Black Power Triumphs – UFC on Versus

Sunday was a very black day indeed.

1.) First off, the Black House triumphed again!  Blazing hot Junior Dos Santos took out Gabriel Gonzaga with an impressive first round knockout.  Shame on anyone who still doubts “Cigano” the man looks like an unstoppable force right now. 

Can somebody get this man a title shot already?  The Black House gym already three of Zuffa’s title belts (Lyoto Machida, Anderson Silva and Jose Aldo).  Let’s see if they can make it four!

Ideally, Brock Lesnar’s second-string dance partner for this summer, Cain Velasquez would be the ideal match up for Junior.  Just as long as Brock does not require Cain’s services as substitute title-fighter of course. 

2.) If anyone ever wanted to know, “what is the best strategy for beating Paul Buentello in embarrassing fashion,” Cheick Kongo has shown us the way. 

Paul is a boxer-brawler with incredible punching power, but he’s not very good with his kicks and striking from the outside.  He’s also a pretty mediocre grappler though has very good takedown defense. 

Formula to win: Fight a striking match with kicks from the outside.  When Paul Buentello inevitably closes to unload a flurry of punches, immediately shoot for the takedown.  Deny him the chance to stand and trade punches. 

But here’s the trick: You’ve got to successfully score the takedown.  Prior to Sunday night, if you had told me that Cheick Kongo would take Buentello down at will, I’d have laughed.

I’m not laughing now!

Welcome to the UFC Cheick Kongo the wrestler and takedown artist.  What did you do to the old Cheick Kongo anyways?

Soon, we may find ourselves bidding a fond farewell to Paul Buentello’s latest run in the UFC.  Paul is one of the last extremely successful one-dimensional fighters in MMA. 

I can’t imagine that Dana White will give up on “The Headhunter” just yet.  He’ll definitely get one more fight.  Lose that one and Dana will send Buentello packing.  Three strikes in a row and your out. 

3.) Jon Jones doubters have been put on notice.  Not only can “Bones” can beat down the best of them.  He can consistently make very good fighters look very bad. 

What more can be said than this: This was Brandon “The Truth” Vera.  You remember, that one guy that Randy Couture simply couldn’t figure out how to take down despite three rounds of trying? 

That same Brandon Vera got taken down EASILY by Jon Jones. Not just once but more or less at will. If Vera had survived into the later rounds, this would have been a takedown and slam festival. 

Let us offer our deepest condolences to Brandon’s face.  The elbow Jones delivered to stop the fight broke Vera's face in three places. 

Matt Hamill got a dislocated shoulder courtesy of Jonny “Bones” Jones.  Brandon Vera got a shattered face.  Now you’ve gotta wonder, who’s crazy enough to be Jones’ next victim?

This was an excellent showing and an excellent card.  The clearest indication that it was a very good night: There were THREE recipients for knockout of the night honors.