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UFC on Fox 16 Results: Winners, Scorecards from Dillashaw vs. Barao 2 Fight Card

UFC bantamweight champion TJ Dillashaw proved his first win over Renan Barao was no fluke.
In the rematch, Dillashaw scored a dominant fourth-round TKO victory over the Brazilian on Saturday night at UFC on Fox 16 in Chicago. The UFC was the first to c…

UFC bantamweight champion TJ Dillashaw proved his first win over Renan Barao was no fluke.

In the rematch, Dillashaw scored a dominant fourth-round TKO victory over the Brazilian on Saturday night at UFC on Fox 16 in Chicago. The UFC was the first to congratulate the champion on his dominant showing:

Dillashaw’s win highlighted a handful of impressive performances on the night. Here are the results:

Dillashaw Leaves No Doubt

From the outset, it was clear Barao still had no answer for Dillashaw’s movement and superior speed. As he did in the first fight, the champ employed advanced footwork and fast hands that befuddled Barao.

Dillashaw’s speed and striking superiority were apparent in the fight stats, per the MMA Report’s Jason Floyd:

By the third round, Barao had been tagged several times, and his stamina looked to be failing him. The only adjustment he appeared to make from the first fight was the decision to throw more leg kicks.

It didn’t work.

He caught Dillashaw a few times, but it proved to be a pebble in the road to the champion’s successful title defense. In the fourth round, Dillashaw caught an exhausted Barao with a vicious left hand that sent him flailing into the cage.

Dillashaw then unleashed this barrage of strikes, per ABS-CBN Sports:

Referee Herb Dean seemed to be waiting for a sign from the heavens to stop the fight. The bout could have been halted about 10 seconds earlier than it was, but the outcome wasn’t altered.

Dillashaw’s reign can no longer be reasonably questioned. UFC heavyweight Ruslan Magomedov gave the champion his props:

At this point, few legitimate fighters are ready to seriously challenge Dillashaw at 135 pounds. Up-and-comer Thomas Almeida is a real talent, but he needs more experience. The injured Dominick Cruz is the only one who appears to have the skill and experience.

He’s had a hard time staying healthy, but the former champion is a beast when he’s in the Octagon. He’ll probably need one or two fights before he can challenge Dillashaw for the title. Per the Fox broadcast, Cruz isn’t expected to return to the Octagon until early 2016.

As for Barao, it may be time for him to think about moving up to 145 pounds. He made the 135-pound weight limit but looked drained early in the fight. At age 28, perhaps he’s gotten too old to continue to try to make 135 pounds. He has a large frame for the bantamweight division and could be at his best at 145 or bigger.

Tate Tames Eye

Miesha Tate did her part to set up a third meeting with UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey. In the co-main event, Tate dominated all three rounds of her bout with Jessica Eye and secured the unanimous-decision win. The UFC has the official scorecards:

Tate showed just about every facet of her game in this one. After taking some hard shots early, she landed a hard right hand that dropped Eye and changed the identity of the fight. Here’s a look at the punch:

Floyd has the fight stats from the co-main event:

The numbers are a bit deceiving. The strike totals are similar, but the impact and damage from the punches are what tell the story in this one. Tate did far more damage with her strikes than Eye did, and that’s why she won every round on all three judges’ cards.

In the third round, she showed off her takedown skills and planted Eye on the canvas to close the show. If Rousey wins on Saturday in Brazil at UFC 190 against Bethe Correia, she and Tate will meet for a third time.

Rousey has won the first two meetings by submission, but Tate is the only opponent to last more than a round against her rival. Damon Martin of Fox Sports doesn’t think Tate has much of a chance to beat Rousey in a third bout, but you have to respect her grind:

Eye was gracious and congratulatory in defeat:

It’s hard to imagine what’s next for Eye at this point. Perhaps a meeting with Cat Zingano when she decides to return could be a way to earn a second opportunity to challenge for the title.

Fight Night Bonuses

TJ Dillashaw

To properly appreciate Dillashaw’s performance, one must remember how good Barao had been in his career before he first fought Dillashaw. We’re talking about a guy who hadn’t lost a fight in 10 years.

On top of that, Barao isn’t even 30 years old yet. Dillashaw again dismantled a truly elite fighter and, as Magomedov said, made him look like a novice.

