On a night when the most hyped grudge match in MMA history failed to ignite, a pair of Rocky-like performances from heavy underdogs provided the standout moments of UFC 114.
Without Mike Russow’s one-punch KO of Todd Duffee, and a spirited showing by Jason Brilz (fighting on two weeks’ notice) against Antônio Rogério Nogueira, the event might have bombed.
If UFC 114 proved anything, it’s that the UFC must rethink its stance on three-round headliners. Currently, only title bouts are fought over five rounds. That’s fine, except when a card is headlined by a non-title bout – like last Saturday. Thus, ‘Sugar’ Rashad Evans’s decision win over bitter rival Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson fizzled out over three rounds of cagey, lacklustre grappling. They promised war, but delivered chess.
To the UFC’s rescue came a pair of unheralded, sacrificial lambs. When injury forced Forrest Griffin into a late pull-out from his bout with ultra-dangerous ‘Minotouro’ Nogueira, a string of fighters reportedly turned down the opportunity to fill in.
Relative unknown Jason Brilz was sipping a beer when UFC matchmaker Joe Silva called. “I guess I’m not going to be able to finish this beer,†said Brilz of his reaction to being offered a fight nobody else wanted.
Nogueira, whose BJJ and boxing skills are among the best in the light-heavyweight division, was expected to steamroll an underprepared Brilz. Instead, a highly competitive back’n’forth battle unfolded on both the feet and mat.
The crowd (initially pro-Nogueira) booed lustily when the decision went against Brilz, and in most observers’ eyes – including those of UFC president Dana White – the affable Dakotan was robbed. Rarely has a fighter’s stock risen so much in defeat.
Immediately following the Brilz fight, the crowd was treated to a second serving of have-a-go heroism. Undefeated heavyweight prospect Todd Duffee – coming off the fastest knockout (7 seconds) in UFC history – was expected to walk through Mike Russow (pictured right).
And for three lopsided rounds, Duffee largely did so, battering his opponent with thunderous strikes. Russow, a podgy figure by modern MMA standards, was unable to mount any kind of offence against his hulking foe. Still, he refused to fold, and withstood a barrage of punches that would have wilted most fighters.
Midway through the third round, with Duffee cruising to victory, Russow unleashed a straight right that knocked his opponent clean out. Commentator Joe Rogan labelled the knockout – only the third of Russow’s career – the craziest come-from-behind victory in all his years watching MMA.
Headline bouts will occasionally fail to deliver – such is fighting. But with fearless gatekeepers like Brilz and Russow lurking within the UFC’s roster, events will remain nothing if not unpredictable.
By Alan Murphy
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