2011 was a great year for mixed martial arts. Major developments made the UFC into a major player in the sports industry, and fans, “experts,” fighters, and promoters alike are now enjoying the repercussions. We witnessed a number of exciting fights that left us with debate topics for days, months, and weeks on end. At MMA Ratings you rate the events to determine the best ones. Here are some thoughts on the top rated events of the year:
#10 – UFC Live on Versus 5: Hardy vs. Lytle and UFC: Fight for the Troops 2 with 4.00 stars each
These two events were tied in our rankings, but they both displayed the importance of free events on television as mixed martial arts continues to grow. While both events did not feature the star power that accompanies Pay per View events, these shows still had their share of exciting bouts.
Fight for the Troops 2 saw the emergence of Melvin Guillard as a contender for the lightweight title, as he crushed prospect Evan Dunham in the first round. While he has slipped up since then, this fight can be pointed to as the restart of Guillard’s career.
UFC Live on Versus 5 was the final bout for fan and fighter favorite Chris Lytle. Matched against the tough Dan Hardy, Lytle had already announced that win or lose, this would be his final bout. From start to finish he dominated the tough English fighter before putting him away with a tight choke.
#9 – UFC 128: Shogun vs. Jones with 4.02 stars
Once again, Jon Jones provided the action that left people clamoring about his abilities. At UFC 128 he stepped in to fill a void for his teammate Rashad Evans, and faced off with Mauricio Rua.
The news started before the event doors were opened, as Jones thwarted a potential purse snatching in New York City. His “superheroic” actions continued in the Octagon, as he dispatched “Shogun” in a fashion that was greatly unexpected. Flying knees, spinning elbows, and low kicks were the weapons of choice, as Jones blasted Rua, beating him from pillar to post during the first two rounds. The third round saw Jones continue pummeling Rua until the ref was forced to step in and stop the bout when Rua tapped the mat in submission.
UFC 128 also marked the arrival of Urijah Faber to the biggest stage of mixed martial arts, as he found a way to defeat Eddie Wineland in the co-main event. This event would also turn out to be the final fight for Ricardo Almeida, as well as the last time that Nate Marquardt would fight for the UFC before the scandal that sent him packing.
#8 – Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Daley with 4.10 stars
It may be the only Strikeforce event on this list, but it was a show that gave us two fights worth watching.
Gilbert Melendez can stake a claim as the top lightweight in MMA today. While some will debate that assertion, his body of work is nothing to ignore. During this event he brutally pounded Tatsuya Kawajiri and finished him at 3:14 of the first round. He did so in such a way that left people speechless, as he landed punches at will, and stopped Kawajiri with elbows. The win left many people calling for Melendez to be moved over to the UFC, and while that request has not been filled, the debate over who would win a fight between him and Edgar still rages.
Nick Diaz and Paul Daley had been talking for months about what they were going to do to each other. Often times when that happens the fight does not live up to the billing. But these two individuals brought the anger and intensity into what was one of the best rounds in MMA this past year. Daley landed the first salvo when he dropped Diaz and looked to have him finished. But somehow the Stockton native found a way back to his feet and out boxed Daley around the hexagon. A quick combo left Daley stunned and sent him down to the floor, giving Diaz the opportunity to finish him off.
This was the bout that many needed to see to believe in Diaz as a viable contender to the UFC’s welterweight title. He delivered, and is one step closer to being considered the top 170-pound fighter in the sport.
#7 – UFC 129: St-Pierre vs. Shields with 4.13 stars
Ontario, Canada had made the move to legalize mixed martial arts in August of 2010, and eight months later the territory would play host to one of the biggest events in MMA history. UFC 129 was an exciting card, but it also set records.
To begin, more than 55,000 people packed into Rogers Centre to watch the event. Final Pay per View numbers reached 800k, and the total collected gate was $12,075,000. These are numbers that the UFC will have a hard time matching in any way, shape or form.
The fights themselves were exciting in their own rights. While the much-anticipated fight between Georges St. Pierre and Jake Shields did not live up to the hype, the featherweight battle between Jose Aldo and Mark Hominick surely did. And watching Lyoto Machida end the career of Randy Couture with a flying front kick right out of “The Karate Kid” was a moment that none will forget. UFC 129 was an event that set the tone for mixed martial arts in Canada.
#6 – UFC 135: Jones vs. Jackson with 4.20 stars
Jon Jones was once again the focus of one of our top-ranked events of the year. Slowly but surely, Jones was becoming a disliked figure among MMA fans, and this was the first event where it shone through. In his first defense of the light heavyweight title he was pitted against Quinton “Rampage” Jackson. Experts and fans alike were skeptical of Jackson’s chances going into this bout, and believed that his only chance to win was to find a way to get to the champion’s chin with his powerful hands.
The fact was that he couldn’t. Time and time again Jackson swung furiously at Jones, who moved around the cage frustrating the challenger. Then, after the beating almost became too much to watch, Jones took Jackson down to the ground and finished him with a rear naked choke. With nearly 13 years of competition under his belt, this was just the second time that Jackson was forced to tap out. The first was 12 years ago. That in and of itself was an impressive moment, but at his rate it seems that Jones has many more to come.
