Affliction: Day of Reckoning results and final thoughts.

One of the most highly anticipated events of the new year is now over, and I personally thought it was a great event.  I think “Day of Reckoning” topped Affliction’s debut event, and I really hope that this organization continues to put on shows, I think MMA needs another heavy organization that can supply fans with great matchups like the UFC has been able to do for so long.

I’d also like to give some props to one of the commentators….no it’s not Tito (who I thought did a shitty job, but I’ll cut him some slack considering it was his first time), but Jimmy Smith (the dude from Fight Quest).  Overall I really thought he did a very good job acting as the “Joe Rogan” of Affliction.  He was very knowledgeable on all of the fighters who appeared on the card, and he didn’t show any “nuthuggery” that some of the others did.  I really hope that IF Affliction has a third event, he returns…great job Jimmy.

Now, onto the fights….

Quick Results

• Brett Cooper def. Patrick Speight via TKO (punches) — Round 1, 4:10.
• Albert Rios def. Antonio Duarte via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28).
• L.C. Davis def. Bao Quach via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28).
• Antonio Rogerio Nogueira def. Vladimir Matyushenko via TKO (strikes) — Round 2, 4:26.
• Dan Lauzon def. Bobby Green via submission — Round 1, 4:55.
• Paul Buentello def. Kiril Sidelnikov via TKO (doctor’s stoppage due to cuts) — Round 3, 4:18.
• Renato “Babalu” Sobral def. Rameau Thierry Sookoudjou via submission (D’arce choke) — Round 2, 2:36
• Vitor Belfort def. Matt Lindland via KO (punches) — Round 1, 0:37.
• Josh Barnett def. Gilbert Yvel via submission (strikes) — Round 3, 3:05.
• Fedor Emelianenko def. Andre Arlovski via KO (punch) — Round 1, 3:34.
• Jay Hieron def. Jason High via KO (punches) — Round 1, 1:04.

The Fights…

I was sad to see Vlady get owned like that, I don’t know why he didn’t shoot on Lil Nog, but he’s still the man in my eyes.  I’d like to see him get another fight in Affliction, I think when he’s on his game he’s really a top level 205lber, tonight wasn’t his night and Nog showed that.  Solid victory for Rogerio, I look forward to seeing him possibly fight Babalu.

I really am not a fan of Dan Lauzon, and I’m torn inbetween thinking that he took some legit shots to the nuts or if he was maybe milking it a little bit.  I’ve taken indavertant shots to my balls before during sparring sessions, but some of those looked a little high.  I’m not Dan, so I can’t tell you what was what…but what I can say is that I think he was a little scared of the power that Bobby Green showed, he was throwing bombs and connecting pretty well.  Green could be the new Krazy Horse, but better at everything and actually a legit fighter with solid potential….and to be honest I’m an instant fan of the kid.  I really hope to see more of him, maybe the UFC can pick him up for an upcoming season of The Ultimate Fighter or something, he’s a little badass.  What’s next for Lauzon? Hopefully Horodecki can get his buldging disk figured out, because I’d love to see Dan actually fight people on his skill level.

I gotta respect what “Baby Fedor” Kiril Sidelnikov did during his fight with Paul Buentello, and that was take punishment.  That kid is durable as hell, and I think in a few years and under the right guidance (which he’s going to get training under Fedor), he’s going to be a huge force.  I think he could cut to 205, but I’m under the impression that he wants to emulate his teacher in every way, shape, and form….so he’ll end up staying at heavyweight and looking a little “plump”.  I was impressed with him though, moreso than I was with Paul.  Maybe now we can see Buentello fight either Gilbert Yvel or Andre Arlovski (again).

Sokoudjou, as much as I’m sure he loves training at Team Quest, needs to find a new camp and work on his submission defense or he’s not going to amount to shit.  He seemed to just lay there while Babalu did his submission thing, no attempt whatsoever to push through it.  It was sad, I know that Soko could have beaten Sobral…and it sucked seeing him lose because I think he’s got a great attitude and a lot of potential.  Babalu looked decent, but I still won’t ever bet on the guy, I don’t care who he fights…..

I seriously thought Matt Lindland was dead, and I wouldn’t be shocked if he decided to retire after tonight.  Vitor mauled him….it was one of the worst KO’s I’ve ever seen, and what made it worse was the seizure Lindland had while comatose.  I legitimately felt bad for the guy, and I really hope that he’s fine and is able to make a fast and healthy recovery.  As for Vitor…..man was it good to see him come out on top, he really looks to be the “old Vitor” that so many of us missed, and I can’t wait to see what Affliction has in store for him.  Hopefully a WAMMA middleweight title shot…

Gilbert Yvel got some huge props in my book for surviving Josh Barnett’s mount for almost 15 minutes, Josh should have been able to finish him faster, I personally think he blew his wad at the end of the first round with all those strikes from the top.  I don’t really have much to say about this fight I guess, Barnett needed to win this, and he had to work his ass off to get the victory.  I really hope we can see a fight between Barnett and Fedor in the next 4-6 months, that’s a fight years in the making and considering what Fedor did to Arlovski tonight, I think it’s safe to say that Barnett has his hands full (but I think he can beat him).  WAR BARNETT!!!

Arlovski looked great up until he decided to lose his mind and try a flying knee…which goes to show he got a little over-confident too fast.  He definitely paid the price by getting planted right on his face with a beautiful overhand right from Fedor.  To be honest, I thought that up until the KO, Fedor looked a little awkward, but I think it was simply due to the fact that he couldn’t figure Arlovski out right away and respected his striking skills.  In the end, Arlovski got KTFO, Fedor once again proved he’s the f’in man, and Fedor nuthuggers are probably still viciously spasming in orgasmic waves that their “God” remains more or less unbeaten.

Other side notes:

I really enjoyed all of the prelim bouts which aired live on HDNet, the Patrick Speight/Brett Cooper bout was easily my favorite out of all of them.

Some of my predictions for this event were spot on, and some were completely jacked. I hit the Barnett submission in the third right on the head, as I did with the Fedor/Arlovski fight.  I predicted Belfort would win via TKO in round 2 instead of round 1, and I got the Brett Cooper 2nd round KO right on the money….I’ll say I broke even for the entire thing…

What I’d like to see down the line from Affliction…

• Fedor Emelianenko vs. Josh Barnett (for WAMMA heavyweight title)
• Vitor Belfort vs. Robbie Lawler (for WAMMA middleweight title)
• Tito Ortiz vs. Renato Sobral
• Renato Sobral vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueria
• Tito Ortiz vs. Sokoudjou
• Gilbert Yvel vs. Paul Buentello
• Chris Horodecki vs. Dan Lauzon

A few of these could definitely happen at the next event, and I can only hope and pray Affliction made enough money at this show to allow for some of the others to take place later in the year.  Overall, it was a great event, and I’m glad I got to see it.

Final Rating: 9/10.