UFC 61 thoughts...

[gillpad]

Post UFC 61 thoughts: After watching one of the most hyped UFC events ever, one cannot help but be dissapointed. The possible comeback of a used up Shamrock fed the anticipation right up until his initial attack was crushed and he ended up on his back, once again, with Ortiz pounding on him. You might thing that of all the training Shamrock did in preparation for this event, he might have sharpened up his bottom/back skills, where he is absolutely abysmal. He is not going to take Ortiz or any other respectable modern wrestler down, so he might have anticipated spending some time in that position. The filler fights were pathetic, from the first bloody mess onwards. Here is a huge question for the UFC as it attempts to polish its image: why not clean up the puddles of blood? It looks horrid and barbaric. What fighter wants to get caught on his back in another fighter's puddle of blood? And why not stop the fight earlier? -- even if the bleeding fighter can continue? I'm sorry, but the bloodied warrior image is something that really doesn't need to be a part of this. And the final fight was with Arlovski and Sylvia was no more than a 3rd tier boxing match. What has been boxer couldn't have wasted either of them? There was obviously some huge caution for either of them to go to the ground. Arlovski was not going to take Sylvia down -- Sylvia, though absolutely one dimensional, is so tall and awkwardly strong, he is nearly impossible to take down; he's an ungainly goofball, but uses his dorky resources to his best advantage. His punches are short and on target -- and with his long arms and shoulderless upper body, he can direct them with deadly efficiency. However, against a 3rd tier pro boxer, he, or Arlovsky, would be far outclassed. So what we were left with was a 4th rate boxing match with two guys that quickly bored us to death with their very limited boxing skills. As much as the Ortiz fight was anticlimactic in its sudden ending, this one was anticlimactic in its incredibly boring duration. 'Scuse me, but diesn't Arlovsky remember how to kick? Doesn't he spend hours every week training kicks? Or anything else, rather than just his two step boxing routine?
...A few added commments on Shamrock: -who seemed to be very troubled by the verdict of the ref, who stepped in and stopped the carnage and brain damage. This was just as bad if not worse than the Royce Gracie ending at the hands of Hughes. It wasn't just the battering of fists throughout the rounds as in the first fight. It was the undefended elbows of Ortiz. Shamrock can yell that he was wronged by the ref, but he was not. The ref stopped the bout because Shamrock could not defend himself.

[VictorCharlie]

couldn't agree more. Tim did what he does, but Andrei had to know he needed the last round, and was happy to just let the time tick away. Tim's punch power must have really been the back of Arlovski's head. And why not even try a takedown?

[gillpad]

I think Andrei felt intimidated after the initial tie up with Silvia -- his attempt to take him down then was in vain, totally. Beyond that, it seemed every time he led with a leg or a punch, Silvia would nail him -- because Andrei leads with his head, he turns his head away, and when he comes across with his right, he lowers his head -- all very bad habits in boxing, and something no professional would do. The limited boxing skills of the vast majority of UFC fighters is surprising -- lots of them, including Arlovksky and most notably Ludell, are great brawlers who know how to land punches in flurries -- but this really isn't the same as being a good, technical boxer. And stopping someone's one-two punch routine that is so repetitive its nauseating, is no harder than stopping someone's leg shots. Anyone with any skill can do it.

[Munkymagic]

Am in the UK and have not seen it yet...cheers for the (virtually) blow by blow though. Are you gonna tell me how the sixth sense ends whilst your at it|?

[steady_E]

I know this is a violent sport but I felt physically sick when Eve Edwards head started squirting blood all over the place

I really think that blood bath was alowed to go on too long!

[Emelianenko]

This event was awful. AWFUL! Only good fight was Tito shamrock but even though refs call was good, he shud just let tito beat up on ken bit more.

AA and Sylvia. Both fought shit, none of the two deserve credit or looked improved or anything. Was a boring standup fight and i just switched off and thought F this, aint worth watching.

