The Top 5 Performances by Top Fighters
Few things in sports can equal the pure thrill of an evenly matched
fight. Nothing, however, is quite so awe-inspiring as witnessing a
fighter at the top of his game.
Seeing an athlete operate on a level that literally no one else can begin to approach while he picks apart the very best the world has to offer is a rare sight. Yet MMA has been lucky enough to have a select few reach those heights.
With the performances of this past weekend’s two pound-for-pound juggernauts in mind, we take a look back at the fights that kept us all in hushed awe or sent us into postfight hysterics.
Either way, witnessing the best operate at their very best is something that deserves to be remembered, so sit back and enjoy a trip down busted-heads lane.
5. Emelianenko vs. Sylvia -- July 19, 2008
Nearly three years removed from facing a legitimate heavyweight. Rumors of a training camp injury. Closing in on his 32nd birthday. Facing a younger opponent who dwarfs skyscrapers.
Dealing with those circumstances, you could almost excuse a letdown from Fedor Emelianenko (Pictures), whose almost robotic efficiency has become more assumed than appreciated.
The let down, however, came from Tim Sylvia (Pictures), whose gargantuan frame buckled in just 36 seconds under the Russian cyborg’s assault. Just like that, we were all reminded that the “I Never Lose” mantra emblazoned on Emelianenko’s T-shirts is meant to be taken seriously.
So while the evening was meant to be all about the debut of Affliction’s MMA promotion, we all walked away with a reminder that Emelianenko is the greatest heavyweight we’ve seen in our still young sport. Whether it was the skull-jarring punches that sent Sylvia to the canvas or the modified serial killer choke that had him tapping out in short order, everyone left with something to be impressed about -- Sylvia included.
The former UFC heavyweight champion summed up the evening: “I don’t think Fedor is human. He is by far the best fighter in the world.”
Anyone care to argue?
4. Silva vs. Franklin -- Oct. 14, 2006
The general consensus was that Anderson Silva (Pictures) is good, but would he be good enough to beat then UFC middleweight champion Rich Franklin (Pictures)?
Probably not, given Franklin’s reign of terror over the middleweight division and the cerebral style that made him known for zoning in on his opponent’s every weak spot and exploiting them with mathematical precision.
All that changed the evening of Oct. 14, 2006. Silva put Franklin in the Thai plum and proceeded to deliver one of the most stunning displays of pure muay Thai this sport has ever seen. Knee after knee crashed into Franklin’s midsection until Silva started finding openings upstairs. It wouldn’t be long until Franklin was laid out on the canvas, dazed, confused and the recipient of a pro bono nose job.
The result prompted the usual line of “IT IS ALL OVER!” from Mike Goldberg, but it was just the beginning for “The Spider.”
Now one of the premier pound-for-pound fighters in the entire sport, Silva’s muay Thai clinic at UFC 64 will forever be remembered as the night this sport christened a legend.
3. Couture vs. Rizzo II -- Nov. 2, 2001
Randy Couture (Pictures) got lucky. Most in attendance and watching live had Pedro Rizzo (Pictures) up on their scorecards when they faced off at UFC 31.
Luckily, the three ringside judges disagreed, and Couture got to keep his UFC heavyweight title. However, the specter of that controversial win haunted both Couture and the UFC, so a rematch was set for UFC 34.
At first, the bout appeared to be as evenly matched as the first go-round. Then Couture scored a takedown halfway through the first round.
Without anyone realizing it, the end had already begun. Couture unloaded on Rizzo for the remainder of the round with the bell being the only thing that gave Rizzo the slightest spark of hope. A spark that was quickly snuffed out thanks to a flawless ground-and-pound offensive by Couture that turned Rizzo’s face into a Jackson Pollack and forced a merciful stoppage.
As much as the MMA cognoscenti praise Couture’s late-career resurgence, UFC 34 marked the evening that the world discovered a true heavyweight superstar.
2. Silva vs. Sakuraba: March 25, 2001
Just business as usual for then Pride middleweight champion Kazushi Sakuraba (Pictures), who was matched against all-around savage Wanderlei Silva (Pictures). Imposing as Silva can be, this was Sakuraba in the ring, the man who had made a career out of taking out larger opponents with his combination of unorthodox grappling and fearless guile.
Pride 13 was going to be just another opportunity for Sakuraba to impress us all and cement his status as a pound-for-pound phenom.
Apparently no one told Silva, who showed MMA fans the world over that he takes his “Axe Murderer” persona quite seriously. He all but dismembered Sakuraba in the ring. In less than two minutes, he displaced the Japanese fighter as Pride’s middleweight champion and established himself as the most feared fighter on the planet.
The in-ring homicides continue to this day for Silva, but none is remembered quite so vividly as when he destroyed one legend in building his own.
1. St. Pierre vs. Hughes II: Nov. 18, 2006
There is “good” and then there is “scary good.”
When Georges St. Pierre (Pictures) is on his game, he personifies the term and never was he quite so “scary good” as when he avenged his loss to Matt Hughes (Pictures) at UFC 65.
For six long minutes and 25 excruciating seconds, there was nothing Hughes, the supposed greatest welterweight of all time, could do to St. Pierre. It was as if we were witnessing a seminar and St. Pierre had pulled Hughes out of the crowd so he could demonstrate a few moves.
The thought that Hughes had once beaten St. Pierre seemed almost laughable, as he was picked apart in virtually every aspect of the game with seeming ease by his young usurper. Those six-plus minutes remain one of the most aesthetically beautiful displays of what has been decried as a sport built on barbarism and violence instead of respect and skill.
The beauty to be found in St. Pierre’s performance that evening was clear to all. Should anyone come forward to say otherwise, I suppose the only fitting response is pity.
