Participating are:
Scott Sawitz
Daniel Sohn
Adam Keyes
Luke Cho-Yee
And now … the best of 2013:
Keyes: UFC 168
This was going to be my pick before last night’s exploits based off of the competitive match-making, star power and significance of the main event, and once it got going the action did not disappoint. A thoroughly entertaining card from start to finish, this one had it all. As for the results of UFC 168, we now have a new contender in the heavyweight division thanks to the vicious elbows of Travis Browne, we saw just how Ronda Rousey would react when taken past the first round and we were treated to an enthralling but ultimately tainted main event. With Silva’s leg break, we were denied a truly conclusive end to the fight, although it seemed as though it was only going to go Weidman’s way despite its unfortunate climax, and we may have even lost Silva to the ages. UFC 168 promised a lot and delivered just as much with a card that will be the most talked about of the year heading in to 2014.
Sohn: UFC 166 – Velasquez vs. Dos Santos III
The main event delivered. An action packed, back and forth affair that turned into a thrashing of JDS that proved Cain Velasquez is the better fighter.
The main card delivered. Three of the five fights had KO finishes and the other two were slugfests. And of course, it produced an epic, unforgettable fight of the year candidate in Gil Melendez vs. Diego Sanchez. The undercard and prelims delivered. Four action packed fights, one vicious KO from Hector Lombard, a couple of upset victories. The online prelims all ended by KO or submission. UFC 166, topped by Cain Velasquez’ triumphant title defense and emphatic victory over rival Junior Dos Santos, and highlighted by the epic war between Melendez and Sanchez was the card of the year.
CY: UFC 164
There have been so many incredible events this year but the one that stood out for me was UFC 164. The card produced an amazing array of finishes as well as some extremely competitive matchups with a dash of controversy and bizarre behavior thrown in for good measure. From the Anthony Pettis arm-bar to Chad Mendes knocking out Clay Guida, from Josh Barnett’s destruction of Frank Mir to the back and forth war that was Dustin Poirier vs. Erik Kock and who could forget Ben Rothwell ‘hulking up’ to defeat Brandon Vera. It was a card that I enjoyed immensely for the variety and quality that ran through the entire night of action.
Sawitz: UFC on Fox 7
Twelve fights yielded only four decisions as this event, dubbed “Strikeforce vs. UFC” by some, featured a ton of former Strikeforce talent in Zuffa in San Jose. And what a card. The main event was a controversial decision but a great fight. Nate Diaz gets put out by Josh Thomson. And there must’ve been something in the water because everyone was going for the kill on the undercard.
