UFC 111 has come and gone and while the card (or some specifically some fights/fighters) didn’t live up to the lofty expectations of some fans (do they ever?,) I’m sure everyone can agree that it was a big improvement over UFC On Versus.

Miller vs. Bocek

I called: Miller over Bocek via 2nd or 3rd round submission.

What really happened: Miller wins an unanimous decisions.

Thoughts: This one ended up being a lot more competitive than I figured. Bocek was game and put up a good fight, but Miller really hustled later in the fight to secure the decision.

Fitch vs. Alves

A pre-fight physical revealed some sort of anomaly in Alves’ brain and the fight was changed to Fitch vs. Saunders. I like Saunders, but there was no way he was getting passed the repeated takedowns of Fitch. While I hate to sound like the bozos who constantly (and incorrectly) deride fighters like Rashad Evans and GSP for being “boring, lay and pray artists,” I’d be happy never seeing Fitch fight again as his seriously puts me to sleep.

Ellenberger vs. Saunders

See above.

Mir vs. Carwin

What I called: Mir, based on experience, newfound strength, and jiu-jitsu.

What really happened: Holy shit, was I wrong; Carwin made Mir look stupid with an all-out assault.

Thoughts: Well, I guess I have no choice but to start buying into the Carwin hype, though I don’t feel confident fully boarding the bandwagon until I see the guy A) go outside of the first round B) work on the ground. I’m certainly excited about Lesnar vs. Carwin though, and the eventual introduction of Valasquez and Dos Santos into the mix.

St. Pierre vs. Hardy

I called: GSP by whatever the hell he wants.

What really happened: GSP by decision, though it appeared he wanted to win via submission.

Thoughts: Look, I’m as bummed as anyone that GSP couldn’t put an extremely brave/stupid Hardy away with either that armbar or that Kimura, but for anyone to infer that the champ is a boring, “lay and pray” (can we retire this stupid term already?) artist shows that they’re not only a total ignoramus, but no true fan of mixed martial arts. GSP stayed busy the entire fight, taking Hardy down at will, passing his guard like it didn’t exist, and trying to submit him on two separate occasions. Good fighters win fights by developing a winning strategy; they don’t stand and trade on the feet to appease fans.

I will say that I’m disappointed with Greg Jackson and the absolutely terrifying advise he was overheard (on camera) giving St. Pierre between rounds: “Take him down and don’t pass until there’re thirty seconds left.” This is arguably one of the best mixed martial artists in history, and you’re asking him to sit in the guard of a hard inferior opponent for four and a half minutes? Why even bother training if that’s the strategy? Georges could have fallen asleep after the Alves fight, woke up late Saturday night, and still accomplish the same thing.

What a bozo.