BEST MMA KNOCKOUTS OF 2010

This list contains my favourite KO’s of the last year. Some were picked for the brutal nature of their endings, while others were chosen for the effect they had on the Mixed Martial Arts world. After reading this countdown, try to watch some of these KO’s on various websites.

10. Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua vs. Lyoto ‘The Dragon’ Machida 2:

After a close and controversial first bout which Machida took, the highly anticipated rematch only lasted one round with ‘Shogun’ Rua punching his way through the supposed elusive ‘Dragon’ to claim the Light Heavyweight title.

9. Cain Velasquez vs. Brock Lesnar:

Another title changed hands, as Cain Velasquez beat former power house Brock Lesnar into submission at UFC 121. The beating was so bad that it may push the Death Clutch star (Lesnar) into considering a return to fake wrestling.

8. Takanori ‘Fireball Kid’ Gomi vs. Tyson Griffin:

Gomi’s form was on the downward spiral after being dominated in his first UFC bout by top contender Kenny Florien. However the Fireball Kid stormed back to his pride days with a ruthless right hand that left Tyson Griffin face down on the canvas. Next for Gomi will be a predictable barnstorming brawl with Clay Guida.

7. Cain Velasquez vs. Antonio Rodrigo ‘Minotauro’ Nogueira:

Anyone who knows anything about MMA knows that ‘Big Nog’ Nogueira has a cast iron chin. So when Mexican powerhouse Cain Velasquez flattened the submission expert so easily, it really got the whole world to stand up and recognize the growing potential of this young heavyweight.

6. Rich Franklin vs. Chuck ‘The Iceman’ Liddell:

After Liddell broke Franklin’s arm mid way through the 1^st round, it looked like the same old ‘Iceman’ who smelled blood. However, it was a crunching, counter right hand 5 seconds from the end that sent the legend Liddell into a possible retirement. It marked the end of a dramatic fight and a fantastic turn around for ‘Ace’ Franklin.

5. Junior Dos Santos vs. Gabriel Gonzaga:

Brazilian vs. Brazilian, Dos Santos’ vicious ground and pound on Gonzaga sent one man on the way out of the UFC, and the other to the number one contender spot for the heavyweight title.

4. Chan Sung Jung ‘The Korean Zombie’ vs. George Roop:

How do you stop the walking dead? try a right high kick to the head. That’s exactly what Roop did; causing one of the biggest upsets of the year by stopping the normally punch resistant Chan Jung in WEC.

3. Paul ‘Semtex’ Daley vs. Scott Smith:

Since his expulsion from the UFC after a pathetic cheap shot on Josh Koscheck, Britains own Paul Daley has racked up back to back wins, this KO on ‘Hands of Steel’ Smith being the highlight of them.

2. Carlos ‘Natural Born Killer’ Condit vs. Dan ‘Outlaw’ Hardy:

I was present at this event in the 02 Arena, and take my word for it; this was one hell of a knockout, with both fighters throwing the exact same punch at the exact same time. The winning left hook came from Condit, who crushed the welcome home of Brit Dan Hardy with one of the knock outs of the year.

1. Robbie ‘Ruthless’ Lawler vs. Melvin Manhoef:

To understand how good this knock out is, you have to watch the whole fight in full, along with the slow mo replays that precede it. One fighter takes a beating, the other looks like he’s cruising to a victory, BUT don’t ever underestimate the term ONE PUNCH POWER.


Honourable mention: Strike Force Card in St Louis, which included knockout bouts like, Robbie Lawler vs. Matt Lindland, Dan Henderson vs. Renato Sobral, Antonio Silva vs. Mike Kyle.

Prospects Collide

A prospect can become a contender, good can become great, and hype can turn out to be legitimate.


Being described as the future of MMA, and even the LeBron James of the cage fighting world, Jon Jones’ career seems to have been destined for greatness since his UFC debut in 2008 against Andre Gusmao. Standing at 6ft 4 with a lanky but elusive physique, ‘Bones’ Jones has become the hottest property in the UFC with decimating victories over Stephan Bonnar, Brandon Vera and more recently Vladimir Matyushenko.

