UFC 82 Take-Aways
by Michael Rome on Mar 2, 2008 8:37 AM EST
in MMA News
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PrintAnderson Silva is a cut above: After going 5 rounds against Quinton Jackson without ever being in trouble, Dan Henderson was crushed by Anderson Silva. It's hard to know where they go with Anderson Silva next. Matt Hughes has talked up moving up to fight him, and that is an intriguing fight. Wanderlei Silva moving down is also a possibility. Who knows at this point? Maybe they should use him as some sort of punishment mechanism for fighters that have shitty fights. If you bore the crowd, you have to face Anderson Silva. Better than a yellow card, right?
The element of surprise Is overrated: Instead of using his stellar kickboxing, Kongo decided to surprise Herring by taking this to the ground. Unfortunately, Kongo still stinks there, no matter what Rogan says. There's a reason Chuck doesn't surprise people by pulling guard and going for submissions. Stick with what you're good at.
Jon Fitch is no longer a lock for a title shot: Fitch's win tonight was actually pretty underwhelming. In all honesty, I see GSP crushing him, I don't see much point in doing that fight. If Karo has a thrilling fight and beats up Alves badly, I could see UFC giving him the next title shot.
Second time is not a charm: The crowd tonight was nowhere near as good as it was for UFC 68. The same was true when the UFC returned to Sacramento last year. It seems like they draw big, excited crowds for their first time in a city, but face a more jaded crowd the second time around. Part of the problem is they often start off cities with amazing cards, and the second is a letdown. There's something to be said for slowly building.
Update [2008-3-2 8:37:23 by Nick Thomas]: BloodyElbow.com Staff Predictions Results for 2008. After going 9 for 10 last night, I've managed to sneak into first place.
Luke Thomas: 7/10 (Henderson, Kongo, Tanner)
Kid Nate: 6/10 (Henderson, Cummo, Hazelett, Halverson)
Brent Brookhouse: 8/10 (Tanner, Halverson)
Michael Rome: 6/10 (Henderson, Tanner, Cummo, Halverson)
Nick Thomas: 9/10 (Kongo)
Luke Thomas: 34/56 - 61%
Kid Nate: 28/44 - 63%
Brent Brookhouse: 25/41 - 61%
Michael Rome: 30/45 - 67%
Nick Thomas: 31/45 - 69%
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Re: UFC 82 Take-Aways
Re: UFC 82 Take-Aways
Re: UFC 82 Take-Aways
Re: UFC 82 Take-Aways
For the next six months, Anderson Silva learns English. During this time, the middleweight division can work itself out and provide Silva with a (more) definitive number one contender. He comes back, he promotes his own fights instead of allowing everyone's translator and disembodied voices to speak for him, and he faces an opponent that everyone agrees is the top contender.
In reality, he'll be fighting Yushin Okami in July.
Re: UFC 82 Take-Aways
Re: UFC 82 Take-Aways
Re: UFC 82 Take-Aways
I guess you would rather see a fight between Chris Leben and Josh Kosech.
When UFC bought Pride, I was sure we would the best fighters fight each other.
But I guess I was wrong.
Why don´t you make a american only belt, that way you could have more champions.
Re: UFC 82 Take-Aways
Settle down man, we're friends here. BE loves the Brazilian fighters, we're just discussing how to make Anderson Silva the star he deserves to be with (stupid) American audiences.
Re: UFC 82 Take-Aways
Re: UFC 82 Take-Aways
by bk on Mar 2, 2008 5:43 AM EST reply actions
Re: UFC 82 Take-Aways
"Jon Fitch is no longer a lock for a title shot: Fitch's win tonight was actually pretty underwhelming. In all honesty, I see GSP crushing him, I don't see much point in doing that fight. If Karo has a thrilling fight and beats up Alves badly, I could see UFC giving him the next title shot."
GSP would crush Karo too. Okami will get crushed by Silva, but that's no reason to not give him a title shot, given the state of the division. It's pretty reactionary for them to play Indian giver with the title shot again just because he had an "underwhelming" win.
by MikeyPatriot on Mar 2, 2008 5:51 AM EST reply actions
Re: UFC 82 Take-Aways
And I was pretty sure that Hendo won the first round solidly, so I didnt see any crushing going on.
6/10 for this event. Just goes to show, it doesnt take a stacked card to have a great card. That last one was at least twice as good as this one.
by MoreThanUFC on Mar 2, 2008 8:13 AM EST reply actions
Re: UFC 82 Take-Aways
Re: UFC 82 Take-Aways
That would be kinda funny if they promised Fitch a title shot and then took it away and gave it to Karo. Poetic justice, bro!
I saw on the "internets" where some are likening Anderson to Floyd Mayweather. I can see it, both have generally outclassed the competition to the point where you aren't paying to see them win, you are paying to see someone try and beat them. I was watching the Inside the MMA show this week and they went into a piece about gameness with author Sam Sheridan and it made me think about why Anderson Silva hasn't connected with the UFC audience. Silva and Pretty Boy Floyd fight on a level where there is never a situation where we see there "gameness" come through......the Inside MMA crew elaborated a bit about how that gameness endears an athlete to an american crowd (Clay Guida, would be an example). I don't think it is such much a language barrier that is preventing Anderson from becoming a superstar, but his seeming impenetrability. Even Fedor had his moment of doubt and pain with Randleman, getting dropped on his head and then subbing KR.
Re: UFC 82 Take-Aways
by MikeyPatriot on Mar 2, 2008 12:12 PM EST up reply actions
Re: UFC 82 Take-Aways
Re: UFC 82 Take-Aways
Honestly I did pretty poorly this time. I only really analyzed four of the fights I cared about. The rest were based on what I wanted to happen. In the future, this will change...
I've got another takeaway for ya, Leben sucks. His striking and defense were the same they always were, crappy-brawler like. Sure, he hits like a truck, but any top 185er destroys him, as usual. Can anyone see him beating Okami, Nate, Bisping now, Franklin, or even Misaki, Kang, Aka., Mayhem, or Shamrock? No.
by MoreThanUFC on Mar 2, 2008 12:28 PM EST up reply actions
Re: UFC 82 Take-Aways
Re: UFC 82 Take-Aways
Re: UFC 82 Take-Aways
You really need to get the rest of the guys to pick the whole card. I'm like 85% this year of the TV portion. It's the undercard bouts that almost always get me.
by MoreThanUFC on Mar 2, 2008 3:53 PM EST up reply actions
Re: UFC 82 Take-Aways
And because I need to get my record up.
by Brent Brookhouse on Mar 2, 2008 7:40 PM EST up reply actions
Re: UFC 82 Take-Aways
Re: UFC 82 Take-Aways
It's funny. I can watch fights, attempt to pick the winner and how, know who my more favorite fighter is going in, etc, and still find my mind changing as I watch.
I really wanted Tanner to win, but with a minute I wanted Okami to destroy him.
I thought Hendo would win, and was psyched by the first, but then at the ring for 2 I was hoping Silva KOed him in Crocop style.
I either find myself pulling for the underdog, or I guy who shows the most grit and martial arts spirit. Maybe its because I got in to MA from being beat up everyday after school for 2 years until I was 16. I'd love to find some of them today... In my advanced years of 36, I'd have to reason with them of course... Bas style. "Ooh, looky here..."
by MoreThanUFC on Mar 3, 2008 6:38 AM EST up reply actions
Re: UFC 82 Take-Aways
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