Desperation Rules UFC 77

Desperation. That’s what I saw out of UFC 77 from Cincinnati. I saw desperation on Kalib Starne’s face as his chances faded and his cut widened. I saw desperation in Brandon Vera at times, frustrated by the size and clinch of a dull Tim Sylvia, who turned it on in the third as Vera scrapped to try to knock the giant out. I saw desperation in Rich Franklin, among other things, in the intense by predictable minute he survived after the first round. I even saw it in Dana White, who didn’t appear on camera, but was spooked enough to pull the trigger on signing Brock Lesnar. I felt desperate as a fan watching UFC 77, because though it was an entertaining three hours, it seemed that something was just out of reach the entire whole evening.

I decided to experiment on this show with an adjusted scoring system. Though we’ve had problems with the ten point must system, I also never liked Pride’s scoring system, or many of the other suggestions. An adjusted 10 point must has been kicked around by many, at length by Bryan Alverez and Dave Meltzer during radio broadcasts, so I decided to tweak the idea for myself. it’s a more liberal usage, in which I decided close rounds were 10-10 (I agree Jordan Breen), but more dominant rounds would be 10-8 or 10-7, instead of the strict 10-9 most give. Also, a round that probably should have been stopped or one opponent had no offense would go 10-6, instead of 10-8. I won’t go 10-5 or lower, because it creates an unfair mathematical advantage.

Alan Belcher beat Kalib Starnes to open the PPV telecast. Belcher’s clinch and Muay Thai were to strong. Right away he blasted Starnes with knees and right forearms. Starnes looked asleep until late in the round. He fired back and would last into the second, but his heart is again in question. It’s like his big brother came in, slapped him around, he finally got mad enough to smack back, and then with one shot his older brother made him wilt. Belcher looked relaxed and dominant in a second round stoppage. For the record, first round was 10-9 Belcher, and 10-7 adjusted scoring.

Interesting observations were Starnes yelling at his corner after the stoppage, and the fans “ohhing” in horror over the cut in-between rounds, only to boo the stoppage. Savages! Also, Belcher should never be given a mic. Goofy frat boy.

Stephan Bonnar vs. Eric Shaeffer is next. Bonnar looked “on” coming down the aisle, while Shaeffer looked out for a good time. Also, Shaeffer claimed his fighting style was “a robot on a mission” in the video package preceding. Okay.

I’m surprised how bad Bonner looked on the ground in the first round. Standup was even, but his back was taken quickly on the ground and even on top, he looked confused. Bonnar avoided the choke and reversed at the end of the round, but he looked tight in there. 10-9 Schaeffer legit and adjusted.

Bonnar was more aggressive and comfortable on the ground in the second. This was what he wanted to do, and it was like night and day to the first. He looked on as he stopped Shaeffer with punches. We still don’t know where Bonner’s head is at, and he’d have had trouble tonight with someone a level up.

Bonnar continues to be an incredibly talented underachiever. In an ironic moment, Bonnar forgets where his afterparty is being held. Exactly.

Alvin Robinson vs. Jorge Gurgel

155 should always open the show, and I’ll say that every review or preview you read. I understand Gurgel was the hometown boy here and they didn’t wanna disrespect him, but maybe another light-heavy could have been slotted first. Gurgel gets a big welcome and the fight was an awesome jui-jitsu battle. Gurgel got the better of the first round, with little damage down but interesting technically. 10-9 Gurgel, but I went 10-8 adjusted.

The second round was the other side of the coin. Robinson was strong coming out and he got top position. Rogen had a great point about Jui-jitsu practitioners losing a belt ranking with every good punch landed on them. The last minute was brutal towards Gurgel, as Robinson reigned down on the guy with punches. 10-9 Robinson, and here again is where adjusted scoring would help. I had it 10-7 Robinson adjusted.

Robinson had deflated the crowd by the third. He dominated Gurgel again from the top. Robinson killed Gurgel, as his eyes welted shut. 10-8 Robinson round, but 10-6 adjusted.

Our first decision and a new scoring test. I’ve got it 29-27 Robinson. Two judges agreed. Now adjusted I had it 28-24 Robinson, which better depicts his dominance of Gurgel in rounds two and especially three, as opposed to Gurgel winning round one. Neither man is any closer in the mix at 155.

Brock Lesner is with Rogen. I can’t hear to much but he showed good personality and I’m excited he’s finally signed. He’s been training for almost 2 years now. I didn’t hear if Couture leaving was addressed, as I watched this from a sports bar as usual. Good deal and I’ll have more on this elsewhere on the site.

Tim Sylvia vs. Brandon Vera

Sylvia came in in the best shape I’ve seen him. Vera looks a bit intimidated. Right away we’ve got a typical Sylvia clinch fight. Dull. Vera gets some space and good left-handed punches. 10-10 round on regular and adjusted. Nothing happened. It’s Sylvia’s control to Vera’s few strikes.

Second round. Again, Vera clocks him with a left so Sylvia holds against fence. Finally, Vera gets him down to the ground. This is what I wanted to see in my preview of the show. Sylvia really does try to move down there, but he eventually finds a way to clinch on the ground too. Christ! Vera gets frustrated and bombs away at the end of the round. Thumbs up. 10-9 Vera. I struggled with 10-9 or 10-8 adjusted, but Vera deserved a 10-8.

Sylvia really came out strong in the third. He clinched during the middle of the round, but started and ended with heavy punches. I mean HEAVY. 10-8 Sylvia, and if I gave Vera the adjusted last time as 10-8, this was 10-7 Sylvia adjusted.

I have 29-28 Sylvia in an admittedly oddly scored match (10-10 in first and 10-8 in third). Sylvia wins in straight sets. Lets check our experiment. 28-27 Sylvia adjusted. So it works the same on this match. Also, Sylvia is not good with crowds. He seems insecure, and therefore overcompensates when the crowd gives him heat. Vera, even in the loss, was amazing with the crowd. UFC should hope he gets back in the picture quick. I really would be happy never seeing Sylvia again in my life, but he’d be a great pro wrestling heel. He’s built up and wins and wins until Couture clocks him in a huge made-for-TV-like event. Now he’ll build up again. They hate him, and when a babyface finally beats him, you get a huge moment again. Unfortunately, this probably doesn’t help Tim’s self esteem, or me, since I still have to watch him stall a fight.

Main event time. Franklin comes out to huge crowd reaction as hometown hero. Silva is so relaxed and cool. Calm is the best and most important word. Great stand up battle. Franklin was winning until the last 10 seconds, when he gets caught with a punch and folds. Saved by the bell. 10-9 Silva on both scoring systems.

Second round, Franklin dies. Think the first match. And think of it again. Lots of hugs and respect from the two. Silva is the dominant champ right now in a weak division, but he deserves respect.

So, what did we learn? I think adjusted scoring works and I’m gonna try it out again at the next event. I think Big Nog getting the shot is debatable (a lot of people want the Kongo match, but that pushes back a title match with Sylvia to April). Sylvia continues to bore crowds and find a way to win. He’s a survivor in that Octagon. Franklin just can’t beat Silva, and right now no one in the division can. Belcher won, but I don’t see him taking it to anyone a level up. Same with Bonnar and his fight. Actually, the same with Alvin Robinson. So while I loved and enjoyed the event, maybe the highlight was seeing Brock Lesnar, and getting ready for that great experiment to begin. One weak show down, one to go. I’ve got a bet that UFC survives these two shows and grabs some huge buyrates in 2008. Any takers?

E-mail John Philapavage at johnnyp@mmaopinion.com