5 Talking Points in the Aftermath of UFC 200
5 Talking Points in the Aftermath of UFC 200
There were a lot of highs and lows to go around at UFC 200. Jim Edwards examines the five things fans will be talking about.
By Jim Edwards
UFC International Fight Week 2016 and UFC 200 are in the books, here are the big five talking points coming out of the historic night in Las Vegas last evening.
While the event earlier in the week had all the makings of an instant classic, just 72 hours out it suffered a major setback when their scheduled blockbuster main event between Daniel Cormier and Jon Jones was cancelled after Jones failed a drugs test.
Most organizations would've pressed the panic button at this point but the UFC acted like the professionals they are and instead, did the best they could given the crazy circumstances.
The replacement main event meant te event lacked the final big moment the show required to be truly memorable, but by bringing in Anderson Silva to replace Jones to face Cormier, it hey kept most fight fans happy.
UFC 200 may not go down as the most memorable from the fans perspective, but it will always go down as a great triumph over adversity for all internally at the UFC.
It's crazy to think that a man who has now lost four out of his last five fights can be the greatest UFC fighter of all time, but that's exactly what the Brazilian Anderson Silva is.
Coming in on just three days notice, Silva was understandably nowhere near fighting shape and admitted afterwards he hadn't trained since having gallbladder surgery just weeks before.
Despite having all the excuses in the world not to take a fight on short notice, Silva turned up and gave the fans everything he had. Of course, Silva will have been paid handsomely for his fifteen minutes work last evening, but regardless he earned every single dollar of it and he fought hard until the last minute to push the current UFC light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier further than most imagined.
Speaking of Daniel Cormier, it's utterly perplexing why this man is constantly on the receiving end of boos and jeers from UFC fans.
Cormier is a former olympian, a family man and a true ambassador for our sport yet for the past few months he's found himself booed at press conferences and during his fight last evening.
Granted, Cormier last evening was fighting one of the biggest ever fan favorites and his grinding wrestling style wasn't to the liking of most, but still, Cormier is not a man that deserves to be booed under any circumstances.
Let's hope that when fans sit back after a crazy few days and catch breath they take stock of what an amazing champion he is and how lucky we are to have such a great man representing our sport on the global stage.
One of the talking points being hammered home by the UFC in the immediate aftermath last evening was the fact that the organisation now had their first ever openly gay champion after Amanda Nunes beat Miesha Tate.
Nunes has always been open about her sexuality and it was fitting that on the same week the UFC started their 'everyone is a fighter' anti-homophobia campaign they had had their first ever openly gay champion to celebrate.
That said, as good as that all is, attention shouldn't be taken away from Nunes' amazing performance and she dismantled Tate in devastating fashion. The UFC have had their women's bantamweight title picture well and truly shaken up with that title upset.
Speaking after his win against Hunt at the post-fight press conference, Brock Lesnar refused to confirm he would fight again in the UFC but his comments strongly suggested that he would.
Lesnar said he 'felt happy, had fun and back to his best', so you would imagine that these feelings are only going to encourage the former UFC heavyweight champion to pursue another run in the organization at the UFC heavyweight title.
If he can perform like he did last night consistently, he will no doubt quickly once again be talked about as a title contender. Don't be surprised to see him face Cain Velasquez at UFC 205 given the Mexican's dominant win over Travis Browne last evening in the main card opener.
UFC International Fight Week 2016 and UFC 200 are in the books, here are the big five talking points coming out of the historic night in Las Vegas last evening.
UFC 200 was like a play without a final act
While the event earlier in the week had all the makings of an instant classic, just 72 hours out it suffered a major setback when their scheduled blockbuster main event between Daniel Cormier and Jon Jones was cancelled after Jones failed a drugs test.
Most organizations would've pressed the panic button at this point but the UFC acted like the professionals they are and instead, did the best they could given the crazy circumstances.
The replacement main event meant te event lacked the final big moment the show required to be truly memorable, but by bringing in Anderson Silva to replace Jones to face Cormier, it hey kept most fight fans happy.
UFC 200 may not go down as the most memorable from the fans perspective, but it will always go down as a great triumph over adversity for all internally at the UFC.
Anderson Silva is the greatest of all time no doubt whatsoever
It's crazy to think that a man who has now lost four out of his last five fights can be the greatest UFC fighter of all time, but that's exactly what the Brazilian Anderson Silva is.
Coming in on just three days notice, Silva was understandably nowhere near fighting shape and admitted afterwards he hadn't trained since having gallbladder surgery just weeks before.
Despite having all the excuses in the world not to take a fight on short notice, Silva turned up and gave the fans everything he had. Of course, Silva will have been paid handsomely for his fifteen minutes work last evening, but regardless he earned every single dollar of it and he fought hard until the last minute to push the current UFC light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier further than most imagined.
Why do people continue to boo Daniel Cormier?
Speaking of Daniel Cormier, it's utterly perplexing why this man is constantly on the receiving end of boos and jeers from UFC fans.
Cormier is a former olympian, a family man and a true ambassador for our sport yet for the past few months he's found himself booed at press conferences and during his fight last evening.
Granted, Cormier last evening was fighting one of the biggest ever fan favorites and his grinding wrestling style wasn't to the liking of most, but still, Cormier is not a man that deserves to be booed under any circumstances.
Let's hope that when fans sit back after a crazy few days and catch breath they take stock of what an amazing champion he is and how lucky we are to have such a great man representing our sport on the global stage.
The UFC have their first openly gay champion
One of the talking points being hammered home by the UFC in the immediate aftermath last evening was the fact that the organisation now had their first ever openly gay champion after Amanda Nunes beat Miesha Tate.
Nunes has always been open about her sexuality and it was fitting that on the same week the UFC started their 'everyone is a fighter' anti-homophobia campaign they had had their first ever openly gay champion to celebrate.
That said, as good as that all is, attention shouldn't be taken away from Nunes' amazing performance and she dismantled Tate in devastating fashion. The UFC have had their women's bantamweight title picture well and truly shaken up with that title upset.
It looks like Brock Lesnar will be back in the UFC again sometime soon
Speaking after his win against Hunt at the post-fight press conference, Brock Lesnar refused to confirm he would fight again in the UFC but his comments strongly suggested that he would.
Lesnar said he 'felt happy, had fun and back to his best', so you would imagine that these feelings are only going to encourage the former UFC heavyweight champion to pursue another run in the organization at the UFC heavyweight title.
If he can perform like he did last night consistently, he will no doubt quickly once again be talked about as a title contender. Don't be surprised to see him face Cain Velasquez at UFC 205 given the Mexican's dominant win over Travis Browne last evening in the main card opener.