The Quarterly Report: Q1 2016
What happened, what mattered
Welcome to the first installment of my new series, The Quarterly Report. It’s a way for MMA fans to view this sport without a season and to appreciate the moments that will resonate throughout the year. Some of these moments I’ve chosen to highlight may be debatable, while others will go on to affect careers, legacies, and the history of the sport. I anticipate hearing from those who both agree and disagree with my selections.
As the year comes to a close, you’ll be able to look here and feel like you have a good overview of what happened and aren’t thinking about year end awards, wondering “what happened?”
Some of you will be familiar with my work already, I have written and made artwork for Fightland, mmafighting.com, The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani, and The Tommy Toehold Show. Now my work is being made directly available to the public via Patreon. For more information on MMA artwork, and where the woodwork is, see the bottom of this article.
UFC 195 : Lawler vs Condit
Robbie Lawler and Carlos Condit start the year off with a bang, some controversy and an iconic moment.
Fight of the year contenders, take note because the title fight between Robbie Lawler and Carlos Condit has set the bar. It also sparked heated discussions between fans and among the media as to the value of striking quality versus quantity.
Beyond the cries of bad judging and the still looming threat of Carlos Condit leaving MMA for good, a truly satisfying and nearly transcendent moment occurred that night. When the final bell rang, both fighters immediately grabbed the top of the octagon and retreated to an interior world where the goal of life is to suck down as much oxygen as possible and stay conscious.
There was no parading around the Octagon, arms raised and feigning a certainty that they’d won. These men had given all they could and pageantry was unnecessary.
Porier vs Duffy
Dustin Poirier continues to find success in his new weight class, performs a deft maneuver signaling the evolution of MMA, and spearheads Fightpass’s viability as a platform for fighters who are popular among hardcore fans, but not necessarily needle movers.
In the opening days of 2016 the placement of this anticipated bout drew shouts and murmurs which were placated with a curious explanation: It was originally booked as a Fightpass main event, so to put it on a PPV card would be doing a disservice to the fans who’d originally expected to see it on Fightpass.
This rationale has evolved into a more tangible 2016 storyline : Good Fights on Fightpass.
Dustin Poirier continues to win and his slow burn at lightweight is becoming an important component to the division. Cerrone, Diaz, Dariush, Iaquinta, Barboza, Ferguson… these are the guys Poirier could be facing before the year’s end.
Listeners of the Heavy Hands podcast will be familiar with the term ‘the meta game of mixed martial arts’ and a chess match did play out against the fence as Poirier outfoxed the Irishman; goading a seated Duffy into thinking he had an opportunity to stand up, Poirier unloaded a slicing elbow to Duffy’s face while the Irishman’s hands were planted on the ground.
What played out here is best explained on the Monday Morning Analyst, hosted by Luke Thomas.
credit: @SBNLukeThomas @HeavyHands_MMA
UFC Fight Night: Dillashaw vs Cruz
Finally, Dominic Cruz has come back to the Bantamweight Division. Paul Felder finds his way back to the prospect path.
NEO-FOOTWORK, a term the analysts derided, but perfectly summed up the reason this fight was so captivating: stance switching, blending strikes with takedowns, entering and exiting from all angles. Both of these men represent the future of MMA in a style that takes from multiple arts, but represents no single form.
Dominic Cruz entered the octagon as a man beset on all sides by questions. Not just the usual ones about his ability to stay healthy, but a more insidious whisper that asked whether the game had passed him by?
A newer, harder hitting version of himself was wearing his belt. TJ Dillashaw had twice finished the P4P Baron who ‘fished fights,’ and while Cruz verbally eviscerated the young champion throughout the fight’s promo tour, it remained to be seen whether those verbal jabs would translate into the physical realm.
Come fight night, they did. The win has breathed life into the bantamweight division. The Cruz vs Faber trilogy will be complete in just a few months and I suspect that fight will make it into Q2’s sketchbook. Rising stars Aljamain Sterling, Cody Garbrant and Thomas Almeida will jockey for a title shot alongside TJ Dillashaw and the fans will reap the rewards.
Artist’s note: I had a great time searching through all the different striking exchanges to come up with a moment that truly captured this fight’s dynamic. Ultimately it came down to a moment illustrating that “you can’t beat what you can’t hit.” Dominic Cruz remains a rare gem in MMA; a master of footwork, timing, and stamina. Contorted punches, bizarre stances, awkward angles, you can pause this fight anywhere and get an unlikely anatomy lesson.
