Official Mixed Martial Arts Thread

[The Bag]

Aside from the Sonnen insanity, I see Uriah Faber is on the prelims next week, wtf is up with that?

Also has anyone seen this "butt scooting" disqualification thing? Its a bit strange aswell, but the ref was right.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2108239-video-referee-mike-beltran-talks-about-disqualifying-fighter-for-butt-scooting

Wow, that's the first time I remember the timidity rule being enforced.

[Kingpin]

That's ridiculous - even in a BJJ match, you'd be penalised for just sitting down without having any points of contact with the opponent. I think I remember Werdum/Overeem in Strikeforce being a bit shit for that sort of thing. Not as bad as that obviously, but lots of Werdum lying down, beckoning the Reem to step into his guard.

Did anyone watch the fights at the weekend? The NZ card was actually good fun for the most part. Lovely sub from Charles Oliveira and I laughed when Marquardt silenced the crowd after that big Haka walk-in. Magny fight was also good - spends the first round surviving a triangle, comes out in the second and lights up De Lima (who was gassed at that point). Ian Entwistle stupidly hung on to a bad heel hook attempt and got elbowed into next week as well.

I didn't have the same enthusiasm for the second card when I watched it on Sunday morning but Cub looked pretty good over all and he threw some interesting kicks at Stephens. I hope he gets the winner of Aldo/Mendes - always brings the goods. Other than that, Gastellum better watch himself with the weight cutting, he's getting a bit of a reputation. Missed weight this time and I think I recall him not hitting the weight first time on the Hendricks/Lawler card. I need to watch the Dias/Lamas fight but again, some decent submissions in the prelims - the choke/crank from Oliynyk looked nasty in particular. That sub of Colton Smith was ridiculous though, didn't even need the hooks. Borg got a nice RNC too.

Korean Zombie was asking to fight Cub on twitter. I don't think that fight will happen but I'll be glad to see him back - hasn't fought since he dislocated his shoulder against Aldo. Still love watching his twister from a few years back:

[McFly]

I laughed when Marquardt silenced the crowd after that big Haka walk-in.

Yeah,m that huge walk in and the way he was talking in the interviews, Te Huna had so much pressure on himself that it was inevitable he was gonna crash big time after such an intense build up,even if it was cool as fuck seeing the haka at the UFC. Bit of a blunder by Goldberg saying Jonah Lomu was an Aussie Rules player though

I didn't have the same enthusiasm for the second card when I watched it on Sunday morning but Cub looked pretty good over all and he threw some interesting kicks at Stephens. I hope he gets the winner of Aldo/Mendes - always brings the goods.

I'm a big fan of Cub, i thought he was cutting it fine with the decision, but the in final round he really ramped it up and looked good, i dont thik being out of the cage for a year whatever the reason is good for anyone. I really hope he gets the next title shot.

Other than that, Gastellum better watch himself with the weight cutting, he's getting a bit of a reputation. Missed weight this time and I think I recall him not hitting the weight first time on the Hendricks/Lawler card.

Missing weight is not cool, if he does it again surely he'll be in breach of contract or something?

That sub of Colton Smith was ridiculous though, didn't even need the hooks. Borg got a nice RNC too.

It was nice for sure, especially being on Smith, whom i dont really like after the fight on TUF where he took the guy down who was trying to touch gloves.

[Gotters]

watched the UFC doc on Weidman they put on BT Sport, called the All American.

bit of a fluff piece but showed how dominant he's been since going pro at MMA - in truth he came across as an awesome athlete who is a total jock meathead

expect him to plough thru Machida pretty quickly

[Kingpin]

Aldo is out injured - fight with Mendes cancelled. Balls hard to see how they'll save that card or scrap it all together, only a month away.

In other news, I picked up some free tickets for the UFC Dublin weigh-ins. Gonna try and make any interesting looking "fight week" events if I can.

[Doomguy]

Man, I want to go to the weigh ins. Didn't know you needed tickets? when did they start doing that? - the one years ago was free.

[Kingpin]

It is free but they've made it ticketed. Fight Club members got tickets today (I'm not a member but ticketmaster let me through) and open to the public tomorrow at 10am.

[McFly]

I had the UFC Fight Pass and i couldn't watch the events, i wanted to show my dad the Dillashaw/Barao fight and it said it was blacked out in the following regions which was the UK and most of Europe pretty much everywhere actually, so i don't know if you'll be able to watch it online even if you buy it legally.

Also going back to Weidman and the show on BT it was ok, but nothing revelatory or enlightening particularly. I cant wait for his God is Awesome speech at the end of the fight though.

[Doomguy]

Machida looking like he just walked off the set of Enter the Dragon at the 175 weigh ins. HOLY FUCK. Dude is shredded.

[Corrogate]

Have you guys come to realise Machida's gonna fuck this guy up tomorrow?

[Doomguy]

I'd be happy if he did but I still can't see it. Weidman is going to weigh as much as a small car when he gets into the octagon later - look at him next to DC here.

Machida is pretty good at football too lol

[Corrogate]

Can't believe Dillashaw is having to fight Barao again. Dillashaw's cool about it, but rematch is the fight is close, as in Jones vs Gus #2. This is bullshit, still, more wind in the kids sails if he can pull that shit off again.

