A UFC Event That Size Didn’t Matter

UFC 132: Dominick Cruz vs Urijah Faber

What would a fight fan say to a main event that weighed-in 5lbs (2.2kgs) more than the heavyweight weight-265lbs (120kgs)- limit? Chances are that that fight fan would sneer at such a main event, especially if it was a UFC main event. UFC has thrived on putting on shows of fighters weighing in more than 200lbs (91kgs) with the likes of Chuck Liddell, Randy Couture, Quinton Jackson, and with their cash-cow known as Brock Lesnar.  This being said, the average fight fan that sneered at the fact a UFC main event would be two fighters that weighed in at 135lbs (61kgs) was somewhat validated, since this was the first Bantamweight main event in UFC’s young 18 year history. However, the two fighters, Urijah Faber and Bantamweight Champion Dominick Cruz, are not to be missed because they bring elements to the UFC that are difficult to emulate by any other weight classes; they bring lightning-quick speed, a never ending gas tank (tremendous endurance), and most important, they bring the fight to their opponents. Many people seem to forget that the sole purpose of the UFC is to bring entertaining fights, no matter how much a fighter weighs. That is the reason why the likes of Wanderlei Silva and Tito Ortiz are still given opportunities because they bring entertainment value. So did the lightest UFC 132 main event hold true to its spot in the card?

The fight was by far the best main event that the UFC has had all year. The only main event in 2011 that can possibly come close to UFC 132s main event would be the Frankie Edgar vs. Grey Maynard, in terms of exciting the fans and giving them that entertainment value that the UFC adores. Describing the fight from round 1 to round 5 would not do it justice, but saying that if it was missed and if there is another one then it shouldn’t be missed. Compared to heavier main events, this main event can be described as total nonstop action. What added to the fans excitement is it was for the Bantamweight Championship Belt and the fact that both fighters did not like each other on a personal level, which made for even a more highly-contested war. In addition, both fighters had different fighting styles which made the fight that much more exciting as well. Dominick Cruz brought a fighting style that can be said is loosely based on Capoeira with his footwork and the constant swaying of the shoulders going up, down, left, right and then attacking. Urijah Faber’s fighting style is one that can simply be said as constantly moving forward at an extremely high level pace that most fighters cannot keep up with. Urijah Faber and Dominick Cruz displayed a speed, tenacity and endurance that are only seen in the lower weight classes, which is why they earned the main event slot at UFC 132 and did not disappoint. Cruz retained the Bantamweight Championship Belt via unanimous decision, which for many was not the right decision; in any event, fight was good enough to earn Fight of the Night!

The UFC 132 card was the best one of the year. Out of the seven televised fights, four of them ended with knockouts, one ended with a submission and the other two by unanimous decision. To paint an even better picture; the four knockouts occurred in the first round – the fastest KO in 27 seconds and the longest in 2:58, and the other two in between; the submission occurred in the first round in 1:56. What was surprising was the fact that the fastest KO was dealt to Wanderlei Silva by Chris Leben and the submission was dealt to Ryan Bader by Tito Ortiz. Wanderlei Silva was the favorite to win and Tito Ortiz was a 1 to 5 favorite, and none of the betting options held true. Also, Tito Ortiz acquired his first win in 5 years but what made it even more surprising was the fact that the master of the ‘ground-in-pound’ won via submission. UFC 132 showed the whole world that the lower weight classes can carry a pay-per-view main event and that size doesn’t matter. Now with the addition of the 125lbs (57kgs) division to the UFC, sky’s the limit.