I'm cool with the stoppage - and this is coming from someone with a sadistic love for the knockout.
Fedor went totally flat on his face unconscious for a (very) brief moment, but it doesn't change that fact that it happened. When you see guys get knocked down in fights and then recover, they never went unconscious, but just got a good jolt through their system. This fight was kind of like the fight where Koscheck got knocked out by Paulo Thiago. Koscheck was completely out cold on his way to the floor and as soon as he hit the mat he regained consciousness and seemed to be okay. But the fact is is that he was dead just like Fedor was if only for a very short time. It's shocking and unbelievable how quickly Fedor was able to get his shit together, but especially after watching the replays at different angles I think it was a fair call.
I never was a huge fan of the guy but it was tough seeing the look in his eyes after that fight. Three in a row, he's got to be thinking it's pretty much over for himself. One of the greatest of all time, hands down, realizing the direction his career is now heading in after so much success and glory. Must be really tough..
One thing I'm not cool with though is Tyron Woodley and his awful style of fighting. I guess it's a great strategy because it wins fights and he will continue to do so as long as he sticks to it, but to a huge fan of the martial arts - it's almost unbearable to see guys like him polluting the landscape and knocking off interesting contenders along the way. Don't get me wrong - I love wrestling as much as anyone (I could watch Ben Askren and his seemless, smooth, and seemingly effortless transitions from any position to any position all day long) but guys like Woodley are lame plain and simple. He's the sort of guy I root to see at the receiving end of a nice knockout.
Lawler's performance was pretty disappointing too. Dancing around like Dominick Cruz, minues any offensive output at all in the first round and dancing around with his hands at his waist in the third, again no offensive output was a horrible way to go out. Kennedy's immediate "It's just blood" exclamation to the judges after the fight was pretty funny though.
1. Tryon Woodley fought a smart fight against a more experienced opponent, who happens to be one of the most dangerous strikers in the division. I saw T Wood fight on an undercard in San Jose and i think it ended in a KO so i can't exactly call him boring.
2. Lawler...i agree, WTF happened to RUTHLESS??? Tim Kennedy was annoying too with his post-fight spiel, but hey it's his victory so whatever.
3. Hendo is the fuckin man and can probably choose who he wants to fight at this point. Fedor is the greatest though still..