MMA's Big Stories and Takeaways from 2011

When you get into these retrospectives, the inclination is always to start with "what an amazing year it was" and "this one will live in our memories forever," and so on. Then you put it on a shelf and turn back to the present, which will in time become The Most Amazing Year Ever. It's just the way it goes these days.

But I do actually think 2011 was a banner year for mixed martial arts. New frontiers were opened and settled. The sport changed in ways expected and unexpected. Good fighters became great. Great fighters became champions. Champions became stars. Stars faded, and said goodbye.

And there were some pretty good fights in there, too.

Now that we've had a few weeks to digest it all, submitted here for your consideration are the 50 biggest stories and lessons the sport and its principals taught the MMA public in 2011.

50. Chris Leben Still in Unstable Condition

For a second there, it looked like The Crippler's career was entering a new stratum. But then, like an old episode of "Behind the Music," it alllllllllll came crashing down.

Coming off a 2010 that saw him win two fights in two weeks, the ever-popular Leben started 2011 with a bit of a whimper, losing to Brian Stann on New Year's Day. But he rebounded with probably the best win of his career, a first-round knockout of Wanderlei Silva at UFC 132.

That vaulted him up to Mark Munoz territory. Unfortunately for Leben, he lost to the talented Munoz in November, in the first five-round non-title fight in UFC history.

Even more unfortunate, though, were the painkillers found in his urine test after the fight. The UFC promptly suspended Leben for one year. 

49. Arianny Celeste Messes with the Bull, Gets Horns

Chael Sonnen always keeps a few lines in the water, strategically placed and threaded with red meat. He drops them in the pond, tucks his hat down over his eyes and waits for some poor victim to take the bait.

He must have been surprised when ring girl Arianny Celeste leapt into his boat. 

If you missed it, Sonnen had the temerity to question Arianny's mental acuity. Not one to take those types of aspersions lightly, the popular Celeste fired back on Twitter. But oddly, Sonnen was not long flustered by the return salvo, and issued a rather devastating retort. 

If Sonnen's blows in the cage were anywhere near as crushing, he'd be the middleweight champion right now.

(Photo credit: The Fight Nerd) 

48. Jimy Hettes: The Newest Phenom?

Most of the phenom talk centers on the MacDonalds and McDonalds of the world, but this 24-year-old judoka is now 10-0 in MMA (2-0 UFC), with nine wins coming by submission. He displayed a well-rounded attack in December, when he bested Nam Phan by unanimous decision.

(Photo credit: MMAMania) 

47. Jacob Volkmann Doesn't Like Barack Obama Very Much

Not once but twice, Volkmann insulted the president in 2011. For his troubles, he received a visit from the Secret Service, various work-related suspensions and a general panning of his "sense of humor." For his part, Volkmann doesn't seem fazed, and will likely continue his crusade as long as he continues to get microphones put in front of his face. 

46. Brian Ebersole Is a Good Fighter, Also a Little Weird

I suppose you could argue whether 2011 was truly a banner year for MMA. But you can't debate its bannerness for one Brian Ebersole.

In February, after 62 professional fights, Ebersole entered the Octagon for the first time, as an injury replacement against Chris Lytle. He made the most of the opportunity, defeating Lytle, Dennis "Banana Hammock" Hallman and Claude Patrick over the course of the year.

He also popularized the Hairrow, brought back (or maybe just brought) the cartwheel kick and petitioned Joe Rogan for a spot on Fear Factor. That's a busy 12 months. 

45. Matt Mitrione Was Probably Overrated

The ex-NFLer was riding some phenom hype of his own, until he was exposed in October by a streaking Cheick Kongo.

(Photo credit: Francis Specker Photography)

44. Joe Son: Not a Nice Man

Failed MMA fighter and actor Joe Son was in jail for doing a bunch of horrific stuff a long time ago. In 2011, he was back in the headlines for allegedly murdering his cellmate. No word on whether he had any frickin laser beams attached to his head during the incident.

