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UFC Ultimate 100 Greatest Fight Moments

The essential Ultimate 100 as voted for by the UFC fans online at UFC.com and presented by the voice of the UFC Mike Goldberg. This near 4 hour offering of octagon action is a fantastic starting point for all MMA converts.

Packaged up here are highlights of the 16 year history of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Sit back, crack open a Budweiser, relax and enjoy the journey following MMA evolve out of the no holds barred ‘Gracie Rules era’, to present day mainstream exposed Ultimate Fighter era of reality TV.

Many pioneering cage battlers feature on this release, including Tank Abbott, Don Frye, Royce Gracie, Ken Shamrock, Mark Coleman, Randy Couture, plus all the UFC champs and fan favourites such as Georges St Pierre, BJ Penn, Anderson Silva, Rich Franklin and Forrest Griffin.

Not only will you witness some classic match-up highlights, you’ll witness some amazing upsets in the form of Gabriel Gonzaga KO’ing K1 knock-out king Cro Cop and Matt Sera nailing GSP. These upsets are perfect examples demonstrating the unpredictability of MMA, making it the most exciting sport to watch in the world today.

Voted by the fans at the number 5 spot is Lesnar vs Mir 1, from UFC 81. A classic clash and a recent memorable moment for current UFC fanatics. I’m sure if the vote took place post UFC 100, Lesnar vs Mir 2 would have been right up there.

On a collector’s  compilation DVD in this format you don’t see the complete bouts but this acts to help you choose the UFC releases to add to your personal collection next.

Another fantastically presented DVD release from the UFC. However the DVD isn’t actually a history of the UFC, hence the missing fighters who played their part shaping the sport, most notably Frank Shamrock, Kazushi Sakuraba and Bas Rutten. Here’s hoping the UFC will eventually create a docu-movie of the UFC and mixed martial arts drawing on the video library at hand from the UFC, Pride FC and WEC.

Keep visiting BluRayMMA.com for more reviews of brand new UFC, related combat sports and martial arts DVD releases.

UFC DVD review by Duane Farr
duane@bluraymma.com

UFC 100 - now available on DVD

Back on July 11th 2009 took place the Zuffa brand’s monumental hundredth numbered event. I remember the weekend well having timed my Sky + installation so I had no fear of missing this epic card. The biggest bonus of all the UFC treated those with Sky to the PPV card for free, on an obscure horse racing channel, despite all the Setanta debacle plus hours of extra UFC viewing thrown to boot.

UFC 100 was truly something special, drawing in the punters via a hat-trick of marquee match-ups. Making up that trifecta were all highly anticipated fights 2 of which were contesting over championship title ownership.

Team USA coach Dan ‘Hendo’ Henderson versus rival TUF 9 rival, our very own Mike ‘The Count’ Bisping was a fight the fans on both sides of the pond were eager to see, having followed the middleweight contenders coach their nation’s team each week on the MMA reality TV show – The Ultimate Fighter: US vs UK. The outcome of their middleweight showdown was not what I and most British fans hoped for, Bisping was not the best man on the night. Despite the loss for Bisping the bigger disappointment was the way Henderson dived in fist first when his opponent was clearly out of it. It was a brutal move, not good for the sport of MMA, neither was his reaction post fight. If Brit Bisping acted in the same manner smirking, acting all cocky the American crowd would have reacted in a far different way but hey, Mike is the British villain.

The second reason for buying this collectors DVD is Georges ‘Rush’ St Pierre successfully defending his welterweight crown versus Thiago Alves, in gruelling 5 round battle of wills.

The hugest history making moment, making up the third part of the triple main event at the top of the card was the most highly anticipated heavyweight title clash between former pro wrestler Brock Lesnar and Frank Mir. Lesnar solidified his thrown, sitting at the top of the UFC heavyweight division, dominating Mir in brutal style, thus avenging his only MMA loss. In the process he shut up Mir and all the doubters.

Disc 2 includes 6 preliminary fights, including UFC hall of famer Mark ‘The Hammer’ Coleman in action against The Ultimate Fighter 1 light-heavyweight finalist Stephan Bonnar. 44 year old Coleman proves he can still do it versus a man 12 years his junior in this bonus bout.  Further bonus material includes Countdown to UFC 100 plus UFC 100: Behind The Scenes.

UFC 100: Making History is a must have DVD, however it is just a shame they chose to edit some of the post fight interviews and octagon entrances from the live recording. Plus a hall of fame induction ceremony, announcing the new inductees would have completed the package. In the world of pro wrestling the WWE make a huge deal of their Hall of Fame inductions annually at the weekend of Wrestlemania, the UFC would do well to do similar, I’m sure the fight fans would love it.

