UFC Fight Night 22 Review: All You Need to Know

What we learned from UFC Ultimate Fight Night (UFN) 22 and Ultimate Fighter 12

1. Nate Marquardt Scores a Sweaty Victory at UFN 22

During the middle to later rounds of many fights, we’ve heard analysts explain that catching a submission becomes more difficult as a fight progresses since fighters become slippery from sweating. Wednesday night, Nate Marquardt proved that to be true during his fight with Rousimar Palhares. He, however, was sweaty early on in the fight. This was intentional, premeditated, and just might be the most brilliant and inventive fight strategy in some time.

Marquardt entered the cage with “a good sweat going” (his words). As a result, he was able to easily slip his leg out of the danger zone when Palhares attempted to execute a heel hook. Inexplicably, Palhares took a pause to try and draw referee Herb Dean’s attention to what he thought was an obvious case of cheating, at which time Marquardt dropped a big right, followed up quickly, and earned the stoppage.

This is one of those instances that gets the whole MMA world asking, “How come no one thought of that before?” And HeavyMMA doesn’t have an answer for you. Whether this was Nate’s plan, or the strategic wizardry of either Trevor Whitman or Greg Jackson, it’s something that could (and should) catch on.

2. Easy Lesson Learned the Hard Way (or What was Rousimar Palhares thinking?)

“Toquinho” learned the hard way that no matter what the situation, you fight until the referee or the bell stops you. There is no option to petition the referee to step in when you think your opponent has done something unethical. This is something every fighter knows long before they take to the cage.

While we at HeavyMMA certainly understand the chain of thought that went through Palhares’ head –  it’s early; Marquardt feels slippery; he got out of my signature submission quickly; something must be wrong – Palhares had to know  that those thoughts should be expressed at the end of the round, he just got emotional. There’s no room in the octagon for emotion.

3. A New Star is Born

Some people think we in the media are overdoing it a little in crowing Charles Oliveira a future champion after only two appearances inside the Octagon. We direct those people to Tweet with us in a few years when “do Bronx” has the UFC lightweight belt around his waist.

Efrain Escudero was supposed to be a big step up in competition for Oliveira, the 20-year-old Brazilian. Escudero offered the chance to gauge the super kid’s ceiling. Well, Escudero was outgunned from the opening, and Oliveira’s ceiling is still too high up to be seen with the naked eye. He is going to be special.

Oliveira has great Jiu-Jitsu skill, better hands than anyone expected, speed, strength, defense and the kind of charisma and moxie that makes a good fighter great and a great fighter a champion. Oliveira is living up to the hype and likely will do so for some time.

4. Jim Miller Needs to Hire a Publicist

I absolutely love the old school approach Jim Miller takes to his craft. He’s a grab-your-hardhat-and-lunch-pail kind of guy who gets frustrated with himself for winning decisions and would rather just keep going to work than tell you that he’s won five-straight fights.

That’s why the younger half of the New Jersey-based Fighting Miller Brothers needs a publicist.
Since he’s so laid back and low key, it’s easy to overlook the 18-2 Miller. By the way, those two losses came to Frankie Edgar (in 2006, pre-UFC) and Gray Maynard (UFC 96, March ’09), the two top dogs in the division. After earning a hard-fought fifth-consecutive victory Wednesday night over Gleison Tibau, Miller should be right in the thick of things at 155, but his lack of interest in self-promotion could cripple his chances.

Depending on the outcome of the Evan Dunham – Sean Sherk fight next weekend, I might have to take up the cause of campaigning for a Miller title shot myself. Stay tuned…

5. Escudero Needs to Turn it Around… Fast

TUF winners get a heavier push than most, and Efrain Escudero is no different. Unfortunately, the Season 8 lightweight winner is squandering his opportunity and needs to “right the ship” soon or risk sailing right off the roster.

That may sound harsh considering our views on Oliveira and his future greatness, but more than the loss itself, Escudero’s entire approach before and during this fight look like a fighter who isn’t fully committed to his craft. He’s been underwhelming in each of his last three bouts. And TUF winner or not, passionless performances won’t keep you employed in the UFC.

