UFC 59 v. 2.0

[Performify]

Monson wins a split decision over Cruz.

I believe Cruz should have been awarded the fight. he landed more punches, kicks, and had control of the ground game even when Monson was on top.

Sherdog.com agrees with me, scoring the fight 29-28 Cruz. However one judge was on crack, with a final official scoring of: 30-27 Monson, 29-28 Cruz, 29-28 Monson.

If you're looking for live updates, Sherdog has some of the best:
http://www.sherdog.com/news/news.asp?n_id=4275

Running log of action: 2-3 so far, -1.5 unit

Tito Ortiz -263 : 7.89 units to win 3 units
Sean Sherk -156 : 1.56 units to win 1 unit
Marcio Cruz +199 : 1 unit to win 1.92 units : LOSS -1 unit
David Terrell -211: 2.11 units to win 1 unit : WIN +1 unit
Nick Thomspon +234 : 1 unit to win 2.34 units : LOSS -1 unit
Terry Martin +178 : 1 unit to win 1.78 units : LOSS -1 unit
thiago Alves -282 : 1.41 units to win .5 units : WIN +.5 unit
Evan Tanner -305 : 1.525 units to win .5 unit
Andrei Arlovski -400 : 8 units to win 2 units

[Performify]

Tanner wins via a first round triangle submission. Absolutely beautiful.

Running log of action: 3-3 so far, -1.0 unit

Tito Ortiz -263 : 7.89 units to win 3 units
Sean Sherk -156 : 1.56 units to win 1 unit
Marcio Cruz +199 : 1 unit to win 1.92 units : LOSS -1 unit
David Terrell -211: 2.11 units to win 1 unit : WIN +1 unit
Nick Thomspon +234 : 1 unit to win 2.34 units : LOSS -1 unit
Terry Martin +178 : 1 unit to win 1.78 units : LOSS -1 unit
thiago Alves -282 : 1.41 units to win .5 units : WIN +.5 unit
Evan Tanner -305 : 1.525 units to win .5 unit : WIN +.5 unit
Andrei Arlovski -400 : 8 units to win 2 units

[Performify]

Tito getting ready to kick off, still hanging around -309. -290 on Bodog.

Arlovski is down to -361 on Pinny

[Hoya]

They should rename the UFC the UWC - Ultimate Wrestling Championship. The judges are obsessed with takedowns and maintaining position on top, and usually ignore work from the bottom.

I had Griffin 29-28, but could easily see 29-28 Ortiz. But 30-27? Fire that idiot right now.

[Performify]

Judges officially on crack. Official scoring was 30-27 (Ortiz) 29-28 (Griffin) 29-27 (Ortiz).

Ortiz wins a split decision - should have clearly been a unanimous decision I think.

Ortiz dominates the first round, in what should have been a clear 10-8 round. Forrest gets taken down almost immediately, Ortiz just absolutely dominates and pounds him on the ground, opening multiple cuts.
Second round was a Griffin win 10-9. Griffin does a great job of sprawling to defend against a huge number of takedown attempts by Tito.
Ortiz wins the third round very clearly in my opinion, the standup portion was close both trading a lot of shots, but Ortiz got a takedown and a number of shots on the ground, which should have been enough to take the third round regardless. 10-9 Ortiz.

I score 29-27 Ortiz, winning the first round 10-8 and the third 10-9, losing the second

Post-fight Ortiz says he's got two injuries including a knee injury that may need surgery.

Running log of action: 4-3, +2 units

Tito Ortiz -263 : 7.89 units to win 3 units : WIN +3 units
Sean Sherk -156 : 1.56 units to win 1 unit
Marcio Cruz +199 : 1 unit to win 1.92 units : LOSS -1 unit
David Terrell -211: 2.11 units to win 1 unit : WIN +1 unit
Nick Thomspon +234 : 1 unit to win 2.34 units : LOSS -1 unit
Terry Martin +178 : 1 unit to win 1.78 units : LOSS -1 unit
thiago Alves -282 : 1.41 units to win .5 units : WIN +.5 unit
Evan Tanner -305 : 1.525 units to win .5 unit : WIN +.5 unit
Andrei Arlovski -400 : 8 units to win 2 units

[Hoya]

A note - you tend to be very biased towards people you bet on. Ortiz did nothing to Griffin on the ground in the 3rd - I actually think Griffin did more damage from the bottom. It was still very close, depending on how much you value takedowns, and I can see you giving it to Griffin. But "clearly" is way too strong.

[Performify]

You're welcome to your opinion, but I think i'm pretty decent at staying independant despite whichever side I'm on. As a handicapper in any sport you've got to try to avoid bias in any regard, and I try my hardest to be independant. It's especially hard when you're a big fan of the sport in question, and I'm certainly a huge MMA fan.

That being said...

I never said the third round was clearly a win for Ortiz, but based on a 10-8 first round for Ortiz which I do believe was clear, that makes it a draw at best even if you give the close third round to Griffin.

Saying Griffin did any damage from the bottom, you're probably just not familar with being in that position. While Forrest may have hit Tito with several elbows to the top/side of the head from his back, those aren't doing ANY damage. You can't throw elbows down from your back with a guy in your guard and do any damage, without having any momentum or body weight behind them - Griffin was just trying to score some points with the elbows but an edjucated judge would realize that those elbows aren't doing any damage and won't significantly change anything.

I was mostly saying the judges were on crack for the (continued) scoring differentials. 30-27 on that fight is just dumb. 29-27 fine, 29-28 either direction, fine. 30-27 either direction = on crack

[Hoya]

Actually, yes, you said that Ortiz clearly won the third round.

Anyway, as to Griffin's damage from the bottom - I agree those elbows weren't doing much, but Ortiz literally landed nothing of consequence after that takedown, so the damage there was a wash.

[Performify]

Yeah you're right re: clearly:

[ QUOTE ]
Ortiz wins the third round very clearly in my opinion

[/ QUOTE ]

Key there is "in my opinion". And yeah, in my opinion that round is a clear win for Ortiz, mostly because of the takedown.

Even if the damage is a wash on the feet and on the ground (which I won't conceed the latter, Ortiz did land a couple strikes on the ground which would have done damage, compared to Forrest not doing any damage from strikes from his back), the takedown itself scores pretty major points with the UFC judges and should pretty clearly give Ortiz the round on most cards.

[Performify]

Sherk wins a UD over Diaz exactly as predicted. all three judges scored 30-27, I had it 29-28 giving Diaz a very close second round, but I do think Sherk pretty clearly took round 1 and 3 with a lot of takedowns in the fight and the edge in striking.

Running log: 5-3 on the night, up three units. Main event getting ready to start.

Tito Ortiz -263 : 7.89 units to win 3 units : WIN +3 units
Sean Sherk -156 : 1.56 units to win 1 unit : WIN +1 unit
<font color="red">Marcio Cruz +199 : 1 unit to win 1.92 units : LOSS -1 unit </font>
David Terrell -211: 2.11 units to win 1 unit : WIN +1 unit
<font color="red">Nick Thomspon +234 : 1 unit to win 2.34 units : LOSS -1 unit</font>
<font color="red">Terry Martin +178 : 1 unit to win 1.78 units : LOSS -1 unit</font>
thiago Alves -282 : 1.41 units to win .5 units : WIN +.5 unit
Evan Tanner -305 : 1.525 units to win .5 unit : WIN +.5 unit
<font color="green"> Andrei Arlovski -400 : 8 units to win 2 units : next </font>