I'd give the card a B-plus. While there weren't any classic fights, the dramatic endings to several of the fights were plenty memorable. The action that transpired during the conclusion of those fights made the card well worth the price. It was night of some brutal knockouts that really got the adrenaline flowing.

Also, consider me a fan of afternoon MMA on pay-per-view. I guess I am showing my age because I am much more awake at 3 p.m. ET than I am at 10 p.m. ET. I also grew up watching sports on Saturday and Sunday afternoons and watching sports in those time slots are just my preference. While I didn't have to pay to see games on TV, I'm more than willing to pay money to avoid having to be subjected to a billion commercials. But I'm in the minority here as I know the sport's young audience would much rather make a night of it and with disposable income being hard to come by at times when you're in your early-to-mid-20's, the more free MMA the better.

There were a few negatives for me.

This was the first UFC PPV that I've seen in high definition. I watched the season finale for the sixth season of TUF on HD and was really impressed. However, I wasn't anywhere near as impressed with Saturday's HD telecast and I'm not sure why. The UFC controls all of their own production so it's the same cameras, producers, etc. It just seemed like a lot of the shots weren't even in HD. Some of the shots looked great, such as the overhead camera angles but at other times I completely forgot that I was watching a telecast that I had paid extra to see. Once again I was completely underwhelmed by the graphics.

I'm not very knowledgeable when it comes to technology and have only had HD for a brief period of time. I'd love to hear from people who know more about the subject than I and what your thoughts are about the HD telecast. One thing I am sure of, Yarrenoka! in HD looked ten times better than UFC 80 in HD.

Another negative was the UFC's decision to use Sean Sherk as a third member of the announce team during the main event between B.J. Penn and Joe Stevenson. I understand the logic behind having him involved, as it helps promote a match down the line between him and Penn. However, considering the reason why he's no longer champion it's just a little hard for me to see him involved with almost no acknowledgment that he tested positive.

When they did their rap before the fight, Mike Goldberg sort of hinted at what the deal was and they hinted at it again during the match but they never addressed it with any sort of clarity. It almost seemed like that if you were a casual fan that wasn't aware of the situation, the UFC wasn't going to do anything to help inform you of the circumstances. From day one the company has tried to sweep the Sherk situation under the rug. It only seemed liked they announced it on their web site because they had no other choice. Dana White broke the news and in a way to call as little attention to it as possible.

The way Sherk was dealt with last night would never happen if it was the NFL, NBA, or Major League Baseball. But that's what happens when MMA is covered like an entertainment show as opposed to a sport.

Sherk's behavior to me is irrational, bizarre, and at times, borderline insane. Again, I'm not disgusted at him for testing positive for steroids and still don't know whether he did it or not, but how he's handled the situation is beyond embarrassing at this point. Saying during the match that he had no respect for B.J. Penn is ridiculous. Even more ridiculous was Sherk's expression when he entered the cage and got booed. What, did Dick Cheney tell Sherk he'd be greeted as a liberator?

Normally Goldberg and Joe Rogan's commentary doesn't bother me but it did Saturday night. There were just some statements made that left me scratching my head. During the pre-taped promo for Jason Lambert, I believe I heard Goldberg say that Lambert "was talked about in the light heavyweight title picture after his win over Sobral." Huh? Who talked about him in the UFC light heavyweight title picture?

At another point Rogan chimed in and said something to the effect of that "Babalu was a highly-rated fighter at the time" when he was defeated by Lambert. Well, if he was a highly-rated fighter then, why would he be now after he beat David Heath? Hey, I was all for Babalu being let go after that fight but he still won it. Why is he no longer a top light heavyweight? Because he's not in the UFC? Was Rogan told to phrase it that way or was he simply calling it like he sees it?

Rogan also said when Penn was entering the ring and discussing his legacy that Penn was at the "tail end of his career." Moments later a graphic flashed that listed Penn's age as 29. What was that all about? Was Rogan being serious or did he use a bad choice of words to articulate his point? I know from doing radio and TV that sometimes the words you'd like to use aren't flowing freely and you choose certain words because they were the best options at that given moment. Maybe that was the case with Rogan because I don't think he actually believes Penn is at the tail end of his career.

