UFC 140 Recap: Jon Jones and Frank Mir prove a point
Posted on December 11, 2011, 09:08 AM by Trent ReinsmithLyoto Machida was supposed to be the fighter that was going to put UFC Light Heavyweight champion Jon Jones to the test and he did, at least for the first five minutes of the fight. Once Jones took the fight to the ground and opened up a cut on Machida’s forehead the tide turned and it wasn’t long until Jones was choking out the former champ and unceremoniously dumping his unconscious body the ground like a sack of potatoes.
The majority of the 11 fights leading up to the main event had memorable moments of their own, such as the arm damaging kimura from Frank Mir and the seven-second knockout of Mark Hominick at the hands of Chan Sung Jung.
Questions after seeing Jon Jones vs. Lyoto Machida:
-Did Jon Jones do enough to finally get the respect of the majority of the MMA world? Sure every fighter will have their detractors, but Jones seems to have picked up an inordinate amount of them during his rise to the top. It’s time for many to admit the kid is really that good. He’s fought and won four times in 2011 and three of those wins were over fighters that had that gold belt that he currently owns strapped around their waists.
-Did Lyoto Machida give a blueprint for success? Jones did look legitimately concerned between rounds one and two, but he overcame that adversity and after the cut opened on Machida’s forehead, well, he was the one that looked concerned. Machida showed that Jones can be gotten to, that he is not invincible. However, Jones also showed that given time and space to recover, he will do so. The question now is, who can take what Machida started and fill out the rest of the plan to defeat Jones?
-Is there a threat to Jones? Some will say Rashad Evans is the biggest threat. Some will say Dan Henderson has a chance and some will say there is no threat to Jones. The fact is that there are tests out there for Jones and that’s nothing but great for fans of the UFC. Jones may beat them all or he may lose his next fight, but the UFC knows one thing, a lot of fans are going to tune it to see that fight, no matter the opponent of the outcome.
Questions following UFC 140:
-What if the Frank Mir kimura would have been on FOX? Would the UFC been showing endless replays of the damage he did to the arm of Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira? Longtime fans are pretty accustomed to these things, knowing that, as Gus Johnson would say, “these things happen in MMA.” However, if that was one of the first images someone had of the sport, what would the backlash have been?
-Have we seen the last of Tito Ortiz? Ortiz has one fight left on his contract and, let’s face it, he’s probably earned the opportunity to get that fight. If Cro Cop can play out his contract, then Ortiz should be able to do so as well.
-How badly will the loss affect Mark Hominick? Hominick came out a little sloppy and he paid for it wit a seven second TKO loss. Hominick’s fight before UFC 140 was a five round war with Jose Aldo for Aldo’s Featherweight title. Psychologically, Hominick will have to shake this one off, knowing that the majority of the blame is on his shoulders for the loss. As far as the rankings go, it’s hard to tell, but it’s safe to say that he has to put a least a couple dominating wins together before he hears his name mentioned again.
LowKick.com UFC 140 Finale Main Card Awards:
-Fight of the Night: This is a tough one, but I think Jon Jones vs. Lyoto Machida takes it base on Jones showing that he can win even when he is not in complete control of the fight from the moment it begins to the moment it ends.
-Performance of the Night: Jon Jones again. He was tested and he passed that test with flying colors. Granted, it probably wasn’t the most difficult test, but it was his first.
-Finish of the Night: Frank Mir. Depending on your point of view, his kimura on Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira was either a thing of beauty or something to avert your eyes from. Whichever stance you take on the hold, it has to be noted that it was the first time Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira was ever submitted in his career.
Further Reading: UFC 140 Fight Night Photo Gallery on FOX Sports
Comments
If I can feel this sick to my stomach watching Big Nog get submitted for the first time ever, I can't imagine how he feels. As for Jon Jones, Machida, and Mir, I was impressed by all of their performances.
The weirdest thing was how Big Nog never showed any pain. He just kind of looked over at his arm like "well now, that isn't good". I hope he makes a full recovery. It was disappointing to see him go from being seconds from ending the fight to that. I was at a viewing party with a couple of hundred people and literally everyone in the gym was on their feet yelling "STAND UP, HE'S FINISHED. KNOCK HIM OUT". It was a sad tactical error and I hope it doesn't end his career.
Frank mir is the master of capitalizing on things that should not have happened. Nog had him all but TKO'd. WHY?! WHY didn't you keep hitting him?!?!
Must have wanted to submit him and embarrass him.Now that nog has paid for his pride, looks like it's frank mirs turn again.
