Clutch performance—performing well under extreme pressure. It often refers to high levels of production in a critical game, such as Game 7 of a best-of-seven series, or the final minute(s) in a close match. Being “clutch” is often seen by spor…
Clutch performance—performing well under extreme pressure. It often refers to high levels of production in a critical game, such as Game 7 of a best-of-seven series, or the final minute(s) in a close match. Being “clutch” is often seen by sportswriters and fans as an innate skill which some players have while others do not.
In mixed-martial arts, there are always high-pressure situations, and a lot of guys who blow it in the final moments. The ability to perform to the best of your abilities at the most pivotal of moments is an enviable quality that attributes to major success inside the Octagon.
As long as the final horn has yet to sound, both fighters are still in the fight. No matter how badly a fighter is getting dominated, there is always the opportunity for them to reach down deep and deliver with a stoppage.
This list is a celebration of the elite fighters who were able deliver where many would have faltered.
I’d like to thank MMA lead writer Jonathan Snowden for his contributions for some of these selections.
Frank Mir is a dangerous and vicious animal. Of the 16 victories in his career, only three times has he had to rely on the judges. He has knocked out world-class strikers and submitted world-class grapplers. At the end of the day, there isn’t much more…
Frank Mir is a dangerous and vicious animal. Of the 16 victories in his career, only three times has he had to rely on the judges. He has knocked out world-class strikers and submitted world-class grapplers. At the end of the day, there isn’t much more one can accomplish in the industry than Frank Mir.
Right now, Frank Mir is a heavy favorite to step in for the suddenly unsuitable Alistair Overeem at UFC 146. While it would be hard giving an immediate rematch to Cain Velasquez after getting knocked out so quickly by the current champion, are we really expected to believe that Frank Mir, a 4:1 underdog in his scheduled fight versus Velasquez, is somehow going to be able to dethrone the current champ?
I have nothing but the utmost respect for Frank Mir, and while MMA fans tend to remember the most recent performances of their favorite stars, it’s hard to forget some of Mir’s less-than-stellar Octagon appearances against high-level competition.
UFC 119: Frank Mir vs. Mirko Cro Cop—Mir is put against an elite striker and attempts only two takedowns in the nearly 15-minute encounter. Fans were lulled to sleep by a terrible pace and an inability of either man to pull the trigger. The main event was so boring that Dana White refused to give Mir the “Knockout of the Night” bonus, despite being the only knockout on the entire card.
UFC 111: Frank Mir vs Shane Carwin—Mir is put against a heavy-handed opponent with a size and strength advantage. Frank is outlanded 49-3 in the striking department and knocked unconscious in the very first round for the second time in three fights.
UFC 100: Frank Mir vs Brock Lesnar—Mir is put against an inexperienced mixed martial artist with very limited standup skills. Mir was widely expected to have an advantage if the fight hit the ground. Instead, when takedowns occurred, Mir was held down and beaten into near unconsciousness. Mir was outstruck 47-4 this time around.
The most relevant bout in Mir’s history would have be the contest with Cro Cop, due to the similar game plans between Mirko and Junior. Both fighters would attempts to defend the takedown when necessary, and use their striking advantage to secure a victory. It seems unlikely that Mir would be able get this fight to the ground. Still, with such a distinct striking disadvantage for Dos Santos, the former champ cannot win this fight without a takedown.
For Dos Santos, a fight with Frank Mir would require a completely different strategy and set of expectations than against Alistair Overeem. Would it be fair for the champion to have to completely rework his game plan with less than eight weeks remaining in training camp?
Junior dos Santos has been preparing for a K-1 kickboxing champion, so why not give him one? Mark Hunt won the elite striking competition back in 2001, and has recently been leaving a trail of unconscious victims behind him. With a three-fight win streak of his own, alongside a new-found popularity with hardcore fans, Hunt has enough momentum and fan support to sell a PPV in the headliner.
Hunt’s striking is on an elite level for MMA, with a notably calm demeanor and counter attacks that make any man regret throwing the first punch. In February, Hunt knocked out heavyweight Cheick Kongo, a fighter who has faced high-level strikers like Mirko Cro Cop, Cain Velasquez, Antoni Hardonk and Pat Barry without suffering the same fate.
What’s notable about Hunt’s current streak is his progression in the grappling department. Undoubtedly his Achilles heel, Hunt knows that keeping his fights standing is a necessary element to success. Against wrestlers Chris Tuchscherer and Ben Rothwell, Hunt displayed his much improved takedown defense, stuffing 15 of the 18 attempts.