Onto the fights...

Jorge Rivera defeated Kendall Grove via TKO at 1:20 of round 1

When Grove lost to Patrick Cote at UFC 74, I pretty much dismissed it as a young, talented fighter simply getting caught. I was confident he would bounce back. Now, after going down in similar upset fashion for the second fight in a row, I'm not so sure about Grove.

I don't think that those who touted him during his winning ways were seeing something in him that isn't there. Grove is legit. But is his head into the game? A recent interview he did with MMAMadness.com leaves me with some doubt. I don't profess to have any inside knowledge about Grove as far as how he trains and how he lives. All I know is that sometimes fights get caught up in the MMA lifestyle in that they party as hard as they train. I have no idea whether that's the case with Grove but some of his answers during the interview raised some red flags with me.

Obviously, it's a great win for Rivera. He needed it in order to remain with the UFC. I thought the part of his post-fight interview where he sounded like he was reading off the yellow pages was particularly funny.

Wilson Gouveia knocked out Jason Lambert at 0:37 of round 2

The ending to this fight is what I love about MMA the most. We see comebacks all the time in sports but never like we do in MMA. It's possible for an NFL team to overcome a 21 points deficit at the start of the fourth quarter but it's impossible for a team to make up 21 points in two minutes because there's no such thing as a 22-point play. What Gouveia did to Lambert was MMA's equivalent to a 22-point play with almost no time on the clock. It didn't matter that Gouveia had been dominated by Lambert the entire fight. His comeback started and ended with one punch.

As for Lambert, you have to feel for the guy. I mean, how much better could he have fought? Lambert is a tough dude and I think Zuffa should consider transferring him to the WEC. I love the WEC but their light heavyweight division needs up. The UFC's light heavyweight division is crowded right now so transferring a couple of guys like Lambert and David Heath might not be a bad idea.

Marcus Davis knocked out Jess Liaudin at 1:04 of round 1

I really don't know what to do about Davis at this point. Do I put him in my top ten welterweights? Eleven straight wins is no joke but I've always felt that in order to be top ten, you needed to beat some existing members of the top ten to get into it. There are some impressive wins on Davis' win streak resume but none of the wins came against elite fighters. You can't blame him though because he's fighting whoever is put in front of him. But I do think it's time the UFC raised the ante as far as his competition is concerned. Jon Fitch is now without an opponent for UFC 82 on March 1 and Davis really didn't suffer too much damage in this fight. Davis vs. Fitch makes too much sense.

Alessio Sakara defeated James Lee via TKO at 1:30 of round 1

Wow, did James Lee look brutal. He did not look like he showed up to the fight in shape and his strategy was a little too transparent. I understood he wanted to get the fight on the ground but you've got to setup your takedowns somewhat in this day and age. Rogan complemented Sakara's improved takedown defense but how do we know it's improved? Sakara could see the takedown attempts from a mile away. This did not look like the same James Lee who defeated Travis Wiuff in the first round at PRIDE 33.

I really don't know what this win does for Sakara. I think the WEC would be a good spot for him but he'll likely remain with the UFC because the WEC isn't doing international shows right now and that's where Sakara's greatest value lies.

Antoni Hardonk defeated Colin Robinson via TKO at 0:17 of round 1

Did "The Big C" really say he hoped he'd get a chance to fight in the U.S.? Man, I hope that's one dream that doesn't come true.

I'm going to get in a lot of trouble for saying this next statement but I don't care. Sorry, I'm just not impressed with what I have seen of European MMA, which has been limited to the UFCs in the UK, Cage Rage shows I've watched on ProElite.com, and lots of YouTube footage of isolated fights. Watching European MMA is like a time warp. It feels like I'm watching MMA from the late-90s where all the one-dimensional fighters just started focusing on cross-training. When I watch most European writers, one word comes to mind: sloppy.

Hardonk did what he had to do but without seeing more of a fight, who knows how much he's improved?

