by Will Gray
January 2012 is almost in the books for this year and already, the UFC has traveled from Brazil to Nashville and finished the month out inside Chicago, hosting UFC on FOX 2:Evans vs. Davis. Recording a sell out crowd in the arena that Michael Jordan helped build, the main card was not a slam dunk or blowout of a competition but rather a display of the mental warfare that takes place inside Mixed Martial Arts.
Fight Hub TV takes a closer look at this past Saturdays’ card in this edition of the “Locker Room.” Some fighters walk back and think what they could have done different, some walked back satisfied and some sit pondering how they will strategize their next victory.
BEST SURPRISE: CHRIS WEIDMAN
Taking a fight on eleven days notice against an opponent many regard as the best jiu-jitsu player in the game today, Weidman was not fazed by what Demain Maia brought to offer in the fight. He saw it as an opportunity to continue an undefeated streak and improve his stock. Not only utilizing his own strengths, but Maia’s new found striking strategies has pulled him away from his ground game which has allotted for losses; in this case a victory for Weidman
COMEBACK TRAIL: EVAN DUNHAM
After losing back to back fights to Sean Sherk and Melvin Guillard, the Xtreme Couture fighter kept his win streak alive by recording a second round TKO victory over Nik Lentz. The fight was stopped by the cage side doctor who declared Lentz could not continue due to injury but Dunham was in control of the fight and is looking to get back into title contention if he can secure another victory or two. An ideal opponent to test his merit and someone also looking at a title shot would be Donald Cerrone. Make it happen UFC!
FIGHTER DESERVING AN AWARD: CHAEL SONNEN
Not deserving an award for a fight which should of been a split decision (possibly for Bisping) the Oregon wrestler channeled more WWE-esque persona in his post fight interview, asking Joe Rogan – “How does it feel to stand next to greatness?” The best hype man and trash talker in the game was able to outpoint Bisping, an opponent who gave more of a fight than many, including Sonnen expected him to.
2ND STRING: PHIL DAVIS
Phil “Mr. Wonderful” Davis is a nice guy, likeable and able to win by numerous fashions. The fight against Rashad Evans had him looking like the new guy, scared to engage and never able to mount any significant offense against the former champion. Suffering his first pro loss, it is bittersweet since there were talks of a title shot for the Alliance MMA fighter. Looking how he did though, the fight can serve as a learning experience and improve his overall game if he looks at it in an optimistic experience and not just a loss to a tough opponent.
MATCHMAKER CARD: UFC ON FOX CHICAGO
The card had exciting finishes in the FUEL TV broadcast but had the main card all go to decision, something that is understandable to the devoted fan but channel flippers saw something foreign and irritating by guys earning points and not finishing fights. It is imposable that maybe Joe Silva and the boys figure out who will draw viewers to the main card and not who necessarily will be the name to feature.
This bout also helped pave the way for two huge fights needing to happen and now will this year. Black on black crime is happening in Atlanta, GA on April 21 2012 as Jon Jones will look to defend his title for the third time against his former friend and now nemesis, Rashad Evans as they will fight in the main event of UFC 145.
Chael Sonnen has his chance for redemption, explanation, closure – any adjective he wants to describe the rematch he so badly lives for with Anderson Silva and it is rumored to be happening in Brazil later this year. As fascinating this fight is shaped to be, one must think of possibilities: Anderson will either toy with Sonnen before finishing him, finish him as soon as he can or could be defeated by the testosterone deprived middleweight.
