UFC 134 was, for all intents and purposes, a perfect night for the sport of mixed martial arts. The fans in the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro were boisterous and passionate, which made the show feel like an even bigger deal than it already was.
As for the show, it was one of the best events of the year. There were great fights and exciting finishes to be found up and down the card.
Saturday night was a monumental night for UFC because it was their first foray into Brazil since 1998, and given the way the country reacted to this show, it will not be that long before they make a return trip.
With that in mind, here are the three best moments from UFC 134 in Rio de Janeiro.
3. Erick Silva’s Lightning Quick KO of Luis Ramos
Erick Silva and Luis Ramos entered UFC 134 largely unknown to most people watching the event, but in Brazil these two men are superstars. Both have been champions for rival promotions in the country and the crowd was on the edge of their seats when the fight started.
The crowd didn’t have time to get comfortable in their seats because Silva knocked Ramos down in about 30 seconds and shortly after that the fight was over.
2. Rousimar Palhares and Dan Miller Fight
This was a one-sided affair that Palhares dominated from start to finish, but Miller did not give in at any point. Miller’s left eye was covered in blood and the referee nearly stopped the fight at the end of the second round.
But Miller came out in the third round and gave Palhares everything he had for the final five minutes. Palhares was gassed in the third round and seemed shocked that Miller was still standing. The two men hugged after the fight as a show of respect for the war that they had just put their bodies through.
1. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira Is Back
“Big Nog” had not fought since a lopsided loss to Cain Velasquez at UFC 110 in February 2010 because of a series of injuries that have been lingering for far longer than you would think.
But those setbacks did not prevent Nogueira from scoring his first knockout victory since 2005. He worked so hard to be able to compete on this show because it could be his last major fight on Brazilian soil.
He left the fans in attendance and watching around the world with a memory that they will never forget.
