UFC 118 quick results and opinions

With UFC 118 now over a few things are clear;

1. Boxers have NO business fighting MMA without a few years of training and definitely can't go in with a "Fedor Sweater"

2. Frankie Edgar is AWESOME and weight cutting may not be "the answer"

3. BJ Penn should retire

4. Nate Diaz is bad-ass

5. I want to see Edgar vs. Maynard 2

I know some people may not agree with some of my assessments, especially about BJ but I get to write whatever I want, so suck it up!

1. James Toney talked as much trash as Chael Sonnen leading up to this fight( granted it wasn't nearly as legible or intelligent) and backed none of it up.  Now that Chael "king of the shit talk" Sonnen has come inn and backed up his outlandish claims it makes it much tougher for any other fighters to be a loud mouth after James Toney was absolutely embarrassed, that was a truly sad sight for any James Toney supporters.

2.  Frankie Edgar is awesome, that is pretty much it, BJ said he was coming in to show everyone who the true champ is and he did, it just wasn't who the world expected. Frankie Edgar could probably easily fight at 145 lb, and I would love to see a Jose Aldo superfight someday but Frankie is the true king at 155 a weight that is quite natural for him.  Seeing "The Bully" against Florian it quite clear that Maynard will still have a huge size advantage but will it help in a 5 round fight?  I think not, Edgar seemed fresh, energetic, and strong for not cutting weight, granted Maynard will be stronger but for how many rounds?  It is well known that cutting weight can effect your performance and Frankie Edgar showed once again, size doesn't mean a whole lot when you are more skilled.

3.  I think BJ has become much too complacent, he really seems disinterested in the whole fight game and has not shown the fire since fighting Joe Stevenson, back at UFC 80. Quite honestly, I was and am a big BJ fan ( yes I do know how that sounds) but he should either take some time off again and get re-energized or just quit because he just is not himself anymore and I want to remember him the way he was, he doesn't need the money and he has his acting career. (I joke)

4. Nate Diaz talked about cutting too much weight for the lightweight division and that he could be a contender at 170 after dropping fights at lightweight most people thought he should have won.
I like most people scoffed at the notion that a non title contender at 155 could step up a weight class and be legit competition, just a way for them to stretch out his TUF fame, I thought.
I was wrong, Nate Diaz has come to the 170 division and looked really good and after last night he says he wants Maynard and I want to see it(after Maynard vs. Edgar of course) and now the 155 lb title picture is actually interesting again, good job Frankie.

5. I wasn't ever too interested in the Edgar vs. Maynard rematch, the first fight was a bit of a bore and "The Bully" was just that, a bully that showed more strength than skill in his decision win of Frankie Edgar at UFCFight Night 13 in April of 2008 and quite honestly it didn't leave me wanting more.
That has all changed, with Gray soundly beating Florian and Edgar just dominating Penn it is clear both fighter have stepped up their game and this will be the best fight available for Dana White and Joe Silva.

Here is a the results from UFC 118:

MAIN CARD


•Frankie Edgar def. B.J. Penn via unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 50-45) to retain lightweight title

•Randy Couture def. James Toney via submission (arm-triangle choke) - Round 1, 3:19

•Demian Maia def. Mario Miranda via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

•Gray Maynard def. Kenny Florian via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

•Nate Diaz def. Marcus Davis via technical submission (guillotine) - Round 3, 4:02


PRELIMINARY CARD

•Joe Lauzon def. Gabe Ruediger via submission (armbar) - Round 1, 2:01

•Nik Lentz def. Andre Winner via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 30-27)

•Dan Miller def. John Salter via submission (anaconda choke) - Round 2, 1:53.

•Greg Soto def. Nick Osipczak via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

•Mike Pierce def. Amilcar Alves via submission (cross-body armbar) - Round 3, 3:11