Author: Alex Ballentine

Anderson Silva vs. Nick Diaz: What UFC 183 Results Mean for Card’s Biggest Stars

After more than a year away from the Octagon for both Anderson Silva and Nick Diaz, two of the UFC’s most recognizable stars finally put on a show for fans at UFC 183. 
It wasn’t the nonstop fire fight that many expected it to be. Diaz’s usual agg…

After more than a year away from the Octagon for both Anderson Silva and Nick Diaz, two of the UFC’s most recognizable stars finally put on a show for fans at UFC 183. 

It wasn’t the nonstop fire fight that many expected it to be. Diaz‘s usual aggression was hampered by The Spider’s signature movement and defense. The pride of Stockton threw 223 significant strikes over the course of five rounds. 

But it did have its fair share of intriguing moments, not the least of which was Diaz laying down in front of Silva in the first round and doing the things that Diaz has become known for inside the Octagon. Silva, for his part, looked sharp and accurate. The power and explosiveness that ended so many of his fights over his career simply wasn’t there, though. 

So with both fighters looking like lesser versions of their past selves, the question now begs to be asked: Where do they go from here?

 

Silva’s Indecision: Retire or Chase the Belt

For all the excitement and buzz that Silva’s comeback generated, fans may have seen The Spider spin his last web. The Brazilian was non-committal about his future after the bout, citing concern from his family as the reason he might hang up his gloves, per Lance Pugmire of the Los Angeles Times:

If Silva does decide to walk away, it would be understandable. He’s already made his case for being considered the greatest of all time. He has little to gain from continuing his career if his heart isn’t in it. We’ve seen stars like Chuck Liddell and B.J. Penn blemish their legacies by hanging on too long. 

In some ways, Silva looked as good as ever. According to Mike Bohn of MMAjunkie, he landed more significant strikes than he’s ever landed in a fight:

But that stat actually serves to highlight the issue for The Spider. He may have proven that he’s healthy enough to continue fighting in the Octagon, but the explosiveness that once made him special appears to be waning. 

It isn’t likely that anyone survives 108 significant strikes from Silva three years ago. 

However, as long as Silva wants to fight, he’ll continue to get big bouts. Dana White has alluded to giving Silva the power to do his own matchmaking. “I don’t think he needs 3-4 fights to get back to the title,” White said, per Elias Cepeda of Fox Sports. “But if he feels that way, he’s the No. 1-ranked guy in the world, he can fight Jacare Souza, he can fight Lyoto Machida, Vitor Belfort, Luke Rockhold, Yoel Romero.”

White is even still interested in making a superfight between Georges St-Pierre and the former middleweight champion, per Damon Martin of Fox Sports:

After a seven-year title reign, countless historic fights and magic moments in the cage, no one could blame Silva for walking away. It’s unlikely that the Silva who fought Saturday night could beat the champion. Chris Weidman has already beaten him twice and can conceivably improve at only 30 years old. 

As long as he continues to fight, fans will continue to tune in, though. There are plenty of intriguing options for Silva outside of a championship fight. Bouts against the likes of GSP and Michael Bisping would have tremendous drawing power and represent winnable fights for The Spider. 

 

Diaz: Take the Money and Run?

Diaz has made no qualms about why he fights: the money. 

The eccentric fighter has made it clear in the past that he only wants to take fights that are going to lead to the biggest paychecks. He’s stuck to his word, too. His last three fights have now been against two of the biggest draws in UFC history and another one for the interim title at 170 pounds. 

However, that penchant for taking the biggest fights hasn’t produced the results of a true star. He’s now 0-3 in those fights. His last win was in 2011. 