Tom Lawlor

No one was talking about “Filthy” Tom Lawlor before the event, but plenty were discussing his titanic right hand after the show. Gian Villante was having some success against Lawlor early, but the counter right hook that Lawlor landed knocked Villante out almost instantly.

Villante protested afterward, but he was wobbling into the cage door at the same time. It was a good stoppage and a heck of a punch from Lawlor.

Edson Barboza vs. Paul Felder

The Edson Barboza vs. Paul Felder didn’t feature a bunch of blood and guts or high-level ground work, but there was a plethora of spinning and dynamic attacks. Most of them missed the mark.

At some points, it looked like the two men were filming a fight scene in a martial arts movie. It was admittedly entertaining but weak by Fight of the Night standards.

Still, it was the best fight of the event. Here’s a look at the top highlights from the Fight of the Night and the other notable moments from UFC on Fox 16:

Biggest Losers

Takanori Gomi

You have to know when to hang up the gloves. The time has surely come for Japanese legend Takanori Gomi to call it a career. He’s an unorthodox, one-dimensional fighter who is bound to take beating after defeating guys who have progressed in the sport while he has stayed stagnant.

Gomi will be 37 years old in September. Hopefully, he’ll celebrate his birthday with no future plans to step back into the Octagon.

Gian Villante

Just when it looked as if Gian Villante was moving into position to be a serious contender in the light heavyweight division, Lawlor happened. The crushing counter right hand that knocked Villante out also made it impossible to see him as a legit threat to the elite 205-pounders in the UFC.

Lawlor made Villante pay for his faulty defense, and now his strike defense and chin may be question marks moving forward. He’s not the most gifted athlete, so you have to wonder just how much he can improve.

Barao

It’s humbling when a fighter finds the guy he simply can’t beat. The manner in which Barao has lost to Dillashaw twice creates the thought that we’d see the same result no matter how many times the two fought.

No fighter wants to be beaten out of a division, but it appears that is what Barao could be facing.

What’s Next

UFC 190

Any Rousey fight is a major event, but after Saturday’s co-main event, her bout with Correia is especially intriguing. We know who Rousey will be facing next, no matter who wins. If she successfully defends her title as everyone expects, Rousey will take on Tate.

If Rousey were to lose to Correia, there will almost certainly be a rematch.

With UFC 190 taking place in Brazil, it’s only right that the co-main event features two Brazilian legends. Mauricio “Shogun” Rua will engage in a fan-friendly scrap against Antonio Rogerio Nogueira. Neither man has a chance to ever seriously challenge for a championship again, but they are warriors who will give it all they have.

See you Saturday.

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Miesha Tate vs. Jessica Eye: Winner, Scorecard, Reaction for UFC Fight Night 72

Ronda Rousey, it’s your move.
On Saturday night in the co-main event at UFC Fight Night Chicago, Miesha Tate proved to be a cut above Jessica “Evil” Eye as she captured a unanimous-decision win. UFC News provided the official scorecards:

With the vict…

Ronda Rousey, it’s your move.

On Saturday night in the co-main event at UFC Fight Night Chicago, Miesha Tate proved to be a cut above Jessica “Evil” Eye as she captured a unanimous-decision win. UFC News provided the official scorecards:

With the victory, Tate did her part to secure a third shot at Rousey and second crack at the UFC women’s bantamweight championship. If Rousey beats Bethe Correia on Saturday, August 1, the third bout will be set.

Tate showed off every bit of her game against Eye. After taking some hard shots early on, Tate bit down on her mouthpiece and pushed forward. She wasn’t simply there to take punishment, Tate started to land her own strikes moments later. This big right hand put Eye on the canvas and changed the fight’s momentum. UFC Chicago had the highlights:

The knockdown happened too late in the round for Tate to get the finish, but she did some damage to Eye’s face and confidence with elbows from top position.

In the second round, it was clear Tate had taken control. She controlled the center of the Octagon and landed another big shot that dropped Eye for a second time. Again, Tate was unable to finish, but it wasn’t because of a lack of effort.

She was looking for a choke to close out the fight, but to Eye’s credit, she defended the submission well and survived the round.

The third round brought out Tate’s wrestling. Before the bout started, most expected her to have an advantage on the ground, but she waited until the final frame to show her grappling prowess.

