COULD UFC217 BE THE GREATEST EVENT IN THE COMPANY’S HISTORY?
Judging by the events that unfolded at UFC217. You can see why the UFC campaigned long and hard for MMA to be licensed in the state of New York. Ever since the ban on MMA, which existed since 1997, was lifted in March 2016. The UFC have wasted no time, by staging six events in New York in just 12 months.
UFC217 was the second event held at the famous arena of Madison Square Garden. After the momentous first event there at UFC205, which saw Conor McGregor defend his lightweight title against Eddie Alvarez. Tyrone Woodley defend his welterweight belt against Stephen Thompson and Joanna Jedrzejczyk defended her strawweight belt against Karolina Kowalkiewicz. Almost exactly a year later. They topped themselves at UFC217.
This event turned out to be much better. And in my opinion, up there for arguably their best event ever. This was only the second event in UFC history that three titles were defended on the same night. The first being at UFC205. All three of those titles changed hands and all three were exciting finishes.
Bisping v St Pierre
The back story in itself was amazing enough. GSP left the sport 4 years ago, as the dominant welterweight champion and arguably the pound for pound no1. Bisping fought his way up the hard way. He won TUF in 2006 and was a decade in the sport without any spoils. Then on two weeks notice, won the middleweight title by knocking out Luke Rockhold and has since defended it once in his home town.
Bisping came into this fight with the most wins in UFC history (20) one ahead of GSP who has the most taken downs in UFC history. The fight lived up to expectations. St Pierre started the better. He was aggressive from the outset. Bisping tried to come forward but St Pierre timed him well. Took him down once and even connected with a superman jab that trouble Bisping.
In the second. Bisping pushed the pace and caught St Pierre with an early right. GSP seemed to be breathing heavy and slowed down, but took Bisping down. However, Bisping soon got back up and continued to push the pace forward. In the third, GSP took Bisping down early. Bisping then cut GSP with an elbow from the bottom, while GSP was unable to inflect any damage on Bisping who then managed to get up. Bisping looked the fresher while GSP was bleeding badly from the head.
While both jostled for an opening on the feet. GSP dropped Bisping with a left hook and went in for the kill with some big elbows. Bisping was defending GSP’s strikes, but as he tried to get up. GSP jumped on him, locked in a rare naked and choked him. Bisping tried to fight it but eventually passed out, making GSP the new UFC middleweight champion in his first finish in the octagon since 2009.
Garbrandt v Dillashaw
This was another extremely interesting back story with both being former Alpha Male team mates. Dillashaw lost TUF final in 2011. But signed for the UFC and went on the win bantamweight title only three years later. He was Uriah Faber’s teams flagship star. But TJ left Alpha Male with one of their coaches Duane Ludwig and the tensions began.
Both were opposite coaches on TUF 25 where all hell threatened to break loose between the two rival camps and former team mates several times. Garbrandt was team Alpha Males new star and won the title against Team Alpha Male foe Dominic Cruz, who Dillashaw believed he got robbed by the judges against, in their title fight. They were scheduled to fight in May but was cancelled due to Garbrandt getting injured and luckily for UFC fans, it was recheduled for UFC217.
The fight was understandably intense from the outset with both fighters coming out looking strong and trading shots. Garbrandt dropped TJ right at the end of the round with a clean right hand that left TJ unsteady going back to his corner. In the second. TJ began to load up with kicks and dropped Garbrandt with a left kick to the head.
Garbrandt jumped up quickly from that head kick and seemed to had weathered the storm. But just when you thought Garbrandt had recovered, they traded punches once more and TJ dropped Garbrandt with a right hook, then went in for the kill, finishing him with several right hands while Garbrandt was face down, to become the new, two-time, bantamweight champion.
Jedrzejczyk v Namajunas
Woman’s strawweight champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk came into this fight undefeated, winning all eight of her UFC bouts. Regarded as the obvious no1, she had defended her belt five times, equalling Ronda Rousey’s record and was looking to make history with a sixth title defence. Rose Namajunas lost the final of the inaugural strawweight title in 2014 but had battled her way back into title contention. She has the most finishes in the strawweight division, but came into this fight as a huge underdog.
The fight started with probably one of the most intense stare downs in woman’s UFC history, with both fighters standing nose to nose. Both came out positive in the first round. Both was light on their feet. Tying to get the upper hand. Trading jabs, punches and kicks. Then, coming forward, Rose dropped Joanna with a straight left hand and jumped on her.
However, Joanna quickly got up with the aid of the fence, while taking a few shots from Rose. It seemed Joanna had reset, composed herself and the fight continued as it was before. Rose began to come forward and dropped Joanna again with a right hook. This time she followed up with a right, then a series of left hands while Joanna was face down forcing her to tap. Making Rose Namajunas the unexpected, new woman’s strawweight champion.
Added Extras.
If the three title fights wasn’t enough. Also on the main card Steve wonderboy Thompson defeated Jorge Masvidal via unanimous points decision in an in important fight in the middleweight contenders picture. Also, up and coming Brazilian puncher, Paulo Costa (formerly Borrachinha) displayed all his power and accuracy to stop Johny Hendricks in two rounds to make a statement in the middleweight division.
On the preliminary card. Ovince Saint Preux battled former TUF winner Corey Anderson in a tight, gruelling battle that was settled when OSP executed a devastating, highlight reel head kick that instantly knocked out Anderson sending the New York crowd into raptures.
Randy Brown settled his grudge match with Mickey Gall by defeating him via a unanimous points decision and more satisfying, he did it by wrestling and using ground and pound. which is considered Gall’s strength. Also, in the very first bout of UFC217. Ricardo Ramos won a performance of the night bonus for inflicting a first loss on Aiemann Zahabi in the third round with a highlight reel spinning back elbow.
Conclusion
With such an event. It is no surprises the UFC fought so gallantly to get MMA licensed in New York and these events are the reasons why. The UFC were smart to make sure they have their bit of history in the place that’s affectionately and widely known as the “Mecca of boxing”.
I have no doubt that after the success of UFC205 and the massive, almost un-toppable success of this UFC217. It will not be long before the UFC are back at Madison Square Garden, What’s more. If they continue with these calibre of events, then it won’t be long before the people are forced to call Madison Square Garden the “Mecca of combat sports”
