Takanori Gomi. “Minotoro” Nogueira. Wanderlei Silva. Ricardo Arona. Georges St. Pierre. Mirko “Cro Cop”. Tim Sylvia. Gabriel Gonzaga. “Shogun”.
Other than being some of the best in Mixed Martial Arts, what do these fighters have in common?
They all fell victim to a twelve month period that shall forever live in MMA infamy: The Year of the Upset.
The cold winds of February delivered the first signs that it would be a tough year for MMA fanatics and an even tougher year for MMA bettors. Pride 33: The Second Coming sent the MMA world into a frenzy after three major upsets.
First, a newcomer with a 2-1 record entered the ring and made quick work of one of the best 205 lb fighters in the world. Antonio Rogerio “Minotoro” Nogueira fell to the heavy hands of Rameau Thierry “The African Assassin” Sokoudjou in just 23 seconds, which is considerably shorter than it took me to type out their full names.
The shock was still stuck in the minds of fans when Nick Diaz latched a gogoplata on the neck of one of the best lightweights in the history of the sport, Takanori Gomi. Though the fight would be one of the best in the year, the ending - Nick Diaz, coming off of a mixed run in the UFC, peppering Gomi with punches then finishing him with the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu equivalent of a Bruce Lee flying kick - was horrific.
But 2007 wasn’t finished. The very next fight, the last of the night left many-a-living room in stunned silence. Wanderlei Silva, Pride’s dominant middleweight champion and a legend of mixed martial arts, was KO’d by the gunpowder-packed hands of Dan Henderson. The fight was supposed to be a safe on. Silva, who’d already beaten Henderson back in 2000, was supposed to be all fists and knees and aggression en route to a brutal stoppage or a decisive victory over the wrestler belonging in a lower weight class. What was supposed to happen, needless to say, didn’t happen.
The trend would continue.
Grappling juggernaught Ricardo Arona? Knocked out by the aforementioned African Assassin.
Assumed heir to the pound-for-pound throne Georges St. Pierre? Knocked out by longshot Matt Serra.
Six foot eight inch striking behemoth Tim Sylvia? Dominated and thrown around by 44-year-old, previously retired, Randy “The Natural” Couture.
But 2007’s wrath was felt in full force at UFC 70: Nations Collide. Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic was the most feared heavyweight striker in the world. His patented left head kick was considered by many to be the single most lethal weapon in the sport. Countless opponents (okay, not quite countless but a bunch of them) had had their dreams of success suddenly ended where their head met his rapidly moving shin.
Gabriel “Napao” Gonzaga was a grappling genius who had yet to be tested against a true top heavyweight in his MMA career. He was expected to lose. “Cro Cop” had been brought in to win the heavyweight title easily. After decapitating Gonzaga, he would move on to fight the resurgent Randy Couture.
The fight started. The crowd is tense, watching in anticipation as the fighters circle each other. Cro Cop strikes! The sound of his shin slapping Napao’s body reverberates through the arena. But wait! Gonzaga, in a clearly rehearsed relfex, catches the kick and takes the fight to the ground. No biggie. Though Cro Cop isn’t the best on the ground, he should be able to get up soon. And he does. With the referee’s assistance. After eating several unanswered elbows to the head. The fight is back on its feet. The fighters circle each other more then - BANG! The kick heard ’round the world. Gonzaga’s massive right leg finds Cro Cop’s suddenly not so large-looking head and the Croatian sensation drops as if he was taken out by a sniper, not rising until minutes later.
More upsets would come in months thereafter, but those few seconds in which Gonzaga’s leg was in the air and Cro Cop’s unconcious body was collapsing to the canvas tell a twelve month tale.
MMA fans are a weak and fickle beast, easily distraught.
‘08, please be gentle.
Technorati Tags: MMA, 2007, upsets, Mixed Martial Arts, Gomi, GSP, Gonzaga, UFC, Pride
Written by Moses Utomi - Visit Website
No comments yet.