Issue 070

December 2010

It’s not about the size of the dog in the game, it’s about the size of the game in the dog.’ Strength of character and tenacity are rightly admired in MMA, if not put in quite the same bracket as skills. Perhaps it’s because the former are both characteristics that all of us can aspire to, whereas talent is considered latent, something we’re born with (or not, as the case may be). And with MMA expanding, bringing greater risks and rewards, leading to the sort of tactical performances that can be seen in any major sport, a fighter who fires for the finish is rightfully lauded. 

For these reasons, everybody loves a ‘Fight of the Night’ winner. But what constitutes the ‘Fight of the Night’? Some commentators say the award – whether it’s official in the form of a glittering bonus from UFC and WEC owners Zuffa, or simply comes in the form of anecdotal notoriety – is becoming more about a slugfest than flair.

Looking at the nominations, chosen by fans online, for the Fighters Only World Mixed Martial Arts Awards ‘Fight of the Year’, it seems that the majority of us do demand more than just an out and out brawl. Judging by the shortlist of five, voters seem concerned with watchable bouts that have everything – dramatic vignettes featuring ‘heart’, skills and narrative. 

Anderson Silva’s victory over Chael Sonnen, albeit somewhat complicated by Sonnen’s unnaturally high testosterone levels, saw the arrogant champion finally tested but not found wanting. Brock Lesnar came back from life-threatening illness to weather Shane Carwin’s first-round pounding and slap on a sub. Chris Leben returned to the Octagon for the second time in a fortnight to soak up everything that flair fighter Yoshihiro ‘Sexyama’ Akiyama had to throw at him, and to also secure that surprise last-gasp tapout. Memorable clashes to say the least. Robbie Lawler’s KO of Melvin Manhoef, Scott Smith’s of Cung Le and Carlos Condit’s TKO in the dying seconds of his comeback against Rory McDonald all possess similar characteristics.

The other two fights on the short list are distinct. Not all of us caught Jorge Santiago and Kazuo Misaki’s Sengoku clash in August. A back-and-forth battle that featured multiple submission attempts (and eyebrow-raising escapes), martial arts skills and determination were both on display. Few aficionados or lay fans would criticize it as a ‘Fight of the Year’ candidate. 

But the contender that’s caused contention is ‘The Korean Zombie’ Chan Sung Jung’s WEC 48 dust-up with Leonard Garcia. The cynical view is that the fight wasn’t much different to two drunks busting each other up outside a bar. It’s not like watching wasn’t fun, but it was a surreptitious thrill nonetheless. It’s this kind of ‘Fight of the Night’ that has purists in a spin. A brawl, they say, isn’t a mixed martial arts contest.

More of this year’s supposedly seminal bouts have drawn criticism. September’s Matt Mitrione vs Joey Beltran springs to mind. But even more draining, in this writer’s eyes at least, have been the matchups where the combatants are trying to emulate a ‘barnstormer’. Chris Lytle and Matt Serra’s fight on the same UFC 119 card is the obvious example. Both have skills and justifiable ‘Fight of the Night’ bonuses to spare. So why face each other straight on, launching looping punches of the kind that would make a boxing instructor despair? (Lytle, to be fair, often seems to be somewhat unwillingly caught up in such incidents and did his best not to fall too deeply into the slugfest trap). 

It should be made clear that no one can resent an MMA combatant aiming for the quick route to a bonus that could double his pay packet. But Shogun vs Machida 2, those fights weren’t. And as that particular rematch, short as it was, proved, it is possible to take part in an intense striking clash with skills. Another matchup between two of MMA’s most noted stand-ups, the 2008 ‘Fight of the Year’ between Wanderlei Silva and Chuck Liddell, saw both throwing precise punches and kicks from angles. More recently Brad Pickett and Scott Jorgensen’s bout at WEC 50 featured silky striking. And Anthony Pettis vs Shane Roller on the same card demonstrated that grappling can be inspiring too. As did this writer’s choice for 2009’s ‘Fight of the Year’, Joe Stevenson vs Nate Diaz. Talking of Stockton’s finest, Nate’s brother Nick combines aggression with an unorthodox striking style in a thoroughly entertaining manner. Anthony Njoukani, Jose Aldo, Anderson Silva, Jon Jones and Frankie Edgar (even with their wrestling bases), Andre Winner, Pat Barry, Mark Hominick, Gegard Mousasi, Ross Person, Paul Daley... Inspiring strikers are hardly thin on the ground.

The issue, though, isn’t just an unambitious criteria for what makes a memorable mixed martial arts fight. Not every fan – and it’s hardly something to get too upset about – can recognize proficiency. Lyoto Machida, for example, epitomizes high culture to some of us and a represents a witless dirge to others. The intricacies of upmarket striking, let alone the ground game, are not picked up easily – but they are eventually. Audience recognition in the form of applause for transitions and even footwork grows with every televised event. Those of us who consider ourselves educated might be snooty when it comes to some Fights of the Night. But if these bouts bring new fans, who can then come to realize the true majesty of 21st century full-contact martial arts, those slugfests – and the guys doling out and taking endless looping punches – deserve the bonuses.