2014 was an eventful year in the world of mixed martial arts. There were quite a few 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.
Fight of the Month: Yoel Romero vs. Tim Kennedy, UFC 178
My pick for Fight of the Month goes to Yoel Romero and Tim Kennedy for their excellent matchup at UFC 178, one that ended with Romero winning in the third round via TKO, becoming the first man to finish Kennedy with strikes in the process. The card took place on September 27 at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, and in a great night of fights, it’s the one bout that really stood out the most, and one that pocketed both fighters a $50,000 bonus for their efforts.
In the first round, Romero lit Kennedy up on the feet, but it was pretty clear that he was getting tired and that Kennedy’s plan all along was to outlast the Cuban. And in the second, Kennedy’s game plan began to take effect, as he was able to come on strong late, and nearly finish Romero before the bell. But Romero survived the onslaught, and after some shenanigans from his corner that gained him a few valuable extra seconds of recovery time, Romero stormed out of the gate in the third and brutally finished Kennedy with ground and pound. It was a crazy comeback by Romero, no doubt, but overall it was just an amazing mixed martial arts match, one that both fighters will be proud of when they look back at their careers.
• Tim Kennedy vs. Yoel Romero: Yoel Romero def. Tim Kennedy via TKO (strikes) at 0:58 Round 3.
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Knockout of the Month: Mark Hunt vs. Roy Nelson, UFC Fight Night 52
My pick for Knockout of the Month goes to Mark Hunt for his blistering, one-punch walkaway knockout on Roy Nelson at UFC Fight Night 52, which took place September 20 at Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan. It was the first time Nelson had been knocked out in UFC competition (second time in MMA overall) and it came as a shocker because of how well Nelson’s chin had held up in the Octagon up to that point, even against heavy hitters like Junior dos Santos, Fabricio Werdum, and Daniel Cormier.
But with a guy like Hunt, all it takes is one perfectly-placed punch, and that’s exactly what he landed on the jaw of Nelson in the second round. It was a beautiful uppercut that was timed just right, and it sent Nelson falling down to the canvas face first for the first time ever in the Octagon. An unbelievable knockout for sure, and one that earned Hunt a well-deserved shot at Werdum and the interim UFC heavyweight title at UFC 180.
• Mark Hunt vs. Roy Nelson: Mark Hunt def. Roy Nelson via knockout (punch) at 3:00 of Round 2.
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Submission of the Month: John Moraga vs. Justin Scoggins, UFC Fight Night 50
My pick for Submission of the Month goes to John Moraga for his guillotine choke finish of Justin Scoggins at UFC Fight Night 50, which took place September 5 at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Ledyard, Connecticut. Moraga was losing the entire fight, getting outwrestled on the mat and outstruck on the feet, but Scoggins made the mistake of repeatedly leaving his neck out during his takedowns, and Moraga finally caught on, snatching one of his patented guillotine chokes early in the second.
Scoggins was the hyped-up prospect coming into this fight, but Moraga showed with the win he is one of the very best in the world at 125 pounds and should never have been such a big underdog in the fight. It was a brilliant choke by Moraga that reaffirmed his position as a top-five flyweight, while for Scoggins it was a great learning experience and proof that he needs more work before we start calling him a title contender.
• John Moraga vs. Justin Scoggins: John Moraga def. Justin Scoggins via submission (guillotine choke) at 0:47 of Round 2.
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Upset of the Month: Andrei Arlovski vs. Antonio Silva 2, UFC Fight Night 51
My pick for Upset of the Month goes to Andrei Arlovski for his brutal knockout of Antonio Silva at UFC Fight Night 51, which took place September 13 at Ginasio Nilson Nelson in Brasilia, Brazil. Arlovski entered the fight as a 4-to-1 underdog, but he sure didn’t look like it, as it took him only 2:59 to dispose of Silva in brutal fashion, finishing “Bigfoot” with strikes in front of his Brazilian fans for the biggest win of Arlovski’s career in years.
The crazy thing about the upset was just how differently the fight played out compared to the pair’s first bout back in Strikeforce, a fight Silva won via unanimous decision. Silva dominated that fight, and considering all of Arlovski’s chin issues, as well as the poor performance he had in his UFC return bout against Brendan Schaub, the fact that he was able to destroy Silva in such dominant fashion was a shocker for many, including the sportsbooks, who paid out a big return to those that were brave enough to lay their cash on Arlovski, a bet that turned out to be a lucrative one in hindsight.
• Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva vs. Andrei Arlovski: Andrei Arlovski def. Antonio Silva via knockout (punches) at 2:59 of Round 1.
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Do you agree with these choices for September 2014? Rate these fights and others, and be sure to make your voice heard!
