UFC 94

[Disgruntled70sHab]

I know there's a few who really don't have the time of day for this, but I watched my first complete UFC night last night at La Cage Aux Sports here in Quebec City. I couldn't believe the mood of the place. It actually sounded like I was ring-side.

The first two peliminary fights were split-decisions and not very entertaining. However, there was a young kid in the third fight who looks like he's got a long career ahead of him. His name is Jon (bones) Jones and he's the real deal. I counted at least five superb takedowns in the 3-round fight. At one point I thought he might have gotten some coaching from Randy Couture. Jones won a unanimous decision and he'll be around for a long time.

The semi-final two undefeated Brazilian heavyweights, Lyoto (The Dragon) Machida and Thiago Silva squared off. I saw some pre-fight stuff on Silva and he was a bit of a showboat, so when he was knocked out cold I thought he had it coming. Machida seemed better prepared for this one even though Silva was the early aggressor. However, I think this might have taught Silva a lesson. It might have been a good thing that he lost the way he did. I'd like to see him use this defeat as a springboard to move forward. Next time don't be so into yourself rather than the fight. I think he'll be back stronger and better if only for that.

The main event was BJ Penn challenging Georges St Pierre for the Welterweight championship. As I was saying, the mood of the place was electric and St Pierre is just that "Saint Pierre." I can't believe how much this guy is idolized. He's young, strong and charasmatic, and he happens to be Canada's 2008 Male Athlete of the year (a Sportsnet poll).

Penn, the current Lightweight UFC Champion, was challenging for the Welterweight belt as well and had been trash talking weeks before the match. It did him absolutely no good whatsoever. St. Pierre put on a clinic and totally dominated the fight. So much so, that Penn failed to come out for the 5th round. He was totally out-matched and the fight should have been stopped at sometime during the 4th. St Pierre was gracious though. He might have an ego but you'd never know it. The guy is a class act all the way. As he said, he doesn't do trash talk ... does his talking in the octagon.

Kind of glad I experienced that though. The mood really helped build the event and as I was saying before, the place was electric. It was like being ringside. Chapeau a Georges!!

Cheers.

[jkr]

I'm not a boxing fam but I will watch it once in a while for short periods but UFC - I just don't get the appeal. Two guys beating the crap out of each other - it looks like something that would happen in a back alley.

[Roggy]

I'm starting to get into it, I find most of the fights infinitely more exciting than boxing. I'm not at a point where I know who all the fighters are and what the backstories amongst them all are, but I still find the actual product entertaining.

One thing that I find really distracting is all of the advertising and product-whoring that goes on with the fighters and their entourages, but that's where the revenue comes from these days. I only pray the NHL steers clear of the on-sweater ads, as players could quickly start looking like UFC fighters coming out to the octagon.

[Disgruntled70sHab]

GSP is deified here in Quebec. You should have heard the place last night.

I never really had any time for it in the past; only watched it here and there, but didn't wait up for it or anything. However, it's winning me over, more so if I can get into a pub like I did last night.

I also watched a pre-fight special earlier in the week. As a kid, St Pierre was constantly picked on by larger kids. His dad got him into martial arts and the rest is history.

One more thing about last night. I noticed a huge difference in the two fighters. Physically you can tell St Pierre is specimen. Penn doesn't look like much, but he's deceptively quick and a brutal finisher. However, the difference I noticed was in what motivated them. Penn wanted the welterweight belt, while St Pierre wanted to beat the man and his name. The belt, he explained earlier, was simply nice to have.

Can't remember the number-1 contender to the welterweight title was, but he stepped into the ring last night and accepted a championship fight against St Pierre ... and he really didn't look all that comfortable about it either.

Cheers.

[Polarice]

Feb 1, 2009 19:57:06 GMT -5 Roggy said:

I'm starting to get into it, I find most of the fights infinitely more exciting than boxing. I'm not at a point where I know who all the fighters are and what the backstories amongst them all are, but I still find the actual product entertaining.

One thing that I find really distracting is all of the advertising and product-whoring that goes on with the fighters and their entourages, but that's where the revenue comes from these days. I only pray the NHL steers clear of the on-sweater ads, as players could quickly start looking like UFC fighters coming out to the octagon.

I find to really appreciate MMA, you have to be involved in Martial Arts. Just to understand what these guys go through, the training alone is probably the hardest thing you can do.

I was watching a sports show the other day and these boxing guys are all worried that MMA will take over and kill boxing, well i thing its already happening. Even Oscar is starting to promote MMA fighters.

