2013 was an exciting year in the world of mixed martial arts. There were countless memorable moments and fights in the last 12 months. Looking back at this year in the sport, we at MMA Ratings are picking out particular moments from every month that stand out amongst them all. These are some of the highlights from the month of March:
Fight of the Month: Johny Hendricks vs. Carlos Condit, UFC 158
There were a number of excellent fights during the month of March 2013, but my pick for Fight of the Month is the three-round welterweight war at UFC 158 between top contenders Carlos Condit and Johny Hendricks.
This fight served as co-main event to the Georges St-Pierre vs. Nick Diaz headliner and the winner was to get a title shot against the winner of that main event. And with so much riding on it, both Hendricks and Condit left absolutely everything in the cage that snowy Canadian evening, showcasing their incredible talents for 15 minutes to all of the fans watching on television, and all of them – including myself – at Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
This was an amazing fight, and it showed that Hendricks was the rightful #1 contender to the title, while Condit still had some work to do. But remember, this fight was only three rounds – just wait until these two fight for five rounds some day, which could happen sooner than we all realize given the recent leave of absence of St-Pierre.
• Carlos Condit vs. Johny Hendricks: Johny Hendricks def. Carlos Condit via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
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Knockout of the Month: Wanderlei Silva knocks out Brian Stann at UFC on FUEL TV 8
Wanderlei Silva vs. Brian Stann, UFC on FUEL TV 8
There were a number of highlight-reel KOs in March, but my pick for the best one came during the light heavyweight main event of UFC on FUEL TV 8 between Wanderlei Silva and Brian Stann. The American Stann had entered the fight as a major favorite and as someone who was seen as a possible title contender at 185 pounds, while Silva was considered by most to be washed up and on his way out the door. However, the fight certainly didn’t play out that way.
After a first round that featured knockdowns on both sides, Silva showed he was still relevant in the UFC in the second, as he defeated Stann with a shocking TKO win via a classic onslaught of Silva punches. It was an amazing win for Silva, and the fact it happened at Saitama Super Arena in Japan – the same stadium where he became famous back in PRIDE – made it even sweeter.
But perhaps the most surprising thing about this fight wasn’t the result of it, but rather the aftermath, as Stann was the one who retired of the pair, even though most would have assumed before the fight it would have been Silva who was going to call it quits afterwards. What a fight, and considering it’s been almost a year now and Silva still hasn’t fought since this contest, it’s clear this was one of those special wars that took years off of each man’s life.
• Wanderlei Silva vs. Brian Stann: Wanderlei Silva def. Brian Stann via knockout (punches) at 4:08 of Round 2.
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Submission of the Month: Edson Berto heel hooks Bruno Carvalho at Bellator 94
There were surprisingly few submissions in the month of March in the big shows (UFC, Bellator, WSOF, Invicta), so I had to actually look to one of the preliminary cards of a Bellator show for my pick for Submission of the Month. And that was Edson Berto’s heel hook finish of Bruno Carvalho at Bellator 94.
Although Carvalho had been a highly-touted prospect coming out of Brazil, and although Berto had been on a nasty losing skid, the veteran mixed martial artist and brother of famed boxer Andre Berto was able to lock in his signature submission on a defenceless Carvalho to nab his 17th career victory, and his ninth career submission via heel hook.
Whenever people talk about the greatest leg-lock specialists in MMA, Rousimar Palhares is almost always immediately brought up first — and for good reason, because he was given more exposure while fighting in the UFC — but don’t forget about the Strikeforce/Bellator vet Berto.
• Edson Berto vs. Bruno Carvalho: Edson Berto def. Bruno Carvalho via submission (heel hook) at 1:27 of Round 1.
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Upset of the Month: Josh Burkman stops Aaron Simpson at WSOF 2
Josh Burkman vs. Aaron Simpson, WSOF 2
Josh Burkman was a TUF veteran and more-or-less a staple of the UFC middleweight division, but after a few consecutive losses for Burkman in the Octagon, he parted ways with the promotion and was forced to work his way back up to the big show.
After Burkman pulled off five wins in six tries on the regional circuit (the only loss coming to top prospect Jordan Mein), the newly-minted World Series of Fighting promotion inked the former UFC standout and, after Burkman had taken out Gerald Harris at WSOF 1, decided to pair him up with another former UFC fighter, Aaron Simpson, at WSOF 2 in New Jersey.
Although Burkman entered the fight as a heavy underdog in the minds of the betting public, he was able to unleash a brutal barrage of strikes to finish Simpson in the second round and prove that he was going to be make a run for the top in WSOF.
Burkman followed up the win over Simpson with another incredible upset of Jon Fitch, but he later lost his momentum when he himself was upset by Steve Carl. Still, it’s clear Burkman had a great year, and arguably the most surprising year by anyone overall, when you consider his age and that he was fighting on the regional circuit a year ago.
• Josh Burkman vs. Aaron Simpson: Josh Burkman def. Aaron Simpson via KO (knee) at 3:04 of Round 1.
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Do you agree with these choices for March 2013? Rate these fights and others, and be sure to make your voice heard, so that your favorite fights can be considered for the 2013 Fans’ Choice Awards.
