If UFC 169 did not exist, we would have to invent it as an example.
UFC 169 flopped from the first online prelim to the last title fight. Of 12 fights, 10 went to decision, the most in UFC history. The most important, a rematch between bantamweight cha…
If UFC 169 did not exist, we would have to invent it as an example.
UFC 169 flopped from the first online prelim to the last title fight. Of 12 fights, 10 went to decision, the most in UFC history. The most important, a rematch between bantamweight champion Renan Barao (33-1-0) and former champ Urijah Faber (30-6-0), ended with a premature stoppage by referee Herb Dean.
Barao clearly controlled the fight. He dropped Faber with an overhand right and pounded him on the ground. Faber stayed in belly-down side control, and the California Kid was only able to turtle up and cover his face against the barrage of punches Barao threw. Though Faber gave a thumbs up to signal he was surviving, Barao pled with Dean to end the fight.
UFC president Dana White called the whole night a travesty:
I think [Dean] is the best referee in the business. He rarely ever makes mistakes, but he made a mistake tonight. Barao gets screwed and Faber gets screwed. It’s the cherry on the 10-decision, record-breaking catastrophe this evening.
More than just a boring card, UFC 169 shed light on some issues the promotion will have to deal with moving forward.
UFC 169 featured a big heavyweight fight between Alistair Overeem and Frank Mir.
The bout was not big because it was highly anticipated, or because the two fighters were battling for a title shot. It was big because all signs pointed to the …
UFC 169featured a big heavyweight fight between Alistair Overeem andFrank Mir.
The bout was not big because it was highly anticipated, or because the two fighters were battling for a title shot. It was big because all signs pointed to the fighters nearing the end of their UFC run with a loss.
Overeem came out on top, and he dominated Mir for three rounds.
So, what is next for the former UFC heavyweight champion?
Mir loves the fight game, but his UFC days may be numbered. There are no clear indications that the UFC will cut him, but it is a possibility. There are not a lot of options for aging heavyweights.
If the UFC keeps him on the roster, matchmakers have two prime options: Put him in favorable matchups to rebuild him or throw him against young heavyweight prospects as a gatekeeper.
Each one is a fine option for the UFC. The heavyweight division is not littered with talent, and the promotion may need someone like Mir to play the role of gatekeeper for the remainder of his career. And on the off chance that he is able to put together a run, then the UFC has another heavyweight who can sell a big fight.
There is the likelihood that the UFC will instead pit Mir against other non-contender heavyweights who are marginally exciting. Potential opponents include the likes of Mark Hunt and Gabriel Gonzaga.
But that is not what the UFC should do. It benefits no one.
Mir is one of the few fighters on the roster who can sell a fight with his mouth as well as his skills. He is a talker, and that is great in the promotion business. However, it is hard to ignore his recent in-cage performances, and the UFC would be justified in cutting him loose.
If the UFC does release him, he would have ample opportunities in smaller organizations.
Bellator has not gone after every recent UFC castoff, but the No. 2 promotion would be foolish not to contact Mir. As previously mentioned, he can sell fights with his mouth. He would make a good addition to the Bellator roster, as the promotion needs more exposure.
Although he is scheduled to participate in the upcoming light heavyweight tournament at Bellator 110, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson could complete as a heavyweight, and Jackson vs. Mir could help Bellator sell a pay-per-view when it moves to that market.
The fight has little-to-no consequence, and it would hurt the loser moving forward. However, if Bellator moves to the PPV business, Jackson vs. Mir could be a one-off that sells better than the current list of potential bouts between fighters no one knows or cares about.
Mir is still a serviceable heavyweight fighter with quality skills. That is why the UFC should keep him on the roster. He is a fixture of the company’s heavyweight division, and until more quality big men are signed, there is little reason to release him.
Mir has options whether he stays in the UFC or not. There are still going to be paydays on the table for the former champion.
Super Bowl weekend is as big as it gets on the American sports landscape and the UFC has historically put together stacked shows of their own.
This year, with the NFL’s grand showcase just across the river in New York, the biggest promotion in mi…
Super Bowl weekend is as big as it gets on the American sports landscape and the UFC has historically put together stacked shows of their own.
This year, with the NFL’s grand showcase just across the river in New York, the biggest promotion in mixed marital arts set up shop in Newark for UFC 169. The card was highlighted with a pair of title tilts which featured two of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the sport as they put their respective straps on the line in high-profile bouts.
Long-reigning featherweight king Jose Aldo stepped back into action against surging contender Ricardo Lamas in the co-main event, while his Nova Uniao teammate and recently minted undisputed bantamweight champion Renan Barao squared off with former WEC posterboy Urijah Faber in the showcase fight on the card.