Tate secured a solid takedown and took Eye’s back. Despite working for a finish from back mount, referee Yves Lavigne stood the two women up with just 32 seconds left in the fight. It proved to be inconsequential as Tate had already proved her superiority.

NASCAR driver Kevin Harvick was one of many to congratulate Tate on her dominant win.

Fox Sports’ Damon Martin doesn’t think Tate can beat Rousey, but he can’t knock her hustle:

Tate has lost to Rousey twice by armbar submission, but she’s the only opponent to make it out of the first round against the champion. Tate lasted until the third round in their last meeting at UFC 168 in December 2013.

It’s a tribute to Rousey’s dominance that we’re forced to pump up the biggest loser to find a suitable contender, but that’s where we are in the women’s bantamweight division. Like it or not, if Rousey wins on Saturday, we’ll have ourselves a trilogy.

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Miesha Tate vs. Jessica Eye: Odds, Comments, Predictions for UFC on Fox 16

Just before UFC bantamweight champion T.J. Dillashaw has his long-awaited rematch with Renan Barao in the main event of UFC on Fox 16 in Chicago on Saturday, an important women’s bantamweight scrap will take place.
No. 2 contender Miesha “Cupcake” Tate…

No. 2 contender Miesha “Cupcake” Tate will take on No. 5-ranked Jessica “Evil” Eye in a bout that could determine who gets the next shot at the women’s 135-pound title. Per Odds Shark, Tate is a 1-2 favorite to win.

Ronda Rousey currently owns the strap. The champion will defend the belt on Saturday, Aug. 1, in Brazil against Bethe Correia. Assuming Rousey wins—which is what most are doing—the winner of the Eye vs. Tate bout could face Rousey later this year or early in 2016.

Many might cringe at the thought of a third fight between Rousey and Tate, but it’s hard to argue that the latter won’t have earned it with a victory over Eye. Tate has won three straight since losing to Rousey at UFC 168, defeating Liz Carmouche, Rin Nakai and Sara McMann.

A win over Eye would be the latest feather in Tate’s proverbial cap. The fight with Eye was apparently almost agreed upon for June 6 but was instead made for the Chicago card. Eye took the opportunity to post this video on her Facebook page, calling Tate out:

Tate disputes the concept that she was stalling and seemed to take umbrage with Eye’s trash talk. Per Steven Muehlhausen of FanSided, Tate had this response:

I just thought it made Jessica look dumb because everybody knows that we didn’t have a fight contract for a date that was never set for the June 6 card. … The fact is it was never set in stone and we never received contracts. It was a ploy for her to try to get her fans to think for some reason that I was stalling or delaying to fight her. When we actually got our fight contracts for this date, I signed mine right away and tried to spin it back in her face and be like now where’s your contract now that we have a real contract?

Tate is a veteran who has been in the cage with Rousey on two occasions and has battled No. 1 contender Cat Zingano once. It seems silly to think she’d be scared to face Eye. Tate continued:

When I hear her talking trash, there’s no real reason she can have any personal dislike for me because we’ve always been nice to each other before. We were slated to fight each other. Now suddenly, it’s like she’s turned over this new leaf. She’s trying to be tough. I think it’s really because she’s nervous. A lot of people feel like all of a sudden they have to talk a big game, say all these things and try to convince people why they are going to win this fight.

If nothing else, the war of words has helped to add some intrigue to this fight. Unfortunately for Eye, this fight probably won’t go her way. The first minute of it will be key in determining the winner. Eye is almost always super aggressive as she attempts to put a hurting on her opponents with strikes early in the fight.

You can bet Tate will be ready for the onslaught. She’s proved in previous fights that she has the toughness to weather the storm. Eye certainly has a huge advantage in striking, but the edge in grappling is just as big for Tate. If she can get this fight to the ground, Eye will be in purgatory off her back.

Much of what Eye does is based on aggression and emotion. Those are hard sources to draw from when someone is taking you down.

Eye had a difficult childhood, and by her own admission, it has fueled her fighting career. She discusses the physical abuse she endured from her father in an interview with Yahoo Sports’ Kevin Iole. Her resilience and ability to survive those circumstances make it easy to root for her to succeed, but she’s technically outclassed in this matchup.

