RECOMMENDATION: Check back up here at the end of the show for a
spoiler-free recommendation about tonight's event. In the meantime, if
you want to see results, hit F5 as the show goes on for updated coverage.
* * * * * *
It’s 10:00 Eastern
on May 24, and you know what that means.
Let the lightning create the Zuffa logo, and let my hopes for a new
intro be dashed against the rocks. We’ve
got sepia, we’ve got gladiators, and we’ve got horrendous theme music. Luckily, however, we’re not tuning in for the
intro. This has almost no option but to
be a great card, with the top three fights alone being worth the price of
admission. Throw in Thiago Silva and an
intriguing newcomer taking on Wilson Gouveia and you’ve got a winner, my
friends.
With the intro over, we cut to the men in black – Mike Goldberg
and Joe Rogan. Something looks weird
about Goldberg’s hair tonight, which is not usually something I notice, so
maybe it always looks like that.
Whatever. I’ve got to have
something to talk about during the hyping of tonight’s fights, right? Oh, and don’t forget that you can text your
vote about whether you think Sherk or Penn will win tonight.
Joe Rogan calls Keith Jardine one of the most underlooked
fighters in the UFC, which I assume is a combination of
underrated/underappreciated and overlooked.
I’m just here to translate, folks.
But let’s get this thing started, shall we?
FIRST FIGHT:
THIAGO SILVA vs. ANTONIO MENDES (Light Heavyweight)
My first feeling is to go with Silva in this one, as I know
nothing about Mendes, but that doesn’t mean anything. Mendes is apparently riding an 11-fight win
streak, which is pretty impressive.
Usually I like to research the UFC noobs before the event, but due to being
crazy busy lately, I haven’t been able to.
Anyway, I’m going to go with Silva by 2nd round TKO here. If I’m going by theme music, Silva definitely
wins. Mendes entered to what sounded
like the Dead Kennedys, and Silva makes his way to the Octagon with some angry Portuguese
rap in the background. Definitely more
menacing on Silva’s part.
But before we get to the fights, let’s look at David Spade,
because we still need mid-level celebrities to validate the popularity of MMA.
ROUND ONE: They
circle to start out, and Mendes throws a big nasty head kick that’s blocked by
Silva, but Silva still wilts. Mendes
capitalizes and lands a knee as Silva comes back to his feet, and he lands some
inside knees in the clinch. They trade
leg kicks and Silva goes down. Mendes
follows, but then lets Silva up. They
trade punches, Mendes capitalizing on his reach advantage. Silva pushes Mendes against the fence, and
Mendes unsuccessfully attempts a judo throw.
Silva lands in Mendes’s guard, then transitions to side control and the
mount. Big right hand by Silva. Mendes looks to sweep, but Silva continues to
land punishing, thumping shots to the head.
Mendes turtles up under the barrage of punches and eventually taps
out. Very impressive win for Silva.
RESULT: Silva by TKO
at 2:24 of round one.
STAR RATING: (***-) Can’t ask for much more out of a couple of
minutes. I give it a bonus for quick
drama. Silva was rattled by the kick,
and Mendes was throwing some hard punches, but Silva weathered and pounded
Mendes into submission. Those were some
very heavy shots landed by Silva on the ground.
RAMIFICATIONS: Silva
has got to take a step up in competition now.
I wouldn’t be surprised if he fights a Rashad Evans or similar fighter
in his next tilt. Silva has some very
heavy hands and some brutal ground and pound, so I’m really interested to see
what he can do against tougher competition.
Mendes certainly acquitted himself well, despite the loss. He’ll be back in an undercard bout at some
point I’m sure.
They show Urijah Faber in the crowd, followed by a promo for
UFC 85.
