The race for the next shot at the UFC middleweight title is fierce these days, and the main event between Lyoto Machida and Luke Rockhold at UFC on Fox 15 came with high stakes attached.
With current title holder Chris Weidman set to defend his belt against Vitor Belfort in a highly anticipated and long-awaited tilt next month at UFC 187 in Las Vegas, there are several potential contenders jockeying to grab the next championship opportunity.
Both “The Dragon” and the former Strikeforce middleweight champion are front-runners in the pack of talented contenders, and their collision on Saturday night in Newark, New Jersey, definitely had title implications hovering overhead.
While the 36-year-old Brazilian karate master came into the bout just one fight removed from his five-round war with Weidman at UFC 175 last July, he had plenty of momentum at his back coming into his main event matchup with Rockhold.
Despite ultimately getting turned back by the champion in Las Vegas, Machida put on a gritty and impressive performance, then was able to get right back on track in his next outing by drubbing C.B. Dollaway via first-round knockout at Fight Night 58 back in December.
That said, Rockhold had plenty of momentum of his own coming into UFC on Fox 15.
Although he suffered a brutal knockout against Belfort in his official UFC debut back in 2013, the Santa Cruz, California, native pulled off impressive victories over tough competition in his next three outings to put himself within striking distance of a shot at the UFC middleweight strap. Therefore, a victory over Machida on Saturday night would land him his long-awaited shot at UFC gold, and Rockhold was determined to make that happen.
Both men came into the Prudential Center looking to solidify the next shot at the 185-pound strap, but it was Rockhold who brought the noise on Saturday.
After a brief feeling-out period the AKA representative took the action to the mat where he battered and pounded away on Machida for the majority of the opening round. The Brazilian attempted to turn things into a slugfest in the second round, but Rockhold once again put him on the mat, where he forced Machida to tap to a rear-naked choke.
In addition to the win over Machida being the biggest of Rockhold’s career, it should leave zero doubt that he deserves to have the chance to fight the winner of Weidman vs. Belfort later this year.
It was an action-packed night of fights in Newark; let’s take a look at the good, bad and strange from UFC on Fox 15.
The Good
There are few fighters under the UFC banner moving with more momentum at the current time than Luke Rockhold.
While the former Strikeforce middleweight champion wasn’t able to jump directly into a title shot upon touching down in the UFC back in 2013, the Santa Cruz native has used the time since to make up tremendous ground in the hunt for a title opportunity.
Rockhold had won three straight showings coming into his bout with Lyoto Machida on Saturday night and was well aware a victory over “The Dragon” would launch him to the front of the line in the race for a shot at the middleweight title.
There’s no doubt the former light heavyweight champion was set to be the toughest test of his career, but Rockhold steamrolled the perennial contender in dominant fashion.
Where Machida has made a career out of frustrating his opposition and luring them into his game, Rockhold remained steadfast to his game plan. He was able to get the fight to the canvas, where he used his size and strength to wear on Machida while he battered him with big shots until he put him away via rear-naked choke in the second round.
Rockhold’s performance at UFC on Fox 15 was undoubtedly the best showing of his career and will make it difficult to deny him the next shot at the middleweight strap. Whether it’s a bout with current belt holder Chris Weidman or a rematch with rival Vitor Belfort, Rockhold made it clear there should be 12 pounds of UFC gold on the line next time he steps into the Octagon.
*** When his original opponent fell out with injury one week before the fight, the UFC scrambled to find an opponent willing to face Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza. The man who accepted the dubious challenge was Chris Camozzi—a fighter who had already faced and been submitted by the Brazilian grappling specialist in less than a full round of work back in 2013.
During the lead-up to fight night, Souza didn’t seem all too enthusiastic about the new matchup, and he wasted zero time re-stamping his dominance over Camozzi with an armbar midway through the opening frame.
It was a performance both flawless and efficient as “The Alligator” made it four straight victories under the UFC banner and upped his running total to a seven-fight winning streak. Nevertheless, the big question will be what comes next for the Brazilian powerhouse. The bout with his original opponent carried heavy title implications, but defeating Camozzi in their rematch doesn’t carry the same luster.