[Meh]

Machida's face. Rousey's crazy win. There were four decent fights in 175. Which is more than usual.

[Gotters]

I never thought Uriah Hall had that kind of fighting spirit in him, he was a touch lucky to get the decision in my view but its not a ludicrous one, was a close fight, his toe was almost Jon Jones levels of horrible.

Rousey was stunning, her biggest problem is running out of fodder to despatch of - did anybody else noticed she didn't look as chiselled as usual, she looked quite soft, not fat, just not like a honed fighting machine. That said didn't seem to hold her back.

Machida was horrible for the first 3 and looked like the punch shy fighter I expected Weidman to plough thru with no effort, final 2 were a great tear up though and though answered a few questions about Weidman, he needs to stay at middleweight, they said he struggles with the cut but don't see him being effective against big LH fighters at the top of the rankings

[Corrogate]

Uriah Hall for the most part just freezes up like a muppet, trying to gauge his opponent in these tense standoffs. He doesn't fight like the guy who's been played up to be; wicked skill set, but he's disappointing.. Made no where near the dent on the company that he could have.

[Doomguy]

Anyone got the gif of machida rocking weidman?

Middleweight is looking bril. Mousasi, Beflort, Rockhold, Jacare, best division atm by far.

[V3zna]

Good test for Weidman. He'll be all the better getting a five rounder under his belt. I can't see him staying at middleweight indefinitely.

The Rousey 'fight' was amusing and sad. She needs a better caliber of opponent.

[Meh]

Yep - she just destroys all the lame shit sent her way, and then conveniently gets a hand injury when Daddy Dana disagrees with her fighting again so soon.

I was hoping to see Machida properly lose his shit and rip the champ apart after those first few rounds - but he seems past his best, and a bit timid until he gets severely pressured.

[Kingpin]

I think that in ten years or so, when the women's divisions actually have a depth of talent, we will speculate how Ronda would have fared against those future champs. She is so fucking good, but we may never see her truly tested. It's kind of sad in a way.

At one point did she KO Davis? The knee, the punch or the throw? Lands in kesa gatame (I think) and continues to land shots before she even adjusts her legs to put even more pressure on Davis. Stunning.

Weidman certainly did the business in the first three, but Machida comes back strong in the fourth. Little surprised to see Weidman somewhat gassed in the championship rounds but he had to work so hard for the four takedowns he landed at that point, but then he gets another one in the final round. If Machida was more aggressive in the early rounds, who knows but CW executed the gameplan very well. Also, I could listen to Ray Longo in the corner all day.

Finally, hope Struve is ok. Might be the end of his fighting days.

[Yobo Ahoy]

Anyone got the gif of machida rocking weidman?

Middleweight is looking bril. Mousasi, Beflort, Rockhold, Jacare, best division atm by far.

It's nice there are a few ready-made title fights I guess, but unfortunately I reckon Weidman would beat all of those, possibly with the exception of Jacare (and depending on how Belfort looks on his return).

(As an aside, WW is where it's at in my opinion - Lawler, MacDonald, Condit, Brown... then the likes of Saffiedine, Lombard and Nelson probably only 1-2 fights from being realistic contenders. You also have Woodley and Ellenberger who although coming off big losses are still up there.)

[McFly]

I never thought Uriah Hall had that kind of fighting spirit in him, he was a touch lucky to get the decision in my view but its not a ludicrous one, was a close fight, his toe was almost Jon Jones levels of horrible.

Rousey was stunning, her biggest problem is running out of fodder to despatch of - did anybody else noticed she didn't look as chiselled as usual, she looked quite soft, not fat, just not like a honed fighting machine. That said didn't seem to hold her back.

Machida was horrible for the first 3 and looked like the punch shy fighter I expected Weidman to plough thru with no effort, final 2 were a great tear up though and though answered a few questions about Weidman, he needs to stay at middleweight, they said he struggles with the cut but don't see him being effective against big LH fighters at the top of the rankings

Ronda was amazing, the throw she put on Davis was insanely good, straight into the punches to the much and just devastated another opponent.

Weidman looked a bit leaner than in previous fights i thought, i didnt see anything spectacular from him but he did well against a possibley very awkward Machida. Machida really fucked himself with that first few rounds, he showed he had the ability to stick it to Weidman when he landed some good combos in the last 2 rounds, but the early rounds were pretty feeble and for someone who is as experienced as he is, he looked very, very tentative.

Almost as feeble as BJ Penn looked in what i imagine will be his last fight, from the unusual stance, to barley throwing any offence (a few weak half hearted looking punches) and none of the incredible balance and takedown defence he had used so well before to stop Edgar dominating and then busting him up bigtime on the ground. The last few years, almost since the Sanchez fight, have been very unkind to BJ, say what you want about him fighting bigger guys and its true enough, but he's done it before and been successful, but now he's just getting crushed in every fight and its really hurting his legacy. I know records arent everything but he's 16-10 now, thats kinda poor for a 2 weight champ.

