Hey everyone and thanks for checking out today's edition. The intro won't be too long today because their isn't much news lately. July isn't going to be much of a noteworthy month so the editions will likely be smaller. With the weather also nicer, I want to be outside more whether it's playing basketball or soccer. These are my few months of no worrying and it could be my last since summer classes are likely next summer. I'm trying to make the most of it until all hell reigns down come late August with school beginning. I'm not dreading it by any means but I know how difficult it will be.
This man is ready for school
Today's edition will feature a recap of UFC 148 which was a really good event. I enjoyed UFC 146 more with the heavyweights but this was still enjoyable. Obviously the main event between Chael Sonnen and Anderson Silva was the most hyped up rematch in UFC history. If you would have told me by the end of the night that Anderson would have offered Chael an invitation to his barbecue, I would have looked at you like your in insane. Instead it happened and it shows that anything can happen in UFC. A few breakout performers stood out from the night like Chad Mendes and Cung Le who really made a statement in their fights. Then it was the last fight ever in the Griffin vs Ortiz rivalry which was my favorite fight of the night since it was so back and forth. It was a great show and I'll recap it all below. Also for the pop culture part of this edition, it will be short but I'm going to do a mini rant on something ridiculous that I saw on a Thursday night. Today's edition will be a bit shorter than usual.
UFC 148 was considered to be the biggest PPV of the year although that can easily be changed. This was a big card for UFC with the biggest main event of the year with Sonnen vs Silva then the last fight of the career of Hall Of Famer Tito Ortiz. It lived up to the hype for most part and nobody can deny that. You had a decent amount of knockouts and a great chess match between Griffin vs Ortiz. I only covered three fights before the show but now I'll recap all six since I have a clear image on what happened.
Welcome to the list of greats Tito!
Mike Easton vs Ivan Menjivar (Bantamweight)- I wasn't sure who either guy was before the fight but seeing how Mike Easton walks around, he got me excited a bit. The fight turned out to be mostly a dud with both guys really defending well and not being able to really pick any spots. Easton had some good moments catching Menjivar with a few jabs but Easton wasn't as good as advertised. He won by decision with the highlight being a take down after a missed spinning heel kick by Menjivar. It wasn't a good opener and nothing really came out of this in terms of moving up the card for a title shot.
Chad Mendes vs Cory Mckenzie (Featherweight)- I only got to see highlights of Jose Aldo vs Chad Mendes but Mendes looked good in that fight against the champion. That made me have high hopes for him in this fight although I had no idea who Mckenzie was. His appearance was pretty unique but it really made me turned off by Mckenzie. The theme of the fight was that both guys know how to finish and defend the guillotine submission. It was pretty interesting how they set this up yet it ended in a matter of 31 seconds with Mendes catching Mckenzie with a simple jab to the mid section after Mckenzie was going for a low spinning kick. He got caught and Mendes was all over him for the easy win. Many would agree that Mendes is still the 2nd best featherweight in the world so I'm hoping to see him possibly fight Korean Zombie for a number one contenders spot. Both guys are considered to be really exciting and would be suitable for a title shot in the future.
Damien Maia vs Dong Hyun Kim (Welterweight)- This was the first fight I was really looking forward to especially with Maia making his debut in the welterweight division. The fight turned out to end in an unfortunate way in 47 seconds. Hyun Kim came into this fight very confident saying how he's pound for pound better than Maia yet Maia took him down pretty quickly but will never get a true answer on who's better. Hyun Kim's head crashed into the bottom of the gate and he was knocked out right after that. Maia deserves the win but it left everyone pretty disappointed and wondering what it could have been.
Cung Le vs Patrick Cote (Middleweight)- I didn't preview this fight because I didn't know Patrick Cote too well. He left UFC due to a contract dispute a few years ago so all I really knew about him is was having great striking power. He was going up against Cung Le who still looks great at age 40. Cung Le won by decision and never looked threatened by Cote. Cote had a few combinations that had Cung Le moving but he never really had any significant strike to knock him down or make him groggy. As usual, Cung Le did his unique kick strikes and managed a few take downs on Cote. Cote didn't look in great shape and seemed to be overmatched by Le's innovate offense. It was a nice win for the 40 year old and he doesn't look like he's retiring just yet.
