Best show: PRIDE 33 - Second Coming (02/24/2007)

Is it purely on nostalgic value that the best show of 2007 should be awarded to the now defunct Japanese MMA organization? Although Zuffa finished 2007 with a knock out card with UFC 79, it still didn't have the depth and variety of talent that PRIDE offered with Dan Henderson knocking out Wanderlei Silva and Nick Diaz finally trapping Takanori Gomi with guerilla warfare spirit. And lets face it, one thing the nouveau riche don't know how to do is put on a truly classy affair. Japanese cheese is like arena rock compared to the usual Las Vegas aesthetics, and international is the only way to describe the talent in PRIDE 33.

PRIDE may now conjure nostalgia, while before it had the top fighters in the world.

runner-up: WEC 31 - Faber vs. Curran (12/12/2007)

How could Zuffa's "junior" organization get a better ranking than an actual UFC? That's a very legitimate question, and given that the WEC has not only brought on some former PRIDE champions such as Paulo Filho, it is also now a hot bed for the extensive talent that lurks under the 155 lbs weight limit as proven by the return of a lighter Jens Pulver and the Uriah Faber - Jeff Curran encounter.

Worst show: bodogFIGHT - Alvarez vs. Lee (07/14/2007) >>

With the fighters and film crew outnumbering the crowd for most of the six hour long show, it was no fault of the fighters for many uninspired performances in exotic Trenton, New Jersey, quite a departure from Boodog's previous parties.

MVP (Male): Urijah Faber

Proving that he can indeed survive from his back, Urijah Faber has become quite an evolved MMA specimen whose forte is still his powerful wrestling and balance, now complemented further by developed striking and jiu jitsu. Faber's submission of jiu jitsu master Jeff Curran is even further proof of his adaptability to new weapons.

Runner-up: Lyoto Machida

If ever there was a fighter who truly embodies the spirit of martial arts in an "old school" sort of spirit it is LYOTO.

honorable mention: Forrest Griffin, Chris Horodecki, Kazuo Misaki, KJ Noons, Roger Huerta, Thiago Silva.

Brazilian-Japanese Lyoto Machida (right) is now 4-0 in the UFC. 13-0, undefeated in his four years and eight months of a pro MMA career.

Best Fight (Male): Clay Guida vs. Roger Huerta (12/08/2007)

Runner-up: Nick Diaz vs. Takanori Gomi (02/24/2007)

Honorable mention: Wanderlei Silva vs. Dan Henderson, Forrest Griffin vs. Mauricio "Shogun" Rua, Chris Horodecki vs. Shad Lierley, Gabriel Gonzaga vs. Mirko Cro Cop, Shinya Aoki vs. Akira Kikuchi

Wanderlei vs. Dan Henderson in the final of two PRIDEUSA shows was a truly explosive war which lived up to its hype on the best MMA stage to date, as both fighters just let it all go until the knock out. Wanderlei vs. Chuck Liddell on the other hand was definitely a notch below due to the fact that both fighters were somewhat tentative, it was inconclusive (no KO) and way past its time. Mauricio "Shogun" Rua disappointed fans just as Mirko Cro Cop did, while Forrest Griffin and Gabriel Gonzaga gained popular following pulling off huge upsets. In the end, this not only brought down the expectation of the supremacy of PRIDE fighters, but also brings into question the octagon, its elbow rules and particularly whom this environment seems to favor.

Born from the MMA tradition of SHOOTO, Shinya Aoki is a definite ace of international MMA and his incredibly technical match against Akira Kikuchi in SHOOTO's "SOLJAH" show is pure proof in the flan. With elaborate legs traps and crazy jiu jitsu the lanky Aoki proved why he is undoubtedly and arguably Ichiban in his weight in this world. The powerful striking wrestler was lost in the first, not able to test Aoki's meddle until the second round, trying to get under his skin with take downs and hard ground n pound punches which the ace always neutralized and eventually twisted to his advantage. While attempting every submission imaginable and manipulating Kikuchi’s limbs, Aoki proved why he is such an exciting submission expert, way above the technical level of a Guida or Huerta.

Matt Hamill traveled all the way to the UK to experience the wrong side of British judging.