The two fighters in the main event originally met back in July of 2012 with the interim bantamweight title on the line and it was Barao who walked away with the unanimous decision victory. The loss to the Brazilian phenom lit a fire inside the Team Alpha Male leader and he went on a tear in 2013, racking up four consecutive wins, three of which came by way of the finish.
That impressive run put Faber within reach of yet another title opportunity and when champion Dominick Cruz pulled out due to injury, the UFC tapped the perennial contender to step in. On Saturday night, “The California Kid” made his fifth bid in four years to get his hands on 12-pounds of UFC gold but it wasn’t in the cards for the title challenger.
Barao caught Faber with a stiff right hand that jolted the surging contender and put him on the mat. While Faber was able to get back to his feet, he was still clearly dazed, and a big overhand right from the champion returned him to the canvas. Despite Faber attempting to cover up from a barrage of Barao hammerfists, referee Herb Dean had seen enough and called waived off the fight.
With the victory, Barao made his third consecutive title defense but his first as the undisputed champion of the bantamweight division.
Where the main event showcased one of the pound-for-pound greats, the penultimate bout featured the most dominant featherweight in UFC history in Aldo. The 145-pound striking machine is largely recognized as one of the greatest fighters on the planet and his 16-fight winning streak coming in to UFC 169 is solid proof to back up that notion.
While Lamas hasn’t racked up the numbers of his Brazilian counterpart, his place at the top of the featherweight division is undeniable. The Cuban/American has won all four of his showings since dropping down to 145-pounds and on Saturday night, he got the opportunity he had been campaigning over a year to get.
Once the action got underway Aldo once again showed why he’s considered one of the pound-for-pound best in the sport. He used his speed and accuracy to pick Lamas apart and cruise to a unanimous decision victory.
In addition to the chaotic action at the top of the card, the majority of the fights that rounded out the bill on Saturday night brought the ruckus. The leather was flying around the Prudential Center with reckless abandon as fighters from all corners of the roster looked to make a statement.
Let’s take a look at the good, bad and strange from UFC 169.
The Good
With Georges St-Pierre retired and Anderson Silva’s comeback from a gruesome leg break questionable, the world of mixed martial arts belongs to Jose Aldo. The 27-year-old Brazilian wrecking machine has dominated the featherweight division for the better part of the past five years and is showing no signs of slowing down any time soon.
While there are plenty of things on Aldo’s list of attributes to tout, his patience and efficiency are flourishing, and both were on display in a big way on Saturday night against Ricardo Lamas. There is no doubt the featherweight king’s speed gives him an incredible advantage every time he steps into the Octagon, but his increasing ability to pick the spots he wants to unload is bringing his striking game to a place where it is almost flawless.
Against Lamas on Saturday night, he strung together brutal combinations and then backed off and regrouped. This allowed him to keep his gas tank in check all the way through the 25-minute affair. Although he did not get the finish, he beat Lamas handily and picked up his 17th consecutive victory.
The biggest question for Aldo will be what comes next. While there are a handful of ready-made contenders waiting in his division, Lamas was the last of the batch who had yet to face him. There is plenty of talk of Aldo vacating the 145-pound strap and jumping up to lightweight, but there has been no clear commitment from the featherweight king in that regard.
Another fighter high up in the pound-for-pound talk is Aldo’s friend and teammate Renan Barao who put on another stellar performance on Saturday night. “The Baron” once again defeated Urijah Faber, only this time around, the victory came in a much more definitive fashion. Barao was able to find his mark early and once he had the Team Alpha Male leader hurt, he swarmed in and pounded out the finish.
With his victory over Faber—who has proven to be heads and shoulders above the rest of the pack at 135-pounds—there may not be a legitimate challenge waiting for Barao. While Dominick Cruz was originally slated to face the Nova Uniao product until an injury forced him out of the matchup, it is borderline crazy to think the Team Alliance fighter could come back from a two-year layoff and compete with Barao. And this isn’t a knock to Cruz’s talents, it’s just the truth of the situation.
Using Faber as the barometer of the situation, it should be clear what type of situation Cruz would be walking into. “The California Kid” steamrolled a batch of tough customers in 2013 and Barao did not even need a full round to get the job done against Faber. When Cruz finally does become healthy, the UFC would be wise to make him take a tune up fight before even considering to contest Barao’s reign.
Until then…it’s a Nova Uniao world and Barao and Aldo are masters of their domain.