The Ultimate Fighter 9: United States vs United Kingdom

Season 10 of the Ultimate Fighter is fresh in our minds, it is fair to say since watching TUF 9 on DVD format, I am reminded how much more successful that season was. Sure TUF 10 ratings at times were fantastic down to the drawing power of internet sensation Kimbo Slice but overall US vs UK was superior viewing.

Series 9 pitted the Brits going head to head against the Yanks, with established fighters Dan Henderson and Mike Bisping as coaches, built up to an awesome showdown at UFC 100. Not only did it build up tension for the middleweight clash it worked as a platform to create fresh and exciting new young stars for the Zuffa brand, most notably Ross Pearson, James Wilks, Andre Winner of the UK and American Demarques Johnson. Giving the show the added international rivalry made the MMA reality TV programme compelling viewing each and every week.

The only downside for us Brits was seeing our boy Bisping brutally beaten by Hendo following TUF 9 at UFC 100. However the series gave Yanks and Brits a reason to watch that fight featured on the mammoth pay per view card.

Whilst viewing disc 1 I realised this was Alex Reid’s first reality TV show he missed featuring in, failing to beat Dean Amasinger for a place in the ultimate fighter house. The second of course for Katie Price’s ex-boyfriend was hit ITV series I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here, where he planned to swing into the jungle, Tarzan style and propose to then girlfriend glamour girl Jordan, live on national television.

Relive the whole series once more when you buy this 5 disc DVD set. The finale show on disc 4 features a contending MMA fight of the year, between lightweight battlers  Clay “The Carpenter” Guida and Diego “Nightmare” Sanchez.

On the fifth DVD you will be treated to all the extras not included on the Virgin 1 aired TV series. The UFC take you behind the scenes of the series, a feature on the finale fighters plus UK and US bonus scene. Do yourself a favour by watching the UK bonus scenes alone for Lawson and Faulkner’s pro wrestling exhibition bout. Bournemouth based fighter Jeff Lawson is pure comedy gold.

The Ultimate Fighter season 9: US vs UK is out now on DVD, available direct from www.fightdvd.co.uk, HMV and all good retailers.

Keep visiting BluRayMMA.com for more reviews of brand new UFC and related combat sports and martial arts DVD releases.

UFC DVD review by Duane Farr

duane@bluraymma.com

UFC 99 - The Comeback: Franklin vs Silva

It is just a matter of weeks since the last UFC event our side of the Atlantic took place, when the UFC landed down in Manchester, England for UFC 105. UFC 99 was the last time back on June 13th, 2009 we didn’t have to watch a live UFC card at stupid o’clock. Now is your chance to add this fightdvd release to your collection, complete with all the preliminary bouts, countdown show, the weigh-ins plus a special look behind the scenes of this mammoth MMA event from Lanxess Arena, Cologne, Germany.

The marquee match-up featured Pride FC veteran Wanderlei ‘The Axe Murderer’ Silva facing off against UFC babyface Rich ‘Ace’ Franklin. Both competitors are enormously popular, Franklin being a likable fan favourite American hero, then we have Wanderlei the Brazilian rugged old school Pride campaigner. Surprisingly despite appearances there is little age difference between the pairing but Wanderlei has seen more wear and tear.

Both fighters were looking to climb back to the top having lost on their previous outings in the octagon, hence the comeback title. The contest was billed as a catch-weight bout at 195lbs, since Franklin was heading up to light-heavyweight and Silva down to the middle-weight division. A division dominated by another Silva and former Chute Boxe training partner Anderson ‘The Spider’ Silva. Added to the fight build-up was Anderson choosing to train with Franklin, a fighter the middle-weight champ had beaten and wanted to help beat Wanderlei.  Incidently this headline showdown is the first time I placed a bet on a UFC fight and I lost it. Don’t always bet on the meanest looking dude is my advice!

Just below the top spot on the card is a brutal gruelling contest between heavyweight contenders, Latino wrestler Cain Valesquez taking on French-African striker Cheick Kongo. Cain is hotly tipped as a possible challenger to Brock Lesnar’s heavyweight thrown in the near future.

Another heavyweight bout features the return of the Croatian K1 kick-boxing sensation Mirko Cro Cop facing off against British based cage combatant Mostupha Al-Turk.

