Tag: UFC on FX 6

The UFC hosted another night of combative excellence on Friday with UFC on FX 6. 

The night in Australia’s Gold Coast crowned winners of The Ultimate Fighter: The Smashes in the lightweight and welterweight divisions, and it also showcased two of the sport’s most exciting lightweights in Ross Pearson and George Sotiropoulos in the main event. 

There were few disappointments on the card, and five out of the 10 bouts ended via knockout—a fact sure to satisfy the violence monger in all of us. 

With so much action on hand, who took home the prestigious fight of the night, submission of the night and knockout of the night awards?

 

Fight of the Night

In a somewhat shocking decision, the UFC awarded Cody Donovan and Nick Penner a cool $40,000 apiece for their one-round efforts at UFC on FX 6. 

While this fight was definitely sensational, and it was a great way to kick off the action, I fully expected Pearson and Sotiropoulos to snag this honor for their three-round war. 

To their credit, Donovan and Penner engaged in a back-and-forth effort, and Donovan pulled off an awesome comeback, so there’s really not too much to complain about here. 

Welcome to the UFC, Mr. Donovan—here’s your check!

 

Knockout of the Night

For those who saw the preliminary action on Fuel TV, this distinction should come as no surprise. 

Ben Alloway pulled off his best Anderson Silva impression and landed a flush front kick to the face of his opponent, Manuel Rodriguez, at the end of their bout’s opening round.

After a series of follow-up punches rendered his opponent unconscious and unable to defend himself, Alloway was declared the victor and awarded $40,000 for his efforts.

I literally yelled with excitement when Alloway landed this kick, so I personally have no problems with him taking home the award. 

That said, Hector Lombard, Ross Pearson and Chad Mendes all notched highlight-reel finishes of their own, and the award could have easily gone to any of them.

Part of me feels that Dana White and the UFC brass wanted to show the newcomers what life in the UFC is all about, and for that, two fighters were awarded their first post-fight bonuses.

 

Submission of the Night

Submission of the night went to Rousimar Palhares‘ brain. While the camera crew could not capture the footage, I have heard from multiple sources that Palhares‘ gray matter was actually pulsating against his skull rapidly, not from Lombard’s punches, but rather in an effort to tap out before the beating became too severe. 

Silly, obviously fake and horribly-construed stories aside, there were no submissions tonight, so no award was given. 

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OK, that was awesome. 

After Team UK and Team Australia split the evening’s The Ultimate Fighter: The Smashes finale matchups, Ross Pearson and George Sotiropoulos squared off to determine whose nation reigned supreme. 

With a stiff straight left and a crushing right hook to follow it, Ross “The Real Deal” Pearson made sure that honor belonged to England. 

The two former The Ultimate Fighter contestants participated in an action-packed three-round affair, and Pearson made it clear from the onset that he would lead in this dance of death.

 

What we’ll remember about the fight

Ross Pearson looked awesome, and George Sotiropoulos needs to have his chin enshrined in the Keith Jardine Glass Factory.

Pearson’s sharp hands and crisp movement were too much for Sotiropoulos to handle and he was repeatedly blasted from the get-go. 

Sotriopoulos is no longer the man who took the lightweight division by storm from 2008-2010, and Pearson is looking better than ever. 

 

What we learned about Pearson

Pearson is not done.

He has alternated wins and losses in his last six contests, but the losses (to Edson Barboza, Cole Miller and Cub Swanson) were much more decisive than his victories.

I, for one, questioned where Pearson was as a mixed martial artist, but he put on a boxing clinic in this bout and reminded us just how fearsome his power can be. 

 

What we learned about Sotiropoulos 

George needs to stop taking fights in his native Australia. 

The land down under was the location for his UFC lightweight title bid derailment at the hands of Dennis Siver at UFC 127, and now he finds himself on the wrong end of a vicious KO in his home country. 

Oye…

We already knew George Sotriopoulos couldn’t take a punch, so not much was learned here. GST is awesome whenever he is dictating the action and controlling the fight, particularly on the ground, but he does not fare well in the face of pressure and adversity. T

hat was the theme of this fight, and Pearson confirmed all the suspicions we had about the Australian.

What’s next for Pearson?

Ross Pearson looked much better at lightweight than he has at featherweight, and I think his next fight needs to come at 155.

He looked good, but I’m still not sure he can hang with the top dogs. Yves Edwards, who is coming off a nice knockout victory himself, would be a fun matchup. 

What’s next for Sotiropoulos?

Chin implants, perhaps? Iron fortification? 

In all seriousness, Sotiropoulos needs to reevaluate his career and decide what he wants to do moving forward.

I’m not sure he has a lot more to give to this division.

And while he would be a solid gatekeeper, I’m not sure he has the fire inside of him to continue getting beat up if he can forge a career training and coaching up-and-comers, instead. 

He has excellent credentials, but I think we’ve seen the best he has to offer. 

A safe matchup against somebody with rudimentary standup skills would be favorable for him and Mark Bocek fits the bill. I’m not sure how this fight would develop on the feet, but it could definitely turn into a high-level grappling contest. 

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