This card really changed a lot as the date drew near, and I have to say it really turned into a sleeper hit. Going from featuring Ortiz in the main event to Franklin was just a stroke of luck for the fans, as Franklin always puts on a good show, and I've honestly grown tired of Ortiz looking bad and then complaining about his myriad or injuries going into the fight (broken neck, skull fracture, legally dead, etc...). Combine this with a co-main event pitting Cro Cop against Louisiana native Pat Barry and you have a fan's wet dream match up. But it gets better. Not only is this feature match up showcasing two of the most exciting bangers in the HW division, Cro Cop is the childhood hero of Barry and the reason he actually entered the sport. This is the stuff of movies. There couldn't be more intrigue to this fight. On the one hand you have the up and comer Barry facing his idol, and on the other you have Cro Cop coming off a series of lackluster fights where his injuries kept him from throwing his trademark kicks. Will Barry fold under the pressure of facing his idol? Will Cro Cop be at his top form of old, or will we see the shot Cro Cop of late? No matter where you are from, this fight has sphincter clincher written all over it.
But it gets better....
On the main card you have the Natural Born Killer Carlos Condit taking on the undefeated Canadian prospect Rory Macdonald and The Hitman Martin Kampmann taking on dangerous Paulo Thiago. I couldn't ask for better fights on a card. Both Condit and Kampmann are fighters I respect tremendously. Very well-rounded, tons of heart, and both are killers looking to finish. The only fight I am meh about is the Gilbert Yvel fight, as I was willing to bet the farm that Rothwell would do everything in his power to make this one the snoozer of the night.
But it gets better...
On the undercard you have Tyson Griffin v Evan Dunham. Let me state this again, ON THE UNDERCARD. For a card to be so stacked that Tyson Griffin is on the undercard is a guarantee that the card will kick some serious arce. This fight is as good as any fight that could be put on, and it's an undercard fight...wow.
So to cap off the perspective of me the viewer, I am stoked beyond all hell to watch these fights. Now on to the afterthoughts:
In a sentence, GREATEST CARD IN WHO KNOWS HOW LONG.
Ladies and gentleman, we have a new contender at 155, and his name is Evan Dunham. This guy fought a perfect fight against a top level LW. I've never seen Griffin so out manuevered and outclassed in a fight. Dunham is on fire.
Props to Rory for taking the fight to Condit, but it will take more than pressure and a few takedowns to break the WEC champ. Condit stayed composed the whole fight looking for opportunities, and in the third he got one as Rory started to show signs of attrition, and after a relentless ground and pound assault that left the Canadian's face beaten nearly beyond recognition the fight was stopped...with 7 seconds left. I, personally, had scored every round for Condit, as he landed the better strikes from both the feet and from his back. The takedowns from Macdonald never amounted to any offense, and so effective striking won the rounds for Condit. But seeing how UFC judges don't always know what sport they are watching, it was safe to say that they had given the first two to Macdonald merely because of the takedowns, and Condit needed to finish the fight to win. And he did. That's what a champion does. As it turns out Rory would have no doubt won the fight had he lasted the remaining seconds, for two of the judges gave him the first two rounds. A brief look at their faces would tell of a different winner, however.
The next fight was Rothwell v Yvel, and what can I say but I was right again. Rothwell held Yvel down for enough time to win a decision, but Yvel impressed me with his sweeps of the much larger fighter. Rothwell doesn't have a brain to damage, so I knew Yvel would have to beat on him for a long time to finish him. While he did land some impressive shots that probably would have finished most fighters, Rothwell didn't register much. He just went back to holding Yvel down. Even though he won the fight, Rothwell came out the worse, as he was able to mount, put in the crucifix, and generally have his way with Yvel on the ground, and he showed nothing for it. Yvel had superior position only briefly and managed to do more damage than Rothwell did the whole fight. Yvel has shown that his ground game is developing, but it was his conditioning that really lost him the fight. If you gas that visibly in a 3 round fight, you don't belong on the main card.
This was where I started to get really nervous. I am a huge Kampmann fan, and after getting beat down by Daley he needed to look good tonight. The only problem is that he is facing the number 5 ranked WW in the world, Paulo Thiago. I also know his only loss came to Jon Fitch, who simply outwrestled him for 3 rounds, and Kampmann is no Fitch. I had to honestly say that I thought Kampmann was going to lose this fight. Then the strangest thing happens, Kampmann outclasses Thiago in every facet of the game. He uses his jab to dictate the pace and range of the stand-up. His clinch work was superior and used it to set up takedowns, and on the ground was able to pass the BJJ black belt's guard and put him in all kinds of trouble. By the third round Thiago's face was looking more and more like his ear....puffy and misshapen. Thiago actually looked like a broken fighter in the last stanza, and Kampmann closed out the fight with a side choke that damn near made it look like Thiago's eye was about to pop out of his head (the eye that wasn't swollen shut, that is). At no point in the fight did Thiago ever have an advantage. It was a shut out that really outshined Fitch's defeat in every way. Kampmann showed that not only does he belong in the top ten, but he deserves to be included in any discussion of title contenders at 170. With the remaining top 5 contenders already matched up in the coming months, there is no telling who will get matched up with the Dane. Bring em on I say.
