The all-out war between "Bigg Rigg" and "The Natural Born Killer" was so awesome that everyone at Duffy's joined the Montreal crowd in giving a round of applause. Here are my thoughts on the PPV which held this epic clash of welterweight gladiators!
Ricci vs. Fletcher: Ricci got a less-than-impressive victory over Fletcher with two takedowns over the course of the bout, as well as taking his back in the final round. The standup exchanges were alright, but overall, this match wasn't anything special.
Ring vs. Camozzi: Again, not the most spectacular bout. Ring floated like a butterfly and stang like a bee in Round 1, but Camozzi caught up to him in Round 2, attempting a standing guillotine. In Round 3, Camozzi took Ring's back while they were standing, pushing him up against the cage, got a front headlock, and landed more strikes. This fight could have been better, but I have seen worse.
Ellenberger vs. Marquardt: An awesome KO from "The Juggernaut" changed the tone of the PPV from "meh" to "now we're talking"! A left hook followed by a fierce right caused Nate not to feel so great as he was finished off on the mat. I can definitely see Ellenberger getting a title shot after Hendricks if he keeps this up.
Hendricks vs. Condit: Holy crap! This duel to the death was so heated that I'm surprised that the mat didn't catch fire! Hendricks hit Condit with his left so many times that he broke his hand, but "The Natural Born Killer" was unfazed! Condit got some slick combinations and vicious jumping knees, but he just wasn't able to defend himself against a dozen takedowns from "Bigg Rigg." After a hard-earned decision, Hendricks called out GSP. He said that if he didn't get a title shot, he would find his house, hire a ref, and do something about it. I actually sent my boss a text saying that if he didn't get a title shot, I was switching to Bellator. However, I heard that Dana White declared him the number one contender at the post-fight press conference, so that shouldn't be an issue.
GSP vs. Diaz: Watching GSP fight is like watching a master chess player: not very exciting unless you are aware of the strategic brilliance of what he is doing. GSP did not just neutralize Diaz's Brazilian jiu-jitsu with superior wrestling, but he also outstruck Diaz on the feet. He was constantly moving to create openings in order to strike Diaz when he had his back. Even in the first round, Diaz seemed to be wondering what on earth he got himself into when he took shots to the side of his head with a befuddled expression on his face. He did manage to do some damage to the champ in Round 3, cutting him opening with his boxing. However, Diaz spent most of the fight being handled by a tactically superior fighter.
GSP was gracious as always, saying that Diaz was a good guy and that he was a fan of his. Surprisingly, at the end, Diaz showed a lot of respect, thanking GSP for giving him the credit that he thought he deserved as well as showing gratitude to the Canadian audience. That being said, it was annoying when he hinted at retirement again by wondering if he should keep doing this. I don't blame the guy for being frustrated. After all, he has gone from being the "King of the Mountain" at Strikeforce to being just one of many tough contenders in the UFC. At the same time, quitting after every loss isn't the most mature way to handle it. In combat sports, everybody loses sometimes. The key is in how you bounce back. That being said, if Diaz's heart isn't in it anymore, then maybe it is time for him to move on.
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