THE REAL FEEL: UFC 124

UFC 124 went down last night and it was the first UFC for a long, long time that I tried to convince myself not to buy.

Not because the card wasn't tempting and not because I was concerned about shelling out another 50 bucks (seriously, how much money do I give these people??) but because I've started to feel like my weekends have slowly but surely become no longer my own.

I can't remember the last Saturday night where I wasn't glued in front of the TV screaming at a bunch of pixels to punch another bunch of pixels in the face. But anyway .. It's 10.35 p.m and I still haven't ordered the fight.. trying to convince myself that I might go and watch the new movie with Johnny Depp and Angelina (The Gods Are Good) Jolie.

When the reality of the situation hits me like a mild panic attack. "FUCK! I've already missed the first 35mins, there could have been a great fight! What about the rest of the fights? What if Kos delivers a huge right hand and demolishes the dreams of 23,000 Canadians right there in Montreal! what if they riot!?

"You know your not going to miss this fight so you might as well order now and not miss anymore precious face punching, arm twisting action…" anyway enough about my slowing-increase agoraphobia and onto the REAL FEEL. 

This will be a short summary were I review the card, what I thought of the betting potential going in and next steps for the fighters as i see it. All of this without re-watching any fights, looking up any stats doing any research of any kind.. just based of what I was feeling as I watched the fights. Hence, the REAL FEEL… Why, you might ask?.. because it's different, it's fun and if you don't like it, you can suck my left nut.  

Here we go… 

Thiago Alves Vs. John Howard

The Odds

My thoughts going in were Alves was too heavy a favorite to bet on (something like -220) and too much of a liability to parlay. I didn't know to much about Howard except that he had some good hype behind him, was on a win streak and I heard that he liked to bang. For some reason I thought that he might have a strong wrestling background which threw me off. The only bet I considered worth while here was the potential that it wouldn't go the distance (-125).

My lack of faith in Alves, coupled with the unknown wrestling factor I attributed to Howard made me decide to stay away.

 

The Fight

I loved this fight! Although I was wrong about Howard's wrestling the fight did go the distance. But what a three rounds of beauty! Howard got a lot of respect from me in this fight. Chin made of steel and Bombs the he flew in from Afghanistan that he swung throughout the fight.

You have to concede that had Alves not played such a superior set of technical striking and defense on the feet, had even one of those big shots snuck through, it might have been a different fight.

But it didn't and I was happy as fuck to see Alves look like the Pitbull we had all come to know and love. AND HIS CARDIO!! Just a beautiful display by Alves and a ballsy one by Howard. A very exciting and entertaining fight. Thiago Alves is back!

 

The Future

Like I said, Howard impressed the pants of off me in this fight (settle down). Although he came out on the wrong end of a decision, going three rounds with a game and fit Thiago Alves is a feat within itself.

I still feel this a huge plus for the up and comer, no shame here. Put him up against another top contender...a Kampmann or Paulo Thiago would go well here.

As for Pitbull. This is tough, he looks like he's back, but how much has his wrestling improved? We don't know.

How about giving him a beast that likes to punch but also is a dominating in size should they wrestle lets say… shit…I can't even remember his name… He lost of Kos via RNC, HUGE welterweight, also had issues making weight, black dude…. RUMBLE. (Anthony "Rumble" Johnson - ED.)

Joe Stevenson Vs. Mac Danzig

The Odds and The Fight

Honestly, I wasn't very interested in this fight going in, can't tell you why…  I believe Daddy was the favorite and I expected him finish off Mac somehow, probably late in the second.

I have to say I was very surprised and a little bit sad when I saw Daddy's head bounce off the mat after what seems like a pretty short (if not very well-timed) hook. 

 

The Future

I have come to realize that it really is not the place of MMA writers, or the MMA community in general to start calling an end to another person's livelihood. Maybe they have been in this sport a long time, been through wars, been clipped a few times.

Regardless, you think they don't know that? These are real people and fighting is how they live, only they can evaluate where they are, what they have done and what is best for them moving forward… nuff said… 

Jim Miller Vs. Charles Oliveira

The Odds

Let me start by saying I won money off Oliveria in his last fight. I am on the Oliveria hype train and I believe that he is going to be something special. But putting him as the favorite at this point in his career (-145) over a vet (and a Jersey vet at that!) like Jim Miller (even), I saw as a good opportunity to cash in on an undefeated record that didn't mean much and a hype train that was just kicking off. 

 

The Fight

So all that said when fight started I immediately started bricking it… I believe my exact words were: "HOLY FUCK, I BET ON THE WRONG WHITE BOY!". The transitions that Oliveria was pulling off, coupled with his aggressive approach and rubber legs gave me slight reminiscence of a young BJ Penn.

But even though Miller kept pushing back into Oliveria's guard and it seemed like he was leaving his neck and arms out there, maybe he kept just enough weight forward and was strong enough to fight off Oliv's continued onslaught of submission attempts.

In the end, Oliv's inexperience against top level competition played through as Miller grabbed that foot with a quickness and knee-barred the hell out of the young Brazilian. 

 

The Future

Oliv (as I will now always call him) has the potential to be great. His youth and tenacity were also his downfall here. They say you learn more from a loss then you ever will from a win and I think that losing his unbeaten record will end up being the best thing ever to happen to this young whippersnapper. Next Oliv vs. Jonathan Brookins :) 

And Miller was right in his post fight interview. His only UCF loss to Gray Maynard. He's up there for a title shot, no? Maybe one more hard challenge.. they would never do it, but if you want to truly test the kid.. BJ PENN? 