Giving credit where credit is due, Diaz was a bit more competitive in this bout than he’ll probably get credit for. As Jonathan Snowden of Bleacher Report noted, three of the five rounds were fairly close:

However, the reality is we might not see Diaz for a long time again. With three consecutive losses, it’s hard to justify giving him the type of fights that he has been holding out for recently. As Dana White noted via Shaheen Al-Shatti of MMAFighting.com, the payday that the former Strikeforce star made at UFC 183 may mean he takes another sabbatical:

Still, much like Silva, as long as Diaz is fighting, people will tune in. The supporters of the Stockton native are as rabid as any fanbase in MMA, and the list of people who watch his fights to see him get beat is likely just as long. 

Diaz might go away for a while once again, but it wouldn’t be shocking to see him get sucked back in at least one more time. 

All statistics via FightMetric unless otherwise noted. 

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UFC 183: Complete Results, Scorecards and Biggest Winners from Pay-Per-View Card

UFC 183 was headlined by a matchup that could best be described as unusual. 
The rest of the card followed suit. 
Sure, some fights went to plan. Al Iaquinta’s boxing was expected to best Joe Lauzon on the feet. The 27-year-old Iaquinta chalk…

UFC 183 was headlined by a matchup that could best be described as unusual. 

The rest of the card followed suit. 

Sure, some fights went to plan. Al Iaquinta‘s boxing was expected to best Joe Lauzon on the feet. The 27-year-old Iaquinta chalked up his third consecutive TKO victory. 

But there was plenty of strange to go around in the MGM Grand. For starters, Thiago Alves turned back the clock and scored a thrilling TKO victory over the younger Jordan Mein. Tyron Woodley and Kelvin Gastelum—one of the most exciting fights on paper—turned out to be a dud. 

Here’s a look at the complete results and biggest winners from an interesting night in Las Vegas.

 

UFC 183 Main Card

  • Anderson Silva def. Nick Diaz, unanimous decision (49-46, 50-45, 50-45)
  • Tyron Woodley def. Kelvin Gastelum, split decision (28-29, 29-28, 30-27)
  • Al Iaquinta def. Joe Lauzon, TKO (Round 2, 3:34)
  • Thales Leites def. Tim Boetsch, submission (Round 2, 3:45)
  • Thiago Alves def. Jordan Mein, TKO (Round 2, 0:39)

Prelims on Fox Sports 1

  • Miesha Tate def. Sara McMann, majority decision (29-28, 29-27, 28-28)
  • Derek Brunson def. Ed Herman, TKO (Round 1, 0:36)
  • John Lineker def. Ian McCall, unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
  • Rafael Natal def. Tom Watson, unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26)

Fight Pass Prelims

  • Diego Brandao vs. Jimy Hettes—CANCELLED
  • Ildemar Alcantara def. Richardson Moreira, split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
  • Thiago Santos def. Andy Enz, TKO (Round 1, 1:56)

 

Biggest Winners

Miesha Tate Remains Relevant in Women’s Bantamweight Division

Miesha Tate needed an impressive performance at UFC 183. She entered the bout on a two-fight win streak since losing to Ronda Rousey but really didn’t look all that impressive in her victories. 

You’d be hard-pressed to find anyone that wasn’t impressed with her comeback win against Sara McMann. Going against a former Olympic wrestler, Tate found herself in some bad positions in the first round. Not only did McMann have some strong top control, but she knocked Tate down in the stand-up. 

However, there’s a reason Tate is a former champion. She has heart, and it was on full display in this one. “Cupcake” mounted a comeback in the second round and even earned a 10-8 score in the eye of two judges, which was noted by Damon Martin of Fox Sports:

With the victory, Tate now has three wins in a row and once again stands as one of a few fighters who look intriguing for a title shot. Two losses to the champion hurt her chances of getting another title shot, but she is going to be hard to ignore with one more win over a quality opponent. 

 

Thiago Alves Tells Welterweight Division He’s Back

Some UFC fighters do their talking with their mouths. Some do it with their fists (and feet). At UFC 183, veteran Thiago Alves did the latter. 

Considering his advancing age (31 years old) and extensive layoffs, you’d be forgiven for forgetting that Alves is on the roster or that he once put together a seven-fight win streak and fought Georges St-Pierre for the title at UFC 100. 

