MMA Fighting’s Mike Chiappetta and I looked back at the bigger winners and losers and the news and notes coming out of UFC 119 on Saturday night. Watch out recap show.
MMA Fighting’s Mike Chiappetta and I looked back at the bigger winners and losers and the news and notes coming out of UFC 119 on Saturday night. Watch out recap show.
Filed under: UFCINDIANAPOLIS — Mirko Cro Cop wasn’t planning on fighting anytime soon until the emergency phone rang. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira was out of UFC 119 and they needed him. Cro Cop of course said yes. One legend out, another in.
INDIANAPOLIS — Mirko Cro Cop wasn’t planning on fighting anytime soon until the emergency phone rang. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira was out of UFC 119 and they needed him. Cro Cop of course said yes. One legend out, another in.
Cro Cop said no debate was necessary. After all, he’s a fighter. It’s in his blood. He loves to fight, to compete, to test himself. But before agreeing, Team Cro Cop asked the UFC to do him a favor in return; if he lost, they could not cut him from his newly extended contract. The deal was made, and Cro Cop competed against Frank Mir, ultimately getting knocked out in the third round.
Over his last 10 fights, the Croatian striker has five wins, four losses and one no contest. He’s been knocked unconscious twice. And his best win has come against a relative MMA neophyte, Pat Barry. And so with all this, perhaps it’s time to ask a sad but relevant question: Is it time for Cro Cop to call it quits?
MMA Fighting spoke to Sean Sherk after his controversial UFC 119 decision on Saturday night against Evan Dunham about why he thinks he won the fight, how he survived some sticky situations…
MMA Fighting spoke to Sean Sherk after his controversial UFC 119 decision on Saturday night against Evan Dunham about why he thinks he won the fight, how he survived some sticky situations and how good it felt to be back in the UFC after 16 months away.
MMA Fighting spoke to Sean McCorkle after his UFC 119 win over Mark Hunt Saturday night about what it felt like to win his debut, his performance and why he wants a shot at Matt Mitrione o…
MMA Fighting spoke to Sean McCorkle after his UFC 119 win over Mark Hunt Saturday night about what it felt like to win his debut, his performance and why he wants a shot at Matt Mitrione or Chael Sonnen next.
For the most part, favorites ruled the day at UFC 119.
In the headliner, all of the money movement the week leading up to the fight was on Frank Mir. Shaking of two lack luster rounds, Mir caught Mirko “Cro Crop” Filipovic with a knee and then knockout with :58 seconds remaining in the fight. We […]
For the most part, favorites ruled the day at UFC 119.
In the headliner, all of the money movement the week leading up to the fight was on Frank Mir. Shaking of two lack luster rounds, Mir caught Mirko “Cro Crop” Filipovic with a knee and then knockout with :58 seconds remaining in the fight. We liked Mir at -220, and still liked him even as the line climbed as high as -280. But, we’ll admit, this one was closer than we thought it’d be.
The co-headliner had undefeated Ryan Bader winning a decision against Antonio Rogerio Nogueiravia decision (30-27). Similarly, the money movement on this fight was on Bader, as most lines shifted from -160 to -175/-180 by the opening bell.
Oddsmakers had Matt Serra vs. Chris Lytle pretty evenly matched, and rightfully so, as this one was determined via decision as well, with Lytle avenging his 2006 loss (30-27 on judges scorecards).
The one dog who pulled through did so on a controversial decision. Previously unbeaten Evan Dunham was listed as a -240 favorite pre-fight. While many (including the crowd) felt like Dunham won the second and third rounds, Sean Sherk pulled through with a 29-28 victory on two of the judge’s scorecards.
Look for a slew of new MMA Fix videos in the coming two days and UFC 120 early lines early this week.
(Seriously Mirko, you didn’t miss much. We’ll tell you about it later. PicProps: Vancouver Sun)
There were times during UFC 119 when it felt like everyone involved spent Saturday afternoon chugging tons of codeine cough syrup. Everybody loo…
(Seriously Mirko, you didn’t miss much. We’ll tell you about it later. PicProps: Vancouver Sun)
There were times during UFC 119 when it felt like everyone involved spent Saturday afternoon chugging tons of codeine cough syrup. Everybody looked just a little slow, a little out of it. It sure didn’t help that the two main eventers were totally sleepwalking during the first 14 minutes of their fight before Mirko CroCop ended things with his vicious head butt to Frank Mir’s knee. The “co-main event” was also entirely forgettable, as Ryan Bader outpointed Roger Nog to reportedly win the Jon Jones Sweepstakes. Guess we’ll have to check in with him in six months, find out how that worked out for him …
This was not, by any stretch of the imagination, a great effort from the world’s largest MMA promotion. It also wasn’t quite as bad as a lot of people are saying. We’re not talking “worst show of all time” territory here. Credit local boys Matt Mitrione, Sean McCorkle and Chris Lytle for salvaging what they could of the day. Also, Evan Dunham and Sean Sherk’s back-and-forth battle was by turns exciting and totally bizarre. Too bad it was marred by a shaky judges’ decision. And hey, the good news is, if you liked UFC 119 you’re gonna love Oct. 16’s UFC 120, which looks just as terrible on paper but at least airs for free on SpikeTV.
INDIANAPOLIS — 