Issue 080
October 2011
2:13
It was at 2:13 of round one during the main event of UFC Live 4 when Pat Barry landed a big overhand right on Cheick Kongo. Shortly thereafter, Joe Rogan said: “It’s over.”
13
13 seconds later Mike Goldberg and Joe Rogan declared Kongo was out as he stumbled to canvas again, rocked by a swarming Barry.
10
A mere 10 seconds after Mike and Joe thought Kongo was out it really was all over, as the wobbly legged Frenchman landed the second of two rights putting Barry to sleep. “That was the most amazing comeback I have ever seen,” said Rogan.
2
Afterward, while eating a piece of pepperoni pizza, Barry said he lost two minutes of his life due to the knockout. That’s about right; he was out for a long time. Upon coming to, Barry’s first words were: “Yo, man, I killed him.” He thought he won and was even surprised that he wasn’t standing up!
1726
Tito Ortiz provided the fourth-straight first-round finish at UFC 132 when he submitted Ryan Bader with a guillotine. The win came 1,726 days after Ortiz’s last victory when back in October of 2006 he TKO’d Ken Shamrock.
4
Number of fights in a row to end in the first round at UFC 132. Rafael dos Anjos, Melvin Guillard, Carlos Condit and Tito Ortiz all claimed quick wins. In all, there were five first-round finishes, the fifth came when Chris Leben stopped Wanderlei Silva in just 27 seconds in the co-main event.
18
We have to go back exactly 18 months to find another UFC event with at least four straight first-round finishes. At UFC 108 on January 2nd, 2010, there were actually five quick fights in a row. Mark Munoz, Cole Miller, Martin Kampmann, Junior dos Santos and Jim Miller provided the fireworks.
21
Fabricio Werdum landed 21 more strikes in a decision loss to Alistair Overeem at Strikeforce: Overeem vs Werdum. The strange bout saw Overeem avenge his 2006 loss to Werdum while being out-struck 69 to 48. ‘The Reem’ manhandled the Brazilian but was unable to finish with strikes as Werdum constantly looked for takedowns and flopped to guard repeatedly.
8-0
Gegard Mousasi’s record for the Dream promotion in Japan. On July 16th Mousasi TKO’d Hiroshi Izumi in the first round to retain his light heavyweight belt. In all, Mousasi has stopped seven of his eight Dream opponents in round one. Unfortunately for Mousasi, during that same time has gone 2-1-1 in the US for Strikeforce. Overall, he’s a stellar 31-3-2.
Numbers provided by Zac Robinson, co-author of Sports by the Numbers: MMA. Zac has also co-written the recently released biography From the Fields to the Garden: The Life of Stitch Duran. It's available online at Amazon and blackmesabooks.com. For more info go to: www.sportsbythenumbersmma.com
The Highs and Lows of BRIAN STANN
American war hero and former WEC light heavyweight champion Brian Stann, 11-3, has thrown his hat into the UFC middleweight contender mix with a series of fan-pleasing finishes over names like Chris Leben and Jorge Santiago. The 30-year-old’s heavy hands and unwavering Octagon calm have served him well as he’s edged toward an opportunity at the UFC middleweight belt. Stann’s humility and fight-stopping fists will ensure he’s a fan favorite for years to come.
JANUARY 2006
Makes his MMA debut as a 205lb’er at the Team Quest-run SportFight 14, TKO’ing Aaron Stark in just over three minutes of the first round.
MARCH 2006
Stann receives his Silver Star medal for valor in the face of the enemy during military service in Iraq. Stann lead his unit in a successful six-day defense of a bridge in Karabilah in which his entire 42-man platoon survived.
JUNE 2006
Debuts in the WEC six months prior to its purchase by UFC parent company, Zuffa. Stann makes short work of Miguel Cosio at WEC 21, knocking out his opponent in just 16 seconds.
MARCH 2007
Continues his first-round stoppage streak at WEC 26, only the second-ever Zuffa-run WEC event. Stann TKO’s Steve Cantwell inside 41 frenetic seconds of the first round.
MARCH 2008
After picking up two more first-round TKOs and going 5-0, Stann challenges for Doug ‘The Fire’ Marshall’s WEC light heavyweight belt at WEC 33. Stann endures a second-minute Marshall flurry to land a left hook that drops Marshall to the mat. Punches while standing in Marshall’s guard ensure Stann as the new owner of the light heavyweight belt.
AUGUST 2008
Rematches Steve Cantwell at WEC 35, this time with his 205lb title up for grabs. Cantwell TKO’s Stann to take the belt, the first (and to date only) strike-based stoppage loss in Stann’s career.
APRIL 2009
Jumps to the UFC after the WEC’s plus-155lb classes are absorbed. Faces TUF alum Krzysztof Soszynski at UFC 97 in Montreal for his debut, submitting to the Polish-Canadian’s kimura in under four minutes of the first round.
SEPTEMBER 2009
Follows up the first losses of his career with a rubber match win over Steve Cantwell at UFC Fight Night 19 for both his first decision ‘W’ and first UFC victory.
FEBRUARY 2010
After another three-round judges’ win, Stann faces off with rising prospect Phil Davis. The military veteran has no answer for Davis’ takedowns or Division 1-caliber wrestling and drops a unanimous decision.
AUGUST 2010
Drops down to middleweight and takes on champion grappler Mike Massenzio at UFC Live 2 in San Diego. In a ‘Fight of the Night’ performance, Stann taps Massenzio with a triangle to move to 9-3.
JANUARY 2011
Upsets the iron-chinned Chris Leben at UFC 125 on New Year’s Day. Stann drops Leben with a knee before finishing off with strikes for the unexpected TKO win at 3:37 of the first.
MAY 2011
Takes on last Sengoku middleweight champion Jorge Santiago at UFC 130. Stann rocks the Brazilian veteran a number of times before finally putting him away with strikes at the end of round two.
