Aaron Simpson bests Eric Schafer by Unanimous Decision. The "Red's" striking is still not there as he was roughed up and shut out by the "A-Train." Schafer took an impressive beating but Simpson is the man who continues to improve his game now on a 3 fight winning streak.
Darren Elkins Upsets Tiequan Zhang by Unanimous Decision. C'mon folks, who called it? Zhang is a one trick pony looking for that guillotine all night and never finding it while Elkins got in his shots for a clean 30-27 sweep.
Stipe Miocic defeats Joey Beltran by Unanimous Decision. The Cro Cop fan had more stamina and game than I thought and had no visible jitters when stepping into the big time. The "Mexicutioner" brought the fight as he always does but just couldn't hang with the more athletic kid. It was a fun fight to watch as every fight with Joey is, but just not enough skills as we wait hoping Beltran isn't cut while Pat Barry, who must own nude pictures of Dana White for blackmail, remains employed despite all reason.
Anthony Pettis edges Jeremy Stephens by Split-Decision. There wasn't any "Showtime" in this grinding war as Pettis fought to not lose as opposed to going for the win as he normally does. Its a smart move for the kid who needed that 1st UFC win more than a highlight move. Bringing in wrestler Ben Askren to sharpen up his grappling probably didn't hurt either. Stephens was disgusted with the decision but 29-28 Pettis seemed to be the vast consensus.
* You know what would make an amazing fight? Nate Diaz vs Anthony Pettis. Guarenteed amazing. Jeremy still has room to grow and a throwdown with Ross Pearson or Matt Wiman (though Zuffa doesn't like to put a loser vs a winner) would make sense.
Demian Maia defeats Jorge Santiago by Unanimous Decision though not impressively. Those "improved hands" Maia showed against Mark Munoz were absent here tonight. Demian's striking looked rudimentary but he always has his amazing Jiu-Jitsu to fall back on as he controlled Santiago all night long though maybe it wasn't all that aesthetically pleasing. People are hating on Jorge for his UFC performances going 1-4 all time, but he is facing top competition.
* A step back for Santiago could do him good facing a Dan Miller to find out where exactly he belongs in the rankings. Maia could gain some valuable experience meeting a rebounding Yushin Okami in battle.
Joe Lauzon Upsets and taps out Melvin Guillard by RNC in only 0:47's. The Melvin of old returned coming in ultra-cocky and paying the embarrassing price. A couple of surprising left hands had Melvin scrambling to survive which is where he always fails. A collected "J-Lau" put in his hooks and sunk in the choke forcing Guillard to tap out voiding his Lightweight title opportunity! Hahahahaha I laughed as Guillard did it again being his own worst enemy and Lauzon made him pay! "Submission Of The Night"
* Where do we go from here? "J-Lau" has tons of opportunities now but the upper echelon of the division still may not be where he should go just yet. Guillard looks back up at the Lightweight ladder but he just never seems to learn his lesson.
Nam Phan got redemption defeating Leonard Garcia by Unanimous Decision. This was a fun little scrap that I found more entertaining than the 1st one. I'd rather not see a rubber match but I imagine we will at some point. Garcia still swings like a crazy person but both men went for broke and hit the canvas at various times but never folding. Garcia landed 9 power shots to the head out of 130 thrown which is just an awful return on his investment. Phan set the record for most significant strikes in a single fight with 174 according to Fight Metric which is pretty impressive and 72 more than in the 1st meeting. Phan and Leonard Garcia combined for 274 significant strikes, falling 4 short of the record held by Chris Lytle and Matt Serra. Leonard did win the leg strike war landing 25 while Nam had a big zero. Perhaps that is something Nam needs to add to his game. "Fight Of The Night"
Chael Sonnen taps Brian Stann with an Arm-Triangle Choke in the 2nd round. The "All-American's" takedown defense was not improved as advertised as Chael took him down and did as he pleased before the ending. Chael then got on the mic to continue his hyperbole of pro wrestling cliches which I will not even give the time to. I even noticed at the post fight presser the reporters weren't as into the shtick and pretty much laughed him off without asking him very many questions. Perhaps the rhetoric is wearing thin for others as much as it has for me.
Jose Aldo defeats Kenny Florian by Unanimous Decision in a closer than expected title fight. "Kenflo" had it going early winning the 1st and perhaps the 2nd but then "Scarface" figured him out avoiding the takedown attempts and finding accuracy with his powerful strikes. Kenny just could not get the fight to the mat for any significant amount of time and got busted up as the fight went along. Florian did edge Jose Aldo in total strikes 69-66, but Aldo had the advantage in significant strikes going 51-40. Aldo had almost all the success in leg kicks landing 27-9 and Ken only got 1 takedown in 19 attempts. Statistics aside, Kenny hung in there and did better than anyone else has against the champion to date.
* I don't know where Florian goes from here and neither does he. At the post fight presser a dejected "Kenflo" politely answered questions with short answers while putting his head down between inquiries. A tough loss but Ken has nothing to hang his head about. The guy is a warrior and when he began back in the initial TUF days who would have thought he would reach such a high level? Aldo will now most likely meet Chad Mendez in a rematch.
Frankie Edgar KO'd Gray Maynard via punches in the 4th round to close their epic trilogy.....for now. It really did look like we were watching a replay of the 2nd fight. Gray caught Frankie again with a debilitating uppercut and continued to smash away even landing a just crushing flying knee. Edgar took the beating as Gray calmed himself not wanting to make the mistake of gassing out as he did in the 2nd fight. From there, again, it seemed like the "Answer" found his rhythm as he began to target Maynard who swung for that uppercut time and time again but not finding it. It was still a close battle until the 4th round when Frankie dropped Gray with an uppercut of his own though the "Bully" quickly sprang back to his feet. Then Edgar landed two pinpoint right hooks as Maynard collapsed to the canvas as the Champion bludgeoned him as his head bounced hard off the canvas twice! Gray's eyes were gone and the referee stepped in as Edgar retained his Lightweight title in dramatic fashion! "KO Of The Night"
* Another great fight putting the feud at 1-1-1 and me thinks someday they will meet again. Poor Gray can't catch a break as now all the reporters ask him why he didn't go for broke in the 1st round when he had the Champion hurt. Honestly, Maynard was very respectful in the press conference and handled it all very well. Frankie's left eye looked awful and he is sporting a fat lip as well.
Notes:
Mike Goldberg said Gray Maynard walks around over 200 lbs. to which Joe Rogan was forced to correct him on. Yet another in a litany of ridiculous and uneducated statements by the longtime Zuffa employee who once said and I quote, "98% of the fans who listen to me on a regular basis appreciate my professionalism." BWAHAHAHAHAHA!
Why do professional writers ask silly "What if" questions to fighters? Well what if you jumped on him more? What if you rubbed jelly on your body? What if the sky had opened up and chocolate covered bicycles fell down on your head in the Octagon? Jesus guys ask something relevant.
To the "journalist" whose question to Frankie Edgar was to hold up a tape playing the Rocky theme music, it wasn't funny. Nobody laughed and you just letting it play was awkward. Judging by Dana White's face you can expect to have your credentials (rightly) revoked.
Sir Charles Barkley was in the crowd hanging with Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva. Whad up Chuck?
8-3 on the picks including one of the Upset specials.
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