Brock Lesnar and UFC 116 Delivered the Best MMA Has to Offer -- Drama, Skill and Heart
by Kid Nate on Jul 6, 2010 11:21 AM EDT
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It might not have ended up being the biggest event of the year.
Brock Lesnar and Shane Carwin may look more beatable after their fight, than before the fight.
But virtually every fighter on the card delivered a great performance. There was one crushing TKO, more than a few sweet submissions, and most importantly every fight on the main card was a back and forth display of heart, skill, fortitude and tactics.
I'm very impressed by the heart Brock Lesnar showed, but I also saw him cower and cringe after eating a tough uppercut. Lots of men in the heavyweight division saw that too and thought, "I can tag that big ***** and I'll finish him when I get the chance." I have no doubt the Cain Velasquez, Junior Dos Santos, Roy Nelson, Alistair Overeem and Fedor Emelianenko all think they can beat Brock on the feet.
But part of them has to be thinking, "Oh shit, Carwin hits about as hard as is humanly possible and Lesnar came back to finish him."
Chris Leben has shown amazing growth and finished two very talented and dangerous middleweights in two weeks. I'll be very curious to see where he goes from here.
Yoshihiro Akiyama showed that his judo skills translate to take down dominance, but that he needs to work on his conditioning, avoid trading so many punches and cut down to 170lbs. I'd love to see Akiyama vs Jake Shields, Jon Fitch, and especially Georges St Pierre.
George Sotiropolous is a very exciting lightweight contender. Pellegrino is tough and came in on a hell of a win streak. Sotiroplous beat Pellegrino soundly on the feet (except for that final barrage) and on the ground. Pellegrino had the wrestling edge, but when you're getting hurt on the feet and on the ground, wrestling doesn't do much more than change the scenery.
Brendan Schaub didn't show much respect to Chris Tuchsherer after making quick work of him. I wonder how Champ Brock Lesnar felt about his team mate being dissed like that.
Gerald Harris has earned a booking on the main card of a Spike TV or Versus UFC event.
Most of all every fight delivered back and forth drama and proved an evenly matched and compelling sporting contests. Thanks Dana and company. I thoroughly enjoyed the show.
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A pro Zuffa piece? You’ve confused the trolls now!
You’re very right about Harris. This slam got him some attention finally, but it was his beating of Mario Miranda that made me stand up and notice. Miranda’s no joke despite people not knowing a lot about him, and that was a very solid win. He might be a tiny bit short for 185, but he could have a very good run in the UFC.
http://www.instrength.com
This was the first UFC card my brother has watched. What a perfect card to watch for a first time viewer.
"Even the Swedes are getting mad."-Randy Hahn
"It's very cozy in the sin bin."-Randy Hahn
by 49er16 on Jul 6, 2010 11:06 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Is this the best UFC in a while?
I can’t remember an event where, top to bottom, the fights were so consistently amazing. There was not one dud in the five fights.
Seriously – does anyone remember a better card? Not a better individual fight, but a card? Was this the first card where the UFC gave out two “fights of the night?”
It was wild – nice to not have anything to complain about.
by Clifford J on Jul 6, 2010 11:07 AM EDT reply actions 2 recs
Nothing to complain about?
Come back in an hour when the whiners are out in full force.
“No one locked in a gogo? This card was shit!”
I have accepted BROCKLESNARRRRRR!!!!!!! as my personal Heavyweight Champion!
Baptized in Coors Light and Jack's Links jerky!!!
Dressed in my heavenly DeathClutch robes!!!
by Worldisart on Jul 6, 2010 11:12 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Not the best card from top to bottom..
But certainly ranks in the top 3-5 best cards of all time, IMO..
8-29-09
Keith Jardine is now known as "The Dean of Antihistamine" because he is always sleeping early in fights..
7-3-10
BROCKLESNARRRR!!!!
I don't know about all time or even this year
But then again I’m a huge mark for every event the WEC puts on.
That said, we’ve been spoiled over the last month or so with so many great cards. UFC 115 and WEC 49 also stick out for me.
I have accepted BROCKLESNARRRRRR!!!!!!! as my personal Heavyweight Champion!
Baptized in Coors Light and Jack's Links jerky!!!
Dressed in my heavenly DeathClutch robes!!!
by Worldisart on Jul 6, 2010 11:17 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Yeah.. you make a great point..
But one of the best cards from top to bottom was UFC 90 or 94 ?? I remember it was in the 90’s.. lol
The one that showed all nine fights in the PPV broadcast.. That was one of the best cards of all time because every fight ended in dramatic fashion..
8-29-09
Keith Jardine is now known as "The Dean of Antihistamine" because he is always sleeping early in fights..
7-3-10
BROCKLESNARRRR!!!!
