UFC 187 was one of the most entertaining cards in recent history. Whereas some cards beat you over the head to pluck down your hard-earned money in the promise of a night of epic fights, the main card of UFC 187 was one of the rare instances when the fights out-weighed the hype.
Some quick notes:
I loved the fact that Daniel Cormier walked away with the UFC light heavyweight title in beating Anthony Johnson in the main event. I have long-rooted for Cormier who seems as nice and genuine a guy as you can have in the sport. This is why his post-fight interview outburst of “Jon Jones get your shit together” rang so loud. Only one man has been able to get Cormier to lose his cool and that was Jones. The grudge match a few months back saw Jones the better man. A rematch must happen.
Along the same vein as Jones comes contender Ryan Bader who singlehandedly earned a likely shot at the title when he trolled his way into working Cormier into anger at the press conference. Calling out a champion is old hat in the fight game but the manner in which Bader did struck me as both disrespectful and desperate. Still, drama sells fights and a Cormier-Bader fight may do some numbers given the sound clips at the press conference.
Anthony Johnson had looked like a monster in the light heavyweight division but seeing his will to fight snuffed out by the constant pressure of Cormier was disappointing. Granted, things looked Johnson’s way early in the firs round when he dropped Cormier with a wicked overhand right. But that was short lived as Cormier did what Cormier does best: wrestle. You could see it after the second round, Johnson wanted no more.
Chris Weidman is an absolute beast. It’s a shame that he feels he is not that beloved by the fans. I’m not sure where this sentiment is coming from as the bar I was watching the fights was backed with people chanting “USA, USA, USA” in light of Wiedman’s win. Fact of the matter is that he needs to fight more and provided he is not bit by the injury bug I expect 2015 to be Weidman’s breakout year.
As for Weidman’s opponent Vitor Belfort, well great job, good effort. While Belfort looked like a half deflated balloon thanks to no longer being able to use, uhm, “supplements.” Still, despite not being able to skirt drug testing the “Phenom’” power and speed were still kind of there. Hell, he dropped Weidman early on and looked like he was on his way to stopping the champion before Weidman righted the ship and ground and pounded the Brazilian out. I think Belfort returns to wrecking shop on UFC Brazil cards in the very near future.
Andrei Arlovski vs Travis Browne was everything you wanted in a fight. Holy…shit! I can’t think of another fight that had so many thrills and “Oh SHIT!” moments in recent history. Bravo fellas, bravo!
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