UFC 111 Post Post

It didn't take long for people to begin complaining that Georges St.Pierre needs to stop opponents and wins by Decision too often. Two fights in a row with "Rush" shutting out Thiago Alves and Dan Hardy for 10 straight rounds. If you still don't think GSP is the supreme Welterweight in the world, consider these facts. While St.Pierre was unable to finish the "Outlaw," the wrestling clinic he put on set three new career highs for GSP:

11 takedowns landed (previous high, 10 vs. Thiago Alves)
6 submission attempts (previous high, 5 vs. Josh Koscheck)
26 positional improvements (previous high, 14 vs. Jason Miller)

Give Dan credit, he should have been tapped twice (Armbar in the 1st & Kimura in the 4th) but held on with pure guts alone. It's hard to win a fight when you are playing defense for 5 rounds but give the savage rude boi some love. Hardy will come away from this fight improved and could make some really interesting fights at Welterweight against Josh Koscheck, Anthony Johnson, Thiago Alves, Martin Kampmann, though I fear a fight with Jon Fitch would go pretty much the same as it did with GSP. Basically there is still and need and desire to see the "Outlaw" fight.

Now Jon Fitch dominated Ben Saunders in their bout but gained another Decision win (that's some form of Decision in his last 7 fights) but really didn't impress as people can't help but notice he is one-dimensional. Granted that one-dimension is brutally effective, but somebody (besides GSP) is going to figure it out eventually. Dana White still wants Josh Koscheck and Jon Fitch to fight but the AKA buddies are not likely to do it. It would clear things up in the division a bit but they will probably schedule Alves/Fitch 2 for the 73rd time. I know its not Thiago's fault but the guy pulls out more than Peter North. People are just getting bored of Fitch and it's going to be harder and harder to sell the guy much like Yushin Okami. Things usually shake themselves out in fighting and I would love Koscheck to get the rematch with "Rush" before anyone else.

Frank Mir is not as fragile as people think. Granted, Shane Carwin's left uppercuts in the clinch buckled the former Champion before he was ruthlessly pounded into sleep, but that was the referee's fault. That fight went on far too long to the point Joe Rogan wanted it stopped as did the world. If Dan Miragliotta can't get in position, or is just plain blind or retarded, he should not be allowed to referee fights! That was bad and Mir took so much unnecessary punishment. As far as his fragility keep this in mind, the Heavyweights hit so damn hard anyone can go down quickly. Also, Frankie was pounded out by 280 lb. monsters (Brock & Carwin) not to mention a formally amazing striker in Brandon Vera back when he was still a shell from the motorcycle accident, and Marcio Cruz when he was 8 months pregnant. Mir will be back but he's about to become labeled the dreaded "gatekeeper" of the division.

Shane Carwin has a puncher's chance against Brock Lesnar, and nothing more.

Nate Diaz looked like a badass at Middleweight (nice work Rory), more filled out, and with punching power. His reach is just deadly and you can see how much his striking has improved and now mirrors older brother Nick. Nate is going to be a force as he grows but I dislike his idea of jumping back and forth between Lightweight and Welterweight. Stick to 170 homie. Rory Markham is 1-2 in the UFC and should probably exit Zuffa soon. Losing and being unprofessional don't mix well.

And where, oh where, is the "Batman?" As far as the Lightweight division goes. Kurt Pelligrino earned the "Submission Of The Night" clamping a RNC on Fabricio Camoes and has rattled off 4 consecutive wins. Kurt was in a lot of trouble in the 1st before he face planted the Jiu-Jitsu blackbelt who was riding his back oh so close to a RNC himself. Very impressive defense and all around performance against a very game opponent. Unfortunately, Batty will always be in the mix but that "gatekeeper" label is always going to be there. Why not match him up with another crowd pleaser like Clay Guida for some fun fireworks between to great guys. It might not effect the Lightweight division much but it could also be a "Fight Of The Year" candidate. And that slam was legal UG readers.

Rousimir Palhares was suspended 90 days by the NJSACB for holding the leg lock far too long in his bout with Tomasz Drwal. This is stupid because there is little chance Rousimir would compete within that time so what is the punishment? A monetary fine would be better but thankfully the "Gorilla's" leg had no breaks in the MRI. Still ridiculous and remember when Renato "Babalu" Sobral got bounced by Zuffa for choking out David Heath and not releasing the hold which was beautiful. I'm just saying.

Funny Verbage

Kudos to Brock Lesnar as he entered the Octagon to meet #1 contender/Interim Champion Shane Carwin when he said, "It was a good fight. He’s still wearing a belt that’s a make-believe belt. It’s all good. I got the championship belt. That’s the bottom line." Good show jackass.

Joe Rogan was nice enough to point out the rubberguard technique was useless against GSP which Rogan's best friend Eddie Bravo had been teaching Hardy for the last few years. Represent 10th planet!

Mike Goldberg said, "Give GSP all the credit." to which Joe Rogan responded, "Who else would you give the credit to?" It was a "meteoric rise" for "well spoken athletics."