[gillpad]

The bloodletting was repulsive, no question. This is one of the aspects of the UFC that really does carry us back to the Roman times.........

[Von Milash]

I think Andrei felt intimidated after the initial tie up with Silvia -- his attempt to take him down then was in vain, totally. Beyond that, it seemed every time he led with a leg or a punch, Silvia would nail him -- because Andrei leads with his head, he turns his head away, and when he comes across with his right, he lowers his head -- all very bad habits in boxing, and something no professional would do. The limited boxing skills of the vast majority of UFC fighters is surprising -- lots of them, including Arlovksky and most notably Ludell, are great brawlers who know how to land punches in flurries -- but this really isn't the same as being a good, technical boxer. And stopping someone's one-two punch routine that is so repetitive its nauseating, is no harder than stopping someone's leg shots. Anyone with any skill can do it.

AMEN, brotha!!!! CC.


I could see Arlovski's bad habits in the last fight they had. EVERY TIME he threw a big right he dropped his left. Ane eventually it cost him the fight.

Not enough UFC "brawlers" know how to utilize the jab. They just look for the big O shot which is extremely dangerous when two guys are just throwing haymakers with 4oz gloves on. It's almost a coin toss at that point as to who will win. No boxing savvy whatsoever in the UFC.

[yoitsdan]

The best thing about UFC 61 was finding out that Wanderlai Silva will be challenging Chuck!

[gillpad]

-----redone............who was the fighter who knocked out Chris Leben -- a very good standup Brazillian ( I believe) fighter who won within a minute I thought his last name was Silva............ :

[gillpad]

I'm sort of thinking that if Slyvia is the antithesis of what a fighting human being should look like. His gangly, awkward posture is something that is made even worse looking by his one dimensional fighting style and his excessively primitive facial expressions -- all of which are superbly enhanced by his 'make my look at stupid as you can' haircut and facial hair. This unfortunate combination has to cause any normal person to want him to lose, which naturally is something that is frustrating, since he is winning. One wonders why? What about him makes him a good fighter? I really cannot tell. I do know that being shoulderless seems to give him a more precise punching range -- its also possible that certain primitive elements give him an edge over more civilized individuals: this situation naturally doesn't augur well for those who think technique and skill will serve them well in an event that seems to be replacing professional boxing as a combative spectator sport. When you think of how he defends himself you surely don't see anything that resembles a skilled technician at work. Its almost mind boggling. Just watch him stand -- its a wonder his legs work! Yet he doesn't have bad kicks. Its the kind of situation that just makes you wonder. Is this really the best there is, and if so, why? Such a huge deal has been made out of Arlovsky, yet he was unable to answer a real challenge. Obviously, no matter what he does to remedy this, it most likely won't succeed, because he just isn't isn't that capable when confronted with the elongated 'thing'.

[yoitsdan]

Wow you need to lay off the (delete as neccessary) Drugs/Coffee/Liquour/ and take a chill pill man

[VictorCharlie]

gillpad why did you answer your own question?

[hailrain]

Im scratching my head as to why people are so against fighters bleeding during the match. We are watching two people throw fists and knees at another persons head and we are not suppsoed to expect blood?!!! wtf. who cares if theres alot of blood. as long as the cut isnt serious we shoudnt worry.

[gillpad]

Let's just hope you aren't getting blood on your fingers as you scratch...and I mean heck, if someone is comfortable wallowing in another person's blood, there's no reason not to express it. However, one of the goals of most organized sports is to present itself as somewhat civilized. Any number of viewers or participants out there might be perfectly at ease watching blood gushing from an open wound and pouring unchecked onto the combat surface, as the opponents smear it around on their bodies -- perhaps even inviting some of it into their own systems if there is an open sore or wound. But most people, even if they do like watching fights, do not like this aspect of it; I've wrestled and done all sorts of mixed martial arts, and I find the blood thing pretty disgusting, when left unchecked. BTW- what does 'wtf' mean? Does it have something to do with liking the more barbaric aspects blood combat?