UFC 92 Impressions
by Michael Rome on Dec 28, 2008 5:46 PM EST
in MMA News
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I think this was a great card. Three huge main events, all three delivered a decisive finish, and all of the boring fights were on the undercard.
If Rampage can get his legal stuff taken care of, I would love to see him fight Rashad. People are surprised by Quinton's style every time out now, but he has been a counter-puncher ever since moving over with Juanito. He would have finished Forrest the same way if Forrest hadn't found his weakness in leg kick defense. The reason I picked Rampage in this fight is because his crisp boxing and ability to throw short hard punches while avoiding oncoming stuff is unparalleled in the UFC, and it is perfectly suited for Silva's striking style. I really think that if they fought 10 times in 2008 Quinton would win the vast majority of those fights.
I don't think Wanderlei Silva is done. Who among us would say he has no chance against Rashad Evans, Forrest Griffin, or Thiago Silva? He also survived one hell of a beating from Chuck last December. I think the only story coming out of this is that his wild style can be picked apart by a great striker, but we already knew that.
Frank Mir and Antonio Nogueira was one of the oddest fights I've seen in a long time. Nogueira is actually quite a good boxer, which made it all the more puzzling that he couldn't handle a lead uppercut followed by a left straight over and over. The uppercuts were coming from far away too, Mir was wide open for a left hook, but Nogueira just never was able to pull the trigger.
All that being said, Frank Mir deserves a huge amount of credit. Nobody can ever take it away from him that he was the first to stop Nogueira. His comeback is an incredible story, and he obviously found a way to win. I still think it made sense to predict Nogueira, even Mir thought he would lose. As much as Mir annoyed me last week, his interview was amazing and he obviously proved me completely wrong.
The main event was a great fight; I got the feeling that Evans was going to have to win in the third round or the kicks were going to start wearing him down. Forrest had a good game plan and fought well for two rounds, but he took way too many shots upon going down. The stoppage was also way late in my view.
There's a lot coming out of the show, most notably Mir/Lesnar, Couture/Nogueira, and potentially Rashad/Rampage if the legal stuff is straightened out. Forrest Griffin broke his hand, so he will probably be out a while because he will have to wait to start a new camp. Personally I think Forrest/Jardine 2 is a match that makes a lot of sense at this point.
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Mir was actually successful with the lead straight left followed by the right uppercut, not the other way around.
"Stop smiling you are about to be punched in the face !"
He threw kind of a push left and then really lead with an uppercut. It wasnt even a particularly fast one, Nog seemed frozen in time.
by Michael Rome on Dec 28, 2008 6:44 PM EST up reply actions
Fedor made Nog old
and since he got kicked on the chin by Herring its been a fast decline. His reflexes are gone and now it seems his chin is gone too. Retire now Nog… Or fight Randy then retire.
I don’t disagree with the notion that great strikers are Wandy’s undoing, but Rampage didn’t really have to do anything extraordinary. He just covered up and threw counter punches with his head down until one landed
As for Evans vs. Griffin, I might be the in minority here, but I felt like Rashad was in control the entire fight. Those leg kicks weren’t really slowing him down, and he was the one getting to the punch first and landing all the power shots.
I thought the commentary in the main event was not very representative of how the fight was going. They were fellating Forrest non-stop, even talking about how dominant he was at the exact same moment he was being tagged by a combo.
I had round 1 going either way and round 2 clearly for Forrest. It seemed to me that Rashad was having a little difficulty with the reach, but that was negated when they hit the ground and Rashad took over.
Eliot Marshall: Bader won. Like I said in the episode, I'm not going to make any excuses. It's my job to be able to deal with when somebody's doing that. It's not his job to change up his tactics.
http://eliotmarshall.com/
I had it...
20-18 for Forrest heading into the third. He wasn’t dominating but I thought round 2 was a clear Griffin round and 1 was close but I gave it to him also. That being said he never was putting Rashad in any real trouble or giving him much to think about other than the leg kicks…so it did have a bit of a “matter of time” feel to it.
Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.
by Brent Brookhouse on Dec 28, 2008 6:19 PM EST up reply actions
Agree 100%
He was outpointing Evans but I was always waiting for the other shoe to drop… and it did. Viciously.
by jebushchrist on Dec 28, 2008 6:22 PM EST up reply actions
My big hesitation about Evans was that, even though he is now shown to have very dangerous hands, I didn’t think he had any weapons to finish a fighter if he was getting outscored on the feet. Maybe he could lay and pray his way to victory, but that presents a risky proposition against any quality fighter.
But thats all changed now. Rashad finished Forrest from within guard. His nasty speed and power have transferred to his ground and pound as well as his striking, and that makes him a very dangerous opponent for anybody.
by Michaelthebox on Dec 28, 2008 6:52 PM EST up reply actions
this was impressive. But, I think Forrest was badly hurt getting Evans into guard. Evans landed bomb after bomb before Forrest was able to pull guard.
by Michael Rome on Dec 28, 2008 6:53 PM EST up reply actions
Yeah, there isn’t a good angle of it, but I think Rashad’s little kung fu punch after he caught the kick was the one that first stunned him. The hammer fists were wild, but a couple landed well.
How do you get these quality gifs so quickly? And that kung fu punch was cool!
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better. -Samuel Beckett
by Scott C. Broussard on Dec 28, 2008 8:33 PM EST up reply actions
Maybe so, but the finish came over a minute and a half after Forrest got him into guard. He had time to recover at least partially, but Rashad just drilled the hell out of him with his strikes from guard.
by Michaelthebox on Dec 28, 2008 7:16 PM EST up reply actions
Live I had it for Forrest, haven’t watched it again. I know Rashad’s corner told him he was down 2-0 going into the third, and Rashad agreed.
I think that GIF doesn’t really tell the full story of the exchange, Wand came with a very fast 3 punch combo and Rampage started that left hook halfway through the third punch. Quinton is a great counter striker, the kind of fighter that is always going to give Silva problems.
by Michael Rome on Dec 28, 2008 6:46 PM EST up reply actions
These Mir lovers coming out of the woodwork are funny
Suddenly they “knew he wuz gonna win all along!!!!11” and yet I don’t remember seeing anyone predict Mir winning by putting on a boxing clinic and finishing Nog with repeated 2-pieces from the feet. It was the perfect storm of Mir putting in the work and Nog quickly declining.
Forrest looked good but no amount of hard work can improve his chin. Fact is, he’s just going to get dropped in every fight. The difference is Rashad was able to finish him.
Rampage looked deadly and the fact that he avoided the clinch was clearly the difference. When he keeps his hands up and counterpunches I don’t see anyone at LHW who can beat him.
Forrest looked good but no amount of hard work can improve his chin. Fact is, he’s just going to get dropped in every fight. The difference is Rashad was able to finish him.
And Rampage couldn’t, so you are saying that Rampage punches like a 3 year old? Or are you doing the “glass chin” crap that at least one guy has to do every time someone gets KO (or TKO)? Cuz ya know, Forrest has been in some scraps in the past and stood up…
Imagine what a shitty chin Wanderlei has, if Rampage couldn’t KO Forrest and his glass chin, but nearly killed Wandy.
Yes, that's exactly what I said
Yep! Rampage punches like a 3-year old! God I hate it when people intentionally misinterpret what you say to serve their own purposes. Read what I wrote, dick. I said Rampage was deadly and I didn’t say “glass chin”. Watch the fights, Forrest gets dropped in every fight. He doesn’t have a good chin. Being a fan of Forrest doesn’t change that fact. Stop being so defensive about your boy and open your eyes. And stop trying to misappropriate my words.
God. This place is getting out of hand.
by jebushchrist on Dec 29, 2008 2:04 AM EST up reply actions
Come on…what makes this place “out of hand” is calling people “dicks”, as in
Read what I wrote, dick.
