UFC 117 Post Post

Well what exactly in a round about way did we learn from the events of UFC 117?

First of all, Johny Hendricks and Charlie Brenneman are really good but getting no love from the fans. Johny of Team Takedown is 9-0 with 4 wins in the UFC (and 2 more if you count the WEC) while sneaking into the Welterweight melee. Both men have wicked amateur wrestling skills and both are developing a legit stand up game as Brenneman found out. I lump these 2 together because they are so similar in style and success. Hendricks won but got out wrestled and both men are going to be nasty in the division. Its just too bad none of the fans know who they are. Perhaps its time to schedule a "name" against these men before they head to the top of the division.

Well, "Mclovin" is going to lightweight. Dustin Hazelett got lit up by Paul Daley and Rick Story and believes the shedding of weight will make him more durable. I'm not a fan of this practice of "if I lose a couple of times I must go down in weight where I will dominate" theory. It has yet to work for anyone of note but someone has to be 1st. We shall see how his body adjusts but he needs to work on some stand up of his own. Rick Story has a ton of power but is reckless and has holes in his game. Story can make some noise at Welterweight as that weight class is just disgusting with talent.

Phil Davis needs a big name and big test opponent. The uber athletic and well spoken wrestler has made the uneasy transition to MMA look silly as he upped his record to 7-0 in the Light Heavyweight division. This cat is just nasty with natural ability and the gift of gab but someone has to really challenge this youngster before he becomes the next Jon Jones. Stephan Bonnar could provide a good test as could Cyrille Diabate who is recognized as a TUF coach. "Mr. Wonderful" is heading to the top but needs some famous pelts 1st.

Rafael Dos Anjos had his jaw broken in 2 places by Clay Guida. You could really see the punch that did the damage in the 1st round but credit the ever improving Anjos for trying to gut out the fight with the always crazy blitzkrieging "Carpenter" on top of him. He'll be back and his striking is so much improved that Lightweights should be aware. Clay Guida is still the man.

So Jon Fitch may move up to Middleweight but Thiago Alves is staying at Welterweight. Does this make sense to anyone? Fitch believes his AKA boy Josh Koscheck is going to defeat GSP in the future and thus will not fight his friend. Jon mentioned the idea of trying out the Middleweight division proving he really is a good friend who is willing to throw away a #1 contenders shot at the belt. Meanwhile, the idiot non weight making for the 2nd time not to mention being busted before for taking an illegal diuretic weight loss and is obviously too big for Welterweight Alves said he will not be changing weight classes. At least Dana White and the gang are getting fed up but Mike Dolce has been hired to slim the "Pitbull" like he did for Quinton Jackson. We shall see but if you miss weight more than once you should be fired 10% more of your purse each time. Betcha that would stop Thiago from not making weight.

Roy Nelson gave it the old redneck try with his magnificent mullet flapping in the wind, but taking an ass kicking for 15 minutes shouldn't make him too proud. There is something to be said about him losing some of that gut though too much is made of his physique. Junior Dos Santos is always going to be faster and stronger and that's just something fighters have to address with technique and better game planning. "Big Country" is exciting though and puts on a helluva show. So let's give him some exciting opponents like Gilbert Yvel, Frank Mir, Joey Beltran and the similarly shaped Mark Hunt would do the trick.

Matt Hughes owns the Gracies. Also, he let us in on that odd fight ending submission. "We always called it an arm in front headlock... it's a blood choke," he said. Hughes won't return until next year but how funny was it when after the fight he took a shot a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu versus American wrestling. Hey Jiu-Jitsu boys, you've been losing that fight recently. What's up?

To Chael Sonnen I give you no credit. I told everyone who would listen this would be a close fight and though he did back up a lot of the talk, he lost. Silver medal 1st loser. Chael can talk and walk but he missed his 1 shot at catching a slipping Anderson Silva and even with a rematch, I doubt will ever get that close again. You woke up the Champion and thank you for that but you choked out there plain and simple. You would think that Sonnen could learn how to avoid that triangle and armbar that have caused his 8 of his 11 losses. A future fight with fellow big mouth Michael Bisping would be epic and seems like destiny for the 2 lip servicers. The 2 men exchanged e-words recently as the "Count" Twittered and issued this message: "I'm gonna beat Akiyama then beat Sonnen, he can't do that to me. come on you salesman!!!! you can't hold me down fag!" When Chael heard this he responded, "If Michael Bisping ever addresses me in public again, I will bury him where he stands." Tell me that wouldn't be the best trash talking pre-fight crazy hype having bout.

Anderson Silva escaped defeat but not his critics. People are hating on him even more now but I'm hoping this will dent that inflated ego that tells Silva to not even dodge punches but just eat them about the face. The 12-0 (in the UFC) Champion actually did have 2 cracked ribs before entering the bout and doctors did tell him not to fight. Give the guy credit for having balls but his mentality of being cocky in the cage and then humble after act is getting a bit stale. Ah well, Vitor Belfort is most likely next and we all know he deserves at the title in a division he has not even fought for yet in the UFC, and a massive 1-0 record.