The MMA Digest

Houston Alexander looking to bounce back

Photo: thereader.com

Despite being knocked out over the weekend by Thiago Silva at UFC 78, Houston Alexander remains in high spirits. He’s optimistic he’ll be able to come back and regain the destructive form he displayed in his first two wins in the Octagon. “I’ve been in this long enough to know that stuff like this happens,” Alexander told the Washington Post. “It’s how you bounce back and how you carry yourself afterwards.” Alexander added that he’s still the same person after the loss and guarantees a comeback. “I’m still the same person I was before the loss. I’ll just let people know I’ll be back. That’s it, man. I’ll be back.”

Alexander’s record drops to 8-2, while Silva remains undefeated at 12-0.

Photo: UFC.com

Frankie Edgar’s win at UFC 78 over Spencer Fisher was facilitated by a total of 9 takedowns in 15 minutes of action; an average of 3 takedowns per round. 2 came in first round, 3 in the second and 4 in the final stanza of action
Photo: UFC.com

Round 1
1st takedown at 4:29
2nd takedown at 3:32

Round 2
3rd takedown at 4:52
4th takedown at 3:36
5th takedown at 1:18

Round 3
6th takedown at 4:56
7thtakedown at 3:40
8th takedown at 2:03
9th takedown at 0:57

Popularity: 8%

Edgar wins in front of hometown crowd

Photo: UFC.com

New Jersey native Frankie Edgar gave his hometown fans of Newark much to cheer about last night as the up and coming lightweight picked up a win over Spencer Fisher.

Edgar fought the perfect fight according to his style of combat. Using excellent takedowns throughout the bout, Edgar was able to keep Fisher from landing anything solid to damage him. Staying active from the top position, Edgar was able to land strikes, pass the guard, and force Fisher to give his back constantly to try and get the fight back standing.

A win over Fisher brings more credibility to Edgar’s game. In his classic battle this year against Tyson Griffin, Edgar showed astute ability to handle himself just fine in the myriad of positions the high paced fight took place. The fight with Griffin turned many heads in Edgar’s direction, being the first to hand the highly regarded Griffin. But defeating an 8-time UFC veteran in Spencer Fisher heavily raises Edgar’s stock at lightweight.

Popularity: 7%

Rashad edges Bisping in close decision

Photo: msuwrestling.com

This time around a close decision went against Michael Bisping. Two months after winning a close fight via decision against Matt Hamill, Bisping was defeated last night via split decision by Rashad Evans.

Takedowns by Evans in the first stanza gave “The Ultimate Fighter 2″ winner the edge in round one, while the second round saw Bisping turn up his aggression and striking prowess.

The third round was the key period and proved to be the closest of the three. Evans’ takedowns may have proved to be the deciding factor in round 3 and perhaps swayed 2 of the 3 judges who chose him to be the victor. “I controlled the pace of the fight by being able to take him down,” Evans said. “I think that was the determining factor.

Bisping agrees and while disappointed about his first loss in MMA, is content with his performance and optimistic about his future. “The takedowns were the determining factor, no question,” Bisping said after the bout. “He did get some takedowns, but I got up each time. I’m probably going to get slammed for this fight, but I fought a tough fight. People said that I didn’t belong here, but I think I proved myself. It was a dream come true.”

Popularity: 8%

Houston Alexander on his Cardio

Photo: thereader.com

With two wins in the UFC in a total combined time of a minute and forty nine seconds, many are curious as to what stamina Houston Alexander has in his 205 pound frame. 2007’s light-heavyweight breakthrough performer, Alexander, may have his endurance tested against fellow rising star at 205 in Thiago Silva.

“Even though the fights have been going so fast, we train to go 5, 6, 7 rounds”, comments Alexander. “The fights just happen to be ending in the first round, that’s not my fault. (smiles) But we train to go the distance. Every time we fight, that’s what we do.”

Photo: UFC.com

Coming into Saturday’s bout against Michael Bisping, Rashad Evans seems loose and ready to execute in the main event at UFC 78. Evans, a Niagara Falls native, is looking to let go of any apprehension and have some fun Saturday night. “It’s going to be a lot of fun”, says Evans. “I look to go out there and have a lot of fun with the situation and just go out there and fight nice, loose and relaxed and just give him the business.”

