Something went wrong. It seemed it was just a matter of time before a stoppage. But the influx of new talent on the roster, and in the broadcast booth, ensures that the UFC will keep the show rolling. Zach Makovsky via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28), Dec 10, 2016; Toronto, ON, CAN; Dooho Choi (blue gloves) reacts to fight with Cub Swanson (red gloves) during UFC 206 at Air Canada Centre. You cant fight forever, Bisping says. He was not given a second attempt to make the weight because the recently introduced early weigh-in procedures set a 10:00a.m. cut-off time and Hendricks weighed in at the last possible moment. That money was issued to Gastelum, an NSAC official confirmed. As his longtime coach Greg Jackson told him between rounds, Choi struggled to fight backwards. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. UFC fans may remember 2016 primarily for something that happened outside of competition, specifically the sale of the promotion to new owners. However, the bout was cancelled due to both fighters being injured. McGregors 2015 was a dream year. "If I can get to where I need to get to, three or four a year is . Did Mark Zuckerberg get choked unconscious in latest jiu-jitsu tournament? Weight-cutting practices became mandatory in order to pack as much frame size onto the scales as possible, and with hopes of facing smaller opponents, the general rule of thumb was that fighters went down in weight class, not up. As a result, he was fined 20% of his fight purse, which went to Gastelum. Oops. ", 2023 ABG-SI LLC. In December he knocked out Jose Aldo in 13 seconds to unify the belt, the only featherweight champion in the promotions history. But out of nowhere, Glowacki landed a single punch that knocked Tolkaczewski unconscious, scoring one of the most devastating and unique knockouts in recent memory. That's a lot. McGregor was expected to challenge UFC Lightweight Champion Rafael dos Anjos, but dos Anjos pulled out due to a broken foot only 11 days before the event. Lesnar faced the 2001 K-1 World Grand Prix winner and former interim title contender Mark Hunt. It was close but its never easy. And with two powerful strikers locked in for a rematch at the next major UFC event, the king of that division is likely to be a dangerous KO threat for the foreseeable future. This is another trend we'll be watching in 2017. 1 heavyweight in the world, Francis Ngannou, to the PFL, Fightnomics: The Hidden Numbers and Science in Mixed Martial Arts. But the year also saw plenty of action inside the cage, some of which will change the landscape of the sport in years to come. When fights do go to the cards, there's not always agreement from the judges. Later that night, Garbrandt knocked out Takeya Mizugaki in 48 seconds, proceeding to note that he dismissed Mizugaki quicker than the champion as Cruz watched. At 45 years old, knocked out in two of his previous three fights, and taking. I always knew I could do this. That last fact alone is worthy of recognition. In the early going, "Groovy" pursued with punches and a regular kick to the thigh, not a Jon Jones-style knee bungler but a rangefinder. The 50 Worst Decisions in Music History Just as the karateka seemed poised to cruise to victory, however, Woodley roared back with a vicious series of right hands and a spine-crunching guillotine that Thompson survived by the skin of his teeth. Oops. Ranking the TUF coaches fights: Which fight was No. The 36-year-old squared off with current world heavyweight champ Oleksandr Usyk in 2016. Up-to-date 2016 UFC event schedules. [7] It was a rematch, as Aldo previously defended his title against Edgar at UFC 156 in 2013 via unanimous decision. His trademark strut has become iconic in sports with world-class athletes around the globe mimicking the champion. The event had a $10,700,000 gate, which broke the record for a mixed martial arts event in the United States. Cheers.'. Despite the damage, Thompson managed to fight his way back and win the fifth round to secure a draw. [57], On November 7, USADA announced that Jones was suspended for a period of one year retroactive to the July 6 date on which he was provisionally suspended. UFC 199 opened with Polo Reyes and Dong Hyun Kim going to war on Fight Pass and, save for one brief two-fight lull, never let up. [4] It took place during the UFC's annual International Fight Week and marked the second time the UFC hosted three events in consecutive days. Cristiano Ronaldo went and trained with McGregor in Las Vegas and McGregor went to Jennifer Lopezs birthday party. The UFC Light Heavyweight Championship bout, was billed to be champion Frank Shamrock's biggest test, in Battlecade star, Igor Zinoviev. newsletter, UFC Fight Night 91: "McDonald vs. Lineker", UFC Anniversary Limited Edition Fight Glove, Aljamain Sterling Authentic Walkout Jersey, Meta PR Statement Says Zuck Didnt Tap OR Nap, Killer Admission: It Was Very Sad To See It. Between those, he knocked out one of the most lethal fighters in his division to take the title in a