UFC 109 Relentless

Though many may consider men who enter an mma proving ground little more than hired human pitbulls ripping each other apart for massive money and radical amusement, I tend to reject this view via a yawn of black hole, concluding that professional level mma is the combat of highly disciplined human spirits, opposing each other for but the duration of the bout, probably ending up as unified in the process as we could conceive, simply through their magnificent shared experience of being in a cage where the damage one suffers is the wit one failed to exhibit. That is how, in my opinion, the mma fighter fights against herself/himself. The reaction of one's opponent is the reaction to whatever one could offer as offense.

Notice that the ultimately glorious moments of mixed martial arts are not of those of KOs and submissions. They are of those of hugging the formal rival at the end of the bout, circulating the most honest, pure respect spirit and related (?) intelligence may come upon, the limitless respect each fighter deserves simply by making an attempt of expressing themselves thoroughly, honestly on the proving grounds. The biggest respect one could give is the assumption that one needs every skills- and wits to neutralize the rival. A fight is nothing less than the expression of these skill sets, put though to the test utterly and completely, instead of infinitely theorizing about them. The most glorious moment of the bout emerges in the form of the ensuing peace between the fighters, a legit, palpable sensation, unifying the former enemies and the grateful audience once the collision reaches its conclusion.

This is a review of the latest UFC event to date, UFC 109 - Relentless.



Introductory thoughts about the more significant lineups

UFC 109 Relentless brings you the spectactle you were wishing for to see since the earlier days of the most prestigious MMA organization, as two veteran Hall of Famers are now ready to face each other in the Octagon for the very first time. Despite the age factor, - or, as "mere" result of that - Mark "The Hammer" Coleman showcased unblemished willigness to compete both on the Octagon floor-, and, on the consorting professional level. The veteran Hall of Famer - who holds the privilige of being the very first UFC Heavyweight Champion, back in the middle '90s - scored a recent, significant victory over The American Psyho Stephan Bonnar and solidified himself as a warrior who - as UFC President Dana White simply, yet efficiently puts it - comes to FIGHT. At the Day of the Relentless Marketingmachine, Coleman has the most momumental task in front of him in form of fellow UFC Hall of Famer Randy "The Natural" Couture, who also is more than ready to give the fans what they were hoping to see ever since these two warriors have establsiedh themselves as forces all atheletes of the sport should count with. In the Main Event, two veteran fighters do collide to see how two disciplined, mature human spirits are matching up to each other. Even better: it goes deeper this time than the everyday average eyeball contest.

The co-main event gives you Nate "The Great" Marquardt who is taking on lethal prospect Chael Sonnen in a match that goes for the direct title shot: whoever wins this match, will have the chance of facing Anderson "The Spider" Silva, granted the Reigning Champion - Silva - is able to deconstruct Vitor Belfort's hopes of capturing the belt in their upcoming collision taking place in Abu-Dhabi. Sonnen states that on paper, Nate wins this match. Yet, they won't be fighting on paper, they will fight on a blood stained canvas with a big UFC logo on it, and Nate can bring his superios striking and his superior grappling, and everyone will have the chance to see who the better FIGHTER is. Sonnen thinks that the match will boil down to the durability of the two opposing warriors. Nate thinks - with a 1.000.000 dollar microexpression on his face - that he will crush Chael.

Matt Serra VS Frank Trigg

Matt Serra still is a charismatic showman outside the Octagon, and a top level mixed martial artist when on its canvas. Serra states that he would smack a guy like Frank Trigger for nothing - if you are serious about paying him for doing so, you can be sure that you won't have to deal with recejtions from the former UFC Welterweight Champion.

Frank Trigg had his share of memorable declarations on the Octagon canvas, but he wasn't yet able to capture - and, logically: defend - a UFC belt. This kind of dream still lives on in Trigg and invites its bearer to make the efforts to live the dream as opposed of keeping it. If Frank Trigg manages to stop Matt Serra tonight, then the dream lives on and might come to fruition at a later day.

Not today, though. Matt Serra knocks Trigg down in the second portion of the very first round, following a stable sequence in which the former Champion maintains the role of sober aggressor, giving no chance to Frank to express his will-, or even his plans in the standup position. As the man coming to the Octagon with the clearly superior boxing techniques, Serra emerges victorious via the 3-4 clean air to ground missiles he introduces Frank to. A proper mode to start the night off.

