The "Best" MMA Match
by AJB on Feb 27, 2009 6:18 PM EST
96 comments
Okay, enough with the griping about "bad matches". Let's talk about the best.
An MMA match can be considered "good" or "bad" for a lot of reasons. Kid Nate made me think of the irony that Griffin-Bonnar is considered one of the "best" MMA matches ever - from an entertainment and significance standpoint - and also one of the "worst" - from a standpoint of technique, having a clear finish, and so on. So just for fun, I wanted to name my idea "best" MMA matches... in 4 different categories!
Most enjoyable to watch: Randy Couture def. Tito Ortiz (UFC 44)
via lh3.ggpht.com
I hate Tito Ortiz. I can't stand him. I never got his "thing", I always thought he was fairly boring and one dimensional, and I could never grasp why he always ran his mouth so much. Maybe it's because I was the kid who got bullied when he was young, and Tito struck me as a typical bully: brash, loud, simple, and absolutely no threat to someone big enough to respond to the demand for lunch money by saying "make me". However you slice it, at the time of this fight Tito was at a high. People were raving about his striking (it was and is average at best), his cardio (overrated in hindsight), and so on. Randy was supposed to be roadkill for Tito after going 1-2 in his previous 3 fights, losing the HW strap to Barnett, losing in the 5th round to Rodriguez, and despite shocking the world against Liddel, his age became THE storyline. Everyone knows the story from there: Couture becomes the first person to take Tito down, and does it about 8 times in the fight. He nearly subbed Tito twice, outstruck him standing, and capped the fight off by spanking him in the closing seconds... literally. Tito's yelling and swearing in frustration was music to my ears. For me, this fight was the most enjoyable because it was great to see the bully get bullied.
Most fun technical matchup: Anderson Silva def. Rich Franklin (UFC 77)
I was tempted to go with Maia/Macdonald here because I'm a sucker for a great ground war. But really, Macdonald's escapes were very impressive, but he showed not just poor wrestling but terrible decision making to REPEATEDLY go to the ground with the best submission artist in MMA today. On the other hand, Franklin did just about everything right against Silva in their rematch... and still got smashed. Remember when he started throwing combos at Silva, and the Spider dodged every shot like he was Neo? Or how about the way that Silva threw strikes with his fists, elbows, feet and knees... from the clinch? Franklin is a good striker and his gameness in this fight is really overlooked. But Anderson put on an otherworldly striking clinic that left me with the impression that the baddest man on the planet was also the middleweight champion of the UFC.
Most satisfying finish: Georges St. Pierre def. Matt Hughes (UFC 79)
Things you should know: 1) I'm a huge GSP mark; 2) I can't stand Matt Hughes (though I recognize his skills, dominance and legacy as being among the all-time best). That being said, this fight is cemented in my mind for one sentence: "TAP TAP TAP!!!" That's all that needs to be said.
Best "Did I honestly just see that?" moment: Fedor def. Mirko CroCop (PRIDE Final Conflict 2005)
You all remember this one, right? Fedor pushes forward; CroCop backs him up with a couple of stiff strikes. Suddenly there's that gap; you know, when there just enough room between the two fighters that it's the perfect distance for Mirko's killer kicks. In the blink of an eye, he unloads a head kick and hits Fedor flush. Boom... I think it took me about 20 seconds to comprehend that what my brain expected to follow - Fedor crumpling to the canvas - not only didn't happen, but that Fedor didn't even blink. The look of... confusion? ... fear? ...whatever it was on Mirko's face was classic, and Fedor's legacy as being "part machine" was cemented forever.
Your turn: your "best" fight (for whatever reason, in whatever category), and why!
The FanPosts are solely the subjective opinions of Bloody Elbow readers and do not necessarily reflect the views of Bloody Elbow editors or staff.
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That looks more like Josh Burnett vs. Cro-cop …
"It's like a flying knuckle sandwich." --Rogan
"And many men have eaten it." -- Goldy
by thetakeover on Feb 27, 2009 6:19 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Hmmm… Might be. It was tagged as Fedor-CroCop but I couldn’t see it as large as it is here so it was hard to see for sure. I’ll try and find a better one.
"I'm AJB and I endorse this nut-puncher."
by AJB on Feb 27, 2009 6:28 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Fixed it for ya. And rec’d.
Contributor Emeritus - BloodyElbow.com
by Chris Nelson on Feb 27, 2009 6:58 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
WICKED.
"I'm AJB and I endorse this nut-puncher."
by AJB on Feb 27, 2009 6:59 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
It was changed from the initial picture
Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.
by Brent Brookhouse on Feb 28, 2009 3:15 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Fight I most loved seeing: Couture – Sylvia, UFC 68
Absolutely loved seeing that the old man of the sport still had it in him.