Return of the Dragon
Paul Felder finds his footing after a frustrating pair of losses.
Once again the UFC gave us a reason to watch Fightpass when Paul Felder faced off against Daron Cruickshank. After a hot start to his UFC career, Felder was booked perhaps too ambitiously. The Irish Dragon dropped a pair of decisions to Edson Barboza in a Fight of the Night performance, and the veteran Ross Pearson. Dual losses have the potential to be a psychological setback for a young, unbeaten fighter. After Felder secured the RNC for a 3rd round finish, the toll of those losses became apparent as his celebration quickly became emotional.
As of this writing, Felder is set to face Josh Burkman in May at Fight Night 88.
credit: @MMAJunkieJohn & @MMAJunkieSteven
UFC on FOX: Johnson vs Bader
Anthony Johnson crushes what was likely Ryan Bader’s final chance at a title shot with a brutal knockout.
Ryan Bader’s decision to shoot for a takedown all the way from the locker room was my first choice of imagery. But this is about which moments will resonate as the year progresses, not the Do’s & Don’ts of MMA.
Anthony Johnson is a complicated subject, and the simplicity of this fight was a reprieve from earlier storylines. He got into a dominant position and was unrelenting til the finish. While Rumble is far from an invulnerable fighter, his ability to seize the momentum and never let it go is captivating.
Bader’s legs kicking out and stiffening, his unmoving body after the referee’s intervention were a scary sight. Looking at Ryan Bader’s career it’s difficult to make bold predictions about his future. At 32 years old he is entering The 9-Year Rule territory and his losses (with one glaring exception) are to the division’s elite. Statistically, this is a time of introspection for Ryan Bader, perhaps a move to heavyweight could prolong his career and ability to headline cards.
The Curious Case of Benjamin Rothwell
Ben Rothwell has been banned from wearing his Death Cloak, but its dark magic continues to be felt in the Octagon.
After going 3–3 in four years Ben Rothwell has knocked out Alistair Overeem and choked out Josh Barnett (after perfecting his gogo choke on Matt Mitrione) in the past 18 months and prepares to fight Junior Dos Santos in a matter of days. He is building a compelling case for title contention through excellent performances both in the Octagon and on the microphone. Forty-five fights into his career Rothwell’s resurgence is something so bizarre and captivating, but as a 34-year-old heavyweight, perhaps he has merely entered his prime.
Super Sick Northcutt
He’s got “It,” but does he have “What It Takes?”
Even though Bryan Barberena won the fight, Sage Northcutt is still the story. His career was launched via (internet) television pilot and his first UFC fight (celebration) went viral. Then he looked a little lost off his back against Cody Pfister, and then… he got choked out by an arm triangle from half guard, eliciting glee from his detractors and scorn from fighters and analysts.
As a member of the Blonde Ambition quartet, his method of dealing with the loss split the difference between Ronda Rousey’s denial (“being defeated is a choice”) and the humble path taken by Paige Van Zant and Conor McGregor, focusing the blame on strep throat while vowing to return “better than ever.”
The idea that Northcutt has made roughly 200k* in just three fights against unranked opponents essentially paints a target on his back. Nevertheless if he’s not a draw then he’s a lightning rod and he’ll be back in action at UFC 200.
regarding the $200,000 figure, this is speculation on my part based on Northcutt’s 40/40 disclosed contract paired with his record of 2–1 in the UFC.
UFC Fight Night: Silva vs Bisping
One last look at a legend.
Immediately after this fight much was said about Anderson Silva’s taunting and fighting style: this is just who he is and people have figured out Anderson Silva. But perhaps the master is simply 42 years old, fighting the battle with Father Time that every athlete eventually loses, and getting punched in the face along the way.
There was one moment at the end of the third round where vintage Anderson shone once more: capitalizing on the smallest opportunity with cinematic striking attacks. As Michael Bisping gestured to Herb Dean for his mouthguard, making his “rookie mistake,” Silva went airborne and shut out the lights one more time. Confusion on a Rousimar Palhares level ensued; the fight continued, and Michael Bisping finally got the redemptive win that his career has so sorely needed, but we also got one last glimpse into The Matrix.