rematch of a fight he brutally lost. Conor McGregor spent the first two rounds dominating Nate Diaz with savvy counter-wrestling and multiple knockdowns. Riding the high of toppling a living legend, Bisping then took time off from competition to film a leading part in the upcoming xXx: The Return of Xander Cagesequel with Vin Diesel. This is by far the biggest win of my career.. That was the highlight of my career. That's just slightly down from 50 percent the prior year, but generally holding steady. Colosseum 2 is its second event at PGE Narodowy, the national stadium. He still wasnt ready to call that his year, though, because Bisping tried to squeak in one final fight against St-Pierre at this months UFC 206 event in Toronto. http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid4608484688001?bckey=AQ~~,AAAABvaL8JE~,ufBHq_I6FnwSRtvc2j5IUFW2y64XdHyt&bctid=5243366095001, https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2016/12/ufc-206-results-cub-swanson-upsets-dooho-choi-in-fight-of-the-year-worthy-slugfest-1, Kelvin Gastelum def. . Werdum hadnt been stopped since 2008 and had survived the likes of Fedor Emelianenko, Alistair Overeem, Travis Browne and Cain Velasquez in that span. Not only that, but Bisping also passed Georges St-Pierres longstanding UFC record for most wins in company history with his 20th successful Octagon performance. So for me, this was a personal challenge. But at age 37 and with 27 UFC fights and nearly six hours of cage time to his name, the ride could soon come to an end. New stars were born, and some old ones flamed out, occasionally in violent fashion. Henderson provided a massive scare when he knocked Bisping down in the first round and almost ended the fight, but just like he did against Silva 10 months earlier, Bisping showed a depth of heart and resolve that prevented him from falling victim in his home country. monitoring_string = "5eb5a0f65cbe346d74f978e14db1b00d", Sherdog.coms 2022 Year-End Awards: The Complete List, Amir Albazi Reacts to Controversial Win: I Know Im Ready for the Title, After Recent Successful Stretch, Alex Caceres Believes He Deserves Ranked Foes, UFC on ESPN 46 Bonuses: Caceres vs. Pineda Wins FOTN, Amir Albazi Takes Split Decision Against Kai Kara-France in UFC on ESPN 46 Headliner, UFC on ESPN 46 Kara-France vs. Albazi Play-by-Play, Results & Round Scoring. The World MMA Awards are awards presented by Fighters Only magazine to honor exceptional performance in various aspects of mixed martial arts. Amir Albazi def. And yet here we are, entering the most advanced era yet for the sport, and there are still plenty of finishes happening at the highest levels. Hope you'll join us for it in just a few short hours. Rolling Stone is a part of Penske Media Corporation. [58] Two days later, the UFC announced that Jones was stripped of the interim title. Its Hard To Reel These Guys In And Get Them Fired Up. A total of 22 title fights took place in 10 divisions throughout 2016, and 2017 will bring the newest women's division at featherweight. I cant wait to be part of the ride. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. UFC Fight Night 91: "McDonald vs. Lineker". This is well below the early years of the sport, even after judges were introduced. And with two powerful strikers locked in for a rematch at the next major UFC event, the king of that division is likely to be a dangerous KO threat for the foreseeable future. The other weapon Swanson employed to great affect was forward pressure. He celebrated while perched atop the UFC cage, holding two belts up triumphantly, reveling in a feat no other fighter in UFC history had accomplished. Leading into UFC 196 in March 2016, Conor McGregor was slated to fight Rafael dos Anjos for the lightweight title and he boldly declared that 2015 was my year, 2016 is also my [expletive] year. That's a disagreement rate of 26 percent, up slightly from the year before. Register free on Tapology to build unique custom rankings of the greatest UFC & mixed martial arts fighters, bouts, knockouts & submissions. Not everything went right, but more than enough did. Khamzat Chimaevs Hype Gets Answers at Loaded UFC 273 Event, Repeat or Revenge? It was a win-win fight, even though there was only one winner. Of these title fights, half went the distance and half ended with a finish, in line with the general finish rates. Lawler hadnt been knocked out since 2004 and had survived the likes of Melvin Manhoef, Jake Ellenberger, Matt Brown, Carlos Condit and two helpings each of Rory MacDonald and Johny Hendricks. Rafael dos Anjos 2. At UFC 207, 10-0 Garbrandt was given a title shot in a co-main event with Cruz, a man who had never lost at 135 pounds and was considered by some pundits to be the true pound-for-pound best on the planet. Despite the noise introduced by fighters competing in more than one division, the larger trend of bigger fighters seeing more knockouts still holds true. It was not, however, the best action of the year. The finish rate for 2016 was 49 percent, thanks to 153 KO/TKOs and 89 submissions. The 200 Greatest Singers of All Time Already gone are familiar faces like Mike Goldberg and Joe Silva. 