Specialists come up short at UFC 140

UFC 140 saw two specialists in their disciplines lose to their opponents, but it’s the way they suffered defeat that is garnering the most attention.

Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, arguably the greatest submission specialist in mixed martial arts history, was forced to tap out by fellow Brazilian jiujitsu black belt Frank Mir after a spectacular transition on the mat. Conversely, dynamic Canadian kickboxer Mark Hominick was countered instantaneously and knocked out in just seven seconds by South Korean brawler Chan Sung Jung, which tied the fastest officially documented knockout record in UFC history.

The two fights ended in opposite fashion, but the nature of the losses reflects a trend in the evolving sport. There may be experts in particular areas, but anyone can go down, even if they stick to their guns and rely on calculated game plans.

There is no longer a safe route to victory. Everyone is dangerous and everyone is well-rounded. The days of wild bangers and one-dimensional Brazilian jiujitsu practitioners dominating the game are a thing of the past. Of course, Nogueira and Hominick are well-rounded fighters, but overconfidence ultimately led to their downfall.

Nogueira nearly had Mir knocked out after dropping him with a wild flurry of blows. Instead of continuing to reign down punches, “Minotauro” opted to transition to a choke attempt, his bread and butter. But this actually proved to be a detrimental move as it allowed Mir to roll around and secure top position, which is where he locked in the fight-ending kimura.

Hominick, one of the most technically gifted strikers in the UFC, didn’t respect the power of his opponent, coming forward with a wild looping left hook. Jung timed the attack perfectly and countered with a beautiful straight right hand, dropping Hominick to the mat. Jung pounced on his fallen foe with a heavy barrage of punches and the fight was over seven seconds after it started.

Mir’s win earned him $75,000 for what UFC president Dana White declared the “Submission of the Century,” while Jung pocketed the same amount for his record-tying knockout.

Nogueira and Hominick didn't achieve the results they desired, but they have proven in the past to be mentally strong combatants.

Nogueira's fighting future is not as clear after he suffered a gruesome injury. The extent of his injury is still unknown, but the former Pride champion had his arm and shoulder badly contorted, and he will likely take an extended leave of absence to nurse those injuries.

At 35, Nogueira's best years are certainly behind him. Nogueira is feeling the effects of wear and tear on his body after demoralizing beatdowns from Fedor Emelianenko in 2004 and his subsequent knockout losses to Mir and Cain Velasquez in the UFC.

If Nogueira chooses to hang it up, his legacy will live on. Worshiped by millions of fans, Nogueira also has trained and mentored numerous mixed martial arts superstars, including UFC champions Anderson Silva and Junior dos Santos. If Nogueira never again enters the octagon, these warriors will continue fighting in honor of their master. Long story short, Nogueira will never be forgotten in hardcore MMA circles.

On the other hand, Hominick is far from done competing. The Ontario native is the first to admit that he underestimated Jung's striking, and he will consequently fight more cautiously in his next appearance.

The 29-year-old kickboxing specialist is fighting for his late coach Shawn Tompkins, who passed away from a heart attack earlier this year. Between Tompkins' death, his brutal clash with Jose Aldo at UFC 129 and the birth of his first daughter, Hominick's year has been a turbulent one with both ups and downs.

The former UFC featherweight title challenger was emotional after losing in front of the rabid Toronto crowd full of devoted fans, friends and family members. But the loss will drive him to come back stronger as he hopes to re-establish himself as a viable top contender.

For both Nogueira and Hominick, UFC 140 was an eye-opening experience. They did what they do best and still fell short of victory.

In a game of chess as complex as mixed martial arts, there's no playing it safe. Once the cage door closes, we saw firsthand that anything can happen.