UFC Fight Night: Overeem vs Arlovski - May 8th

[ColinBollocks]

 

Another good card from Fight Night too. I used to skip most of these, but the UFC have made it near impossible since the start of the year.

 

Then you've unintentionally missed a fair amount of shit this year. While it's definitely much better than last year, they've still been half-arsing it with the Fight Night/Fox Sports shows.

 

The Maia/LaFlare card was pretty good but with a shit main-event and a not exactly enticing line-up of fights. The Mir/Bigfoot card was shit top to bottom in both performances and fighters. The Henderson/Thatch show was pretty bland other than the main event - when Patrick fucking Walsh is on the main card y'know its not great.

 

 

For years I used to watch every show from the first prelim right to the main event and know every single fighter in the UFC, but now unless something stands out it's pretty much always just the main-card. The sheer amount of shows now has definitely dampened my enthusiasm for events, that and the fact there's so many forgettable and frankly shit people among the roster these days. 

 

I am very excited about this show though.

 

Fair enough. I've enjoyed them all though. Even the Mir show!

[Egg Shen]

I have the feeling that the Pettis/Jury fight is more about getting a win under Pettis belt before moving to put him in for another title shot.

Yeh, of course it is. The UFC are clearly want Pettis back winning fights. Its a very winnable fight, against a very credible opponent. Good fight.

[wandshogun09]

Gone with Machida, Swanson and Herrig, all on points in the poll. Really hoping for Holloway and VanZant to win though.

 

Not keen on the Pettis vs Jury fight. Aside from the fact that Jury is most likely getting destroyed, it's not a fight I'd have picked for Pettis. I wish that Nate Diaz fight got sorted out. Jury's just one of those guys who's just there to me. He's a solid fighter but I just don't care when I see his name on a card. Even feeding someone like Diego Sanchez to Pettis would've been preferable for me.

[jimufctna24]

I read this morning that Rockhold is favourite with the bookies.

 

Interesting. Machida was competitive over 5 rounds with Weidman, who is one of the most complete fighters in the game. I know Rockhold is decent, but is he really that much better than Mousasi, who Machida was able to beat handily?

 

If Machida beats Rockhold, it will probably be his best win at 185lbs, but it will be far from an upset. 

[wandshogun09]

Yeah, and if Rockhold beats Machida, that's the biggest win of his career easy for me. Bigger than the win over Jacare from years ago IMO, and definitely bigger than his win over Bisping. That'd be enough to earn him a title shot.

 

I'm liking Machida but I think Rockhold's range could be tricky for Machida to get in and out as he likes to. Machida being a lefty could be a factor though, maybe, if the Belfort fight is anything to go on.

 

If you haven't seen Cro Cop vs Gonzaga 2 yet (even if you have), this is worth a look...

 

From Joe Rogan's Fight Companion podcast;

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&persist_app=1&v=qdScynjC81w

 

It's the whole fight in a smaller window in the corner - with Rogan, Eddie Bravo and Brendan Schaub giving their thoughts as they watched the fight live. Good stuff. And that's coming from someone who generally finds Bravo pretty annoying and I can't stand Schaub. Actually, it was Rogan I found most irritating in this clip, constantly doing that stupid Brazilian accent. Fuck off.

 

Mad what Schaub said as well - that Cro Cop was the strongest guy he's ever dealt with in MMA. Something like 'put it this way, I fought a roided up Lavar Johnson and he was nowhere near as strong as Cro Cop'. Said he felt stronger than Carwin and Gonzaga as well when they clinched up and felt like he was "made of bricks". To think, Schaub is a big fucker (still not sure how he's going to make 205 and not die), and Cro Cop probably could've dropped to 205 without too much hassle. Schaub fought Mirko in 2011 as well, when he was already way past his best, imagine how strong he was in his prime? Cro Cop's a machine.

[jimufctna24]

and Cro Cop probably could've dropped to 205 without too much hassle. 

I could be wrong, but wasn't that a myth started by Joe Rogan? I thought Cro Cop had Rashad Evans syndrome. Where his legs were that thick, he couldn't move down a weightclass.

 

Even today, thinking of Rashad at 185lbs sounds like a treat. Same for a prime Shogun, but that has been discussed to death.

[wandshogun09]

Yeah. Cro Cop himself said he'd have had to chop a leg off to make 205. Maybe he's right and it would take too much out of him. Looking at him in his prime, he was similar in size to guys like Chuck Liddell, Shogun, Randy Couture etc. But yeah, he might've been one of those guys who'd really struggle cutting. It wasn't like he was carrying much body fat at heavyweight and, like you say, his legs were like tree trunks. Chuck and Randy had skinny chicken legs. Cro Cop's got stockier as he's got older anyway so I think the ship has sailed on a drop to light heavy for him at this point. Plus I think he liked the speed advantage he had over the heavyweights, it worked for him a treat against big lugs like Sapp, Waterman, Aleks etc.

 

Tell you what though, I'd have killed to see Cro Cop vs Liddell around 2004-2006. Both guys' primes pretty much were at the same time and their styles would make for an exciting fight as well.

