UFC 114 Fights

Watched UFC 114 fights today. I managed to remain ignorant of the results, planning to watch it today. It was the first time I bought a pay-per-view fight. I did so because of all the shit-talking that went on around the Main event, Rashad Evans vs. Quinton "Rampage" Jackson. I have watched quite a few other promotions, failing to watch UFC because I felt it too expensive. It is, a bit, but this match provided a high value for dollar. In future I might buy more, or at least link up with others and watch in order to defray costs.

Anyway, here is my take on the fights of the televised card:

Diego Sanchez vs. John Hathaway
Hathaway could have knocked his opponent out if he had developed a better combination in training. He had a two-punch combo that started the opponent reeling, but if he had a knee to add, would have put the American down.

Todd Duffee vs. Mike Russow
Like all one-dimensional lumps of muscle, Duffee was gassed after thumping Russow for most of the fight. He actually turned red after the first minutes of throwing punches, those muscles building lactic acid at an enormous rate.

Russow kept getting clipped as he tried for single-leg takedowns, but kept coming despite a pretty good beating. Duffee was so strong, he would yank his leg straight out of Russow's grip. He beleived his own hype though, and waded right into a stiff right that landed behind his ear.

He got knocked way the fuck out, asking the ref, "What happened?" from his back.

Russow was upset with himself, repeatedly saying in the post-fight interview with Joe Rogan, "That was a horrible fight! I didn't at all fight the fight I wanted to."

To which Rogan said, "I can't believe, after pulling off the best comeback in the history of MMA that you call your performance bad."

Michael Bisping vs. Dan Miller
Despite a lot of shit-talking before, Bisping was all class after the fight. He just worked Miller over throughout the actual fight. Miller was game, though, and kept coming. Decision for Bisping.

Antonio Rogerio Nogueira vs. Jason Brilz
Brilz should have won. Period. Throughout the fight he seemed genuinely happy to be there, fighting little Nog. The entire fight. His kind of pluck and genuine love of fighting is the reason I got into watching MMA in the first place. Nog just wasn't able to get over on the thick-necked and wide-backed happy wrestler. Brilz won the first two rounds hands down, but was robbed by the judges. He was still smiling, and had the grace to say that it was his fault, leaving it up to the judges. He made a fan of me, that's sure.

Rashad Evans vs. Quinton "Rampage" Jackson
Evans is incredibly fast on his feet for a big man, but I couldn't get the image of movie monkey-style kung-fu with his incredibly low posture and bouncing in and out. After landing a savage jaw-cracker on Rampage that sent the taller fighter sideways into the cage in the first few seconds, Evans settled in to work Rampage from the outside. He would dart in and pop-pop Rampage, who would try and land a hook. If he got grabbed, Evans pushed Rampage to the cage and started working thighs with his knees and hammerfists.

Rampage did not capitalize on a third-round, brutal rocking of Evans. Had he done so, and I don't know why he didn't, he would have won. He let Evans recover for a full two minutes before trying to close with him again. Rampage didn't seem that gassed, and his lack of attack mystified me. I mean, his name is 'Rampage', ain't it? I suppose movies are career-enders for MMA fighters, or at least major hiccups. Decision, Evans.