TAP OR SNAP

Ronda Rousey, Strikeforce Challengers 18

Ronda Rousey’s highly impressive 25-second flying armbar win at Strikeforce Challengers 18 could have been remembered for exactly what is was, but a three-way snafu meant the Olympic bronze medalist judoka’s third professional win will always be burdened with an asterisk. Rousey mistook fellow 145lb’er Sarah D’Alelio’s armbar-induced scream for a verbal submission and communicated as much to referee Steve Mazzagatti who promptly stopped the bout. Cue a protesting D’Alelio, a confused Mazzagatti and a disappointed Rousey, all showered in a blanket of boos from the Las Vegas crowd. Never mind that it looked as if ‘Rowdy’ had the hold so tight she could have nearly ripped off D’Alelio’s arm if she hadn’t let up, apparently it had been communicated that any noise during a catch would be regarded as a verbal tap. Miss Rousey, consider it a ‘W.’

ULTIMATE YOUNG GUN

Rory McDonald, UFC 133

If you’ve never seen a hype train before it looks like Canadian welterweight Rory McDonald. These theoretical vehicles do one of two things: they splutter to a halt after a handful of losses or (rarely) prove to be legitimately bandwagon-worthy unbeatable machines. McDonald’s victory over the very hardy and experienced Mike Pyle at UFC 133 may well qualify him as the latter. Frighteningly powerful ground ‘n’ pound secured him the win in the first round where he’d looked more than comfortable tussling with a man who owned a career 30 fights deep. Pull up a chair and watch with interest.

BIGGEST STATEMENT

Ben Henderson, UFC Live 5

And people said the WEC lightweights couldn’t hang in the UFC. Former WEC 155lb champ Ben Henderson officially proved them wrong at UFC Live 5 when he snapped the surging Jim Miller’s seven-fight win streak with an utterly dominating decision showing. When he wasn’t out-landing on the feet, Henderson used takedowns to lay down some stunningly destructive ground ‘n’ pound. Most had Miller penciled as the next lightweight number-one contender and a future title owner. Consider Henderson the division’s official momentum hijacker until told otherwise.

15-MINUTE CLINIC

Sarah Kaufman vs Liz Carmouche, Strikeforce Challengers 17

Former military girl Liz Carmouche may have nearly dethroned Strikeforce welterweight champion Marloes Coenen in March, but she was soundly beaten by former title holder Sarah Kaufman in July. A one-time aviation electrician in the US Marine Corps, Carmouche was thoroughly bested by Kaufman’s use of striking combinations and well controlled against the cage throughout the fight to lose a unanimous decision. It didn’t quite offer the fireworks proponents of women’s MMA hope will change the UFC’s perspective on fairer-sex fights, but Carmouche’s heart and Kaufman’s skills proved there’s more than enough merit in taking the girls seriously.

STRIKE AND SUBMIT

Ovince St Preux, Strikeforce Challengers 17

An impressive Ovince St Preux performance is so commonplace it’s sort of become a bit old hat. The 11-4 Haitian-American, undefeated in 18 months and eight fights, has been so dominant of late, but that doesn’t make his Strikeforce Challengers 17 punch-based victory over Joe Cason any less impressive. After a few brief exchanges, St Preux landed a knee-cum-kick to Cason’s head that rocked the 8-1 American, giving ‘OSP’ the opportunity to thrash away with punishing ground ‘n’ pound so intense it had Cason tapping out at 1:12 of the fight. Perhaps ‘Power Glove’ can finally apply to something other than a poorly designed (though immensely cool) late ‘80s Nintendo controller.

STAND-UP SNIPER

Tarec Saffiedine, Strikeforce: Fedor vs Henderson

He might have found little resistance from an unusually passive Scott Smith, but Tarec Saffiedine’s strike-based performance over ‘Hands of Steel’ was a nothing short of a striking clinic. The Belgian, who fights out of Team Quest in California, picked his East Coast adversary apart landing near enough at will. He even found time to loosen up and get creative in the latter half, starting combinations with right uppercuts and dropping five-strike combos. So dominant was Saffiedine’s performance that one judge even awarded a 10-8 round in his favor. If only Nick Diaz hadn’t departed Strikeforce for the UFC, fans could have seen a mouth-watering stand-up affair between the two.

SLICK JITS AWARD

Cole Miller, UFC Live 5

Think a chap having only a single arm around his opponent’s neck means he can’t possibly get a guillotine submission? Well UFC lightweight Cole Miller just rocked your world; the American Top Team product did just that against TJ O’Brien at UFC Live 5. Predominantly located in the repertoires of certified jiu-jitsu pimps (people usually call them ‘black belts’), one-armed guillotines are scarce but highly impressive. It was so good the brown belt would likely have been $65,000 richer had Chris Lytle not tapped Dan Hardy with only 44 seconds left in the evening’s proceedings.

MOST IMPROVED GROUND GAME

Paul Daley, Strikeforce: Fedor vs Henderson

Not only did Paul Daley stuff a large portion of standout wrestler Tyron Woodley’s takedowns in their Strikeforce: Fedor vs Henderson welterweight belt eliminator he nearly pulled off what could well have been ‘Submission of the Year.’ Once chastised for his rudimentary ability on the canvas, the Brit rolled through Woodley’s failed single-leg takedown attempt as the third round came to a close, nearly securing a highly unexpected omoplata finish. Although Daley suffered on his back under Woodley’s takedown-themed gameplan for much of the bout he kept his hips active and flirted with submission attempts. Oddmakers mightn’t need worry about Daley pulling out flying armbars on them, but consider the Brit to have another string to his bow.

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