The UFC’s Most Memorable Bouts in England
The Best for the Brits
Feb 24, 2009
Depending on where you are, bangers and mash will have different
meanings.
If you are in the restaurants of London, bangers are sausages and mash is mashed potatoes. But if you are at the O2 enjoying the UFC, bangers are fervent strikers and mash is a descriptor of a losing fighter’s face.
Still in the hangover haze of UFC 95 -- a card featuring eight
finishes and only two decisions -- Sherdog.com examines some of the
UFC’s most memorable offerings in MMA’s latest hotspot:
England.
Mark Weir vs. Eugene Jackson -- UFC 38 in London
Paul Kelly vs. Paul Taylor -- UFC 80 in Newcastle
Every once in a while, fans have the opportunity to witness two fighters elevate each other. That was the case when Paul Kelly met Paul Taylor. The two came out gun slinging, but the Wolfslair Academy prospect knew that the way to best his fellow Englishman would be to take Taylor to the ground. Kelly punished his opponent from inside his guard with elbows, but Taylor showed he has a combination for every day in the year and threw them whenever he was on his feet.
When fighters embrace each other as sportsman -- as Taylor and Kelly did at the end of the second round -- it’s usually a sign of a hard-fought war. In this case, it was also a sign of the “Fight of the Night” honors to come, as was the fighters being lifted off the floor by their respective corners after the bout.
The two have enjoyed mixed success since the fight, which Kelly won via unanimous decision, though they remain exciting British prospects.
Upsets and comebacks are two
of the highest forms of drama.
Marcus Davis
vs. Paul
Taylor -- UFC 75 in London
Upsets and comebacks are two of the highest forms of drama.
When Davis -- a solid favorite despite a home-field disadvantage -- hit the mat thanks to a Taylor high kick, the plot was set in motion. Taylor was stepping up in competition and seemed to be stepping over Davis, following him to the ground and continuing to defuse “The Irish Hand Grenade.” Davis held on under the Brit’s onslaught, though, and eventually secured an armbar from his back late in the first round.
The bout earned Davis and Taylor “Fight of the Night” honors. Both have continued their enthralling ways, including another “Fight of the Night” honor for Taylor against Chris Lytle at UFC 89 and one for Davis against Lytle at UFC 93.
Matt Wiman vs. Thiago Tavares -- UFC 85 in London
Thiago Tavares was known as a talented prospect. Matt Wiman, on the other hand, was known for his nickname, “Handsome.”
In this one, however, Wiman wanted an ugly fight. He walked straight at Tavares tossing around leather. At times he found himself defending the grappling game of Tavares, a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt, who also fed Wiman a huge right hand. In true Oklahoma fashion, Wiman spit it out, flurried and dropped Tavares.
“I've never been more excited. I just felt like I had a plateau that I couldn't get over … in my life,” Wiman said afterward.
Breaking Tavares seemed to be Wiman’s breakout performance, but in his next bout he dropped an underwhelming decision to Jim Miller.
Matt Hamill vs. Michael Bisping -- UFC 75 in London
Like the end of “Rocky IV,” the crowd had turned. Michael Bisping entered the O2 Arena a crowd favorite, but his defensive performance against aggressive American Matt Hamill found him little favor.
Stalking forward, Hamill landed punches and scored takedowns throughout the fight. When the split decision was announced for Bisping, fans in attendance jeered their fellow countryman. Turning a home crowd against a local hero is no easy task, especially when the challenger enters the arena to “Born in the U.S.A.”
Bisping, however, has since regained, if not surpassed, his popularity prior to the controversial bout.
If you are in the restaurants of London, bangers are sausages and mash is mashed potatoes. But if you are at the O2 enjoying the UFC, bangers are fervent strikers and mash is a descriptor of a losing fighter’s face.
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Mark Weir vs. Eugene Jackson -- UFC 38 in London
One of the few hometown stars in the UFC’s inaugural foray across
the pond, Weir put fans at Royal Albert Hall under an immediate
spell: It only took 10 seconds for him to knock out Jackson. He
faked a high kick -- a favorite weapon given his celebrated
taekwondo background -- and flurried, leaving Jackson on his back.
The fight remains perhaps Weir’s best win and is one of the fastest
knockouts in UFC history.
Paul Kelly vs. Paul Taylor -- UFC 80 in Newcastle
Every once in a while, fans have the opportunity to witness two fighters elevate each other. That was the case when Paul Kelly met Paul Taylor. The two came out gun slinging, but the Wolfslair Academy prospect knew that the way to best his fellow Englishman would be to take Taylor to the ground. Kelly punished his opponent from inside his guard with elbows, but Taylor showed he has a combination for every day in the year and threw them whenever he was on his feet.
When fighters embrace each other as sportsman -- as Taylor and Kelly did at the end of the second round -- it’s usually a sign of a hard-fought war. In this case, it was also a sign of the “Fight of the Night” honors to come, as was the fighters being lifted off the floor by their respective corners after the bout.
The two have enjoyed mixed success since the fight, which Kelly won via unanimous decision, though they remain exciting British prospects.
Photo by
Sherdog.com
of the highest forms of drama.
Upsets and comebacks are two of the highest forms of drama.
When Davis -- a solid favorite despite a home-field disadvantage -- hit the mat thanks to a Taylor high kick, the plot was set in motion. Taylor was stepping up in competition and seemed to be stepping over Davis, following him to the ground and continuing to defuse “The Irish Hand Grenade.” Davis held on under the Brit’s onslaught, though, and eventually secured an armbar from his back late in the first round.
The bout earned Davis and Taylor “Fight of the Night” honors. Both have continued their enthralling ways, including another “Fight of the Night” honor for Taylor against Chris Lytle at UFC 89 and one for Davis against Lytle at UFC 93.
Matt Wiman vs. Thiago Tavares -- UFC 85 in London
Thiago Tavares was known as a talented prospect. Matt Wiman, on the other hand, was known for his nickname, “Handsome.”
In this one, however, Wiman wanted an ugly fight. He walked straight at Tavares tossing around leather. At times he found himself defending the grappling game of Tavares, a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt, who also fed Wiman a huge right hand. In true Oklahoma fashion, Wiman spit it out, flurried and dropped Tavares.
“I've never been more excited. I just felt like I had a plateau that I couldn't get over … in my life,” Wiman said afterward.
Breaking Tavares seemed to be Wiman’s breakout performance, but in his next bout he dropped an underwhelming decision to Jim Miller.
Matt Hamill vs. Michael Bisping -- UFC 75 in London
Like the end of “Rocky IV,” the crowd had turned. Michael Bisping entered the O2 Arena a crowd favorite, but his defensive performance against aggressive American Matt Hamill found him little favor.
Stalking forward, Hamill landed punches and scored takedowns throughout the fight. When the split decision was announced for Bisping, fans in attendance jeered their fellow countryman. Turning a home crowd against a local hero is no easy task, especially when the challenger enters the arena to “Born in the U.S.A.”
Bisping, however, has since regained, if not surpassed, his popularity prior to the controversial bout.
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