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An Honest Preview of UFC 62
Yeah, yeah, everyone is pretty much in a shitstorm over the less than stellar card for UFC 62. Just decided to do an objective(as possible) breakdown of the event and maybe give a clearer picture for people to decide if they actually want to pay for this event. This will be merely a preview and breakdown of the fights in terms of how credible I think they are, not how I think they will play out.
So obviously, from the start this UFC card has been bombarded and belted with cries of a poor event and lacklustre match-making. These cries weren't unwarranted, either. Early on, when the event had its first 6 fights booked, things looked a little dreary. As the weeks went on and fights were added, hell, things just got downright DISMAL. Let's take a look, shall we?
The event started off with:
Chuck vs Babulu: Obviously the main event, and a very anticipated rematch. Can't fault this fight at all, as it has been a long time coming. The weight of this fight is monumental, considering the outcome effects the LONG awaited Silva/Liddell, UFC/Pride unification bout.
Forrest vs Bonnar: Regardless of whether you think their first fight was an amateur brawl or the greatest fight of all time, you CANNOT deny the fact that it was downright entertaining. Lots of people rag on both fighters credibility, but the fact of the matter is, their first fight is probably one of THE most important fights in MMA history. Why? Because it is the single bout that basically put the UFC(and MMA) on the map. After their historic war, MMA has gone nowhere but up. It is only logical that a rematch in as close a fight as that would be long overdue. Here we have it. Hate them or love them, it is more than likely that this will make for a damn exciting fight. Another quality fight on this card.
Terrell vs Okami: This was the only other fight on the card that held any weight. Okami, while not a Top 10 fighter or anything, was a more than worthy opponent. People have been waiting to see Terrell come back for a long time(as they never showed his fight with Smith), and now I guess they'll have to wait some more, seeing as how he has been sidelined with sickness. This was one of the better fights on the card, so in order to salvage it, the UFC is going to have to come up with a quality competitor to fight Okami. Hopefully they can do that.
Kongo vs Wellisch: I think its apparent by now that the UFC wants to build Kongo up. He's a big, strong, heavyweight striker. I don't mind this fight so much, but they could've easily given Kongo a decent opponent. Wellisch is a meager 6-2, and is probably a heavy underdog in this fight. The UFC realistically probably only brought him in to be KO'ed by Kongo. I would've much preferred to see Kongo fight Buentello. At the very least, we would've been guarenteed a stand-up war. Mediocre fight.
Macdonald vs Schafer: A horrible, horrible fight. Two undeserving fighters getting a spot on a main UFC card. I can honestly say I don't give a rat's ass about this fight. Rob Macdonald was painted as a quitter on TUF 2, and bowed out in the first HW fight. Then, he was given a second chance and competed on a main UFC card against Jason Lambert, where he was handily beaten. The UFC must really like this guy, because they brought him back again on a UFN card, where he beat fellow underachiever Kristian Rothaermal. I understand that since he won, he would be allowed back, but come on. At LEAST leave him on a UFN card. Because honestly, any fight that Macdonald fights for a while, isn't going to deserve anything more than a UFN or TUF Finale showing. He doesn't have the tools to be a top contender at 205. His opponent, on the other hand, is no better. Schafer sports a measly 3-1 record. If Macdonald were being used as a gatekeeper for some...deserved fighter making his debut, then I could understand him being on a main UFC card yet again. But as it stands, he is fighting another unproven fighter, who isn't even a prospect, really. Whoever wins, it will have no consequence at all to the UFC, or rankings, or MMA fans in general. Poor fight.
Combs vs Gouveia: Yet another, undeserving fight. Two guys who LOST their UFN debuts, again getting a spot on a main UFC card. What's the pattern prove here? If you lose, you win! The UFC is starting to lose the distinction between the proving grounds of UFNs and TUF Finale's and the big shows. Combs sported an impressive undefeated 12-0 record against poor competition, until he faced lacklustre fighter Mike Nickels of TUF 3 fame. There, Combs proved that anyone with a ground game and the ability to avoid his hard hands can beat him. Gouveia looked good early on in his debut, giving Keith Jardine some trouble early on. Then, Gouveia's tank and heart ran out, as he pretty much gave the fight away to Jardine, who won a split decision. Gouveia really had no business being in the UFC anyway, with a record of 6-3 prior to his loss to Jardine. I mean, the guy's been KO'ed by Rory Singer. Not exactly a top prospect. Again, this fight BELONGS on a UFN card. Yet again, UFC matchmaking gives us fights we do not care about, or want to see on a pay-per-view event. Poor fight.
