UFC 112 Wrap Up

UFC Middleweight Championship Fight
Anderson Silva (25-4) UD 5 Demian Maia (12-1)
Scores: Scores were not announced

Anderson Silva may be the best fighter in the game, but performances like the one Saturday do nothing but severely tarnish a once impeccable reputation.  In Maia, Silva was facing a fighter with exceptional Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, but alas, a fighter who was thought to be a level below Silva.  Saturday night, Silva proved that Maia was indeed no match for him, but instead of finishing his game opponent, he seemed content to simply toy with his hurt foe.  After battering Maia savagely over the first two rounds, Silva seemed to grow bored with the fight, and instead of fighting, started doing some unwarranted clowning and showboating. 

It was a horrible showing, and the epitome of disrespect.  Chants of “GSP”, and “Maia” rained down throughout the contest as even the crowd grew tired of Silva’s antics.  The backlash has been hard, and deserved, even UFC president Dana White voiced his displeasure.  It’s unclear what actions White will take, if any.  After all, Silva is one of the best in the game so it’s not like the UFC can cut him loose, but this much is clear: something has got to give.  Perhaps a full time move to light heavyweight will keep Silva motivated on actually fighting.

UFC Lightweight Championship Fight
Frankie Edgar (11-1) UD 5 BJ Penn (15-5-1)
Scores:  50-45, 48-47, 49-46

I can’t even lie; I had no faith in Edgar pulling off the upset.  In fact, I thought this fight would have played out like a mirror image of the GSP – Hardy fight.  I have to give credit to Edgar, and his team, for formulating a plan to give Penn enough fits to keep the Hawaiian tentative.  While I agree, the decision could have gone either way, but Edgar did more than enough to squash any cry of judge incompetence.  Edgar’s victory has to go down as one of the biggest upsets in the UFCs history. 

Welterweight Fight
Matt Hughes (44-7) TKO 3 (Strikes) Renzo Gracie (13-6-1, 1 NC)
Time of Stoppage:  4:40 in round three.

The Gracie Family is credited with being the innovators of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and helping serve as catalysts for MMAs explosion in popularity.  But as the sport has evolved, pioneers like Renzo Gracie find themselves constantly defending their roles within the sport.  Enter this fight against two old lions.  Gracie is a legend, but so is Matt Hughes, and in the end Hughes multifaceted attack served as the key to victory.  Actually, it was Hughes utilization of debilitating lead leg kicks that tenderized Gracie’s legs to the point that left him open to a big right hand in the third that ended the fight.