Topic: Benson Henderson
Toothpicks and Title Fights
Anonymous Mode
You are not logged in to Tapology. When browsing anonymously, profanities and images are automatically removed from the forum.
-
- zarog
-
- Location: Milky Way Galaxy
- Member Since: 2011.11.07
-
Predictions:
2,855
|
63.8%
-
Forum Posts:
4,174
- Post Score: 241
Ben has been a monster since leaving the WEC. Handily winning 5 fights and eking out another has left me appreciating him more and more. If he continues to dominate opponents the way he did against Nate Diaz, it won't be long before he's in talks for the title of greatest LW ever. Benson is 6-0 as a LW in the UFC and 3-0 in UFC LW title fights. BJ Penn is 11-3-1 as a LW in UFC bouts and 4-3-1 in UFC LW title fights. Frankie Edgar is 9-3-1 as a LW in the UFC and 3-2-1 in UFC LW title fights. Ben needs to continue to defend the title and win several more LW bouts, but he is well on his way to getting there. With Ben's experience in 25 minute fights (6-1, with 2 submissions and a total in-cage time of 139min 38 secs) it appears no fighter will have an easy win in front of them, nor will they have an experience advantage.
What's even crazier is that Ben may have fought an entire title defense with a toothpick in his mouth. There has been some significant speculation on what the athletic commission might do, now that it appears video evidence confirms this toothpick story.
I don't know about you guys, but I'm uncertain of the commission. I can see a possible fine for bringing an unapproved object into the cage, but with athletic commissions, you never know what they might do. I would be really disappointed if they changed the result of the fight to a NC (although I think that is highly unlikely), but I'm unsure of what the commission has the option of doing.
Anyway, just wanted to show some appreciation for Ben and ask what you guys think about the toothpick controversy (I'm sure someone will dub it toothpickgate, but it's too long of a word, and that would be really annoying).
-
- MikeLovesTacos XD
-
- Location: Ontario, Canada
- Member Since: 2011.07.14
-
Predictions:
30,254
|
59.3%
-
Forum Posts:
22,483
- Post Score: 203
Ben is a monster. Nothing but respect for him.
-
- Gregory
-
- Location: Boston
- Member Since: 2010.05.24
-
Predictions:
6,816
|
63.3%
-
Forum Posts:
18,559
- Post Score: 275
My opinion: If it's confirmed he should be fined a not-insignificant amount.
Nobody thinks Benson planned on using a toothpick to harm his opponent. It probably just makes him feel comfortable and is a little superstitious or something. It doesn't matter, though.
You are not allowed to bring foreign objects into a fight and this can't be taken lightly. Who knows what some other up-and-coming fighters might then decide makes them feel good to have in the cage. And then maybe someone does something truly dangerous and malicious (see: Margarito).
-
- SRAOnline
-
- Location: Canberra, Australian Capital Territory
- Member Since: 2012.05.25
-
Predictions:
9,854
|
60.3%
-
Forum Posts:
1,719
- Post Score: 313
I just think it was stupid.
One wrong hit from Nate and bam, Ben is choking on a toothpick in a title fight.