Seeing as there’s an informal rule against name-calling, you might want to be careful – I myself have been warned before. What keeps this place (mostly) civil is lack of ad hominem attacks. I disagreed with with mythbuster’s assessment, there wasn’t any reason to make it personal and accuse him of intentionally distorting anything.
Besides, if you don’t like BE, just don’t post anymore. I don’t like sherdog’s forums, so I don’t post there. Simple.
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better. -Samuel Beckett
by Scott C. Broussard on Dec 29, 2008 5:31 AM EST up reply actions
There’s also an informal rule against distorting what people say, which is why this is better than Sherdog. I know the rules around here and I’ve been here for a year and a half. The reason I was irritated is because mythbuster isn’t new and I expect more.
Also, I wasn’t talking to you, thanks though.
by jebushchrist on Dec 29, 2008 9:05 AM EST up reply actions
It’s similar irritation you felt towards mythbuster – you’ve been here a while and should know better. Then the throwaway line of how BE is out of hand, while flame wars like that are what contribute to the (possible) decline. I still disagree with mythbuster over Forrest’s chin (it’s not a binary choice, glass or granite, there are varying levels of toughness), but instead of rationally pointing out this fact, you attacked. There’s also a difference between intentionally distorting someone’s words and just misinterpreting them – I tend to assume cock-up before conspiracy.
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better. -Samuel Beckett
by Scott C. Broussard on Dec 29, 2008 3:41 PM EST up reply actions
Now would be a good time to end this particular line of discussion.
Bolts from the Blue // "It is what it is." - A.J. Smith
Bloody Elbow // "Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit upon his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats." - H.L. Mencken
by Richard Wade on Dec 29, 2008 4:27 PM EST up reply actions
Right-o…let’s switch to something we all agree on…sooooo, TUF sucks…
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better. -Samuel Beckett
by Scott C. Broussard on Dec 29, 2008 4:57 PM EST up reply actions
True, but I still watch it.
Bolts from the Blue // "It is what it is." - A.J. Smith
Bloody Elbow // "Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit upon his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats." - H.L. Mencken
by Richard Wade on Dec 30, 2008 4:46 AM EST up reply actions
Keep it clean...
your point was made pretty well without resorting to calling someone a dick. You’ve been warned.
Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.
by Brent Brookhouse on Dec 29, 2008 7:39 AM EST up reply actions
Note that the name calling comes from a lot of people without warnings. I’ll take my warning, regardless.
by jebushchrist on Dec 29, 2008 9:06 AM EST up reply actions
I said Rampage was deadly and I didn’t say "glass chin"
But you said…
Forrest looked good but no amount of hard work can improve his chin.
So yea, you didn’t use the words “glass chin” but the implication was clearly there. You can feel free to backtrack, but don’t pretend you didn’t write what you wrote.
How is it me backtracking when you just pointed out your own contradiction?
Your reading comprehension is an epic fail. You can do better, I’ve seen it. I guess you just had an off day. That’s not to say you have a “glass chin”, it just means you got caught. You’re not Goulet, you’re Griffin, and there’s no shame in that.
by jebushchrist on Dec 29, 2008 10:47 AM EST up reply actions
Stand by what you wrote man, and stop the attacks on me personally. You said he had a glass chin, then said you didn’t. If you want to argue the points, then do so but cut the attack shit already.
Buck up. For starters, you attacked me. I made a comment which you misinterpreted. I defended myself and got a warning. Then you came back and, again, tried to put words in my mouth which weren’t even close to what I said. I decided to joke instead of calling you a name again, since name calling isn’t cool. If you don’t want to argue, then don’t pick fights and bait people.
Forrest has a history of getting dropped. That’s indisputable. He usually recovers (as he did when Rampage dropped him). And Rampage hits like a truck which is what I said when I called him “deadly” and “unbeatable”. For the last time, why don’t you find where I said Rampage punches like a 3-year old and that Forrest has a glass chin. I didn’t say that. Do that, and I will discuss this with you, otherwise, get over it.
by jebushchrist on Dec 29, 2008 11:07 AM EST up reply actions
good god...
