TJ (photo) won the UFC bantamweight title. Photo: Josh Hedges/UFC
Given the unpredictable nature of sport, it is relatively common to see results that deviate from the main predictions. And the year 2014 was no different, as there were a series of results in the world's main competitions that left MMA fans with their hair on end.
And the great “zebras” of the year saw Brazilians on both sides of the coin. Some Brazilian underdogs ended up surprising and winning fights that were thought to be unlikely, while, in other cases, the position of favorite fell relentlessly against foreign rivals.
Check out the list of “Surprises of the Year” from SUPER FIGHTS:
1: TJ Dillashaw x Renan Barao
Renan Barao arrived at UFC 173, in May, on a high. He had just become lineal bantamweight champion and made his first defense, with a devastating victory over Urijah faber. Your second defense would be against TJ Dillashaw, who was not even considered first in line to challenge the champion – it would be Raphael Assunção, but the Brazilian was unable to challenge his compatriot due to having injured a rib in his previous fight.
So, naturally, Barão arrived at the fight with broad favoritism. As the fight unfolded, however, a lay spectator would have doubts as to who was the champion and who was the underdog challenger, as Dillashaw dominated the proceedings from start to finish. In addition to applying a hard knockdown In the first round, Dillashaw left Barão lost in the exchange with his agility in his hands and legs. The final straw came in the fifth round, when TJ connected a sequence of high kicks and punches, took down Barão and took the belt with a technical knockout. It was not only the upset of the year, but one of the biggest in the history of MMA.
2: Will Brooks x Michael chandler
In November 2013, Michael chandler he had lost his unbeaten record in MMA to Eddie Alvarez, in a war that was a rematch of another fierce fight held in 2011. Chandler had no idea, but his greatest tormentor was not Alvarez, but the relatively unknown Will Brooks.
Chandler and Alvarez would do the trilogy in May, but, at the last minute, the champion was injured and had to leave the fight. Brooks then agreed to be the substitute, and immediately saw all the favoritism thrown to Chandler's side. Initially, favoritism was being confirmed, as Chandler dominated the action in the first rounds. However, Brooks turned things around and managed to turn the game around, surpassing the predictions and taking the victory and the interim belt. The rematch was held a few months later, and Brooks again surprised his rival – this time with a submission, suffering Chandler's third consecutive defeat.
3: Johnny Eduardo x Eddie Wineland
Eduardo celebrates a knockout over Wineland in Cincinnati. Photo: Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC
the veteran Johnny Eduardo He was away from fighting for almost two years, between 2012 and 2014, and the fight that would mark his return to action was a truly thankless task. The Nova União athlete would face Eddie Wineland, a renowned bantamweight fighter who had recently competed for the category belt, losing to Renan Barao. Everything indicated that it would be a struggle to consolidate Wineland's recovery, but that wasn't exactly what happened.
Still in the first round of the fight, held in May, Eduardo connected with a powerful right cross, which made Wineland stagger. Another punch came in, a new cross, and sent the American to the canvas. This was only the second time Wineland had been knocked out, which made the result even more surprising. The fight resulted in the American suffering a broken jaw, which made it his last engagement inside the Octagon to date.
4: Rafael dos Anjos x Ben henderson
Dos Anjos and Henderson shake hands after the Brazilian's knockout. Photo: Disclosure/UFC
Coming from jiu-jitsu, Rafael dos Anjos He was already proving that he is becoming an increasingly complete fighter in MMA. Proof of this were the victories over Donald Cerrone and Jason High, in which the Brazilian presented a versatile and hard-hitting game on the feet. However, the setback for Khabib Nurmagomedov, in April, still generated some doubts in the minds of fans.
Thus, Dos Anjos entered the fight against the former champion “on the outside”. Ben henderson, In August. The American was coming off a good victory over Rustam Khabilov and seemed determined to resume his path towards the belt. However, Dos Anjos not only surprised by winning, but also by becoming the first to knock out the former champion. Once again showing his arsenal in Muay Thai, RDA, as he is called in the United States, used and abused punches, kicks and knees, knocking Henderson down in the middle of the first round.
5: Ben Rothwell x alistair overeem
Overeem (left) was knocked out by Rothwell (right) in September. Photo: Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC
Since arriving at the UFC, alistair overeem He hasn't been showing the same momentum and results as he did in his Strikeforce days. Even so, the Dutchman had recovered well from a string of defeats, dominating Frank mir without any major scares. Thus, he arrived at the fight against Ben Rothwell, in September, as the favorite to win.
However, as is common among heavyweights, a mistake can be fatal. The Dutchman thought he had broken his rival's arm with a kick and was careless for a moment, long enough for Rothwell to take advantage and knock Overeem down with hard blows.
Honorable mentions:
Rick Story x Gunnar Nelson: “Gunni”, considered one of the great promises of the welterweight division, had an apathetic performance and was dominated by veteran Rick Story in Sweden.
Joe Warren x Eduardo Dantas: The veteran Warren, now 38 years old, wasn't at his best when he faced the young Dantas, 25. However, the North American didn't let the Brazilian loose his game and stole the Bellator bantamweight belt in the judges' decision .
Bobby Green x Josh thomson: 2014 was a thankless year for “The Punk”. After being about to compete for the lightweight belt, but not receiving his chance due to an injury to Anthony Pettis, Thomson suffered two defeats in the year, to Henderson and Bobby Green. In the last one, he was considered the clear favorite, but he succumbed in a split decision by the judges.
Hérica Tibúrcio x Michelle Waterson: The Brazilian shocked the world of women's MMA by defeating the favorite Waterson with a submission in the third round, winning the Invicta atomweight belt.
Comments