Going against a 25-year-old fighter with a 5-1 record in his last six fights, it felt like Alves was meant to be a resume booster for Mein. The first round even lived up to that expectation. “Young Gun” opened up a 37-15 striking differential in the opening frame. 

However, Alves showed he’s still capable of turning back the clock. A devastating body kick turned things around in the second stanza as Alves buckled Mein and followed up with punches to earn the nod. 

To illustrate just how long it’s been since Alves fought at that level, it was his first TKO since 2008, per Mike Bohn of MMAjunkie:

Alves wasn’t shy about proclaiming his comeback either. Per MMAFighting.com, he’s ready for bigger and better things now that he’s showcased the power that made him a terror at his best:

It might be premature to say that “Pitbull” is a contender once again, but rumors of him being a gatekeeper may have been greatly exaggerated. 

 

Al Iaquinta Makes Case for Top 15 Ranking

Iaquinta vs. Lauzon had a similar feel to Alves vs. Mein but a completely different result. Iaquinta played the role of younger rising fighter, while Lauzon played the part of familiar name/gatekeeper. But rather than Lauzon proving he isn’t quite done yet, Raging Al took advantage of the resume-building opportunity. 

Iaquinta proved he’s ready for bigger and better opponents. 

After a surprising round that saw Lauzon and Iaquinta each land 21 significant strikes, the 27-year-old took over in the second. 

The Ultimate Fighter 15 runner-up displayed the same power that earned him TKO victories over Rodrigo Damm and Ross Pearson his last two times out. At this point, it’s tough to deny that Iaquinta should be considered for the next batch of UFC rankings at 155 pounds. 

All statistics via FightMetric unless otherwise noted. 

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Silva vs. Diaz: Final Predictions and Odds Before Start of UFC 183

When Nick Diaz decided he was willing to get back in the Octagon after a hiatus from the sport, he made it clear he would only do so for the biggest of fights.
The Stockton, California, native hasn’t fought since March 2013—an extended layoff Dia…

When Nick Diaz decided he was willing to get back in the Octagon after a hiatus from the sport, he made it clear he would only do so for the biggest of fights.

The Stockton, California, native hasn’t fought since March 2013—an extended layoff Diaz attributes partially to waiting on the right opportunity.

“[The UFC] were offering me fights and I wasn’t really interested in the fights they were talking about for pretty much the whole year, so I pretty much just dealt with different aspects of life.” Diaz said, via Paul Quigley of Fighters Only Magazine. “Now we’ve been able to sit down and talk about it a little bit, and I think I was looking for pretty much the biggest fight that I could get myself into, just like always.”

As the old adage goes, be careful what you wish for.

Diaz‘s patience has awarded him the UFC’s biggest star also looking to successfully come back from an extended layoff—Anderson Silva.

The former middleweight titlist will make his long-awaited return to the Octagon, where he is still undefeated against guys not named Chris Weidman.

Still, with both high-profile fighters looking to show they’re back, there’s a lot of intrigue involved in the main event. Here’s a look at the latest odds for the bout along with some predictions as to how it’s going to go down.

Odds via Odds Shark as of Jan. 30, 2014, at 11:00 a.m. ET

 

Diaz Does Not Outstrike Silva in Any Round

Much has been made of the blistering pace set by Diaz. It’s the welterweight’s calling card as a fighter and the reason for much of his success in his career. The theory goes that his overwhelming pressure could be too much for Silva, who, in his advanced age, might have a deteriorating chin.

Here’s the problem: Great footwork has proven to be Diaz‘s kryptonite. The blueprint for Silva to handle Diaz was laid out by Carlos Condit nearly three years ago. Circle away from the pressure, force him to reset with leg kicks and wait for an increasingly frustrated Diaz to open up opportunities to counter.

That’s a game plan that “Spider” has been perfecting throughout his career. It also led to Condit outstriking Diaz in four out of five rounds, per FightMetric.

