5 Highlights from the Arturo Gatti of MMA

Oh, how spoiled we as fight fans have become. It only takes a couple of weeks without live MMA—or boxing for that matter—and I really don't know what to do with myself.

I've already completely digested the fact that we have a new heavyweight champion, and it is nearly a week until the WEC's somewhat mediocre second to last card.

Luckily, I'm from the Bay Area and am a huge San Francisco Giants fan, so that fantasy-come-true has kept me busy. But baseball is over, and I can't just keep watching the same Eastbound and Down episodes; I need reality.

Last night, I went through my extensive fight collection for something that wasn't fresh in my mind and finally decided on EliteXC: Street Certified. The event is best remembered for Kimbo Slice's first-round destruction of the ancient Tank Abbott, but equally as notable was the promotional debut of Scott Smith.

Smith went on to be one of the highlights of EliteXC and later Strikeforce. His come from behind knockouts are the stuff of legends and can only be bested by the late great boxing champion Arturo Gatti.

Gatti made a career out of winning fights you thought he was out of; Smith is cut from the same cloth.

So, looking forward to Smith's December welterweight debut against Paul Daley in Strikeforce, I have decided to list five highlights of MMA's Arturo Gatti.

These are not necessarily Smith's greatest performances, but they are the top five fights that built his legacy. So without further ado:

5. Smith Vs. Kyle Noke

Kyle Noke gained notoriety as a cast member on the most recent completed season of The Ultimate Fighter, but most fans came to know his name when he was matched with Scott Smith in both of their EliteXC debuts.

After Noke clearly won the first round by working behind his jab and keeping a steady pace, Smith looked determined to come out differently in the second round. It took just seven seconds from the bell for Smith to land a right hand to Noke's chin and knock him out completely cold instantly.

It was a brutal and violent ending to what began as a boxing match, and it signaled the rise of a star in EliteXC. People wanted to see Smith again; he promised fireworks.

Smith Vs. Robbie Lawler

The impressive win over Noke earned Smith a title shot against EliteXC middleweight champ Robbie Lawler. The bout would be the co-main event for the first MMA card shown in primetime on major American network television.

After two rounds of intense back and forth action, the bout was stopped in the third due to an unintentional poke in the eye of Smith. Smith pleaded to continue, but the doctor called off the fight. The bout was ruled a no-contest, but Smith earned numerous fans for his performance.

Promoter Gary Shaw awarded both fighters with bonuses and scheduled an immediate rematch. Lawler won the rematch in the second round by TKO.

Four months later, Smith took a fight with Terry Martin for Strikeforce on just one week notice. Smith knocked Martin out in 24 seconds.

Smith Vs. Benji Radach

In 2009, EliteXC folded and sold the majority of its assets to San Jose-based promotion Strikeforce. Included in those assets were numerous fighter contracts, including Smith's.

In Strikeforce's first event following the acquisitions, Smith was matched with veteran Benji Radach.

Radach controlled the fight with his more accurate striking and movement. Smith was dazed numerous times throughout the bout, including in the final round, but once again managed to land a hard straight right hand and drop Radach in the third. Smith pounced on Radach and dramatically finished him on the ground.

Smith was now a reliable star for Strikeforce.

2. Smith Vs. Cung Le

Cung Le is one of Strikeforce's biggest stars and likely will be for some time. However, for the entire 2009 year, Le took some time off of MMA to pursue an acting career.

In that time, he had vacated his middleweight title but always assured the fans he would be back soon. In December, he made his return against heavy underdog brawler Scott Smith. The bout was seen by many as a bit of a mismatch to ease Le back into the sport.

For over three-and-a-half rounds, it was just that. In the final minute of the fight, Smith caught Le with both hands, breaking his nose and dropping him to the canvas. Smith quickly finished Le, handing him his first loss in the sport, and once again shocking all observers.

"Did he really just do this again?" everyone collectively asked.

1. Smith Vs. Pete Sell

Smith went on to become a big name in EliteXC and Strikeforce, but before those ventures he was a member of Season 4 of The Ultimate Fighter and had four fights in the UFC. His bout with Pete Sell is where his legacy began.

In the finale of TUF Season 4, cast-members Smith and Sell were matched up in what many expected to be a slugfest. The fans did not go home disappointed.

After a round of striking exchanges that saw the two smiling and even high-fiving at one point, one of the most breathtaking finishes ended the fight in the second.

Sell landed a hard left hook to the liver of Smith that had him nearly doubled-over and back away into the cage. As Sell ran in to finish his man, Smith postured up and threw a crushing right hand to the chin of Sell, knocking him down and out. Immediately after throwing the punch, Smith crumbled over himself from the prior liver shot and remained on the canvas along with his fallen foe for minutes.

Smith's heart and will were proven to the public for the first of many times.