UFC 142 in Rio was a great UFC card, and it produced many great fights and moments. Belfort vs. Johnson produced controversy, and I’d like to know why so many blatant bad stand-ups took place.
This fight was set up to be a very entertaining contest. Both fighters are vicious strikers, and have the ability to end fights with one shot.
When the fight started both men came out of the gate fast. Anthony Johnson was throwing huge kicks with bad intentions, and Vitor was throwing his lightning-fast hands in combinations. Johnson landed a takedown early on in the fight, and started to work in shots in Vitor’s guard.
Dan Miragliotta stood them up especially quickly considering that Johnson was actually working and landing strikes.
Shortly after, the fighters ended up in a clinch that Miragliotta broke up fast again. After watching a bunch of Randy Couture’s clinch snooze fests, I was starting to think that something might be up with the refereeing in this fight.
Belfort was able to land a good shot not too long after, and had Anthony Johnson rocked. He survived it, and was able to get the fight to the ground. Dan Miragliotta stood them up less than a minute after despite the fact than once again, Anthony Johnson was working.
Shortly after, Vitor Belfort was able to hurt Johnson and submit him with a rear-naked choke.
Fixing happens in every sport in the world, but its usually concealed very well. I don’t doubt that its happened in the UFC before, and I think that this fight should be looked into.
Vitor Belfort is a larger draw that Anthony Johnson is, that’s a fact. Belfort winning puts more money in the UFC’s pockets.
There are many scenarios and people that would have wanted Belfort to be victorious. Maybe those people gave Mr. Miragliotta a reason to make that happen. Stranger things have happened in the world of sports.
Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com