By Alex Mattis
The criteria for this list consists of four factors:
-Fight relevancy
-Level of competition
-Skill level displayed
-The overall memorable quality
The elite fighters of the world are in the UFC. That’s the way it is. Thus, the elite level of competition and skill are in the UFC. This is a way of
saying, “Most of the entries in these ‘Top Ten’ lists will be from the UFC, unless exceedingly deserving otherwise.”
Let’s get to it.
10. Urijah Faber rear-naked chokes Ivan Menjivar (UFC 157 – 2/23)
In this rematch from 2006 (which Faber won via DQ), The California Kid solidified his status as the perpetual #2. Menjivar was thought to be making a legitimate second run in the sport and had the tools to get into the title picture. As has happened before the masses “in the know” slept on Faber and were blown away by his dominate performance that ended the fight in the 1st round.
9. Josh Burkman chokes out Jon Fitch (WSOF 3 – 6/14)
Jon Fitch had a lot riding on this fight. It was his first post-UFC outing and he had been very vocal leading into it. He implemented the exact same game plan he had for his entire UFC run and unfortunately for him, cost him dearly. Josh Burkman caught Fitch with a stinging punch early. Fitch ducked his head and shot for the takedown. Burkman latched on to his neck with a tight guillotine choke and within seconds, Fitch was unconscious. The fact that Fitch dropped himself on to his head probably didn’t help matters. Burkman avenged his submission loss to Fitch from seven years prior and, sadly enough, sealed the career of Jon Fitch.
8. Brendan Schaub D’Arces Matt Mitrione to sleep (UFC 165 – 9/21)
This fight was expected to end with someone staring up at the lights, but no one really thought that would happen via submission. After several brief exchanges on the feet, Schaub engaged the grappling and had Mitrione’s neck in what seemed like a flash. Schaub sunk in a D’Arce choke and began cranking. That big, goofy meathead Mitrione put his thumb up and said “I’m ooooo…ZZzZZzZzZzZZZZ.” The ref waved the fight off and “The Hybrid” was awarded the first submission victory of his professional MMA career.
7. Donald Cerrone triangles Evan Dunham out of significance (UFC 167 – 11/16)
In time, we may look at Evan Dunham as one of the greater busts in mixed martial arts history. He burst on to the UFC scene with the you-gotta-watch-this-kid vibe. If Donald Cerrone is one thing, he’s a truth detector in MMA. If you’re not the real deal, Cerrone with expose you. That’s exactly what he did with Dunham. While an entertaining bout, Cerrone was in control the entire time. Cerrone saw his chance for a triangle in round two and took it. Dunham had no choice but to submit. Cerrone cemented himself as a perennial contender and officially, knocked Evan Dunham off the proverbial pedestal.
6. Renan Barao defends title with an arm triangle over Michael McDonald (UFC on FuelTV – 2/16)
Renan Barao made a strong case for “Fighter of the Year” in 2013 and this fight was a huge part of that. McDonald was hyped as much as any bantamweight and had put together a string of impressive wins and was on course to giving Barao a real challenge. That’s all well and good, but when you’re being strangled… plans change. Barao grabbed a slick arm triangle in round four and squeezed until the tap came.
5. Ronda Rousey does what she does with Liz Carmouche (UFC 157 – 2/23)
*Obligatory Ronda Rousey inclusion*
4. Rousimar Palhares heel hooks Mike Pierce; loses job (UFC Fight Night – 10/9)
Rousimar Palhares defines one-trick pony. Only, he’s a pony that will dangle your ability to walk in front of you and laugh when you ask for mercy. Mike Pierce didn’t stand a chance. Palhares got a hold of his leg and began to rip it apart. Palhares was so vicious in his submission (and not letting go of it) that he found himself unemployed the next day. Rousimar Palhares: When keeping it real goes wrong.
3. Chael Sonnen guillotines Shogun for America (UFC Fight Night – 8/17)
Of all the possible outcomes for this fight, WHO SAW THIS HAPPENING?!
2. Anthony Pettis submits un-submittable Ben Henderson with hellacious arm bar (UFC 164 – 8/31)
Their first fight was one of the greatest MMA fights ever. A rather hard billing to live up to. Fortunately, this fight got the people talking and they didn’t have to beat the crap out of each other for 25 minutes. Honestly, the submission-defense-hubris got the better of BenHen. To be fair, it did seem that the notion of submitting Ben Henderson was laughable. After a disgustingly devastating kick from Pettis to the body of Henderson, the fight was taken to the ground. The guard of Pettis came into play and Henderson soon found both his arm trapped and being hyper extended. Pettis was awarded the UFC lightweight championship and erased any lingering questions from the first bout.
1. Fabricio Werdum finishes Minotauro Nogueira (UFC on FuelTV – 6/8)
It’s rather shocking that this submission didn’t get more attention. Yes, the heavyweight division is in a “Well, there’s Cain and then there’s everybody else” state, but it still houses many incredibly talented fighters. Fabricio Werdum and of course, Minotauro Nogueira are two of them. This fight went with nearly no promotion in North America, but had big marquee value in Brazil. Werdum seems to *finally* be realizing his true potential and this fight was the culmination of that. We know that Frank Mir broke Nog’s arm and was the first to submit him. However, Werdum’s submission was just as impressive as he forced the PRIDE star to say I quit, to verbally submit to an arm bar in the 2nd round. This all but finished the legendary run of Minotauro Nogueira. For Werdum, this put him in line for a title shot in 2014. Good luck with that, bud.
