The Ice Age is Over
That was Chuck Liddell’s last fight, and as Dana White said in the post-fight press conference, he went out with a typical Chuck Liddell performance. Unfortunately for “The Iceman,” that included an all too familiar ending of late, a very bad defeat.
For the fourth time in six fights, Liddell was left looking up at the lights, as Rich Franklin landed a perfect right right on Chuck’s chin to emphatically end the UFC’s only Ice Age.
Liddell is one of the Top 10 fighters in UFC history and will always be loved, but for now, he needs to hang up his gloves and enjoy the spoils of being a superstar.
Rich Franklin Has Brass Ones
Who fights on with a broken arm? Honestly?
It takes a good set of stones to keep standing in there with Chuck Liddell throwing bombs in your direction with two working arms, so doing it with one makes Rich Franklin completely nuts and awesome all at the same time.
For now, this fight will be referenced as Liddell’s final fight, but as the impact wears off, people will remember Franklin fighting with a busted arm and maybe give him the due he’s long deserved as one of the best in UFC history.
Cro Cop 2.0 – Personality Now Included
Something changed in Mirko Cro Cop this week, and it was a change for the better. The usually quiet/shy/sullen southpaw opened up to the media beginning at Wednesday’s workouts and was a different man all week, showing charisma, a good sense of comedic timing and a side never before seen in all his years competing.
He also earned a submission win for the first time in more than five years, securing a rear naked choke on Pat Barry in the third round of their highly anticipated – and enjoyable – battle.
Cro Cop remained engaging after the fight, joking with Barry backstage that he should feel embarassed for making Mirko’s eye look as bad as it does. Like Dana White, I too enjoy this new version of Cro Cop… let’s hope he sticks around.
Pat Barry Better Develop a Killer Instinct… Fast
The lovable New Orleans native admitted prior to fight week that he doesn’t have that killer instinct to just keep hammering his opponent when he’s hurt. Well, if he wants to be successful in the UFC, that needs to change.
One at least three instances, Barry dropped Mirko Cro Cop with a big right hook. All three times, he let him back up. Jumping in for the kill never seemed to cross his mind.
It needs to, because if it doesn’t, what happened tonight will keep happening, and no amount of adoration from the fans is going to keep you around if you keep losing fights.
Lesson learned… hopefully.
Carlos Condit Hates Easy Fights
That’s my new theory. Well, not really, but it sure does seem that way when you look at his last three effort. This one was headed towards a split decision – one that Rory MacDonald would have won 2-1 – before “The Natural Born Killer” earned a TKO win with ten ticks left on the clock.
After splitting a pair of split decisions to start his UFC run, Condit was in another dogfight Saturday night, as MacDonald controlled rounds one and two before Condit poured it on in the final frame. On one hand, his unbreakable will and warrior spirit is commendable and impressive. On the other hand, you can’t always wait until the last round to find your stride and pull out a win.
MacDonald Will Be a Star and a Champion
You have to know what defeat tastes like to become great, and Rory MacDonald now knows the bitter taste a loss leaves in your mouth. He’ll be better for it in the future.
For two rounds, MacDonald earned ovations and applause from the partisan crowd, taking the fight to Carlos Condit and getting the better of each exchange. Unfortunately, he could put Condit away, ran a little low on fuel in the final round and was beaten by a more experienced opponent.
MacDonald will learned from his mistakes and come back stronger. He’s just 20-years-old and already this good. It’s scary how impressive he could become.
Allow Me to Reintroduce Myself…
My name is Martin Kampmann, and not that long ago, I was knocking on the door of a welterweight title shot. Then Paul Daley knocked me up in Dallas and people kind of forgot about me.
Well, I showed all of you. I just swept Paulo Thiago over three rounds, coming close with a couple submissions and sticking my jab in his face all night long. Not once was I in jeopardy, and now I should be back in the mix, right where I belong.
Maybe Joe Silva can arrange that Mike Swick fight that fell apart back in October?
Evan Dunham is a Stud
All he did Saturday night was completely dominate Tyson Griffin for three rounds – not two like judge Tony Week submitted. Admittedly, Lance Gibson gave Griffin round one as well; I really have no idea how that happens…
Anyway, Dunham controlled nearly every moment of the fight and earned the biggest win of his career in impressive fashion. He has Griffin’s back all night, and the piggyback – slam – piggyback sequence in the second was one of the best moments of the night.
The win pushes him further up the lightweight ladder, easily cracking the company Top 10 (if one existed) and a step up in competition.
Yves Lavigne Made a Mistake
It’s hard to be a referee; no one says jack when you’re right 99 times in a row, but the minute you make a mistake, everyone is calling for your job. That said, you’re paid to get it right, and by waving off the Matt Wiman – Mac Danzig fight as quickly as he did, Yves Lavigne got it wrong. Big time.
You can’t expect a guy to be overly demonstrative when he’s fighting off a choke hold. You should also make sure he’s out cold or clearly tapping before stopping a fight. Having the choker tell you the chokee is out doesn’t count.
The two fighters will meet again soon, and Yves Lavigne will remain a ref. He just probably won’t be officiating Danzig – Wiman 2.
Water is Still Very Much Wet
And judging is still in need of improvements.
Three fights had questionable cards handed around media row; the aforementioned Evan Dunham split decision win over Tyson Griffin, Carlos Condit somehow winning round one on Doc Hamilton’s scorecard, and Peter Sobotta being shut out by James Wilks despite being the winner on my personal unofficial card.
Right now, I won’t criticize because I’ve never been trained as a judge. What I will do – I promise you – is start looking into becoming a judge, because if these guys can do it, I know I can do it better, and we’ll always need good judges.