As a long time hardcore fan of MMA I think I can safely say without sounding like a weirdo or a thug, that the Kimura Frank pulled off against Nog was beautiful.
i have to agree. i was thoroughly impressed by that, considering big nog took it there for the choke to begin with and ended up getting out scrambled then dismantled, but, frank mir's chin is pretty much non existant, so if he gets a decent wrestler who can stand up ,he's finished in my opinion. Id like to see him fight carwin again even
it wasnt just the kimura it was the chess match they had once they hit the ground that was the real beauty the Kimura ending just made it more special.
big nogs arm popping outta place made it even more special.. hahaa
Even more, it reminds me a lot of the story of how we came to call reverse ude-garami a "Kimura" in the first place with Helio refusing to tap to it.
with jones' reach no1 in the LHW division can beat him. i still wanna see evans vs jones but after that he should move up to HW...hendo is far to small and wont be able to do anything
What are you talking about?! Lyoto got through Jones reach at will.... Evans won't be the man to beat Jones.... Lyoto in LHW was the man for the job if he can't I don't see who can...
I couldn't watch the arm break. As soon as Frank locked in that Kimura I closed my eyes and just listened to the commentary - I knew that arm was going to snap.
I was wishing Big Nog would just tap and be healthy to fight another day (he looked great in the fight until the Kimura) but he has too much pride - sad thing is depending how bad the injury is this may have been his last fight.
that was so crazy. after i saw mir in sidemount going for the arm, i knew this would be a ugly/beautiful finish and i close my eyes to!! hope i can see big nog fight again!!!
Exactly, the pride has to be hurt less by tapping then having your career ended by somebody else.
Every time they showed the replay of the kimura and the shoulder popping and dislocating I definitely cringed but it was one of those things where no matter how bad it is you can't look away. Before that point though Mir looked a bit tentative and slow. I wish Nog a fast and speedy recovery, both physically and mentally.
I think Dan Henderson definitely has what it takes to beat Jon Jones. Its just a matter of getting withing range and tagging Jones with that big right hand before Jones gets a hold of Henderson and takes him down. Obviously that's easier said than done when a guy has giant reach advantage over you.
If Tito gets one more fight I'd like to see him fight Forest. One thing is they are both coming off of lopsided losses, and they both have fought twice and have one win a piece with each fighter getting a split decision nod.
Every finish was pretty serious tonight. Frank Mir could easily be the best, but just tends to have random pitfalls. (Overconfidence in playing opponents game) Though, everytime he fight's it is extremely exciting and he has this ability to not be afraid to hurt somebody if they won't tap which is needed but found less and less. (GSP could learn a thing or two)
Jon Jones, actually showed some weaknesses in the striking game but only enough to show that it is going to be a VERY long time before somebody beats him. That choke was fantastic and Machida dropped like a bag of potatoes I literally said nothing but, "Wow". But the fight was awesome from start to finish.
What happened to Big Nog ruined my f***ing weekend.
really Brazil? Noooo
Unfortunate to say this but Nog was silly...he had Frank hurt and his ego wanted to prove he could submit Mir...but mir was not tired yet and is also a wisard on the ground. Ego does not bring home the cheese and Nog paid an oversized price....About not taping there is only one thing to say: JIU JITSU!!!!!!
Bless you.
You want a hanky?
if vitor belfort gets back to 205, he cause more problems to jones than any other light heavyweight right now. because belfort has perfectly timed straight counter punches.
i know that is an utopic imagination, but i'd like it
yea but hes too good at blocking front kicks with his face.
I'm a big time Jones fan but I have to be honest and say I was worried before Jones took it down, Lyoto looked unbelievibly quick, fasted 205er I've ever seen. Jones has oen of the best striking accuracies in UFC history and he couldn't touch Machida in the first, missed his first 10 strikes or so. He was getting out classed a little on the feet, Machida landed a couple of good straights and looped punches but Jones proved he has a chin and took them and followed up with perfect defense or a counter. Jones proved a lo tonight but he definitely showed he is not invincible, which I thought he was, before this fight. I don't think anyone at this weight class can handle him but I feel that if Lyoto could mess up Jones' timing in the first and counter him then A. Silva can do it aswell but better with more power and Silva has a closer reach aswell. I have thought recently that Jones could win standing but he would need to take it to the ground ASAP to win and he probably could do that. I think to beat Jones you need extreme speed and angles and the thing is, if he goes to HW then there is a lot more power up there but no-one remotely close to Machida's speed especially when it comes to closing the distance.
I hope Big Nog recovers quickly but at his age bones don't heal quick, I hate to say this but this could be his last fight and if not I reckon at least a long 6 months till we see him again which at his age is terrible news. MIr had an amazing finish but as somebody noted, his chin is completely gone, everytime he gets tagged I cringe thinking it's over. If he fights either Carwin, JDS, Velasquez, Reem and most likely even Brock... it's going to be an extremely short night if Nog nearly KO'd him that easily. I love Mir but pretty sure htis fight proved his title hopes are now gone.