The Standup:
Hunt has equal credentials to that of Overeem. This is the kind of fight fans were already looking forward to due to the tremendous striking abilities of the champion and his challenger. Each man has scary power in their hands, and both men are blessed with chins that could stand up to a battering ram.
The Grappling:
Mark has been stuffing the takedowns of better wrestlers than Dos Santos lately. It’s not impossible for JDS to get Hunt down, but considering that he didn’t attempt takedowns against Mirko Cro Cop or Gilbert Yvel, it would be out of character for Dos Santos to depart from his bread and butter.
Ultimately, the biggest reason that Mark Hunt is a better option for this fight is because he is more dangerous to the champion than any other heavyweight.
I have a mission for you, the Bleacher Report readers: Ask some of your friends or family members to describe mixed martial arts, and count how many of them use the word “brutal”. Of the ones who do, how many of them are regular viewers of the sport? H…
I have a mission for you, the Bleacher Report readers: Ask some of your friends or family members to describe mixed martial arts, and count how many of them use the word “brutal”. Of the ones who do, how many of them are regular viewers of the sport? Have they ever sat down and watched an entire event, or are they just sharing a description that they’ve heard?
THE BRUTAL
Even in 2012, there are several fighters out there who may take things a little too far in terms of what gets said in the media. In a recent interview, Thiago Silva made the following statement:
“When I step in the Octagon, I go to kill or die, and I will do the same on April 14th, and I will be ten times more aggressive because this fight is very important for me.”
While this comment may seem extreme, it is certainly not the first time that a fighter has expressed a desire to kill inside the cage. In a 2010 interview, Frank Mirmade this claim:
“I want to fight Lesnar. I hate who he is as a person. I want to break his neck in the ring. I want him to be the first person that dies due to Octagon-related injuries. That’s what’s going through my mind.”
It’s rare to find fighters who operate under such an extreme mentality. Mixed martial artists, especially those competing under the ZUFFA banner, are world class athletes who work hard to make a living for their families. Their goal is not to go out there and cause permanent damage to their opponent. They will never receive a bonus check for being too violent.
The UFC takes fighter safety very seriously, and is quick to discipline fighters who display unacceptable behavior. For example, when Rousimar Palhares refused to release a dangerous heel hook submission on Tomasz Drwal back at UFC 111, he was suspended from the organization for 90 days and forfeited his $65,000 Submission of the Night bonus. Palhares did go on record to say that he continued to crank the submission because he did not feel Drwal tap out.
Likewise, the NSAC fined Renato “Babalu” Sobral $25,000 after refusing to release a choke on preliminary fighter David Heath. Sobral was subsequently fired by the UFC for his unprofessional actions.
THE BEAUTIFUL
On the flip side of the coin, you will find UFC Heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos. In an interview with ESPN, the champ credited his success to a sportsmanlike mentality.
“I think it’s very important to keep your emotions in control. The goal inside the cage is to win the fight, so you have to keep your focus on that. That’s what I try to do. I just want to win the fight. I don’t want to hurt my opponent and I don’t want to hurt myself, I just want to win.”
You’ll find several other fighters who share this belief. Demian Maia has been outspoken about his jiu-jitsu being a tool in which he can defeat his opponent quickly and without causing any damage.
People tend to forget that the A in MMA stands for “arts”, and that’s exactly what MMA is. If boxing is the sweet science, how do we view the amazing transitions created by judo and jiu-jitsu practitioners? Using flawless technique, a sweep is one of the most beautiful things you’ll see inside the Octagon.
Look at the attached .gif image and witness Demian Maia use a lateral drop to bring an NCAA Division I All-American wrestler to the ground. Watch his effortless transition into mount, where he works quickly to secure a triangle choke on the larger and stronger Chael Sonnen. Maia’s beautiful technique can also be seen in his bait and switch of Ed Herman, and the jiu-jitsu clinic put on between he and Jason MacDonald at UFC 87.
THE ANALYSIS
Dana White commonly touts that there have never been any serious injuries inside the Octagon, and the reason behind that is the unified rules of MMA. Strikes to the back of the head and spine are strictly prohibited. Unlike boxing, a fighter isn’t encouraged to stand back up on wobbly legs and get knocked out all over again after an 8 count. When the referee pulls a fighter off, the action is finished.
