UFC DC was this past weekend. Let’s get right to the rundown.
UFC DC
GOOD- Ricky Simon vs. Rob Font
These guys traded takedowns and strikes through all three rounds. Font got the advantage more often and that’s why he got the decision victory from the judges. This was a good fight and a good win for Font.
GOOD/BAD- Cody Stamman vs. Yadong Song
Song was deducted a point in the first round because of an illegal knee. This led to the fight being a draw. I’m sure it’s frustrating for both guys to have given their all for three rounds and it basically mean nothing. I guess that happens sometimes but it still sucks.
GOOD- Aspen Ladd stops Yana Kunitskaya
Ladd started strongly in the first round, landing some heavy shots from the ground on top. Kunitskaya controlled the second round with her clinch work and then on the ground as well. In the third round, Ladd exploded with a big left hook that dropped Kunitskaya. Ladd pounced and the ref had to jump in and stop the fight. Good win for Ladd.
GOOD/BAD- Ben Rothwell stops Stefan Struve
The story of this fight was the two low blows Rothwell hit Struve with. They really changed the complexion of the fight. Rothwell likely would have won anyway, though you can’t count Struve out, but it’s hard to say that he wasn’t aided by the low blows. The finish came during a big exchange in the second round.
GOOD- Cynthia Calvillo vs. Marina Rodriguez
Rodriguez defended the takedowns of Calvillo through the first two rounds, punishing her with strikes and clinchwork. Calvillo was able to get a takedown and into good position in the third round, though, and she started dropping hellfire down on Rodriguez. The fight was almost stopped but Rodriguez survived. As a result, though, the fight was ruled a draw. A disappointing end but it happens.
BAD/GOOD- Jairzinho Rozenstruik stops Alistair Overeem
I didn’t care much for this fight. It was slow and plodding, though that was by design. Overeem was doing everything he could to avoid damage and pick away at Rozenstruik. It was effective for nearly all five rounds, until Rozenstruik blasted Overeem with a big right hand and the fight was waved off with four seconds left in the fifth round.
Overeem almost pulled off the win. That’s the danger of fighting to not lose instead of fighting to win. If you let a guy hang around and hang around, this can happen. Of course, at the same time, if you go out there and get in a firefight you could easily get knocked out as well. At this stage of his career, Overeem might be best suited to try to out-strategy his opponents instead of outgunning them.
Rozenstruik stayed active throughout the fight and kept coming at Overeem. He finally landed the big shot that gave him the win. He also showed good toughness, as he absorbed some punishment from Overeem and barely registered it. Good win for Rozenstruik.
Comments and suggestions can be emailed to me at hydenfrank@gmail.com and you can follow me on Twitter at @hydenfrank
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