UFC All or Nothing PPV Results in a half-assed way

So!  Big fight this weekend and although some might be disappointed by the results, I certainly wasn’t.  All in all, it’s a PPV that shows the potential for really big things in the future of the UFC.

So let’s get started with the breakdown.

Anderson “The Spider” Silva – Middleweight Champion

VS

Travis Lutter

I made that call that it was going to be Anderson Silva wins with a TKO by ref stoppage in the first round.  I was wrong.

Turns out that it was Anderson Silva with a win in the second round because Lutter tapped out.

Anyone who knows MMA might be thinking, “Travis Lutter tapped out to Anderson Silva???!?!? No f’n way!”  To which my response would be a resounding, “WAY!”

There was a lot going on behind the scenes to this fight which turned out to be a regular fight and not a title-fight; the reason for this being that Travis Lutter failed to make the 185lb goal.  See, if you’re a professional fighter, you rarely walk around at your fighting weight.  Most cats walk around fifteen to twenty pounds heavier than the weight category they fight in.  The smart cats start cutting weight a week or two weeks in advance so that they have time to get to the proper weight.

Travis Lutter obviously didn’t do that.  On the telecast it seems like he tried to cut twenty pounds in a very short period of time, and although it wasn’t mentioned…he was now sporting a completely shaved head.  I’m betting that he was in such a panic, and so desperate to make weight that he resorted to shaving his head in an attempt to lose a few more ounces and maybe bring him closer to the 185lb goal.

Travis would have been better off to have died in the octagon when he fought Silva that night because basically he committed suicide as far as his UFC career goes.  Anyone who watches the UFC often knows that the president; Dana White is not the most level-headed of individuals and Travis Lutter blowing his weight, blowing the championship fight and disappointing all the fans that tuned in to watch a championship fight; will not be received with a patient and understanding UFC president.

Yes, Joe Riggs did the same thing a year ago but Joe is/was going through some significantly turbulent personal issues and Joe was cut some slack.  I think Travis is going to get crucified by the UFC, let alone the fact that not only did Lutter lose, but he lost by submission which is HIS gameplan, and not Silva’s.

The fight was alright.  I like Silva, and I can take or leave Lutter.  I’ve never seen an interesting or exciting fight from Lutter and part of it is simply due to Lutter’s laidback style.  Yes he’s a bad mother when it comes to jiu jitsu but he’s really boring to watch.

With all that said, I feel bad for Lutter.  Getting booed by a stadium full of people has to suck.  Blowing a once in a lifetime chance to be the very best in a sport that you have dedicated your life to has got to suck.  Lutter had a solid chance to beat Silva, and he blew it by messing up his weight and cutting too much of it before the fight, thereby weakening himself and diminishing his opportunity to win.  You could see it when he entered the place.  He looked disappointed.  He looked broken.

With all that out of the way, I’m looking forward to seeing more title defenses from Silva in the future.  He takes being the champ seriously and he really gives everything he’s got during a fight.

John Halverson

VS

Roger Huerta

I didn’t know anything about these guys before the fight and I still don’t know much because the fight was so fast.  Halverson went down after one exchange with Huerta.

Huerta followed up with a knee.  Legal if it hit Halverson anywhere but the head.  Halverson went limp like he had been kneed in the head, but it clearly (to me) looked like a knee to the shoulder.  Huerta climbed onto Halverson’s back and began beating him like a junkyard dog and the ref stopped it after about ten brutal punches which should only have been about five but it appears the ref was asleep.  This was all in the first thirty seconds of the first round.

A little bit of controversy but all in all, another blazing fast lightweight fight that showcases just how dangerous the lightweights are.  Great division, and a great move on the UFC to bring back the lightweights.

Mirko “Cro Cop” Fillipovich

VS

Eddie Sanchez

So…no decapitation.

Which was what I called for the first round.  As it turns out, Sanchez pretty much ran away from Cro Cop for much of the first round until Mirko caught him with a vicious left kick that glanced the top of Sanchez’s head.  Sanchez tripped over the fence as he was running away…again.  Mirko got the full mount and the fight was stopped shortly thereafter by the ref as Sanchez was getting pummelled.  Not the most electrifying match but rumor has it that Cro Cop is fighting Andre Arlovski next which could prove to be an excellent fight.

So Cro Cop won in the first round with a “Yeah? So what?” finish, but big things could be coming.

Quentin “Rampage” Jackson

VS

Marvin “The Beastman” Eastman

First and foremost, the American crowd sucks.  They were really, REALLY quick to boo during this PPV when there was the slightest lull in the action.  The crowd has gotten crazy, fuckin’ vicious and unless the fighters are throwing Dragon Punch’s and Hurricane Kicks, then people start booing.  It’s absolutely insane how intolerant the crowd is now.  Rampage clearly had some ring-rust and a bad case of nerves in the first round.  Ontop of that, Marvin Eastman looks like a super hero that could pick up a car and throw it through a building.  The cat is 5’9” and 205lbs and no doubt he cuts weight to get DOWN to 205.  I sure as hell don’t wanna get punched or kneed in the face by Marvin Eastman because I’d cry like a girl.  I’m sure that Rampage has plenty of respect for the fists and flying knees of Marvin Eastman so the crowd is just gonna have to chill the fuck out if Rampage doesn’t go charging in, throwing fists and body slams.

Rampage ended up winning the fight in the second round when the ref stopped the fight after Rampage nailed Eastman with a number of successive upper cuts to the head.  A fight against Chuck Liddell is already being splashed around but Liddell would destroy Rampage right now.  Rampage looks solid but he’s nowhere near smooth enough to take on Chuck.  Rampage has a very deliberate gameplan and fighting with finesse and quick footwork isn’t really something Rampage is known for.  Hopefully they will give Rampage two or three more fights before they toss him in the ring with Chuck.

Patrick “The Predator” Cote

VS

Scott Smith

I called it for Scott Smith in a three round decision.  Turns out I was wrong.  It was Cote in a three round decision in a relatively lacklustre fight where Cote didn’t really fight to win.  He just fought “to not lose” if you get me.  The crowd was relentless with their booing once more and although the fight was a bit slow-paced, there still; wasn’t the need for the constant booing.

It’s too bad because both of these guys are solid guys and I think they were more concerned with other things than simply getting into the octagon and fighting their hearts out.

Speaking of fighting their hearts out, there was an undercard fight in the lightweight division between Tyson Griffin and Frankie Edgar.  This fight was excellent.  I’m not even gonna tell you who won this fight because it really truly is a treasure.  A fight that you’re not normally gonna get to see and it’s a fight that really makes you appreciate the sport of MMA and see it for the gritty, tough, beautiful sport it can be.  The PPV for this even is still available and they tacked this fight on right at the very end which is what they normally do with the undercard fights.  This fight alone is worth the purchase of the PPV.

Watch the Tyson Griffin, Frankie Edgar fight.  It’s something to behold.