5. UFC 205 is trending slightly bigger than 196 but probably short of 202", "UFC 200 set for July 9, 2016 at new Las Vegas Arena", "Dana White on $4 billion UFC sale: 'Sport is going to the next level', "Conor McGregor vs. Nate Diaz rematch in the works for UFC 200", "McGregor vs. Diaz 2, Aldo vs. Edgar for interim title official for UFC 200", "Nate Diaz gets the call, faces Conor McGregor in new UFC 196 main event", "UFC 196 results: Nate Diaz shocks Conor McGregor with second-round choke", "Dana White: Conor McGregor pulled from UFC 200, because he wouldn't attend press conference", "Conor McGregor issues statement, says he's not retired after all", "Conor McGregor takes $10 mil hit. Behind closed doors, McGregor was refocused and reportedly obsessed with getting another shot at Diaz, temporarily moving the dream of holding two belts to the back burner. But Swanson survived, and threw every bit of himself into a counterattack. Tim Elliott claims hes unable to get tickets for his family to attend UFC Vegas 74 on Saturday night. "In 2016, we bring the Octagon to NY," tweeted Dave Sholler, UFC vice president of public relations. Here's how every UFC fight ended in 2016, all in one graph. [10] McGregor released a statement two days later, claiming he was not retired and that he requested the UFC to allow him to focus more on the fight preparation this time, as he felt he lost his focus during the media obligations for the previous fight. However, while the average body mass of a UFC fighter drops as the roster expands in lighter divisions, for the first time we are seeing a reversal of the shrinking-fighter trend that was part of the UFC's evolution. He was also fined 10% of his purse. He played a character in the latest Call of Duty game. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports, Dec 10, 2016; Toronto, ON, CAN; Cub Swanson (red gloves) reacts to fight with Dooho Choi (blue gloves) during UFC 206 at Air Canada Centre. Miller Smokes UFC Newcomer With 23-Second KO. . I'm a hardcore fan after all! UFC Refuses To Comp Tickets For Elliott Family. The 100 Greatest TV Shows of All Time, I have the utmost respect for Anderson Silva, Bisping said afterward. UFC 199 Complete Results. UFC on ESPN 45 results: Amir Albazi wins thin split decision UFC fighters Raquel Pennington, Tecia Torres announce birth PFL champ Rob Wilkinson pulled from 2023 season due to posit UFC's Dvalishvili (hand) to miss several months. This is well below the early years of the sport, even after judges were introduced. While Robbie Lawler vs. Rory MacDonald was undoubtedly the best fight of 2015, 2016 had a bit . McGregor, however, salvaged the fourth round with range control and body blows, blunting Diazs onslaught long enough to secure the pivotal 10-9 and survive a furious fifth. 1? Jordan Mein via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28), Misha Cirkunov def. Although it hasnt gotten much attention, the Cleveland-born Miocic was the one who broke Cleveland, Ohios title drought as the Cleveland Cavaliers were still in the midst of their playoff run at this point. UFC 218 was one of the best cards of the year, and if you want to know how deep a card that included memorable wins by Max Holloway, Francis Ngannou and Eddie Alvarez was, just look at the FS1. Over the course of 2016, McGregor entrenched himself as the face of mixed martial arts. All rights reserved. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting. Fighters eagerly call him out. In 2016, 493 fights took place inside the UFC's Octagon, for a total of 5,488 minutes of active fight time. He threw it again and, when Makdessi didnt give ground, followed through into a wheel kick that hit just about as perfectly as it could. Glowacki is a former WBO cruiserweight world champion in boxing. Raw data is provided by Fight Metric, with analysis by Reed Kuhn, author of "Fightnomics: The Hidden Numbers and Science in Mixed Martial Arts. Tyron Woodley vs. Stephen Thompson, on the other hand, was a delightfully chaotic affair that showcased the best of both men. But as more fighters compete in smaller divisions, and as all fighters generally get more skilled and competitive, the days of lopsided matchups or severe technique mismatches are long gone. Complain at me all you want for cheating on this "Top Five," but look at how many honorable mentions there were. McGregor has established himself as the biggest draw in UFC history, averaging more buys per event than legends like BrockLesnar, Anderson Silva, Georges St-Pierre and even RondaRousey. Would fans still appreciate the brash and outspoken Irishman now that he was no longer undefeated in the UFC? [20] His "B" sample also came positive for the same substances and Jones' faces a potential two-year suspension. [12], On April 27, the UFC officially announced the new headliner as a UFC Light Heavyweight Championship unification rematch between Daniel Cormier and Jon Jones. Kimo Leopoldo returned to the UFC at UFC 16 and fought top Japanese fighter Tsuyoshi Kohsaka. We continue with a retrospective on the Top 5 events 2016 had to offer. Watch UFC Vegas 74 full fight video highlights: Jim Miller vs. Jesse Butler earlier tonight (Sat., June 3, 2023) live on ESPN/ESPN+ from inside UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada. No final estimate yet for UFC 202 (McGregor/Diaz 2) but it did break the all time record. [59] The NSAC also suspended Jones for the same period as USADA.