(Photo credit: CagePotato)

43. Memorial Day Is Not the Day to Mess with Brian Stann

Stann, a decorated war veteran, crushed Jorge Santiago at UFC 130 on Memorial Day weekend. He then expressed a desire to fight every year in late May. Good for fans, bad for opponents.

(Photo credit: Julie Jacobson/AP, by way of The MMA Corner) 

42. Bring on the Flyweights

In December, the UFC announced a new 125-pound division. The first fights are scheduled for March.

41. Dennis Hallman Is Not Modest

He almost got kicked out of the UFC for his getup, which he said he wore because he lost a bet.

40. The Colorado Air Makes a Man Tired

At UFC 135, held high in the Rockies, plenty of fighters gassed. In particular, heavyweight Ben Rothwell was the most exhausted I've ever seen anyone in the cage.

39. Forrest Griffin May Be Running out of Gas

Some very candid comments came just before a very uninspiring loss to Shogun Rua at UFC 134 (and the start of a new family around the same time). The pioneering and popular former light heavyweight champ could be nearing the end of the line.

38. Matt Hammill Rode off into the Sunset, Is a Hero

Following his loss to Alexander Gustafsson in August, Hamill called it a career. At 10-4, Hamill had wins over the likes of Mark Munoz and Tito Ortiz, not to mention the famous DQ win over Jon Jones, still Jones' only professional defeat.

The subject of a film, the hearing-impaired Hamill was and is a major source of inspiration for everyone in the deaf community. 

37. Kenny Florian Is a Gatekeeper

After knocking on the door of the lightweight title for years but never getting over the hump, Ken-Flo dropped down to featherweight, but again found himself a bridesmaid against champion Jose Aldo. 

Now a herniated disk may force him to retire. If nothing else, Florian, one of the smartest fighters in the sport, has a bright future in broadcasting.

36. Steven Seagal Is the Greatest Trainer in the History of Mixed Martial Arts

Move over, Greg Jackson and Duke Roufus and all those other guys whose names I can't remember. 2011 was the year of The Front Kick. And that means your rent this year goes directly to Steven Seagal.

35. Happy Beard Guy Has Angry Left Hand

In March, Johny Hendricks used his left hand to TKO T.J. Waldburger. A split-decision win over Mike Pierce was followed by Hendricks again using his left to KO Jon Fitch in a near-record 12 seconds, vaulting him into the welterweight title hunt.

34. Cheick Kongo's Got Some Heart

Long an afterthought in the heavyweight conversation, the marble-cut Kongo enjoyed the best year of his professional life in 2011, notching the comeback of the year against Pat Barry and turning back the previously undefeated Matt Mitrione.

33. Nate Diaz Is a Really Good Lightweight

Long living in his older sibling's shadow, Diaz emerged as his own man in 2011. After losing twice at welterweight to run his record to 2-2 at 170, he returned to his native lightweight. There, Diaz used his boxing and his gas tank to outfight Takanori Gomi and then Donald Cerrone.

(Photo credit: Las Vegas Sun)

32. So Long, Sengoku

In March, the World Victory Road promotion, which oversaw the Sengoku Raiden Championship in Japan, ceased operations. Notable alumni include Hatsu Hioki, Dave Herman, Muhammed Lawal and Antonio Silva.

31. Rory MacDonald Might Be Something

The Canadian phenom destroyed Nate Diaz and Mike Pyle to advance to 12-1. The 22-year-old welterweight and Georges St-Pierre training partner seems to have the complete tool box to eventually take him to the top of the division. 

30. Chael Sonnen Is Argumentative

When does this guy find time to sleep?

The aforementioned microfeud with Arianny Celeste is just the tip of the iceberg. There was also the pro-wrestling-style callout of Anderson Silva after Sonnen's win over Brian Stann. And the repeated challenges of Jon Jones, Georges St-Pierre and Junior dos Santos. And the verbal depantsing of TV host Michael Landsberg. And the Twitter war with Lyoto Machida (and the rest of the Black House gym, for that matter). And the jabs with Mirko Cro Cop.