-
- krazyhopz
-
- Location: New Castle, IN
- Member Since: 2011.03.18
-
Predictions:
14,820
|
60.4%
-
Forum Posts:
2,098
- Post Score: 158
nothing should be done about chewing on a toothpick, its obviously a habbit of his. he tried his beast to aviod talking about it...no effect on the fight, and the only possible danger is to himself. i'm guessin he wont be allowed to do it anymore cuz ppl think they need to be involve and talk about things that dont matter. it wouldn't even be a discussion if rogan hadn't a) brought it up and b) refused to accept bens original answer
-
- zarog
-
- Location: Milky Way Galaxy
- Member Since: 2011.11.07
-
Predictions:
2,855
|
63.8%
-
Forum Posts:
4,174
- Post Score: 241
@Greg Eh. I don't see a Margarito type-thing happening where, correct me if I'm wrong, but it's not the trainers or the fighters that wrap their hands for UFC fights. I mean, maybe in other mma organizations (I don't know enough about other organizations to be certain), but I doubt it would be a problem. I do agree that Ben should not be allowed to take the toothpick into the cage, mostly because it's a bigger danger to himself, but also to protect the other fighter in case the toothpick were to fall out of his mouth while he's leaning over the top of his opponent. I don't think he should be suspended, nor do I think the fight should be overturned to a no-contest. I do think he should be fined, but I'm not sure what you mean by "not-insignificant." If you mean $6,000, the amount that many fighters make for their show pay in the UFC, then okay. But if you mean something like $50,000, then I totally disagree. The toothpick in no way affected the fight, and $6,000 would be enough to set a precedent. At the same time, issue a warning, stating that if it happens again a much larger fine would be assessed.
-
- MikeLovesTacos XD
-
- Location: Ontario, Canada
- Member Since: 2011.07.14
-
Predictions:
30,254
|
59.3%
-
Forum Posts:
22,483
- Post Score: 203
I don't even see the big deal tbh. Because if he really did keep a toothpick in his mouth during the fight then he most likely has done it before. It's a comfort thing for him, is it okay? I guess not, but I don't think he was planning to murder Diaz with it.
-
- Live2wrestle
-
- Location: In pursuit of Maeda's blazers
- Member Since: 2011.01.22
-
Predictions:
22,473
|
63.5%
-
Forum Posts:
11,857
- Post Score: 236
What would happen if it got knocked down his throat? Not a good look on national television. Idk if he should be fined but tell him if it affects a fight then points will be deducted
-
- Lopati
-
- Location: Hillsboro, OR, 97123
- Member Since: 2011.08.05
-
Predictions:
18,574
|
61.4%
-
Forum Posts:
13,352
- Post Score: 179
If Caron Butler was vilified for chewing on a straw while playing hoops I am sure Benson will feel a similar wrath for this.
-
- Gregory
-
- Location: Boston
- Member Since: 2010.05.24
-
Predictions:
6,816
|
63.3%
-
Forum Posts:
18,559
- Post Score: 275
Doesn't matter what his plans were. It's obviously against the rules, and the rules are in place for a reason: to prevent someone from hurting themself or their opponent, either on purpose or by accident.
-
- curtwag84
-
- Location: Arizona
- Member Since: 2012.06.25
-
Predictions:
13,940
|
63.9%
-
Forum Posts:
5,695
- Post Score: 273
Someone on reddit said this is a common technique used by boxers to keep your jaw from being slack to reduce the chance of KO . If that is true I wonder if this could be considered a performance enhancing method.
-
- ED209
-
- Location: Ontario
- Member Since: 2012.05.27
-
Predictions:
7,297
|
61.1%
-
Forum Posts:
3,437
- Post Score: 213
^^ I guess that means it kinda fills any space between teeth and guard making it tighter? I guess I see how that could work... What do you you guys think?
-
- curtwag84
-
- Location: Arizona
- Member Since: 2012.06.25
-
Predictions:
13,940
|
63.9%
-
Forum Posts:
5,695
- Post Score: 273
not like Nate had a chance to land a KO shot that might have ended it. but it is interesting how fast UFC tried covering it up in that video saying "Ben was pretty clear he was joking" didnt seem like he was joking to me , i watched the presser live and when the question was asked Ben looked up to the guy to see if he should tell them or not. And now there is video proof.
I don't think Bens intentions were bad . But it will be interesting to see what happens . I don't think anything happened to GSP after grease gate so i doubt Bendo will face much punishment except from Dana backstage.
On another note . I wonder if anyone would have noticed if Joe Rogan wouldnt have asked him in the post fight speech lol
-
- dielegende23
-
- Location: Latveria
- Member Since: 2011.04.06
-
Predictions:
20,775
|
71.5%
-
Forum Posts:
7,907
- Post Score: 268
@curtwag read the UFC discussion thread, I noticed it.
