UFC’s Top 5 Important Moments in 2007

Here are 5 of the UFC’s most important moments in 2007.

#5 Randy Couture def. Tim SylviaMany people had doubts. Many people said he was too old. Many thought he was too small to handle the size and strength of Tim Sylvia. Many people were wrong.Couture defied all odds and defeated Tim Sylvia in a 5 round war of attrition. Randy bullied Tim around the ring and out boxed the taller man to gain the unanimous decision at UFC 68. This was definitely the main chapter in Randy’s book of “Anything is Possible”. Randy “The Natural” Couture once again proved why he is one of the best mixed martial arts fighters in the world and a true legend of the sport.With 16 wins under his belt and a who’s who list of opponents, the 44 year old world class wrestler has left his mark on the sport of mixed martial arts and will not only be remembered as “Captain America”, but also as a true American hero.Couture has one last mountain to climb before he considers he career in mma over. That mountain is called Fedor Emelianenko. He wishes to go out with a bang and fight the #1 ranked heavyweight in the world to see who is truly the undisputed king of mma.

#4 Matt Serra def. Georges St. PierreThis fight was definitely one of the biggest upsets of all time. Matt Serra completely shocked the mma world finishing George St. Pierre in under 2 minutes at UFC 69.It was easy to see why Matt Serra was the underdog going into this fight. Georges St. Pierre is unstoppable when he is on his game. I believe as well as others that there are two St. Pierre’s mentally and simply the wrong one showed up at UFC 69. As with many fighters George St. Pierre’s level of fighting depends on his state of mind come show time. We have seen this happen with fighters before. Vitor Belfort is a prime example of the mental aspect of mixed martial arts.That being said I take nothing from Matt Serra. He proved that he belongs in the ring with the best welterweight fighters in the world. This fight was short, sweet, and a testament to Matt Serra’s striking power. He barely clipped Pierre with a hook that rocked St. Pierre. That was the beginning of the end as Serra brutally pounded him out on the ground for the finish.While this fight did add a mark to the loss column of Pierre’s record it did nothing to get in the way of Georges St. Pierre’s future reign of terror in the welterweight division.

#3 Quinton Jackson def. Chuck LiddellAll I can say is thank God for Quinton “Rampage” Jackson. I was beginning to wonder if anybody would ever put an end to Chuck’s total domination of the light heavyweight division.Nothing against Chuck I just wanted to see somebody else win the light heavyweight belt while I was still in my youth. I use to think Chuck wasn’t as good as every one thought he was. That was until I saw Liddell fight Wanderlei Silva. I knew he was good but I thought a big part of his win streak came from the fact that he was getting into his opponents head before each bout. Making the ground fighters want to stand and trade with him to prove they could do it. Jeremy Horn is a good example of this.After watching the “Iceman” dismantle Wanderlei Silva I gained a new respect for the 38 year old striker. Probably because I actually got to see him fight for more than one round. I recognized skills that I had never seen before. Wanderlei Silva has gained respect for him as well.Here is what the Axe Murderer had to say about the “Iceman” in a recent interview with Yahoo Sports.”He’s good, very, very good,” Silva said. “People should realize how good, how strong Chuck is. I knew he was good, but he’s better than I thought. He’s big. These guys in the UFC, they’re all so big.”This was definitely one for the ages and a defining chapter in the history of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

#2 Georges St. Pierre def. Matt HughesComing into this fight both fighters seemed to be in tip top condition and ready for war. Pierre was hungrier than ever and determined to pave his way back to the top of the heap in what is a stacked welterweight division. Hughes had gone back to his wrestling roots and was looking to reestablish himself as the number one fighter in the division. This was going to be a battle of pure physical strength. Which fighter was going to be able to overpower his opponent and control the fight? That fighter was George St. Pierre.He made quick work of Hughes and dominated the fight from start to finish. At one point he actually threw Hughes like he was a rag doll. He finished Matt with an armbar and solidified his presence as one of mma’s best pound for pound fighters in the world.Matt Hughes was totally outclassed in this match and must now go back to the drawing board and start all over again. Will Hughes make a comeback? We will have to wait and see.

#1 Chuck Liddell def. Wanderlei SilvaThis was by far the biggest moment in 2007 for mixed martial arts and a fight that will always be remembered as one of the greatest of all times.People had been waiting for this fight to happen for over 6 years. I think more fans wanted to see this fight than any other fight in the history of mma. On December 29, 2007 many dreams came true as two of the best light heavyweights in the world went to battle in a 3 round all out war. Everyone was on their feet at the Mandalay Bay Events Center for the entire duration of the fight. It was a brutal stand up war. Both fighters proved they have chins of steel and took blow after blow of violent punches to the face and head. Chuck out struck the “Axe Murderer” and used his reach to his advantage picking Wanderlei apart the entire fight. He eventually won the fight via unanimous decision.Either way both fighters walked away from this one a winner. Both fighters showed the heart of a lion and never backed down the entire fight. They definitely proved why they are two of the most exciting mixed martial arts fighters in the world. I will be waiting for Liddell Silva 2.

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