 

Actually, something I meant to mention before about the Cro Cop fight - the commentators and most media I read online after the fight were acting all shocked at Cro Cop's awesome use of elbows against Gonzaga. I'm sure Gooden or Hardy even said we'd never seen Mirko bust out the elbows before. But does anyone remember the Anthony Perosh fight?

 

 

 

 

Cro Cop fucked him up good and proper with elbows. A prolonged beating and one of the rare times I've genuinely felt sorry for a fighter during a fight. Perosh got cut to ribbons. Cro Cop's got them Florian razor sharp elbows.

[wandshogun09]

Everyone made weight.

 

MAIN CARD

Lyoto Machida (185) vs Luke Rockhold (185)

Chris Camozzi (185) vs Ronaldo Souza (186)

Max Holloway (146) vs Cub Swanson (145)

Felice Herrig (115) vs Paige VanZant (115)

 

FOX PRELIMS

Beneil Dariush (155) vs Jim Miller (156)

Patrick Cummins (205) vs Ovince Saint Preux (205)

Corey Anderson (205) vs Gian Villante (206)

Aljamain Sterling (136) vs Takeya Mizugaki (136)

 

FIGHT PASS PRELIMS

Tim Means (170) vs George Sullivan (171)

Diego Brandao (145) vs Jimy Hettes (146)

Chris Dempsey (186) vs Eddie Gordon (186)

Who's everyone picking?

 

 

Machida vs Rockhold: I've gone back and forth on this. I undersold Rockhold for a long time so I'm hesitant to pick against him again. But I really like Machida at 185. I'm kind of of the opinion that he beats everyone in the division not named Chris Weidman. And even a Weidman rematch, I wouldn't count him out. Rockhold is a threat everywhere but I don't rate his striking as highly as Machida's and he's going to have a hard time trying to sub Lyoto as well. He's got the reach but I think Machida's speed might be key here.

 

I'll go Machida by decision. I'm expecting a good fight out of it though.

 

 

Jacare vs Camozzi 2: Credit to Camozzi for stepping up on a week's notice against a guy who already spanked him. If Camozzi somehow pulls this off, I'd genuinely rate it a bigger upset than Dillashaw vs Barao or Dos Anjos vs Pettis. At least Dillashaw and RDA were credible contenders, Camozzi is the definition of journeyman. For him to beat the #1 ranked contender on a week's notice would be insanity.

 

It won't happen. Jacare by whatever he wants. Probably another first round submission.

 

 

Swanson vs Holloway: That's your FOTN there, I reckon. I love this fight. I've said for ages now that I really rate Holloway. He's shown steady improvement ever since his UFC debut against Poirier, and especially since the loss to McGregor nearly two years ago. This is his first big step up since those two losses. I picked Cub in the poll but the closer it's gotten I'm not sure. I think this might be the time when Holloway is actually more prepared for the step up. I think the Poirier and McGregor fights may have come a tad too early in his career, especially the Poirier one, he was only like 19 at the time and making his debut. I get the feeling he's coming in ready this time and I really think we might be in for something special with these two. My only fear is that Swanson has more power, aside from that I honestly think Holloway has the tools to win this.

 

Fuck it, I've changed my mind. Holloway on points.

 

Doesn't it look weird seeing Swanson with hair?

 

 

Herrig vs VanZant: Like I said about Holloway, I've got a bad feeling this might be a bit too soon for VanZant. She's got some skills but I think she might've needed a bit more time (although I totally get why the UFC are giving her a big fight) before jumping in with one of the most experienced women in the division. Not that Herrig's a world beater or anything, far from it, it's winnable for PVZ. I'm just hesitant to pick her. I've had a bad feeling since the fight was booked that twatty Herrig is going to win. Hope I'm wrong.

 

Herrig by decision.

 

I completely forgot Miller vs Dariush was even happening. That should be a tremendous fight. Jim Miller doesn't get anywhere near enough love for being an exciting fighter like some others do. He's fucking awesome to watch, wherever the fight goes. You very, very rarely see a boring Jim Miller fight. He's actually become one of my favourite fighters over his UFC stint. And Dariush has been a treat to watch so far as well.

 

Mizugaki vs Sterling is the other standout prelim for me. Mizugaki is a guy who gets little fanfare but he's a proper little battler. His wars with Miguel Torres, Cole Escovedo and Nam Phan were excellent. Sadly, most will probably always remember him as 'that guy Dominick Cruz steamrolled after three years out'. Sterling is another 'one to watch' out of the Serra-Longo camp. Chris Weidman was bigging him up on the weigh in as a future champ. Obviously, as his team mate he's biased, but I like the look of him.

 

Those two prelims are the sleepers of the card, I think. This is a better card than I remembered. Shame we've hardly talked about it really.

[Egg Shen]

This is a top fucking card. Nice little write up wand.

 

With VanZant i know its cause shes pretty, but i just dont feel like shes gonna be able to deal with adversity. I should have put Herrig in my acca but i left it off, think ima regret that decision.

[wandshogun09]

Dana's Dirty Old Man face here creeps me the fuck out...

 

[Egg Shen]

he is loving it!

