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UFC 89 recap and final thoughts

UFC 89 Recap
UFC 89: "Bisping vs. Leben" took place this evening from The National Indoor Arena (NIA) in Birmingham, England, airing via tape delay on Spike TV.

In the main event, Michael Bisping and Chris Leben teed off on one another for three straight rounds as expected. "The Count," however, took the smart approach and decided to box the brawler rather than brawl with the brawler.

And it worked.

His "straight punches" were the deciding factor as opposed to the "Crippler's" looping power-packed punches. Bisping picked apart the new and improved Leben for three rounds en route to a big unanimous decision win.

Just the way he wanted it.

In fact, he admitted in the post-fight interview that his plan was to win on the judges scorecards -- not the sexiest thing to admit, but perhaps the smartest. He countered beautifully and even though he wasn't the aggressor he was certainly the winner.

Didn't see that much controversy in this one.

Physically, Leben looked like a new man -- his preparation for this bout was clearly next to none in his career. However, he did not change the label he has earned in the past as a one-trick knockout pony. Although he did have Bisping wobbled a bit in waning seconds of that last round, proving that at anytime in any fight Leben has the ability to end a fight fast.

There's no doubt he'll be back ... in terms of setbacks this loss, while disappointing, more than likely does not register very high in the life and times of the rough and tumble Chris Leben.

Bisping must be on top of the world. The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 3 light heavyweight winner has enjoyed great success inside the Octagon. And now that he is in the middleweight division he looks to be a force.

He'll serve as the U.K. coach on the next season of TUF and after that a championship opportunity is likely in the cards. It's a good time to be "The Count."

Star-divide

In the co-featured fight of the evening, light heavyweight kickboxing specialists Keith Jardine and Brandon Vera went toe-to-toe for three rounds. It was billed as an explosive match up that would end early.

It didn't happen.

While it had its moments, the fight did not necessarily live up to its expectations. The first round had some high points, particularly an exchange in the waning seconds where both fighters got dropped.

"The Dean of Mean" ended the round with a flurry of punches that had Vera dazed.

From that point on, the fight seemed to taper with Vera seeming to wait to land the next big shot. And while he did score points in the second round, he seemed hesitant in the final frame, which could have been his undoing.

Without question, it was a close fight and worthy of the split decision -- it could have gone either way. But with so much on the line it didn't appear that either Jardine or Vera had a sense of urgency.

It was up for grabs heading into the third and apparently Jardine did enough in the judges eyes to earn the victory.

Vera has now lost three of his last four, including a lackluster unanimous decision win over Reese Andy during that stretch. Of course, Tim Sylvia, Fabricio Werdum and Jardine are no pushovers.

Regardless, Vera needs to get things going again. And perhaps the UFC event in the Philippines -- where he is a big star because of his heritage -- in 2009 is just what he needs.

Jardine now holds recent wins over Forrest Griffin, Chuck Liddell and Vera in his last five fights. It's safe to say that he has the ability to hang with the best in the division ... even though it may not be in the prettiest fashion.

Now he just has to stay consistent and notch another "W" in his next appearance to get right back in the title hunt.

Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou had his hands full heading into his light heavyweight fight against the very dangerous and relatively Luis Cane. The Cameroonian came out guns blazing, setting a fast pace with lightning fast and powerful kicks.

The Brazilian, however, seemed unphased and surprisingly unhurt throughout the punishing onslaught. He actually began to turn the tide and register some damage of his own as the first round came to a close.

"Banha" carried that momentum into the next round, and after a brief stoppage because of a low blow, continued to stalk his opponent. Soku seemed to tire from the pressure and toward the end of the stanza he got torched with several knees and a big left hook.

That was enough to drop Soku and Cane pounced on the injured fighter and pounded his way to victory.

It's clear that Soku had tremendous power, athleticism and kickboxing. However, at this level it just does not appear to be enough to earn him consistent wins, especially if his opponents such as Lyoto Machida and Cane are able to either short-circuit or whether his attack.

There's no telling where or when he fights next, but he does have tremendous promise and ability, which has to count for something. Just not tonight.

On the flip side, this is a nice win for Cane who -- despite his heel-ish personality -- is very quietly working his way up the 205-pound ladder. Expect to see him begin to take on bigger names like ... Brandon Vera?

Prior to that on the main card, Chris Lytle and Paul Taylor got their welterweight tilt started immediately, trading big punches early and often. "Lights Out" even encouraged "Relentless" prior to the start of the bout to make it the "Fight of the Night."

He was apparently game.

After the first round ended with some good dirty boxing up against the fence, the second round began just like the first with fists flying. The pair exerted so much energy that it seemed both fighters appeared to tire as the second round wound down.

It didn't last long, however,

The the third round was more fireworks, with Lytle seemingly getting the better of the exchanges before Taylor drilled the Indiana fireman with a nice combination with about 25 seconds left in the fight.

Lytle was somehow able to hang on, and in the process, nab a close unanimous decision win.

Fantastic fight.

It's too bad Taylor has lost three of his last four bouts. If Lytle is any indication, the UFC rewards fighters for exciting performance win or lose and Taylor certainly falls into that category.

Hopefully, Taylor -- who has three "Fight of the Night" honors to his credit, including this one -- gets another bite at the Octagon apple to prove once again that he belongs ... he likely won't disappoint.

The veteran Marcus Davis rebounded with a slick second round submission of the 23-year-old Paul Kelly, getting back on track after a disappointing unanimous decision loss to Mike Swick in his last performance.

He showed no ill effects of the shoulder injury that hampered him in the defeat -- his first in 11 fights -- demonstrating a nice in-and-out stand standup up attack while mixing in several nice kicks to the belly of Kelly in the opening frame.

In the second round the British native decided to switch things up and take the fight to the mat -- a decision that ultimately cost him the fight. The submission-savvy Davis was able to get in good position and slip his arm under the throat of Kelly.

It was all academic after that ... Davis sat down and locked in a fight-ending guillotine choke that forced Kelly to tap.

"The Irish Hand Grenade" scored a nice win tonight and we could see him back in action in Dublin at UFC 93 on January 17 -- he requested as much in his post-fight interview.

And UFC President Dana White will more than likely oblige because Davis is a staple on the European cards. As for Kelly, he showed his inexperience but it's clear he has a bright future.

A move to lightweight might be a great idea if he can make the cut ... he'd be dangerous opponent for anyone in that division.

For the complete UFC 89 coverage and blow-by-blow main card commentary click here.

