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Despite a relatively low-key card in terms of ranked names, the preliminary fights set such a standard that the main event seemed destined to disappoint. However, quite to the contrary, each and every man stepped up to the plate, providing
Korea with a
UFC Fight Night it will not soon forget.
Sam Sicilia Vs Doo Ho Choi:
The much hyped "Korean Superboy" faced the sternest test of his career in the shape of durable and well-rounded TUF graduate Sam Sicilia. Only two of the Korean featherweight's previous 12 career wins had hitherto gone to a decision, so the home fans were expecting fireworks.
They certainly weren't disappointed as Sicilia, refusing to be intimidated by the young Korean's reputation, immediately took to the centre of The Octagon and began to throw bombs. This strategy looked as though it would end in the American's demise in just the first minute as he ate a laser-guided counter from Choi.
Sicilia survived the exchange, however, and even caused The Korean Superboy to back up when one of his winging hooks found a home. It was plain that the younger man had the speed where as his opponent- colossal at featherweight- held the power. After a sporadic clinch or two they met again in the centre where one of Choi's cobra-like counters sent the American to the mat. He didn't miss a beat in swarming him with strikes on the ground to end the fight, and in doing so put the division on notice.
Yoshihiro Akiyama Vs Alberto Mina
MMA's judges- ignominiously as ever- managed to make themselves the story of what should have been regarded as a classic encounter.
The story of bout was that of the mastery of range, namely that of the experienced Akiyama. The judoka cut off angles for much of the first two rounds reducing Mina to telegraphed flying knees and wild overhand rights which nearly always missed their mark.His Japanese foe countered with neat 1-2 combinations and stiff jabs. However it was the thundering leg-kicks of "Sexyama" which caused the most damage.
A single takedown in the first and a brief flurry in the second were Mina's sole meaningful acts of offence until a minute before the end of the second. Akiyama was caught hard by an accidental groin kick and hurried himself back from his break sooner than he should. Mina took a chance and stepped into the pocket, landing a heavy left which stunned his opponent, before unleashing a devastating flurry which left the veteran hanging on for dear life at the end of the round.
However, coming out for the third it has clear that the Brazilian had exhausted himself and his striking now came in slow motion. Akiyama began to pick him off with combinations as Mina's swollen leg had left him all but stationary. He attempted a few laboured takedowns which failed, leaving him pitifully beckoning his opponent into his guard. Eventually Akiyama took the bait believing there to be little threat, and he rained down blows from top position to close out the third.
It should have been a text-book 29-28 for the Japanese welterweight but the judges, in their wisdom, managed to conjure a split-decision in favour of Mina who, despite his celebrations, couldn't help but look a bit embarrassed.
Dong Hyun Kim Vs Dominic Waters
A fight that followed a well worn script for the "Korean Stun-Gun" who put on something of a clinic in front of his home fans. Not holding back from the first bell, he took sweet revenge on the Jackson-Winklejohn gym for his devastating loss to Carlos Condit back in 2010.
Stunning Waters with an array of flashy strikes, the American unwisely clinched with the world class judoka to try and regain his composure. Before he'd had a chance to draw breath he'd been tossed into side-control, from where Kim quickly transitioned to the crucifix position.
Waters twisted and thrashed with all his might but the Korean remained in control, and when it became obvious to the referee that his explosive strength was exhausted, the fight was stopped as he endured a litany of unanswered strikes in the fourth minute of the fight.
Benson Henderson Vs Jorge Masvidal
A real fight for the purists. This was a five-round back and forth that, while it didn't have the fireworks of some earlier battles, offered a real technical display of all aspects of the sport.
Former lightweight champion Henderson was very light on his feet and looked to pick his shots from the outside, whereas Masvidal was keen to cut off the cage and fight in the pocket. It was a largely even affair until the end of the second where Masvidal's failed guillotine sweep saw him eat a flurry of knees against the cage.
Henderson probably edged the striking- although his opponent threatened to make a break-through when he chose to increase his output- but it was in the clinch where he really asserted his authority. "Smooth" had multiple takedowns thwarted by Masvidal, and though positionally, once again, things were quite even, it was the man with the Korean heritage who landed the overwhelming majority of strikes up-close including punches, elbows and knees.
Aside from a late scare when he had to take evasive action to not succumb to a high-elbow guillotine, Henderson was in little danger as the fight went on, and was well worth his decision win. He too, however, nearly suffered at the hands of the judges, one of whom- but only one- awarded the fight to Masvidal.
