UFC 99 Recap

VINDICATION FOR FRANKLIN

Rich Franklin finally bested a Brazilian as he vanquished Wanderlei Silva. After a questionable loss to Dan Henderson in Ireland, and multiple losses to Brazilian Lyoto Machida and Anderson Silva, Franklin has struggled to claim legitimacy as a UFC contender. This fight should not only put the hex of Brazil to rest, it should catapult Franklin to the next level.

What lies next for Rich Franklin? It’s hard to say. To say that he’s ready to take on Anderson Silva is a bit much. The win over “The Axe Murderer” validated him as a legit middleweight, a division where he used to be champion. But he has to start dispatching of at least one more legit contender to take the next step in the right direction. Dana White can not continue to ignore the popular Franklin. And neither can his betting faithful. Now is not the time to give up on Franklin.

HEAVYWEIGHT DIVISION TAKING SHAPE

Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic dispatched of Mustapha al Turk quickly in Round 1, though it was by dubious means. Cro Cop inadvertently poked Al-Turk in the eye, and then pounced over a reeling, and fleeing fighter, to capture the TKO in the opening round. With Cro Cop debasing rumors that he is leaving for DREAM, it will be interesting to see how Dana White uses Cro Cop. Will he protect by giving him more fights where he’s a 4:1 favorite? Or will he throw him to the wolves?

Cro Cop will now join the ranks of a strong heavyweight division that suddenly has a Nogueira-Couture tilt coming at UFC 102. With Lesnar-Mir shaking down at UFC 100 (which you can bet on in our Sportsbook), it will be intriguing to see how White injects a rejuvenated Cro Cop in to the heavyweight scene.

In what many are calling the declaration of the “next great heavyweight”, Cain Velasquez made short work of an under-prepared Cheick Kongo to anoint himself amongst the contenders. It was less Kongo’s ability to finish the fight after connecting with several hammers to Cain’s skull and more the fact that Cain’s chin showed tremendous resilience. Velasquez’s hype train will continue to roll, but if he wants to take the short-track to the UFC Heavyweight Championship, he needs another decisive win over a favorite in the BetUS Locker Room, Shane Carwin.

The only thing we know for certain in the Heavyweight division is that the Lesnar-Mir fight will be one for the ages…and we won’t have to put up with anymore talk of Cheick Kongo as a legitimate heavyweight contender. Instead, we have a bunch of fighters swinging hammers it he heavyweight class, just like it should be.