MMA HQ - Mixed Martial Arts News and Analysis

Just a few thoughts after the UFC 62: Liddell vs. Sobral event last night.

• I have no idea what Babalu’s mindset was going into that fight. In fact, I don’t understand how any fighter could go into a fight with Chuck Liddell and even for a second assume that it would be a good idea to fight standup for a while. Babalu’s one and only fight throught all five rounds of that fight should have been this: “take Chuck down and keep him there.” Why he tried to stand and brawl with a brawler, I’ll never know. Why he swung widely with a man who’s whole game consists of excellent counter-punching, I have no idea. I guess this is the last time I don’t pick the champ.
• The Griffin vs. Bonnar fight happened much like I thought it would. I actually dozed off for a second there during the second round. Stephan showed more aggression and some nice shots that I didn’t think he had left, but I think it was fairly obvious that Forrest would win easily.
• Nick Diaz looked excellent last night. He looked like the Nick Diaz I have been expecting to see show up the last three times he fought. I watched the first few minutes wondering why Diaz didn’t simply try to take Josh Neer down and submit him. But then again, I wondered the same thing when he fought Robbie Lawler, and we all remember how that turned out. Diaz looked very sharp as he picked Neer apart on the feet and then finished the fight with an excellent Kimura. Welcome back, Little Nicky.
• With a few more fights and a little more sharpening up on his skills, Cheick Kongo could be the breath of fresh air the UFC Heavyweight division has needed. The man simply is a beast physically and if he can tighten up some loose ends, he could be a force to be wreckoned with. I’d actually love to see him fight Frank Mir in his next fight. It would be an excellent “big name” opponent for Kongo and maybe would be enough motivation for Mir to get back in shape.
• I’d really like to see Jamie Varner fight again in the UFC. He looked very impressive to me, and I’d like to see him get that shot against Spencer Fisher to see how that fight would have gone. Or even maybe a shot against Yves Edwards. Varner looks like he has good skills, and while the UFC lightweight division seems to be stacked with talent right now, it can never hurt to add more.

Overall, I was very pleased with the fights on the Pay-Per-View. What looked like it was going to be a pretty weak card with all the fighters pulling out, turned out to be a decent event.