The Kick Heard Round the World
- What can I say about Anderson Silva that hasn't already been said a dozen times? Any time he steps into the ring, there is a chance that you are going to see something spectacular. Of course, the fact that he is capable of such otherworldly performances makes it all the more frustrating and disappointing when he doesn't deliver. I think it's clear that Silva needs to be motivated with a credible challenger in order to really shine. When that happens, he is more than capable of leaving you standing with your hands over your mouth in awe.
- Like so many challengers before him, Vitor Belfort looked hesitant and tentative against the champ. While it's hard to blame him -- he is fighting the best in the world -- Chael Sonnen showed that in order to beat Silva, you have to put pressure on him. If you give Silva time to sit back and analyze, he will find an opening and exploit it.
- The front kick is typically thrown to the body, and is used as a defensive kick when your opponent closes the distance. The fact that Silva was able to knock Belfort out cold with one speaks to both his power and accuracy. I've yet to hear anyone that has seen another fight end with a front kick, which speaks to just how special this knockout was.
- Who is next for the champion? Yushin Okami has been promised a title shot, but UFC president Dana White also promised fans the superfight they have been clamoring for against UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre -- provided St-Pierre beats Jake Shields at UFC 129. Here is another intriguing possibility. Should Jon Jones win the light-heavyweight title at UFC 128 (more on that below), Rashad Evans has said that he will drop weight classes. Given the success that a wrestler like Sonnen was able to have against Silva, it would be very intriguing to see what the bigger, more explosive Evans could do.
A Twist No One Saw Coming
- The real shocker Saturday night was Joe Rogan's announcement that Jon Jones, fresh off of manhandling Ryan Bader, would replace injured teammate Rashad Evans in a title fight against light-heavyweight champion Mauricio "Shogun" Rua at UFC 128. At just 23 years old, Jones has become a bona fide superstar -- Bruce Buffer went so far as to proclaim that Jones would become the Muhammad Ali of the sport. Rua is several steps up in competition, though, with excellent jiu-jitsu and a dangerous and powerful striking game. Is Jones ready for such a difficulty spike, especially with just six weeks to train?
- If Jones' performance Saturday night was any indication, the answer to that question is a resounding, 'Yes.' Jones sent a message early, shooting in and taking down the All-American wrestler Bader with a classic double leg. Once it was established that Jones held the edge in the wrestling department, winning became a matter of when, not if. Bader had no answer for Jones' freakish reach on the feet and resorted to taking diving shots from the outside. On the ground, Jones' top control was very impressive, and his long arms enabled him to snake in a guillotine choke that most other fighters would not have been able to secure.
Odds and Ends
- In our fight preview for Forrest Griffin vs. Rich Franklin, we highlighted that Griffin's size advantage would be his biggest key to victory. That was the case, as Griffin was able to suck Franklin to the ground and keep him at bay on the feet. Franklin was able to turn it on late, but the former middleweight is going to have a hard time swimming in the deep end of the light heavyweight division, where so many of the fish are bigger than him.
- Former WEC champion Miguel Torres sat behind his jab and kept Antonio Banuelos at bay for much of their 15 minute contest. His performance didn't exactly set the world on fire, but Torres fans would do well to remember that this is just his second fight under the tutelage of Firas Zahabi. Chalk this one up to a learning experience, and look for Torres to build off that jab in the future.
