411 MMA Fact or Fiction 02.08.08: UFC 81 Review

Posted by Michael Huckaby on 02.08.2008

Would Minotauro Nogueira defeat Randy Couture if he were to return? Will Brock Lesnar's next opponent be a cakewalk? Will that win reinvigorate the career of Frank Mir? Was Tim Sylvia's ground defense mindblowingly bad? All of this and more in the latest installment of 411 MMA Fact or Fiction!

Welcome back to 411 MMA Fact or Fiction. This week we'll review the solid card that was UFC 81, from the heavyweight title to Brock Lesnar to other notes. Joining me this week is our 411 MMA Rankings guru, Mr. Dustin James. On the other side is 411 mainstay and sometimes event review man, Mr. Larry Csonka.

And off we go:

1. Tim Sylvia offering so little resistance to Nogueira on the ground was befuddling.

Csonka: FACT. Yeah. I knew if Nogueira got him on the ground that he would be able to win the fight, but the fact that Big Tim basically did nothing when they got there was as the statement says, befuddling. I really expected more of a fight once it got there, but either Nogueira is just that damn good, or Big Tim just knew he was screwed. Regardless of what the case was, Nogueira took him down and won the Interim title.

James: FACT. I was expecting a little more out of Tim Sylvia when the fight hit the ground, but I guess I was wrong. Big Nog just took it to The Plaine-AC and made EVERYBODY happy. It's now pretty clear that Tim Sylvia's kryptonite is his ground game. I think right now if the UFC wanted to book Brock vs. Sylvia, Brock would win. Brock is big enough to take down Sylvia without much problem, and from then on it's ground and pound time. Just imagine if Brock had the slightest bit of submission skills. Tim Sylvia could be in trouble when it comes to the UFC Heavyweight division.

Score: 1 for 1.

2. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira would defeat Randy Couture if he returned to the UFC.

Csonka: FACT. Anyone that has read me here in the last year knows that since the announcement of Couture coming out of retirement, I have been on the "Captain America Bandwagon." I thought it would be good for him, good for the sport and his win over Sylvia was an amazing moment in sports. He came back, shocked the world, and was a warrior. When Nogueira came to UFC I knew his reputation, but he had trouble with Herring and I was wondering if he would have the same level of success in UFC. Going into the fight I thought that Sylvia would be able to do his normal deal and slowly slug his way to a 5-round decision. It isn't that I wanted him to win, I just feared for the worst. Nogueira went in there, and did what a lot of people say he does best. He absorbs the punishment, and just waits. In an odd way like Ali and the rope a dope, waiting for a weakness or for the other man to tire out. Nogueira took the punishment and finally decided he had enough and Sylvia was finished. Before this PPV I felt that Couture was on a great run, and that he could defeat Nogueira if they faced. But after watching this fight, I am now convinced that Nogueira could defeat Couture. And if we do get to see it, I think that it would be a hell of a fight. Unfortunately I doubt we'll get it.

James: FICTION. I have to say fiction just because it's RANDY COUTURE! Plus, for some reason I like the way that Couture handles BJJ guys. I feel that Couture would want to get all the sour taste of the last few months out of everybody's mouth and leave us breathless again. I can't really explain it, but match-up wise...I like Couture over Big Nog. I don't like Couture over Fedor though, but that's a different question for a different day.

Score: 1 for 2. I brought this up earlier but I feel for Nogueira. He has over 30 pro fights, he stopped a guy Couture didn't stop, and now he can't hold the full title because a guy with 2 heavyweight fights in 5 years won't fight him. Whether you blame Couture or the UFC for the interim situation it's simply not fair to Nog that he can't hold the full belt.

3. Giving Chris Lytle KO of the night over Tim Boetsch was a crime.

Csonka: FICTION. Was it an unspectacular KO? Sure. But a crime? Not really, I mean, I think that we have all seen worse things in the world of MMA. Personally I would say that the action stoppage in the Lesnar/Mir fight was more of a crime than this. Besides, to me the KO/SUB/FIGHT of the Night stuff are just vanity awards and some extra money for some underpaid guys. I really don't care about it to be honest with you.

