My Take on MMA 6.25.07: UFC’s The Ultimate Finale V Thoughts
Posted by Larry Csonka on 06.25.2007
Diaz won the contract while Penn won the battle of the coaches! I have thoughts on that and the rest of the card in today’s edition on My Take on MMA!
Introduction:
Welcome back to the latest edition of My Take on MMA. As always I am your host Larry Csonka. I apologize for there being no edition for UFC 72, but for once I decided to take the evening off and didn't even order the PPV. I just chilled and spent time with the family. But the break is over and I am back to cover the UFC's The Ultimate Finale V and give my final thoughts on the show as a whole. Sit back and relax as we look back at Saturday's event.
UFC's The Ultimate Finale V Thoughts:
The Fight: LIGHTWEIGHT BOUT - Roger Huerta (19-1-1) vs. Doug Evans (6-0) My Prediction: Huerta, TKO, RD 1 The Result: Roger Huerta via RD 2 (3:30) TKO. Larry's Enjoyment Index: 7.0 Final Thoughts: The first round was a scary one for Huerta. Doug Evans controlled him and looked totally dominant. Not just controlling people, like HE was the superstar and Huerta was there to lose. Huerta looked as if he was not prepared at all for the fight, but he got out of round 1. Round two was a reality check as Huerta came out looking like a completely different fighter. He was aggressive and threw leg kicks and solid combos. He did get taken down, but eventually got on top and landed close to 20 shots to Evans before it was stopped. When asked after the fight if being on SI and all of the attention got to him, he admitted it did. One could also speculate that this fight was too soon after his last, which was a war with Garcia. Maybe he needs to learn that you need some time between fights, because he could have been caught here. I had the right man and decision, just the wrong round.
The Fight: MIDDLEWIEGHT BOUT - Floyd Sword (14-2) vs. Thales Leites (10-1) My Prediction: Leites, Decision The Result: Thales Leites via RD 1 (3:50) Submission Larry's Enjoyment Index: 5.0 Final Thoughts: Our second bout of the night was Sword vs. Leites. Sword was coming off of three wins, and I thought with the momentum and style he would give Leites a little trouble and make it hard on Leites to get the win. Well Thales Leites showed me for doubting his finishing abilities here as he came out, controlled the entire round (3:50) and made Sword tap to an arm triangle. Fight was fine, a little slow feeling but Leites looked great here. He'll need to keep winning to make waves in the stacked middleweight division.
The Fight: LIGHTWEIGHT BOUT - Rob Emerson (8-6) vs. Gray Maynard (3-0) My Prediction: Maynard via Decision The Result: No Contest (Neither Fighter Could Continue) Larry's Enjoyment Index: 3.0 Final Thoughts: This was a dark match for the show, and when I read the results I figured that there would be no way it makes the show. Well I was wrong. First of all I figured Emerson would be up for a fight, enough to make it difficult for Maynard and make it go three rounds. Maynard controlled the entire round, punishing Emerson to a good degree, re-injuring his ribs and easily taking the round. But now we move onto the drama. Round 2 begins, it looked as if Emerson contemplated not coming out for the round, but he did. Maynard got a BIG uppercut, and then got a double leg on Emerson and basically executed a spinebuster. Emerson, he just ate the slam and shoulder to his injured ribs tapped. BUT you see, Maynard hit his head on the way down, ala a DDT, and KO'd himself. While it looked as if Emerson lost clean to a tap, but that would not be the case. The NSAC got involved and after a conversation with Steve Mazzigatti, the match was ruled a no contest since "neither man could continue." The no contest killed my enjoyment of the fight, and in reality was bullshit. Thanks to Michael Huckaby for the history lesson here, but the fact is that even though Maynard got KO'd by himself, he should have won the fight. As I said, Michael enlightened some of us to some history, that being the following: Matt Hughes slammed Carlos Newton to win the welterweight title but he only slammed him because he passed out and fell down, winning in the process. There is precedent for this to go to Maynard. And there you have it, you're smarter than you were a minute ago. I agree with that assessment. Maynard slammed, Emerson tapped, ref saw it and that is that. It's not an MMA show without SOME controversy.
The Fight: LIGHTWEIGHT BOUT - Brandon Melendez (11-5) vs. Joe Lauzon (13-3) My Prediction: Lauzon, RD 1 Submission The Result: Joe Lauzon via RD 2 (2:09) Submission Larry's Enjoyment Index: 7.0 Final Thoughts: First of all, a little rant. Brandon Melendez failed to make weight for this match. He was on a show where he was fighting at 155. He was going to be on a show where he would be fighting at 155. How in the hell do you FAIL to make weight for this fight? The answer is that he is one of those guys that cuts way to much weight. He should be fighting at 170 probably, but wants to be a BIG 155 to he cuts a ton of weight. He's a pussy. He got owned in this first round as Joe Lauzon put on a submissions clinic. He was smooth as silk and looked to be on a completely different level than Fatty Melendez. The 2nd round started the same way, Lauzon got the tight triangle and that was all for fatty Magee. Joe Lauzon has a big time future I feel on skill alone, and I look forward to more of his fights.
