CHAPTER 215: Reviewing UFC 90

"Yes indeed. Knock on wood. Gimmer your head." - Joe Rogan

Sean Sherk vs Tyson Griffin

On overall this was a very good fight. It was a very engaging fight (non stop duel) where both fighters showed great cardio. The nature of the entire fight was probably fitting for the final result which was a decision victory for Sherk.
In the first round, there plenty of explosive changes between Sherk and Griffin. But I would give the edge in this round to Sherk. He even managed to get on Griffin’s back.
In the second round Griffin threw more kicks, but I found him to unable to get the takedowns against Sherk. Anyway I think that Sherk had better attempts at takedowns compared to Griffin’s, and Sherk definitely put on more relentless punches (more combos that hit Griffin).
The third and final round was an all out stand-up/striking encounter between both fighters.
Griffin probably three more kicks, but perhaps they didn’t shook or rattled Sherk as much. There were head kicks that did not connect with Sherk’s head. I believe that when it came to punches, Sherk threw more combos and hit Griffin more.
The fight probably reflects on what Joe Rogan said during the fight, which is the fighters were fighting mirror images of each other.

My Fight Rating: 4 ½ stars out of 5


Fabricio Werdum vs Junior Dos Santos

The question that begs to be asked is why the hell did Werdum came into this fight in the shape that he was in. Seems more now that Werdum really had himself to blame and most probably also screwed himself up (especially cardio wise) in losing (why the fat?).
For Dos Santos perspective’s however, a fantastic victory with a quick knockout that results for a quick win. His knockout adds to my fight rating.

My Fight Rating: 3 stars out of 5


Josh Kosheck vs Thiago Alves

The fight was more of a standup battle, but definitely more for Thiago Alves. The Brazilian controlled and dominated the fight more on his strengths.
Alves had the better striking, and he utilized more and effective kicks. And he hit Kosheck more than Kosheck hitting him.

Alves about to land a leg kick on Kosheck

Kosheck was unable to impose his wrestling against Alves, and I think that in this fight Kosheck showed that he found it hard to counter against the Brazilian’s attacks.
With this win, Alves has to be GSP’s next opponent for the WW title (after the expected GSP-BJ Penn II of course).
For Kosheck however, as with most fighters who ended up in defeat, it puts them of par from the potential title contenders (though I think Kos will be back when he further improves). Nevertheless, one must give credit to Kosheck as not only did he took this fight on a short notice, but he managed to go through the distance in the fight (and he managed to survive from that short barrage of strikes from Alves early on in the third round).

My Fight Rating: 4 stars out of 5


Anderson Silva vs Patrick Cote

Well, before I proceed I suppose it’s a definite thought (among everybody’s opinions, those who saw the fight) that this was a disappointing fight. The fact that people were expecting for a demolition show by Silva or an extremely unthinkable upset by Cote and neither happened (adding with how the entire fight occurred and it’s improbable ending) elucidate the disappointment.
A question to be asked here (that is directed towards the still remaining MW champ) is why did Silva fought the way he did?
Silva kept stalling and circling around Cote for like the majority of the fighting period. Even though Joe Rogan kept saying that Silva liked to wait for his time early on and analyzing his opponents and their movements first but in this fight I think that everyone was wondering when is he going to outstrike Cote completely (and judging by how the fight came about one can definitely say that if Silva stepped up a gear he could definitely strike and out power Cote in the striking department, as considering that Silva has the more supremely Muay Thai credentials and mastery). But then again, it cannot be discarded that Silva did land the more crucial hits (especially that knee that hit Cote’s forehead in the first round). Had the fight lasted the entire 5 rounds (or a probable knockout) it would be clear that Silva would have been the winner either ways.


However, one must give a lot of credit to Patrick Cote in this fight (even though he came in with a defensive and cautious strategy, which in mind regarding the fighter he was going to fight is a probable tactic to stick with). He has, after all, became the only fighter in the UFC thus far that has been able to hang with Silva (especially considering that he’s the first at this time to have gone past the 3rd round, albeit that it only lasted a short period) without suffering a heavy barrage of punishment unlike Silva’s previous opponents. Cote’s chin surely held up against Anderson’s striking (even if they were probably few than in any of Silva’s single round from any of his previous fights).

Anyway, with this fight ending in such way, I think the question now is that what’s next for Anderson Silva? I’m sure everyone else will be pondering the same stuff too, thinking what’s the UFC’s next plan for their MW champ would be.
I’m not exactly sure if we’ll be seeing Silva in the near future, as I think that from the crop of the middleweights available, perhaps none of them would be straight in the line to face him yet (as I think they need to certify or solidify their right first by battling against each other before getting a shot at Silva). I’m not sure if Yushin Okami is in the UFC’s plans though, doesn’t seems to be any news or rumours regarding Silva’s next step.
Hence my opinion that Silva might face (provided that he beats BJ Penn) GSP in a battle for P4P king status or another fight at 205 with another of those light heavyweight ‘gatekeepers’ perhaps.


My Fight Rating: 2 ½ stars out of 5