Best Card Ever

Last night's UFC 116 card was an eye popping display of mixed martial arts. It may just go down as the best night of fights ever. Or at least one of the best--though right now I'm hard pressed to think of one that was even as good.

The main card started off on the right foot. Australia's George Sotiropolous dominated Kurt Pelegrino both on the feet and on the ground. He won a unanimous decision. Then came one of the night's best. Stephan Bonner--who along with Forrest Griffin is credited for the success of the UFC after their fight on season one of the Ultimate Fighter--knew that he desperately needed a win over Canadian Krzysztof Soszynski to stay in the active ranks of the UFC. And that is exactly the way Bonner fought. These guys threw bombs at each other. It looked as if Bonner was done in the first round. But he landed a huge knee in round two that was the beginning of the end. It prompted Dana White later to award it fight of the night.

With the crowd still buzzing, Chris Lyttle and Matt Brown stepped in the ring. They were expected to throw like crazy--and they did, but they also exhibited their ground skills as well. Brown had Lyttle in a very tight choke in the first, but Lyttle escaped. Then in the second Lyttle employed a double submission. An arm triangle which he transitioned into an arm bar for the victory.

When Chris Leben and Yoshihiro Akiyama came into the ring for the co-main event, most thought we had seen the best the night would offer. But not so, this fight was so good White also gave it fight of the night. This was a back and forth contest, with Akiyama displaying some impressive judo skills taking Leben to the ground. But Leben proved effective from his back. As the match progressed it was obvious Akiyama was tiring. Leben sensed this and turned it up in the final round and would land some big shots, eventually submitting Akiyama with 14 seconds left. It was the most impressive performance of Leben's career--made even more staggering by the fact Leben had fought in the UFC just two weeks before.

I remember thinking heading into the main event for the heavywieght belt that Brock Lesnar and Shane Carwin would almost have to be a let down. But on this night of magical fights it was not to be so. The two heavyweights---and I mean heavyweights--both having to cut weight to make it down to 265 pounds--looked primed and ready during the pre fight instructions. But it was Carwin at the opening bell that exposed the weak stand up of Lesnar. He rocked Lesnar with the left, jumped on top and would go on to land a total of 57 strikes in the round. Carwin said after he felt Lesnar go out a few times. But Lesnar didn't seem to be in enough danger to referee Jake Rosenthal to stop the fight. Though it must have been close. Carwin spent it all in round number one, and Lesnar seemed the fresher headed to number two. He was able to take Carwin down, and then administer the arm triangle forcing Carwin to tap. A huge turn of events. But what a fight. I can't wait until these guys do it again. I can really see this being Ali/Frasier type of rivalry.

UFC 115 here in Vancouver had some definite highlights. I think of the McDonald/Condit fight and the Cro Cop/Barry match. But let's face it. It didn't come close to Saturday night. I was at the Forum Sports Bar on Granville and that place was in a frenzy for almost two hours. I haven't seen a buzz from a UFC pay per view like last night ever. If a fan was on the fence about MMA, and watched UFC 116, they would have to be a fan for life. It was just that good.

Dana White credits that Stephan Bonner Forrest Griffin fight for lifting the UFC off the ground. The viewership numbers back him up. I remember watching the fight and thinking "holy crap this stuff is great". I now wonder if last night's pay per view will also be a bench mark for attracting new fans and cementing the UFC's lock on the MMA pay per view market. Like I said, it was just that good. If you haven't seen it, I suggest you do all you can to get in front of a television and watch it. It will be time better than well spent.