Jose Aldo vs Urijah Faber
I honestly thought Urijah would take this one. He's the most dominant Featherweight champ in history, and he was hungry to get his belt back. Sure, he lost twice to the former champ Mike Thomas Brown (who's no slouch himself, clearly), but those were set-backs. This Aldo kid, however much hype he had, just wouldn't be able to fend off Faber, who I expected to be relentless in his takedown attempts. Faber strikes me as a kind of mini GSP - someone equally good standing up as wrestling others to the floor and just dominating them with their overall skill. Plus, he has heart for days - even if he got hit solid, he'd fight on. I knew Aldo had all this hype at being a mini Anderson Silva, with his ridiculously good striking, and being the rangey bad-ass of his weight-class, but I just couldn't see it happening here. I did see Aldo's surprising demolition of Mike Brown, but I just put that down to Brown not being as good as his two victories over Faber might suggest. I was wrong. Even though Aldo didnt knock Faber out at all, he fuckin demolished him with precise leg-kicks, and showed some scary power in his ground'n'pound. Honestly. I've seen bigger power (Brock Lesnar), but there was something incredibly vicious about the way he was hitting Faber. I can't even describe it. VICIOUS isn't the word. How Faber survived when Aldo had him in the crucifix is a mystery - just goes to show how hard Faber is - and he couldnt even walk back to his corner after the fourth round - he had to be carried back, his leg was so beat up. The fact he remained trying til the final bell says something about him.
Still, now Aldo truly does look invincible in his weight-class. Judged on this performance, I reckon he could take on (and beat) BJ Penn, who is a weight-class above him, but I may be wrong - maybe he's just too small for that, even though he doesnt look it. My bet is: he'll do an Anderson Silva (dominate the weight class so much many people begin to say its getting boring and he has no challengers). Still, I said that about someone else, who I'll talk about later...
Still, now Aldo truly does look invincible in his weight-class. Judged on this performance, I reckon he could take on (and beat) BJ Penn, who is a weight-class above him, but I may be wrong - maybe he's just too small for that, even though he doesnt look it. My bet is: he'll do an Anderson Silva (dominate the weight class so much many people begin to say its getting boring and he has no challengers). Still, I said that about someone else, who I'll talk about later...
Floyd Mayweather vs Shane Mosely
I know pre-fight hype is supposed to convince us that both men have a chance at winning, even if one invariably has a better chance at it than the other, but this one actually had me going. I know all about Mayweather. Everyone knows he's a league above most of his competition, but this one was different. They were saying his opponent had just the same speed as Mayweather, and was stronger too, with an iron jaw. I bought into it.
You'll never understand my excitement when I saw Mosely rock Mayweather in the 2nd round. It wasn't just a hit that caught him - it DEFINETLY shook him. Mayweather clung on like the champ he is, and tried to fight on, but then Mosely caught him AGAIN!! I jumped out of my seat and screamed the fucking house down. He'd wobbled Mayweather somethin fierce. This was it!! Mayweather was going down!!
But somehow he hung in there, and gutted out the rest of the round. In fact, in the last 30 seconds or so of the round, it looked like he'd took over from Mosely. Mosely suddenly looked a bit confused. And exhausted.
And yeah...the Mosely who rocked the up-til-then undefeated Mayweather Jr pretty much left the fight after that. Somehow, this guy who was meant to have cardio for weeks, was knackered by the exchange. And Mayweather was fine. Mayweather had made the mistake of opening up, and not being so "defensive" and "boring" (I used to think he was...now not so sure), and had paid for it by being put in the most danger of his entire career. So he started boxing more defensively. And picked Shane apart. He even became the aggressor - something that he's been criticised for most of his career. I still hate the prick, but I watched him dismantle the dude who had all the same attributes as he did, but was meant to be stronger. Nah...Mayweather was bullying him, but still couldnt get the knockout, even though he was uncharacteristically going for it most of the fight.
I hate the man, but I now will admit - Mayweather can fuckin BOX!