Tate’s grappling and submission games are miles ahead. In four fights tracked by FightMetric, Eye has a takedown defense rate of 33 percent. And she hasn’t faced a grappler or submissions artist on Tate’s level.

Nathan McCarter of Bleacher Report likes Eye to win by unanimous decision, and his reasoning is solid. He says: “This fight is going to go 15 minutes. Here’s the bottom line: If Eye can stop the takedowns, she will win.”

Only she won’t stop Tate’s takedowns, and thus Eye won’t win. Tate knows she can’t strike with Eye, and she won’t try. She’ll do just enough to close the distance and then use Eye’s aggression against her to take the fight to the mat.

From there, it’ll be only a matter of time before Tate secures the submission win. How about an armbar finish to help add a little personality to Tate’s next challenge to Rousey’s crown?

Barring something strange happening in Brazil the following week, Rousey vs. Tate III is coming.

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UFC on Fox 16: Dillashaw vs. Barao 2 Fight Card, TV Info, Predictions and More

Renan Barao is going to regain his UFC bantamweight title in the most highly anticipated rematch in mixed martial arts. Barao will take on current champion T.J. Dillashaw for a second time after losing his title to the Team Alpha Male stud at UFC 173 i…

When: Saturday, July 25, at 4:15 p.m. ET

Where: United Center in Chicago

Ticket Info: ScoreBig.com

TV and Live Stream: Prelims on UFC Fight Pass and Fox, Main Card on Fox

The feature fight is tantalizing, but on paper the rest of the card looks only so-so by Fox-feature-event standards.

Many pundits are having a tough time predicting a winner for Dillashaw-Barao II. Fox Sports’ Elias Cepeda likes Dillashaw by decision, but he doesn’t sound 100 percent confident:

This one could end up being a patient, waiting game, or the two rivals could clash in the center of the Octagon from the start. In either case, it’s almost an unpredictable fight. Barao has had time to rest and recover. Perhaps he’ll be able to cut off the ring and corner Dillashaw a bit better this time.

The two headliners were set for the rematch in August 2014 at UFC 177, but Barao fell ill after a brutal weight cut and couldn’t compete. Dillashaw instead successfully defended his title against Joe Soto.

Dillashaw and Barao were again set to renew acquaintances, and this time an injury to the champion in March derailed the rematch scheduled for April 25 at UFC 186.

Barring some unfortunate happenstance between Friday and Saturday (mind you, the weigh-in is on Friday), this fight will finally take place. Judging by Barao‘s performance in the first fight, the weight cut to 135 pounds looked to have bothered him then as well.

Barao looked listless and less aggressive than he had in previous fights. Dillashaw‘s movement and athleticism had something to do with that, but I don’t think that wasn’t an example of Barao at his best.

Barao broke down the circumstances surrounding the first fight in this interview from Sherdog:

Call me crazy, but Barao‘s excuse sounds legit. The video offers a detailed explanation of how the string of events, beginning with his win over Dillashaw‘s TAM teammate Urijah Faber, subsequent partying at Carnival and rush into UFC 173, was the perfect recipe for a mediocre performance against a top-notch opponent.

What do you get when that happens? A thorough beating culminating in a fifth-round TKO in favor of Dillashaw.

Don’t expect that to happen again on Saturday. Barao looked like his old self in submitting Mitch Gagnon in December 2014. He will be sharp, motivated and hungry when he enters the Octagon against Dillashaw for a second time.

In the first fight, Dillashaw did a number on Barao with leg strikes. Dillashaw landed 24 of 28 leg strikes to hurt Barao and disturb his rhythm. Barao neither checked nor evaded the attacks well. His striking defense was poor on a whole as Dillashaw threw 309 significant strikes and landed 45 percent of them.

All of Barao‘s opponents in the UFC have landed an average of 39 percent of their strikes.

While Dillashaw is an experienced wrestler from his days at Fullerton State University and in high school, there’s a real question as to whether his ground game is superior to Barao. The latter is a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and gained fame for his diverse and dangerous submission game. He’s secured 15 of his 33 wins by submission.

Curiously, he didn’t attempt one takedown against Dillashaw in the first fight.