Ali Bagautinov has championship ambitions and he took a big step closer to earning a title opportunity at UFC 169. The Dagestani worked an effective game plan as he took the fight to John Lineker throughout the course of the 15-minute affair. Bagautinov won the exchanges when the fight was standing and was able to put Lineker on the mat when he chose to switch up the pace in route the unanimous decision victory.
With the win, the Jackson’s MMA fighter moves to a perfect 3-0 under the UFC banner and boosts his running total to 11 conscecutive successful showings. With the current state of the flyweight division and the lack of depth in where contenders are concerned, Bagautinov put himself in a great position to be considered for a title shot with his victory over Lineker.
There was nothing remotely technical in the fight between Abel Trujillo and Jamie Varner, but it was pure awesomeness for as long as it lasted. Both fighters were throwing fire with the worst intentions and each had the other staggered on numerous occasions. Toward the end of the first round the momentum appeared to be swinging in Varner’s direction as he clipped the Blackzilians fighter with a heavy left hand.
Trujillo came out aggressive to start the second round but Varner continued to get the better of the rapid-fire exchanges. The former WEC lightweight champion started to pile up the punishment, and appeared to have Trujillo on the ropes until “Killa” lived up to his nickname and unleashed a right hand that starched Varner cold.
After the punch landed there was no need for any follow up shots as the Arizona laid face-down on the canvas. With the knockout, Trujillo picked up his second consecutive victory and made sure fans will tune in to watch the next time he fights.
*** The road to the upper-tier of the flyweight division is wide open and Chris Cariaso is steadily making traction toward the top. The Californian snapped a two-fight skid in his last outing against Iliarde Santos back in October, and took another stride in the right direction by defeating Danny Martinez via unanimous decision on Saturday night. While the 32-year-old is still a few steps away from getting a title opportunity, back-to-back victories will keep him moving up the rankings.
*** Clint Hester moved to a perfect 3-0 under the UFC banner as he defeated Andy Enz on the preliminary portion of the card. Enz got off to a quick start, but the Georgia native’s power turned the tide as he battered the MMA Lab fighter with heavy shots that put his opponent on the mat on multiple occasions. With the win, Hester has now notched six consecutive victories and continues to look impressive in the process.
*** Neil Magny needed a win in the worst way coming into UFC 169. Fortunately for the TUF alum, not only did he defeat Gasan Umalatov via unanimous decision, but put on the most impressive performance of his career in the process. Magny used his length and improved striking to keep the Russian on his heels throughout the three-round affair as he put the brakes on a two-fight skid.
The Bad
Frank Mir has hovered around the top of the heavyweight division for the better part of the past decade, but those days appear to have come to an end. Heading into his bout against Alistair Overeem on Saturday night, the former two-time heavyweight champion had dropped three consecutive fights and was desperately in need of a victory against the former Strikeforce heavyweight champion.
Unfortunately for Mir, nothing went his way when the cage door closed as “The Reem” earned a lopsided unanimous decision victory. The loss—which is the fourth consecutive for Mir—will certainly put him in a dubious position where his career is concerned. Where four straight defeats would typically spell unemployment for most UFC fighters, Mir has been a staple of the organization during the Zuffa era.
It would seem highly unlikely Mir would receive his walking papers from Dana White, but a stern talk about his fighting future is certainly in order.
Missed opportunity is starting to become the tag line for John Lineker. The powerful Brazilian is undoubtedly one of the most talented fighters in the 125-pound weight class, but his inability to actually make the weight limit has become the more highlighted than his actual in-cage performances.
In four of his six showings under the UFC banner, Lineker has failed to hit the mark when he initially stepped on the scale. Despite coming in a pound heavy at Friday’s weigh-in, Lineker was able to utilize the additional hour provided to shave the final pound and make the official limit. That said, the 24-year-old coming in heavy once again, put a negative spin on the fight with Bagautinov before the bout ever got under way.
As for the fight itself, Lineker was a step behind the Dagestani throughout the three-round tilt. He was never able to find a home for his signature power and was pretty much at the mercy of Bagautinov for the duration of the fight. While losing to a tough opponent like Bagautinov is nothing to hang his head over, failure to capitalize on the opportunities he’s had is certainly cause for concern.
Had Lineker come in on weight for either of his two previous showings before Saturday night, he very well could have earned a title opportunity. But with his loss to Bagautinov at UFC 169, and continued weight troubles still plaguing him, it will be a tough road to travel if Lineker ever hopes to get a shot at the flyweight crown.
