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SHAWN ENNIS, MMATORCH SENIOR COLUMNIST: (5.0)
This card almost got extra points just from the sheer weirdness of everything that happened, but the problem is that there's crazy, and then there's crazy-but-not-in-a-good-way. This event had a lot of the latter. We didn't really learn a whole lot here, other than Pat Healy is a better version of exactly the kind of fighter we already knew he was, and we confirmed that Jones-Sonnen never should have been booked, but for more than just the reason that it was completely non-competitive.
Did we really need to see the fight to know that Jones would beat the brakes off of the "number nine ranked middleweight?" And besides that, the real issue is that Jones injured himself in gruesome fashion that would have caused the fight to be stopped. And that would have awarded the title to the undeserving challenger had he not been able to coax a not-controversial-but-we've-certainly-seen-later-stoppages stoppage out of Keith Peterson in the first round. As it is, the title is still where it belongs, but Jones is shelved indefinitely for no good reason.
The eye pokes, the overall weirdness, the middling fights, and the inexcusable main event make this a newsworthy, but entirely skippable event.
RICH HANSEN, MMATORCH COLUMNIST: (42)
42 is the Ultimate answer, and this was the ultimate show. 5 hours of bad fights, under-talented fighters galore, bad refereeing, controversies, and eye poking. I had not one but two friends put knives to my throat for compelling them to watch the fights with me tonight. It was truly awe-inspiringly bad.
Until, you know, Chael Sonnen got what was coming to him.
FRANK HYDEN, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR: (6.0)
I feel really bad for Alan Belcher. I'm pretty ambivalent about him as a fighter, I don't really like or dislike him, but an eyepoke for him has to be so scary. Anytime something like this happens period you got to feel bad, but it's made even worse considering his history with that detached retina.
Pay Healy submitting Jim Miller was the highlight of the night for me. That was pretty impressive by Healy, he just showed what's he capable of, and it's a hell of a lot.
Jon Jones did what was expected and demolished Chael Sonnen. Anyone who was expecting something different was delusional. I hope this puts the final nail in the coffin for Sonnen's gimmick. He can still fight if he wants, but that character has to be thrown in the trash now.
I thought this card was just above average, mainly because of what Pat Healy did. The rest of the card was pretty unsatisfying. It just seemed like an odd night all around.
C.J. TUTTLE, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR: (3.0)
UFC 159 should never have happened, and ended up being an absolute stinker of a pay-per-view. The whole card felt drained of all importance and relevance, as it cleared up nothing contender wise, and offered zero reason to give any of the fighters involved any sort of bump in the "rankings" (Aside from maybe Roy Nelson).
Bisping won, but sure as hell didn't beat Belcher's ass like he promised. Bummer.
Phil Davis won with punches that wouldn't hurt anyone. Yawn.
Pat Healy upset Jim Miller in the only somewhat decent contest.
Come to think of it now, the 65K bonuses that were handed out weren't even deserved.
This brings me to the "main event" between two of the "greatest ever." Set aside the personal vendetta I have with Chael. The fact of the matter is he should never have been anywhere near the main event tonight. He is the #9 ranked middleweight in the world, and the only time you can ever shut him up is when he is getting pounded in. Stop giving the guy fights based on corny rhymes and because people hate him. Please make him earn it.
The bar I was watching the fights in did not gasp in surprise when Chael mentioned retirement, nor do they believe that it will actually occur. Everyone knows now that it's all a ploy.
I predicted all this in my roundtables this week, and this is not because I am a genius, this is because anyone who cannot see that Jon "Bones" Jones is the absolute best fighter in the world at the age of 25 is either biased or completely out of their minds.
I expect buy rates to be low, I'm upset Jones broke his toe versus this guy, and I think the UFC and Joe Silva need to formulate a new plan for choosing fights.
BRAD WALKER, MMATORCH COLUMNIST: (8.0)
This card delivered more technical decisions than I can recall in my life. Aside from that it was pretty entertaining. Roy Nelson knocked Cheick Kongo's block off - probably not too surprising but WOW is that man powerful. The eyepoke of doom from Bisping was nasty and had me cringing as soon as the blood began to pour apparently from inside Belcher's eye.
