UFC on Versus 3

I'm not sure why, but the UFC Fight Nights and Versus events are usually better than PPV events. Maybe it is because I have lowered expectations for the free UFC broadcasts. Betting $55 that a fight card will be explosive, puts the expectations way up there for PPV. Also, the guys fighting on these cards are really making the most of their exposure. Some of the UFC veterans tend to be conservative, as a couple losses and you are out of the organization. Also, title fights are always PPV and those can become conservative/boring with so much on the line.

True to form, last night was great. There was a WEC rematch with deja-vu, as Brian Bowles guillotined Demacio Page at 3:30 of the first round, again. I loved seeing Mark Munoz place a stiff overhand right onto CB Dollaway's chin. Dollaway doesn't like to lose, who does? But after complaining about phantom tapouts, the "early stoppage" from last night was garbage. Dollaway was knocked out. I think it was great refereeing by Yamasaki. He saw that CB was out and defenseless; then he wisely stopped the fight. Fine. Next time let CB Dollaway take some extra punishment, by TKO or submission, just to be sure. Finally, we saw a tubby Diego Sanchez come from behind to out point Kampmann. I can feel for Kampmann, as I wanted him to win and he was picking apart Sanchez and bloodied him badly in the first round. To Diego's credit he kept coming, scored a takedown, and managed a unanimous decision.

Probably the biggest thing to come out of the fight was Dana White awarding the Fight of the Night bonus. He LOVED the Sanchez vs Kampmann fight. First it was $40K FOTN bonus. Later he ups it to $60K. Today it was announced as $100K, additional. Wow. Only the top UFC breadwinners usually take home $160K. That's on top of the agreed bout pay and win bonus. Sanchez probably earned over a quarter million. For once I love the precident that White's setting. Come to fight, put on a show, and I will compensate you. This can only have a positive effect on future events. C'mon boys, go get that FOTN bonus.