UFC 162 Rewind: On Weidman’s night, Edgar’s legend grows

Published on Tuesday, 7/9/13, at 1:02 a.m. Eastern.

By Brian Edwards

Chris Wediman is the new middleweight champ after unseating Anderson Silva by second-round KO.

Dana White wants Weidman and Silva to rematch at UFC 168 on Dec. 28. According to reports on Monday, White is thinking of pushing back Ronda Rousey-Miesha Tate II to Super Bowl weekend. Rousey-Tate is currently scheduled for the main event of UFC 168.

In the co-main event, Frankie ‘The Answer’ Edgar ended his three-fight losing streak by capturing a unanimous-decision win (30-27 twice, 29-28) over Charles ‘Do Bronx’ Oliveira. BrianEdwardsSports.com had it 30-27 for Edgar.

Oliveria acquitted himself quite well and both men earned bonuses for Fight of the Night honors. Edgar was better on the feet and when Oliveira tried to use his superior jiu-jitsu, he was unable to submit ‘The Answer.’

With one minute left in the third and final round, Edgar had the comfortable lead and could’ve easily used his movement to simply stay out of harm’s way and coast to the victory. But that isn’t how Edgar goes about his business, so he predictably went for broke trying to get the finish in the last 60 seconds, while the Las Vegas crowd came to its feet and roared its approval.

Once again, Edgar proved why he’s one of the pound-for-pound best in the world and a living legend inside the Octagon.

What’s next for Edgar? I’d love to see him matched up against Cub Swanson in a title-eliminator bout.

Tim Kennedy beat Roger Gracie as a -150 favorite by collecting a UD victory (30-27 twice & 29-28). BE Sports had it 29-28 for Kennedy.

Gracie tired late in the second round and was gassed throughout the final stanza.

Mark Munoz enjoyed an outstanding performance in a middleweight showdown versus Tim Boetsch, who was the short -120 ‘chalk’ at most spots. Munoz bounced back from a crushing defeat against Weidman to top Boetsch by UD (30-26, 30-27 & 29-28). BE Sports had it 29-27 for Munoz.

One of the judges and BE Sports gave the first round to Boetsch, but the final 10 minutes was all Munoz. On the feet, he was quicker to the punch and had better speed. On the ground, Munoz maintained outstanding position and punished Boetsch with ruthless strikes to the body.

Munoz has won five of his last six in the 185-pound loop. He wants a title shot but he’s at least one win away from that position. I would like to see him face Michael Bisping in Manchester this fall.

In the pay-per-view opener, Cub Swanson won his fifth consecutive fight by scoring a third-round KO of Dennis Siver, who fell to 2-1 since dropping down to the 145-pound division. Swanson hooked up his backers as a -185 favorite.

Andrew Craig might have sent Chris Leben into retirement by winning a split-decision (28-29, 29-28 & 30-27) in the last fight on the FX portion of the card. Craig improved to 3-1 in the UFC as a -160 ‘chalk.’

Leben’s UFC record fell to 12-9 as he lost for the third straight time. White sounded as if he wants Leben to retire, but White’s tone (“I love Chris Leben.”) also indicated that he might not cut him if Leben could talk him out of it.

In the heavyweight division, Gabriel Gonzaga needed only 17 seconds to dispose of Dave Herman by knockout. The loss was Herman’s fourth straight and he’ll undoubtedly get cut. Gonzaga, who was a -185 favorite, improved to 3-1 since his return to the UFC.

Edson Barboza became the first fighter in UFC history to finish two career fights with leg kicks. Barboza beat Rafaello Oliveira by TKO in the second round as a -600 favorite. The ‘over’ (1.5 rounds) was a winner.

Brian Melancon made an impressive Octagon debut by dominating Seth Baczynski as a generous +240 underdog. Melancon showed off his striking skills, hurting Baczynski with several left hooks.

One of those lefts sent Baczynski to the canvas late in the first round. When Melancon heard the 10-second alert, he pounced and landed a four-punch combination in ground-and-pound fashion to finish the fight with one second remaining in the opening stanza. The ‘under’ was a winner.

In the card’s opener on the UFC’s Facebook page, Mike Pierce met David Mitchell in a welterweight matchup. After a lackluster first round that could’ve gone either way on the judges’ cards, Pierce asserted himself in the second round.

A big left hook began Mitchell’s demise and Pierce capitalized with strikes from the top before the referee intervened. Pierce won as an expensive -650 favorite, while ‘under’ 2.5 rounds also cashed tickets.

The favorites posted an 8-3 overall record, while the ‘over’ went 7-4.

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