UFC 124: GSP vs Koscheck Monday Morning Quarterback Edition

People always talk about what should've happened, what could've been done and how we would've ran things if we were the boss -- playing Monday morning Quarterback. Well, I like to do the same thing.

GSP vs. Josh Koscheck should have been stopped - Despite the feelings of Joe Rogan, myself, and probably everyone else, that fight should have been stopped. Koscheck's eye was swollen shut and he couldn't see out of it. That opens him up to not seeing attacks coming from that side. Luckily, he was in the cage with Jab Zudah so not much in the way of brain-damaging hits came his way, but the potential was there. It was obvious to anyone who's been around fights that his orbital bone was broken due to how fast it swelled up (it was even mentioned by Rogan in the 2nd or 3rd round) which is why I was a little put off by Rogan's commentary. You can't be stating that "Koscheck can't see attacks" out of that eye and then get upset when someone steps in to stop it (yes, I was yelling at the doctor too during the fight, but that's why this is HINDSIGHT) I know we as fans want to see a fight continue and come to a conclusion, but isn't fighter safety paramount? Koscheck could've suffered some permanent eye damage. Of course Josh is going to say "I can see, I want to fight" because he's not a pussy and he wants to fight, but sometimes fighters need to be saved from themselves. I was more disappointed that GSP couldn't finish Koscheck than I would've been if they stopped the fight. 

Koscheck threw away a ton of money at the end - Josh Koscheck acted like an ass throughout the whole season of the Ultimate Fighter and got people to hate him for it. Then Koscheck comes out after the fight and says "Hey guys, I was just kiddens. I'm a nice guy. Just building the fight. I love youuuuu Montreal." I don't buy it Josh. Sorry. So you expect the (casual) fans to believe that you choked that male nurse as a way to build the fight? That you were a bad coach as a way to build the fight? That you all the way back on Ultimate Fighter Season 1 were an ass to Leben just to build to this fight? If you were a character, where was your "Saul on his way to Damascus" moment after the Daley fight? The Sanchez fight? The Leben fight? So was the years of being an ass all just a build up to draw for a title fight and now that you've had it, you're giving up the ghost? So what do you plan to use the next time you fight? How will you build that up? Diminishing returns Josh.

Your money is in being a "bad guy". You have the look and attitude of a guy people pay to see get their ass whipped and now you mucked that up with your speech at the end. Who is your PR person? That was terrible. Listen, I know that people will go out there and amp it up a little bit to talk shit about their opponent, but it's all a reflection of your true self. GSP's trash-talk is weak as water because he's a nice guy at heart. Frank Mir's trash talk comes off as a smarmy heel because he's a smarmy guy. Sonnen's comes off as a phony politician because he is one. You basically came out and said 'I've been playing a character for 5 years, love me'. The thing is if people "believe" you, you killed off your best ability to draw interest because your trash talking will seem phony. And if they don't "believe" you (which those I've talked to don't), it makes you look kind of sad for DTing to gain acceptance from MMA fans and the Montreal crowd. Fans like trash-talk, it's an integral part of the fight business, but fans don't want guys playing characters. Trash-talk is important, but being true to yourself is even more, that's why GSP can draw so much with very little trash-talk, because he's authentic. Lack of authenticity = lack of draw. Gimmicks don't draw in the UFC. 

UFC lucked out - The UFC was lucky that this "boxing" style card didn't blow up in their faces and the fights were better in actuality than on paper. That way, they can spin it and say that things may look bad on paper, but the fighters come to fight. The "one-match" boxing style cards aren't really the best thing for MMA, but in some situations, the UFC can get away with it (in hindsight) if the fights are good. However, you can't predict that beforehand. The UFC doesn't need to stack cards UFC 92-style, but a compelling main with some names sprinkled on the main card is usually enough to satisfy both casual and hardcore fans. 

SBN coverage of UFC 124: St. Pierre vs. Koscheck