Excellent point about Shogun/Machida 2, I felt terrible for poor Mauricio after their first fight, and the second fight healed all the pains.
In my 16 years of sherdoggin' (and this is only my second account, not too shabby) the aftermath of the first fight was probably the only time that so many on the forum were united in a wave of "that's not right".
I've always said that Machida could have won a looooooooooot of fans had he acted differently during the time period during the 2 bouts...
Even the most die-hard Shogun nuthuggers would have cut him some slack is instead of going "
eeeeh, well Joe, the 3 judges said that I win fight, so I win fight, I want to thank my trainers, great victory", he would have given Rua some props and guaranteed an immediate rematch, since it was going to happen anyway.
Well, what's done is done, and Lyoto refusing to admit that the decision was surprising was part of the fuel in favor of Rua for the rematch.
That post-fight interview was magical, from "never lost a round" to knocked the fuck out, and Mauricio being so happy... the crowd was insane, really wish I was there for that one. (not complaining, I've been to a bunch of UFC events live, but that one was extra special to me)
Imagine if during Jones vs Gus 2, if instead of uberJJ toying with Alex and finishing him while spilling roids all over the stage, imagine is Gus had just walked through him in the first round and KO'd him with punches, seems unbelievable? (fuck I was looking for a recent example, JJ/Gus 2 was already 3 years ago??
)
Shocked no one has said Bisping - Rockhold 2 yet. I remember a lot of people being real happy on the boards after that.
EDIT My mistake — someone did bury a Bisping - Rockhold reference in their multiparagraph musings. But technically since they didn't specify which one...
Indeed, but it was more of a "happy that Luke lost" than "happy that Bisping won", and for it to be a real feelgood fight, both criteria need to be there IMHO
Lots of old timers didn't really like Bisping for a bunch of reasons; was a dickhead on TUF (both as a contestant & a coach), Matt Hamill decision, talked too much shit against Hendo so H-bomb was 100% deserved, spitting on Jorge Riviera's corner, etc etc...
The undying love for Bisping is quite a recent phenomenon caused by that crazy fight against Anderson, followed by that insane KO against Luke to grad the belt, followed by "avenging" his old loss to Hendo (who himself was become waaaaay less popular than he was during their first fight, so lots of newer fans were happy about that one), and then putting his MW belt on the line trying to take on the other UFC GOAT, Georges St-Pierre.
He lost, but had he won, damn that would have been a GOATist row... Anderson, champion Luke Rockhold, Hendo, GSP?
Sure, AS, Hendo & GSP were all washed up (and Luke probably wins 9 fights out of 10) but on paper it would have been one of the greatest 4 fights streak in MMA history.