Usually a defeat on the record can tarnish the reputation of a young fighter, but for Jones, his disqualification against Matt ‘The Hammer’ Hamill, turned out to be his most dominant and press friendly performance, as he out wrestled a supposed superior wrestler, and dominated the highly rated Hamill all over the octagon from start to finish. The pressure taken away from the label of ‘undefeated’ has steered the young fighter into a head to head meeting with another young up coming lion, the ultimate fighter winner Ryan Bader.

Nicknamed as ‘Darth’, Bader has ruled over all his previous opponents, accumulating an impressive and undefeated record of 12 wins, with no defeats. Bader elevated himself from prospect to real life contender when at UFC 119; the Arizona mammoth cruised to a comfortable unanimous decision victory over top ten contender Antonio Rogerio Nogueira.


Both Jones and Bader will meet at UFC 126, where MMA fans will get to see the rare sight of two fighters battling it out at the peaks of their powers. Which man will take the step from prospect to contender, from good to great and from hype to a legitimate title threat?

Prospects get ready to Collide        

Velasquez rocks Brock into submission at UFC 121

There have been many Mexican fighting legends, from Erik Morales, to Marco Antonio Barrera, but now finally you can add a heavyweight to that list.


Coming into the bout as the massive under dog, Cain Velasquez recorded MMA history by becoming the first Mexican Heavyweight champion with his one sided destruction over former powerhouse Brock Lesnar at UFC 121.

After surviving two early man eating takedowns, Velasquez’s climb to the heights of the heavyweight elite came at the end of the first round, when the crisper challenger ground and pounded a battered and bloodied Lesnar into submission.

Heard shouting ‘Stop, Stop’, referee Herb Dean had no choice but to step in and end Lesnar’s pain, concluding the bout at the end of the first round, leaving Mexican and UFC fans on their feet in delight.

The next step for Velasquez will not be easy, as he is set to take on the tough stand up Brazilian Striker Junior Dos Santos, who is coming off the back of a comfortable win over Ultimate Fighter Winner Roy Nelson.

As for Lesnar, he will head back to the drawing board and will try and reclaim his status as the baddest man on the planet.

Bent Cops

Life as a cop in the movies is hard; you tour the sewers for low pay, dealing with the worst of the worst, all the while risking your life for people who hate your guts. So what do you do? You go corrupt, bent, and break all the moral ideals you swore to up hold and protect.

Modern movies portray bent cops as a dime a dozen, a growing breed of hard boiled, masculine men making their own money in their own way, whether it be through kick backs, frame-ups, shakedowns or the standard rough and tough tactics, the police have been slandered and mixed together with the crooks and criminals they were supposed to lock up. So why does Hollywood and the modern audience enjoy tainting and de glamorizing the high standards the police are supposed to set? Why do we love to watch dirty cops in play?



Here are my top 4 modern corrupt cop films.

1. LA Confidential (1997): Disgracefully passed over for the Best Picture Oscar, which was eventually given to James Cameron’s Titanic, Curtis Hanson’s direction along with Brian Helgeland script highlights the knee deep, violent corruption within an LA Police precinct. From migrant beatings, to control of the LA drug trade, Confidential’s main asset is its great style and dark substance, which is shielded with the authorities blue line of secrecy.




Why it’s great: It introduced the American audience to a pair of Aussie actors in Russell ‘Gladiator’ Crowe and Guy ‘Memento’ Pearce.

2. Narc (2002): Coming a year after the successful Training Day starring Denzel Washington, Joe Carnahan’s unknown masterpiece failed commercially at the box office, but received rave reviews from film critics around the world. Lauded for its grittiness that kept audiences horrifyingly hooked, the film mid way through production was picked up by producing partners Tom Cruise and Paula Wagner who helped the film receive more lime light and publicity. The performances are tremendous especially from Ray Liotta, who piled on the weight to play Henry Oak, a wild police detective who will stop at nothing to avenge his partner’s death.


Why it’s great: It simply has one of the best opening handheld chase scenes I have ever witnessed, utterly nerve wrenching.

3. Training Day (2001): Cue the bad boy car with high rolling suspension cruising down the most dangerous part of LA. Its driver is detective Alonzo Harris, a tough, street wise veteran showing rookie cop Ethan Hawke the mean streets of LA. Harris is no ordinary cop; he’s a street hood with a badge, desperate to find a big pay day to save his life from Russian mobsters.


Why it’s great: Denzel’s Academy Award winning performance and a speech that utters the line, “King Kong ant got shit on me”.

