Benavidez in a Curious Position
Perennial bantamweight contender Joseph Benavidez stepped up to face Wagnney Fabiano on short notice when Brian Bowles got hurt. Thursday night, he proved once again that he only loses to fighters named 
What do you do with Benavidez moving forward? He’s beaten Miguel Torres and now Fabiano, as well as Rani Yahya, but lost to Cruz twice in the last fifteen-months. A third fight is nowhere near the horizon, neither is the flyweight division where many believe Benavidez would thrive. There is also the added angle of the addition of Benavidez’s mentor Faber to the division, a potential opponent the young star surely wouldn’t consider.
Koch Didn’t Need a Big Name Opponent to Make a Big Impression
Eric Koch had every reason to come into his fight with Francisco Rivera a little flat and uninspired. Two weeks earlier, his original opponent was pulled for a title opportunity at UFC 125, leaving Koch to face the unknown and unbeaten Rivera on short notice.
None of that mattered.
The youngster delivered an emphatic knockout, connecting with a headkick early in round one that looked eerily similar to the kick teammate Anthony Pettis used to finish Danny Castillo back in March. While his opponent wasn’t as well-known, Koch’s performance was impressive nonetheless.
Siver and Several Newcomers Shine
German kickboxer Dennis Siver earned his second UFC victory on German soil Saturday and he looked impressive in the process.
Siver was faster than opponent Andre Winner in the stand-up department, picking the quick Brit apart with his kickboxing before a hard counter left put Winner on the canvas. From there, the local favorite showed some jiu jitsu skills, trapping Winner’s arm inside a body triangle while sinking in a rear naked choke for the win.
A pair of newcomers stole the show on the undercard.
Though Karlos Vemola debuted earlier in the year as a heavyweight, his first light heavyweight fight was an eye-opener, as the muscular Czech pounded out a first round stoppage against Seth Petruzelli. In the opening bout of the evening, Carlos Eduardo Rocha spoiled Kris McCray’s post-TUF debut, forcing the former finalist to tap to a kneebar in the first round.
End the Tape Delay Era
The UFC has used the business model of the WWF/E throughout their climb to the pinnacle of the sport, and they need to do the same in regards to using tape delay.
Back in the day, the sports-entertainment juggernaut used to tape shows in advance and run them at later dates, unconcerned about the developments of the event getting out over the then non-existent or omnipresent Internet. That ended a long time ago for the WWE, as rabid fans broke storylines and ruined surprises.
Once again, the UFC could follow their lead, as these tape-delayed shows continue to fall flat with fans in a time when there is no need.
Saturday’s show came off extremely long due to the commercial breaks and canned interviews. What makes it more frustrating is that despite cutting all entrances and having a three-hour broadcast window, fans only received two “bonus fights,” and both ended extremely quickly.
People aren’t going to keep waiting around for results from mediocre cards that offer nothing extra, so just bite the bullet, air them live and see what happens.
Bad Judging Can Swim
The poor judging that has plagued events on this side of the Atlantic made the trip to Germany on the weekend, as a pair of decisions offered further evidence that reform is needed.
How does Nick Osipczak earn a 30-27? Whatever judge turned in that card should not be allowed to sit next to a cage ever again. The Brit did absolutely nothing in the final frame of his fight with Duane Ludwig, yet one judge felt good about giving him the nod. Unreal.
And how does Krzysztof Soszynski pitch a perfect game against Goran Reljic in the very next fight? While it’s hard to convey the closeness of a fight in scoring each round, that didn’t look like a 30-27 sweep from where I was sitting.
These are things that need to be explained and corrected, quickly. If we’re talking about these things after every event – and we are – than it is a major problem. When those same issues are crossing the Atlantic Ocean, it’s clear that there are more problems here than just Cecil Peoples and Glen Trowbridge can be blamed for.
Next Generation Arriving Every Day
Michael McDonald is not only the youngest fighter employed by Zuffa, the 19-year-old is also the youngest fighter on the Zuffa roster with a win.
Thursday night, the California-based prospect pushed his record to 11-1 with a first round submission of Clint Godfrey in his first and only fight for the WEC. Next time you see him, McDonald will be competing inside the Octagon, and if things keep going the way they have, you’re going to be seeing a lot of him.
The youngster is part of the next generation of mixed martial artists, fighters that came up learning every aspect of the sport simultaneously. These young upstarts present a well-rounded base, and like Rory MacDonald before him, McDonald has made a quick climb through the regional ranks to the highest level in the sport.
Many more will be coming soon.
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10 Things Learned: WEC 52, UFC 122 Edition