The Strange
Outside of a questionable stoppage in the main event where referee Herb Dean could not see the thumbs up Urijah Faber was throwing up as Renan Barao was pounding away on the side of his head, and John Lineker getting pre-fight manicure at the check-in circle, there weren’t too many strange occurrences to report at UFC 169.
There were no farting cameramen or digestive mishaps by a heavy-handed middleweight, which made the action on Saturday night pretty much as straight up as it gets. Then again there was Alan Patrick.
Everything about the enthusiastic lightweight seems strange. From pulling off over-excited back flips at the weigh-ins to dancing around confidently after a lackluster performance where the decision most likely should not have gone his way; strange seems to be Patrick’s thing.
Duane Finley is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report.
Frank Mir and Alistair Overeem are two of the most experienced fighters in the heavyweight division, but entering UFC 169, it seemed like their time might be at an end.
Mir entered on an ugly three-fight losing streak, including brutal knockout losses …
Frank Mir and Alistair Overeem are two of the most experienced fighters in the heavyweight division, but entering UFC 169, it seemed like their time might be at an end.
Mir entered on an ugly three-fight losing streak, including brutal knockout losses to Junior dos Santos and Josh Barnett. While he had been the division’s top contender not long ago, fans have seen far too many fighters go from beast to burden seemingly overnight and it was hard not to worry he was in the same sort of rut that Tito Ortiz and Chuck Liddell entered toward the end of their careers.
Overeem, meanwhile, dropped two fights in a row after seemingly having them in the bag. Given his lengthy career in both MMA and kickboxing that is peppered from start to finish with knockout losses, it was easy to suspect that his chin, quite frankly, might just be gone.
When the two faced off, a highly measured Overeem wore down Mir, handily taking a unanimous 30-27 decision. So what did we learn?
A Measured Alistair Overeem Is a Good Alistair Overeem
Overeem rocked Mir early but didn’t go wild. He chose his strikes, landed most of them and took a clear-cut unanimous decision.
Was it the most exciting win of his career? No. Did he really need an exciting win? Definitely not.
“The Reem” has his name back in the conversation at the top of the heavyweight division, and that’s all he needed out of this fight. If he can win another, he is once again back in the title picture.
Frank Mir Is Still Darn Good
Lots of people were saying stuff like this:
Overeem definitely could have finished that. Didn’t seem like he wanted to.
The fact is that Mir did an excellent job of tangling Overeem up. He got busted up for three rounds in a pretty bad way. His face looked like ground beef afterward.
He lost, but not too many could survive even close to that long with Overeem perched atop them.
Mir Still Has a Bit of a Chin
I’m not going to say that Mir has as good a chin as ever, but remember when Liddell was knocked out for a few minutes by a glancing left to the forehead by Rich Franklin? We’re not there yet.
Mir ate some hard punches from Overeem, and while he was certainly on some very wobbly legs, he isn’t to the point where he was like the driver of the Pope Mobile in that one episode of Family Guy.
That’s a good sign. Whether or not that translates to him keeping his job with the UFC, though, is anybody’s guess.
Overeem Is Smart with His Call-outs
Now, I know that nobody is really clamoring for Brock Lesnar vs. Alistair Overeem 2. We saw that fight not all that long ago, and it didn’t go so hot for Lesnar.
But hey, we all know that the biggest possible fight the UFC could make right now would either be Anderson Silva vs. Georges St-Pierre or Lesnar vs. somebody. Overeem wants to be that somebody, and that’s a good call.
It probably won’t happen. Once again, we’ve seen Lesnar vs. Overeem already, and other fights are better for the current pro wrestler’s MMA longevity. Still, Lesnar is the biggest fight for Overeem, so good on him for making a play for it.
(I’ll eat my own foot if the word “bro” wasn’t uttered at least once. / Photo via Esther Lin/MMAFighting)
Legacies will be defined, belts may or may not change hands, and “Bagautinov” will be pronounced at least three different ways — welcome, ladies and gents, to CagePotato’s liveblog of UFC 169: Barao vs. Faber. On tap for this evening: Renan Barao attempts to defend his unified bantamweight title for the first time against Urijah Faber, and Jose Aldo goes for his sixth UFC featherweight title defense against hard-charging contender Ricardo Lamas. Plus: a heavyweight battle between Alistair Overeem and Frank Mir that’s totally awesome if you don’t think about it too hard.
Handling play-by-play for the UFC 169 pay-per-view broadcast is Aaron Mandel, who will be putting live results from the main card after the jump, starting at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT. Refresh the page every few minutes for all the latest updates, and shoot your own thoughts into the comments section. Thanks for coming.
