One of the most eagerly awaited fight cards of the year, UFC 158 in Montreal is already staking its claim as a highpoint for the promotion in 2013.
The event saw Quebec’s favourite son, George St. Pierre, return to the province’s capital four months after defeating Carlos Condit in the same arena at the Bell Centre, Montreal. The champion defended his title once again, against one of his darkest nemeses, Nick Diaz, cruising to another five-round decision win.
But that performance was a long way from being the finest on the night. GSP, for all his merits, was beaten for pace in the later rounds, and never looked close to finishing, or seriously damaging, his opponent. Others on the fight card were more resplendent.
Johny Hendricks
Often overlooked, welterweight contender Johny Hendricks won’t be overlooked anymore after he took apart former No. 1 contender Carlos Condit over three rounds with thunderous takedowns and reckless boxing.
Anyone doubting Hendricks’ merits to go up against GSP will now have to think again. He was an animal.
Hendricks came out with mean intentions and pushed the pace from the beginning—looking to land one of his powerful punches that has put the lights out of eight men in his 16-fight career.
But Condit returned fire with fire, and that’s why Hendricks was so impressive. Despite the obvious danger Condit posed, and his technical superiority in the striking department, Hendricks never backed down and continued to throw vicious shots aimed squarely at taking off his opponent’s head. With timing and explosiveness worthy of GSP, the division’s best wrestler, Hendricks switched for the takedown repeatedly, before Condit could even blink.
The victory has conferred him with six straight wins and left Hendricks the undeniable challenger at 170 pounds.
Jake Ellenberger
Jake Ellenberger’s victory over Nate Marquardt was emphatic—winning via first-round KO in a powerful display of boxing superiority.
The win gives him an 8-1 record in his last nine fights, one of the best in the division, and will surely put him in the top five at 170 pounds (he’s currently at No; 3) when the UFC updates its rankings.
Ellenberger’s last fight against Jay Hieron was a lacklustre three-round victory, but there was no chance this fight would go the same way.
After a tentative feeling out process, Ellenberger’s movement and timing with his boxing was that much sharper, and after clipping his opponent three minutes into the fight, he was able to finish the job with devastating style.
The win earned him the Knockout of the Night bonus and rightfully so.
Jordan Mein
Strikeforce’s band of desperados who’ve invaded the UFC since the dissolution of the promotion, seem to be crushing everyone in their paths. Middleweight Jordan Mein, at just 23, proved just how talented that bunch is, by finishing the tenacious Dan Miller inside the first round.
Miller is one of the most difficult fighters in the world to stop, and had, in fact, never been stopped in 20 fights. That was until his night was cut short by Mein.
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