Great card
Similar to this one in that on paper it didn’t seem to be anything special past the main event and then it turned out to be top to bottom excitement. Every single fight made the PPV for 91 and the only fight that went to decision ended up winning FOTN.
I have accepted BROCKLESNARRRRRR!!!!!!! as my personal Heavyweight Champion!
Baptized in Coors Light and Jack's Links jerky!!!
Dressed in my heavenly DeathClutch robes!!!
by Worldisart on Jul 6, 2010 11:27 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Yeah.. Hands down.. best card ever IMO..
8-29-09
Keith Jardine is now known as "The Dean of Antihistamine" because he is always sleeping early in fights..
7-3-10
BROCKLESNARRRR!!!!
And..
The only reason I’d say this card is in the top 3-5 is because of the impact of fights vs. how they looked on paper..
That creates a great dynamic for value IMO..
On paper.. it was an average card outside the main and co-main. But the fights themselves really put it over the top..
8-29-09
Keith Jardine is now known as "The Dean of Antihistamine" because he is always sleeping early in fights..
7-3-10
BROCKLESNARRRR!!!!
UFC 92 and 95 were pretty amazing cards.
91 was also very good. I don’t know if I could pick just one.
Forget it Donny, you're out of your element.
"Was this the first card where the UFC gave out two "fights of the night?"
They actually gave 3 FOTN bonuses at the The Ultimate Fighter 9 Finale.
"Caol Uno was like Mutoh. He developed into a star overseas and then returned to his home country a much bigger deal. Dokojanuse Mishima is like Kobashi because they both do moonsaults. Don Frye is like Stan Hansen because they are both fat dumb rednecks with mustaches." - Jonathan Snowden
by RagingNoodles on Jul 6, 2010 11:18 AM EDT up reply actions
For me it's a toss up between 116 and 110
Ride the Tiger!
by doonerthesooner on Jul 6, 2010 12:10 PM EDT up reply actions
Don't forget the judges too!
The fights that went to decisions were correctly decided, (in my opinion obviously). With Kendall being on his back for much of rounds two and three, they could have taken that fight from him, even though he was clearly doing more damage than Reljic. I am happy that worked out and want to give them props.
No idea about the Roberts and Madsen wins though.
"Deserve's got nothing to do with it." -Will Munny, a known thief and murderer, a man of notoriously vicious and intemperate disposition.
The fights that went to decisions were correctly decided
IMO, the most underrated part of the card. We had nothing to complain about!
"Even the Swedes are getting mad."-Randy Hahn
"It's very cozy in the sin bin."-Randy Hahn
It was a fantastic event
Each fight just amped up the drama one more notch and the main event delivered on so many levels, particularly in the context of the other fights on the card. By the end of the show my nerves were shot and I felt emotionally drained. Fantastic night!
I have accepted BROCKLESNARRRRRR!!!!!!! as my personal Heavyweight Champion!
Baptized in Coors Light and Jack's Links jerky!!!
Dressed in my heavenly DeathClutch robes!!!
by Worldisart on Jul 6, 2010 11:14 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
Best event i have seen in a long time
I disagree about akiyama cutting to 170 though, imo he was about 40 seconds from winning a decision against leben
That was the fight of the night for me
Leben was about to lose merely because he was on bottom. Both were exhausted and Leben throws up a triangle and sinks it in in the final seconds. Re watch that fight and tell me it doesnt get you excited I was watchin with some casuals and even they were going nuts when Akiyama tapped
Chris Leben is my hero
Sandstorm Remix bless your heart kid... Bless your heart
doesn't mean he was still much smaller,
and got out muscled by Leben (who is farrrrr smaller than the bigger guys in the division)…
Sure he has MW power, Sure he could compete against top MWs, but does he really have to?
by Anton Tabuena on Jul 6, 2010 11:27 AM EDT up reply actions
Weight cutting is all but required to be an elite MMA fighter
Both Akiyama AND Leben could make, and would fare better at WW IMO.
Aside from a handful of mid-range HWs, almost all of the very top UFC fighters do this.
Those who don’t include almost of the Japanese I know of (this is largely why they don’t fare better in the UFC), both Machida & Evans (who both could & should go to MW where they are a better fit after Anderson moves up), and Edgar.
by BigDNotDallas on Jul 6, 2010 3:29 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I wonder about that decision. Leben was doing a LOT of work from the bottom, making it pretty apparent he was the more active fighter. You’re probably right that Akiyama would have taken the decision but it’s a shame they give so much props to top control and takedowns when the fighter does nothing with them.
by BurtBacharach on Jul 6, 2010 11:45 AM EDT up reply actions
This had to be one of the best cards throughout I’ve seen; I think I liked it better than Aldo v Faber PPV just b/c of the main fight delivering on the hype more. But I can see how one can nitpick something, I don’t give a shit; I was jumping up to my feet on almost every fight. This was a great card.
