UFC Makes an Impression
The UFC took a massive step this past weekend as they held their first ever event on a major TV Network. This is the biggest step the UFC has taken as they moved from their partnership with Spike TV and into a brand new partnership with Fox. Fox is one of the largest networks in North America and entering into the contract gave the UFC access to more people than they had ever had before. Along with the other important fights like the first TUF Finale, UFC 100, and UFC 129 in Toronto UFC on Fox will enter the history books as a shift in the UFC world. With the new contract in hand the UFC will now enter into the mainstream alongside the NFL, MLB, NHL, and NBA. With the future of the UFC locked into the event, basically whether or not Fox would continue to put everything they have into their new network sport, there was a lot of pressure for the only fight to be shown. This fight was built as a big one with two heavyweights facing off for the title. Cain Velasquez took his belt into UFC on Fox with a 9-0 record in the UFC and had yet to lose a round in the UFC. This is how Cain became the first ever Mexican-American champion in UFC history and he looked to make his first title defence in front of the network audience. To defend this belt Velasquez would need to face the next best fighter in the UFC heavyweight division in Junior dos Santos. Dos Santos had a 13-1 record going into UFC on Fox that included a 7 fight win streak in the UFC. These two heavyweights would face off at UFC on Fox for the right to call themselves heavyweight champion and show the network audience just how good the UFC is. The two squared off in the only fight to be broadcast on the night as the excitement for the fight was in the air. It did not take long for this fight to pan out as both fighters came out to strike facing off in the centre of the octagon. Velasquez opened the fight with some big leg kicks, probably to soften the challenger up for a takedown. Dos Santos responded to the kicks with some big body shots. After the body shots dos Santos went to work as he used his superior striking to land a big overhand right to a spot behind the ear of Velasquez sending the champ to the ground. The challenger did not wait as he immediately attacked with Velasquez on the mat forcing the champion to turtle. With dos Santos throwing strong shots from the top the referee called a stop to the fight only one minute and 4 seconds into the fight. Cain Velasquez could not defend his belt and a new era was started in the heavyweight division. Dos Santos continued his winning streak and will defend his belt against the winner of the UFC 141 bout between Brock Lesnar and Allistair Overeem. With the fight finished UFC on Fox may have brought an entirely new fan base as the fight had more viewers than every NCAA football game this year besides the Alabama-LSU game. Fox will now continue their deal as they will host a number of live events as well as produce shows based on the UFC. The UFC has officially entered the mainstream with this deal and after that exciting fight expect the UFC to continue to grow faster than any other sport in the world.
With only one fight on Fox for the event there were plenty of other great fights in the undercard shown online. The biggest fight of the undercard was a matchup of two of the best lightweights in the UFC. Clay Guida and Ben Henderson faced off in a big lightweight matchup to determine the #1 contender spot. Both Guida and Henderson are known for their ability to fight forever with great cardio and a seemingly endless motor. The fight was as advertised as both fighters came out swinging and came out with a feverish pace. Guida continued to attempt takedowns trying to get the fight to the ground but Henderson displayed his great takedown defence. The biggest advantage came at the end of the fight with Guida locking in a tight guillotine choke. With the choke in tight it looked like Henderson was done and that he would lose his chance at a title shot. Somehow Henderson did not tap even though it was in so tight than any other person would have been finished. Henderson got out of the choke and ended the best chance that Guida had to end the fight. The all out brawl went the full three rounds with Henderson taking the win thanks to his striking that was slightly better than Guida. With the win Henderson will now fight Frankie Edgar for the lightweight title while Guida will once again return to the crowded list of fighters wishing they can get a shot.
For the historic fight $65,000 bonuses were handed out to the fighters who made the biggest impression on UFC’s biggest night. The “Fight of the Night” went to the workhorse lightweights as Clay Guida and Benson Henderson earned the bonus for their all out scrap. The “Submission of the Night” went to Ricardo Lamas who beat Cub Swanson in a comeback victory that saw him sink in an arm triangle. The “Knockout of the Night” went to the main event as Junior dos Santos earned the bonus to go along with his belt.
Full Results:
Junior “Cigano” dos Santos def. Cain Velasquez [Heavyweight Title]
(KO; Rd. 1)
Ben “Smooth” Henderson def. Clay “The Carpenter” Guida
(Unanimous Decision)
Dustin “The Diamond” Poirier def. Pablo “The Scarecrow” Garza
(Submission; D’Aarce Choke, Rd. 2)
Ricardo “The Bully” Lamas def. Cub Swanson
(Submission; Arm Triangle, Rd. 2)
Demarques “Darkness” Johnson def. Clay “Heavy Metal” Harvison
(KO; Rd. 1)
Darren “BC” Uyenoyama def. Norifumi “Kid” Yamamoto
(Unanimous Decision)
Robert “Problems” Peralta def. Mackens “Da Menace” Semerzier
(KO; Rd. 3)
Alex “Bruce Leeroy” Caceres def. Cole “Apache Kid” Excovedo
(Unanimous Decision)
Mike Pierce def. Paul “The Gentlemen” Bradley
(Split Decision)
Aaron Rosa def. Matt “Luke Duke” Lucas
(Majority Decision)
Upcoming Events:
UFC 139: Shogun vs. Hendo (Nov. 19th; 9:00 pm)
– San Jose, California (HP Pavilion)
– Main Event: Mauricio “Shogun” Rua vs. Dan “Hendo” Henderson
– Notable: Wanderlei “The Axe Murderer” Silva vs. Cung Lee
– Notable: “The California Kid” Urijah Faber vs. Brian Bowles
The Ultimate Fighter Finale: Team Mayhem vs. Team Bisping (Dec. 3rd; 9:00 pm)
– Free Live on Sportsnet/Spike TV
– Las Vegas, Nevada (The Pearl)
– Main Event: Michael “The Count” Bisping vs. Jason “Mayhem” Miller
– The Rest of the card will be determined at the end of the Reality Show
UFC 140: Jones vs. Machida (Dec. 10th; 9:00 pm)
– Toronto, Ontario (Air Canada Centre)
– Main Event: Jon “Bones” Jones vs. Lyoto “The Dragon” Machida
– Notable: Frank Mir vs. Minotauro Nogueira
– Notable: Tito “The Huntington Beach Bad Boy” Ortiz vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira
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