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nice! 2 for 2 tonite! told you guys not to count jardine out… better camp, better cardio, tougher opponent experience will win it every time! marcus davis sold me in that interview with adam wagner, how he said paul kelly’s takedowns wwere weak… laid down 75$ on him last minute!

by brendan on Oct 19, 2008 12:00 AM EDT reply actions  

Anyone up for a Soko vs Vera?

by c-war on Oct 19, 2008 12:19 AM EDT up reply actions  

nice call I’m all in to see that

by Ro-j on Oct 19, 2008 2:40 AM EDT up reply actions  

Me too, on an undercard. Vera bores me to tears, and Soko may just be a flash in the pan. Out of the 2, I like Soko better because he does try to finish his fights.

by naturalshadow on Oct 19, 2008 3:22 AM EDT up reply actions  

Yeah, Mania mentioned “Banha” v Vera?? I like Soku v Vera better…matchup of the overrated fighters in the 205 lb devision. “Banha” would destroy Vera the way they were looking tonight. I’m thinking something more like “Banha” v Jardine.

As for the Lytle fight, I kinda thought Lytle lost but it was close. A lot of it I think had to do with how gassed Lytle looked and that technically shouldn’t play into the scorecards.

by RedDog on Oct 19, 2008 4:12 AM EDT up reply actions  

Yeah Vera sucks.

by PencilPusher on Oct 19, 2008 7:55 AM EDT up reply actions  

What about Luiz Cane vs Chuck Liddell

by belfort_fan on Oct 19, 2008 12:47 PM EDT up reply actions  

yea if you want someone to retire Chuck..

by RoB on Oct 19, 2008 4:57 PM EDT up reply actions  

Chuck is a better fighter than Soko. Chuck may been in the twilight of his career, but he is still the same guy that beat Wandy less than a year ago.

by naturalshadow on Oct 20, 2008 5:51 AM EDT up reply actions  

i got all but 1 of my predictions right (i had kelly down to win lol)

when i said luiz would win i got alot of replys sayin i didnt know what i was talkin bout :S

impressed with bisping i knew he would take that fight

now no-one can say bisping hasnt been in there with a solid striker

by ufcaddict on Oct 20, 2008 4:36 PM EDT up reply actions  

When he tweaked his nipples i knew it was all over for vera.

by Brandon on Oct 19, 2008 1:40 AM EDT up reply actions  

That grosses me out! I feel like everyone watching is somehow getting molested through the TV screen. I don’t like it when they do that. Stop twisting your ugly, pyramid-shaped man-boobs you woman-nippled freaks! It looks like they’re ready to breast feed.

by RedDog on Oct 19, 2008 4:15 AM EDT up reply actions  

I bet on Jardine too but it wasn’t a great fight. Happy he won though. As for the main event.. refer to rant below.

by paniczoo on Oct 19, 2008 2:11 AM EDT up reply actions  

WOW HOPKINS BEAT PAVLICK

by DBG on Oct 19, 2008 2:17 AM EDT up reply actions  

Hopkins won huh? wow!!!

by belfort_fan on Oct 19, 2008 12:48 PM EDT up reply actions  

cheers hadnt watched it yet.

by eightyproof on Oct 19, 2008 3:58 PM EDT up reply actions  

I wish Pavlick would have won.

by belfort_fan on Oct 19, 2008 9:42 PM EDT up reply actions  

Who cares? Watching paint dry is more exciting than boxing.

by deathreat on Oct 20, 2008 10:48 PM EDT up reply actions  

First and foremost, I have a newfound respect and liking for chris leban. I watched a bit of the countdown, and liked seeing the maturation process.
,
Now to UFC89. OK, I’m not going to lie, I would rather buy a ppv and not have to sit through 60+ commercials, but free mma is good for some. The voice overs at the begining and end of each round is taking it too far! For those of you who don’t know what that is, it was the promos and ads added after the fight. Goldie’s voice is lower and it’s obviously added.
To the fights:
I’ve always been a Bisping supporter, and have predicted for months he will get a title shot by the end of the year. (trackback). He proved tonight why I have that opinion! He wasn’t just Machida elusive, he dished out tons of punishment too. I though he looked crisp and quick, and is very humble and down to earth for a brit.
.
Vera is done. he’s in there for a paycheck and it’s over for me! I’m not a fan of Jardine, but I can’t believe it was a split decision…please tell me what round (s) vera won. His performance was pathetic and he should be embarrassed!
.
I was thoroughly impressed with Soku…for 90 seconds. I was hoping he’d get ko’d and my wife laughed when I got my wish.
. Lytle needs to pace himself! He looked good, but have some discipline!
overall I guess it was good (it was free), the next few ppv’s look great though in comparison. Is Cote and GSP dating?
.
.
.

by kevin (most moderated guy on mmamania) on Oct 19, 2008 3:10 AM EDT up reply actions  

I thought it was a solid night of action but I cant take the commercials! I will gladly dish out $40 bucks to not have to sit through commercials!

Bisping is turning into 1 hell of a fighter! He is very crisp and accurate and his footwork is top of the line. Leben truly is evolving as a person as well as a fighter and I think its GREAT to see. No shame in Leben’s performance, he came to Bang and put on a great show! its truly been a privelidge to see how much Leben and Bisping have grown up. I was very impressed with both of their post-fight interviews. Bisping will be very tough to beat at this weight class.

Mad Props to Stager Lee for calling the Cane upset for the past 2 months. Stager lee has been on this site for the past 2 months, telling anyone that would listen about how bad Cane was and how he would beat Soko. Props stager, I should have listened top you better, I only bet $50 on Cane! great pick!

Marcus vs. Lytle is a must Book match up!

I am getting a little tired of Vera…Props to Jardine. He fights all the top fighters and gets very little credit!

I am upset that my boy Akahiro Gono lost. I have yet to watch the fight but I see it was a split decision. If anyone has seen that fight, please break me down with the highlights!

Cote is officially a CRACK head. Did he really have the ballz to say: I hope Anderson keeps his word and stands with me? at that moment I get a call from PhilQny, cracking up hysterically. Has Cote lost his mind?

by john on Oct 19, 2008 10:43 AM EDT up reply actions  

It was a very good fight but not a wild and crazy one. Hardy had a big following in the arena and made a lot of noise for everything he was doing.

On the whole they both did very well. There was some good exchanges with Gono catching Hardy quite a few times with the left hook. It never really rocked him but made him hesitate about storming into him. Hardy said after he was nervous considering it was the UFC and his home fans watching. Im sure he will have some very good performances to come once he is settled in.

As we all know Gono is a crafty vet and definately looked on form.

I’m looking forward to seeing the prelims again as they were all very entertaining from what I remember.