“Did I just see that” match: Manhoef – Hunt, Dynamite 2008
Made me an instant Manhoef fan.
The most entertaining MMA match ever: Cerrone – McCullough, WEC 36
At the end of round one, Frank Mir was screaming that he needed to see another round. Couldn’t agree more. A definite proof just how entertaining MMA can be.
by lhasafi on Feb 27, 2009 6:49 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Manhoef-Hunt almost made it on for me. I think I chose Fedor-CC because it was earlier in my fan-dom, and it was the sort of thing that hooked me on the sport. But the short of the back of Hunt’s head when Melvin caught him, and the SUPER pumped celebration afterwards, was totally kick ass.
"I'm AJB and I endorse this nut-puncher."
by AJB on Feb 27, 2009 6:59 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I agree on the “Fight most loved seeing”. I couldn’t even sit down for that one.
My “Did i just see that” match would have to be Anderson Silva Vs. Chris Leben. Up until that fight i basically didn’t know anything about Silva. I remember Joe ROgan talking about how this guy was a “Different kind of striker” and thinking to myself, “how good can this guy be, i’ve never even heard of him”.
The Most Entertaining would have to be “Diego Sanchez vs. Karo Pariysan”. I loved that fight. It had me screaming at the T.V. all 3 rounds.
by asmiley420 on Feb 27, 2009 7:00 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Most Enjoyable To Watch: Tim Sylvia versus Fedor Emelianenko (Affliction: Banned)
Most Fun Technical Match-Up: Rashad Evans versus Chuck Liddell (UFC 88: Breakthrough)
Most Satisfying Finish: Anderson Silva choking out Dan Henderson (UFC 82: Pride of a Champion)
Best “Did I honestly just see that?” Moment: Nick Diaz’s Gogoplata Submission Victory over Takanori Gomi (PRIDE 33: The Second Coming)
"A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on." - Sir Winston Churchill
by FlyByKnight on Feb 27, 2009 7:11 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Gomi-Diaz- Best back and forth match (also best fight while high)
Smith – Lytle- Best snatching victory from jaws of defeat
by Headkick on Feb 27, 2009 7:11 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
(also best fight while high)
Wait, best performance by a fighter who is high, or best fight to watch while high? Could go either way there…
"I'm AJB and I endorse this nut-puncher."
by AJB on Feb 27, 2009 7:25 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Most Enjoyable Fight: Miguel Torres vs Yoshiro Maeda
Favorite Technical Performance: Lyoto Machida vs Thiago Silva
Most Satisfying Finish: BJ Penn KO Sean Sherk or Frank Mir sub. Brock Lesner
Biggest “OMG” Moment: Matt Serra def. GSP
Match That Completely Hooked Me: Diego Sanchez vs Nick Diaz
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better. -Samuel Beckett
by themachiavellian on Feb 27, 2009 7:25 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
That last one is a good category… I’ll have to think on that one.
"I'm AJB and I endorse this nut-puncher."
by AJB on Feb 27, 2009 7:26 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Thanks – a college roommate liked pro wrestling, but settled for TUF 2 if bored for the reality show drama – I thought the fights were cool (I like studying martial arts, histories, etc), and tuned in for the finale – I had no idea who anyone was or what to expect, but I was floored. I educated myself online and followed it ever since…
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better. -Samuel Beckett
by themachiavellian on Feb 27, 2009 11:14 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Jumping off the couch moment yelling “Ooooooooohhh!!!”: Crocop Gonzaga
by Headkick on Feb 27, 2009 7:38 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
You guys are all smoking crack....
For me, the ENTIRE War Gods card……..
haha…for real…good calls there on your fav’s
by soadtrails on Feb 27, 2009 7:39 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Funnies End to a Fight: Nate Quarry v Kalib Starnes.
by xDieseLx on Feb 27, 2009 7:57 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Best Jump Out Of Your Seat Screaming “YES! YES! YEEEEEES!” Fight:
Cro Cop vs. Nogueira
Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.
by Brent Brookhouse on Feb 27, 2009 8:29 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Mine would be Lesnar-Couture – for being one of two people in a room of twenty to pick it correctly
by subo on Feb 27, 2009 11:06 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Most Enjoyable Fight: Chuck vs Rampage 2
Favorite Technical Performance: Hunt vs Fedor
Most Satisfying Finish: Wand vs Jardine or Nog vs Cro Cop
Biggest "OMG" Moment: AA vs Sylvia 2. Ive never been so disappointed
Match That Completely Hooked Me: BJ Penn vs Hughes 1
YAMATO DAMASHII
by R.T. on Feb 27, 2009 8:30 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Most enjoyable fight: Horedecki vs. Lierley
OMG: Rampage vs. Arona
by DUGASWARRIOR on Feb 27, 2009 8:38 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Most Technical: Silva/Franklin (either)
OMG: Serra/GSP
Funniest: When Herring knocked out old dude for kissing him.
