UFC 142 Results Recap: Mike Pyle Vs. Ricardo Funch

by Ben Thapa on Jan 15, 2012 7:00 PM EST in UFC Event

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - JANUARY 14: Mike Pyle celebrates after defeating Ricardo Funch in a welterweight bout during UFC 142 at HSBC Arena on January 14, 2012 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

In under two minutes, Mike Pyle forced referee Mario Yamasaki to step in and call the fight. A brutal knee and a swift series of punches had Ricardo Funch huddled against the cage and unable to fight back. Pyle then played up the villain angle and got the Rio de Janeiro crowd vigorously booing him after the stoppage.

What was the high spot of this fight?

The fight is one minute and twenty two seconds long. I am partial to the knee that Pyle threw to Funch's midsection that caused Funch to drop to the ground, yet the decisive manner in which Pyle dispatched Funch with the flurry of punches was rather nice.

Where do these fighters go from here?

Pyle has never been the most likable fighter - as the strong boos from the crowd showed - and has been knocked out by two future welterweight stars in Jake Ellenberger and Rory MacDonald. The right fit for Pyle is probably the winner of the Paulo Thiago versus Siyar Bahaduraza bout.

Funch should get credit for stepping in on very late notice, making weight and being a game opponent. His next fight could be against an organizational newcomer (perhaps another young prospect). A bout with Carlo Prater makes some sense though.

Watch the fight now, later or never?

Watch it now. Pyle's victory is a concise dispatching of an opponent not on the same level. His gym hero reputation looks like it is starting to yield true dividends. This is what upper echelon fighters are supposed to do, rather than have done to them.

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Comments

Funch needed his Kriss Kross braids & he would have done better

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by RECE ROCK on Jan 15, 2012 7:06 PM EST via mobile reply actions

Loved it when he played the heel.

by Magaca on Jan 15, 2012 7:16 PM EST reply actions

Gym hero?

You mention that Pyle has a gym hero reputation. I am not sure what that is, is that the type of situation where there’s a fighter that does everything super well in training but does not bring the same level of skill/talent to his fights (for whatever reason, i.e. mental issues, lack of confidence/nerves, bad training partners)?

by Robert V-U on Jan 15, 2012 7:19 PM EST reply actions

Yeah, basically that

Pyle has been generally fairly middling throughout his career, but people who train with him always rave about his technique and ability. Why this disparity exists is not clear, but it probably is one of the reasons you mention.

"Nothin' wrong with an ass whuppin' every now and then. You take away the ass whuppin's and what do you get? You get people wearin' pants below their belly buttons. I'm tellin' you, you go out these days and see the crack of a young lady's butt. It's crazy, man. They should be locked up for indecent exposure. Look here. See? Suspenders! And a belt! I ain't takin' no chances."

by VenusBlue on Jan 15, 2012 7:27 PM EST up reply actions