“A SANE REVOLUTION”
If you make a revolution, make it for fun,
don’t make it in ghastly seriousness,
don’t do it in deadly earnest,
do it for fun.
Don’t do it because you hate people,
do it just to spit in their eye.
Don’t do it for the money,
do it and be damned to the money.
Don’t do it for equality,
do it because we’ve got too much equality
and it would be fun to upset the apple-cart
and see which way the apples would go a-rolling.
Don’t do it for the working classes.
Do it so that we can all of us be little aristocracies on our own
and kick our heels like jolly escaped asses.
Don’t do it, anyhow, for international Labour.
Labour is the one thing a man has had too much of.
Let’s abolish labour, let’s have done with labouring!
Work can be fun, and men can enjoy it; then it’s not labour.
Let’s have it so! Let’s make a revolution for fun!
-DH Lawrence
(Original photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC. with alterations by SBoI)
I’m not really a Tito fan. I respect his place in the sport but his tendency to overstate that place as well as his predictable excuse-making after his losses were bordering on cartoonish. Going into his fight with Ryan Bader I publicly stated that Tito “pretty much had no chance” and yet when I sat in the crowd at UFC 132 waiting for Tito’s retirement to commence when Tito instead came out, dropped Bader with a right and then put him in a Guillotine to win for the first time since 2006 in a quick and impressive finish, I was elated. Not really because Tito proved anything but because Tito upset the apple cart and apples were a-rolling all over the damn place and like Mr. Lawrence says, it is indeed fun. I mean, sure, we all want to be proven right and we all want to see our favorite fighter win but more than that don’t we want to see some crazy, unexpected shit? Isn’t that what makes MMA fundamentally more exciting than boxing; the fact that, by the nature of the sport, the likelihood of something unpredictable happening is far greater? And if you think of the best, most memorable moments in MMA, more than displays of skill, the things that stand out are the crazy unpredictable moments. If Tito would’ve eeked out a close decision victory, it would’ve been horrible. But that…that was fucking awesome! To further illustrate my point, I hope Tito winds up becoming champ again. Talk about upsetting the apple cart! They always say you can’t underestimate someone with nothing to lose but the same could be said for someone with everything to lose. Plus it was pretty cool to see the Ortiz grave-digging pantomime in person. Props, Tito. Props.
(Original photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC. with alterations by SBoI)
Unfortunately, the same couldn’t be said for Wanderlei Silva whose chin is not solid enough anymore to fight in the style that made him a legend and a fan favorite – especially with a guy that hits as hard as Chris Leben. I figured that’s how it would happen but it was sad to see it happen that fast. Twenty-seven seconds and a few uppercuts later, it was the end of an era. It would’ve been nice to see “The Axe Murderer” go out with more of a fight. Even Chael Sonnen said after the fight, “He can’t do this work anymore” in a sincere and even a tad bit somber tone.
Okay, let’s lighten things up a little. Not only was Chael, Mayhem Miller, Dan Henderson, Michael Bisping, and Brian Stann at UFC 132… so was:
(Original photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC. with alterations by SBoI)
Half of the 132 card went to decision while the other half ended in the first round. Did I mention that I was there? ‘Cause I was. I totally was and I had pretty good seats. I’m not bragging, I’m just relating that it was a pretty kick ass time and a helluva card to see live.
Anthony Njokuani beat the snot out of Andre Winner in an easily 10-8 first round but in either testament to Winner’s toughness and/or the ref’s incompetence, Winner survived, though he only got less beat up for rounds two and three.
(Photo courtesy of Spilled Bag of Ice)
I thought Melvin Guillard would eventually win over Shane Roller but I thought that Roller’s wrestling would give him some trouble. Melvin didn’t give Roller the chance. “The Young Assassin” came out like a damn force of nature bent on destruction. I mean Melvin is usually aggressive but this was like he had something else to do. Dismantle a time bomb or something… something pretty urgent.
Rafael Dos Anjos was the other first-round stoppage. KOing George Sotiropoulos in just under a minute and giving the guy who was on an eight-fight win streak his second loss in a row. G-Sots’ previous loss was to Dennis Siver.
Dennis Siver had a hell of a fight with Matt Wiman. The first round was all Siver who landed some big shots and stuffed all but one of Wiman’s takedowns. The second round was all Wiman who got takedowns and landed some brutal elbows that cut Siver. The third round was closer and harder to call. The decision went to Siver prompting Wiman to storm out of the cage. Really, “Handsome”? As a side note: Siver is scary. He looks like someone took a heavyweight and put them into the Fighter-Compactor 2000. German Engineering.
(Original photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC. with alterations by SBoI)
Carlos Condit vs. “Stun Gun” Dong Hyun Kim was one fight that I had no idea how it would go. When it went Condit via TKO from a flying knee, I was pissed off I didn’t call that since KO by flying knee is my go-to prediction when I don’t know how to pick. That’s two first-round stoppages in a row. Impressive, Condit, very impressive.
There’s not a lot to say about the main event. It was a good fight. Not surprisingly, Cruz was able to use his speed and footwork to outpoint Faber. Faber definitely landed the more significant punches but not significant or plentifully enough to either allow him to finish or get the decision. Faber thinks he did enough to win but he didn’t. At best, being really generous you might make a case for a Draw… but I think Cruz deserved the decision. The interesting question is what’s next for Faber? Is he destined to be the guy perpetually one step away from the title? Or can he beat Dom in a rematch? I think Faber has to be almost recklessly aggressive to beat Cruz. “The Dominator” isn’t likely to knock out Faber so I think his best chance would be to constantly pressure Cruz – bumrush him! Think Shogun vs. Machida 2.
Anyway, Icemigos, that’s all I got this week. I can’t wait til Nick Diaz beats GSP! That’s an apple cart that needs upsetting!
