UFC 102 After Thoughts: Legends Shine and Quick Knockouts

I will be the first to admit to you that I was wrong. The week leading up to UFC 102 I was hesitant about watching this PPV, I didn’t feel like it was going to be a good card. Man was I wrong. UFC 102 ended up being similar to UFC 100, boring first fight but every fight after that was great.

Nogueira Just Redeemed Himself, Chance for a Title Shot?

With his win of Randy Couture, Nogueria erased the doubt of his ability that was cast upon him after getting knocked out by Frank Mir.

 It’s not the fact that he won that puts him in consideration for a title shot, it’s that he went out there and matched Randy Couture in not only skill but heart.

Both fighters put on a great show, and let’s face it that’s what Dana White and the UFC fans want.

Depending on Velasquez’s performance in his upcoming fight would be the big deciding factor here. If Velasquez loses in his bout that would put Nogueria right into contention for the next Heavyweight championship bout.

The Natural renewed for a six fight contract

I have to question this. While Randy was no doubt in great shape for this fight, he’ll be 48 years old at the end of this contract. That’s running with the typical three fight’s a year most fighter get.

Randy is no doubt a legend, but age doesn’t care if you’re in the hall of fame or not. I worry that Randy’s legacy may be tarnished by poor performances related to age, never to lack of heart.

I know that might actually catch some people of guard that I would think Randy would lose fights but Randy doesn’t fight scrubs. He has always been challenged with some of the best that the UFC has to offer.

Personally I would like to see him go against Frank Mir. Both are a master of their craft, Randy is a dominant wrestler and Frank is possibly the best jiu-jitsu practitioner in the UFC.

It would be a great fight and would also help the UFC to get one of their big names back into the win columns.

Nate Marquardt One Punch Makes You The Potential Spider Killer?

I have to give Nate some props on this one. He took advantage of his opponent’s terrible stand up game. I’m not sure what Demian Maia was thinking but everyone watching that fight seen how low his hands dropped every time he threw that kick.

Especially Nate Marquardt saw it. He timed his punch perfectly and accurately, it would be questionable to say that Nate had gone forward in time so he could find the exact area of Demian’s face at that exact time so he could land it so squarely.

Let’s face it though, calling out Anderson Silva is a big no no. Anderson Silva is not going to make the mistakes that any opponent would make, he is possibly a perfect fighter when it comes to standing up.

Even with this impressive knockout I don’t see Nate getting the next title shot, which will be going to Dan Henderson. If Dana doesn’t give it to Dan after he put up with Michael Bisping for a whole show, shame on you Dana shame on you.

With that being said I would see Nate take on Victor Belfort. Victor needs to pay some dues before getting a title shot at and a victory for either one of them would put them right there for contention.

Thiago Silva and Keith Jardine Typical Jardine Fight

I told my friend that this was the fight that was making me purchase the event. Jardine is either going to put on a great show and a great fight or get knocked out. I was right in both accounts.

Both Thiago and Jardine were willing to exchange through the whole first round before Jardine was sent to la la land. Thiago has a lot of work to do before he can be considered to be one of the top Light Heaveyweights but that’s only because he is in consideration with guys like Machida, Rampage, Evans, and Shogun.

If he can mark up another quality win or two, yes Jardine is a quality win, we might see him fighting for the title. Sadly it will probably be against Machida who has already introduced Thiago to the backs of his own eyelids.

Leban’s Lack of Tapping, Heart or Stupidity?

I like Chris Leban, he is a great example of a fighters evolution as a person and a fighter. He didn’t make any excuses when he got busted for steroids. He served his punishment and came back ready to fight.

Unfortunately that desire worked against him. That desire kept him from doing the smart thing and tapping out. Despite what some believe his movement before going to sleep I don’t believe was an attempt to tap.

He had no intention of tapping out, he might as well have asked for a pillow from the ref because he knew he was going to sleep. We can file this act into loads of heart with loads of stupidity.

Vera Unimpressive in Win

Vera still hasn’t won me over yet. He came into the fight in great shape which shows he’s willing to do the hard work to be a fighter but I feel like he should have been able to finish this fight.

If he is going to want to be a title contender one day, he’s going to have to put on a better show than that.