UFC 108 – the hating stopped after fight one
UFC 108, the card that a lot of MMA fans didn’t want to see was one of the best fight nights over the last few years.
The card included two champions pull out of the card, firstly middleweight and pound for pound champ Anderson Silva pulled out due to elbow surgery, the second was heavyweight champ Brock Lesnar.
It also included withdrawal of Carlos Conduit, heavyweights Gabriel Gonzaga and title contender Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, lightweight hopeful Tyson Griffin and welterweight Rory Markham. It also included the last minute withdrawal of former WEC champ Steve Cantwell.
This appeared to have a determental effect on the card and many MMA fans questioned whether it would be worth the PPV fee in the States or worth the ESPN monthly subscription.
Dana White the UFC president came back with one of the best challenges to MMA fans, if you don’t like it don’t buy it….anyone who missed the event from Sin City Los Vegas you have missed a classic.
I can safely say this was one of the most enjoyable and skilled based MMA cards for years.
It had everything, silky submissions, big knock outs and a three round decider of top light heavyweight contender between former title holder Suga Rashad Evans and Thiago Silva.
There were some real credible wins and important wins –
Heavyweight take note now – dos Santos is coming with bombs!
Junior dos Santos sent a warning to all heavyweights with his TKO of MMA veteran Gilbert Yvel. I know that I have been a fan of dos Santos since he destroyed Fabricio Werdum and then Stefan Struve, but he definitely must have won a few more after 108.
The way he made Cro Crop submit (it was not a TKO) should have worried the division!
I like Frank Mir but in his MMA live build up of UFC 108 on ESPN he discounted dos Santos as a contender, for me that was wrong and if Mir beats Carwin he might have to fight dos Santos for the title in the future.
dos Santos ran over Yvel and throws him in the mix for the title.
He must now be behind Nogueria, Velsaquez, Carwin and Mir for the title, if not before Nogueria and Velsaquez. A great fight would be dos Santos and Velsaquez, for the division and the MMA fan.
Lesnar also is being assesed this week so this will clear up the title and contenders fight outcomes.
For me dos Santos is number two contender behind the winner of Mir and Carwin.
Note to all heavyweights do not stand up and trade with Cigano you will lose!
Welterweight’s do not expect to stand and bang with Semtex
Paul Daley, the English fighter from Nottingham shook up the UFC at UFC 103, after beating lightweight contender Martin Kampmann back in November.
Paul Semtex Daley faced Brazilian Jiu Jitsu specialist Dustin Hazelett, this was the striker versus the BJJ master. Many tipped Hazelett to win by submission but to be fair he did not get near Daley until he was on his back knocked out.
Daley clearly had a good plan and waited his time to drop the huge left bomb. That was deadly.
I can say without hesitation that noone will want to fight Daley in the welterweight division, the likes of Koscheck and Anthony Johnson might have to step up but not even these two huge welterweight will fancy their chances against Daley.
This in my opinion makes him number 3 or 4 contender in the title challengers line. Many UK MMA journalists have got excited and said he is behind Dan Hardy but Kos, Fitch and Johnson would all have something to say about that.
Light heavyweight division lackluster??
Rashad Evans is a force attacking not so good defending big punches……
Rashad Evans won the battle but maybe not the war with his win over Thiago Silva. Rashad when he attacked his Brazilan opponent Silva he controlled the fight, whever he attacked Silva had no answer.
In the first two rounds Rashad displayed all the skills which has made him dominate his opponents and even helped him win the ultimate fighter heavyweight show.
Rashad demonstrated his game plan two of the three rounds, the third was a slightly different story.
Was it a question of conditioning, was it a case of Rashad thinking he won and couldn’t get knocked out by Thiago?
My personal opinion was Rashad and his corner thought he already won, then the huge right from Silva rocked Rashad and gave him the chicken legs (thanks for the laugh Joe Rogan). That could have ended the title dream from Rashad.
Ultimately a win is a win and ensures the Rampage and Evans fight we have craved for since UFC 100 will happen!
