UFC® 142 Thoughts

by SixthMinute columnist Bill Larkin

Edson Barboza vs Terry Etim

This was a super entertaining fight, which I enjoyed watching, and my friend says to me right before the spectacular spinning wheel kick knockout…”I just like the heavier weight classes, cause these little guys don’t seem to do knockouts” – What can we really say about that kick? super impressive, and it made Nate Quarry’s knockout at the hands of Rich Franklin look like Quarry might have been able to still fight… Etim went down like a fallen tree… amazing, the spin for the kick was so fast, and the kick itself so accurate. Very impressive.

Rousimar Palhares vs Mike Massenzio

Rousimar Palhares was super impressive in his submission win over Mike Massenzio and Rousimar looked like a beast! awesome transition to the submission from a takedown. I really enjoy technical fights like this.

Erick Silva vs Carlo Prater

The 2nd fight on the PPV card was cause for some extreme frustration, and no, not with Mario Yamasaki -  Erick Silva getting DQ’ed for his back of the head shots on Carlo Prater was absolutely 100% the correct decision by Mario Yamasaki, despite Joe Rogan’s constant, completely unprofessional harassment of the ref for making what Rogan publicly called “the wrong decision” – even calling Mario Yamasaki  out on it, and making him talk about it in the post fight interview. Then watching the replay, and talking with Erick Silva, Rogan repeatedly said, “see there was no shots to the back of the head” – Rogan needs to lay off whatever he’s smoking, because it was plain and clear, there was absolutely several shots to the back of the head, as well as attempts to hit the side of the head, but he DID hit the back of the head several times and Mario Yamasaki  absolutely made the correct decision. Shame on Joe Rogan. I’m still upset with Rogan over this.

Vitor Belfort vs. Anthony “Rumble” Johnson

Glad to see Vitor Belfort back in his winning fashion, (which he feels he never lost, since he thinks Anderson Silva’s head kick was a “lucky fluke”) I’m thinking Vitor must be sharing whatever Joe Rogan is smoking on that one. Anyway, Vitor in impressive fashion, defeats Anthony Johnson, who in my opinion deserved to lose for his exceptionally unprofessional inability to make weight, and his since been released from the UFC.

Jose Aldo vs Chad Mendes

The night of the knockout seemed to continue into the main event… Jose Aldo finished previously undefeated Chad Mendes in impressive fashion, literally 1 second perhaps less, as the bell rang, to earn the knockout at 4:59 of the very first round. The fight played on during the round as you would expect, with Jose Aldo firing off his powerful leg kicks, reminding Mendes why he doesn’t want to trade kicks with the UFC Champion, Mendes wanted the takedown bad, and was able to tie up the champ against the fence… and pad the price on the exit, as Jose Aldo spun around and kicked Chad, dropping him like a sack of potatoes, at 4:58, and jumping in for two punched at 4:59 stopping the fight, Mendes had his head sort of up after the kick and just watched the punches coming, didn’t even try to defend them, he was done. Jose Aldo, loved by the many fans in attendance, ran into the crowd to enjoy his celebrity status in Brazil.

Overall, an amazing night of knockouts, and super impressive fights. Also very glad to see Gabriel Gonzaga back in the octagon as he got back to his BJJ and finished his fight by submission. In the words of Charlie Sheen, WINNING! Excellent PPV.

Tags: UFC 142

Category: Fight Corner, MMA News