UFC Options

[Robert]

Any UFC fans?
I got bored with it a long time ago but now I'm interested again.
I happen to catch a marathon rerun of the ultimate fighter show (season 8). I normally can't stand reality shows but found this one entertaining. It was interesting to get a behind the scenes look at what their training regiment is like. I ended up liking it so much, I downloaded or ebayed the other 7 seasons of the show. Now I'm really hooked on watching all the UFC fights. Back in the early glory days it was amazing to watch Royce Gracie completely outclass every opponent. Now I see the same overwhelming technical abilities in Lyoto Machida. It's amazing this guy hasn't been given a title shot yet with a 14-0 record in MMA.
He already easily beaten several previous title holders.
I guess a lot of people have complained his fights are boring. I think he's the most interesting people to watch because his style is completely different than anyone else fighting. Everything from his stance to his striking method is just so far beyond everyone else out there right now. For example he landed a perfect switch-kick in his last match, never seen that before in a UFC fight. I read on 1 site which compiles fight stats, Lyoto Machida lands the highest percentage of strike of all the fighters in the UFC. Not only that, he also has one of the lowest percentages of received strikes, where an opponent tries to hit him an succeeds. It will be interesting to see how well he fights after taking a lot of damage, because it's never happened in his previous 14 fights.

I predict once he gets a title shot in the 205lb division, he will probably set a new record for the longest winning streak.

[Robert]

Definitely one of the best UFC's I seen for a while, lots of great fights I heard even the un-aired prelims were good.

Warning ......
Spoilers below for anyone who hasn't watched the fight






















Here are some of the highlights from the Evans Machida fight.

1st time Machia buckled Evans



2nd time Machida knocked Evans down




Then the brutal knockout after getting knocked down 3 more times in rapid succession



Another view of the end of the fight




Here is why Machida puts the Art back into Mixed Martial Arts.
During the whole 9 minute match, Evans landed a total of 2 right hands and one really good leg kick.
Of the right hands, one was partially blocked and the other barely connected, more of a glancing blow.
This is Evans best exchange of the interior fight.


1st right completely misses
The 2nd right is partially blocked from Machida's arm and shoulder
The 3rd right barely connected
Machida ducked away from the final right.
Whats funny is Evans gets frustrated and tosses his hand up at the end of the exchange doing a little "whats up" gesture but less than 2 minutes later he's knocked out.

Got to say though, I was still impressed with Evans. His striking has really improved an he's so damn fast. I think he would have won against any other challenger. He just can't compete with someone like Machida who is so unorthodox and doesn't trade strikes from a normal stance.

You have to love Machida's interview right after the fight
"Karate is back"
This guy is the modern day version of Royce Gracie. Just like Royce fought to prove Gracie jujitsu was the best, Machida is fighting to build an defend the name of Machia Karate.


The Hughes/Serra Match was great too.
Even though I predicated a win for Hughes, I'm in the group who thinks Serra was robbed of the win or it should have at least been a split decision.
1st round Serra dominated, almost winning a KO victory
2nd round Hughes wins
3rd Round Hughes got the take down but did zero to advance his position, while during period Serra threatened 3 times with submission attempts from the bottom. Had Hughes partially locked up in an Omoplata, almost had a triangle. Then went for a arm bar when he lost the triangle. All Hughes did was lay and pray until the ref stood them up.After the stand up, Hughes constantly backed away while Serra tried to attack. Hughes then tries for another take down but Serra reversed it and slammed Hughes. ( should have gotten big points for the reversal ).
Most importantly Serra did a lot more damage from the top then Hughes did.
I think it should have been a 29-28 Serra.