Cung Le's kicks looked as strong and quick as ever last night. For two and a half rounds, Cung Le showed total dominance over Scott Smith. Almost every kick in the book found it's way into Scott Smith's body, head, arms, and legs in very painful fashion. There were several times when Smith seemed rocked or on the verge of going down - but his chin and toughness carried him through. Smith persevered into the third round to catch Le with a sweet right hand fake/left hook combo that signaled the beginning of the end for Cung. At the end of the second round, Cung seemed winded at the end of the second round. He came on strong in the third round to try to wear Smith down a bit more before pouring it on again at the end of the round. Smith caught Cung while he was winded after that initial attack wave. Cung tried to survive - but Smith was able to press the advantage and catch Cung with a stiff right hand to put him down. Wasn't entirely dissimmilar from what recently happened to Rich Franklin and Urijah Faber - except that it happened in the third round in lieu of the first. All in all I hated to see Cung lose - but I still enjoyed the fight. I wasn't entirely surprised to see Smith catch Cung because all of the ingredients for the upset were there for the picking: long layoff from MMA for Le, constant activity from a young journeyman with a strong chin and one punch KO power. It all added up to make for a great fight. Cung was going back to the movies after this fight anyway. At least now - he is removed from the Jake Shields discussion and the Strikeforce full time fighters are free to battle it out amogst themselves. Cung is free to do his movies and if he decides to come back to MMA - he has a great fight waiting for him in the rematch with Scott Smith. Love him or hate him, Cung Le has been a consummate professional and entertainer over the years and showed real class and respect in losing to Smith by congratulating him and saying he was the better man last night.
Cung was the better man last nite. He just got too wild at the end. He definetly should of won that fight and he can beat scott smith in the rematch if he trains his ass off. I wasn't impressed with scott smith at all.
respect to Le but a KO loss this late in his career could do it to him, i am almost positive that what ever drive he had left to fight is gone after he got hit with the hands of steel.
Why? He took a beating and never stopped coming. He was getting his ass kicked from pillar to post. Getting the **** kicked out of him, outclassed, out skilled, out gunned, and still found a way to win. He showed a ton of heart and it payed off. Sure we know Le is the better fighter. Sure he may (possibly) beat Smith in a rematch, but Smith is a game fighter, and game fighters are ALWAYS dangerous. All credit to Smith. He definately lived up to his nickname. "Hands of steel". He's a worker and he deserved it.
And in the rematch, Cung picked Smith to pieces. He showed improved timing and pacing in his return bout. In previous fights he was still trying to score points like a San Shou fight and wore himself out. This time he picked his shots and made them all hurt and crushed Smith mercilessly. Up next - Anderson Silva.
I admit that was posted with tongue firmly planted in cheek but it is a fight I would love to see. Sadly Cung may never fight again for all we know.
His MMA career is very short it would be interessting to see him against A. Silva IMO cuz he is a K1 fighter to start with and knows how to use his reach as Silva does it would be a fun standing fight and Silvas chin hasnt been really tested yet
One of the most intriguing matches in my opinion would be Cung Le vs Anderson Silva. Le has the ability to decapitate any opponent.
I think Cung Le is a fantastic fighter and I'd love to see him vs Anderson. God, how exciting is MMA when these boring-ass wrestlers aren't involved!?
yea man agreed wrestlers killed mma in my opinion need more suplexs and slams not boring ass lay and pray.