TUF Nations finale discussion (*SPOILERS*)

I know you guys got some thoughts on this.

First, obviously, the main event.
Wow.....If I was picking Kennedy to win, I certainly wouldn't have predicted him to win like THAT! One judge even gave him a score of 50-45. I would disagree with that (I had it 49-46, and could even see an arguement for 48-47), but the fact that all judges gave it to Kennedy without question speaks volumes. I was very surprised at how strong he looked. His wrestling from a technical standpoint didn't appear to be anywhere near world-class, but he just seemed like he was controlling Bisping with sheer brute strength. I've seen elite wrestlers who couldn't keep Bisping on the ground for anywhere close to that length of time! Remember his fight with Rashad Evans at LHW? Bisping was able to get back to feet almost every time Rashad took him down.
Very impressive showing by Tim Kennedy, IMO.

The co-main event was mostly uneventful, but i actually enjoyed it. I figured Cote would get the win, but this was another fight that did not go at all like I expected. Cote was losing on the feet, but dominating Noke on the ground? Really?! Good back and forth fight, though.

I though Corassani had a shot in the opening round when he hurt Poirier, but he didn't commit to going for the finish. He paid for it in the second, and then when Poirier landed that uppercut that broke his nose, you could see him mentally give up and just let Poirier finish the job.

I can't stand KJ Noons, but that was an obsolutely brutal overhand right he cracked Stout with. I think that's the longest I've ever seen a K'dTFO fighter try to fight the ref. That went on for a good 20 seconds! LOL!

Yeah over all it was a good card.

bisping definitely had some rust. he was having a hard time finding his distance with the jab and his tdd seemed lack luster. He was not as aggressive he normally is and was very timid in the last round when kennedy looked aboustly gassed. heck kennedy was looking gassed in the 4th too.

I'm not making excuses cause kennedy won fair and square but I would love to see a rematch of these two when bisping hasn't been out of action for a whole year. we could see a different outcome next time. to be honest over all kennedy didn't impress me that much. he just played the lay and pray game for 3 rounds and started to gas badly in the last 2.

side note well done chrom on the avatar pic.   

I don't know, I'd be more apt to say the reason Bisping looked so off and timid in the later rounds was mostly due to Kennedy overwhelming him on the ground. I mean, if Bisping was rusty, wouldn't he get looser as the fight went on, not the other way around? I think he was wary of being taken down again and controlled, so he had to fight a little more conservatively. He's not used to being taken down and held there for most of the round.

And I'm not so sure Kennedy was all that gassed. It looked a lot to me (and I think Florian also mentioned it at one point) that Kennedy was sort of playing possum a little bit. He knew he couldn't chase Bisping around and stand toe-to-toe with him because Bisping is just too quick for that, so he was baiting him in so he could try and land some big punches on him. You could see that Kennedy suddenly looked a whole lot fresher and had more pop on his punches when Bisping got in close range.
And like I said; Bisping is notoriously hard to take down, and even harder to keep down for any amount of time. If Kennedy was really that gassed, there's no way he'd be able to control Bisping like that so late in the fight.

I'm more apt to say Bisping sucks and that's why he lost...
  

Yeah, Bisping looked like shit. Just shit.
I don't know what it was but it was more than ring rust. Kennedy would just lean up against the cage with hands at his hips and Bisping would still put no more effort than a jab out there. The 2nd round was the only one I gave to Bisping.... all others to Kennedy.
It's amazing that Bisping seemed to be able to outwrestle Sonnen, but then Kennedy just dominates him.
Maybe it's just Bisping getting old or coming in completely unprepared. But if not, then Kennedy's wrestling is much better than I gave him credit for and he will be a touch guy for anyone in that division.

Well goodness.... lets look at this another way... Kennedy barely pulls off a win against a guy who has been off for a year recovering from severe eye surgery, covered by ring rust, worried about going blind for the rest of his life, timing off, etc. Kennedy does little if anything once he's on top, he can't punch, he can't elbow, he can't get near a submission. By virtue of takedowns, that he struggled to get most of the time, he squeeks out a win. Sure... he deserved the win but lets not get too carried away with his awesomeness.
If Bisping is good with his eye, fights again as soon as he can, we will see quick and significant improvement. Kennedy is near the top of his game and any improvement will be minimal and keep him firmly in the middle of the pack.

^^^
Barely?! lol! He got dominated. No two ways about it.

And I'm not sure what would compel someone to declare that Kennedy "is at the top of his game and any improvement will be minimal". He has been in the fight game less than half the time Bisping has and has shown improvement in each outing, so I don't know what it is that you're seeing that brought you to the conclusion that he's now officially topped out. That sounds like some bitter Bisping fan sour grapes.
Wait......
Gecko? Is that you?! 

^^^^^^^^^^

  

Oh nevermind, there he is!

 

Triggerman99 wrote:

Oh nevermind, there he is!

 

that was pretty funny   

Krieger wrote:

Well goodness.... lets look at this another way... Kennedy barely pulls off a win against a guy who has been off for a year recovering from severe eye surgery, covered by ring rust, worried about going blind for the rest of his life, timing off, etc.  Kennedy does little if anything once he's on top, he can't punch, he can't elbow, he can't get near a submission. By virtue of takedowns, that he struggled to get most of the time, he squeeks out a win. Sure... he deserved the win but lets not get too carried away with his awesomeness.
    If Bisping is good with his eye, fights again as soon as he can, we will see quick and significant improvement.  Kennedy is near the top of his game and any improvement will be minimal and keep him firmly in the middle of the pack.

Uh wha?   

^^^
Yeah, my thoughts exactly!
lol