While that may not be entirely fair to Souza, it’s difficult to earn a championship opportunity coming off a win over a fighter who was only brought back to the UFC to face him. MMA writer Danny Acosta had this observation:
*** Max Holloway has been tearing his way up the featherweight ladder, and that march continued at UFC on Fox 15. The 23-year-old Hawaiian put on what was arguably the best performance of his career as he showcased his versatile arsenal en route to defeating Cub Swanson via guillotine choke from top position in the final round of their tilt on Saturday night.
“Blessed” was getting the best of the Jackson/Winkeljohn-trained fighter in the stand-up game before locking in the fight-ending submission late in the final round.
With the win, Holloway has now found victory in six straight showings, and putting away Swanson will move him into striking distance of a title shot. That’s a remarkable feat for someone his age competing at the highest level of the sport, but what is perhaps even more impressive is the rapid development he’s shown since coming to the UFC in 2012.
In that time, Holloway has been successful in all but three of his 12 bouts under the UFC banner and made steady progression to become an elite talent in the 145-pound fold. MMA writer Chuck Mindenhall had this to say:
*** There was a lot of hype behind Paige VanZant leading up to her bout with Felice Herrig at UFC on Fox 15. The 21-year-old strawweight garnered a lot of attention for landing a Reebok endorsement deal, but there were lingering criticisms that she had yet to face—and defeat—a legitimate opponent with a proven track record.
The “Lil’ Bulldog” was slated to be that test, and it is one VanZant answered with flying colors. She was on the attack from bell to bell as she battered Herrig with a relentless output of strikes from the top position. By the final round, Herrig had very little to offer, and “PVZ” cruised to a lopsided decision on the judges’ scorecards.
While her victory on Saturday night will only further the buzz surrounding her career, VanZant’s performance against Herrig could very well serve to put her in line for a huge opportunity.
The door is wide open for title shot against champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk, but that will depend on how quickly the UFC wants to move her along. “12 Gauge” has proved she has both style and substance with her two victories inside the Octagon, and there are plenty of interesting options for her should the UFC decide she’s not quite ready for a championship opportunity. MMAFighting.com’s Ariel Helwani praised VanZant’s performance:
*** The lightweight division is commonly referred to as a shark tank, and Beneil Dariush is steadily making his way up the divisional hierarchy at 155 pounds. “Benny” had found victory in three consecutive showings coming into his bout with Jim Miller at UFC on Fox 15, with a chance to earn a victory over one of the long-standing staples of the lightweight fold. And that’s exactly what he accomplished on the strength of his grappling game.
The 25-year-old Kings MMA product stayed one step ahead when the action was on the canvas, and that led him the Iranian-born lightweight picking up his fourth consecutive victory inside the Octagon. Defeating a fighter with the resume Miller possess is a big feather in Dariush’s cap and will guarantee his next opponent comes from the elite tier of the 155-pound weight class. Observed Rob Tatum:
*** Since his lopsided loss to Ryan Bader last August in Bangor, Maine, Ovince Saint Preux has been determined to regain some traction in the light heavyweight division. His lightning-quick victory over Mauricio “Shogun” Rua at Fight Night 56 in Brazil was a great start to achieving that goal, and following that performance up with a first-round TKO against Patrick Cummins at UFC on Fox 15 will certainly go a long way toward keeping things rolling.
Where many figured Cummins’ wrestling would prove too much for “OSP” to handle, the Tennessee native planted a perfectly timed uppercut while “Durkin” was shooting in, sparking the beginning of the end. Cummins fell to the canvas hurt, and Saint Preux swarmed with hammerfists to secure the win and pick his seventh successful showing in his past eight Octagon appearances. Dave Doyle was among those surprised:
*** While he had a lengthy layoff between Octagon appearances, Aljamain Sterling made a statement in his triumphant return at UFC on Fox 15. “The Funk Master” faced savvy veteran Takeya Mizugaki in a bout that had the capability to catapult him into the upper tier of the bantamweight division as the scrappy Japanese fighter has faced a who’s who of fighters in the 135-pound fold.
