[video=youtube;XJwcgXu2a18]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJwcgXu2a18[/video]
#1 -- Lyoto Machida vs. Randy Couture
UFC 129 “St. Pierre vs. Shields
April 30, 2011
Rogers Centre
Toronto
One graceful, devastating blow did the deed, a single strike as visually arresting as it was meaningful for the fighters on either end of it. In a blink, Machida breathed new life into his own career and kicked closed the cage door on a departing icon, at the same time ensuring the appearance of both men on highlight reels for years to come. That “The Dragon” defeated Couture at UFC 129 was no great surprise -- the Brazilian entered the fight a 3-to-1 bookmaker’s favorite -- yet the manner in which he won could hardly have been more stunning. A front kick brought the fight to a sudden halt 65 seconds into the second round, sending Couture into retirement and Machida to a light heavyweight title bout.
[video=youtube;rZstbm5BEps]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZstbm5BEps[/video]
#2 -- Anderson Silva vs. Vitor Belfort
UFC 126 “Silva vs. Belfort”
Feb. 5, 2011
Mandalay Bay Events Center
Las Vegas
He was viewed by some as the potential kryptonite to Silva’s Superman. However, Belfort became just another victim in the historic run of the man they call “The Spider.” A lengthy feeling-out process between the two middleweights concluded with a pair of leg kicks and a right-left combination from Belfort. It was but a small victory for the former light heavyweight champion. With the two men standing face to face, Silva fired a front kick up through Belfort’s defenses and dropped him where he stood. Pierced by power, speed and precision, “The Phenom” fell as if he had been cut down by a sniper. Silva passed his foe’s foggy guard and finished it with a right and a left 3:25 into the first round. Belfort entered the cage on a five-fight winning streak. He left it humbled and beaten. Never before in his 14-year career had the Brazilian been stopped so quickly.
[video=youtube;8fw_5EAKVvc]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=8fw_5EAKVvc[/video]
#3 -- Adam Khaliev vs. Alexei Belyaev
League S-70 “Fight Nights: Russian Championship First Round
Dec. 22, 2011
Profsoyuzov Sorts Hall
Volgograd, Russia
Sometimes one has to see it to believe it. Three days before Christmas, Khaliev introduced the term “tornado kick” into the MMA lexicon for a much wider audience. The little-known Russian middleweight had made his professional debut barely two months earlier but became a viral superstar overnight under the League S-70 banner. As his bout with Belyaev neared its midway point, Khaliev backed his foe into the ropes, planted his left foot, whirled and brought the same foot whipping violently into Belyaev’s head. The ropes became a slingshot of sorts, as the unconscious Belyaev fell to the mat, face first and lifeless. Khaliev walked away nonchalantly as if it were just another day at the gym.
[video=youtube;WRhuqM87Q_k]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=WRhuqM87Q_k[/video]
#4 -- Nick Denis vs. Nick Mamalis
Wreck MMA “Unfinished Business”
Oct. 28, 2011
Casino Lac Leamy
Gatineau, Quebec, Canada
Belly-to-back suplex-choke slam combinations are generally reserved for the world of professional wrestling. Not in Denis’ case. The Sengoku Raiden Championship veteran found himself in second-round trouble against Mamalis, who had put himself in position to secure a rear-naked choke. However, Denis freed himself, maneuvered behind Mamalis and delivered a wicked suplex, upping the force by placing his hand on his foe’s chest and driving him downward. It knocked the Bellator Fighting Championships veteran cold, as his head struck the mat in sickening fashion. “The Ninja of Love” followed with a pair of hammerfists. His knockout caught the attention of Ultimate Fighting Championship talent scouts, and Denis was in the Octagon three months later.
[video=youtube;_DaDxH8HCac]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=_DaDxH8HCac[/video]
#5 -- Cairo Rocha vs. Francisco Neves
Brazilian Fighting Championship “Desafio dos Imortais”
Dec. 16, 2011
Doctor Francisco de Palma Travassos Stadium
Sao Paulo, Brazil
Rarely are capoeira kicks successful in high-level mixed martial arts, and few, if any, have had the impact of the one Rocha executed at Doctor Francisco de Palma Travassos Stadium. At the halfway marker of their encounter, Rocha set himself, wheeled around as he planted his right hand on the mat and, in one fluid, almost poetic motion, smashed his right foot into Neves’ unprotected jaw. Baffled by the unorthodox maneuver, Neves had lowered his left hand to guard his midsection on the same side on which the kick struck his head. The distinct smack of bone hitting flesh told the story, along with the victim’s stiff body at the base of the cage. Rocha scaled the fence in triumph, as the crowd hummed in awe around him.