For starters, you attacked me
No, I disagreed with you. People will do that in this world. If you re-read it, you’ll see that I said not one bad thing about you, no insults, anything in my original reply. You getting offended by nothing isn’t my problem, or my fault.
I defended myself and got a warning
No, you got a warning for tossing insults where the didn’t belong, not for defending yourself… If you defended yourself, and your words, we wouldn’t be here now, would we?
Here’s the weird thing – I don’t even care about the issue. I disagreed with you that Forrest has a glass chin, you got upset cuz how dare someone disagree with you, and you decided to go an attack turning this into the battle of the bickering old women… Be a man, back up you words or admit you shouldn’t have written them. Don’t pretend you didn’t write them, and then go off on all sorts of tangents to run away from them.
As a reminder: “Forrest looked good but no amount of hard work can improve his chin” — not too many ways to interpret this.
and I’m done bickering. Get your final 2 cents in to try to avoid the point.
You don’t have a point. For the third time — I never said he has a glass chin, nor did I say Rampage hits like a child — and you can’t seem to get it through your head that you said those things and I didn’t.
Sorry you didn’t take the loss as well as Forrest did. Sorry you’re so (bizarrely) defensive about Forrest’s chin. And sorry you think it’s OK to attack me by questioning my manhood yet act hurt when I call you a name. I don’t expect you to be warned. Nor do I expect to continue this since you just keep repeating yourself.
by jebushchrist on Dec 29, 2008 11:33 AM EST up reply actions
He didn't...
get a warning because he didn’t insult you or “call you a name.” you were warned for calling him a dick. Other than the “dick” thing everything was well within the rules. Your warning was pretty informal…otherwise you would have gotten an actual “warning” on your profile (you’d see a message the next time logging in with a formal “warning” not just a comment from one of us in the thread).
I know you think we’re not being fair somehow but we’re just sticking to our rules.
Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.
by Brent Brookhouse on Dec 29, 2008 3:42 PM EST up reply actions
I know why I got warned. Calling him a dick was wrong, I acknowledge that. I’m quite familiar with the system here. My point of contention is, I got a warning for doing something that is done in nearly every thread these days. Even by you. You called someone a moron today. Luke told a guy to kill himself a few weeks ago. Did you see the Eilers thread? If you’re going to stick to rules, I’d appreciate them being applied to everyone, and not just some. That’s what a community is, which is what Bloody Elbow and SBN is promoting.
This community is not the civil land it was a few months ago and all of us are contributing to the destruction of that civility. I am going to make an effort to end the nastiness which has become pervasive and hope you will join suit and lead by example.
I disagree with mythbuster’s repeated misinterpretation of my comments. I think it was intentional, since he responded multiple times restating his opinion. He and I will never agree on this. That’s OK. I also apologize for calling him a dick and will treat him, and everyone else who disagrees with me, with respect from here on out.
That is all.
by jebushchrist on Dec 29, 2008 5:25 PM EST up reply actions
the guy Luke told to kill himself
Is those 2 faggots that make the stupid prediction vids and have been banned under several names.
Luke was wrong because he should have killed his buddy, his buddies family and his own family THEN killed himself
My guess is that they could have been heterosexuals, but that wouldn’t have been as shocking to type?
by 106.7 WJFK FM Listener on Dec 29, 2008 9:55 PM EST up reply actions
What the hell is that profile pic?
It’s…odd…
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better. -Samuel Beckett
by Scott C. Broussard on Dec 29, 2008 10:02 PM EST up reply actions
That was one heck of a speech. If I could, I would rec that comment.
