UFC 108: No Time For Showboating

Rashad Evans (Photo: mmajunkie.com)

UFC 108: Evans vs. Silva – Las Vegas, Nev. – MGM Grand Garden Arena – Jan. 2, 2010

Rashad “Suga” Evans took advantage of his opponent’s showboating to finish the first UFC pay-per-view of a new decade.

Evans battled Thiago Silva in the main event of UFC 108 and controlled most of the action. Silva made a comeback in the third round, but then he started playing to the crowd.

This allowed Evans to regain control and win a unanimous decision.

In the co-main event, Paul Daley picked up his second knockout win in the Octagon, stopping Dustin Hazelett in 2:24.

UFC 107: BJ Penn Runs the Lightweight Division

Diego Sanchez (Photo: mmanews.com)

UFC 107: Penn vs. Sanchez – Memphis, Tenn. – FedEx Forum – Dec. 12, 2009

BJ Penn outlasted Diego Sanchez to make history as UFC lightweight champion at UFC 107.

Penn became the first lightweight champion to defend the title three times. He busted open Sanchez’s forehead with a kick, and the doctor stopped the fight in the middle of Round 5.

In the co-main event, Frank Mir won a heavyweight clash with Cheick Kongo. Mir used a guillotine choke to score a technical submission in 72 seconds.

John Fitch won his 19^th of his last 20 fights, scoring a unanimous decision over Mike Pierce.

The Ultimate Fighter Season 10 Finale: Heavy in the Middle

Roy Nelson (Photo: mmajunkie.com)

Roy Nelson proudly called himself fat before laying a “Big Country” beating on Brendan Schaub to win the 10^th season of The Ultimate Fighter.

Nelson dropped Schaub with a right hand before finishing him off with another punch. Nelson had entered the ring to “Fat” by Weird Al Yankovic.

Rampage Jackson and Rashad “Suga” Evans were the coaches for TUF 10, which featured all heavyweights.

Jon Jones took the first loss of his career when he was disqualified against Matt Hamill at 4:14 mark. Jones lost a point after landing an illegal downward elbow. When Hamill couldn’t continue, Jones got DQ'd.

Kimbo Slice won his Octagon debut by unanimous decision over Houston Alexander. Slice had competed in the TUF 10 tournament, but he lost to Nelson in the first round.

Frankie Edgar forced Matt Veach to submit to a rear-naked choke.

In a battle of NFL veterans, Matt Mitrione knocked out Marcus Jones with 10 seconds left in Round 2.

On the pre-show, James McSweeney defeated Darrill Schoonover by TKO in Round 3. Jon Madsen won a split decision over Justin Wren.

John “Doomsday” Howard knocked out Dennis Hallman with five seconds left in the fight. Brian Stann scored a unanimous decision over Rodney Wallace.

Marc Bocek forced Joe Brammer to submit to a rear-naked choke at the 3:36 mark.

UFC 106: Forrest Griffin Levels the Score With Tito Ortiz

Forrest Griffin (Photo: mmamania.com)

UFC 106: Ortiz vs. Griffin 2 – Las Vegas, Nev. – Mandalay Bay Events Center – Nov. 21, 2009

Forrest Griffin avenged his loss to Tito Ortiz at UFC 106 in a battle of former light heavyweight champions.

Griffin gained strength in the third round to gain a split decision over “The Huntington Beach Bad Boy.” Ortiz won a split decision in their first meeting at UFC 59.

In the co-main event, Josh Koscheck forced  Anthony “Rumble” Johnson to submit to a rear naked choke late in the second round.

 “Little Nog” Antonio Rogerio Nogueira made a successful Octagon debut, beating fellow Brazilian Luiz Cane by TKO in 1 minute, 56 seconds.

UFC 105: British Outlaw Makes Good

Dan Hardy (Photo: dailystar.co.uk)

UFC 105: Couture vs. Vera – Manchester, England - Manchester Evening News Arena – Nov. 14, 2009

Dan Hardy earned a shot at UFC welterweight champion Georges St.-Pierre at UFC 105.

With his English fans backing him, Hardy won a unanimous decision of Mike Swick. Hardy got his title shot at UFC 111.

Randy Couture won the main event of the tape-delayed Spike TV show with a unanimous decision over Brandon “The Truth” Vera. The fans were not thrilled with the action, which often saw Couture keeping Vera up against the cage.

Hometown hero Michael Bisping used punches and knee strikes to defeat Canada’s Denis Kang by TKO in the second round.

“The Immortal” Matt Brown won his third straight fight, beating TUF 9 welterweight winner James Wilks on a TKO in Round 3.

UFC 104: Everyone's A Winner

Mauricio "Shogun" Rua (Photo: operation18.com)

UFC 104: Machida vs. Shogun – Los Angeles – Staples Center – Oct. 24, 2009

Lyoto Machida retained his UFC light heavyweight title against Mauricio “Shogun” Rua at UFC 104, but both men got the winner’s share of the money.

Although Machida won a unanimous decision with 48-47 scores from all three judges, UFC boss Dana White was apparently unhappy with the verdict.

According to Bloody Elbow, White cut Rua a check for $250,000 after the fight, so he could also be paid like a winner.