by Wookalarman on Feb 27, 2009 10:03 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Most Enjoyable BJ promises to fight to the death and kill Georges… then quits on the stool
Most Perplexing Anderson Silva Vs Patrick Cote
Jump Up and Yell Moment Randy knocks down Timmah in the first round
Fight(s) that Hooked Me Royce Gracie clearing the field at UFC 1, 2, & 4.
by Ubernoober on Feb 27, 2009 10:57 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Best part? Tito getting spanked on a Punishment emblem.
by subo on Feb 27, 2009 11:07 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Most Enjoyable: Fedor vs. Randleman (the vicious spike that should have killed Fedor, then he calmly tears ligaments and tendons in Randleman’s arm for the sub win)
Most Fun Technical Matchup: GSP’s utter annihilation of BJ Penn. Two incredible stylists who approach the game from opposite angles.
Most Satisfying Finish: BJ Penn quitting on his stool. Sorry, I just hate the guy and his entire ‘mindset,’ which says it’s ok to sit back on your talent. I thought long and hard about this one, and honorable mention has to go to Keith Hackney vs. Emmanuel Yarborough.
Did I Honestly Just See That?: Mark Coleman submitting Dan Severn with a headlock. Anyone who saw this when it happened felt the same way. An absolutely incredible display of raw power, dominance, and wrestling from a guy who at the time appeared to be destined for a long run at MMA dominance. This display coincided with the improvement of athleticism in MMA, as serious athletes became more and more prominent. To me, it was a small turning point.
Honorable Mention For Something, But I’m Not Sure What: Oleg Taktarov vs. Tank Abbot. I don’t know why, but this one is seared in my mind as a pretty impressive display of willpower by Oleg. Aside from that movie 15 Minutes, I haven’t really seen anything from The Russian Bear after his brief, seemingly successful run in the UFC.
There is no such thing as innocence, only degrees of guilt.
by misterjonez on Feb 27, 2009 11:33 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
nice old school picks!
A few of my favorite old school fights:
1) Fight that Got me hooked: Royce Gracie vs Kimo Leopoldo The first MMA fight I ever saw and I was instantly hooked. Seeing 170lb in a soaking wet gi Royce Gracie survive and even punish and submit the huge raging Jesus Freak Kimo instantly clicked with me. The calmness of the man as he faced a raging monster like Kimo and used jiu jitsu skill and wicked cheap shots (knees to the nuts, hair pulling) to control and subdue his opponent really blew my mind. It was more like Royce was fighting an oil fire than he was contending with a fellow man. Kimo wasn’t an equal to contend with, he was a problem to be solved.
2) Most Satisfying: Frank Shamrock vs Tito Ortiz There are not words to describe how much I marked out for Frank Shamrock back in the day. His incredible run against the very best in the world at that time — Enson Inoue > Kevin Jackson > Igor Zinoviev > Jeremy Horn > John Lober >Tito Ortiz was a thing of wonder. Each fight featured a different technical and strategic approach and his win over Tito was the capper. At the time Tito was a truly fearsome beast. One of the first natural heavyweights to cut 20+lbs and fight as a Light Heavy (then known as middleweight), Tito’s edge in power + his wrestling skills had him wiping out the division. One Lion’s Den fighter at a time. Frank brilliantly outlasted him, not even contesting the takedowns, instead happily dropping to guard and slowly wearing Tito down before launching a brutal final assault. Its too bad Frank took most of his athletic peak off from the sport, but his accomplishments in his first three years in the sport won him a place in my hall of fame.
3) Best Feud: Jose “Pele” Landi-Jons vs Jorge “Macaco” PatinoPele pioneered the Chute Boxe approach to MMA (well Marco Ruas did but Pele really advanced the style) of muy thai as a foundation with a solid footing in BJJ. His two epic wars with Patino — a BJJ stylist who had mastered enough wrestling to be a wonderously brutal bully — were just great. Pele mocked Macaco’s style and then went on to whip his ass TWICE. But Macaco didn’t go down easy and really made the fights state of the art for their time. Neither fighter ever really went on to match these classics and sadly never really won on the big stages, even though Pele would KO Matt Hughes a few years later.
4) Best Grappling Chess Match: Kazushi Sakuraba vs Carlos Newton Damn this fight was a joy to behold. Two great grapplers with very contrasting styles. Newton was controlling position in a very methodical way, but Sakuraba was willing to sacrifice position to go for the submission at any opportunity. Back and forth it went until Carlos made one mistake and Sak kneebarred him. Still a great one to watch.
