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Following Saturday's game-changing win for Chris Weidman over Anderson Silva at UFC 162, we asked MMATorch readers for their reactions to the event. Here's another batch of responses:
MMATorch Forum User MMAaddict: What did we all learn from UFC 162? Leben and Herman are done, and both are just as bad fighting with no drugs in their system as they are with them in their system. Edson Barboza is just as scary as we all thought he was before the Varner fight. I would honestly rather take a punch to the face than an outside leg kick from that dude. Let's give him the loser of the Cerrone-dos Anjos fight and see if he's learned his lesson. Cub Swanson is the real deal and one of the best featherweights in the world, only problem being is, he has already lost to the top three. Let's hope the UFC books the no brainer in Swanson-Edgar and I'll happily fork over my $60 right now just to see that fight alone. Dennis Siver, on the other hand, will never be elite no matter how many weight classes he drops.
Kennedy-Gracie sucked and it boggles my mind that out of the 37 Gracies that have fought, not one of them has learned how to strike. Edgar is who we thought he was, and I will order any PPV he is on. Munoz showed why he was once a fight or two away from a shot at Silva. The guy hits harder than anyone at MW once inside your guard, and my ribs still hurt from those body shots he was landing on Boetsch. The Munoz fight was also a hint of things to come in the Main Event.
Everyone discarded Weidman's win over Munoz, but after watching what Munoz did Saturday night, that should be the first clue to everyone at just how good Chris Weidman is. He destroyed Munoz and another thing he and Munoz proved tonight, is that with the right training camp, a year out of the cage means absolutely squat, so can everyone please stop using it as a knock against fighters heading into big fights.
Now to the meat and potatoes. I remember exactly where I was when Mike Tyson lost to Buster Douglas, and this fight has that same shock value to it. Despite the fact that I tried telling anyone who would listen, including the whole Torch Roundtable from a few months back, that Chris Weidman was a live dog in this fight and Anderson's toughest fight to date, I still had a hard time comprehending what had just happened while watching Anderson try to put Herb Dean in an ankle lock after he came to. I was the definition of ambivalent while watching the post fight interviews, on one hand the thought of having all my arguments and thoughts on Weidman justified was amazing, but on the other, along with all MMA fans out there, I came to the realization that we had just lost our chance at seeing what would of been the greatest fight in MMA history in Jones-Silva.
Now all the conspiracy theorists are saying it was fixed and that Silva got embarrassed and was mocking Weidman and thats what cost him, etc, etc. That all needs to stop; I won't even address the idea that is was fixed because it's a joke and not worth the time, but all the Silva lovers will break into two camps now. Some will man up and admit they were wrong and they too underestimated Weidman just as Silva clearly did. Unfortunately, there will be another camp that will insist that Silva is still the better fighter and that him clowning around in the ring is what lost him the fight and that Weidman did nothing more than land a lucky punch. This line of thinking is just as ridiculous as all the people who said that Weidman had no shot coming into this fight. For one, Anderson Silva was doing nothing more than being Anderson Silva. He's a counter puncher, and he knew that if he tried to take the fight to Weidman, it would make him susceptible to the takdown and that Weidman would be able to take him down over and over again. So he did what he does best and he goads fighters into coming after him at which point he usually slips the errant punches, knocks the guy out, and we all end up marveling at how truly amazing he is and how is able to win fights in that manner.
But when his frontkicks are being blocked, sorry Vitor, his counter punches aren't connecting and his opponent is able to throw not the usual two or three punches when coming forward, but this time and this guy is able to get that fourth and fifth shot off and connect multiple times to his chin-that all somehow equates to Anderson Silva still being the better fighter. To those with that point of view I say Wake Up! The writing was on the wall, you just failed to see it. And for those calling the punch a fluke, watch the fight against Uriah Hall. I tried referencing that fight when talking about Weidman's stand up and was mocked, but Hall is the only MW that I think can be compared speed and head movement wise to Silva. Silva is obviously superior in both categories but Hall is extremely hard to hit and now has something in common with Anderson, being that they have both only been knocked out once and it just so happens to be by the same guy and in almost the exact same manner. Hall was able to avoid the first few punches but after slipping them and backing up, Weidman kept coming and clipped him and finished him in almost the exact same manner as Silva, but hey that was probably a lucky punch too.
Weidman did everything we thought he would in the first, he got the takedown, landed some decent shots in the guard and even went for a submission. He dominated the first three minutes following the blue print that Chael had laid out for him. What everyone calling it a lucky punch is failing to realize is that Anderson never hurt Weidman, nor did he ever even land a clean shot.
Silva was forced to do what he was doing because he couldn't go after Weidman, knowing it would result in a takedown. His plan worked as Chris got frustrated and came after him, but his inability to capitalize this time is a direct reflection of Weidman's skill level and has nothing to do with Silva's antics in the ring. There was a jab or two that Weidman walked right through but he was able to avoid all the crazy stuff that Anderson usually lands, so instead of ridiculing Silva, for well just being Silva, commend the new champ for being the one who finally solved the puzzle that nobody else could over the last six years. Chris Weidman did something most thought he couldn't, and that was beat Anderson Silva at his own game. Chris Weidman was the better fighter Saturday night, end of story.
Chris S. (via Facebook): Silva didn't "give" anything away. He played his usual game against an opponent that didn't come to play. He came to take what is now rightfully his. Congrats Weidman. Maybe Silva will come to fight during the rematch. I dig Silva but it's nice to see the belt change hands. GSP is next. It's time for a new welterweight champ, too.
Robert J. (via Facebook): Lack of motivation looks to be an issue for Silva. With nothing left to prove, going out and beating the next contender just doesn't do it for him anymore. Best case scenario is he gets determined to prove this fight was a one time only situation and then moves immediately on to super fights or anything that will at least keep him interested.
Desmond R. (via Facebook): As a ride or die Silva fan I am so disappointed with him I can't even put it into words. He's still my favorite, but there isn't a person out there that doesn't feel like he didn't deserve to get KOed after show boating like that. Maybe this is a good thing for him though. I feel like when he fights Weidman again he will cut the crap, go out there and destroy him like we all know he can. I just pray he doesn't turn into GSP after he got KOed by Matt Serra.
MMATorch Forum User VisageArcane: Silva lost because he put his arms down and turned his to expose his jaw. Anyone with decent accuracy and good power could have knocked him out. I am glad Chris won, it has completely changed the landscape of the middleweight division for a long time to come. Silva played his games one too many times and it finally backfired.
Charles M. (via Facebook): Munoz-Boetsch was a hard fought battle of two midcard fighters trying to break into the upper tier of the 185lb division. Edgar showed that he is still a legitimate threat to the title(s). Barbosa needs to be featured on the pay-per-view lineup, he's far too talented to fight much lesser opponents on free TV. Cub Swanson continues to impress in the big show, defeating a game Dennis Siver. Anderson... when talent meets arrogance. You can only tempt fate for so long, and in Las Vegas fate called his bluff in the form of a hard left hook from Weidman. No more title reign. No rematch. No 'Superfight.' Here's hoping Chris Weidman defends the title - and faces his opponents - with the respect deserved.
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