Women Make Their Mark (UFC 157 Review)
Women have had their place in MMA fighting in Strikeforce and Invicta FC for a long time before the UFC would create a women’s division. The UFC decided to add the women’s for a large part because of one fighter, Ronda Rousey, but also because the UFC is constantly changing. The UFC has become a major sport and all because they brought something different to the sports world. It was an alternative to boxing and a massive upgrade from the basement brawls that it started with. The UFC knows that they need to keep evolving and continue to bring something new into the promotion if they hope to continue to grow and enter the likes of the NFL or the MLB. So comes the women’s division and with it one of the most captivating fighters in MMA. Rousey has made a lot of headlines thanks to her looks and her sound bites but the fact is she is one of the best fighters in the world. After a Judo career that saw her win a bronze medal in the 2008 Olympics Rousey would try her hand at MMA. With three amateur fights Rousey would immediately make an impact finishing all three fights in the first round with an armbar. She wouldn’t slow down from there though with six professional fights in Strikeforce and again six first round armbar finishes. The amazing run would lead to a Strikeforce belt and eventually the first ever UFC Women’s Bantamweight Title. Nobody wanted to fight Rousey for this new belt because she was so dominant but that would not stop one rising star from stepping up to the plate. Liz Carmouche would take the fight with complete confidence that she could do what nobody had done so far. Carmouche is a Marine who had two tours in Iraq and would be a different fighter than Rousey had faced before. Rousey loved to intimidate her opponents talking trash and getting in their head before the fight. Carmouche would not be intimidated as there was no getting into her head to try to get her off of her game. Carmouche would go into the fight believing she could win as she is a great striker with very good ground and pound. In the preparation for the fight she would notice that Rousey had yet to be tested in any aspect of a fight. Rousey had not shown outstanding stand up or wrestling as she had simply put other fighters on their backs and taken their arms. Carmouche would attempt to challenge this after a short career that included a 2-2 professional record. She may not have deserved a shot based on record but the fact is she stood up and took a fight that nobody wanted which made her better than most of the fighters in the division. Both fighters would enter the octagon with Rousey as a major favorite and Carmouche looking to turn the women’s fight world on its head. The fight would start out with Rousey doing her best to continue her run of finishes. She would launch in trying to take the fight to the ground and succeeded only to have Carmouche take her back. Carmouche would get two hooks in and immediately begin to crank the neck of Rousey while she was standing. It looked as though the fight was over with Rousey in a very bad spot but she would not tap and would reverse the position. Throwing Carmouche on the mat Rousey would look to get back on top and would get there. Then Rousey would attempt an armbar and after a struggle by Carmouche would finally lock it in and end the fight in a very familiar fashion. After pushing Rousey to the brink Carmouche will fall back into the unsorted women’s division and will still remain in the history books as a part of the first female fight in UFC history. Meanwhile Ronda Rousey remains champion and remains the most feared fighter in the division. The UFC will need to sort things out in the division to find her next opponent and will need to find someone willing to fight her if they cannot get Cris Cyborg to fight in the UFC.
Before UFC history was made two veterans of the UFC would face off in a very important fight for both fighters. Dan Henderson and Lyoto Machida have been at this fight game for a long time and both have had plenty of success. Henderson is a face of MMA as the first duel champion in Pride history and would also win a Strikeforce title. The only thing missing from his mantle is a UFC title which he has tried to earn twice before. He would get a chance at the end of 2012 but would get injured a week before the fight ending his shot and putting him out for a few more months. So he would sit at the #1 contender spot in the light heavyweight division waiting for his chance to take on Jon Jones for what could be his last shot at a UFC title. He could not sit forever though with Jones having another title fight in April and so Henderson needed an opponent. Stepping in would be the next in line for a title shot in Lyoto Machida who would try to get back to the title that he lost in 2010. The fight would be a chance for both to earn a shot at the title. The fight would go exactly like Machida wanted to as he is one of the best counter punchers in the MMA. He would keep his distance from Henderson to avoid Henderson’s overhand right that has ended so many fights. Henderson would only gain an advantage in the third when he took Machida down although while on the ground did nothing. The fight was exactly what Machida wanted as he stayed out of danger and hit Henderson with a few punches. It was not a thrilling fight and is how Machida won many fights before this one. The fight would go to the judges and Machida would win with a split decision and would earn the #1 contender spot as he waits for the winner of Jones vs. Sonnen. Meanwhile Henderson lost his top contender spot and will need to think about whether or not he can continue on in the UFC or if he will end his career.
