Jones
02-12-2009, 19:47
http://www.cdn.sherdog.com/thumbnail_crop/570/_images/headers/20091201015819_melvinmanhoefbig.JPG
If nothing else, the altogether unexpected rise of Kevin “Kimbo Slice” Ferguson has resurrected one of the ironclad rules in fight sport -- a brawler will always have a paycheck waiting for him.
From a street-fighting champion rocking a world-class beard to a wild-eyed Brazilian with the mannerisms of a caged silverback, trading brain cells for greenbacks will remain a profession that always hires. Irony, however, can be found in the idea that true brawlers seem like they would engage in their sadomasochistic calling for a stale cheese sandwich just as quickly as they would a six-figure payday.
In honor of the men who willingly perform acts most of us would give an arm to avoid and in anticipation of the expected scrap between Kimbo Slice and Houston Alexander on Saturday at the TUF 10 Finale, Sherdog.com has compiled a collection of the greatest brawls in mixed martial arts history, minus the cage-side blood splatters and mid-fight advertisements for Mickey’s Malt Liquor. Get stung, indeed.
5. Scott Smith vs. Pete Sell
“The Ultimate Fighter 4” Finale -- Nov. 11, 2006; Las Vegas
When my buddies and I get together, beating one another into bloody pulps rarely comes up on the agenda. Smith and Sell, fast friends on “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 4, turned their friendship into the fuel for a full-scale re-creation of D-Day. The only sight more bizarre than watching two supposed friends fight like wild dogs was the mutual joy both men received from having the structural integrity of their skulls compromised. After five minutes of unbridled violence, the two men embraced and laughed like they were trading punch-lines in between actual punches.
The second round saw Sell claim control of the fight. With Smith’s gas tank running on fumes, a textbook left hook to the ribs left him in a heap, awaiting an end Sell seemed poise to deliver. The end did come quickly but not as Sell had hoped; he rushed toward the prone Smith and immediately ran into a desperation right cross. The blow laid out Sell, and Smith managed to deliver a few follow-up strikes to seal the stoppage before ending up in the same condition as his friend: sprawled out on the canvas as cage-side doctors examined him. It was a fitting fate.
4. Mauricio “Shogun” Rua vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira
Pride “Critical Countdown 2005” -- June 26, 2005; Saitama, Japan
It has become easy to forget just how hot rivalries between teams used to burn, but if you ever find yourself in the mood to relive the old days, just give this fight a long-overdue spin. With Rua’s roots at the Chute Boxe Academy and Nogueira’s allegiance to Brazilian Top Team, a spot in the semi-finals of the 2005 Pride middleweight grand prix seemed to play second fiddle to team pride. The opening stanza saw Nogueira surprise Rua -- and just about everyone else -- by standing toe-to-toe with him and getting the best of several heated exchanges. Desperation grew in Rua, who was repeatedly rocked by right hooks and responded with flashy ground-and-pound techniques that Nogueira remarkably managed to shrug off like a slap on the head.
The closing round only saw the exchanges grow more heated, both on the mat and the feet, as neither fighter could be certain of an edge on the scorecards. While the outcome would be debated regardless of who won, it was Rua who earned the judge’s favor with a last-ditch effort that overshadowed Nogueira’s early brilliance. Either way, this true brawl will be remembered for everything but the verdict.
3. Eddie Alvarez vs. Tatsuya Kawajiri
Dream 5 -- July 21, 2008; Osaka, Japan
Anytime you get a Japanese crowd roaring, you have doing something right, and few fights captured the imagination of the usually taciturn fans of the Far East like the epic showdown between Alvarez and Kawajiri. No one knows if it was the prospect of a spot in the Dream lightweight grand prix final or merely the opportunity to battle a willing foe that inspired such unforgettable performances from these two. We do know that there was not a human being alive who witnessed the fight who was not immediately sucked into the drama that unfolded.
A relentless pace was forced by both fighters, as they traded kicks and punches that would have fallen men twice their size. It remains a testament to the will of these world-class lightweights that they managed to not only survive being dropped but somehow use it as fuel for their improbable back-and-forth rallies. It seems unlikely we will ever see another match that requires such a toll for mere survival, never mind victory. For proof, one needs only to look to the end of the fight, as a dazed and fatigued Alvarez dropped Kawajiri with a cringe-inducing right cross and uppercut combination; he still needed to follow with a hail of right fists to Kawajiri’s dome to force a stoppage that felt like it may never come.
Neither man advanced to the grand prix final, and no one seemed to care much. The 7:35 this memorable bout lasted encapsulated everything fans hope to see when they pay money to see two men fight.
