Simply the best, better than all the rest. Better than anyone, anyone.........ok that's enough of that 80's song but holy crap why are we surprised as Anderson "Spider" Silva has done it again. I mean this cat is straight ridiculous and tell me just who at 185 lbs. is going to stop this guy? Obviously Anderson successfully defended his Middleweight Crown (yes its a crown now) by tapping out Dan Henderson for only the 3rd time in his career. They came out cautious and Danny did what he needed to do. He avoided strikes, worked his way in, and won the clinch battle dragging Silva to the floor. From there he just pounded out the round with busy shots to Silva's dome. In the 2nd however, you could just see the "Spider" had flipped a switch as the round began. His stance was wider and his feet busy gliding around the ring. Completely relaxed he came with his speed landing kicks you have to slo-mo to see and finding his range. Dan sensed this and tried to clinch up but they ended up exchanging fists and it was Henderson who walked away. Knowing he had to get it to the floor, Dan grabbed the clinch again and hit Silva with his own weapon a nice knee to the head. Silva answered right back with a better one and Henderson was dazed and on the floor. Silva's insanely long limbs vined into a body lock and he began to open up on Dan but the round was nearing its close. Silva now had complete control of the back and almost flattened Hendo out (which would've meant death) but the veteran turned over to avoid the end. The end was not far as Silva sunk in the rear naked choke. Dan got one arm off but Silva hung on and with just 10 measly seconds left Henderson did the unthinkable and tapped out!
After the fight, Dan said he was dazed on the ground unaware of the time or basically what was happening to him. Silva graciously bowed to every member of Team Quest (including possible opponent if there is a god Matt Lindland) who accompanied Hendo to the fight. Always a gracious winner, Silva spoke of his devotion to the sport, his respect for Henderson, and said the only fighter he fought that he respected more was one Rich Franklin! Pretty cool and the cat is nothing but a class act. For the 1st time in memory folks, we have a new #1 Pound 4 Pound fighter as Anderson Silva tops Fedor Emelianenko on the list with yet another dominating victory over a world class fighter. Can anyone stop this guy? I don't care if Superman crawls from the crust of the Earth, I'm not betting against Silva ever again. Ever.
Heath Herring wanted a stand up war with Cheick Kongo, but instead he got a razor thin split decision win over the much, much improved Frenchman. Heath ran (or waddled) across the ring and dropped Kongo with the 1st punch of the fight ala Couture/Silva. He wouldn't make the Nogueira mistake again as he attacked with abandon. Abandon that allowed Kongo to take him to the ground! Actually not a mistake as Kongo was able to deliver strikes and Herring went for but one submission. Close round heads into the 2nd with Kongo again taking Heath down with beautiful almost slams. Herring got some takedowns of his own and curiously ignored the available anaconda choke that he has to know since he's tapped to it before, and instead worked knees and the G&P into Cheick. In the last round it was all Herring, now in total control and dropping those famous Pride knees to the body. Kongo could do nothing but take it and Herring is your winner. Hey, didn't someone pick this here upset, hmmmmm?
Jon Fitch had his hands absolutely full in his bout with Chris Wilson who critics said would be steam rolled. I disagreed (there is going to be a lot of I'm right in the post so get ready for it) and Wilson's great stand up had Fitch off balance and struggling. Fitch always finds the way and eventually grounded and grinded out Wilson for the remainder of the evening. "I'm ready to fight for that title, whoever's got it," Fitch said. "Serra, St. Pierre -- whoever the best man is, I want to fight them. Once you have that belt, every fight you have is going to be the toughest. That's where I want to be."
Current free agent Andrei Arlovski defeated the previously undefeated Jake O'Brien with TKO strikes in round 2. Yeah, so everyone picked this one right but Arlovski looked good even when put on his back by the former Division I wrestler. If Arlovski gets mount on anyone, you are done. Now the "Pitbull" goes into the market fresh off a win and who knows who will sign the former Heavyweight Champion.
