Just got back yesterday from three days in Belfast spent covering the UFC 72 "Victory" event; I shot 175 pics at the pre-fight press conference, 133 shots at the weigh-in, 1133 shots of the fights and 264 shots at the post-fight press conference.
Picking from fight night and the later press conference only, here are my top 10 favourites to share.
1. Eddie Sanchez (top) finishes off local fighter Colin Robinson. It was Robinson's UFC debut on home soil but even rowdy support from a hometown crowd couldn't help him against veteran Sanchez.
2. Scott Smith is sent for medical attention in the middle of the first round of his bout against Ed Herman
3. Quinton "Rampage" Jackson, current UFC Light Heavyweight champion, coaches Scott Smith in his corner.
4. Clay Guida (facing) tries to take down Tyson Griffin in what would later be hailed as the "Fight of the Night" despite a surprise split decision going to Griffin when everyone thought Guida had fought the better fight.
5. Rory Singer connects a flying knee strike with Jason MacDonald. Canadian MacDonald would go on to chalk up another victory in a string of unbeaten bouts.
6. Current UFC Heavyweight champion Randy Couture (upper mid right) smiles as he stands in Forrest Griffin's corner before his bout against Hector Ramirez. Griffin is one of many top fighters training at Couture's Las Vegas gym.
7. Forrest Griffin (left) soaks up a kick from Hector Ramirez during their bout. Griffin kept Ramirez confused and out of his rythym for the entire fight, going on to win the match by unanimous decision despite a dissapointing performance from both fighters.
8. Rich Franklin (right) barely slips aside from Yushin Okami's left thigh kick. Both Franklin and Okami fought cautiously in their headline bout, much to the displeasure of the assembled fans.
9. Forrest Griffin appears relaxed and composed during the post-fight press conference, where he described the 'soccer chanting' of the Irish crowd during his match as "the coolest thing ever"
10. Quinton "Rampage" Jackson listens in on the post-fight press conference. It was confirmed today that Jackson will be fighting in UFC 75 in London on September 8th, competing in the first MMA "Superfight" against Pride FC champion Dan Henderson.
All fight images: D2X, 17-55 or 70-200VR lenses, ISO1600, f/2.8, 1/320 sec., preset manual WB (3800K), manual focus.
I had a ton of fun shooting this and can't wait for UFC 75 to roll around into London in less than three month's time!