UFC 163: Aldo vs. Korean Zombie (Aug. 3rd)

[High 5]

I can't lay the sarcasm on much thicker than that. Leites has the rep of being on the boring side, which is why they fired him a few years ago, 1 sd loss after fighting for the title, before bringing him back for last weekend's re-debut. Does that sound like he'd be their golden boy? It should have been obvious I was kidding. No, the UFC wasn't protecting him by putting him on a Brasil card and choosing not to test him. He wasn't lucky to not get popped relative to if he fought in the States. Either he didn't get tested at random, has a good masking agent, or wasn't riding dirty.

I never know with you, man. My bad.

[REDDzone]

Ooops. Typo.

I thought Machida won the fight, but I also thought it was closer than many of the far worse decisions we see all the time. People had just made their mind up that Machida would never lose to Davis, so they say things like Machida dominated the standup, which is simply not true.

So people think Machida won because they thought he'd win? That makes no sense. If anything, when underdogs makes a seemingly one sided match close, everyone gives them the benefit of the doubt. See Lil Nog vs Brilz, or Shogun vs Machida I.

edit: Didn't even read bern's post above to see he made a similar point with another example. Agreed, bern, obviously.

[REDDzone]

Maybe he means because they allow TRT? ViTRT seems to like it htere.

Brendan Schaub said something disparaging after the fight down there about the drug testing. Has anyone been busted in Brasil? They've been busted in Europe, I know that, so by the UFC themselves.

Not sure. I just assumed all ufc-regulated events would have the same procedures, regardless of the country.

[REDDzone]

I can't lay the sarcasm on much thicker than that. Leites has the rep of being on the boring side, which is why they fired him a few years ago, 1 sd loss after fighting for the title, before bringing him back for last weekend's re-debut. Does that sound like he'd be their golden boy? It should have been obvious I was kidding. No, the UFC wasn't protecting him by putting him on a Brasil card and choosing not to test him. He wasn't lucky to not get popped relative to if he fought in the States. Either he didn't get tested at random, has a good masking agent, or wasn't riding dirty.

Wait, have they even released the results yet? Just asking, I usually see the headline on the UG blog, and I haven't seen it yet.

[cowboyronnie]

Cammo's psychologizing is ridiculous.

Davis moved out of the pocket constantly, he's a boring as heck fighter. Has he ever landed a hard standing punch? I don't think his physique lends itself. Those lats must drag his punches down or something.

[NZB2323]

[Plenty of other people and places scored the fight for Machida.

Yea, almost everyone.

Ooops. Typo.

I thought Machida won the fight, but I also thought it was closer than many of the far worse decisions we see all the time. People had just made their mind up that Machida would never lose to Davis, so they say things like Machida dominated the standup, which is simply not true.

The thing that I have a problem with is the judge who scored the 3rd round for Davis. 0 takedowns and Machida delivered twice as many significant strikes.

If someone wants to give the first two rounds to Phil, fine. Those rounds were close enough. But Machida definitely won the 3rd.

[REDDzone]

Plus, Davis failing on 80% of his double digit takedown attempts should count against him. Another thing that favors grapplers in mma scoring. Its not even that failing takedowns should count against him, but I don't understand how defending the takedowns that successfully isn't considered good octagon control by Machida.

I do think talk of this being the biggest robbery of the year and such to be too much, but to me the decision was clear and definitely worth complaining over.

[Bernman]

Plus, Davis failing on 80% of his takedowns should count against him. Another thing that favors grapplers in mma scoring. Its not even that failing takedowns should count against him, but I don't understand how defending the takedowns that successfully isn't considered good octagon control by Machida.

I do think talk of this being the biggest robbery of the year and such to be too much, but to me the decision was clear and definitely worth complaining over.

They all are worth complaining over, if they're wrong. We're talking about millions of dollars in bets and win bonuses changing hands over the course of the year (same case w/ peds, a problem this sport has also). In this case, the good thing looking at this fight in isolation, was Machida has no win bonus negotiated into his contract, so he doesn't lose any money. But he will next fight when instead of a million-plus dollar rematch with Jon Jones, he'll be getting "only" 200k to headline an fs2 card or some crap like that. Not to mention a shot at actually winning a legit title for the first time in most's eyes who thought he lost to Shogun. That's one time he actually benefited from a favorable judging decision. But then he got burned against Davis and Rampage. So overall the judges have cost him a lot, especially more recently.

[REDDzone]

Bern - just to clarify, Machida did win the title legitimately from Rashad via ktfo. He arguably lost his first defense to Shogun.

And yea, I don't disagree with anything you wrote.

[SDM]

Cub beats the Aldo that fought on Saturday.

Cub can beat a one footed Aldo? That is comforting for him I guess, because he won't be beating a two footed Aldo.