Catch the Etim vs Stout fight if you can as I thought that was a very good matchup for each other and went toe to toe the whole fight. I got to meet Etim as well after the fight and he was very happy and approachable.

by Ca$z on Oct 19, 2008 12:37 PM EDT up reply actions  

john, thanks for the props buddy!..I dont mean to “toot my horn”, but……beep,beep!!lol..

by Stagger-Lee on Oct 19, 2008 2:14 PM EDT up reply actions  

hey john just a quick comment, we’ve seen cote take huge shots from mcfedries (who has really heavy hands) and he then proceeded to destroy him, on the other hand his fight with lutter was well, funny (yet not for me at the time, i like cote) so as weird as it sounds i agree, cote has a better chance against silva if they stand and trade, kinda shitty for cote but… i’m still hopin’ (don’t worry i know whats about to come but hey, can’t blame a guy for hoping)

by mmeh on Oct 19, 2008 2:19 PM EDT up reply actions  

Thanks for the breakdown Ca$Z.

Stager Lee: Toot away it was a great pick!

mmeh: I am a fan of Patrik Cote, but to me he is not a top 5 fighter, and last I checked, title shots should only be given to top 5 fighters. COte is a beast, and I really enjoy watching him compete…But has he lost his damn mind? Does he actually think that the spider is so scared of Cote, that anderson would abandon his Strength (striking) and decide to take Cote to the ground? Hell no, Silva is going to stand and pick him apart. who does Cote think he is insinuating that he hopes Silva isn’t afraid to stand with him? Thats just CRZY talk!

by john on Oct 19, 2008 7:34 PM EDT up reply actions  

OH one more thing, is UFC turning into k1? why was Jardine/vera stood up?

by kevin (most moderated guy on mmamania) on Oct 19, 2008 3:11 AM EDT up reply actions  

bisping did not win that fight. anyone else see that sh_t show?

by special k on Oct 19, 2008 12:02 AM EDT reply actions  

You should change your name to special ed, the short bus person. Bisping dominated Leben in every aspect.

by Bigmcmac on Oct 19, 2008 12:53 AM EDT up reply actions  

OK dude striking, grappling, aggression and octagon control. You saw Bisping dominate in all aspects? Do tell..

by paniczoo on Oct 19, 2008 2:14 AM EDT up reply actions  

I guess you didnt see all of Bispings punches that Leben blocked with his face. He got beat. Deal with it. Go on a binge for the guy.

by the_mexicutioner on Oct 19, 2008 9:38 AM EDT up reply actions  

Bisping won it on jabs and back pedaling, but was by no stretch of the imagination dominant in all aspects. The little grappling there was Leben got the best of, Bisping showed zero aggresion and barely took a forward step or cut off the cage the the whole fight.
Mexipad gets the wrong end of the stick again.

by paniczoo on Oct 19, 2008 6:31 PM EDT up reply actions  

There’s a few freaks on here tonight that think Leban won… I bet they’re the same guys that think Kimbo is the badest man on the planet. CornRows,Muscles,TATS & Ugly do not make the fighter.

by THORAZINE on Oct 19, 2008 3:15 AM EDT up reply actions  

Thorazine as your posting under my comment I feel compelled to respond. Where did I say Leben won? Try reading my posts properly before you voice your ill informed, reactionary, know it all opinions. Oh yeAh and PS. kiss my ass.

by paniczoo on Oct 19, 2008 3:33 AM EDT up reply actions  

probably the same people who hate on machida.. ive read a couple of comments comparing bisping to starnes too hahahaha :)

by weoweoweo on Oct 19, 2008 3:39 AM EDT up reply actions  

Seriously. Bisping took that fight easily. Leben had nothing and was exposed for a sloppy brawler striker that he is. Look at Lebens face. He hit bisping with nothing and his ground game is a joke.

by RiverHorror on Oct 19, 2008 3:40 AM EDT up reply actions  

You thought Leben won?? We’re all entitled to our own opinions but I seriously recommend watching the fight again. Every time Leben swung and missed, Bisping cracked a sharp jap at his face. Did you not see Leben’s face and his head snapping back over and over and over again? Even Leben knew he didn’t win…he admitted it in the post-fight interview.

by RedDog on Oct 19, 2008 4:18 AM EDT up reply actions  

ya I’d have to agree i hate Bisbing but that was a clear win for Bisbing. He executed a great gameplan and let Leben’s wreckless brawler style work against him.

by GSP4Prez on Oct 19, 2008 4:20 AM EDT up reply actions  

I am from England but I think the fight was a lot closer than both the score card and some of the people here are suggesting. Bisping simply avoided Leben all throughout the fight. He did catch Leben with a great one two straight down the middle in the first round. Those two shots were responsible for the damage on Lebens face. Leben himself attacked more with plenty of leg kicks, the odd looping hook that connected and a take down in the third.
Bisping is a skilled fighter but he played it really safe and there is no doubt in my mind that he was very wary of Leben and his punching power. I didn’t see an interesting game plan from Bisping that showed off his skills. He just used his footwork to get away quickly and his reach advantage was his only tool.
It really seemed like a home-town decision for me and it was really quite an equal fight. I did not enjoy Bispings performance and i have to credit Leben for trying to make a fight for the fans.
Leben deserved the draw in my eyes and credit to him as you could hear how down he was after the fight and he deserved more for the improvements he has made.
I have a feeling that Bispings’ next fight might see him come undone.

by thedude on Oct 19, 2008 7:53 AM EDT up reply actions  

I hate Bisping to and have to agree that he won, although closely. LEben I think had the the 3, and the first round could have gone in Lebens favor if you wanted to look at it that way. Bisping didn’t do anything in the first till more then half of it was gone. He clearly dominated the second round though. So maybe that is where people are coming out with Leben winning. If Bisping cold get the Hammil fight then it is very possible that Leben could have been awarded that fight. I do believe that Bisping won, though.

I will say this though, I am still very unimpressed with Bisping. Leben is a gatekeeper and although Bisping says his plan was to be illusive and counter, I do not think he is a top tier fighter yet. IF he gets a title shot without fighting a toptier fighter there is no arguing that he is obviously getting favorable treatment. I honestly, don’t think Bisping could go with Franklin, Marquardt, Henderson, or even would question his chance against Thailes LEites, JAson McDonald, or Damian Maia. I think he should have to fight 2 of these guys before getting a title shot. Not only for the fans sake but for his sake. There is no reason why we need to see another “This is my Time Contender!”, getting in the ring with Anderson Silva, like Cote this week. LEt these guys season each other before getting in the ring with Silva. Alot of these guys are talented but not Silva talented. If they can’t get pass the aforementioned guys then they probably have no business in the ring with Silva. Bisping shold not be in a rush to get knocked down to the bottom of the contender pile.

by Da Monkey on Oct 19, 2008 8:35 AM EDT up reply actions  

Special K… another dumbass

by THORAZINE on Oct 19, 2008 3:24 AM EDT up reply actions  

That’s Seth Green’s name in “Cant Hardly Wait”

by the_mexicutioner on Oct 19, 2008 9:41 AM EDT up reply actions  

Bisping…………yawn……………. sure hope he gets a title fight soon so he can take a whoopin’ and leave the states.