(I’ll eat my own foot if the word “bro” wasn’t uttered at least once. / Photo via Esther Lin/MMAFighting)
Legacies will be defined, belts may or may not change hands, and “Bagautinov” will be pronounced at least three different ways — welcome, ladies and gents, to CagePotato’s liveblog of UFC 169: Barao vs. Faber. On tap for this evening: Renan Barao attempts to defend his unified bantamweight title for the first time against Urijah Faber, and Jose Aldo goes for his sixth UFC featherweight title defense against hard-charging contender Ricardo Lamas. Plus: a heavyweight battle between Alistair Overeem and Frank Mir that’s totally awesome if you don’t think about it too hard.
Handling play-by-play for the UFC 169 pay-per-view broadcast is Aaron Mandel, who will be putting live results from the main card after the jump, starting at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT. Refresh the page every few minutes for all the latest updates, and shoot your own thoughts into the comments section. Thanks for coming.
Preliminary card results
– Alan Patrick def. John Makdessi via unanimous decision (29-28 x 2, 30-27)
– Chris Cariaso def. Danny Martinez via unanimous decision (29-28 x 3)
– Nick Catone def. Tom Watson via split-decision (30-27, 29-28, 28-29)
– Al Iaquinta def. Kevin Lee via unanimous decision (29-28 x 2, 28-27)
– Clint Hester def. Andy Enz via unanimous decision (30-27 x 2, 30-26)
– Rashid Magomedov def. Tony Martin via unanimous decision (29-28 x 3)
– Neil Magny def. Gasan Umalatov via unanimous decision (30-27 x 2, 29-28)
Alright everyone, we are live for the UFC 169 PPV card! The first seven (7!) fights all went to decision so if you’re just tuning in now congrats on not wasting your life, we must be due for something good.
Abel Trujillo vs. Jamie Varner
Varner took this on slightly short notice as an injury replacement for Bobby Green and he’ll be looking to keep his career resurgence going against the the up and comer Trujillo.
Round 1- Left hook lands for Varner. Good one-two from Trujillo. Right hand lands from Varner. Two big shots just miss from Trujillo. Varner hits a right hand and Trujillo answers. Good even exchanges so far. Ducking left hook for Varner. Trujillo clinches and tries for a takedown but Varner reverses and has Trujillo’s back. Varner rolls with him and stays on the back looking to sink in hooks. They scramble and Varner is in north south working a choke. The attempt looks deep but Trujillo gives the classic thumbs up. Varner tightens the choke but releases and tries to transition to mount but looses position and they return to the feet. A wild exchange ensues and both fighters are clipped but seem okay. Good straight left lands from Trujillo followed by a knee, great round. 10-9 Varner.
Round 2- Trujillo comes out firing but mostly missing. Front kick from Varner. Left hook tags Trujillo and tries to pounce but Trujillo fires back and clips Varner who shoots in on the legs. They are both standing and Varner clips Trujillo who goes against the fence and then slumps forward for a takedown. Varner sprawls and works strikes. Varner swivels to the back as Trujillo rises against the cage. They go rock em sock em robots against the cage and Trujillo is taking the worst of it but is still in the fight, but he is seriously wobbled. Out of nowhere Trujillo unloads a right hand that puts Varner out cold!!! Wild fight, holy shit.
Abel Trujillo defeats Jamie Varner via KO, 2:32 of round 2
Trujillo admits in the post-fight interview he was seriously hurt before getting the KO, love the honesty and the warrior spirit! This will be hard to top for FOTN and maybe KOTN.
Ali Bagautinov vs. John Lineker
Lineker has more UFC experience and top level KO power for 125 lbs. but Bagautinov can bring it and has shown it up to this point. Lineker struggled to make weight (again) yesterday so we’ll see if his gas tank can last if it needs to. Winner of this might get a Flyweight title shot in this new, emerging division.
At the check-in point they clip Lineker’s fingernail as Rogan starts with the mani/pedi jokes. NJ commission is world-class and Lineker cannot seem to keep his shit together.
Round 1- Lineker stalking and rips a right but Ali times it well and hits a takedown, looking to pass from full guard. Lineker working elbows from the bottom and man, he really does hit hard. Ali postures up and looks to rain down strikes. Ali trying to pass but Lineker doing a good job maintaining full guard. Lineker spins for a leg lock agains the sambo master as Rogan clowns on him. Ali switches to a heel hook of his own and sits back on it, looked good but Lineker spins out and they stand. Lineker taunts Ali to stand and strike. Lineker stalking again as Ali moves around the edge of the Octagon. Lineker throws a right body kick with Ali catches and uses to take Lineker down where he is on top in half guard throwing punches. Lineker trying for a kimura from the bottom as round ends. 10-9 Bagautinov.
