Friday, The Ultimate Fighter will return for a 15th season.The reality program has made changes and variations throughout its tenure. Before Season 4, losing fighters had to abdicate the house and were no longer allowed to train with their team. The ni…
Friday, The Ultimate Fighter will return for a 15th season.
The reality program has made changes and variations throughout its tenure. Before Season 4, losing fighters had to abdicate the house and were no longer allowed to train with their team. The ninth season implemented wild cards, chosen by the judges, to fight for the last quarterfinal spot.
However, the 15th season will institute more changes than ever before. The show is moving to Friday nights; the show is now broadcast on FX for the first time. Most importantly, the fights each week will be broadcast live.
Live fights will present another vicissitude: the overall production schedule will grow from six weeks to 12 weeks. This adjustment in the formula will only help the fighters and contestants of this year’s The Ultimate Fighter.
With the production schedule expanding, so will the length of time the fighters train. This will be extremely positive for the contestants. The Ultimate Fighter is a competition featuring many young, inexperienced fighters as well as some more veteran fighters who have never broken in with the world’s top promotion.
The best asset available to them is training under top-flight coaches. Now, The Ultimate Fighter coaches do not always end up being “world class.” Some have proven to be better coaches than others. They are UFC fighters after all, not professional coaches.
However, they often bring their own trainers and camps along, so the training ends up being very valuable regardless. Urijah Faber and Dominick Cruz also seem like two great candidates to be coaches. They both will take their roles seriously.
The competition amongst the contestants of The Ultimate Fighter is fierce. All of them have the same goal of becoming The Ultimate Fighter and joining the UFC. Since they all have the same goal, they make for ideal training partners.
Each competitor pushes the others to get better during the duration of their training. Now, their training will be twice as long. That’s twice as long they get to build a chemistry with their teams in training. It is also twice as long to push each other and get better together.
Last season, The Ultimate Fighter taped for six weeks and hosted 12 fights after the preliminary round of fights. So, once the fighters were in the house and began training with their teams, there were 12 fights before the finale.
That means that there was a fight at least once every three-and-a-half days. That is very little time for a fighter to prepare for his opponent. There is very little time to game plan for a specific opponent.
Now, the fighters will have double the time to train specifically for their designated challenger. This can only aide each fighter. The more time each opponent has to focus on his specific fight and receive personal attention from his coaches for his upcoming fight, the cleaner and more real the fights will be.
There are some potential problems brought on by the 12-week schedule. Although some may relish the extended schedule and treat all the time like the gift it is, some may begin to get lazy, especially if they have already been eliminated from the competition. This would drop the overall effectiveness of training.
Another problem is the expanded schedule will make it difficult for each fighter to maintain weight. The fighter who wins the first fight to reach the quarterfinals will have a long wait (get it? A long “wait” to maintain his “weight”…eh? eh?) before he will fight again. It will be even more difficult for him to maintain his weight and be in fighting shape for his second match-up.
The extended schedule may also cause more nagging injuries which arise from training. There is a greater chance that a competitor could be severely injured and forced to withdraw from the competition. This would be a great detriment, one that possibly could have been avoided with a six-week schedule.
Due to the 12-week schedule, coaches Dominick Cruz and Urijah Faber will need to begin their training camps during taping. This will be a strange dynamic and it will be interesting to see how it affects the competitors.
Finally, The Ultimate Fighter contestants will have to be in the house for twice as long. This will require an incredible amount of mental fortitude from each of them. That is a long time to be away from their families.
Perhaps, more importantly, it is a long time for them to solely be around each other. In the past, personalities have mashed and worn on each other. This will certainly be the case this season with the increased exposure to each other.
There are certainly some negatives associated with the new 12-week schedule of The Ultimate Fighter. However, the potential benefits to the competitors outweigh those negatives. This is an opportunity for the fighters to reach their ultimate goal: fighting in the UFC.
The 12-week schedule will allow them to focus on attaining that goal for a longer period of time, with world-class coaches and training partners as motivated as themselves. This experience is invaluable. It cannot be replaced. As long as each fighter perseveres through the long schedule, the experience will help their career.
A week ago, Ben Henderson defeated Frankie Edgar to become the lightweight champion. Now is the perfect time to reflect upon UFC 144 and evaluate each fighter’s performance.Tier 1 24. Joe Lauzon (Lightweight) FJoe Lauzon had been building momentum comi…
A week ago, Ben Henderson defeated Frankie Edgar to become the lightweight champion. Now is the perfect time to reflect upon UFC 144 and evaluate each fighter’s performance.
