Strikeforce Thoughts:

Great job as always Kings, just didn't want my thoughts getting lost in a thread..

So...where do I begin, how about randomly

LOL at Dana


I bet he thought, man people seeing me at the SF event, I'll probably get a standing ovation LOL, but really it was neither cheers nor boos, more like "fucking Dana"..Then they pan over to Lorenzo, I bet only 20% of people there knew who it was. But I actually expected more UFC stars there, like Chuck, Randy, GSP possibly ect..they went the Dana route.

LOL at Coker with his Dana like intro, but honestly, hate if you want, Scott is growing on me through all this.

I am I the only one who thought the camera work looked improved? I swear everything looked just lets say, cleaner...

And boy they got right into UFC plugs, but hey they're all one big Org now really.

Lastly, before I get into the fights, and I think this goes without saying, SF has the worst fight team in MMA, it's like you have to mute the event to properly enjoy it, just brutal.

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I'll start with a fight we didn't get to see, Takaya vs Peralta, now obviously I can't say much about the fight, as we didn't get to see it, but it leads into comments I'll make later about Japanese fighters transitioning to America, it's just a different game. And this actually wasn't even Takaya's first US fight, but it did put him to 0-3 in America. I mean Takaya comes into SF as the Dream FW Champ, fights Peralta (no one special) and loses a decision, one of my pick'em rules "Me no likey America" Jap fighters in the States, seems like too much of a trend to ignore.

Next Aoki vs Beerbohm: Aoki came into this fight in really a must win situation as Beerbohm isn't a high profile opponent and another loss in the States to this level of competition would look horribly on both himself and Japanese MMA. But he completely rose to the occasion, and while I thought Lyle had a poor gameplan, Aoki truly showed what his skills are all about. Aoki cleverly pulled a nice trip on Beerbohm and from there he was literally snake like, it was like watching a boa killin it's prey. Overall great performance by Shinya.
- Next opponent, Josh Thompson, lets not only see something new, but yet another tough test.

Mousasi vs Jardine: Now I know there's a lot of hate around this fight due to the decision of a draw, but if you really think about the 1st Rd, it's not a horrible decision to think some scored the fight that way. I'd say it's fairly clear that Rds 2 and 3 were easily Mousasi, but don't for a minute think they should have been scored anything more then 10-9, Jardine was game enough. But back to the 1st Rd, which is obviously the reason for the draw and for any argument in the scoring. For the first 3:30 of the 1st Rd, Mousasi was stalking but not throwing, he was very quiet and while so Jardine was scoring on weak shots and takedowns. Did the takedowns result in nothing? Yes, but they still are a form of activity and a method for scoring points. It really took up until the illegal upkick for Mousasi to turn it up and by that time it's not crazy for someone to say Jardine had won the Rd 10-8(with the pt). A 10-8 1st followed by Mousasi winning both the 2nd and 3rd, and you have a draw, even Gerard said the draw was warranted, a rematch not so much. And why was Mauro hating on Jardine so much during this fight? Keith did what he could to try and win it, see ya in a year Mauro.

On to the Title fights, first up Melendez vs Kawakiri: What can I say? Gil looked phenomenal, his striking looked crisp and those elbows, damn they were vicious, he put them right to use. But while Gil looked great, I don't want to go too crazy, Crusher said he didn't train at all in a cage, and it showed. When Gil backed him up against the fence it was like he was in an alien world, pretty much pinned him there as a target. Also, you just can't write off that first States side fight for Japanese fighters at this point, it comes through time and time again. But Gil is ready for the next step, and if that isn't a Unification bout, I'd love to see either Jim Miller or a guy like Diego go into SF to take him on, there just isn't enough for him in the SF talent pool that he hasn't already seen. Last a quick comment about Gil saying he's accomplished more than Frankie, chill Gil, you haven't quite done anything like him yet.
- Next oppnent, Jim Miller or Diego Sanchez, lets get it done.

