UFC, Affliction Post-Fight Notes
by Mike Fagan on Jul 20, 2008 4:52 AM EDT
27 comments
-Fedor Emelianenko and Anderson Silva both did exactly what I expected them to do. Fedor used his explosiveness to get inside while Silva dominated an over matched James Irvin.
-Speaking of James Irvin, there's one thing I wanted to note in my gambling breakdown, but didn't mention for whatever reason. Irvin does not react well to punishment. He shut down after Luis Cane hit him with a relatively weak illegal knee to the head which stopped the fight. There was another instance I noted, but I can't recall at the moment. Anyway, while I don't want to call anyone's toughness out, the right hand Silva landed didn't look incredibly powerful (he wasn't able to really rotate his hips enough to get all his strength into it), but Irvin immediately fell down and covered up and stopped fighting. Maybe I'm underestimating the strength of the punch, but Irvin seems to have Bob Sapp bully-itis.
-Arlovski/Rothwell was my fight of the night, and I'm really glad to see Andrei come out aggressive and effective like that. Props go out to Rothwell for putting up a fight and taking punishment, but you could really tell the differenece in high-level experience.
-I agree with Luke that Affliction has many production problems it needs to clean up. I heard a lot of feedback, especially during the in-ring interviews, the transitions were awkward at times, and the second Megadeth performance was completely unnecessary. At the same time, I'm willing to give them the benefit of the doubt for show one, and will be more critical the next go around.
-I heard some criticism of Michael Buffer in some of the comment threads, but I think it's undeserved. Michael is so far ahead of his brother, and watching Bruce do his manic quick turns and his sub-standard announcer voice immediately after really made me appreciate the Rumble Guy even more.
-Cain Velasquez is a beast. That is all.
-Welcome to the UFC, Rory Markham.
-I'm interested if we'll see calls for Instant Replay in MMA after the Burns/Johnson fight, but I think a lot of the blame falls on Johnson. If you're poked in the eye, the worst thing to do is react like you are knocked out. It's difficult for a referee to see everything that goes on during a fight, and turning away from the ref and collapsing face down doesn't help the situation.
-Overall, I thought it was a good night of fights. Pumped up for Dream 5 on Monday.
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Rumble was robbed
Anthony Johnson got effing robbed. He should have won by disqualification. He got poked like five times in the fight.
He was poked once in the first round, three times in the second round, and the final round.
That was pure freaking effing garbage. The NSAC better overturn this to a No Contest. If not, that’s freaking garbage.
"A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on." - Sir Winston Churchill
by FlyByKnight on Jul 20, 2008 5:56 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I agree. Johnson was obviously getting poked in the second round and the poke that caused him to hit the ground looked pretty obvious. Considering the ref had warned Burns once or twice already, I thought he (the ref) might have been on the lookout for more of the same. I read that Burns said he had to throw open strikes because of his hand having been broken. Aren’t open-handed strikes illegal, or at least discouraged? If you can’t throw a closed-fist punch, should you still be fighting? I am asking honestly, not as a smart-ass.
by Cori on Jul 20, 2008 12:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I shouted at my computer while watching the fights today. When he fell down screaming, it was surreal, but when you see the replay, it makes sense. I shouted “Fucking BULLSHIT!” when they raised Burns’ hand as the winner. I was just sure that it was Johnson by DQ. I don’t know if we need instant replay as much as the ability to be flexible with decisions, and overturn them when they clearly get it wrong. Each fight should be reviewed by the commission after the fact, and any decisions like that should be available to be overturned. I still feel pretty confident that tomorrow we’ll get an announcement of at least a no contest, although it really should be a DQ win for Johnson.
The one thing that made me feel better was that I think Dana will recognize that it isn’t really a loss for Johnson, and isn’t really a win for Burns. If the UFC management knows that, then the record doesn’t really matter. This isn’t boxing where we need fighters to have 40-0 records before they’re marketable.
by Jiiri on Jul 20, 2008 10:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Andrei looked great last night. I’m really excited to see him fight again. It’s nice to see the old pitbull back, this is the fighter people were thinking could threaten Fedor a couple of years back.
by Andy R on Jul 20, 2008 9:36 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Seriously, where did THAT Arlovski go before last night? I guess it doesn’t matter so long as he’s back.
by Richard Wade on Jul 20, 2008 12:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I actually enjoyed the Affliction PPV.
