Ortiz VS Bader.

MMALinker: Tito Ortiz vs Ryan Bader fight video UFC 132

 

Leben VS Silva.

MMALinker: Wanderlei Silva vs. Chris Leben Fight Video UFC 132

 

I hate Tito, but that was a strong performance.. went in, rocked him and finished him..

 

Computstrike comparo of Faber VS Cruz for those who had doubts about the decision: CompuStrike Comparison Report

Faber has to finish, which is incredibly tough against someone so fast as Cruz.

 

UFC 132 presser highlights: UFC 132 Post-Fight Press Conference Highlights

 

im happy that both Tito and Cruz won, although i am a bit surprised that the Cruz/faber fight lasted all 5 rounds...

 

Did you think one of them would finish the other earlier, and if so, either, or just Cruz?

 

Matt Hughes Thinks Georges St-Pierre Would Beat Anderson Silva

Matt Hughes Thinks Georges St-Pierre Would Beat Anderson Silva

 

The Ortiz/Bader fight I did not expect to end so quickly as Bader was/is a strong contender. The Cruz/Faber fight i was expecting Cruz to win in the first two rounds as he has become a much better fighter since his loss to Faber back in 07.

 

Bader needs to fight much smarter. Faber as well. It's pretty surprising, isn't it?...These guys are in INSANE shape, and very skilled, yet they have to fight much smarter in order to stay ahead because training methods have brought the game up to a higher level.

Cruz is one incredibly fast mofo. I'd like to see him go up to '45 and go up against Aldo.

Faber's going to have to get better strategic coaching at this point, as he keeps coming with a bad plan for his opponent. He's got all the physical tools. I really like the guy. It's just frustrating seeing him lose when he works so hard to prepare.

Bader, I don't know...he's got more of an excuse than Faber, if you can call it that. He's pretty green in the MMA world at the top tier. He's really only fought 4 world-class MMA fighters, beat two of them (Jardine and Nog are battered, worn veterans, so no surprise there, and no great victory), and now has lost badly to one young star in Jones, and one veteran in Tito. Bader's a great wrestler, has serious punching power, but he's not sophisticated enough yet to be a serious contender in MMA.

GSP is still at the apex of this sport. He's like a Sun Tzu of MMA in my opinion, and he surrounds himself with those who think this way as well. He prepares completely; objective > strategy > tactics. He makes it a mental game, and backs it up with phenomenal physical preparedness. I think Edgar's learned from that. I think BJ has as well (although he doesn't physically train hard enough). Faber, Bader and others need to spend more time on strategy if they are to fulfill objectives. You can't skip to the tactics, and this shows in their fundamental errors. It's as if they don't know their opponents well enough to isolate weaknesses and have succinct plans to exploit them. I'm really starting to enjoy this sport more and more as it becomes a thinking man's game and increasingly difficult to maintain your position on top.