Tito Ortiz vs Forrest Griffin (Little Heavyweight)- This was my personal favorite fight of the night and I'm not even a big Tito fan. I was rooting for him but the fight won me over on how competitive it was. Other than the win against Ryan Bader, it seems like it has been a while that Tito looked this good knocking down Forrest on a few occasions with a take down or an uppercut. Tito had some nice moments but the reoccurring theme with Tito is that his conditioning isn't that great anymore. He looked gassed near the end of the last two rounds and it cost him. Forrest didn't look that great but he was in clearly more shape and he was landing more quality shots. He may haven't got the noteworthy takedowns from what Tito did but he was much more productive and I had no problem with him winning. The end was awkward though with Forrest walking out at one point then he was interviewing Tito which was strange. I thought Joe Rogan was about to cuss him out at one point but it was all well played at the end. You may not like him but you have to give respect to a true Hall Of Famer like Tito. I'm sure will see him analyzing in the MMA world as long as he lives.
Anderson Silva vs Chael Sonnen (Middleweight)- The main event was finally here after the most anticipation I haven't seen since I got into the sport when Frank Mir fought Brock Lesnar in 2009. The fight was here and it didn't take long for the violence to begin. Usually when Anderson Silva fights, he likes to wait until someone strikes him even if its three minutes long. He'll pick his spot similar to what he did against Vitor Belfort and Damien Maia. He didn't let up this time and went right at Chael but Chael took him down pretty easily. Chael remained on top of him the entire round but didn't land many significant shots. He had some flashes where he struck Silva pretty good on few occasions but Anderson defended really well. Chael's game plan was to clearly go for every take down possible like he did in 2nd round but Anderson defended it well. The second round was full of action and it looked like this was going to be another fight that will go four to five rounds. Instead Chael goes for a spinning back first that gets nothing but air and he falls after hitting into the cage. It reminded me of Shawn Michaels getting slammed into the steel cage thats how funny it looked when Sonnen hit it and fell. That led to Silva delivering a vicious knee that was nearly illegal but replays showed along with pictures that Silva landed a knee to the chest and not the face. Sonnen was rocked but still got up even though he didn't last much longer and Silva finished him off. The feud was over just like that after so much anticipation. It was a bit disappointing but I was supporting Silva and was relieved he won. Sonnen gave up his act and finally gave him the respect that he deserves and now both fighters can move on peacefully. Chael trying to land a spinning back fist will go down as one of the biggest botches in UFC history in title fights. Sonnen should go watch some film on Jon Jones to master the spinning back fist because that was pathetic. You have to give Sonnen credit for dominating the first round and giving Silva credit during the post fight.
Cung Le vs Patrick Cote (Middleweight)- I didn't preview this fight because I didn't know Patrick Cote too well. He left UFC due to a contract dispute a few years ago so all I really knew about him is was having great striking power. He was going up against Cung Le who still looks great at age 40. Cung Le won by decision and never looked threatened by Cote. Cote had a few combinations that had Cung Le moving but he never really had any significant strike to knock him down or make him groggy. As usual, Cung Le did his unique kick strikes and managed a few take downs on Cote. Cote didn't look in great shape and seemed to be overmatched by Le's innovate offense. It was a nice win for the 40 year old and he doesn't look like he's retiring just yet.
Tito Ortiz vs Forrest Griffin (Little Heavyweight)- This was my personal favorite fight of the night and I'm not even a big Tito fan. I was rooting for him but the fight won me over on how competitive it was. Other than the win against Ryan Bader, it seems like it has been a while that Tito looked this good knocking down Forrest on a few occasions with a take down or an uppercut. Tito had some nice moments but the reoccurring theme with Tito is that his conditioning isn't that great anymore. He looked gassed near the end of the last two rounds and it cost him. Forrest didn't look that great but he was in clearly more shape and he was landing more quality shots. He may haven't got the noteworthy takedowns from what Tito did but he was much more productive and I had no problem with him winning. The end was awkward though with Forrest walking out at one point then he was interviewing Tito which was strange. I thought Joe Rogan was about to cuss him out at one point but it was all well played at the end. You may not like him but you have to give respect to a true Hall Of Famer like Tito. I'm sure will see him analyzing in the MMA world as long as he lives.
