Ultimate Fighter 9 Finale: DaMarques, Wilks, Guida, Sanchez, Blood and Guts.
Although I was les than excited about the card for UFC 99 last weekend, I have to say that the UFC more than made up for it tonight!
The card for the Ultimate Fighter season 9 finale was great, and the performances were white-knuckle intense.
Specifically, I want to cover two fights, one with interested for Utah locals, the other the main event for the nght:
DaMarques Johnson vs. James Wilks:
Both fighters seemed to come out confident, and were throwing good shots, but I have to give the standup game to Wilks. His shots seemed to have more power, and just be coming better. Another point I want to briefly touch on is a failed hip-throw by Wilks. The two men were tied up for a bit, with DaMarques working to take Wilks down. But why do all MMA fighters do takedowns like wrestlers? I was pleased to see Wilks go for a hip-throw (even though it failed.) Many of you already know I am a Judo guy. I think every skill has its place, and by no means think Judo si the end-all be-all… but I would liek to see some more Judo skills in the octagon.
Once on the ground both men seemed to have areally impressive game. Again however, I would have to give the edge to Wilks. He was constantly going for highly technical sumbissions. But this is were I think we really got to see DaMarques shine as well. The avoidance of submissions by DaMarques Johnson was nothing short of super-human. Yes, he did end up losing by a rear naked choke, but let’s not overlook that omoplata that looked like it was going to end the fight, or the several other submissions that were nearly as deep.
DaMarques Johnson will be showing up a lot more in the UFC to be sure. His sick ground game, though primarily defensive in this bout, showed the skill level he competes at. Excellent work DaMarques.
Diego Sanchez vs. Clay Guida:
Okay, so first some pre-fight nit picks. Clay Guida should never allow himself to be on video with a moustache. That and the hair. I understand being stubborn, or wanting to stand out, but at some point fighting with an eye-patch so people will remember the pirate warrior just seems stubborn and stupid.
Diego. I love you man. But you are not that intimidating, and you are not Russell Crowe in the Gladiator. The Tony Robbins “yes, yes, yes” headed toward the ring, the attempts and looking like a cold blooded killer when you are obviously really a nice guy, and the “Are you not entertained,” at the end of the fight… You don’t need them. You are awesome. You don’t need to be anyone other than who you are. Don’t try so hard.
Okay, so the fight 
We all know that Clay Guida loves to come out like some sort of wild beat, and immediately set about mauling his prey. This didn’t go down that way. Bot men had amazing enery. I felt like I was watching two ten year old ADHD kids that just add a case of pixie-stix. Diego lit into Diego with amazing strikes. Kicks, punches, knees. By the end of round one Diego was rattled, and looking a bit like a road-kill that somehow got up and wandered back off the freeway.
Round two. Clay takes Diego to the ground and starts punishing him a bit. But Diego was attacking with elbows from the bottom liek no one I have ever seen before. We haven’t seen punishing elbows like that since before Rick Franklin broke David Loiseau’s spirit years ago.
Round three was a brawl. Both men really throwing and punishing each other.
The fight went to Diego by split decision. Diego’s stand-up has come so far in the last few years.
I remember whent he lightweight division in the UFC was pretty weak. Not anymore. Guida, Sanchez, Shirk, Stevenson, Diaz, and Penn. Good holy crap.
Related posts:
