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By: Frank Hyden, MMATorch contributor
I agree with MMATorch columnist Jason Amadi that Frankie Edgar must shoulder a lot of the blame for his loss to Benson Henderson at UFC 150 last Saturday. I didn't think the fight was a robbery as some have said, as I thought the fight was simply super close, and could have gone either way.
The fighting style that Edgar uses is that scrappy, never say die style. He's a grinder that never quits, he's a decision machine. He outpoints his opponents. The problem with such a strategy is that some judges score fights differently than others. You also run the risk of getting caught by surprise by your opponent. When you let your opponents hang around and hang around, all it takes is a split second mistake and you could lose the fight.
If Edgar were a heavyweight, his strategy would be much more effective. Edgar uses his cardio to keep going, but pretty much every lightweight has great cardio. Most heavyweights gas out by the second round. Lightweights also are much quicker, and are more capable of catching you with an unexpected shot. Heavyweights may have the power, but you should be able to see it coming most of the time.
I'm not criticizing Edgar's fighting style, and I certainly wouldn't call him boring, I'm just saying that his style has big risks. It's like in the NBA. If you live by the three, you die by the three. Edgar lives by the decision, this time he died by the decision. The area that I will criticize Edgar in is that if you're going to outpoint your opponents, you have to make absolutely sure that there's zero doubt who won the fight. You have to do what Georges St. Pierre does, dominate the fight to leave no question as to who should win. I know it's very hard to finish elite opponents, but there are times in his fights where Edgar could do more to win the rounds. As legendary coach John Wooden would say, "Be quick, but don't hurry." If you can't finish a guy you need to make sure that you do everything you can to win the round. I'm not sure if Edgar always does that. Controversial decisions will remain the norm unless Edgar adapts.
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Jason "Mayhem" Miller was arrested on a burglary charge the other day. I really don't know what to think of this. He was found naked in a church. He must have been high on something. I don't know the details so I can't speculate, but this is just weird and sad. Hopefully the guy can get his life back together.
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Donald Cerrone vs. Melvin Guillard was a very exciting short fight. The finish was great, with Cerrone's headkick essentially ending it. The rest was a formality, but it was a good showing by Cerrone. Guillard looked good as well when he stunned Cerrone early. You could tell both guys wanted to win in explosive fashion, and that's what you like to see.
Cerrone will now fight Anthony Pettis for an eventual lightweight title shot. I think Pettis will win that fight, not because I think Cerrone isn't good, I just think that Pettis will be able to counter him effectively. Cerrone is a good fighter, I just don't know if he's capable of winning a title. He can be exciting, though, so I think there will be a place for him in the UFC for some time.
Comments and suggestions can be e-mailed to me at hydenfrank@gmail.com
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STAFF COLUMNISTS: Shawn Ennis - Jason Amadi
Frank Hyden - Rich Hansen
Chris Park - Matt Pelkey
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