2023
ufc.com
Tag: Joe Rogan
UFC 117 : Anderson Silva versus Chael Sonnen
2010
video review : Pedro Munhoz versus Cody Garbrandt at UFC 235
“What a crazy decision,” Joe Rogan exclaims in response to Cody Garbrandt suddenly going from pro MMA fighter to sloppy street brawler near the end of Round 1, but what he probably wanted to say was “stupid”.
It was apparently an emotional (angry) reaction to an inadvertent headbutt that made Garbrandt go wild; trading punches hard and fast with little to no defense; which results in his third knockout loss in a row.
my rating : 3 of 5
2019
video review : Israel Adesanya versus Alex Pereira at UFC 281
Israel Adesanya’s first UFC loss came at the hands of Jan Błachowicz, but that didn’t really count. He stepped up to test himself in a new weight class and got outwrestled, but his belt wasn’t on the line. This; getting Technically Knocked Out by Alex Pereira; is his first real defeat and it’s sort of surreal. Even the commentators can’t seem to believe it as the normally elusive Stylebender gets pummeled by what may as well be the final boss in a video game.
To Adesanya’s credit, he looks to be on his way to another decision victory; he wobbles Pereira at the end of the first round and, perhaps taking a cue from Błachowicz, even goes on to mix in some ground work; until that fifth and final round when he gets a kick checked and tumbles backward. That marks the beginning of the end as Pereira backs him up against the cage and almost leaves him “Frozen like” he did in their last kickboxing bout.
my rating : 4 of 5
2022
Alex Jones on Louder With Crowder
2022
louderwithcrowder.com
video review : Sean Strickland versus Alex Pereira at UFC 276
Sean Strickland seemed on the verge of finally becoming a star in The UFC after stealing the show at the 276 Press Conference. Full of wisecracks and knowing how close he was to a title shot; Alex Pereira has clearly been put on the fast track to one; he seemed more interested in taunting Israel Adesanya about getting “slept” by Pereira than Pereira.
“Focus on this guy”, Champion Adesanya warned, “Cause, trust me, he will sleep you if not.” Strickland laughed it off. Cut to Pereira landing a left hook and, well, sleeping him “in the very first round”. It’s a shot to the chin, but it’s Strickland’s bonehead that made him think it was a good idea to stand right there in front of one of the best strikers in the division.
my rating : 3 of 5
2022
video review : Mackenzie Dern versus Tecia Torres at UFC 273
The most entertaining round of this fight for me is the second, which jumps off when, just as Joe Rogan is about to suggest it, Mackenzie Dern pulls guard against the cage and goes for a standing Kimura. She eventually brings Tecia Torres down to the ground; commentator Paul Felder makes a funny “weight” joke here; which results in a sexy tangle that lasts to the horn.
my rating : 4 of 5
2022
video review : Gilbert Burns versus Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 273
The betting odds for this bout were so ridiculously in favor of Khamzat Chimaev; it seems most fans thought he’d “smash” Gilbert Burns in the very first round; that even given a hard-fought victory, his hype train takes a massive hit. It’s actually the loser (Burns) whose stock goes up as he makes what seemed like an unbeatable enigma look human.
Of course Chimaev deserves a lot of credit for proving himself against a top contender. Burns is number two under champion Kamaru Usman and, though this is a damn close fight, the winner of which could’ve went either way, Chimaev beats him by unanimous decision. That’s quite a feat for someone who’s relatively new to the world of UFC.
my rating : 4 of 5
2022
video review : Miranda Maverick versus Erin Blanchfield at UFC 269
In hindsight, it’s easy to say Miranda Maverick shouldn’t have taken this fight. She stepped in, on about a month’s notice, to replace a reportedly injured Maycee Barber, who gave Maverick her first UFC defeat back in July, but gets mostly dominated.
“How you feel right now,” Maverick’s coach starts to say between rounds, but she takes it as a question. “I’m losing,” she answers. She does good at limiting “damage”, but it’s Blanchfield’s offense; takedowns and ground game; that does her in.
my rating : 3 of 5
2021
video review : Charles Oliveira versus Michael Chandler at UFC 262
Michael Chandler comes close to a TKO victory in the very first round of this fight, but Charles Oliveira survives. What happens early in round two is akin to Oliveira; “the number-one submission guy in the history of The UFC”; being submitted by Chandler, the “gorilla”.
Oliveira lands a left to Chandler’s face that puts him on his ass. He (Chandler) spins back up only to get caught again, with the same punch, a few seconds later. Down he goes again and Dan Miragliotta’s seen enough, which makes Oliveira the new Lightweight Champion.
my rating : 4 of 5
2021
Conor McGregor being interviewed after his loss to Dustin Poirier at UFC 264
2021
ufc.com
video review : Dustin Poirier versus Conor McGregor at UFC 264
Ever since this fight, the third and hopefully final in the Dustin Poirier versus Conor McGregor trilogy, was announced, I thought it was a bad idea. McGregor, who’s “won exactly one fight since Barack Obama was president”, didn’t deserve an immediate rematch with the number one title contender. I also figured it would end like the previous one with McGregor getting finished early.
To his credit, he sort of finishes himself by breaking his own leg or ankle after probably fracturing it during the barrage of outside leg kicks he starts the fight with. Still, though I was actually rooting for the fallen Irishman to win this bout and reclaim his former UFC glory, it’s hilariously ironic to see him being rolled out on a stretcher after he predicted that exact scenario for Poirier.
The most poignant moment happens several minutes before when the Notorious one, in terrible pain and grasping onto what’s left of his pride, yells to the officials to make sure this loss comes with the asterisk of being a “doctor stoppage!” He then goes on, in his post-fight interview with Joe Rogan, to throw angry jabs at Poirier and his “little ho” wife like the villain in a superhero comic.
my rating : 4 of 5
2021