But, may I suggest a theory? Of course I can...this is my blog: the fact that Mayweather was caught...TWICE...when he opened up and fought more aggressively than usual...this bodes very well for his fight with Pacquiao. Though I'm not convinced Mayweather would still win that fight, the fact that Mosely had the reactions to catch him (however lucky it may have been), Pacquiao is just a step above everyone else in that way. His reaction time, hand-speed, and power are second to none. If he clipped Mayweather (who I'm gonna assume would be fighting VERY defensively), he'd be knocked down, if not out - Pacquaio wouldn't miss the opportunity to knock the stumbling Mayweather over
Lyoto Machida vs Shogun Rua II
The first one was a great fight. But because Machida was, and still is, my favourite fighter today, their first fight was a bit uncomfortable for me to watch. I knew that out of everyone, Shogun was one of the worst people Machida could've fought in his first defence of the title. I was proved right. He became the first person to ever win a round against Machida, and in many people's eyes (including my own), he won. I was happy that the judges had given it to Machida, but I knew deep down Shogun had won it. I also knew it would open the floodgates and give a reason for the haters to say he got exposed, and give a reason for all the band-wagoneers (those who booed him only a few fights before, then cheered him wildly after he won the championship) to jump ship immediately and join the haters. I knew Shogun wasnt going to go into the rematch weak. I also knew that if Machida lost, it'd mean, essentially, that he was finished. His career had been built, through no fault of his own, on his mystique, on his sheer inability to be hit. Well, the first fight with Shogun eroded that. The second one destroyed it - he knocked Machida the fuck out!! Right out. With some of the heaviest hands I've ever seen. It wasn't just a knock-out. It looked seriously damaging to his health. He didn't jump up immediately afterwards after they're "knocked out" - he was down there for a while. And his face was caved in. Poor Machida. All the haters came out the woodwork immediately, declaring him a has-been. It certainly did make it far harder to see how he'd be able to fight some others in the weight division now; once a mystique is damaged, it becomes incredibly hard to see it again. And even though I rate Machida above every other fighter in MMA (with the possibly exception of GSP), I'd say he's lost his mystique for good.
GSP vs Dan Hardy
This one isnt on here because it's one of the better fights - I just have to mention it because its GSP - one of the best fighters in history, against the first-ever Brit to get a shot at a UFC title. History. However...as good as GSP is, I'm beginning to agree with some of the nitpickers - he's a bit of a "safe" fighter these days. He takes them down because he knows he can take them down. He doesn't stand and fight. If he is against someone with a reputation of being a striker, he'll just take them down - barely even try to fight hand-to-hand. Hardy had a rep for being brilliant with the hands, so GSP used his incredible wrestling skills to just take him down time after time, round after round. Sure he tried to force submissions here and there, and it showed that Hardy is one tough mo-fo, but it didn't seem...genuine, I think the word is. It just seemed like GSP was doing it because it looked liek he was just lying on top of his opponent, and thought rather than get shit from everyone for lay-n-praying, he'd try a submission. GSP isn't quite the fighter who battered Matt Hughes anymore (and remember - Matt Hughes was near-invincible for the longest time). I don't mind GSP fighting smartly (because he nearly killed BJ Penn!! haw haw) but because he used to be so great, he seems to have lost something. Maybe I'm being too nitpicky here - he's not like Josh Koshcheck in the Paul Daley fight (I wont mention that one).
But somehow he hung in there, and gutted out the rest of the round. In fact, in the last 30 seconds or so of the round, it looked like he'd took over from Mosely. Mosely suddenly looked a bit confused. And exhausted.
And yeah...the Mosely who rocked the up-til-then undefeated Mayweather Jr pretty much left the fight after that. Somehow, this guy who was meant to have cardio for weeks, was knackered by the exchange. And Mayweather was fine. Mayweather had made the mistake of opening up, and not being so "defensive" and "boring" (I used to think he was...now not so sure), and had paid for it by being put in the most danger of his entire career. So he started boxing more defensively. And picked Shane apart. He even became the aggressor - something that he's been criticised for most of his career. I still hate the prick, but I watched him dismantle the dude who had all the same attributes as he did, but was meant to be stronger. Nah...Mayweather was bullying him, but still couldnt get the knockout, even though he was uncharacteristically going for it most of the fight.
I hate the man, but I now will admit - Mayweather can fuckin BOX!
But, may I suggest a theory? Of course I can...this is my blog: the fact that Mayweather was caught...TWICE...when he opened up and fought more aggressively than usual...this bodes very well for his fight with Pacquiao. Though I'm not convinced Mayweather would still win that fight, the fact that Mosely had the reactions to catch him (however lucky it may have been), Pacquiao is just a step above everyone else in that way. His reaction time, hand-speed, and power are second to none. If he clipped Mayweather (who I'm gonna assume would be fighting VERY defensively), he'd be knocked down, if not out - Pacquaio wouldn't miss the opportunity to knock the stumbling Mayweather over
Lyoto Machida vs Shogun Rua II
The first one was a great fight. But because Machida was, and still is, my favourite fighter today, their first fight was a bit uncomfortable for me to watch. I knew that out of everyone, Shogun was one of the worst people Machida could've fought in his first defence of the title. I was proved right. He became the first person to ever win a round against Machida, and in many people's eyes (including my own), he won. I was happy that the judges had given it to Machida, but I knew deep down Shogun had won it. I also knew it would open the floodgates and give a reason for the haters to say he got exposed, and give a reason for all the band-wagoneers (those who booed him only a few fights before, then cheered him wildly after he won the championship) to jump ship immediately and join the haters. I knew Shogun wasnt going to go into the rematch weak. I also knew that if Machida lost, it'd mean, essentially, that he was finished. His career had been built, through no fault of his own, on his mystique, on his sheer inability to be hit. Well, the first fight with Shogun eroded that. The second one destroyed it - he knocked Machida the fuck out!! Right out. With some of the heaviest hands I've ever seen. It wasn't just a knock-out. It looked seriously damaging to his health. He didn't jump up immediately afterwards after they're "knocked out" - he was down there for a while. And his face was caved in. Poor Machida. All the haters came out the woodwork immediately, declaring him a has-been. It certainly did make it far harder to see how he'd be able to fight some others in the weight division now; once a mystique is damaged, it becomes incredibly hard to see it again. And even though I rate Machida above every other fighter in MMA (with the possibly exception of GSP), I'd say he's lost his mystique for good.
