Lesson #1: Alistair Overeem is a dangerous dude. I have always said that Lesnar has been very much the product of good matchmaking but Alistair Overeem stood out in rout to wrecking the former UFC champion. He was never close to being taken down and his strikes were on point. His kicks and his knees might be the most dangerous in the division and he has a skill set that might be the most dangerous in the division for king of the mountain, Junior Dos Santos – a fight we should all start looking forward to immediately because there is a 0% chance that one goes the distance.
Lesson #2: Brock Lesnar was what he was. He was a super athlete, a brutally strong man, and an aggressive fighter. He was also not well rounded, not technically sound, and not prepared to meet professional level striking. You can’t take anything away from his success, well earned success. However, MMA should feel humbled by this guy, he demonstrated just how many waves can be made by a professional caliber athlete, regardless of how specialized his skills are for the sport. My hat is off the Lesnar. I think he brought it every night and was great for the sport. Don’t fret Lesnar fans he will be back in 12-18 months to finish his feud with Mir and get one more payday.
Lesson #3: Johnny Big Rig Hendricks is REAL. At 12-1 and with one of the most dangerous skill sets in the welterweight division, Hendricks (pictured) has turned some heads with his 12 second upset of Jon Fitch. His top shelf wrestling is only out done by his touch of death knockout power. I would bet he put together his best, most motivated training camp ever for this fight and now he knows how to prepare himself for elite competition. If he can stay healthy and stay focused he is going to be a tough match-up for anyone in the division in 2012.
Lesson #4: Technique wins out in the Lightweight division. Donald Cerrone and Nate Diaz are fairly evenly matched and that was demonstrated in the second and third rounds. While I gave Diaz all three rounds, the opening stanza set the fight in motion. Diaz was more technical, more precise. He beat Cerrone to the punch, putting hands to face over and over with the same hand full of combinations. Cerrone calmed down and slowed the pace of the fight but when he fought like he is known to fight, he was outclassed quickly. Diaz is hitting his stride with his striking and may find himself on the road to a title shot in 2012 if he can stick to his winning ways.
Lesson #5: Watch out for Alexander Gustafsson. This kid is the real deal. He was in my fighters to watch for the second half of 2011 and will be on the same list for all of 2012. I think he has a fantastic talent with a unique combination of skills and build – a tall, long striker with an improving wrestling that allows him to more confidently throw his punches. Gustafsson still needs to prove a lot and string together some big-time wins but I for one hope he gets a top 5 – 7 fighter for his next outing because the time is now to test this blue-chip talent.
Lesson #6: There is a new generation of grappler coming. Jimmy Hettes (pictured tossing Phan around) is the truth I believe. This guy is what I am calling a third generation grappler. His combination of BJJ, judo, and wrestling is seamless. His takedowns and transitions are hybrids manifestations of all the aforementioned grappling skills. On top of the immense, and still developing skill he possesses, Hettes is relentless. Every time I thought he was about to slow down he turned up the heat again. It was a truly impressive performance, particularly in light of the fact that he is 24 years old with his best days well in front of him.
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