The UFC might want to start preparing a space in the Hall of Fame for a featherweight bout between Nate Landwehr and David Onama as the two slugged it out in a contest that several fans heralded as the fight of the year at UFC San Diego.
Landwehr beat Onama via majority decision (29-27 x 2, 28-28), but it was far from a straightforward victory.
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Onama had the better of the exchanges in the first round and dropped the Tennessee native with a thundering right hand that caught Landwehr flush on the side of his head.
However, Onama returned to his corner at the end of the first round and looked completely gassed whilst sitting on his stool.
The fatigue showed early in the second round as Landwehr came flying out of the gates and unloaded on strikers.
It was like a big brother toying with his little brother as Landwehr took Onama down whenever he pleased.
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The 34-year-old also seemed to have multiple submissions locked in, but Onama continued to squirm out thanks to a sweaty body allowing him to elude whatever Landwehr threw his way.
Such was the dominance and lack of response from Onama that his trainer asked him if he wanted to continue fighting in between the second and third rounds, but he was keen to continue.
The third round was a grandstand finish, as Landwehr gestured to the crowd and waved his arms up and down to generate even more noise.
It lived up to the billing, as Landwehr continued to pile on the shots.
However, despite Onama’s fatigue clearly setting in, he dug deep and answered back with strikes of his own that had Landwehr scrambling.
Ultimately it was Landwehr that secured the victory and in his post-fight speech, he emphatically declared that “my mama didn’t raise no b***h baby.”
Fight fans were in awe at the slugfest they had just witnessed in San Diego.
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