UFC 123 REVIEW: PHIL DAVIS VS. TIM BOETSCH

ROUND 1

After more than 2 minutes of feeling each other out, Davis takes Boetsch down and attempts an Arm Triangle.  Davis is unable to complete the submission, so lets Boetsch's arm go and rains down some ground and pound instead. It's not the most exciting ground and pound ever seen, but it at least allows Davis to maintain a dominant position over Boetsch and control him for the rest of the round. Despite not showcasing the most exciting match in MMA, though he admittedly try to finish early, Davis easily takes the round because of Octagon control.

UFC 123 REVIEW: GERALD HARRIS VS. MAIQUEL FALCAO

ROUND 1

The round starts out slow, as both fighters patiently circle each other. This process is very typical of almost any mixed martial arts match, but what is not typical is the fact that this lasts for 3 whole minutes. The crowd boos as expected, but there is unfortunately no change in the fighters' demeanor.

UFC 123 REVIEW: GEORGE SOTIROPOULOS VS. JOE LAUZON

Crazy. That's one way this fight could be described. Back and forth incredibly fast striking, nonstop scrambles on the ground, and, at least for me, a very surprising ending. I'm a big fan of both of these fighters and feel that they are true top prospects that will eventually get title shots. I predicted that Lauzon would take this, though. Both look to be about equal on the ground, but I figured that Lauzon has the faster, crisper boxing and footwork, and would be able to outmatch Sotiropoulos that way.

ROUND 1

UFC 123 REVIEW: HUGHES VS. PENN

Wow, just ... wow. I never would have predicted it in a million years. Yup, it's all true. BJ Penn just knocked out Matt Hughes in only 21 seconds. Penn caught him with a right, dropped him, and immediately swarmed on him with some ground and pound. Hughes never knew what hit him and he was out like a light. After he came to, the first thing said he was "what happened?"

UFC 123 REVIEW: RAMPAGE VS. MACHIDA

Fast action, fighters getting knocked down, mind games on the ground; this match had it all! I really like both of these fighters and have been eagerly awaiting this fight. I'm a bigger fan of The Dragon's, though, and it's the primary reason I predicted that he'd take it.

My prediction wasn't all subjective, though. Rampage's primary method of success in the Octagon is getting hold of guys, slamming them, dealing huge ground and pound, or catching them on their feet with just one punch. I was sure that Lyoto's legendary elusiveness would allow him to avoid all that, and that he would be able to slip past Rampage's defenses and either knock him out like he did Rashad, or take him down and submit him somehow.

THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER SEASON 12 EPISODE 10 REVIEW

This episode was surprisingly average, given that there two fights and a mind-boggingly awesome guest appearance. It's still one of the better ones of the season, I suppose.

AARON WILKINSON VS. KYLE WATSON

THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER SEASON 12 EPISODE 5 REVIEW

John Fitch, who actually appeared in the last episode, is recognized only this time around. He shares that attitude is the most important thing in fighting. It's much better to be an out of shape fighter who listens and has a great attitude, than the best athlete in the world who doesn't listen and has a bad attitude.

Back at the house, the annoying pranks continue. Alex Caceres places bleach in Nam Phan's fabric softener in order to prank Team Koscheck, but his teammate, Micheal Johnson, uses it first and gets seriously pissed off.

UFC 123 PREDICTIONS

MAIN CARD

1. Quinton Jackson vs. Lyoto Machida - Machida
2. Matt Hughes vs. BJ Penn - Hughes
3. Gerald Harris vs. Maiquel Falcao - Harris
4. Phil Davis vs. Tim Boetsch - Davis
5. George Sotiropoulos vs. Joe Lauzon - Lauzon

UFC 122 REVIEW PART 6: THE PRELIMS

SETH PETRUZELLI VS. KARLOS VEMOLA

Vemola's strategy is painfully evident from the very beginning. He wants to take Petruzelli down and use his impressively massive frame to his advantage by raining down ground and pound and finishing the fight.

He charges in like a bull at the sound of the bell and, when he eventually grabs hold of Petruzelli, viciously slams him onto the mat. Petruzelli immediately manages to get back up, though, but Vemola is persistent and just charges in to grab hold once again and slams his opponent to the mat. Petruzelli counters, though, and attempts a Triangle Choke, but is unable to lock it in.

UFC 122 REVIEW PART 5: OSIPCZAK VS. LUDWIG

NICK OSIPCZAK VS. DUANE LUDWIG

The fight starts out as a stand up brawl, but when Ludwig lands an early head kick, Osipczak immediately clinches to recover. Ludwig quickly breaks free, and lands a knee to the head and rocks Osipczak once again. Osipczak can really take since, after two direct hits to the head, he's still standing, though obviously hurt. In fact, he comes back and drops Ludwig with a left hook! Outstanding! Osipczak jumps on Ludwig and rains some ground and pound on him, but is unable to finish.

