Baby Jesus Saves Hughes from Submission
**** SPOILERS ****
It was tight. The reverse triangle was locked in there and Matt Hughes’ face was changing colors like a technicolor dreamcoat. How he loves his face of many colors! Some would argue that it was heart that saved him, but Matt would tell you that it was Jesus. It was also Jesus who allowed him to get the crucifix position over BJ (who says God has no sense of humor?) and punch him in the face repeatedly. Amen.
It’s utterly amazing how BJ’s body completely shuts down when he gets tired. It’s like a goddamn light switch. Came out runnin’ shit, and then turned into a white belt. What a freakin’ heartbreaker. BJ claims it was a separated rib. While I don’t doubt that happened, I don’t believe it’s why he wasn’t able to defend Hughes’ striking. You can still put your hands up with a separated rib. You don’t just stand there like a brown bobblehead sucking wind.
Two strategies I would have liked to see out of Penn: 1) Capitalizing on the double rubber guard that he used in the final moments of his fight with St. Pierre and just rack up points by punching Hughes in the head while rendering Hughes’ arms useless; 2) More aggressive ground and pound to open up more opportunities for submissions. He was in a great position to drop elbows from the reverse triangle.
My hat’s off to the Matt/Jesus tag team for weathering the storm. Good luck against GSP, cuz he was uneempressed wiz your performonce.
Martin
said
I enjoy your site greatly!
Jason Gatties
said
Ever try doing anything with a seperated rib? Trust me, you can barely breath let alone fight. A lesser man would have sat his ass on that seat and thrown in the towel.
themonkey
said
The doctor’s final report says it was a combination of things. Fractured 10th rib and moderate intercostal muscle strains.
I’ve torn an intercostal before, but haven’t experienced an actual fracture. Now that I’ve seen the official report, I have to agree that this is what cost him the fight. This entry was written just after that UFC.
Of course this doesn’t preclude the possibility that BJ would’ve gassed out anyway. You have to admit that when BJ trains by “surfing and taking it easy” it doesn’t instill a lot of faith in his cardio.