2. Nick Diaz vs. Takanori Gomi
Pride 33 “Second Coming” -- Feb. 24, 2007; Las Vegas
Forget the post-fight hysteria surrounding Diaz’ choice of mind-altering aids; the fight itself was crazier than the past two decades of Mike Tyson’s life. It was a fine example of what happens when you put two guys with serious anger management issues in a ring together.
In a matter of a few minutes, both men started to look like Z-grade clones of themselves, as their faces showed the punishment to which their wills refused to surrender. The pace and sheer brutality of the fight started to wear on Gomi and Diaz, but it only meant that technique was sacrificed in favor of aggression and the sort of heart many believed had been confined to “Rocky” movies.
Somehow, this fight lasted to the second round, where an improbable string of action was punctuated by an even more improbable finish, as Diaz put away Gomi with a gogoplata. It left everyone unsure of whether to cheer or merely look on in awe over what had just transpired.
1. Melvin Manhoef vs. Evangelista “Cyborg” Santos
Cage Rage 15 “Adrenaline Rush” -- Feb. 4, 2006; London
After watching this fight, I lost all interest in B-movies that pit genetically engineered super-cobras against mutant Komodo dragons; there really is no more ringing an endorsement one can give a brawl. The stare-down alone was scarier than anything Hollywood has produced in years. In hindsight, it did not even begin to portend the insanity that awaited anyone lucky enough to be watching live. It bears noting that Manhoef was defending his Cage Rage light heavyweight title, but considering how both men fought, it seems more likely that they were fighting for a night with Jessica Alba.
Dizzying exchanges and feats of intestinal fortitude that defied human biology seemed to arrive with every passing moment, and neither fighter seemed interested in asking for or giving any quarter. With nearly two full rounds in the books, it looked like Santos had seized control of the bout. He employed brutal knees in the Thai clinch against Manhoef, who seemed to have no answer for the plateful of punishment being jammed down his throat.
It was then that Manhoef managed to break away and gather his senses long enough to realize there was only one way to win this fight. “The Hulk Out” was the foundation of Hulk Hogan’s success and consisted of his becoming temporarily immune to pain and basically bench pressing opponents into oblivion. Manhoef did the standard bearer proud, as he scored an incredible come-from-behind knockout win before promptly passing out from exhaustion.
If nothing else, the altogether unexpected rise of Kevin “Kimbo Slice” Ferguson has resurrected one of the ironclad rules in fight sport -- a brawler will always have a paycheck waiting for him.
From a street-fighting champion rocking a world-class beard to a wild-eyed Brazilian with the mannerisms of a caged silverback, trading brain cells for greenbacks will remain a profession that always hires. Irony, however, can be found in the idea that true brawlers seem like they would engage in their sadomasochistic calling for a stale cheese sandwich just as quickly as they would a six-figure payday.
In honor of the men who willingly perform acts most of us would give an arm to avoid and in anticipation of the expected scrap between Kimbo Slice and Houston Alexander on Saturday at the TUF 10 Finale, Sherdog.com has compiled a collection of the greatest brawls in mixed martial arts history, minus the cage-side blood splatters and mid-fight advertisements for Mickey’s Malt Liquor. Get stung, indeed.
5. Scott Smith vs. Pete Sell
“The Ultimate Fighter 4” Finale -- Nov. 11, 2006; Las Vegas
When my buddies and I get together, beating one another into bloody pulps rarely comes up on the agenda. Smith and Sell, fast friends on “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 4, turned their friendship into the fuel for a full-scale re-creation of D-Day. The only sight more bizarre than watching two supposed friends fight like wild dogs was the mutual joy both men received from having the structural integrity of their skulls compromised. After five minutes of unbridled violence, the two men embraced and laughed like they were trading punch-lines in between actual punches.
The second round saw Sell claim control of the fight. With Smith’s gas tank running on fumes, a textbook left hook to the ribs left him in a heap, awaiting an end Sell seemed poise to deliver. The end did come quickly but not as Sell had hoped; he rushed toward the prone Smith and immediately ran into a desperation right cross. The blow laid out Sell, and Smith managed to deliver a few follow-up strikes to seal the stoppage before ending up in the same condition as his friend: sprawled out on the canvas as cage-side doctors examined him. It was a fitting fate.