by Brian "Bisping-Hater" on Oct 19, 2008 12:04 AM EDT reply actions  

It was average at best this UFC 89. More and more I’m starting to dislike Vera. That intentional blow to Jardine’s knee was, although legal, a very cheap shot, I can’t believe that it was his plan to win the fight. Sokoudjou is turniung to be the next Houston Alexander, he wasn’t impressing me until he got caught. I wonder if we’ll ever see any more explosive, devastating performances from him. Overall I liked it, but again, Vera is now turning himself into LHW gatekeeper. That’s what he deserves for intentionally try to cause an injury to his opponent.

by Cristiano from Brazil on Oct 19, 2008 12:05 AM EDT reply actions  

wow

“try to cause an injury to his opponent”

Thats the whole point fuckin retard…… hahaha he tried to hurt him…. oh my god your right… he should never be allowed to fight again for trying to hurt him like that…. get blown u fag… and bisping lost.. another european decision win for the king of overrated.. micheal we’ll let the judges count BISPING

by Jer on Oct 19, 2008 2:38 AM EDT up reply actions  

Vera has tons of talent and athletic ability and should totally be more explosive than he is… IMO he used to be on the verge of fighting scared, and now he’s more confident learning he can take a punch but he’s not mean enough to take away a fight from a guy like Jardine.

I don’t know if Vera’s ever going to make that mental crossover to win those gritty down n’ dirty fights or even big time fights.

by THORAZINE on Oct 19, 2008 3:21 AM EDT up reply actions  

Exactly Thorazine, Vera used to fight like it was kill or be killed. Like he thought they were fighting to the death. He used to look scared and he had a sence of urgency to take the guy out before he could hurt him. Now he looks calm, smiling away, like he has all the time in the world to wait for the perfect opportunity. I think confidence is great for a fighter, but not Vera, he thrived off of being scared and fighting with the animal instinct of fight or flight.

by Gord on Oct 20, 2008 12:26 AM EDT up reply actions  

Good comparison of Sokoudjou to Alexander. He looked sad after his initial burst. A very solid Free event overall.

by RiverHorror on Oct 19, 2008 3:42 AM EDT up reply actions  

Have you ever seen the fight between Anderson Silva and Lee Murrary? Silva used that same kick on him. Does seem a little dirty. Good way to cause an injury. Very disappointed with Vera. He hasn’t looked good since he got beat by big Timmy. He cost me some money last night and he fought at about 60% of what he is capable of. He looked to skinny, he has lost his cardio, and he will not let his hands and legs go anymore. What the hell gives!!

by brac on Oct 19, 2008 11:31 AM EDT up reply actions  

I was pulling for Keith to win just so Wandy’s win looks even more impressive. Bisping won a good solid fight. Overall not a bad night of free fights. Next week I have a feeling guys is going to be really good…just a hunch

by Robert on Oct 19, 2008 12:07 AM EDT reply actions  

leban was pradictable, what was going on. bisping was wack.
bisping is overated and is a fag. I hope the ufc don’t give a… forget it I’m lost for words right now. I’m a fan. Bisping is the UFC “paper champion.” Confused, I am.

by king cobra on Oct 19, 2008 12:08 AM EDT reply actions  

Bisping is just a britain draw, the UFC needs that for expansion so i don’t see why everyone is hating on him, he is a solid fighter who helps the sport grow

by Nish on Oct 19, 2008 2:53 AM EDT up reply actions  

Bad at English you are

by RedDog on Oct 19, 2008 4:20 AM EDT up reply actions  

In Yoda voice

by RedDog on Oct 19, 2008 4:20 AM EDT up reply actions  

Bisping is the next David Beckham. Flame on!!!

by the_mexicutioner on Oct 19, 2008 12:12 AM EDT reply actions  

Bisping is wack. Leban same old guy. Lytle good fight. Davis also good. I use to routing for the hype guy, but now everything must change.

by king cobra on Oct 19, 2008 12:12 AM EDT reply actions  

Dude, just sleep it off and come back tomorrow ready to type!

by RedDog on Oct 19, 2008 4:21 AM EDT up reply actions  

???? These guys Fight for a living!!!!! thats what hey do, they try to hurt each other. This is not football where you don’t go for knees. I mean can you believe it, he was trying to punch him in the face as well !?!

by riskreturngroup on Oct 19, 2008 12:13 AM EDT reply actions  

I predicted Davis, Lytle, & Jardine would win their fights. Soukodju showed his inexperience tonight.

I was pulling for Leben to win tonight but he’s gotta get a better gameplan. Chris, this is MMA not ultimate boxing. Your face got turned into hamburger meat because you think that all fans want to see is a stand up battle.

Sean Sherk has the same retarded gameplan against Penn and look what it got him. A face ground into hamburger meat just like yours! Even so, the fight was exciting.

by Jake on Oct 19, 2008 12:19 AM EDT reply actions  

Soko looks good until he gasses. Most guys built like him always seem to gas.

by brac on Oct 19, 2008 11:36 AM EDT up reply actions  

I’m at the point now to where if either Franklin or Hendo aren’t the coaches of TUF then we have got to see Bisping/Marquart down the road!

Nate the Great is one of the many top contenders who could beat Bisping, in my opinion quite easily because he is much more well rounded!

I truly believe that Hendo/Bisping should be the #1 Contender bout, especially since Franklin is not showing any interest in dropping back down to 185. Hendo is a beast as I was reminded in watching a lot of his old fights from Pride. Even if Hendo loses to Franklin at 205, he should still be the coach!

by Dan on Oct 19, 2008 12:19 AM EDT reply actions  

Yes, but a knee injury can take you off the sport for life, and I’ve never seen any serious fighter going for this

by Cristiano from Brazil on Oct 19, 2008 12:22 AM EDT reply actions  

I haven’t either. I am not even so sure that it is a legal move? If it is legal, the most likely reason we haven’t seen it is because it is a pathetic way to win a fight. As close as it is to street fighting, it is still a sport. You could probably kick people in the shins too, if you don’t mind looking like a fairy.

by naturalshadow on Oct 19, 2008 3:31 AM EDT up reply actions  

why not take all joint locks out then because theres a chance of injury. why would it be illegal? personally i think they should legalize knees and kicks to the head of a downed opponent but that could cause a serious injury. isn’t that the fucking point of people fighting, to fuck the other person up? you want to watch fights with just chokes and punches? i really don’t see the problem with vera’s leg kick and it was the only effective thing he did.

by jonsey on Oct 19, 2008 12:24 PM EDT up reply actions  

Joint locks are different. You have the choice of tapping or getting your limb broke. I would also like to see knees to a downed opponent put back in. The only reason I did not like the knee kick is because it is a cheap way to win a fight, and maybe end a guys career. I equate it to some of the other moves that have been banned in fights, such as bending fingers, head butts, and groin strikes. Sure they all work in a fight, but this isn’t the street.