Demian Maia VS Dan Miller

Extraordinary Jiu-Jitsu talent Demian Maia comes back to the Octagon to claim a relatively bitterly-, yet decisively earned standup victory over former ILF spectacle-, now promising UFC prospect Dan Miller. Not a particularly interesting fight to watch, but it showcases Maia's determination to improve his fighting styles at areas he previously exhibited holes in. Remember his knockout loss against Nate Marquardt? Because Demian does not.

Phil Davis VS Brian Stann

In this here memorable, three round canvasmolester, UFC debutant Phil Davis imposes an exceptional level of control over his experienced opponent, pretty much spending the majority of the fight with Brian Stann being mounted and abused under him. As result of Stann's pure discipline and remarkable tenaciousness as a mixed martial artist, the former marine is able to escape the immiment phantom clutches of the lurking stoppage, yet, Phil Davis' athleticism and explosive wrestling base proves to be way too much to handle tonight. A ground and pound clinic, orchestrated from the mount position, performed by a newly added prospect who already has the promise of a Champion in him. Better watch out for this Phil Davis character, as it seems he comes from the same planet George "Rush" St. Pierre is fervent storyteller of.


Mike Swick VS Paulo Thiago

A match starting out as a standup war with fluent kickbox characteristics to it, in which Paulo Thiago is quick to claim momentary control by landing a solid left kick on the head of Swick. Mike stays in the game, but shows constant difficulties at rendering himself as the evident aggressor of the opening round, deciding then to take the fight to the ground with the probable hope of planting a good impression in the judges. The second round shows similar initial characteristics than the first period did, though now Swick is more fervent at coming forward with his notoriously swift punches and combinations. One of these strikes do find a home on the Brazilian's chin and an - perhaps overly - exchited Swick moves in for the palpable kill. Not a
good idea, not this time: Paulo answers and quickly commands Swick to the canvas to introduces a D'Arce choke on the former Ultimate Fighter winner. As result of this supertight grip, Swick takes a momentary ride in the spirit world, while the Brazilian prospect goes home with a highly relevant submission victory over a highly relevant opponent.

Nate Marquardt VS Chale Sonnen

As he promised, Chale Sonnen comes out aggressively, showing zero fear of exchanging with Marquardt on the feet. The bout is quick to reveal its primal characteristics though, when the super-fervent, former greco-roman wrestler commands Mardquard to the ground and manages to exhibit a degree of control MMA fans hardly have seen Nate subjected to so far. As unlikely as it might sound, Chale Sonnen spends the first two rounds on top of Marquardt, administering a good old fashioned beating on The Great who simply finds no antidote for the hostile superglue Sonnen renders himself as in the Octagon. Though Nate shows no particular readiness to prevent the takedowns from happening in the second round, either, he finds a momentary opening in the guard of his relentless adversary, landing an elbow that cuts Chale, turning the bout into a gorefeast. The third-, and final round tells all the same story, yet resonates on slightly different channels, as Nate manages to sink in a guillotine choke which sure seems as a radical verdict, but Sonnen eventually escapes. Though Marquardt delivered more damage in the final round than Sonnen did in the period in question, the pure-, surprising level of wresting/ground and pound dominance Sonnen subjected Marquardt to in the first two rounds, earns Chale a well deserved victory AND a brand new fan in me, along with the casual millions who had the privilige of watching this extraordinary, highly remarkable performance. I wouldn't have think that someone can do that to Nate Marquardt. As of UFC 109 Relentless: Chale Sonnen just did.

Randy Couture VS Mark Coleman

The feeling out process is quick to fade tonight, as Randy Couture exhibits precise, crisp striking and remarkable uppercuts that are efficient enought to force Coleman up to the fence. Here Couture utilizes his trademark dirty boxing, softening up the first UFC Champion who finds and offers no noticeable answers to Couture. In the second round, more of the same to follow: Coleman looks unable to render himself as a competent opponent tonight, he is forced to the fence once again and gets taked down by The Natural. Following a brief, yet efficient ground and pound sequence, Coleman gives the back and gets choked out by Randy Couture.

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