If Rashad thinks he can trade with Rampage he will be sadly mistaken and his take downs will need to be tighter than against Silva as Rampage will train hard on defence at Wolveslair. Rashad will need to take down Rampage and hold him there and ground and pound, people may have forgotten already Rashad even when taking Silva down did not control or take a real dominate poisition.
In the long run the light heavyweight division might still be struggling for a long time title holder, with recent champions Rampage Jackson, Forrest Griffin, Rashad Evans and Lyoto Machida.
I still can see Dana White calling Anderson Silva and Ed Soares asking for a step up after his middleweight defence against Victor Belfort, especially if Shogun beats Machida.
The real winners of UFC 108 were the UFC, the fighters who stepped in to fight and ultimately the UFC, they now know they have a huge rooster of fighters who fight every second in the octagon and love doing it!
Fighters that have made headways in the UFC since their wins at 108 were Junior dos Santos, Sam Stout, Rashad Evans and the biggest winner was without doubt was Paul Daley, I can’t remember anyone else sending shockwaves after just two fights!
Fight winners at UFC 108 -
Rafaello Oliveira
Jake Ellenberger
Mark Munoz
Cole Miller
Martin Kampmann
Junior dos Santos
Jim Miller
Sam Stout
Paul Daley
Rashad Evans
Danny Denhard
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UFC 108 full results
Preliminary Card
Lightweight bout: Rafaello Oliveira vs. John Gunderson
Oliveira defeated Gunderson via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27).
Welterweight bout: Mike Pyle vs. Jake Ellenberger
Ellenberger defeated Pyle via TKO (punches) at 0:22 of round 2.
Middleweight bout: Mark Munoz vs. Ryan Jensen
Munoz defeated Jensen via submission (punches) at 2:30 of round 1.
Spike TV Card
Lightweight bout: Cole Miller vs. Dan Lauzon
Miller defeated Lauzon via kimura submission at 3:05 of round 1.
Welterweight bout: Denmark Martin Kampmann vs. Jacob Volkmann
Kampmann defeated Volkmann via standing guillotine at 4:03 of round 1.
Main Card
Heavyweight bout: Junior dos Santos vs. Gilbert Yvel
dos Santos defeated Yvel via TKO at 2:07 of round 1.
Lightweight bout: Jim Miller vs. Duane Ludwig
Miller defeated Ludwig via armbar submission at 2:31 of round 1.
Lightweight bout: Joe Lauzon vs. Sam Stout
Stout defeated Lauzon via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27, 30-27).
Co Main event -
Catchweight (172 lb) bout: Dustin Hazelett vs. Paul Daley
Daley defeated Hazelett via KO at 2:24 of round 1.
Main event -
Light Heavyweight bout: Rashad Evans vs. Thiago Silva
Evans defeated Silva via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28).
Bonus awards
Fight of the Night: Sam Stout vs. Joe Lauzon
Knockout of the Night: Paul Daley
Submission of the Night: Cole Miller
Danny Denhard
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Whats next for UFC champions?
I think UFC 107 emphasised a number of bloggers point recently, the champions are the by far the best fighters at their weight.
The champions only have to defend their titles not win them, Anderson Silva proves my point, at middleweight he has destroyed everyone bar Thietes Lietes who only wanted a ground ju jitsu fight. When he steps upto light heavyweight he puts on a banger show and sends shockwaves through the light heavyweight division!
Champions like GSP and BJ Penn in the past have gone after their challenger to batter and win, this in my opinion allows the challenger chance to turn defence into attack and allows the challenger a better chance at beating the champion.
BJ Penn demonstrated at UFC 107 he is by the best fighter at 155 and has to go down in history as the best at 155.
What interested me more is how many challengers suggest they can put BJ away and have the skills to do so. BJ has fought up welterweight and won fights, he has batteled legends such as Matt Hughes and GSP for titles, he has also previously fought current light heavyweight champ Lyoto Machida when pushing over 205 catchweight. Remember BJ Penn has been champion at both welterweight (champion at UFC 46 and stripped when he signed for K-1) and lightweight defended since UFC 80, he has beaten Joe Stevenson, Sean Sherk, Kenny Florian and most recently Diego Sanchez at UFC 107.