Diaz might try to bring the fight to Silva, but it isn’t something that Silva hasn’t seen before. Thanks to his footwork and counterstriking, he’ll land more significant strikes in each round. 

 

Silva Will Show He Trusts His Leg Kicks Early

Ironically, one of Silva’s greatest keys to victory doubles as his biggest question mark: After a leg kick led to a gruesome knee injury, will he trust his instincts and continue to throw them?

Silva admitted back in November to Marc Raimondi of Fox Sports that he’s had to work on recovering mentally as well as physically. “I’ve worked with a psychologist so I can get rid of the ghosts of those horrible moments of that fight, when I had that accident,” Silva said. “I’m a little apprehensive in training. I know I can execute the movement, but I end up not doing it for fear.”

As previously mentioned, fighters who have employed leg kicks against Diaz have been rewarded. His plodding, straightforward style is most easily counteracted by attacking the lead leg with kicks and circling away.

As long as Silva is able to throw those kicks at will, he will be well on his way to a successful game plan. The only unknown is just how confident he’ll be throwing them with the small risk that Diaz may actually check one and cause a freak injury once again.

 

Silva Will Score the Finish

Nick Diaz has only been stopped twice in his career—once in 2002 and again via doctor’s stoppage in 2007.

There’s no denying his durability. However, the idea that he’s impervious to being finished is a bit flawed.

Even in one of Diaz‘s most memorable performances, a first-round finish of Paul Daley in his final fight with Strikeforce, he was floored twice. Semtex ultimately got knocked out at the end of the round, but the British welterweight is a much more careless striker than Silva.

He also doesn’t have the record of finishing big fights that Silva does. Daley has been a knockout artist in smaller promotions for the vast majority of his career. The Spider is one of the greatest fighters of all time.

That’s a fact he’ll remind everyone of at UFC 183.

Silva via third-round TKO.

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Miesha Tate vs. Sara McMann: Odds, Comments and Predictions for UFC 183 Fight

If Miesha Tate ever wants to get another grudge match with longtime rival Ronda Rousey, she needs to start stringing together impressive victories. 
A big win over Sara McMann at UFC 183 would be a start. 
The former Strikeforce champion has …

If Miesha Tate ever wants to get another grudge match with longtime rival Ronda Rousey, she needs to start stringing together impressive victories. 

A big win over Sara McMann at UFC 183 would be a start. 

The former Strikeforce champion has made her name from two fights with the current UFC titleholder, Rousey. As the only fighter to take Rousey to a third round, Tate stands out as one of the most recognizable names in the women’s bantamweight division. 

Since losing to Rousey, she’s added two wins to her record, but neither was altogether impressive. First, she edged out Liz Carmouche, who is now 1-3 in her last four fights. Tate then coasted to a unanimous-decision win over UFC newcomer Rin Nakai. 

There’s nothing wrong with those wins, but they aren’t necessarily big enough to generate buzz for a third match with the champion. 

Enter Sara McMann. The 34-year-old former Olympian would also like a shot at redemption against Rousey. Her bid for the title was stopped at just 1:06 into the first round. A hard knee to the body made her the first woman to lose to Rowdy by something other than an armbar. 

But McMann hasn’t exactly made an impact since losing either. Her first fight back was a split-decision victory over Lauren Murphy. 

Here’s a look at the tale of the tape, latest odds and buzz surrounding this fight along with a prediction as to which contender will emerge with some serious momentum toward a title fight. 

 Odds via Odds Shark as of Jan. 29, 2015 at 10:30 p.m. ET

 

What They’re Saying

Miesha Tate might be best known for her feud with the woman holding the belt, but that doesn’t mean she’s kept quiet leading up to this bout. 

