Anyone watch? Thoughts?

Here's some of mine:

Rampage wins again, and I predicted it. I seriously believe that Jackson is the best 205 fighter in the world right now and he proved it by actually going to the ground with Henderson and not coming up short at all. Although I have to give Henderson credit, as he took some big shots and kept coming. Great fight, and I can't wait to see how comes up next for Rampage.

Matt Hammil was robbed and I don't even like the guy. This is twice now that I watched a Bisping fight after TUF and he should have lost both fights. For whatever reason, the guys not improving like he should. He doesn't even look as good as he did on the show. I'm thinking this fight we get rematched. Hell, only one of the judges scored the fucking thing right!

The big surprise of the night for me was watching one of my most hated fighters in MMA in Cheick Kongo beat Cro Cop by fucking decision. Although I have to give Kongo credit as he really did take it to Cro Cop, I have no idea what's going on with Mirko. I'm really starting to wonder if retirement was in the cards for him before getting the big money UFC deal. Because he sure doesn't look like the old Cro Cop, or even like he wants to get in there.

in other action....

Houston Alexander beat up the Italian fighter Alessio Sakara in about a minute of action by pummeling.

Also there was a really good fight as well between Welterweight Marcus Davis and Paul Taylor. Taylor really knocked the shit out of Davis with a knee and it looked like the fight was over. Davis did a great job on recovery to actually come back and win the fight with a submission. Kudos to the referee for knowing how tough of a guy that Davis is. He could have called the fight, but he let it go and it worked out the way it should have.

What a GREAT show, especially for free. Some upsets, some good undercard stuff, and a killer main event. UFC is on FIRE now and I can't wait to see if they actually setup Couture/Fedor fight for the beginning of 08.

Crocop is in the same boat as Wanderlai is right now, and Rampage was a year or two ago. Those guys in Pride were just in war after war without ever having time to fully recouperate. The rules allowed more punishment, the competition was much great than UFC at the time, and they mixed weight classes alot. Basically some of the top fighters seemed to get burnt out, but kept on going. Rampage took an extended period away from the ring, and looks better than ever. I seriously think Crocop and Wanderlai need to do the same, and both are still young enough to come back and compete. As for the show:
I just thought the Kongo / Crocop match was pretty uneventful. I didn't think Kongo took it to him, but Crocop didn't do much either. Would've been hard for me to score, because I think the most decisive round was the first and Crocop won it.
Henderson / Jackson didn't dissapoint at all. Basically Rampage is incapable of having a boring fight. Even when he loses it is all kinds of exciting. I do love that he is getting the chance to shine right now, and only being 29 he could rule for a lot of years.
Hamill punished Bisping, and then also showed he was the bigger man in the post fight comments. Hamill could end up being a really dangerous fighter in a couple of years, while I don't think Bisping can do anything at 205. If he drops weight, we'll have to see what kind of effect that would have on him.

Well, I can see where you are coming from and although you have a point I don't think it's that cut and dry. I'll actually be able to tell you a lot more once Shogun makes his debut. For Cro Cop, I just think he went for the payday. I just don't think that he wants to fight anymore. Silva is a physical wreck and just got busted for roids. He may never fight again. But if the same thing that happens to Shogun that happened to them, you maybe on to something.

Put it this way, Kongo wasn't cowering and was actually putting him on the ground. Bottom line was Kongo wasn't afraid of CroCop and it showed. He controlled the fight, not CroCop so that's actually what I meant. I would agree that the most decisive was the first, although in the 3rd round CroCop did NOTHING to even attempt to win the fight.

Damn straight. It was an excellent fight all around. I was shocked though at Rampage doing well on the ground with Henderson though. It's really showing how much better of a fighter he's become. I'm thinking Rampage is going to be one of the first big "breakthrough" stars of the UFC. I could see that cat selling all kinds of shit!

Going into the fight I wasn't big on Hamill personally. He always seemed like a jackass on TUF, but I agree with you totally. The guy was a class act after the fight. He deserved to win, he knew he won, but still gave credit to Bisping. I can't wait to see him fight again. For Bisping though, he needs to change weight. At 205 he'd get eaten up. 205 is the best division in the world for the most part, and he's nowhere near the level he'd have to be to get to the top.

I don't think it is a cut and dry thing. Crocop may have nothing left, or he may have no motivation left, but you are talking about one of the greatest fighters ever who appears to be in tremendous physical shape. I think with a year away to train and get his head straight, he could come back and be a force.
Silva will be back. He's signed for December to fight in UFC. The drug thing could be the best thing to happen to him if he gets suspended for a year. IF he does fight in Dec., he will be destroyed by any formidable UFC guy, caus like you said, he is a wreck. With adequate time to recoup, he could own the 205 decision.
I don't see Shogun having trouble with Forrest, but yeah, if he does, the Pride Theory is in full effect.

No argument there. I was shocked at the visual size difference between the two. It didn't surprise me that Kongo was able to take him down, but was surprised that Crocop never really even hurt him.

As good as Henderson is wrestling, i still wasn't too surprised by Rampage's success on the ground. I've been a Rampage fan for a long time, going back to King of the Cage and Gladiator Challenge DVD's when he was still wearing wrestling boots and the collegiate wrestling tights. Early on, he was seen as mostly a wrestler, and he's always been freakishly strong. It's only been the last few years that he's become such an accomplished boxer, and really well-rounded in every way. In my opinion, he is the most marketable guy in MMA history.

Hamill has the freakish strenght going for him that Bisping doesn't have. Who knows how losing weight would affect him though. He may be weaker.

Good points made all around. I'm just wondering if maybe some of those big time fights have finally gotten to guys like CroCop (I think you can lump Wanderlei in there too), and time away can't be a bad thing unless it's TOO long. For the record, I don't see Shogun having any issues with Forrest either.

You know what was weird? It looked like CroCop had NO experience in there with people bigger than him, but that's not the case whatsoever. It's clear that Kongo is FINALLY improving as a fighter as well because he was probably the most one dimentional guy I've ever seen for the most part.

Oh, I know what you are saying here but compare their experience in wrestling. Rampage at best was a very cool high school wrestler. Henderson was a US Olympic wrestler. That's a big difference if you ask me. It just shows you that Rampage doesn't depend on that to get by like Henderson does. Rampage is clearly skilled at several martial arts w/wrestling as well.

Good point. But I still don't think that Bisping will EVER have what it takes to get a top of the 205 division.