Best Performance Of The Night: Edwin Figueroa At UFC Fight Night 24 "Nogueira vs. Davis"

It’s that time once again, fans and friends. Another major MMA event has come and gone, and it’s time for my unofficial “Best Performance of the Night” award. The winner of “BPOTN” for the UFC’s recent “Fight Night 24” event may come as a total shock to many of you, since typically this kind of award is given to a top-level fighter that put on a dominating, winning performance. But if there’s one thing I strive not to be, it’s typical. So I’m giving this award to someone who lost, but who in the process displayed all the heart and drive necessary to one day possibly become a champion in this sport. Here’s why Edwin Figueroa’s thrilling three rounds of non-stop combat against Michael McDonald took home “Best Performance of the Night”.

Let’s start off as always: let’s put this fight into context.

Coming into this fight, Edwin Figueroa had never competed in the UFC before. In an era where hot prospects compete four, five, or even six times per year, Figueroa competed twice in 2007, twice in 2008, once in 2009, and twice in 2010. But with this diminished fight schedule came an undefeated record of 7-0 and almost four year’s worth of experience. Also, Figueroa had finished all seven of his professional fights, with three first-round stoppages, and he had never been out of the second round.

His opponent, Michael McDonald, was an even hotter prospect that did have some big-league experience. McDonald was 11-1 coming into Fight Night 24, and was on a four-fight win-streak that saw him successfully debut in the WEC promotion, the premier promotion for lighter-weight fighters up until it was absorbed by the UFC. McDonald won his WEC debut with a first-round armbar in one of the last shows the WEC would ever run.

Another important factor to consider is the timing of this fight. Up until March 16, McDonald was expected to face Nick Pace. But on that day it was announced that the 6-1 Pace had been forced to pull out of the event with an injury. Figueroa was called in as an ultra-late replacement and had roughly a week to prepare for what would certainly be the most important fight of his career.

And then the fight started, and several things became very clear.

It became clear that something very special was inside Edwin Figueroa. It became very clear that in order to submit Figueroa, McDonald would have to choke him unconscious. It became very clear that Figueroa didn’t have an ounce of quit in him.

In a night that featured stars like Phil Davis, Anthony Johnson, Dan Hardy, Amir Sadollah and others, this free Facebook fight was by far the best fight of the night. It was a thrilling back-and-forth war that saw both men put their hearts and souls on display while bringing out the best in each other. The only reason the pace slowed in the third and final round was because they had nearly lit the ring on fire with the pace of their first two rounds. This was the kind of UFC debut any fighter should be very, very proud of.

At the end of the fight, both men embraced each other. They even embraced each other’s corner-men. Even the corner-men embraced each other. It was simply a fantastic fight, something that all men involved should be and were rightfully proud of. It was a fight that personally reminded me why I’m so glad to be an MMA fan. When the decision came, McDonald won by Unanimous Decision. However, it was very clear that no one had really lost that fight.

In his post-fight interview, Figueroa summed it up very simply: he comes from the mentality that you’ve got to kill him to beat him, and if he’s still standing, he’s still fighting. That’s the definition of a warrior, that’s the clearest example of a warrior’s spirit. No one can teach that, and it’s always been a rare trait.

Edwin Figueroa’s performance at “Fight Night 24” was admirable, as was Michael McDonald’s. I just feel that Figueroa’s meant more. If I could, I’d give both men this award. But since I have to choose, I think Figueroa’s gutsy performance combined with his post-fight interview and the fact that he took this fight on such short notice all combined to create a performance I won’t soon forget. I don’t know what the future holds for Edwin Figueroa, but I’ll certainly be paying attention. Debate it if you like, but I have no problem awarding Edwin Figueroa “Best Performance of the Night”.

And what about you, fans and friends? Who took home your unofficial end-of-night accolades?