UFC 168 is in the books, and the last card of the year did not disappoint. Your pal Kevin J took home a brace of cash both at the poker table and on the fights that night, and while the night’s ending couldn’t be called a good one, there was no topping the main card in terms of emotional impact.
Seeing Barnett go down to an explosive young Browne, Miller pull out a fantastic armbar from the bottom, and Rousey put Tate firmly in her place had me riding an emotional high. The whole room was buzzing for the main event. Everyone laid down their cards, they all wanted to know what would happen next. Less than 10 minutes later, everyone just wanted to know what happened. The brutal replay showed us. A reminder of just how violent our sport is, and just how hard these athletes hit each other.
It was painful to see something like that happen to a great champion like Silva, all the more so because it is such a poor way for a champion to go out. I have always been an advocate of great athletes retiring when their time has come, and Silva’s time to retire may have been after his first loss to Weidman.
Of course, I may have to eat those words in a few months’ time. Silva is still one of the most skilled and athletic fighters around today, and he is still young enough to make a comeback, if he wants to.
But enough about Silva, now is the era of Weidman! Just as we, the fans were cheated out of a seeing how the rest of the rematch would go, Weidman was cheated out of a “clear win” in the minds of many fans. Just as there were those who dismissed Weidman’s first win due to Silva’s “clowning,” there are many who dismiss this victory as the result of a “freak accident,” which it was and it wasn’t. While we see thousands of kicks checked without injury, what we saw happen to Silva is the exact intent of a leg check. Silva kicked hard, Weidman checked hard, and the smallest part of Silva’s shin broke against the largest part of Weidman’s. The fact that people are dismissing this win as “lucky” shows, once again, the bias against good defensive technique, which is the bedrock of martial arts. No one calls it a freak accident when a right hook breaks a jaw. They call it a damn good punch. This was a damn good leg check.
So now, with Silva momentarily behind him, Weidman is free to stack title defenses until people give him his due credit. I’m looking forward to it.
Another fighter I’m looking forward to seeing more of is Travis Browne, who has most definitely arrived. While we were all kind of hoping it, no one actually thought that Browne would pull out a win over the Warmaster, and certainly not in such dominant fashion. That knee on the way in put Barnett’s lights out, and Barnett has been fighting so long that his spinal cord took over and wrapped up Browne, both knees sagging to the mat. Those elbows finished the job, and are the new answer to a takedown against the cage. Browne is a big, athletic heavyweight, and can do things that other heavyweights can’t. Somewhat new to the fight game, Browne has looked better and better in each fight. I’m a little scared of the power this guy has in him once he reaches his full potential.
As for Warmaster, I’m in favor of a lifetime ban for guys with Bernett’s history of chronic steroid use, so seeing him put out was was a pleasant surprise. Seeing him in compression shorts, however, was downright jarring. Boxer-style fight shorts should be mandated for all fighters above middleweight.
Also on the main card were Dustin Poirier’s thrashing of Diego Brandao, who was apparently too injured to make weight but not too injured to fight, and Jim Miller’s armbar victory over Fabrício Camões, showcasing great offense from a defensive posture, and really driving home the fluidity and technical complexity of our sport.
And finally, we come to the much-hyped rematch between Rowdy Ronda Rousey and Meisha “Cupcake” Tate. Guess who won? Hint: it wasn’t the fighter named “Cupcake.”
Rousey totally dominated Meisha in this fight. Rather than let her emotions distract her, Ronda seemed sharpened by her anger, and Meisha just couldn’t handle her intensity. There were some good exchanges on the feet, but Ronda picked her shots, struck well, and did the majority of the damage. Judo throw after judo throw tossed Meisha around like a rag-doll, until the Olympian finally wrestled an armbar out of Tate, forcing the tap in the first half of the third round.
Rousey had a lot more than pride and her title belt riding on this match. Meisha was gaining on her in popularity, and Dana seemed about ready to change horses mid-stream. With this win, Rousey’s future at the UFC looks a lot brighter.
Rousey also had no reason to shake Tate’s hand after all the disrespect that Tate has sent her way. Now Rousey, like Weidman, can move on from this, and define herself by her title defenses.
Rousey’s next fight will be against fellow Olympic medalist Sarah McMann, who has the pure strength and wrestling skills to challenge Rousey on the ground. Then, we assume, Cat Zingano. Both are great challengers who promise awesome fights, but I have a feeling that we’ll continue to wait for someone who can beat Rousey for some time.
I anticipate at least a few more title defenses for both Rousey and Weidman. They are part a new crop of greats, including the likes of Jose Aldo and Johny Hendricks, who are replacing outgoing legends like Silva and GSP. Great champions all, we’re in for an action-packed 2014!
Keep those hands up and protect yourself at all times, this has been the Rabbit Punch!