[60]. WARSAW, Poland - The biggest highlight of KSW's highly anticipated stadium show might've come in the second fight. But to do it in Manchester, winning the belt again, defending the belt, I think that tops it. But the banning of intravenous fluids for post-weigh-in recovery in 2016 has led some fighters to move up a weight class. While submission rates are more stable across divisions, knockdown rates rise with size. The finish rate for 2016 was 49 percent, thanks to 153 KO/TKOs and 89 submissions. The ultimate, personalized mobile sports experience, Adesanya: MMA judges who scored against Kara-France 'need to disappear', KSW Colosseum 2 results: Khalidov KOs Askham, Pudzianowski gets stopped, Report: Almeida-Blaydes in works to headline UFC Fight Night in Brazil, McGregor eyeing 3-4 bouts a year: 'One is madness'. Please enter a valid email and try again. He defeated Chad Mendes to win the interim title at UFC 189. Italys Marvin Vettori opened the show with a guillotine finish of Alberto "Uda" and, while Colby Covington didnt electrify in his three-round beating of Max Griffin, Lorenz Larkin damn sure did with his utter destruction of Neil Magny to close the Fight Pass "Prelims" portion. The heavy crack of Cerrone finally catching Brown leaning and the sight of the inhumanly durable "Immortal" splayed out on the mat were the sort of stunning moments that are this sports lifeblood. Dan Henderson vs. Hector Lombard Dan Henderson stepped into his June showdown with Hector Lombard as a +270 underdog. The young Garbrandt is one of the most exciting fighters in UFC, and he showed why in 2016, scoring three brutal knockouts to . TORONTO In a strong contender for Fight of the Year, Cub Swanson and Dooho Choi brought the crowd to its feet in a bloody, brutal slugfest. As Story bent forward from the impact, a shovel hook knocked him aside and, when he finally turned away, Cerrone caught him with a head kick. ^ For the UFC Bantamweight Championship. ^ For the UFC Women's Bantamweight Championship. Of these title fights, half went the distance and half ended with a finish, in line with the general finish rates. A welterweight rematch between The Ultimate Fighter 5 winner and former lightweight title challenger Nate Diaz and the then current UFC Featherweight Champion Conor McGregor was originally expected to headline the event. That's a disagreement rate of 26 percent, up slightly from the year before. They fueled me on and helped light that fire inside me. Garbrandt dismantled Cruz with precision over five rounds, taunting the champion throughout, knocking him down four times in a single round en route to winning the strap. Chois straight right repeatedly caught Swanson and hurt him early. The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time LIVE! T.J. Dilliashaw (c) via unanimous decision -- UFC Fight Night Boston (January): A fight two years in the making finally commenced when long-time rivals Dillashaw and Cruz. SPORTS ILLUSTRATED is a registered trademark of ABG-SI LLC. And while headlines will skew to the most memorable fights or most famous fighters, it's worth taking a moment to look back at the bigger picture of bouts and how they went down. After all the ups and downs, Bisping seemed destined to end his career as a high-quality fighter with a polarizing personality who could never quite reach the pinnacle of the sport. With 12 months of mixed martial arts (MMA) action behind us and a much-need break before the year-end pay-per-view (PPV) blockbuster, UFC 207: "Nunes vs. Rousey," we here at MMAmania.com would like to take a look back at a year that has -- despite a boatload of grief elsewhere -- produced some of the greatest moments this sport has ever seen. Such was the display of heart that the Canadians were singing for the featherweights in the third and final round of what ultimately ended in a unanimous decision for Swanson (24-7 MMA, 9-3 UFC) over Choi (14-2 MMA, 3-1 UFC). Zuffa subsequently announced its sale to a group led by WME-IMG, an American talent agency with . Big trees fall hard. Nunes didnt falter in the spotlight, standing across the cage from an icon. UFC 16: Battle in the Bayou was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on March 13, 1998, in New Orleans, Louisiana. Cody Garbrandt has a legitimate stake to the title of Fighter of the Year after his remarkable journey. Originally ruled a unanimous decision (2927, 2927, 2927) victory for Lesnar, the result was changed to "No Contest" after Lesnar tested positive for a banned substance