Joe Lauzon Sub2 Jeremy Stephens (Armbar)
Even though Stephens ground game is pretty average I was impressed a lot by Lauzon. He used some unorthodox but effective takedowns and guard pulls (including flying leglock attempts) to get Stephens where he wanted him and worked his ground game effectively. The armbar finish from Lauzon was great and he’s definately one to watch in the 155lb division. Credit to Stephens though for hanging in there with Lauzon on a limited preparation.
Cain Velasquez TKO2 Denis Stojnic (Referee stoppage)
Velasquez is in a lose lose situation fighting a guy like Stojnic. Sure he won by one sided beatdown, but thats what he was supposed to do. Stojnic doesn’t belong in the UFC let alone on a main card against a rising star. Velasquez needs to be in there with someone like Heath Herring who will make him work for the win (and may even beat him) or else he won’t be learning as much as he needs to. Velasquez vs Herring is a main card pay per view fight and one that I think should be booked as soon as both guys are ready. Still, it’[s unfair to be hard on Velasquez for this performance as it’s his 5th MMA fight.
Josh Neer sub2 Mac Danzig (Triangle Choke)
In my opinion (and the UFC’s) this was fight of the night. The first round went back and forth with Danzig getting the better of the striking landing some solid combinations and Neer landing some hard elbows from on top and almost securing a triangle. Neer stormed out at the start of the second round, taking the TUF 6 champion down and landing vicious elbows from inside the guard for an extended period of time. Danzig escapes and gets a sweep only to land in a triangle from Neer who semi-rolls Danzig over to force the tapout.
Neer is really a contender at lightweight right now. He’s beaten Din Thomas, lost a close decision to Nate Diaz and then submitted Mac Danzig. He’s definately not champion material or anything (right now anyway), but he’s not an easy fight for anyone. I’d have no problems seeing him in there with Sherk, Florian, Stevenson (again, Neer beat Stevenson a few years back), Sanchez etc anytime soon. Danzig needs some easier fights, sure the guy is experienced but he’s had by far the toughest run of TUF winners (bar the seaosn 4 winners) so far. Give him some guys he can whip and then raise his competition as he wins. A fight between Danzig and Sotiropolus would be a good fight right now for both men.
Anthony Johnson KO1 Luigi Fioravanti (punches)
Impressive win for Johnson. Sanchez took three rounds to stop him and Fioravanti went the distance with Chris Leben. Johnson is among the top strikers in the 170lb division right now. His takedown defence is improving with each fight and considering he’s only had eight fights he’ll be learning rapidly in the next few fights.
Kurt Pellegrino Sub2 Rob Emerson (Rear Naked Choke)
Finally! Someone finally did what anyone fighter with any title aspirations should be doing to Rob Emerson and that is raping him. Emerson is very unimpressive and I’m glad his ‘run’ has been ended by a fringe contender like Pellegrino. Good Riddance!
Gleison Tibau Sub1 Rich Clementi (Guillotine Choke)
Clementi’s game needs some work. He is well rounded but his game is at the level where he’ll beat anyone with a massive hole in his game (like Melvin Guillard) but anyone who can control where the fight goes against him will beat him. Tibau is like a bad smell that won’t go away. No one really wants to be near it, but at the same time they’re curious to find out who dropped their guts.
Matt Veach TKO1 Matt Grice (punches)
This was a great fight and it would have won fight of the night if there was a little more skill involved. Both fighters were in trouble at some point in the fight and both guys showed a lot of heart to fight at that sort of pace. The stoppage was bullshit even though I think Veach was going to finish Grice anyway considering the position he was in. Veach was in much more trouble earlier in the round after he got dropped and the referee jumped in way way too early. Veach looked good on the ground and showed an iron chin but (even though he knocked Grice down with a punch) his stand-up sucks. He needs to get himself a real stand-up coach and not Robbie Lawler.
