Jerry Wayne Odom Jr.

UFC 65

Ultimate Fighting Championship Thoughts

ultimate fighting championship Time for a big weekend of UFC action with at least three good fights on UFC 65 fight card. A long awaited challenge for Matt Hughes, A really tall guy vs a really short guy and my favorite new fighter Brandon Vera fights former heavyweight champ Frank Mir. The rest of the undercard is mostly new guys vs. existing/TUF fighters. Which may or may not be exciting. I always enjoy the scraps involving bad attitude Nick Diaz.

Brandon Vera vs. Frank Mir

We shall see if Frank Mir has put himself back together after two really sloppy showings. The guy just hasn't recovered from the extremely serious injury and he's stepping in against the absolute toughest new heavyweight in the UFC, Brandon Vera. Based on recent events you have to feel like Vera is a big favorite to knock out the former champ in the first or second round but you never know in the UFC. I haven't been able to find any information that makes me feel like Mir is back so...

Brandon Vera will most likely be 1 or 2 fights away from a title shot. He's a really tough guy all around and I would love to see him lose a little weight and step in against Chuck Liddell. He has said he wants to follow Couture's footsteps and win both the heavy and light heavy titles. I think he's got a great shot of doing it.

Result: As we all thought Vera dispatched of Frank Mir. I didn't think that Mir could overcome the striking of Vera and it showed as he lost via knockout. It looks like Vera has set the stage for his fight with Tim Sylvia. He dispatched Mir and after Sylvia beat Monson came into the ring so we got to see the face to face. That fight will be exciting.
Tim Sylvia vs. Jeff Monson

Jeff Monson has looked really good in all his recent wins. People say the guy won't be able to overcome the reach disadvantage but hell thats the story if his career. Everyone in heavyweight has him in reach. He will have to get in on Sylvia without taking one of those big shots that keep him on top of the division. Can Jeff win? Yeah he can definitely do it since he's a vet and knows his stuff. Will he do it? 2 to 1 against.

Result: The reach advantage played in on the ground as well as on their feet. This fight was pretty damn boring except for the times that Monson managed to take down Sylvia where it was interesting. Monson simply couldn't overcome the size of Sylvia to do any ground damage. The crowd was really unhappy about it and Sylvia won a decision. I'm excited about Sylvia getting in the ring next againt Vera next. He'll actually have to fight Vera as opposed to "not losing" his last 2 fights.

Matt Hughes vs. George St. Pierre

Now the fight that everyone has been waiting for!! I think this could have the makings of a great battle with a definite third and maybe even fourth fight. I have no idea how to call this one! St. Pierre was on a roll then suffered this minor injury which sucks. If he'd fought when Penn was supposed to I think he would've won. Hughes is ready to lose. He's way over confident, been unchallenged and would've lost to Penn had BJ not done his usual burn out. I hope for GSP to win since I'm sick of Hughes. I'd bet that Dana White is hoping for hillbilly boy to finally get clipped too.

Result: St. Pierre was impressive in his victory over Hughes. He went out there determined, crisp and much faster than Hughes. He outclassed him nearly knocking him out in the first then finishing him in the second with a beautiful kick. Matt didn't look near his usual self out there. I don't know if it was due to some personal reason or simply because GSP was just that good. I think it was just GSP being that good. Jerry Wayne Odom - 11/8/2006