Round 2- Low kicks from both men to start. Ali dives in on the legs for a takedown but it’s from way too far out and they end up against the fence. Ali flurries with strikes and they tie up in the clinch. They split, left hooks from Ali as he moves constantly to avoid Lineker’s power. Huge body shot right punch from Lineker and two more, ouch, these look good. Ali dives for a takedown which fails and those body shots hurt him. Lineker opening up and starting to tag Ali and the momentum is shifting. Ali dives under a punch for a takedown. Lineker sprawls and throws elbows to the body as he rises against the fence. They separate and Ali hits some good punches to the head of Lineker, kick is blocked and Ali goes for a takedown which fails. Round ends with a flurry, Lineker landing some heavy shots. 10-9 Lineker.
Round 3- By my unofficial scoring it will come down to this round. Ali wades in through strikes and get a takedown from a clinch trip but Lineker gets back to his feet. Ali throws Lineker back down from the body lock. Ali working to full mount as Lineker works a kimura and recovers half guard. Lineker uses the fence to get back up but gets hit with a left and then taken back down by Ali. Half guard with Ali on top and Rogan makes the good point that Lineker’s cardio remarkably seems okay as we’re halfway through the third round. They are clinched against the cage with Ali working knees. They separate, one minute left. Ali dives in on a leg and gets it, even from quite far out. Ali working strikes on top as Lineker goes for a leg lock and eats some strikes to pay for it. The fight ends with Lineker working a leg lock as Bagautinov stands up flexing and playing to the crowd. 10-9 Bagautinov.
Ali Bagautinov defeats John Lineker via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
Frank Mir vs. Alistair Overeem
Time for the big boys to throw down. Both have been on the wrong end of KO’s as of late and the loser could be out of the UFC.
Round 1- BIG DUDES! Touch of the gloves and some feeling out. High kick by Mir, body punch from Overeem. Low kick by Overeem and a right hand from Mir. Mir comes in with strikes and clinches but Overeem reverses and throws some knees. They split, leg kick from Overeem and he lands a short left hand on Mir. Left hook behind the ear of Mir. Thai clinch from Overeem and a knee to the body makes Mir spit. Overeem drops Mir with a knee to the head from the clinch and he is hanging on for dear life on the ground as Overeem pours it on. Overeem is pinning Mir’s hand behind his head big brother style. Mir eats a knee to the body but rises to his feet! Did Overeem gas again@!!?!? They split and back on the feet. Overeem looks fresh still, that cardio training has paid off. Mir comes in with a kick and a punch that are slow and miss. They clinch and Mir drops for a leglock but ends up on the bottom in half guard. Overeem drops two hammerfists and an elbow to the midsection. Round ends with Overeem on top but Mir survives. 10-9 Overeem.
Round 2- Straight left from Overeem snaps Mir’s head back. Leg kick from Mir and then another which is checked. Overeem catches a leg and throws Mir like a small child to the mat but backs off. Mir comes in with strikes that are slow again and miss. Overeem clinches and throws knees to the body against the fence. Ref separates them and back to the center. Overeem throws three big strikes which land. Mir runs in and scores a bumrush takedown. Overeem sitting up against the cage with Mir trying to stay on top. Mir briefly threatens with a guillotine but loses it and finds himself on the bottom with Overeem throwing strikes again. Overeem continues to work strikes on top in half guard. Mir is bloodied around his right eye in multiple places. Big left elbow from Overeem and Mir is getting beaten up. Mir gets full guard from the bottom and tries to use the cage to roll and reverse. Overeem stands up while Mir lays in guard. Ref stands them up and the round ends. 10-9 Overeem.
Round 3- Two high kicks miss from Mir. Mir tries for a takedown, runs into the brick wall of Overeem’s body and then pulls guard. Overeem does not want to play on the ground and stands up. Mir shoots for another takedown but again has to pull guard and ends up on the bottom in half guard eating some punches from Overeem. Two big left hands land from Overeem on top and Mir ties him up. Overeem working strikes to the head and body from guard. Overeem is laying a methodical beating on Mir and he stands up to force Mir to rise. Big straight right rocks Mir who looks longingly at the clock. Overeem begs Mir to swing at him but Mir just flails a weak kick and eats two more big strikes from Overeem as the right ends. 10-9 Overeem.
Alistair Overeem defeats Frank Mir via unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Champ Jose Aldo vs. Ricardo Lamas
For some reason the heavier fight is not the headliner. Lamas is rocking a great mohawk mullet, may it give him the strength he needs because Aldo is the clear favorite and maybe the pound for pound best.
