Another great UFC card in the books with UFC 118. You got to see some great grappling, a stand up scrap, and just pure MMA. It was a good mix of everything except a good knockout, but in true MMA fashion we some great submissions. I’m still heartbroken about the BJ Penn loss, but I won’t make that ruin the whole card in general. Here are my results for the event and don’t forget to check out the “Community Prediction Results” at the bottom:

1. Frankie Edgar dominated BJ Penn everywhere — again!

Wow. I definitely didn’t expect that. I thought BJ Penn was going to go into that fight with a totally different game plan of going after Frankie Edgar and working his ground game. He definitely tried that in the later rounds, but he should have done more in the earlier rounds. Now, Frankie Edgar definitely did amazing, you can’t take that away. He played his game and showed some awesome wrestling takedowns and crisp boxing. I love BJ Penn and it was just hard to watch the fight. He lost decisively.

(-1) Prediction: BJ Penn over Frankie Edgar

2. Randy Couture shows James Toney the full MMA experience

Did anyone really think anything else was going to happen? Randy Couture goes for the low single leg takedown, then proceeds to mount James Toney. A few ground and pound punches here and there before he snaps on an arm triangle choke. The full MMA experience for Toney’s MMA debut. I’m just happy this is over and we can get to real MMA, and it’ll be interesting who Couture fights next. Rich Franklin? 

(+1) Prediction: Randy Couture over James Toney

3. Gray Maynard bullies his way to a Lightweight title fight

Why does Kenny Florian choke in every big fight? When the pressure and focus is on him, he doesn’t get the job done. Where was the aggressive Florian? I have no idea and it pissed me off. Gray Maynard did exactly what he does best, take you down and ground and pound — all the way to a decision. For some reason, he hates to finish fights and that’s his downfall. Props to Maynard though, he did win it decisively.

(-1) Prediction: Kenny Florian over Gray Maynard

4. Demian Maia swarms Mario Miranda on the ground

I didn’t know Mario Miranda was a hometown guy training out of AMC. Anyways, I still would have thought the fight going the same way. As long as Demian Maia was able to grab a hold of Miranda, it was game over. You can’t stop a Brazilian Jui-Jitsu black belt and multiple-time grappling champion from wrapping you up and destroying you on the ground. There were multiple submission attempts, but Maia wasn’t able to cinch one in. It was an easy decision.

(+1) Prediction: Demian Maia over Mario Miranda

5. Nate Diaz showed some great hands — minus the taunting

Nate Diaz is a little punk, but he can fight. I love the Diaz brothers, but come on Nate — do you have to start taunting in the FIRST minute of the fight? I know the attitude is what they’re all about, and I love that about them — but FIRST minute? Anyways, Diaz controlled the fight at arms length against Marcus Davis and lured Davis into a brawl. Davis’ face was bloodied up and his right eye was a mess. It was only a matter of time he was going to finish it, and he did it with a choke. I think Nate Diaz is ready for some competition in the Welterweight Division, bring on some top contenders.

(+1) Prediction: Nate Diaz over Marcus Davis

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Community Prediction Results (34-28):

• mr-uy: Edgar, Couture, Maynard, Maia, Diaz (5-0)
• Harold Hing: Penn, Couture, Maynard, Maia, Diaz (4-1)
• brooklynboogie: Penn, Toney, Maynard, Maia, Diaz (3-2)
• dnop: Penn, Couture, Florian, Maia, Diaz (3-2)
• Huynh Nguyen: Penn, Couture, Florian, Maia, Diaz (3-2)
• Josh Frost: Penn, Couture, Florian, Maia, Diaz (3-2)
• xthegiveristheshitx: Penn, Couture, Florian, Maia, Diaz (3-2)
• zuffaattacks: Penn, Couture, Florian, Lauzon, Winner (2-3)
• Shaun Newcomb: Penn, Toney, Florian, Maia, Diaz (2-3)
• Jonathan Sunga: Penn, Toney, Maynard, Miranda, Diaz (2-3)
• Mark Bryant: Penn, Couture, Maynard, Miranda (2-2)
• Arlo Marti: Penn, Couture, Florian, Miranda, Davis (1-4)
• Jesse Adams: Penn, Couture, Florian, Miranda, Davis (1-4)
• Peter Chen: Penn, Couture, Florian, Miranda, Davis (1-4)

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QUESTION: Who wins the Frankie Edgar / Gray Maynard fight?