This weekend we got to witness two amazing feats in sports. Today you got to see this:
Felix Baumgartner leaping from the edge of space to land on Earth after breaking three world records. As a mixed martial arts fan you also got to witness this:
Anderson Silva spent Saturday night celebrating the 6th anniversary of his dismantling of Rich Franklin by taking Stephan Bonnar to striking class. Bonnar would strike, miss and then Anderson would return to the exact same spot on the cage wall as if to say, "good job, but try again." If you were looking for the modern day Bruce Lee you have found him. If you were looking for the pound-for-pound best fighter in MMA, there just isn't a question.
Anderson made Bonnar look silly, weak, and inexperienced. Things that make the screams for Jones vs. Anderson MUCH louder than Anderson vs GSP. Sure that is an easier fight for him, but Bonnar looked like a monster and Anderson played with the larger fighter until he turned up the heat and dropped him with a single knee.
Anderson's proficiency of moment is clearly the most beautiful part of his game. The ability to allow an opponent to implement his game-plan long enough for Anderson to assimilate it and then tear it apart. Of all of his performances, I think this was my favorite because of the story it told. Higher weight-class, shorter notice, more destructive performance. It took 19 strike total to take Bonnar out, one knee specifically to finish the fight. Compare that to Glover's 85 strikes to Maldonado's 10 and you can see a very different type of fighter.
What is next? Anderson fights Jones. Dana will make this happen because to quote Joe Rogan from last night, "if this fight doesn't happen it would be a travesty." I could not agree more.
Big Nog proved that he is still a very game fighter as he also made a ridiculous Dave Herman look like he doesn't (and I hope this comes true) belong in the UFC. After Herman gets cut maybe Nog can fight the winner of the Carwin vs Nelson fight.
Glover put on a performance and while the stoppage was VERY late it is time for a step up for Teixeira and since Rampage kicked off the Twitter war again. Let's make that happen one more time.
Demian Maia is looking GREAT at 170 so why not step him up in competition to see what we have here. MMA Weekly has Bahadurzada at #10 but I think he isn't the right fight for Maia and as much as I would love Fitch vs Maia, I think that Maia should get Koscheck and Fitch gets Jake Ellenberger
Erick Silva wants to fight like Anderson with a lot less talent and even less wrestling, time for a step back and maybe a chance to make this guy look good in a UFC fight for a change. Give Silva Jay Hieron and let's see what happens.
