Hindsight is 20/20: UFC 119 post-analysis

Oh my my my, we've got a lot of explaining to do.  We at Raucus Nature posted an atrocious 1-4 record on Saturday for UFC:119 Mir v Cro Corpse, while our MMA idiot savant Poul 'E. Slithers' Collins went a commendable 3-2.  Let's just say we had a tougher time picking these fights than Charlie did at playing Simon:

Frank Mir def Mirko 'Cro Corpse' Filipovic via 3rd KO

Raucus: Mir
Poul: Mir

My bromance with Frank Mir has been well documented.  That being said, this fight was a huge letdown from an otherwise intriguing pay per view card.

Frank Mir was originally slated to take on Big Nog in a rematch until an injury forced Nogeuira off the card.  With an already average PPV main event the buzz surrounding UFC 119 was about to go from bad to Lohan.  Not to worry though, in steps the corpse of Mirko Cro Cop to save the day.  If this was 2006 and Cro Corpse was still sending men to their maker with his left head kick I would be jumping up down like a 13 year old chick at a Justin Bieber concert.

Mir did end up knocking out Cro Cop in the final minute of last round, but the 14 minutes leading up to the fight looked like a light sparring session.  It seemed as though both men weren't fighting to win, but to not lose.


Ryan Bader def. Lil' Nog via unanimous decision

Raucus: Lil' Nog
Poul: Bader

Interesting for short stretches when Bader decided to trade with Lil' Nog.  'Darth' can celebrate his well deserved technical victory, but Nogeuira will be the real winner.

He won't have to face Jon Jones next.  Sorry Bader, but you better get your doctor on speed dial.  This is how two of Bones' last three opponents looked after Jon got his hands on them:

Chris Lytle def. Matt Serra via unanimous decision

Raucus: Serra
Poul: Lytle

This was an action packed fight with Lytle just two piecing Serra's face, while Serra tried valiantly to bruise Lytle's knuckles with his dome.  It's crazy to think Lytle is one fight away from title contention, but it's completely justified.  'Light's Out' has won his last four fights in the octagon.


Sean Sherk def Evan Dunham via split decision

Raucus: Dunham
Poul: Sherk

This was an absolutely amazing fight.  Sherk came out and got back to his bread and butter wrestling and top control.   Sherk's submission defense is top notch, Duham had him in deep guillotines four times and Sherk found a way out.

Touching on Dunham.  WOW, what a coming out party.  (Taylor Lautner take note for when you inevitably come out in a couple years after Twilight)  After getting split open by a Sherk elbow in the opening frame, Dunham dug deep, put a smile on his face and proceeded to knock the shit out of Sherk for the next two rounds.  He put some crazy combos together on his feet and showed a slick ground game when things hit the mat.

Now to address the 500 pound gorilla in the room.  How in the fuck did two judges give the fight to Sherk?  That was a travesty.  Whether complete reform or half point scoring, something needs to be done with MMA judging.  Or just get rid of Cecil Peoples.


Melvin Guillard def Jeremy Stephens via split decision

Raucus: Stephens
Poul: Stephens

I thought for sure this fight wouldn't go beyond the first round and after Lil' Heathen dropped Guillard in the opening 10 seconds and I was almost right.  However, Guillard proved to be too fast for Stephens to close out in the first frame.

I thought both guys fought extremely smart, especially Stephens who tailored his strikes to Guillard's body to wear him down.  I scored the fight 29-28 Stephens, but could easily see Guillard take the very close 2nd round.

In conclusion, I think Georges St. Pierre pretty much sums up how Raucus Nature did for UFC 119:

Cody