#5 – UFC 136: Edgar vs. Maynard III with 4.27 stars
Being the underdog shouldn’t come with holding a UFC title, but lightweight champion Frankie Edgar has found himself in that position three times. Yet each of those three times he rose to the occasion and found a way to leave the Octagon with the belt still around his waist. He went into the third fight against rival Gray Maynard in such a position. With the way the first round of their January bout went, many expected Maynard to find a way to win this fight.
For the first few moments, we experienced a feeling of déjà vu. An uppercut caught Edgar right on the chin and left him dazed and hurt. Maynard tried to finish him off, but made the mistake of slowing down too much, allowing Edgar the chance to recover slightly and hang on through the round. From that point on, Edgar imposed his will on Maynard and peppered him with shots all around the cage. The challenger could not find a way to respond, as he looked more and more lost each round. The end came in the fourth round, when Edgar stuffed a takedown attempt and pounded Maynard against the cage until he fell to the ground. With that win, Edgar closed a chapter in his career, and proved that his heart and determination are not to be overlooked anytime he is due to fight.
#4 – UFC 126: Silva vs. Belfort with 4.33 stars
The rise of the front kick and the start of the reign are the two memories that can be taken from UFC 126. Those, and perhaps Steven Seagal.
Vitor Belfort was supposed to have the striking ability to threaten Anderson Silva, and for moments it looked like he did. That is, until a flash of a foot caught Belfort right in the face and sent him toppling to the canvas. It wasn’t like Silva needed another highlight to add to his already stellar reel, but that front kick may rank among the best.
Jon Jones went into the event as a big name prospect that was set to face another prospect in Ryan Bader. Jones proved that he was in a league of his own as he walked through Bader, even outwrestling the NCAA standout during the first round. Then, with a little less than a minute left in the second round, Jones caught Bader in a modified guillotine choke that brought the fight to a close.
Yet what happened during the post-fight interview was even more important. Jones was asked to step in for then-teammate Rashad Evans and face off against Mauricio Rua in a matter of weeks for the light heavyweight title. What followed was a fantastic rise that fight fans were fortunate to experience.
#3 – UFC 139: Henderson vs. Rua with 4.45 stars
“Fight of the Year” was the almost immediate response to the Hendo vs. Shogun fight on November 19, 2011. Two iconic fighters who belong in the UFC’s Hall of Fame faced off against one another. And over the course of five rounds we saw both fighters go from dominating positions to moments of weakness.
The drive on the part of these two competitors to continue pushing through was something worth watching. While it may not have been the most technically sound fight in its latest minutes, it was never low on action. Dan Henderson walked away with the victory, but both competitors earned a place of respect in every viewer’s heart and mind.
#2 – UFC 140: Jones vs. Machida with 4.52 stars
We wanted to see Jon Jones tested and many people felt that Lyoto Machida was the man to get the job done. The original “unorthodox” fighter would be a puzzle that Jones had not seen, one that would put him in a tough position which he would have to respond to. That’s exactly what happened, but maybe in a way we didn’t expect.
Commentator Joe Rogan said it best when he pointed out between the first and second round that this was the first time anyone saw a look of concern on the face of the champion or his cornermen. But that look would quickly fade away. With ease Jones slammed Machida down on the ground and cut him with a nasty elbow. After Machida was checked out by the doctor, the fight was restarted. Moments later Machida was pressed against the cage as Jones used his length to create a modified choke. Machida’s lifeless body dropped to the ground and the champion walked away, passing his sternest “test” to date. With those questions answered, it is difficult to see where the next queries will come from.
This fight, along with the sickening snap of Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira’s arm due to Frank Mir, made UFC 140 a memorable event, and one of fight fans’ favorites of the year.
#1 – UFC 132: Cruz vs. Faber with 4.64 stars
There were three moments from this event that caused me, and those I was watching the event with, to go into a roaring craze. The first was when Carlos Condit hit a flying knee that splattered Dong Hyun Kim onto his rear end. The right hand that followed up brought an end to Kim’s undefeated streak, and placed Condit in the position he is in today: potentially the interim welterweight champion in a few weeks.
The second moment was the momentary reemergence of Tito Ortiz. A right hand dropped Ryan Bader, giving Ortiz the opportunity to sink in a fight-ending guillotine choke. While it was short lived, witnessing Ortiz do the “grave digger” celebration in the middle of the Octagon brought back a flood of memories and an excitement that few fighters could deliver.
The final moment that made this event one the top-ranked of the year for me was the fight between Urijah Faber and Dominick Cruz. This was the first time a bantamweight title fight was the featured bout of the evening, and Faber and Cruz delivered an action-packed bout without any slow points. Cruz walked away with the victory, bringing their saga to a 1-1 tie, but now with a third fight looming, fans will point to this contest as a reason to watch.
What was your favorite event of 2011?
We look forward to rating the events with you in 2012.
