In the biggest MMA broadcast of all time we saw the most anticipated HW fight in the history of the sport (sorry Fedor and Cro Cop fans but it's true). And 64s later it was all over, much to the disappointment of Dana White, FOX executives and Cain Velasquez (8-1) as the formerly undefeated champion lost his title on his first defence to Brazilian striking sensation Junior Dos Santos (14-1). After the UFC's reluctance to give Junior big fights earlier in his career following the destruction of Fabricio Werdum words can't describe how happy I was to finally see Junior receive the promotion that his skills and personality deserve and he thoroughly deserves to be the champion after winning all 8 of his UFC fights in decisive fashion.
Other than the Pacquiao-Marquez judging the big controversy in the fight world right now is the UFC and FOX's decision to only televise the main event despite having a FOTY contender to decide the next LW number 1 contender between Benson Henderson and Clay Guida earlier in the night and having plenty of time available to broadcast that fight. If Velasquez-Dos Santos was an action packed 5 round war then this would have been an inspired decision but in the end Dana was left to pick up the pieces in the FOX studio as he saw his main event end in quick and dramatic fashion. Bizarrely international fans were provided with a repeat of the classic Henderson-Guida fight instead of the cringeworthy promotion of Velasquez-Dos Santos and there was even time to broadcast DaMarques Johnson's quick KO victory over Clay Harvison after the fight.
This event the money pool saw a new leader crowned in last years winner Agar (448) after NNR (444) choked under the pressure with a lowly score of 34 (if you're tying with me then you're not going to win any money) and 2 regulars tie for the event prize for the second time in this pool. Nobody scored particularly highly and there were some abysmal scores but ultimately it's events like these in which being consistent is the key to winning the pool. For all of the latest stats, scores and standings follow me after the jump.
Event winner (The Junior Dos Santos award of excellence)
In a low scoring event this week’s $20 prize is awarded to the perennial runner-up of the money pool Two-Words as he finally wins the big one with 61 points and 8/10 correct picks. Words scored 11 points after picking Ben Henderson and Aaron Rosa by unanimous/majority decision. The only 2 incorrect picks that he made were Yamamato and Escovedo and only 2 Maniacs picked either man.
Sorry deuce but despite scoring 61 after earning full points including the hot bout after picking Robert Peralta by 3rd round TKO as well as by also picking Henderson and Rosa by unanimous/majority decision, you leave this event with nothing after losing the tie-break with 6/10 correct picks. I would feel sorry for you but you almost won $20 because of a headbutt so no sympathy here.
Biggest loser (The Matt Lucas award of mediocrity)
This event the honour is shared as apparently 3 players had better things to do than make their picks this weekend as 209stk, PHISH_NATION and the General himself Detroit Mrosko all managed to lock in only 1 pick. At least PHISH called a DaMarques Johnson victory so his 5 points avoid the wooden spoon but Geno and 209 both picked Cain Velasquez so finish joint last with 0. In a fair world Two-Words and deuce will both get the chance to provide you with new sigs of shame.
Out of the money pool players who actually bothered to put in all of their picks this week, it was Rilly who scored the lowest with an appalling score of 28 after only correctly picking 4 fights, although his blushes were spared with his Henderson by decision (11) and Dos Santos by KO (7) picks.
Underdog pick (The Bruce Leroy award of underappreciation)
As further evidence of our collective failure to pick fights at this event we have a double underdog award after only 2 players correctly picked the underdogs Alex Caceres and Darren Uyenoyama. Congratulations to jay (13) and TuffGong (7) for picking Bruce Leroy and Shivan Tiger (13) and TuffGong (13) for picking Uyenoyama. Unfortunately for Tuff despite picking both underdogs he only picked 3 other fights correctly (Henderson, Johnson and Pierce) so he only scored 45 despite making the 2 best picks.
Event standings
Money Pool standings
| MMA Playground season 11: UNITED 7 / 10 events complete |
||||
| Rank | Points | Player | Picks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 1 |
448 | Agar | ||
 2 |
444 | TheGreg | ||
| 2 |
444 | NNR | ||
 3 |
438 | sarah- | ||
| 4 | 429 | thepride | ||
| 5 | 422 | DetroitDrew | ||
| 6 | 418 | freenow82 | ||
| 7 | 415 | kg12 | ||
| 8 | 409 | Loonz | ||
| 9 | 408 | ViolentMike | ||
| 10 | 403 | ricky-dooby | ||
| 10 | 403 | unambig | ||
| 11 | 402 | goldmouth | ||
| 12 | 394 | TBranson | ||
| 13 | 392 | magicmike | ||
| 14 | 390 | newfie | ||
| 15 | 389 | GotaHemmi | ||
| 16 | 380 | vhw | ||
| 17 | 378 | DavidW-S | ||
| 18 | 377 | scarnon | ||
| 19 | 375 | P-Dub | ||
| 20 | 372 | ShivanTiger | ||
| 21 | 371 | jayw27 | ||
| 22 | 368 | YouveGotGold | ||
| 23 | 366 | Cali | ||
| 24 | 364 | Amos14 | ||
| 25 | 355 | Dlocc | ||
| 26 | 352 | BNF | ||
| 27 | 347 | Two_Words | ||
| 28 | 341 | Dugout | ||
| 29 | 340 | Rilly | ||
| 30 | 321 | TuffGong | ||
| 31 | 309 | Deuce02 | ||
| 32 | 294 | donkeypunch81 | ||
| 32 | 294 | Ponch-hoe | ||
| 33 | 288 | PHISH_NATION | ||
| 34 | 269 | Yan117 | ||
| 35 | 258 | TheGeneral | ||
| 36 | 251 | 209stk | ||
| 37 | 248 | Bons_210309 | ||
| 38 | 230 | sicksluggs | ||
| 39 | 220 | AintNoSunshine | ||
| 40 | 210 | Johhnyk9 | ||
| 41 | 144 | |||
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