Round 1- Leg kick from Lamas and another. Head kick misses from Lamas. Aldo throwing lots of fakes and feeling Lamas out. Two minutes in and Aldo has thrown three strikes. More leg kicks from Lamas which Aldo is mostly checking. Two strikes and a kick from Aldo. Spinning kick to the body from Aldo. Jumping head kick from Lamas is blocked. Body kick from Lamas and he slips and Aldo pounces throwing head and body shots but no major damage. Lamas working more kicks, high and low, none landing. Right hand from Aldo to the head and rips another to the body. Two spinning kicks miss from Aldo. First round ends with Aldo throwing flying knee and punches. More missed than landed in that round, fortunately we’ve got four more if we need them! 10-9 Lamas.
Round 2- Aldo checks a leg kick and blocks a high kick. Lamas throws a slow wheel kick which also doesn’t land. Punch and low kick from Aldo, that hurt. Straight right from Aldo. Leg kick from Lamas doesn’t land fully, body punch from Aldo and two more. Good leg kick from Aldo, his are way more successful than Lamas’. Aldo clips Lamas with a left hand. Good leg kick from Aldo. Jabs and a leg kick from Aldo, he’s starting to turn it up. Another leg kick bends Lamas around. Wheel kick misses from Lamas. Lamas’ leg is starting to give out on the kicks. Wheel kick again from Lamas that is blocked followed by another that totally misses. 10-9 Aldo.
Round 3- Lamas comes out with a front kick and then a body kick. Leg kick from Aldo. Punch and a leg kick from Aldo. Aldo blocks a head kick and throws a leg kick. Aldo with more leg kicks and punches. Lamas tries for a single leg takedown but Aldo shrugs it off. Lamas with a head kick that was close, leg kick from Aldo, obviously. Front push kick frmo Lamas and Aldo drills him with a leg kick. Uppercut from Lamas and an overhand right from Aldo. Two jabs and a straight right from Aldo. Lamas misses with two headkicks. Body punch from Aldo and another leg kick. Lamas is still in the fight though, he’s taking it and pushing on, throwing strong strikes of his own. Right hand and leg kick from Lamas. Lamas got Aldo with a right. 10-9 Aldo.
Round 4- Aldo has tended to fade in the championship rounds, we’ll see how this goes. Lamas goes for a single leg takedown which Aldo defends as he backs against the cage. Lamas lifts Aldo into the air against the cage and Aldo just chills there in midair for awhile. Aldo reverses and puts Lamas against the cage. Aldo trips Lamas and takes him to the mat. Aldo on top in side control looking for an arm triangle. Aldo now in half guard. Lamas with butterfly guard and Aldo jumps over them and lands in mount. Lamas rolls and gives up his back. Aldo goes for a choke but can’t get it under the chin. Lamas gets to his feet and now shoots in on Aldo who has his back against the cage defending against Lamas. 10-9 Aldo.
Round 5- I think Lamas has to finish here to win. Lamas comes out aggressive with a flurry of body kicks. Lamas swings for the fences but misses and Aldo presses him against the cage. Aldo drags Lamas down against the cage and is in full guard. Aldo moves to side control and then mount. Lamas throws his hips and reverses Aldo. Lamas now on top in full guard. Lamas diving down with strikes but Aldo defending. Big elbow from Lamas and he wants it but Aldo is doing a good job of somewhat desperately tying him up. Lamas’ corner is screaming that he needs to finish and Lamas is pouring it on. Aldo ties him back up in full guard and is hanging on tight. A few final punches and elbows from Lamas as the round ends. 10-9 Lamas and I think Aldo will take it three rounds to two, but who am I?
Jose Aldo defeats Ricardo Lamas via unanimous decision (49-46 x3)
Aldo gives Lamas credit in his postfight interview as the humble champ retains the belt.
Champ Renan Barao vs. Urijah Faber
Faber has been on an absolute tear since his previous loss to Barao and he steps up on short notice for another crack at a title that has eluded him since earlier in his WEC days. Barao has been on a run of his own, dude hasn’t lost since 2005 in his first fight. Faber has lost his last 5 title fights and won everything else, he is still evolving and improving but you have to wonder at age 34 if he’ll get another shot if he loses tonight. My heart wants Faber, my head says Barao, it’s tough out here.
