The maroon zone is a football term I’ve heard a lot recently to describe the area of the field where it’s too far to kick a field goal but too close to punt.It’s that in-between area that leaves you feeling a bit helpless on 4th down.This time of the year, especially in a cold weather city like Chicago would be the maroon zone of the year.The holidays are over, meaning everyone is back to working normal hours after enjoying time off with friends and family.Days are short, nights are cold and snow isn’t fun anymore.This is the time of the year that can really get you in a rut and make you count down towards spring.However, to relieve this feeling of disdain UFC gives us fans two events to look forward to in February.While neither event has a great fight card it gives us fans something to help us through the maroon zone of 2010.
The first event of the year, UFC 108 took place on January 2nd and the event started the year off with a bang.There were several strong fights on the night all culminating with a great main event featuring one of UFC’s poster boys, Rashad Evans.If you’re a fan of the UFC or even if you casually catch a bit of information here and there you’ve probably heard some hype about the UFC 108 card at some point during 2009.Two huge matches were scheduled to take place at the first event of the year but due to injuries the main event on this card has changed three times.
UFC has always been fantastic with their fight selection and marketing tactics, one of the main reasons that they have been able to grow exponentially over the last decade.Setting the fight on January 2nd ensured that there would be an ample audience and plenty of viewers who would tune in after all the college football games were over.Now all they needed was a big fight.Originally UFC decided to start the year off with a huge match, the middleweight champion Anderson Silva against the light heavyweight champion Victor Belfort.However, this card was scratched due to Silva’s recent elbow surgery and pushed back to later this year.Brock Lesnar, the biggest draw in UFC was also set to bring in the New Year at this event but has had his career put on hold following an undisclosed medical condition.The card was finally settled with Rashad Evans set to fight Thiago Silva in the main event.Not exactly a dream match up for a large audience but the fight itself did not disappoint.
Evans came in and controlled the action from the start, looking to re-establish himself as the number one contender after taking his first loss and losing his light heavyweight championship to Machida.Evans, usually known as an aggressive striker took a different approach controlling Thiago Silva with a strong ground game and scoring wins in the first two rounds.Silva gave a valiant effort in the final round and almost stole the match away from Evans who fought too conservatively.Evans narrowly escaped a few tough situations and won the match based on his work in the previous two rounds.
Make sure to look for two UFC events this month.Neither card will be worth your hard earned money but both will make for a good excuse to get out of the house and have a few drinks with friends.