by naturalshadow on Oct 19, 2008 4:11 PM EDT up reply actions  

ALL kicks to the legs are FAIR GAME, get over it. That same knee Vera targetted could’ve been taken his TEETH OUT later if he didn’t slow it down a bit. News flash, all aspects of fighting causes injuries. Of the countless knee injuries suffered by fighters, please list some (or even ONE) that was caused by the same so called cheap shot.

by Gord on Oct 20, 2008 12:51 AM EDT up reply actions  

I just said I have never seen it before, so how am I going to name off a few cases where it has caused an injury?

by naturalshadow on Oct 20, 2008 5:48 AM EDT up reply actions  

some good fights there, luiz cane bullied soko bad and layed on a beating, shane carwin needs a stiff contest next, leben looked good, the jardine fight was a bit boring tho, no1 let their hands go? like someone else said above they should have houston fight soko and maybe luiz cane vs jardine, or carwin vs lesner all good matchups for next year

by markg on Oct 19, 2008 12:22 AM EDT reply actions  

Looks like the Jackson fighters have a new tool to win. They pinch their nipples…… Hilarious. Keith Jardine did it and Evans did it vs Chuck.

by Calgary Real Estate on Oct 19, 2008 12:24 AM EDT reply actions  

GSP did it before his win against Fitch too.

by Brandon on Oct 19, 2008 1:48 AM EDT up reply actions  

Where have you been?

by the_mexicutioner on Oct 19, 2008 9:38 AM EDT up reply actions  

The fight between Leben and Bispin is another BULLSHIT this guy ran around and just tried to score points.As a huge fan, I am very dissapointed tonight the same way I was when this punk fought Matt Hamill in England.This guy is overrated and doesnt fight at all, he just runs around like a coward to try to avoid being knocked out.This is another example of Lioto Machida ,another punk that never puts on a show cause they fight to win and get the check. No wonder they have a they have alot of victories.I am extremely dissapointed and I think Leben won that fight.Fuck this SHIT!!!

by YSA on Oct 19, 2008 12:26 AM EDT reply actions  

Another dumass

by THORAZINE on Oct 19, 2008 3:23 AM EDT up reply actions  

youre probably the smartest person in this thread. Leben won? how? is getting hit in the face constantly counted as positives now? ..i guess tito also won the machida fight right?

i bet you love houston alexander and kimbo slice. theyre bad as$. hahahahha.

by weoweoweo on Oct 19, 2008 3:44 AM EDT up reply actions  

This guy must be a recent blow in. Look at Leben’s face and look at Bisping’s. Who do you think won the fight?

by RobH86 on Oct 19, 2008 8:47 AM EDT up reply actions  

Did you see Leben’s face ?….ya Bisping ran all night.

by Jake on Oct 19, 2008 9:48 AM EDT up reply actions  

I am not a Bisping hater but I want him to fight in the states. Is it in his contract that he only fights across the pond?

by Psyqo78®™ on Oct 19, 2008 12:38 AM EDT reply actions  

yeah, you make a good point. i’m over the hamil thing, and i don’t think something that bad will happen again. He still has home town adv half his fights.

by shinbob on Oct 19, 2008 12:51 AM EDT up reply actions  

yawn………boring fights overall. thank god it was free on spike

by Kas on Oct 19, 2008 12:39 AM EDT reply actions  

They weren’t all bad. Personally, I always like to see Marcus Davis fight.

by naturalshadow on Oct 19, 2008 3:38 AM EDT up reply actions  

davis looked great. his training with psityotung(sp) makes him a better fighter everytime we see him. i hope he gets that fight with lytle. i say davis takes that one. i dont see him getting the ko over lytle though.

by allamerican on Oct 19, 2008 7:19 AM EDT up reply actions  

Vera and Soku were huge disappointments. Vera’s technical skills are impressive, but I see absolutely zero killer instinct. Soku has gaping holes in his game. The LHW division is still crowded but the pretenders are being exposed. Overall the fights were decent but I’m glad there is more to look forward to next week.

by CL on Oct 19, 2008 12:47 AM EDT reply actions  

Can I sue SpikeTV?

Did anyone else noticed the Spike logo that said “Live from England” underneath it? What a blatant lie. FU spike.

Besides that a decent night of free fights. Leben is and always will be a one trick pony. Bisping is better than people give him credit for although I’m not impressed. I don’t know whats up with Vera, he needs a fire lit under his ass. Jardine proved his title as a gatekeeper. Cane looked good and I’m expecting more from him. Don’t count Soku out yet, he’s just inexperienced, and Lytle and Taylor just put on a great fight. Would like to see it again.

by LouShine on Oct 19, 2008 12:48 AM EDT reply actions  

i know that shits not live!!! i saw the fuckin results on mmamania before it even aired!!! talk about an upset. THATS RETARDED.

by allamerican on Oct 19, 2008 7:24 AM EDT up reply actions  

I’m very dissapointed in this event. Lytle and taylor was the best fight overall. I’m really getting tired of these guys who come in the cage and run around connecting a few punches here and there just to win on the judges scorecards. I was also pissed at lebens corner. After the 2nd round they should of said, look you need a knockout so go out there throw alot of punches and either knock the guy out or be knocked out, I mean c’mon going for a takedown in the 3rd round WTF? After the fight I said to myself man leben go to boxing because the only man in the UFC who will stand toe to toe with you and not run away is A. Silva. I dunno but I really feel leben is better suited for boxing. On another note I really want Fedor in the UFC so he can show how he is truely the best p4p fighter in MMA. Don’t get me wrong I really like A. Silva and I think he is a close 2nd best pvp fighter in MMA, but I get tired of hearing rogan and goldberg saying silva best p4p fighter when I truely don’t believe it. Alright my drunken rant is over, I’m going to bed

by rydinlow on Oct 19, 2008 1:20 AM EDT reply actions  

Go to sleep drunk ass. It was a solid night of fights.

by RiverHorror on Oct 19, 2008 4:56 AM EDT up reply actions  

He did the takedown because he was exhausted and/or to hide and limit damage to the cut which was bleeding prefusely at that stage.