GSP vs Dan Hardy
This one isnt on here because it's one of the better fights - I just have to mention it because its GSP - one of the best fighters in history, against the first-ever Brit to get a shot at a UFC title. History. However...as good as GSP is, I'm beginning to agree with some of the nitpickers - he's a bit of a "safe" fighter these days. He takes them down because he knows he can take them down. He doesn't stand and fight. If he is against someone with a reputation of being a striker, he'll just take them down - barely even try to fight hand-to-hand. Hardy had a rep for being brilliant with the hands, so GSP used his incredible wrestling skills to just take him down time after time, round after round. Sure he tried to force submissions here and there, and it showed that Hardy is one tough mo-fo, but it didn't seem...genuine, I think the word is. It just seemed like GSP was doing it because it looked liek he was just lying on top of his opponent, and thought rather than get shit from everyone for lay-n-praying, he'd try a submission. GSP isn't quite the fighter who battered Matt Hughes anymore (and remember - Matt Hughes was near-invincible for the longest time). I don't mind GSP fighting smartly (because he nearly killed BJ Penn!! haw haw) but because he used to be so great, he seems to have lost something. Maybe I'm being too nitpicky here - he's not like Josh Koshcheck in the Paul Daley fight (I wont mention that one).
and finally...
Leonard Garcia vs Chang Sung Jung
This is on because I just watched it tonight. Its from the same show as Aldo vs Faber, and I actually missed the hype about it. I stumbled across it tonight, and thought Jung's nickname was too cool to not investigate. How could you not love someone nicknamed the "Korean Zombie"??? Also, unlike the last two big Asian sensations to try it in the US (pound-for-pound all-time greats Takanori Gomi and Shinya Aoki), he seemed to come in with far less hype, and yet blew everyone away and lived up to the hype and more. He's nicknamed the Korean Zombie because he can keep going after taking some huge hits, like a zombie can. That could've been exaggerated, But no - Garcia was swinging some heavy, heavy hands, and was connecting with most of it. Jung looked rocked by a few of them, but yes...like a zombie, he kept on coming. And coming. And coming. And throwing bombs of his own. The hype for this fight seemed to have slipped under my radar, but it was one of the best, most entertaining fights I've ever seen. I usually prefer skill to slugfest, but goddamn...
Also, I'm not so sure Jung DID win the fight, despite it being almost universally agreed he was robbed. He sure argued his case well, but I think Garcia's smart striking in the first half of the last round won it for him - Jung didn't come into it til just after the half-way mark. I reckon it was a draw - definetly not a washout by either man. Still, the Korean Zombie has gained a fan in me! I just hope they give him entertaining fights in the future, and don't put him against someone who erases his mystique. His mystique is that he can take big shots and keep coming. Putting him against Aldo, Faber, or Brown (who are in the same weight-class as he) could ruin his mystique. OR...he could prove to be a real monster and eat them alive with his relentlessness. Lets find out...
Leonard Garcia vs Chang Sung Jung
This is on because I just watched it tonight. Its from the same show as Aldo vs Faber, and I actually missed the hype about it. I stumbled across it tonight, and thought Jung's nickname was too cool to not investigate. How could you not love someone nicknamed the "Korean Zombie"??? Also, unlike the last two big Asian sensations to try it in the US (pound-for-pound all-time greats Takanori Gomi and Shinya Aoki), he seemed to come in with far less hype, and yet blew everyone away and lived up to the hype and more. He's nicknamed the Korean Zombie because he can keep going after taking some huge hits, like a zombie can. That could've been exaggerated, But no - Garcia was swinging some heavy, heavy hands, and was connecting with most of it. Jung looked rocked by a few of them, but yes...like a zombie, he kept on coming. And coming. And coming. And throwing bombs of his own. The hype for this fight seemed to have slipped under my radar, but it was one of the best, most entertaining fights I've ever seen. I usually prefer skill to slugfest, but goddamn...
Also, I'm not so sure Jung DID win the fight, despite it being almost universally agreed he was robbed. He sure argued his case well, but I think Garcia's smart striking in the first half of the last round won it for him - Jung didn't come into it til just after the half-way mark. I reckon it was a draw - definetly not a washout by either man. Still, the Korean Zombie has gained a fan in me! I just hope they give him entertaining fights in the future, and don't put him against someone who erases his mystique. His mystique is that he can take big shots and keep coming. Putting him against Aldo, Faber, or Brown (who are in the same weight-class as he) could ruin his mystique. OR...he could prove to be a real monster and eat them alive with his relentlessness. Lets find out...
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