DAN THE MAN!
This Past weekend was UFC 305: Adesanya v. Du Plessis. This fight is a grudge match a that should’ve happened a year ago. The fight started as most expected, with Izzy kick pointing his way to victory in his typical boring style. He was picking his shots at range while Du Plessis would run forward flailing his arms like a male blow up doll, and that is in now way a comment on his sexuality. Somehow these Stalingrad blitzes worked, eventually leading to Izzy turning his back and running for the fences like a matador, only the bull was a South Africa and the horn was… But alas his cardio could not sustain and Dricus got through knocking him down. Now, with Izzy laying on the canvas back facing Dricus, what does he do? He takes his back and finishes him with the rear naked choke to the surprise of myself and everyone else around me. I was watching this fight with a plethora of drunk Adesanya fans, and it was humoring to say the least to see the place empty and completely die out after he was finished. It was almost as humorous as the fact the two zestiest fighters on the roster ended their heated grudge match with one man taking the others back and finishing him to completion. UFC’s not gay.
The most exciting fight of the night had to be the amazing win of Dan Hooker, now granting him entry into the elite of the lightweight division. I guess the Charles Olivera model works… I can’t explain how gratifying it was to see someone who’s out matched on paper come out and not only force a boring fighter into an entertaining one, but get the win as well. Hooker is all heart, and if that wasn’t already evident from his fight last year with Jalin Turner, then it became abundantly clear Saturday night. His yell to his cornermen “I love this shit” is one of the many reasons it was pleasure to watch him will his way to a victory, that is what sport is all about. I look forward to seeing what happens next with him, I hope this new resurgence can take him to a title shot…Like Charles Olivera…I think they’re fighting next?
To recap the rest of the card: Steve Erceg got the knock…wait sorry, Erceg got knocked out by a screaming tiki mask, letting everyone down. Tai Tuivasa came out and did a massive shoey to celebrate his fifth loss. He proved that pouring a pint into a shoe and raising it to your mouth not only is exercise, but oddly counts as cardio. Lastly, opening up the card was an insane knockout from the smoking sensation Carlos Prates…he’s one to watch for in the future…one to watch as he rolls up and smokes the butts of the competition.
