Fighters that impressed at UFC on FOX 2
Before you even start saying how bad Saturday’s UFC on FOX 2 card was, take a deep breath and step away from the soap box. The Chicago card wasn’t nearly as bad as you think it was, ok the Maia vs. Weidman fight was pretty hard to watch, but overall the other nine bouts weren’t all that bad. Look past the dark clouds formed by three main card decisions and you’ll find some fighters that impressed, even in defeat.
Lavar Johnson – Making his UFC debut Lavar Johnson wasn’t given much of a shot against Joey Beltran. It was the slugfest that everyone expected it would be but Johnson stormed forward and hurt Beltran right away with a heavy body shot. Johnson kept the pressure on his opponent and as the round neared its end he finished Beltran by TKO for the time in his career. Johnson had come into the fight on a two fight losing streak and showed that he isn’t a heavyweight you want to stand and slug it out with.
Michael Johnson – The Ultimate Fighter season 12 finalist is a perfect example of a fighter’s evolution in MMA. The one-dimensional fighter that wrestled his way to the TUF 12 finals has added striking to his bag of tricks and it was on display against Shane Roller. Johnson used his speed to beat Roller to the punch for most of the fight and looked completely different and more comfortable on his feet.
Michael Bisping – Even in defeat Michael Bisping impressed on Saturday night, during and after the fight. During the first two rounds of his fight with Chael Sonnen he stuffed all but two of the takedowns and got right back up from those two. He controlled Sonnen against the cage several times and took the wrestler out of his game, nearly pulling off the upset and earning the title shot. What might be even more impressive though was how he handled the defeat inside the Octagon and at the post fight presser. In defeat “The Count” showed that he does belong with the top middleweights in the UFC.
Rashad Evans – He didn’t finish Phil Davis but he outclassed and dominated him for 15 minutes in the night’s main event. With the shot at the light heavyweight title and Jon Jones on his shoulders, Evans out wrestled the Penn State wrestler and took care of business. The former champion has now won four in a row since losing to Lyoto Machida and will get his crack at regaining the belt at UFC 145 on April 21st.
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