James: FACT. Tim Boetsch's finish of David Heath had me running online looking for a video of it! Lytle's was good and short, but I always love a good KO in the middle of a beat down like Heath was getting. Just the vision of Tim Boetsch throwing Heath to the ground like he was a child was awesome. Give the guy some extra money, he needs it.

Score: 1 for 3. He threw him on his head!

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4. Frank Mir's win over Brock Lesnar will reinvigorate his career.

James: FICTION. Sorry Frank, but I have to go fiction. Why? The Brock win doesn't impress me. Ok, I said it! I believe that Brock's loss was more a collection of other things, then it was Frank's skills. Brock looked like his whole game plan was to just take down Mir and then pound the shit out of him, and while it was working at first, once the ref stood them back up for a bullshit call....it was on. Brock took him down again, and was standing up looking for an opening and just let Mir take the leg. It was just inexperience on Brock's side. It's something that he will work on and hopefully get better at in the future. But in my eyes, people will look at this fight and completely look over Frank Mir. Since the UFC's Heavyweight division is rather weak right now, Mir may get a title shot later this year.....but we shall see.

Csonka: FACT. Brock looked awesome for 90-seconds and made a hell of am impression. I feel that he has a very bright future as soon as he learns submission defense. And I have to give a ton of credit to Mir, who is showing that he shouldn't be written off as of yet. He also took a ton of punishment, and a lesser man would have been finished with the amount of punishment Brock dealt out. Don't get me wrong, I am not all "MIR IS BACK" and such, but he did survive the punishment and got a big win. If I am Frank Mir, I am feeling pretty damn good coming off of two first round submission victories. So while I don't exactly think he is back, I think that he could be and I wouldn't be surprised to see Mir considered a credible challenger for the UFC HW Title sooner than later.

Score: 1 for 4.

5. Due to smart matchmaking, Brock Lesnar's next UFC opponent won't be much of a threat to him.

James: FACT. At least, let's hope so. We know that Brock is probably going to fight again in June. That's too soon for me. I saw Brock and what I saw, I liked. BUT, he still has work to do. I say you give the guy to Randy Couture for 9 months, and then book him. However, that's not going to happen as the UFC wants to capitalize on Brock's popularity so they are throwing him on the June card. Let's hope that if they decide to book Brock on the June card, they book him on the same card as Shogun/Liddell, therefore Brock could pull in a semi-weak opponent and look good.

Csonka: FACT. I think they have to do it. They were playing poker with the first fight and almost pulled an ace on the river, instead they got a deuce and lost the hand. They need to back off a bit, I don't want to see a tomato can in there, but they need to scale back on the quality of his next opponent. Brock had a very bright future, especially if he can learn some submission defense. He just better be careful if they pick Brad Imes. GOGOPLATA~!

Score: 2 for 5.

6. Nate Marquardt will one day earn another UFC Middleweight Title shot.

James: FACT. I can see it happening. Why? Because the UFC's Middleweight division is eeeck. Let's see, you have Anderson Silva (dominant), Dan Henderson (let's see what happens), Rich Franklin (already lost twice to Silva), Yushin Okami (has beaten Silva by DQ, but has lost to Franklin), and then you have.........? See, get my point? If Silva can somehow dominate Henderson, and Okami loses to Evan Tanner. It's very likely that Marquardt would be next in line for a rematch against Anderson Silva.

Csonka: FACT. I agree with Dustin here, Silva is the top, Henderson may be a major player as I think he has the best chance of beating Silva. But seriously, after that there isn't shit. Franklin has been HUMBLED two times. Not fought hard and lost a decision, fought hard and got caught, HUMBLED! Okami is a long shot, but Franklin beat him and I have never personally been super impressed with him. If Henderson wins I see a rematch with Silva, but if Silva wins I see Marquardt coming right back into the picture. The title is Silva's until he dies or someone (maybe HENDO) steps up and actually takes it too him.

Score: 3 for 6.

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Join us next week for a grudge match as 411 MMA editor Caleb Newby faces his sworn enemy, news report writer and 5oz of Pain contributor Adam Morgan.