Sterling was well aware of what was at stake in the fight, and he absolutely rose to the occasion as the Serra-Longo fighter finished Mizugaki with a rarely seen arm triangle choke from off his back. It was an impressive performance that not only keeps Sterling’s undefeated record intact, but will put him in line for big things in the near future. FightMetric’s Michael Carroll noted Sterling’s achievement:
*** Tim Means has been all business since going up to welterweight and continued his run toward the next level of competition on Saturday night. The “Dirty Bird” battered George Sullivan until he locked in an arm triangle choke to pick up his fourth consecutive victory in the 170-pound ranks. While “The Silencer” kept things competitive during the opening frame, the New Mexico native controlled the action the rest of the way as he opened up his versatile arsenal of punches, knees and elbows.
Means’ output proved too much for Sullivan to handle, and he cinched up the choke to end the fight midway through the final frame. With the win, Means has now been successful in all but one of his seven showings at welterweight and will draw a bigger-name opponent in his next outing.
The Bad
Jim Miller has been a staple of the upper tier of the lightweight division for the past six years.
Over that stretch, the New Jersey native has traded leather with a mixture of the very best 155-pound fighters on the planet and has done so with a high success rate. The hard-charging blue-collar fighter has put together lengthy winning streaks that put him within distance of a title shot and suffered setbacks in high-profile tilts all the same.
Nevertheless, the one thing guaranteed is that Miller is going to give everything he has inside the Octagon, and his performance against Beneil Dariush on Saturday night was no different.
While Miller was on the better side of the action in the opening round, he spent the final two frames defending himself from what the 25-year-old Kings MMA product was dishing out in the grappling department. And even though the 31-year-old Whippany, New Jersey, resident was able to keep himself out of danger throughout, Dariush’s ability to control the action allowed him to take the rounds on the judges’ scorecards and ultimately earn the unanimous-decision victory.
Where a second consecutive setback is no reason to sound the alarm, the increasingly competitive nature of Miller’s division creates a different type of position. With 19 Octagon appearances under his belt, there’s no doubting Miller’s skill level and talent inside the cage. Yet, with Dariush leading a rising tide that is giving the existing guard fits as of late, Miller will have some work to do.
A fighter doesn’t remain at the top level of a deep division without talent and grit, but the pressure will be on Miller to turn things around in his next showing in order to keep his relevance at the top levels of the lightweight collective alive.
The Strange
Fights in MMA get stopped for a myriad of reasons, but the bout between Diego Brandao and Jim Hettes became the latest fight brought to an end due to an exploding ear. Midway through the opening round, the scrappy Brazilian planted a powerful elbow on Hettes that busted open a spot on the Pennsylvania native’s left ear.
While blood started to stream from Hettes’ ear, the action carried on in frenzied fashion as both men battled for position on the canvas as a tangle of exciting grappling exchanges unfolded. As soon as Brandao would take a dominant position on the mat, Hettes found a way to reverse the hold and put himself back on top. When the bell sounded to close out the first round, the New Jersey crowd cheered as it was primed for more.
Yet, that wasn’t going to happen as the cage-side doctor deemed Hettes’ ear a dangerous injury and called a stop to the fight.
Seconds later the crowed erupted into a chorus of boos as Brandao ran across the cage and jumped on top of the Octagon to celebrate while a visibly upset Hettes let a combination of punches loose on the chain links. In the post-fight interview, Joe Rogan questioned the stoppage as the blood flowing from Hettes’ ear would not impede his vision or put his ear in jeopardy, but the call had already been made, and the decision was official.
With the win, Brandao stopped a two-fight skid and picked up his first victory since August 2013, while Hettes was dealt his second consecutive loss in an increasingly competitive featherweight division. Bleacher Report’s Hunter Homistek reported Hettes’ reaction:
On a final note, perhaps the most strange thing about UFC on Fox 15 was that there was very little strange at all. With the event taking place in Newark, New Jersey—a place where I’ve personally experienced some of the most curious happenings in my entire life—there figured to be a long list of abnormal things afoot. Nevertheless, that did not turn out to be the case on Saturday night; everything seemed to fall into the regular order of things.
While normalcy does rear its ugly head now and then, it always seems off when it does. While fight fans can normally count on a referee not doing his/her job in a crucial moment or a cage-side judges dropping the ball now and again, those things were not to be found at UFC on Fox 15.
Then again, the New Jersey Athletic Commission does have an outstanding reputation for running a tight ship, and it’s quite possible the event on Saturday night is a reflection of that job done correctly.
Duane Finley is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. All quotes are obtained firsthand unless noted otherwise.
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