BEST FACIAL HAIR

KJ Noons, Strikeforce: Melendez vs Masvidal

These days, the world of MMA presents many a well-furred face. From Jon Jones to Jim Miller, they’re all getting in on some rugged-mug action. And December presented perhaps 2011’s best shot: Strikeforce lightweight KJ Noons’ debonair, close-crop mustache, sideburns and chin patch. The look (matched to a bow tie and sweater-vest combo at the pre-fight presser) of the former EliteXC 160lb champ classed up the cage with a leftfield prep charm. Oh, and he beat Billy Evangelista over three rounds. Coincidence? Perhaps Rashad Evans’ suggestion of a ‘Best Dressed’ category at next year’s FO World MMA Awards has legs.

BIGGEST KNOCKOUT

Johny Hendricks, UFC 141

Nine years separated the only two occasions Jon Fitch has been left horizontal on the ring canvas. Wilson Gouveia did it in 2002 when Fitch was at 205lb – far, far away from his current 170lb stomping grounds – and Johny Hendricks repeated the feat in December at UFC 141. In just 12 seconds, Hendricks leapt from welterweight middleman to potential title contender. The five-foot-nine wrestler hurled a mother of a left hand bang onto Fitch’s chin, sending him to the floor near out-cold where the AKA man was met with another hammer to leave him groggily grappling with referee Steve Mazzagatti. Edgar-Maynard,

Munoz-Ellenberger – what is it about throwing two wrestlers together that ensures fireworks?

STAR CHILD

Jimy Hettes, UFC 141

You know what they say, it’s always the quiet ones. UFC 141’s breakout star might have been young computer engineer look-a-like Jimy Hettes. Even though the 24-year-old featherweight had won all his nine pro bouts by submission prior to meeting ‘Fight of the Night’-inclined Nam Phan, few people (UFC president Dana White included) had paid much mind to the undefeated prospect who, like a caucasian ninja, proceeded to dazzle his audience with some highly impressive moves. Slinking between submission attempts and surprising with strikes earned Hettes a decision so dominant the three judges scored five 10-8 rounds between them.

BIRD IS THE WORD

Nate Diaz and Donald Cerrone, UFC 141

While the battle of the 300 extras at UFC 141 (Fitch vs Hendricks, keep up!) was a fantastic furious few seconds, Nate Diaz vs Donald Cerrone perfectly displayed how ebb and flow blended into an intra-bout storyline can effortlessly engage you in a mixed martial arts contest. Before the bell Cerrone flipped Diaz the bird in reply to the Stockton street kid’s pre-fight baiting – Diaz knocked ‘Cowboy’s cherished Stetson from his crown during a pre-fight staredown. A bullish Cerrone flew out of the gate for the early finish but instead found himself on the backfoot unable to escape from Diaz’s range for the entire opening round. In the second, Cerrone fought back with Thai sweep kicks but found himself absorbing more damage in the third after getting the double bird to start the stanza. Diaz took it on points, but the fans were the real winners.

MOST UNEXPECTED ONLOOKER

Gordon Ramsay, UFC 141

Imagine finishing your fight and trudging back to the locker rooms only to spy celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay staring back at you. The Hell’s Kitchen star sampled some UFC fare at the Lesnar vs Overeem fight card in Las Vegas. A keen boxer, it’s no great surprise Ramsay has developed a taste for the Octagon. With all the megastars sitting down at ringside lately, perhaps UFC boss Dana White will set up a few celebrity scraps. Seven-foot, 325lb Shaquille O’Neal squaring off with the expletive-inclined Ramsay might be half-baked, but doughy King of Queens actor Kevin James could whet a few appetites.

MANY HANDS MAKE LIGHT WORK

Caros Fodor and Roger Bowling, Strikeforce: Melendez vs Masvidal

When Roger Bowling knocked out Jerron Peoples on the preliminary card of Strikeforce: Melendez vs Masvidal after only 42 seconds of the first round had ticked away, Bowling must have thought he’d secured the night’s most impressive stoppage. That feeling will only have lasted for 30 minutes when in the evening’s very next fight Caros Fodor put Justin Wilcox to sleep at 13 seconds of the first. Add in Cris ‘Cyborg’s 16-second trouncing of Hiroko Yamanaka in the co-main event and not a single strike stoppage went past one minute that night. MMA can be a strange animal sometimes.

I DID IT MY WAY

Brock Lesnar, UFC 141

Having made enough money to bankroll a small European principality, Brock Lesnar called time on his career following his TKO loss to Alistair Overeem at UFC 141. Unlike many fading greats, Lesnar chose to go out before any retirement chorus could break into full flow, having only just experienced two of his three career losses (one of which he had avenged). And few can begrudge him; receiving K-1-worthy kicks and knees to the midsection as he did from Alistair Overeem to set up the TKO finish would dissuade most of humanity from re-entering the ring. He might not have left a Couture, Hughes or Liddell legacy in the Octagon, but outside of it he made so large a dent in the mainstream on behalf of mixed martial arts he’ll be marked as one of the sport’s integral acts in the ensuing years.

‘COOKIES AND CREAM’

AKA Gym, Strikeforce: Rockhold vs Jardine

Mean-mugging wrestler ‘King Mo’ has quite the sharp sense of humor, tickling journos with his suggestion of referring to the duo created by he and AKA chum Luke Rockhold as ‘Cookies and Cream.’ The Strikeforce light heavyweight offered the moniker after he and BFF promotion middleweight king Rockhold put away their opponents, Lorenz Larkin and former UFC regular Keith Jardine, with little trouble via strike-based stoppages at Strikeforce: Rockhold vs Jardine in January. Which begs the question, can we now refer to pals Leonard Garcia and Donald Cerrone as the ‘Dukes of Hazzard’?

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