WEC 36 Recap (Abridged Version)
By Josh Stein on Nov 06, 2008
WEC 36 reminded me why I love MMA. The sport is visceral, unpredictable and a fight can be over before you even start yelling at the TV. On the last episode of the podcast, Brandt and I reminded people, as I often do, that anything can happen in this sport, and while things sometimes don’t happen, sometimes the Matt Serra juices get flowing and that +600 underdog comes out looking like a champ.
Paulo Filho, as part of the disclaimer for this piece, was the most disappointing he’s ever been. I had hoped that he was really past his emotional issues, clearly that was not the case. I had hoped that the weight was not indicative of serious under-training, clearly that was just wishful thinking. As someone who had been a Paulo Filho fan, who liked his hard-nosed attitude and his solid jiu-jitsu, it’s hard for me to say I still respect him after this fight. My respect has been shaken by what can only be described as an act of complete and utter stupidity and general douchebaggery.
Mike Brown became the new 145 pound champion of the world in what I can only describe as a complete mauling of the former champ Urijah Faber. I talk about the virtues of, once in a blue moon, throwing money on the underdog, and because I took my own advice, I made out big financially last night. Online gambling is a wonderful thing.
Leonard Garcia made an indentation in the division, too, finishing former UFC lightweight champion Jens Pulver incredibly quickly and displaying some killer haymakers against a fighter many thought was one of the most elite and technical strikers in the weightclass. The fight was fast, but it was, indisputably, exciting. These guys came ready for war and the punches landed in favor of Garcia.
Brown may very well be the perpetual underdog against the titan Urijah Faber and his massive highlight reel and diehard fanbase, but even if Brown is just a flash in a pan, his performance last night will serve as a reminder, much like Matt Serra’s destruction of Georges St. Pierre, that we are fans of a volatile and visceral sport, and that we should respect the nature of the game.
Comments (2)
Get 1 Now
Get Free Gear
Josh good piece.
What do you think about a Brown-Faber rematch? Hopefully Faber gets right back in there and try, try again.
I think that Faber will be the favorite in the matchup and that the serious analysts (myself included) will give him an edge because they think he took the fight too lightly.
Matt Brown will not establish himself as the top 145 pound fighter in the world until he repeats this performance, and while he may not do it as quickly (fighters almost never do), he will have to finish, in my opinion, if he is going to continue to be undisputed.
He had a great showing, but it’s hard to acknowledge the guy as #1 in the world with only one really incredible fight. If he gives us more, then he will be.
I think that Faber and Pulver need to have a rematch, and that the winner should get a title shot. I think that Leonard Garcia should be the next in line to fight Mike Brown, to give Brown his first title defense (so that Faber has some time to recover psychologically from that loss, without having a weak opponent).