UFC 144 Post Fight Thoughts and Analysis

Image via mmamania.com

Hey there folks, Kid Presentable is back after a little bit of a hiatus from the sport of mma. Anyone, who has read a single thing on this site knows the staff are Diaz brothers fan boys, and recent events created the need to take a little bit of a break. But now we're back, and what a card it was to return to. Many questions and concerns preceded this card. How would the Japanese crowd react to a sport waning in popularity in their own country, hosted by a company with little to no name value and recognition in the country? The main event featured two fighters with no history in Japan, and have not proved to be great sells even in the US, but for anyone who is a fight fan, the card was action packed and one of the most top to bottom entertaining cards witnessed in some time.

• WEC never die! Bendo Henderson is the new lightweight champion, and to be honest it wasn't that close. Though some, including Dana White and Joe Silva, seem to think Frankie defended, at best I scored the fight 49-46 or at worst 48-47. People seem to forget that damage and significant strikes outweigh volume strikes, and that catching a kick means the kick landed.
• Watch the start of the 5th round, and you will see a man with the confidence, heart, and drive to be a true champion. Bendo, with his limitless gas tank, has an unbreakable will and managed to push the pace against a man known for his own heart and ability to dictate the pace and action of the fight in Edgar.
• Much respect once more for Frankie though. The man always seems to eat the heaviest shot in the fight but never stops, and when you think he's out does he make his best attack. For a guy who relies on speed and volume a la Dominic Cruz though, he gets hit way too much and will need to working on his striking defense. There is no need for him to drop weight unless he himself wants the Aldo super fight. But again, if you've been the champion of a weight class, and a defending one at that, you don't need to change weight classes.
• Rampage... I think it's over man. Yeah I could tell you were hurt, yeah you gave us that get up off your ass and scream slam, but the drive to be a complete fighter doesn't seem to be there. I don't think this is it though, and I will be as excited as ever for your next fight. Rampage forever.
• Darth Bader continues to be undefeated when coming out to March of the Empire. I think the Tito fight made a lot of people forget this guy was once supposed to be a future staple at the top of the division. It wasn't the best Rampage, but he did what he had to do.
• Mark Hunt. Man of few words. Simply awesome.
• Damn Sexyama, that makes four, some awesome throws, and even sexier trips, but you have to actually fight too.
• Jake Shields, I am sure you scored some awesome Asian ladies (story to come later this week...) but you have yet to look impressive in a UFC fight. For a man whose best trait is his ground game, Shields struggles mightily to get the fight there. Shields won on volume strikes, but needs to work on his takedowns if he is to stay in the upper echelon of the division.
• Big Timmy B, nice uppercuts. You made Joe Rogan lose his sh*t for moment, but respect for an amazing comeback.
• Hioki did was Hioki does. Not the most aesthetically please of fight styles, but dominant none the less. Hioki has a world class grappling game giving him at least one believable avenue to victory should he get Aldo next. Hioki reportedly thinks he needs at least one more fight before he is ready though.
• Showtime is back in the house. After debuting in defeat, and then wrestling his way to a decision, Pettis found his old highlight reel self by head kicking Lauzon into oblivion. With Bendo's victory at the top, it seems to be shaping up for a rematch of the final fight in WEC history. Like I said, WEC never die!
• A few quick hits about the undercard... Gomi's win was a nice throwback to see, and him taking the mic Pride style was even better, but he did not look good that first round, and will get lit up against better strikers if he fights like that...Kid Yamamoto, it isn't looking good. This match was tailored made for the fight legend, but it just wasn't to be... Mizugaki drew the short stick of a bad decision, nice to see Dana payout his win bonus anyways though...Issei Tamura? Nice to meet you, with that devastating right, maybe you can be the new Kid Yamamoto. Long live Krazy Bee.

Full Results and Fight Bonuses


Bonuses ($65,000):
Fight of the Night: Frankie Edgar v Benson Henderson
KO of the Night: Anthony Pettis
Submission of the Night: Vaughan Lee


Full Results:
MAIN CARD (Pay-per-view)

• Benson Henderson def. Frankie Edgar via unanimous decision (49-46, 48-47, 49-46) - becomes new lightweight champion
• Ryan Bader def. Quinton "Rampage" Jackson (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
• Mark Hunt def. Cheick Kongo via TKO (punches) - Round 1, 2:11
• Jake Shields def. Yoshihiro Akiyama via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
• Tim Boetsch def. Yushin Okami via TKO (punches) - Round 3, 0:54
• Hatsu Hioki def. Bart Palaszewski via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
• Anthony Pettis def. Joe Lauzon via knockout (kick and punches) - Round 1, 1:21

PRELIMINARY CARD (FX)

• Takanori Gomi def. Eiji Mitsuoka via TKO (punches) - Round 2, 2:21
• Vaughan Lee def. Norifumi "Kid" Yamamoto via submission (armbar) - Round 1, 4:29
• Riki Fukuda def. Steve Cantwell via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
• Chris Cariaso def. Takeya Mizugaki via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

PRELIMINARY CARD (Facebook)

• Issei Tamura def. Tiequan Zhang via knockout (punch) - Round 2, 0:32