The creation of this matchup started back when Tate got her win over Nakai. McMann took to Twitter to present perhaps the most well-mannered callout in the history of MMA:

 

Tate then responded in the most respectful way possible:

 

However, as the actual bout gets closer, Tate hasn’t been as mild-mannered in declaring her intentions for McMann in the Octagon. “OK, you called me out,” Tate said per Steven Morocco of MMAJunkie. “I’m going to show you what that entails. It motivates me to think I’m going to stop her in her tracks and I’m going to continue to move forward.”

Since the fight opened, the odds have swung in McMann‘s favor, according to Odds Shark. This is likely attributed to McMann‘s extensive wrestling background. Not only does she have a silver medal from the 2004 Olympics to her name, but she’s also coming off a fight in which she scored five takedowns against Lauren Murphy, according to FightMetric.

However, Tate doesn’t feel like she should be written off because of that. Tate is looking to push McMann to determine whether the former Olympian is a well-rounded mixed martial artist, via Morocco:

I still feel like she’s timid on the feet. Sometimes you see her get hit, and you can tell that immediately she has to revert to wrestling. I think I’m a little more willing to give a punch and take a punch. I don’t know how it’s going to translate, who’s going to be better in the MMA wrestling. I think that’s probably the exciting part of it: We’re going to have to go out there and see what’s going to happen.

Even McMann would agree with Tate to some extent. She does know wrestling and finds it to be her comfort zone. As she told Duane Finley of UFC.com, at a certain point, instinct is a tough thing to control:

I know that regardless of any game plan that I have, it is unbelievably difficult for me to get close to somebody and not take them down. It really is so difficult for me, but I’ve been working on it. I’ve learned to be a bit more selective and take it when the moment is right and not just because I can. I think Miesha is going to try to wrestle me because that’s what she’s good at. She came out and tried to take Cat Zingano down right away and Cat is a good wrestler. I hope she comes out shooting because it’s something I’ve always been good at handling.

Who winds up being better at MMA wrestling is going to be a deciding factor in this matchup. Whereas most fighters would tend to avoid the department against a former Olympian, Tate does seem to be embracing the challenge. 

 

Prediction

Looking at what both fighters have done lately, it’s hard to look at this bout objectively and not think that McMann is going to control the fight. Styles make fights, and it doesn’t get much worse stylistically for Tate. 

According to FightMetric, Tate has been taken down six, five and three times in her last three bouts going back to the loss to Rousey. That’s 14 times in three fights. Conversely, McMann has 11 takedowns in her last three wins, not including the subminute loss to Rousey. 

That means that not only is Tate’s takedown defense a weakness, but it’s been exposed by lower-caliber grapplers than McMann. 

McMann might not have the power to finish it, but she should definitely have enough to score a unanimous decision. 

McMann by unanimous decision.

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UFC 183: Early Predictions for Silva vs. Diaz Main Event

Can Anderson Silva recapture the aura of invincibility that made him one of the greatest champions in MMA history?
That question will be answered on January 31 when he takes on Nick Diaz at UFC 183. 
If this bout were taking place two years ago, p…

Can Anderson Silva recapture the aura of invincibility that made him one of the greatest champions in MMA history?

That question will be answered on January 31 when he takes on Nick Diaz at UFC 183. 

If this bout were taking place two years ago, predicting the outcome of this matchup would be a no-brainer. Silva’s brand of precise counterstriking would be the perfect foil to Nick Diaz‘s forward style, which throws caution to the wind. 

However, coming off back-to-back losses, a gruesome injury and the inevitable aging that comes with being 39 years old, this bout is more intriguing now. Here’s a look at what to expect when two of the organization’s most exciting fighters step in the cage. 

 

When: Saturday, Jan. 31

Start Time: Fight Pass prelims at 7 p.m. ET (subscription required); Fox Sports 1 prelims at 8 p.m. ET; main card pay-per-view at 10 p.m. ET

Where: MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas

Live Stream: UFC.tv

 

 Odds via Odds Shark as of Jan. 25, 2014 at 3:30 p.m. ET

 

Fight Preview

The thing that makes this bout must-see TV is the same thing that makes it difficult to predict. When it comes to both fighters, there are more questions than answers right now.

