UFC 127 Results: Who Lived Up to Their Pre-Fight Talk and Hype?

We saw Siver pull off a huge upset (not the only of the night), Penn draw with Fitch and Bisping get a victory that most saw coming.

UFC 127 is behind us now, but before we officially start bickering over which fan favorite will be crowned light heavyweight champion at UFC 128, let us take a look back.

As with all major UFC events, anticipation was running high.

So who lived up to the best pre-fight hype heading into the event? 

10. Penn: Most Dangerous

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SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 27: BJ Penn of the USA attempts to choke Jon Fitch of the USA during their welterweight bout part of UFC 127 at Acer Arena on February 27, 2011 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

"I really feel like I'm the most dangerous guy out there."

Inconclusive.

Penn surprised Fitch, and us, with some takedowns and aggressive grappling early, but it was not enough to put away Jon Fitch.

On the other hand, Jon Fitch does not get put away by anybody.

Maybe Penn still is the most dangerous guy out there, but against Jon Fitch, you can't really prove it.

9. Fitch: Legendary Status

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SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 27: Jon Fitch of the USA and BJ Penn of the USA shakes hands at the end of the fight during their welterweight bout part of UFC 127 at Acer Arena on February 27, 2011 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

"I want to become a legend. The only way to become a legend is to beat a legend, and B.J. is definitely a legend."

I know he is disappointed about the draw, but Fitch ultimately accomplished what he needed to for that night.

More people feel that Fitch should have gotten the decision than the other way around.

Not many thought Fitch would finish Penn, but the one-sided beatdown in the third round is still pretty hard to forget.

8. Sotiropoulos: Two Dogs

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SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 27: George Sotiropoulos of Australia punches Dennis Silver of Russia during their lightweight bout as part of UFC 127 at Acer Arena on February 27, 2011 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

"...It's like seeing two dogs fight over a bone, and one of them is going to get it, and I'm going after it."

Sotiropoulos fought like a warrior, but not exactly like a dog.

Siver was the stronger, hungrier dog on the night.

G-Sot could not impose the ground game AT ALL against Siver, but still exchanged gamely with his dangerous adversary.

7. Fisher: Cold Seats

"...We're coming to fight, and I don't think there will be anyone sitting on their butt during this fight."

I could not tell if people were standing throughout the Fisher and Pearson fight, but my guess is they were not.

The fight was entertaining enough, but as the fight dragged through the third round, I found my opening for a bathroom break.

6. Siver: Natural Gifts

"It turns out that I have God-given, brutal knockout power."

Sotiropoulos had never been knocked out, and Siver was not the first man to do it.

Siver put Sotiropoulos in danger a few different times, especially in the first round, but it was not quite enough to put him away.

Yes, you are super strong, but Melvin Guillard is still the most powerful striker in the division.

5. Fitch: Meat Grinder

"I literally want to make my opponent feel like I'm puttin' 'em through a meat grinder."

For the third round, yes, but the first two? Not quite so much.

Fitch paced himself well to allow him a strong finish, but despite being the bigger man and better wrestler, Penn was able to control Fitch for significant parts in the first and second rounds.

4. Penn: Show Me

"No disrespect to Jon Fitch, but show me. I want to see how good you are."

Fitch did. Penn even admitted that he felt like he lost the fight (immediately afterward).

Penn came out aggressive, but it was nothing that Fitch could not handle. By the end of the fight, Fitch had shown him he is still the No. 2 welterweight in the world.

3. Rivera: All Confidence

"I am not the other guys you've fought, I'm not going to cower from you mother f@#*er, I'm coming to fight. I think I hit harder than he does, I think my stand-up skills are better than his....

....I think it will be standing until I punch him."

Rivera overstated his abilities, but not necessarily by a whole lot.

A couple of good right hands still found their mark and put Bisping in temporary trouble.

A few other big punches that missed, might have been able to change the course of the fight.

Ultimately, however, Bisping was the stronger and better trained athlete and he proved it.

2. Bisping: Fearless

"I'm not scared of anyone.  If Jorge Rivera thinks I'm scared of him, then he's seriously f@#*in deluded...

...I couldn't give a s#*t about his right hand."

Of course Bisping was not afraid. The man had been in a cage with Wanderlei Silva.

For all his confidence, Bisping still needs to work on some defense for those right hands. 

1. Rivera: Simply Put

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SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 27: Jorge Rivera of the USA and Michael Bisping of Great Britaintrade blows in their middleweight bout part of at UFC 127 at Acer Arena on February 27, 2011 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

"I not only want the fight, I want to F@#* him up."

The mission was not accomplished, but it was not a total failure either.

A significant underdog, Rivera came out and showed a lot of heart and landed a few good shots on his British adversary.

It might not have been enough to "f@#* him up," but it was far from an easy fight for Bisping—and Rivera still succeeded in getting underneath the Count's skin.

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