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Post by LWPD on Aug 4, 2012 18:25:05 GMT -5
Tonight the UFC returns to network television on Fox at 8 PM EST. Dana White has said that the most impressive light heavyweight among the Rua/Vera & Machida/Bader fights, will earn the next LHW title shot against champion Jon Bones Jones. In a sign of just how dominant JBJ has been, he's already outright finished all four men!
At 8 p.m. on FOX
Mike Swick vs. DaMarques Johnson
Joe Lauzon vs. Jamie Varner
Lyoto Machida vs. Ryan Bader
Shogun Rua vs Brandon Vera
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Post by pikemojo on Aug 4, 2012 20:28:49 GMT -5
Great night of fights so far here. All 3 have been exciting. Now it is just up to Brandon Vera and Shogun Rua to deliver. After Machida KOed Bader Vera or Rua will have to be very impressive to get the shot at Jon Jones.
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Post by pikemojo on Aug 5, 2012 1:12:06 GMT -5
The main event actually disappointed me tonight. Vera looked better than I expected him to but he got rocked multiple times. Shogun should have been able to put Vera away and instead it went into the 4th round with both fighters gassing in the second round.
Overall a great night of fights but Machida/Bader probably should have been the main event.
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Post by LWPD on Aug 5, 2012 6:48:07 GMT -5
A very solid card from top to bottom. Swick made an impressive comeback with a highlight reel Thai kick catch push off into KO (with the back of Johnson's head bouncing like a basketball). Varner vs Lauzon was very technical, could be a fight of the year candidate. Machida looked sharp, confounding Bader with his stand up before eventually knocking him out. In a losing effort, I have to give props to Brandon Vera. He took some brutal shots and kept fighting until he was totally finished in the 4th. Shogun Rua is the definition of a bad ass. He's slowed down a bit with time and injuries, and his stamina isn't what it once was, but his mentality remains kill or be killed. Always a threat on every level, always attempting to finish, never stalls, never backs down, all heart and technique. Without question, a first ballot MMA Hall of Famer. I would have awarded him the title shot on respect, but Machida had a better performance, albeit against a lesser opponent.      |
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Post by swarm on Aug 5, 2012 8:58:45 GMT -5
UFC is spinning it's wheels. Why would Machida fight Jones again? Jones murdered him already. It was like a grown man strangling a baby. Wake me up whn they book Silva vs GSP.
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Post by pikemojo on Aug 5, 2012 11:31:30 GMT -5
UFC is spinning it's wheels. Why would Machida fight Jones again? Jones murdered him already. It was like a grown man strangling a baby. Wake me up whn they book Silva vs GSP. Most parties seem to be in favor of that fight except GSP. And ya can't really blame him for not wanting to fight someone 5 inches taller and 20+ pounds heavier. Its the same reason Silva doesn't want to fight Jon Jones. Rematches happen. Especially when Jones has 5 wins since the beginning of 2011 with another fight scheduled for September. By the time Machida & Jones actually fight it will be close to a year between bouts. |
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Post by pikemojo on Aug 5, 2012 12:08:21 GMT -5
Glover Teixeira & Alexander Gustafsson would be some up and coming potential contenders for Jones but Gustafsson is injured and Teixeira has a fight upcoming against Rampage and only has 1 fight in UFC prior to that fight.
I haven't been overly impressed with Gustafsson yet. He just seems too sloppy with his strikes. I would like to see how he holds up against top competition now.
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Post by Shane Sullivan on Aug 5, 2012 12:17:05 GMT -5
In the Machida v Jones fight, I thought that Machida was faster than Jones. But Jones' wing span is so huge, he caught Machida flush and that was it. I would think that Machida would give us a better fight of the four. Shogun would get murdered because he is on the downside if his career and will be slower each time we see him. What was once one of the strongest divisions in the UFC is now a shadow of what it used to be. We will probably see them try and elevate some of the younger Lt. Heavy's and hope for a interesting fight. With GSP, Silva and Jones so dominate, it will be a while until these divisions open up again.
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Post by LWPD on Aug 5, 2012 16:36:54 GMT -5
In the Machida v Jones fight, I thought that Machida was faster than Jones. But Jones' wing span is so huge, he caught Machida flush and that was it. On top of youth, athleticism, an unorthodox style and solid MMA wrestling...that insane 84.5 inch reach puts him in a league of his own. The fact that Jones has already finished four former champions (Rashad, Machida, Rampage & Shogun) creates an odd situation. Excluding Rampage if he leaves, and including Henderson should he lose to Jones, all among this group are a level above the rest of the division. Any one of those four likely beats Davis, Gustafsson, Jimmo and Nedkov. If Rampage beats Teixeira, that's another blow to creating fresh fights in the LHW title picture. If it's possible to move prospects over from Strikeforce, Daniel Cormier (who has publicly stated he's willing to drop down to 205) would be the most legit new threat in the division. Mousasi and Cavalcante would also be fresh top tier contenders. Absent those moves or someone off the radar emerging as a force, this will continue to be a challenge in booking a champion who has thoroughly cleaned out his division. |
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