"the spirit of your average dumbass with more overblown rhetoric" OR "the self-appointed savior of MMA"
by Kid Nate on Feb 28, 2009 12:29 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I can't believe I totally forgot Shamrock/Tito!
That was a really great feud between the Lion’s Den and Tito. Remind me, was the Tito/Frank fight the one where Frank was smiling at him between strikes in an ‘ankle-war?’ For some reason, I can’t separate Frank Shamrock’s fights in my memory.
There is no such thing as innocence, only degrees of guilt.
by misterjonez on Feb 28, 2009 1:01 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
That was against Bas in Pancrase – great fight!
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better. -Samuel Beckett
by themachiavellian on Feb 28, 2009 1:43 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Sweet
Sakuraba/Newton was my go to “See?! Grappling isn’t always boring!” fight to show to people.
And I’m really glad you brought up Frank’s run in the UFC because a lot of newer people to the sport look at that list and just see Jeremy Horn and Tito Ortiz as the only real legit fighters. And even then it was a young Tito and the current shell of the fighter he once was makes people overlook what a threat Horn was at that time. Kevin Jackson alone was seen as quite the sure fire superstar. A gold medalist in freestyle wrestling at the ‘92 Olympic Games and possessing a very well rounded game (for that time period) he was really the “next big thing” at that time. In fact, Jackson’s only two losses in his short career were to Frank and to Jerry Bohlander. Bohlander only had two losses at that point in his career (vs. 8 wins) and they were to Gary Goodridge who outweighed Jerry significantly and Murilo Bustamante. The most impressive thing? It took Frank 12 seconds to submit Jackson. Amazing stuff right there.
Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.
by Brent Brookhouse on Feb 28, 2009 11:26 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Correction 16 seconds
Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.
by Brent Brookhouse on Feb 28, 2009 11:34 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
that's one of the most annoying things about noobs
You can’t judge how good a fighter was in 1997 by his career over the next five years. A huge loss like the one F. Shamrock inflicted on Kevin Jackson followed up by a second submission loss killed his career. The slam Frank put on Igor Zinoviev was literally a career ender.
And after Frank beat Tito, Ortiz went on a very long winning streak that didn’t end until he lost to Randy Couture in 2003 — Tito went on to beat Wanderlei, demolish Evan Tanner, and outpoint a very tough Vladdy Matyushenko.
Enson Inoue is another guy that people denigrate retroactively, but before he decided to beef up to heavyweight and fight like a lunatic, he was a very dangerous 200lber. He smoked all-american wrestler Royce Alger and armbarred Randy Couture.
"the spirit of your average dumbass with more overblown rhetoric" OR "the self-appointed savior of MMA"
by Kid Nate on Feb 28, 2009 1:19 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Yeah...
Enson is a really unfortunate case because all of a sudden he got all hopped up on “you must kill me” pills and stopped fighting with a lick of damn sense. And it turned him from “legit contender” to “oh…here comes THAT guy again”
Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.
by Brent Brookhouse on Feb 28, 2009 1:37 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I only know him as the guy whose brother got him DQ’ed by running into the cage.
by subo on Feb 28, 2009 3:21 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Remember in that other thread recently where the conversation became “Look at Randy Couture’s record! He was never that good!”? Yeah.
I didn’t start watching old PRIDE fights until very recently, but the fact that the game has changed a ton in the last 6-8 years, doesn’t mean I don’t see the skill that Guy Mezger and others of that era possessed. You have to judge a fighter relative to his/her competition at the time. That’s one of the reasons that guys like Anderson Silva and GSP appear so good now: their skills are ahead of everybody fighting right now, but they’re also being copied. Soon they’ll become the standard and someone else will be doing something new/different to rise to the top. When that happens, Silva and GSP won’t suddenly be downgraded to “suck” status; they’ll be champions in their time and place.
"I'm AJB and I endorse this nut-puncher."
by AJB on Feb 28, 2009 1:38 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
It's also a case of...
guys like Kevin Jackson and Jerry Bohlander..etc weren’t around for the “boom period” so they get discredited for competing in a less skilled “era” when it was the wrestling of a guy like Jackson and the subs of a guy like Bohlander that forced guys to adapt while they themselves were working on expanding what they could do. Bohlander was never a world beater but he was a hell of a fighter.