There will always be headhunters in combat sports. The sort of fighters that look for big knockouts, but in the big leagues, because of the well-trained officials, along with a series of rules designed to prevent fighters from absorbing any unnecessary damage, the brutality of the sport can only be seen in the rarest of occasions.
The UFC dry spell is finally coming to a close. Only a mere two weeks away, I can already taste the sweet flavors of a well-crafted UFC knockout. After a long March where we found ourselves flipping between the Ultimate Fighter Live and a stellar seaso…
The UFC dry spell is finally coming to a close. Only a mere two weeks away, I can already taste the sweet flavors of a well-crafted UFC knockout. After a long March where we found ourselves flipping between the Ultimate Fighter Live and a stellar season of Bellator, April is here, and we’ve got a lot to look forward to.
There are no Strikeforce, Titan Fighting Championships, DREAM, M-1 or ProElite bouts this month, but an independent fight did manage to work its way onto our list, alongside some highly anticipated UFC and Bellator contests that are sure to deliver both big-name stars and high-quality MMA action.
This is a list of the top 20 fights that MMA fans should look forward to seeing this month.
When Fedor Emelianenko’s camp told Sportbox.ru that he was considering signing with the UFC, every MMA fan put on their “Joe Silva Hat” and let the fantasy matchmaking begin. Our creative juices began to flow, and we started to piece things together in…
When Fedor Emelianenko‘s camp told Sportbox.ru that he was considering signing with the UFC, every MMA fan put on their “Joe Silva Hat” and let the fantasy matchmaking begin. Our creative juices began to flow, and we started to piece things together in our minds.
“He can finally fight Overeem!”
“Why did Brock have to retire?”
“Will he finally rematch Werdum?”
Then, reality kicked in.
Dana Whiteclaims to have no interest in bringing over the longtime Pride Heavyweight champion, but we all know that isn’t exactly the case. What he means to say is that he has no interest in giving Vladim Finkelstein and the M-1 goons the ridiculous demands that they feel Fedor warrants. Additionally, they have no interest in catering to Fedor as if his trio of embarrassing losses never happened.
If Fedor were to accept his current place in the food chain and agree to a modest offer from Zuffa, Dana would be happy to have him. Why? Because when the day is done and we put all personal animosity aside, we know that Dana White is a brilliant businessman.
Regardless of his three-fight skid in Strikeforce, Emelianenko is a brand all of his own. Fedor lovers would buy his pay-per-views to cheer him, and Fedor detractors would be happy to watch him go down in flames. It would be a win-win for everyone.
So the question lies: If Fedor were to finally come over to the UFC, who would they put him against?
Clearly, Dana has no interest in giving “The Last Emperor” an immediate shot at gold after his string of misfortune against some of the worlds finest. However, this doesn’t change the fact that Fedor could boost PPV numbers in a co-main event against a high-level heavyweight.
This is a list of the five best opponents for Fedor if he signs with the UFC.
When the smoke clears and all is said and done, we can shake hands and be friends. Right? Wrong! On June 16, 2012, Anderson Silva and Chael Sonnen will step into the cage so that MMA fans can bear witness to the biggest rematch in UFC history. UFC…
When the smoke clears and all is said and done, we can shake hands and be friends. Right? Wrong!
On June 16, 2012, Anderson Silva and Chael Sonnen will step into the cage so that MMA fans can bear witness to the biggest rematch in UFC history. UFC 147 is not only expected to be the biggest PPV event of the year, but it also looks like it could break the PPV record currently held by UFC 100, which also featured a grudge match rematch in the main event.
“Why should they fight again? We already saw it!” Just because you saw the same two guys get into the cage before doesn’t mean that you’ll see the same fight the second time around. Just look at Lesnar vs Mir and Liddell vs Couture as examples of different outcomes occurring in a hotly anticipated rematch.
Personal beef between fighters isn’t the only reason why fans want to see rematches.The way I see it, there are 10 primary situations that would make a rematch necessary:
Controversial Decision
Controversial Stoppage
Fight Ends in a Draw
Extremely Close Fight
Extremely Exciting Fight
Outside Factor Tainted First Fight
Close Contention within Division
Animosity Between Opponents
Underdog Shocks Heavy Favorite
Winner Tested Positive for Performance Enhancer
Here is a list of 20 Rematches that MMA Fans Want to See…whether they know it or not!