4. Mauricio “Shogun” Rua vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira
Pride “Critical Countdown 2005” -- June 26, 2005; Saitama, Japan
It has become easy to forget just how hot rivalries between teams used to burn, but if you ever find yourself in the mood to relive the old days, just give this fight a long-overdue spin. With Rua’s roots at the Chute Boxe Academy and Nogueira’s allegiance to Brazilian Top Team, a spot in the semi-finals of the 2005 Pride middleweight grand prix seemed to play second fiddle to team pride. The opening stanza saw Nogueira surprise Rua -- and just about everyone else -- by standing toe-to-toe with him and getting the best of several heated exchanges. Desperation grew in Rua, who was repeatedly rocked by right hooks and responded with flashy ground-and-pound techniques that Nogueira remarkably managed to shrug off like a slap on the head.
The closing round only saw the exchanges grow more heated, both on the mat and the feet, as neither fighter could be certain of an edge on the scorecards. While the outcome would be debated regardless of who won, it was Rua who earned the judge’s favor with a last-ditch effort that overshadowed Nogueira’s early brilliance. Either way, this true brawl will be remembered for everything but the verdict.
3. Eddie Alvarez vs. Tatsuya Kawajiri
Dream 5 -- July 21, 2008; Osaka, Japan
Anytime you get a Japanese crowd roaring, you have doing something right, and few fights captured the imagination of the usually taciturn fans of the Far East like the epic showdown between Alvarez and Kawajiri. No one knows if it was the prospect of a spot in the Dream lightweight grand prix final or merely the opportunity to battle a willing foe that inspired such unforgettable performances from these two. We do know that there was not a human being alive who witnessed the fight who was not immediately sucked into the drama that unfolded.
A relentless pace was forced by both fighters, as they traded kicks and punches that would have fallen men twice their size. It remains a testament to the will of these world-class lightweights that they managed to not only survive being dropped but somehow use it as fuel for their improbable back-and-forth rallies. It seems unlikely we will ever see another match that requires such a toll for mere survival, never mind victory. For proof, one needs only to look to the end of the fight, as a dazed and fatigued Alvarez dropped Kawajiri with a cringe-inducing right cross and uppercut combination; he still needed to follow with a hail of right fists to Kawajiri’s dome to force a stoppage that felt like it may never come.
Neither man advanced to the grand prix final, and no one seemed to care much. The 7:35 this memorable bout lasted encapsulated everything fans hope to see when they pay money to see two men fight.
2. Nick Diaz vs. Takanori Gomi
Pride 33 “Second Coming” -- Feb. 24, 2007; Las Vegas
Forget the post-fight hysteria surrounding Diaz’ choice of mind-altering aids; the fight itself was crazier than the past two decades of Mike Tyson’s life. It was a fine example of what happens when you put two guys with serious anger management issues in a ring together.
In a matter of a few minutes, both men started to look like Z-grade clones of themselves, as their faces showed the punishment to which their wills refused to surrender. The pace and sheer brutality of the fight started to wear on Gomi and Diaz, but it only meant that technique was sacrificed in favor of aggression and the sort of heart many believed had been confined to “Rocky” movies.
Somehow, this fight lasted to the second round, where an improbable string of action was punctuated by an even more improbable finish, as Diaz put away Gomi with a gogoplata. It left everyone unsure of whether to cheer or merely look on in awe over what had just transpired.
1. Melvin Manhoef vs. Evangelista “Cyborg” Santos
Cage Rage 15 “Adrenaline Rush” -- Feb. 4, 2006; London
After watching this fight, I lost all interest in B-movies that pit genetically engineered super-cobras against mutant Komodo dragons; there really is no more ringing an endorsement one can give a brawl. The stare-down alone was scarier than anything Hollywood has produced in years. In hindsight, it did not even begin to portend the insanity that awaited anyone lucky enough to be watching live. It bears noting that Manhoef was defending his Cage Rage light heavyweight title, but considering how both men fought, it seems more likely that they were fighting for a night with Jessica Alba.
Dizzying exchanges and feats of intestinal fortitude that defied human biology seemed to arrive with every passing moment, and neither fighter seemed interested in asking for or giving any quarter. With nearly two full rounds in the books, it looked like Santos had seized control of the bout. He employed brutal knees in the Thai clinch against Manhoef, who seemed to have no answer for the plateful of punishment being jammed down his throat.
It was then that Manhoef managed to break away and gather his senses long enough to realize there was only one way to win this fight. “The Hulk Out” was the foundation of Hulk Hogan’s success and consisted of his becoming temporarily immune to pain and basically bench pressing opponents into oblivion. Manhoef did the standard bearer proud, as he scored an incredible come-from-behind knockout win before promptly passing out from exhaustion.