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#4 Andrei Arlovski vs. Paul Buentello – UFC 55 – 10/07/2005
From a fight where even the referee seemed confused, we go to a finish that baffled everyone – everyone outside of referee ‘Big’ John McCarthy, who made one of the bravest calls of his career and saved an unconscious fighter from what could’ve been a brutal beating in the process.
Andrei Arlovski had captured the UFC Interim Heavyweight title at UFC 51 in early 2005, and after one successful defence, the UFC officials decided to upgrade his title to the ‘real’ championship when reigning champ Frank Mir was unable to return to action.
His first proper defence would come against striker Paul Buentello – winner of two successive UFC fights – at UFC 55.
Most fans were picking Arlovski, although the majority also agreed that Buentello – with his surprisingly quick boxing game and tough reputation – would give the Belarusian a tougher fight than he was expecting. In the end, they couldn’t have been further from the truth.
The fight began and Buentello came out firing punches at Arlovski, who appeared to duck underneath for a takedown....only for McCarthy to quickly dive in and stop the fight. At first, it seemed like a classic gaffe.
Arlovski began to celebrate, first in silence, and then to a crowd chant of “bullsh*t”, but when the fans saw Buentello being helped to his feet, it was clear that something else had happened.
Finally, a replay confirmed it – Arlovski hadn’t ducked for a takedown, he’d caught Buentello cleanly with a killer right hand to the jaw, knocking him senseless, and the reason he’d ducked was to avoid Buentello’s falling body. The camera angle shown on TV simply hadn’t picked up the telling blow.
This wasn’t a unique one-punch knockout – the UFC has seen hundreds – but it was very much a crazy finish in that everyone – from the fans to announcers Craig Hummer and Joe Rogan – was baffled until they saw the replay.
In the end, it stands as a testament to Arlovski’s punching power – and the great refereeing skills of ‘Big John’.