Cain Velasquez continued his climb up the heavyweight ladder with a TKO win over Ben Rothwell in Round 2.

Joe “Daddy” Stephenson forced Spencer “The King” Fisher to tap out to strikes in a lightweight bout.

UFC 103: Return of the Phenom, Vitor Belfort

Vitor Belfort (Photo: cagedinsider.com)

UFC 103: Franklin vs. Belfort – Sept. 19, 2009 – Dallas, Texas – American Airlines Center

Vitor Belfort continued his timeless career by knocking out Rich Franklin at UFC 103.

Belfort, who made his Octagon debut at UFC 12 in 1997, hit Franklin with a big left to the jaw in just over three minutes. He made a triumphant return to UFC after a four-year absence.

“Once you get clipped, everything kinda goes blank,” Franklin said.

Mirko Cro Cop battled Junior Dos Santos in the co-main event. Junior prevailed in the third round due to Cro Cop’s eye injury.

UFC Fight Night 19: Nate Diaz Disarms The Assassin

Nate Diaz (Photo: scrapdigest.com)

UFC Fight Night 19: Diaz vs. Guillard -  Sept. 19, 2009 – Oklahoma City, Okla. – Cox Convention Center

Nate Diaz broke a two-fight losing streak by choking out Melvin Guillard at UFC Fight Night 19.

Diaz, coming off losses to Clay Guida and Joe Stevenson, used a guillotine choke to beat “The Young Assassin” in Round 2.

Spike TV aired this show as the lead in to the 10^th season of The Ultimate Fighter, which featured heavyweights.

Gray Maynard remained unbeaten with a split decision over “El Matador” Roger Huerta. Four months later, Maynard and Nate Diaz met in the main event of UFC Fight Night 20.

UFC 102: Big Win for Big Nog

Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (Photo: mmasucka.com)

UFC 102: Couture v. Nogueira  - Portland, Ore. – Rose Garden -  Aug. 29, 2009

Randy Couture was unable to bounce back from his heavyweight title loss to Brock Lesnar, as “The Natural” lost the main event of UFC 102.

Antonio Rodrigo Noguiera scored a unanimous decision over Couture, who put up a great fight that brought the crowd to its feet.

Big Nog advanced to title eliminator fight against Cain Velasquez at UFC 110.

In the co-main event, Thiago Silva knocked out “The Dean of Mean” Keith Jardine in 95 seconds.

UFC 101: Anderson Silva Won't Stop Winning

Anderson Silva (Photo: famososartistas.com)

UFC 101: Declaration – Philadelphia – Wachovia Center – Aug. 8, 2009

Anderson Silva took a break from dominating the middleweight division to beat Forest Griffin in a light heavyweight superfight at UFC 101.

Silva turned the Philly fans’ boos to cheers by knocking Griffin out with a right hand at the 3:23 mark.

BJ Penn retained the UFC lightweight title, beating Kenny Florian in the fourth round with a rear naked choke.

Johny Hendricks needed only 29 seconds to score a TKO win over TUF 7 winner Amir Sadollah.

UFC 100: Brock Lesnar Takes Control

Brock Lesnar (Photo: bankrate.com)

UFC 100 – Las Vegas, Nev. – Mandalay Bay Events Center – July 11, 2009

Brock Lesnar seized control of the heavyweight division and smashed the pay-per-view record at UFC 100.

Lesnar pounded Frank Mir en route to a second-round TKO, avenging  to avenge his UFC debut loss. Mir had been carrying the interim UFC heavyweight title.

Lesnar’s following from the WWE led to UFC 100 scoring 1.6 million pay-per-view buys, a new record.

Georges St. Pierre won his sixth fight in a row, beating Thiago Alves by unanimous decision to retain the UFC welterweight title.

The Ultimate Fighter Season 2 Finale: Score a Brace for the British

Clay Guida (Photo: fightbookmma.com)

TUF 9: US vs. UK Finale – The Pearl at the Palms – Las Vegas, Nev. – June 20, 2009

Clay Guida and Diego Sanchez tore the house down in the main event of the TUF Season 9 finale.

Sanchez used submission attempts down the stretch to score a split decision over “The Carpenter” in one of the best fights of the year.

Michael Bisping coached the British team in The Ultimate Fighter competition, with Dan Henderson leading the Americans. Bisping and Henderson battled each other at UFC 100.

Ross Pearson won the TUF 9 lightweight tournament by unanimous decision over British teammate Andre Winner.  Pearson became a UFC mainstay over the next decade.

UFC 99: Call It A Comeback

Mirko Cro Cop (Photo: mirror.co.uk)

UFC 99: The Comeback – Cologne, Germany – Lanxess Arena – June 13, 2009

Rich Franklin and Wanderlei Silva earned a standing ovation at UFC 99 from the German fans, who were witnessing their first live UFC action.

Franklin is a former middleweight champion in UFC, while “The Axe Murderer” held that title in PRIDE.  On this night, they competed at a 195-pound catchweight, and Franklin won a unanimous decision.

Cain Velasquez (6-0) moved closer to a heavyweight title shot with a unanimous decision over Cheick Kongo, who had been enjoying a three-fight winning streak.

Mirko Cro Cop made “The Comeback” a successful one, beating Mostapha al-Turk in 3:06 after a two-year absence from UFC.