By Mike Johnston2010 is winding down and this is the time of year for the MMA world to reflect. The UFC has done some reflecting and has named Canadians Claude Patrick and Rory MacDonald as two of their top ten newcomers of the year. In an article on ufc.com the world’s leading fight promotion placed Patrick at number ten, one behind MacDonald who was named number nine on a list that includes several possible future champions.
“Winner of ten in a row (all finishes) when he stepped into the Octagon for the first time in June, Toronto’s Claude Patrick kept the streak going with a second round submission win over Ricardo Funch,” the article stated. “And while his decision win over James Wilks four months later was far from a barnburner, the 30-year old jiu-jitsu ace is going to be a tough out for anyone at 170 pounds in 2011 and beyond.”
Claude Patrick was recently in Toronto signing autographs for fans on the same day the UFC announced UFC 131 would take place in Toronto. He said it would be a dream come true to fight in front of his hometown crowd at the Rogers Centre. Patrick’s next opponent has yet to be named, but in all likelihood he will be fighting at UFC 131 on April 30.
“Just 21 years old, Rory MacDonald entered the UFC with plenty of hype behind him, and he kept the buzz going with a first round submission victory against veteran Mike Guymon in January,” the article said. “But the kid from Kelowna, British Columbia, made believers out of the staunchest skeptics in June, when he battled tooth and nail with Carlos Condit, a legit and longtime contender who no 21-year old should be holding his own with. But MacDonald is far from your typical youngster, and though he got stopped in the third round of UFC 115’s Fight of the Night, expect big things from him in the future.”
Rounding out the top ten were:
8. TUF 12 winner Jonathan Brookins,
7. welterweight Daniel Roberts,
6. heavyweight slugger Joey Beltran,
5. TUF 11 winner Court McGee,
4. Australian Kyle Noke,
3.young gun Charles Oliveira,
2. top welterweight contender Jake Shields, and
1.“Mr. Wonderful” Phil Davis
There are several other Canadians that could have made the list as well. Sean Pierson won his UFC debut with a record setting performance. According to fightmetric.com Pierson landed 112 significant strikes in his three round war with Matthew Riddle at UFC 124, the most strikes ever landed by a UFC debutant.
John Makdessi who was also victorious in his UFC debut at UFC 124 put on a striking clinic, throwing spinning kicks, axe kicks, hook kicks, and crisp combinations. In addition to his offensive flair, Makdessi showed tight defense and solid takedown defense.
And, although he has yet to make his UFC debut, Chris Horodecki is on a two fight winning streak in the WEC’s soon-to-be-defunct lightweight division. He takes on Donald Cerrone at WEC 53 and with a good showing he could make waves in the UFC in 2011.
For more MMA news and notes followhttp://twitter.com/#%21/MikeyJ_MMA
“Winner of ten in a row (all finishes) when he stepped into the Octagon for the first time in June, Toronto’s Claude Patrick kept the streak going with a second round submission win over Ricardo Funch,” the article stated. “And while his decision win over James Wilks four months later was far from a barnburner, the 30-year old jiu-jitsu ace is going to be a tough out for anyone at 170 pounds in 2011 and beyond.”
Claude Patrick was recently in Toronto signing autographs for fans on the same day the UFC announced UFC 131 would take place in Toronto. He said it would be a dream come true to fight in front of his hometown crowd at the Rogers Centre. Patrick’s next opponent has yet to be named, but in all likelihood he will be fighting at UFC 131 on April 30.
“Just 21 years old, Rory MacDonald entered the UFC with plenty of hype behind him, and he kept the buzz going with a first round submission victory against veteran Mike Guymon in January,” the article said. “But the kid from Kelowna, British Columbia, made believers out of the staunchest skeptics in June, when he battled tooth and nail with Carlos Condit, a legit and longtime contender who no 21-year old should be holding his own with. But MacDonald is far from your typical youngster, and though he got stopped in the third round of UFC 115’s Fight of the Night, expect big things from him in the future.”
Rounding out the top ten were:
8. TUF 12 winner Jonathan Brookins,
7. welterweight Daniel Roberts,
6. heavyweight slugger Joey Beltran,
5. TUF 11 winner Court McGee,
4. Australian Kyle Noke,
3.young gun Charles Oliveira,
2. top welterweight contender Jake Shields, and
1.“Mr. Wonderful” Phil Davis
There are several other Canadians that could have made the list as well. Sean Pierson won his UFC debut with a record setting performance. According to fightmetric.com Pierson landed 112 significant strikes in his three round war with Matthew Riddle at UFC 124, the most strikes ever landed by a UFC debutant.
John Makdessi who was also victorious in his UFC debut at UFC 124 put on a striking clinic, throwing spinning kicks, axe kicks, hook kicks, and crisp combinations. In addition to his offensive flair, Makdessi showed tight defense and solid takedown defense.
And, although he has yet to make his UFC debut, Chris Horodecki is on a two fight winning streak in the WEC’s soon-to-be-defunct lightweight division. He takes on Donald Cerrone at WEC 53 and with a good showing he could make waves in the UFC in 2011.
For more MMA news and notes followhttp://twitter.com/#%21/MikeyJ_MMA
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