Fight of the Year Contender 1

Mark Hominick vs Yves Jabouin, WEC 49

It was only fitting for the WEC’s first event on Canadian soil to feature an epic match between two of the country’s most exciting featherweights. It was an amazing toe-to-toe contest, and highlights included Hominick’s brutal liver shots, Jabouin’s spinning elbows, vicious knockdowns and an awesome last-minute comeback.

Biggest Upset

Fabricio Werdum beating Fedor Emelianenko, Strikeforce

Has there ever been a greater upset in this sport? Fedor was considered invincible, a Soviet fighting machine programmed only to destroy. Werdum was given no chance at all by the analysts or the odds makers. Sixty-nine seconds is all it took for the legend to fall. In case you wondered, that deafening silence you hear is Dana White grinning from ear to ear.

Most Exquisite Kicking

Josh Grispi, WEC 49

Grispi’s long legs mean he’s got a huge advantage in kicking over the majority of his fellow featherweights. Kicking with both feet, Grispi used high and low combinations to force LC Davis to shoot for the takedown. The trap worked and Davis fell right into Grispi’s waiting guillotine. We hope someone told him what went wrong once he woke up.

Most One-Sided Beatdown

Cris Cyborg, Strikeforce: Fedor vs Werdum

Here’s a suggestion for future opponents of Cristiane Cyborg. Learn the Portuguese for “please stop hitting me, you can take my lunch money” and maybe she’ll go easy on you. Her demolition of Jan Finney was predictably ugly. As lovely as she may be outside of the cage, Cris Cyborg is the schoolyard bully of the women’s MMA division.

Fight of the Year Contender 2

Chris Leben and Yoshihiro Akiyama, UFC 116

Coming to the ring in his judo gi and performing a ceremonial bow, Yoshihiro Akiyama looked every part the Japanese warrior. With his giant ‘samurai holding a decapitated head’ tattoo, Leben was the complete opposite to the composed and suave ‘Sexyama’. Though they cut different figures, they fought with equal gusto in a brutal contest that rightfully earned ‘Fight of the Night’. Leben’s last-minute triangle (there were 20 seconds left in the fight) saw his arm raised, but both men won our praise for their warrior spirit.

By the Skin of His Teeth

Stephan Bonnar, UFC 116

Known as ‘The American Psycho’, Stephan Bonnar went into this rematch with Krzysztof Soszynski fired up. The unlucky recipient of a fight-stopping accidental headbutt in their first meeting, Bonnar decided to make this a decisive win and pressured ‘The Polish Experiment’ throughout. The much-needed win possibly saved him from a Keith Jardine-style discharge from the promotion, making this a real ‘skin of his teeth’ return to form.

Best Comeback

Brock Lesnar, UFC 116

After the worst round of his career, Brock rallied with a solid submission win over the previously undefeated Shane Carwin. Brock was bloodied, battered and bruised, yet the champion speared Carwin to the mat and submitted him with an arm-triangle choke, showing his development as a true mixed martial artist.

Best Jab

George Sotiropoulos, UFC 116

Aussie fighter George Sotiropoulos is known for his outstanding jiu-jitsu, but the lightweight is actually a decorated boxer and was a state champion in his homeland back in 2004. Showing his versatility, Sotiropoulos flicked his jab in Pellegrino’s face again and again.

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