Muse Machine rehearsal
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Celebs come out for TV's '24'
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Stars turn out for film gala
Middleweight champ Silva the best in '07
Monday, December 31, 2007
The most successful year in mixed martial arts history has fewer than 24 hours remaining, so now's a good a time as any to examine some of the 2007 fight season's most accomplished fights and fighters — all with an area twist.
Top fighter
Extras
UFC light heavyweight champion Quinton Jackson has been the popular choice this year. However, UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva gets my vote. In addition to beating three quality opponents — Rich Franklin, Nate Marquardt and Travis Lutter — he's left zero doubt that he's the world's best 185-pound fighter alive. Two of his three 2007 wins came in Ohio.
Top area fighter
Franklin beat two quality opponents in 2007 (Jason MacDonald and Yushin Okami), but welterweight prospect Dustin Hazelett managed to make some waves in the UFC's most-crowded division. Hazelett (10-3), who trains at Jorge Gurgel's training center in West Chester Twp., went 3-0 in 2007. The 21-year-old has been granted a UFC 82 match with top-five welterweight Josh Koscheck.
Best area fight
Ohio hosted two major events in 2007 — UFC 68 in March and UFC 77 in October. Although the contest was completely one-sided, UFC 68's main event between Randy Couture and Tim Sylvia was the best. At 43 years of age, UFC hall-of-famer Couture came out of retirement to reclaim the heavyweight belt from an opponent who was 13 years younger, six inches taller and 40 pounds heavier. A sold-out Nationwide Arena crowd of 19,049 stood for the entire 25-minute fight.
Most improved fighter
Marcus Davis has proven it's never too late to chase a dream. After a hugely successful professional boxing career, the 34-year-old committed himself to MMA.
He worked jiu-jitsu with Gurgel extensively, and he's now a well-rounded fighter who's won 10 straight fights, including five straight in the UFC.
Top area official
Working hand in hand with UFC officials, Ohio Athletic Commission Executive Director Bernie Profato brought the world's top MMA promotion to the Buckeye State — twice in 2007 with a third event already planned for March. He's championed for MMA regulation and has made Ohio a hotbed for the budding sport.
Top area promotion
The North American Allied Fight Series hosted 12 events in 2007 at venues in and around Ohio.
Using a mixture of local prospects and veterans from some of the world's top promotions, the NAAFS has built a solid following and a reputation as one of MMA's top regional organizations.
Dann Stupp is editor-in-chief of MMAjunkie.com, a content-partner site of Yahoo! Sports. For the latest MMA news and rumors, visit www.mmajunkie.com.