And in submitting Stann, he also further established himself as likely the best non-Anderson middleweight on the planet.

29. Different Year, Same Old Melvin Guillard

Guillard wins a few, gets everyone excited, then has a big let down, usually related to his utter inability to fend off a submission. Lather, rinse, repeat.

(Photo credit: MMAMania)

28. Jake Ellenberger Is Ready for His Close-Up

After plowing through Sean Pierson and Carlos Eduardo Rocha, Ellenberger knocked out Jake Shields in 53 seconds at UFC Fight Night in New Orleans last September. He could be just a win or two away from a title shot.

27. Josh Barnett's Still Got It

Barnett, 34, laid waste to his competitors in the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix, submitting Brett Rogers and then Sergei Kharitonov, both by way of triangle choke. He will face Daniel Cormier soon for the tournament title.

26. Faber-Cruz Rivalry Headed for Epic Third Act

In July, UFC bantamweight champ Dominick Cruz defeated Urijah Faber to avenge the only loss of his career, suffered when Faber held the featherweight belt in the WEC. Faber rebounded by submitting Brian Bowles at UFC 139 in November.

Shortly after 139, the UFC announced that the two fighters, between whom there appears to be genuine bad blood, will coach against each other on season 15 of The Ultimate Fighter. They will then lock horns to cap their trilogy.  

25. Nick Diaz May Have Social Problems

After failing to meet his media obligations in the run-up to UFC 137, Diaz was yanked from a main event title fight with Georges St-Pierre. Afterward, trainer Cesar Gracie wondered aloud whether Diaz had "some kind of social anxiety." Ouch. 

24. Nick Diaz Doesn't Have Any Fighting Problems

Simply put, Diaz's dismantling of the great B.J. Penn at UFC 137--a fight that put him in position to fight Carlos Condit for the interim welterweight strap--was a thing of brilliance. It was also his 11th win a row.

23. There Is a Place for Bellator

The promotion, which last year was purchased by media giant Viacom and will air on Spike starting in 2013, struggles with roller coaster ratings and is clearly not a direct competitor to the UFC. But seeing as how the UFC seems to swallow all its direct competitors without chewing, that might be a good thing.

The promotion has enjoyed some ratings success over the course of the year. MMA fans love the tournament format, and the promotion has some very respectable champions, as well as a roster of fighters who know how to put on a show. The fact that Viacom now has a majority ownership also gives the promotion solid roots. Looks like it could be here for the long haul. And you know what? That's a good thing.  

22. If You Don't Tap, Frank Mir's Gonna Snap

Mir put himself back at the top of the heavyweight heap when he used a kimura to break Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira's humerus at UFC 140 in December. Mir also broke Tim Sylvia's forearm back in 2004.

21. Chris Lytle Does It His Way

Before his August tilt with Dan Hardy, Chris Lytle made known his intention to retire after the fight. He won with a guillotine choke that, in a fitting final act for the postfight bonus record holder, garnered Fight of the Night and Submission of the Night honors for Lights Out. It was a storybook ending for the longtime UFC veteran.

20. Michael Chandler Shocks Eddie Alvarez

My vote for upset of the year saw the undefeated but untested Chandler upend the great Eddie Alvarez to capture the Bellator lightweight belt.

19. Alistair Overeem Can Take the Pressure, Thank You Very Much

The final event of 2011 ended with Alistair Overeem beating Brock Lesnar to a pulp and earning a title dance with Junior dos Santos. Overeem put to rest (for the moment, anyway) doubts and questions about his ability to defeat top-flight opposition. He also sent Lesnar into retirement; more on that later.

18. Nate Marquardt Banned from the UFC

Nate Marquardt was banished from the UFC after a prefight test revealed high testosterone levels. Marquardt was undergoing hormone replacement therapy; it's perfectly legal, but overly high testosterone is not.

