8. Joseph Benavidez vs. Miguel Torres
Torres was World Extreme Cagefighting’s long-running bantamweight champion, with a thrilling list of victories before he finally fell beneath the fists of Brian Bowles in August 2009. His following matchup with Benavidez looked very much like a get-back-on-track booking for the former divisional kingpin, with Torres clocking in as a -350 favorite. However, the Team Alpha Male product quickly showed that to be a mistaken impression.
The first round was tight and so was the second, for the first two and a half minutes or so. Benavidez pushed Torres toward the fence, feinted a punch to draw out the counter and then hit a lovely blast double. The second Torres’ back hit the mat, Benavidez postured up and threw some of the hardest elbows anyone has ever seen. The first was a grazing shot, but the second connected cleanly and opened an enormous gash through which Torres’ skull was visible. Shortly afterward, Torres attempted to scramble back to his feet, Benavidez grabbed his neck in the transition and the former champion tapped to the guillotine.
Number 7 » Browne’s Guide to Takedown Defense