(Courtesy: GSP Fight Club )
Was there ever any doubt?
Georges "Rush" St.Pierre has once again proven why he is the King of the Octogon and arguably the greatest pound for pound fighter in the entire world. In yet another dominant battle, GSP successfully defended his UFC Welterweight Championship against Dan Hardy at UFC 111.
Going into the fight, GSP said that he was no longer fighting for a title so his focus has now shifted to building a legacy. He's out to ensure that fans of Mixed Martial Arts will forever remember the name Georges St.Pierre and that he was the most dominant man in the cage.
With that said, it was no walk in the park tonight at the Prudential Center in New Jersey. Dan "The Outlaw" Hardy gained my respect and I'm sure everyone else's by his determination and absolute refusal to tap out despite excruciating pain. I have never seen a fighter display the amount of courage and will power that Dan Hardy did tonight. Simply amazing.
In the end, GSP defended his title by unanimous decision in a fight that was dominated from start to finish.
So what's next for GSP?
I'd love to see him move up to the Middleweight Division and have that dream matchup against Anderson Silva. Just imagine the PPV buy rates for that event. It would be epic!
Now should he decide to remain in the Welterweight Division, I think he should face Jon Fitch once again. They went the distance at UFC 87 in August 2008 and Fitch proved tonight that he's more than ready to take on GSP for another big fight. My second choice would be Josh Koscheck who's currently riding a two fight win streak and wil face Paul Daley at UFC 113 in Montréal.
As for results / brief thoughts on tonight's event…
UFC 111
Prudential Center, New Jersey
LIGHTWEIGHT DIVISION
Jim Miller (16-2) vs. Mark Bocek (8-2)
New Jersey Toronto
Bocek dominated the first half of the first round but it was nearly lights out as Miller got him in a kimura and just about got him to tap out. Miller definitely took the first round.
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Different story in the second round as Bocek displayed some good ground control and at one point almost choked out Miller. Bocek took that round in my opinion.
Third and final round was evenly matched. Miller landed a solid uppercut early but Bocek took him down twice in the round. It was a toss up but I gave the round to Bocek – the judges thought otherwise.
Good technical fight – you could almost call it a human chess game.
Jim Miller winner by unanimous decision (29-28)
WELTERWEIGHT DIVISION
Jon Fitch (24-3; 1 No Contest) vs. Ben Saunders (8-1-2)
Ft. Wayne, Indiana Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Interesting tidbit about these two fighters. Fitch came into the fight using an all organic diet while Saunders was on a vegan diet.
Maybe that organic diet is the way to go as Jon Fitch looked to be in the best shape of his life – very lean! Fitch got Saunders on the ground early but "Killer B" managed to get some good shots in from his back. Fitch was on top for most of the round so we'll give him the edge.
More of the same in the second round as Fitch slammed him to the ground hard – setting up a slow methodical ground and pound. Saunders had no answer, it was pure domination by Jon Fitch.
In the third round, Fitch had some nice combos and landed a few good shots. Again he looked impressive and fought impressive… he's deserving of a shot at GSP in my books.
While it wasn't an exciting fight it did keep my interest as I was waiting to see that big turning point in the fight. I think Joe Rogan said it best, "It may not be pretty, but it's beautiful in its uglyness". Well put.
Jon Fitch winner by unanimous decision (30-27)
LIGHTWEIGHT DIVISION
Kurt Pellegrino (20-4) vs. Fabricio Camoes (10-4-1)
Point Pleasant, NJ Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
The first round was the first really exciting round of the PPV. Camoes was on Pellegrino's back – had him in a standing rear naked choke – for a long time before Pellegrino eventually got out of it, taking him down and almost lands a choke of his own. It was some great fast paced action and evenly matched as well.
Second round you started to notice a shift in the fight. Camoes looked gassed – zero energy and Pellegrino sensed it. Landed a few elbows before turning the lights out with a rear naked choke. Pellegrino has yet to lose an MMA fight in the state of New Jersey.
Kurt Pellegrino winner by submission (rear naked choke) in the 2nd Round – 4:20
INTERIM HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
Winner to face Brock Lesnar for the undisputed Heavyweight Championship
Frank Mir (13-4) vs. Shane Carwin (11-0)
Las Vegas, NV Greeley, Colorado
I had Frank Mir winning this fight. He had put on 20-pounds of pure muscle over the last year and looked to be in the best shape of his life. I mean this guy is huge! I figured if he could take the fight past the first round he'd have all the advantage as Carwin had never fought past the first round in his career. His average fight – 1:07.
They locked up against the fence early and Carwin landed some short punches to the head. After separating, Mir came out with some combos – they locked up near the fence and that's when this fight got out of control. Carwin exploded out of nowhere with a flurry of punches that knocked Frank Mir down and out. WOW!
Brute force took down Frank Mir but will that even phase a guy like Brock Lesnar when they fight in the near future?
As for Frank Mir… did the addition of 20-pounds affect him in a negative way? Did he struggle to find his form? Maybe he just couldn't handle the extra weight?
Shane Carwin winner by KO in the 1st Round – 3:48… and the new Interim UFC Heavyweight Champion
UFC WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
Georges "Rush" St. Pierre vs. Dan "The Outlaw" Hardy
Champion Challenger
Montréal, Québec Nottingham, England
Dan Hardy was all about the mind games. He kept his eyes locked on GSP the moment the champ stepped into the octogon. Granted with that cocky look on his face, I was hoping GSP would slap that smile off.
GSP immediately took Hardy down in the first round. Hardy would get out of it and GSP would take him right back down – showing his MMA expertise. Late in the round, GSP got him in an arm bar – it was sick how that arm twisted yet somehow Hardy escaped. Any other fighter would have tapped out but Dan Hardy stuck it out. He said from the get go that he wasn't a quitter and not only does he talk the talk but he definitely walks the walk.
More of the same in the second round as GSP takes Hardy down two minutes in. They did get back on their feet a little later where GSP connected with a solid right hand and took Hardy down yet again.
15-seconds into the third round – yep you guessed it – GSP takes Hardy down. Hardy gets up and instantly gets taken back down. It was pure domination by the defending Welterweight Champion. Great strategy by GSP as well and if you watch his facial expressions and mannerisms, you can see him plotting every move – a great thinker. There's a method to his madness as he exploits his opponents weaknesses to perfection.
13-seconds into the fourth round GSP takes him down. He got Hardy in a kimura and pulled back for almost a minute – again, how Dan Hardy didn't tap out is beyond me. This guy seriously deserves some sort of award or paycheque for such a gutsy performance. Short of breaking a guy's arm, is there any way to make him tap?
Fifth round – story of the fight as GSP takes him down and controls. GSP tried desperately to get him to tap but it just wasn't happening. As for the second straight fight, GSP goes the distance and retains his title by unanimous decision.
Georges St. Pierre winner by unanimous decision and STILL the UFC Welterweight Champion.
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