In-cage performances are definitely the ones that speak most to MMA fans even though the pre-fight hype is the enjoyable part of the sport. For most of the fighters, this is the time where they showcase their skills for everyone to see, and this chance comes only a couple of times a year.
All 26 fighters had the chance to show their skills inside the octagon during UFC 193 held at the Etihad Stadium in Melbourne, Australia. Now that UFC 193 has ended, here are the “Three Stars” of the event as announced in MMAjunkie’s ceremony.
Third Star: Joanna Jedrzejczyk
Women’s MMA strawweight title holder Joanna Jedrzejczyk, who now has a record of 11-0 MMA and 5-0 UFC, has won again for the second time against contender Valerie Letourneau. However, the reigning strawweight champ didn’t deliver an amazing performance like everybody expected since this is probably the highlight of her career.
Jedrzejczyk displayed amazing techniques and striking moves during the entire five rounds of the bout. Her contender, Valerie Letourneau, who has now a record of 8-4 MMA and 3-1 UFC, received a total of 220 significant hits which resulted to a loss by unanimous decision.
It wasn’t all downhill for Letourneau though. The women’s MMA contender managed to throw a couple of strong hits to the champ during the early rounds. Unfortunately, Jedrzejczyk managed to get her groove and shot back hit after hit. A total of 70 leg kicks landed on Letourneau and this is actually a record breaker; the leg kicks had set a new single-fight record in the promotion.
Even though Jedrzejczyk wasn’t able to wow the fans on one of the biggest PPV events this year, the skills she showed during the entire fight was enough to prove to everybody that she is definitely a tough cookie to beat at the 115-pound division.
Second Star: Mark Hunt
Even at 41, Mark Hunt (11-10-1 MMA, 6-4-1 UFC) still has the power to put any heavyweight to sleep, and he showed it in his rematch with Antonio Silva (19-8-1 MMA, 3-5-1 UFC).
Mark Hunt, now with a record of 11-10-1 MMA and 6-4-1 UFC, has proven that age has very little bearing in order to win fights inside the octagon. At age 41, Hunt has managed to destroy Antonio Silva during this rematch. The MMA heavyweight fighter now has a record of 19-8-1 MMA and 3-5-1 UFC.
First Star: Holly Holm
Of course, who would possibly forget the victory the Holly Holm achieved that night. Holm, now with a flawless record of 10-0 MMA and 3-0 UFC, has surprised practically the whole world with finally defeating the 3-year bantamweight champion, Ronda Rousey, with her perfectly executed game plan.
While everybody was rooting for Rousey to win the much-awaited fight in seconds, just like in her previous bouts, pro-boxing champ Holly Holm has managed to outskill and outwit the former bantamweight champ. Rousey, now with a new record of 12-1 MMA and 6-1 UFC, came crashing down to the mat when she received a massive head kick during the second which ultimately ended the epic fight.