Stefan Struve Vs. Sean McCorkle

The Odds

I really was leaning towards taking Sean "Big Sexy" McCorkle (My wife suggested Sean "Came down from over 300 pounds and now have a JACKED UP belly button" McCorkle might work? I think Big Sexy has a better ring).

He's Undefeated. Impressive in his last outing. Lots of cockiness. I believe the line was +150. But something, SOMETHING, just wouldn't let me go against Struve.

(At this point I think it's only fair to point out I never take the favorite and very rarely parlay. I only bet when I feel that the underdog, for A or B reason, either shouldn't be the dog or the odds are good enough to roll the dice). 

Anyway Struve, as much as he may look like an vastly overgrown version of my 3 year old Godson Emrys, is a TOUGH SOB, skilled, experienced, and maybe doesn't get enough credit. I decided to sit out. 

 

The Fight

Again, I immediately felt like I might have made a mistake here, with 'Shit, maybe Big Sexy's resume is legit, maybe he finishes Struve and climbs that hype train up to fight Brock or Carwin' rushing through my mind. When he locked that arm behind Stefan's back he looked so powerful and strong, I thought it had to be over.

Struve showed his resilience and experience getting back up against the cage and then out of nowhere "El Sweep del Diablo"! That sweep was SICK! SICK! SICK! and as easily as he swept him, he followed up with a flurry of punches and that's all she wrote.

 

The Future

Struve says he's putting on weight so let's slow him down and put him against another up and comer, nobody springs to mind…screw it, Struve vs. Frank Mir. While on that note I think Big Sexy could use a win over Cro-Cop to get him back on track. 

Georges St. Pierre Vs. Josh Koscheck

So here we are. The Main Event of the Evening! The reason you all came out.

The culmination of eight weeks of Wednesday nights watching UFC hopefuls drink and talk shit about each other mixed in with some fights and training.

Koscheck's consistent and instant comments that he was going to put Pierre to sleep. An entire Arena thirsty for Koscheck's blood and it all comes down to one fight. 

 

The Odds

Like I said, I never bet the favorite and I very rarely parley. Even if I did, you would have to a little bit nuts to bet $500 to win $100. MMA is a sport were anything can happen. Where it only takes one punch to change a fighter's career.

In the same year that BJ Penn, Brock Lesner, Lyotto Machida all lost their belts (and Silva came bloody close). My money was on Kos at +300 and here's why: 

I re-watched the first fight and there is no doubt about it, GSP is a superior specimen of man. But I also read that Kos literally did no wrestling training (like none) going into that fight.

The Theory was simple: if Kos was now training with Daniel Cormier (2 time Olympic medalist) he could keep this fight on the fight. (or even take GSP down and Chael Sonnen his way to a decision) but on the feet I figured it only takes one punch.

Yes I know, GSP worked with Freddie Roach and he's a very strategic fighter that will plan for the right hand of Ko's. But 25 minutes on the feet, only looking for one big punch at 3 to 1 odds … gotta take that shit reeeeally.

 

The Fight

God daaaam GSP is one fine Muthafucker! It was slick, it was crisp from bell to bell. He outclassed Kos through five rounds of stand up war with some of the sickest jab utilization i've ever seen (apparently Joe Rogan too). It was never a scrap and Kos never had a chance.

The right was always covered and after the first round Kos eye looked like he was trying to smuggle tennis balls into the cage. I would be crazy to say I was happy to loss my money, but I wasn't to pissed. 

It was a great performance by GSP and Kos did more or less what I thought he would do, it just didn't work out. I think Kos actually said it best at the end of fight: "GSP is the top pound for pound fighter for a reason".  Yes he is, Josh. Yes he is…

 

The Future

Even after taking this loss I think Koscheck stays very relevant. Although, I have to admit that the welterweight division might be getting a bit stale, haven't they all fought each other? no, I take that back, Ko's vs Dan Hardy. That would be a lot of fun. 

There really is no one I can get excited for GSP to fight at WW. If Calos Condit can climb the ladder fast enough, but does he have the wrestling game? Don't think so. Kapmann is a great fighter but i have no interest.

Let's be honest, I think it's time for GSP to say adios to welterweight and start making his way through the Middleweight division.

Good first fight, GSP vs Nate Marquart (just fucking with you)… I think anyone who fights GSP from this point on needs to be near an Olympic wrestler or not even bother getting in the cage (slight exaggeration).

I would love to see what would happen if we locked GSP and Chael Sonnen in a cage for 15 minutes. 

THE BITE...

Honorable mention: 

 

Matt Riddle vs. Sean Pierson

Matt Riddle must have spent the last 3 days watching Rocky One through Five because his sole intention when he came out was to get punched in the face, swing wild punches and flurries on jabs that never quite hit the mark. I was surprised that didn't end the fight by screaming "ADRIIIIAAAANNNNNNNN!"

But to his credit when all was said and done his face did look the spitting image of Sly Stallone post six plastic surgeries… NICE.   

 

Anyway that's my REAL FEEL. Hope you enjoyed it. Some of the stats might be off or the names might be spelled wrong but at the end of the day it is what it is.  

Now I have to go as my wife is repeatedly hitting me in the face with a pillow complaining that I haven't paid any attention to her... 

Have a nice Sunday.