Fireworks Before & After UFC 137

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UFC 137 was last night and it turned out to be an interesting night of fights.  Let’s go right to my picks…

  • Mirko Cro Cop vs. Roy Nelson –
    Prediction: Nelson wins by TKO.
    Result: Nelson won by TKO in round 3 making me 1-0 for the night.
  • Cheick Kongo vs. Matt Mitrione
    Prediction: Mitrione wins by TKO.
    Result: Kongo won by unanimous decision making me 1-1 for the night.
  • BJ Penn vs. Nick Diaz
    Prediction: Diaz with an upset win.
    Result: Diaz won with a unanimous decision making me 2-1 for the night.

Final thoughts:

  • Brandon Vera showed a lot of heart in earning a close but unanimous decision [29-28 on all 3 judge’s cards] over Elliott Marshall.  What’s even more impressive is Vera did it with a broken arm.  For the record, I’m not a huge Vera fan.
  • Bart Palaszewski looked impressive in his KO victory over  Tyson Griffin.
  • Donald Cerrone was even more impressive in his submission victory over the very tough Dennis Siver.  When is Cerrone going to get a title shot?
  • A slimmed down Roy Nelson TKO’d  Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic right into retirement.  Does anyone really think we’ve seen the last of Cro Cop?  Do we now call him Roy Not As Big Country Nelson ?
  • Cheick Kongo handled Matt Mitrione and that really surprised me.  I wonder why Meathead didn’t go after Kongo?  Too much respect?  Was he worried that Kongo would Pat Barry him?
  • Nick Diaz whooped B.J. Penn right into retirement.  [Does anyone really think we’ve seen the last of The Prodigy?]  Diaz now has a title shot against GSP since Carlos Condit agreed to step aside.

    After his win last night, Diaz took the mic and called out GSP, saying GSP faked the injury that prevented him from fighting on the same card against Carlos Condit.  Diaz had been dogging GSP for some time now and apparently the strategy worked.  GSP asked Dana White for the chance to fight Diaz.  It looks like the fight will happen Super Bowl weekend.

    Love him or hate him, everyone has an opinion of Nick Diaz.  Perhaps Dana White said it best, “People love real fighters and this kid is a real fighter.”