Pity that you’re missing out on something truly special.
Seeing an athlete operate on a level that literally no one else can begin to approach while he picks apart the very best the world has to offer is a rare sight. Yet MMA has been lucky enough to have a select few reach those heights.
With the performances of this past weekend’s two pound-for-pound juggernauts in mind, we take a look back at the fights that kept us all in hushed awe or sent us into postfight hysterics.
Either way, witnessing the best operate at their very best is something that deserves to be remembered, so sit back and enjoy a trip down busted-heads lane.
5. Emelianenko vs. Sylvia -- July 19, 2008
Nearly three years removed from facing a legitimate heavyweight. Rumors of a training camp injury. Closing in on his 32nd birthday. Facing a younger opponent who dwarfs skyscrapers.
Dealing with those circumstances, you could almost excuse a letdown from Fedor Emelianenko (Pictures), whose almost robotic efficiency has become more assumed than appreciated.
The let down, however, came from Tim Sylvia (Pictures), whose gargantuan frame buckled in just 36 seconds under the Russian cyborg’s assault. Just like that, we were all reminded that the “I Never Lose” mantra emblazoned on Emelianenko’s T-shirts is meant to be taken seriously.
So while the evening was meant to be all about the debut of Affliction’s MMA promotion, we all walked away with a reminder that Emelianenko is the greatest heavyweight we’ve seen in our still young sport. Whether it was the skull-jarring punches that sent Sylvia to the canvas or the modified serial killer choke that had him tapping out in short order, everyone left with something to be impressed about -- Sylvia included.
The former UFC heavyweight champion summed up the evening: “I don’t think Fedor is human. He is by far the best fighter in the world.”
Anyone care to argue?
4. Silva vs. Franklin -- Oct. 14, 2006
The general consensus was that Anderson Silva (Pictures) is good, but would he be good enough to beat then UFC middleweight champion Rich Franklin (Pictures)?
Probably not, given Franklin’s reign of terror over the middleweight division and the cerebral style that made him known for zoning in on his opponent’s every weak spot and exploiting them with mathematical precision.
All that changed the evening of Oct. 14, 2006. Silva put Franklin in the Thai plum and proceeded to deliver one of the most stunning displays of pure muay Thai this sport has ever seen. Knee after knee crashed into Franklin’s midsection until Silva started finding openings upstairs. It wouldn’t be long until Franklin was laid out on the canvas, dazed, confused and the recipient of a pro bono nose job.
The result prompted the usual line of “IT IS ALL OVER!” from Mike Goldberg, but it was just the beginning for “The Spider.”
Now one of the premier pound-for-pound fighters in the entire sport, Silva’s muay Thai clinic at UFC 64 will forever be remembered as the night this sport christened a legend.
3. Couture vs. Rizzo II -- Nov. 2, 2001
Randy Couture (Pictures) got lucky. Most in attendance and watching live had Pedro Rizzo (Pictures) up on their scorecards when they faced off at UFC 31.
Luckily, the three ringside judges disagreed, and Couture got to keep his UFC heavyweight title. However, the specter of that controversial win haunted both Couture and the UFC, so a rematch was set for UFC 34.
At first, the bout appeared to be as evenly matched as the first go-round. Then Couture scored a takedown halfway through the first round.
Without anyone realizing it, the end had already begun. Couture unloaded on Rizzo for the remainder of the round with the bell being the only thing that gave Rizzo the slightest spark of hope. A spark that was quickly snuffed out thanks to a flawless ground-and-pound offensive by Couture that turned Rizzo’s face into a Jackson Pollack and forced a merciful stoppage.
As much as the MMA cognoscenti praise Couture’s late-career resurgence, UFC 34 marked the evening that the world discovered a true heavyweight superstar.
2. Silva vs. Sakuraba: March 25, 2001
Just business as usual for then Pride middleweight champion Kazushi Sakuraba (Pictures), who was matched against all-around savage Wanderlei Silva (Pictures). Imposing as Silva can be, this was Sakuraba in the ring, the man who had made a career out of taking out larger opponents with his combination of unorthodox grappling and fearless guile.
Pride 13 was going to be just another opportunity for Sakuraba to impress us all and cement his status as a pound-for-pound phenom.
Apparently no one told Silva, who showed MMA fans the world over that he takes his “Axe Murderer” persona quite seriously. He all but dismembered Sakuraba in the ring. In less than two minutes, he displaced the Japanese fighter as Pride’s middleweight champion and established himself as the most feared fighter on the planet.
The in-ring homicides continue to this day for Silva, but none is remembered quite so vividly as when he destroyed one legend in building his own.
1. St. Pierre vs. Hughes II: Nov. 18, 2006
There is “good” and then there is “scary good.”
When Georges St. Pierre (Pictures) is on his game, he personifies the term and never was he quite so “scary good” as when he avenged his loss to Matt Hughes (Pictures) at UFC 65.
For six long minutes and 25 excruciating seconds, there was nothing Hughes, the supposed greatest welterweight of all time, could do to St. Pierre. It was as if we were witnessing a seminar and St. Pierre had pulled Hughes out of the crowd so he could demonstrate a few moves.
The thought that Hughes had once beaten St. Pierre seemed almost laughable, as he was picked apart in virtually every aspect of the game with seeming ease by his young usurper. Those six-plus minutes remain one of the most aesthetically beautiful displays of what has been decried as a sport built on barbarism and violence instead of respect and skill.
The beauty to be found in St. Pierre’s performance that evening was clear to all. Should anyone come forward to say otherwise, I suppose the only fitting response is pity.
Pity that you’re missing out on something truly special.