Walmsley vs Heath: I guess the UFC is really searching for talent at 205. At least with this fight, both guys sport impressive records. Walmsley is 7-1, while Heath is unblemished at 5-0. A decent fight on paper looking at their cards, but again...for two guys entering the big show for the first time, I think this fight would've been better suited on a UFN. I doubt this fight excites anyone, as no one really knows either guy. Hopefully one of them will make a splash in their debut. Mediocre fight.
Neer vs Alves: Two guys that started on UFN cards and have built some recognition and respect. Both guys have now had fights on main UFC cards, and rightfully so, as both have proven they belong in the UFC. Alves, despite losing his debut against Spencer Fisher, has gone on to KO Ansar Chalangov and Derrick Noble, before once again losing to Jon Fitch. Neer lost his debut to Drew Fickett, but came back from the brink of defeat to beat Melvin Guilliard. Then he beat TUF winner Joe Stevenson to really earn his stripes. Unfortunately, on his debut on the main show, Neer dropped a decision to Josh Burkman. As it stands, both guys are 2-2 in the UFC. What I don't understand, however, is how either of them are getting back on the UFC main cards after LOSING their last fights. Don't get me wrong, both guys are proven fighters, just strange that they don't give the guys that BEAT them the nod. Take a look at Jon Fitch. The guy has STEAMROLLED the competition given him, and he CANNOT get a fight on the main card to save his life. He shut up Josh Burkman, and beat Thiago Alves. I suppose the UFC is trying to build up Alves, and this is a chance for him to redeem himself by beating a good opponent. Like I said, this fight COULD be on a UFN, but I'm not going to complain, because at the least it is comprised of two proven fighters. Good fight.
JUST ADDED TO THE CARD:
Vera vs Mir: Finally! Another quality fight on the card. Vera CONTINUES to impress and surprise everyone with his wins. A lot of people's hopes are riding on this kid to be the next big UFC HW. He hasn't disappointed yet, but he still has something to prove. A win over Mir would do just that. Mir has looked piss-poor as of late, but among the shallow talent pool of the UFC HW's, he is still considered one of the top dogs. Losing to Pe De Pano and then "beating" Dan Christisen did nothing but spiral his career downward. This could be Mir's last chance for glory. A win over a rising star in Vera could redeem Mir's past preformances and get people and fans to believe in him again. A solid fight.
Franca vs Varner: Franca is replacing Spencer Fisher who had to bow out due to injury. Usually, a loss like Fisher on a card like this would mean tragedy...but one of the few highlights of this card is the UFC picking a great replacement for him. Franca is just as good, and many would say better addition than Fisher to this card. Franca is on a ROLL, and is really looking like he's got what it takes to be an elite fighter once again. Varner, on the other hand, holds a respectable record of 11-1, with his only loss being by decision. In his 11 wins, he's only gone the distance once, in his first fight. Varner's got a lot on his plate against Franca, but no one can say he doesn't deserve a shot at the UFC with a record like that. Good fight.
So, in conclusion, you can see that this card ISN'T really as bad as it was prior to the Vera/Mir fight being added. It still is FAR from being great, it may not even be good, but as it stands, it is at LEAST, a decent card. Think of it this way, the UFC is giving us TEN FIGHTS(as it seems), more than the usual amount. I suppose this card is a quantity over quality card.
You've got 3 great/good fights in:
Liddell/Babalu
Forrest/Bonnar
Vera/Mir
2 solid fights in:
Franca/Varner
Alves/Neer
Depending on who they get to replace Terrell, the Okami fight could very well be a good fight also.
Decent fights in:
Walmsley/Heath
Kongo Wellisch
And finally, at the very least, hopefully fights like Macdonald/Schafer and Combs/Gouveia will be entertaining.
Remember, the UFC usually puts mediocre cards out on paper, but come showtime, they end up being some of the best events of the year. Of course, this is all situational, but hopefully this is another one of those cards. With 10 fights, there's a bigger chance of some of them being classic. Buy the card, and hopefully enjoy it.
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And on the 8th day, Man created God
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