video review : Anderson Silva versus Nick Diaz at UFC 183

video review : Anderson Silva versus Nick Diaz at UFC 183

Anderson Silva seems tentative and a little rusty here. What he does after his decision victory is announced; fall down and cry like a baby; suggests it’s because he’s nervous returning to The Octagon for the first time since getting his leg snapped in two by Chris Weidman.

Whatever the case, this fight starts off close and stays that way until the later rounds when Nick Diaz, who’s been taunting Silva much to the amusement of Joe Rogan; I think it just makes him look silly; seems to tire. That’s when Silva starts “loosening up” and taking over.

my rating : 3 of 5

2015

video review : Paige VanZant versus Michelle Waterson at UFC Fight Night

video review : Paige VanZant versus Michelle Waterson at UFC Fight Night

This is a fantasy match of sorts; two of The UFC’s sexiest women going at it. Michelle Waterson begins with a death stare as Page VanZant bounces about happily. That smile is soon wiped away when Waterson throws her to the floor and locks her in a rear naked; yeah, I wish; choke. That’s when the party lights go out.

my rating : 3 of 5

2016

video review : Ronda Rousey versus Cat Zingano at UFC 184

video review : Ronda Rousey versus Cat Zingano at UFC 184

Cat Zingano begins this fight with a flying knee. At least that was the plan. Ronda Rousey dodges, wraps her arm around her head, takes her down, does a ninja flip which also flips Zingano and somehow transitions her into an armbar.

Zingano taps quickly and, in the words of Mike Goldberg, “It is all over!” That’s “it” meaning the fight. The most poignant part comes after when Joe Rogan interviews a terribly frustrated Zingano about losing her title shot in just a matter of seconds.

my rating : 3 of 5

2015

video review : Chris Weidman versus Yoel Romero at UFC 205

video review : Chris Weidman versus Yoel Romero at UFC 205

“He’s just so powerful and explosive,” Joe Rogan warns early on, “Out of nowhere he will explode.” Weidman, who otherwise matches even with Romero, finds that out the hard way in the final round.

Romero’s first name may as well be George as he lands a flying knee that turns Chris Weidman into The Living Dead. The Soldier Of God then hops The Octagon to celebrate with goddess Madonna.

my rating : 3 of 5

2016

video review : Donald Cerrone versus Matt Brown at UFC 206

video review : Donald Cerrone versus Matt Brown at UFC 206

Matt Brown is tough and it shows for most of this fight, but a man can only take so many kicks to the head; one of Donald Cerrone’s signature attacks. They call him Cowboy, but here he plays the role of the batter in a game of baseball. Listen to the crack of the third round KO shot. Vicious.

my rating : 4 of 5

2016

video review : Nate Diaz versus Conor McGregor at UFC 202

video review : Nate Diaz versus Conor McGregor at UFC 202

It looks like Conor McGregor’s going to outclass and definitely outkick Nate Diaz easily during the first couple of Rounds of this rematch. That is until he starts to get tired and Diaz puts the pressure on him.

It’s a damn close fight; McGregor comes back with a second wind in the fourth; and it would be hard to argue with a decision victory for either guy. McGregor gets it though, thanks to his early domination.

my rating : 4 of 5

2016

video review : Anderson Silva versus Chris Weidman at UFC 162

video review : Anderson Silva versus Chris Weidman at UFC 162

As an Anderson Silva fan; he’s my favorite UFC fighter; the end of this bout is hard to watch, but he sort of brings it on himself. While I disagree with Joe Rogan’s hindsighted claim that “you can’t play games in The Octagon”; Silva’s antics have been successful until this point; The Spider simply goes too far here.

It’s a carryover from his last fight at UFC 153 in which he stood against the cage and let Stephan Bonnar punch him seemingly just to entertain the crowd, but Chris Weidman, led by head coach Ray Longo, isn’t having it. “Punch a hole in his fucking chest,” Longo commands. Weidman aims for the jaw instead.

my rating : 4 of 5

2013

video review : Chris Weidman versus Anderson Silva at UFC 168

video review : Anderson Silva versus Stephan Bonnar at UFC 153

video review : Anderson Silva versus Stephan Bonnar at UFC 153

The bigger they are, the harder they fall… after getting kneed in the solar plexus. Stephan Bonnar talks about taking Anderson Silva “on a ride thru Hell” in his pre-fight monologue, but he gets carjacked in the first round.

Most amusing is how Silva plays with him during the bout, putting his back against the cage and letting him tee off on him as if his 15-0 record isn’t on the line. Joe Rogan wants him to fight Jon Jones. That would be epic.

my rating : 4 of 5

2012

video review : Conor McGregor versus Nate Diaz at UFC 196

video review : Conor McGregor versus Nate Diaz at UFC 196

“There is one thing we also should consider and that is the wrestling of Nate Diaz,” Joe Rogan says after a brief exchange about stances, “His submission game is very very highly respected.” The “very/very/highly” bit makes it a ridiculous overstatement, but, as Diaz goes on to prove, the gist is correct.

Conor McGregor has the advantage on the feet; his movement and striking is on a higher level; but Diaz lands a hard punch in the second round, which flips the momentum of the fight. McGregor eventually goes in for a desperate takedown and ends up getting caught in a guillotine choke.

my rating : 4 of 5

2016

video review : Nate Diaz versus Conor McGregor at UFC 202