Matt Scott
Let me begin by saying that I’m as shocked as anybody that Mir won. My predictions can be found here and although I got most of them, I unfortunately only got one of the main 3 right. Now, let’s start at the bottom and work our way up.

  • I knew Barry would beat Evensen. I wouldn’t be shocked if we no longer see the Viking taking any more fights in the UFC.
  • After watching the Chonan Blackburn fight this morning, I’m kinda disappointed in Chonan. He turned it on in the third, but it was too little too late. Chonan never seems to get the wins he needs to move himself to that next level.
  • I’m a big Matt Hamill fan and glad that he got the win. But I’m not sure why he gets away from his wrestling so much. His striking has improved a lot, but he should be using his striking to set up takedowns, and instead he got Sean Sherk syndrome.
  • Hardonk should have, and did, beat Wessel. Wessel was brought in late, and was clearly in a different league.
  • Okami should be fighting Silva, not Dean Lister. This was likely Lister’s last fight in the UFC, and hopefully now we can see Okami on the main card. Forget Thales Lietes, the kid isn’t ready. Give Okami the shot.
  • For some reason I picked Al-Turk to beat Kongo. Apparently I’ve underestimated Kongo. He always came in looking like a machine, but fighting passively. Now it looks like someone taught him how to finish fights. Now set up Chieck Kongo vs. Cain Velasquez. Please?
  • I predicted a Rampage win, and he didn’t disappoint. He came in at a better weight than his fight with Forrest, with less to cut. Wanderlei has talked about possibly moving down to Middleweight in the past, and I think if he’s ever going to, the time is now. His crazy style of training and fighting has obviously taken a toll on his body, so a lighter weight class might be a pleasant change of pace. Minus the horrid weight cut. It also looks like Rampage will get his shot with Evans, and likely regain the title.
  • Dollaway beat Massenzio, but hardly looked impressive in doing it. Massenzio almost had the win with a deep guillotine, but just couldn’t finish it. It’s too bad, because I wouldn’t have minded seeing Dollaway lose. And was it just be, but during the guillotine, didn’t CB tap out a little bit?
  • As disappointed I am that Nogueira lost, Mir really did deserve the win. His boxing looked crisp, and although it’s as good as Lesnar’s, it’s certainly an improvement from the past. I’ll be counting Mir out against Lesnar this time too, but he never fails to surprise.Hopefully the loss will set up a matchup between Nogueira and Couture.
  • I think both fighters walk away looking better from the Evans Griffin fight. Griffin was executing his gameplan, and in my opinion controlling the fight. Evans then solidified himself as a fighter with knockout power. Evans vs Rampage should be a great fight, and I’m not sure what’s in the future for Forrest Griffin. Maybe a fight with the loser of Henderson/Franklin?

Mike Crowley
Wolf’s Lair is rising. I’ve never been to Liverpool, but I have a feeling it isn’t a trip to the beach. Kongo, Jackson. Wolf’s Lair must be carving their fighters out of stone.

The shakedown is going to be interesting. A lot of folks were expecting this to be Jackson’s last hurrah, and now their’s talk that he’s going to fight Rashad Evans for the title.

According to Dana White, ”It does make sense for Rampage to get a title shot,” White said. “There’s a lot for us to get back to the office and talk about.”

Jackson had a few things to say about the title shot. This tells you where the guy’s head really is. ”I’m ready to get my title back,” Jackson said. “Everybody wants to be the champion; everyone wants to be the best.”

”But to be quite honest, I’d rather go and fight Forrest. That’s the fight that haunts me when I go to sleep. I have nightmares about it. That’s the fight. I won the belt. I was the champion. But I’d like to get Forrest first, but it’s up to the UFC.”

Sounds like a man trying to clean up his past and make some amends. I believe that he really means to keep his life turned around.

Waiting in the wings are Lyoto Machida and Thiago Silva. These two are scheduled to meet at UFC 94 in January. In spite of Machida’s lack of fame, he’s the one to watch. Nothing against Thiago, I just think Machida is that good. Imagine Machida and Jackson fighting to see who gets to take on Evans.

It will be interesting to see who Evan’s first title defense will be against. Machida, Thiago, and Jackson are all contenders.

The biggest surprise was Frank Mir defeating Nogueira. The odds-makers had Mir to loose, and from a lot of talk that was going around it was going to get ugly. Talk about a guy who won’t quit. Frank Mir deserves every accolade in the book, coming back from a motorcycle crash that nearly wrecked his career to wear another belt.

The big question now is whether Mir can beat Lesnar again. Lesnar’s technique will improve. His physical condition and training intensity are unquestionable, but will his newly developed defenses last long enough for him to get the knock out punch. Victory over Lesnar requires the right combination of technique and defense. Couture didn’t have it and the debate is going to be whether Mir can stay ahead of Lesnar’s learning curve.

There has been talk about Lesnar’s untested chin, and some examples of a punches that rocked him. But, it’s clear Lesnar doesn’t have a weak chin. What is also clear, is that at this level, in this weight class, everyone has the power to put someone’s lights out. It’s just a question of landing the shot. Lesnar’s human, just like Mir.

If Mir shows up in shape, and Lesnar fails to develop an instinctual comprehension of submissions, I think you’re going to see a repeat. Mir is hitting that age when he’s only getting stronger, his understanding of martial arts is becoming hard-wired into his DNA, and the arthritis from years of training and injury has not yet set in. Hopefully we will see the heavy weight title unified before too long.