Well surprise surprise, Kurt "Batman" Pellegrino and Nate Diaz steal the show on a lackluster UFC Fight Night Card. Of course, it seems as though we didn't see the good bouts.
1st things 1st, Nate Diaz had to quiet a lot of critics including myself with his dominant defeat of Alvin Robinson. We all knew the kid had great ground skills, but the way he used his long limbs and slick Ju-Jitsu to triangle choke out Robinson was just a thing of beauty. He may look like he weighs 5 lbs. going into a fight with a muscular built fighter, but he looks like a young Royce Gracie with agile and constant Ju-Jitsu maneuvers from position to position as if it were nothing. Pulling guard was the biggest mistake Alvin could make and he paid for it being finished in 1 round something supposed "contender" Kenny Florian also did. Perhaps young Nate does need some bigger name fish to fry.
Kurt Pellegrino came out with a shot and immediately got rocked by a stiff kick from Alberto Crane that almost ended the fight. Kurt shot some teeth through his bottom lip and yet still fought on beginning to establish himself on the feet in the round. He continued into the 2nd with pinpoint strikes begging Crane to come forward and face him. From there he tore the guy apart with a brutal punches cutting the fighter even more than in the 1st bloody round. To the ground Crane fell and turtled up and Kurt unloaded until ref Herb Dean stepped in, perhaps early. Even so, the gashes and swollen eye of Crane would not have allowed him to continue much longer and Kurt snatches the win from an almost instant defeat to go 11-3 in the "Fight Of The Night."
Mike Swick seemed unsure of himself as Josh Burkman went with wild kicks, backfists, and stuffed takedowns in the main event. Lackluster at best, but an easy 1st round win for Burkman. In the 2nd as the crowd boo'd the boring affair of constant leaning against he cage, Swick finally landed a significant kick to Josh and a few punches to win a very close 2nd round. How about some more boring action? Well the 3rd provided it though Mike seemed to finally get comfortable at his new weight landing some combinations but not a lot of damage. It was a fight neither fighter should be proud of but Swick gets the proper decision nod.
Cote, Cote, Cote, Cote, the Canadian came into a fight where everyone (including myself) thought he was outgunned on the feet with Drew McFedries. Couldn't be further from the truth as Patrick Cote landed well on the feet and accepted shot great shots to his granite chin. From there Patrick got busy landing a brutal uppercut that sent the Miletich fighter to the canvas and then gave the ground and pound out for the victory in TKO fashion. Big win for Cote who seems to have survived his earlier "cursed" UFC daze to become a contender.
Thiago Thavares where are you? The brilliant Brazilian looked anything but in a sloppy decision win over journey man Michihiro Ohmygodwa. Thiago won every round but should have dominated this fight with a giant headed opponent he seemed to be leery of. This will not help his cause to return to the UFC Lightweight Top 10 but hey, a win is a win, is a win.
Gray Maynard exhausted Denis Siver in route to a decision victory, as Corey Hill also dilapidated his opponent and won with a long limbed TKO. Jeremy Stephens upset Cole Miller (the Upset pick I wanted to make but was too scared) with could not handle the power of his opponent as body shots and slams took their toll in route to a barrage of elbows and punches on the floor. Matt Wiman broke Justin Buchholz nose to get a rear naked choke and a win that still keeps him well below the Top 10 Lightweights.
1st things 1st, Nate Diaz had to quiet a lot of critics including myself with his dominant defeat of Alvin Robinson. We all knew the kid had great ground skills, but the way he used his long limbs and slick Ju-Jitsu to triangle choke out Robinson was just a thing of beauty. He may look like he weighs 5 lbs. going into a fight with a muscular built fighter, but he looks like a young Royce Gracie with agile and constant Ju-Jitsu maneuvers from position to position as if it were nothing. Pulling guard was the biggest mistake Alvin could make and he paid for it being finished in 1 round something supposed "contender" Kenny Florian also did. Perhaps young Nate does need some bigger name fish to fry.
Kurt Pellegrino came out with a shot and immediately got rocked by a stiff kick from Alberto Crane that almost ended the fight. Kurt shot some teeth through his bottom lip and yet still fought on beginning to establish himself on the feet in the round. He continued into the 2nd with pinpoint strikes begging Crane to come forward and face him. From there he tore the guy apart with a brutal punches cutting the fighter even more than in the 1st bloody round. To the ground Crane fell and turtled up and Kurt unloaded until ref Herb Dean stepped in, perhaps early. Even so, the gashes and swollen eye of Crane would not have allowed him to continue much longer and Kurt snatches the win from an almost instant defeat to go 11-3 in the "Fight Of The Night."
Mike Swick seemed unsure of himself as Josh Burkman went with wild kicks, backfists, and stuffed takedowns in the main event. Lackluster at best, but an easy 1st round win for Burkman. In the 2nd as the crowd boo'd the boring affair of constant leaning against he cage, Swick finally landed a significant kick to Josh and a few punches to win a very close 2nd round. How about some more boring action? Well the 3rd provided it though Mike seemed to finally get comfortable at his new weight landing some combinations but not a lot of damage. It was a fight neither fighter should be proud of but Swick gets the proper decision nod.
Cote, Cote, Cote, Cote, the Canadian came into a fight where everyone (including myself) thought he was outgunned on the feet with Drew McFedries. Couldn't be further from the truth as Patrick Cote landed well on the feet and accepted shot great shots to his granite chin. From there Patrick got busy landing a brutal uppercut that sent the Miletich fighter to the canvas and then gave the ground and pound out for the victory in TKO fashion. Big win for Cote who seems to have survived his earlier "cursed" UFC daze to become a contender.
Thiago Thavares where are you? The brilliant Brazilian looked anything but in a sloppy decision win over journey man Michihiro Ohmygodwa. Thiago won every round but should have dominated this fight with a giant headed opponent he seemed to be leery of. This will not help his cause to return to the UFC Lightweight Top 10 but hey, a win is a win, is a win.
Gray Maynard exhausted Denis Siver in route to a decision victory, as Corey Hill also dilapidated his opponent and won with a long limbed TKO. Jeremy Stephens upset Cole Miller (the Upset pick I wanted to make but was too scared) with could not handle the power of his opponent as body shots and slams took their toll in route to a barrage of elbows and punches on the floor. Matt Wiman broke Justin Buchholz nose to get a rear naked choke and a win that still keeps him well below the Top 10 Lightweights.
Interesting show as the best fights (save Diaz & Pellegrino) weren't shown on TV as we were subjected to the paced efforts of Thiago, Ohmygodwa, Burkman, and Swick. Didn't see that coming and the picks went 6-3 but wait........the Japanese Athletic Commission has overturned the Misaki KO over Akiyama since his KO blow was delivered while Yoshihiro was on the ground (as I originally said mind you). Kazuo loses his win and I drop off one of my loss picks.
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