UFC 75 So Sad To Say

Well that didn't go too well did it? Lets start off with the picks for once. We went a gawd awful 4-4! That is just unacceptable and we must rebound, much like Mirko Cro Cop must take a step back and rebuild his now waining career. Who woulda thunk it? X-Mas comes early for Bisping and Rampage is the legit Champ. Now on to it.

Quinton "Rampage" Jackson survived a tough 1st round to go on to a decision win over Dan Henderson to unify the Pride FC and UFC Light Heavyweight titles. It was really a war of attrition as Rampage just seemed to slowly pull away in this fight, as his size and power just seemed too much for Middleweight Dan. Good fight none the less and Dan hung in there winning a few rounds but was dropped at the end of the 5th and if the fight had gone on longer, he would've been stopped. Congrats to Rampage for silencing the critics, and now we should unify the UFC and Pride FC Middleweight titles with Dan Henderson vs Anderson Silva (if he gets past Rich Franklin in their rematch). Who's with me?

Merry X-Mas Michael Bisping, the judges in England gave the hometown boy his gift early this year with a split decision win over a much improved Matt Hamill. Matt came out and straight dominated the 1st round out striking Bisping the striker! In the 2nd, Mike found a little more of his rhythm but it was still Matt's fight winning the takedowns and most of the stand up as well. It was a close round which would come in to play at the end. In the 3rd, Matt was gassed and Bisping took over though he could not finish the fight, he easily won the final round. We the score cards were read, Bisping got the decision which was partially boo'd by the British crowd! The judges were all over the place with one giving Matt all the rounds which was wildly incorrect, and the others narrowly nodding to Mike. Controversy, and Bisping will have a lot of critics now while Matt is looking like a much improved and dangerous fighter.

Cheick Kongo broke Mirko Cro Cop's rib in the 1st round, then his nuts in subsequent rounds. The giant of France lost he beginning stanza, but roared back in the 2nd outworking Cro Cop in every facet of the game and making Mirko look confused and at a loss. Cheick also landed another knee to the groin (the one in the 1st was missed by the ref), and yet another while the ref was trying to stop him! A point should have been taken as Cro Cop knelt to the canvas in obvious pain. In the final round Cro Cop's rib took all his air away and he couldn't do anything except defend Kongo who paced himself to a decision win. Now mind you, with the point deduction that should have happened, this bout would be a draw. But it is none the less a devastating loss for the Croation, and the 1st back to back losses in his career. A huge upset as Kongo moves back into contention and Mirko goes home to reevaluate a career in major trouble.

The "Fight of the Night" was delivered by the "Irish Hand Grenade" Marcus Davis, who survived a brutal head kick and subsequent ass whipping at the hands of Paul Taylor. Davis seemed almost out of the fight when he miraculously rebounded to turn the tide and deliver some punishment of his own until he secured the armbar for the tapout win. This guy has come so far from his boxing roots and The Ultimate Fighter that he is almost unrecognizable. He has developed a ground game, still has his powerful hands but with better control, and is on a 10 fight winning streak as he continues to improve in leaps and bounds. Watch this kid, he is on the rise in the Welterweight division. For his stellar performance Marcus was awarded an extra $40,000 for "Fight of the Night," and $40,000 more for "Submission of the Night" on top of his regular salary. Guess Dana White is starting to hand out the money after all.

Chute Boxe's hot prospect Thiago Silva survived a brutal 1st round at the hands of Germany's Tomasz Drwal to gain another TKO in the 2nd period and run his perfect record to 11-0.

Houston Alexander did it again KOing Alessio Sakara in just over 1 minute of their fight. I'm saying this again people, do not trade punches with Houston and for God's sake, do not clinch with him. Amazing KO!

Jess Liaudin defeated "Crush" Torres and Dennis Siver beat Naoyuki Kotani in a fight I didn't even know was on the card.

Yet another great card from Merry Ole' England and free to boot! My question is who will step up to be the legit #1 contender for Rampage's title? If Chuck Liddell beats Keith Jardine at the next PPV he is supposed to fight Wanderlei Silva, and if Keith pulls the upset he still needs more fights after the embarrassing loss to Houston Alexander. If Shogun Rua can get past Forrest Griffin, he's a lock, and a man who already beat Jackson. If he falters, Griffin isn't ready though it would sell PPV's. Maybe they shouldn't have fired Babalu Sobral so fast?