UFC 114: EVANS versus JACKSON

It was a night of devastating truths. On a card littered with big names, the only thing missing was big name opponents. Call this “New Blood Rising”. Smarks call it the proverbial “smashing of the glass ceiling”. New big names like “Hitman” (there’s 2 of them, one an official winner – one winner by losing), RUSSOW and “Snake” are now more than blips on the casual fans radar.

A look at the line-up as it appeared (the injury bug realigned a few match-ups), and there’s not a lot to gain for the big UFC superstars. DIEGO SANCHEZ was looking to rebound from his loss to the (former) champion BJ PENN, freshly-minted Heavyweight Superstar TODD DUFFEE was set to break his own record for Fastest KO, and LIL NOG suddenly got a major talent downgrade when his original opponent FORREST GRIFFIN was injured. So that’s a lot of tomato cans for the UFC’s prime beef to devour. Tonight was their night, their time to shine and reclaim (or exacerbate) their own personal glories. But the Fight Game can be a fickle mistress; you never know how she’ll blow.

The night’s first surprise came during the opening televised prelim featuring DAN LAUZON versus EFRAIN ESCUDERO, when JOE ROGAN announced a beef between the LAUZON brothers (DAN & JOE) over training time. Older brother JOE wasn’t even in his bros corner for the fight. EFRAIN ESCUDERO did his job as expected, setting the tone – or so we thought – for the rest of the evening, when he dismantled a tiring DAN LAUZON over the course of three rounds for the decision victory. And vindication for his cringe-worthy submission loss to EVAN DUNHAM last time out. As expected.

Things started getting a little odd during the second prelim fight when the Korean “Stun Gun” tangled with AMIR SADALLOH in a match seemingly designed to showcase AMIR’s precision and technical expertise. Instead, DONG HYUN KIM – the “Stun Gun” – beat the former ULTIMATE FIGHTER winner for 3 rounds in route to the decision victory. Unbeknownst to most watching, THIS would be the fight to set the tone for the rest of the bizarre evening.

In DIEGO SANCHEZ’s big return to 170 lbs, he was unceremoniously beaten, outclassed and outmaneuvered by a 22 year old English kid who’s never fought in the US before. Although it’s his 4th win in the UFC, JOHN “The HItman” HATHAWAY never had a bigger win or greater showing.

Next, ANTONIO ROGERIO NOGUEIRA took to the cage for his match with the lightly-rated JASON BRILZ, who took the fight on short notice and proved “when you get a chance in this game – YOU TAKE IT”. He beat NOGUEIRA all night. He was faster, punched harder and more effectively, had great submission attempts and sticky defense as well, refusing to cave in and showering the suddenly mortal LITTLE NOG with smiles and grins as the battle continued. But for some reason, the crooked refs called the decision in LITTLE NOG’s favor – much to everybody’s chagrin, ESPECIALLY the audience. So “Hitman” JASON BRILZ wins much more than the “L” on his record shows, in the eyes of everybody who watched UFC 114.

Continuing the trend of fight clichés, the TODD DUFFEE/MIKE RUSSOW bout proved “every fighter has a punchers chance!!!” The dumpy, plump MIKE RUSSOW took a violent pounding for three rounds from the young hoss TODD DUFFEE (who looks absolutely chiseled from granite). But in the middle of round 3, MIKE RUSSOW caught DUFFEE with a punch to the temple that treated the UFC record holder like a shotgun blast victim. TODD DUFFEE’s unconscious body careened to the canvas backfirst spread eagle like he was popped in the head from close range, body cold before it hits the ground. Violence. RUSSOW threw a half-hearted little paw swipe at his face on the mat just to be sure, but it was a mere formality. TODD DUFFEE was OUT and JOE ROGAN was bouncing around the booth declaring that moment “the craziest thing I’ve seen in 1,000 fights!!!”

MICHAEL BISPING did his thing as expected, playing to the crowd as a heel and thoroughly demolishing DAN MILLER through 3 rounds for the unanimous decision. The only real moment of drama came before the first bell, when BISPING went face-to-face with MILLER and shoved him. This is MILLER’s third loss in a row, and he looked MUCH worse for the wear after the fight. BISPING wins, about the only thing that went according to plan this evening. Also in the prelims, MELVIN GUILLARD ended his fight with a vicious knee to the body, and CYRILLE DIABATE kept up the night's momentum by getting the shocking underdog victory over LUIS CANE by highlight reel combination KO.

Finally, the main event of SUGA RASHAD EVANS versus RAMPAGE JACKSON did not completely live up to the hype. But of course, actual homicide probably couldn’t have lived up to the expectations these two created in the years it took to build this bout. RASHAD opened the fight with a glorious right hand that sent RAMPAGE careening into the fence, nearly unconscious. RASHAD swooped in on him, but couldn’t finish the fight. They grappled and struggled, and ref HERB DEAN even separated them a few times due to inactivity. But they pushed the pace back-n-forth, until the start of the 3rd round when RAMPAGE answered back with his own brutal assortment of shots that nearly finished RASHAD with the TKO. But he held on, weathered the storm, and even as the crowd tried to egg RAMPAGE on, RASHAD recovered enough to win a decision victory over a visibly winded RAMPAGE. Neither was particularly worse for the wear, but they had engaged in a war that didn’t end with a customary pound or hug. They offered grudging respect, but both concluded the other could still “kiss my ass”.

Overall it was a good show, filled with surprises. Not as good top to bottom as UFC 113, but the wheels are set in motion for some new exciting fighters to build on their newfound name brand recognition. The biggest newsworthy occurrence is the very real possibility RASHAD EVANS will be the next in line to challenge SHOGUN RUA for the title.

Until next time!!!