UFC 137 will live in the annals of mixed martial arts history as it represents the night that legends BJ Penn and Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic may have fought their last professional fights.
In the featured attraction, a bout that will go down as one of the most exciting fights ever, former Strikeforce welterweight champion Nick Diaz put on a career-defining performance against the former two-division UFC king in front of 10,313 raging fans at the Mandalay Bay Events Center.
Diaz overcame a strong first round from "The Prodigy" before breaking him down with a furious offensive storm. Diaz's high punch volume and creative combinations took their toll on the Hawaiian great, but Penn lived up to his reputation as a tenacious scrapper and he traded fists with Diaz until the final bell sounded.
In the end, Diaz was awarded the unanimous decision win on scores of 29-28 twice and 29-27, now positioning himself as an upcoming title challenger for UFC welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre. Unsurprisingly, both fighters were rewarded with a $75,000 bonus for "Fight of the Night."
“Things would have been different if there were five rounds,” said Diaz. “I would have taken him out for sure in the fourth. B.J. is one of the best there is and not that many would go out there and take all those punches.”
Penn, meanwhile, will need to confirm his decision to step away from the sport. Following his draw with Jon Fitch in February, an emotional Penn said it could be the last time he stepped into the octagon. However, this time around, Penn survived a true war with Diaz. If he does indeed call it quits, he will walk away a warrior who fought valiantly until the end.
"That's never happened to B.J. before, what happened to him tonight,” said UFC president Dana White at the post-fight news conference. "What a warrior B.J. is to stand in the pocket with Diaz for three rounds.”
Penn's successes in the sport are well-documented and his contributions have been profound. The beloved 32-year-old, armed with a skillset that has dazzled audiences since 2001, leaves behind an incomparable legacy.
Diaz will now be rewarded with greater opportunities on a much bigger stage. For casual UFC fans unfamiliar with Diaz until UFC 137, they will certainly take notice now.
The 29-year-old Stockton, Calif., native wasted little time challenging St. Pierre after his emphatic triumph, even going as far as accusing the welterweight champion of faking an injury because he's scared to face him.
The moment of truth will come when the classy torchbearer steps into the Octagon across from the outspoken banger. It will make for a compelling clash of personalities and styles, as well as a guaranteed pay-per-view success for the UFC. Win or lose, Diaz has cemented his place as a fighter who always comes to put on a show, which will consequently turn him into a major draw for the organization.
In fact, White was so intrigued by Diaz calling out St. Pierre and the champion’s subsequent reaction to the accusations that he has granted Diaz the next shot at the title ahead of Carlos Condit.
In a heavyweight showdown, Roy Nelson survived some precarious predicaments in his battle with the 2006 Pride Fighting Championships Open-Weight Grand Prix winner Cro Cop.
Cro Cop had Nelson hurt badly in the second round, but his aging body started to give as the fight progressed into the third. It was a gutsy outing for Cro Cop, but he ultimately lost the fight by TKO in the final round.
After the win, Nelson, who was in visibly better physical condition compared to some of his recent UFC appearances, challenged the winner of the Cain Velasquez-Junior dos Santos heavyweight title bout this November.
Nelson's insistence on fighting the No. 1 heavyweight on the planet is admirable, but also a highly unlikely scenario. After rebounding from successive setbacks against Frank Mir and Dos Santos, Nelson should consider bouts against the likes of Shane Carwin and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira.
In defeat, Cro Cop confirmed his retirement at the age of 37. The Croatian legend was unable to replicate his Pride successes in North America, but he still enters the history books as one of the best heavyweights of all time.
Widely acknowledged as one of the most lethal strikers in the game, Cro Cop has competed in 40 professional bouts since transitioning from the K-1 kickboxing circuit in 2001.
The decision to hang it up comes at a good time for him as he's accomplished all he needs to accomplish and he's left with nothing to prove.
In another heavyweight contest, Cheick Kongo and Matt Mitrione fought for three rounds in what was primarily a stalemate. The action was minimal over 15 minutes, but Kongo was slightly more effective with his strikes and his wrestling, which gave him the unanimous decision nod.
Bantamweights Jeff Curran and Scott Jorgensen engaged in a spirited battle for three rounds with Curran exhibiting his vastly improved boxing, while Jorgensen used his wrestling to dictate where the fight took place. After three rounds of action, Jorgensen won a hard-fought unanimous decision.
In the first televised matchup on the pay-per-view card, Japanese sensation Hatsu Hioki overcame a difficult test in his UFC debut, outpointing George Roop via razor-thin split decision.
Hioki, widely regarded as one of the top three featherweights in the world, could benefit from more UFC experience before a title shot becomes a reality. Hioki is one of the premier Japanese fighters in the world and he was vocal in his post-fight interview about Japanese MMA being alive and well.
Despite dropping a decision, Roop actually showcased notable improvements in his fight with Hioki, both in his striking game and on the mat. He, too, has the potential to become a legitimate title contender in the near future.
In the Spike TV headliner, former WEC lightweight title challenger Donald Cerrone simply dominated up-and-coming contender Dennis Siver in a masterful performance. Cerrone landed better strikes to wobble Siver early on and he capitalized by sinking in a fight-ending rear-naked choke in the first round, which also earned him an additional $75,000 for "Submission of the Night."
After recording his fourth UFC victory of 2011, it's impossible to discount Cerrone's credibility as a lightweight title contender. Stylistically, a fight with UFC champion Frankie Edgar would undoubtedly be a crowd-pleaser. With that being said, the winner of an upcoming tilt between Ben Henderson and Clay Guida is probably more deserving of getting the next crack at Edgar. In the meantime, Cerrone would match up well with Nate Diaz, Nick’s brother. The winner of a fight between these gutsy combatants would not only deserve a shot at the title, but fight fans would be treated to a heated brawl between two men who always put on a show.
Bart Palaszewski made a statement in his UFC debut, dropping to featherweight and crushing former lightweight title contender Tyson Griffin in his first appearance at 145 pounds. Palaszewski rocked Griffin with his improved hands and knocked him out with a wild flurry of hooks in the first round. With the win, not only did Palaszewski pocket $75,000 for "Knockout of the Night," he positioned himself as a contender in the featherweight division.