To the main event, Diaz vs Daley: Wow, I'm at a loss, I'd say Nick is one of a kind, but oddly his bro isn't that much different, but simply falling victim to what Nick could if he was still in the UFC. I mean Nate went toe to toe with Gray (2nd best LW in the World) and only lost to Guida, Kim and Joe Daddy cause they hugged him a bit to death. It honestly could happen to Nick all over again, and their early careers are very similar. But Nick, man, this guy lives to fight, his boxing is excellent, and his chin? are you kidding me, has to be one of the best in MMA history at this point. He was clearly rocked twice, one I thought he was out, only to see him recover in Nog-esque fashion. IDK what it is, but he eats shots like only the best have, sometimes he doesn't even flinch, something in the water in Stockton....I will say that with Daley, eh, we overrated his striking just a bit, really who has he ever KO'd? Great sure, no doubt about it, but lets not act like oh shit Nick KO'd Daley he'd drop BJ no problem, just doesn't work that way. BJ's had trouble with wreslters who wear on him, Nick doesn't play that game, but now I'm wandering off. Daley did what I thought he would if Nick went toe to toe with him, that's drop him, I failed to factor in Nick's inhuman chin...But when you get a guy like Daley who threatens only on the feet, it helps a smart complete fighter like Nick. Now if it's a guy who has strikes like Daley but also strong wrestling? everything changes and don't forget that. As good as Nick's looked lately, he'd still come to the UFC and lose to GSP, Fitch, BJ, Kos and Alves, just comes down to the matchups...
- Next opponent, don't give me Woodley, I want Diego, Condit or someone along those lines, time to step it up.

That's it, hope it's semi readable, biz as usual LOL.

Nice thoughts

Good thoughts. You should make one of these after every event.
I agree on everything though i just can't accept Jardine's activity as equal to Mousasi's activity AND damage. Even in the first round. That was a 9-9 for me. They fucked it up IMO...but no use beating it to the ground. I've put my thoughts out there multiple times. It is what is is.

I read from people who saw the event live that Takaya was sort of hosed in the decision, but Takaya is simply nothing to write home about anyway. That was a bad loss for Bibiano.

Jardine got his face smashed and earned a draw? Lots of retarded draws in MMA lately it seems...Gegard robbed.

Gilbert has the goods to fight with the best in the UFC. The wrestling and JJ mixed with his top flight boxing. He's absolutely that level. I'd like to see Anthony Pettis fight him maybe.

I like SF now that they're partnered up with the UFC. I thought the crew did a better job too. War Strikeforce-UFC empire.

Agreed. Mousassi got screwed with that draw. As for Melendez, he is absolutely on the same level as the top UFC lightweights. Nick Diaz vs. Koscheck is a fight I want to see. The trash talk would be hilarious.

Diaz vs Kos? Diaz would outsmart him I think but the risk of Koscheck using wrestling to control to a decision or just landing a bomb and Diaz not recovering is very real. Diaz was nearly finished in several recent bouts. I know Zaromskis and Daley had him hurt bad and I can't remember off hand if Cyborg also rocked him. Eventually that ability runs out. Like will happen with Eddie Alvarez eventually. Like what happened with Nog, Chuck and Wandy. You can only be knocked on your ass fight in fight out so many times and survive before you just get knocked out fight in fight out.

Wolfgangsta wrote:

Diaz vs Kos? Diaz would outsmart him I think but the risk of Koscheck using wrestling to control to a decision or just landing a bomb and Diaz not recovering is very real. Diaz was nearly finished in several recent bouts. I know Zaromskis and Daley had him hurt bad and I can't remember off hand if Cyborg also rocked him. Eventually that ability runs out. Like will happen with Eddie Alvarez eventually. Like what happened with Nog, Chuck and Wandy. You can only be knocked on your ass fight in fight out so many times and survive before you just get knocked out fight in fight out.

Agreed. I think Diaz vs. Kos would be interesting, as well as a rematch of Diaz vs. Sanchez.

Wolfgangsta wrote:

Jardine got his face smashed and earned a draw? Lots of retarded draws in MMA lately it seems...Gegard robbed.

Gilbert has the goods to fight with the best in the UFC. The wrestling and JJ mixed with his top flight boxing. He's absolutely that level. I'd like to see Anthony Pettis fight him maybe.

I like SF now that they're partnered up with the UFC. I thought the crew did a better job too. War Strikeforce-UFC empire.

Reality is the fight is judged on 3 individual Rds, and though Gerard clearly "won" the fight, it's not crazy for some to have scored the 1st 10-8 Jardine, it really took uo until 3:30 in and an illegal upkick for Mousasi to turn it up. By then Jardine may have done enough work to barely win the Rd. Mousasi himself said the draw was warranted.

War SF-UFC Empire?

War...the...SF-UFC...Empire. Pretty easy to understand. Gegard got jobbed badly.

Wolfgangsta wrote:

War...the...SF-UFC...Empire. Pretty easy to understand. Gegard got jobbed badly.

Total fight yes Mousasi kicked Jardines ass but the way the fight game scoring works Jardine getting a draw wasnt terrible.

Wolfgangsta wrote:

War...the...SF-UFC...Empire. Pretty easy to understand. Gegard got jobbed badly.

