UFC 65 - Call it!

Rack Fu · Post by **Rack Fu** » Thu Nov 16, 2006 1:41 pm

Hughes retains his title.

Monson gets Sylvia to the ground and makes him tap and steals the belt. Either that or his short ass gets knocked out trying to get close to Sylvia. :D

Cueball · Post by **Cueball** » Sat Nov 18, 2006 12:22 am

GSP walks way the belt. He won't be awe struck this time and will take the fight to the farmboy. I'd love to see him give Hughes a beating for all 5 rds for the disrespect he's shown GSP, but I'm guessing a 2nd or 3rd rd stoppage will have to do.

Monson has 2 ways to get Silvia's belt. He can wait either outside his hotel or the entrance to Arco and go Tonya Harding on him or he can eat a few to get in close enough for the take down and work his ground game. As funny as the first option is, I think I'd like to see Sylvia tap again.

I'm hoping that we get to see some of the fights not scheduled to air. I saw Sherman Pendergrast fight in Mass back in April the same night that Joe Lauzon won the 8man tourney and his brother Dan won his pro debut. While he's not a true local, still cool that guys fighting up this way are starting to get a shot.

Another local dude that could get a call is Josh Deikman. I saw him knock out my buddy after stuffing his take down attempts. He may be set back though after getting stopped by Justin Eilers and may have issues with the piss test :wink:

Rack Fu · Post by **Rack Fu** » Sat Nov 18, 2006 2:45 am

I'd really like to see Frank Mir get his shit together and be a force in the HW division again.

Cueball · Post by **Cueball** » Sun Nov 19, 2006 6:22 am

OH, HELL YEAH!
Like I said before, I wished GSP could have continued that beatdown for the full 5. I'm fuckin' pumped right now.

Rack Fu · Post by **Rack Fu** » Sun Nov 19, 2006 3:12 pm

He really jumped all over Hughes. Great job by GSP. He could be champ of that division for a long time. Of course, I see the obligatory rematches with both Hughes and Penn in his future.

Sylvia's reach proved to be too much for Monson (shocker huh?) & Frank Mir is officially done.

Rack Fu · Post by **Rack Fu** » Sun Nov 19, 2006 6:48 pm

Dinsdale · Post by **Dinsdale** » Sun Nov 19, 2006 7:09 pm

That was a whoopin.

At the gathering where I was, the armchair fighters thought that was such a great kick by GSP.

Those who actually has training and belts and whatnot all said "man, what a poorly executed takedown, from someone who should know better that to lead with his head."

HUGE mistake, and it cost him his belt. Gotta "look through the window" when you're shooting like that. Looked like Hughes was trying to bust Georges' foot with his face.

Still can't believe a fighter of Hughes' caliber did that.

Rack Fu · Post by **Rack Fu** » Sun Nov 19, 2006 8:26 pm

Dinsdale · Post by **Dinsdale** » Sun Nov 19, 2006 8:37 pm

That was a badly-botched "low-kick-defense," too. He forgot that lesson from the first day of muay thai class, I guess.

What an off night for hughes. Again, I'm shocked to see someone of his caliber and excellent technique make such rookie mistakes, which cost him the fight.

But his head sure left a dent in Pierre's shin.

Cueball · Post by **Cueball** » Sun Nov 19, 2006 10:41 pm

GSP is clearly the better fighter. Even in his ONLY profesional loss in '04, he won the round but made 1 stupid mistake and paid for it. GSP has ALL the tools and will be dominant for a long time to come. I sure hope farmboy is dumb/cocky/arrogant enough to think things will be different a 3rd time.

Rack Fu · Post by **Rack Fu** » Sun Nov 19, 2006 11:28 pm

GSP's first defense will be against TUF4 winner Matt Serra on SuperBowl weekend. Serra has ZERO chance of beating GSP (he would've had ZERO chance of beating Hughes as well). After that, it looks like it'll be Diego Sanchez assuming he beats Riggs next month. I hope they hold off on the Penn & Hughes rematches until after Diego gets his shot.

I give Travis Lutter about a 1% chance of beating Anderson Silva.

Uncle Fester · Post by **Uncle Fester** » Mon Nov 20, 2006 5:04 pm

Kind of a lackluster card:

Joe Stevenson gets an easy guillotine.

James Irvin tries to throw kicks and looks like he's slipping on banana peels. Why is this guy on a ppv? Nice KO at the end, but geeze, what a slopfest.

Nick Diaz fight is a dark match? WTF?? So we can see the mighty Irvin show off his low body fat?

Sakara, the "world class striker," lands some haymakers against somebody named Andrew McFedries, but then eats a few uppercuts and curls up in a ball.

Vera works Mir like he's a heavy bag.

