Well this was not a great card and I feel sorry for anyone who paid $70 or whatever it was to PPV it. But there are several points raised by it:
(1) WMMA is dogsh*t.
(2) 8/11 decisions, including the whole main card. The way MMA and the UFC are evolving we are seeing more and more point fighting.
(3) 0/11 subs. See (2), the way the sport is evolving, gloves, rounds, decisions, stand ups, break ups, improvements in technique, sub grappling is becoming less and less important in MMA.
(4) The Felder and Jordan fights were cool though. I don't think a lot of people saw that coming from Felder, he looked great. Jordan I knew exactly what was going to happen. Explosive, athletic guys just can't really hang at HW I don't think they have the bulk or strength. Cormier being the important exception which we will come onto.
(5) As an exception to (3) I did enjoy Cowboy's omoplata attempt although he was only doing that because of how safe and in control he felt.
(6) Horiguchi and Cerrone obviously had their opponents nixcely picked for them to boost up their profile and 'move the needle'.
(7) The main event was confusing:
* Was never expecting to see Cormier outwrestled.
* Was never expecting Jones to rein in the eye pokes but he has obviously been told to reduce them for real by his employers.
* Of course when things started getting sticky he busted them out again though. When you push the needle the rules bend for you too.
* It is confusing that DC beat all those HWs but then loses at LHW. It seems counter-intuitive but I think the reason is he is not at his best at LHW. Look at his big chunky frame and body fat. When someone is able to tie him up and counter wrestle and scrap he will never be able to keep up for five rounds with a skinny fighter like Jones.
" Before I rewatch seems like DC won 2 out of the first 3 rounds but his cardio started to fade late in round 3. He was getting through with that uppercut a lot, I saw Glover hit Jones with that too. He was getting outstruck but clearly landing the harder shots, straight rights and hooks to the head, he was doing damage early on.
* Jones was basically just point fighting, he never really looked like he was trying to finish DC or did much damage.
* The most damage he did was with those body kick and hooks to the body though, which must have played into his plan to tire DC out.
* It was impressive how easily DC was able to close the distance and hit Jones. But he doesn't have his HW power at LHW.
* It was weird to see a taller, skinnier, rangier fighter prioritising hitting the body of a shorter, pudgier one. But obviously it worked and Jones doesn't have super KO power so it makes sense. I was impressed by how well Jones was able to implement his plan B, seeing that he couldn't keep DC outside. He is a very good MMA wrestler.
* I still want to see DC vs Cain and I would rather he stay at HW
* Now people will say Jones would slay at HW but he wouldn't, he would get bulldozed by the big grapplers, he would probably get taken down by DC at HW too
* I think Gustaffson is the one to beat JBJ. That's the way MMA's headed, more and more standing and striking and point fighting, cardio, movement, defensive wrestling
(1) WMMA is dogsh*t.
(2) 8/11 decisions, including the whole main card. The way MMA and the UFC are evolving we are seeing more and more point fighting.
(3) 0/11 subs. See (2), the way the sport is evolving, gloves, rounds, decisions, stand ups, break ups, improvements in technique, sub grappling is becoming less and less important in MMA.
(4) The Felder and Jordan fights were cool though. I don't think a lot of people saw that coming from Felder, he looked great. Jordan I knew exactly what was going to happen. Explosive, athletic guys just can't really hang at HW I don't think they have the bulk or strength. Cormier being the important exception which we will come onto.
(5) As an exception to (3) I did enjoy Cowboy's omoplata attempt although he was only doing that because of how safe and in control he felt.
(6) Horiguchi and Cerrone obviously had their opponents nixcely picked for them to boost up their profile and 'move the needle'.
(7) The main event was confusing:
* Was never expecting to see Cormier outwrestled.
* Was never expecting Jones to rein in the eye pokes but he has obviously been told to reduce them for real by his employers.
* Of course when things started getting sticky he busted them out again though. When you push the needle the rules bend for you too.
* It is confusing that DC beat all those HWs but then loses at LHW. It seems counter-intuitive but I think the reason is he is not at his best at LHW. Look at his big chunky frame and body fat. When someone is able to tie him up and counter wrestle and scrap he will never be able to keep up for five rounds with a skinny fighter like Jones.
" Before I rewatch seems like DC won 2 out of the first 3 rounds but his cardio started to fade late in round 3. He was getting through with that uppercut a lot, I saw Glover hit Jones with that too. He was getting outstruck but clearly landing the harder shots, straight rights and hooks to the head, he was doing damage early on.
* Jones was basically just point fighting, he never really looked like he was trying to finish DC or did much damage.
* The most damage he did was with those body kick and hooks to the body though, which must have played into his plan to tire DC out.
* It was impressive how easily DC was able to close the distance and hit Jones. But he doesn't have his HW power at LHW.
* It was weird to see a taller, skinnier, rangier fighter prioritising hitting the body of a shorter, pudgier one. But obviously it worked and Jones doesn't have super KO power so it makes sense. I was impressed by how well Jones was able to implement his plan B, seeing that he couldn't keep DC outside. He is a very good MMA wrestler.
* I still want to see DC vs Cain and I would rather he stay at HW
* Now people will say Jones would slay at HW but he wouldn't, he would get bulldozed by the big grapplers, he would probably get taken down by DC at HW too
* I think Gustaffson is the one to beat JBJ. That's the way MMA's headed, more and more standing and striking and point fighting, cardio, movement, defensive wrestling