UFC 128 represented one of those classic cases of main event oriented card that ended up delivering top to bottom. Jon Jones drew in more fans than I originally anticipated but fighters like Jim Miller, Brendan Schaub, Eddie Wineman, and Urijah Faber took advantage of their chances to impress the masses by performing at high levels. UFC 128 was a game-changer, at least potentially so, and could be great for the sport in the long run. More will be said about Jones, Shogun, and the intricacies of the fight in a later piece but here I will simply focus on what we learned from the card as a whole.
- Jones Is The Real Deal – I am not quite ready to call Jon Jones the greatest of all time as many seem to be, but there is no denying that Jones’ skills warrant a great deal of respect. I will be the first to admit that I underestimated the effect of his size on elite fighters at 205 pounds, a size that I think will eventually present Jones with problems in the future. “Bones” dispatched of Shogun impressively, leaving no doubt as to whether or not he deserved to be champion. Waiting in the wings is a former champion that everyone seems ready to count out before training camps even start in Rashad Evans. While Jon Jones has looked unstoppable to this point I am curious to see how he reacts to Machida, Rampage, Forrest, Randy and other experienced champions being thrown at him. The talent pool at 205 pounds is deep, meaning there is a lot to prove yet for the new prince.
- Jim Miller: The Quiet Contender - Is there any contender for a major title flying more under the radar in any division with any company than Jim Miller? This guy is 20-2 and on a 7 fight winning streak. Ohh and his two loses came to Gray Maynard and Frankie Edger, two guys you might have heard of. Admittedly, I have been a little late to fully getting on this bandwagon but count me in. He adds his name to the list of tough, hardnosed fighters at the top of the light heavyweight division, a place he solidified with Saturday’s win. Keep an eye on Jim Miller from here on out and don’t sleep on his chances to compete with the top talent in the division.
- Urijah Faber Earns His Title Shot – Eddie Wineland made him work for it but Urijah Faber seems primed to take a shot at 135-pound champion Dominick Cruz. Faber struggled early but took control as the fight continued, showing a cool head and a diverse skill set. It wasn’t a bad initial UFC outing for The California Kid, who got to demonstrate more than just dynamic striking. Faber has a long way to go to return to his former glory, but word on the street is that he may coach the next Ultimate Fighter across from Cruz, a move that would do a great deal to build the division as well as both fighters’ star power.
- We Learn NOTHING About ANYONE Else – The main card presented two other fights: one good, one forgettable, neither that taught us anything about any fighter involved. Cro Cop isn’t as good as he use to be (or at least use to look) and doesn’t have a great chin. Schaub has big power but needs tons of development. Nate Marquardt is simply a better fighter than Dan Miller but both guys are game competitors and middle of the road middleweights. If there is anything to take away from these fights it is that Cro Cop should bow out of MMA and Nate Marquardt is settling into his gatekeeper role. Again, these are facts I think most MMA fans recognized before UFC 128 but got confirmed in their respective fights.
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