As you crowd around the Thanksgiving table today, there’s a lot to be thankful for. Whether it’s a new job, new car, or new family member, there’s something to celebrate during Thanksgiving. In the mixed martial arts world, fans have the same opportunity this time of year. 2013 is nearly complete, so here is a list of some things that we should be thankful for in the world of MMA:
Tight Title Defenses
This year, MMA fans and media have seen some very close title fights that have caused a lot of controversy and debate. Gilbert Melendez battled Benson Henderson to a very close split decision loss at UFC on Fox 7. Jon Jones and Alexander Gustafsson put on a back and forth battle at UFC 165. UFC 167 is still fresh in fans’ minds, as Johny Hendricks gave Georges St. Pierre the toughest fight of his career. John Dodson had Demetrious Johnson rocked twice in their UFC on Fox 6 encounter , which was much closer than most expected it to be. And Frankie Edgar pushed Jose Aldo further than any other challenger had. Even Bellator MMA’s showcase rematch between Eddie Alvarez and Michael Chandler was a must-see bout.
Many of these champions had seemed dominant in their division for an extended period of time, so seeing them pushed to the limit and beyond was a joy to watch in 2013.
Renan Barao
As mentioned above, many champions had to pull out close decision victories to hold on to their titles in 2013. Yet Renan Barao looked stellar as he held onto his belt, stopping Michael McDonald and Eddie Wineland at UFC on Fuel TV 7 and UFC 165 respectively. The Brazilian star may be the least known of all the current UFC champions, but he’s running up a streak of 32 bouts without being defeated, which is a feat that is very impressive. As he’s due to face the returning Dominick Cruz at UFC 169, it’s clear that watching Renan Barao’s continued rise has been worth it.
Twenty Years of UFC
It’s been promoted all month that the Ultimate Fighting Championship has hit 20 years of existence. Without the promotion, the chances of MMA being around today are very slim. What started as a one-night tournament that was shunned by the sports world has grown into a mainstream sport that is recognized by major outlets around the world. Even though problems such as judging and PED usage still run rampant, it’s clear that mixed martial arts is headed in a positive direction with the UFC at the helm.
2013 has been a good year for mixed martial arts. Exciting fights and positive developments in the sport have continued to give the fans something to look forward to at nearly every event. These are a few points that we can look back upon and be thankful for as the holidays approach.
