219 replies to this topic

[jefferson l.o.b sergeant]

UFC 131

This is what will happen

CARWIN VS DOS SANTOS- A close fight but it meshes perfectly with the original matchup of Brock vs Dos Santos. Both haven't fought in awhile and they are evenly matched. I think Carwin has grown since his lost to Brock and Dos Santos can't prepare this quickly for the change.

Winner- Carwin RD 2 KO GNP Carwin lands the right and shoots in for the finish.

[Noel L]

JESUS CHRIST, Carwin's face was a mess!

Junior dos Santos is becoming a monster. Carwin has balls of steel, loss and all, he earns my admiration.

[Nicholas Taggart]

2010?

Weird to me that Demian Maia vs. Mark Munoz didn't win fight of the night.

[Mike Collins]

Carwin is so tough but so one dimensional. He stood there and got his face beaten in while Dos Santos smartly jabbed then flurried when he wanted to. No one will ever doubt how tough Shane is but really, anyone who doesn't stand right in front of him should have the blueprint right now.

Nice to see nice guy Dos Santos get the title shot.

[Will]

Carwin is so tough but so one dimensional. He stood there and got his face beaten in while Dos Santos smartly jabbed then flurried when he wanted to. No one will ever doubt how tough Shane is but really, anyone who doesn't stand right in front of him should have the blueprint right now.

Nice to see nice guy Dos Santos get the title shot.

Carwin looked completely unready for that fight. I kept waiting for him to start swinging but I guess those jabs did more damage than I initially realized.

Dos Santos is a beast.

Enjoyed the Florian fight, I think he's finally found his weight class.

[Mike Collins]

I don't Carwin was unprepared, I think that Dos Santos is just that good with his hands. A really good jab short circuits what the other guy is going to do. So with Junior constantly keeping it in Shane's face I think it threw off his gameplan. But he should have adapted instead of of trying to wear Dos Santos out by letting him punch him in the face. I think he's a one dimensional brawler who will win some exciting fights and lose to guys more skilled than him. Imagine what an Overeem might do to him. Honestly I'm not sure how the ref didn't stop it in the first round. The guy he was originally going to fight are the guys he will continue to do well with, a plodder who would rather stand toe to two and bomb away.

Dos Santos and Cain could be a really good fight. Both are skilled and both can throw heavy shots. Both are nice guys too which is always good to see. No nasty smack talk between them last night. Dos Santos has it right, it's good to be a nice guy.

[Will]

I wasn't trying to take anything away from Dos Santos, that guy was amazing. He looked like he could beat anyone last night.

I'd love to see Dos Santos vs Overeem once Dos Santos gets the belt from Cain. Which is going to be a great fight as well.

[Mike Collins]

I wasn't trying to take anything away from Dos Santos, that guy was amazing. He looked like he could beat anyone last night.

I'd love to see Dos Santos vs Overeem once Dos Santos gets the belt from Cain. Which is going to be a great fight as well.

I don't think you were taking anything away from Dos Santos I just think Carwin is a one trick pony. Sure he'll likely highlight reel ko some more people but when he gets in there with someone with some skill he's in trouble. I think Cain would dominate him too.

I am looking forward to Junior vs. Cain.

[Noel L]

I wasn't trying to take anything away from Dos Santos, that guy was amazing. He looked like he could beat anyone last night.

I'd love to see Dos Santos vs Overeem once Dos Santos gets the belt from Cain. Which is going to be a great fight as well.

dos Santos vs Overeem would be beautiful. If Overeem wins the Strikeforce tournament, and JDS fights and wins the title in october, it might happen very soon. If both lose, it might happen as well, with a bit less steam and hype to it though. If one of them wins, but the other loses, then it's a bit more complicated and Overeem, once invited over, might face a gatekeeper as a UFC welcoming fight before facing dos Santos.

[Nicholas Taggart]

I will be interested in seeing what Carwin looks like in his next fight. With the exception of his stamina which was clearly improved and his guts for continuing to fight I don't know what to make of where Carwin is as a fighter now. It could have just been a serious case of a great fighter making a very good fighter look bad but I don't know. He didn't show any flashes at all of being what he once was. Roy Nelson looked better in his fight against dos Santos. Could be that he just won't be the same anymore. Seems like it would be hard to come back from back surgery and phsyically physically yourself like he is having to do.


I am surprised that dos Santos is the early favourite in the fight against Cain. He is great but unless Cain has been diminished by his shoulder injury and recovery I expect him to win. If dos Santos wins I expect it to be early as I don't see him being able to keep up with Cain as the fight goes on.

Edited by Nicholas Taggart, 13 June 2011 - 12:41 PM.

[Mike Collins]

Tonight should be fun.

I expect Barnett to take Brett Rogers apart. If ever there was a guy who doesn't belong at an elite level it's Rogers. He's dynamite for a minute then shows his complete lack of experience.

