrase!!!

- Nate holds an umblemished 4-0 UFC record with wins over Ivan Salaverry, Joe Doerkson (helluva fight), Crafton Wallace, and Dean Lister (one of the most acclaimed grapplers anywhere).

- Consider the relatively talent-thin middleweight division. If Travis Lutter got a crack at the belt, then I'd say Marquardt's shot is long overdue.

- Middleweight studs Matt "The Law" Lindland, Paul Filho, and Dan Henderson were not options.

- After one UFC fight against the grossly overmatched Chris Leben, Anderson Silva was given a title shot against Rich Franklin.

- Nate approved me as a MySpace "friend" faster than any other fighter.

I'm not quite ready to declare with any degree of certainty that Marquardt will supplant Anderson Silva atop the 185-lb. mountain at UFC 73, but by no means is such a thought outlandish. The UFC middleweight division needs a great fight - or at the very least, something to keep the fans buzzing - and I'm hoping this will be it.