Fight Bonuses:
($50,000 Bonuses)
Submission of the Night
There were a few options for Submission of the Night but in the end it would go to a preliminary fight as Kenny Robertson would take home the bonus after beating Brock Jardine with a unique leg lock
Knockout of the Night
To open the main card at UFC 157 Robbie Lawlor would put all of the fans on their feet after he would beat Josh Koshcheck in the first round with a TKO that would also be the only knockout of the entire night
Fight of the Night
It was a very tough fight between Dennis Bermudez and Matt Grice as Grice would bring a new meaning to the word resilient as he looked out on his feet a number of times and yet continued to press earning a bonus even if he lost the fight
Fight Results
Main Event:
“Rowdy” Ronda Rousey def. Liz “Girlrilla” Carmouche
(Submission; Armbar, Rd. 1)
Main Card:
Lyoto “The Dragon” Machida def. Dan “Hendo” Henderson
(Split Decision)
Urijah “The California Kid” Faber def. Ivan “The Pride of El Salvador” Menjivar
(Submission; Rear Naked Choke, Rd. 1)
Court “Crusher” McGee def. Josh “The Dentist” Neer
(Unanimous Decision)
Robbie “Ruthless” Lawlor def. Josh “Kos” Koshcheck
(TKO, Rd. 1)
Undercard:
Brendan “The Hybrid” Schaub def. Lavar “Big” Johnson
(Unanimous Decision)
Michael “Maverick” Chiesa def. Anton Kuivanen
(Submission; Rear Naked Choke, Rd. 2)
Dennis “The Menace” Bermudez def. Matt “The Real One” Grice
(Split Decision)
Sam “Hands of Stone” Stout def. Caros “The Future” Fodor
(Split Decision)
Kenny Robertson def. Brock “The Machine” Jardine
(Submission; Leg Lock, Rd. 1)
Neil Magny def. Jon Manley
(Unanimous Decision)
Nah-Shon “The Rock N’ Rolla” Burrell def. Yuri Villefort
(Unanimous Decision)
Upcoming Events
UFC on Fuel TV 8: Silva vs. Stann (Saturday March 2nd; 10:00 pm EST)
– Tokyo, Japan (Saitama Super Arena)
– Main Event: Wanderlei “The Axe Murderer” Silva vs. Brian “All-American” Stann
– Notable: Mark “Super Samoan” Hunt vs. Stefan “Skyscraper” Struve
– Notable: Takanori “The Fireball Kid” Gomi vs. Diego “The Dream” Sanchez
UFC 158: St. Pierre vs. Diaz (Saturday March 16th; 10:00 pm EST)
– Montreal, Quebec (Bell Centre)
– Main Event: Georges “Rush” St. Pierre vs. Nick Diaz [Welterweight Title]
– Notable: Carlos “The Natural Born Killer” Condit vs. Johny “Bigg Rigg” Hendricks
– Notable: Nick “The Promise” Ring vs. Chris Camozzi
UFC on Fuel TV 9: Gustafsson vs. Mousasi (Saturday April 6th; 12:00 pm EST)
– Stockholm, Sweden (Ericsson Globe Arena)
– Main Event: Alexander “The Mauler” Gustafsson vs. Gegard Mousasi
– Notable: Papy “Makambo” Abedi vs. Besam Yousef
– Notable: Akira Corassani vs. Robbie “Problems” Peralta
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