A couple things…. Affliction needs to fix (tighten) the ropes or put some sort of netting at the bottom so fighters don’t slip through.
And they need to get rid of the music act or at least keep it to one song only.
by Nick Thomas on Jul 20, 2008 9:44 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Man…Martin really needs to retire, that guy is o his way or is already on the path of serious brain damage.
by IHateMMA on Jul 20, 2008 10:29 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I thought Hominick/Young was fight of the night.
AA/Rothwell? Did anyone ever think that Ben looked like he might have had a chance? I thought AA dominated almost the entire bout.
by Lynchman on Jul 20, 2008 10:58 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Bruce Is the better Buffer
Michael Buffer comes out there with zero personality or passion and relies on having the most recognizable voice in announcing. When Bruce announces a main event, you can’t help but get excited for the fight that’s about to happen. Just hearing Michael’s lackluster introduction of “Tim ‘Maine-iac” Sylvia” made me appreciate what Bruce brings to every UFC event. The only thing Michael has over Bruce is the better catch phrase.
by WC on Jul 20, 2008 11:07 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, it's strange
Bruce doesn’t have the ability of Michael, but has twice the enthusiasm.
by Luke Thomas on Jul 20, 2008 11:14 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Actually, that sort of makes sense, don’t you think?
by Richard Wade on Jul 20, 2008 12:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think the “IT’S TIIIIIIIIME!!”
Is much better than the “llllllllet’s get ready to rumbbbllllllle!”(And there is a vid on the tubes that shows he pre-records his war call)
by IHateMMA on Jul 20, 2008 1:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Bruce has more enthusiasm than almost every other ring announcer I’ve seen, and that’s part of what I don’t like about him. It doesn’t look professional. I can’t think of any other guy who stomps around the fighting surface and emphatically points at each fighter while he’s calling their name. It looks incredibly bush league to me.
I want a guy who stands in the middle of the ring/cage, composed, who reads the cards with an interesting and soothing voice. I don’t mind some emotion put into it, but there’s a point where it’s too much, and I think Bruce hits that more often than not.
Sugar Ray Leonard said, "When (Buffer) introduces a fighter, it makes him want to fight." Buffer gets me pumped as a fan.
by Mike Fagan on Jul 20, 2008 4:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I winced at the “He fought the Law and the Law won” comment. I really dislike it when the ring annoucers try to be creative or funny. Just read the goddamn card. People aren’t watching to see the Buffers do a standup comedy act. The comment about Lindland made gave me bad memories of good ol’ Yamma.
by Jiiri on Jul 20, 2008 10:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Also
Fedor’s destruction of Tim reminded me of Anderson Silva’s destruction of Chris Leben.
by Luke Thomas on Jul 20, 2008 11:15 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Jeff Sherwood predicted that’s what this fight would look like on the Sherdog round table, and I thought that was a pretty good prediction.
by Mike Fagan on Jul 20, 2008 2:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Jesus, look at that. Didn’t Silva only land like four shots?
by Richard Wade on Jul 20, 2008 12:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Props to Anderson and Fedor
Both guys came in and did their job.
Despite 4-6 punches, Irvin was beat up. Anderson has punching power. He’s got skills.
Fedor also proved himself worthy last night. I’m looking forward to the matchup potential being at Affliction.
by dohfil on Jul 20, 2008 12:58 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Nice pics Luke, but I have better ones. Lol.
"A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on." - Sir Winston Churchill
by FlyByKnight on Jul 20, 2008 4:10 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I meant Nick, not Luke
"A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on." - Sir Winston Churchill
by FlyByKnight on Jul 20, 2008 4:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
How exactly should Anthony Johnson have reacted to having an inch of finger jabbed in his eye by a professional fighter?
by George Lucas on Jul 20, 2008 5:10 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I have to admit
the screaming and flopping around like a fish out of water was a bit over the top. I’m sure it hurt like hell, but then so do a lot of other things done in the cage.
If it was hockey, you know he’d be called for diving… that said, I still think he should have won by DQ. But he should also have gotten 2 minutes in the sin bin.
by mythbuster on Jul 20, 2008 5:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Silva’s punches never seem to look like it hurt. But it does. Speed plus accuracy = pain.
by cyph on Jul 20, 2008 5:33 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
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