Post UFC 79 De-Brief

I’ll summarize the results of the main fights of this exciting card and some questions I have and that you may have too about what happens next to some of these fighters:

Sokoudjou v. Lyoto Machida – excellent gameplan by Machida in securing the submission victory by choke. He frustrated Sokoudjou by defending well and not letting him get in close to pummel him with his strikes. Machida controlled by selective striking and controlling Sokoudjou on the ground.

What’s next: Machida should be a fight or two away from a title fight with Rampage Jackson if he continues to fight well. Sokoudjou must go back to the drawing board and re-establish himself. He probably needed this type of loss in his first cage match as a learning experience.

Chuck Liddell decisions Wanderlei Silva: Liddell beat Silva convincingly in the standup game, getting off first and nailing him in most of their exchanges. Silva looked good at the start, but the cumulative effect of the strikes wore on him at the end. He ended up looking battered and tentative.

What’s next: Liddell has placed himself firmly back in the light heavyweight title picture and has dispelled most of the questions about his abilities – for now. I don’t think Silva is done by any stretch, but another loss may put him on retirement’s door.

Matt Hughes loses to Georges St. Pierre by arm bar: I think it’s significant that GSP beat Hughes by an arm bar, the same submission Hughes beat GSP by in their first fight. GSP looked spry and had his complete game last night. He basically took it to Hughes at the latter’s game and beat him at it, as GSP was the superior wrestler. Hughes said he was 120% ready for this fight, but admitted afterwards that GSP was the “better fighter.”

What’s next: Matt Hughes has to seriously be considering retirement now, as he’s hinted at it in comments leading up to this fight. GSP is now the interim Welterweight champ, and will get a shot to avenge his loss in April to Matt Serra. Serra has been unable to defend his title since April due to injury. I expect GSP to defeat Serra in convincing fashion, provided GSP is mentally ready for Serra unlike the first time they met. GSP has said he is a better fighter for that loss and I believe him.

So what do you think about the fights last night? What do you see happening now for these fighters?