All this points to a man who was not prepared to compete at his peak. That’s his own fault, but he has likely learned from his mistakes. Barao will not allow Dillashaw to dictate the pace of the fight with his movement, jabs and leg kicks as he did in the first fight.

He’ll also make sure the champion has to account for his ground game by forcing him to at least defend takedowns. By employing that part of his game, he may open up opportunities for strikes. It’s easy to forget just how dominant Barao had been before the loss. Barao‘s record is 33-2 overall, and he hadn’t lost a fight in nine years before Dillashaw beat him.

Both Dillashaw and Barao are young at 29 and 28, respectively. So this isn’t a case of a grizzled veteran trying to hold off a young up-and-coming fighter. Both guys are in their physical prime, and Barao will be better in the rematch.

Tate Will Tame Eye

The first 45 seconds will be key in the Miesha “Cupcake” Tate vs. Jessica “Evil” Eye bout. Eye is ultra-aggressive, and she’ll come out looking to land bombs and finish Tate early. She is such a solid and vicious striker that she might get the job done with this approach, as Tate’s striking defense (49 percent) is less than exemplary.

While Tate is known to take punishment and Eye is known for dishing it out (5.26 strikes landed per minute, third most among top-10 women’s bantamweights), Cupcake’s resiliency will be a factor in this fight.

She’ll want to take the fight to the ground, where she has a huge advantage in grappling. Tate also has a big edge in experience as she’s been in a number of main event and co-main event matches in her career.

Eye will gas out within the first minute of the fight because of her adrenaline and willingness to sell out for the KO. Tate will weather the storm and secure a submission win late in the first round or early in the second. Love it or hate it, we might be moving toward Rousey vs. Tate III.

Lauzon vs. Gomi is a FOTN Candidate

Joe Lauzon has collected 13 Fight Night bonuses in his career. Six of them have been for Fight of the Night honors. He might be headed for his 14th and seventh on Saturday night.

Lauzon faces flawed Japanese MMA legend Takanori Gomi in the opening bout on the main card, and this one has barnburner written all over it. Gomi loves to trade, but he’s not incredibly hard to hit at age 36. Myles Jury proved that when he stopped Gomi in the first round back in September 2014.

Gomi also doesn’t have much of a ground game. That’s a problem, as Lauzon is one of the premier submission guys in the UFC with eight wins by submission in the promotion and six Submission of the Night bonuses before the award was renamed.

While Lauzon is an excellent submissions fighter, he also likes to stand and trade. With both men willing to throw hands, this one will be entertaining while it stays on the feet. However, it’s only a matter of time before Lauzon takes Gomi down.

Once that happens, Gomi will be in deep water, and Lauzon will finish with some sort of choke. Both men could very well be bloodied by the time that happens.

We’ve seen cards look terrible on paper before and turn out to be great. UFC Fight Night New Orleans on June 6 was a recent example. Fans can only hope we see a repeat or an even better show than the fighters put on that night.

All fight stats per Fight Metric unless otherwise noted.

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UFC on Fox 16: Best DraftKings Fantasy Picks for Barao vs. Dillashaw Card

Let’s be honest, the card for UFC on Fox 16 isn’t an easy one to call for DraftKings players. The main event itself is a tough one to predict. UFC bantamweight champion TJ Dillashaw’s DK salary is a handsome $10,900, but it’s hard to see Barao as that …

Barao’s struggles to make 135 pounds could still be an issue, but if not, it seems certain he’ll deliver a better performance than he did when he met Dillashaw in May 2014.

Dillashaw took the title from Barao in that fight via fifth-round TKO, and he stopped Joe Soto when a brutal weight cut left Barao too ill to compete in the rematch at UFC 177. Barao is tempting to draft because his DK salary is just $8,500, but if he looks listless and drained as he did in the two men’s first meeting, he could get stopped again.

This one just seems too close to call.

The loser figures to have an opportunity to put up some points from significant strikes and takedowns, but in DK MMA, it’s all about finishes. The main event has a good chance to go the distance. Because of that, I’m leaving it alone. Here’s a look at my five for the event:

Surest Picks

Joe Lauzon, ($11,100) vs. Takanori Gomi

“The Fireball Kid” is a Japanese MMA legend, but at 36 years old, Takanori Gomi is not the fighter he once was. Even in his prime, he was vulnerable to submissions. Of his 10 losses, six of them have come by tap out.

