So, I've now been to 10 live UFC events. Starting with UFC 54 in 2005, I've hit at least one every year since. For those of you who haven't seen one, think it an unregulated blood sport filled with gladiators and mindless fans, you're missing out. To be sure, there's usually some blood. And there are definitely a few mindless fans (especially at Vegas events. If for people watching alone, the entertainment value of the fans is worth the ever increasing cost of admission). And, yes, the intro to the PPV (and at the fight) shows a few Russell Crowe-Gladiator like clips. Because there's a gladiator element to it. Go to one. Understand why the Romans liked to attend events at the Colesium. I promise. You'll get it.
Last night I took Kimberly to her first (she said something about "you're screwed. Now you have to take me to these whenever you go." She had a great time. Even after I almost knocked her out of her seat when the UFC music started. I tried to explain, "what? This is what the boys and and I do every time this music plays." Man, I love that girl!).
UFC 112. Live from Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. The UFC pulled off the first outdoor event. The Abu Dhabi fans were pretty knowledgeable. And the stadium was sold out (though the seats were incredibly uncomfortable, the beer/food service was painfully slow, and the bathrooms weren't set up to handle the number of people at the fight). The atmosphere was pretty good. Standard drunken idiots in the crowd (especially given that Abu Dhabi is largely filled with British expats) meant for some pretty loud and obnoxious yelling. But, again, we've been to a number of these fights. And for a co-main event, with 2 of the sport's best fighters on the card, it should have been way more electric.
That's about the only positive thing I can say about the fight. This guy agrees with me. The below is the rest of my commentary on the fights. If you've not watched a UFC, some of my comments might create some confusion. Others...well, they're pretty straight forward.
I've seen some poor fights, to be sure. Generally heavy weights who are too scared of the fight ending punching power that comes on the other end of a 240lbs dude with no ground game.
But the fights last night were an absolute disgrace. BJ Penn didn't win. But he certainly didn't lose. And since it was his belt (he was the lightweight champion), Frank Edgar had to do a whole lot more than get 2 take downs over 5 rounds. One judge scored it 50-45? Please. Not even close.
Matt Hughes/Renzo Gracie was a complete joke. Obviously Hughes is way past his prime, but Randy Couture, who's 2 years older than even Renzo, knows how to finish a fight. Helping up the other fighter in the BJJ training gym is one thing. It's not something a warrior in the Octagon should be doing.
And Anderson Silva? WTF is that dude's problem?! Demian Maia clearly had no answer to Silva's stand up game. But after the 2nd round, Silva didn't even try to finish the fight. After the Silva fight, we couldn't even hear Joe Rogan try to do the interview. People were streaming out of the arena after the 4th round. The 4th round! People were pissed.
Guys in the office think Abu Dhabi (Flash Entertainment, a UAE government owned entity bought 10% of UFC a few months ago) tried to 'fix' the fights. Wouldn't surprise me, given that all 3 'main' events went the distance when they really shouldn't have. Hughes should have finished off Gracie much earlier than 4:00 into the 3rd round. Penn? Whatever. He didn't have the eye of the tiger or whatever. But Silva could have absolutely punished Maia in round 2 or 3 and saved something of his fan base. There is no reason that all 3 of those fights should have lasted as long as they did.
End of the day, there were 6 fighters who were too scared to lose. Nobody wanted to win. And that's just not the UFC.
The only coverage it got in the sports section of one of the news rags here - the only coverage - was of a preliminary bout. Sure, it might have been necessary due to press deadlines, but if coverage of one of three main events on what is supposed to be a marquis event, bringing the sport to a BJJ-friendly, wealthy population, is replaced by an undercard event, the only fight of the evening that was actually a fight (Kelly -v- Veach. Veach refused to quit, despite being massively bloody and getting his ass handed to him. He kept going, like a true octagon warrior is supposed to), you know the UFC failed massively.
I did, however, especially enjoy watching Kendall Grove get his ass kicked after Mark Munoz survived the 1st round.
Otherwise, unless Dana White gets his fighters' acts together, I won't be going back to another UFC any time soon (and not likely ever to another one in Abu Dhabi).
No pictures of the event. It's not worth encouraging the UFC with my art. So, if you want pictures, go here instead.
