Issue 071

January 2011

3

Number of wins inside London’s O2 Arena for Michael Bisping after he whipped Yoshihiro Akiyama at UFC 120. After a controversial decision win over Matt Hamill at UFC 75, The Ultimate Fighter 3 star blasted Jason Day at UFC 85, then stymied Akiyama at UFC 120. 

1054

Number of strikes (1,054) thrown between Nick Diaz and KJ Noons during their October rematch in Strikeforce. Diaz, who took the decision, let his hands go 443 times and connected 44% of the time, while Noons threw 611 strikes in all but connected with just 25%.

1.42

A little math tells us that Diaz and Noons averaged a strike every 1.42 seconds, which could be said to further illustrate the animosity between them.

6

Number of fights Cain Velasquez has ended via TKO in round one en route to a 9-0 record. The last was no doubt the biggest as the heavyweight dominated Brock Lesnar to grab the belt in front of an insane crowd at UFC 121. 

1

There was just one KO at UFC 120 and it was electrifying. Carlos Condit’s left hook was a split second faster and better placed than Dan Hardy’s. It was the first KO loss for ‘The Outlaw’ through 31 fights but he took it in stride, saying afterward: “It happens, but I’ll be back.”

4

Number of times the UFC has ventured to Anaheim’s Honda Center before UFC 121…

0

…The last time the UFC graced the venue’s halls was back in 2007 at UFC 76, an event that featured exactly zero stoppages due to strikes. Coincidentally it was named Knockout. 

2

In all there were just two stoppages due to punches at UFC 121 in Anaheim, California. The first fight of the night saw Jon Madsen TKO Gilbert Yvel and the last bout of the night saw Cain Velasquez yank the belt away from Brock Lesnar with a stunning first-round mauling.

Numbers provided by Zac Robinson, co-author of Sports by the Numbers: MMA. Zac has also co-written the recently released biography From the Fields to the Garden: The Life of Stitch Duran. It's available online at Amazon and blackmesabooks.com. For more info go to: www.sportsbythenumbersmma.com 

THE HIGHS AND LOWS OF  PHIL BARONI

2000

After dabbling in boxing, kickboxing and bodybuilding, Baroni makes his MMA debut at an event in New York state. He wins by knockout inside the first 35 seconds.

2001

In only his second fight Baroni takes a unanimous decision at UFC 30, the first Zuffa-operated event. It’s his first of nine appearances for the Las Vegas promotion. He beats Curtis Stout who would later go on to lose to both Anderson Silva and Rich Franklin.

2002

Beats the tough Amar Suloev at UFC 37 by TKO, then takes on former UFC middleweight champion Dave Menne at UFC 39. He triumphs inside 18 seconds after unleashing a frighteningly fast barrage of punches.

2003

Suffers a controversial TKO loss at UFC 45 to Evan Tanner. Baroni got the upper hand early but the fight was called off prematurely when the referee asked if Baroni wanted to quit to which he replied, ‘Yes.’ Baroni protested saying he’d thought the ref inquired if he wanted to continue.

2004

In answer to the controversial stoppage of their previous bout, Phil Baroni receives a rematch with Tanner at UFC 48 which he loses via unanimous decision.

EARLY 2005

A UFC 51 guillotine-submission loss to Pete Sell with 50 seconds left in the fight drops Baroni to 5-5. The result sees him cut from the UFC roster.

MID 2005

Baroni jumps to Japanese promotion Pride and wins his first two bouts by stoppage: a second-round TKO against the legendary Ikuhisa Minowa (though he drops a rematch four months later), and a first-round knockout against a pre-UFC Ryo Chonan.

2006

Gains the second of only two submission wins in his career at Pride’s first US event. Baroni scores a kimura over then 0-3 Yosuke Nishijima, a Japanese pro boxer.

2007

In a much-hyped, back-and-forth, taunt-filled grudge match with Frank Shamrock, Baroni gets choked unconscious after refusing to tap to

a second-round rear naked choke.

EARLY 2008

Baroni opens a five-fight year with a loss that costs him the now-defunct Icon Sport middleweight title, followed by a round-one TKO ‘L’ on EliteXC’s first card on national television.

MID 2008

In July, Baroni makes his welterweight debut on the penultimate Cage Rage event, winning by knockout in round one against Scott Jansen. For his trouble he’s forced to avoid a headbutt attempt from Jansen’s brother who entered the ring post fight.

2009

The UFC sign Baroni off a Joe Riggs loss at a Strikeforce event in June. Baroni takes on TUF 7 winner Amir Sadollah at November’s UFC 106 event. The New York Badass drops a hard-fought unanimous decision.