Tier 1
24. Joe Lauzon (Lightweight) F
Joe Lauzon had been building momentum coming into his fight with Anthony Pettis. A win would have placed him a win or two away from a title shot. However, he ended up on the receiving end of a highlight-reel knockout. The fight ended in just over a minute, it is difficult to give Lauzon anything other than a “F.”
23. Tiequan Zhang (Featherweight) D-
Zhang seemed over matched by his opponent in the first round of this fight, both on the ground and standing up. In the second, Zhang was served with a big punch and he was subsequently knocked out. Zhang is now 1-2 in the UFC and could be facing eradication from the promotion.
22. Cheick Kongo (Heavyweight) D
Kongo was on a roll heading into his bout with Mark Hunt. In his previous three fights Kongo had recorded wins against Pat Barry and Matt Mitrione while drawing with top ten heavyweight, Travis Browne.
Instead of being given a top heavyweight though, Kongo received a dangerous challenger: Mark Hunt. Kongo was defeated by TKO succumbing to Hunt’s strong striking. Kongo will take a big step back in the division now.
Still, Kongo was simply caught in this fight, facing a dangerous opponent with knockout power.
Tier 2
21. Norifumi “Kid” Yamamoto (Bantamweight) D+
Kid Yamamoto came out strong in his fight against Vaughn Lee. He showed some good striking and power. It seemed as though the real Yamamoto had finally arrived in the UFC.
However, Lee struck back, dominating the fight on the ground before finally locking in an armbar before the end of the round.
Yamamoto kicks off a new tier of fighters because he was off to a good start and nearly finished the fight himself.
20. Steve Cantwell (Middleweight) C-
Cantwell lost to Riki Fukuda by unanimous decision. At least one judge gave Cantwell the first round though. Cantwell was dominated most of the fight during both the ground and stand-up portions. He was more effective standing, particularly in the first round.
In the third round Cantwell seemed to just allow Fukuda to take his shots at him and might have given up. He was tired and was pummeled for the majority of the fight. Still, he stuck it out to a decision and had Fukuda in trouble with a submission at one point.
19. Quinton “Rampage” Jackson (Light Heavyweight) C-
Rampage was possibly the single most disappointing fighter of the night. He came in overweight and seemed gassed very early in his fight. He cited an injury, but at the end of the night he is ultimately responsible for his performance.
Rampage clearly lost all three rounds. He never fell into a rhythm standing. This was thanks in large part to the constant pressure provided by Ryan Bader.
Jackson’s most successful bit of offense came in the clinch, especially when he managed to lift his opponent and spike him to the ground. Still, he was not able to capitalize and was completely outclassed by a better fighter.
This fight could be the beginning of the end for Jackson, although he claims if it were not for the injury, he would be better than ever…he will have to prove it in his next fight.
18. Eiji Mitsuoka (Lightweight) C-
Mitsuoka won the first round of his fight with Takanori Gomi. He outstruck his opponent during that period and was incredibly effective on the ground. However, he was tagged by Gomi and his unorthodox stand up in the second.
Gomi followed up on his wounded opponent leading to a TKO stoppage. Mitsuoka was very impressive despite the loss in his UFC debut and could be a surprise test for any lightweight.
17. Bart Palaszewski (Featherweight) C-
Palaszewski came into his bout with Hatsu Hioki as a dark horse to challenge Jose Aldo. Many believed Hioki’s lackluster performance against George Roop indicated he would succumb to Palaszewski’s power. This was not the case.
Thought to be the better striker, Palaszewski was actually beaten in the stand-up by Hioki in the first round. The third round took place entirely on the ground where Hioki dominated.
Bart took the second round on two judge’s scorecards, but it was far from definitive. Palaszewski will have to regroup against a fringe top ten featherweight if he wants to become a contender again.
Tier 3
16. Chris Cariaso (Bantamweight) C
Cariaso was awarded a unanimous decision by the judges, however it was a hotly debated decision. Cariaso won most of the striking exchanges. His full package of strikes, punches and high kicks, were effective setting the pace for the fight early.
But in each round, Cariaso could not stuff the takedown. He may have spent the majority of the fight on his back. While there, he did not mount a ton of offense or place his opponent in any significant danger of a submission.
Cariaso was incredibly lucky to come away from this bout with a win. Still, he showed off some effective striking and did not allow Mizugaki to mount much offense from top position although he did seem to fade in the final round.
15. Takeya Mizugaki (Bantamweight) C
Mizugaki was awarded his win bonus despite “losing” to Cariaso. Clearly someone believes he was the victor. Mizugaki just edges his opponent on this list. He was able to take Cariaso down with ease and controlled him fairly well on the ground. He dominated the ground portion of the fight in all three rounds.
