Hyden's Take
HYDEN BLOG: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly from Bellator 106
Nov 6, 2013 - 11:35:37 AM HYDEN BLOG: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly from Bellator 106

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By: Frank Hyden, MMATorch contributor

Last weekend's Bellator 106 was originally slated for pay-per-view. However, it made it's way to Spike when Tito Ortiz bowed out due to injury. It was a good show overall, here's my rundown:

Bellator 106

GOOD: Mike Richman stops Akon Stepanyan

You could argue that the first round stoppage was a bit early, but I'd rather see that than one that was too late. Both guys showed some good striking, Richman just got the advantage and pressed it. A good showing for him.

BAD: Joe Riggs vs. Mike Bronzoulis

It's a bit harsh to give this a BAD, but I sure couldn't give it a GOOD. I just didn't care much for this fight, as it was fairly dull. Sure, it had a few moments, but it was largely so paint-by-the-numbers it got dull quick. You knew after the first round that Riggs was going to win by decision. It just had an air of inevitability to it.

BAD: Pat Curran vs. Daniel Straus

Again, it's a bit harsh to give this a BAD, but it wasn't good enough to get a GOOD. Straus did what he always does, and won the Bellator Featherweight Title. However, the fight was pretty boring. I know Straus has to do whatever he has to in order to win, and that's fine, I accept that. A win's a win.

One thing that really left a bad taste in my mouth, though, was the apathetic way that Curran fought. He seemed content to ride out the final few rounds on his way to losing. I hate that even when a guy is winning, as Straus was, but at least that's a viable tactic. You could even say it's smart. I would disagree because you open yourself up to a surprise finish from your opponent. It's also incredibly boring, and MMA is supposed to be entertainment as well as sport.

Philosophical differences aside, though, there's absolutely no way that Curran could have thought that he was ahead on the scorecards. So why in the world was he loafing around in the championship rounds? In a best-case scenario he was tied after the third round, and that's if you agree with the fans on the Bellator app who gave Curran the first two rounds. The third round was 10-8 Straus, no question, after the illegal knee from Curran. So, at best, they were tied heading into the fourth and fifth rounds. A tie does not equal taking it easy and holding a guy close. I really don't understand how Curran couldn't fight with a sense of urgency. He was the champion about to lose the title, shouldn't that have been the kick in the ass he needed to get him going, fear of losing his belt? I don't get it.

UGLY: Emmanual Newton vs. Muhammed Lawal

This fight just sucked. It was boring, it was sloppy, it was just dreadful. Both guys gassed hard, and after that, the fight became unwatchable. Even before that, though, it was pretty hard to watch. It reminded me of those scenes you see where one guy is yelling to his buddies "You better hold me back, I'm going to kill this guy!" but he's only saying that to try to look tough. Honestly, it just looked like neither guy wanted to truly engage. They were throwing strikes that had no chance, backing way up, and just jawing. Newton won the decision, and the Bellator Light Heavyweight title.

GREAT: Michael Chandler vs. Eddie Alvarez

This fight was awesome. The pace was crazy early. Chandler gassed in the third, but somehow came roaring back in the fourth. The fight was back and forth over and over. They were bleeding all over the place, punching the hell out of each other, grabbing submissions along with crazy escapes. Chandler damn near punched through the head of Alvarez at one point as he landed several unanswered shots. By the end, Chandler's face looked like defrosted hamburger meat. Alvarez came so close to choking out Chandler, but then Chandler comes back and is all over Alvarez. This was just co close that it's ridiculous.

Alvarez won the split decision to become the new Bellator Lightweight Champion, and it was simply an amazing fight. I'm going to have to watch it again soon to truly get a sense of where it stands in history, but right now it feels like Fight of the Year. I also have to rewatch Jon Jones vs. Alexander Gustafsson from UFC 165, though, so that might change. It's definitely down to those two so far, though. Gilbert Melendez vs. Diego Sanchez from UFC 166 was very entertaining as well, but it was probably too one-sided to be a candidate. I don't want to be too caught up in the moment, so I'll just say that I loved this fight, and I can't wait until we see Alvarez-Chandler III.


Comments and suggestions can be emailed to me at hydenfrank@gmail.com and you can follow me on Twitter at @hydenfrank