UFC 105: Couture vs. Vera (spoilers)

[bareyb]

So what did you guys think? Not bad for a freebie. Not sure I agreed with the Judges on the Couture fight though. As much as I love the guy, I kind of thought Vera edged it out.

Not sure what happened to Swick. He just seemed really gassed compared to other performances. Hardy was a far better striker than I had given him credit for.

I cheered for Bisping when he won. Yes, he was a dickhead on TUF, but I was still glad he won. If he'd lost again, it may have been really hard on his career. He really needed that win, and he switched strategies, and pulled out the win with some good old G & P. Good for him. It was cool he got to get a win in front of his kid. It was funny when he had his kid put him in an arm bar after the fight. Of course, I had to teach my 9 year old how to do an arm bar after that. :D

[2004raptor]

I kinda agree about the Couture/Vera fight. But I've seen alot worse judging (hammil/Bisping)so these guys should know to not leave it up to the judges.

Can't stand Hardy but I give me credit for his performance. Not sure what the heck happened to Swick.

I haven't liked Bisping since before TUF so i was glad Henderson laid him out. I was rooting for him last night though. Glad he was able to pull it out.

[Jebberwocky!]

i thought Randy won but I would not like to see him fight any more if that's all he does. What a boring fight.

Clutchbrake's training buddy (Roli) sure took a hard shot - I was pulling for him.

It was strange having commercials mixed it. I hope next weekend's fights are better.

[kcarl75]

There's been a lot of questionable calls lately. It can't be good to have so many high profile fights ending with bad decisions. I'm looking at you Machida.

[The Flush]

I normally would not open this thread until after I watch the fights on Monday or Tuesday. But ESPN spoiled the results on the headline scroll during college football before the fights even aired in the US. That sucks! I'll still watch the fights when I work out this week, but I'd rather not know who whens. But I can also enjoy fights that I have already seen before so maybe it won't be too bad.

[ahartman]

Meh, with the Couture fight, I can see how the judges came to the decision they did. Dirty boxing isn't exciting, but it's effective. It didn't make for an exciting fight, but Couture controlled the action most of the fight... what action there was, anyway.

I thought Pearson looked FANTASTIC. He was much faster/better than he was on TUF.

This is the 2nd fight I've seen where Delgado got KTFO. He just doesn't seem to have much for the UFC.

There was little to be impressed with Bisping - he beat a guy who completely and unexpectedly gassed IMMEDIATELY after the 1st round ended.

Overall, I thought it was a mediocre event at best.

[goblue97]

I thought Pearson looked FANTASTIC. He was much faster/better than he was on TUF.

I've watched every season of the ultimate fighter and I usually look forward to seeing how these guys do in the real UFC. I hate to admit it but I couldn't remember this guy being on the show let alone winning his season.....last season!

Otherwise, I guess this one was worth the price. Couture/Vera just didn't add up to a main event for me. There just wasn't any anticipation there.

[Magister]

I am glad I watched it. Good stuff. Agreed with goblue97, that wasn't a great main event. I thought the other fights were much better.

Did Roli think the beard would help his chin? He was out before he hit the ground. Looked scary. Is he alright?

[mrowe8]

I hate to say this because I know folks here know him, but Roli is not a very good fighter from what I have seen. He was all but knocked out in the first 30 seconds and then eventually almost killed (literally) by the exact same shot 2 minutes later. I just don't understand how a guy 6'-3" can even try to fight at 160 lbs or whatever that weight was. He looked like my 6 year old son with his shirt off and seemed to have almost nothing on his punches. Real tall and skinny/weak does not translate well into a fight usually.

[Ment]

Well tall skinny guys can make it in the lower weight classes, see the Diaz brothers, but Roli does not have accurate jabs so he can't keep strikers off of him from loading up on bombs, and based on his BJJ they aren't going to take him down to be in his guard.

Hated the Couture decision but I hate UFC judging anyway where control figures so much into scoring. At his age, Couture's dirty boxing is the vertical equivalent of Lay 'N Pray. They had to break the action against the cage like 5 times.

[TAsunder]

I didn't have a major problem with the couture decision. I think one round clearly went to each of them with the third round up for grabs depending on what the judges value. In this case they valued the control of the fight over a few good strikes.

[mrowe8]

Well tall skinny guys can make it in the lower weight classes, see the Diaz brothers, but Roli does not have accurate jabs so he can't keep strikers off of him from loading up on bombs, and based on his BJJ they aren't going to take him down to be in his guard.

Hated the Couture decision but I hate UFC judging anyway where control figures so much into scoring. At his age, Couture's dirty boxing is the vertical equivalent of Lay 'N Pray. They had to break the action against the cage like 5 times.

But the Diaz brothers are borderline 6' - Roli was 6'-3". We have heard so much about his BJJ but nobody has ever verified he is any good. Isn't he the one from TUF a few seasons ago that everyone was giving a hard time about where his belt was from?

[Jebberwocky!]

But the Diaz brothers are borderline 6' - Roli was 6'-3". We have heard so much about his BJJ but nobody has ever verified he is any good. Isn't he the one from TUF a few seasons ago that everyone was giving a hard time about where his belt was from?

Yes he was but Mir later apologized for his a-holeiness towards Roli and admitted his BJJ was much better than he was portraying.

He has little upper-body strength and I would think his UFC days are numbered but then Emerson still get slots on the card. ;)

[bareyb]

Roli had more muscle this fight compared to the last one. He's obviously trying to bulk up a bit, but genetics just aren't on his side. I felt bad seeing him get KO'd like that. My first thought was that the UFC fed him to the Lions. Props to the guy for having the balls to get in there and fight.

[Jebberwocky!]

I wanted to see him get it to the ground so we could see him apply his strengths.

[bareyb]

I wanted to see him get it to the ground so we could see him apply his strengths.

Me too.