Sylvia and Monson dance around and paw at each other. What a snorefest. The heavyweight championship ends in a chorus of boos as Sylvia flips off the crowd. Dana White awards the belt with clenched teeth.

As for Monson, he needs to either grow another foot or add leglocks to his arsenal.

GSP looks awesome, but some of the luster is gone after he kicks Hughes in the balls two consecutive times. The rest of the fight is all GSP. He looks strong and quick as hell while Hughes looks stuck in the mud. The once seemingly crowded 170 division now seems all down to George St. Pierre. He's beaten everybody from Mayhem Miller to Penn and now Hughes.

Hughes actually seemed kind of relieved after the fight was over. His fights were fantastic to watch and I'm actually kind of bummed to see him lose. But GSP is truly the best at 170 and he's a good guy so I'm happy for him.

T1B Nic · Post by **T1B Nic** » Mon Nov 20, 2006 7:05 pm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=duAaD6gjtXc

Dinsdale · Post by **Dinsdale** » Mon Nov 20, 2006 8:47 pm

Uncle Fester wrote:Joe Stevenson gets an easy guillotine.

That's the only kind of guillotine there is. In most BJJ or any other grappling classes I've ever been in, the guillotine is only taught to A) obviously have a basic knowledge of an easy submission("Just holl up de window"), and B) more importantly, to teach the very basic "defense of guillotine." Absolutely NO EXCUSE for any professional fighter to ever lose to a guillotine. The possible exception being when you're talking the really big-daddies, who don't have to sink it clean to do major damage...but I never really see the big guys dropping guillotines. When I watch the fights with experienced grapplers, a guillotine never fails to get a laugh. "Uhm, turn your head the other way, DUMBASS!" is usually the response. Not leading a takedown with your head(sup Hughes) is a good defense against a guillotine, as well.

As for Monson, he needs to either grow another foot or add leglocks to his arsenal.

Oddly enough, that's exactly what the experienced guys I was watching with all said, to a man.

But GSP is truly the best at 170 and he's a good guy so I'm happy for him.

So the BODE indicates. But that division is so comptetitive, anything can happen. Some of the schools/clubs, and Militich's comes to mind, are able to put away the egos long enough to bring in people that have a little different background and knowledge, and a lot of the athletes can learn new stuff awfully quickly. Heck, look what The Natural(sup Homie) did through his career...dude knew nothing, but saw the dollar signs, so he went and sought out Rickson. Actually, my old training partner(who is of very high acclaim in U&L circles, but squeezed out a family rather than taking Calrson Gracie Sr. and Vitor's offer to be their new CG Team representative...too bad, amazing talent, been doing the shit since before he could walk...and was my next-door-neighbor in my old duplex for year...good times, we used to get buzzed and beat the living crap out of each other...with me taking most of the beating, obviously), anyway, he went to a sambo tourney, and was sitting next to a dude, when it occurred to him "hey, aren't you Rabdy Couture?" It was. After getting to know each other a little better, Randy says "well shit, since you've trained under Rickson and Carlson Sr, I'll bet you could show me a thing or two, give me your number."

No, that's not flattering, or anything. I don't think they ever hooked it up, but my bud still runs into Randy, since he and a partner run the Northwest leagues.

I guess my point is, the guys who are willing to check their ego after taking a beating are willing to seek out new trainers to work on their weaknesses, and help them prepare for individaul fights. GSP obviously had help from someone who spent some time analyzing Hughes, and found his weaknesses, like the sloppy takedowns and the poor defense of the low kicks. Heck, uyp until saturday, I didn't know Hughes had weaknesses, but that's why nobody pays me to prepare them for UFC fights, I guess.

And in the past, Hughes has shown a strong commitment to improving(before he got so ridiculously cocky), and I wouldn't rule out a return to the top for him. Really, what he needs to do is bite the bullet, and get Rickson to show him some stuff. Rickson ain't gonna let any of his trainees go down to low kicks or head-first takedowns.

Uncle Fester · Post by **Uncle Fester** » Mon Nov 20, 2006 9:41 pm

I know Shamrock is pretty much done in MMA but I couldn't help thinking that he would have leglocked the shit out of Tim Sylvia. If there's one thing Shammy can still do it's that. Barnett would have wrecked Sylvia as well with catch wrestling.

Did you see Sylvia when Arlovski leglocked him in their first fight? He fricken panicked and admitted later that he didn't want his legs fucked up. To me that should have been Monson's blueprint as he was too small to strike with the giraffe and his takedowns were being stuffed.

Randy Couture just seems like the coolest guy on the planet. If MMA is going to make it as a legitimate sport than Randy's a good choice for its ambassador.

