Official Mixed Martial Arts Thread

[Yobo Ahoy]

The Bellator PPV is on Viva at the moment if anyone cares.

EDIT: it was actually pretty good! Brooks/Chandler was a much more even fight than I expected, Rampage/King Mo was decent and even Ortiz's fight was mercifully short. Oh and there was this English kid called Michael Page who basically thinks he's the next Anderson Silva.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VanqZK8DW1g

(Admittedly dire quality video...)

[schmojo]

The Bellator PPV was really strange...

It's a worst case scenario with Tito/Shlemenko. Now their champ, who Rebney loves to say could take on Weidman, was finished by a has-been. A much bigger has-been, admittedly, but Shlemenko looked bad on the ground when subjected to Tito's wrestling.

So now their champ looks bad, Tito looks bad, and nobody knows why it needed to happen.

Mo/Rampage was a joke of a decision, but I'd have to imagine that Mo will be reprimanded for the things he said after the fight. The beef was all very pro-wrestling until that decision, and now it seems real.

Except, Bellator is still a mess because their new #1 LHW contender not only didn't really win - he doesn't even want the title fight!

AND they're already saying that Alvarez can basically choose to fight Chandler, rather than Brooks.

Bellator might find it's niche as a freakshow venue, but it is very much hurting for legitimacy.

[Yobo Ahoy]

Mo's post-fight rage was the weirdest of all. YOU DICK RIDIN' ASS BITCH!!

It's fitting that Bellator have a partnership with TNA as there are so many similarities between the two. Has-beens, nonsense booking decisions yet still strangely entertaining.

[McFly]

It was very strange seeing Bellator on Viva of all places, PPV in Yankland but we get ot on a music channel of sorts for free, lulz!

Its pretty much washed up UFC guys but still good to see rampage and Tito back on the telly.

[schmojo]

You're not getting value if you watch Bellator for the ex UFC guys. Watch for Alvarez, Chandler, the Freires, Dantas, Lima, Curran and Straus.

[Yobo Ahoy]

Yeah the regular TV show is on Viva every Saturday too, it's regular Sunday morning viewing for me after the football and UFC. I actually quite like the tournament structure and there's usually a title fight headlining.

[McFly]

You're not getting value if you watch Bellator for the ex UFC guys. Watch for Alvarez, Chandler, the Freires, Dantas, Lima, Curran and Straus.

Yeah sorry i phrased it badly, i meant that event was washed up UFC guys not the whole Bellator organisation,

[Corrogate]

fookin'... cannot believe what dillashaw is doing to barao at the mo'. one round left. he looks like a beyblade.

[Corrogate]

well!

[schmojo]

That was an excellent card (I need to remember to make picks!)

Lawler looked phenomenal again - I keep waiting for him to be exposed, but he keeps getting better. Ellenberger probably did break his hand or something, but he was getting spanked up until then anyway.

DC looked spectacular. I'm somewhat glad that Hendo got a beasting on the ground. I've grown tired of the H-Bomb turning around fights that he simply wasn't winning, and he needs to be convinced that he's not actually elite anymore. That overhead takedown from DC will no doubt be on highlight reels for years to come.

Congrats to Dillashaw. After seeing performances by Gustafsson and now Dillashaw, I'm pretty much on the side of anyone who 'doesn't seem ready' going into a title fight.

[V3zna]

Some total beatings on that card. Dillshaw was absolutely incredible. The broken ankle fight was hard to stomach.

[Orion]

Stunning performance from Dillashaw. Real star making stuff. I admit I did'nt give him much chance in this one but he lit Barao up the whole fight. Going for the finish when he had a huge lead against a dangerous striker showed real heart as well.

Cormier just ragdolling Hendo about the place then calling out Jones was awesome too.

Great card in all. Only real shame was Varner/Krause but Varner showed some real heart trying to fight on with a broken ankle, the mad bastard.

