Issue 059

February 2010

Chaotic brawls with concussive endings are often cited whenever talk turns to MMA’s ‘greatest’ fights. Certainly, they are some of the most memorably exciting but whenever the discussion goes a little deeper, or longer, more-technical fights (whether they are grappling master-classes or expert stand-up displays) are always mentioned. This month Andrew Garvey looks at five of them.

1 Carlos Newton vs Kazushi Sakuraba

Pride 4, June 24, 1998 

Even now, more than 11 years on, Japanese legend Sakuraba’s finely balanced, intricately skilled clash with the Canadian ‘Ronin’ is still commonly hailed as the most technical grappling match in MMA history. Aside from the high level of skill on display (especially for its time), the fight is almost unique and likely best remembered for both men’s relentless obsession with testing their mat skills against a similarly skilled master. Largely ignoring all options to throw any strikes, they fought for over 15 minutes before Sakuraba eventually trapped Newton with a decisive kneebar. Both a classic and a curiosity, this is a must-see fight for any fan.

2 Takanori Gomi vs Nick Diaz

Pride 33, February 24, 2007

Stockton’s most quotable tri-athlete / fighter / smoker Diaz is rarely held up as a purveyor of proper technique. Relying on landing some 3,687 of his irritatingly pitter-patter punches per round from a dizzying array of angles, Diaz is likely to make any boxing purist scream in horror and indignation, but it’s a style that works perfectly for him and actually takes a great deal of skill to master. His submission win (later overturned and ruled a no-contest thanks to Diaz’s fondness for pre-fight marijuana) is a perfect example. And Gomi, with his power-punching style, contributed plenty of action too. That was until the notoriously training-shy Japanese star gassed out and Diaz, his face a crimson mask, expertly countered a takedown and locked on a beautiful and rare gogoplata for the (briefly enjoyed) second-round victory.  

3 BJ Penn vs Sean Sherk

UFC 84, May 24, 2008 

For some reason plenty of MMA fighters seem to think a jab is something you get from a medical professional to stop you getting the flu. Absurdly talented UFC lightweight champion Penn clearly thinks otherwise. After showcasing his straight left hand on former champion Sherk’s head in a beautifully executed three-round annihilation, everyone else should have started thinking the same way. Fast, precise and painful, Penn controlled the entire fight with the jab (with a little help from his reflexes, balance and superb takedown-defense) before finally stopping Sherk with a flying knee and some follow-up punches on the ground. Not all classics are competitive and this hugely entertaining and highly technical mauling clearly wasn’t.  

4 Demian Maia vs Jason MacDonald

UFC 87, August 9, 2008 

A little over a decade on from the Sakuraba-Newton fight, MacDonald and Brazilian submission wizard Maia put on a comparable (though much updated) mat classic. Any fool could tell you that testing Maia’s impeccable submission skills is a dangerous tactic, but, ever the competitor, MacDonald gave it a try and, despite losing by a third-round rear naked choke, put on a shockingly stubborn and competitive performance. True, Maia’s incredible skill saw him dominate long portions of the fight, but between them the two middleweights put on a tremendous show of skill and technique that proved beyond all doubt (to all but the most blinkered) just how much fun the ground game can be.  

5 Georges St Pierre vs Jon Fitch

UFC 87, August 9 2008 

Decisions don’t come much more dominant than well-earned scores of 50-43, 50-44 and 50-44, and fights don’t come much more one-sided than St Pierre’s first successful UFC welterweight title defense against the hugely talented yet still utterly outclassed Fitch. Whether it was devastating the challenger with punches, knees, multiple knockdowns or simply taking down an exceptionally good wrestler whenever he felt like it, GSP put on an absolute master class in striking and wrestling technique. Never dull, this main event earned both men a $60,000 bonus for Fight of the Night. Pretty impressive, considering the Maia-MacDonald fight took place just a couple of hours earlier.