Best Comeback

Houston Alexander, Shark Fights 13

In any other fight Houston Alexander’s night would have ended in the first round when a Sokoudjou left floored him and a frightening barrage of strikes followed. Alexander buckled on a couple of occasions but stayed in the game by holding on to a single leg takedown. He fought out the rest of the round and delivered a number of heavy jabs then a right that rocked Sokoudjou in the second. A heap of punches and one overdue stoppage later and the journeyman had snatched what seemed an unlikely victory five minutes earlier.

Near-Daley Moment

Jamie Varner, WEC 51

It looked as though Jamie Varner realized mid push that shoving Donald Cerrone in the back seconds after the final bell of their bad-intentioned three-round war wasn’t the best idea. So, instead of giving ‘Cowboy’ a shove that would have had his contract on Zuffa’s chopping block, Varner executed what ended up looking like a bent-armed back tickle to the Colorado native. In fairness Cerrone (who came out of the judges’ decision one win heavier) had forearmed him away when presented with a conciliatory handshake seconds earlier.

‘Slipperiest’ Customer

Nate Marquardt, Ultimate Fight Night 22

Thanks to some quick thinking from those at ringside, Nate Marquardt avoided the dreaded ‘controversial’ tag being digitally etched into his Wikipedia page for all eternity. His UFN 22 opponent Rousimar Palhares openly complained about the American’s legs being greased (thus providing easy escape from ankle locks) before and after his ground ‘n’ pounding. But referees, cornermen and doctors quickly inspected Marquardt’s ankles right on the spot and ruled there was no unnatural lubrication. Although, Marquardt did admit he “had a good sweat going before the fight”.

Zombie Killer

George Roop, WEC 51

A fighter having such unshakable punch resistance that he’s actually endowed with a nickname as flat-out brilliant as ‘The Korean Zombie’ sounds like a stone-carved promise. Which means the last thing you’d expect your eyes to witness is said undead strike-sponge spread eagled on the WEC ring canvas after being cleanly and abruptly knocked out by a left high kick. George Roop delivered it though. Perhaps he’ll get a part in the next George A Romero flick.

Tightest Armbar

Megumi Fujii, Bellator 31

Pushing her record to an amazing 22-0 took Megumi Fujii only 1:39 into round one. It looked effortless for the Japanese 115lb’er at Bellator 31, at the end of September. The armbar from mount over Lisa Ward that advanced her to the finals was textbook and looked so tight it took less than a second to get the submission. But it was Ward’s pained yelp as she tapped to ‘Mega Megu’ that really punctuated its efficiency.

Best Anderson Silva Impression

Charles Oliveira, Ultimate Fight Night 22

With mid-fight showboating and risky, elaborate strikes, exciting lightweight upstart Charles Oliveira looked every bit Anderson Silva circa 2006. Arrogance? Maybe. But it beats the increasingly common stone-faced clinch fests of late. He backed it all up, though, turning an innocuous-looking side body-lock into a back mount and then a fight-ending rear naked choke.

Most Confusing Celebration

Thiago Tavares, UFC 119

Was he pretending to be a gladiatorial victor having a scrub down post tournament? Or trying to instigate a 2010 version of the Macarena? Whichever of those confusing possibilities caused Thiago Tavares to methodically and intensely rub his limbs in the middle of the Octagon after finishing Pat Audinwood with a guillotine, he was undoubtedly fired up. Hopefully it’s not the same fearsome look he has in the gym showers.

Toughest Chin

Matt Serra, UFC 119

For a BJJ black belt Matt Serra can certainly take care of himself on the feet. His September fight with Chris Lytle at UFC 119 in Indianapolis showed the man’s stand-up skill but also the New Yorker’s resilient jaw. No matter what Lytle, a former boxer, threw at Serra, ‘The Terror’ wouldn’t go down. There were plenty of sketchy moments too: the TUF 4 winner nearly lost his legs on a number of occasions but rebounded clear eyed within seconds, he even flew a couple of solid hooks into Lytle’s head that nearly turned the tide. How the scrap didn’t have its combatants’ bank accounts benefit from ‘Fight of the Night’ bonuses is a mystery.

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