Sherdog.com’s 2015 Fight of the Year

4. Jeremy Stephens vs. Dennis Bermudez
UFC 189
Saturday, July 11
MGM Grand Garden Arena | Las Vegas
Robbie Lawler-Rory MacDonald was not the only “Fight of the Year” contender at UFC 189. In fact, another “Fight of the Year” candidate took place immediately before that contest when Jeremy Stephens and Dennis Bermudez threw down in a violent battle capped off with a devastating finish. It was much more than just a juicy appetizer for the night’s next bout. It was a classic fight in its own right.

Stephens and Bermudez have both been involved in some thrilling bouts over the years. Stephens’ knockout power and Bermudez’s aggressive pressure have often produced great excitement. Bermudez won UFC “Fight of the Night” awards for his battles with Matt Grice and Diego Brandao, while Stephens took them home when he competed against Cub Swanson and Sam Stout. However, unlike some action fighters who are pretty much always involved in great fights, Stephens and Bermudez have also had their share of clunkers over the years. The opponent has been crucial for each man. At UFC 189, they each found a perfect partner for a scintillating battle.

Unlike some fights where both competitors are happy to see the fight move around in different directions, Bermudez and Stephens were determined to dictate the terms of the fight at the expense of the other. Bermudez wanted to pressure Stephens against the cage, take him down and do damage from there. Stephens wanted to keep Bermudez’s takedown attempts at bay and punish him with his power striking. The fight was about imposing on the opponent, and that was the difference between victory and defeat.

In that regard, Bermudez had the edge early. He was able to clinch with Stephens, get the Alliance MMA rep down and look for submissions. As the fight progressed, Stephens was able to block takedown attempts and draw Bermudez into a brawl. Bermudez was able to land some good shots, but he was playing Stephens’ game. In the third round, Stephens timed Bermudez coming in and knocked him loopy with a beautiful knee. Stephens threw a few hard punches on the ground, and the fight was over.

Stephens-Bermudez was not a fight with lofty stakes or an elaborate backstory. Few were highlighting it as the fight to watch going into UFC 189. It was just two determined fighters squaring off in a dramatic battle. Stephens needed to overcome Bermudez’s overwhelming aggression both in terms of blocking takedowns and avoiding wild strikes. To then score a spectacular finish in the midst of avoiding that pressure was an impressive feat.

Stephens followed up his victory over Bermudez with a lackluster decision loss to Max Holloway at UFC 194. It was a disappointing setback for a fighter who has struggled to string together a series of wins. Stephens will attempt to start up such a streak again in 2016. He can do so with the memory of his fight against Bermudez in mind, a fight where he executed an effective game plan, negated the strengths of a dangerous opponent and scored a memorable knockout finish to the roar of the crowd.

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