Notes On UFC 110

It was a g’day for the UFC down under this weekend. Saturday UFC 110 in Sydney Australia showcased the up and coming stars likely to be the new standard bearers in the UFC and quite possibly MMA. Also 3 MMA legends stepped into the octagon and two of the three came away with victories representing what has become a legends fighting category for the Zuffa promotion. There were two legitimate KO's and overall it was a very exciting riveting fight card.

On the main card all of the weight classes were represented in good style. One of the surprise matchups of the night pitted George Sotoropolous an Aussie native against Joe “Daddy” Stevenson. Stevenson recently uprooted from Victorville California and Cobra Kai trains in Greg Jackson’s New Mexico MMA camp. Joe Daddy a former TUF winner and UFC vet is renowned for his wrestling ability but it was Sotoropolous who put on a grappling clinic scarcely permitting Stevenson a moment to breathe. Fight fans saw only fleeting moments of standup action between the two something that might have been more in Stevenson’s favor as he found himself fighting off submission attempts every time the fight hit the mat. We saw none of the ground and pound the vet is known for because Sotoropolous was able to roll out or transition Stevenson’s top position advantage into a submission effort. The only thing George Sotoropolous did not manage was a fight finishing tapout but clearly deserved the Unanimous decision win in front of his home country fans.

Just when you thought Mirko Cro Cop had turned in his mitts and put away the checked togs he returns. Facing a stand in for ailing Ben Rothwell Aussie Anthony Perosh, Cro Cop earned a TKO due to a severe gash from an elbow in round 2. All things considered it was not the worst performance a last minute replacement could have against an MMA legend. Cro Cop at age 36 exhibits none of the standup skills that made him a champion in his Pride Fighting days. He is hesitant to throw the once feared high velocity round kicks and his punching combinations are in need of an overhaul. Mirko Cro Cop may stay around because he is healthy enough and stands upon lofty credentials but he falls far short of being a significant threat in the conversation of UFC contenders.

In the Light Heavyweight matchup something had to give Saturday. Either Ryan Bader was going to lose his first MMA fight or UFC vet Keith Jardine was going earn his first win three outings. While Jardine is known for his time on TUF season 2, his affiliation with Jackson’s MMA and victories over Forrest Griffin and Chuck Liddell Ryan Bader is one of the young UFC lions.
Bader won season 8 of TUF but he is still best known as a former Arizona State wrestling champion. After his Saturday night demolition job on Keith Jardine his status as an MMA pro has surely been cemented. It should be noted for the record that Jardine even in his losing efforts has not had an easy fight in years. He’s lost to a who’s who of UFC tough guys including Quinton Jackson, Houston Alexander, Thiago Silva and Wanderleigh Silva. Jardine has not changed camps since TUF and his hit and run unorthodox ring movement still puzzles one as to how he made it to the highest level of fighting. Bader was not deterred by Jardines fight history or herky jerky style. He easily shrugged off Keith Jardine’s patented leg kicks and came forward hands high unleashing rocket launched lefts and rights from two of the biggest arms in MMA.
Jardine could hit and run scoring an occasional jab or body kick but he could not hide. Bader appeared to discount his wrestling prowess for a night and backing Jardine toward the cage crumpled the taller fighter with a right hook about the ear. After the match was stopped sadly Keith Jardine did not recall getting hit or falling. He’s been KO’d at least three times in his last five fights and now he and the UFC have a serious decision to make regarding his fighting future. Dana White loves knockouts, so Bader will continue to rise with his new contender credentials and look for him to fight in an even bigger fight matchup this summer.

Wanderleigh Silva versus Michael Bisping was the second most anticipated fight of the night. Could the “Axe Murderer” still compete on a big MMA stage and was Michael Bisping back as a serious UFC contender? Silva’s had cosmetic surgery to remove scar tissue but he also looked made over physique wise appearing more ripped then he has since his Pride days. Michael Bisping coming off of a win over Dennis Kang looked sharp early on complimenting crisp combinations with impressive kicks high and low. Bisping’s known for vicious ground and pound and though he easily shot and took the Brazilian to the mat, Wanderleigh sprang to his feet immediately. Silva, giving away three inches in height was a little tentative in round one but countered aggressively with power shots that made Bisping weary and prompted him into the fatal fighter’s flaw of backing up.

In round 2 veteran Wanderleigh Silva sensing Michael Bisping’s fear of his punching power asserted himself more often and attacked with the intensity that made him a champion a decade ago. Going into round 3 Bisping’s corner emphasized that he really needed to take the fight to Silva maybe and probably needed a KO to take the fight. Beginning the round Bisping pressed the action but Silva had fought off his best takedown attempts and had no fear of Bisping’s standup. It appeared that the Brazilian was conserving and waiting for the right moment in the round to strike. Literally looking at the clock Wanderleigh launched an all out attack up the middle throwing right and left hooks with one of them dropping Michael Bisping in front of the cage as time ran out. Everyone in attendance knew that with a few more ticks of the clock Silva was going to earn a KO or TKO but instead he left Sydney with a savory unanimous decision victory. The “Axe Murderer” is back. With a middleweight division that has become Anderson Silva and then a following of nearly anonymous fighters Wanderleigh Silva is actually a step away from title contention. Post fight Michael Bisping lobbied protested claims that he could have been declared the winner of the contest to little supported fanfare. He needed the win Saturday to be considered a contender for the title. Now he will need two good outings to come around again. Skill wise he still has the tools, but receives failing marks in executing a strong fight plan and continues to make novice missteps in the octagon.

Big Nog Noguiera versus Cain Velasquez had all the earmarks of titanic battle between two masterful grapplers. Jiu Jitsu master Noguiera the former Pride and UFC heavyweight champ has a cast iron chin and maybe one of the most complete fighters in the modern MMA era. Cain Velasquez a former NCAA wrestling champ has steadily climbed the ladder tossing opponents behind him with displays of grappling dominance and punching power. Velasquez is lightening quick for a fighter around 240lbs. Fight experts and armchair fight fans were betting on which heavyweight could execute their superior ground game and take the fight. Fighting out of American Kick Boxing Academy in San Jose California standup fighting and striking in not over emphasized in comparison to good ground attacks but neither is it under emphasized as fighters like Velasquez, Fitch, Koscheck and Swick black each other’s eyes regularly. Big Nog spars with Anderson Silva, Junior Dos Santos and twin brother Rogerio. The former champ is known for his boxing skills and in his previous octagon encounter dropped legend Randy Couture like few men have in MMA history.

It stands to reason in hindsight that this heavyweight clash came down to the fighter with the faster heavier hands. 2:20 into the first round Velasquez unleashed a combo that dropped Big Nog to the canvas and then like a leopard sprang on the fallen ex champ punishing him with a thudding shot that prompted referee Herb Dean to leap in and spare Noguiera a more terrible fate. Outside of a pro boxing ring It was a shocking and awesome display of punching power. Noguirera actually landed a right hand near Velasquez’s temple but not with the speed or power with which he received two shots upstairs. At 8-0 with only six UFC fights Velasquez is in the hunt for a championship belt but he is a rare and able masher who incredibly can only improve. After the disappointing TKO loss Big Nog was composed and coherent. He had to confess that Velasquez was just too fast and too strong on the feet and this may have sounded the death knell towards the ex champs future hopes of attaining another title. Cain Velasquez could vault the winner of the Carwin-Mir battle and face reigning champion Brock Lesnar according to the UFC or another possibility has him matched up with Noguiera protégé MMA manchild Jr. Dos Santos.


Jdon Howard