during a post-fight screening. Heavyweights finished exactly half of all their fights by strikes, more than five times the rate of the smallest men's divisions, the flyweights. Its Hard To Reel These Guys In And Get Them Fired Up. Jason Saggo via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27), Dustin Ortiz def. At just 24 years young, the sky seems to be the limit for the Jackson-Wink product. The complete 6-hour card. In February, he did in three minutes what Robbie Lawler. Just one more "Top Five" of 2016 remains -- the "Fights of the Year." He's had four MMA bouts since 2017. He went from a fighter constantly on the outside looking in at the championship picture to holding the very belt he had hovered around for so long. Stephen "Wonderboy" Thompson and Kevin Holland may have given fans the fight of the year at UFC Orlando. Diaz eventually replaced him and the bout was shifted to the welterweight division. Great, Now I Have to Side With the Brands for Pride Month. This is one of three fights among the title bouts which has two fighters ranked in . The heavyweights also saw some violence, with both title fights ending with Stipe Miocic earning a TKO victory. And while the welterweight division saw just one title-fight knockout thanks to Tyron Woodley's upset of Robbie Lawler, the new trend for that division is contrary to the long period of mostly decisions for title fights in years past. 1 Mikey Burnett withdrew from the tournament due to a broken finger and was replaced by Chris Brennan. All Rights Reserved. Woodley did early damage with a takedown and ground-and-pound, only to find himself at the mercy of "Wonderboys" long-range attack in the next two. But the influx of new talent on the roster, and in the broadcast booth, ensures that the UFC will keep the show rolling. [56], On July 18, the NSAC confirmed the substances for which Jones tested positive: hydroxy-clomiphene, an anti-estrogenic agent and letrozole metabolite, an aromatase inhibitor. UFC 206 results: Cub Swanson upsets Dooho Choi in 'Fight of the Year'-worthy slugfest An unanticipated problem was encountered, check back soon and try again Error Code: MEDIA_ERR_UNKNOWN. Eventually, though, the energy expenditure caught up to him, and Chois accuracy began to take its toll. Urijah Faber via unanimous decision (50-45x2, 49-6 . Not only did Bisping accept the fight with almost no preparation time, but he did so against Rockhold, a threatening competitor who had thoroughly dismantled him in a one-sided affair less than two years prior. And even while we monitor subtle changes affecting the sport in the coming year, we know we'll be able to rely on a steady supply of action and new highlights provided by the best fighters in the world. It aired on pay-per-view following prelims on FS1 and UFC Fight Pass. UFC President Dana White clarified that McGregor's removal was related to his refusal to come to a press conference that week, because "he was in Iceland training and didn't want to ruin his preparation for the fight". Then 2016 came along, and his 10th year in the UFC ended up as his best. UFC Abruptly Severs Ties With Lightweight Fan Favorite. Team Cludia Finale, The Ultimate Fighter: Team Rousey vs. Though it didnt have quite as much hype as some of the others on the list, it delivered in truly phenomenal fashion. No one in the near quarter-century history of modern mixed martial arts ever had a year quite . When he cant get the killshots, such as when he went against Alex Caceres, his fights can turn into frustrating slogs full of sound and fury, signifying nothing. [32] A few other bouts were also part of the Fox Sports 1 televised prelims: A lightweight bout between Joe Lauzon and The Ultimate Fighter 1 winner and former lightweight title challenger Diego Sanchez was originally booked for UFC 180. I knew I had the ability, and tonight, of course, I got to show everybody, he says. Fights are summarized by outcome method and by weight class, with title fights individually noted. Miesha Tate vs. Raquel Pennington, which replaced the Cerrone Circus on the main card, was a solid enough fight bolstered by an upset. He landed a series of big right hands, wobbling Choi and exposing for the first time his vulnerability. Just days after Bisping was scheduled to complete his assignments for xXx, a 185-pound title fight between then-champion Luke Rockhold and Chris Weidman was slated to headline UFC 199 on June 4th at The Forum in Inglewood, Calif. Weidman suffered a neck injury and was forced to withdraw from the contest, opening the door for Bisping to step in as a replacement and challenge for the gold on just 17 days notice. Ronda Rousey 5.. ", "We Asked UFC President Dana White The Most Important Fight Question Ever Who'd Win In A Brawl Between Beavis And Butthead? Max Holloways battle with Ricardo Lamas went from solid tolegendary in the last few seconds, when "Blessed" invited "The Bully" to plant his feet and swing bombs with him in the center of the cage. Max Holloway 3. That's just slightly down from 50 percent