Congrats to Champ Woodley

I'll just leave this here......

Cyborg to fight Holm? The featherweight division that really isn't

It's all well and good I guess, minus the facts that Holm is 1-3 in her past 4 and has no real problem making 135 as evidenced by her last several opponents. Listening to the commentary team blast Randamie was a joke as neither Holm nor Randamie who fought for the "featherweight" belt are actually in that weight class, then when Cyborg lines up (who almost dies to make 140 Bc I bet she walks around north of 165), wants to fight for it, Randamie steps down. Can't say I blame her. So Randamie is a coward for stepping down (all but in those words expressed by the company men Saturday night) for not defending a belt the UFC's new management cobbled together with Holm (on a losing streak) and Randamie (who can also make 135). 

Hey guys, I also have a bridge in Brooklyn to sell you....trying to sell these fights slapped together with mismatched divisions against the thinnest of opposition is pitiful. "As real as it gets"?

The UFC's true branding for a long time

has been that they have the best of the best and would actively recruit as such. Recruit and retain. Bellator has made gains as a result of the relaxing of this standard (and a greater willingness to make freak show fights, tho' the UFC with its Kimbo, CM Punk, et al isn't entry above it either). Now the UFC has to double down on convincing us these match-ups are legit. Problem is....anyone watching Evinger was not convinced....no more than anyone watching Woodley jog for 5 rounds was convinced he's the best in the world. 

Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained: Dana Yanks GSP from Jogging Woodley

Choices and I guess, as a whole, gameplans have consequences. 

Dana White revealed Woodley's slated money fight with GSP has gone the way of the oft mentioned title shot next guys have heard over the years as Dana is handing GSP off to Bisping because he'll actually fight. 

Can't say I feel too bad for Woodley, he now holds one of the most ignominious records in combat sports: least punches thrown in a title fight. Put that on your championship resume buddy. Between this and the borefest 8 out of 10 rounds on the backfoot against Thompson, Woodley has paid a hefty price. 

And who could forget this gem of a statement: 

See above an extremely rare once every 5 minutes kick or punch from Woodley.....

UFC Set New Low Omitting Facts/Spinning Reality

The moment they mentioned Robbie Lawler's recent wars but curiously omitted Rory MacDonald's two fights with him I kinda got the notion more was to come. I get it, I get it. These guys are the commentary for the company. It would be like an NFL broadcast team mentioning the XFL when it first came out (google it) and mentioning a competing brand. That being said, as a sport that's always been what it is, a whatever works, "as real as it gets," it feels disingenuous when the company men are trying to spin the unspinnable. 

They threw former champ Randamie under the bus for not doing what exactly happened to Evinger. Randamie is moving down because she was never truly a featherweight anyway. And neither is Holm. The woman they want to feed up to Cyborg next. The first two fights for Cyborg in this division aren't even with legitimate featherweights. 

Other lowlights included ruthlessly spinning circles to somehow indirectly mention Jon Jones' indiscretions and hiatus from fighting and the Woodley fight as anything other than "the lowest punch output in a title fight ever." Woodley did little more than backpedal for 25 minutes, though we were saved from the

Thompson rematch treatment where thy kept telling us how "tactical" the fight was. Bruh, please. I know when I'm watching tow guys barely engage for 25 minutes. 

Cyborg and the NonDivision

Cyborg's fight felt a lot like a consolation prize. The only title opponent they could round up isnt even in her weight class. Despite what the broadcast team said about Randamie, Randamie was also not really a 145'er and pointed to the obvious Cyborg has been on hormones or whatever else in her career and stepped down rather than fight a cheater. So why is there a division? Why am I watching a title fight that is a complete mismatch and literally no one else exists to take the fight? The broadcast team was really reaching for worthwhile commentary with this one as it was like watching a car wreck in slow motion. Evinger to her credit fared far better than most but lacked the grappling prowess to keep Cyborg down or change levels with a dynamic takedown. I don't know that anyone's interested in Cyborg's title defense as most of us got our fill in her career of her busting up overmatched/undersized opponents. 

Tyron Woodley's Favorite Moves

Well, Woodley said it best when he said post fight "I could go another couple rounds if I had to."

Stop and let that simmer in my brain pan. 

Thanks man. World title fight and you're not tired after 5 rounds. 

     It was almost comical listening to the commentary team try to avoid calling Woodley's gameplan anything other than what it was. They've run out of adjectives after the Thompson fight and rematch. I like also the incredibly selective pre fight video that shows the only 45 seconds of action in both of those fights.

The Money Fight Preamble: All of Conor McGregor's KO's