UFC 144 Results: Memorable Moments from an All Time Great Show in Japan

It's easy to get carried away after any halfway decent UFC show. Fans that get overly excited are quick to call even an average show an all-time great in the heat of the moment.

That could be exactly what I'm doing here. But I don't think so. Typically, I'm the downer in the room, the one guy refusing to clap when there is a standing ovation. It's not in me to love unconditionally. I make you earn it. And UFC 144 earned it.

This was one of the greatest fight cards in UFC history. Every bout on the main card delivered a memorable moment. So did an undercard that featured legitimate legends of Japanese MMA.

10. Kid Yamamoto Submitted for the First Time Ever

Norifumi "Kid" Yamamoto is one of the most popular fighters in the history of Japanese MMA. A former teen idol and favorite of screaming high school girls, Yamamoto, at 34, is a kid in name only.

His best days are clearly behind him, but the UFC gave him what seemed like an easy fight in his native land. Yamamoto came out aggressively, but he just couldn't finish jiu-jitsu wizard Vaughan Lee.

Yamamoto has been in with the best submission experts in MMA history, including the great Royler Gracie, and had never been finished.

But Lee proved too much or the veteran, winning for the first time in the UFC Octagon with a slick armbar.

9. Mark Hunt's Post-Fight Interview

Some fighters have the gift of gab. Think Chael Sonnen, laying down a challenge for Anderson Silva. Think Tito Ortiz, changing the game by thanking all of his sponsors and the troops.

Then there's Mark Hunt. Hunt was a man of few words after his knockout of Cheick Kongo last night at UFC 144. No matter what Joe Rogan asked, Hunt had a short sentence in response. 

"It felt good," Hunt said of his knockout win. "Yeah, it's not bad." Not bad indeed.

8. Hatsu Hioki with a Grappling Clinic

You could say Hatsu Hioki gave Bart Palaszewski more than a loss on his record last night. The Japanese featherweight also gave the veteran a grappling clinic you normally have to pay big money for.

Hioki dominated the game "Bartimus" on the ground, nearly finishing him in the first round with an armbar and controlling the third round on the mat with ground and pound.

Was Hioki punishing Bartimus for his truly awful haircut? We may never know. But he certainly showed UFC fans why many believe he's the best Japanese fighter in the sport today.

7. Rampage's Slam

Ryan Bader trucked an out of shape, underwhelming "Rampage" Jackson. But Bader's numerous takedowns didn't have the impact Rampage's sole highlight did.

It was vintage Jackson. The master of the slam has focused mainly on his boxing in recent years. When he got the opportunity, however, Rampage took Japanese fans down memory lane, slamming Bader on his head with a vicious "Rampage Driver."

It wasn't enough to take home the win. But that one moment made up for a disappointing and lethargic fight from the former champion.

6. Takanori Gomi Back on Track

"The Fireball Kid" had struggled in the UFC, losing three of his four bouts in the Octagon. But in his home country, Takanori Gomi could not be stopped.

Eiji Mitsuoka did his best of course. The submission ace had Gomi in a bad position to end the first round.

Mitsuoka couldn't quite finish though, and in round two, Gomi made him pay. Like the Gomi of old, he rained knees and strong punches, finishing his game opponent and hopping on top of the cage to celebrate with his fans.

5. Issei Tamura Shows What Power Means

Tiequan Zhang was game. At the end of the day though, Issei Tamura had one-punch knockout power.

That proved the difference as he knocked Zhang silly in the early moments of the second round in the night's opening fight.

4. Jake Shields and Yoshihiro Akiyama in a Razor Close Fight

The best moments came when Akiyama tossed Shields to the mat with the art of judo.

There's something magical about the application of science, about a man using the least possible amount of energy to combat an overly aggressive foe.

But while Akiyama had the most magical moments, Shields had more of them. He kept coming forward, throwing and landing way more strikes than his Japanese foe.

Shields simply outworked Akiyama in a great fight.

3. Anthony Pettis Puts on a Show

I had high hopes for this fight. Joe Lauzon, coming off of a big win over Melvin Guillard, seemed like he would give Pettis a real battle.

In the early moments he came forward and was the aggressor. What was his game plan going to be?

We will never know, thanks to an Anthony Pettis head kick. The fight didn't turn into a great one, but it was certainly a memorable moment.

Pettis is confident he's the best fighter in the division. That knockout shows why he might not be wrong.

2. The Greatest Comeback of All Time?

Joe Rogan went absolutely insane following Tim Boetch's comeback win over Yushin Okami. The UFC color man called it the biggest comeback in UFC history and turned the volume up to a Spinal Tap level 11.

Okami dominated the first two rounds with a stiff jab and some really hard knees. Going into the third round, Boetch's trainer Matt Hume was honest with him.

He needed a finish to win, and went out and got it with a huge right uppercut.

1. Frankie Edgar and Benson Henderson in a Fight of the Year Candidate

Sometimes a picture really is worth 1000 words. Or at least a Google friendly 150. Check out the shot at left.

Poor Frankie Edgar, bruised, battered, and down trodden. Ben Henderson still looking smooth, smiling bright because he won the world lightweight title.

Of course, the actual fight was much closer than the picture shows. Edgar and Henderson went back and forth for 25 minutes, showing the world everything MMA can be.

Punches, kicks, knees, takedowns, submission—they were all a part of what will certainly go down as one of the best fights of the year.