"They called him the axe-murderer because he was murdering chumps. They should have been calling him the chump-murderer..." Rampage Jackson (commentating on the fighting abilities of Wanderlei "F#ck Chuck" Silva.)
by BlueberryMuffin on Dec 30, 2008 12:52 PM EST up reply actions
And I was talking about jebushchrist…
"They called him the axe-murderer because he was murdering chumps. They should have been calling him the chump-murderer..." Rampage Jackson (commentating on the fighting abilities of Wanderlei "F#ck Chuck" Silva.)
by BlueberryMuffin on Dec 30, 2008 12:53 PM EST up reply actions
Thank you for not burying the losing fighters
And I can’t wait for Rampage-Evans.
by Derek Suboticki on Dec 28, 2008 6:20 PM EST reply actions
Even after that KO of Wandy lets not forget Page is still 1-2 against him. Great KO though. I would like to see him fight winner of Silva/Machida for a shot at Evans.
Mir was great last night. Nog looked really old. Not sure if it was Mir being that good or Nog just not having much left in him anymore. The long layoff looks like it may have hurt Nog here.
Forrest looked like the decent but not GREAT fighter I always thought he was. Tons of heart, but not enough skill to be a consistent top level 205 lb guy. Too much natural talent some of the other guys have which he lacks. I don’t even see him holding the belt again to be honest.
Kongo: Looked great. He’s been getting better and better each time out. Would love to see him in there with a guy like Randy and then perhaps against Gonzaga for the right to get a title shot.
Biggest story of the night: Mir. Nobody thought he was winning this one.
Kongo looked good, but Al Turk didn`t. I don`t really see why he constantly keeps wanting a “title-shot”. He probably has the skill to be in contention, but does he have the grit? When you start taking a guy like Herring down cause you, the big bad kickboxer, is losoing on the feet, you really need to show some more in big fights.
I would love to see him fight GG or maybe Carwin though
"They called him the axe-murderer because he was murdering chumps. They should have been calling him the chump-murderer..." Rampage Jackson (commentating on the fighting abilities of Wanderlei "F#ck Chuck" Silva.)
by BlueberryMuffin on Dec 29, 2008 5:42 AM EST up reply actions
Apparently Carwin an GG are fighting each other.
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better. -Samuel Beckett
by Scott C. Broussard on Dec 29, 2008 6:26 AM EST up reply actions
Machida/Evans doesn't bode well for entertainment quality,
but Rampage against either one is a great idea. Rampage is a counter-puncher, yes, but he’s also got no problem pressing forward and initiating conflict. Rashad has never pressed forward in any of the fights I’ve seen, and Machida only presses forward when it appears his opponent is half-asleep.
LHW is still pretty well stacked, and the line between Group A and Group B is becoming fuzzier with every passing event.
There is no such thing as innocence, only degrees of guilt.
RAMPAGE/RASHAD?
sounds good to me, but in dana’s last vlog he and lorenzo commented on how hard a time rampage was having making 206. it’s probably all just a moot point now that he won, but i think dana and lorenzo might still have their reservations about rampage fighting for or holding the belt until he gets his legal problems and personal problems in check. last night was a good start though. forrest/jardine 2 makes perfect sense.
Forrest vs Wand
Is what should happen. It will give Wand’s brain a chance to recover since Forrest can’t bruise a banana.
If they move Wand down to 185 he is going to get an easy fight or two to try to rebuild his aura I think. The fans still love him, he won’t be hurt in terms of fan appreciation, the question is more how he’ll deal with it personally.
by Michael Rome on Dec 28, 2008 9:37 PM EST up reply actions
I want Wand to coach TUF against Bisping.
"They called him the axe-murderer because he was murdering chumps. They should have been calling him the chump-murderer..." Rampage Jackson (commentating on the fighting abilities of Wanderlei "F#ck Chuck" Silva.)
by BlueberryMuffin on Dec 29, 2008 5:45 AM EST up reply actions
Isn't it supposed to be UK vs USA?
I don’t think Wandy will pass for American?
" Tell me something Steve, How does a guy from Puerto Rico loose a ball in the Sun? "
Does it really matter if the coach is American?
