The main card of UFC210 in Buffalo, New York, surprisingly emerged as one of the most news filled cards in the companies recent history.
There were no less than two retirements. A solidified champion. A possible new emerging super superstar, one of the most bizarre/controversial finishes ever and unexpected quick finish.
First and foremost. In the main event Daniel “DC” Cormier submitted Anthony “rumble” Johnson in the second round to retain his UFC light heavyweight title. To me the way the fight ended was pretty disappointing as it seemed rumble gave up first chance he got, with no resistance or fight. In end it emerged why.
However, regardless of how the fight finished. You have to give DC credit, as expected, he had to ride out a barrage of attacks from rumble in the first round, which resulted in a possible broken nose.
It was then a surprise that rumble opted to grapple, as he seemed to get the better of the stand up. Again, it emerged what rumble’s mind set was.
Unfortunately for Cormier, after defeating rumble in May 2015 to win the vacant LH title.
Now twice defending it and defeating rumble for a second time. After rumble’s admission that this was always going to be his last fight.
I feel again Cormier wont get the credit he really deserves. It seems he needs that Jon Jones fight as much as Jones needs it.
I am really surprised fans choose to boo DC. He has been the victim and the other guy in the Jon Jones issues, desperately seeking a rematch, getting the rematch, only for Jones to be pulled at the last-minute.
Then to refocus to not only agree to fight Anderson Silva at the last-minute, but beat him. Previous to that defending his title against Gustafsson in a barnstorming five round split decision victory. He deserves much more respect.
The Retirements.
I’m sure it came as a surprise to one and all when, holding back tears Anthony “rumble” Johnson announced at the age of 33, his defeat to Cormier would be his last fight.
He stated he is committed to another job and he never enjoyed getting punched in the face and rolling around on the canvas with big strong guys….You cant argue with that.
I just couldn’t help thinking that was the reason why he was so easy to tap to Cormier.
I know that’s a snap judgement and who am I to question a man who will end his MMA career with 22 wins and 6 losses.
Has fought at heavy and light heavyweight and defeated such illustrious fighters as Josh Koshcheck. Dan Hardy. Andrei Arlovski. Antonio Nogueira. Alex Gustafsson and Jimi Manuwa. So enjoy your retirement rumble. You deserved it.
That wasn’t the only retirement in the octagon, as there was another surprise announcement but less shocking.
37-year-old Quebec native Patrick Cote announced he was ending his 15 year fighting career by dropping his gloves to the floor after his unanimous points defeat to Thiago Silva who impressed on the ground & standing.
The Canadian ended his career with 22 wins and 11 losses. He first emerged in the UFC when he got to the final the TUF 4, losing the finale to Travis Lutter via submission.
Previous to that he had already fought Tito Ortiz & Chris Leban.
He then went on to fight Kendall Grove where he won knockout of the night. Anderson Silva in a losing effort for the middleweight title.
Also the likes of Alan Belcher. Kalib Starnes. Cung Le. Stephen Thompson. Kyle Noke and Donald Cerrone. Enjoy your retirement sir.
The Sublime
UFC210 could also mark the dawn of a new special talent in the UFC. 29-year-old team alpha male fighter Cynthia Calvillo really impressed. Her debut was delayed due to injuries but she has wasted no time, now fighting on the main card of two events in two months.
She took her UFC debut on 10 days notice.
The fight was moved last-minute from the prelims to UFC209’s main card, following the cancellation of the Ferguson/Khabib fight.
She handled the pressure like she had fought on the main card several times before. Her one round submission victory over Amanda Cooper really made me sit up and take notice.
She then came into this fight with the bigger, more experienced Pearl Gonzalez and really showed her talent in a hard-fought 3rd round submission victory.
She demonstrated some great stand up, lovely foot and head movement but her ground game looked accomplished and her transitions were just poetry in motion.
I am not getting ahead of myself as its early days, but the girl looks a real talent. So far she looks comfortable in all area’s.
Naturally the competition will get stronger and we will then really see what she is made off, but for now it looks as though she has a bright future.
Charles Oliveira & Will Brooks kicked off the main card and expecting a hard-fought battle, I was surprised it lasted only 2 minutes and 30 seconds.
Oliveira, a fighter who has had weight issues previously, finally decided to move up to lightweight to fight Will Brooks, a seasoned lightweight and although coming off a defeat, it was his first in his last 10.
Brooks is generally a durable fighter so it came as a surprise when Oliveria hooked in the rear naked choke from a standing position until Brooks could take no more and was forced to tap.
It was a surprisingly simple victory for Oliveira who must now be thinking he should have moved up to lightweight a few fights ago before he lost his last two. He is now tied in second place for the most submssion victories in the UFC with 9.
The Ridiculous.
Last but not least. The co main event came to one of the most bizarre endings in the UFC’s history.
In the record books it will go down as a Gegard Mousasi 2nd round TKO victory.
But it was far from satisfying, due to clanger from the referee and some weird behaviour from the doctors at ringside. Mousasi will almost certainly see a rematch with Chris Weidman.
I was looking forward to this fight as it was a real 50/50. Weidman was coming off two losses and the former champion knew he needed a victory to put him back in the middleweight picture.
Mousasi was on a mini roll, winning four in a row and a win against the former champ could put him in the middleweight title argument.
Sadly, the fight left us with no answers and no further ahead than we went in. I would say Weidman did the better in the first round and took that with a few taken downs.
However, Mousasi came back in the second with a series of strikes. Then controversy. Mousasi landed two knees to the head while Weidman was bending down.
The first, Weidman clearly had one hand down. The second was not so clear.
Although it seemed Mousasi lifted Weidman to land the second knee, which connected with Weidman’s face, stunning the American and drew blood.
Referee, Dan Mirgliota immediately stopped time and separated the fighters, as he thought it was an illegal knee. Then as Mirgliota warned Mousasi and then informed Weidman he had five minutes to recover. The replay showed the knees were in fact legal.
It was then stated in New York they do not have the benefit of replays.
But the ref spoke to a ringside official, who stated the knees were legal. At this time doctors were in the octagon looking at Weidman, who did seem groggy.
Mirgliota then informed Weidman that the knees were legal. At which time you would have thought the fight would have restarted, but the ref seemed to give Weidman more time to recover.
As this was taking place, amidst some confusion, the doctors stopped the fight, much to Weidman’s protest, giving Mousasi the TKO victory.
Very bizarre indeed and I am sure we will not hear the end of that situation, which could spark a row on New York’s replay policy.
But all in all it was another eventful UFC event, something we have come accustomed to where as per usual, anything can happen and generally absolutely anything usually does…..