One question…what did Shaub do? I must have missed that.
"Is Brock Lesnar gonna have to choke a bitch?"
He did the “extended glare with bonus collar-pop” move after Tuscherer was down.
I blame that noisy rapping music stuff (joke).
he also...
kept saying “Is that it?” “Are you serious” …..
WOW!!!
Didn’t catch that but I do not doubt that.
"The next person that offers me charity or pity, will be mentioned by name in my suicide note."
by Dr. Doogie Seacrest on Jul 6, 2010 11:49 AM EDT up reply actions
Yeah! He did!
I was like, “c’mon, dude… relax.”
Good win, but not exactly talent that was “above-his-skill-level”.
Semper Fi
by ChicagoMarine on Jul 6, 2010 1:03 PM EDT up reply actions
Schaub is a dick
Obviously forgotten what its like to get KO’d. Wonder how he’d have felt if Big Country was doing that shit over him
A burning passion from a burning mass reaches up for the sky
by Shoguns Hairy Forearms. on Jul 6, 2010 2:50 PM EDT up reply actions
What ever i've seen worse.
I would be surprised if he was advised to “act it up” in the fight anyway not necessarily after the fight but I’m sure Zuffa said you guys go out there and put on a good one wink wink.
Ride the Tiger!
by doonerthesooner on Jul 6, 2010 2:53 PM EDT up reply actions
There's no way
the UFC ‘advise’ their fighters to be disrespectful to each other. Particularly after KO’ing someone. Acted like a 100% 24 carat cock.
I hope he gets Big Countryed in his next fight again and someone dance over him acting liked it was all too easy.
Prick
A burning passion from a burning mass reaches up for the sky
by Shoguns Hairy Forearms. on Jul 6, 2010 3:14 PM EDT up reply actions
I'm not saying that
What I mean is they wanted some showmanship to entice a reaction get some more buys last minute. Was it a dick move? Yes. But he’s normally real respectful to his opponents. I’m not gonna write him off for one dick move, if I did there’s alot of fighters that I’d have to do the same. At least he’s not as bad as Thiago Silva.
Ride the Tiger!
by doonerthesooner on Jul 6, 2010 3:31 PM EDT up reply actions
Come on man
All he had to do was fight with heart and skill which he did. He also finished really well. Everyones happy with that but the showboating was too much. He’s not even achieved any real status as a fighter yet.
Silva is gangsta which is why he acts like a berk when he finishes, Schaub is just some middle class white boy. Not excusing Silva by the way, i like the throat slit to the camera but dont like him standing over unconscious opponents.
BTW, you should’ve wrote Schaub off when he was KO’d by Big Country. He’s too small for that division and too big for 205. Stuck in weight class purgatory
A burning passion from a burning mass reaches up for the sky
by Shoguns Hairy Forearms. on Jul 6, 2010 3:37 PM EDT up reply actions
Him and JDS are about the same size.
He’s a football player I’m assuming that’s where the standing over him and talking shit came from. I don’t mind it in football so I can’t really say anything about it in MMA.
Ride the Tiger!
by doonerthesooner on Jul 6, 2010 4:14 PM EDT up reply actions
I think JDS is a lot thicker than Schaub
Also, way more talented.
I like a bit of bravado man, dude get me wrong but not when it becomes condescending. I think he was out of line.
We’ll see if he carries it on in the future. Everyone can get carried away I guess
A burning passion from a burning mass reaches up for the sky
by Shoguns Hairy Forearms. on Jul 6, 2010 5:00 PM EDT up reply actions
It's getting harder and harder
to pull for Schaub. He’s definitely got some McSweeney in him. notice how Brenden stood Tursherer over him for a second or 4 and stared down at him before he brushed his shoulder off.
"The next person that offers me charity or pity, will be mentioned by name in my suicide note."
by Dr. Doogie Seacrest on Jul 6, 2010 11:35 AM EDT up reply actions
ahhh…. ok.
but do u guys think there might have been some bad blood before the fight???
but that is weak.
from what I have heard/read
I think it was just a camp vs camp thing.
I honestly don’t know if there was “beef” there outside of the fact that the main event’s training partners were fighting each other.. Brock/Chris T. and Carwin/Brenden
"The next person that offers me charity or pity, will be mentioned by name in my suicide note."
by Dr. Doogie Seacrest on Jul 6, 2010 11:42 AM EDT up reply actions
my thing is....
He just got knocked the &$#( off by Nelson, so he isn’t in a position to act like that….
Yeah Nelson is a nobody!
It’s not like he’s a contender for a title shot anytime in the near future or anything
I'm not implying
that Nelson is a nobody. I’m saying don’t act like you are tough s**t when you got knocked the hell out 2 fights ago.