A devastated Marquardt signed on with BAMMA, but has since severed ties with that organization before ever fighting for them. Here's hoping he finally finds a soft landing place.  

17. There WILL Be MMA in NY This Year

The UFC in November announced a lawsuit against the state of New York to overturn the state's ban on MMA. The gloves are off, as it were. And my feeling is that a UFC at Madison Square Garden is now a matter of when, not of it.

(Photo credit: Cage Potato)

16. Gina Carano Has Some Curb Appeal

Women's MMA is an afterthought for most fans. That's just the way it is. So it's interesting, then, that arguably the sport's first true crossover star is a female.

Interesting, but perhaps not terribly surprising, given that Carano, star of the major motion picture Haywire, is, how should I put this, hot. I'm no Steven Spielberg, but it seems that hotness is a desirable asset in Hollywood, not to mention the rest of society.

What is terribly surprising, though, is that Haywire is getting good reviews. Just saying.

15. Junior Dos Santos Is a Force

The good-natured Santos had star-making turns this year, first as a coach on The Ultimate Fighter and then in his knockout of Cain Velasquez that netted Cigano the UFC heavyweight title.

(Photo credit: Las Vegas Sun)

14. WEC Fighters Are for Real

WEC transplants like Jose Aldo, Dominick Cruz, Urijah Faber, Benson Henderson, Demetrious Johnson, Danny Castillo, Renan Barao, Michael McDonald, Anthony Pettis, Diego Nunes, Dustin Poirier and Donald Cerrone have all made real impacts in the Octagon. 

13. Frankie Edgar Is the Real Rocky Balboa

Edgar's dual epic comebacks against Gray Maynard put the lightweight champ in the p4p conversation.

12. Recent TUF Winners Continue to Struggle

Though the show has produced luminaries like Rashad Evans and Michael Bisping, it has hit a dry patch lately.

Season eight winner Efrain Escudero was dropped from the UFC before returning; he's 3-3 overall. Season nine winner Ross Pearson is 5-2 in the Octagon, though co-winner James Wilks is 2-2.

Season 10 and 11 winners Roy Nelson and Court McGee are mild exceptions, having won three of five and three of three in the UFC, respectively. Jonathan Brookins is 0-1 since winning season 12. Season 13 and 14 champs Tony Ferguson, John Dodson and Diego Brandao look promising, but it's still too early to assess them with certainty.

It's not horrific, but is a far cry from the show's halcyon days.  

11. Brazil Likes MMA

At UFC 134, Brazilian heroes like Anderson Silva and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira put on a thrilling event in Rio de Janeiro. It was the first time in many years that the UFC has visited Brazil, and based on 134's success it was not the last. The crowd sounded to me like the loudest ever for a UFC pay-per-view.

(Photo credit: Fighters.com) 

10. UFC Expands Health Insurance

Zuffa previously picked up the tab for injuries suffered during fights, but in May they elected to extend full coverage to 350 UFC and Strikeforce fighters, and cover 100 percent of the premiums. A good development for a promotion that takes its share of heat for undercompensating its talent.

9. Brock Lesnar Makes (Made) a Lot of Money, for Everyone

An ESPN study found that Lesnar was MMA's highest-paid athlete, with a reported income of $5.3 million. Not unjustified, given he was by far the UFC's top draw.

Assuming it sticks, Lesnar's retirement after UFC 141 left quite a void on the MMA marquee and Zuffa's coffers. But hey, on the bright side, Alexandria, Minnesota is about to come into a lot of venison.

(Photo credit: MMA Convert) 

8. Dan Henderson and Mauricio Rua Staged an All-Time Great

The back-and-forth, five-round war at UFC 139 between these two titans of MMA was the best fight of 2011 and maybe one of the best of all time. Though Hendo won by decision, both men acquitted themselves like champions.

7. Injuries Are Not Helpful to Fight Cards

Several UFC events this year were hampered by injuries.