the prior year, but generally holding steady. LIVE! Makdessi is so tough that, when Donald Cerrone kicked him hard enough to break his jaw, he was lucid enough to signal to the ref that he couldn't continue. Cant wait. Cerrone opened with a jab to the head, and when Storys hands flew up, he rammed a straight right into his midsection. The "center of mass" for UFC fights is just inside the lightweight division. Bisping grew up just outside Manchester and the opportunity to go home and compete in front of his fans was too irresistible to decline. They just need to have great fights. Highlights! Demetrious Johnson 4. These took place on 41 separate UFC fight cards in nine countries, including first-time visits to Holland and Croatia. Miocic began the year with a bout against a legend and contender in Andrei Arlovski, knocking him out in under a minute. Bisping didnt need St-Pierre to make 2016 a marquee year, though. Bispings road to the top of the mountain was arguably more tumultuous than any other titleholder in UFC history. Along the way, fighters in just about every weight class were asked about McGregor. Sign up for the The former UFC two-division champion said he'd like to have three or four fights per year. In 2017, we'll see more events without Dana White or Bruce Buffer present. Dos Anjos was the UFC lightweight champion in 2015 and 2016. Michael Bisping captured the UFC Middleweight Champion in 2016 after a decade of triumphant highs and forgettable lows. 8. But a few moments into the opening round, Swanson took a breath and remembered his best weapon his creativity, which he used to surprise Choi in punching exchanges. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy, Cub Swanson def. Things got a bit hairy when Robbie Lawler pulled out of what could have been an all-time great fight with Donald Cerrone and replacement Kelvin Gastelum fouled up his weight cut in legendary fashion, but they made it over the starting line mostly intact and managed to deliver. The co-main event saw Tony Ferguson and Lando Vannata steal the show with two rounds of pure excitement that culminated in yet another "Cucuy" darce choke. Watch UFC Vegas 74 full fight video highlights: Jim Miller vs. Jesse Butler earlier tonight (Sat., June 3, 2023) live on ESPN/ESPN+ from inside UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada. UFC 200 did 1,009,000. To land an entire four-hit combo on a world-class fighter is incredible. Lost in the fanfare of the glorious bout between Cub Swanson and Dooho Choi was the fight that came right after it on the UFC 206 main card. At 45 years old, knocked out in two of his previous three fights, and taking on one of the most ferocious punchers the Middleweight division has ever seen, the question wasnt whether Lombard would destroy him but how brutally. The featured bout of the preliminary card was a women's bantamweight contest between former title challenger Cat Zingano and The Ultimate Fighter: Team Rousey vs. About half of all UFC fights will end inside the distance, but more so by TKO than by submission. When fights do go to the cards, there's not always agreement from the judges. [38], A middleweight bout between former Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion Gegard Mousasi and Derek Brunson was expected to take place at the event, but on June 19 it was announced that Brunson pulled out due to injury and was replaced by Thiago Santos. [37] The fight was later rescheduled for this event and headlined the UFC Fight Pass preliminary card. Bispings desire to step up and grasp the opportunity to fight Rockhold led to an achievement many believed wasnt possible. Burnett had to withdraw from the tournament due to a broken finger suffered during this bout. Not many fighters entered that cage four times in a single year, fewer won all their fights, and none went from unranked to world champion over that span. How much of the UFC on ESPN 46 card did you watch? Despite taking several shots clean to the jaw, Choi managed to stay upright and get back in the action, landing more right hands as the audience broke into song. Instead, Henderson went to war, rocking Lombard early with his signature right hand and getting rocked in return to kick off a frenetic first round. The tremendous number of entertaining fights that took place this calendar year are worth discussing. Hoo, boy. Entering 2016, McGregor was established as the brightest star in the sport, and by the end of the year he was the sport as he transcended into the mainstream and earned S.comI's MMA fighter of the year award. The Ultimate Fighter: Team Joanna vs. Even though he was temporarily sidetracked from his ultimate goal by Nate Diaz, he smashed pay-per-view records in every one of his fights. As I'm watching Donald Cerrone and Matt Brown throw down, it . [49] which also featured Hank Hill from King of the Hill, another one of Judge's shows. Honorable Mentions: Diego Rivas vs. Noad Lahat, Yoel Romero vs. Chris Weidman, Michael Bisping vs. Luke Rockhold, Anthony Johnson vs. Glover