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Jon Anik introduced the show from the ESPN desk inside a nearly empty Molson Center. Kenny Florian and Rashad Evans co-hosted. Florian said: "Yeah, I was wrong." He picked Lyoto Machida. Florian said Rua is now pound-for-pound one of the best in the sport. He said Rua had to make a comeback since Machida controlled early with some takedowns.
Rashad described highlights, noting how Machida was more aggressive like he vowed to be, but it did cost him in the end. He said he didn't see it ending like that. "An aggressive Machida is not the Machida that normally fights. He's more passive, more safe, choosing his shots." He said neither wanted to go to a decision. UFC gave ESPN rights to full fledged video highlights of the finish of the main event just minutes after the PPV ended.
Anik said when UFC acquired Pride, the prized acquisition was believed to be Rua. After a setback against Forrest Griffin, said Florian, he has risen back to the top through hard work and recovering from injuries.
Rua joined the announcers on the set. He said in English he is very happy. His interpreted asked how he got it done tonight. He said he came in to take risks and try to knock him out. Anik asked about reports of an appendectomy seven weeks before the fight or a knee injury. Rua chuckled and said he was well-prepared and fit and ready to fight. He said he did have appendicitis, but the rest were rumors. It's great having Rua here after the fight, but having to do the interview through an interpreter is not going to help ratings for a show that's not a proven mainstay on ESPN.
Florian asked Rua if Machida used the wrong strategy. Rua said it was dangerous for him to change his game too much. He said he wanted to land counter punches when Machida came in. Rashad, a potential future Rua challenger, asked about seizing on Machida's tendency to stand up tall and drop his hands when moving backwards after getting hit. Rua said he trained with Lyoto a long time ago in Brazil, so he knew what to expect. He said Machida likes to wait and counter-strike. He said the first time they fought, he emphasized the kicks, so he decided to have a new gameplan and anticipate his movements and land punches.
Anik asked Rua who is next. Rua chuckled again. He said he has no idea. He said he was thinking for so long about Machida, he just wants to celebrate this and wait to see what Dana White comes up with. When asked if he'd fight Anderson Silva, Rua said, "Yes, I am a professional fighter."
After a commercial break, they showed Josh Koscheck posing for celebratory pictures backstage. They also showed the arena being quickly disassembled to prepare for NFL playoff hockey. Highlights aired of Koscheck vs. Daley. Florian said there just wasn't enough time for Daley to close the gap on wrestling skills.
Koscheck laughed and said every fan in Montreal is going to be looking for him tonight. Anik asked Koscheck about Daley throwing a punch after the bell, which everyone on the panel can't remember ever happening again. Koscheck said in the last 30 seconds he really egged him on and said some things he did like. Koscheck said, "Afterwards he stood up. I was walking around and I was going to give him a high-five and all of a sudden I gave him a left hook." Anik asked Koscheck about his rep for being stubborn and wanting to stand and engage on his feet even with wrestling as his strength. Koscheck said his coaches told him to be conservative and stick to the gameplan every day during camp. He said this is a big fight because winning meant coaching TUF and fighting GSP. Good thing Koscheck won because there's no way Daley has a chance against GSP the way he looked against Koscheck. Koscheck has a real chance.
Akin announced: "I'm just being told that Dana White has cut Paul Daley from the UFC and has gone so far as to say even if Paul Daley is the number one pound for pound fighter in the world, he will never grace the Octagon once again." Koscheck said: "I think I won twice. I hope the best for Paul Daley. I don't dislike him. I dislike how he acted. I don't dislike him. I hope UFC will give him another chance."
Florian said the fact that Daley did that is the first he's ever seen. Florian stopped short of giving his opinion on the suspension, but he did ask Koscheck if feels bad for him. Koscheck laughed and indicated no. Rashad said it gets heated, but you have to act as a professional. "You can't just punch somebody in the face," he said. Koscheck said Daley was talking a lot before the fight and was very arrogant and said a lot of nasty things. He said he let him know that those things weren't welcome in the sport.
Koshcheck said he talked to him the whole last minute of the fight. He said after he threw his first jab, he said, "Oh, that was slow, Paul." He said he feels he could have stood with him, but he stuck to the gameplan. Good for Dana White. Right call. And our readers agree, with 37 percent voting to suspend him for life, with 19 percent saying one year, and 15 percent saying "No suspension because Koscheck's a punk."
I wish they had asked Koscheck about the mystery knee in the first round and at least got him on record saying what hit him and where or admit he oversold it.
After the second commercial, they showed highlights of the Alan Belcher win over Patrick Cote. Then they went to Kimbo Slice losing to Matt Mitrione. Good for MMA Live for not even mentioning Kimbo until late in the show because as much of a mainstream celebrity as he is in certain ways, he wasn't the story of this show. Good to see the MMA Live team not pandering to casual fans who care more about Kimbo than they should. Mitrione then sat with the panel and gave an engaging recap of his win over Kimbo. Rashad was gregarious in his interaction with his former student from TUF. I had dinner with Rashad a couple months ago and he is as likable and engaging off camera as he is on, a break from an image I had of him from his in-ring antics early in UFC career. Rashad didn't believe Mitrione when he said he wasn't nervous before fights. Mitrione said it might be arrogance from being a pro athlete for so many years, but he doesn't get nervous. He said he gets anxious, but not nervous. He said Rashad motivated him and informed him on where he needed to improve. He said he should have thrown more punches. He said he needs more practice and gym time.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
Good post-fight show. My critique would be Rua's interview went a little long only because of the interpreter factor. The panel should have asked Koscheck about the possible phantom knee he sold in the round one. I'd like Florian to have taken a firm stand on the Daley suspension. It seemed both Florian and Rashad were hesitant to really go after Daley, which left me thinking they didn't think it was as big of a deal as Dana White did. To be a really compelling must-watch show, the panelists can't seem afraid to take a stand on a matter like that. Being wishy-washy or seeming political or trying to cover for a "fellow fighter" doesn't serve the viewer. Mitrione was a good interview, but I wish the panel had a little time at the end to assess the ramifications of Rua as champion and who his top contenders are plus quick thoughts on the GSP vs. Koscheck fight that's scheduled down the line after the next TUF season. They could have incorporated a text message poll regarding the show to give it a sense of viewer interaction, too, such as what should happen to Paul Daley, who Rua should fight next, or a prediction on GSP vs. Koscheck. Those are the three stories coming out of this show, with all due respect to Mitrione.
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