I feel bad for Tito and hopefully he gets that fight with Forrest, not sure how that one will go though. Forrest probably won't stop him but I think he will still take it. Lil Nog looked real good, had a big time slow start but once he caught Tito and got him to back off he got into the fight. His G&P was beatiful, mixing it up like mad, never seen anybody get TKO'd due to elbows to the body. Love that a guy known for his boxing and Jits G&Ps; out a guy who is one of the fathers of G&P, good performance by Lil Nog.
Overall, sick card 8/10
The way Machida dropped to the floor like a sack of potatoes after Jones let him go was was brutal. Maybe not as rough as Nog's snapped shoulder, but it definitely served to make statement for Jones. I gave the first round to Machida and I'm sure Jones did to. He showed that he has the ability to adapt to adversity and still pull off the finish. Had that been a straight striking match, I think Machida would of won. But I'm sure I wasn't the only thinking that it was only a manner of time until Jones took him down.
I thought Mir was done for when he had his head on canvas. Gotta give him props for gutting it out and grabbing hold of that arm. When I saw that arm pop, that was a classic scrunch up the face "OHHH DAMN!!!!" moment for me. There's a lesson here: On the ground with Frank Mir? DONT LET HIM GRAB YOUR ARMS.
lol'ing @ scrunched face......I resembled that remark 8P
Jone look twice as big as Machida in the fight, i don't think anyone in LHW can beat him. he have to much reach, size advantage.
I actually don't really see people saying Mir has no chin. He took a clean hard straight right from Nog on the jawline right under his ear, then it was immediately followed up with a stiff left to the chin. Two clean hits from a heavyweight with decently strong punches (remember what Nog did to Schaub) is enough to make almost anyone wobbly. After that Nog followed with a flurry and Mir didn't go out. I think if he had no chin he would've been KO'ed therefor sure.
Well it was kind of strange that the fight wasn't stopped when Mir was out.
He wasn't out, he was keeping himself propped up and trying to weather the punches. He certainly wasn't defending himself though. I think if he had taken just one more without moving though it would have been stopped for sure. As is, if it had been stopped there, I don't think many would have thought it premature.
Frank needs to stop trying to stand with good strikers, and simply use his strikes to set up take down. Hes big enough now to get a few takedowns and not risk being KO'd every fight. Im sure his old lady was like "Thank God he didnt get Ko'd again."
You mean like he stood with Noguerra last time and KTFO'd him?
Or when he stood with Cheik Kongo and knocked him down, then submitted the dazed striker?
Mir was slow out of the gate--and paid for his complacency--as he did with Carwin also.
He admitted this himself after the fight. His striking was not sharp this fight--but it has looked better.
Really thought it was a great main event, Machida actually did school Jones standing which was interesting to see Jones really had no chance at all standing. Still Jones did show a bit more of what kind of champ he will become here by taking the fight the way he did.
Oh he schooled Jones alright. Yup Jones had no chance standing with Machida.
Jones has proven to me in this fight that he is without a doubt, deserving of the strap that he has around his waist. I am not a Jones fan, but still one has to recognize that he is the best at 205. I'm hoping that Dan Henderson gets the next crack at him.
Remember Hendo faught Anderson and got his ass kicked. In my opinion Hendo isnt all that... Big right hand but that wont do a bit of good if you give up a 10in reach. Jones isnt stupid to let him rush in or he himself wont rush in either. Jones will pick him apart/ soften him up and then go in for the kill.
Rashad aint shit, he got knocked put and his ass handed to him by Machida. People say Rashad has wrestling and is more skillful but are they kidding.... Rashad will eat a big knee or beautiful right uppercut once he tries to shoot on Jon. I feel when they fight, Jones is going to give him the worst ass whippin ever just to shut his mouth. Remember the last person who really talked crap about jones was Vera and he got his face broken off....cant you say emergency unit in the hospital..
Jones only needs to beat the Beast that is Hendo at 205 and Rashad to prove he is the most skillful fighter in MMA.
the competition he has beat this year only almost surpass GSP and Silva's opponents in the last 2 years.
Bones has already gone on record as saying that he will fight both Hendo and Evans in the near future. I agree that the division will probably be cleaned out if Jones can beat these two contenders. What then for Jones? Does he start rematching everyone that he has already beat and go down the line again? Hopefully some more cream will rise to the top by that time if these other two can't beat Jones.
You said hopefully more cream will rise to the top huh huuhuhh
sorry seen too much Beavis and Butthead lately.
Great Article! I dig your writing Trent...
I applaud Frank Mir's come back in the fight but it has to be said, Frank was losing the fight. Truth be told, Frank was a punch or two from being KO'd. Big Nog had Frank beat but decided to end it via submission rather than ground and pound. All he had to do was keep hitting Frank and it would have been over. Frank did well, but truth is, Frank got lucky.
Big Nog was to proud to tap and cost him a broken arm. and maybe his career. Machida was to proud to tap and was droped like a sack of potatoes. you lost anyway, swallow your pride tapout and get back to training and try and figure out where u went wrong.