"UFC 87, Where do we go from here?"

Another UFC PPV has come and gone, and interesting doesn't quite describe a few of the match ups.  One fight that caught my attention was Cheick Kongo against Dan Evensen, not only was I surprised that Kongo was fighting Evensen (who?) but this fight was an under-card match.  Kongo lost his last fight to Heath Herring, who also appeared on this card, but won the fight before that to one of the most exciting heavyweights of all time, Mirko Cro Cop Filopovic.  He dominated this fight from start until finish, and very excitedly demanded the Tee-tel.  He is one of my favorite fighters, but I am not sure if he is ready for that yet.  A few minutes later, after watching Brock Lesnar throw Herring around like a rag doll, yet lack the finish a Champion possesses, I wondered, how about Kongo against Lesnar.  Lesnar claims to be the real thing, and he may be, but a man that big should dominate every fight, and with all that power he should be able to finish very easily. Yet he was unable, or unwilling, to finish the fight when he had the chances.  At one or more points during the match he passed the guard of Herring and was completely mounted. Yet he refused to posture up and tee off like he should have.  He layed his head on herrings chest and threw some close throws.  So I figure, how about we let the future of the heavyweight division start showing us the next champion and throws these two beast in the octagon together.  Let them prove how much they want it. 

Then there were a few lighter fights.  Another one I enjoyed watching was the Jiu Jitsu chess match of Jason MacDonald and Demian Maia. MacDonald showed us once again why he continues to get fights.  He is very tough, and always has a chance to finish a fight, but unfortunately for him he got into a BJJ battle with a BJJ champion.  Maia proved that he has what it takes to fight here, even displayed a very clean, disciplined stand up game.  He may have a bright future in the (stacked) 185 pound division. 

The 155ers also gave us a show by giving us two of the best at that weight.  Kenny Florian and Roger Huerta are two VERY exciting fighters who have been very successful in the octagon.  Kenflo's plan worked out perfectly though, he showed us once again why he was once on top of the 155 ladder.  Huerta has a bright future in the UFC, and maybe this fight will allow him to grow. Sometimes it takes a loss to move a great fighter into the elite circle of champions. 

Finally, the main event, Georges St-Pierre against a hot Jon Fitch.  Once again, an unfortunate match up for a good fighter in Jon Fitch, his eight in a row came to a stop when he ran head first into perhaps the best pound for pound fighter in the world, along with Urijah Faber, and of course, Anderson Silva.  It took 25 minutes, and a judges unanimous decision, but once again he proved why he is the champ.  Dominating and controlling the entire time, even coming close to finishing it quite a few times.  Jon Fitch is a tough fighter, but he was out of his realm going against the likes of GSP.  The thing I find most interesting is what next for St-Pierre?  Thiago Alves maybe? Will BJ Penn go back up and fight Georges? Perhaps, but other than that, I dont see many options. I HIGHLY doubt he will move up in weight, I just don't see it happening.  So where will he go from here?  Who will take down the champ at 170? Who will the monster Lesnar fight next? Can KenFlo get his title back? Will Huerta and Fitch rebound after being knocked down a level? Will Maia prove that this wasn't just a fluke? Will Kongo prove he deserves a title shot?  I guess we will just have to wait and see how this thing plays out.

So until next time.