2007 "The Year of the Upsets" in Mixed Martial Arts

by Todd Yeakle
2007 was definitely a year to remember in MMA. With many highs and many lows it will definitely be a year to remember.


Who can forget "The Croation Sensation" getting a dosage of his own medicine with a kick to the head from Gabriel Gonzaga that would send most people into a permanent dream state. Or how about the werewolf Quinton Jackson dethroning one of mixed martial arts greatest strikers with a vicious right hook to the head. There were many moments that defined mma in 2007 but for me one thing came to mind when I thought of the best way to describe this year in mma. It was the year of the upsets.


2007 had some of the biggest upsets in mixed martial arts history. It is often said that "anything can happen" in mma. But Forrest Griffin submitting Shogun Rua was not anything. It was more than anything. Randy "The Natural" Couture defeating the 68" giant was more than anything. These fights were everything to the winners and made them superstars overnight in the crazy world of MMA.


I wanted to wrap up the year by talking about some of the greatest upsets of all time. Things most hardcore mma fans never thought would happen. These fights were proof that anyone can conquer if they believe in themselves and have the perseverance and willingness to succeed in life. In the world of mixed martial arts truly "anything can and will happen".


Upset #1 Nick Diaz def. Takanori Gomi - I have never been more excited at the end of a fight than I was after Nick Diaz submitted Takanori Gomi with a Gogo Plata at Pride 33 Second Coming. Not only is this one of the biggest upsets of 2007 it is my personal favorite fight of all time. Talk about exciting, I was jumping up and down at the end of this one.


This fight was a total knock down, drag out war. At one point Nick Diaz was bouncing Gomis head off the ropes with his punches like a punching bag. Diaz got rocked in the beginning but weathered the storm and turned it into a signature Nick Diaz brawl eventually tapping Gomi out with a Gogo Plata at the beginning of the second round. Diaz won the fight but you couldnt tell by looking at him. His face was a bloody mess, an indication of how hard Gomi punches, considering he took a lot more than he gave.


This was truly a fight for the ages and one I will never forget. Unfortunately Diazs win was overruled and the fight was considered a no contest.


Upset #2 Randy Couture def. Tim Sylvia - Anything is possible when you think of the name Randy Couture. He is one of the greatest mma fighters of all time and a legend of the sport already. Everyone thought he was finished. He had hung up his gloves after his second loss to "The Iceman" and many thought that was it.


But that wasnt the end of Couture. He was still a commentator and he was still hungry for more. Couture was unimpressed with the heavyweight competition and felt he could still compete at the top level.


So he did the impossible and the then 43 year old fought Tim Sylvia for the heavyweight belt at UFC 68. It was one of the greatest upsets of all time. The wrestler out struck the striker in a 5 round all out war of attrition that left spectators in complete amazement. Randy completely took Sylvia out of his world and dominated the stand up for 25 minutes. He even dropped the giant within seconds of the first round with a ducking right hand that stunned and surprised "The Maniac".


This fight was a battle royal and is considered, in my book, one of the biggest upsets of 2007.


Upset #3 Quinton Jackson def. Chuck Liddell - Many thought Chuck was unstoppable. Many thought it couldnt be done. I myself wondered, is anybody going to be this freakin guy? He had so much confidence with wins over the highest level of competition including Tito, Jeremy Horn, Sobral, Belfort, Mezger, Randleman, and Couture twice.


It seemed like nobody could break "The Ice" or even last a round with him for that matter. His counter striking with the power to end fights alongside his superior take down defense enabled him to knock off his opponents with the precision of a sniper. Who could stop the unstoppable? Was anybody up for the job?


In May of 2007 we found out. It wasnt the first time Liddell and Rampage had entered to cage. In their first bout Rampage stopped Liddell in dominating fashion ending the fight with a TKO. Now it was time for Chuck to redeem himself. Would his loss to Quinton play a role in their second fight? Well either way Rampage was on that night. He came out swinging and with improved striking skills. All it took was one little mistake and it was all over. Rampage caught Chuck on the chin with a quick right hook that dropped Liddell. He then went in for the kill the fight was over. Chuck quickly sat up with glazed eyes trying to figure out where he was. It can happen to anybody and this night it happened to "The Iceman".


This was truly one of the greatest upsets of 2007.


Upset #4 Forrest Griffin def. Mauricio Rua - Obviously I saved the best for last. This upset takes the cake by a mile. I could see Diaz over Gomi and Rampage over Liddell but Griffin over Shogun. Give me a break. I didnt think in a trillion years that Forrest Griffin could ever beat Mauricio "Shogun" Rua from Pride. That fight completely shocked me.


On the other hand it looked nothing like the Shogun I know and have watched so many times in all of the old Pride FC events. He was not aggressive at all and looked like a fish out of water. Something definitely happens when Pride fighters come to fight in the UFC. I cant pin point exactly what it is but its not the level of competition. I think it has to do with the pressure to make it big in the US and of course the rules and the octagon.


On the other hand I take nothing from Forrest Griffin as he fought his heart out and without a doubt defeated the former Chutes Box star. Shogun was considered the best in the world by many at the time of this bout, making this truly one of the biggest upsets of all time. To top it all off Forrest choked out Mauricio with a rear naked choke in dominating fashion. Forrest finally believed he has what it takes to fight with the best of the best. That is what gave him the ability to win this fight and to continue on as one of the best light heavyweight fighters in the world.


I rank this as the years biggest upset for sure. This fight was truly unbelievable.


2007 was a crazy year in MMA and its not even over. With two more of the years biggest cards still to come, 2007 is shaping up to be one of the sports biggest years ever.


Visit RedSweat.com for more Mixed Martial Arts news!
Todd Yeakle is editor in chief of the mma news syndicate RedSweat.com