Evans has noted in the past that when he loosens up his striking skills are able to flourish as displayed in round two in his bout with Sean Salmon, where he knocked out Salmon with a devastating high kick.

Photo: JoeLauzon.com

Joe Lauzon is very confident coming into Saturday’s bout against Jason Reinhardt at UFC 78. TUF 5 alumni, Lauzon, has expanded his work with coach BJ Penn on the reality series by joining Penn’s camp in Hawaii to train for this lightweight duel.

His opponent, Reinhardt, a specialist in the 135 pound weight class is looking to make has mark at 155 with a win over a Lauzon. A revenge factor is a theme lurking in the background as Lauzon holds a knockout victory in the UFC over Reinhardt’s teammate Jens Pulver. Nonetheless, Lauzon is very confident his skills outmatch those of Reinhardt’s in every area of the game. “He’s been all over UFC.com and message boards trying to call me out saying he knows I’m man enough to stand and trade with him”, Lauzon said in a recent interview with BuddyTV. “We’re both dominantly grappler’s. Submission guys. We beat the guys on the ground. He’s trying to kind of lure me into some striking match where he thinks he has a snowballs chance in hell. I really think I’m going to have the upper-hand anywhere it goes.” The height and reach advantage for Lauzon is something that he feels will work well for him Saturday night. “When we’re standing on our feet, I have a huge reach advantage on him. He’s 5′6, I’m 5′10. On the ground I think I’m way better than him. I’m stronger than him, I think I’m faster than him”, Lauzon said in the interview before asserting he has a youth advantage as well as an experiential one in the UFC. “He’s like 37, I’m 23. So I think I have every other advantage. I’ve been in the UFC before. I didn’t get the UFC jitters that everyone else claims to get. So he’ll have to deal with that. He’ll have deal with being on a bigger show. He’s got a lot to contend with, so, he’s going to be fighting an uphill battle from the start. ”

Lauzon’s last fight was a victory over Brandon Melendez in June by triangle choke, while Reinhardt’s last fight in April was a win as well, defeating Theodore Reynol via TKO.

Popularity: 5%

Nick Lembo on Frankie Edgar

Photo: app.com

From today’s article on Frankie Edgar in the Asbury Park Press, Nick Lembo, Counsel to the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board, commented on Edgar’s potential in the sport. “I’ve personally seen every professional mixed martial artist who has competed in New Jersey, Frankie is one of the most talented prospects that I’ve seen. He has the skills, dedication and attitude to become a fixture in the UFC. He can be competitive with anyone in the world in his weight class.”

Edgar takes on Spencer Fisher on November 17th at UFC 78.

Popularity: 6%

Kenny Florian’s UFC 78 Picks

Photo: kennyflorian.com

UFC lightweight Kenny Florian gave his picks for the upcoming UFC 78 card on UFC.com. His picks were as follows:

Spencer Fisher over Frankie Edgar via TKO, round 2
Karo Parisyan over Ryo Chonan via unanimous decision
Houston Alexander over Thiago Silva via KO in round 1
Rashad Evans over Michael Bisping via decision

Photo: UFC.com

At UFC 78 on November 17th, Spencer Fisher is looking to learn from lessons from previous battles and control his emotions that can override his ability to compete at the highest level possible against Frankie Edgar. “I’m going to try to change things up for this fight,” Fisher said in an interview with the Canadian Press. “I have a tendency to let emotions take control of me. I just go out there and I go for it. That’s something that usually works out for me. It’s been successful for me in all my fights except for three…However, this fight I’m going to try not to be taken down as much and not go forward as much. My problem is I let emotions take control, I go out there and I try to take the guy out. This fight, I’m going to try to go out there and maybe be a little more patient.”

Fisher sports a 21-3-0 record, his losses coming to Carlo Prater, Sam Stout and Hermes Franca. Edgar is undefeated at 7-0-0.

Popularity: 7%

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