It also goes for GSP, he has defended his title 3 times, every challenger suggests they will beat GSP, again his skills, determination and champion mentality ensures he wins the fight before he enters the octagon. GSP has been champion since UFC 83, he has defended against Jon Fitch at UFC 87, BJ Penn aka “greasegate” at UFC 94 and Thiago Alves at UFC 100.
If you go up to middleweight, what can you say about Anderson Silva? The Brazilian has beaten every challenger in front of him for years, he has gone upto light heavyweight and beaten a former champion in Forest Griffin and dangerous striker James Irwin. There are many calls for Anderson to step up and fight training partner and current champ Lyoto Machida but refuses do to being friends. Very noble but ultimately he has the skills to beat the dragon. For me Anderson Silva is the best pound for pound fighter in MMA and only has been challenged once in his UFC career. He hasn’t lost in 3 years which was a DQ. His last actual lost was back in 2004 when Pride was in its hayday.
Anderson has defended against Nate Marquardt at UFC 73, Rich Franklin at UFC 77, Dan Henderson at UFC 82, Patrick Côté at UFC 90, Thales Leites at UFC 97.
The only question in this argument is if Lyoto Machida and Brock Lesnar are good enough to be long term champions at their respective weights.
Lyoto has only defended his title once, which had the whole world question the result against fellow Brazilan Shogun Rua. The rematch is due for March 2010.
Then you have former WWE champ who has been a revelation in his 4 fights in the UFC, he has beaten legend Randy Couture, Frank Mir at their rematch and Heath Hearing. His downfall maybe when he fights tactical and very technical fighters as his raw power and shear size will scare 90% of heavyweights. Brock appears to be getting over the worst of his injuries and has been penciled in to fight in June against number one contender Shane Carwin. For me both have the ability to be champion for many fights but doubt they will for the shear fact the quality of contenders in both weights.
Light heavyweight has a number of potential title contenders currently -
Shogun Rua, current number one contender and recently lost to Machida at UFC 104. The rematch is penciled in for UFC 113. Rua has not shown his best since joining the UFC but Dana White and Joe Silva see him as the number one. There are three fighters who definitely would give Shogun issues if he wins the title.
Anderson Silva, current UFC middleweight champ has fought twice at the heavier weight and destroyed both former champ Forrest Griffin and James Irwin within the first rounds. He does not struggle with the heavier fighters and personally speaking I believe he could trouble anyone. He has stated he would never fight stable mate Lyoto Machida.
Rashad Evans, former champ and recovering from his lose to Machida at UFC 98. He was due to fight fellow top 5 contender Rampage Jackson but acting commitments have stumped those plans. Evans has lost only lost one fight and looks to take another step to the top by fighting Thiago Silva at UFC 108 as the main event for the first UFC event in 2010. I think given the opportunity Rashad could beat 95% of fighters.
Randy Couture, the former light heavyweight and heavyweight champ has recently taken the step down to light heavyweight since his back to back loses at 206. Randy won a dodgy judging decision over Brandon Vera at UFC 105 in Manchester. Couture even at 46 is a real threat at light heavyweight and will be a huge 205, he showed his power against Vera and could challenge any of the big punches like Evans, Jackson or Machida. It’s suggested that Couture with a win over fellow 40+ ex champ Mark Coleman at UFC 109 relentless, would get a shot at the title. To me a bit too soon but is a true legend of the UFC but after another win would entitle him to another crack at the title.
Quinton Rampage Jackson, what else do you need to say about Rampage, he clearly has the talent but does he have the love for fighting anymore. He has smashed Chuck Liddell, revenged his double loss to Wanderlai Silva but then lose to Forrest Griffin on his first title defense. Rampage will have to fight two fights to get to the title and recent beef with Dana White won’t get him a quick title shot, he will have to beat Rashad Evans I would imagine to get to fight for number contender’s title. I would imagine he may get to a title fight end of 2010 if he beats the two in front of him. Rampage for me is the man to beat still and would send nightmares to everyone in the light heavyweight division.
Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, new comer to the UFC maybe, new comer to MMA no, former Pride champ demonstrated his ability against Luiz Arthur Cane at UFC 106 and appears to be fighting fellow top light heavyweight Brandon Vera. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira sent shockwaves through light heavyweight division with his debut win over Cane who was considered to be top 3 fighters at 205. I’d like to see him avenge his loss to Shogun from the Pride days, so he could be another with two wins away from a title shot.
Lastly Brandon Vera, my outside choice for title contender, his “loss” to Couture was strange, he has beaten two other light heavyweight’s including out classing Krzysztof Soszynski and has big victories in the UFC over former heavyweight champion Frank Mir. Vera has two core skills which sets him apart from most other challengers, his Muay Thai is on another level and his Greco Roman Wrestling provides a real strong base and compliments his Muay Thai. He is also now settled at 205 and looks like he could be a serious contender.
Then we have the heavyweight division, there are four to five real title contenders
Firstly Frank Mir has beaten Lesnar with a heal lock but this was in Lesnar’s debut.
There is mma legend Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira who seems to be getting back to his best since his infection, Nogueira could put real pressure on the bigger Lesnar with his BJJ skills and with a black belt in Judo he will offer a completely different fight to any others.
Now to the new breed of fighters –
Cain Velasquez, currently with 6 wins in the UFC and no losses. Cain will fight Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira at UFC 110 and determines who will be the next number 1 contender.
Junior dos Santos is 4 and 0 in the UFC, Dos Santos has made the world pay attention to him with impressive wins over Fabricio Werdum, Stefan Struve both by explosive knock outs and most recently a TKO win over Mirko Cro Cop Filipović at UFC 103. dos Santos fights Dutch Gilbert Yvel at UFC 108 and with a win I would say puts him in the second bracket of fighters in the heavyweight division.
Lastly the number contender Shane Carwin. Carwin has 3 wins in the UFC and overall record is 11 wins and no loses. Carwin is booked in to fight Lesnar for the title but due to illness and injury it may be on hold until June. It has been suggested Mir may get a fight against Carwin if Lesnar does not get back to full training shortly. Personally think this may have to wait.
Danny Denhard
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UFC 108 official trailer
Fight card -
Rashad Evans vs. Thiago Silva
Joe Lauzon vs. Sam Stout
Junior dos Santos vs. Gilbert Yvel
Cole Miller vs. Dan Lauzon
Vladimir Matyushenko vs. Steve Cantwell
Mark Munoz vs. Ryan Jensen
Mike Pyle vs. Jake Ellenberger
Danny Denhard
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Proposed fights for UFC 108 fight card
Heavyweight bout: Gabriel Gonzaga vs. Junior dos Santos
Lightweight bout: Tyson Griffin vs. Jim Miller
Welterweight bout: Carlos Condit vs. Paul Daley
Welterweight bout: Martin Kampmann vs. Rory Markham
Lightweight bout: Joe Lauzon vs. Sam Stout
Lightweight bout: Sean Sherk vs. Rafaello Oliveira
Lightweight bout: Cole Miller vs. Dan Lauzon
Middleweight bout: Mark Munoz vs. Ryan Jensen
Welterweight bout: Jake Ellenberger vs. Mike Pyle
Danny Denhard
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UFC 108 – EVANS vs SILVA
It has been formally announced UFC 108 -
Main event
Light heavyweight
Rashad Evans vs Thiago Silva
This fight if explosive might determine if Evans gets a rematch after Machida Shogun 2 for the light heavyweight title or push Thiago Silva up to the top 4 or 5 fighters at light heavyweight.
It would appear that the UFC mean business for the Las Vegas crowd for the first event in 2010 going to be held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on January 2nd.
This fight card was billed as a dual main card but due to injury to Big Nog the event has now been marked as Evans Vs Silva.
Evans and Silva will be more like a boxing match than a MMA fight, Evans and Silva both have great stand up game, Evans has far better wrestling and will be interesting to see if Silva’s BJJ is any good as we have not seen it much since his leap to fame in the handful of fights in the UFC.
It will now be difficult to see how they replace a massive heavyweight battle, it might be that Carwin and Velsaquez actually fight each other. With Lesnar now having a real health issue it might be half way into 2010 until Lesnar can defend the heavyweight title against Carwin.
Danny Denhard
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