Really looking forward to the Demolition Man versus Werdum. Overeem looks the part and his last few fights he's looked like the Hulk. I think he's a different fighter than he was when Werdum subbed him and I am hoping for a KO.

[Nicholas Taggart]

I expect Barnett to take Brett Rogers apart. If ever there was a guy who doesn't belong at an elite level it's Rogers. He's dynamite for a minute then shows his complete lack of experience.

Rogers was definitely ranked much higher than he should have been for a while just because he did well against Fedor for a round. Which doesn't look all that impressive in retrospect.

In theory Barnett should beat Rogers and I do favour him to win but he is in a similar position as Fedor was in before the Werdum fight. The last time he beat anyone worthwhile was years ago. So it will be great if it turns out that he is just as good as he was but it won't shock me if it turns out that he isn't.

Really looking forward to the Demolition Man versus Werdum. Overeem looks the part and his last few fights he's looked like the Hulk. I think he's a different fighter than he was when Werdum subbed him and I am hoping for a KO.

He has looked awesome fighting guys who aren't all that good. We should have a much better idea of how good he is after tonight.


Hopefully a lot of questions will be answered by the end of the event.


I am looking forward to K.J. Noons vs. Jorge Masvidal. Should be fun.

[jefferson l.o.b sergeant]

Strikeforce TONIGHT!!!!!

This is what will happen.

Ubereem vs Werdum- Ubereem is the best heavyweight on the planet. Yes, I said it. While Werdum has also improved since their last encounter, Ubereem's evolution has been much greater.

Winner- RD 2 3:05 UBEREEM KO- That K1 level striking will shine through.

Barnett vs Rogers- This is more interesting than people are giving it credit for. Barnett has a much higher pedigree but as any true fan knows, much of that pedigree came with a high dose of juice associated with it. As seen when several of the PRIDE fighters came over, the transition from enhanced to normal can be rough.

Winner- RD 3 1:15 Barnett KO- I think Rogers makes it tough but Barnett's experience shines through.

[Nicholas Taggart]

[jefferson l.o.b sergeant]

<iframe width="640" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.c...ed/sqoe0VTiFLI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Pretty godo wrestling and you can never go wrong invoking the Dusty Rhodes Hard Times promo.

[Noel L]

Very much looking forward to tonight, and to the completion of the tournament, and the Zuffa plans for the winner afterwards, which are hopefully to put them in collision with a big name in the UFC.

[Mike Collins]

Yeah should Overeem win the tournament I think a fight against someone like Cain Velasquez would be pretty exciting.

[Noel L]

Well, that was... weird. For two guys who had the chance to make a claim for best Heavyweight MMA fighter, and even better, put their foot in the doorstep of the UFC, Overeem and Werdum fought a very boring fight. Overeem never fully let go with his GI Joe arms, and Werdum kept playing the praying mantis, begging Overeem to go down with him. I vouch for the effectiveness of BJJ, but sitting down and begging a guy to jump down into your guard must be one of the sorriest sights in MMA nowadays. It always reminds me of the epic beating Sakuraba gave Royler Gracie.

What I DID like very, very, very much is to see Josh Barnett back at it. Great grappling, apt striking. We can all discuss Brett Rogers' being deserving of fighting in this tournament or not, but Rogers is still alive and kicking in there, he's not a breathing punching bag. Barnett executed a beautiful takedown, and did what I always wanted him to do in this tournament, which is use the many, MANY tools catch wrestling gives him and submit his opponent.

As of now, I'm rooting for Barnett. Here's hoping he wins the whole thing and the UFC starts thinking of him again.

[Nicholas Taggart]

Yeah should Overeem win the tournament I think a fight against someone like Cain Velasquez would be pretty exciting.

I think it would be exciting because I think Cain would smash him.

Not a terribly impressive win by Overeem. And I don't think we can place all the blame on Werdum's tactics. Overeem didn't want any part of him on the ground but he didn't look like some awesome destroyer on the feet either. Looked exhausted in the third round and was panting for breath after the fight.

I vouch for the effectiveness of BJJ, but sitting down and begging a guy to jump down into your guard must be one of the sorriest sights in MMA nowadays.

It is a sorry sight. But being on top of a guy then springing up and running to the other side of the cage so they have to stand up isn't all that impressive either.

Edited by Nicholas Taggart, 19 June 2011 - 11:28 AM.

[Mike Collins]

I don't know about that. I don't see anything wrong with Overeem not wanting to grapple with Werdum. He was actually doing very well striking. I think Overeem was pretty obviously worried about getting in close and played it very safe.

Neither of them looked good, but Werdum slowly getting up time after time was kind of pathetic.

As for Brett Rogers, how is he anything but a punching bag? He did nothing last night. Barnett pushed him around, slammed him to the ground then smothered him last night until he tapped. He's fought three top level opponents and been ko'd twice and subbed once. I think Cormier would take him apart as well.