Diego Ferreira won at UFC-Austin with impressive bully moves, even if they weren't all legal

For a fight that lasted less than one round, Diego Ferreira managed to squeeze an awful lot of big brother-esque meanness into his TKO win over Jared Gordon – even if he had to bend the rules to do it.

The first accidental groin kick, which Ferreira landed almost as soon as the fight had begun? Sure, that can happen. Then, less than two minutes later, he landed another.

The second kick to the cup earned Ferreira a “hard warning” from referee Dan Miragliotta, who informed him that he was only one foul away from actual consequences. But before that could happen, Ferreira (13-2 MMA, 4-2 UFC) dropped Gordon (14-2 MMA, 2-1 UFC) with a punch, then rolled him onto his stomach while wrenching his arm behind his back and simultaneously punching him in the head.

Via Twitter:

In other words, imagine the worst and least merciful bully on the playground. Picture what he’d do to someone he really didn’t like. Somehow, this was even worse.

It wasn’t exactly a display of technical mastery, nor was it the most gentlemanly performance you’ll ever see in the cage. Still, it got the job done, and in a way that takes the realities of MMA into account.

At this point we all know that, while rules do indeed exist, you can break them a few times before you’re likely to be punished. And even if you do lose a point, if your fouls diminish or distract your opponent enough to allow you to finish him, that point won’t matter.

Furthermore, if your finish is an unusual one – a chicken wing/head punching combo, for instance – the end of the fight might end up being the only part people remember.

Is it honorable? That’s debatable. But it is effective. And since Ferreira’s the one going home with a win bonus, that’s probably all he cares about right now.

For complete covearge of UFC Fight Night 126, check out the UFC Events section of the site.

The Blue Corner is MMAjunkie‘s official blog and is edited by Mike Bohn.