Issue 049
May 2009
With so many events taking place around the world, it’s impossible to feature them all, but here is a selection of the notable events from the last month.
Worst Refereeing
Yves Lavigne
French-Canadian Yves Lavigne is usually on the money when it comes to his calls, and he’s built-up a deserved status as Canada’s best MMA referee, but he got it horribly wrong when officiating Matt Brown’s mugging of Pete Sell on UFC 96. Lavigne briefly stopped the fight when Brown dropped Sell, bizarrely allowed the fight to go on, then watched as Brown battered Sell for a wince-inducing period that even Brown was unhappy with. Poor call, Yves.
Biggest Dumbass
David Gardner
When Japanese submissions wizard Shinya Aoki took on David Gardner, the collective response from MMA fans the world over was: “Who?” Though he lost the fight, the little-known Gardner has ensured the MMA world will remember his name, if only for the wrong reasons. Gardner, severely outclassed by slick Shinya, was defending a rear naked choke when he decided to wave to the crowd and call out, “Hi Japan!” Aoki slipped in the choke, and Gardner tapped, forever ensuring fans remember him as the dumbass who let Shinya Aoki tap him out.
Flawless Victory
Mike Brown vs Leonard Garcia
The American Top Team fighter, Brown, took Urijah Faber’s title with a massive right hand. Though he had done his homework and looked well prepared, Garcia fell victim to the same shot and found himself on the canvas inside the first minute of the bout. Brown sealed it with a choke in a truly flawless victory. Scary.
Most Over-the-Top Praise
Joe Rogan on Terry Etim
Terry Etim has been one of the UK’s best kept secrets. Though he went 1-2-0 in his first three UFC fights, he’s a skilled kickboxer who really got to show off his stand-up skills when he took on Sam Stout in October 2008. Everyone (including Stout) had thought he was a grappler, as he had racked up nine submission wins in total. Playing a perfect sprawl ‘n brawl strategy against Brian Cobb, Terry’s style caught the eye of the always-excitable Joe Rogan, who compared him to Anderson Silva. Easy now, Joe!
Craziest Combination
Nate Marquardt
A flying knee, a right hand, two left high kicks, a right high kick, followed by a spinning backfist and a right hook, another right hand and a knee. We were worn out just watching it! Imagine how Wilson Gouveia felt as all of the above attacks were launched at his head in the space of less than three seconds. Yeah, you’d probably quit too.
Slickest Submission
Demian Maia
How good is Demian Maia? Another Team Quest member bites the dust to the Brazilian, another Submission of the Night bonus in his pocket, and another step up the ladder for the middleweight submission specialist.
Most Emotional Victory Speech
Matt Hamill
When deaf wrestler Matt Hamill won at UFC 96, he did so in his home state of Ohio. The light heavyweight, who had just KO’d Mark Munoz with an awesome head kick, let it all out in his post-fight interview with Joe Rogan.
Most Bizarre Ring Entrance
Diego Sanchez
Getting psyched up for a fight is nothing unusual, but Diego Sanchez took things to a whole new level in his pre-fight entrance at UFC 95. Stopping every few steps on the way to the Octagon to scream “Yes!”, he raised a few eyebrows for sure, but what really got tongues wagging was the spittle and drool around his mouth. Working himself into a frenzy or chugging on soda before getting into the cage? Your guess is as good as ours.
Loudest Statement
Dan Hardy vs Rory Markham
A picture-perfect left hook to the temple, Hardy was criticised by Markham prior to the fight for having “no punching power”. One swift, crunching blow put that claim to bed.
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