[Carbomb]

I've put down a £5 on an acca of Machida, Jacare, Holloway, Herrig and Dariush - return of £80, roughly.

 

Just looking at the odds for changing just Camozzi's chances, and a fiver gets you £645. Sorely tempted.

 

EDIT: Sod it, gone and done it. Come on, Camozzi - the streak starts here!

[wandshogun09]

That was one of the best shows of the year for me so far. Everything from Miller vs Dariush on was pretty great, I thought.

 

Rockhold vs Machida was a shocker. Rockhold's really just seemed to turn a corner since that loss to Belfort. Before that loss he was very good but I never really saw him as anything more than another Bisping type. Someone who'd always lurk on the fringes of title contention but would never quite make it over the hump. Boy was I fucking wrong? I really think that Belfort loss lit a fire under him. With each fight since he's looked more lethal than the last, four stoppages in a row over Philippou, Boetsch, Bisping and Machida. That's a title shot earned without question.

 

Machida was looking good early on but once Rockhold was able to grapple he was the perfect combination of being too big and too skilled. I never expected him to be able to dominate Machida on the ground the way he did.

 

The one blemish on the fight though was that big elbow at the end of round one. Clearly to the back of the head and I think it's undeniable that that led to the finish in round two. Yeah Rockhold was dominating anyway but he never really had Lyoto hurt until that elbow landed. Machida stumbled to the corner and just never recovered between rounds. He was clearly still fucked from that elbow when round two started. You could tell by the way he was moving. Much slower and for someone known for their cat-like balance, he was slipping and wobbling all over the shop.

 

I thought Rogan was off at the end when he said something like 'look at Machida's hand, he's not even trying to defend the choke. He's just thinking about tapping. That means he's broke, Mike.'

 

Or, you know, he's still in fucking la-la land and doesn't know where the fuck he is? Just a minute before the finish Rogan was going 'Machida's not moving well. He could be concussed from that elbow'. Machida was done at the end of round one. To say he "broke" is a bit much, IMO.

 

Regardless, I now really want to see Weidman vs Rockhold.

 

Jacare looked like the beast we all know he is. He was in a bit of a tough spot here. If you're rematching someone you already beat easily, there's not much to gain. Plus if you don't beat them as easily the second time, you actually lose a bit of momentum. Say Camozzi would've dragged Jacare to a dull decision or something? But Jacare beat him just as easy and (I think) a bit quicker than last time.

 

It's a shame Romero dropped out because it's slowed Jacare's hunt for the title down. Like Cormier said, Jacare is a victim of unfortunate circumstances. And with how awesome Rockhold looked, Jacare is most likely going to have to take another fight (Bisping if he beats Dollaway next week?) despite being the #1 ranked contender.

 

Not a bad problem to have though. There's a bunch of really interesting fights at the top of the 185 division.

 

Holloway looked fantastic. Utterly destroyed Swanson in all areas. I've been waiting for Holloway to break through for a while, he's been threatening to for ages, and last night was his coming out party. Incredible performance. I'd even say he beat Cub more impressively than Edgar did. Edgar schooled him but Cub's wrestling had never been truly tested before really. Holloway went in there and dominated him at his own game, then tapped him. And he finished Swanson in three, where it took Frankie five.

 

Holloway's the shit. I could do without the God Squad stuff but he doesn't ram it down your throat like some fighters do. He's great to watch though, exciting fighter and seems like a top guy.

 

Got a feeling they might book Mendes vs Holloway next though. Which I can see being where Holloway's little streak comes to an end

 

VanZant vs Herrig was non-stop action. Really exciting fight. To anyone saying Paige is all look and no substance, she should've silenced a lot of that last night. She's a genuine prospect in the cage on top of all the hype. Herrig had been around a long time and had some skills on the feet and the ground, but VanZant just wore her out with her pace and relentless attack. She's great. She's two for two now in the UFC as far as delivering exciting fights go.

 

Miller vs Dariush was good shit. Really enjoyed that fight a lot. Top grappling from both, tons of transitions and submission attempts. Fuck the crowd booing. This wasn't Maia vs LaFlare. They were always attacking or advancing. Maybe they were just booing because their hometown boy was losing though.

 

Felt bad for Miller. He always seems to lose when they go to New Jersey. Healy, Cerrone and now Dariush have all beat him on his home ground. Dariush is quality though.

 

Glad OSP beat Cummins. I feared that was going to be a repeat of the Bader vs OSP fight, with Cummins just ragdolling him. OSP's another one like Rockhold who I knew was good but I wasn't on the hype train. He's looking good at the moment though, no doubt.

 

Thought Aljamain Sterling showed a lot of skills. That was a really strong win. I don't know about his striking, he looks really awkward when he's on the feet, but his grappling is on point. Arm triangle from the bottom! When did we last see a fight end with that? Are we going all the way back to Jeremy Horn vs Chuck Liddell 1?!

 

Yeah, top show.

[Carbomb]

Fucking hell. All but two on my accumulator. Going to watch the fights tonight at least.

[METAL ON METAL]

Very good show. Tell you what, all the up-and-comers well and truly delivered last night - which is great to see for the future of the sport.