Re: UFC 108: Evans vs. Silva (Jan. 2nd) Yeah the star power is lacking but these could be one of those cards where there ends up being 7-8 good fights. Like a WEC card....hopefully.
Re: UFC 108: Evans vs. Silva (Jan. 2nd) [video=youtube;42h9QqyM49U]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42h9QqyM49U[/video]
Re: UFC 108: Evans vs. Silva (Jan. 2nd) Apparently it isn't too late for guys to keep dropping out, the latest being Steve Cantwell (reportedly -- MMA Weekly).
Re: UFC 108: Evans vs. Silva (Jan. 2nd) Not only is Cantwell off the card, whatever issue he's having could be of the "may never fight again" variety, re: Dana White.
Re: UFC 108: Evans vs. Silva (Jan. 2nd) Weigh-in Results: Main Card Bouts: Rashad Evans (205) vs. Thiago Silva (205) Paul Daley (172)* vs. Dustin Hazelett (168) Joe Lauzon (155) vs. Sam Stout (155) Duane Ludwig (156) vs. Jim Miller (155) Junior Dos Santos (237) vs. Gilbert Yvel (239) On Spike: Martin Kampmann (171) vs. Jacob Volkmann (171) Dan Lauzon (155) vs. Cole Miller (155) Preliminary Bouts: Ryan Jensen (186) vs. Mark Munoz (185) Jake Ellenberger (170) vs. Mike Pyle (171) Rafaello Oliveira (156) vs. John Gunderson (155) *Daley misses weight, fight changed to 172-lbs., Daley gives Hazelett 10% of purse.
Re: UFC 108: Evans vs. Silva (Jan. 2nd) Semtex apparently tried to cut too much weight too fast, or just had a bad cut, and appeared wobbly and disoriented when he was on stage for the weigh-ins. So, the athletic commission didn't allow him to try and lose the extra weight and instead forced him to fight at a catch weight and docked him 10% of his pay (to go to McLovin). So if you're a betting man, take that into consideration.
Re: UFC 108: Evans vs. Silva (Jan. 2nd) [video=youtube;1ob6GdeVis0]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ob6GdeVis0&feature=player_embedded[/video]
Re: UFC 108: Evans vs. Silva (Jan. 2nd) Results Rashad Evans def. Thiago Silva by Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28), R3 Paul Daley def. Dustin Hazelett by TKO (Strikes) at 2:24, R1 Sam Stout def. Joe Lauzon by Unanimous Decision (30-26, 30-27, 30-27), R3 Jim Miller def. Duane Ludwig by Submission (Armbar) at 2:31, R1 Junior dos Santos def. Gilbert Yvel by TKO (Strikes) at 2:07, R1 Martin Kampmann def. Jacob Volkmann by Submission (Guillotine Choke) at 4:03, R1 Cole Miller def. Dan Lauzon by Submission (Kimura/Inverted Triangle) at 3:05, R1 Mark Munoz def. Ryan Jensen by Submission (Strikes) at 2:30, R1 Jake Ellenberger def. Mike Pyle by TKO (Strikes) at :22, R2 Rafaello Oliveira def. John Gunderson by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Re: UFC 108: Evans vs. Silva (Jan. 2nd) Bonuses: Fight of the Night... Joe Lauzon vs. Sam Stout Knockout of the Night... Paul Daley Submission of the Night... Cole Miller Bonuses are worth $50,000
Once again the UFC shows that on paper the fights are never the way they will be live... the weakest PPV card in months turns out to be a very solid one. 9/10 fights were shown on the PPV broadcast (again all Spike fights were re-televised), which is fantastic. Only two fights went to decision, one being the very exciting Stout/Lauzon bout, the other being the so-so Silva/Evans bout. Loads of knockouts and a really slick submission by Cole Miller.
Junior dos Santos is ready for a big time fight... Frank Mir, Shane Carwin... somebody real. So is Paul Daley.
"Nobody is getting cut tonight," said Dana White. I guess Ryan Jensen and Jacob Volkmann will have to wait until tomorrow to get their Christmas pink slips.
WTF was up with Thiago Silva in the third round? Looked like Evans was done for as long as he kept attacking but instead he kept taunting Evans despite the fact that he had CLEARLY lost the first two rounds. With two minutes left Rashad got the piss beat out of him but Thiago kept backing off and taunting him while Rashad had just enough time to recover and take the win. Silva looked a little flabby as some of my friends pointed out but I didn't think he actually looked that tired in the third. But what other explanation could explain why he didn't go for the kill in the final round when he had Rashad stunned? Maybe another Shogun situation where his corner told him he was winning? Interesting that Rashad was so effective in using his wrestling. He didn't use it a whole lot in most of his recent fights. He thinks hes way faster and way better at standing than he really is. I'm starting to question his chin and I've never really thought he was great in stand-up (good enough to beat Forrest and an old Lidell but Thiago and Machida beat the hell out of him standing). Very GSP-esque of him just going for takedowns to rack up points but he was outclassed when they actually stood and traded. If he knows whats good for him he'll keep it up and continues to wrestle. He seemed understandably hesitant to keep it on the ground as Silva has good BJJ, also GSP-esque, but you have to think he could do well against Rampage with that wrestling followed up by good ground and pound.
I wouldn't throw him in there with Mir or Carwin yet. Let Mir, Carwin, Big Nog, and Velazquez fight it out for the top contender spot and Dos Santos can get into the picture after that. He could fight loser of Nog-Cain or Couture if/when he beats Coleman. He needs one or two more legit opponents before he gets a top shelf heavyweight fight IMO.
Daley needs to fight kos and winner will fight GSP.. assuming GSP will lay a smackdown on hardy in march
I'm doubting Rashad more and more standing up but I can see Rashad winning by using his wrestling to score takedowns and keeping it on the ground.
Man, Thiago not going in for the kill really bothered me. I thought I was gonna be treated to Rashad getting knocked out twice this year. I guess I'll just have to settle with Rampage knocking his head off. Rashad went old school today but the thing I noticed is he's not that good at holding that guys down, I think it's due to the fact that he's pretty small compared to other 205ers. I doubt that he'd be able to take down and control Rampage with much success. I agree with those that say Dos Santos is ready for a big time fight, thing is there's not much available right now. And Paul Daley vs Rumble Johnson, that would be a sick fight.