Plus he had been swinging for the fences the whole time and that didn’t work so maybe a sub or g’n’p was on his mind. I did think it was strange though because you never see Chris going for the takedowns.

by RobH86 on Oct 19, 2008 8:52 AM EDT up reply actions  

When do I get my playboy?!

by Brandon on Oct 19, 2008 1:34 AM EDT reply actions  

I had the same prediction, but so did probably 40 others.

by naturalshadow on Oct 19, 2008 3:35 AM EDT up reply actions  

who typed it 1rst though. there’s your winner.

by b.w. on Oct 19, 2008 12:07 PM EDT up reply actions  

Maybe they can have a contest for next weekend between just the people who got the answer right. haha

by naturalshadow on Oct 19, 2008 4:20 PM EDT up reply actions  

I typed it 2nd. Don’t mind those ppl that cut in line and just ‘reply’ to peoples posts

by Brandon on Oct 19, 2008 5:34 PM EDT up reply actions  

Bisping is a pussy.

by kibbled_bits on Oct 19, 2008 1:35 AM EDT reply actions  

I wouldn’t mind seeing Soku v. Houston Alexander.

by Rich on Oct 19, 2008 1:59 AM EDT reply actions  

sounds like a double K.O. to me

by Psyqo78®™ on Oct 19, 2008 10:50 AM EDT up reply actions  

Im from Belfast in the UK and want some great British fighters to support but – how lame is Bisping?
Don’t respect him at all. The event was PPV here in Australia where Im living = WASTE OF MONEY. If everyone fought like that nobody would watch MMA. Bisping – if you’re so desperate to win money that you don’t want to fight Im sure there are plenty of fans willing to all chip in and pay you not to. You stink!
When the UFC was conceived there were no time limits or rules, they changed this to make the sport more accessible/marketable and get sanctioned. People like Bisping and Machida are skilled at taking advantage of those changes to eek out decision wins over real fighters. I for one hope that Dana White and his crew do something to stop this, like the card system they used to use in Pride (anything so we don’t have to watch crap fights like that again.. anyone got any ideas?)
Please don’t let MMA get washed out like Boxing.
Anyway Im looking forward to seeing Leben fight again but not Bisping. Here ends the sermon.

by paniczoo on Oct 19, 2008 2:07 AM EDT reply actions  

Must to difficult to type whilst retarded.

by Rich on Oct 19, 2008 2:51 AM EDT up reply actions  

I find this sort of coment proof that the less than average UFC fan doesn’t understand what they’re watching. Lieben has a face like a hamburger but because Bisping didn’t stand still and get ko’d he’s a pussy? whatever!

by Hodgemiester on Oct 19, 2008 5:32 AM EDT up reply actions  

mania should find out what kinda money they’re paying the coaches for TUF, and i wouldnt be surprised for the other coach to be marquardt because hendo and franklin are both at 205 right now

by randy murders on Oct 19, 2008 2:28 AM EDT reply actions  

I would love it. I want Bisping to get schooled by Maruardt in the worst way. I believe Nathtan is one of the most complete and underated fighters in the UFC and since his loss to Silva he has been on a tear and has been looking like a beast. Greg JAckson is shaping him into a 185# monster. With JAckson in the corner and the skill set Marquardt, has I believe he would absolutly maul Bisping. Proving that he is not a top tier fighter in the 185# or any division.

by Da Monkey on Oct 19, 2008 8:40 AM EDT up reply actions  

What’s next for Brandon Vera?

by PinoyTattoos on Oct 19, 2008 3:02 AM EDT reply actions  

Who cares? The guy said at one time he would hold the LHW and HW titles at the same time, and he cant even beat Jardine. Dana was right about him. He is just in it for the checks now. He can go eat some balut eggs or something.

by the_mexicutioner on Oct 19, 2008 9:34 AM EDT up reply actions  

he’s gonna be teaching muay thai cardio classes at some fuckin womens gym somewhere.

by allamerican on Oct 19, 2008 5:34 PM EDT up reply actions  

A win would be nice, but I’m not going to hold my breath.

by Gord on Oct 20, 2008 12:58 AM EDT up reply actions  

Did anyone get a count on how many times Mike Goldberg said “ABSOLUTELY!” ??? I think i heard 4.

by medecine balls on Oct 19, 2008 3:11 AM EDT reply actions  

Vera Sucks!!! He finally got exposed, I wanna see what excuse he comes up wih this time. I understand why keith wasn’t so aggresive, Fighters usually take a cautious approach after they’ve lost. Like GSP after Serra when he fought Kroscheck. People say he barely got passed Kros but a GSP that has nothing to lose would murder Kros. Tonight I became a Leben fan. He’s a warrior and Bisping admitted to being a faggot by planning to pull a UD. This is not boxing, Aggresion is one of the things the judges are supposed to look at, Leben showed it, he also showed Octagon control and even that he became well rounded with a takedown. I have developed a a great dislike for Michael “THE PUSSY” Bisping. Thanks

by Don on Oct 19, 2008 3:28 AM EDT reply actions  

Agreed 100%

Vera and Bisping !“#”#%#¤ Sucks.
Most boring fighters in the UFC no doubt.

by PencilPusher on Oct 19, 2008 8:00 AM EDT up reply actions  

Mania can you please post my comment? I put lots of emotion into it

by Don on Oct 19, 2008 3:34 AM EDT reply actions  

I really dislike Bisping. But I despise Leben. So I’m glad to see Leben lose. Exposed as a sub par fighter. He would have no chance in a rematch with Silva. Hendo would murder him. He looks like the same brawler trying to land the lucky punch. Bisping picked him apart.

by RiverHorror on Oct 19, 2008 3:46 AM EDT reply actions  

Bisping fought a great fight, he stuck to his plan and he didn’t stray from it. On the down side, it was super boring. He fought a point-driven fight as opposed to a fan-driven fight. Smart for Bisping, bad for publicity.

by rockwell on Oct 19, 2008 3:57 AM EDT reply actions  

I am just glad these were free and did not live up to the HYPE at all!

Vera has no killer instinct! looks like he got laid right before the fight or hit the bong!

by derreck on Oct 19, 2008 4:08 AM EDT reply actions  

I thought judges in MMA score on aggression and octegon control as well. Both go to Leben. Bisping was backing up like he was scared the whole time.

I didn’t hear the commentary on the fight because I saw the fight at a bar with no volume on the TV. Everyone at the bar thought Leben was gonna win the decision hands down because Bisping kept running.

by Kevin on Oct 19, 2008 4:16 AM EDT reply actions  

paniczoo, I feel your pain. Machida and the way Bisping fought are not good for MMA.

by Kevin on Oct 19, 2008 4:18 AM EDT reply actions  

As i said Bisping>>>Leben as for Soku …..I guess him and houston should fight would be for sure a 1rounder. Overall pretty good night of fights.

For all the bisping haters….STFU already no one cares if you dont like him, he won fair and square and you can see it all over Lebens face!

by Khaos_warrior on Oct 19, 2008 4:21 AM EDT reply actions  

Bisping is the new Tim the turtle sylvia. At least he didn’t go all kalib starnes tonight… Going to make for boring fights if all the fighters start going just for points and not wanting to try and finish.

by Ognitinoc on Oct 19, 2008 5:18 AM EDT reply actions  

Whats up with all the lame a$$ f*ckers on here that don’t get counter striking? Bisping gave Leben a boxing lesson, he did’t have a mark on him where as Leben was bloodied up and they say Bisping was running away.

