UFC 203
Betting wise I went 7 out of 9 and my bookie is now trying to get me to bet on college games.
Main Event
Stipe and Overeem? Weird fight but Stipe got the KO at the end of the 1st. Some fights aren't justified by explaining, catch this on youtube or somewhere if you missed it.
The Play by Play ( in reverse order, from the Co-Main Event down):
Fabricio Werdum vs. Travis Browne
Interesting Werdum and Browne fight with another big mistake by referee Copeland. Werdum opens the fight landing a jumping sidekick to the face and if Browne hadn't been moving away from it that could have been the fight. Werdum outlands Browne and dislocates one of jis fingers defending a punch. Browne tries to call a timeout for a doctor, Copeland allows it and Werdum rightfully sneaks in some hard punches saying the referee never called a stop to the fight. Werdum finishes the round on Travis's back without enough time left to finsih Browne but that is clearly where the round was heading.Not a very exciting 2nd round with Fabrico easily just scoring some easy points and setting back waiting on Travis to do something so he could counter. I think that Fabricio could have finished this fight if he had fought with the same energy and purpose as he started the fight with but Werdum pretty much coasted to a easy decision win. Cleveland let Werdum know what they thought of his performance and Werdum mocked a crying face at the crowd and a brawl almost started between corners when Werdum kicked an insulting corner man of Brownes, consequently security cleared the ring of both sides cornermen who were ready for a barfight in the ring. Werdum left the ring after the decision accompanied by boos.
Mickey Gall vs CM Punk
CM Punk walks out to his old WWE theme song, "Cult of Personality". Fucking classic. Nonetheless, two mma nobodies fix to faceoff, not sure what to think. Punk knows how to make an entrance though. CM Punk gets choked out in the first round. I am not really surprised but I would have liked to see the fight go a 2nd round. Punk showed great sportsmandship and humility in defeat. Basically a glorious exhibition fight and Rogan told it like it was. Still, Punk showed class and guts.
Jimmie Rivera vs Urijah Faber
Big Faber fan, I wouldn't just pick anyone to beat him. Jimmie Rivera and crew came in looking like this was title fight. The California Kid came in like he has always done, with style. Interesting 1st round. Faber looser and pressuring but paying for it with Rivera tenser, wound up and looking to counter. 2nd round, Faber lands a kick to the groin and instead of sending both fighters to neutral corners the ref inadverdently sends Rivera to his own corner where he gets some illegal coaching. Rivera then lands a few beautiful left hook counters when they resume and actually knocks Faber down with a leg kick (a rare event in mma). Very good round for Rivera who landed some hard shots and a few more very hard leg kicks. Rivera looked even better in the 3rd round, despite an almost adverdent openhanded eyepoke but I suspect it was just a tired mistake on Fabers part as he was getting lit up. After the round though, Rivera was clearly telling his coaches he couldn't see out of right eye. I have it an easy Rivera decision and the judges agree. Faber showed heart but Rivera was the clear better fighter at this point in their careers.
Jessica Andrade vs Joanne Calderwood
Calderwood, who has this tiny feminine voice that totally is in abstract with her looks and fighting style, looked loose and relaxed coming in. Andrade looked muscled, determined and comfident. 1st round Calderwood getting the better of the striking game so Andrade went to the ground game with a beautiful body slam but Calderwood showed an active defense off her back. Some nice elbows from Claderwood, one standing and two from the bottom opened up some cuts on Andrade. Andrade lands some nasty ground and pound, Claderwood sweeps....Andrade goes for a guilotine choke with 30 seconds on the clock and gets it! Andrade by submission. Nice fight. Color me impressed. One more win like this and I just might get on the bandwagon, hell, I am on it now regardless.
The Prelims:
Bethe Correia vs Jessica Eye
I was waiting for this fight. Bethe came out carrying some serious booty and just the idea that it was all muscle bought fully inappropriate and sexist thoughts to my mind. Oh well, I am man afterall. Jessica came out looking leaner and both fighters looked relaxed and ready for a brawl. Eye was the hometown favorite. I was surprised how much smaller Jessica Eye looked than Bethe, fighting smaller with nice technique but less power than her more muscled opponent. 1st round you have to give eye the nod here, landing a little more and staying active but it was a close round with Bethe throwing with more power and winning the clinch. Bethe came out with a very determined look in the 2nd, "The Eye of the Tiger", but Jessica was "business as usual" weaving and bobbing picking her moments. Both girls bloodied up in the 2nd, great round. I gave it to Bethe but it was close. Correia landed with more power but Eye might have landed a few more strikes. 3rd round was a bit of a disapointment, Eye staying away and getting a few strikes in but I think Bethe took the round being more aggresive and landing some clean hard hits. Bethe Corriea got the win by split decision. I thought Jessica gave the fight away in the 3rd round by not fighting hard for the win. Overall, entertaining bout. Great crowd but the boos were a bit sourgrapes because they saw the same fight I did and know Bethe earned that win, even if it was close. MMA is not boxing, you don't just go into a fight looking to outpoint your opponent. It is a fight, you go in to win and Bethe was looking for the win from the first bell.
Brad Tavares vs Caio Magalhaes
The Tavares fight started out looking pretty evenly matched. Tavares looked to have the edge to me going into the third round, landing cleaner and out grappling Caio while clearly trying to finish the fight but fell short against a very tough Magalhaes. Unbelievable Tavares wins this by split decision as I didn't see Magalahes winning any rounds (although the 1st round was close).
Nik Lentz vs Michael McBride
Nick Lentz gave up a 7 inch reach advantage to his opponent McBride. Lentz smothered McBride and beat him up in the first round. 2nd round looked the same and Lentz got the stoppage after his pounding became too much for the referee to watch. Nice example of how a smaller man can kick a much larger mans ass. To be fair McBride took the fight on 9 days notice but that often works just as much in a fighters advantage.
Drew Dober vs Jason Gonzalez
Drew Dober, giving up 6 inches in height and a 4 inch reach advantage, found his range, forced Gonzalez against the cage and knocked him out on his feet. I mean Gonzalez went to sleep standing and his kness just folded under him while his eyes closed. Never seen anything quite like it. I have seen fighters fly and crumble but not hit their knees with their forehead dropping to the canvas. Great first round finish.
Yancy Medeiros vs Sean Spencer
Yancy looked great at 170lbs., first outstriking his opponent and then finishing him on the ground.
Overall a really good event. The Undercard was very good and worth every bit as much as the Main Card