Now comes the part where I wonder if I am going to faint or not. I have been a ridiculous CC fan since he KO'd Igor Vovchanchin in what is arguably the most brutal knockout in the history of the sport (youtube it). When I say ridiculous, I mean I actually went for him when he fought Fedor in 2005. I know, right? So I know just what is on the line for him in this fight. Compound to that that Pat Barry is a local boy and I am a huge fan of his (I mean how can you not like the guy?) and you have a monumental fight that I don't want either one of them to lose. In a way, I'm hoping that they both land some really good shots, but before one of them gets KO'd Bobby Heenan runs in the cage and cracks CC in the back with a chair and causes a DQ. I mean that's how the WWE handles it's big matches right? But this is the really real world, and one of these guys is going to lose, so I do the only thing I can at this point....start drinking really fast. (did you watch that KO vid yet?)
The fight starts and the booth we're sitting at is vibrating because we're all nervous twitching so much, and right away the exchanges start. "Holy shit." I thought, this is really happening. Just as soon as I am trying to take this in, Barry lands an overhand right and drops CC. Does anyone know CPR, cuz I'm about to have a fucking heart attack. I down more beer, and my heart gets the memo. As soon as the blood returns to my brain, Barry perfectly times another CC straight left and lands the overhand right again...BOOM. This time CC actually looks hurt. This is where the world stood still. My vision faded a bit (not from the drinking thank you), and I was taken back to when Bret Rogers was pounding on Fedor. This can't be happening, not like this. Despite the beating, CC actually looked like he was having a great time out there. And then it happened. CC smiles at Barry, and they high five. Barry smiles back at CC and goes in with his arms outstretched...and they embrace. Our booth went nuts. It was a magical moment. Mentor and student, idol and fan together united in deadly battle, yet still taking time to honor the moment with an embrace. It was infectious. I swear I would have started hugging strangers if they hadn't been such douchebags in Ed Hardy shirts. But I digress. As they start circling each other, CC manages to mount enough offense to keep Barry from killing him in the first round, but it didn't look good. Barry looked faster, more explosive, and stronger. I was steeling myself up for another CC loss.
In round two, CC welcomes Barry with a series of left high kicks. It was almost as if he was telling the younger fighter, "Yeah you caught me in that last round, but I've got plenty left to give you." And he sure did. CC really opened up with some midkicks that were lightning quick, and Barry started to get frustrated. CC changed his timing up, and no longer was the overhand right as effective. The second round closed with CC looking more relaxed and lethal, and Barry started to slow.
The third round was more of the last round. CC kept pushing, and Barry fought his heart out, but he ducked expecting the straight, and CC was waiting this time. Instead of the left straight, he threw a snapping left uppercut that connected flush. Two more followed before Barry could react. He backed against the cage as CC came in for the kill. A one-two combo later saw Barry crumple to the canvas. CC pounced and followed up with a series of pawing headshots until he saw Barry was open for the rear naked choke. With 30 seconds left in the fight Barry had no choice but to tap.
The fight was even better than I had expected. It was three rounds of top notch banging from two guys who can put a man out in a heartbeat. Both of them looked amazing, and Cro Cop showed that he can fight in a cage, and fight well. This was by far the best showing he's had in the cage, and I couldn't think of a better way to end his contract.
As for Barry, he got to take on his idol, and put him down twice. He gave Cro Cop everything he could handle. He also broke his hand and foot during the fight. This could account for the toned down aggression of the second and third rounds.
The bottom line is both fighters came out winners in this fight. Cro Cop proved the doubters wrong, and Barry proved to himself that he can bang with the best of the best, and if he hadn't injured himself, maybe the fight would have ended differently. I'm really proud of both these guys, and I can't wait to see what's next for them both.
Oh yeah, there was another fight after this one.
I think Liddell is a bit of a tool, and I like Franklin's skill set and intelligence in the cage, so I'm going for Franklin. Liddell came ready for a fight, and he clipped Franklin a few times. It was a great back and forth, so I was really happy to see the high from the last fight get maintained so well through the main event. In the closing minute of the first round, it looked like Chuck was about to finish Rich off. Franklin was against the cage after eating some shots, and Liddell came in firing both barrels. This is where Chuck figured wrong. Rich was not nearly as hurt as Chuck thought, and he was merely waiting for Chuck to come in wild looking to finish. Sure enough, Chuck leaves his hands down as he swings and eats a short right hook on the kisser. Chuck collapses lifelessly to the canvas. Wow. Nice finish, Rich.
In keeping with the spectacular night of drama. Rich actually broke his left arm blocking a kick early in the fight, and so he knocked out chuck fighting only with one arm. It's hard to say what's next for Rich, as he looked great in this fight, but one has to wonder how far a win over chuck will get him. It's like banging Stifler's mom. Welcome to the club, right?
The good news is Dana is assuring us (again) that Chuck is done fighting. Forgive me for not engraving that bit of gospel straight away.
All in all I could not have asked for a better night of fights. Great drama, Great action, and great displays of skill and honor.
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