Roy Nelson is not a nobody.
Especially compared to Brendan Schaub at this point in their respective careers.
by BurtBacharach on Jul 6, 2010 12:22 PM EDT up reply actions
Nelson is DEFINITELY not a fighter to sleep on.
He might not be top 5 material, but he certainly can stand and fight with some of the better fighters in his weight division.
Semper Fi
by ChicagoMarine on Jul 6, 2010 1:04 PM EDT up reply actions
As a matter of fact I think....
Nelson is going to beat Dos Santos.
He did the "extended glare with bonus collar-pop" move after Tuscherer was down.
Brushing the dirt off his shoulder IMO, not a collar pop.
Great article, I was on the fence about buying this ppv. Now I’m glad I did, the people I watched it with were casual fans to say the least. They seemed very entertained by the entire card not just the main event. Great card for new fans to get hooked.
by havomaster on Jul 6, 2010 11:32 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
It will be interesting to see
if there will be a high replay value for the PPV. Lackluster hype might lead to bad buyrates. Hopefully the replay numbers can help that out…
There is only one God
and Brock Lesnar is his prophet.
Por isso eu tomo ópio / é um remédio / sou um convalescente do momento / moro no rés-do-chão do pensamento / e ver passar a vida faz-me tédio
by Gremio on Jul 6, 2010 11:52 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Mohammed didn’t tap
"Deserve's got nothing to do with it." -Will Munny, a known thief and murderer, a man of notoriously vicious and intemperate disposition.
by PapaBumpants on Jul 6, 2010 11:59 AM EDT up reply actions
I’d love to see Akiyama vs Jake Shields, Jon Fitch, and especially Georges St Pierre.
So you’re saying you’d love to see Akiyama tap some more? ;)
Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.
MMA Editor - SBNation.com
by Brent Brookhouse on Jul 6, 2010 12:43 PM EDT reply actions 4 recs
lol
When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are in a confederacy against him. - Jonathan Swift
Fightlinker.com
by Derek Suboticki on Jul 6, 2010 2:42 PM EDT up reply actions
Love the recap
And all of the respect for the fighters.
great job!
I apologize for my never-ending assault on the English Language. I feel like Qui the promoter from Jade Empire...
This article pretty much sums up how I feel about it.
UFC 116 is, as of now, my favorite single event ever.
Great card, poor main event. If those are the Top HW's in MMA, then MMA is in a sad state of affairs.
Lesnar looked lost on his feet and Carwin gassed so quick it was funny.
Good Stuff
Pellegrino had the wrestling edge, but when you’re getting hurt on the feet and on the ground, wrestling doesn’t do much more than change the scenery.
Best line I’ve read all week. +1
i wish leben akiyama got half the publicity that brock vs carwin has gotten
the leben fight was one of the best fights i’ve ever seen
it was set up but lebens quick turn around
a back and forth war that ended dramatically and in a way no one expected
leben vs akiyama was a display of everything great about mma
lesnar carwin can’t hold a candle to what we saw from the two warriors that preceeded them on that card.
by Johnathan Willis on Jul 6, 2010 3:48 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
I don't know if I would say can't hold a candle,
but it was my favorite fight of the card.
Ride the Tiger!
by doonerthesooner on Jul 6, 2010 4:15 PM EDT up reply actions
I’m very impressed by the heart Brock Lesnar showed, but I also saw him cower and cringe after eating a tough uppercut. Lots of men in the heavyweight division saw that too and thought, “I can tag that big * and I’ll finish him when I get the chance.” I have no doubt the Cain Velasquez, Junior Dos Santos, Roy Nelson, Alistair Overeem and Fedor Emelianenko all think they can beat Brock on the feet.
If they actually believe that then they are fooling themselves, fact is if they were in the same position as Lesnar they would have been stopped. It’s a scary thought that Lesnar can take that type of punishment then come out with a smile on his face the next round, i’d be crapping my pants if I was any of those guys. Since none of them are 265 pound wrestlers with massive KO power, which still wasn’t enough to beat a Brock who now has submissions.
"they mad at me, I keep going hard reppin/
cause what's your Rampage to Rashad Evans/"
-Joe Budden (Something To Ride To)
http://www.zshare.net/audio/76866807deabe3c1/
lesnar over rated
when carwin hit him lesnar cowered like a little biatch - sorry lesnar nut huggers- very short
but the reign of lesnar will be short lived
Considering all angles, 116 was one of the top 3 events in MMA (w/ prelims)
Each fighter brought their game and heart to the fights. Each fighter took risks and fought to win by stoppage.
Each fight was a mixture of striking and grappling, and each type was diverse. Almost every fight had clear pivotal moments when one person took the lead from the other then lost it.
Each referee did a commendable job on their fights. Some even did outstanding. There wasn’t any outrageous calls.
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