Sherdog’s Top 10: Bloodiest Battles

Joe Stevenson's elbows painted the canvas red at UFC 61. | Sherdog.com

5. Joe Stevenson vs. Yves Edwards
UFC 61 “Bitter Rivals” -- July 8, 2006
Mandalay Bay Events Center | Las Vegas
UFC 61 was a largely lackluster undertaking, lowlighted by a tepid five-round heavyweight title affair between Tim Sylvia and Andrei Arlovski and an aging Ken Shamrock falling victim to Tito Ortiz for a second time via controversial stoppage. However, even the most disappointing fight card tends to have a hidden gem or two, and in this case it was Stevenson and Edwards who did their best to satisfy the bloodthirsty masses.

With none other than the future “Machete” himself, Danny Trejo, in attendance, the two lightweights squared off in the opening pay-per-view bout. Edwards set the tone in the early going, rocking his foe with a head kick before sending him to the canvas with a follow-up flurry of punches. Stevenson would recover quickly, however, and controlled the second half of the stanza with ground-and-pound from above, opening a small cut on Edwards’ forehead.

That was only a small taste of the carnage to come, as a heavy onslaught of punches and elbows from top position opened up a far more significant gash on the side of Edward’s head in round two. A puddle rapidly formed under the two combatants as Stevenson methodically attacked. The action was temporarily halted so Edwards could be examined, and then the fight was restarted right back in the pool of the “Thugjitsu Master’s” blood. Edwards survived the round, but the cageside doctor elected to call off the fight prior to the beginning of the final frame.

Although a disappointed Edwards would have liked to continue, UFC commentator Mike Goldberg offered this helpful reminder at the bout’s conclusion: “The ultimate of importance is our fighter’s safety.”

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