UFC 175/TUF 19 Finale Reactions

UFC's Red, White and Fight week was loaded with knockouts, submissions, 6 figure contracts, and it ended with what will hopefully be the last time we ever see BJ Penn as a UFC fighter. Ironically, the better overall card was the free TUF finale on Fox Sports 1, which concluded it's main card with 4 consecutive TKO's. After Dana White publicly claimed that "TUF 19 is without a doubt the worst season ever", maybe these fighters finally got the picture? In any case, Corey Anderson and Eddie Gordon are two guys that can hopefully shake up their respective divisions; especially Gordon. With Weidman making work of Machida, the MW division could use a new face in the mix. The only rumors that are surfacing for Weidman's next opponent are for Belfort, and I think I speak for the majority of MMA fans when I say nobody wants to see Weidman vs Belfort. It has been pretty clear that Belfort was/is on TRT and to reward him with a title shot is just frustrating as a fan. If Jacare Souza beats Gegard on Aug. 2nd he will hopefully jump Belfort and get the next crack at Weidman in late 2014.

BJ Penn is without a doubt a HOF fighter. Himself and Randy Couture are the only two fighters to have belts in two different weight classes. I understand that he asked DW for another shot at Frankie Edgar but I really don't understand at all what his strategy was in this fight. Other than dancing around straight up in the air, what was the plan? Not a single takedown attempt. Not one submission attempt. Why even go out there? It was hard to watch BJ get demolished the way he did, and it was also reported that Dana White had actually left in the middle of the fight. I don't blame him. Losing 5 of his last 7 fights is not the way BJ should have ended his career, but nonetheless that's how it happened.

The UFC needs to get Ronda Rousey some new talent. It's clear that she is dominating anyone that is coming up through the system, so it's time to sign an established fighter. DW needs to bite down on his pride, forget about his beef with Tito Ortiz and get Cyborg already. It's the fight everyone wants to see, (except for maybe Gina Carano) and at this point the only real challenge to present to Ronda. I think he owes it to Ronda or the 'what-if's' will continue to plague her with Cyborg Santos.

In somewhat related news, colossal-butthurt MMA fighter Ben Askren was in attendance for both UFC 175 and the TUF 19 Finale using Twitter as his medium to express his frustrations with the "Posers not fighters" and overall bad organization/matchups that the UFC assembled for both events. He even went as far as to say UFC WW Champion Johny Hendricks was a 'fat boy' and that he could beat him, given the chance.

@JohnyHendricks sitting front row looking like a fat boy. Hey Johny tell Uncle Dana to let you prove your actually the best. Can't beat me

— Ben Askren (@Benaskren) July 7, 2014

Albeit somewhat amusing, it's also confusing. Why support (can't imagine anyone gave him tickets)an organization that you despise so deeply? It's like going to a Bon Jovi concert and screaming "BON JOVI SUCKS!" the entire time. Why not just stay home? Make your fights less of a snoozefest and maybe somebody will be tweeting from one of your fights. Oh that's right, they're all asleep.