RINSE AND REPEAT

Ronda Rousey, Strikeforce Challengers 20

So, to say former Olympic judoka Ronda Rousey knows how to get an armbar is an understatement. People say that Rickson Gracie, possibly the greatest jiu-jitsu exponent of his entire discipline-honing clan, was so good on the mats you couldn’t stop him getting a sub even if you knew what he was looking for from the outset. It’s the same with Rousey and armbars. ‘Rowdy’ is 4-0 in pro MMA and 3-0 in amateur; every single one of those wins resulted from an armbar locked on in under a minute. Her latest came against kickboxer Julia Budd at Strikeforce Challengers 20. And despite the cat being out of the bag (and said cat doing an intricate jig to draw attention to its cunning), Budd found herself with a dislocated arm within one minute of the first. Next!

DON'T SAY IT'S OVER

Mike Chandler vs Eddie Alvarez, Bellator 58

While the majority of the fight world bounced up and down on their couches as they watched the exciting heave-ho between ‘Shogun’ Rua and Dan Henderson at UFC 139 in December, Bellator 58 had its very own (and some might say better) epic clash. Young-gun wrestling standout Mike Chandler challenged for the lightweight title of respected veteran Eddie Alvarez and did a remarkable job. The two were barely out of the gate before the upstart had Alvarez crumpled against the cage and borderline unconscious, only for the Philadelphian to battle through and be dropped again at the round’s end. A relatively even round two saw each land heavy shots, then in the third Alvarez bit back putting the challenger on the ropes and turning his face a deep crimson. In the fourth, however, Chandler brutalized Alvarez with a heavy-leather flurry to set up a short choke finish. Upset complete; jaws on the floor.

BEST SUBMISSION

Diego Brandao, The Ultimate Fighter 14 Finale

Holy moly, is Diego Brandao a bit exciting. He scared the daylights out of his fellow TUF 14 featherweight housemates with some fierce stoppages during the show, and opened up his UFC career throwing nothing but fastballs at Finale opponent Dennis Bermudez. The Brazilian unloaded upon Bermudez for much of the opening stanza until he ran directly into the straight right that put him on the deck. Somehow he stared through a consequent bundle of hulking, TKO-threatening ground ‘n’ pound to cinch up an armbar so tight Bermudez was already tapping before he was fully rolled over. Is it too early to start the José Aldo comparisons?

FLIPPER

John Dodson, The Ultimate Fighter 14 Finale

The UFC Octagon has seen some impressive acrobatic celebrations, but John Dodson’s victory flips upon TKO’ing TJ Dillashaw for The Ultimate Fighter 14 bantamweight crown were a level above. Shortly after clocking his Team Alpha Male adversary with a few fight-finishing lefts, Dodson sprinted toward a ring post, ran up and back flipped off it, then sprinted to the other side, hit a half-twist back flip with a forward roll upon landing and finished in a wide-stance pose like some sort of super-fresh ‘80s B-boy. The bar has been set.

FIGHTS OF THE NIGHT

Wanderlei Silva vs Cung Le and ‘Shogun’ Rua vs Dan Henderson, UFC 139

Two ‘Fight of the Year’ contenders on one card? Mr White, you spoil us. Through nearly two full rounds Wanderlei Silva and Cung Le couldn’t decide who was going to take the ‘W’. Le, the hometown favorite, poured it on in the first, dropping Silva with a spinning back-fist and scoring with his trademark san shou kicks. Though, in the second Wanderlei pressured throughout, eventually gaining the TKO via his brutal Chute Boxe knees. In the main event, ‘Shogun’ Rua survived multiple ‘H-bombs’ and Dan Henderson multiple mounts to put on what some are calling the greatest fight in the history of MMA – the exhausted combatants struggling to finish each other off and in turn allowing the other to capitalize in a see-saw battle. The first full five-round non-title main event was quite something.

MAMA SAID CHOKE YOU OUT

Jon Jones, UFC 140

Jon Jones’ mother probably didn’t paraphrase LL Cool J with an MMA twist before her son battled Lyoto Machida in the UFC 140 ring in Toronto, but ‘Bones’ sure looked like a man on a mission. A highly aggressive Machida most probably gave Jones the stiffest opposition of his career, clocking him with hooks and kicks powerful enough to put the usually indomitable Jones on the back foot and bring Toronto to full voice. But the New Yorker couldn’t be downed and Jones eventually trapped Machida in a guillotine so nasty ‘The Dragon’ was unable to tap before being choked unconscious. But, compelling viewing while it lasted.

MOST ONE-SIDED FIGHT

Michael Bisping vs ‘Mayhem’ Miller, The Ultimate Fighter 14 Finale

Outclassed and outdone, Jason ‘Mayhem’ Miller struggled to match his fighting moves to his fighting words at The Ultimate Fighter 14 Finale in December. Michael Bisping rode out a rocky first round against a rushing Miller before he utterly dismantled his wise-cracking opposing coach in rounds two and three with wince-inducing body shots and hard straight punches mailed direct to Miller’s chin. After throwing the standard ‘I’ll knock you out’ barbs on the show it was Bisping who managed to follow through, battering a tired Miller into a TKO defeat in the third round. When even UFC president Dana White, a man who’s certainly watched every fight in the promotion’s modern history, says this was probably the most one-sided scrap in the Octagon ever, you’re inclined to believe him.

BEST DRESSED

Phil Davis, Fighters Only World MMA Awards

Our annual World MMA Awards were filled with so many stunningly beautiful women in jaw-dropping dresses we couldn’t choose between them. The five-man office fisticuffs over which of 2011’s ‘Ring Girl of the Year’ nominees looked best on the night caused enough bloodshed and black eyes we didn’t dare open up the ‘discussion’ to include the rest of the evening’s seductive sirens. No, this one is now just for the men, and who other than Phil Davis could have taken it? The UFC light heavyweight squeezed his shoulders into a sleek all-black tuxedo with a gray and black bowtie. But honorable mentions must go to Stephan Bonnar’s risky white-jacket-black-trousers blend, and Tito Ortiz’s medley of white shirt and tie under black, topped with rimmed specs and pencil-line handlebar moustache. Ross Pearson’s well-fitting, high-end number gets a knowing nod too.

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