Issue 099
March 2013
FO picks out 12 of the biggest moments from 2012 – a year packed with thrills, spills and outrageous skills
Jose Aldo and friends
UFC 142, January 14th
Moments after his picture-perfect, fight-ending knee to Chad Mendes’ face, José Aldo escaped the Octagon and the clutches of concerned security, charging into the jubilant crowd to celebrate with his Rio de Janeiro fans. Brazilians, so the cliché goes, love to party, and they certainly showed it here in an unforgettable scene of sheer jubilation with one of their own.
Condit runs away with victory
UFC 143, February 4th
With Nick Diaz originally meant to challenge Georges St Pierre, and Carlos Condit slated to fight Josh Koscheck, GSP’s knee injury opened the door for an interim title fight between Diaz and Condit. An intelligent fighter, ‘The Natural Born Killer’ brilliantly executed a hit-and-run strategy that earned him the decision win but left plenty screeching about supposedly poor judging.
Saitama Drama
UFC 144, February 26th
On the UFC’s return to Japan after a 12-year absence, Yushin Okami battered Tim Boetsch for two rounds until the American staged a remarkable comeback, finishing the local fighter in the third. Whilst in the main event, before an appreciative Tokyo crowd, Benson Henderson took Frankie Edgar’s lightweight title in a superb, close five-round fight.
Curran destroys Warren REIGN
Bellator 60, March 9th
Ending Joe Warren’s 18-month Bellator featherweight title reign in devastating fashion, 24-year-old Pat Curran highlighted his status as a genuine star of the future. Early in the third round he badly hurt Warren and, as dangerously clueless referee Jeff Malott stood by, unloaded a frightening series of punches and knees to his helpless opponent.
Varner returns to upset Barboza
UFC 146, May 26th
Released by Zuffa in 2010 after going 0-3-1 in his last four WEC fights, the promotion’s former lightweight champion, Jamie Varner, hit the regional circuit. However, an injury to Evan Dunham earned him a late-notice UFC return against heavily favoured, unbeaten Brazilian Edson Barboza. Yet Varner simply wrecked Barboza, handing out a first-round beating to pull off a stunning upset.
Dana inducts Tito
UFC Hall of Fame Ceremony, July 7th
With a near 15-year, up-and-down business relationship (first as Ortiz’s manager, then promoter) and a ruined friendship behind them, seeing White announce Tito’s richly deserved entry into the UFC Hall of Fame was strangely fitting. The perfect ending was spoilt, however, the following night, when Ortiz dropped a tough decision in his rousing retirement fight to old foe Forrest Griffin.
Anderson vanquishes Chael
UFC 148, July 7th
Almost two years on from their epic UFC 117 fight, where Silva triangled in the fifth after a 20-minute beating, the peerless ‘Spider’ and trash-talking Sonnen fought again. Taking advantage of Sonnen’s attempt at a spinning elbow that saw him fall over, Silva landed a flying knee to the body that at first looked like an illegal strike to the face, before finishing him off with his trademark vicious punching.
The show that NEVER HAPPENED
UFC 151, September 1st
UFC 151 was, in the words of Dana White, “the event Jon Jones and Greg Jackson murdered.” True, they had accomplices – Dan Henderson kept his knee injury quiet for too long and UFC booked a show with just one marketable fight – but it was Jones and Jackson’s staggering decision not to risk fighting an unprepared Chael Sonnen on eight days’ notice that did the deed. The lowest point in a year of bookings decimated by injuries.
Belfort beats ‘Bones’ – almost
UFC 152, September 22nd
Booed without mercy on entering the Octagon, UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones was expected to obliterate Vitor Belfort. When Belfort trapped him in a tight armbar the audience went bananas, sensing a shocking upset. But Jones toughed it out, despite immense pain, and went on to submit a completely exhausted ‘Phenom’ in the fourth as the audience cheered.
Bonnar bewildered, Herman Humbled
UFC 153, October 13th
Nothing summed up the last-minute main event mismatch between Anderson Silva and the hopelessly outclassed Stephan Bonnar than the moment when Silva stood, hands down, against the cage, letting Bonnar try to hit him. Another highlight from this card happened earlier too, as Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira made Dave Herman eat his words about Brazilian jiu-jitsu “not working on him” – as he tapped to an armbar.
Cung Le stuns Franklin – AND everyone else
UFC on Fuel 6, November 10th
Fleshy, 40-year-old Cung Le, a slower version of the high-kicking human highlight reel who thrilled Strikeforce fans some years ago, was not expected to beat Rich Franklin. Not even close. What everyone hadn’t reckoned on was his timing and eye for an opening, as Rich left his chin exposed for a thunderous shot, spinning him around and leaving him completely unconscious, face to the mat.
Nick Newell: Inspiration
XFC 21, December 7th
Born with his left arm missing just below the elbow, Newell won the vacant XFC lightweight crown after throwing opponent Eric Reynolds with a belly-to-back suplex and then clamping on a rear naked choke for a stirring 82-second success. Newell’s inspiring win was, in the words of commentator Michael Schiavello, “not just a great moment in mixed martial arts, but a great moment in sport.”
...