Paul Kelly defeated Paul Taylor via unanimous decision

Speaking of sloppy! Hey, I don't want to take anything away from these guys, they fought their hearts out and Taylor's will to fight through adversity was simply amazing. But fight of the night? I guess it deserves the award because it was the only fight shown on TV that went the distance but on most cards there's no way this bout would get this award.

Again, Taylor and Kelly showed heart but if the UFC wasn't expanding to Europe would these two guys be on the roster?

Fabricio Werdum defeated Gabriel Gonzaga via TKO at 4:32 of round 2

After the first round I was ready to write Werdum off as another PRIDE fighter that simply couldn't cut it in the UFC. I felt that way until the very end of the fight. I mean, what the hell happened to Gonzaga? How does a fighter lose so much steam so quickly? During the first round he looked like old school Pedro Rizzo with some of those leg kicks.

I still don't know how to explain this one. Were were wrong about Gonzaga? I believed in him before the elbows and high kick to Cro Cop. I was impressed with him following his wins over Fabiano Scherner and Carmelo Marrero. It just seemed like his will was broken very easily. I'm not saying he lacks heart but I saw a big difference in the way Paul Taylor and Joe Stevenson fought through adversity in comparison to Grove and Gonzaga.

I have no idea what's next for Werdum. MMAjunkie.com is reporting that he will get a title shot but why not have him face the winner of Cheick Kongo vs. Heath Herring at UFC 82?

B.J. Penn submits Joe Stevenson via rear naked choke at 4:02 of round 2

First things first. Forget the fight analysis, there is something more important to breakdown, such as Stevenson's choice for a walk-in song. "Machinehead" by Bush? How unoriginal. "Machine Head" is a great music selection if you are choosing the band and not the song by Bush. I realize Bush is a UK band but if you wanted to cater to the UK crowd with a music choice surely there are better options. Maybe Stevenson left his iPod at home? I preferred his old entrance song much better (the Karate Kid remix).

I like Joe Stevenson a lot but Penn simply dominated him here. This is the second fight in a row in which Penn made a good opponent look like he barely belonged in the UFC. I don't know how anyone can watch how Penn dominated Stevenson and not tell me he's underachieved for years? Penn is capable of looking this good every fight.

I felt bad for Stevenson but earned even more respect for him gutting it out until the bitter end. When you lose that much blood that quick it definitely affects you not only physically but mentally as well.

One advancement in the UFC telecasts I'd love to see is audio from the corner between rounds. I really would have liked to have heard what was being said to Stevenson after round one when he had sustained the cut and was bleeding profusely.

The deed to the UFC lightweight division is ready to be handed over to Penn, it's just up to him to sign the papers. The more and more I think about it, 155 pounds is where Penn belongs. Moving back up to welterweight is only something he should do once he cleans up the lightweight division. A May fight vs. Sherk is a big matchup and future matchups vs. undefeated fighters and Frankie Edgar and Roger Huerta are also good fights.

I also think people are making too much of B.J. appearing winded after the fight. I think part of it was that he was clowning around with Herb Dean and the other part was that he put everything he had into crowbarring that choke in so that he could finish Stevenson. Who's to say that he wouldn't have recovered and gotten his wind back quickly? He decided to exert a lot of energy in order to end the fight.

I agree with Adam Morgan's assessment that Sherk is in trouble. If B.J. was focused for Pulver and Stevenson, he's going to be even more focused for Sherk. And Penn apparently has already gotten into Sherk's head. You can't fight Penn angry, you have to fight him smart.

--

Sam Caplan

Lead Writer/Editor - ProElite.com

SamCaplan.ProElite.com

--

Sam Caplan

Lead Writer/Editor - ProElite.com

SamCaplan.ProElite.com

CBSSports.com has made available the latest version of its "head-to-head" preview now available. In addition to myself, FiveOuncesOfPain.com's own Ben Fowlkes has also posted his predictions for all nine bouts on the card.

Click here to read the preview.

--

Sam Caplan

Lead Writer/Editor - ProElite.com

SamCaplan.ProElite.com