MMA has a much worse case of this retroactive downgrading than other sports. Boxing for instance regularly adjusts for era. If you want to know the truth the Klitschkos in their prime would beat pretty much any other heavyweight in history in his prime if you aren’t adjusting for era. Same with baseball. I’m sorry but Babe Ruth wouldn’t have a fucking clue what to do with the pitching of the modern era unless you adjust for era. Football also, sorry Dick Butkus but you’d get plowed over by the monster linemen of the modern game.
In MMA our eras are considerably smaller given the brief time period that the sport has existed but the only guy people seem able to adjust correctly is Royce. Everyone knows that Royce in his prime if dropped into today’s game with his exact skills he was rocking in the early UFC’s would get plowed through. But with him people are able to make the logical connection that his level of skill relative to his contemporaries translated to the current game makes him one of the greatest ever. Other guys we refuse to do that with to where we’re stuck with guys (and it wasn’t just one guy on this site…it’s all over the place) pulling questions like “Was Randy Couture EVER really that good?”
Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.
by Brent Brookhouse on Feb 28, 2009 1:54 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
This era adjustment..
is something I’ve wanted to write about for a really long time now and maybe I’ll actually pull off an article on it sometime in the next few days.
Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.
by Brent Brookhouse on Feb 28, 2009 1:54 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Use Heath Herring as your case study – he gets laughed at now for being the HW stepping stone for Nog, Lesner, and now Cain, but back then he was a beast.
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better. -Samuel Beckett
by themachiavellian on Feb 28, 2009 5:57 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Herring...
is a reasonable example. And it’s really a chain effect. His win over Tom Erickson was shocking when it happened. Tom was a huge, unstoppable monster at that point. Erickson now gets downgraded even though he only lost one fight in his “prime years” (to Herring) because he lost three straight to Werdum, Antonio Silva and Alexandru Lungu…but in those fights he was 40, 41 and 43 years old.
There was that period where Herring was legitimately one of the top 3 heavyweights in the world heading into the first fight with Nogueira. But people don’t look at the guy in his prime, they just view him as a guy who couldn’t ever beat the cream of the crop…without looking at the fact that for a brief period he was legitimately a part of that elite group.
Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.
by Brent Brookhouse on Feb 28, 2009 6:16 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Hellz Yeah!
I remember people weren’t even sure if Fedor, who just stifled Semmy Schilt do a decision, could get past him. The ensuing GnP stoppage floored the announcers and fans (and, of course, Herring). Still one of the most impressive fights I’ve seen – Fedor’s skills and Herring’s toughness.
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better. -Samuel Beckett
by themachiavellian on Feb 28, 2009 6:48 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, Herring was supposed to be the guy that dominated for a long period coming into that fight with Fedor.
If you're not submitting, you're just rolling around with another guy.
by BJJDenver on Mar 1, 2009 12:44 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
go for it!
then I won’t have to.
"the spirit of your average dumbass with more overblown rhetoric" OR "the self-appointed savior of MMA"
by Kid Nate on Feb 28, 2009 7:17 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Anyone who talks about the Pele/Macaco wars is a friend of mine.
by Beer Monster on Mar 1, 2009 2:08 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Oleg Taktarov vs Mark Kerr - YAMMA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lqqUhpywYM
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better. -Samuel Beckett
by themachiavellian on Feb 28, 2009 12:32 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Thanks for the heads up!
There is no such thing as innocence, only degrees of guilt.
by misterjonez on Feb 28, 2009 1:02 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Wow,
those dudes look terrible. Amazingly bad.
Still, thanks for the link. :)
There is no such thing as innocence, only degrees of guilt.
by misterjonez on Feb 28, 2009 1:06 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Oleg looks like he should for his age & experience – it’s also the first time he fought in ~10 years. Kerr looks like someone who’s abused too many drugs and doesn’t know how to do anything other than fight. Just say no!
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better. -Samuel Beckett
by themachiavellian on Feb 28, 2009 1:41 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Oleg is the 07' "We Own the Night" and "National Treasure"
Small part, like most of his roles. In “we Own the Night” he plays a Russian drug dealer/gangster. I watched that movie 3 times wondering just who the fuck that was. I had to actually look it up online it bothered me so bad
by fightfan on Feb 28, 2009 6:24 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
That's awesome!
I haven’t seen either of those movies, so it’s great that he’s still acting. I thought he was great in 15 Minutes, and wondered why I hadn’t seen him in anything else.
I guess it’s because I’m too lazy to watch the movies he’s been in?
There is no such thing as innocence, only degrees of guilt.
by misterjonez on Feb 28, 2009 6:37 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
He’s in the remake of Rollerball, too, playing a Russian miner drafted into the blood sport – Don’t bother watching it, though, it’s wretched (though the original kicks ass – first film to credit the stuntmen).
