Junior dos Santos defeats Shane Carwin: UFC 131 Results

No titles were on the line at UFC 131 but a few fighters have positioned themselves as legitimate contenders.  As for us, we went 9-3 and had another moneymaking UFC night.

Here are all of the results from UFC 131, for which I called 9 of 12 correctly. Let us recap some of the most exciting action of the night. I hope you followed my UFC betting advice, and be sure to check back for all of my UFC 132 picks as well.

Junior dos Santos defeats Shane Carwin

If you bet under 1 ½ rounds, you had to be screaming at the referee to stop the fight at just about the same time dos Santos was hammering Carwin and asking the ref the same question.  Carwin took such damage after the 1^st round, he looked like an extra in a low budget slasher movie. 

Junior dos Santos used a lightning quick jab to stagger Carwin and set him up for a horrific beating.  By the time the fight was over, Junior appeared as though he had just played a vigorous 18 holes of golf while Carwin looked like he was beaten with a 5 iron during the same round.

Junior’s next fight will undoubtedly be for the UFC Heavyweight strap.  He has earned the shot and champion Cain Velasquez could very well find himself playing the role of the underdog in UFC betting.  As for Shane Carwin, he looked much fitter and trimmer for this match and cardio was not an issue as it had been in the Lesnar fight. 

However, at age 36 and after two brutal beatings against the truly elite of the heavyweight division, it looks as though his destiny will be as a stepping stone for the younger guys looking to make a name for themselves.  Get by Carwin, people will take you seriously.  But it doesn’t appear Shane Carwin will be anything more than the gatekeeper to the throne without ever wearing the crown himself.  

Ken Florian defeats Diego Nunes

Ken-Flo made a successful debut at featherweight with a hard fought decision over Diego Nunes.  Florian looked shredded stepping into the cage and might I say, not in a good way.  He appeared emaciated as he cut about 40 pounds from the start of training camp and I wondered aloud if he was going to have the strength and the stamina to throw down with the younger Diego Nunes. 

The first round belonged to Nunes but Florian fine tuned his attack and turned loose the twin razors he calls elbows, carving his opponent every chance he got.  Nunes began bleeding from a gash in his head and the canvas turned crimson every time he found himself on his back.  As the match went on, it was Florian who got stronger while the younger and decidedly shorter Nunes faded from exhaustion and possibly lack of blood!

Florian has a new start in a brand new division.  Though it may have been a monumental effort to make 145, he didn’t suffer any ill-effects in the Octagon.  It appears as though his sacrifices will be rewarded as Dana White has already publicly warmed to a championship match between Florian and featherweight king Jose Aldo.  

Dave “Pee Wee” Herman KO’s John Olav Einemo

This was undoubtedly the Fight of the Night.  Both fighters pocketed 70K for an absolute war that pitted an internationally renowned jiu-jitsu artist against a guy who claims to be a wrestler by trade but does little else but brawl in the cage.  Many of the more “sophisticated” MMA fans will sniff that this fight didn’t deserve Fight of the Night honors while the rest of us will stand and applaud. 

There’s something off with this guy Dave Herman.  Any guy that’s 6’5” and calls himself Pee Wee after a disgraced TV actor gives one cause for pause.  In a prefight interview he stated he didn’t think jiu-jitsu worked, therefore was unconcerned about Einemo’s widely heralded reputation in that art form.  Huh?!  But when the same guy enters the cage to handpicked music by Boy George from his Culture Club days, singing “Do you really want to hurt me,” it’s either disturbingly odd or downright hilarious depending on your perspective. 

Let’s cut to the action.  The bizarre behavior continues when Herman continues to smile throughout the fight and when grazed with a love tap from Einemo, he staggers back to the cage as though he were mortally wounded.  Circus behavior aside, the guy has a granite chin and hands to match. 

Herman narrowly lost the first round and was rocked by some huge blows in the 2^nd round.  Just as it looked as though Herman was going down he connected with a vicious blow of his own followed by knees and more strikes until Einemo could no longer defend himself (Just as I predicted).  Great fight and would love to see this guy throw bombs with Shane Carwin.  He may get his chance in the very near future. 

In other UFC 131 action:

Stout KO’s Edwards

Cerrone over Rocha by decision

Weidman over Bongfeldt by submission

Munoz over Maia by decision

Ring over Head by submission

Poirier over Young by decision

Beltran over Rosa by KO

Soszynski over Massenzio by decision