2010 is drawing to a close so as customary, It’s time for a list! So much has happened in MMA, Frankie Edgar’s title victory, the MMA debut of James Toney, UFC/WEC Merger, Chael Sonnen’s trash talking. Chael Sonnen’s fight against Anderson Silva. The Trial of Chael Sonnen. Nevertheless here is my Top 5 MMA Moments of 2010!
5.UFC 116
MMA show of the year and maybe – the greatest UFC show EVER. The card started incongruously.George Sotriopoulous’s decisioned Kurt Pellegrino in a dull bout. After that, the card kicked into gear. Stephan Bonnar’s fiery KO win over Krysztof Soszynski. Chris Lytle finishing Matt Brown via a highly impressive triangle/armbar combo. An absolute war (and my personal fight of the year) between Yoshihiro Akiyama and Chris Leben.
This fight had everything. Drama. Athleticism. Comebacks. Akiyama controlled the first two rounds of this battle until he tired in the third. Leben – who had only fought two weeks ago, scrambled on the ground, firing punches from the floor to secure a triangle and the win with only 1.20 left in the fight. Amazing stuff. Despite the loss, Akiyamas stock rose high enough to earn a main event fight against Michaels Bisping in London. (Akiyama lost in another war).
After all that, there was still the main event; The Biggest Heavyweight Fight in UFC History! (until Cain vs. Lesnar four months later). The first round had drama aplenty. Carwin charged at Lesnar, took him down and unleashed shot after shot after to a downed Brock. The fight was seconds from being stopped but the referee spotted that Lesnar was keeping busy and that the shots that Carwin threw, while looking vicious, lacked in power. Lesnar survived the first round.
Carwin, grinning ear-to-ear apparently aware that the UFC belt was his for the taking, threw a wink at Lesnars direction. Brock chuckled. Carwin was exhausted after throwing all those futile punches. Lesnar easily took him down and secured a arm triangle for the tapout win to raucous applause ending what was an unbelievable show.
4. The debacle in Abu-Dhabi
Frankie Edgar’s win over a listless BJ Penn had deflated the crowd in the Emirates. But not to fear! Because up next was the Middleweight Champion, the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world; Anderson Silva. ‘The Spider’s’ original opponent Vitor Belfort had to drop out of the fight at the last minute. #1 contender Chael Sonnen was unavailable due to a large cut sustained in Sonnen’s last bout so Demain Maia was granted the title match. Maia had been brutally KO’d less then a year ago. Everyone expected Silva to run through Maia and to end the show on a high note. It was crucial for the UFC to leave a good impression as the company’s new investors just happen to be sitting ringside.
Instead of finishing his overmatched foe; Silva preceded to dance, jive and taunt Demain Maia in three bizarre but entertaining rounds. UFC should count themselves lucky that MMA is still a niche product. Imagine if David Haye toyed with Audley Harrison for the full 12 rounds, dancing, throwing his hands down and comically gesturing. There would’ve been outrage. The Prime Minster would’ve called for an enquiry!
By round 4 and 5, Silva was exhausted from clowning around so much. Silva circled the cage, throwing weak jabs. Despite the lack of action, Silva was clearly dictating the fight and retained his belt via unanimous decision. So disgusted was boss Dana White that he left the ringside area before the fight had finished. Silva redeemed himself with his come from behind win over Chael Sonnen in a outstanding fight at UFC 117.
The UFC had a show scheduled in Abu Dhabi for March 2011 which was abruptly cancellated. They haven’t forget.
3. Fedor loses
Fedor Emelianenko was an enigma. Virtually unbeaten. The one loss on his record was a cut stoppage loss received from an illegal elbow. In PRIDE he demolished world-class opposition and rarely showed weakness. After PRIDE folded, there were many fans calling for the UFC to sign Fedor. It almost came a running joke. At every Q&A and greet-and-meet came the inevitable “Sign Fedor” question. Fan-friendly UFC pres Dana White listened to the people and tried to sign Fedor only for the Russian fighters rep’s to come back with unreasonable demands ($1 million purse, co-promotion rights). That left Fedor to tangle with the best of the rest. With wins over Tim Sylvia, Andrei Arlovski and Brett Rogers, Fedor had only enhanced his legendary rep (albeit against lesser competition). Fabricio Werdum was expected to be just one of many to fall at ‘The Last Emperors’ feet.
It only took 1.09 for Fedor’s rep to be laid in tatters. Fedor made the mistake of diving into Werdum’s guard. Seconds later Werdum secured the triangle causing Fedor to tap out. The “Sign Fedor” brigade have since quieted.
2. “The Kick”
1. “Gentleman, we’re on national television!”
It had all gone wrong for Strikeforce. The card had overrun by 45 minutes. This was only the second show on CBS for Strikeforce and irritating the television network in such fashion was not a good move. Adding to Strikeforces woes, the three title fights weren’t particularly entertaining. The organization were hoping for expense new signing Dan Henderson to defeat Jake Shields for the Strikefoce Middleweight Title. Shields was destined for the UFC and Strikeforce didn’t want him departing the company as champ. Alas, Shields scored a huge upset and retained the belt via decision. This night couldn’t get worse? Can it?
As Gus Johnson was interviewing Shields, Jason ‘Mayhem’ Miller who had lost to Shields months earlier shot sneaked into the cage and interrupted the post-match interview. “Where’s my rematch buddy?” Miller quizzed. Gilbert Melendez, Shields teammate retailed at Mayhem’ attempt at stealing Shields moment of glory. Moments later the entire Cesar Gracie teamed swarmed onto Miller and administrated a beating on the interloper. During the chaos, interviewer Gus Johnson resembling a high school teacher reminded the kids “We’re on national television!” Strikeforce has not been on CBS since.
Miller never did get that rematch. Jake Shields signed with the UFC and is pencilled in to fight Georges St.Pierre for the UFC Welterweight Title. Instead ‘Mayhem’ turned his attention to Nick Diaz, another man involved in the ruckas. Diaz has been unwilling to fight ‘Mayhem’ due to the weight discrepancy between them and other undisclosed issues. Mayhem’s response? Take Nick Diaz’s trademark phrase, copyright it and created a website devoted to calling out Diaz. Awesome. (www.dontbescaredhomie.com)