Yushin "Thunder" Okami stopped the returning Evan Tanner with constant connecting lefts and a beautiful Thai clinch knee that KO'd the veteran. Okami gets a big stoppage win and possibly the task of fighting Anderson Silva next. Tanner was shaking his head during the fight as if frustrated with himself. The ring rust was there after his two year absence but it was great to see a class warrior back, and my guess with some more work Tanner can get his game right. Still, welcome back old man.
Chris Leben and Alessio Sakara went to war on the feet just like everyone wanted. They got a great show with both men standing in the pocket and throwing bombs. Sakara struck more accurately but Leben pulled the clips on his hand grenades and finally put down the Roman. Alessio thought things were stopped early but he was hurt bad and had his hands at his side. Good stoppage and a fun fight to watch.
Josh Koscheck got shocked early and often as Dustin "McLovin" Hazelett brought the wicked thunder to their bout. The two ground warriors just threw back and forth and the action on the ground was fast and vicious as well. Koscheck (now also a free agent) looked so good with his striking and just has blitzkrieg speed. Eventually he began to hurt McLovin and dropped him with a high kick to the skull. Followed up with some rabid punches for good measure and it's a wrap. Damn Kos looked good in this fight and not just his blonde Kramer haircut. I'd be shocked if he signed somewhere other than the UFC but some cash is going to be thrown at the Blanket who may have put away his boring guy nickname.
The "Nightmare" is back as Diego Sanchez ran through David Beilkhedsonvergonderman. Whatever his name, Diego beat the crap outta him as expected. Flabby Luigi Fioravanti may have sent Luke Cummo to the WEC with his decision win (another upset pick I got right) while Jorge Gurgel shockingly went to a decision in his win over John Halverson. That would be 5 decisions in a row (3 for wins). Are you ever going to stop anybody Jorge?
That would be a 9 correct out of 10 bouts there people and I've learned my lesson about Anderson Silva. So what's next? Silva vs Okami makes sense because Yushin has that DQ win over Anderson, the only blight on the last 10 fights on his record. Especially sense the UFC won't be bringing in Matt Lindland, Kazou Misaki, Denis Kang, or bring up his buddy and WEC Middleweight Champion Paulo Filho. Hendo needs a vacation and some time to decide at which division he wants to fight and get focused again. I guess you could throw Heath Herring at Brandon Vera but that just seems like an odd fight. We definitely don't want Herring/Nogueira 4. Tim Sylvia vs Cheick Kongo makes sense and could be fun, if re-signed, Arlovski vs Nogueira for the title could be sweet. I'm guessing Andrei is going to be wading through a lot of offers. The "rubber match" (if you count Diego's win on the TUF show) between Sanchez and Koscheck would make sense now and I really don't care who Leben fights next or if I even see Jorge Gurgel fight again.
Then there's a fella by the name o' Jon Fitch. The Indiana native has now won 15 damned fights in a row and tied legendary Royce Gracie's 8 fight winning streak record in the UFC! All this and he's still going to be waiting if Karo Parisyan gets past Thiago Alves. If Thiago wins, the title shot is Jon's since he as already beaten Alves back in 2006.
Finally the big announcement last night was after Mark "The Hammer" Coleman was inducted into the UFC Hall Of Fame, that he would be returning to fight Brock Lesnar in 5 months. Gotta admire the pluck of a 44 year old man still willing to catch a beating.
9-1 people bet like a fool!! And just for the record, I had the "Simply The Best" thing before Sherdog.
After taking abuse and dancing confidently for two straight rounds, both which he lost on the judges cards, Frank Shamrock finally decided to turn it on and unleashed an onslaught of combo punches and a beautiful Thai knee to the head of his challenger Cung Le. It wasn't enough. Cung weathered the storm and returned fire but it was a particular roundhouse kick to Shamrock's arm in the final second of the 3rd round that would earn him the Strikeforce Middleweight Title. Shamrock was visibly hurt by the kick and could not even make it to the stool in his corner. Later, both men would say they could hear the cracking of bones as Frank collapsed to the mat after telling the ref he could not continue.
