Issue 062

May 2010

With so many events taking place around the world it’s impossible to feature them all, but here is our selection of outstanding moments from recent action.

Best Kick Combination 

Cole Escovedo 

Yoshihiro Maeda fell for the classic ‘low kick high kick’ combo. Escovedo’s first shot took away Maeda’s balance – the second took away his consciousness. It was a thrilling finish made all the more impressive when you consider that Escovedo did not fight for three years due to being paralyzed by a staph infection.  

Sharpest Boxing 

Alessio Sakara 

The Italian had a solid career as a former boxer before devoting himself to MMA, and it shows. He throws strikes with a machinegun-like intensity – tight, controlled bursts that shock and stun his opponent. One of the few fighters to mix up bodyshots, he used a beautiful jab to the midsection to open up shots to the head, a basic boxing trick that is all too-often forgotten in MMA.  

Sharpest Elbow

Jon Jones

One shot, right on the button – a fractured eye socket for Vera. ‘Bones’ showed he is more than just a great wrestler with another trick future opponents need to be wary of.  

Best Left Hook

Junior Dos Santos 

Dos Santos’ power is well known, but how many knew about his killer left hook? He countered Gabriel Gonzaga’s low kick with a perfectly timed left hook that rocked the former title challenger – he KO’d Fabricio Werdum and Gilbert Yvel with the same shot. Look out for the left!  

Strangest Tapout 

Paul Buentello 

Fair enough, Kongo had been mauling Buentello on the mat for the best part of three rounds, but when the Frenchman was delivering elbow after elbow to Buentello’s thighs and kidneys, we wonder if even he thought it would result in forcing a submission?  

Quickest Finish 

John Howard

One of the most explosive welterweights to join the UFC, Howard had already shown his strength by hoisting Daniel Roberts and slamming him to the mat, but it was his super-fast finish that shocked the Colorado crowd. One second, Howard was throwing chopping little leg kicks to his downed foe. In the blink of an eye he dived in with a left hook that instantaneously put Roberts to sleep. “My left hand has the power, baby,” said Howard after the fight. Welterweights beware.  

Nastiest Injury 

Duane Ludwig’s ankle 

Thankfully horrific injuries are rare in the Octagon, and this certainly isn’t as serious as it looks. Ludwig attempted to defend a takedown in the opening seconds of his bout with Darren Elkinds, but his foot got caught on the mat and his weight pushed over it, dislocating his ankle. He’ll be out for a few months at least but should return to fighting soon enough.  

Best Post-Fight Celebration 

Junior Dos Santos

John Howard’s awesome back flip could put GSP to shame, but watching Junior Dos Santos headbutt the cage in an unbridled and quite hilarious expression of joy was enough for us. We at Fighters Only support celebrations such as these.  

Funniest quote 

Joe Rogan

During the fight between Kongo and Buentello, Rogan said “Oh man, he’s getting molested.” Usually unflappable, Rogan’s broadcast partner Mike Goldberg seemed lost for words – there followed a deadly silence before Goldberg finally asked what we all thought. “What?”