UFC on Fox 5: Henderson vs. Diaz

[The Cork]

I hate this new Rory McDonald gimmick he has going on.

Clearly forced and fame hungry after seeing Sonnen get big IMO. You don't disrespect a legend like BJ Penn like that, even in a sport where you punch people in the face. That being said, BJ fooled everyone again with this "new and improved" rouse.

The title fight just proved how overrated Nate is. His boxing is garbage and gets way too much praise....if Cerrone or Jim Miller had a brain bigger than a peanut they would of squashed him too. Two 10-8 rounds, jesus christ.

 

[Ryan]

I came home just in time to see that fight and Bendo absolutely dominate.

That really wasn't even a contest. Bendo is really an unbelievable fighter though. He's exactly the kind of guy I like. He's all about the stand up relying on his aggression and explosive kicks but he also has a wrestling background so he's slippery as hell on the ground. I think it's really gonna be tough for anyone to beat him at lightweight because not only only is his skill quite exceptional but he's just so much bigger and stronger than all of the other lightweights. Nate was completely outmatched in terms of strength and you could tell by how easily Bendo was powering out of all of his holds. Once he was on his feet it was no contest because even if Nate's boxing is decent and he has the reach advantage, Bendo just throws kicks constantly and his legs are obviously longer than Nate's arms so reach almost wasn't even a factor. I mean, Henderson basically rendered Nate's boxing advantage ineffective with all those leg kicks because your base is so important in boxing and Henderson was mauling his legs with those low kicks. I think by the end of the third round Nate couldn't have throw a KO punch if he tried.

On a completely unrelated note, what was with the toothpick he had in his mouth?

 

[Embrace Thou Maryse]

I like Rory's bit of ego. He's promoting himself, he's pushing himself further up the ladder. As we've all seen lately winning fights doesn't mean a damn thing, if you talk big and show off you'll get the top quicker, the only problem of course is Rorys friends wit the current WW Champ and I dont see anyone beating GSP (apart from Silva) right now. As for BJ he disrespects himself wnough, who cares if someone else does.

 

[Slim]

Yeah I actually didn't mind Rory's display against BJ. BJ shoulda did somethin about it since he was new, improved, reignited his fire for fighting, and blah blah blah. yeah he is a legend but he sure nough didn't show up fighting like one. That display is gonna do nothing but help Rory. Everyone knows that showmanship goes a long way and that was showmanship.

As far as Nate goes... well... he just flat out got his ass handed to him. Plain and simple.

As far as the next challenger... I still think its gonna be Pettis. Henderson is gonna want to avenge that loss.

 

[Ryan]

Yeah I actually didn't mind Rory's display against BJ. BJ shoulda did somethin about it since he was new, improved, reignited his fire for fighting, and blah blah blah. yeah he is a legend but he sure nough didn't show up fighting like one. That display is gonna do nothing but help Rory. Everyone knows that showmanship goes a long way and that was showmanship.

As far as Nate goes... well... he just flat out got his ass handed to him. Plain and simple.

As far as the next challenger... I still think its gonna be Pettis. Henderson is gonna want to avenge that loss.

I think Henderson has risen above Pettis at this point and I really doubt Pettis will be able to beat him again. However, I'd still like to see them fight again.

No one at Welterweight can beat GSP. They guy came back after almost two years of not fighting and won anyway. If he could win that comeback fight, I feel like he can win any fight they throw at him.

 

[Slim]

Oh yeah I'm sure Henderson has risen above Pettis... but its kinda like Silva vs. Okami... even though it was a long time ago... you have a chance to beat the guy that gave you a defeat... you are going to take it. Its more about revenge for the loss than anything. Henderson would most likely school him and make it look bad but it'd be to show that the loss was only a fluke... and only that one kick.

As far as GSP goes... he just needs to go on ahead and fight Anderson. Hendricks has strong hands but GSP is good at everything and will find a way to neutralize that. Nick Diaz is well rounded but I don't know how he'll stack up against GSP. WW division is pretty much wiped clean.

 

[Ryan]

Nick Diaz is a great boxer and he's decent on the ground but GSP is slippery, has good kicks, and the the best ground game in the UFC. Diaz's ground game absolutely pales in comparison to GSP's. I think that Diaz is just too aggressive as well. GSP has an almost zen like approach to fighting like Anderson Silva. He's really methodical about it and as soon as Diaz comes in to strike, it's gonna be game over because GSP knows he's gonna come in to strike since that's Diaz's forte not to mention that GSP is incredibly well rounded. I mean look at his pedigree. He trains in damn near everything he possibly can to up his game.

 

[Embrace Thou Maryse]

As much as I like the Diaz's they're easy to beat if you work them out. Kicks, keeping distance and good wrestling and you'll just frustrate them. I really don't see Nick being able to beat the ultra calm GSP and Hendricks would be relying on landing that one big H Bomb. GSP is better than Hendricks in every area. Both GSP and Silva have cleaned out their divisions of any and all real challenges.

And yeah BJ was supposedly new and improved, but he looked like the same old BJ that can't be bothered.

 

[Troy]

Happy with the results from this. Henderson was way too good for Diaz and I couldn't believe the odds that I could get for him to win from Australian bookmakers. Henderson fighting with a toothpick is so dangerous though and should have been picked up in the pre-fight inspections. Gustafsson gets a big scalp but I agree that he isn't ready for a title shot yet. This was his real first big test and even though he passed he needs at least one more strong challenger before he gets a shot at Jones. Penn just shouldn't have come back, there was no real need for him to fight again.

The undercard to this was really good, one of the best undercards in some time. It is crazy that a one round fight can get FOTN but Jorgensen vs. Albert deserved it, one dramatic round with the perfect finish.

 

[Big Red Jericho Punk]

My UFC on Fox 5 review is here. I recently got accepted by Bleacher Report to write for them. I'll be doing it two or three times a week along with TJR Sports. Pretty excited anyway there is the recap and my thoughts on Rousey main eventing with Diaz versus St.Pierre also likely happening.

10 Things We Learned from UFC on Fox 5 & Major Headlines | Bleacher Report

 

[No More Sorrow]

UFC On FOX 5 had a rating of 2.8 with 3.41 million viewers. Second best rating for the FOX Series so far.

 

[Troy]

Just shows that if they have a solid maineventer with a couple of strong undercard matches they can pull a good rating. Only downside to this is that the Diaz brothers will continue to be pushed as top guys.