Against a knockout artist and challenger who welcomed a standup examination, the WEC bantamweight champion measured, struck and used his reach to perfection.

His face? Blank.

At one startling point, Torres’ confidence and aggression married to generate a radical front-roll axe kick, which missed the mark but nevertheless stunned onlookers as he popped to his feet, no harm done.

His face? Expressionless.

Finally, after stalking through the first round and part of the second, Torres’ jab found its mark. Down went Tapia, followed closely by his assailant, who brought the proceedings to a vicious conclusion.

His face? Stone cold.

When discussing MMA’s pound-for-pound kings, it’s a no-brainer to speak of their all-around excellence. Anderson Silva has it. Fedor Emelianenko has it. As do Georges St. Pierre, B.J. Penn, Torres and others.

What sets apart the select group of fighters, however, is how they couple those skills with exceptional composure – an icy concentration in a stark atmosphere of violence.

This characteristic is no different among the best athletes in any sport that’s not ruled by time or a set of standards. Think of Kobe Bryant in the final moments of a tight basketball game. Tom Brady on the football field. Roger Federer in a grand slam event. Albert Pujols at the plate.

They elevate to a level of serenity despite the blur of action they are attempting to control. They don’t over-react. They simply act and react – with coolness.

Still, I like to think of MMA as being separate from the field in this conversation. Those other individuals, after all, aren’t looking to hurt anyone while at the same time fending off bodily harm. (Brady might be a target, but he enjoys the presence of several large protectors).

Observing such cage calmness is something to behold, especially for those of us who, in mundane day-to-day activities, struggle to suppress our inner Junie Browning when difficulty hatches.

I battle the urge to go berserk on the regular. Faulty software. Broken household appliances. Minor fender benders. They all test my temper-control and often result in increased pulse rate, pupil dilation and brief outbursts of foul language. I can feel the boiling begin, but I am usually powerless to quell the impulse.