The Monday Sprawl 6.15.09: Volume 26 - The 2009 Mid-Year Report

Posted by Alex Mattis on 06.15.2009

2009 has been a wild year thus far, and today, 411’s Alex Mattis checks in with look back at the past 6 months in MMA with all of the very best fights and fighters, and of course a mention of Gina Carano! Check out the full column for all the details!

Hello all and welcome back to "The Sunday Sprawl." I hope all is well with everyone. Well by the time this is being read we will have seen either Rich Franklin or Wanderlei Silva has taken a step forward in their career, if Cro Cop lost I will still be sobbing by the time you read this. Anywhoo, on to this week's column! We have officially reached the halfway point of 2009 and what a year we have had in MMA. Many great fighters have carved their niche this year and many great fights have taken place. On this week's edition of "The Sunday Sprawl" I'll be doing the mid-year report. Complete with all the top fights, fighters, and MMA action of the past 6 months. LET'S GET DOWN TO IT!!!

Fighters of the Year
With what has already been one of the best, most progressive years in MMA history many fighters have made their mark, and some have even cemented their legacy. Two fighters, 110 pounds apart, have made their case for "Fighter of the Year" and shown that they are the best in the world at their respective weights.

First off, Lyoto Machida. Just recently crowned the new UFC light heavyweight champion, "The Dragon" sits atop the 205-division and it's doubtful that anyone is going to be able to take his strap. Machida started this year off with his highly anticipated clash with fellow unbeaten Brazilian Thiago Silva. It was clear that if Machida won the fight that he should be in line for a title shot, but Dana & Co. were weary of this because of Machida's "unexciting fighting style" and "lack of fan base." Well 4:59 minutes and one horrible game plan later Machida silenced many critics with his insane KO of Silva in round Uno. In his post-fight interview Machida brilliantly asked the audience "Do I deserved the title shot?" to which they lost their fuckin' gourds.

From there the title fight between Machida and then champion Rashad Evans was inked. Going in Machida was the favorite and I believe most knew he was going to win but I doubt they thought he would win in the stunning fashion that he did. Machida stormed the gates of Rashad and ultimately left him in a crumpled heap. Joe Rogan put it best "Welcome to the Machida Era." Lyoto will have his first title defense against Shogun and a successful defense make him the premier MMA fighter of 2009. Once chastised for his "boring" style, Lyoto Machida is turning into the most dominant, destructive fighter on Earth.


It has begun… God help us all

Bumping on down to the little guys we've got ginger kid Mike Brown who's just been wreckin' shop in the WEC. Coming off the heels of his unbelievable upset over Urijah Faber last year I think many were questioning the legitimacy of Brown. Well he started this year with a bang and he silenced each and every critic when he destroyed Lenard Garcia in an incredibly impressive performance. This, of course, set up the rematch with Lil' Fabbie. This fight was huge for the WEC and even bigger for the fighters involved. After 25 minutes of incredible action the belt went home with the dude who brought it in. The two fights that Brown has had in 2009 have proved that he is without a doubt the top featherweight in the game and one of the pound-for-pound best. A win in a potential fight with Jose Aldo toward the end of this year could make '09 the year of the Brownie.


"My face will brake your fuckin' hand!"

Fights of the Year
We started off with a bang this year with some great fights. UFC 93 gave us Hendo-Franklin and Lytle-Davis and from there we got some great fights in the UFC and outside of it in the WEC, DREAM, etc. But two fights this year stick out from the rest. One of which just transpired and the other a few months back. We'll start with the latter...

Scott Smith Vs. Benji Radach. Look up slugfest, war, etc. and you will find this. This fight was just wild from the get-go. These two were droppin' each other left and right but after the second round it was clear that Benji had this fight and if he could take down Smith and ride out the round he was going to win... well that was not to be. Benji chose to not takedown Smith and paid for it. Smith, in his classic fashion, pulled out and incredible win with a devastating KO. It was an amazing, dramatic way to end one of the best fights in recent memory.


Benji working hard on his Tommy Lee Jones face

I made mention of this fight earlier but the other brawl of '09 that stands out was the featherweight title fight between Urijah Faber and Mike Brown. This has all the ingredients of a classic fight. It was a rematch, there was some trash talk, it was in the hometown of the challenger… but rarely do fights like that live up to their potential. This fight was everything it was advertised to be. Both men showed such determination, toughness, and heart. I mean effin' Faber fought 4 round with a for sure broken hand and a "maybe" broken hand. The action never stopped in this fight and the pace was ridiculous. Brown showed true champion spirit and never relented on his attack, which allowed him to walk out with the leather and gold. Both men left everything in the cage and it's hard to say that Faber doesn't have balls after that one. Standing elbows cause he can make a fist?!?! That's a man. This was certainly one of the best fights thus far in '09 and one of the best in the WEC's short history.

KO of the Year
Seriously I don't think there is any argument here for what should take this award. The KO that Fedor has over Andrei Arlovski was one of the most insane, crushing knockouts I have ever seen. It was one of those fights that was heart-pounding from start to finish and the ending put a perfect exclamation point on it and showed why Fedor is the best fighter in the world. Arlovski is winning, Fedor shows patience, Arlovski makes one mistake and the fight was over.


"Ah brah where you goin?"

What's remained consistent in 2009? The hotness of this woman…


Well, that's all for me this week. Next week I'll take an in-depth look at the fight I'm anticipating the most in the 2nd half of 2009: Fedor-Barnett. Until then take care, and I'll see you right back here next week.

Remember feedback, as always, is welcome at [e-mail] or directly below.

-Alex