UFC 209's Main Event Was A SNOOZEFEST
On Friday, I said that Tyron Woodley vs Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson had serious fight of the year potential. After their first fight, where Wonderboy weathered one of the toughest storms I’d ever seen, seriously rocked Woodley, escaped the tightest guillotine of all time, and DIDN’T leave with the title, I thought he’d be fighting with more heart than ever. Woodley, on the other hand, has been very vocal about not getting the respect he deserves as champion. He said he needed a star making performance so the masses would learn his name.
Instead, both guys stood in there in the octagon Saturday night, and didn’t do a thing. It was possibly the worst title fight in UFC history, giving Anderson Silva vs Demian Maia at UFC 112 a run for it’s money. The crowd was booing and chanting “FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT!”. In the final 45 seconds of the fifth and final round, Woodley dropped Wonderboy and unleashed some bombs on him. I thought Big John McCarthy was gonna step in and end it for sure. He didn’t, and the fight went to a decision.
I had scored the fight in favor of Tyron Woodley, giving him a 10-9 advantage in Rounds 3 and 5, and giving out my first ever double 10-10 rounds in a fight (for the 1st and 2nd). In fact, in my 9 years of watching MMA, I’ve only given out one or two 10-10 rounds ever. I shot off this tweet after seeing multiple “Wonderboy was robbed!” takes:
My point being, how the hell could you be angry that Woodley won when he was the only one who showed that he wanted it? The fight wasn’t lopsided in any capacity, and in fact, it was so close that many were scoring it a 47-47 draw. I’m well aware of how the scoring system works, and wasn’t saying to ignore a blatant win for Wonderboy for the sake of a knockdown. Just noting when it’s as close and horrible as that fight was, nobody has the right to cry robbery. Let’s just get “The Human Cellophane” Demian Maia his title shot and get Robbie Lawler back in the mix ASAP.
The rest of the card was enjoyable, but it was no Rough N Rowdy Brawl. Groovy Lando and David Teymur had a barn burner that was like one of those classic video game button mashing fights:
The veterans went to a pretty boring decision, but Evans showed me he may have a few more fights left in the tank. Judo Dan Kelly got a much deserved win while wrapped like a fuckin’ mummy.
Overeem murdered Mark Hunt:
And finally, the highlight of the night, Darren “The Damage” Elkins executed one of the best comebacks in MMA history against Mirsad Bektic on the FS1 Prelims. Elkins was MAULED for two straight rounds, the first being a clear as day 10-8, and miraculously knocked Bektic out in the third, defying physics.
I wish I was more excited about it, but I can’t really get behind anybody with this tattoo:
Apologies to everyone who was counting on me for the main event being great. Next time, save your money and put it towards West Virginia backwoods bumfights, which have statistically never disappointed.