I didn't realize he had foot troubles until after I said that. I went to bed right after the finish.

[REDDzone]

I know some of you guys like KZ a lot, and I don't want to make it seem like I'm dogging him, but I have a hard time believing that an Aldo with his foot swollen to the size of a cantelope wouldn't have been handled by either Pettis OR Swanson, and probably Lamas as well.

We saw a KZ with a more measured approach in this fight. Ironically if he went balls to the walls as per usual it may have been more fruitful due to Aldo being a little careful on his foot.

[SDM]

Another issue: Aldo apparently suffers from kidney stones and was hospitalized after the fight.

[NZB2323]

I know some of you guys like KZ a lot, and I don't want to make it seem like I'm dogging him, but I have a hard time believing that an Aldo with his foot swollen to the size of a cantelope wouldn't have been handled by either Pettis OR Swanson, and probably Lamas as well.

We saw a KZ with a more measured approach in this fight. Ironically if he went balls to the walls as per usual it may have been more fruitful due to Aldo being a little careful on his foot.

I think most KZ fans are fans of him because of his fighting style, and now how exciting his recent run has been. I don't think that many KZ fans expected him to have a chance against Aldo. He's still 26, and he should have a ton of exciting fights left in him before he hangs his gloves up.

[SDM]

I know some of you guys like KZ a lot, and I don't want to make it seem like I'm dogging him, but I have a hard time believing that an Aldo with his foot swollen to the size of a cantelope wouldn't have been handled by either Pettis OR Swanson, and probably Lamas as well.

We saw a KZ with a more measured approach in this fight. Ironically if he went balls to the walls as per usual it may have been more fruitful due to Aldo being a little careful on his foot.

I think most KZ fans are fans of him because of his fighting style, and now how exciting his recent run has been. I don't think that many KZ fans expected him to have a chance against Aldo. He's still 26, and he should have a ton of exciting fights left in him before he hangs his gloves up.

Yeah, I'm definitely not deluded about KZ's standing. I thought, maybe, he's bait Aldo into a brawl and really challenge him for a couple rounds before the technique and power gap shifted the fight in Aldo's favour. The end result here was the same, regardless.

RE: the kidney stones... that's dehydration, not healthy, and he should stop cutting weight ASAP and move to 155. I'd vacate the belt and make Cub/Frankie for the title with Lamas awaiting the victor.

[REDDzone]

If it is indeed due to weight cuts that is interesting. I can't remember who, but I remember hearing/reading that Aldo had changed up his regiment such that his weight cuts were easier now than they have EVER been. As in, I think for this last fight, easiest weight cut he ever had, was the claim.

[cowboyronnie]

I know some of you guys like KZ a lot, and I don't want to make it seem like I'm dogging him, but I have a hard time believing that an Aldo with his foot swollen to the size of a cantelope wouldn't have been handled by either Pettis OR Swanson, and probably Lamas as well.

We saw a KZ with a more measured approach in this fight. Ironically if he went balls to the walls as per usual it may have been more fruitful due to Aldo being a little careful on his foot.

Standing in front of Aldo was weird, putting no pressure on him. I don;t know if there was any way to beat Aldo but certainly a total lack of feints and standing around wasnt gonna do the job.

[Cammo101]

If it is indeed due to weight cuts that is interesting. I can't remember who, but I remember hearing/reading that Aldo had changed up his regiment such that his weight cuts were easier now than they have EVER been. As in, I think for this last fight, easiest weight cut he ever had, was the claim.

Right now seems like the perfect time for Aldo to move up to LW and challenge the winner of Bendo and Pettis.


*Sorry TJ Grant

[Nemesis21]

phil davis win was the cheapest win i ever scene in ufc, he literally did nothing for 14 of the 15 minutes of fight time...took machida down when he was coming in 30secs left in rd one and just layed there...then took him down with 40secs left in rd 4 and barely did nothing and won...machida fought like a girl too and wasn't aggressive enough but he controlled 80% of the fight, i swear i dont remember davis landing a punch

This is ridiculous. Machida has buzzsawed through wrestlers. Outstriking them, keeping them from taking him down, and knocking quite a few of them out. He did none of that against Davis. Davis showed much improved striking. He managed to hold his own striking against an elite level striker, while never getting hit with anything of note. And he also took Machida, who had the best takedown defense in the division, down twice.

You can certainly argue Machida won the fight, but regardless, Davis looked much better than expected. If this is the worst decision you have seen in MMA, then you have not seen much MMA.

I'd like to see Davis/Evans 2.

[REDDzone]

Apparently Aldo's doctor said the kidney stones had nothing to do with the weight cut.

[SDM]

Apparently Aldo's doctor said the kidney stones had nothing to do with the weight cut.

He's had them for a while, so maybe not in this instance, but it is related to dehydration.