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It was an easy day for the judges on Saturday. With 11 fights scheduled on the UFC Fight Night: Rockhold versus Bisping card, all 11 matches ended inside the distance.
The event marks a new record for the UFC: the most finishes in a single fight card.
The bout between Robert Whittaker versus Clint Hester was awarded Fight of the Night honours. The two performance of the night awards were given to Luke Rockhold and Louis Smolka.
With 9,904 in attendance and an approximate $1.2 million live gate, the event marked another successful Down Under outing for the US-based organisation
So what does an achievement like this mean for the UFC and Australia in general?
Some have recently criticised the UFC for the increased quantity of fight cards and subsequent decline in the quality of each card.
Once upon a time, all UFC shows were hosted on pay-per-view. In contrast, this recent Sydney card was shown on UFC Fight Pass worldwide and on Fox Sports 3 locally.
While this Sydney card didn’t have the star power of a Las Vegas pay-per-view event, the exciting fights and finishes show that these cards still provide the entertainment that fans look for.
In addition, more shows means more exposure and easier access for fans.
With more live fights available than ever, there is now a bigger roster for fans to get to know and support. From this, new stars will emerge to take the places of those before them.
In short, the story of the UFC’s death has been greatly exaggerated.
For Australia, this card shows that the UFC’s ventures to our shores are successful both for the organisation and the local economy. The sport may have its critics but it’s definitely not going away anytime soon.
With the upcoming state elections in Victoria, the UFC will continue to push for the Victorian government to lift its cage ban. The success of this card will go a long way towards that.
Miscellaneous notes from the card
• Impressive UFC debut from Aussie Olympian Daniel Kelly. At 36, there is a lot that Kelly can achieve in his UFC career.
• Despite the loss, it was an impressive showing from Richie Vas. Slick boxing on his part.
• First the shoulder injury and now the accidental knockout. It has been a rough go for Dylan Andrews. Here’s hoping the UFC decides to give him another shot.
• Perennial underdog Anthony Perosh proves that there is still a lot of life left in the 42-year-old. He displayed some sublime skill in submitting Guto Inocente.
• I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: the ceiling is high for Jake Matthews.
• Despite looking small next to the big middleweight Clint Hester, Robert Whittaker showed that he belongs in the middleweight division.
• Following the mould of his coach Matt Serra and training partner Chris Weidman, Al Iaquinta made the most of his opportunity in defeating Ross Pearson. The Serra-Longo camp continues to prove that they’re one of the best teams around, especially when the odds are stacked against them.
• Rockhold has solidified his spot in the upper tier of middleweights. Expect a title shot within the next year.
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