As far as all the sponsors, that's were the bulk of the fighters money comes from. The prize money is so small right now, that in order to make a living they have to whore themselves out. Someday that will change.

[Deleted]

I don't understand the appeal of it, either. I watched it for the first time a couple of years back at a friend's place. Everyone was going nuts about it; I just sat there awkwardly trying to find out what's so great about it.

Then again, I'm not really a fan of boxing, either.

[Disgruntled70sHab]

Feb 2, 2009 8:09:11 GMT -5 Polarice said:

Feb 1, 2009 19:57:06 GMT -5 Roggy said:

I'm starting to get into it, I find most of the fights infinitely more exciting than boxing. I'm not at a point where I know who all the fighters are and what the backstories amongst them all are, but I still find the actual product entertaining.

One thing that I find really distracting is all of the advertising and product-whoring that goes on with the fighters and their entourages, but that's where the revenue comes from these days. I only pray the NHL steers clear of the on-sweater ads, as players could quickly start looking like UFC fighters coming out to the octagon.

I find to really appreciate MMA, you have to be involved in Martial Arts. Just to understand what these guys go through, the training alone is probably the hardest thing you can do.

I was watching a sports show the other day and these boxing guys are all worried that MMA will take over and kill boxing, well i thing its already happening. Even Oscar is starting to promote MMA fighters.

As far as all the sponsors, that's were the bulk of the fighters money comes from. The prize money is so small right now, that in order to make a living they have to whore themselves out. Someday that will change.

St Pierre made $400,000 plus bonuses for the fight.

IMO, pro boxing killed itself. They can`t blame MMA for that.

Cheers.

[habernac]

GSP is loved just as much here in the west, Dis. Great, great fight. Executed his game plan to perfection.

[Disgruntled70sHab]

Feb 2, 2009 15:16:25 GMT -5 habernac said:

GSP is loved just as much here in the west, Dis. Great, great fight. Executed his game plan to perfection.

Well, it's drawing me in, Habernac. I'm becoming a fan a little bit more each time I see it, but it really does depend on who is fighting. There were three pretty good fights on that card, but the first two weren't too entertaining. Maybe they were just evenly-matched fighters, I really don't know.

As far as UFC 94 is concerned, BJ Penn has lodged a protest on the fight. He says the ring doctor smeared vasaline on St Pierre's back when he massaged him between rounds. However, it was later determined that this wouldn't have had an impact on the outcome of the fight.

One other comment I remember now. One of the announcers Saturday night said that St Pierre is one of the few fighters he knows of that improves on something every night out. He looks better and better in every fight.

Absolutely tremendous following.

Cheers.

[habernac]

he's a real student of the game. He was training with the Canadian Olympic wrestling team just to get better. He's only lost twice and in both rematches he absolutely obliterated his opponent.

Even in the US, they love him as he's so humble. The one time he trash talked he actually apologized after the fight telling Matt Hughes he was only trying to hype the fight. He's just so darned likeable.

I've been watching UFC for years, it's just so much more entertaining than boxing. I like the different styles the fighters employ. And the athleticism is unreal. My wife is a fan also, she's got her brown belt in karate/kick boxing and has done some grappling training as well.

[Habs_fan_in_LA]

Feb 2, 2009 10:21:10 GMT -5 Disgruntled70sHab said:

Feb 2, 2009 8:09:11 GMT -5 Polarice said:

I find to really appreciate MMA, you have to be involved in Martial Arts. Just to understand what these guys go through, the training alone is probably the hardest thing you can do.

I was watching a sports show the other day and these boxing guys are all worried that MMA will take over and kill boxing, well i thing its already happening. Even Oscar is starting to promote MMA fighters.

As far as all the sponsors, that's were the bulk of the fighters money comes from. The prize money is so small right now, that in order to make a living they have to whore themselves out. Someday that will change.

St Pierre made $400,000 plus bonuses for the fight.

IMO, pro boxing killed itself. They can`t blame MMA for that.

Cheers.

Is he a better skater than GLR?
He certainly is healthier.

[habernac]

LOL! Born and raised on the south shore, I'd bet he can skate just fine.

[Disgruntled70sHab]

This greasing of St Pierre's back thing isn't going away. There's an image of his trainer applying the vaseline to his head between rounds. However the same photo shows the trainer actually applying it to his shoulders as well.



There's also quite the discussion blog on it as well. If Penn's camp gets a rematch I'm hoping to see it. I think Penn is a great fighter but I really hate his trash talk. He's better than that.

Cheers.