Photo by Kari Hubert/Forza LLC/Forza LLC via Getty Images
March 27th should be the official day of the armlock.
March 27th has played host to a number of notable MMA incidents; three of those include arm-based submission attempts. One did enough to win a fight, one was withstood thanks to a pint of pure grit, and the other resulted in a brutal victory.
March 27th, 2011: Ronda Rousey makes her pro MMA debut
Despite ending her MMA career with two back-to-back KO losses, Ronda Rousey will remain one of the most important figures in the sport. Her winning streak and UFC title reign catapulted her to a level of mainstream stardom that the sport has seldom seen.
Rousey’s march to the top of the game began, in earnest, on March 27th, 2011 at KOTC: Turning Point. This is where she stepped into the cage as a professional for the very first time. Prior to this the Olympic bronze medalist won three amateur fights; all by armbar in less than a minute.
For her pro debut she was matched with the tough-as-nails Ediane Gomes, who was already 6-1. The one on Gomes’ record came via Amanda Nunes on the Brazilian regional scene. You can watch Rousey vs. Gomes below via Wetzel Parker/YouTube:
The fight went as you’d expect. Rousey got the takedown, the armbar and submission in less than thirty seconds. It’s a scene we would see played out again and again as Rousey sliced through her contemporaries. Rousey would win her next 7 bouts via armbars, winning the Strikeforce and then UFC bantamweight titles along the way.
Rousey switched things up in 2014 when she beat Sara McMann and Alexis Davis by strikes. She followed those wins up with a modified armbar on Cat Zingano (at 14 seconds of the first round). Then she knocked out Bethe Correira at UFC 150 in Rio. That was her last win. After defeats to Holly Holm and Amanda Nunes, Rousey moved on to professional wrestling.
March 27th, 2010: Georges St-Pierre defeats Matt Hardy at UFC 111
Though he didn’t win with a submission, Georges St-Pierre’s multiple and prolonged kimura attempts were the story of his UFC welterweight title defense versus Dan Hardy. The entire fight is presented below via the UFC’s official YouTube channel.
Here is the live musing of Bloody Elbow’s Brent Brookhouse who covered the fight 10 years ago today:
Georges St. Pierre vs. Dan Hardy – Round 1 – Left by GSP and then a quick double leg that puts Hardy’s back on the mat. Hardy looking for full guard and can’t get it. Hardy tries for mission control but from half guard it doesn’t work. St. Pierre passes to side control. Hardy gives up his back and GSP takes it. One hook in, now both. George tries for an armbar, Hardy escapes and is on top for all of a second before they’re up and then GSP takes him right back to the mat and into half guard. Hardy keeps coming close to getting full guard but Georges just keeps pulling one leg out to remain in half guard. Full mount by St. Pierre now. Again Hardy gives up his back. Both hooks in now. Slick transition to armbar and Hardy rolls through to escape. Beautiful job getting out of a deep armbar. 10-9 St. Pierre. Round 2 – No real action for the first minute except pawing punches by Hardy. Quick shot by GSP and he get the takedown with ease. Quick pass to side control for Georges. Knee to the body by GSP now and some punches to the stomach. Georges goes for the back, Hardy scambles and is now on top in Georges’ full guard. GSP hip escapes back to standing. Right hand by Hardy just misses. Leg kick by GSP. Right hand by GSP lands flush. Another big double by GSP and Hardy is now looking to work his legs up high and the round ends. 10-9 GSP again. Round 3 – GSP ducks under a right hand and uses a quick takedown again. St. Pierre ends up back in Hardy’s full guard. GSP standing up and trying to throw strikes downward with power. GSP just keeps grinding awa from on top. Now GSP standing and delivering hard shots. Hardy is pawing at his eye, may have gotten poked. Hardy throws up a triangle but GSP just muscles to side control. Georges looking for an armbar now but Hardy uses good movement to avoid. Hardy manages to stand for a second and gets taken right back down. Again GSP takes the back and Hardy is able to stand up but gets swept back to the ground. The round ends and again 10-9 GSP. Round 4 – Guess how the round started? Takedown by GSP. Full mount now. Again GSP takes the back. Hardy briefly looked like he may roll to a kneebar but instead is on the bottom again. GSP has a very deep kimura now and there is no way Hardy should get out of this, but he does. That was an awful looking kimura and Hardy just gutted through it. The round ends and it’s 10-9 GSP again. Round 5-Hardy with a leg kick and now Georges with one of his own. And another takedown. Triangle attempt by Hardy just leads to him giving up side control. Now GSP going for the kimura agian but can’t finish it. Georges just hanging out on side control landing punches and elbows. The round ends and it’s 10-9 GSP to give him a 50-45 win on my card. Official scorecards: 50-43, 50-44, 50-45 all for Georges St. Pierre. Georges St. Pierre wins by unanimous decision.
The fight ended in a dominant decision victory for St-Pierre, coming at a time when the Canadian appeared untouchable versus the rest of the stacked UFC welterweight field. The win over Hardy was St-Pierre’s third title defense during his final run with the belt. Prior to beating Hardy he saw off Thiago Alves, B.J. Penn, and Jon Fitch. He went on after this to defend against Josh Koscheck, Jake Shields, Carlos Condit, Nick Diaz and finally Johny Hendricks.
Hardy won his shot at the champ after four straight wins with the UFC. After losing the title fight he was defeated by Carlos Condit, Anthony Johnson and Chris Lytle. Hardy rebounded to win two — versus Duane Ludwig and Amir Sadollah — before a heart condition forced him to step away from the sport. Since then Hardy has become one of the more popular commentators and analysts on the UFC’s broadcast roster.
March 27th, 2003: Nick Diaz wins the WEC welterweight title
Way before Rousey was torquing on arms in an MMA cage, and GSP was trying in vain to tap Dan Hardy, Nick Diaz was collecting limbs on the California fight scene. 17 years ago today he picked up one of his nastiest victories to date; a kimura technical decision to win the WEC welterweight title.
The video below (UltimateNickDiazFan/YouTube) shows Diaz vs. Joe Hurley at WEC 6 in Lemoore, California. Be warned, though, the ending is not for the faint of heart.