The main event at UFC 130, originally scheduled to be the rubber match with Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard, ended up being a lackluster affair between Matt Hamill and Quinton Jackson.

Megastars like Anderson Silva, Brock Lesnar, Georges St-Pierre, Jon Jones and Rashad Evans all hit the shelf with various injuries at various times. Ever-shuffling lineup cards started to resemble a game of musical chairs. 

Overtraining appears to be the culprit. A solution is less apparent. 

6. Farewell, Randy Couture

It's the stuff of MMA legend. Randy Couture wins back his heavyweight belt at age 43. There was the time he spanked Tito Ortiz in a live fight. His early upset of Vitor Belfort. His monumental trilogy with Chuck Liddell. His humbling of boxer James Toney.

When Couture hung it up for good in 2011, it was the end of an era. If Liddell is the sport's Babe Ruth, Couture is its Honus Wagner. Big, square-jawed, quiet, not always pretty, but very, very good at what he did, and beloved by all who watched him ply his trade.

5. Anderson Silva, GSP Still the Best

Injuries aside, it was business as usual for the consensus top two pound-for-pound best in the sport.

GSP handled Jake Shields back in April. And though he saw the UFC put an interim welterweight title up for grabs in his absence, St-Pierre is still the unquestionably the world's top 175er.

Silva knocked out both Vitor Belfort and Yushin Okami, and in the process extended his record of title defenses to nine. 

4. Merger Mania Capacity Knows No Satiety

When Zuffa purchased Strikeforce in March, it pretty much solidified the UFC as THE major league of MMA.  

3. Jon Jones = the Truth

Jon Jones' record in 2011: four wins, no losses, one light heavyweight title, one shockingly ceilingless future.

As fans know, in March the 24-year-old Jones ate Mauricio Rua alive to capture the belt. He then defended it with ease against Rampage Jackson and Lyoto Machida.

It is entirely possible that, years from now, fans will remember 2011 as the year that MMA's greatest champion came into his own.    

2. The Graying of MMA's Greatest Generation

Chuck Liddell is already gone. And in 2011, a lot of other greats of MMA's golden age began to show their age.

Couture, 47, retired in the spring.

Mirko Cro Cop, 37, retired from MMA in the summer following a loss to Roy Nelson (though he will apparently fight one more time in K-1).

Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, 35 but looking much older, triumphed over Brendan Schaub in front of his countrymen at UFC 134, but lost his third fight in five tries in December when Frank Mir broke his arm. His future is uncertain.

Wanderlei Silva, 35, went 1-1 in 2011, suffering a first-round knockout against Chris Leben but staving off talk of retirement with a win over Cung Le. 

Tito Ortiz, 37, did his own staving with a stirring upset of Ryan Bader, but then dropped two straight and has now lost five of six. He has said he will only fight one more time. 

Matt Hughes, 38, has lost two straight and now sits on a self-imposed "shelf." His future is uncertain.

B.J. Penn, 33, is winless in four of five. After losing to Nick Diaz, Penn seemed to announce his retirement, though he has apparently reconsidered.

Quinton Jackson, 33, is still kicking along but looked out of his league against Jones. 

And then, of course, there's that Fedor guy. The Last Emperor, 35, lost three straight, two of them in 2011, before beating a diminished Jeff Monson and an overmatched Satoshi Ishii. But after losing to Dan Henderson in July, he was bounced from Strikeforce. 

I'm not saying retirement is imminent for all these guys, or that all these guys (or older guys in general) are no longer viable fighters. But with these champions aging and guys like Jon Jones and Jose Aldo ascending, it's clear that a changing of the guard is afoot in MMA.

1. MMA Is Viable in a Mainstream Environment

It may never have the kind of broad-based market saturation enjoyed by puppy dogs or Tim Tebow, but UFC's deal with Fox--and the record 5.7 million pairs of key-demo eyeballs that tuned in--showed that there is a place for MMA in America's living rooms.