UFC 74 is in the books and it was a good card from start to finish. I still have issues with the way that Zuffa runs their PPV shows, and I will probably say this after every event, but they need to show more than 5 fights over the course of 3 hours. UFC 74 saw most of the favorites win their fights, with most bouts being exciting from the opening bell.
- Randy Couture vs Gabriel Gonzaga - Randy Couture did what he does so well yet again, and dominated yet another UFC heavyweight while keeping his title belt. Reminiscent of the Couture vs Sylvia fight, Couture rocked Gonzaga with a punch to the head early in the first round and seemed to keep control from there. Once Gonzaga’s nose was broken and the blood started to flow, Couture was easily able to impose his will and keep Gonzaga pressed against the cage while working his clinch game.
Had Gonzaga’s nose not been so badly damaged I think the fight might have played out differently. Gonzaga’s vision and breathing was severly altered and, even still, he was occasionally able to land solid head kicks or strikes to Couture’s head. As we have seen time and time again, it only takes one good strike. However, Randy proved why he is the champ and how valuable knowledge and cage experience can be. Gonzaga still has a long career ahead of him, but for now the spotlight rests on the Hall of Famer.
- Georges St Pierre vs Josh Koscheck - Georges St Pierre put on yet another clinic against an “elite level” wrestler and proved that he deserves that accolades that are heaped upon him. As he did with Frank Trigg, Sean Sherk and Matt Hughes, Georges St Pierre was able to control the fight all three rounds on the ground a fighter who supposedly outclassed him on the mat. Before the fight, Koscheck repeatedly said in interviews that he had some new strategy for St. Pierre that no one had ever seen before and that would blow people away. If that strategy was to lay on his back and get manhandled in his own “specialty” then, I’m sorry Josh, but we all have seen that before.
From the moment GSP ran Koscheck into the mat in the first round with that double-leg takedown, I knew that St. Pierre had this fight in the bag. Hopefully now, all those who have been doubting St. Pierre and his “mental fortitude” even since his loss at UFC 69 will take a break and just enjoy watching this guy fight.
- Roger Huerta vs Alberto Crane - To put it simply, Roger Huerta looked better than I have ever seen him look before. While Huerta takes criticism for the level of his competition thus far in the UFC, each and every fight he has been in has put him in a situation where he could further develop a skill setl. Last night, he was able to work his BJJ game and BJJ defense and he did so perfectly. Huerta’s endurance and conditioning was spectacular last night and I think he is legitimately two more fights away from a title shot.
- Joe Stevenson vs Kurt Pellegrino - This fight was everything I expected it to be and was a pretty close battle the whole time. While Pellegrino is a good MMA fighter, Stevenson is just that much better in all aspects of the fight came. Joe “Daddy” once again proved that he is fully deserving of the title shot that he most certainly will be given.
- Kendall Grove vs Patrick Cote - Patrick Cote once again proved the point that all it takes is one punch. A nicely landed right hook rocked Grove and sent him sprawling to the mat and Cote was able to mount and ground-and-pound Gove to victory.
- Renato Sobral continues to fall further and further out of grace with the MMA public. Sobral won his fight against David Heath by submission in the 2nd round, but held onto the choke approximately 5 seconds after Heath tapped. In the post fight interview, Sobral admitted he held the choke late on purpose to “teach Heath a lesson.” It will be interesting to see if Zuffa takes any action on this; my guess is they won’t and Sobral will just continue to be buried on undercards until his contract is over.
- Frank Mir easily defeated Antoni Hardonk in the first round, as I expected. Don’t get excited though, Mir fans; this doesn’t mean anything.