I had the right man and decision, just the wrong round.
The Fight: TUF V LIGHTWEIGHT FINALS: Manny Gamburyan (5-2) vs. Nate Diaz (5-2) My Prediction: Gamburyan, Decision The Result: The Ultimate Fighter V Champion Nate Diaz via RD 2 (0:20) Tap Out Larry's Enjoyment Index: 6.0 Final Thoughts: I would say disappointment was my final thought here. I picked Gamburyan to win because his style has worked very well thus far. Good submission work, semi-lay and pray, but a powerful little bastard that I thought had what it took to win. Diaz to his credit did good work in round 1 and survived, which I mean as praise. Gamburyan looked awesome and dominant, and I figured I would be dead on with this fight. But luck was not with either of us as very early into round 2 he shot on Diaz and separated his shoulder and had to tap. He had controlled the fight thus far and on a freak accident last the bout. That had to be very disappointing to him. Diaz was respectful to him in the post match interview, but then bitched about UFC and the NSAC not allowing his brother to corner him or even be in the building. Crazy Diaz boys rock. Diaz wins the 5th Ultimate Fighter, but now will have to prove himself against the rest of the pack. I hope Manny gets a rematch against him, because I think he would have defeated him. The injury cost me totally on my prediction. Manny was doing great until then, and **IF** he wasn't injured, I think my prediction would have come true.
The Fight: LIGHTWEIGHT BOUT - Andy Wang (8-6) vs. Cole Miller (11-2) My Prediction: Miller, RD 2 TKO The Result: Cole Miller via RD 1 (1:10) TKO Larry's Enjoyment Index: 6.0 Final Thoughts: There was nothing much to the fight. Miller was out to prove himself and Andy Wang looked totally out classed. He ate a high kick and roughly 15 unanswered shots and the bout was stopped, and rightfully so. He whined after the bout, either because he is useless or was still knocked silly. Miller looked good, and the quick KO pretty much ensures him another Fight Night bout soon, and if he does well there, a PPV bout in the future. I had the right guy, right decision, just the wrong round.
The Fight:COACHES BATTLE - LIGHTWEIGHT BOUT - Jens Pulver (21-7-1) vs. B.J. Penn (11-4-1) My Prediction: Penn, TKO, RD 2 The Result: BJ Penn via RD 2 (3:12) Submission Larry's Enjoyment Index: 8.0 Final Thoughts: Now while the Ultimate Fighter V Champion being crowned was important, this season was also designed to hype the big rematch of Pulver and Penn. Penn was out to not only redeem himself from the previous loss, but to get the cardio monkey off of his back. Something that has haunted him for a while, and been a cause of most of his losses. The first round was tremendous as Penn went for takedown and subs, but Pulver was great in defense. Both were there to win and worked as such. Ina close round, I had Penn winning it due to more top control. Round 2 came and Penn easily took him down, and kept looking for a dominant position. He eventually went ground and pound and looked to finish Pulver, but instead took the back again and choked him out. BJ looked great, in great shape and dominant. He got the monkey off his back and also avenged the loss. In the end I had the right guy, right round and close on the decision. Damn you Penn for transitioning for a submission! After the fight both men said the animosity was gone. Pulver announced he would drop to 145 (WEC) and alluded to Penn going back to 170, which I feel is a mistake. Anyway a damn fine fight and good way to close the season.
The Overall: Best Fight: COACHES BATTLE - LIGHTWEIGHT BOUT - Jens Pulver (21-7-1) vs. B.J. Penn (11-4-1): 8.0 Worst Fight: LIGHTWEIGHT BOUT - Rob Emerson (8-6) vs. Gray Maynard (3-0) 3.0 Show Score: 7.0 Final Thoughts: This was a fine show. Nothing horribly bad, as the "bad" enjoyment indexes were due to odd finished to fights and such. Everyone worked hard, we got our new TUF Champion in a name we already knew and saw BJ Penn come from the ashes to possibly resurrect a career which many thought better things were in store for. The season also gave us Manny Gamburyan, who when he recovers could be a force at 155 as well a Lauzon, whose submission skills are insane and will be another force in the division. A big thumbs up for season V as a whole, and solid thumbs up for the finale as well. My only complaint is that I felt as if it drug at times, being 3-hours and all.
Thanks for joining me, and I'll be back for UFC 73!
