When you work the graveyard shift on weekends like I do, you don’t generally get to watch any live fights. However, you do get a unique perspective when you watch them later after absorbing everybody’s critiques and comments. You watch for little things that others have mentioned, and go in aware of any controversies which may have arisen. So without further ado, here’s my look at this weekend’s festivities:
Urijah Faber d. Scott Jorgenson (R4, Submission due to Rear Naked Choke)
If anybody ever tells me again that two friends shouldn’t compete against one another in the cage, I will direct them to this fight. Why? It was a war! It was two of the best bantamweights in the world putting up a great effort in a high-profile main event. Both men were all smiles after getting their instructions from Steve Mazzagatti, and then proceeded to put on four rounds of exciting grappling exchanges interspersed with showcases of Faber’s “Bang”Duane Ludwig enhanced striking. I really have to commend “Young Guns” on his grappling in this one, taking it to “The California Kid” early with powerful takedowns, and showcasing great submission defense in evading Faber’s much-vaunted guillotine chokes. Faber was still able to take home the victory in a decisive fashion though, scoring his eighth career win by rear naked choke. Where the Team Alpha Male patriarch will go from here is still to be seen, but for now, he deserves a chance to bask in the glory.
Kelvin Gastelum d. Uriah Hall (Split Decision)
This fight was definitely one of the big draws for this card. Case in point: My wife watched this during its initial airing on Sportsnet instead of waiting to watch it with me later. Having watched it a couple of times now, I must say it did not disappoint. Kelvin Gastelum did not fall prey to Hall’s “battle aura” the way that Bubba McDaniels and Dylan Andrews did on the show. Both Hall and Gastelum showed improved skills, with Hall’s grappling coming to the forefront while attempting to counter Gastelum’s wrestling. It was Gastelum’s forward momentum that would carry the day, as he backed up Hall on multiple occasions and was able to use his striking to set up the takedowns he would need in order to get the split decision victory. I would have to say this was the best TUF finals match since Bonnar Vs. Griffin 1, and with his recent announcement of dropping down to welterweight, I look forward to seeing what Kelvin Gastelum can do in the UFC’s deepest shark tank.
Cat Zingano d. Meisha Tate (R3, TKO due to knees)
After this fight happened, I saw my twitter feed blow up with controversy. Early stoppage, knee to Tate while she was on the ground, blah blah blah. You saw it too, and heard Meisha complain about it at the post-fight presser. Having seen the finishing flurry now, “Cupcake” can talk about how she was shooting for a takedown all she wants, but it was one of those instinctual, last-ditch, still-gonna-get-finished shots, not a serious takedown threat. And the “illegal knee?” Being bent over with three fingers on the ground should never, ever be considered being a “grounded opponent,” so let’s just let that one die a quiet death right now. Overall, this was another great women’s fight, with both Tate and Zingano going hard. Tate got the better part of the opening moments before Zingano was able to shake off the jitters and implement her aggression. I will not hide my happiness that “Alpha” Cat got the win here, especially the way she did it. While she’s talented, I just plain don’t like Meisha Tate, so I was quite pleased with the blunt force facial surgery that Zingano used to end the bout. I’m sure all the TUF 18 contestants trying out today were quite happy with that too. Could you imagine trying to win this season being coached by someone who’s given quite possibly the worst corner advice ever in: “Just coast”. Thankfully, that can just stay in the imagination now, as Cat moves on to coach the next season opposite Ronda Rousey.
Travis Browne d. Gabriel Gonzaga (R1, TKO due to elbows)
The other controversial finish of the evening was Travis Browne’s defeat of Gabrial Gonzaga. Gonzaga had Browne pinned up against the cage, attempting a double-leg, and ate a series of back elbow strikes to the head. As “Napao” went down, his body turned and a couple of “Hapa’s” elbows caught him in the back of the head. While it wasn’t an illegal strike that ended the fight, it was still illegal strikes. In circumstances like this, where the illegal strikes occur during the tail end of a finishing flurry, I don’t feel a disqualification is warranted. However, perhaps a fine of 10% of the purse is in order? It’s certainly an idea for athletic commissions to look at.
Bubba McDaniels d. Gilbert Smith (R3, Submission due to Triangle Choke)
I’ll say this: I don’t think Bubba came off very well on the show, but he partially redeemed himself here. He looked a lot more comfortable in this bout than in either of the ones he had in the house. He picked apart Smith, and eventually finished with a great triangle choke which he captured in the midst of a scramble created by the former military man. Bubba still has a ways to go before I will completely change my opinion of him, but this was a good start. The next step will be to stop competing in white vale tudo shorts. They just look inappropriate for some reason, and it doesn’t help when string keeps flapping out the back, either.
The Prelims
Daniel Pineda scored a the first round victory with a kimura, which is notable not just because it’s the first kimura finish in the UFC since Frank Mir broke Big Nog’s arm, but also because he finished it with one hand! Maximo Blanco won a unanimous decision over a Sam Sicilia in a bloody back-and-forth affair, while Cole Miller likely sent “Bartimus” Palazewski to the regional circuit with a first round rear naked crank victory. Clint Hester channeled his inner Weidman and finished former TUF vet Bristol Marunde with a standing elbow, Dylan Andrews TKO’d Jimmy Quinlan with some beautiful punches, and Luke Barnatt took the victory in a somewhat plodding decision over Colin Hart. Finally, in the battle of this season’s douchebags, Josh Samman defeated Rickson Gracie student Kevin Casey via TKO with some vicious knee strikes. No word yet on whether or not Rickson “dealt with” Casey for bringing shame to his name.
