BEST FIGHT

Robbie Lawler vs. Matt Brown, UFC on Fox 12

When you think about it, Robbie Lawler vs. Matt Brown was bound to go to a decision. Yeah, yeah, two guys with iron hands – but they’ve also got granite chins. There being a single (T)KO loss between their 66 fights is not conducive to the early strikes stoppage everyone thought was inevitable.

Fortunately, the fact they’re both heavy hitters was helpful in making sure those five rounds they were bound to have were pretty damn exciting. Lawler’s fists stung first, catching Brown repeatedly in the early moments of the fight, before Brown replied with a right that rocked Lawler briefly in the second. Throw in a few body kicks that troubled ‘The Immortal’ and hard elbows to Lawler’s dome in the clinch through the third and fourth and we had a fight on our hands.

As if they hadn’t risked enough, the two then went toe to toe through the fifth, ‘Ruthless’ getting the more quality shots and Brown appearing to hit Lawler with his right so hard he broke it – but carried on throwing it regardless. In fact, the only thing that disappointed was Lawler’s unanimous decision verdict not sharing the kudos with his welterweight battle brother.

Remember when the 170lb division was boring?

LARGE AND IN CHARGE

Anthony Johnson, UFC on Fox 12

It is literally ridiculous to think UFC 205lb’er Anthony Johnson used to be a welterweight. Last year, the man beat a former UFC heavyweight champion in Andrei Arlovksi, and in July destroyed ‘Minotoro’ Nogueira, the twin of former UFC and Pride heavyweight title-holder ‘Minotauro’. Johnson used to headline cards fighting Dan ‘most-definitely-a-welterweight’ Hardy.

Think about that while you realize the Blackzilians’ six-foot-two tank ended ‘Little Nog’s night in 44 seconds, with only eight strikes (according to FightMetric). Nog didn’t land a single strike and only had time to attempt two before Johnson sat him down. The more we see, the more we can’t stop thinking about ‘Rumble’ fighting for the title.

MOST UNANSWERED PUNCHES

Bubba Jenkins, Bellator 122

By our count, Bubba Jenkins landed something like 26 lefts and rights to Poppies Martinez’s person on the ground at Bellator 122 without resistance. Having spent much of round one out-grappling and out-punishing Martinez, in the end the featherweight would get the ground ‘n’ pound TKO on ‘The Tachi Kid’ with 50 seconds left. Now, we’re loathed to call referees’ performances into question. And Jason Herzog is always a standout third man. However, when Jenkins’ attack was so focussed it almost appeared the 17 seconds of punishment from the former Division I college wrestling champ was just several strikes played on an eternal loop? Well, you know...

IRISH PSYCHO

Norman Parke, UFC Fight Night 46

The only time Norman Parke wasn’t getting amped up while staring at himself on the UFC Fight Night 46 big screens, a la narcissistic American Psycho killer Patrick Bateman, was when he was actually fighting.

Walking to the ring, getting announced, having his arm raised: Parke had eyes for only one individual. The Northern Irishman, greeted by much cheering from the Dublin crowd, even whipped off his shirt during his commute to the cage to flex for himself.

Fortunately for opponent Naoyuki Kotani, Parke only followed up his vanity with a hypothetical killing. Landing strong elbows in the clinch and on the ground in round one, an unending Parke assault on the floor ultimately helped the ground ‘n’ pound finish in the second.

Wonder if Kotani likes Phil Collins.

LOUDEST CHEERS

Conor McGregor, UFC Fight Night 46

The term ‘rapturous applause’ gets overused. But Conor McGregor’s first-round TKO win at UFC Fight Night 46 might as well have been the second coming of Christ, judging by the reaction of the Dublin crowd to the Irish hero’s win. It was all screams, impassioned embraces and beer in the air as soon as foe Diego Brandao was saved from a volley of right hands on the ground in the main event.

In fact, according to the UFC, those fans were so loud the volume was akin to standing 60 meters from a Boeing 747 taking off.

To be fair, they had reason to be. What with the months of hype swirling around McGregor and his coming good on his promise of finishing the Brazilian. In charge from before the opening bell, McGregor’s aura and kickboxing overwhelmed Brandao en route to the 4:05 finish.

If those 9,000 Dublin fans make that much noise in an arena, what could they produce in the 82,000-capacity Gaelic football stadiums McGregor wants to fight in?

OLD SCHOOL

Karo Parisyan, Bellator 122

The following are things we learned when Karo Parisyan TKO’d Phil Baroni in 2:06 at Bellator 122 in July. Number one: ‘The Heat’ and the ‘New York Bad Ass’ will try their very hardest to stare each other out across the cage during their introductions, even if that means having to awkwardly dart to the other side of the cage to dodge cameramen. Number two: If pre-fight trash talk stops fighters (here, Baroni and Parisyan) touching gloves when ‘Big’ John McCarthy gives the option, the veteran referee couldn’t look less bothered. Number three: A decent beard cannot guarantee you victory. Baroni sported one for his Bellator debut but still got swamped by strikes against the cage. We don’t get it either.

BEST COMEBACK

Cathal Pendred, UFC Fight Night 46

What is Cathal Pendred made of? Tough bloody stuff. At UFC Fight Night 46, in his hometown of Dublin, Pendred came within a hair of getting KO’d by a hefty Mike King straight right only minutes into his UFC debut. It was enough punishment for plenty of men to excuse themselves from a contest. But, instead, a dazed Pendred’s autopilot steered him to safety through a rough ground ‘n’ pound attack, a tight rear naked choke and an uncomfortable kimura, all in the first, in order to turn it around in the second.

With both men tired, Pendred got King to the mat with nearly three minutes gone, and around 30 seconds later was coaxing his TUF 19 housemate into unconsciousness with a short choke. Luck of the Irish?

TWO FOR ONE

Donald Cerrone, UFC Fight Night 45

Great things come in twos: arms, legs, boobs, we could go on. For UFC lightweight Donald Cerrone, it’s finishes.

KO’ing Jim Miller with a right head kick was actually the second time ‘Cowboy’ halted his opponent in Atlantic City at UFC Fight Night 45. The first was mid-way through round one when, having been stung with a few good Miller hooks in return for some hard knees to the body, Cerrone dropped Miller with a kick to the abdomen.

However, in the flow of the fight, the strike appeared to connect with Miller’s cup and referee Dan Miragliotta called for a halt. Realizing his mistake soon after, Miragliotta recommenced the bout, where Cerrone stalked his prey right through to the second round. Where, after going low with his feet a few times, he sent one up high that ended the contest – properly this time. Cowboy’s back.

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