rearnakedchoke
05-26-2009, 06:25 PM
Okay, so this is all my opinion, and I am bored. Please feel free to discuss and add any you think I missed or are more deserving of being on this list. Also I am not a journalist by any means, so please take it easy on my writing style and grammar.
5. Kevin Randleman v. Bas Rutten
So I will start with a rather controversial one (I guess they are all controversial). Many people thought that Randleman took this, I was one of them. Kevin controlled where the fight went, which was on the mat for most of the time. Bas did his best to throw strikes and defend from his back, even opening a cut on top of The Monster’s head. But to many, it didn’t seem that he got the job done. This fight by today’s standards would have been restarted on the feet numerous times, however under early MMA rules, Randleman was able to take down “El Guapo” at will and keep him there. In the end, when Rutten’s hand was raised, many fans on hand were clearly puzzled.
4. Royce Gracie v. Harold Howard
We go back to the third installment of the UFC. At the time, the UFC was relatively unknown and very taboo for those who did happen pick-up the story. Not yet know as MMA or mixed martial arts, many simply referred to it as Ultimate Fighting or No Holds Barred competition. Gracie, the winner of the two first UFC competitions, had just dispatched of the eccentric Kimo (not to be mistaken with the recent MMA hopeful Kimbo) who entered the cage carrying a large wooden cross of all things. After a difficult tussle which involved Royce using Kimo’s hair as leverage, with the latter eventually succumbing to an arm bar. Royce upon leaving the cage was visibly injured due to his hard fought victory. He seemed worse for the wear upon returning to the cage for his next scheduled match against Howard. Before the bell could sound, Royce’s corner threw in the towel marking the first time the UFC Champion would be someone other than Royce himself.
3. Anthony Johnson v. Kevin Burns I
In a fight between two up and comers in the UFC welterweight division, this one seemed destined as a classic striker versus grappler match-up. Rumble Johnson, had previously disposed of TUF finalist Tommy Speer in brutal KO fashion, while Burns was able to shock most by subbing BJJ Specialist Roan Caneiro in his previous outing. The fight was a close one as each fighter was able to impose their game plan at different times during the fight. There had also been a couple of inadvertent eye pokes dished out by Burns who was given a warning. Midway through the final round, Rumble sustained another eye-poke which caused the chiseled fighter great agony. After a few moments, the referee deemed Rumble unable to continue awarding Kevin Burns the TKO victory. The re-match was less controversial as Johnson was able to KO Burns with a highlight reel high-kick.
2. Matt Hamill v. Michael Bisping
This match-up pitted two TUF rivals against each other. Bisping felt Hamill got special treatment from Tito and Hamill felt that he should have won the TUF crown after not being able to continue due to injury. The fight took place in none other than Bisping’s backyard of England. While Hamill didn’t make himself anymore welcome as he entered the cage to Springsteen’s “Born in the USA”. As the fight started, many believed that Bisping would have an advantage on the feet giving Hamill the edge if the fight ended up on the mat. To the surprise of many, Bisping was unable to dictate the fight standing, nor on the ground. It seemed Hamill had done enough for the decision, yet to everyone’s surprise (including The Count himself) two of the judges gave the nod to the Englishmen.
1. Fedor Emelienenko v. Tsuyoshi Kohsaka I
At the time a relative unknown Fedor squares off against in Kohsaka in the Rings – King of Kings tournament. Only 17 seconds into the fight, Fedor is struck and cut with an elbow, which under the rules were not permitted. After the ringside doctor looked at the gash Fedor is deemed unable to continue. Since this was under tournament rules, there had to be a winner and a loser. At a later date, this loss was avenged in convincing fashion, yet it remains the only blemish on the record of who many consider the world’s best pound-for-pound fighter in the world.
5. Kevin Randleman v. Bas Rutten
So I will start with a rather controversial one (I guess they are all controversial). Many people thought that Randleman took this, I was one of them. Kevin controlled where the fight went, which was on the mat for most of the time. Bas did his best to throw strikes and defend from his back, even opening a cut on top of The Monster’s head. But to many, it didn’t seem that he got the job done. This fight by today’s standards would have been restarted on the feet numerous times, however under early MMA rules, Randleman was able to take down “El Guapo” at will and keep him there. In the end, when Rutten’s hand was raised, many fans on hand were clearly puzzled.
4. Royce Gracie v. Harold Howard
We go back to the third installment of the UFC. At the time, the UFC was relatively unknown and very taboo for those who did happen pick-up the story. Not yet know as MMA or mixed martial arts, many simply referred to it as Ultimate Fighting or No Holds Barred competition. Gracie, the winner of the two first UFC competitions, had just dispatched of the eccentric Kimo (not to be mistaken with the recent MMA hopeful Kimbo) who entered the cage carrying a large wooden cross of all things. After a difficult tussle which involved Royce using Kimo’s hair as leverage, with the latter eventually succumbing to an arm bar. Royce upon leaving the cage was visibly injured due to his hard fought victory. He seemed worse for the wear upon returning to the cage for his next scheduled match against Howard. Before the bell could sound, Royce’s corner threw in the towel marking the first time the UFC Champion would be someone other than Royce himself.
3. Anthony Johnson v. Kevin Burns I
In a fight between two up and comers in the UFC welterweight division, this one seemed destined as a classic striker versus grappler match-up. Rumble Johnson, had previously disposed of TUF finalist Tommy Speer in brutal KO fashion, while Burns was able to shock most by subbing BJJ Specialist Roan Caneiro in his previous outing. The fight was a close one as each fighter was able to impose their game plan at different times during the fight. There had also been a couple of inadvertent eye pokes dished out by Burns who was given a warning. Midway through the final round, Rumble sustained another eye-poke which caused the chiseled fighter great agony. After a few moments, the referee deemed Rumble unable to continue awarding Kevin Burns the TKO victory. The re-match was less controversial as Johnson was able to KO Burns with a highlight reel high-kick.
2. Matt Hamill v. Michael Bisping
This match-up pitted two TUF rivals against each other. Bisping felt Hamill got special treatment from Tito and Hamill felt that he should have won the TUF crown after not being able to continue due to injury. The fight took place in none other than Bisping’s backyard of England. While Hamill didn’t make himself anymore welcome as he entered the cage to Springsteen’s “Born in the USA”. As the fight started, many believed that Bisping would have an advantage on the feet giving Hamill the edge if the fight ended up on the mat. To the surprise of many, Bisping was unable to dictate the fight standing, nor on the ground. It seemed Hamill had done enough for the decision, yet to everyone’s surprise (including The Count himself) two of the judges gave the nod to the Englishmen.
1. Fedor Emelienenko v. Tsuyoshi Kohsaka I
At the time a relative unknown Fedor squares off against in Kohsaka in the Rings – King of Kings tournament. Only 17 seconds into the fight, Fedor is struck and cut with an elbow, which under the rules were not permitted. After the ringside doctor looked at the gash Fedor is deemed unable to continue. Since this was under tournament rules, there had to be a winner and a loser. At a later date, this loss was avenged in convincing fashion, yet it remains the only blemish on the record of who many consider the world’s best pound-for-pound fighter in the world.