The Spider has already sealed his place on MMA’s Mount Rushmore. His reign as middleweight champion is among the most dominant of all time. His highlight reel is among the most devastating resumes of anyone.

However, fans will watch him try to do something he’s never done in the UFC: successfully come back from a loss. For his part, Silva appears to be confident that his injury woes are behind him.

“The training for the fight is the same,” Silva said on a conference call via Jeremy Botter of the Houston Chronicle and Bleacher Report. “My leg is good now. I train hard now. I don’t talk more for this, because this is the past.”

Silva has even gone as far as to post multiple videos of him training on his Instagram:

However, it’s impossible to tell just how close to 100 percent Silva will be when he actually steps into the cage. To throw kicks freely in training is one thing, but to have full confidence to throw them against a live opponent is quite another. How Silva has overcome his injury mentally will reveal just how dangerous he can be after more than a year away from the Octagon.

As it just so happens, the UFC chose the perfect opponent to test where Silva is as a striker in Nick Diaz. The Stockton bad boy has never run away from exchanging with an opponent. The former welterweight title challenger’s 5.63 significant strikes landed per round is indicative of his penchant for slugging it out.

Diaz has always been a divisive fighter. His in-cage and out-of-cage antics either make him a heel or a hero depending on who you ask. But one thing is certain: He will bring the pressure.

Whether Silva is still the analytic counterstriker that he’s always been will determine what happens in this bout.

 

Prediction

The thing about predicting any bout featuring Nick Diaz is that he’s a unique fighter. Very few fighters are able to sustain the pressure and pace that he can over the course of a five-round fight. It’s a style that former opponent Georges St-Pierre feels could give Silva trouble, per Chael Sonnen’s podcast (h/t Damon Martin of Fox Sports):

He brings a different intensity that you’ve never seen before. You feel like you’re claustrophobic and you lose a lot of energy because he’s constantly pushing you forward and it’s very hard to fight a guy like him. Especially in the later rounds.

[…]

I believe that Diaz is very good in boxing. I believe a lot of his training is pure boxing. He’s probably the best boxer in mixed martial arts. If you make the fight a boxing fight, I believe he’s going to win.

It’s hard to disagree with someone like GSP. After all, he’s been in the cage with Diaz. But it isn’t as though he’s the same kind of striker as Silva.

Whereas the Canadian star is an aggressive striker who needs to get off first in an exchange, Silva has always been a more pure counterstriker. Diaz is used to bringing the fights to opponents, but he’s struggled against the footwork and technical prowess of Carlos Condit and GSP.

Diaz‘s volume means he can wear opponents out, but it also means more openings for The Spider to launch his own counterassault.

Leg injury and old age or not, there aren’t many who have survived a well-placed counterstrike. Expect Silva to return emphatically.

Silva via third-round TKO

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Jon Jones vs. Daniel Cormier: What UFC 182 Results Mean for Card’s Top Fighters

The UFC featured two bouts with serious implications on the title picture in their respective divisions. 
The first, of course, was literally for the belt. Daniel Cormier aimed to take Jon Jones’ strap in a bout that was among the most highly anti…

The UFC featured two bouts with serious implications on the title picture in their respective divisions. 

The first, of course, was literally for the belt. Daniel Cormier aimed to take Jon Jones’ strap in a bout that was among the most highly anticipated in UFC history. The other featured two lightweight contenders who were looking to earn a shot at current 155-pound kingpin Anthony Pettis.

By the end of a long night at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, two of those fighters made big statements. Two more walked away disappointed. 

Here’s a look at what the results mean for each of the card’s top fighters. 

 

Myles Jury: Not a Star Quite Yet

Myles Jury came into UFC 182 with the ability to make a huge statement. At 26 years old and coming off back-to-back wins over Diego Sanchez and Takanori Gomi, he had earned a shot at co-main eventing a card against the likes of Donald Cerrone. 