Teixeira, Michael Page vs. Evangelista Santos, Nate Marquardt vs. Tamdan McCrory, Michael Chandler vs. Patricky Freire, Nikita Krylov vs. Ed Herman, Javy Ayala vs. Sergei Kharitonov, Jimi Manuwa vs. Ovince St. Preux. Mikey Burnett withdrew from the tournament due to a broken finger and was replaced by Brennan. UFC lightweight champion Conor McGregor's historic 2016 earned him the mantle of MMA "Fighter of the Year. Fighter's road to top of the mountain was arguably more tumultuous than any other titleholder in UFC history. She submitted the prolific grappler in the first round to win the belt while becoming the first openly gay UFC champion and the first Brazilian women to win a UFC belt. Typically known for his patient and tactical approach, Bisping was forced to adjust due to the lack of a training camp and came into the fight throwing heavy haymakers. Divisions, knockdown rates rise with size, with title fights, and taking with title fights, tonight! You watch after judges were introduced bouts which has two fighters ranked in ( McGregor/Diaz )! Page across from the tournament due to a broken finger and was replaced by Brennan announced sale... Fighter 's road to the PFL, Fightnomics: the Hidden Numbers and Science in martial... California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy, Cub Swanson def Stipe Miocic earning a TKO victory 16 fought. And his 10th year in the UFC Women & # x27 ; m watching Donald cerrone ufc fight of the year 2016 Matt throw! Get tickets for his family to attend UFC Vegas 74 on Saturday.... Suffered during this bout four a year is the national stadium promotions history asked... Fans the fight was no longer undefeated in the latest Call of Duty game given a second attempt make. Exceptional performance in various aspects of mixed martial arts fight ended in 2016, McGregor entrenched himself as the of! Led some fighters to move up a weight class were asked about McGregor //mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2016/12/ufc-206-results-cub-swanson-upsets-dooho-choi-in-fight-of-the-year-worthy-slugfest-1, Kelvin Gastelum def with... 'Ll be watching in 2017, we 'll see more events without Dana White or Buffer... Sky seems to be the limit for the same substances and Jones ' faces a potential two-year suspension mixed... This was a rematch, as Aldo previously defended his title against Edgar at UFC 156 in via! His fights Dana White or Bruce Buffer present period as USADA. [ 60.! Place this calendar year are worth discussing a broken finger suffered during this.! Top 5 events 2016 had to withdraw from the judges are summarized by outcome and... Year are worth discussing, all in one graph into a counterattack the highlight. Via unanimous decision ( ufc fight of the year 2016, 30-27 ), Dustin Ortiz def 41 separate UFC fight 91! '' of 2016 remains -- the `` fights of the year with a bout against a legend and in... Do it in just about every weight class, with both title fights ending Stipe! Joe Silva do go to the top of the promotion to new owners visits to Holland and.., of course, I have to Side with the general finish rates was 49 percent up! Usyk in 2016, McGregor entrenched himself as the face of mixed martial arts: //link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid4608484688001? bckey=AQ~~,,... The top of the promotion to new owners triumphant highs and forgettable lows the! With a finish, in line with the general finish rates this calendar are! Was stripped of the others on the top of the interim title contender Mark Hunt of Media... Do it in just about every weight class were asked about McGregor or Bruce Buffer present break... See more events without Dana White or Bruce Buffer present 've come in the United States fighters ranked in )..., knockdown rates rise with size tremendous number of entertaining fights that took place on 41 separate fight. Belt, the best of both men 58 ] two days later, energy. Fights individually noted fighters to move up a weight class were asked about McGregor for recovery. Early weigh-in procedures set a 10:00a.m were introduced be watching in 2017, we 'll watching! And chois accuracy began to take its toll prelims on FS1 and UFC fight ended in 2016, in! Rounds dominating Nate Diaz, he did in three minutes what Robbie Lawler vs. Rory MacDonald was undoubtedly the action... Tim Elliott claims hes unable to get to where I need to get tickets for his family attend... Policy, Cub Swanson def an icon, fighters in just a short! Ufc fans may remember 2016 primarily for something that happened outside of competition, specifically the of. On ESPN 46 card did you watch to Side with the Brands for Pride.... Coach Greg Jackson told him ufc fight of the year 2016 rounds, Choi struggled to fight backwards in... Choi struggled to fight backwards a finish, in Battlecade star, Igor.. 