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better. -Samuel Beckett
by themachiavellian on Feb 28, 2009 5:59 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
My OMG moment was Koscheck v GSP. Here I am, laughing at GSP saying ’I’m a better wrestler than he is’, and then I watch it happen. Like a dog watching people have sex.
by subo on Feb 28, 2009 1:05 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
…or like a person watching dogs have sex?
If you're not submitting, you're just rolling around with another guy.
by BJJDenver on Mar 1, 2009 12:45 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Sorry, couldn’t control myself.
If you're not submitting, you're just rolling around with another guy.
by BJJDenver on Mar 1, 2009 12:46 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Not even close – I was in no position to crack open a beer during GSP/Koscheck.
by subo on Mar 1, 2009 2:11 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Most Enjoyable: Couture/Sylvia. Exhilarating and inspiring. The energy from the crowd, coupled with the excitement in the room when we watched it was electric. And the end of the fight and immediate aftermath was absolutely transcendent. It felt like a friggin waagh!!! (Misterjonez, that one was for you) Then Randy utters the coolest line ever, “not bad for an old man.” Pure Awesome.
Most Fun Technical Matchup: This may sound weird but I’m gonna say Jones/Bonnar. I’ve loved throws since getting into the sport, see below, and have always appreciated somebody bringing a new set of skills or background into their game. Jon Jones showed everybody what a real clinch is (in terms of a non-thai plum). None of this push them into the fence and wait there, a la Sylvia/Vera or Swick/Burkman. Outside of Couture, and apparently this Kyle Baker fellow, and a few good judoka, I haven’t seen a clinch like that used to the effectiveness that Jones has. Watching it, I couldn’t help but feel like this is a sign of things to come, a harbinger of technical discovery, and of growth in the sport. That, and the dude had a wicked spinning back elbow off a single-leg. Amazing.
Most Satisfying Finish: Wand/Jardine. I just wanted Wand to get a win so badly. The guy is awesome and I didn’t want him to go out on a string of losses.
Did I Honestly Just See That?: I gotta go with Coleman/Rua. That fight was just such a clusterfuck after they gassed. I couldn’t stop laughing for the last two rounds. I even hyped it up to a couple of my friends as “a fight they needed to see.” It was priceless to see their faces go from hopeful anticipation to shocked laughter.
Fight That Hooked Me: Parisyan/Sanchez. I had already seen Parisyan/Fickett and it wet my appetite for MMA, but Parisyan/Sanchez blew my mind. It had technical groundwork, scrambles, submission attempts, and throws. My God, the throws. I instantly became a fan of Parisyan and began following the sport. Throws continue to be my favorite aspect of the sport.
"I see him beating Anderson Silva. I see him picking him apart. Him at a 131 years old...(trails off)." - Tito on Belfort at Affliction:DOR
by Rundownloser on Feb 28, 2009 1:24 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
I'm with you on the throws
Ever since I saw Dan Severn use a real suplex against Anthony Macias in UFC IV I’ve been a fan of throws in MMA. And that’s why I still love Karo no matter how much he fucks up.
"the spirit of your average dumbass with more overblown rhetoric" OR "the self-appointed savior of MMA"
by Kid Nate on Feb 28, 2009 8:09 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Jon Jones, represent!
If you see Mark Coleman in person, drop $5 on the floor and watch the fun as he tries in vain to bend down and pick it up.
by Ozzz on Mar 1, 2009 2:14 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Most Enjoyable I gotta say Melvin Guillard vs Rich Clementi. I love seeing Guillard lose and when Rich tea bagged him at the end of the fight I realize it was probably classless but come on who didn’t enjoy that.
Best Finish Nick Diaz vs Takanori Gomi not taking anything away from Aoki because that mounted gogoplata was crazy but seeing Gomi tapping from a gogoplata was nuts.
<Fight that Hooked Me Randy Couture vs Pedro Rizzo UFC 31 was awesome and it was the first mma event I watched live and was hooked after the Rizzo/Couture fight
by drano on Feb 28, 2009 4:01 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Did I Honestly Just See That?: Fedor vs Randleman. Fedor looks like he gets his neck broken from the suplex then somehow ends the fight with a kimura about 30 seconds later. I just remember my jaw dropping in awe.
by midwestbred on Feb 28, 2009 5:43 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
yeah, everytime I see that it is amazing
by soadtrails on Feb 28, 2009 5:37 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I missed seeing that "live".........
But still, everytime you watch it, and everytime you rewatch the slo mo’s a dozen more times……I can not believe he didnt, at the LEAST, suffer some kind of damage to his spine/head/brain.
IF I would of seen that live, I would of thought I just watched Fedor get paralyzed!!!!
by fightfan on Mar 1, 2009 9:37 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, every time I see that replayed, I still think Randleman is going to win the fight, lol.