UFC 122 REVIEW PART 4: SOSZYNSKI VS. RELJIC

KRYSZTOF SOSZYNSKI VS. GORAN RELJIC

The first round starts out as an evenly matched stand up war, where both fighters receive as much as they give. It seems that every time one fighter becomes aggressive and lands a few successful shots, the other pays him in kind instantly. Reljic changes pace and takes Soszynksi down late in the round, though, and winds up almost being submitted by Soszynksi with a Kimura for his troubles. Soszynski is unable to finish, though, and the fight goes on to a second round. Very difficult round to score, but since Reljic got that takedown late in the round, I would think that he won it. 

UFC 122 REVIEW PART 3: SADOLLAH VS. SOBOTTA

AMIR SADOLLAH VS. PETER SOBOTTA

Sadollah comes out very fast and active with his Muay Thai and smartly mixes up his punches and kicks at various levels. Sobotta, obviously outmatched in the striking department, clinches with Sadollah and pins him against the fence every chance he gets.Sobotta attempts to sweep Sadollah several times and get him to the ground, but Sadollah defends well, and keeps the fight standing the entire time. Despite not dealing any damage at all, Sobotta controlled Sadollah on the fence for most of the round, so the judges most probably gave it to him. 

UFC 122 REVIEW PART 2: SIVER VS. WINNER

DENNIS SIVER VS. ANDRE WINNER

This was a great fight, though I wonder greatly why Winner chose his game plan. Dennis Siver is a renowned German kickboxing champion. As such, it would seem that the appropriate plan of attack would be to utilize wrestling to get him down to the ground, control him with some ground and pound, and eventually submit him. Winner is a good enough striker himself, and thus chose to stick to his own personal style, but that, unfortunately, was his undoing.

UFC 122 REVIEW PART 1: THE MAIN EVENT

NATE MARQUARDT VS. YUSHIN OKAMI

I was a bit disappointed in this fight, primarily because it's not one of the most exciting main events in UFC history. Also, despite the fact that both warriors are competing for a title shot, there's no belt on the line yet, so there isn't any tension to add to the lack of action.

WEC 52 REVIEW PART 3: THE PRELIMS

This article only contains one fight as this was the only shown on the live broadcast. Not to worry, though, this fight was so amazing that it deserves a whole review all to itself!

CUB SWANSON VS. MACKENS SEMERZIER

WEC 52 REVIEW PART 2: THE MAIN CARD

This review features the other fights on the main card. To check out my views on the main and co-main events, go here. For the preliminary fights, go here.

ERIK KOCH VS. FRANCISCO RIVERA 

WEC 52 REVIEW PART 1

I almost missed this one as I had completely forgotten the date, which is why I didn't post my predictions. Good thing I remembered at the last minute, though, because this was certainly another great night of fights, which is pretty typical for the WEC.

THE MAIN EVENT:

URIJAH FABER VS. TAKEYA MIZUGAKI

THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER SEASON 12 EPISODE 9 REVIEW

This episode features two straight fights, and the first is between Jonathan Brookins and Sako Chivitchian.  Brookings previously won against Sako's close friend and fellow Armenian Sevak Magakian, via a very quickly executed Rear Naked Choke. It's up to Sako to prevent Brookins from ever using that technique against anyone  on his team again, as well as upholding his Armenian pride by avenging his friend's loss.

THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER SEASON 12 EPISODE 4 REVIEW

Iron Mike sticks around and offers Team GSP some words of wisdom. He states that the smarter fighter always wins and that confidence is key, not only in fighting, but in any aspect of life.

Back at the house, Team Koscheck lets loose their sour grapes at Alex Caceres. Apparently, Caceres was yelling all sorts of profanities against Wilkinson during the fight and Team Koscheck took offense to that. Oookay. I honestly don't see anything wrong with that. Sure, yelling profanities against another person is a bad thing, but Caceres was essentially just cheering for his team in his own way. And now, just because they lost, Team Koscheck is looking for a scapegoat to vent their anger upon. And better yet, when Caceres gets annoyed at them for talking about him behind his back, Sevak goes into a mindless rage. Team Kosecheck definitely looks like it's being demonized, at least in this episode. Caceres just laughs it off, which is, oddly enough, the mature thing to do.

THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER SEASON 12 EPISODE 3 REVIEW

As promised, Bruce Leroy grows too cocky because of his win against Jeff Lentz and goes off on a tirade of boasting. Pretty boring, though, as nothing really came of it. Back in training, GSP brings in Olympic silver medalist Gia Sissaouri to help train wrestling with his team. Koscheck, meanwhile, senses that his team might not be giving it their all and tells it to them straight.

THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER SEASON 12 EPISODE 2 REVIEW

The fighters move into the house and one of them is quickly highlighted: Jeff Lentz, who lives a stereotypically unhealthy lifestyle despite being a professional fighter. He smokes all day and drinks all night, though still apparently works very well in training, with plenty of gas in the tank and strength in his muscles.

UFC 122 PREDICTIONS

MAIN CARD

1. Nate Marquardt vs. Yushin Okami - Marquardt
2. Jorge Rivera vs. Alessio Sakara - Sakara
3. Dennis Siver vs. Andre Winner - Siver
4. Amir Sadollah vs. Peter Sobotta - Sadollah
5. Krzysztof Soszynski vs. Goran Reljic - Soszynski


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