Wand lives in the US, works here, etc. He just opened up a gym here, and the fans here love him more than any of the other American candidates. I’d much rather him be the coach.
by Michael Rome on Dec 29, 2008 5:59 PM EST up reply actions
How much of Wand’s UFC trouble is with the geometry in the octagon? His strategy has always been to corner his opponent and then swarm them with headshots. It’s far more difficult to do that in an octagon because of the large interior angles (135-deg vs. 90-deg).
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better. -Samuel Beckett
by Scott C. Broussard on Dec 28, 2008 11:23 PM EST reply actions
^That was a big thing for Crocop too
Crocop is vicious when he has somebody cornered, (see Barnett, Alex E, Mark Coleman…) but is a much more reserved when the fight is in the center of the ring/octogon. Wand seems much the same.
I’m just wonderin what Wanderlei usually walks around at. I know he said in the past that he could cut down to 185 but i never knew what he walked around at.
by bigislandboi808 on Dec 29, 2008 12:39 AM EST reply actions
These Mir lovers coming out of the woodwork are funny
Suddenly they "knew he wuz gonna win all along!!!!11" and yet I don’t remember seeing anyone predict Mir winning by putting on a boxing clinic and finishing Nog with repeated 2-pieces from the feet. It was the perfect storm of Mir putting in the work and Nog quickly declining.
Hillarious post, after all the crap that Nog fans talked for months about how he was going to destroy Mir now you wanna whine about the few Mir fans throwing it back in your faces? what a joke. I’ll be the first to admit that I thought that Mir would win by snapping Nog’s leg but instead he won by smashing his face either way plus 1 for me.
I'm a big Griffin fan...
but there were some disturbing similarities between how he lost this fight and how he lost the Jardine fight.
In both, when knocked down he seems to just flail around…I think one of the areas he needs to retool while recovering from his broken hand is his ground game and how he reacts to getting hurt.
I know that people say he has a solid ground game, but frankly the only evidence I can remember is his sub of Shogun.
Now that he is fighing the elites, he needs a way to finish the fight and his lack of knockout power is probably not going to change…so establishing a solid submission game might be the best answer.
Geez...I leave for a week...
and the whole world is upside down.
I don’t think I picked more than 3 fights on that entire card correctly. My man Wandy….shakes head …that was just BRUTAL.
Can someone tell me how I do a sig I have my end of a sig bet with cyph to live up to. Thx
Sure...
1) at the top of the page when you’re logged in you should see your name, click on it to access your profile
2) click edit profile on the page that comes up.
3) enter whatever you’d like the sig to read
4) save it
Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.
by Brent Brookhouse on Dec 29, 2008 11:00 AM EST up reply actions
Thanks!
Now I can wear my badge of shame with pride! lol
I am the bastard love child of Junie Browning and Diamond Dave Kaplan.
Junie and Kaplan?
…I would hate to see the tape from that night…
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better. -Samuel Beckett
by Scott C. Broussard on Dec 29, 2008 4:59 PM EST up reply actions
Seriously does Evans think he is Puff Daddy with those glasses and the suit? He is really in love with himself. I hope Rampage beats his ass.
every girl crazy bout a sharp dressed man
Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.
by Brent Brookhouse on Dec 29, 2008 3:43 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
I almost posted that when I read metaldone’s comment this morning, but I showed restraint. I’m glad you didn’t.
Bolts from the Blue // "It is what it is." - A.J. Smith
Bloody Elbow // "Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit upon his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats." - H.L. Mencken
by Richard Wade on Dec 29, 2008 4:28 PM EST up reply actions
+1 for the dressing in a suit is a-ok with me – looks professional and looks good.
And I’m pretty sure he’s got his shades on b/c his eye is busted up all kinds of good, probably a lot less to do with trying to look cool, but only Rashad knows.
I am the bastard love child of Junie Browning and Diamond Dave Kaplan.
true
I think a lot of fighters wear shades in the post fight pressers, for the exact reason you said.
Also, this whole thing reminds me of the Leben-Bisping pre-fight presser when Leben was insulting Bisping for wearing nice clothes.
When did it become a bad thing when a man tries to look his best? Strange.
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