Garica was in several reasonabley high profile UFC matches and has since been involved in multiple WEC matches that have drawn decent audiences. As I said I don't think it has anything to do with racism but alot to do with the value of the fighter to the promoter. Akiyama was clearly a much greater prospect for the UFC than Belcher being the highest profile Japanese fighter they'd signed and a potential gateway into that market.
We obviously saw it two different ways. In my opinion, it was a round of Johnson trying to win by brute force, but being foiled by Nam's technique. Johnson takes Nam down, but cant do anything but lay on him, Nam escapes. Johnson pushes Nam to the cage, Nam stays calm and spins out. Over an over, Johnson is able to impose his strength, but lacks the skill to do anything but push, shove and the occasional single leg. Meanwhile, Nam wards off the bigger stronger guys attacks, escapes every take down, spins out of every clinch, and does so by using skill. At times, Nam is even able to land shots that hurt the bigger/stronger opponent. Nam exhibited the skills of a better fighter and won the round.
Hispanic-Americans buy more PPV's than Asian-Americans A whole lot more. That's why boxing & MMA are starting to cater to them more & more.
Nam Phan won the first easily. He almost had Garcia out of there and clearly landed the more accurate punches.
1 close fight and 1 bad decision. Nam looks like he has lossed twice but in reality he has now become a player in the lower weights.
In my view, all this talk of Nam being robbed is complete rubbish. I was willing him to win every second of the fight, but definitely in the first round Garcia was crashing punches and kicks at Nam at a greater volume and a higher level of aggression. Nam clearly won the second round. The last round was very close both fighters had faded but again Garcia was crashing in slightly more and seemed more aggressive. Nam kept on firing and it was very very close, round. Basically two of the three judges thought Garcia had one the last round one thought Nam had. So in actual fact the judging was absolutely perfect.
Garcia was gassed by the third round. The only thing he had going for him was wild flailing that didn't even connect. While Nam wasn't overly active, his movement was sufficient to stuff Garcia's attack and he was accurately connecting on the few punches that he did throw. That should have been enough to win the round. I would have scored it like this: Round 1: 10-10 Draw Round 2: 10-8 Nam Round 3: 10-9 Nam Overall, Nam 30-27.
You must admit, the 30-27 score for Garcia was disgraceful.. Weeks got the call right, and I'd go as far as to say that a 30-27 score in favor of Nam was justified.
Throwing huge, grazing bombs isn't effective aggressiveness. Garcia makes judges think he is being effective. Just watch the Hominick fight, where he was getting picked apart all night, yet still manged to have one judge favor him.
There's always one. You know you're supposed to score the shots that land, as opposed to the shots merely thrown, right? The fight was a clinic in straight, accurate striking in Nam's favor.
i agree with that im shure the ufc (dana & the fertidas) just dont like fighters like phan maybe bcause he fought in japan or something