Weekend rundown (UFC 114)

Let me start by giving my thoughts on Saturday night's main event. Rashad Evans brought the business and fought his fight. I'm not particularly in love with Rashad's style, but the man is extremely athletic and is a tough guy to beat in the UFC's LHW division. Rampage Jackson no matter how much he tried to convince people otherwise leading up to the fight, was very rusty, and the long layoff of shooting the A-Team movie made Rampage hesitant and slowed down his mobility. I think it is about time Rampage left the Wolfslair and moved to a better camp. In the primetime episodes Rashad's training regime was above and beyond the more superior camp.

Once again, Rashad almost blew the fight in the 3rd round when Rampage seemed to have rocked him with a left cross. It was very similar to when Thiago Silva rocked him in the 3rd round of their fight. This trend will not play out well for Rashad over the course of a few more fights. I think it's time he bought a sledgehammer and a tire.

Rashad is now the #1 contender for Shogun Rua's belt. I love this fight stylistically. It's going to be quite interesting to see how each of these guys counters the other's polar opposite style. Rashad's wrestling, fancy footwork, and ability to push his opponent up against the fence vs Shogun's ferocious Muay Thai, brutal ground and pound, and his ability to sweep from the bottom or get back to his feet upon being taken down.

One thing I noticed in the Rampage/Rashad fight that could be a determining factor for Shogun, was the fact that some of the times when Rashad would push Rampage back against the fence, for some reason Rampage was able to secure a clinch on Rashad. Although Rampage could never mount any significant damage outside of a couple of weak knee attempts, the fact that he was still able to secure the clinch could mean that Rashad has a vulnerable weakness that just so happens to be a huge strength for Shogun.
If Shogun is able to secure a clinch just as Rampage did, he will end the fight with some knees. Bank on it.

Now for the rundown:

- Rumours are circulating that Rampage and Machida will get it on next

- Dana White came out with a statement saying he'd like to see Diego Sanchez go back to 155. “I don’t think Diego belongs at 170,” White said. “It’s easier to be at 170. He looked soft. Diego couldn’t take him down, and Diego’s game is wrestling.” I have to agree with the UFC president, losing to BJ Penn is not a reason to flee the division.

- It seems there won't be a primetime series promoting the upcoming Heavyweight title fight between Brock Lesnar and Shane Carwin. Apparently Lesnar does not want any outside interferences leading up to the fight.

- Jason Brilz, the pudgy pasty dude who put on the spirited performance en route to a controversial decision loss to Lil NOG, actually missed his 10 year anniversary by taking the fight on short notice.

- Anderson Silva and Chael Sonnen almost got into it behind the scenes at the MMA Expo. Anderson Silva was signing some autographs and he looked pretty unenthusiastic about the process, so Sonnen noticed this and shouted over "Don't worry Anderson, after we fight people won't give a shit about you and you won't have to sign another autograph again" Silva was bothered with the razzing so he actually tracked Sonnen down outside the Expo, where they got in each others faces, but the situation was quickly defused.

- Eddie Alvarez is still THEE most exciting fighter in the world.