UFC on Fox 4: Best One Yet?

UFC on Fox 4

I criticize the UFC when it is deserved, but I also have to praise them when they deliver the way they did yesterday. UFC on Fox 4 was the best broadcast television show that Zuffa has put on, but unfortunately it was also their lowest rated (The Olympics are largely to blame). According to Nielsen, the overnight numbers were 2.14 million viewers, down from 2.25 million viewers in May (Diaz vs Miller). Like I said though, as far as UFC is concerned I'm going to be mostly positive. 

The opener between a returning Mike Swick, who hadn't fought in 2 1/2 years, and DaMarques Johnson set the bar high (Swick won via KO at 1:20 of the first round). Jamie Varner and Joe Lauzon took that bar, and raised it even higher. Both competitors came in swinging, and it was obvious that someone was going to finish the fight looking up at the lights. Jamie Varner gassed considerably as the fight wore on, and J-Lau took advantage by getting him to tap to a triangle choke at 2:44 of the third round. This was far and away the best fight so far on Fox.

The co-main event and main event would clear up the Light Heavyweight Championship's future, because Dana White announced whoever won most impressively would get the next shot at the winner of the Jon Jones-Dan Henderson fight. The first fight between Lyoto Machida and Ryan Bader started slowly. Bader got picked apart in the first round, but none of the strikes threatened a KO. In the second round Bader stopped being patient, and he charged at Machida, but directly into his fist knocking him out at 1:32 of the second round. Was Lyoto's knockout enough to earn him #1 contender status?

The Main Event between Shogun Rua and Brandon Vera was a great fight. Both guys brought it to each-other (similar to Shogun's fight with Dan Henderson), until Shogun hit a couple uppercuts in the clinch that dropped Vera, and finished him with ground and pound at 4:09 of the fourth round. The fight was a lot more competitive than I thought it would be, and Shogun showed signs of gassing in the third round. Dana White agreed with me, and announced that Lyoto Machida is the new #1 contender.

All in all, it was an entertaining night of fights. Mike Swick's win was a feel good story. Joe Lauzon's performance on such a big stage raised him to the top of the Lightweight Division, along with Anthony Pettis and Gray Maynard. On top of it all, Machida's impressive knockout makes him a worthy contender for a potential rematch with Jon Jones.

UFC 150

UFC 150 is going to be headlined by a rematch for the Lightweight Championship between Frankie Edgar and Ben Henderson. Those of you who have been Costa's in the Cage readers from Day One know that I don't even think Frankie Edgar lost their first fight. Henderson's up-kick after being dominated for the better part of 2 rounds gave him some momentum in the third and fourth round, but Frankie won the fifth and final round. Dana White decided to give Frankie a much deserved rematch, and now on Saturday, it's up to Edgar to prove that Dana made the right decision.

It was clear in their first fight that Ben Henderson has a huge size advantage over Edgar, but Frankie's been outsized in most of his fights. Edgar has an advantage in wrestling, and it is a push once the fight hits the ground. When striking, Henderson is stronger, but Edgar has better movement and speed. I see this fight being very close, much like their first battle in February. If Ben-do can't hit a big shot, like his up-kick, I see Frankie out-pointing him and retaining the title he never should have lost. Another thing I'd like to point out is that Edgar always does better in rematches. He won more decisively against BJ Penn in their second fight, and went from losing, to a draw, to leaving Gray Maynard out cold in their trilogy. 

UFC 150 Quick Predictions

I went 1-4 in my UFC 149 predictions, bringing my record to an even 8-8.

Frankie Edgar over Ben Henderson by Decision

Donald Cerrone over Melvin Guillard by Submission

Jake Shields over Ed Herman by Decision

Yushin Okami over Buddy Roberts by KO

Justin Lawrence over Max Holloway by KO

NFL

One of the all-time greats, Curtis Martin, is now officially a Hall of Famer. Curtis not only put up HOF numbers on the field (14,101 rushing yards, 102 total TD), but according to everything I've read he is an all around great guy. After playing his first three years for the Patriots, Martin joined his head coach, Bill Parcells, in moving to the green and white. Curtis played 8 years with the Jets before retiring due to knee problems. Martin was the model for consistency rushing for 1,000 yards in ten straight seasons. 

"At my eulogy, I don't want my daughter or whoever it may be giving my eulogy to talk about how many yards I gained or touchdowns I scored.  I want my daughter to be able to talk about the man that Curtis Martin was.  How when she was growing up, she looked for a man who was like her father.  That he was a man of integrity, a man of strong character, and a God fearing man.  That's what I want.


Then at the end of the day, she could say, oh yeah, and he was a pretty good football player.  Thank you all. -Curtis Martin 8/4, 2012 Hall of Fame Induction Speech

Thank You Curtis.

Jets

I hate the Jets. No, I've really been thinking about this, and the Jets are a real hate-able team. I love Rex Ryan, even though most people hate him. I love David Harris, Nick Mangold, Dustin Keller, Jeremy Kerley and Mark Sanchez. But there are a couple Jets I can't stand the sight of. 

Antonio Cromartie and Santonio Holmes should just STFU and play football. If they make headlines for something they do on the field for every-time they make one for what they say, than they would be perennial Pro Bowlers. The Jets made a huge mistake taking on the locker room cancer that is Santonio Holmes instead of Braylon Edwards. I think Cromartie has more pass interference penalties than babies, and he has a shit ton of babies. Too bad they both couldn't have collided harder at practice and knocked some sense into each-other.

Darelle Greedvis is a great player, and used to be my favorite Jet, but I've heard enough of his bitching and crying. If you don't want to wear the green and white then get the hell out of here. He can't think anyone's naive enough to think he really hurt his hamstring on the second day of camp (he couldn't be creative and have a different "injury" than in 2010 when he first complained about his contract). He only showed up for training camp because if he held out he would be forced into a contract he doesn't like. The whole point of his contract was that he got paid more in the first two seasons, then his salary will drop in the third and fourth year. Now he wants to get paid more. That's not what a front loaded contract is meant for!

Tim Tebow the player, I like. But Tebowmania, I hate. Tim Tebow could help the Jets on the field and in the locker room because he is a good motivator. He isn't an NFL starting quarterback (I'd rather have Greg McElroy QB than Tebow if anything happens to Sanchez), but he is a tough nosed football player. He could play multiple positions, and be an asset to the team, but I like QB's whose main strength is passing. The problem I had with Tebow from the very start is Tebowmania. I don't care how many time Tim prayed, or what he ate for dinner, or how many times he pooped. ESPN is obsessed with this guy, and they have a permanent anchor desk installed in Cortland for training camp. The Daily News has a Tebow Watch column everyday, and it's only practice (they're talkin' 'bout practice man, practice).

Those four guys have created enough headlines and distractions for the entire tri-state area sports scene, but they're all on one team, my favorite team, the Jets. If we get off to a bad start things are going to get ugly fast. Mike Tannenabum has created this roster of goofballs, and probably will be fired if they don't perform. I'm just afraid, as the great Shawn Michaels once said "If I go down, I'm going down in a blaze of glory, and taking everyone with me" I hope the Jets don't go down.