Anderson Silva vs Chael Sonnen (Middleweight)- The main event was finally here after the most anticipation I haven't seen since I got into the sport when Frank Mir fought Brock Lesnar in 2009. The fight was here and it didn't take long for the violence to begin. Usually when Anderson Silva fights, he likes to wait until someone strikes him even if its three minutes long. He'll pick his spot similar to what he did against Vitor Belfort and Damien Maia. He didn't let up this time and went right at Chael but Chael took him down pretty easily. Chael remained on top of him the entire round but didn't land many significant shots. He had some flashes where he struck Silva pretty good on few occasions but Anderson defended really well. Chael's game plan was to clearly go for every take down possible like he did in 2nd round but Anderson defended it well. The second round was full of action and it looked like this was going to be another fight that will go four to five rounds. Instead Chael goes for a spinning back first that gets nothing but air and he falls after hitting into the cage. It reminded me of Shawn Michaels getting slammed into the steel cage thats how funny it looked when Sonnen hit it and fell. That led to Silva delivering a vicious knee that was nearly illegal but replays showed along with pictures that Silva landed a knee to the chest and not the face. Sonnen was rocked but still got up even though he didn't last much longer and Silva finished him off. The feud was over just like that after so much anticipation. It was a bit disappointing but I was supporting Silva and was relieved he won. Sonnen gave up his act and finally gave him the respect that he deserves and now both fighters can move on peacefully. Chael trying to land a spinning back fist will go down as one of the biggest botches in UFC history in title fights. Sonnen should go watch some film on Jon Jones to master the spinning back fist because that was pathetic. You have to give Sonnen credit for dominating the first round and giving Silva credit during the post fight.
Anderson Silva's Future
Anderson Silva is 37 years old so its clear that he doesn't have much time left in the UFC. He has accomplished everything and is easily the best fighter in the world today. I'm not predicting that he'll have five more fights because that seems highly unlikely. I'm just going to give five guys that I would love to see Silva fight. This will be in number order because there definitely guys that I want to see fight him regardless the odds of it happening. With the middleweight division weak at the moment, I'm expecting some cross over. Jon Jones will not be included in this because I just can't see Silva agreeing to it and Jones won't drop to 185.
Who's the next victim?
1. Rashad Evans- I've made it clear that Evans is my favorite fighter of all time. Evans is a machine that always is in tip top shape ready to be in the main event. He's beaten just about everyone in the middleweight division that he's been put up against which has led him to possibly moving down to 185 to fight in the middleweight decision. I can realistically see that happening because Evans is very determined and Dana White won't hesitate to book this main event. Evans is one of the most accomplished fighters that are active in the UFC and gives Anderson Silva a serious threat. Both guys are fierce strikers and it would make up a great main event. I can't see anyone disputing the chance to see Evans facing Silva.
2, George St. Pierre- The chances have soured in recent years due to St.Pierre going through some tough injuries but I'm not ruling it out. This was a fight that everyone wanted to see two years ago and if it could still happen, Dana White can make it happen. Both guys are near the end of their careers and both guys realize that their isn't much in their respective division. St.Pierre will fight Carlos Condit in November likely then after that, only Rory McDonald strikes me as a top star in that division that can pose a threat to St.Pierre. It doesn't seem likely this fight will happen at the moment but if St.Pierre can get back to being healthy and dominating then they could set this up in late 2013 or early 2014 which would be legendary.
3. Brian Stann- The rest of the list will be based off of middleweights even though the list of guys is pretty weak in star power. Stann doesn't jump off to you as a huge star but he's a true professional that is always improving. His striking power continues to get better and he's becoming a force to be reckon with in the division. I'm not sure if I give him much of a chance against Silva but if he can beat Bisping or whoever is put against him easily next then my mind could be changed. Its hard to see Brian Stann main eventing right now but let it take time and 6 months from now, things could change.
