If you weren’t a James Irvin fan before, you will almost have to be after this fight. He is showing tremendous heart and class in the weeks leading up to this fight. When I first heard of this matchup, I didn’t give him much of a chance but acknowledged his knockout power and his ability to end this fight with one punch. But the more I hear him talk and recognize his head is screwed on straight for this fight, I really like his chances to make this a battle. Remember, Rampage himself said Irvin has hit him the hardest he has ever been hit in MMA.

Major props to James Irvin. That is a likeable fighter. People were counting him out (for what reason, I have no idea) against Houston Alexander, and he destroyed him. Same thing this time, albeit this is a tough matchup.

Irvin is extremely athletic and powerful. He could pose some danger. Props to him for taking the fight. I’m rootinfg for him.

BTW, nice clips of Irvin knocking Thiago Silva across the ring and then knocking him down with a kick. Irvin was tooling Thiago until the knee injury.