It turned out he wasn’t ready to win that kind of fight, though. 

Jury was outclassed by the 31-year-old wherever the fight went. Jury’s takedown was quickly nullified by Cerrone taking his back and working for submissions for the majority of the round. When Jury tried to make it a kickboxing bout in the second round, Cerrone won that too with vicious leg kicks. 

The Cowboy finally got a takedown of his own in the third round. He converted his lone attempt to get the fight to the mat, according to FightMetric. 

That would complete the domination trifecta as Cerrone cruised to a unanimous decision. 

This doesn’t mean that Jury is a chump. His skills had spoken for themselves on the way to a 15-0 record. It simply means he isn’t ready for the big time quite yet. He’ll need to go back to the drawing board, earn a few victories and work on rounding out his game to be a real player in the lightweight division.

 

Donald Cerrone: Give the Man a Title Shot (or Whatever Fight He Wants)

You’d be hard-pressed to find too many people who weren’t impressed with Cowboy’s performance. But he would be one of them. UFC on Fox passed along his disappointment with the fight:

Unfortunately for the lightweight division, that means that the former WEC star is going to be looking to get back in the Octagon as soon as possible. He even asked UFC President Dana White about getting on a card in Denver that is set for Feb. 14:

Cerrone’s six-fight win streak includes an impressive enough litany to warrant a title shot as is. But that won’t stop Cowboy from adding to his list in order to stay active. Considering he fought four times in 2014, he isn’t the kind of fighter who is patient enough to sit around and wait for a title shot. 

With another win possible in just a little more than a month, a title shot in 2015 shouldn’t be a surprise. It should be expected. 

 

Daniel Cormier: Time for Some Soul-Searching

Everything Daniel Cormier did in his athletic career led up to his title shot at UFC 182. He understood that this was his chance to finally lay claim to being the best in the world at what he does.

“I’ve never been the best in the world at anything,” he told Jeremy Botter of Bleacher Report. “And this will probably be my last chance to do something and be the best in the world.”

Now, the question is, Can he do anything to work toward another shot? If so, does he have the ability to change the result?

Those are difficult questions to answer. At 35 years old, it’s going to take a sense of urgency. 

Cormier had his successes in the bout. He was able to take a round on the scorecards and landed more significant strikes against Jones than anyone not named Alexander Gustafsson, per FightMetric. 

Still, Jones was clearly the superior fighter, and Cormier acknowledged that, via MMAFighting:

It wouldn’t take much for Cormier to set up a rematch. Given the bad blood between these two and the lack of intriguing challengers outside of the winner of Gustafsson and Anthony Johnson, DC isn’t far from the top of the division. 

A dominant win or two should do the trick. Can he really add anything to his game that would create a different result, though? At this point, it’s difficult to say that he could. 

 

Jon Jones: On to the Next Challenge

There isn’t much left to say about Jones. The case for him as the greatest fighter of all time is already convincing. At this point he’s just protecting his legacy for the long term. 

Any fighter who comes along in the future is going to have a hard time measuring up. At 27 years old he’s already dominated several former champions and can now add a former Olympian to his resume. What’s more, he continued his knack for beating challengers at their own game. 

He didn’t just beat Cormier. He did it with clinch work and wrestling—the two places where DC theoretically had the advantage. 

Now it’s on to the winner of a Jan. 24 bout between Gustafsson and Johnson. UFC on Fox reported that it will officially be the next match for Bones:

For Jones’ part, he’s hoping to see Johnson pull off the victory. He’s never fought the former welterweight and already owns a victory over the Swede:

It’s difficult to argue with a Gustafsson rematch being the more appealing option, though. The 6’5″ fighter can naturally negate Jones’ length and already gave him the toughest test of his career. 

A rematch would be big business for the UFC and a chance for Jones to further cement his legacy. That’s a win-win for fans who either want to see the divisive champion continue building his reputation or finally taste defeat. 

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