UFC on FOX 10 Ends in Controversial Fashion
A few crushing KOs, a hail mary submission and another split decision for Benson Henderson made UFC on FOX 10 painful for some, but a quality show just the same. As always some fighters shined, while others found themselves further away from title contention.
Here’s what caught my eye at tonight’s UFC on FOX 10:
Daron Cruickshank: A personal favorite in the fight game due to his karate antics, Cruickshank faced a decent foe in Rio, but made him look completely impotent in the cage. Cruickshank’s greatest asset is his diverse arsenal, throwing a variety of kicks, stiff punches, spinning attacks and having a ferocious single leg shot as well. This keeps opponents on the defensive, as Cruickshank can strike at any angle and has more than enough firepower to lay someone out. Rio was tough as nails in there, but a spinning back kick to the face cracked his resolve at long last, giving Cruickshank another impressive win.
Alex Caceres: Another traditional martial artist getting it done in the cage, Caceres showed both persistent flaws and million dollar attributes in this bout. Using his wild striking approach, Caceres was able to hold distance fairly well against the technically sound Pettis, even drilling the young gun with a left hand in the second round to dump him to the canvas. It’s Caceres lack of functional footwork that holds him back however, not shoring up his stance when inside, leaving him stumbling and off-balance in tight exchanges. Even strikes that were cleanly blocked sent Caceres stumbling away, giving the illusion he was suffering a hellacious ass-kicking.
He’s also far too malleable on the mat, not using traditional positional grappling and losing many great spots when his opponent scrambles. While he managed to slide down Pettis back and lock on a choke for the win, he could have just as easily missed it and found himself on the wrong end of the decision as well. In short, Caceres still fights like he’s taking on bottom-feeders despite working in the middle of the UFC pack, and these defensive holes will cost him if not remedied.
Benson Henderson vs Josh Thomson: For the record, I had it 49-46 Thomson and wasn’t happy with the decision, yet the fight lived up to expectations.
For Henderson, we see what happens when someone is geared towards five round fights, as Henderson lacks any killer instinct or real finishing skills at this point. More concerned with lower body attacks and winning on positions, Henderson finds himself unable to meaningfully engage, and his future is one of close decisions and few decisive wins.
For Thomson, we saw a smart game plan executed well from The Punk, hitting body lock takedowns that Henderson’s innate balance had no remedy for. His flow on the mat was spectacular and while his hand certainly hindered his offense late in the fight, he still held his own in the long-range striking exchanges. Despite his age, he’s clearly finally hitting his stride after years of compounded injuries, and should rightfully be facing Pettis for the belt. Such is life though, especially when you’re facing Benson Henderson.
Complete UFC on FOX 10 results:
Main Card:
Benson Henderson defeated Josh Thomson by Split Decision (47-48, 48-47, 49-46)
Stipe Miocic defeated Gabriel Gonzaga by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Donald Cerrone defeated Adriano Martins by 1st rd. KO (4:40)
Jeremy Stephens defeated Darren Elkins by Unanimous Decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
Preliminary Card:
Alex Caceres defeated Sergio Pettis by 3rd rd. Rear-Naked Choke Submission (4:39)
Eddie Wineland defeated Yves Jabouin by 2nd rd. TKO (4:16)
Chico Camus defeated Yaotzin Meza by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Hugo Viana defeated Ramiro Hernandez by Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Daron Cruickshank defeated Mike Rio by 2nd rd. TKO (4:56)
George Sullivan defeated Mike Rhodes by Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Nikita Krylov defeated Walt Harris by 1st rd. TKO (0:25)
About the Author (Author Profile)
I'm a 20+ year veteran of martial arts and a fan of MMA since UFC 1, when my world was thrown on its head by the budding sport. I'm obsessive in the pursuit of martial abilities and have competed across the country in everything from Vale Tudo to archery to Scottish broadsword. Once my body broke down, I picked up a pen and went in the direction of writing. I specialize in betting advice, predictions, and I'm a walking encyclopedia of MMA trivia. I own a cafe in Exeter, NH called Hammersmith Sandwich Company and write out of my office between customers.Subscribe
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