UFC Fight Night 19 Recap

Once again the UFC put together a great night of action. Though there were 11 fights on the card only four aired, which is what I'll focus on here.
   
Nate "Rock" Quarry vs. "Crazy" Tim Credeur.
Maybe Quarry should change his nickname to "Rock Head": he shrugged off several barrages from Cradeur, including a vicious head kick in the 2nd that would have ended most fights. He did, however, wind up sporting a shiner that looked like an infected vagina. Credeur came in promising fireworks and delivered, though there was one odd moment in the 3rd when he just plain lay down on the canvas without being knocked down or pulling guard. Nonetheless, well-deserved fight-of-the-night bonuses for these two amiable warriors (so amiable, in fact, that they could barely stop their post-fight mutual admiration session to talk to commentator-for-a-night Kenny Florian). Split decision win for Quarry.

Carlos "The Natural Born Killer" Condit vs. Jake Ellenberger

I always liked Condit in the WEC -- where he'd been welterweight champ -- and was looking forward to seeing him rack up his first UFC victory here. He might want to scrutinize his roundhouse technique for the 'tell' that repeatedly enabled Ellenberger to catch hold of it and punch him in the face. He also might want to send a nice thank you note to referee Leon Roberts for not stopping the fight on the numerous occasions Condit rolled into a ball in what appeared to be abject surrender but is apparently just what natural born killers do when hit really good in the nose. Still, credit where it's due, Condit always gathered his wits fairly quickly from within his odd fetal armadillo cocoon defense and moved convincingly to the offense, so the ref clearly made the right decision despite the appearance that the fighter had given up and was waiting to be saved. Many UFC refs, however, would have called a quick stop to the action "for the fighter's protection" the first time it happened. Though he lost the split decision, Ellenberger is a tough, strong fighter and a welcome addition to the welterweight division. He too might want to send a thank you for getting away with an illegal knee to a downed Condit's head in the 1st.The explosive 1st round and rollercoaster reversals-of-fortune throughout might have won FotN honors some other night, but not after the Quarry/Credeur war. Split decision victory for Condit.

Gray "The Bully" Maynard vs. Roger "El Matador" Huerta

Maynard threw some bombs but didn't shoot on Huerta until the final 40 seconds of round 1, which seemed an opportunity missed. In round 3 Huerta somehow endured and eventually escaped from a cringe-inducing kimura that had his arm twisted up behind him at a seemingly impossible angle. Once again tonight a fighter is lucky not to have had the bout ended for his protection -- I've seen refs call a stoppage rather than let a stubborn fighter get a limb broken. Huerta showed incredible heart and/or utter disregard for his future ability to zip his own fly without assistance. I'd predicted a 2nd round stoppage for Maynard, banking on his strong wrestling and Huerta's year+ absence from the octagon to wear him down. If Maynard had gone for the takedown earlier it might have played out that way. Instead we got another great 3-round fight in a night already packed with jaw-dropping action. Split decision victory for Maynard.

Nate Diaz vs. Melvin "The Young Assassin" Guillard

I think Diaz's stated intention to stand and bang with Guillard was revised within the first few seconds of the fight when he rushed in only to get knocked on his ass. Fortunately for Diaz, Guillard showed great reluctance to follow the submission expert to the ground. Guillard displayed crisp striking and Diaz proved he has a Kevlar chin. I'd predicted a 1st round submission victory for Diaz, as historically that's when he gets most of his subs and when Guillard taps. But Guillard's caution got him through the 1st round, until he shot for a takedown in the 2nd and wound up in a fight-ending guillotine. Diaz by tapout due to guillotine choke.