UFC / MMA

scruffy-lookin

While it's not ideal that Cormier is taking the title shot on shaky knees it's an issue he's apparently had for a while and hasn't stopped him dominating all his opponents. At 35 I don't know whether there's time for Cormier to take 6-12 months off for surgery and then hope that the title picture works in his favour. Regardless, it's a fight I'm excited to see.
 
Hard to complain about oversaturation with the quality of the last three cards and the UFC taking a mini-break until mid-August.

Unco

A nice look at the real Jon Jones:
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://mmajunkie.com/2014/08/video-hot-mics-catch-daniel-cormier-and-jon-jones-and-a-death-threat'>http://mmajunkie.com/2014/08/video-hot-mics-catch-daniel-cormier-and-jon-jones-and-a-death-threat</a>
 
What a sociopath.

scruffy-lookin

Pretty over the top from Jones and Cormier. The fight at the media day was a bit of a black eye for the sport and these comments just further inflame things, even if the mics weren't supposed to be live. While it wouldn't surprise me if Jones (or any other elite athlete or high achiever) was a sociopath IMO, he's just trying to get under Cormier's skin. Two alphas who don't like each other and won't back down.
 
I think Jones will win in the Octagon but it remains to be seen who'll win the publicity war and whether it will result in more buys or end up turning people off.

raznomore

I dunno. Michael Jordan was a wholesome front man but a nutcase behind closed doors in the locker room. 
I am happy to talk like a church boy to my customers but I'll be swearing up a storm with fuckwit suppliers and I climb into a trade if he so much looks at me wrong. 
Cormier isn't exactly doing himself any favours either.

raznomore

It's not going to turn anyone off. Only people who weren't going to watch anyway.

scruffy-lookin

I agree that it's (probably) not going to turn off people for this fight that were potential buyers but might have an effect on the long-term prospects of the sport with things like getting the MMA licenced in New York and fighters being able to attract top-flight sponsors.
 
MMA always walks a line between sport and spectacle, martial art competition and brawling violence which is what makes it so compelling to some of us but also why it gets a fair bit of negative press (or no press at all).

MiketheSnow

Fight Night 51
 
Solid undercard.
 
And a great main event.
 
Excuse the music overdub.

Great to see Arlovski back.

scruffy-lookin

<div>Fight Night 51 was exactly the kind of card that certain fans and media mean when they talk about over-saturation. A main event with two fighters with name recognition but little divisional relevancy and an undercard stacked with local fighters. I'm not sure if it was better matchmaking or a coincidence but it was good to see Brazillians only go 5-4. I agree with Mike that it was a fun card even though it wouldn't have been considered "UFC Quality" a few years ago. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>Hunt v Nelson this weekend which has a similar look to the card but where it's a fair bit harder to find favourable matchups for the local fighter without obviously trying to get a result. Hopefully Hunt can finish Nelson and go on one last run towards the title. Nelson has had trouble with strikers who are willing to circle away from his overhand right and don't get backed up on the cage with his jab-feint-jab routine. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>Daniel Hooker, the kiwi who won his UFC debut at the Auckland event this year is the first fight on the card. Not sure if Sky will be showing that or whether it will be Fight Pass only.</div>

MiketheSnow

Fight Night 52
 
Tokyo delivered.
 
The Silverbacks delivered.

MiketheSnow

UFC 178
 
Cruz is back.
 
Zingano fight was as good as it gets.
 
Romero with a superb finish, after a controversial start to 3rd round.
 
McGregor on a roll.
 
Cowboy almost got bucked but came through strong.
 
Mighty Mouse too strong.
 
Excellent card.

MiketheSnow

UFC 180
 
Solid card top to bottom.
 
Def worth a watch.

raznomore

If only Hunt had a ground game. He had a monster take down but landed straight in Wurdum's guard so he had to stand up immediately to avoid a submission. But he knocked him. Over a couple of times and had he been confident enough he should have gone in for some nasty ground and pound to close it out. 
Not always as easy as that but it would have been interesting

Duluth

Jon Jones has been stripped of his title
 
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://espn.go.com/mma/story//id/12783425/jon-jones-stripped-light-heavyweight-title-suspended-ufc'>http://espn.go.com/mma/story//id/12783425/jon-jones-stripped-light-heavyweight-title-suspended-ufc</a>

Unco

Wow, I didn't think that would happen at all. UFC's even more carny than the WWE these days, so I thought they'd pretend it never happened like they have with a bunch of other incidents. Credit where it's due though, that's a smart move, Jones is a complete mess.
 
Cormier vs Rumble for the title now?
 
Edit: Yep, Cormier vs Rumble. Cormier was already scheduled to fight a couple weeks later, so at least he'll be decently prepared.
 
Edit #2: <img src="http://108.imagebam.com/download/9inrNU3oURUvTW-k4NbbnA/40658/406576124/lolol.gif" alt="lolol.gif">
 
Killed me.

raznomore

Jones has well and truly gone off the rails. It wasn't that long ago he was "allegedly" saving a women from a mugger. 
I think rumble looks really good and has the mustard to KO Cormier but if Cormier can get those take downs it could be a long night for Johnson. 
I hope Weidman knocks Belfort back to the favela.

MiketheSnow

WOW!!!

MiketheSnow

UFC Fight Night 65
 
Great match-ups
Great fights
Great finishes

MiketheSnow

UFC 187
 
Pre-lims were decent but all went to the scorecard.
 
Great, great main card.
 
Arlovski v Browne saw 'The Pitbull' back to his best. And he took a cracker to the chin from Browne that would have finished him a couple of years ago.
 
'Cowboy' Cerrone broke Makdessi's jaw with a sweet kick.
 
Weidman battered Belfort on the ground.
 
Cormier surprised everyone with an emphatic win. Smothered Johnson and took some heavy shots.

Milk

Awesome card. Had a blast watching it. Big Travis Browne's body just wouldn't accept he was knocked out and kept swinging till he almost won it. Cracked me up when Arlovski said he was about to give up because he didn't know what else to do.
 
Here's a gif of the brutal elbow by Cerrone <a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://gfycat.com/ConsiderateDeepBoa#'>http://gfycat.com/ConsiderateDeepBoa#</a>

Unco

Yeah, it was a great card.
 
I was stoked with the Cormier and Weidman wins. Cormier because he finally got his big win (though technically he got that in Strikeforce) and Weidman because he destroyed Captain Steroids.
 
Also great to see Travis Browne wrecked. Fuck him and that shitty haka mixed with techno entrance music. You're Hawaiian, you fluffybunny!
 
Just a pity Khabib got injured. I think he would've thrown Cerrone around like a rag doll and if he can stay fit, will be the next Lightweight champ.

The Silver Fern

UFC / MMA