I do think Rogan was getting abit carried away with comparing the main to Buster Douglas/Tyson but that was an amazing main event performance in a fight I and most expected to be a one sided beat down. Must see stuff.

[Corrogate]

I wanted Hendo to blast Cormier but there's not doubting that man - boring pace, but executed well. This guy spars with Velasquez; can you imagine what edge that gives you?

Did anyone else think Joe Rogan was almost pressing Hendo to retire? He's still gotta be making good money just for turning up and fighting.

[Gotters]

Poor sod with the broken ankle even had the Dr stand on his bad foot at the end of the fght.

I've never been sold on Barao, he's always seemed a bit weight drained to me, we've seen greats beaten before but cant recall a genuine one being so comprehensively taken apart for 5 rounds like that. I reckon Barao has been over sold.

DC is a huge LH, has the look of a bully to me, wonder how he'll react when Jones smashes an elbow in his chops.

Great card though

[The Bag]

Did anyone else think Joe Rogan was almost pressing Hendo to retire?

Yup, but at least he doesn't straight out ask any more like the end of every Matt Hughes fight for a while when he asked if it was Hughes' last.

[Orion]

Yup, but at least he doesn't straight out ask any more like the end of every Matt Hughes fight for a while when he asked if it was Hughes' last.

He was doing the same thing with Randy Couture as well in his last few years. I can't really blame him as I guess he gets pushed by the company to do that.

Hendo is crazy though. Apparently he has a ton of health issues. Has a hard time just walking around normally because of injuries, let alone training. Plus he has a girlfriend who looks like this

Yet he has no plans of quitting anytime soon. You just know if he wins his next fight he will start talking about title shots again. If UFC dares drop him, you just know he will sign for Bellator in a second and be fighting Rampage or Tito and they know that. The guy is nuts and teak tough so hoping he retires for real before he gets too fucked up.

[LaParka]

I watch most ufc events, have it as background, fast forward all the between fights so I'm usually a biy lost on who's who.

Just started watching 173 and the first fight with the ankle guy was horrible crazy bastard wouldn't give up. And he took a good few kicks in it. Surely with his leg giving way and falling over more than once, shouldn't the ref have stopped it? Or at least looked at it?

[Corrogate]

Good question, but I think the determination of the fighter really overcame the refs involvement, and seeing him going for a take down really highlighted the fact that he still thought he could fight. Obviously there's no way he would've gone into a second round, whether it was his decision or not, which it was. And a very wise one.

[schmojo]

I wanted Hendo to blast Cormier but there's not doubting that man - boring pace, but executed well. This guy spars with Velasquez; can you imagine what edge that gives you?

Did anyone else think Joe Rogan was almost pressing Hendo to retire? He's still gotta be making good money just for turning up and fighting.

Boring pace? Cormier just put on one of the most dynamic and impressive displays of top control the UFC's ever seen. I suppose it's not to everyone's taste, but he was constantly moving and changing position. It's getting exciting imagining him doing that to Jones - or at least trying to.

[schmojo]

DC is a huge LH, has the look of a bully to me, wonder how he'll react when Jones smashes an elbow in his chops.

Great card though

When he's dealt with guys the size of Bigfoot and Barnett, and survived Nelson's right hand, there can't be a whole lot that he's scared of. This has to be my most anticipated fight right now, and I'm having to start hoping that Gustafsson doesn't screw it up by doing something crazy like winning. For the record, I think that Cormier wrecks Gus. Gus may have trained with Phil Davis after his loss to him, but DC's wrestling is on another planet.

[McFly]

Whoa, that was an awesome card. Cormier continued his impressive run by demolishing Hendo but Dillashaw stole the show, if not the year with that performance, outstanding stuff.

The Varner/ankle thing was mental, i hope he hasnt done permanent damage by doing what he did and recovers well.

[Gotters]

When he's dealt with guys the size of Bigfoot and Barnett, and survived Nelson's right hand, there can't be a whole lot that he's scared of. This has to be my most anticipated fight right now, and I'm having to start hoping that Gustafsson doesn't screw it up by doing something crazy like winning. For the record, I think that Cormier wrecks Gus. Gus may have trained with Phil Davis after his loss to him, but DC's wrestling is on another planet.

