UFC 136 Recap: Frankie Edgar and Chael Sonnen shine in Houston
Posted on October 9, 2011, 02:53 AM by Trent ReinsmithUFC 136 did not disappoint. The card had two title fights, two fights that could have put fighters on their way to title fights and a rematch that promised excitement. All in all, the event had the makings of an exciting evening of fights.
Did the card disappoint? The answer to that is a resounding no.
Stipe Miocic came into the event as a much ballyhooed heavyweight contender and while he showed a bit of a lack of cardio he earned a solid decision over Joey Beltran.
Melvin Guillard came into his bout against Joe Lauzon riding a five fight winning streak and as a favorite, but Lauzon did what he does best, submitted “The Young Assassin” and earned his sixth straight “Fight Night” bonus.
Leonard Garcia and Nam Phan competed in a rematch of their December 2010 bout that ended in a controversial decision. The action in this one resembled that of the first fight with Phan playing the role of striking technician and Garcia playing his role of going for the knockout with every punch. In the end, the technician took home with win.
A lot of people probably wanted Brian Stann to win his bout against Chael Sonnen, but the reality was that wasn’t going to happen if Sonnen was able to get the fight to the ground, which he did. Sonnen earned the submission win and then delivered a challenge to Anderson Silva, which is detailed below.
The co-main event saw Jose Aldo use his striking prowess to keep the Featherweight title in his hands and out of the grasp of Kenny Florian, who dropped his third attempt at attaining UFC gold.
The main event showed that Frankie Edgar is one of the most resilient fighters in the UFC as Gray Maynard outstruck him 36 to 11 in the first round of their bout and left him bloodied as he returned to his corner, but just like at UFC 125, he couldn’t finish him, a fact that Edgar gladly took advantage of. The champ worked his way back into the fight, evened the striking stats and then ended things in the fourth round, starting things with an uppercut and ending things with Maynard on his face on the mat.
Questions after seeing Edgar vs Maynard:
- Is Frankie Edgar really the number two pound-for pound fighter in the world as Dana White claimed at the post-fight presser?
- What’s next for Gray Maynard? He once again had Edgar in trouble in the first round and once again he could not capitalize on the damage that he did during the first five minutes.
- What’s next for Edgar? Does it make sense to bring the next highest ranked lightweight into the UFC, Gilbert Melendez?
Notes and more questions following UFC 136:
- Does someone not like Joey Beltran? In January the UFC matched him up against Pat Barry and at UFC 136 they gave him Stipe Miocic, two fighters who love the leg kick. Seems kind of cruel.
- Is Stipe Miocic on his way to becoming a heavyweight contender? Sure it’s still early in his career, but if he can develop better cardio, will he work his way up the ladder?
- What’s next for Anthony Pettis and how long will his path back to top contender status take?
- Does the UFC book another Leonard Garcia versus Nam Phan bout? Could they book that fight once every few months just to add some spice to the cards?
- Will the UFC take Chael Sonnen up on his “loser leave town” type challenge to Anderson Silva?
- Kenny Florian failed at his third attempt at UFC gold, will it be his last and did he shed the “choker” tag that Dana White hung on him?
LowKick.com UFC 136 main card awards:
Fight of the night: For sheer entertainment purposes and due to the fact that there was not a boring moment in the battle, you have to give it to Leonard Garcia versus Nam Phan.
Performance of the night: Let’s get a bit creative with this one and give it to Chael Sonnen for all around performance. Sonnen knew exactly what he needed to do to defeat Brian Stann and he did it, outwrestling him, avoiding his hands and keeping him on the mat. Sonnen also gets props for his first submission victory since 2007. His performance after the fight was also one of his top moments, using the in cage interview to call out Anderson Silva who was sitting ringside. “Anderson Silva, you absolutely suck,” Sonnen said “Super Bowl weekend, the biggest rematch in the history of the business. I’m calling you out Silva, but we’re upping the stakes. I beat you, and you leave the division. You beat me, and I will leave the UFC forever.”
