Issue 114

May 2014

The 205lb weight class heats up, an early ‘Knockout of the Year’ contender and a Bellator brawl. Judges’ Verdict is back in your life.

JONESING FOR A FIGHT

Alexander Gustafsson, UFC Fight Night London

Swedish light heavyweight Alexander Gustafsson couldn’t have made a better argument for a rematch with champion Jon Jones than by knocking out Jimi Manuwa in fine style in March. Just over a minute into the second round of the UFC Fight Night London main event, having survived throughout the bout several of the grazing haymakers Manuwa is known for, Gustafsson smashed a right knee into ‘The Poster Boy’s chin from the clinch, whipping the hometown hero’s head back and shaking him up. 

‘The Mauler’ swarmed on the Londoner and cracked him with a corking right uppercut that dropped him onto his back, where he was prime for the two vicious hammerfists it took for referee Marc Goddard to call the contest. During his post-fight interview, Gustafsson snagged the microphone and stared down the camera lens, WWE style, and called out Jones for a return matchup after their close 2013 ‘Fight of the Year’ – although he didn’t mention any no-disqualification stipulations or anything about tables, ladders or chairs. 

The Stockholm-based striker says he’s got even better since their last bout, and, with performances like this, we’re inclined to believe him. 

Anyone up for ‘Fight of the Year’ 2014?

ER, WHAT?

Saul Rogers vs. John Maguire, Cage Warriors 65

Would you expect ex-UFC submission specialist John Maguire (he of pink belt, gypsy jiu-jitsu fame) to lose to local-circuit submission specialist Saul Rogers? On paper, no you would not. In the ring, you really should. Because that’s what happened at Cage Warriors 65 in March. Facing one another in the main event, perennial slow starter Maguire couldn’t get any of his submission attempts to stick and was often on the wrong end of what damage was doled out to drop the first two brackets on every judge’s card. Welcome to the upset club, Saul Rogers.

SMELLS LIKE BEEF

‘Rampage’ Jackson and ‘King Mo’ Lawal, Bellator 110

“You next! You next!” No, we’re not quoting what Roy Nelson no doubt hears several times a day at Burger King. Rather telling you what Bellator light heavyweight ‘Rampage’ Jackson was screaming at ‘King Mo’ Lawal when both earned a berth in the promotion’s 205lb tournament finals. Each won at Bellator 110, Lawal by decision and Jackson by KO, and while the latter was on a post-fight microphone rant his often-time foe Lawal strolled into the cage. Shoving, shouting and scowling ensued. Based on what a commissioner told a reporter, there’s been talk the whole thing was a work. Which is pretty interpretive, considering Bellator always has its tourney finalists square off in the cage and because Mo and Rampage both know how to sell a fight. Either way, we might be more excited about the pre-fight trash talk than the bout. 

WEIRDEST STRIKING EXCHANGE

Danny Mitchell and Igor Araujo, UFC Fight Night London

For a bout that featured some high-level technique, Briton Danny Mitchell and Brazilian Igor Araujo engaged in a bizarre grounded strikes exchange at UFC Fight Night London. And by bizarre we mean bad but hilarious. Both welterweights are highly touted in their respective locales, and proved why in a submission-centric fight. But with 38 seconds left, and likely hearing as much from their corners while Araujo was stuck in Mitchell’s heel hook attempt, both men started furiously windmilling hammerfists. No power, little skill, even less accuracy. For literally 20 seconds non-stop they whacked arms and shoulders like two drunk girls fighting over a stiletto. Araujo got the decision, but Mitchell probably would’ve won the shoe. 

THAT WAS EASY

Daniel Cormier, UFC 170

The contemptuous push Strikeforce grand prix heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier gave a dizzy, turtled-up Patrick Cummins at UFC 170 epitomised their bout, him forcing the referee to intervene having just knocked seven bells out of the understudy. Cummins was game, and connected with a handful of strikes but inevitably got caught, made to mimic Bambi and finished with a stream of whopping rights on the ground. Should a chap making his UFC debut after four fights on 10 days’ notice have done more? No. Should he have expected better treatment for breaking the wrestlers’ code and telling everyone Daniel Cormier had cried while training for the Olympics? Also no. 

ANTI-THEFT  

Gegard Mousasi and Lyoto Machida, UFC Fight Night 36 

Warning. Attenzione. Achtung. Hat thieves have returned to the UFC. The public are warned these cap stealers are likely over-excited and over-enthusiastic. 

What do UFC 105, 115 and 134 all have in common? Rampant lid lifting during fighter entrances. And two fans at UFC Fight Night 36 in Jaragua Do Sul were caught on camera trying to do the same to Gegard Mousasi and Lyoto Machida. 

Thankfully, for the sake of both headliners’ sponsors, the delinquents had chosen two of the UFC’s most switched-on strikers to try their luck on. During his walkout Mousasi’s keen defensive instincts allowed him to spot the potential perpetrator and dodge the theft effort. 

The middleweight’s opponent, Machida, didn’t recognise the attack until it was too late – although he did break from his entrance to successfully negotiate the safe return of his Bony Acai dome covering. The Brazilian may have decisioned the Dutchman but they were both winners against crime. 

MOST STIRRING PEP TALK

Georges St Pierre and Francis Carmont, UFC Fight Night 36

Give ex-UFC king Georges St-Pierre less than 60 seconds to repeat the same kind of adrenaline-pumping speech he gave Francis Carmont in Brazil recently and we reckon he’d make us do absolutely anything. Like run through a wall, or try to start a fight with Fedor Emelianenko. Between the second and third rounds of Carmont’s fight with ‘Jacare’ Souza at UFC Fight Night 36, chief second St-Pierre lit a fire under his training partner before the bout’s deciding round. ‘Rush’ started screaming: “Let’s do this. Last round, let’s go.” Carmont started roaring back in reply, and St-Pierre gave him some more: “This is the fight of your life. Five minutes of your life!” And Carmont rose from his stool practically foaming at the mouth. It didn’t win him the third (or the fight) but at least now you know you can call GSP the next time you can’t manage dessert.  

BEST KNOCKOUT

Dong Hyun Kim, UFC Fight Night China

No sooner have we awarded ‘Knockout of the Year’ than these bloody fighters start KO’ing each other again – and in style. You won’t have guessed from his knocking out John Hathaway with a stunning spinning back-elbow, but Dong Hyun Kim used to be a guy who didn’t want to finish fights. Judging by the berserker fighting style he used at UFC Fight Night China in Macau that’s now the only thing he’s interested in. From thae opening bell he was all hooks and overhands against his British welterweight opponent. It worked, too, when he rocked Hathaway twice in the first, and encouraged him into a low-technique brawl, which really paid off in the third when Hathaway missed a lead right elbow and got popped, hard, with that spinning attack. ‘Hitman’ out cold, Kim on the early Awards shortlist.