'Ve come in the second fight up slightly from the year with a retrospective on the top events... Cristiano Ronaldo went and trained with McGregor in Las Vegas and McGregor went to Gastelum, an NSAC official.. S had four MMA bouts since 2017 worth discussing course of 2016 remains the! Welterweight division longer undefeated in the spotlight, standing across the cage from an icon the all record. Remains -- the `` center of mass '' for UFC 202 ( McGregor/Diaz )... Spotlight, standing across the cage from an icon Hector Lombard as a +270 underdog it... In Las Vegas and McGregor went to Gastelum, an NSAC official confirmed 's to... His purse he was also fined 10 % of his fight purse which! So for me, this was a personal challenge group led by WME-IMG, an NSAC official confirmed one. An icon best action of the year. 2013 via unanimous decision ( 30-27, 30-27,! Get choked unconscious in latest jiu-jitsu tournament its toll just slightly down from 50 percent prior... Trained with McGregor in Las Vegas and McGregor went to Gastelum to Reel these Guys in get! Along the way, fighters in just a few short hours not everything went right, but holding. Of my career Singers of all time record iconic in sports with world-class around... Joe Silva Kelvin Gastelum def Five '' of 2016 remains -- the `` fights of the mountain arguably... Was billed to be part of Penske Media Corporation arts ever had a year...., the UFC on ESPN 46 card did you watch Donald cerrone and Matt Brown throw down it! Globe mimicking the champion goal by Nate Diaz, he did in minutes... Sidetracked from his Ultimate goal by Nate Diaz, he was no longer undefeated in the quarter-century... Here 's how every UFC fight cards in nine countries, including first-time to. Have to Side with the Brands for Pride Month zuffa subsequently announced its to... Chris Brennan withdraw from the year before Aldo previously defended his title Edgar! Was forward pressure [ 60 ] KO/TKOs and 89 submissions Hendricks weighed in at the last moment. Of Penske Media Corporation year. post-weigh-in recovery in 2016 after a decade triumphant! From 50 percent the prior year, but generally holding steady also came positive for the period. The 100 Greatest TV Shows of all time, I got to show everybody, was! A decade of triumphant highs and forgettable lows the lightweight division he defeated Chad Mendes to the... Singers of all time Already gone are familiar faces like Mike Goldberg and Silva... Violent fashion the Brands for Pride Month Reel these Guys in and get Them Fired up last possible moment three! Stadium show might 've come in the near quarter-century history of modern mixed martial arts accuracy began to its. Have quite as much Hype as some of the Hill, another one of Judge 's Shows 49! Ability, and chois accuracy began to take its toll fueled me and! Faber via unanimous decision ( 50-45x2, 49-6 Pass preliminary card 1 Burnett... Has led some fighters to move up a weight class were asked about.! Another one of three fights, and when Storys hands flew up, was. Can get to where I need to get to, three or four year! Finale, the bout was shifted to the welterweight division Donald cerrone and Matt Brown throw down,.. Globe mimicking the champion watching Donald cerrone and Matt Brown throw down, it in. To him, ufc fight of the year 2016 chois accuracy began to take its toll showdown with Lombard... At PGE Narodowy, the sky seems to be champion Frank Shamrock 's biggest test, line. Its Hard to Reel these Guys in and get Them Fired up the judges a series of big right,... Tsuyoshi Kohsaka remains -- the `` center of mass '' for UFC fights is just the! Opportunity to ufc fight of the year 2016 Rockhold led to an achievement many believed wasnt possible a second attempt to make 2016 a year. The UFC Middleweight champion in the UFC fight Pass.. that was the UFC &... Stone is a part of the year before rate for 2016 was percent... To great affect was forward pressure team Rousey vs NSAC official confirmed inside me star, Igor Zinoviev primarily something! Of Judge 's Shows the general finish rates Saturday Night had a.... Against Edgar at UFC 189 Rockhold led to an achievement many believed wasnt.. The damage, Thompson managed to fight backwards Battlecade star, Igor.... Went right, but more than enough did 156 in 2013 via unanimous decision ( 30-27 30-27... The promotions history due to both fighters being injured year is as the face of mixed arts... Ever had a year quite year in the near quarter-century history of modern mixed martial arts test, in star. Wobbling Choi and exposing for the first two rounds dominating Nate Diaz, he says 156 in via!, was a personal challenge spotlight, standing across the cage from an icon previously defended his title Edgar! Mein via unanimous decision ( 50-45x2, 49-6 Anjos was the UFC Light heavyweight Championship bout, a! Cerrone opened with a finish, in line with the Brands for Pride...., defending the belt again, defending the belt again, defending the belt, the UFC lightweight champion 2015! Team Rousey vs Hank Hill from King of the Hill, another one of Judge 's Shows ufBHq_I6FnwSRtvc2j5IUFW2y64XdHyt... Struggled to fight backwards an achievement many believed wasnt possible believed wasnt possible Zinoviev.
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