Sonnen's fight with Wand, Barão and Glover were highlights in the first months of 2014. Photo: Produção MMA Press (Disclosure/UFC)
The year 2014 represented many ups and downs for the world of MMA, especially the UFC. Historic fights took place, others stopped happening for different reasons, several controversies were marked behind the scenes, in addition to other announcements that shook the sports market. All this in just 12 months, enough time for the good and bad news to cause some important changes for MMA.
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In the first part of the 2014 retrospective of SUPER FIGHTS, let's remember the first four months of the year, a period in which there were several signs that the season would be troubled for the biggest MMA organization on the planet.
January: controversy at TUF Brasil 3
The year 2014 has already started with high expectations among MMA fans, especially Brazilian fans. The public's eyes were on the set of TUF Brasil 3, which brought something new compared to the two previous editions of the program in the country with the presence of a foreigner in charge of the teams. And it wasn't just any foreigner: it was nothing more, nothing less than Chael Sonnen, archrival of Anderson Silva and who became known in the country for his provocative and controversial statements.
The North American loudmouth would run the program alongside Wanderlei Silva, whom he had criticized extensively in the past. Everything indicated that the program would be a bomb ready to explode, something that ended up proving true in the first days of recording.
On January 27th, the two fighters left the ceremony aside and went to battle. Sonnen went as far as to take down Wanderlei, who responded with punches while the “leave it gang” arrived to break up the fight – with the exception of André Dida, assistant coach of Wanderlei's team, who was expelled from the program for attacking Sonnen in the back during the confusion.
Rivalry between Wand and Sonnen marked the recordings of TUF Brasil. Photo: Reproduction/YouTube
As soon as the fight happened, MMA fans went into an uproar on social media. Images of the incident were only released in April, when the program was broadcast on television. It was not yet known at the time, but the move triggered a series of events that culminated in Wanderlei being banned for life by the Nevada Athletic Commission, as the Brazilian escaped an anti-doping test for taking banned substances to recover from an injury acquired during the argument.
In January 2014, the UFC held three events, none of which had belts at stake. The first edition in Singapore gained prominence, the stunning victory of Luke Rockhold about Costas Philippou and the controversial decision in the fight between Benson Henderson and Josh thomson.
February: with the end of TRT, Belfort leaves and Machida enters
The month of February has already started in full swing for Brazilian MMA fans. On the first day of the second month of the year, at UFC 169, the two belts held by Brazilian fighters would be put on the line, in yet another chapter of the rivalry between the Nova União and Team Alpha Male gyms.
Originally, the main fight of UFC 169 would be the unification of the linear and interim belts in the bantamweight division. Dominick Cruz would return after three years away against Renan Barao, who held the provisional title of the 61 kg division. However, at the last minute, the American was injured again, which meant that Barão became the linear champion and made his first defense against Urijah faber, who accepted the fight even with little preparation time.
Barão (left) and Faber (right) during the UFC 169 weigh-in. Photo: Reproduction
Barão, who had already defeated Faber precisely to win the interim belt in 2012, beat the “customer” again, this time with a technical knockout in the first round. The New Union party was completed with the dominant victory of José Aldo over Ricardo Lamas, so that Brazil kept the two belts it had at the time.
The Octagon's next stop took place at the first event of the year in Brazil, in Jaraguá do Sul (SC). UFC Fight Night 36 served to bring two fighters even closer to the title fight, with the victory of Ronaldo Jacare about Francis Carmont and the triumph of Lyoto Machida about Gegard Mousasi.
February also served to further consolidate the reign of Ronda Rousey in the women's bantamweight division. The champion won the duel of Olympic medalists against Sara McMann at UFC 170, ending her rival's unbeaten run with a quick knee to the abdominal region. In the same event, Daniel Cormier made his long-awaited debut at light heavyweight, quickly dispatching Patrick Cummins, who agreed to replace Rashad evans at the last minute after the former champion's knee injury.
Belfort (photo) had his year affected by the end of TRT. Photo: Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC
Even after so many events, the story of the month of February happened in its final stretch. On the 27th, the Nevada Athletic Commission announced the ban on testosterone replacement therapy, TRT, which would drastically change the routine of prominent names in the sport, such as Vitor belfort, Chael Sonnen, Dan Henderson e Frank mir. As a result, the fight between Chris Weidman and Belfort, valid for the middleweight belt and which would take place at UFC 173, in May, had to be changed. The Brazilian would not have time to adapt to the new regulations and was replaced by his compatriot Lyoto Machida.
March: UFC discovers a new champion
The welterweight category was, for a long period, dominated by a single fighter. Georges St Pierre he regained the 77 kg division title in April 2008 and successfully defended the belt nine times, beating almost all of his opponents in dominant fashion. The era came to an end in December 2013, when the Canadian announced that he would give up his title and take an indefinite career break.
With that, the UFC arranged, for event 171, the fight that would put the vacant belt at stake. On one side, John hendricks, the last challenger for the title and who came close to defeating GSP; from the other, Robbie Lawler, who had been on the rise since returning to the UFC. The fight, held on March 15th, did not disappoint, with good moments for both fighters and the title remaining in the hands of Hendricks, winner by the judges' decision.
Hendricks won the welterweight title in March. Photo: Disclosure
A week later, the UFC held its second event in Brazil in 2014. The results ended up disappointing the public present at the gym in Natal (RN), as the Brazilian fighters ended up being defeated in the main and co-main fights. Mauritius Shogun put up a good fight Dan Henderson, but ended up being knocked out in the third round; already Cezar Mutant lost quickly to CB Dollaway.
The other highlights of March were Dong Hyun Kim's knockout over John Hathaway, in Macau, and the victory of Alexander Gustafson about Jimi Manuwa.
April: Glover succumbs to Jones' versatility
If at the time Brazil was in possession of two UFC belts, there was a chance of a third title being won in April. Glover Teixeira, who had been impeccable in the octagon with five wins in five fights, would challenge the feared Jon Jones at UFC 172.
The fight, however, was quite thankless for the Brazilian fighter. Jones dictated the pace from start to finish, including dominating the striking actions, Teixeira's area of expertise. The champion's victory came in a unanimous decision by the judges, with a triple 50 to 45 – that is, all the judges saw Jones' victory in all five rounds of the dispute.
Jones got the better of Glover at UFC 172. Photo: Reproduction/YouTube
While one Brazilian got out of the way of the belt, another got even closer to the dream fight. At UFC on FOX 11, Fabricio Werdum proved his evolution as an MMA fighter and beat the dangerous Travis Browne with authority, earning the right to fight for the heavyweight title against Cain Velazquez.
In April, the UFC also returned to Abu Dhabi after four years. For the first time in his long career, Rodrigo Minotauro suffered two consecutive defeats when he was severely knocked out by the feared right hand of Roy Nelson.
Check out the other parts of the 2014 SUPER LUTAS retrospective in the coming days, with the main stories from the world of MMA from May to December.
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