After a few days to reflect back on covering UFC 100, I can say without a doubt it was by far the busiest UFC event I have ever covered.
After a few days to reflect back on covering UFC 100, I can say without a doubt it was by far the busiest UFC event I have ever covered.
When I first got the news that we would be landing in Las Vegas a full five days before the show, little did I realize we would hit the ground running and capture so much content for our news shows and for "MMA Connected."
I wrote about our daily experiences but eventually ran out of time to blog about the remaining few days. I'm not sure there will ever be an event as busy as UFC 100, but if there is ever going to be one that's close, it will likely be one of either Vancouver, Toronto or the next time the UFC includes a Fan Expo.
The Expo itself was massive on all scales. Having been part of Gerald Chopik's "MMA Expo" here in Toronto since the original concept of this type of trade show was introduced, I had an inkling of what to expect. But little did I realize that when the "Eight Hundred Pound Gorilla" puts on a show, the event becomes magnified in nature.
From shooting so many interviews to the Hall of Fame induction, the extra workload gave us, the Sportsnet team, next to zero time to catch our breath. The six days spent in Vegas were a big blur -- a 100 mph frenzy that I may never forget, but definitely do not regret. When you have the greatest job in the world, fatigue is not an option.
The real reason we were there -- the fights -- were great. The night starts off with two fighters refusing to tap and continued on with Mark "I'm not done yet" Coleman's victory over Stephan Bonnar. Not a highlight performance but to hear the crowd cheer the elder statesman on was awe-inspiring. Good for Coleman and his trainer Shawn Tompkins for getting him ready for the rough and rugged Bonnar (whom Dana White hinted may not be cut by the organization).
The Yoshihiro Akiyama vs. Alan Belcher fight is raising quite the controversy, what with Belcher reportedly being robbed of the decision. When I saw the fight live, I scored it for Akiyama but will have to review it one more time to see if I was right. Either way, both guys laid it out on the line and deserve the Fight of The Night bonus. My initial pick for the bonus was Mac Danzig and Dan Miller, but I don't make that call. If you get a chance to see that fight, do it - it's well worth the 15 minutes of action.
The controversy emanating from the Dan Henderson-Michael Bisping fight is semi-warranted. Nobody wants to see a fighter strike another who is unconscious on the mat, but a fighter's job is to finish the fight, while it's up to the referee to be in the right position to stop the bout. Mario Yamasaki did his best to do it, but was just off by a second. Henderson could have let off and perhaps not even thrown that last strike, but if Bisping would have awoken, he may have been vilified for not finishing him off. Sources have told me that Bisping was fine, and enjoying Vegas that evening, so thankfully, the Brit will be back in the cage soon enough.
The welterweight Title Fight between Georges St. Pierre and Thiago Alves was another golden bout for the champ. To have torn a tendon in his abductor and still fight for two more rounds just goes to show you that even at less than 100 per cent, he can still handled the No. 1 contender in the division. Pound for pound, he is the best right now. I also know that the two warriors spent some time together the following day celebrating their incredible fight. Great sportsmanship and comraderie by the two.
Now, what Brock Lesnar did to Frank Mir after he defeated him was far from sportsmanlike and unfortunately, tasteless. His post-fight comments were also classless, but I will give him the benefit of the doubt. After being scolded by Dana White backstage, Lesnar did publicly apologize for his behaviour. Some say "too little, too late," but it takes a big man to admit he was wrong.
While what Lesnar did was the exception, not the rule in MMA, the amount of talk he has generated amongst the fans and media has been enormous. When I returned from Vegas, I did more radio interviews about his antics across Canada than I have ever done for anything UFC-related. Stations from B.C., Alberta and the Maritimes all wanted my thoughts on Lesnar's "WWE antics."
Many were disgusted and said it pulled the sport back 10 years, but I believe many of these critics will get over it. What he did was wrong -- taking aim at a fighter he just defeated then a UFC sponsor, and then saying what he said about his wife was unjust.
But what I do know is this, having been around combat sports and entertainment long enough, there will be a legion of fight fans who cannot wait to see Lesnar lose. The next time he fights, millions will want to tune in to see him get his butt handed to him. And of course, for all the Lesnar fans, they will want the big man to keep what he's doing and prove that he is the best heavyweight in the world.
Thursday on my Fan 590 radio show, I'll hopefully be speaking with Shane Carwin, one of four guys I believe can give Lesnar a run for his money. His wrestling is awesome, he punches with major power and has lunchbox fists like Lesnar does. If he can get by Cain Velasquez in his next fight, he'll get his chance likely in early 2010.
The other three? First up, Fedor Emelianenko. "The Russian Emperor" is the greatest heavyweight of all time, so if the UFC can put that fight together, it would be monstrous. Can they do it though? I'm not sure they can.
Another fighter I believe has a shot, albeit a long shot, is a man who is still years away from even contending: Bobby Lashley. He has the size and power but it remains to be seen if he can keep from being taken down to the ground by Lesnar, who I believe is the superior wrestler.
The last person who I believe can take out Lesnar in the Octagon… is yet to reveal himself. I'm on the hunt for a big striker with exceptional takedown defence. A guy, who if taken down, can get right back up. A fighter, who if he connects, may put the UFC champ to sleep. Remember Chuck Liddell in his prime? That's the heavyweight fighter I am in search of who can beat Lesnar. If he's out there, I want to meet him NOW.