Show Bisping some respect, he knows he isn’t good enough for a title shot & readily admits it and he stuck to his game plan and got the win. If you to see 2 guys stand toe to toe buy a PS3 and get FightNight 2 and stay off this site. If you want to watch MMA you just did.

by UKmmaBOY on Oct 19, 2008 5:56 AM EDT reply actions  

I agree that Bisping is not hyping himself and says that he wants to work his way up and earn the title shot. This is the UFC though and surely if you are a top tier fighter then you want a title shot at all times.
I think he is feeling the pressure of expectation on him as he knows that Anderson Silva will beat him and then after that what does he do? Wait for Silva to retire? There are other middleweights who can beat Bisping such as Henderson, Marquadt etc and so I have doubts that Bisping will be a champ.
The performance against Leben was not a brave, skilled display by Bisping that showed off his abilities. To me Bisping seemed to just be thinking do not get knocked out.
Bispings performance was disappointing for me and I think Leben deserves more credit for the fight.

by thedude on Oct 19, 2008 8:13 AM EDT up reply actions  

brandon vera should pick another business, he is obviously too scared to put on exciting fights, now I am sure his first ko’s in the ufc were flukes.

by shamo84 on Oct 19, 2008 6:15 AM EDT reply actions  

You got that right, Vera is a joke.

by PencilPusher on Oct 19, 2008 8:01 AM EDT up reply actions  

I think it’s the opposite, he’s not scared anymore. In his first fights he always looked scared and he admitted it afterwards. That adrenaline worked wonders for Vera. He used to get hit and it would piss him off, then we would see his killer instinct. Now he gets hit and he SMILES. Dana has to put him in there with someone where he HAS to fight, or DIE.

by Gord on Oct 20, 2008 1:16 AM EDT up reply actions  

yo wheres vm at?i told you bisping would pick leben apart.i actually went for a third round sub but a wide ud is just as good.and someone was posting all week how good banha was.hey im a believer he looked good.and what fucing muppet judge give it 30-27 to lyttle.i had taylor winning 2 rounds to 1.marcus davis looked great,veras in trouble career wise he looks gun shy.

by scott on Oct 19, 2008 6:33 AM EDT reply actions  

carwin wears 5xl gloves ….wow i though b lesnars fists were big??

by cid cyanide on Oct 19, 2008 7:02 AM EDT reply actions  

i agree that bisping tought leben a few things in that fight. i personally was hoping leben won. i think this fight was good for both fighters. leben made a lot of new fans by his comments after the fight so props to him. bisping did a great job and showed he is a top contender by fighting the way he did but definatly needs some tougher fights to win the rest of us over still. overall, bisping was the better fighter and won because he fought a smart fight. a little boring but not as dull as the frigan vera/jardine fight! that was like watching two turtles getting ready to fuck. oh well…… hopefully some good fights next week!

by allamerican on Oct 19, 2008 7:13 AM EDT reply actions  

I don’t think Leben won by any stretch of the imagination. BUT I do think that Bisping is an over rated loser… The only TWO people with any real talent that he has fought have been Rashad Evens and Matt Hammil… And he lost to both of them! Yes even though the decision went to Bisping; Hammil beat him that night! I say put him in there with Silva, Marquart or any of the other BIG names in his NEW division and they would expose him for the weak over rated loser that he is.

by Crimson Baboon on Oct 19, 2008 7:45 AM EDT reply actions  

people getting on bisping for fighting ‘elusivly’ are idiots.

He does not fight like this EVERY fight.

if you recall, he won his last 2 fights in very quick fashion by knockout.

it was pretty obvious that bisping knew from the outset he wouldnt be able to brawl with leben, so he simply outboxed him, getting him hurt with counter jabs etc.

i’d understand the ‘hate’ for him if he did this machida style fighting every fight, but he simply doesnt.

i was suprised by how much bigger leben looked though

by ben on Oct 19, 2008 8:04 AM EDT reply actions  

Youre right Ben he doesnt do it everytime, i just cant respect a fighter who goes in with no intention of finishing. Props to Luiz Cane – thats how you pick a powerful aggresive guy apart from the outside and finish him off. A world apart from what Bisping pulled off.

by paniczoo on Oct 19, 2008 6:48 PM EDT up reply actions  

Why were people booing for jardine. Of all the fighters in the UFC he gets alot of my repsect. I have never saw a fight that Jardine was in that was boring. All his fights were entertaining even the ones he lost. Vera has all the skill in the world, both standup and on the ground but I just feel he is afraid to get hit? He needs to be looser, less tense. Bisping well to be honest he doesnt deserve to be headlining an event unless of course its free and this was well unless you were watching on Setanta. When I want to watch a fight I want to see fighters give their all, either on their feet and on the ground. But to admit that your plan was to win on decision well that annoys me especially if you are after paying to watch him fight. To play it safe is boring. O couldnt care less if he won or lost once he put on a good fight. He would get my respect then. Look at Wanderlia Silva, doesnt matter win or loose he will go out their to fight to win, and he doesnt care if he get s knocked out in the process. I was more interested in the Jardine Vera fight any how, a bit disappointing but worth paying though for, good technical fight but it just lacked soemtime, they needed to pick it up a bit. Fight of the night has to go to Lyte and the Paul Taylor, Taylor impressed me more than Bisping, I hope to see more of Paul.

by ROy on Oct 19, 2008 8:43 AM EDT reply actions  

Ok, after seeing Bisping fight tonight, he proved his boy Rampage wrong, dead wrong. After seeing that fight, and looking back on Anderson Silva’s fights with Leben, Franklin, Lutter and Henderson (curtousy of the replay before the airing of the fight on Spike), then seeing Bisping fight Leben it confirmed what I already knew. Bisping is a very good fighter, and is improving all the time. He doesn’t have the same level of God given abilities as Silva. Not even in the same league.

How many think Bisping can get past Franklin twice with brutal stoppages? How many think Bisping can submit Hendo? How many think Bisping can beat Lutter at his own game? Honestly? Yea I didn’t think anyone would agree with all of those statements.

Yes Bisping beat Leben on points, but that is a VERY LONG WAY from the stoppage that Silva had of Leben. I guess we wait to see who is the other coach for TUF with Bisping, Franklin or Hendo.

I like Bisping I guess, but he just doesn’t have nearly all the skills that Silva has, and the skills he may have are on a completely different level! After seeing last nights fight I don’t think there is any denying that.

by sawyer on Oct 19, 2008 9:44 AM EDT reply actions  

I hear what you are saying, but you can’t compare the Leben that fought Silva to the one that fought Bisping.

by Gord on Oct 20, 2008 1:25 AM EDT up reply actions  

To all the people whining about “boring” fights – welcome to MMA, where there’s more than one way to win a fight.

