UFC 100 Recap: Brock Lesnar Delivers Impressive Performance at Peak "Beastly" Focus
Revisiting UFC's Game-Changer: UFC 100
Fast forward to July 2009, as the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) was on the brink of its grandest spectacle yet - UFC 100. The hype was real, and the card did not disappoint with three main event-worthy fights lined up.
Headlining the event, heavyweight contenders Brock Lesnar and Frank Mir clashed in a heated rivalry to determine the undisputed heavyweight champion. This heavily-anticipated rematch saw Lesnar demonstrating his dominance early on before inadvertently falling into Mir's trap and sustaining a submission loss in the second round[1][3]. However, Lesnar quickly bounced back and went on to become the UFC heavyweight champion later in his career.
In the co-main event, welterweight king Georges St-Pierre (GSP) defended his title against Thiago Alves. With a flawless display of wrestling skills, GSP easily handled "Pitbull," securing a unanimous decision victory[1]. The win marked St-Pierre's sixth successful title defense in his second reign as the 170-pound king[1].
Moving onto Dan Henderson and Michael Bisping's highly publicized encounter. The two had spent months as coaches on the ninth season of The Ultimate Fighter, engaging in constant verbal sparring. Henderson's patience paid off as he delivered a crushing punch to Bisping in the second round, putting him to sleep[1].
The main card was rounded off with a welterweight match between John Fitch and Paulo Thiago. Though Thiago tried his best, he couldn't get past Fitch, who dominated the fight and took home the unanimous decision victory[1]. In addition, Japanese sensation Yoshihiro Akiyama made his UFC debut against Alan Belcher in a middleweight battle that ended with Akiyama eking out a split decision victory[1].
Emanating from the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, UFC 100 became the then-biggest pay-per-view event in the UFC's history, garnering 1.3 million buys[1]. A record that remained unbroken until UFC 202 in 2016, which boasted another high-profile rematch between Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz[1].
Lesnar Takes MMA by Storm
Lesnar's entrance into MMA after a successful stint in professional wrestling brought a wave of new fans to the combat sports world. The 6'1, 120kg powerhouse, with his wrestling pedigree and out-of-the-box move set, showcased his potential in the UFC[1].
After a 69-second TKO win over Olympic judo silver medalist Kim Min-soo in his first professional fight, Lesnar impressed the UFC brass and was signed to face Mir at UFC 81[1]. Despite Mir's experience, Lesnar displayed his striking prowess and nearly defeated him before succumbing to a kneebar in their first meeting[1].
Following his defeat, Lesnar went on to secure a 15-minute dominant win over Heath Herring and a TKO victory against legendary Randy Couture just three fights into his UFC career[1]. Mir, on the other hand, worked his way back to a rematch with Lesnar after claiming the interim championship with a stunning knockout of Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira[1].
Lesnar left no doubts in their second encounter, defeating Mir with a ground and pound attack that forced the referee to intervene early in the second half[1]. This win cemented Lesnar's status as the undisputed UFC Heavyweight Champion[1].
GSP Makes Short Work of Alves
GSP entered UFC 100 riding a seven-fight win streak, having dispatched formidable opponents such as Matt Hughes and Josh Koscheck[3]. Alves, who looked like a serous threat, was no match for the welterweight king, as GSP displayed his wrestling dominance in a clinic[3].
Henderson Shuts Bisping Up
Growing tired of Bisping's relentless trash-talk after working together as coaches on The Ultimate Fighter, Henderson decided it was high time to silence him[3]. Henderson landed a devastating punch that put Bisping to sleep in the second round, shutting his mouth for good[3].
Fitch Outclasses Thiago
After posting a stunning upset win over Koscheck in his UFC debut, Thiago faced Fitch on the historic card[3]. Despite a few close calls in the first round, Fitch took control and won the fight by unanimous decision[3].
Akiyama Delivers Attractive UFC Debut
Akiyama's UFC debut was highly anticipated, and he didn't disappoint as he and Belcher put on an exciting back-and-forth fight[3]. Despite suffering a knockdown in the first round, Akiyama returned the favour in the third, ultimately securing a split decision victory[3]. The bout earned both fighters a Fight of the Night bonus[1].
UFC 100 was more than just a celebration of the UFC's success at the time. It served as a stepping stone for many fighters who went on to achieve great things in the sport, while also solidifying its standing as a major player in the world of combat sports[2].
Sources:
- Hemmings, D. (2021, March 16). UFC 100 Recap. MMA Junkie. https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2021/03/ufc-100-recap-june-6-2009-brock-lesnar-fight-card-results
- Junkie, M. M. (n.d.). UFC 100: Frank Mir vs. Brock Lesnar. ESPN. https://www.espn.com/mma/event/_/id/1883764/ufc-100
- Powell, J. (n.d.). UFC 100 Bonus Winners. Sherdog. https://www.sherdog.com/news/articles/UFC-100-Bonus-Winners-41853
About the Author:Quintin Van Jaarsveld is a skilled sports journalist, former MDDA-Sanlam SA Local Sports Journalist of the Year, and a three-time Vodacom KwaZulu-Natal Sports Journalist of the Year. With over 15 years of experience, he has contributed to numerous publications such as The Fever Media Group, eHowzit, SARugby.com, and Rugby365.com.
Sports fans were in for a treat as UFC 100 drew closer, with a mix of sports enthusiasts eager to witness the spectacle. The event was not only a magnet for MMA fans but also for those interested in rugby, as the co-main event featured Georges St-Pierre, a well-known name in the combat sports world. In the same event, Hendo's victory over Bisping in mixed-martial-arts added another layer of excitement to the sports-filled weekend.