Dark Blue: Set in Los Angeles during the Rodney King riots, and penned by Training Day writer David Ayer, Dark Blue is the story of Eldon Perry, a gun slinging cop who controls the streets with brutality and excessive force. Racial tension in the police force is the main theme within the film, with Kurt Russell, Brendan Gleeson and Ving Rhames giving powerhouse performances.


Why it’s great: The final sky view shot of LA burning.

UFC 118 is set to host a number of exciting and mouth watering fights this weekend for the first time in the city of Boston Massachusetts. At the helm of the extravaganza are two showdowns that include one exciting rematch for the UFC Lightweight championship, and another which intends to pitch two differing combat legends against each other.

Headlining the event will be the rematch between New Jersey’s light weight champion Frankie Edgar, who shocked the world on April 10th by taking the title from his opponent the ‘prodigy’ BJ Penn. Dethroning the ever so dominant ex champion took a smart tactical fight by Edgar, who used his jinking and jiving head movement along with crisp counter punches and explosive takedowns to ensure the unanimous decision. Penn on the other hand has blasted the previous decision as a ‘joke’, and promises that the re-match will have a different outcome from the controversial outcome seen in Abu Dhabi.

Edgar will be out to prove that his title victory was no fluke, while Penn will seek a conclusive victory to erase his poor previous performance. Whatever the outcome, the winner will sit as the elite Lightweight in a stacked UFC division.

Co Headliner:

After chasing UFC President Dana White around the country, calling him derogatory names and lambasting the sport he represents, ex world champion boxer James Toney will finally get to back up his words, when he goes head to head with UFC hall of famer Randy ‘the natural’ Couture. Billed as boxing vs. MMA, this bout could end up being the biggest freak show or the must unpredictable competitive match to date, with both Couture and Toney possessing a variety of skills on opposite ends of the spectrum.

If the fight stays on its feet then Couture could be in trouble due to the vastly more skilful and dangerous striking ability of James Toney. However, if Couture applies takedowns then many expect Toney to be like a turtle on his back, which will result in either a submission or a barrage of vicious ground and pound punches. Either way this bout could answer a few questions that fight fans have wanted answered for years.

How good is the level of striking in the MMA world in comparison to a boxer? And can a one dimensional boxer adapt into a well rounded cage fighter?

Cant wait to find out.

Fedor Who?

By Patrick Keane
In a cold mining town in Russia lies a mythic enigma, his personality is humble and simple, his surroundings are freezing and harsh.
Fedor Emelianenko is one of the greatest Mixed Martial Artists ever. His expressionless face adds to the mystery of his character. No panic or nerves seem to enter the subconscious interior of the Russian machine.
His secluded training regime is rigorous and prolific; the camp has the air of simplicity, with no plush gym installed around him. Core training seems to be the key, what you can do with your body is the weapon. Nutritious stews and hot natural saunas keep the champion in check. The natural aura of things seems to match his natural ability to fight.
Decimating and defeating names like Cro Cop, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Tim Sylvia and Mark Coleman, Fedor has accumulated an impressive record of 31 wins and 1 questionable defeat. His status in his own country is that of an icon, that pedestal is slowly being shared and reflected in the western world, with many fans paying to watch his fights in the Strike Force corporation.
How do you deal with a fighter whose hands contain dynamite power and whose submission mastery eclipses most Jui Jitsu specialists?
Many people will remember the brute force of Kevin Randleman as he dropped Fedor onto his head, only to find seconds later he was tapping from a kimura implemented by the Russian powerhouse. Some remember Fujita rocking the pound for pound king with a right hand, again only to be knocked out in the same round. Fedor is a man who finds a way to win; he systematically finds his opponents weaknesses and exploits it with devastating effect.
This week he goes up against Fabricio Werdum, a fighter with a wealth of experience and one who has ventured into the UFC ranks. With wins over Gonzaga, Vera and Alistair Overeem, Werdum is not a man to be underestimated, as he could be the banana skin in Fedor’s late defining career.