Round 1- Kicks and punches from both to start, nothing landing. Faber catches a leg and lands a left on Barao. Lots of kicks from Barao, nothing really landing so far. Body shot by Faber, he slips and briefly turtles up as Barao strikes. Faber stands up with a spinning back fist and he smiles at Barao. Body shot head shot combo from Faber and his striking looks good, thanks Duane Ludwig. Head kick blocked from Barao. Good leg kick by Barao. Barao floors Faber with a punch and dives in. Faber covering up for his life but he gets back to his feet! Barao hits Faber some more and he tries for a leg desperately. Barao drops Faber again and Faber goes flat on the canvas for a second before grabbing Barao’s leg again. Barao raining down punches as Faber covers up. Referee Herb Dean jumps in and stops the fight. Faber holds on in disbelief to Barao’s leg and tells Dean that he was fine and giving a thumbs up. It’s to no avail and the champ retains his belt.
Renan Barao defeats Urijah Faber via tko, round 1
From where I sit, on my couch, that was a bad stoppage. No one except Herb Dean is in the cage making those calls officially but we’re all entitled to our opinions. My opinion is that Faber should have been given every opportunity to stay in that fight and he was robbed of that. I bet Eddie Wineland agrees.
Faber stays classy in his interview but agrees the stoppage was early, obviously, and suggests that “a limp body” would be a better indicator to stop the fight. Rogan suggests that Chad Mendes, Faber’s teammate should get the next shot, Faber reminds Rogan that Mendes is a weight class above. ”I’m retarded,” muses Rogan, outsmarted by a guy who was on the verge of consciousness a minute ago. And on that note, have a good night.
Here’s the thing about UFC 169, happening Saturday night in New Jersey: There are a lot of guys on the card that people don’t really care about.
It’s unfortunate, because they’re all wildly talented martial artists, and many of them are surely delightf…
Here’s the thing about UFC 169, happening Saturday night in New Jersey: There are a lot of guys on the card that people don’t really care about.
It’s unfortunate, because they’re all wildly talented martial artists, and many of them are surely delightful people when not locked in a cage to do harm to another man.
But it is, nonetheless, a reality that not many of them resonate with an audience.
Names like Abel Trujillo, Alan Patrick and Kevin Lee don’t exactly draw eyes worldwide. Ricardo Lamas, title contender and sharer of a marquee with Jose Aldo this weekend, doesn’t exactly have people beating down the door to see him in action either.
Two guys people do care about on the UFC 169 card?
And oddly enough, they’re the two guys who may be fighting for their jobs this weekend.
Since the fight was initially announced for UFC 167, the talk has been all about it serving as a “loser leaves town” bout, and that maintained momentum with the move to Super Bowl weekend.
Truthfully, that’s idiotic. In a sport where quality heavyweights are almost unavailable, talk of cutting one for a modest losing streak is insane.
Mir has been an absolute soldier for the UFC, fighting anyone it asks under any circumstances for a decade. His recent slide has been to two former UFC champions (one, Junior dos Santos, was holding the title when he beat Mir) and a former Strikeforce heavyweight champion. Before that, he’d won seven of nine fights and held the heavyweight title himself.
Overeem, issues outside the cage notwithstanding, hasn’t done anything in the cage to warrant a release. He annihilated Brock Lesnar in his UFC debut before substance issues derailed a title shot in 2012. His return engagement was one that had him up two rounds on Bigfoot Silva before his own nonchalance opened the door for a Silva comeback. In similar fashion, he nearly stopped Travis Browne in August before the Hawaiian’s second wind propelled him to a memorable KO.
Are these the traits of men that the UFC can truly do without? Exciting fighters who tell tales in the cage that go beyond the “L” side of Joe Silva’s ledger?
It makes one wonder if the cost of doing business with a pair of heavyweights in their mid-30s becomes part of the influence. Much like the promotion did with Jon Fitch and YushinOkami, the potential to size up the payouts to both men and cut them loose on a slide is a great way to free up some cash.
After all, you can fill half a card with unknown flyweights for the cost of one Mir or Overeem, and don’t think for a minute that doesn’t appeal to a UFC that’s almost up to more events than there are weeks on the calendar in 2014.
The bottom line here is that there is precedent for keeping around well-known, entertaining performers. Men like Dan Hardy and Stephan Bonnar went years between wins and stayed employed on the grounds of fan friendliness, and so too should Mir and Overeem.
Mir owns more highlight-reel submissions than any heavyweight in history, maybe any fighter in history, and the kill-or-be-killed stylings of Overeem are nothing if not high-octane entertainment.
Those are guys that Dana White can afford to write cheques for. Hopefully he realizes as much before one hand is raised in New Jersey come Saturday night, and another is given a pink slip.
