The Weekly Wrap: Dec 3 - Dec. 10

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The Weekly Wrap walks readers through the last seven days in MMA, recapping and putting into context the week's top story, important news and notable quotes. 

Top Story

A head-to-head television battle between the “The Ultimate Fighter 12 Finale” and Strikeforce “Henderson vs. Babalu II” on Dec. 4 saw a trio of memorable knockouts in St. Louis and a new “Ultimate Fighter” crowned in Las Vegas, where another judges’ decision prompted catcalls and probing questions about MMA scoring criteria.

The two presentations did comparatively well in television ratings, with no clear indication that one affected the numbers of the other. The UFC presentation scored a 1.4 rating on Spike TV for an average of two million viewers, the same audience number as last season’s finale. Strikeforce scored a 1.2 rating and 341,000 average viewers on Showtime, the fifth-highest number the promotion has put up on the network in 2010. The reason there is a disparity in audience size with the close ratings points between the two events is that Showtime is available in 18.2 million homes and Spike is available in 96 million homes.

Dan Henderson, Paul Daley and Robbie Lawler closed out Strikeforce’s year at St. Louis’ Scottrade Center with galvanizing, clean first-round knockouts. Henderson was in old form, as he mauled Renato Sobral with five punches while hovering above the Brazilian’s guard; Daley scored a perfect and brutal left hook counter to knock out Scott Smith; and Lawler used a right hook followed by a raining bomb to separate Matt Lindland from consciousness. All three winners entered title shot conversations after their wins, with Henderson expected to be offered a fight against light heavyweight titleholder Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante in the first quarter of 2011.

In Las Vegas, 25-year-old Jonathan Brookins became the latest “Ultimate Fighter” winner by recovering from a shaky first round against Michael Johnson to take a unanimous decision. Johnson came on strong with punches to Brookins’ wide-open chin but did not finish. After the fight, Johnson cited a concern that he had expended his energy in the first frame. Brookins used scrambles, takedowns and top control to turn the tide and take the final two frames. Brookins, who won “The Ultimate Fighter” contract as a lightweight, said he would entertain competing at featherweight going forward, as he did against Jose Aldo under the World Extreme Cagefighting banner in 2008. He suffered a left foot injury in the fight that will keep him shelved for six months unless cleared by a doctor.

Though he won in the main event, Brookins was not at the center of post-show discussion. Nam Phan’s split decision loss to Leonard Garcia sparked yet another fervent round of debate about judges’ scoring. Phan, who used a more tactical, reserved striking attack than his flailing foe, took all three rounds on Sherdog.com’s scorecards but lost on two of the three official cards. Phan landed more overall strikes and more significant strikes in all three rounds, according to FightMetric.

Longtime Nevada judges Adelaide Byrd and Tony Weeks gave rounds one and three to Garcia, prompting ear-splitting “Bulls--t!” chants from the crowd at the Palms Casino Resort. State athletic commission director Keith Kizer said in interviews that the judges were swayed by how active Garcia was in round three, compared to Phan’s approach of picking his shots. Kizer, who said he was shocked by the decision, said he would review the call with the judges, with a particular emphasis on the third frame. UFC color analyst Joe Rogan ranted against MMA judging on the television broadcast and levied further criticism of Kizer on the Internet.

Despite the loss, sympathetic UFC officials paid Phan his win bonus, bringing his purse to $16,000. Garcia made $32,000. Both fighters also received $30,000 bonuses for having the night’s best fight. Garcia, who fatigued markedly in the match, took the bout on a few weeks’ notice, as he was not told who he would be fighting or at what weight until it was clear Phan was not a Season 12 finalist.

Other “The Ultimate Fighter 12” Finale notes of interest:

Demian Maia took home a win and the highest disclosed pay of the night ($80,000), using takedowns and back control to win the first two rounds over Kendall Grove. Maia told GracieMag.com the UFC was interested in matching him next against Michael Bisping, though Jorge Rivera’s manager told MMAJunkie.com that bout agreements have already been signed for a Rivera vs. Bisping match in February.

Two-time NCAA national wrestling champion Johny Hendricks suffered his first MMA loss, dropping a unanimous 29-28 decision to Rick Story. Hendricks had won nine straight. Story’s agent said after the fight that the muscular Washingtonian is now ready for Top 10 opposition.

Cody McKenzie scored another uncanny guillotine choke victory and earned another Octagon appointment next month. McKenzie took home the $30K submission bonus for tapping Aaron Wilkinson with a jaw-wrenching version of his staple technique two minutes into their fight. The bout made the Spike TV broadcast. Subsequently, McKenzie was tapped to face Yves Edwards on the undercard of the UFC “Fight for the Troops 2” card Jan. 22 on Spike TV.

Also picking up wins at the “The Ultimate Fighter 12” Finale were Stephan Bonnar (unanimous decision over Igor Pokrajac), Ian Loveland (unanimous decision over Tyler Toner), Kyle Watson (unanimous decision over Sako Chivitchyan), Nick Pace (third-round choke submission over Will Campuzano), Pablo Garza (first-round flying knee knockout of Fredson Paixao) and Dave Branch (unanimous decision over Rich Attonito). Garza took home the $30K knockout bonus for a brutal KO that left Paixao prone on the mat for an uncomfortably long time. Paixao was not seriously injured.

The event drew a live crowd of 1,903 (1,178 paid) for a $380,000 gate at the Palms Casino Resort, down from $430,250 for the “The Ultimate Fighter” 11 Finale in the same venue.

Season 12 of “The Ultimate Fighter,” featuring rival coaches Georges St. Pierre and Josh Koscheck, drew an average television rating of 1.29, the fifth-highest in the reality show’s history, MMAPayout.com reported. Season 13 launches in March.

Other Strikeforce “Henderson vs. Sobral 2” notes of interest:

Paul Daley called out K.J. Noons following his Strikeforce debut, saying he wants the fight as a setup for a shot at welterweight champion Nick Diaz. The Diaz camp and Strikeforce brass seemed interest in making the title fight next, with Diaz looking to fight in January. Daley signed a two-year, six-fight contract with Strikeforce.

Despite taking the bout on late notice, Mike Kyle reportedly refused to take a flat-rate compensation to fight at heavyweight against Antonio Silva. Kyle blasted Silva with a right hand early toward taking a 10-8 first round on Sherdog scorecards, reportedly breaking his hand in two places in the process. Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker said the performance actually improved Kyle’s stock at 205 pounds, where he holds a win over champion Cavalcante.

Lindland’s knockout loss resulted in his being issued a 120-day medical suspension. He must undergo an MRI and receive neurological clearance before he fights next.

The event attracted an announced 7,146 fans to Scottrade Center, the lowest crowd of Strikeforce’s three events in the city.

Also picking up wins were Antonio Silva (round-two TKO over Mike Kyle), Ovince St. Preux (unanimous decision over Benji Radach), Wayne Phillips (split decision over Fernando Bettega), Justin Lawrence (technical decision over Max Martyniouk); and Patrick Cummins (round-one TKO over Terrell Brown). The Phillips, Lawrence and Cummins fights streamed live on Sherdog.com as the conclusion to the EA Sports- Sherdog MMA Fighter Exchange.