Issue 047
March 2009
Whenever you sit down and watch an MMA show on television, there’s bound to be a brief explanation of the rules, the judging criteria, and ways to win. As useful as these reminders are, they aren’t always as descriptive or comprehensive as they could be. Yes, they include the usual methods: KO/TKO, submission, and judges’ decision. But what about the more ‘interesting’ potential endings that never get a mention? Andrew Garvey looks at five of the freakiest finishes ever seen in the cage or ring.
1 MATT HUGHES VS CARLOS NEWTON
2nd November, 2001
UFC legend Matt Hughes’s first welterweight title reign began, essentially, with a fluke. Defending champ Newton was one of the sport’s most talented submission artists, while Hughes was a wrestling farmboy, brimming with aggression and an eye-catching array of slams. Early in the second round, Newton slapped on a tight triangle choke. Countering in his usual way, Hughes lifted Newton high on his shoulders and, after a few seconds, ‘powerbombed’ him to the canvas. With Newton squeezing the choke tighter all the way to the mat, the thudding impact KO’d the champion. On seeing the state of Newton, referee John McCarthy stopped the fight. Had he first looked at a semi-conscious Hughes, Big John might easily have called the fight in Newton’s favour. Hughes woke up first and won the belt as a result.
2 RENZO GRACIE VS EUGENIO TADEU
27th September, 1997
Yet another instalment in the long-running feud between Gracie jiu-jitsu and the rival discipline of Luta Livre, this one pitted Renzo against the short, awkward Tadeu in Rio de Janeiro. A bare-knuckled epic of its time, the fight drained both men and whipped an already raucous crowd into a frenzy. As the fighters tired, things got more and more chaotic outside the cage. People started climbing onto the apron and scuffles broke out. Drinks were thrown, the lights briefly went out, the ring announcer appealed for calm, and fists and chairs started flying. Amid the chaos the fight inside the cage was no longer the focus of anyone’s attention, and was memorably and officially recorded a no contest due to the riot.
3 GRAY MAYNARD VS ROB EMERSON
23rd June, 2007
A ferocious wrestler, Maynard is nicknamed ‘The Bully’ for a reason. When he gets in the Octagon, he bullies his opponents around the cage until they give up and give him all their lunch money. As happens in all good Hollywood films, ‘The Bully’ (who is actually a really nice guy) finally got his comeuppance when he inadvertently knocked himself out en route to what seemed like an easy win against Rob Emerson. Maynard picked his opponent up, casually walked across the Octagon and slammed him to the mat, causing Emerson to tap out due to a rib injury. As the ref stepped in, Maynard rolled off him unconscious – he had only headbutted the floor as he slammed Emerson to the mat! The fight was declared a no contest, despite Maynard’s protestations.
4 GILBERT YVEL VS ATTE BLACKMAN
13th November, 2004
One of the dirtiest players in the game, Dutch striker Yvel is no stranger to being disqualified. In 1998 he was thrown out of a Russian event for biting Karimula Barkalaev. Three years later, he was disqualified for his repeated attempts to gouge out Don Frye’s eyes in their disturbingly farcical Pride fight. But at least those assaults were committed against his opponents. Fighting in a main event in Helsinki, he cowardly assaulted the rather hapless referee. Yvel and his apologists claim he reacted to biased officiating, and from the video evidence the referee was clearly guilty of at least serious incompetence, but punching him in the face and then kicking him as he tried to get up was a disgusting overreaction. Sadly, it hasn’t stopped promoters hiring Yvel and his continued involvement is a regrettable stain on the entire sport.
5 JAMES IRVIN VS BOBBY SOUTHWORTH
9th June, 2006
Say what you like about James Irvin, but something memorable always seems to happen when he fights. So far it’s been its having his face destroyed by Anderson Silva and subsequently flunking his drug test, his eight-second Superman punch KO of Houston Alexander, his flying knee KO of Terry Martin, and this bizarre non-fight with Southworth. Usually, the California-based Strikeforce run a tight ship and are known as a commendably professional show.
This time though some fool forgot to lock the cage door and, when Southworth charged for a takedown, both men crashed hard onto the ramp. Injuring his knee as he landed, Irvin was unable to continue and the fight ended in a 17-second no contest that left the San Jose crowd very upset.
