Another night of UFC fights is in the books, and overall I think it was a good show for the UFC. Despite the various technical problems with the PPV broadcast that many viewers seemed to experience, UFC 64 gave us two good title fights.
Wow. Just Wow. I was very surprised when this fight was announced a few months ago, since I thought the UFC would through Franklin and easy “warmup” fight due to his long layoff. Coming off a seven month haitus and having to face Silva is a tall order. Even without the layoff, its a tall order. It hasn’t come out yet, but I can almost guarantee that Anderson Silva cracked Rich Franklin’s ribs with one of his first brutal left knees. I think that will explain a lot of Franklin being “out of it” and unable to defend. With a few cracked ribs you can’t breathe, your whole body is on fire and a guy like Silva will dominate. Don’t get me wrong, I think it was Silva’s fight to win last night; the ribs just hastened the victory. Oh yeah, and that was the worst nose break I have ever seen in my life.
The Sherk vs. Florian fight went much like I expected. Sean Sherk is just way to physically strong for Kenny Florian and he has too much wrestling experience. But boy, did Florian put up an excellent fight and proved that he belonged in title contention. And Kenny almost got lucky with his elbows and almost won another fight with them. For now, Sherk is the rightful champ. With Jens Pulver’s loss, Sherk is the man. What was with Cecil Peoples and the 50-48 score? That is not even a valid score in a 10-point must system. But more on the UFC judging later.
Cheick Kongo proved what we all have been saying since his UFC debut. If someone gets him on the ground, he is useless. You can’t be a top MMA fighter and be only one-dimensional. No matter if you are built like Sgt. Hightower or not.
Jon Fitch continues to impress. I thought Hironaka looked good as well, and I hope he gets another fight in the UFC. Fitch is a very tough fight, and Hironaka could pull off those sumission attempts in a different situation. And again, what was with the 30-25 scoring in that fight?!?!?
Spencer Fisher is the “King.” Dan Lauzon is not the “Upgrade.” “This one is for you Jensie…” What is that all about. You beat Dan, not Joe. I don’t see how that makes Jens feel better unless this is some kind of middle school mentality.
Clay Guida is just a bundle of energy. Very wreckless energy, but an exciting energy. I wish more fighters went all out, all the time like that. Sure it leaves you wide open against a skilled fighter, but when it works, its exciting to watch. Just cut that hair, Clay.
The most annoying thing of the night for me (other than the PPV static every so often) was Mike Goldberg as announcer. I usually don’t mind him that often, because he and Joe Rogan are used to working the mic together. But last night, everytime Randy Couture had some insight and analysis to give, Goldberg cut him off. Even when Randy kept finishing his thought, Goldberg just kept right on talking as well. This is Randy Couture… If anyone has real insight to give its this guy. Step aside and let the man speak, Goldy.
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[...] MMA HQ: UFC 64: Unstoppable recap [...]
I have to give kenny some credit in that fight, he never quit. It also showed the kind of holes sherk has in his game, he won that fight on sheer intensity and conditioning. Wrestling is great, but you have to do something with it, sherk has alot of potential if he would only expand his game more, like hughes. I think if he got together with team punishment they could teach him how to hurt people from the top instead of just laying on top of them.
I was really surprised by the result of the Franklin vs Silva, rich didnt look too sharp and wasnt using his footwork. You cant take anything away from silva on this one, he owned franklin. Gatties called this one hehe
All I can say is WOW! I thought that the Franklin - Silva fight would have gone a little differently. I did want Silva to win but I never would have guessed that the fight would have gone that way. Rich looked confident and so did Silva. There have been other posts suggesting that Rich did not look 100 percent and I think that is bogus. Rich came out to the same music (AC/DC - For those who like to Rock) that began with the destruction of “The Crow”. Same look and determination. It appeared that Rich was comfortable in the initial clinch until the second or third knee that seemed to bother his breathing. After the fourth when Silva had Rich on the cage, that knee looked like it damaged his ribs on his right side. After that one, when his hands dropped, I really didn’t believe what I was watching. Just a complete domination for Anderson Silva over Franklin. I really think that Franklin should have one fight before a rematch with Silva. Let him heal up and come back.
On the front of Sherk and Kenny….. this was a very good fight that truely showed those that have not seen Kenny Florian the heart and attitude that KenFlo has. I agree with BVRASP on Sherk….. he needs to round his game out a bit more to become a truely well rounded fighter.
I will also make this last observation short but not too sweet….”Check” Kongo….. Spend some time working on some JJ, Take down defense and Mauy Tai. His fight totally sucked because he is the negative example of a one dimensional fighter. Horrible performance.
I agree on Kongo. I think we all knew he probably didn’t have much of a ground game, and I’m surprised Joe Silva threw him up against a good wrestler this early. If they are trying to build Kongo up as a heavyweight title contender, they just blew their chances big time.
Don’t stand with Anderson Silva damn it! Just like Chucko. Makes me shake my head a bit.
I often wonder what in the world the UFC is doing with the heavyweight division. After Sylvia, Monson (not really sure about Monson), Arlovski….. there are quiet a few heavyweights in the division but they just don’t quite seem to have the depth and quality that you see at LHW.
I think that in the case of lightning striking twice it could happen next month with Hughes-St. Pierre. Since Matt and Rich are such good friends I would like to see St. Pierre dominate Hughes in much the fashion that he destroyed Frank Trigg. I do however I do realize the vast difference between Hughes and Trigg. I think that this fight will go a long way in determining two things: the first will be Matt Hughes place as maybe one of the best ever Welterweights (If not the best ever- jury is still out) of all time. St. Pierre has a major opportunity of proving what he said about their first match in 2004. I hope he does.
You could see Rich gasp after a brief rest from the clinch. That is the look when you got intense pain in your ribs. Rich definately suffered alot during that fight. Silva manhandled Franklin in a way I doubt he has ever been handled. I am no Mui Thai expert but if Rich could duck out from the clinch after a chin strike and nose strike why not as a means to get out period? And what about the elbow strike as a defence to the clich as Randy Couture mentioned? Rich just seemed to allow himself to be abused……