For us Brits the top fight featured here on this 2 disc DVD release has to be the welterweight grudge match of Marcus ‘The Irish Hand Grenade’ versus Dan ‘The Outlaw’ Hardy. Davis is a fighter who made a name for himself fighting this side of the Atlantic beating home-grown talent, fitting Hardy put an end to his streak. A new star was created in The Outlaw due to this showdown in Germany, cementing Hardy’s place in the top tier of the UFC welterweight division and the hearts of Brit MMA fans. That’s hope he gained more admirers in the USA and worldwide following his display of sportsmanship post fight, Davis did himself no favours leaving the octagon so swiftly. Look out for the UFC match-makers to announce a date for Dan Hardy to challenge Georges St Pierre in 2010 for the welterweight gold.

You can also view my original review of the live event by visiting our sister site BluRayUFC.com

UFC 99 is out now on DVD, available direct from www.fightdvd.co.uk and all good retailers.

Keep visiting BluRayMMA.com for more reviews of brand new UFC and related combat sports and martial arts DVD releases.

UFC DVD review by Duane Farr

duane@bluraymma.com

UFC 98 Evans vs Machida

The Christmas shopping season is upon us, no doubt you will be looking for recommendations to add to your own Christmas present list. To get you started here is the first of many UFC DVD releases from fightdvd.co.uk to be reviewed here at BluRayMMA.com. If you are an MMA enthusiast I’m sure you will want to get your mitts on these DVD delights.

First off is UFC 98 – Evans vs Machida.

There are 2 main reasons to add this DVD to your collection, the first is to see how the Machida era began, when Lyoto challenged Rashad Evans for the light-heavyweight championship, secondly the grudge match between Matt Serra and Matt Hughes.

Entering this title fight challenge Lyoto ‘The Dragon’ Machida was undefeated, as was champion and current Ultimate Fighter coach ‘Sugar’ Rashad Evans. Having 2 undefeated octagon combatants battle it out for the belt was a first at UFC 98. Clearly the defending title holder – Evans was not viewed as the crowd favourite since defeating fan favourite and original Ultimate Fighter winner Forrest Griffin. Machida on the other hand was seen as the cool Karate fighter that most fanatics wanted to see kick some butt and grab the gold.

As Joe Rogan states this is the first time a traditional martial artist has reached the pinnacle of MMA. Machida is true martial artist in the Bruce Lee sense, trained in the ways of the warrior under the guidance of his Japanese father growing up in Brazil. Machida being at the top of the MMA world with that exposure is a huge moment, he can potentially influence a whole generation of young males what being a martial artist is about, discipline, honour, respect, ideals to live your life by, not just beating someone up.

Machida’s post fight speech is something to behold, proclaiming Karate is back and announcing proudly if you have a dream you can do it, truly inspiring stuff. It’s fair to say this a direct contrast to Rashad Evans, a showman who has been know to display some level of arrogance.

The co main event of UFC 98 features the grudge fight of Matt ‘The Terror’ Serra and Matt Hughes. Both fighters have held the welter-weight title in the past but there is no belt on the line here, this is a clear grudge match, these guys do not like each other, no matter how much they respect each others MMA abilities.

Their history dates back to 2005, Serra saw Hughes on the Ultimate Fighter and didn’t like him then as the opposite coach to top UFC ace-face Rich Franklin. A year later Serra took part as a contestant on the cage fighting reality TV show, with Hughes guesting to coach. Serra’s disgust of the farmer’s boy grew from there on. UFC management paired the 2 Matts as the coaches for TUF 6, using weekly TV episodes to build up to their big showdown planned to follow at UFC 79, December 2007. The fight wasn’t to be due to Serra’s injury received during training. Lots of bad mouthing followed in the mean time, both fighters still wanted to beat each other up.

The battle of the Matts is interesting stylistically, Serra is a Jiu Jitsu expert with great boxing, with Hughes’ main strengths rooted in his wrestling ability. On top of that they are contrasting characters, Serra the Italian-American street-wise New Yorker, where as  Hughes is the mid-western farmers’ boy.

UFC 98 2 disc DVD release boasts superb presentation complete with all the preliminary bouts, many not aired on the live broadcast along with the weigh-ins, behind the scenes and what I feel really adds enjoyment to the main event fight the countdown show. Watch the countdown to see Lyoto preparing for the title fight in his native Brazil, training and meditating to clear his mind in preparation. You’ll also see what led to his arrival in the UFC fighting on cards in Japan for pro wrestling icon Antonio Inoki and being on the receiving end Inoki’s initiation wallop to the face.

UFC 98 is out now on DVD, available direct from www.fightdvd.co.uk and all good retailers.

UFC DVD review by Duane Farr

duane@bluraymma.com