And Dins, I guess there was a Rickson sighting over the weekend at Couture's Professional Submission League debut. Couture earned a draw with Ronaldo ‘Jacare’ Souza Dos Santos. Rickson cornered Kron Gracie (?) who earned a shutout victory.

I wouldn't rule out Hughes coming back, but I'm not sure it would change anything. His striking will never be as good as St. Pierre's. It was interesting watching the training clips, to see how St. Pierre was seeking out boxers to train with, guys who literally wanted to knock his head off. He wrestles with guys on the Canadian Olympic team, so he definitely was ready for anything once the fight started. He's defeated everybody at 170 -- Mahem, Trigg, Karo, Sherk, and now Penn and Hughes (!!) so who is left? Diego Sanchez? Matt Serra? I think he'll KILL those guys.

Zyclone · Post by **Zyclone** » Tue Nov 21, 2006 1:34 am

Uncle Fester wrote: He's defeated everybody at 170 -- Mahem, Trigg, Karo, Sherk, and now Penn and Hughes (!!) so who is left? Diego Sanchez? Matt Serra? I think he'll KILL those guys.

FYI he got his ass kicked by Penn. Dana's hatred for Penn will always cost BJ when the fight goes to the score cards.

Also this fight wouldnt of happened if BJ didnt seperate his ribs in the last fight as he was rolling Hughes with ease!

I will say this I like GSP he's a class act but BJ is the much more skilled and game fighter.

Rack Fu · Post by **Rack Fu** » Tue Nov 21, 2006 3:00 am

Zy,
You know damn well that the judging is done by the SAC and not by the UFC. I hate when I read that garbage. By virtue of the judging criteria, GSP won that fight. BJ did more damage but he basically fought for one round and gassed and gave up.

T1B Nic · Post by **T1B Nic** » Tue Nov 21, 2006 1:03 pm

Rack Fu wrote:Zy,
You know damn well that the judging is done by the SAC and not by the UFC. I hate when I read that garbage. By virtue of the judging criteria, GSP won that fight. BJ did more damage but he basically fought for one round and gassed and gave up.

I gotta think there was more it, than BJ just running outta gas.

He *ran out* too quick, it was like he hit a wall. Like he really was hurt.

Rack Fu · Post by **Rack Fu** » Tue Nov 21, 2006 1:37 pm

T1B Nic wrote:
Rack Fu wrote:Zy,
You know damn well that the judging is done by the SAC and not by the UFC. I hate when I read that garbage. By virtue of the judging criteria, GSP won that fight. BJ did more damage but he basically fought for one round and gassed and gave up.
I gotta think there was more it, than BJ just running outta gas.

He *ran out* too quick, it was like he hit a wall. Like he really was hurt.

We're talking about Penn vs GSP and not Penn vs Hughes. BJ used the "hurt" excuse after losing to Hughes.

Dinsdale · Post by **Dinsdale** » Tue Nov 21, 2006 7:22 pm

Uncle Fester wrote:Randy Couture just seems like the coolest guy on the planet.

Of course he does. He's your typical Portland-area guy. And everyone I know who's met him says the exact same thing.

If MMA is going to make it as a legitimate sport than Randy's a good choice for its ambassador.

Couldn't agree more. The PSL needed a little pub, so Randy doesn't just help promote it, but comes out of retirement to get on the card(Rickson is kind of the same way, but a little more selective). Him and one of his old buddies started a local/Northwest league/tourney series, and it's becoming really popular really quickly. They also run one for ametuers. And if he's not busy with the national stuff, he'll always be there. And I believe he's always willing to drop in on the local clubs and lend whatever help he can to them. There just aren't too many people out there with a bad word to say about the guy, and hisa personality os pretty infectous. So, yeah -- he should be the face of American MMA for years to come.

And Dins, I guess there was a Rickson sighting over the weekend at Couture's Professional Submission League debut.

If you're trying to promote a whole new entity, if you can get Natural AND Rickson in the same building(they're freinds), much less get one of them in the ring, then you're legit. Talk about a couple of old dude who can still lay the whoop...name two better? I have a hunch both of those guys will be bumping around fighters' corners until they're pushing daisies. Grappling, and training "with the guys" is something that gets in your bloood, and once it does, it's hard to get out. And since those guys not only love the sport, but make their living from it, don't look for them to go away anytime soon. Both great ambassadors, and great people.

Maybe 20-30 years from now, we'll be treated to a Couture/Rickson Nostalgia Match, as part of "UFC158...The Throwback." Coupla old geezers who could still probably take on the young punks. And Rickson will STILL be able to kick his ass.

Oh, and I think Serra is in for a nasty nasty suprise when he faces any of those guys....but that's why they fight the fights.