PMBR wrote: Miller vs Bocek
I didn't have this fight being close. I thought Jim Miller would come out and get a quick submission and then go home. These guys showed great heart and rolled well together. I'd like to see a rematch, as I think Bocek got boned on that decision. I do understand why Miller got the decision, as he got Bocek's back at the last second. One of the most impressive things I've ever seen was Jim Miller defending the choke for more than 2 full minutes, despite only having one arm.
Yeh could have gone either way to be honest. Miller himself said he wouldnt have been surprised to hear Boceks name called after the fight. Full of nice transitions this one.
PMBR wrote: Fitch vs Saunders
The exact quote I said last night before this fight started is, I love Ben Saunders, but his name isn't GSP, so he doesn't stand a chance here. Jon Fitch proved that a strong wrestling base is still the most stifling offense in MMA today. In case you disagree, GSP supported his thesis 2 hours later. I don't like that Jon Fitch thinks he deserves another title shot after last night. As much of a Ben Saunders fan as I am, we all know that he isn't close to being a contender, nor was he ever. At the press conference last night, he talked about how important getting a title shot was to him. Dana said that he can fight Koscheck for #1 contendership and Fitch balked. Dana fired back at him with "I guess it's not that important."
I agree Fitch wouldnt stand a chance again with GSP.
In FItchs defence though you only recounted part of the story there. Fitch doesnt want to fight Kos because they're teammates at AKA. I dont think that fight will happen, but, I dont see Fitch fighting GSP unless he gets through Alves again first.
PMBR wrote: Pellegrino vs Camoes
Kurt Pellegrino impressed the shit out of me last night. Great choke. I thought he was going to get tapped in the first, but he persevered.
Yes I didnt expect Batman to look as good as he did. Slick BJJ, very strong performance.
PMBR wrote: Palhares/Drwal
No sooner did I get the phrase "this guy has killer leg locks" out of my mouth before this fight was over. 90 day suspension to Palhares for not letting the move go soon enough. I think this fight is a good example of why the heel hook needs to be banned. Drwal looks as thought something has been torn and he tapped almost immediately.
Well, I saw this fight ending 2 ways - the way it actually did end, or with Drwal KO'ing Palhares if he could keep it on the feet. I picked wrong.
I completely disagree about the heel hook though. The heel hook was not the issue here. The issue was Paul Harris not letting go of it.
PMBR wrote: Carwin vs Mir
This fight happened nearly the exact way that I expected it to. I posed the question yesterday of "what should Mir's gameplan be". Apparently Frank wanted to stand and trade, as he didn't try and get the fight down at all. He looks much slower now that he has beefed up too. Carwin is a scary dude and I definitely agree that the fight should have been stopped a little sooner. Mir ate 3 horrible punches while unconscious.
He is slower now hes bigger. Dont think there was anything wrong with him (though given his stalkerish weirdness of the past year or so, it wouldnt surprise me if Brocks cage-side attendance got inside his head), I think he just got rocked and kept getting more rocked until goodnight. Those uppercuts were nasty, right to the temple too...
PMBR wrote: GSP vs Hardy
Hardy came into the fight with an awful, awful gameplan. He tried to stop the takedown, and was so worried about it that he seemed very hesitant with his hands. He was gunshy for most of the opportunities he had. GSP's takedowns are amazing, and you aren't going to stop them. You might as well swing for the fences until he takes you down, then stand back up as soon as possible and do it all over again. Dan Hardy impressed me though with his mental and physical toughness. I think the ref should have stepped in and stopped the fight during those submissions. Pride and determination is what prevented Hardy from tapping and he showed a bit of disregard for his own safety. GSP being unable to finish left him with a very frustrated look on his face for most of the night. Georges did exactly what he needed to do. He got the takedowns and he went for lots of submissions. He got 2 submissions in deep, but when Hardy didn't tap, Georges should have looked to land a choke. It took a lot of class on Georges' part to not break Hardy's arm last night. It looked as if he briefly had an internal moral argument as to whether or not he should.
I couldnt DISAGREE more....
Hardys gameplan was sound - If he couldve kept it on the feet he would have. He knew he couldnt stuff the takedowns, and anytime they were on the feet he was looking for opportunities - you're doing him a big disservice to think that hes just some swinging brawler - Hardy is a very cerebral fighter - he wouldnt go out there swinging haymakers trying to get a lucky punch - or he wouldve been taken down even quicker than he was. Hes a fantastic counter puncher and he was waiting for a tiny opening. GSP never gave it too him though, and once on the ground kept him there for so much of the fight, then outcome was inevitable.
Im also in complete disgreement with what you're saying about the sub attempts. The ref shouldve stopped it? What?!! Hardy grimaced for a second during the armbar, but in both attempts, his hips were able to move his body into a position to take the pressure off his extended joints and ligaments. He didnt not tap just because of his heart - his technique got him out of those sub attempts - and after the fight even GSP felt that his technique in applying the subs was lacking.
Dana got it right - Hardy showed immense potential and he needs to work on his wrestling base, and one day he could well be champ.
Diaz and Almedia both looked great on Saturday night too. Diaz seemed much more comfortable @ 170.
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