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"The Filipino Wrecking Machine" Mark Munoz Wins Big Agains Chris Leben, Requests for a Title Shot By Rob Cruz PhilBoxing.com Mon, 07 Nov 2011  UFC 138 televised on national TV certainly received a lot of media mileage as it was shown for free in the Western Hemisphere. The card was full of high adrenalin fights that ended quickly by knock out or submission to quench the blood thirsty English crowd in the LG Area located in Birmingham, England. The quick delivery of submissions and knockouts in this card justified just how hungry and skillful the fighters were in this event especially the home based English fighters that sealed their victories at home turf. Although the main event was not a title fight, surging middleweights Mark "The Filipino Wrecking Machine" Munoz VS Chris "The Crippler" Leben are as close to contention for a Anderson Silva's belt and they can feel it heading into this fight. Both Munoz and Leben are muscle bound heavy hitters in the division, this match up guaranteed fireworks from the intense weigh in to the fight itself. Chris Leben with 29 professional fights heading into UFC 138 was the more experienced fighter with notable wins against Wanderlei Silva, Yoshihiro Akiyama, Patrick Cote and a loss against MMA pound for pound top dog Anderson Silva. Leben who is 2 years younger and looked more chiseled than Munoz, this fight was a true acid test for Filipino Wrecking Machine. Both heavy handed fighters exchanged fatal blows that would have sent a lesser conditioned or less experienced fighter to the Octagon canvass. Munoz displayed superior conditioning as his chin was tested and took several big punches from Leben, Munoz?s chin and conditioning withstood Leben's punches. Chris Leben was subjected to more punishment from The Filipino Wrecking Machine's fists as Munoz clearly had cross hairs aimed on Leben's head. Munoz's looping over head punches was instrumental with chipping away at Leben's chin and endurance. Munoz displayed the characteristics of a natural wrestler where he wore down Leben on the ground and smothered him taking his will away complemented with some old fashion ground and pound in the second round. Mark Munoz like a raging bull on the canvass chipped away at Leben's face with fists, elbows and ground pressure. Munoz's overhanded bricks for fists backed up Leben to the Octagon fence where he started showing vulnerability against the surging Filipino. The combination of heavy power punches and ground and pound finally took it's toll at the end of the second round on a bloodied and battered Leben courtesy of The Filipino Wrecking Machine. Although this fight could have gone either way, Chris Leben was outclassed with the wrestling, ground and pound and power shots connected and administered by Munoz. The Octagon Physician stopped the fight at the end of the second round as the bloodied Leben was physically drained and could not see from his bloodied eye. Leben was clearly a mess, exhausted and defeated in his corner. In the post fight Octagon interview with Joe Rogan, Munoz demonstrated pure class as he gave thanks and tribute to God, his opponent and his team. However, the English fans in the LG Area continued to boo Mark Munoz in disappointment. Perhaps the fans wanted to see Chris Leben be carried out in a stretcher or sent into retirement courtesy of Munoz? Certainly some poor sportsmanship demonstrated by the English Fans in appreciation of the Main Event winner and outcome as the fight delivered. So what's next for Mark "The Filiipino Wrecking Machine" Munoz? Munoz is hungry and wants a crack at Anderson Silva's Middleweight Championship Belt as said on the post fight interview with Joe Rogan. Based on his performance tonight, Munoz must still develop his killer instincts to close the fight and put away his opponent at the immediate opportunity. Leben was vulnerable to a submission at several occasions, his neck was unprotected, he was also vulnerable on the ground to a knock out. However, Munoz did not capitalize that moment nor did he have the sense of urgency to finish Leben once and for all. Munoz went into wrestling mode instead. As a natural wrestler, wresting on the ground worked for Munoz?s advantage this time around. That move maybe a liability for him against a submission specialist that are on the top of the middleweight division. Before considering a title fight against Anderson Silva, Mark Munoz must identify the urgency to put opponents away considering that his next opponents should be the top 3 of the division and will have more hard nosed championship experience than what Munoz has under his belt. Before requesting and calling the Champion of the Division for a title fight, there are a few more fights that Mark Munoz and the UFC should consider. What comes to mind is a couple more fights against the likes of Chael Sonnen, Dan Henderson, Yushin Okami (rematch), Victor Belfort vs Mark Munoz before a title shot comes to fruition. The Filipino Wrecking Machine must develop the killer instincts of a champion in the making and instill the sense of urgency when he sees blood and cease that moment in time. Before even considering a title fight, it will be critical for Munoz to put away and finish his opponent without question or official intervention. Hopefully Munoz will identify the improvements he needs to make when watching his latest outcome on tape. Consider if Munoz fought against a bigger names in the middleweight division, he could have been vulnerable to a submission hold when Leben had his arms around his neck. Against the likes of Anderson Silva or Chael Sonnen, having an arm around Munoz neck will likely have no second chance for The Filipino Wrecking Machine. Munoz must improve, evolve and insure that he does not become a statistic for Anderson Silva?s cleansing of the middleweight division. For the complete Post fight results and post fight video of Mark Munoz click on the link below. http://thedigitalfightjournal.com/UFC_138_Post_Fight_Results Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rob Cruz.  |
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