SportsJOE’s Monday Morning Awards: Crunching knockouts, suffocating subs and hot prospects

This one was flying well under the radar.

With five title fights on the way before Christmas, some of the fight nights have been going unnoticed but if you didn't stay up to watch UFC Sao Paolo, we're sorry to say you missed out. UFC Fight Night 77 produced some of the best knockouts of the year, with Thomas Almeida adding to his UFC 189 flying knee knockout of Brad Pickett, Alex Oliveira demolishing Piotr Hallman with a right hand and Glover Teixeira painting Pat Cummins' face crimson. Here are the UFC warriors who earned our appreciation in Sao Paolo:

Knockout of the Night - Thomas Almeida

I was asked before Saturday night what I expected from Thomas Almeida and I responded with "a nasty knockout". I had no idea just how nasty it would be though as the 24-year-old stretched his unbeaten record with a button-finding straight right that folded opponent Anthony Birchak up against the fence. Is there a more exciting prospect on the UFC roster? Probably not. MMA gods, please let Thomas Almeida vs. John Lineker happen. Please!

Submission of the Night - Thiago Tavares

Thiago Tavares clearly did his research. Clay Guida is always up there with fight fans' favourites because of the reckless abandon he brings to the octagon but he has been known to get over eager on takedowns over the years. The Carpenter ducked under a Tavares combination in an attempt to drag the fight to the mat but left his neck exposed and the Brazilian was only too happy to take the guillotine presented to him on a platter. He remained patient, wrapped up Guida's legs and rolled through any attempted escapes to force the tap from the veteran.

Performance of the Night - Glover Teixeira

The Phil Davis defeat had many writing off Glover Teixeira but just look at what he's done since. He choked out Ovince Saint-Preux in August and backed that up with an absolute dismantling of Pat Cummins in Sao Paolo at the weekend. Teixeira put on a clinic in significant strikes as he busted up the American before the fight was stopped early in the second round.

One to Watch - Matheus Nicolau

What were you doing when you were 22? Matheus Nicolau was wrapping up a Japanese necktie in front of thousands of screaming fans. The young Brazilian opened the prelims of UFC Fight Night 77 and he didn't disappoint as he picked his opponent, former TUF Brazil 4 castmate Bruno Korea, apart on the feet before finishing late on. Having isolated Korea's right leg, Nicolau snaked his right hand under the armpit and chin of his opponent before clasping his left hand behind the head and squeezing. Not too shabby for a promotional debut.