Well I thought you were one of those hating on the buyout originally, therefore...? Perhaps I confused you with someone else.

Gerard got jobbed badly in Japan.

Never hated on it. That was all capt. I have never once really spoken out against it I don't think. I love the merger. I loved the Pride one at first too though...

Wolfgangsta wrote:

Never hated on it. That was all capt. I have never once really spoken out against it I don't think. I love the merger. I loved the Pride one at first too though...

Still plenty of negatives that can come from the merger. Overall it's probably a good thing. But only time will tell.

Cool, my bad, yes everything was a bit better Saturday night, felt the camera work was better but I could have been seeing shit.

LA wrote:

Cool, my bad, yes everything was a bit better Saturday night, felt the camera work was better but I could have been seeing shit.

I noticed no change.

OU wrote:

Wolfgangsta wrote:

Never hated on it. That was all capt. I have never once really spoken out against it I don't think. I love the merger. I loved the Pride one at first too though...

Still plenty of negatives that can come from the merger. Overall it's probably a good thing. But only time will tell.

Shush you, everything is already better, shits fucking awesome.

I didn't see the whole event so I can't really comment on production though I have felt the last series of events from SF starting with that bad ass December card have all had better in cage camera work than some of their truly unspeakable past events IE Brett Rogers KO of AA going essentially unseen for 60 seconds until a real replay finally was shown.

LA wrote:

OU wrote:

Wolfgangsta wrote:

Never hated on it. That was all capt. I have never once really spoken out against it I don't think. I love the merger. I loved the Pride one at first too though...

Still plenty of negatives that can come from the merger. Overall it's probably a good thing. But only time will tell.

Shush you, everything is already better, shits fucking awesome.

For us....so far. Let's see how this effects the fighters in the long run. This thing is still brand new.

OU wrote:

LA wrote:

Cool, my bad, yes everything was a bit better Saturday night, felt the camera work was better but I could have been seeing shit.

I noticed no change.

It seemed cleaner

OU wrote:

LA wrote:

OU wrote:

Wolfgangsta wrote:

Never hated on it. That was all capt. I have never once really spoken out against it I don't think. I love the merger. I loved the Pride one at first too though...

Still plenty of negatives that can come from the merger. Overall it's probably a good thing. But only time will tell.

Shush you, everything is already better, shits fucking awesome.

For us....so far. Let's see how this effects the fighters in the long run. This thing is still brand new.

Already seen better pay for lower level fighters, bonuses coming....

Wolfgangsta wrote:

I didn't see the whole event so I can't really comment on production though I have felt the last series of events from SF starting with that bad ass December card have all had better in cage camera work than some of their truly unspeakable past events IE Brett Rogers KO of AA going essentially unseen for 60 seconds until a real replay finally was shown.

Can't even keep up in here, yeah bad camera angle choices is part of what I'm speaking of.

LA wrote:

OU wrote:

LA wrote:

Cool, my bad, yes everything was a bit better Saturday night, felt the camera work was better but I could have been seeing shit.

I noticed no change.

It seemed cleaner

Could have been, nothing I picked up on. Frank Shamrock is still annoying as ever and sporting those braces he has had for YEARS now. But I didn't notice anything really different about the show.

LA wrote:

OU wrote:

LA wrote:

OU wrote:

Wolfgangsta wrote:

Never hated on it. That was all capt. I have never once really spoken out against it I don't think. I love the merger. I loved the Pride one at first too though...

Still plenty of negatives that can come from the merger. Overall it's probably a good thing. But only time will tell.

Shush you, everything is already better, shits fucking awesome.

For us....so far. Let's see how this effects the fighters in the long run. This thing is still brand new.

Already seen better pay for lower level fighters, bonuses coming....

example? Plus we really won't know until we have a little more time how things will play out for the fighters.

Fucking stop with this we'll see how it plays out shit, UFC always payed their fighters the best, other Orgs threw bigger contracts at fighters then they really should have financially to compete for fighters, but the UFC fighters 95% of the time were payed the best.

Now talk of bonuses, we know the huge bonuses that get thrown at fighters.

LA wrote:

Fucking stop with this we'll see how it plays out shit, UFC always payed their fighters the best, other Orgs threw bigger contracts at fighters then they really should have financially to compete for fighters, but the UFC fighters 95% of the time were payed the best.

Now talk of bonuses, we know the huge bonuses that get thrown at fighters.

I'm just being realistic. To think it will be all peaches and cream is just silly IMO
There will be fighters out there that will be left out to dry. That will happen. The question is how many and what effect it will have.