The 6 Best Photos From UFC 152: Jones vs. Belfort

As the old saying goes “a picture is worth a thousand words”. The saying applies to this day and without a doubt, applies to mixed martial arts as some of the sports most historic moments are relived through the images that captured them.

There is nothing better than a snapshot of a fighter dealing with tragedy or triumph, or a picture of a perfectly timed strike, every microscopic fragment of impact relived as limbs and jaws collide. A photo can display a range of emotions, happiness and sadness, victory and defeat. Every picture is different, each having a unique distinction and personal story.

That being said, lets look back at the 6 best photos from UFC 152: Jones vs. Belfort.

6. A Mighty Slam
En route to becoming the first flyweight champion in UFC history, Demetrious Johnson slammed Joseph Benavidez around the cage to score points that helped him win the fight on two judge’s scorecards and earn a split decision victory. Johnson proved he’s made vast improvements in his wrestling game as he took Benavidez to the ground five times and was never taken down himself.

5. “The Phenom” Nearly Scores The Upset
Vitor Belfort nearly shocked the world in the opening minutes of the first round of the UFC 152 main event when he locked in an armbar on Jon Jones from bottom position. The Brazilian nearly broke the arm of the champion, but Jones managed to stay calm and work his way out of the submission. It was an exciting moment and one that proved Belfort has what it takes to defeat a fighter of the Jones’ calibre.

4. Seth Celebrates
“The Polish Pistola” Seth Baczynski pushed his UFC record to 4-0 at UFC 152 when he knocked Simeon Thoresen out cold in highlight reel fashion in the first round of their welterweight preliminary bout. At 6’3, Baczynski is the tallest 170-pound fighter on the UFC roster and is proving himself to be one of the most dangerous as he has finished three of his four fights inside the octagon.

3. A Submission For The Record Books
Jon Jones made history at UFC 152 when he picked up his fifth submission victory in the octagon, a UFC light heavyweight record. Jones submitted Vitor Belfort with an Americana armlock from top position at the 54-second mark of the fourth round after a fairly competitive opening 15-minutes. With the win, Jones earned his fourth consecutive title defense, tying the record of UFC Hall-of-Fame inductee Chuck Liddell for second all-time.

2. “Do Bronx” Down And Out
Cub Swanson earned the ‘Knockout of the Night’ at UFC 152 when he knocked Charles “Do Bronx” Oliveira out in scintillating fashion in the opening fight of the pay-per-view broadcast. Swanson’s knockout was hands down the oddest finish of the night as he connected on Oliveira and after a delayed reaction, the Brazilian went down and was unable to continue, forcing the referee to call an end to the action. Swanson has now won three bouts in a row, all via knockout.

1. Dunham Fights On
Evan Dunham was split wide open by a knee from T.J. Grant during the second round of their lightweight affair on the preliminary card. The grazing shot cut Dunham on the middle of his forehead, however it could have been much worse as the trickling blood stayed out the 30-year-old’s eyes. From the moment the knee split Dunham on, blood began to pour. It was not a sight for the feint of heart, but the Xtreme Couture product battled on and while he lost the decision, still managed to earn $65,000 for ‘Fight of the Night’.

Honorable Mentions

Mike Bohn, founder and lead writer of FightCove.com, wrote this article. You can follow Mike on Twitter at @MikeBohnMMA. Also, follow @FightCove on Twitter and “Like” Fight Cove on Facebook.