Posting in this thread even though it's probably not a good idea (been away from the internet for a few days). Bullet point time!
- LOL at the hybrid fraud. Very satisfied.
- I picked Hominick-Yagin as a potential FOTN but the fact that it got it shows how lacklustre the entire card was.
- The main event went pretty much to expectations, but I was (shock horror) hoping to see more wrestling. I don't know why anyone was predicting a blowout, the fight against On-Rails Weapons-Platform Shogun seems to have coloured people's expectations of Jones. Rashad had some moments of decent infighting (good combo somewhere in the first I believe) before proceeding to spend the majority of the fight ignoring Tyrone ***** after the awesome elbows (these were probably the most impressive standing strikes I've seen Jones throw). Jon seemed content to coast even with Evans sitting there like a stunned mullet, maybe he was reticent to grapple with Shad in the middle of a round. Jones' striking looked much improved (barely any tripping!) but there are still holes obviously, if short-ass Rashad was going to hit him with anything a head kick was way down on the list... maybe that's why it worked?
- Hendo has a puncher's chance, but I'm excited for the fight because it's going to be a finish. Either Hendo causes the most entertaining fallout since Werdum wrapped his legs around Fedor's neck/Anderson did the same to Chael or Jones does whatever he wants to round 3+ lifeless Dan.
- Lyoto is the only one I'd bet on against Jon; not because he's a guaranteed win but because there's no way the odds would be accurate. He needs to work on keeping his head safe during his straight counters, because people (should) know what to do against it and the second he slows down they can get it to work. Keeping an almost perfect fight for 3 to 4 rounds in his style is also going to be hell on his cardio. His last fight with Jones something (rumours of pneumonia? King Mo said something was up) had him doing the Shane Carwin dance of mana rejuvenation throughout the second, but even when healthy he slowed against Shogun (leg kicks probably accelerated that). I don't think he could finish Jones (if the fight goes his way) even with his great killer instinct as Jones' clinch and resetting of distance with an outstretched hand are great for forcing recovery time.
- If we're playing PRIDE fantasy matchups, 205 Reem is my suggestion. The first five to ten would be a crazy storm of flying knees, guillotine attempts and clinch tosses, with Overeem and the ring/ruleset negating Jones' physical advantages. The second round Jones would either sub or GnP TKO Alistair. Not sure about Jones' GnP without elbows though, has he ever got a stoppage on the ground via punches?