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UFC 110 Recap – Velasquez Delivers Against Nogueira!
By Angry Tom
Velasquez Inches Closer To Title Shot
The heavyweight championship picture is a muddled blur at best. With Brock Lesnar still in recovery and an interim title bout en route with Frank Mir fighting Shane Carwin, Velasquez is simply going to have to wait his turn. However, a decisive and crushing victory over the legendary Minotauro has cemented the title shot that Velasquez will be looking for.
In the first round, Nogueira realized very quickly that the intensely conditioned and brutally powerful Velasquez had him outmatched physically. When Cain’s massive fists connected with Nogueira’s already punched-up face, it was just a matter of time before the fight was over. In fact, it was a matter of seconds. Simply put, Nogueira never stood a chance.
While Nogueira is probably going to ride out what I’m beginning to call the “UFC Legends Tour”, he’ll likely have a match with a guy like Tito Ortiz or Cro Cop next. As his fight at UFC 110 proved, he just doesn’t have the finishing power or the physical abilities of his younger counterparts at the age of 33.
Velasquez, meanwhile, will have to wait all the way through the summer to see what is going to happen next. While many are figuring a fight with Junior Dos Santos is in the works to clear up both of their contender statuses, I’m saying “screw it” and begging for the Velasquez to be thrown in to a fight with Brock upon his return. Just do it already. Hasn’t this guy waited long enough?
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The Axe Murderer Chops Down Bisping
It took a unanimous decision, but Wanderlei Silva was able to go the distance with a younger Bisping to prove that he is not finished yet. Silva was a different fighter this time around, choosing his spots and reserving his tank for the right moments. It was the kind of strategy that we never saw from Silva in the past because, let’s face it, he never needed to fight like that. This is the first victory for Wanderlei in nearly two years (21 months to be exact) and now there’s no question that he deserves to stick around the UFC’s ranks for a little awhile longer.
Too bad for Silva that Bisping’s status as a star is quickly fading. He turned 31-years old the day after his loss via decision and now he has more high profile losses on his resume than wins. On his trip back to Liverpool, Bisping might want to consider visiting the old drawing board. He has to give us something new, because what he’s been brining to the table is not enough anymore. Like him or hate him, Bisping is due for a repackaging.
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Keith Jardine Gets Decapitated By Ryan Bader
As I said going in to this fight, Jardine serves as the gatekeeper to the light heavyweight division. If you lose to him, there’s no way in hell you’ll ever sniff the title. If you beat him, then you’ll at least get noticed and that’s exactly what Ryan Bader did by putting himself on the map with a TKO victory over Jardine in the third round.
If there were style point bonuses, Bader would get some serious multipliers for the way he finished off Jardine. Hanging his chin out to dry, Keith Jardine was caught by a clean left hook and then followed up with a flying knee to the chest to finish the fight and leave Jardine struggling for life on the canvas. This victory cements Bader’s status in a stalwart division but he has a long road ahead of him. A fight against “The Polish Experiment” could be the big bill fight that Bader wants, but he’ll likely receive another test against a fellow up and comer. A fight pitting his wrestling skills against the striking of Luis Arthur Cane is what I want to see.
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Cro Cop Wins! Cro Cop Wins!
This wasn’t really a fair fight to begin with, but a win by Cro Cop is enough to make the MMA nerds in the universe rejoice. He’s been a longtime fan favorite, and a legend across the globe, but losses have damaged what was once a legendary career. Untouched and relentless in the fight Cro Cop showed the world just way he was so revered by outmatching Anthony Perosh and winning by a TKO in the second round.
Perosh took the fight on just two day’s notice, and while he has a four fight contract in hand, it came with a heavy price. Nice effort and all, but Perosh isn’t at UFC level yet and if he can’t beat Cro Cop in his twilight years then he has no chance against the younger competition.
Next on the bill for Cro Cop will be a rescheduling of the fight that was supposed to take place at UFC 110 against Ben Rothwell. A simple stomach virus forced Rothwell to withdraw and since Cro Cop is pretty much ready to go since Perosh couldn’t lay a fingernail on him, we’ll see that fight sooner rather than later.
Stevenson Loses To Hometown Sotiropoulos
Momentum, an entire nation rallying behind him and a thirst to prove himself on his home turf powered Sotiropoulos to overcome the massive MMA odds and earn a unanimous decision over Joe “Daddy” Stevenson. He rode Stevenson like a baby bull, showing off some highly impressive jiu-jitsu. The win would’ve been even better of Sotiropoulos had a ground-and-pound element to his arsenal to speak of, and his fained submission attempts didn’t get the tap like he wanted to. Stevenson mounted a late comeback in the third, but it was way too little far too late.
Stevenson is too popular to keep down for long, and the hardest working lightweight in the division will be back in no time. Sotiropoulos has punched his ticket to the UFC with gusto and now have to continue to climb the ladder. Hopefully he’ll learn to add some striking to his very sound ground game before he gets back in the octagon. That’ll at least give me some time to practice typing his name so I don’t have to spell check it over time.