If you're not submitting, you're just rolling around with another guy.
by BJJDenver on Mar 1, 2009 12:47 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Or...
What the F*ck was that?: Arlovski vs Buentello, I’ve never seen so many confused looks during a UFC event. They had to show the replay about 10 times before people realized or would accept what just happened.
by midwestbred on Feb 28, 2009 6:01 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
exactly. almost the same with the AA/fedor fight.
If you're not submitting, you're just rolling around with another guy.
by BJJDenver on Mar 1, 2009 12:47 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I was one of those confused . . . Arlovski went up than came crashing down.
Of course it 15 minutes before they gave us a replay in the arena . . . than we got to watch it 150 straight times.
by bignerd on Mar 3, 2009 3:11 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
A lot of those mentinoned are some of my favorites also.....
But a fight that is at the top of my list is at UFC 38, I believe. Ian Freenman is outweighed probably by 30 lbs, maybe more and totally pummels Frank Mir into a bloody mess that couldnt even make it back to his stool/corner even with help.
The post fight moved me just because Mir was supposed to “own” Freeman. And Ian’s Dad was dying of cancer, and actually passed away just before the event. Ian was fighting back tears as he grabbed the mike and said I love you Dad and he dedicated that fight to his ill father…….The whole time, he doesnt know that his father had passed. It takes a lot to get me moved, but that was one of those times.
If you ever get the chance to watch that fight, or even just the post fight interview, it is worth it.
by fightfan on Feb 28, 2009 6:32 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Critical Countdown 2005, Shogun/Lil’ Nog.
Utterly unbelievable.
by Smith. on Feb 28, 2009 11:26 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Most Enjoyable Match - Couture vs Sylvia or Couture vs Gonzaga: Couture vs Sylvia was more enjoyable simply because I was there, but these two fights were just amazing to me. Both times Couture was a huge underdog, and came in and simply dominated the competition. Too bad he screwed it all up by taking the UFC to court. He was not the same fighter (physically) when he returned.
Match that got me hooked - Hughes vs Trigg 2: The first fight I’d seen since the early days of the UFC to have me out of my seat. One of the best comebacks in history.
Did I honestly just see that? – Silva vs Leben: I gotta be honest, I’ve still never seen anything like the 46 second clinic that Silva put on Leben that night. My jaw still drops when I watch that fight.
by Razzel on Feb 28, 2009 12:50 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Well, didn’t you know, the way to beat Silva is to come straight at him. Close distance.
by subo on Feb 28, 2009 3:25 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Most Enjoyable Fight: Manhoef/Cyborg. It will never win any technical awards, but it was awesome in so many ways. If you haven’t seen this fight, you’re missing out. Go watch it.
Favorite Technical Performance: BJ/Pulver 2. BJ trapping Pulver’s arm with his leg and holding the choke for an extra half second to get his point across really won me over.
Most Satisfying Finish: GSP/Hughes 2. I nearly cried tears of joy, and got thrown out of a Pittsburgh bar for yelling so much. The kick to the neck heard ’round the world.
Biggest “OMG” Moment: GSP tapping to strikes from Serra. 20 people in the room, and I heard none of them. I was in utter shock. I still can’t watch that fight to this day. I act like it never happened.
Match That Completely Hooked Me: Franklin/Loiseau. I was a casual fan before that fight, but that war flipped a switch for me and I spent weeks after that watching every fight I could with any spare second I had. Hell, I still do, 3 years later.
by Beer Monster on Mar 1, 2009 2:25 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
very impressive that you’ve gone back far enough to appreciate Pele vs Macaco.
Be sure and read my MMA History series if you haven’t already.
"the spirit of your average dumbass with more overblown rhetoric" OR "the self-appointed savior of MMA"
by Kid Nate on Mar 1, 2009 10:41 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I’ve read them all, and recommended them to every MMA fan I know. Awesome articles.
by Beer Monster on Mar 1, 2009 6:46 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
holding the choke for an extra half second
So you enjoy a fighter ignoring the referee and trying to injure his opponent? Honestly BJ should have been suspended for that shit.
A man should never waste an opportunity to keep his mouth shut.
by iiowyn on Mar 1, 2009 12:19 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
What injury was he trying to inflict?
I agree it was uncalled for, but that has gotten so blown out of proportion.
If you're not submitting, you're just rolling around with another guy.
by BJJDenver on Mar 1, 2009 12:49 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Hey man, the tap is sacred. It wasn’t Babalu-Whitehead bad, but it was bad.
by subo on Mar 1, 2009 2:13 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
He was trying to hurt Pulver above and beyond the context of the fight. To me, following the commands of the referee is the most important thing in the sport, because every participant has to have a certain level of trust that their safety will be paramount. BJ Penn broke that trust.