Much has been written about Anderson Silva. If you want to read the best article chronicling his championship run, check out Shaun Al-Shatti’s piece from 2013.
credits: @shaunalshatti @ZProphet_MMA
UFC Fight Night: Hendricks vs Thompson
Stephen Thompson puts on the performance of a lifetime.
When Johny Hendricks was initially booked against Wonderboy I thought it was punishment for missing weight against Tyron Woodley. A move to the back of the queue. Instead, The Karate Kid, the one who Cro Cop’d Dan Stittgen in his UFC debut four years ago tore through Hendricks.
We witnessed a masterpiece of footwork, counter punching and viciously confusing kicks. The moment that stood out most over the multiple times I watched this fight is early in the first round where Thompson throws a body kick, lands, and immediately follows up with a similar kick that Hendricks tries to block low but ends up eating to the face. It wasn’t a fight changing moment in its physical impact, but psychologically it widened the gap Hendricks had to close and put the rest of the welterweight division on notice. Johny Hendricks has been renowned as the first man to make Georges St. Pierre look mortal in a five round fight. After three straight years in title contention or as the title holder, his next fight at UFC 200 against Kelvin Gastelum will be scrutinized like none before.
Stephen Thompson is set to face Rory MacDonald in Ottowa, Canada at UFC Fight Night 89 on June 18th.
UFC 196: McGregor vs Diaz and Holm Vs Tate
Chaos reigns supreme.
Rock, paper, scissor. Ronda, Holly, Miesha. It’s a nifty parallel that a game with no end could prolong the careers of women who were all nearly out of the sport. Holly is 35, Ronda’s leaving for Hollywood, and Miesha pondered retirement less than six months ago.
But that’s all in the past, like… weeks ago. Both Holm and Rousey are gunning for the champ. Cat Zingano is finally booked again, returning at UFC 200 against Juliana Pena. Cyborg is in the mix. The Bantamweight division is about to be on fire.
For now, Miesha Tate should be celebrated for the crowning achievement of a career that threatened to see her resigned to the role of WMMA’s Ken Shamrock to Ronda’s Royce Gracie. No more though. The final chapter has not been written on Tate’s career.
As for Conor vs Nate, is there even anything else to write? It’s been the subject of widespread analysis. From energy management to weight cutting, from who do you train with to which books propel your belief system. And they’re running it back anyway.
Conor’s a star, Nate’s a star. They’ll both have full camps and the jungle will claim another life. Whether it’s the tiger or the gazelle, we will just have to wait for July.
UFC Fight Night: Hunt vs Mir
The Super Samoan dispatches a man whose time may have finally come. In the co-main event, Steve Perceval almost kills a man.
Two fights, four fighters, all seemingly at a crossroads. Mark Hunt won’t stop winning and Neil Magny won’t stop fighting. The Super Samoan dispatched Frank Mir with a single punch in the first round. The most significant moment lasted for less than a second as Hunt performed his signature walk off. He looked outside the cage and spread his hands while smirking as if to ask “What do you want me to do?”
Mark Hunt is a man renowned for his succinctness, and this wordless gesture may have been the pinnacle of brevity.
Frank Mir has been a top 10 heavyweight through three generations of competitors. His bone breaking submissions and two times as a champion quantify his validity as a Hall of Fame fighter. He has fighter mileage that is brutal to imagine though, dating back to his brain rattling loss to Ian Freeman in 2002. There’s a fine line between “I don’t want to tell someone when to retire” and “I don’t want to watch Sakuraba fight anymore.” We should be able to register our concern without diminishing the stature of a great fighter.
Finally, Neil Magny has his signature win against Hector Lombard. The fight played out much as a “most likely to happen” simulator might predict: Lombard landed big shots early, Magny weathered the storm until the former Olympian gassed out, and secured the win via TKO. It’s too bad referee Steve Perceval did not receive the memo.
This is the second time at an Australian event that an Australian referee has let the hometown fighter absorb a regrettable amount of punishment. Previously it was Mark Hunt in his loss to Stipe Miocic and now Lombard. This is not a condemnation, merely an observation.
Next Quarter: All I care about is Jon Jones
Thank you for your time. If you’d like to see more MMA artwork, please visit my Patreon page. You’ll be able to contribute to the creation of the Hall of Fame, The Quarterly Report, acquire prints, posters and maybe even a t-shirt.
Chris Rini
I’d like to thank @mmafighting @JeffWagenheim @ChuckMindenhall @NewYorkRic for their encouragement throughout my hiatus
