UFC 152: 4 Fights That Could Have Been Fight of the Night

Tom Szczerbowski-US PRESSWIRE

At the end of a long night in Toronto, Canada, with two back-to-back championship fights, a prelim match between Evan Dunham and TJ Grant was crowned fight of the night.

That seems like a just reward for the two fighters whose match was demoted to prelim status as Jon Jones was hastily cast as the headline match to defend his title against Vitor Belfort.

It was a gore fest between the two lightweights which left Dunham a bloody mess and Grant looking like a top contender in the division.

However, there were four other fights that could have contended for fight of the night status. Here they are...

 

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Michael Bisping vs. Brian Stann

Tom Szczerbowski-US PRESSWIRE

This always promised to be a high octane match and for three rounds the two thick middleweights went at it clearly looking to finish the fight.

In the end Bisping got the better of the two with a unanimous decision win after wearing his opponent down with dogged wrestling.

What was great about Bisping’s performance was that he was able to mix-up his MMA skills with such tenacity—finding his range with his striking, then shooting for takedown after takedown.

Stann held his own for much of the match, almost finishing his opponent early. His Muay Thai—body kick followed by punches combinations—is some of the best in MMA, but he’s clearly not as well rounded as he should be at the elite end of the sport.

Still, both men performed in a way that thrilled fans throughout the fight.

Vinny Magalhães vs. Igor Pokrajac

Source: ESPN.com

Vinny Magalhães marked his return to the UFC with an impressive win over Igor Pokrajac in their light heavyweight bout which also could have been a fight of the night contender.

Magalhães was relentless from the bell in pursuing a submission win over his Croatian rival and he eventually got it in the second round, in what was a work of art.

That’s not to say Pokrajac was a push-over. The Brazilian had ended up at the bottom throughout the match after failing in his first few attempts to submit his opponent, who acquitted himself well both on the feet and in the clinch.

But in the end, after a thrilling two-round grappling match, Magalhães walked away with the win.

Demetrious Johnson vs. Joseph Benavidez

Tom Szczerbowski-US PRESSWIRE

Anyone who didn’t appreciate the flyweight title fight between Demetrious Johnson and Joseph Benavidez doesn’t know MMA.

If someone had received a cut, and blood had poured throughout the match, then this could have easily won "fight of the night" status and silenced all the booing fans.

In the end, both men performed with exceptional athleticism throughout five rounds and frustrated each other with a highly accomplished technical display it seems only the knowledgeable could appreciate.

Johnson walked away with a deserved unanimous decision victory after a fiercely fought five-round match.

Jon Jones vs. Vitor Belfort

Tom Szczerbowski-US PRESSWIRE

The main event is another fight which could easily have taken "fight of the night" plaudits.

It had thrilling moments throughout the match which kept fans on the edge of their seats.

There was the almost first-round arm-bar Belfort expertly planted on Jones which could have seen the biggest upset in MMA since Matt Serra TKO’d George St. Pierre. There was also the cut over Belfort’s eye which Jones opened up, splattering blood across the canvas for the remainder of the match.

Then there was the vicious side kick to Belfort’s solar plexus which almost ended the match. Not to mention the final Kimura which sealed the deal for Jones deep into the fourth round.