(‘Now we go for ice cream!’ Photo courtesy of NBC Sports.)
It was an MMA-tastic week what with the “Fight for the Troops” and the Ultimate Fighter 8 Finale both within a few days of one another, plus a little Adrenaline thrown in the mix. And while the big boys mostly sat this one out and let the young up-and-comers vie for the spotlight, there were still plenty of gains and losses made. Now it’s time to sort through the wreckage and see who’s up and who’s down with our arbitrary numerical rating system.
Josh Koscheck +87
Even after putting a hurting on Yoshida, the future is uncertain for Kos. Is he the best welterweight no one really wants to see all that badly?
Ryan Bader +102
Wrestler-turned-TUF winner proves he’s got more than just takedowns in his arsenal, going upside Vinny’s head with a big right hand. Satisfying ending, but let’s see what he can do against a real UFC fighter before we get too excited.
Vinny Magalhaes -48
Trying to prove you can do something other than the thing you do really, really well is admirable, though not all that bright.
Phillipe Nover -19
For a guy who does so many things well, there sure is a huge hole in his game. I’d get that fixed if I was you.
Efrain Escudero +65
Not the most thrilling bout (anytime Rogan and Goldberg spend time during the broadcast talking about how not boring the fight is, that’s a bad sign), but the underdog got the job done. Now it’s time to round out the skill set.
Anthony Johnson +119
Note to self: do not poke “Rumble” in the eye. Note to Kevin Burns: now that your hand is healed, why not keep them near the old face region.
Razak Al-Hassan -42
Okay, so you’re a tough guy. You’re also a stupid guy. At least your place in UFC lore is secure.
Steve Cantwell EVEN
Everything was going great until the post-fight interview. Maybe expressing a hope that your opponent was not seriously injured would have been a better idea than gloating over the sickening slow-mo arm pop?
Jim Miller +60
From the honeymoon suite to the Octagon, and he still has enough gas in the tank to run Wiman’s ass ragged. You gotta love these Miller boys.
Everybody wants to make a highlight reel, but not like that. Feel better, bud.
Wilson Gouveia +20
Big win against a quality opponent. Next time put down the fork a day earlier and make weight.
Jason MacDonald -18
It’s been a busy year for “The Athlete,” and one with very mixed results. So much potential, but that will only carry you so far and for so long. The clock is ticking.
TBI +340
The UFC raises awareness and over $4 million all in one night. Good show.
Irony +421
The UFC holds a benefit show for injured soldiers and ends up injuring half the fighters on the card, some gut-wrenchingly so. When’s the benefit for these guys?
Paul Blart: Mall Cop -735
You can figure out everything you need to know about this movie based on the title and the preview, either of which will lower your IQ a good ten points. At least it makes you appreciate “Reno: 911.”
Mike Swick +56
“Quick” seems like an apt nickname all of a sudden. But will he ever crack the top ten, or is gatekeeper status the best he can do?
Junie Browning +27
Beating Dave Kaplan isn’t the achievement of a lifetime, but he did look good doing it. Maybe there’s a future here, after all.
Pat Miletich +46
A legend proves he’s still got it, even if it was just against Thomas Denny. We’re not sure why he felt it necessary to climb back in the cage after so many years and so much success as a coach, but we’re glad to see him get his hand raised again.
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Comments
Mon, 12/15/08 - 03:11
i think junie can become a good mma fighter
Mon, 12/15/08 - 03:12
Where's Corey Hill? Did he break the rating system?
Mon, 12/15/08 - 03:12
Right on all of these.
Mon, 12/15/08 - 03:24
If by break you mean completely and utterly destroy, and by rating system you mean his leg, then yes he did
Mon, 12/15/08 - 03:26
Corey Hill +175 for the nastiest leg break since Joe Theisman.
Mon, 12/15/08 - 04:07
Corey Hill +500 for tryin to stand on his mangled leg after it looked like a water ballon, and still tryin to pull guard.
Mon, 12/15/08 - 04:11
Also: How many times does Goldberg need to read something before he pronounces is right? Efrain is not "EFF-ree-on", unless you're a goddamned moron.
Mon, 12/15/08 - 04:11
where is LL Cool JJ in all of this
Mon, 12/15/08 - 04:40
I'm wearing cotton gloves typing this because my hands are so fucking cold. To be honest it feels good hitting keys with gloves on. Although it actually takes a bit more coordination, and my fingers tend to slip here and there. Why not start keeping an actual scoreboard with the points listed for some of this stuff. Oh wait there is one... the power rankings, which makes all this stuff useless and arbitrary to anything.
Mon, 12/15/08 - 06:29
boring ass wrestlers -1 billion efrian out wrestling nover and causing NO damage to him makes me hate mma.
Mon, 12/15/08 - 07:15
No Damage? what about the multiple times he bounced his head off the floor with his fist? you might want to rewatch the fight And when was the last time you were picked up a slammed by someone? probably never because you're the unathletic mma fan who has never competed in any sport, so you can't appreciate the skills and athleticism it takes to dominate someone like that in grappling makes me hate YOU -1 billion!
Mon, 12/15/08 - 07:17
I'm somewhat athletic and train BJJ and I can say with no shame: knockouts and Subs are wayyyyyy cooler than a "technical" fight.
Mon, 12/15/08 - 07:19
I should clarify that comment was apropos of nothing. Just throwing it out there.
Mon, 12/15/08 - 08:07
so is it just me, or does vinny seem like a bigger version of jorge gurgel? sure, he's got a lot of talent, but if you don't want to use it, then its completely pointless to have, and you just wasted several years of your life learning it.
Mon, 12/15/08 - 08:16
@Farthammer Subs are technical in the fact they take a lot of technique to execute properly. And a knockout coming from using a lot of technical striking is cooler than a knockout from a straight up brawler.
Mon, 12/15/08 - 08:26
+500 to joe rogan for thinking nobody noticed that burp
Mon, 12/15/08 - 09:03
Derly, the Bens have said multiple times that these numbers don't mean anything at all. It's just numbers that try to represent the current mood or feeling about fighters and what not. Just have fun with it.
Mon, 12/15/08 - 09:47
Cory Hill's Tibia -121 Cory Hill's Fibia -121 And if He did a retro "But I'm drinking milk" commercial... +1989 Naw, just playing. He's tough as shit, I can't take that from him.
Tue, 12/16/08 - 04:48
let me get this straight when GSP takes downs BJ penn and lays and prays it's a good fight when anyone else with good technical wrestling does it it's boring?? Bader is a Badass he has a ton of power and a good skill set so does Efrian! I get it everyone wants to see guys fight until their old like Ken Shamrock and look pathetic.
Tue, 12/16/08 - 03:40
what about bob sounders. he must be at like +72134831274 for his vicious kicks and knees
Thu, 12/18/08 - 04:42
do you mean Ben Saunders?
Thu, 12/18/08 - 09:18
Yo Pac Man! Keep it old school! "Sure my leg bent like an overcooked spaghetti, but I'm drinking milk..." Takes me back. Thank you.
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