Big Two Weeks For The MMA Heavyweight World

By Patrick Keane
With both the UFC and Strike Force showcasing their high brand heavyweight names, I want to highlight how important these next two weeks will be in the shifting and shaping of the MMA heavyweight division.
Bring on the heavyweights.
Firstly I must discuss the most eagerly anticipated UFC bout in the history of the company. Brock Lesnar versus Shane Carwin is a heavyweight bout to end all heavyweight bouts. Both men tip the scales at the 260 weight, and both defy logic on the subject of huge athletes in sport.
Where Brock is a monster of a man who can physically handle anyone in the UFC, Carwin has managed to stop all his opponents in the first round of every one of his bouts. Both are top class wrestlers, both have crushed top heavyweight contender Frank Mir, and both are eager to square off in this real life clash of the titans.
On the opposite side we have the smaller company Strike Force, with arguably the most influential and greatest fighter in MMA on their roster. The name Fedor rings alarm bells for every fighter who puts on the gloves. Who else has earned nicknames like ‘The Last Emperor’ and the ‘devourer of worlds’? He dominated pride for years and recently defeated Strike Force’s Brett ‘The Grim’ Rogers, with a ruthless TKO in the second round. In his way however is the vastly experienced former UFC fighter Fabricio Werdum, who himself is coming off a great victory over heavyweight contender Antonio ‘Bigfoot’ Silva, who you probably saw recently outclass former UFC champ Andrei Arlovski.
The ongoing debate will always ask about Fedor and his connection or lack there of connection with the UFC. Some will question his legacy; others will stand by the ‘Russian Experiment’ and his refusal to join the undoubtedly dominant company fronted by the ever outspoken Dana White.
That debate is for another day. I want to end this blog by mentioning two other fighters who have a say in the heavyweight mix. Most people will brandish the names of Fedor and Lesnar, but have people forgotten about two heavyweights waiting in the background. Undefeated Cain Velasquez may not be the size of Brock or have the brand name of Fedor, but he is young, Hungary and is coming off the back of a knockout victory over MMA legend Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. The other fighter is the once lanky Alistar Overeem, who is now and has been of late a legitimate bulky heavyweight who made easier work of Brett Rogers than Fedor did. He will certainly offer the biggest threat to Fedor Emelianenko’s crown and lasting legacy.

The Return of The Iceman Liddell

Patrick Keane

A man lies dazed and unconscious on the canvas; a referee and medical team are standing over him. Another man charges backwards, his arms out to his side, an angry expression on his face, a sense of intensity and relief fills his pacey surge across the cage. It is an iconic picture, one that MMA viewers have seen many times over the reign of the once dominant Chuck ‘The Iceman’ Liddell.

Whether it is the kick to Renato Sobral, the combination on Tito or the good night Vernon White fight, Liddell will go down in MMA history as one of the most devastating strikers in the Business. After becoming the UFC champion after Knocking out MMA legend Randy ‘The Natural’ Couture, the Mohawk KO artist defended and dispatched opponents from the caliber of Jeremy Horn and pride veteran ‘The Axe Murderer’ Wanderlei Silva.

Liddell will return to the ring at UFC 115 against former middleweight champion Rich Franklin, whose coming off the back of a brutal KO loss to one of Liddell’s former victims Vitor Belfort.

With both fighters being big draws in their respected divisions, the fight will naturally make big money on Pay Per View sales. But is the UFC overlooking the health of an aging fighter for the value of financial gain? Is this Liddell’s final pride before the disastrous fall?

Recent pictures leaked from the Iceman’s training camp are hinting that I will eat my words. Images of a toned and much leaner Liddell show that he is taking this comeback very seriously, but at 40, is Liddell’s promise of a last title run an unrealistic dream by a fighter not ready to let go?

Loosing 4 of his last 5 fights, the last being to the current Light Heavy Weight Champion Shogun Rua, many believe Liddell’s latest comeback to be ill advised for a fighter who has looked half the athlete he was. His reactions and reflexes aren’t what they were, and his once reliable granite chin has worn out its resistance.

Others will point to Randy Couture for inspiration. Being written off for being to old has been a current theme through his late career, but just ask Tim Sylvia and Gabriel Gonzaga how tough the old man really is, after he regained the Heavy Weight Title at the ripe old age of 43.

Liddell is already considered a legend, who holds the longest consecutive knock out streak in the UFC (7 fights), but for Franklin, this is a chance for a big scalp of a big name, and will well and truly get his career back on track with a victory over ‘The Iceman’.

It’s a big fight for both men.