Stepping off the scale three pounds over the lightweight limit was bad. Following it up by offering next to nothing and looking like you completely underestimated your opponent was worse. What takes it to “flashing red danger light” levels is that Escudero was mediocre at best in beating Dan Lauzon at UFC 114 and threw his game plan out the window before getting his arm twisted into a pretzel by Evan Dunham the fight before.
Escudero needs to start putting forth quality efforts that merit the opportunities he is afforded as a TUF season winner.

6. Speaking of Fighters Named Miller…

How’s about Cole Miller’s impressive performance over Ross Pearson? Raise your hand if you saw that kind of quality win coming for the lanky elder member of the Coconut Creek-based member of the Fighting Miller Brothers.

Anyone with their hand in the air is a liar.

There was nothing in his previous performances that indicated Miller would come out and dominate Pearson the way he did, which is what makes it more impressive. Not only did he wisely use his length, but his hands looked better than they had before, catching the TUF 9 winner with some quality shots before starching him with a left against the cage.

When you combine his size (six-foot-one) and his already impressive Jiu-Jitsu game with steadily improving hands and what looks like an understanding of how to put it all together, Miller makes for an interesting option at 155 moving forward.

7. The Ultimate Fighter Isn’t About Finding the Best Fighters

Many (myself included) believe that TUF doesn’t find the best fighters, but the point was driven home in the Octagon Wednesday night as two former TUF winners were handed defeats.

While it is entirely possible that both Pearson and Escudero bounce back and start to steadily climb the ladder moving forward, they are just two more names on the growing list of TUF winners who haven’t really made any serious headway since winning their respective season.

After turning out two champions in the first two years, The Ultimate Fighter has more recently turned out middle-of-the-road talents who can look good at times, but fail to show championship potential. The show also turns out all kinds of edited drama from inexperienced fighters who flap their gums too much too.

It’s been said before and it bears repeating – The Ultimate Fighter needs a makeover.

8. Brian Foster Back and Hungry

Before he kicked off Wednesday night’s event opposite Forrest Petz, the last time we had seen Brian Foster, the HIT Squad trainee was in agony after Chris Lylte slapped a kneebar on him at UFC 110 in Sydney, Australia.

Seven months later, the 26-year-old was back in the cage and wasted little time disposing of Petz, earning a stoppage over the veteran in just 67 seconds. While evening his record in the Octagon at twos was important, the performance also showed what many believed all along: Foster is a fierce competitor who can make some noise in the 170-pound division.

Though he lost his debut, Foster put on a good show against Rick Story, another up-and-coming welterweight to watch for down the road, before sending veteran Brock Larson to the regional circuit. A strong wrestler with solid hands, Foster has a nice mix of skill and the guts to get in there and rough it up with anyone.

As he continues to improve, he will become an even tougher out than he already is now.

9. Naming a Move after Yourself is Brutal

Dear Cody Mackenzie,

Just because you love to use a modified version of the guillotine to finish all your fights, doesn’t mean you need to name it “The Mackenzi-tine” or refer to it as such on television. Think about how dumb that sounds. “The Mackenzi-tine” doesn’t get better after multiple sayings.

A message to all fighters: if you want to name your moves, go the old school gunslinger route and name your move after a lady.

As bad as “I call it The Mackenzi-tine” sounded, think of how awesome it would have been if instead, Mackenzie looked into the camera and said, “Yeah, I call that one Denise.”

10. Can Someone Please Make Sure Georges is Awake?

Was it just me or did GSP seem completely uninterested and disengaged during last night’s TUF 12 episode?

As much as Koscheck can be a complete nuisance at times, at least he’s animated and active, issuing commentary on the fights, congratulating guys for their performances, stuff like that. The only thing GSP did was rule out Jeffrey Lentz before his bout, and he was dead wrong on that one.

It’s only the first episode of TUF 12 and a lot could change, but after the debut – and despite the nationality noted on my passport – I’m leaning towards being a member of Team Koscheck this Ultimate Fighter season, just for the entertainment value alone.

View complete UFC Fight Night 22 Results and don’t miss more UFN 22 news and coverage.