That’s a bad look when you’re set to face Joe Lauzon. He has 11 wins in his UFC career, and seven of them have come by submission. Without question, Lauzon will be looking to take Gomi down at some point. When he does, it’ll be just a matter of time before he forces him to tap.

Lauzon is the fighter you have to have from this event.

Zak Cummings ($11,200) vs. Dominique Steele

Let’s look at the UFC Fight Pass preliminary card for the other virtual lock. Zak Cummings is a slightly underrated fighter who has compiled a 17-4 record in his MMA career. Three of those four losses came against elite competition. Most recently Cummings lost to Gunnar Nelson in July 2014. He has also been bested by Tim Kennedy in 2009 and Ryan Jimmo in 2011.

In other words, he’s a legit fighter, but he’s not among the upper echelon. Those fights were fought at middleweight and above. Cummings is coming down to 170 pounds for this fight and he should have a big advantage. Dominique Steele is making his UFC debut, but he’s not a fighter who looks to have a long future in the promotion.

In watching his fights from other promotions, there’s several defensive flaws to note: Steele stands flat-footed, and he doesn’t have a ton of head movement or any real weapons to finish. He’s more of a grinder with a strong chin who’s looking to outwork opponents.

That alone will not cut it in the UFC, and he will find that out the hard way. Look for Cummings to secure the takedown and lock on a submission to finish this one within the first two rounds.

Closest Call

Paul Felder ($9,700) vs. Edson Barboza

There’s a reason both Paul Felder and Edson Barboza’s DK salary is $9,700. This fight couldn’t be tougher to decipher. Barboza has some of the most devastating kicks in the sport, and he’s lightning fast. However, Felder is a big, strong and an impressively well-rounded lightweight who is coming off a second-round KO win over Danny Castillo.

Felder gets the nod in this one for a few reasons: Both are skilled grapplers, but Felder is physically stronger. If this fight goes to the ground, he should have an advantage. Secondly, Felder trains with Donald Cerrone. The latter fought and beat Barboza via submission back in May 2014.

Barboza was having success early, but Cerrone began to check the Brazilian’s leg kicks and took control from there. Barboza was dropped by a jab and submitted via rear-naked choke. You can bet Felder learned a bit from watching that fight, and has also received some pointers from Cerrone.

Felder will take advantage of Barboza’s suspect chin with a counter shot that sets up a TKO victory.

Biggest Value

James Krause ($9,100) vs. Daron Cruickshank

Daron Cruickshank looks the part of a dynamic and dangerous lightweight, but he’s yet to prove it in the Octagon. He has some of the most dynamic head kicks in the sport, but he’s been well scouted and has rarely landed the strikes in recent fights.

One of the biggest reasons he has struggled is the lack of diversity to his offensive game. His effectiveness is predicated on landing the big kick. Cruickshank isn’t an especially good wrestler or striker with his hands. Half of his losses have come by submission, and that’s a strength of James Krause’s game.

Krause has 21 professional wins, and 13 of them have come by way of submission. He has lost three of his last four fights, so he will be desperate to get a win. Krause will also enjoy a six-inch height advantage which could make it difficult for Cruickshank to get in range to land one of his signature kicks.

A decision win based on top position is most likely for Krause, but don’t rule out another submission win after he catches one of Cruickshank’s kicks to the body and turns it into a takedown.

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UFC Fight Night 72 Results: Winners, Scorecards from Bisping vs. Leites Card

Michael “The Count” Bisping kept his chances of earning a title shot alive with a razor-thin split-decision win over Thales Leites in the main event of UFC Glasgow on Saturday. UFC News has the official scorecards:

Sportz Visionz has the fight stats:
…

Sportz Visionz has the fight stats:

This fight could have gone either way. Judging came down to whether you were more impressed with Bisping’s footwork and slightly more plentiful landed strikes or Leites’ more effective punches. The Brazilian had Bisping hurt on two occasions, but he couldn’t finish.

The most significant sequence came in the third round when Leites landed a huge uppercut on Bisping’s chin against the cage. Bisping’s head jutted upward, but he had the wherewithal to grab, hold and survive the danger.

