UFC 111 George St. Pierre VS Dan Hardy

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 111 - George St. Pierre VS Dan Hardy.



Introductory thoughts about the more significant lineups
UFC 111 brings you two collisions of top caliber, as UFC Welterweight Champion George "Rush" St. Pierre renders his - logically - consecutive title defense against Dan Hardy, while undefeated heavyweight male-monster Shane Carwin collides with Frank Mir 3.0 for the undisputed right to meet reigning UFC Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar.

As for the Welterweight Championship, it is easy to take Dan Hardy for the everyday average brawler, and it is even easier to pay dearly for this mistake. The Outlaw is a very intelligent, smart fighter who does not mind stating these attributes with two fists on the flurry, promising now that GSP will be invited to places uncharted for the reigning Champion. Hardy states that he is nothing less to GSP than what Kryptonite is to Superman, adding that the most blatant mistake one can commit against St. Pierre is to give his - GSP's - abilities way too much respect and feel the related fear. St. Pierre, while stating how he hoped Hardy would come up with some more original material than the "he never fought anyone like me before" rhetorics, suggests a strong possibility of finishing the titular collision as soon as the Challenger's game exhibits errors. George St. Pierre plans to stop his opposition, and openly expresses that he will not be satisfied if to leave the Octagon with anything less than The Outlaw's - metaphorical - ear under his - not metaphorical - UFC Welterweight Champion belt.

As for the co-main event of the night, fans are yet to see a man - or woman, for that matter - who is able to invite Shane Carwin into a second round inside the World Famous Octagon, as the hulkian prospect's fists pack raw dynamite power and are eager to test Brock Lesnar's chin. Brock has other Challengers on his trail as well, though. Most notably Frank Mir, of whom Brock made a new man, perhaps: a more dangerous one. After being utterly manhandled and consecutively destructed by Lesnar's hand at UFC 100, Mir had to endure Brock's hilarious post-fight antics. Lesnar approached the man he was just pummeling to a pulp, suggesting: "Talk all the sh*it you want, motherf*cker"!" While the gesture undeniably is of raw, radical, nevertheless strict entertainment value, it is understandable, in fact, it is just natural that Mir had such a hard time of swallowing this embarrassment that he decided to not do so at all. Instead, Mir shaped a new man of himself, The Mir 3.0, and speaks openly about the spiritual context of his rivalry with Lesnar. He wants to scar Brock on a psychic level, something that suggests it exactly is what Brock did to Mir already, inviting the "Mir 3.0" into existence. If Frank Mir wants to do anything with Brock Lesnar in the Octagon though, - and let us hope that they will stick to bloody traditions - then he needs to state a radical verdict on the expense of Shane Carwin. Can Mir offer yet another spectacular finish like the one he delivered against Cheik Kongo, or, will he be stopped by the dynamite raw power Carwin brings to the Octagon?

Jim Miller VS Mark Bocek

This fight has rare moments of exchanges in the standup position, as its participants show constant willingness to conduct this meeting at close quarters, and, on the canvas. Though this here collision of average excitement - oxymoron? - has its memorable moments, - especially when Bocek traps the right arm of Jim Miller, making Miller look like an angry hedgehog, only angrier - the match fails to come to a conclusion other than that of the Judges. Miller by decision.

Ben Saunders VS John Fitch

Former Ultimate Fighter TV show contestant Ben Saunders meets experienced UFC veteran John Fitch, who has the reputation of being among the most tenacious warriors the Octagon have ever seen. Fitch's original opponent, Thiago Alves could not step on the canvas tonight, thus, Saunders has a precious opportunity to advance up the rankings.

And a precious opportunity it remains indeed, since the most precious opportunity always is the one you missed on. Saunders fails to offer any noticeable resistance to Fitch, who is able to dictate the style of fighting he is prime administrator of: the veteran commands Saunders to the ground with relative ease and will, unleashing constant ground and pound attacks that lack the stopping power to put the former TV show contestant away, but more than enough to leave zero doubt in the eyes of the Judges. A decision victory for Fitch, via outclassing the opposition.

Shane Carwin VS Frank Mir

The distance between the opponents is quickly closed, with Carwin rendering himself as the aggressor, pressing Mir up against the cage. Carwin can deliver stopping power even from a very short distance, as fans had the chance to see that against Gabriel Gonzaga. History and related traditions are repeating themselves tonight, as Shane bursts through an opening with a successive series of 4-5 solid uppercuts, causing Mir's knees to give out temporarily. The former UFC Heavyweight Champion shows exceptional tenaciousness, trying to survive when most men already would have fell, yet, the relentless ground and pound fury Carwin unleashes puts an end to this contest. Brock Lesnar is invited to the Octagon, salutes the performance of the UFC Interim Heavyweight Champion Shane Carwin, then accepts his challenge for their imminent title bout. Brock states that the fight was good, but the belt Shane is wearing is a make-believe belt. Carwin agrees completely, adding that this is the reason he is going for Lesnar's belt.

George St. Pierre VS Dan Hardy

GSP does what he does best: neutralizes his rival by crystal solid, crisp takedowns, performing these maneuvers of myriad variation at will. Hardy has nothing to offer on the ground other than his sound ability to defend himself from the persistent threats the Champion subjects him to without end. Regardless of the extreme stretching of the arms on two separate occasions, Hardy refuses to tap and remains in the fight. This five minute rounds Championship collision tolerates no moment the Challenger could claim to himself: George "Rush" St. Pierre defends his title in dominating fashion.

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