UFC 136 Ruminations

> Catch all of the UFC 136 Predictions & Fight Previews here!

Find great unique MMA style t-shirts & clothing online from Intimidation Clothing!

Since when is a fourth fight needed as a rubber match? Edgar won his re-rematch with Maynard Saturday night in spectacular and convincing fashion, but if Maynard rips off an impressive string of wins, which he might, we’ll definitely see Edgar-Maynard 4.

In spite of 7 decisions in his last ten fights, Edgar has beaten many impressive fighters, including a seemingly unbeatable BJ Penn, twice. None of his wins was more impressive than his TKO of Maynard, which earned him KO of the night bonus. Discussions about the Jersey Shore fighter replacing GSP in the pound-for-pound rankings are premature, however---he’s only defended his title twice. We’ll need more history to boost Edgar.

But Edgar’s win has included the 155 pound division among those with a solid belt-holder whose defenses seems impregnable. It’s obvious Edgar can take a hell of a punch and recover like no one else. He also maintains a ridiculous pace throughout his fights, while his opponents fade. Speed kills, and Edgar disposed of Maynard in jaw-dropping fashion.

Edgar also underscored why he’s called The Answer. In his rematches with Penn and Maynard, he has been the one to do the math that equals victory. It'll be interesting to see who, if anyone, finds an answer to The Answer

Chael Sonnen’s moronic trash talk goes beyond comic relief into downright bullshit: saying he’s the real middleweight champion; saying on-camera that it’s ridiculous to win 4 and a half rounds of a fight and be called the loser for spending a few seconds with someone’s legs wrapped around your neck. It’s almost as dumb as some of the other things the Oregon fighter has been reprimanded over. But he proved his worthiness of another shot at Silva with his easy win over a tough Brian Stann, should Dana White grant it.

Sonnen has flawless wrestling technique, and he reminds me of GSP in that sense. His top position looks irreversible, and his ground and pound is vicious at times, but all he has proved to me in the last few years is that he’s capable of beating most of the fighters at 185, not all. I don’t think Sonnen will ever be capable of beating Maia, for example, a man whose world class BJJ is far above Sonnen’s skills on the mat, as he’s proved once already.

Sonnen is a promoter, though, and his gift of gab does set up an interesting match between him and Anderson Silva. Make no mistake, The Spider was suffering from an injured rib in the first fight, even though he said nothing about it, and will KO Sonnen in a rematch. Sonnen has stated publicly that he doesn’t want second place, so offering to leave the UFC forever if he loses isn’t really a bet or sacrifice on his part: he’d probably leave anyway.

Kenny Florian fought with strong technique and an intelligent game plan, as I thought he would. Aldo’s speed and power were just a little much for the Bostonian. The inside leg kicks stymied Florian’s movement, and he was unable to take down the Brazilian. Florian fared better than anyone else has against one of the top pound for pound fighters. Even though Anderson Silva has said he’d retire if Aldo was a 185 pound fighter, Florian exposed Aldo’s prodigious stand-up as being nowhere near Silva’s, who is light-years ahead of the rest of the UFC.

Despite showing such excellent technique in wins at various weights, Florian looks physically week in his title fights. I didn’t expect that at this weight class, but Aldo overpowered him in every situation, if only by a little. Florian may just have to be happy inhabiting the netherworld of perennial contender, a top-notch fighter destined for title shots but no future belts, a la Rich Franklin or Frank Mir. Either that or he needs to put on some meat and fight in a weight class more apt for his height.

To see Renko’s hard-boiled thriller, starring mixed martial artist and Afghan war vet Char Sadao, go to Xystermma.com

> Catch all of the official UFC 136 results online here at ProFighting-fans.com after the fights are complete!

By Renko Styranka
ProFighting-fans.com MMA Staff Writer