In the fifth and final round, as you can see from the UFC video below, Leites came out looking for the finish:

Bisping’s footwork proved to be too slick, and he was able to land some decent combinations that offset Leites’ pressure. Andreas M. Georgiou of MMA Plus also saw the fight as a tough one to call:

Apparently, the decision wasn’t the only thing Bisping split in the fight. Take a look at his toe in this image from Bloody Elbow:

Anyone who is eager for Bisping to fade out of the title picture will have to wait a little longer. His striking, takedown defense, toughness and cardio make him formidable against anyone not ranked in the top five of the division.

This win leaves him firmly planted in the middleweight division’s top 10. He came in ranked ninth and Leites was 10th. Don’t expect either man to move much after such a close scrap.

Dunham Grounds Pearson

Ross Pearson needed room to show off his striking prowess, but Evan Dunham never gave it to him. With just enough strikes to close the distance, Dunham dominated control of the bout and secured three takedowns, per the fight stats image from Sportz Visionz:

Pearson escaped a deep armbar in the first round that seemed to have damaged his left arm, but he deserves credit for enduring some severe pain and escaping the predicament. The UFC tweeted this video to show what Pearson fought through:

Still, Dunham’s superiority on the ground was far too big of an impediment for Pearson to overcome. Josh Gross of Sherdog.com gave some love to Dunham for his performance:

When the fight was over, he didn’t apologize for his winning—but less than thrilling—approach. Per the Fox Sports 1 broadcast, Dunham said, “I would be stupid to fight his fight.”

We really don’t know what’s next for him. When he was interviewed by Fox Sports 1’s Brian Stann, Dunham was asked who he wanted next, and his response was disappointing.

“I’m a journeyman fighter and when they call and give me a name, I’ll be there,” he said.

What is that?

Guys who refuse to take the opportunity to call out an opponent after a win are like salespeople who refuse to promote their own product. Don’t you want a commission check? It’s a wasted opportunity. In any case, I digress.

Here’s a look at the results from every fight on the card:

Fight Bonuses

Stevie Ray and Joe Duffy Shine Brightest

Stevie Ray made quick work of Leonardo Mafra, as did Joseph Duffy with Ivan Jorge, and both men earned an extra $50,000 for their efforts.

Ray’s counterstriking was the key, as he hurt Mafra early in the first round. Before Mafra could recover, Ray jumped on him again with another strong shot that forced the stoppage.

Duffy has made himself a first-round assassin. He has 12 first-round finishes in his 14 wins. Against a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt, he secured the armbar submission victory in an impressive display.

The Ladies Put on the Best Bout

The only women’s fight on the card was awarded and deserved the Fight of the Night bonus. Joanne Calderwood outstruck Cortney Casey in the latter’s UFC debut. Casey was a late replacement, but she came out guns blazing.

Take a look at this sequence early in the first round—Casey nearly stopped the Scottish Calderwood in front of her home fans:

Ultimately, Calderwood took control with her striking and almost secured the stoppage win herself in the third round with a spinning back kick to the stomach.

Casey survived and, when the bout was over, here’s how the UFC and many fight fans felt:

Biggest Loser

Pearson’s Ceiling

While he’s tough as they come, Pearson’s inability to create the movement to execute his striking against an opponent like Dunham is defining—in a bad way.

The Ultimate Fighter Season 5 winner will never be more than a brawler who is good for some thrilling battles but nowhere close to a contender. You might as well put him in the same category as Chris Leben. Depending on who you ask, that may or may not be a compliment.

What’s Next

The Rematch

On Saturday, July 25, the promotion comes to the United Center in Chicago for UFC on Fox 16 with a long-awaited main event rematch. UFC bantamweight champion T.J. Dillashaw will defend his title against the man he won the belt from in May 2014.

The two men were set to rematch in August 2014, but Barao fell ill during a brutal weight cut and was unable to fight. Dillashaw would defeat replacement Joe Soto, but the thirst to validate his first win over Barao hadn’t been quenched. Barring an issue this week, we’ll finally see one of the most highly anticipated fights of the year.

The co-main event could determine who gets the next shot at the women’s bantamweight title. A week before Ronda Rousey defends the belt against Bethe Correia in Brazil on August 1, Jessica Eye will take on longtime Rousey rival Miesha Tate in a pivotal scrap.

The fights roll on.

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