Whether most realize it or not UFC 143 was an event of extreme importance. It is an event that fighters, and fans alike, should pay very close attention to. It wasn't a card stacked with spectacular fights, like UFC 139 or 134, but it will certainly have an impact on the UFC.
“Never leave it in the hands of the judges” is something Dana White constantly says. Well, it is not very often when one tries to pound an idea in peoples heads, that the logic behind that very idea is completely and totally personified in one single night. Well, at UFC 143 it was. Never has there been a UFC card with so many controversial decisions. There were four fighters on Saturday night who truly felt they should have gotten their hands raised, and many fans felt they should have as well. The victims of leaving it in the hands of the judges are Henry Martinez, Alex Caceres, Mike Pierce, and Nick Diaz. The first three men lost via split decision, and Diaz lost a fight by unanimous decision -- that some felt he should have won. Now with regard to the winners; I am sure they do not like giving their post fight interviews to Joe Rogan, while simultaneously being booed by thousands of passionate fans who feel the fight should have went the other way. The only way to prevent having that nightmarish post fight interview, or to prevent feeling robbed is to FINISH THE FIGHT. Therefore, any fighter who generally tries to just outpoint their opposition, let UFC 143 be a lesson to you—it is simply a bad idea, because you too can be on the wrong end of a judges decision.
Refereeing in MMA has been criticized, but one man who has generally avoided that is Herb Dean. Dean is easily one of the best in his profession, but he got it wrong at UFC 143. He deducted two points from Alex Caceres for twice kicking Edwin Figueroa in his groin. A one point deduction is standard in MMA, and would have been appropriate here, however two points deducted is basically unheard of and cost Caceres the fight. I have seen fouls clearly more egregious than this one, but never a penalty so harsh. Also, given the nature of an inside leg kick there is really no question that it was completely accidental. The question people need to ask themselves is; did the best ref in the business just set a new precedent for two point deductions in MMA, or will this be viewed as a mistake that will not happen again?
The heavyweight division, within the UFC, has now been shaken up. Fabricio Werdum came in to UFC 143 guns blazing, or should I say knees blazing, and demolished Roy Nelson. What does this now mean for the future of the heavyweight division? Only time will tell. Also, Werdum showed aspiring MMA fighters, with a jiu-jitsu background, that elite striking is possible.
Finally, we witnessed a real coming out party for two young prospects. Dustin Poirier has been getting some buzz, but pulling off a technically masterful mounted triangle arm bar has truly ramped up the talk of his possible number one contender status. On another note, Stephen “The Wonder Boy” Thompson impressed me more than any incipient fighter recently coming into the octagon. He knocked out his opponent with an incredible head kick. Thompson is a 57-0 kick boxer, who may just have the best stand up in the welterweight division.