[Kingpin]

He retired last night. I don't think I even want to watch that fight.

I also think it's a shame that Frankie Edgar has wasted an entire year on a shitty season of TUF and this squash match. He is #3 in the featherweight division - he is 32 but he hasn't lost anything other than title fights since 2008, his only losses in that time coming to really close decisions against Bendo at LW and a decision loss to Aldo at FW.

It'll be interesting to see who they give him next. I'd still fancy his chances against anyone ranked below him for another few years at least. Mendes/Aldo is on hold. Cub Swanson will be at the Dublin event, so there's a chance that we might see McGregor/Swanson before the end of this year. So....maybe Dustin Poirier? or the Korean Zombie? Has to be a top ten guy though, and relatively soon.

[McFly]

Yeah, just saw that BJ retired on Bleacher Report just now, the finale might have been ok, but this season of TUF has been a real apex of tedious boring fights and worst of all, boring fighters, it kinda got abit life back into it the last few series, with Ronda and Tate genuinely hating each other and the women being involved made last time pretty interesting but this one was really dull and Frankie must have been pissed off, but if he wanted the fight i guess his hands were tied perhaps?

Maybe Edgar will get to fight the winner of Cerrone/Miller, which should be a cracker and Cub gets to fight Aldo again but that might be a while off with Aldo injured again and Cub just back from a long lay off maybe he wont want to hang about for a year again. So that will free him up for his grudge match with Connor McGregor, whom Cub really seems to hate, not sure why though tbh.

[Doomguy]

I don't know, Frankie is kind of in a Rich Franklin situation. He can beat everyone around the top guy but not the top guy. I think he's probably looking to get accustomed to 145lbs properly (it takes like a year to adjust, none of this "few months stuff") then go on another title run.

Penn is a legend, but yeh, he's kind of killed his legacy really. Beat Sherk, Sanchez, Hughes, fought Machida at 205lbs (wtf). Getting absolutely destroyed by Diaz, Edgar, GSP, etc etc... it just diminishes those early accomplishments. It's like Randy getting kicked in the face by Machida. I remember him more for that now than the Liddell fights.

[McFly]

I think it was the Rory fight that killed off BJ, he got absolutely crushed and i don't know how he didn't get finished, for every great victory like the JOe Steveson bloodbath in Newcastle (iirc) there's an equally crushing beating. Listening to Rogans fight podcast just now, they all sound very depressed about the end of BJ, particularly Schaub.

[Gotters]

interesting and difficult time for the UFC, the fighters that made the name of organisation and modern day cage fighting have pretty much all gone

if you start to compile the list it's pretty long and reads like a who's who of charismatic and exciting fighters, that would encourage fans to buy ppv's (for which the numbers are tailing off dramatically)

BJ, Sean Hughes, Randy Couture, Rich Franklin, Chuck Liddel, GSP, Forest Griffin, Brock Lesnar (yes him, UFC 100 I think remains the biggest grossing card of all time), Tito, Vito

Thats not a full list and possibly only Anderson Silva of the trailblazers remain active (for time being) at a high level.

The replacements whilst better athletes and far more rounded as fighters don't seem to excite the fans.

I think Dana White's problem here is that a significant percentage of the fans wanted NASCAR, and he's building F1. Sure its high level and supremely skilled, but I suspect the crowd would rather watch Kimbo Slice or Roy Nelson than Weidman or Jon Jones.

[Kingpin]

Is it how MMA has evolved as a sport (guys train all aspects now rather than specialising in BJJ/Striking/Wrestling) or is it just a lack of personality amongst the new breed?

Interestingly, Askren may never be signed, has a big mouth, could sell a fight but arguably has a boring style. Also explains why UFC would love to build McGregor up - exciting, brash, grabs headlines.

We still see exciting fights but the proportion has decreased with the amount of cards put on now. It's the 5 year anniversary of UFC 100 this week and a lot of articles suggest it's the type of stacked card we will never see again.

[Doomguy]

Good point. I can only think of a few fighters I like now. Sometimes you want to watch a good barn burner with a Chris Leben type or a Liddell. Some of these new fighters play it so safe it can actually be boring to watch.

Vitor Belfort is the last of the old guard really.

[Kingpin]

We have a good barn burner this week - Cerrone vs Miller. Don't have a bloody clue how that is going to go down - both of them can pull out crazy submissions but I kinda think Cowboy should win the standing battle. Gonna be good though - rest of the card.....not so much.

[McFly]

I think theres too many safety first fighters from TUF, struggling to stay with the organisation and are just grinding results out. Theres a good living to be made from MMA these days and i think thats attracted "athletes" whom would have chosen other sports in the past and they have the ability to fight but not the attitude that was prevalent before of longterm martial artists and some glorified thugs basically who were fighters through and through. They need to cut down the TUF guys and sign up genuine fighters from other organisations. Speaking of which One FC was on freeview on Sky the other day and it was pretty good, not as technical or skilled but some fun, very agressive fights including one of the worst closed eyes i've seen in a while. The UFC is still great on the whole and I'm sure it will continue to be so. The two cars this week should be good, some really game guys and plenty on the line regarding championship potential to.