TBH, I'm just glad Woodley had a not atrociously boring fight. Those last 3 "tactical" fests were throwbacks to that stretch Anderson Silva, and even GSP had with some very safe, measured, low risk win strategies.
As is sometimes the case, a semi lackluster card produces a bunch of finishes: we had kneebars, violent KO stoppages, RNC's, and the like. A title was reaffirmed, a young challenger starched, a women's title stripped after Monano figuring out another way to avoid fighting Schevchenko. She dropped the ole' "I stopped sweating early" line that is synonymous with "you cut so much weight your body shut down." Fighter want to gleam as much side advantage as possible, and particularly for women, physiologically, you're forcing your body to something completely unnatural after a strenuous training camp and before a potentially and in all likelihood certainly brain damaging ordeal. Anyhow, off the soap box. Monano's Randamie ducking the obvious threat to her title days are over, and Bullet will get a title eliminator/challenge/belt up for grabs fight soon. I'm just irritated Montano's song and dance for a year has kept me from seeing one of the true top tier women fighters in the world out of action and unable to fight for a belt she clearly deserves a shot at.
Andrade, that kinda power in such a small person. Male or female, it's rare that you see it, as Rogan said in the commentary. That jaw line. Let's just say I think she's been on a cyborg diet at some point in her career. Anyone who cries afoul or gets all butthurt someone suspects steroids is either naive or in denial. The Sochi Olympics were proof, if nothing else, that there is a doping problem in high end sports. Period. And that's in a sport where there is little direct compensation for performance. In the UFC there is literally direct compensation for high performance. The risk and temptation is too great not to take them for many athletes. Karolina looked far too calm for the firestorm she was walking into. I was worried when I saw how lithe and relaxed she looked leaning back against the cage prior to the intros. My fear was not misplaced. She got tagged, stayed in it a bit, but was leaving her jab extended and low while certainly concussed, and the end was imminent. Bummer, because I've wanted to see her fight for a title since her losing effort to Joanna.
Byrd vs Stewart
Byrd was fighting a great fight, movement, angles, kicks, punches, clinch, takedown attempts, elbows in the clinch and on the break...and got caught with a shot, then couldn't get back in tit. Good win for Stewart.
The Suloev Stretch has it's daaaaaaay! #leglocksdontwork ?
Zabit Magomedsharipov kneebars Brandon Davis after a feeling out round. Zabit seemed unpressured in the first round as he let Davis ply his stand-up game. That being said, as the second round began Zabit clearly decided to flip the "on switch" and after a step in trip, he quickly transitioned to the back, body lock control, mat return, then got the highlight reel submission.
Aljamain Sterling kneebars Stamman
Great fight from the outset with low single attempts from Sterling, and some good counter wrestling, bodylocks, and otherwise from Stamman. Sterling set up a decent triangle attempt to close out the first round.
Al Hassan vs Price
Price got caught early and got finished. It was obvious he wasn't in there to take punches with that heat from early on, and once caught in the pocket, with his back against the cage, the end was imminent. Al Hassan, ala Stewart are some of the
As is sometimes the case, a semi lackluster card produces a bunch of finishes: we had kneebars, violent KO stoppages, RNC's, and the like. A title was reaffirmed, a young challenger starched, a women's title stripped after Monano figuring out another way to avoid fighting Schevchenko. She dropped the ole' "I stopped sweating early" line that is synonymous with "you cut so much weight your body shut down." Fighter want to gleam as much side advantage as possible, and particularly for women, physiologically, you're forcing your body to something completely unnatural after a strenuous training camp and before a potentially and in all likelihood certainly brain damaging ordeal. Anyhow, off the soap box. Monano's Randamie ducking the obvious threat to her title days are over, and Bullet will get a title eliminator/challenge/belt up for grabs fight soon. I'm just irritated Montano's song and dance for a year has kept me from seeing one of the true top tier women fighters in the world out of action and unable to fight for a belt she clearly deserves a shot at.
Andrade, that kinda power in such a small person. Male or female, it's rare that you see it, as Rogan said in the commentary. That jaw line. Let's just say I think she's been on a cyborg diet at some point in her career. Anyone who cries afoul or gets all butthurt someone suspects steroids is either naive or in denial. The Sochi Olympics were proof, if nothing else, that there is a doping problem in high end sports. Period. And that's in a sport where there is little direct compensation for performance. In the UFC there is literally direct compensation for high performance. The risk and temptation is too great not to take them for many athletes. Karolina looked far too calm for the firestorm she was walking into. I was worried when I saw how lithe and relaxed she looked leaning back against the cage prior to the intros. My fear was not misplaced. She got tagged, stayed in it a bit, but was leaving her jab extended and low while certainly concussed, and the end was imminent. Bummer, because I've wanted to see her fight for a title since her losing effort to Joanna.
Byrd vs Stewart
Byrd was fighting a great fight, movement, angles, kicks, punches, clinch, takedown attempts, elbows in the clinch and on the break...and got caught with a shot, then couldn't get back in tit. Good win for Stewart.
The Suloev Stretch has it's daaaaaaay! #leglocksdontwork ?
Zabit Magomedsharipov kneebars Brandon Davis after a feeling out round. Zabit seemed unpressured in the first round as he let Davis ply his stand-up game. That being said, as the second round began Zabit clearly decided to flip the "on switch" and after a step in trip, he quickly transitioned to the back, body lock control, mat return, then got the highlight reel submission.
Aljamain Sterling kneebars Stamman
Great fight from the outset with low single attempts from Sterling, and some good counter wrestling, bodylocks, and otherwise from Stamman. Sterling set up a decent triangle attempt to close out the first round.
Al Hassan vs Price
Price got caught early and got finished. It was obvious he wasn't in there to take punches with that heat from early on, and once caught in the pocket, with his back against the cage, the end was imminent. Al Hassan, ala Stewart are some of the
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