Post UFC 186 Thoughts

• Rampage looked good, which is important especially for a veteran. I largely do not prefer watching the vets fight, but Rampage to me is an exception, and it's still fun to see him fight and the lead up before it. He has a very dynamic personality.
• Mighty Mouse (125lb king) got another victory, but the fans are still booing his fights.His style of wrestling and continual back-up to dodge strike is not thrilling. His opponents are not deserving of title fights much like the female 135lb division. If you look at any other division, no champion is fighting the ranked #7 fighter. It doesn't make a lick of sense, obviously being one-sided.
• Sarah Kaufman although a decent fighter, will probably not be a champion. I've seen her subbed too many times.
• Olivier Aubin-Mercier is not a name I've heard of before. But his fight on the prelims was memorizing. He looked wicked sharp and highly competitive and athletic
• Michael Bisping sort of layed out the same cards he usually does. He won, but not convincingly so, and it's impossible to see him making it to the belt. I think he's not completion of his career, and should switch to full-time commentary soon..
• The future fight cards are weak until May 23rd, 2015. See you then.

Welcome to Fight Goblin

This site is a place for me to write about what I find is current in modern day MMA. The sport evolves fast, and I sort of want the log for my own purposes as well as putting it out in the ether for others as well.

The date is April 19th, 2015. Last night was a decent UFC card - UFC on Fox: Machida vs. Rockhold. The MMA landscape currently is facing an oversaturation issue with too many fighters signed to UFC, and thus more shows are put on than past years, and to fill these cards the talent is simply farther from the top 10-15 fighters. Even though there may be a fight card on any particular weekend, you really need to consider whether you're going to bother watching it. I don't feel that was the case in the past. You could just tune in, and the matchmaker and promoter simply treated you right whether you knew enough to know the fighters and to know if it was competitive or not.

To the fight card: I found the following to be happening

• Machida has lost his place as a contendor for the belt. I think his days are numbered. He was largely my favorite fighter for his unique style and elusiveness - both which go out the window as age catches up to you. Crocop is no longer the pride he once was, and Machida at age 36 with 12 years of fighting may be done. I have noticed that around the 10 year mark - a fighter starts dropping off, but is also a legend for staying around and being relevant for that long.
• Paige VanZant is for real, and showed herself to be a versatile, explosive scrappy fighter. I know she trains at Alpha Male, but she hasn't been there long enough for her to pick up their skills and strategy, so I'm very interested in her next performances. She's definitely on the watch list and the young guns rising list.
• Luke Rockhold is in many ways to me the next evolution of fighter. He's well rounded everywhere, and finishes fights pretty consistently. I'm not a fan yet, but I don't see why he couldn't beat Weidman.
• Jim Miller is going to stay Jim Miller. He's a tough fighter whom I've wanted to win, but he remains in the gatekeeper status, and I think he's done at this point. His style just doesn't make for champions.
• Patrick Cummins had a chance to really change the world's perception on him, but I think he's just a clone of Ryan Bader, and will just be a guy like Phil Davis who can dominate some fighters, but if someone neutralizes his wrestling, he's going to lose.
• OSP - Ovince Saint Preux has shown a good level of skill. I think he'll get the belt and lose right afterwards. He strikes me as someone would could beat anyone, but I'm not so sure about having championship qualities that'll allow him to be undefeated. I see him beating Rashad Evans and Bader.
• Max Halloway is someone somewhat similar to Jim Miller in that he's always game for a fight, but this particular fight was an outbreak performance. He's really jumped his ranking ahead with this win, and it'll be interesting to see his next fight and watch his performance.