Finish of the night: Frankie Edgar. Once again the champ looked like he was going to struggle to get past the first round and once again he put together a comeback, but this time he ended things, dropping Gray Maynard and earning the stoppage victory, putting the only loss and draw of his career behind him and moving on.
Photo: Tracy Lee for Yahoo! CageWriter
Comments
Im sure that UFC 136 has been the best main card event of the year!
-biggest underdog Joe Lauzon submit the dangerous and about to get into title contention Melvin Guillard in the very first round! shock!
-another amazing fight of the night with Garcia and Phan action pack fight start to end.
-The Return of the King , all hail Sonnen. Also first ever do or die challange in the UFC.
- decent Featherweight title fight , not lived to the hype but not boring at all.
- Frankie Edgar = 4 words Pound for Pound best! , heart of a lion is small to describe Frankie Edgar and his amazing win tonight!
a night for the ages!!
I hope that Sonnen doesnt leave the UFC if he loses to Silva again, he is such a talented fighter and always entertaining outside of the ring with his awsome ability to trash any fighter for anything and be funny about it
Awesome grappling display by Sonnen. I hope Silva knock his teeth through his nose.
Great card, still sad though that the casual fan won't give these lighter fighters the respect they deserve.
My brother is a good example, we watched the J.J vs. Rampage fight at a local bar, I asked him to go for this card, told him it would be great. He asked me who was fighting and I told him and he had no interest due to the weight of the fighters.
Personally I love watching the lighter classes, lots of energy = tons of excitement and with the 4 ounce gloves knock outs are still a possibility.
"its not the size of the dog in the fight, its the size of the fight in the dog"
Frankie edgar has the biggest heart in all of MMA i was sure the dude would get finished and he comes back once again and KOs maynard
Man Kenblo and Gray really blew it again. Kenblo acted like dayna says. Doesn't really attack and Gray had Frankie again in the first round and let him get away. Gray two chances and Kenny now has had to many. Great card.
The outcome of a fight is not just up to one guy. There is another guy in there that is trying hard to prevent you from accomplishing your goal. If that other guy is the best in the world...well, sometimes its hard. Maybe you should put some gloves on and climb in and show us how its done.
You're right TJ but they must be 16 oz boxing gloves - his typing doesn't make any sense :P
to me it seems like edgar always fights against the odds, and he got away with a nice tko this time. the heart of that guy is really impressive.
and sonnen actually finished a fighter this time, didnt think he was able to do that. but he still hits like a girl....
He knocked down Anderson Silva last time they fought...
It doesnt matter if he hits like a girl, he will take you down and punch you hundreds of times
BruceLee if you couldn't see that these fighters blew it again your a retard. Everyone who actually knows fighting and has watched a couple of fight can clearly see that. Gray smelled blood and didn't go after him. In this sport thats a major mistake..Dumb ass.
Anyone who knows fighting watched their second fight and saw Gray take your advice, blow himself out, an lose. All you have in your argument, "X" is name calling.
What an amazing card!
Since you guys didn't give a idssapointment of the night, I'll give my own.
- Melvin Guillard had a chance to keep his hot streak alive and get into title contention or even get a title shot but Joe Lauzon wasn't interested in Guillard's ambitions and was more focused on the task at hand. Guillard opened ferociously with a wide variety of attacks including great body kicks and remained untouched due to his lightning quick movement. HIs quickness was his downfall, running headfirst into a hook from Lauzon that put him on diazzy street and ended up getting subed.
On a side note, I feel it can be dangerous to be so quick because I think that punch wouldn't of really bothered someone like Jim Miller who would stand there and take it, but Guillard moved so quick into it that the unch most of been amplified by A LOT.
Im said to see Guillard lose this fight, wanted to see him get the title shot.
Who's next for Edgar would like to see him tackle Gilbert Champion vs Champion
Wow, Edgar actually finished a fight! Now can we stop talking about Edgar/Maynard? So F'ing sick of it.
Well **** off and find a sport that does interest you.