Jon Jones broken toe was probably one of the most gruesome things that I've ever seen replayed in slow motion. I can't imagine the level of pain he was in and still delivered a post fight interview. I wish that I could say I'm sorry to see Chael Sonnen retire, but it's best for him and the sport. He shouldn't have had this title shot but he got it and got beat down pretty awfully for it. He does have my respect as a fighter but I am still not a fan of his voice.
The undercard wasn't too shabby itself, Siler and Holobaugh gave us one hell of a bloodbath, I'm impressed with both men after watxhing their bout. Pat Healy is the man who has pulled off a submission of the night and perhaps the upset of the year in a fantastic performance against Jim Miller, in what could also earn fight of the night honors. This card gave us excitement, finishes and unfortunately some accidental endings, but all in all was very worth the watch.
ERIC HOBAUGH, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR: (5.0)
The UFC 159 undercard on FX was not good. Injuries and horrible referee calls made it hard to watch. Miller vs Healy was a good fight that started fast and never slowed. I was glad to finally see Pat Healy in the UFC in his return against Miller. This was a very close fight and it was too close to call after two rounds. Give Jim Miller he did not tap from the RNC, but either way Healy earns the victory. Miller will be back and he should fight someone just outside the top ten. Healy should be given another top ten fighter and he is a legitimate threat at 155.
The Davis vs Magalhaes was a classic wrestler vs BJJ match up. These two were so evenly matched that at points in the fight it was very slow. The difference in this fight was the standup of Phil Davis. His striking is improving every time he fights. Davis won by decision and he looked good against Magalhaes and he is progressing nicely towards a title shot if he can continue winning. Magalhaes will need to work on his standup and he should be given a top 15 fighter is his next fight.
Nelson vs Kongo went exactly how I thought it would. Kongo was knocked out by Nelson out with a huge over hand right. Kongo should consider retiring at this point, I'm just not sure what he can bring back to the Octagon. Roy Nelson is close to a title shot. As unlikely as this might sound, if he can beat a big enough name in the top ten he should be given the title shot.
The lead up to the Bisping vs. Belcher bout seemed legit, and I was impressed from the opening bell with Bisping. Belcher looked a weight class heavier than Bisping when the fight started. This was a boring fight and an unfortunate end as Bisping accidentally poked Belcher and the doctor stopped the fight. Bisping easily won by unanimous decision, but I hope the injury to Belcher's eye does not end his career, although the eye was bleeding from underneath his eye lid. Bisping needs two wins against big names to be considered for a title shot.
Jones vs. Sonnen was a short and brutal one round contest. Chael Sonnen had no business being in the Octagon with Jones. Jones looks like he is unbeatable at this point and I do not see anyone in the world who can stop this kid. Sonnen will go back to 185 where he belongs and keep talking.
This was a bad night of fights all around, and the worst PPV of the year for me.
JAMIE PENICK, MMATORCH EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: (5.0)
The score is mostly for the Pat Healy-Jim Miller fight, which was just a fantastic lightweight bout from start to finish. It's unfortunate to see Jim Miller suffer another setback like that after what seemed like a game-changing performance for him against Joe Lauzon in December, but Healy's story is a feel good one in its own right.
The rest of the card was filled with a mixture of things, from an exciting knockout by Roy Nelson to multiple eye pokes - all of which were handled differently - not to mention the two small joint injuries that will haunt the dreams of most people.
Yancy Medeiros' thumb looked bad enough with a likely dislocation, but then Jon Jones had to do his best Anthony Perosh impression in nearly tearing off his toe. It's a good thing Jones took care of business in that first round, as well because Chael Sonnen winning the title on an injury TKO would have simply been the worst outcome to an unnecessary title fight ever.
All in all, I didn't hate the card, and with the good and the bad it's right in the middle for me.
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Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
(mmatorcheditor@gmail.com)
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