If the first three months of the year are any indication, 2013 is going to be one hell of a year in the UFC.
Seven events into the year, we’ve already been treated to all kinds of incredible performances. From one of the best rounds in recent memory and an “I’ve never seen that one in the UFC before” submission to a handful of breakthrough performances and the official arrival of women’s MMA, the bar for 2013 has been set pretty high already.
There’s no way to know if things will continue this way going forward, but rather than dwell on what could go wrong, let’s take a quick look back at the first three months of the UFC year and enjoy the mixed martial arts goodness we’ve already gotten one more time.
JANUARY
Fight of the Month: Demetrious Johnson vs. John Dodson, UFC on FOX 6
Many questioned whether the flyweights could carry a nationally televised fight card, but “Mighty Mouse” and “The Magician” did more than that when they squared off for Johnson’s flyweight title in Chicago.
The challenger came out of the gate quickly, dropping the champion in both the first and second round, and holding a 2-1 lead heading into the championship rounds. But that’s where Johnson proved his mettle, turning up the intensity and taking the fight to Dodson. He won the final two frames rather handily, and took the bout with scores of 49-46, 48-47, and 48-47.
Perhaps more importantly, the event drew strong ratings, and the flyweights capped off the action-packed fight card with the Fight of the Night.
Knockout of the Month: Vitor Belfort, UFC on FX: Belfort vs. Bisping
After rocking Michael Bisping with a headkick late in the first round, “The Phenom” went back to the well again early in the second, and this time, the put the former Ultimate Fighter winner on the canvas. There was a great deal of attention on this fight as Bisping could have earned a title shot with a win, but instead, Belfort stole his thunder, and showed once again that he is still a dangerous threat at the top of the division.
Submission of the Month: Ryan Bader’s guillotine choke, UFC on FOX 6
There were only six submission finishes to choose from for the month, and while Ildemar Alcantara’s kneebar was surprising — considering he’d taken the fight on extremely short notice — it wasn’t exactly aesthetically pleasing.
Bader’s ultra-quick guillotine choke on Vladimir Matyushenko in Chicago was fairly slick though, as the former Ultimate Fighter winner committed to the hold right away, and wisely readjusted when he had the chance, forcing the Belarusian veteran to tap. Coming off his tepid performance opposite Lyoto Machida last summer, this was exactly the kind of emphatic win Bader needed to get back into the race in the light-heavyweight division.
Additional thoughts: Lots of breakout performances in January, including Khabib Nurmagomedov, T.J. Grant, and Ricardo Lamas… Anthony Pettis jumping off the cage and catching Donald Cerrone with a knee was ridiculous… Don’t sleep on Nik Lentz at featherweight… Remember the name Pascal Krauss.
FEBRUARY
Fight of the Month: Dennis Bermudez vs. Matt Grice, UFC 157
This is the current leader in the Fight of the Year race, and the blistering third round is one of the most fast-paced, beautifully violent rounds in recent memory.
These two fought not only like their jobs were on the line (Grice’s might have been), but like someone was going to take all their worldly possessions if they didn’t throw down for 15 minutes too. And that’s exactly what they did. Bermudez blistered Grice in the third, but the full-time police officer hung tough, and the duo earned high praise from UFC president Dana White for the performance… and $50,000 each for Fight of the Night.
Knockout of the Month: Antonio (Bigfoot) Silva
With all due respect to Tyron Woodley, the pugilistic comeuppance Silva delivered against Alistair Overeem has to be the winner here.
After taking forever to make his way from the back to the cage as he smiled and danced, Overeem showed Silva very little respect in the fight, hanging his hands around his waist, grinning as the massive Brazilian was launching shots at his smile. But a funny thing happened on the way to Overeem getting the victory — he got absolutely blistered.
Silva took full advantage of Overeem’s hubris, and dropped him with a series of heavy shots along the cage early in the third. It was fistic irony at its finest, as Silva had told Overeem the day before that he would make him respect him inside the cage. Mission: Accomplished.
Submission of the Month: Urijah Faber’s rear naked choke, UFC 157
The title description doesn’t do this finish justice, as this was far from your standard, run-of-the-mill rear naked choke.
Late in the first round of his fight with Ivan Menjivar, Faber transitioned from an inverted crucifix as Menjivar stood up to back mount with a body triangle, and then proceeded to sink in the deep choke that finished the bout. It was a quick sequence of events that you have to see to be able to fully appreciate the technical and creative elements of the finish.
Believe me, it was close between this and Kenny Robertson’s crazy modified kneebar on Brock Jardine, but in the end, I’ll take Faber’s transition over Robertson’s ingenuity, but that’s just me.
Additional thoughts: Jose Aldo is a bad man… So is Demian Maia… Tyron Woodley has the best UFC debut of the year so far… Be Bobby Green… Dustin Kimura is one of the best names in all of MMA… Renan Barao and Michael McDonald will meet again, several times… Cub Swanson is scary focused right now… Welcome back, Robbie Lawler… Are we done doubting Ronda Rousey now?
MARCH
Fight of the Month: Wanderlei Silva vs. Brian Stann, UFC Japan 2013
This was 9:08 of Rock’em Sock’em Robots in the UFC cage, and I would watch it on a continuous loop all day, everyday if I could.
Silva and Stann went toe-to-toe, blow-for-blow from the jump, and you knew right away that they weren’t going to stop until one of them was on the canvas, wondering what happened. Though the pace slowed in the second after a torrid opening frame, they still spent the whole time stalking each other and trading shots, with “The Axe Murderer” landing the finishing blow late in the round.
As great as the Carlos Condit-Johny Hendricks fight at UFC 158 was — and it was a great fight — this one gets bonus points for the atmosphere and electricity it produced at the Saitama Super Arena. This was Wanderlei Silva’s homecoming, and it was phenomenal.
Knockout of the Month: Mark Hunt vs. Stefan Struve, UFC Japan 2013
Was there really any question?
If you haven’t seen it yet, do yourself a favour and track down Josh Hedges’ shot of the final blow. It is the best “in-fight photo” I’ve seen since my friend James Law captured Anderson Silva’s “footercut” against Vitor Belfort perfectly at UFC 126.
There were a couple points in this fight where you thought Hunt was done; that Struve was either going to pound out the victory or finally connect on one of the myriad submission attempts he was working throughout. But that didn’t happen, and you started to get the feeling that the longer Hunt was able to hang around… THUNK!
Big right hand! Bigger left hand! Down goes Struve! Just awesome… not for Struve.
Submission of the Month: None
Two events, 23 fights, zero submissions. Moving on.
Additional thoughts: Hyun Gyu Lim’s knee on Marcelo Guimares was really nice, and he was looking for it all fight… “You can coast, Bryan!”… Brad Tavares is quietly getting better and better with each appearance… Dong Hyun Kim is the welterweight Yushin Okami… Okami is still very, very good… Diego Sanchez didn’t beat Takanori Gomi… T.J. Dillashaw and Jordan Mein stood out at UFC 158… Darren Elkins is 5-0 at featherweight… Johny Hendricks will be a tough test for GSP.