@zarog
Benson should pay a fine for it, it's unlikely but something bad could
happen with that toothpick. It shouldn't have any effects on the result
though.
Benson the best LW in history ? Meh he had 3 title fights
thus far, 2 against the same guy and both were very very close. His
performance against Nate was amazing though.
I'm confident in
Pettis, he surley will win against Cowboy and after that he's gonna win
the title. If Benson suprises me again though, he might be in the talks.
-
- zarog
-
- Location: Milky Way Galaxy
- Member Since: 2011.11.07
-
Predictions:
2,855
|
63.8%
-
Forum Posts:
4,174
- Post Score: 241
@diele Notice how I said, "if he continues to dominate..." I don't think he's in the discussion as of yet, but only 1 person has won more UFC title fights at LW than Ben. But BJ 4-3-1, where Ben is 3-0-0, so winning 5 title fights in a row would appear to be impressive enough to take BJ/Frankie's mantle. I don't know where Ben currently stands in the all-time list, but I would have to imagine he's top 10 now. 2 wins over Cerrone, a win over Varner, a win over Miller, a win over Guida, 2 wins over Edgar, and a win over Diaz I believe already puts him in elite territory. There's still plenty of guys I'd like to see Ben fight, including: Eddie Alvarez, Anthony Pettis, Rafael dos Anjos, Gilbert Melendez, T.J. Grant, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Joe Lauzon, Gray Maynard, and his biggest test in Jose Aldo. I think Ben wins all of those fights except for Aldo 80% or better. Aldo is more like a 40% win rate in my mind. But, even with all these guys left to fight, I'm uncertain how Ben has not been dominant enough to be considered within top 10 LWs ever.
-
- dielegende23
-
- Location: Latveria
- Member Since: 2011.04.06
-
Predictions:
20,775
|
71.5%
-
Forum Posts:
7,907
- Post Score: 268
Ah ok, yeah of course if he continues to win how could you not give him that title.
It will all stop when Pettis gets his shot though.
War Showtime !!!
-
- zarog
-
- Location: Milky Way Galaxy
- Member Since: 2011.11.07
-
Predictions:
2,855
|
63.8%
-
Forum Posts:
4,174
- Post Score: 241
@diele Should be a good scrap, but I have a feeling Ben's really turned it up and I guarantee, no matter what Ben says, he will be far more motivated for that fight than any other. Pettis is good, but his layoffs and his problems with injuries the last 2 years have really put him behind. Cerrone/Pettis should be a good scrap, but frankly I think the next fight will be against Melendez, because even if Pettis wins, I don't see him coming out of the fight unscathed. I see Ben's next 2 fights (assuming he wins the first) to be Melendez, then Pettis. After that it all depends on whether Aldo moves up, or what happens.
-
- p4pgoat
-
- Location: USA
- Member Since: 2011.02.25
-
Predictions:
4,888
|
62.9%
-
Forum Posts:
3,908
- Post Score: 143
As much as I'd like to watch Benson get his revenge in a big way against Pettis I don't think Pettis will get past Cerrone. Gil vs Benson would be a fun fight to watch but I don't see any other outcome then another dominating win for Bendo.
-
- dielegende23
-
- Location: Latveria
- Member Since: 2011.04.06
-
Predictions:
20,775
|
71.5%
-
Forum Posts:
7,907
- Post Score: 268
I think so too, Melendez makes sense. They could sell it as a SF vs UFC champ superfight and I would like to see it.
Maybe they could do the same thing with Eddie Alvarez if he finally comes to the UFC. But that's more unlikely, since Lombard didn't get a title shot right away.
I'm a huge Pettis fan and of course I'm biased on this one. If it happens it's gonna be close again. The first fight is still one of my favorites...