REAL-LIFE ROCKY

Johny Hendricks vs. Robbie Lawler, UFC 181

The only thing missing from this welterweight championship rematch was cries of “Adrian! Adrian!” from new champion Robbie Lawler inside Mandalay Bay.

A decade ago, Lawler was released by the UFC after suffering back-to-back defeats. Five years later he nose-dived into a career-worst 3-5 tailspin. He failed to even register consecutive wins during a patchy four-year existence in Strikeforce.

When the UFC bought out Strikeforce and shut the doors in 2013, Lawler’s contract was anything but assured. But back in the Octagon, ‘Ruthless’ found his fight again. Just two years later he’s UFC welterweight champion – 13 years after his 2002 debut for the promotion. Talk about a real-life Rocky story.

By outpointing Johny Hendricks in their December return, Lawler became the number-one 170lb fighter on the planet, capping a storied campaign that features a relative who’s who of MMA’s promotional history. Talk about iconic careers, Lawler’s makes Balboa’s look tame by comparison.

MOST PAINFUL SUBMISSION

Rousimar Palhares vs Jon Fitch, WSOF 16

We dread to wonder what was going through the mind of Jon Fitch when he and Rousimar Palhares were in the 50-50 position at WSOF 16. We reckon it’s comparable to the thought process of someone tied to the tracks as a runaway train hurtles towards them. There’s nothing worse than knowing something horrific is about to happen and you know you can’t stop it.

As soon as Palhares grabbed Fitch’s leg the outcome was inevitable. The sheer terror on Fitch’s face was uncomfortable to see, though that obviously didn’t deter the Brazilian leglock specialist who twisted and turned until he found the angle needed to rip his knee to shreds.

THE FIRST LADY

Carla Esparza, TUF 20 Finale

When UFC president Dana White starts talking about the latest season of TUF and hails one fighter as someone who is destined for greatness, alarm bells start ringing.

It’s starting to sound like a death knell. Phillipe Nover, Uriah Hall and now Rose Namajunas have all been singled out by White for their performances during the elimination rounds of TUF, yet someone always comes along to spoil the party.

This time, it was former Invicta strawweight champion and tournament top seed Carla Esparza who proved the boss wrong. She used her wrestling skills to grind out Namajunas before sinking in a rear naked choke to become the UFC’s inaugural 115lb champion.

HEAVYWEIGHT HAVOC

Junior Dos Santos vs Stipe Miocic, UFC on Fox 13

Every now and then MMA fans are treated to a top-quality heavyweight bout. The type of fight where the big guys not only show off the otherworldly power they have in their fists and feet, but also top-notch technique and gas in the tank to make sure the fight doesn’t become a sloppy slugfest. JDS and Miocic decided to have that type of fight in Phoenix in December.

Both men put on a brutal, yet technical display of violence over five rounds, leaving both bloody, bruised and probably lacking a few family memories too. Dos Santos may have come out the victor, but both left the Talking Stick Resort Arena in Arizona with their heads held high following the best heavyweight fight of the year.

BIGGEST UPSET

Michelle Waterson vs. Herica Tiburico, Invicta FC 10

“Herica Tiburico who?” we hear you ask. Don’t worry, you weren’t the only ones who didn’t know much about the 22-year-old Brazilian submission specialist when it was announced she would take on Michelle Waterson for Invicta’s 105lb title.

Many pegged the Jackson-Wink product to steamroll the young prospect, but clearly Tiburico didn’t get the memo as she put on a star-making performance against the atomweight champion. The two went back and forth for 10 minutes, during which they exchanged punches, sweeps and submissions in abundance.

Waterson nearly pulled off her trademark armbar a few times, but Tiburico refused to yield and at 1:04 of round three she snared ‘The Karate Hottie’ in a guillotine to take her title. Nobody will be asking who Tiburico is any more.

NASTY KNOCKOUT

Timofey Nastyukhin vs. Eduard Folayang, One FC 23

Whatever’s being put in the water in Russia, someone needs to take it, package it and sell it to fighters worldwide. They’d earn an absolute fortune, because if there’s one thing Russians know how to do, it’s beat opponents senseless before finishing them in spectacular fashion.

The latest example of the Russian conveyor belt of knockout artists is newly-signed One FC lightweight Timofey Nastyukhin. Lacking the same hype as some of his other countrymen and thrown in with the very dangerous Eduard Folayang, it didn’t stop him from launching himself through the air to land a brutal switch flying knee, followed by some follow-up soccer kicks to the temple. Grizzly stuff.

MY OWN WORST ENEMY

Joe Riggs, UFC on Fox 10

You’ve got to feel sorry for Joe Riggs. Whenever everything seems to be getting better for the MMA veteran, something comes along and screws it up. After winning Bellator MMA’s Fight Master series he was re-signed by the UFC to face Paulo Thiago at UFC Fight Night: Arlovski vs. Bigfoot.

Great news, right? Well, it was until he accidentally shot himself in the hand and leg while cleaning his pistol. Then, when he finally returned to the Octagon, he injured himself while slamming Ben Saunders to the ground. ‘Diesel’ just can’t catch a break.

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