#1 -- Lyoto Machida vs. Randy Couture
UFC 129 “St. Pierre vs. Shields
April 30, 2011
Rogers Centre
Toronto
One graceful, devastating blow did the deed, a single strike as visually arresting as it was meaningful for the fighters on either end of it. In a blink, Machida breathed new life into his own career and kicked closed the cage door on a departing icon, at the same time ensuring the appearance of both men on highlight reels for years to come. That “The Dragon” defeated Couture at UFC 129 was no great surprise -- the Brazilian entered the fight a 3-to-1 bookmaker’s favorite -- yet the manner in which he won could hardly have been more stunning. A front kick brought the fight to a sudden halt 65 seconds into the second round, sending Couture into retirement and Machida to a light heavyweight title bout.
[video=youtube;rZstbm5BEps]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZstbm5BEps[/video]
#2 -- Anderson Silva vs. Vitor Belfort
UFC 126 “Silva vs. Belfort”
Feb. 5, 2011
Mandalay Bay Events Center
Las Vegas
He was viewed by some as the potential kryptonite to Silva’s Superman. However, Belfort became just another victim in the historic run of the man they call “The Spider.” A lengthy feeling-out process between the two middleweights concluded with a pair of leg kicks and a right-left combination from Belfort. It was but a small victory for the former light heavyweight champion. With the two men standing face to face, Silva fired a front kick up through Belfort’s defenses and dropped him where he stood. Pierced by power, speed and precision, “The Phenom” fell as if he had been cut down by a sniper. Silva passed his foe’s foggy guard and finished it with a right and a left 3:25 into the first round. Belfort entered the cage on a five-fight winning streak. He left it humbled and beaten. Never before in his 14-year career had the Brazilian been stopped so quickly.
[video=youtube;8fw_5EAKVvc]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=8fw_5EAKVvc[/video]
#3 -- Adam Khaliev vs. Alexei Belyaev
League S-70 “Fight Nights: Russian Championship First Round
Dec. 22, 2011
Profsoyuzov Sorts Hall
Volgograd, Russia
Sometimes one has to see it to believe it. Three days before Christmas, Khaliev introduced the term “tornado kick” into the MMA lexicon for a much wider audience. The little-known Russian middleweight had made his professional debut barely two months earlier but became a viral superstar overnight under the League S-70 banner. As his bout with Belyaev neared its midway point, Khaliev backed his foe into the ropes, planted his left foot, whirled and brought the same foot whipping violently into Belyaev’s head. The ropes became a slingshot of sorts, as the unconscious Belyaev fell to the mat, face first and lifeless. Khaliev walked away nonchalantly as if it were just another day at the gym.
[video=youtube;WRhuqM87Q_k]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=WRhuqM87Q_k[/video]
#4 -- Nick Denis vs. Nick Mamalis
Wreck MMA “Unfinished Business”
Oct. 28, 2011
Casino Lac Leamy
Gatineau, Quebec, Canada
Belly-to-back suplex-choke slam combinations are generally reserved for the world of professional wrestling. Not in Denis’ case. The Sengoku Raiden Championship veteran found himself in second-round trouble against Mamalis, who had put himself in position to secure a rear-naked choke. However, Denis freed himself, maneuvered behind Mamalis and delivered a wicked suplex, upping the force by placing his hand on his foe’s chest and driving him downward. It knocked the Bellator Fighting Championships veteran cold, as his head struck the mat in sickening fashion. “The Ninja of Love” followed with a pair of hammerfists. His knockout caught the attention of Ultimate Fighting Championship talent scouts, and Denis was in the Octagon three months later.
[video=youtube;_DaDxH8HCac]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=_DaDxH8HCac[/video]
#5 -- Cairo Rocha vs. Francisco Neves
Brazilian Fighting Championship “Desafio dos Imortais”
Dec. 16, 2011
Doctor Francisco de Palma Travassos Stadium
Sao Paulo, Brazil
Rarely are capoeira kicks successful in high-level mixed martial arts, and few, if any, have had the impact of the one Rocha executed at Doctor Francisco de Palma Travassos Stadium. At the halfway marker of their encounter, Rocha set himself, wheeled around as he planted his right hand on the mat and, in one fluid, almost poetic motion, smashed his right foot into Neves’ unprotected jaw. Baffled by the unorthodox maneuver, Neves had lowered his left hand to guard his midsection on the same side on which the kick struck his head. The distinct smack of bone hitting flesh told the story, along with the victim’s stiff body at the base of the cage. Rocha scaled the fence in triumph, as the crowd hummed in awe around him.
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