If you want to watch two people pound on each other mindlessly until one goes down, get some Kimbo Slice videos.

Also, how about a reality check – Leben spent the whole fight trying to land a left hand… and that’s pretty much it. The fight wasn’t going his way, and he made virtually no effort to adapt, aside from a couple of weak takedowns that he wasn’t able to do anything with. Am I supposed to be impressed by the fact he kept plodding forward while getting hit in the face? Or his sloppy strikes that hit nothing but air?

by MattNY on Oct 19, 2008 10:09 AM EDT reply actions  

Vera was awful and im happy with Jardine winning.

Man he touched is nipples !

by Daddy Lupo on Oct 19, 2008 10:37 AM EDT reply actions  

I’ve only been a fan of MMA for about 2 years now, and I have seen a change in the fighers in this amount of time. What I see now is a bunch of pros who are so afraid to lose that they become their own worst enemy. I really feel sorry for fighters nowadays. Lose 2, maybe 3 fights (unless you’re “marketable”) and you’re out on the streets. Really sad situation for the fighters and the fans.

by Mikey the Noob on Oct 19, 2008 11:32 AM EDT reply actions  

Leben is a beast, when he dropped his arms and marched tward bisbing, that was awesome! he got hit with like three real solid head kicks in that fight and din’t even flinch. it’s hard to respect fighters who try winning fights by UD but he knew he wasn’t gonna knock him out and he knew it was gonna be a stand up war so he had a perfect game plan agenst leben. fighters like chuck, leben, and even jardine, and wandy, are at a disadvantage, other fighters know that they will keep coming and refuse to put on boring fights, so they just back up and look for haymaker or win by points. Thats just the evolution of this sport.

by swizz on Oct 19, 2008 11:41 AM EDT reply actions  

i think bisping won in every aspect except for aggression. so he won 3/4 of the requirements. i do think however leben clearly won round two and this was not a 30-27 fight, but a 29-28 fight

by muscleshark64 on Oct 19, 2008 11:45 AM EDT reply actions  

After watching the fight I dont think Bisping could have knocked Leben out but Leben could have knocked Bisping out if bisping stood and traded.

You cant blame Bisping for fighting the smart fight a loss would have seriously damaged his career and with friday’s announcement that he was to be a coach on TUF there was added pressure to get the victory….by any means

by Confused on Oct 19, 2008 11:48 AM EDT reply actions  

Hey Jer, f*** you. Perhaps, offending a guy that came here just to post his opinion is the only way you know how to be a man. You big f***ing piece of shit. S.O.B. (Sorry, but I’m doing the same thing he did, but I don’t know why he is bashing me like that.)

by Cristiano from Brazil on Oct 19, 2008 3:24 PM EDT reply actions  

bisbing doesnt have the power to knock anyone out. and frankly i saw absolutely none of this punishment you are talking about….. you look at how fights are scored, effective striking-he didnt phase leben with a strike whatsoever, i wouldve said the striking department was near even, with neither looking very good. effective grappling- well bisbing got rejected on every single one of his takedown attempts, and leben scored the only one-wow thats hard to score. aggression-leben had bisbing backing up for 15 fucking minutes, i dont give a crap what you say to defend bisbing in that aspect, you dont score points on aggression for backing up, so aggression-leben. octagon control- this would depend on the individual judges definition i suppose, but backing up for 3 rounds, failing on your takedowns(especially when people call you a ground and pound fighter….) and doing so little in the standup that your opponent is sticking his chin at you doesnt sound like control to me. but whatever it’s fine, to think that bisbing has the skills to hang with the top dogs in any division is ridiculous, especially after getting his ass handed to him by hammil(yes he did), and this lackluster performance. whether it be henderson, franklin, silva etc. they place opposite of him on what is guarenteed to be the worst season of TUF yet, bisbing will be gang raped in the finale.

by storhaug on Oct 19, 2008 5:47 PM EDT reply actions  

CRAP event.
Chris Lytle fight was by far the best. I almost fell asleep during Vera vs Jardine but it got even worse when Bisping and Leben came out. PLEASE Dana. Bisping is NOT main event material the guy’s just boring. I hope he gets a shot at Anderson sooner rather than later so Anderson can beat his ass back into cage rage :)
And I’m from England!!

Bisping is SO over-hyped it must hurt!

by MrAngry on Oct 19, 2008 6:06 PM EDT reply actions  

I think Vera is just fighting out of his element. He was a head hunter and now he has became to patient for his own good, ala Roger Huerta against Florian, guys like this you dont change their style you show them better defense to avoid as much punishment as they come forward, better head movement but you let them overwhelm their opponents. The old trainer from Vera, as much as a rip-off as they say he is, must be a good trainer he had Vera undefeated, also KJ Noons has done well under him but its obvious he preaches good fighting but does not have good interpersonal skills, first the UFC now with EliteXC he should just train and let somebody else manage the fighters.

by hk on Oct 19, 2008 10:04 PM EDT reply actions  

I love it how everybody is dissing on Bisping because he was being elusive. So he is a pussy because he wouldn’t stand there and get punched in the face? I love it how all these people talk so much trash because they just want to see a knockout. People get to the professional level by understanding what it takes to win a fight, not just standing there getting punched in the face. If you want to see people just standing there punching each other go watch boxing.

by Red on Oct 19, 2008 10:57 PM EDT reply actions  

oh shutup. bisbing has done nothing to deserve the praise he gets. beating nobodies, running his mouth, and being pampered by the ufc(and the judges on more than 1 occasion. he wasnt being elusive, he was just running away. and you know the best way to get a guy to stop constantly coming forward??? fucking hit him. leben never once stopped being the aggressor because bisbing did not do a god damn thing to change that.

by storhaug on Oct 20, 2008 12:55 AM EDT reply actions  

Running his mouth? I can’t say I’ve seen him do that. Only person that seems to be running their mouth is you. Every single fighter talks cocky before fights. Yes Leben was the aggressor but I don’t see how you say he wasn’t hit. Did you not see his face? Everybody says Bisping is favored by judges but if you go back to his fight with Matt, it was the two American judges that gave him the win, the British judge gave the win to Matt. To say he is a boring fighter is ridiculous, he has 11 KO/TKO and 11 fights that were finished in the first round. He fought the way he knew he would win against Leben. You don’t fight the other guys fight.

by Red on Oct 20, 2008 3:22 AM EDT up reply actions  

I’ve never been happy to see the opposite guy I was routing for win, until now. Vera didn’t deserve to win that fight with that dissapointing performance.

by Gord on Oct 20, 2008 1:37 AM EDT reply actions  

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