UFC’s 20th Anniversary Delivers An Amazing Year For Fans
There are four more UFC events to be held in December before the curtain closes on 2013. It has been a remarkable year celebrating the UFC’s 20th Anniversary with the most anticipated rematch still to come between Anderson Silva and Chris Weidman. Fans will also be treated to the biggest grudge match in a female division between Rhonda Rousey and Miesha Tate. We now take a look back at some of the calendar moments in 2013 that made it such an exciting year.
January
The first event in January 2013 was kicked off with Vitor Belfort’s infamous head kick finish over Michael Bisping.
We also witnessed Mighty Mouse defeat Dodson proving that speed kills. Anthony Pettis lit up Donald Cerrone’s liver like a Xmas tree and Texeira said goodbye to Rampage Jackson after a decision win. Ricardo Lamas looked amazing getting a TKO finish in the first against Eric Koch and TJ Grant KO’d Matt Wiman in the first round.
February
Jose Aldo took out a unanimous decision win over Frankie Edgar in a five rounder. Antonio ‘bigfoot’ Silva destroys Alistair Overeem. Damien Maia sends John Finch packing after a unanimous decision win. Tyron Woodley gets a first round KO over Jay Hieron.
Renan Barao keeps the buzz alive with a fourth round Submission victory over Michael McDonald. Matthew Riddle gets cut after a positive test and his victory over Che Mills turns to a no contest. Jimi Manuwa gets a TKO finish with a calf injury to Cyrille Diabate.
Rousey makes easy work of Liz Carmouche scoring an arm bar finish. Lyoto Machida gets the decision win over Dan Henderson. Uriah Faber is looking amazing with a first round submission win over Ivan Menjivar. Robbie Lawler gives Josh Koscheck his first of two KOs for the year in the first round.
March
Its time to say goodbye to Brian Stann after a devastating KO loss to Wanderlei Silva. Both fighters trading like madmen and one had to fall. Mark Hunt leaves Stefan’s Struve’s jaw in two pieces like a jigsaw puzzle. Yushin Okami defeats Hector Lombard but finds himself almost out on his feet.
GSP takes a unanimous decision win over Nick Diaz. Johnny Hendricks takes a decision over Carlos Condit. Jake Ellenberger knocks out Nate Marquardt in the first round
April
The fight that was never meant to occur. Mousasi vs. Latifi (after Gustafsson receives a cut over his eye in training). Ryan Couture suffers a TKO at the hands of Ross Pearson. Connor Mc Gregor destroys Marcus Brimage on the feet with a TKO 1 minute into the first round.
Uriah Faber impressive again this time defeating friend Scott Jorgensen via submission in the 4th. Uriah Hall falls short against Kevin Gustalem to a decision loss. Cat Zingano works a Muay Thai clinic against the face of Meisha Tate to earn a TKO finish.
Gilbert Melendez is on the receiving end of an unfavourable split decision loss to Benson Henderson after 5 rounds. Daniel Cormier earns a safe win over Frank Mir. Josh Thompson knocks out Nate Diaz with a head kick. Matt Brown knocks out Jordan Mein.
Jon Jones man handles Chael Sonnen with a referee stoppage in the first. Bisping gives Belcher a poke in his eye stopping the bout. Roy Nelson sends Cheick Congo packing with a KO finish in the first round.
May
Belfort claims another head kick victory over Luke Rockhold. Ronaldo Souza is on fire with a second round submission win over Chris Camozzi.
Cain Velasquez destroys Bigfoot Silva with a TKO in the first round. Junior Dos Santos secures a spinning heel kick KO over Mark Hunt. TJ Grant knocks out Gray Maynard.
June
Big Nog gets submitted by Fabricio Werdum.
July
Chris Weidman does the unthinkable and knocks out Anderson Silva. Mark Munoz puts a ground and pound beating on Tim Boetsch. Tim Kennedy defeats a gassed out Roger Gracie. Gabriel Gonzaga gets a KO finish over Dave Herman.
Mighty Mouse proves too good again against John Moraga, defeating him via submission in the fifth round. Robbie Lawler knocks out Bobby Voelker via head kick.
August
The Korean Zombie suffers a shoulder dislocation against Jose Aldo with the fight ending via TKO in the fourth.
Chael impresses with a first round submission win over Shogun Rua much to the dismay of Wanderlei Silva.
Travis Browne flattens Alistair Overeem with a front kick. Matt Brown gets a KO over Mike Pyle much to the surprise of many.
Carlos Condit gets a TKO over Martin Kampmann in the fourth round
Anthony Pettis takes the title from Benson Henderson with a submission victory in the first round. Josh Barnett makes a statement finishing Frank Mir via TKO in the first round. The unstoppable Clay Guida gets TKO by Chad Mendes. Ben Rothwell defeats Brandon Vera via TKO in the third only to return a suspect blood sample.
September
Glover makes his claim for a title shot after a TKO over Ryan Bader in the first. Ronaldo Souza knocks out Yushin Okami in the first and sends him packing.
Gustafsson loses a five round decision but gives Bones the fight of his life, putting the champion on a stretcher after the fight. Renan Barao on fire with a TKO finish over Eddie Wineland.
October
Jake Shields took a split decision over Damien Maia. Rousimar Palhares upsets fans with his failure to release a submission over Mike Pierce. Quickly released from the promotion by Dana White.
Cain Velasquez again destroys Jnr Dos Santos with a TKO finish late in the fifth round. Gabriel Gonzaga is back with another KO, this time over Shawn Jordan. Hector Lombard scores his first impressive KO in the Octagon against a very flat looking Nate Marquardt in the first round. Gilbert Melendez and Diego Sanchez put on a war.
Lyoto Machida earns a KO over Mark Munoz. Jimi Manuwa impresses again with a quick TKO finish over Ryan Jimmo in the second round
November
Tim Kennedy salutes the troops with a big KO finish over Rafael Natal in the first round.
Vitor Belfort knocks out Dan Henderson in the first round.
GSP gets a controversial decision victory over Johnny Hendricks but looks worse for wear as he presents to the press conference with a badly swollen head with stitches.
December
Anderson Silva vs. Chris Weidman & Miesha Tate vs. Ronda Rousey