4, Michael Bisping- I'm not a fan of Bisping but for some reason, he appeals to me as a top fighter in the division. He has the reputation on losing the major fight but his skills can't be denied on how talented he is. People can buy into Bisping fighting Silva with how much negativity he garners but it seems like another main event that could be over quick. Bisping is similar to Silva but always seems to be lacking that extra gear and tends to struggle on the ground. Silva could make quick work of him but I'm a Bisping believer and I'd like to see him get a try. We have just seen recently that it was heavily debated that Bisping should have won against Sonnen but the judges barley gave the result to Sonnen. I'm skeptical about this main event but I can't think of any dream fights or any middleweights that I enjoy watching.
5. Jake Shields- This may be the most intriguing pick because Shields hasn't done well in UFC yet he has a huge following for his success at Strikeforce. Shields will really need to pick it up if he wants to be in the mix for a title shot but I'd like to see Shields get an opportunity. It may not be an exciting pick but Shields popularity can't be denied and he could be a huge draw. I'll never forget watching him upset Dan Henderson and it made me realize that he may be capable of doing anything. Even at age 33, Shields has something to prove and I'd like to see what a former icon of Strikeforce can do against an icon in the UFC.
Moment Of Clarity
The world of pop culture hasn't really offered much in the past few days. I didn't see Ted because I'm a pessimistic jerk that can't buy into a movie being based off a teddy bear even though Seth McFarlane is a genius. I'll do a little venting on how people drink these days and how stupid things become. I'm a drinker and probably will always be one because I can contain myself and not hit rock bottom although that may have happened a year ago or so. Anyway what I'm going to bring up quickly is the need to look cool in pictures. It sounds silly but I've seen this countless times on Thursday why people feel the need to make sure there holding a beer in their hand while in a picture. You would think 17 to 18 year old girls would be more mature compared to 14 to 15 year olds but the difference is so minimal that its pretty hysterical. I'm not saying don't drink because I'll admit that I love the taste of beer and it calms me down. Mostly non American beer because most American beer is brutal in taste. It was just odd to be at a bar Thursday and see these girls just hold on to their one drink, then pose with it. I'm not sure how you would rate that either I'm really turning into an old man or the girls in our common day have lost a lot of dignity. People always ask me about younger girls and why I'm always pessimistic about them, well these are just one of the qualities. I'm not ruling it out but I just can't take that much stupidity from someone to do that to make sure to show people they're having a wild night by posing with a bud light bottle. It would be great if I had a police badge on me and scary all these trolls away like a true a**hole cop. Thats another dream of mine but instead I could just laugh and make comedy out of the posing with beer bottles. At least they aren't using cigarettes to pose but then again Bud Light is pure trash so pick your poison.
Final Word/Plugs
The weather is finally going into the 80's after a full week of 90's so I'm really excited to finally being able to really enjoy the weather. I don't hate the hot weather but it can be uncomfortable. I'm hoping to head to the beach Friday so the next edition will be Thursday. With the MMA world taking a break from being the biggest buzz in the world, I'll be talking some wrestling on Thursday. With Money In The Bank coming up, I'm going to preview the show that is this Sunday. I'm also going to recap how special last year's show was and how that night the internet won. It will be a wrestling heavy edition on Thursday which will make people ecstatic or make people want to punch me in the face. Another thing I'm going to bring up on Thursday is the much deserved kudos to TNA for what they did at Destination X. I'm going to wait for Thursday since thats where all wrestling will be covered. I'm excited for the future of wrestling because we've see how things have changed in WWE with guys like Punk and Bryan being at the top. Now Austin Aires has risen to glory and Samoa Joe is finally being featured after TNA wasn't giving him the proper spotlight that he deserves after a huge run in 2006- 2009. I'll also hope to find another pop culture topic to talk about and hopefully it won't be about 17 year old girls being idiots. The world needs to give me some material otherwise I'll dig into society and make fun of their faults. I hope everyone has a good week and thanks for reading.
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