The On Deck Circle

So this week my ability to watch the Ultimate Fighter resulted in watching it without sound at times, and seeing the fight before the actual episode.

We got a chance to see Mir’s team doing some intense cardio work with snorkels (Wanderlei style) to make up for Junie’s lack of gas in his fight.

It is revealed that Bas Jr believes he has broken or fractured his wrist, but will continue to ice it and fight. He mentioned recently in a blog that it was hurt more than he let on, but he didn’t talk about it much because he didn’t want to be sent home. This is something that State Athletic Commissions are looking to start cracking down on because a serious injury could easily occur in the ring due to “manning up”. All the sport would need is a fighter to suffer a life threatening (or ending) injury because they lied in their physical.

Nog celebrated his birthday with his team, and as usual Team Mir regarded their team unity as fake and ridiculous. Well you know what I think is fake and ridiculous Team Mir? Ridiculous fake graves. Will the pranks ever stop?

In the fight Vinny outclassed Jules rather quickly in the first round.

Let me just say, Vinny going for a flying armbar was fantastic. I’m not a Vinny fan (don’t say you are better than Nog) But you simply don’t see enough of the “flying” attacks, except maybe a handful of flying knees. Perhaps if Patrick Cote had practiced his flying heel hooks he would have fared better against Anderson Silva.

The whole MMA community is arguing about Silva vs Cote. Many say Cote took Silva further in the Octagon and that is commendable alone. While others claim Silva toyed with Cote for two rounds, so it doesn’t mean anything. And the diehard Silva fans claim that the sheer force of his awesomeness caused Cote’s knee to explode. All I know is that I hope Silva has time for a rematch before (if) he retires at the end of this contract.

Sean Sherk silenced a lot of people calling him a lay and prey fighter in his fight with Tyson Griffin. Back when he fought in Pride, Bas talked about his underrated stand up. He throws crisp, fast punches and the only downfall is his T-rex-like reach. This should maintain his spot in the company now that he doesn’t have a title. Hopefully they give him a rematch with Penn too soon, otherwise he will be stuck in a Rich Franklin situation, unable to win the title but able to beat all the upcoming contenders.

Junior Dos Santos…wow. Dos Santos helped make the case for Black House taking over as the premier MMA team in Brazil. I am excited to see who the UFC pairs him with next.

Thiago Alves won decisively in his bout with Koscheck, but I was more impressed by how many shots Kos was able to throw down the middle and land. It feels odd to say, but Josh Koscheck is becoming a fighter I really enjoy watching.

Well that is it for this week; tune in next week when I return to writing a full review and perhaps there will be cake. (There won’t be cake.)