End of the Dream?: Mac Danzig pummels Fairbanks-native Justin Buchholz during their 15 minute tilt at UFC 109

Justin Buchholz has gone further than any Alaskan mixed martial artist. While a handful of local fighters have made it to the highest level of the sport, the Lathrop High graduate has actually emerged from the UFC Octagon victorious, and used his energetic style to put together a small career in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. But after losing a unanimous decision at UFC 109, it's likely over.

Buchholz, who trains with fan-favorite Uriah Faber, dropped a unanimous decision to The Ultimate Fighter season 6 winner Mac Danzig . All three judges scored the bout 29-28, giving the Fairbanks native and AFC veteran his third loss in a row. Riding such a losing streak makes it extremely unlikely the UFC will want to keep him on their roster, a fact Buchholz acknowledged in pre-fight interviews.

After winning a very close first round, in which he knocked Danzig down with a well-timed punch, Buchholz began to tire. By the third round Danzig was scoring strikes and takedowns at will against the exhausted Alaskan. At the end it was all Buchholz could do to fend off a rear naked choke and pray for the bell.

While it is sad that the Last Frontier no longer has a representative in the UFC, there is some amount of silver lining. Buchholz can take pride in the fact that this was the first fight he finished. All of his previous fights failed to go past the second round. Also, the worst thing a fighter can feel is that he still had fight in him at the end of a decision, and if his dead tired body was any indication, he definitely left everything in the cage.

Best of all (although this is admittedly selfish) we could potentially see his return on the local circuit!

If this is the end of Buchholz elite career, let me be the first the congratulate him on representing AK fighters with excellent and excitement. You've made us all proud.