Sure they can all hit in straight lines, wouldn't describe any of them as creative guys though, dont think anybody has the variety of Jones on offense with his elbows, oblique kicks, shoulder tweaks.

What will be interesting is to see if Jones could handle Cornier ont he ground, it was amazing to see what he did to Hendo, who looked helpless.

[schmojo]

They're guys who have KO power though, which Jones does not. Or has not yet demonstrated.

If we're looking at it as a point fight, you also have to assume that Cormier simply wouldn't play Jones' stand-up game, and would take it to the mat. Will he handle Jones there as well as he thinks he will? I couldn't bet against it at this point.

[Corrogate]

Boring pace? Cormier just put on one of the most dynamic and impressive displays of top control the UFC's ever seen. I suppose it's not to everyone's taste, but he was constantly moving and changing position. It's getting exciting imagining him doing that to Jones - or at least trying to.

Wanted to see my man Hendo do his thing. Of course, it was a great performance - the way he picked Hendo up and dumped himw as unreal.

Anyway, about to watch Dillashaw and Barao again and see his catch those angles.

You know when you watch a fight biased, or with expectation. I really couldn't appreciate what Dillashaw was doing first go round because I was so set for seeing Barao dominate.

[Yobo Ahoy]

Crazy main event. My first UFC event watched with my little bro - he's never really watched it before, more of a boxing guy if anything - and I was explaining the rules/fighters to him as the night went on.

Lawler is a killer and will KO Ellenberger - check.

DC is the king of wrestling and will comfortably smother the broken down legend Hendo - check.

Barao is a level above any bantamweight in the world and Dillashaw hasn't beaten anybody of note and is only getting a chance because Barao has destroyed everyone else - che... oh.

[bobontheway]

Surprise, surprise, Wanderlei is out of the UFC 175 fight against Chael Sonnen. Missed a drug test and failed to apply for a Nevada licence.

[Throbin Hood]

Replaced by Vitor. This is the same card he pulled out of because he needed time to get off TRT and find out how his body was, now he is back on it. Crazy stuff,

[McFly]

I'm still completely shocked how he smashed Barao to pieces. I agree with Corrogate, I was always watching Barao in that fight, I need to re-watch to see TJ cut those angles. He drifted through his guard with such ease.

I wonder if Barao would move up a weight class, to avoid cutting? But Gas wasnt the issue i suppose it was just being out performed.

Does anybody follow OneFC in Asia? It's gaining a lot of traction and support over here.

I'd like to see it, but its on Preier Sports which is subscription channel on Sky and i have enough of those already, sadly.

[Nathan Wind]

I'm still completely shocked how he smashed Barao to pieces. I agree with Corrogate, I was always watching Barao in that fight, I need to re-watch to see TJ cut those angles. He drifted through his guard with such ease.

Does anybody follow OneFC in Asia? It's gaining a lot of traction and support over here.

And for the first time in my life, I will be sitting ringside in the ultra vip section. I am so so fucking excited, have been to the last few events here and the atmosphere is incredible. Asians really appreciate every aspect of the game.

I try and catch up on OneFC when I can. It's a bit awkward from this side of the world though. Adam Kayoom is a fellow coach on the same program as we use in our gym, as well as being a pretty big deal in OneFC. He was coaching Buakaw in BJJ recently. Now there's a scary prospect.

[Yobo Ahoy]

Isn't Rich Franklin the president or something? Bit weird when he's technically still a UFC fighter.

Even weirder, what is this shit about Sonnen/Belfort being a middleweight #1 contender fight? Which is being fought at light heavyweight? Only Chael quotes so far so no idea whether it's true or not, but if so that is complete fucking nonsense and makes their rankings even more pointless. I thought we'd seen the last of Sonnen stinking up title fights.