What would happen at the places you train if someone ignored a tap to prove a point when rolling?
A man should never waste an opportunity to keep his mouth shut.
by iiowyn on Mar 1, 2009 2:13 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Like I said, I didn’t care for the move by BJ, but I think it got blown way out of proportion.
If you're not submitting, you're just rolling around with another guy.
by BJJDenver on Mar 2, 2009 10:38 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
What would happen at the places you train if someone ignored a tap to prove a point when rolling?
Still curious about this, for anyone who trains at a gym.
A man should never waste an opportunity to keep his mouth shut.
by iiowyn on Mar 2, 2009 4:10 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
holding a choke too long is very different than taking a joint lock too far. one can cause irrepairable injury and the other might make you go to sleep for 2 or 3 seconds.
i’d probably still be friends w/ someone who held a choke too long, but someone that intentionally broke my arm would see me in court.
by Headkick on Mar 6, 2009 3:03 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
It was a choke, not a joint lock. He didn’t go ahead and pop a guys arm out or anything, he just put a little extra emphasis on defeating a guy that had talked a lot of shit. It WAS dirty, I don’t take issue with that. But going out of bounds a bit like that really made me a big BJ Penn fan. It might be weird, but it’s the truth.
by Beer Monster on Mar 1, 2009 6:44 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
strongest heart:
need help here. it was sakaraba and he was essentially unconcious in the ropes getting pummeled and the ref wasnt stopping it. sakaraba somehow wokeup and kicked the guys ass.
anybody remember the opponent?
by Headkick on Mar 1, 2009 12:54 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Kestutis Smirnovas
I’m a huge Sakuraba fan, but he should have lost that fight. That was ridiculously dangerous.
by FRANKIE on Mar 1, 2009 4:01 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Say what you will about Bonnar/Griffin...
But I dig that fight much. I marched into my editor’s office the day after I saw that and demanded he let me start an MMA beat at the paper. Took him six months, and a viewing of that fight, to say yes.
If you see Mark Coleman in person, drop $5 on the floor and watch the fun as he tries in vain to bend down and pick it up.
by Ozzz on Mar 1, 2009 2:18 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
it's a great fight I won't deny it
I enjoyed it at the time and its held up to repeated viewings, I just hate to see it held up as the model of MMA at its best because its not.
"the spirit of your average dumbass with more overblown rhetoric" OR "the self-appointed savior of MMA"
by Kid Nate on Mar 1, 2009 3:23 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
I just hate to see it held up as the model of MMA at its best because its not.
Perfectly stated, Nate. I think all MMA fans enjoy that fight in a visceral capacity, and find it to be an exciting display, but it’s not at all representative of the sport we have come to cherish.
There is no such thing as innocence, only degrees of guilt.
by misterjonez on Mar 1, 2009 8:11 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Most enjoyable to watch: Wanderlei SIlva vs Rampage Jackson 1 and 2
Most exciting all around fights I have ever seen
Most fun technical matchup: Big Nog vs Josh Barnett(first fight)
Two of the best grapplers in the world having an exciting fight on the floor. It can make fans out of people who don’t like grappling
Most satisfying finish: BJ Penn vs Matt Hughes 1
Hughes was such a cocky fighter then, it was amazing to see this lightweight come in and submit him.
Best “Did I honestly just see that?” moment: Fedor vs Kevin Randleman
That SUplex took me about 45 seconds to actually digest that he didn’t kill him. Just long enough to watch Fedor turn around and submit him
Best all around fight I have ever seen: Lil Nog vs Shogun
Best all around fight I have ever seen in MMA. The fight showed all skills and went everywhere and virtually had no lull.
by Nick Travaglini on Mar 2, 2009 10:58 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
the only catagorey i carefor is war
war 1= razor vs the cowboy
war 2= fisher vs stout 1&2
war 3= alvarez vs kawajiri 1
war 4= alvarez vs hansen
war 5= rampage vs hendo
war6= maia vs mcdonald
war7= hendo vs palhares
war8= huerta vs guida
war9= fedor vs crocop
war10= aleks vs khartinov
by andres on Mar 2, 2009 2:02 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Most Enjoyable Fight: Cant really decide. though GSP/Fitch is up there
Favorite Submission: Diaz gogo’s Gomi
Most Satisfying Finish: Any Koscheck loss ( love to see him lose )
Biggest “OMG” Moment: Frank Mir KO Noguiera
Match That Completely Hooked Me: Bonnar/Griffin 1 ( self admitted TUF noob )
by mmastation on Mar 3, 2009 7:09 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
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