UFC 127 Results: Post Hangover Thoughts

I write this at 3:30 PM. I'm not drunk anymore.

UFC 127 was one of the weakest cards on paper in recent history. The last card that comes to mind that was weak was UFC 119: Frank Mir vs. Mirko Filopovic. Recently, Zuffa management has made the decision to show not just the top prelims on Spike TV but also other interesting fights on their Facebook page. It's a great decision and I need to give them dap for it.

Now for my thoughts on the card.

• Jon Fitch put on the best performance of his career. It's said that it takes the best to bring out the best and B.J. Penn certainly fills that void. The fight was extremely close and I'm not particularly upset about the draw. I think it's possibly the best case scenario that Zuffa could have hoped for. The final round was the most exciting of Fitch's career and I hope he's turning a corner in his career.
• BJ Penn is a warrior. He stayed in the fight the whole time but just doesn't seem to be the same fighter that used to lick the blood off his opponents' faces. His post fight comments make it seem like he's strongly considering retirement and honestly, it could be time. He's a legend and if he doesn't have the killer instinct anymore it could be a nice time to walk away. This was the first time in years that I can remember BJ giving up positional control and it happened multiple times in one fight.
• Michael Bisping is a terrible human being. I don't care how much trash was talked in the prefight videos, spitting on a person is an absolutely abysmal act. He can talk with Ariel Helwani saying he didn't spit at the person but I saw it with my two eyes. He's a good fighter and has the talent to go far; unfortunately, he's a complete scumbag and can't be likable at all. Solid win cheater, I'm sure that Thai Clinch knee was totally unintentional.
• Jorge River looked decent before the knee and then the fight was totally changed. I'm not saying he was going to win the fight but that knee definitely had an affect and it's a garbage way to lose. He sold this fight and made me want to watch it so for that he should be thanked. 
• Dennis Siver surprised the hell outta me. He shrugged off those takedown attempts like George was a little kid and has some real power in his hands. I thought he'd get taken down easily and subbed fast but he was able to beat up George Sotiropoulos for 15 minutes. No clue where he goes from here.
• George Sotiropoulos needs wrestling lessons. He didn't set up those shots at all and paid for it dearly. He was on the cusp of a title shot and ended up blowing it because of a gigantic hole in his skill set. He did show a good chin in being able to survive those power shots by Siver, but he won't be able to depend on them with the top of the division. He needs to regroup and and learn some wrestling. 

Thoughts on the rest of the card after the jump...

• Brian Ebersole had a nice win and is a real gamer on the ground. I didn't think he stood a chance against Chris Lytle coming into this fight. This proves how good at booking fights Joe Silva really is, he can take an unknown, toss him in with a vet on the verge of a top 10 ranking, and the fight will be super competitive. I'm still not sold on Ebersole but he should bask in this victory.
• Chris Lytle blew it because he constantly rolled for Kimuras and Kneebars and Guillotines. While those were pretty decent attempts, he gave up position and it cost him the fight. The judges were already suspect after the Fukuda decision, why risk it? He was winning the stand up and now goes home without a win bonus.
• Kyle Noke looked good. The fight was really fast and I didn't really see how it ended up on the ground but it did and he finished the fight. 
• Chris Camozzi probably isn't a UFC caliber fighter. Actually he really isn't.
• Riki Fukuda got jobbed. Nick Ring didn't win that fight. Good on Dana for giving Fukuda his win bonus.
• Nick Ring didn't win that fight. The only three people in the world who thought he won the fight were the judges. That's insane.
• Alexander Gustafsson is a grappling wiz but I was worried for a bit. He has a lot of growing to do.
• What were you thinking James Te Huna? That was a really dumb game plan.
• Mark Hunt. That's all.