MOST FRIGHTENING ENCOUNTER

Stefan Struve vs Travis Browne, UFC 130

It’s been a long time since a referee had to remind a combatant not to grab over the top of the cage. The visual of six-foot-seven Hawaiian Travis Browne teeing off with six-foot-eleven Dutchman Stefan Struve was all a bit twilight zone anyway (especially since they entered the UFC 130 ring after sub six-footers Thiago Alves and Rick Story) but seeing Browne able to dangle his arms up and out of the Octagon when he was merely clinching Struve was weird. Possibly not as odd as seeing a giant of Struve’s height Fosbury Flop his way to the floor care of a Travis Browne knockout though. Surreal.

BEST PROMO

Josh Barnett, Strikeforce: Overeem vs Werdum

Pro wrestling is nothing to be shunned. The crossovers between the squared circle and the Octagon are numerous, both in participants and process. After arm triangling Brett Rogers into submission, Josh Barnett channeled his sideline job (‘The Baby Faced Assassin’ moonlights as a pro wrestler in Japan) by cutting a promo in the Strikeforce cage, interrupting Gus Johnson’s post-fight interview. Barnett promising: “I’m going to add one skull to the collection, until the next, until the next. Until I’m standing on top of a pile of bodies with a pile of gold in my hand,” has to be one of the best lines of 2011.

NEARLY COMEBACK KID

Jorge Santiago, UFC 130

Ex-marine powerhouse Brian Stann might have ultimately knocked him unconscious at UFC 130 – 31 seconds before the end of round two – but Brazilian all-rounder Jorge Santiago persevered through a mass of concussion-threatening adversity beforehand even if he didn’t get the win. Showing the kind of heart that helped him and Kazuo Misaki put on a rollercoaster matchup in 2010 (grabbing a nomination for ‘Fight of the Year’ at the FO World MMA Awards), Santiago fought off the cobwebs multiple times to try and get the victory. That’s what they call heart.

MOST UNDUE CRITICISM

‘Rampage’ Jackson, UFC 130

When and why fans have decided multiple, albeit unsuccessful, attempts to finish a bout mean a main-event fighter ‘blows’ and/or ‘sucks’ no one can be sure. But, if Internet consensus were the law apparently that would be our brand-new, in-depth assessment of former UFC light heavyweight champion and Pride veteran Quinton Jackson. Although ‘Rampage’ couldn’t put away the hardy Matt Hamill within three rounds at UFC 130 he certainly made FO’s blood pump when he had ‘The Hammer’ on the ropes in each stanza and entirely shut down his opponent’s takedown game. Flak officially not warranted.

HELLO JIU-JITSU, MY OLD FRIEND

Miguel Torres vs Demetrious Johnson, UFC 130

Yeah, we thought high-class jiu-jitsu exchanges might be extinct too. Thankfully, due to Miguel Torres and Demetrious Johnson’s thrilling back-and-forth grapple fest at UFC 130 it appears that’s no longer the case. Fast transitions, slick sweeps and sly feints all made an appearance and proved BJJ can offer even more than an exciting, one-way means to an end. Despite being intensely dangerous from his back, Carlson Gracie-trained Torres lost the decision to the more explosive Matt Hume disciple Johnson. You’re welcome back any time, jiu-jitsu.

WALK THIS WAY

Dave Herman and Jon Olav Einemo, UFC 131

Sometimes a walkout is not great because of what a fighter does, but what he does it to. UFC 131 had two athletes pick strong strut-out themes. Dave Herman dared to go where so many of the UFC roster had threatened, entering to Culture Club’s Do You Really Want To Hurt Me. And his opponent, Jon Olav Einemo, might not have been as inventive but his perfectly timed, overly dramatic thrust of a Vancouver Canucks flag into the air sent the BC crowd into fervor while Guns ‘n Roses’ Sweet Child O’ Mine filled the air. That’s how you really make a debut.

LOVE HANDLE ISLAND

Aaron Rosa vs Joey Beltran, UFC 131

The waistlines of Roy Nelson, Mike Russow and the like are constantly proving that in MMA a spare tire is not a valid indicator of a bout’s victor or the heart and abilities of the owner. UFC 131’s softer-edged scrappers Aaron Rosa and Joey Beltran proved as much when they went toe-to-toe, threw technique to the wind and let the leather fly. Their never-say-die attitude, matched with Dave Herman and Jon Olav Einemo’s ‘Fight of the Night’ resilience on the same card, makes you wonder what the UFC feeds their heavyweights.

MOST ANTI-CLIMACTIC BOUT

Fabricio Werdum vs Alistair Overeem, Strikeforce: Overeem vs Werdum

One of 2011’s most legitimately anticipated bouts, between Fedor-submitting grappling ace Fabricio Werdum and K-1 champ striking-giant Alistair Overeem, turned out to be somewhat of a damp squib. Both were game for a show-stealing finish but via completely neutralizing methods. A charged Overeem had little time for the confident Werdum’s jiu-jitsu trap, while the latter had no intention of standing in the pocket or launching a double-leg, mostly attempting guard flops to ground the Dutchman. Though Overeem was the decision victor he answered few of his critics, and meanwhile Werdum was the scapegoat for the bout’s lackluster action. Unfortunately, this might have been what the late Patrick Swayze meant in ‘80s bust-up flick Roadhouse when he said: “Nobody ever wins a fight.”

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