Jon Jones made another good fighter look like an amateur. Jones is a freak of nature that is going to rule the light heavy weight division for years to come. He made an all-american college wrestler look like he had never completed a double leg in his life. I think Jones gets a reality check in his next fight though. The brazilians don't put up with snitches and Shogun is going to make Jones regret ratting out the potheads to the hall monitor in the dormitories. If Jones stands with Shogun, it will not end good. If Jones listens to the Phil Jackson of mma, Greg Jackson, and uses his wrestling and top control, a belt could be wrapped around his waist at 23 years of age in one of the toughest divisions in all of sports.
The Forrest/Franklin fight didn't up being the brawl that I thought it would be but I think it showed a lot about each guy. Forrest was just too big for Ace and stuck to a great game plan to use that advantage as much as possible. Franklin looked slow and gun shy by the third round. I wouldn't be surprised if Franklin retires in the next year or so.
Kid Yamamoto joins a long list of japanese fighters that fail to live up to the hype that they bring with them from Japan.
Jake Ellenberger will hopefully get his fight with Jon Fitch after BJ beats Fitch. (fingers crossed)
Rocha will bounce back from his loss and surprise some people in the welterweight division.
Cerrone and Torres made successful debuts tonight. I've seen more exciting fights from both of them but expect them to continue to make waves in their respective divisions.
Fights that I would make:
- Anderson Silva vs. Shogun Rua - I know that the UFC is really hoping to put the GSP/Silva fight together but I think Silva/Rua is a better fight.
- Jon Jones vs. Forrest Griffin - Jones is only 23 years old. He has destroyed everyone he has faced so far but he has also yet to face a top 5 fighter. Although I think he has a good chance at winning the belt from Shogun, I think the UFC would be better off building up his mystique a little longer. Forrest is basically the gate keeper to the top 5 of the light heavyweight division and would be a great test for Jones at this point in his career.
- Ryan Bader vs. Matt Hamill - I see these guys as being equals in the lhw division and think this could be an exciting fight with their wrestling negating each other and both of them having heavy hands.
- Miguel Torres vs. Demetrious Johnson - Johnson will push Torres into showing off the talent that helped Miguel run wild on the bantamweight division in the past.
- Jake Ellenberger vs. the loser of Penn/Fitch - Either fighter will be a step up for Jake.
- Donald Cerrone vs Nate Diaz - I know that Diaz is fighting at welterweight right now but this would be a hell of a fight and a great rivalry just waiting to happen.
- Rich Franklin vs. loser of Rampage/Thiago Silva - Rich is still a big name and deserves top notch competition. I don't see him winning a title ever again in his career so I'd like to see him go out with some big name, exciting matches.
- Vitor Belfort vs. Wanderlei Silva - This would be a fun fight that could co-headline the UFC's upcoming card in Brazil.
