Back on Track

Finally.  It was what we all envisioned when the UFC announced its landmark network TV deal with FOX.  The largest Mixed Martial Arts promotion in the world would need a larger forum to showcase their world c

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lass talent if the sport was ever to break through into the mainstream.  After three live events broadcast on the major TV network that underwhelmed many, as evidenced by decreasing numbers of viewers each time, UFC on FOX 4 finally delivered the product that Dana White and Co. had been promising.

Last August when asked what type of fights the UFC planned for the live FOX events, Dana White committed to showing “fights that matter.” The inaugural event introduced mainstream America to a single fight:  Cain Velasquez vs. Junior Dos Santos for the UFC Heavyweight title.  The championship bout did in fact matter, but Dos Santos ended the action in just 64 seconds leaving many viewers unsatisfied.  The next two cards on FOX set the table for number one contenders in the Light Heavyweight and Lightweight divisions respectively.  Rashad Evans defeated Phil Davis in a lackluster bout at UFC on FOX 2 and Nate Diaz dismantled Jim Miller at UFC on FOX 3 months later before a much smaller viewing audience.  Again, the action failed to capture global attention in the manner that the UFC had envisioned.

Fast forward to Saturday night and there were a number of ominous signs that pointed towards another event missing the mark.  First, the entire world is focused on the Summer Olympics against who the UFC on FOX 4 broadcast would go head to head Saturday during prime time.  Secondly, the main event had been panned when Brandon Vera was introduced as Mauricio “Shogun” Rua’s opponent. And perhaps foremost, the bad taste left from UFC 149 a few weeks ago was still lingering.  However, despite the negativity and stout odds, UFC on FOX 4 managed to put together a stellar night of action from top to bottom and finally showcased Mixed Martial Arts at its highest level.

The main card opened with one of the greatest comeback stories in MMA history. Mike Swick had been a rising star in the UFC tracing back to The Ultimate Fighter season 1 and had even challenged for a spot as the number one contender in the Welterweight division in the not so distant past.  But after falling to Dan Hardy, a series of injuries and other misfortunes took their toll.  Coming into Saturday night, Swick had been out of action for thirty months.  Ring rust would be as big an obstacle as his opponent Demarques Johnson.  The first round was action packed and both Swick and Johnson landed a high volume of power strikes but Johnson was able to control Swick using a slick takedown.  In the second, Swick rallied by catching a leg kick from Johnson and countering with a takedown and series of right hands that left Johnson unconscious on the canvas.  After thirty months out, Swick ended his return fight emphatically and pocketed a cool $50,000 for Knock Out of the Night.  From there, the action would continue to climb.

In what is likely the favorite to win “Fight of 2012” thus far into the year, Joe Lauzon and Jamie Varner showcased every facet of MMA that makes the sport so intriguing.  They maintained a frenetic pace and traded strikes with takedowns and submission attempts with reversals.  The momentum swung back and forth in each round until finally in the third, Lauzon was able to capitalize on a mistake from the former WEC Champion.  Varner shot in for a double leg takedown which he landed, only to have Lauzon reverse position using a butterfly sweep.  As Lauzon tried to transition to Varner’s back, Varner reversed the position, but failed to free his right arm.  In transition, Lauzon slipped on a triangle choke and methodically tightened it down until Varner had no other option than to tap.  Not only did Lauzon win “Submission of the Night” for his efforts, but he and Varner were awarded another $50,000 for “Fight of the Night.” Also in the process, Joe Lauzon became the recipient of the most Post Fight bonuses in UFC history as his eleven surpassed the record of ten previously held by Chris Lytle.   

The Co-main event was a high stakes showdown between former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Lyoto Machida and former Ultimate Fighter season 8 champion Ryan Bader.  Earlier this week, Dana White told us that between the co-main event and the main event, whichever of the winners looked the most impressive would be assured the next shot at the Light Heavyweight belt.  That in mind, the former champion proved to be focused on the prize.  Using his trademark movement, Machida was able to slip each of Bader’s strikes and counter strike using punches and body kicks during the first.  In the second round, a clearly frustrated Ryan Bader came in too aggressively only to catch a counter punch to the jaw that ended his night.  Machida had set the bar with a near flawless performance.  He controlled the action throughout, took very little damage, and ended the fight in definitive fashion.  His showing would be good enough to not only earn praise from Dana White, but to earn the nod as the next number one contender for the Light Heavyweight title.

As one sided as the co-main event was, the main event could not have been any more different.  Former UFC Light Heavy champion Mauricio “Shogun” Rua came in as a heavy favorite over Brandon Vera who swore that he was back and had every right to contend for a shot at the Light Heavyweight title.  As the fight began, Vera was the aggressor and landed the heavier kicks and punches.  But the Brazilian took control of the round with a takedown and heavy punches from half guard.  In the second round, both Rua and Vera began landing heavier blows with greater frequency and both were even staggered during several points.  Vera was proving his doubters wrong as he evened the fight by taking round two.  The third featured more of the same as both fighters began to feel the exhaustion take hold and going into the championship rounds, it was anyone’s fight.  As Vera and Rua continued to attack, it was Rua who finally landed the difference maker.  He hit Vera with a right Knee and followed up with a punch that dropped him. From there Rua was able to land a flurry of punches and hammer fists to the downed Vera and finished the fight with a TKO victory.  Though Rua had earned the victory, the heart and determination displayed by both fighters proved an excellent climax to the night’s event. 

 Four fights, four exciting finishes.  Vicious knockouts, slick submissions, and a display of heart and grit were all on display from the Staples Center Saturday night.  It took four iterations of UFC on FOX to show the world what high level Mixed Martial Arts really is.  For Dana White, it had been a bumpy ride, but Saturday night, we were all able to smile.  Finally.