Although my favorite bout of 2007 was Takanori Gomi against Nick Diaz in PRIDEUSA at the start of the year, due to its "fight till the war is finished" spirit, perhaps Clay Guida and Roger Huerta should get the best fight of the year for their performance in the last UFN show of 2007. It was the fact that it was a comeback from defeat victory for Huerta at the very end of the match that this fight ends up a notch ahead of the Gomi vs. Diaz fight. Huerta, still a young fighter with a big heart kept going after most men might have lost their will to go on and stole the battle which Clay Guida seemed to be controlling with a high intensity of energy expenditure, which perhaps cost him the war. Although I truly do not believe that either Huerta or Guida are at the same level of skills as Gomi and Diaz, and haven't experienced the same proving ground as of yet, they are both fighters who still have time to develop their "other" potentials within the vast arsenal of MMA weapons allowable in the UFC’s octagon.

Personally the most exciting fighter I have witnessed in 2007 is an extremely young man from Canada named Chris Horedecki. I can easily imagine Horedecki being drafted into the Japanese scene eventually as he is an extremely quick and talented striker in a weight division, which is hyper populated. Although Horedecki did finally lose his first MMA fight ever at the end of the year against a tough and seasoned Ryan Schultz, this young kid's potential as a fighter is simply unlimited. He is a dynamo with extreme flexibly and intense kicks that come from odd angles. In his encounter with Shad Lierley, Horedecki was able to pick apart the more aggressive and physically powerful wrestler with quick but heavy combinations (particularly right hooks) knees and effortless high kicks. Horedecki was able to send Lierly to the canvass way more than once in a super intense war. Although Lierly is a real newcomer to MMA (2-1), this wrestler was relentless, insisting on the takedown which Horedecki handled quite well while utilizing the guard, even fighting off a Mata Leon towards the end of the second as Lierly mounted his back.

Worst Decision: Michael Bisping vs. Matt Hamill (09/08/2007)

If there was one decision in the history of MMA that felt like a real "Las Vegas Boxing moment" it was the bout, which occurred in Michael Bisping's home turf of Manchester England. What is most amazing about his fight is the unanimity among MMA fans as to whom should have been deemed the victor, and as all the people cannot be wrong all of the time, it is the Michael Bisping vs. Matt Hamill which wins worst decision of the year.

Not to take anything away from Tyson Griffin, but this was a debatable decision over Thiago Alvez.

Matt Hamill is the people's choice winner. *Also going to Matt Hamill is the "humility" award for his super sportsman like post fight conduct, while Michael Bisping on the other hand deserves the most "arrogant winner" award.

runner-up: Tyson Griffin vs. Thiago Tavarez (09/22/2007)

A classic decision where the judges saw it upside down, as the dull wrestler's skills get him a win over a talented Muay Thai and Jiu jitsu man. For most MMA fans this probably made sense, but for those watching closely Thiago Tavarez was the more dangerous and effective martial artist.

Worst Fight (Male): Michael Bisping vs. Rashad Evans (11/17/2007)

runner-up: Tim Sylvia vs. Brandon Vera (10/20/2007) & Josh Koscheck vs. Diego Sanchez (04/07/2007)

Yes styles make the fight, but a reluctance to fight does not make a world-class fighter and for Diego Sanchez and Josh Koscheck, two fighters ranked in the top ten according to many MMA Internet publications, this leaves them suspect of the hype. Diego Sanchez is an extremely talented grappler who was rising through the ranks in that usual UFC style, as he and Koscheck fought only select opponents, which the organization threw before them. Like many other fighters who stepped in through the Spike TV screen into the octagon, these guys where basically fed bottom feeders and then the moment of truly talented opponents came through and they met each other again in one of the most reluctant encounters ever in the cage. When Koscheck faced GSP in his next fight, he was dominated in the wrestling aspect, rather odd for an “All American” college wrestler.

The reason these two (Sanchez and Koscheck) didn't steal the worst fight of the year award is that Rashad and Michael where the main event in a long longed for East Coast UFC card, and boy did they let down the picky tri state fans. Thank god for fighters like Karo Parysian, Ryo Chonan, Akihiro Gono, etc… being on this card, because these two guys (Bisping and Evans) seemed to be out there only for the sake of not loosing and staying pretty. The only justice reached from this lifeless uninspired encounter, is that Bisping was finally handed and overdue L by the judges, after avoiding this bad note in his UK MMA swindle against Matt Hamill. Meanwhile, half assed are only a couple words to describe Brandon Vera’s first MMA loss at the hands of Tim Silva, the only other words that come to mind is fast forward.

BEST & WORST 2007 / Women, Most Disappointed, and More >>