However, his stand-up left much to be desired. He was out struck by his diminutive opponent throughout the first two rounds. Mizugaki will likely have to take a slight step back in the division; he was thought by many to be a fringe top ten bantamweight.
He has fought tough opponents his last several opponents before facing Cariaso and will likely be served best by taking on a lower ranked opponent and regaining some momentum.
14. Yoshihiro Akiyama (Welterweight) C+
Akiyama lost his welterweight debut. Once again he was given a tough opponent, Jake Shields, a top ten welterweight. Still, Akiyama looked very good at his new weight. Akiyama was able to stuff Shields’ takedowns for two rounds. He even showed some spectacular grappling of his own, throwing Shields to the mat in each of the first two rounds.
However, Shields was able to drag the Japanese fighter to the ground in the third and take his back. The biggest problem for Akiyama in this fight though was his inability to get into his groove in the striking department. Shields did a great job of staying outside and avoiding a brawl with his opponent.
Akiyama looked timid on his feet and did not throw many strikes in comparison to Shields. Akiyama was focused on defending Shields’ ground game and preventing his opponent from carrying out his game plan that he forgot to implement his himself.
Akiyama was too distracted by the threat of a takedown that he failed to focus on his striking and that is why he lost. Still, Akiyama showed all the skills needed to be effective in the welterweight division. Maybe now he will be given an easier opponent, allowing him to build some much needed confidence.
13. Takanori Gomi (Lightweight) C+
Takanori Gomi is a difficult fighter to watch; his fighting style is ugly. It has brought him a lot of success in his career. But, Gomi had been on a slide previous to this fight. He had lost three of his last four.
The first round could not have gone much worse for Gomi. He was controlled on the ground and was not getting the better of Eiji Mitsuoka in the stand-up either., However, Gomi came out in the second period peppering his opponent with powerful punches till the referee stepped in and stopped the fight.
All of Gomi’s losses in the UFC have come against quality opponents: Kenny Florian, Clay Guida and Nate Diaz. It will be interesting to see who Gomi is given next.
Tier 4
12. Riki Fukuda (Middleweight) B-
Riki Fukuda looked very good in his victory over Steve Cantwell. He was able to bring the fight to the ground in every round and was most effective there in the first. He also proved to be the better stand-up striker in the second and proved this definitively in the third round.
Fukuda was the more poised fighter throughout the fight and looked very confident. He lost a close decision to Nick Ring in his UFC debut. Having bounced back from that loss, it seems Fukuda is ready to start taking steps up the middleweight ladder.
11. Jake Shields (Welterweight) B-
Shields had lost his last two fights, both to top five welterweights: Georges St. Pierre and Jake Ellenberger. He gets back on track and quells some doubters with his victory over Yoshihiro Akiyama.
Shields continuously tried to take Akiyama to the ground throughout the first two rounds. However, Akiyama had brilliant defense, overcoming each attempt.
Akiyama did manage to take Shields to the ground on a couple of occasions, but each time, Shields quickly sprang back up, not allowing Akiyama to do any damage.
The most impressive aspect of Shields’ fight was his victories in the striking exchanges. He mixed up his strikes well, throwing some good kicks and managed to stage away from Akiyama’s power.
Shields’ strikes did not put much hurt on Akiyama, though. After the fight Shields even looked more battered than Akiyama.
Finally, in the third round, Shields managed to take Akiyama’s back and dragged him, and nearly the cage along with him (since Akiyama was grabbing it so much), to the ground. Shields dominated the third round, sealing the victory.
It was great to see Shields win a bout on his feet and to see him adapt well despite not being able to implement his game plan for most of the fight.
It has been some time, however, since he has really dominated an opponent on the ground and without his superb ground game, he will have difficulty against the elite of the welterweight division.
10. Vaughn Lee (Bantamweight) B-
Vaughn Lee survived an early onslaught by Kid Yamamoto. He then brought the fight to his level, the mat, dominating the Japanese standout there before finishing him with an armbar.
Lee showed off an impressive chin. Yamamoto rocked him early and jumped all over Lee looking for the finish, but the eventual winner was able to cover up well and turn the fight around.
In Lee’s other UFC fight, he lost a split decision to card-mate Chris Cariaso. His next fight could be against someone like T.J. Dillashaw or Roland Delorme; a bantamweight on a winning steak to decide who deserves a step up in competition.
9. Yushin Okami (Middleweight) B-
One of the questions coming into this event was the performance of Okami following his decisive loss to Anderson Silva. Yushin Okami answered doubters through two rounds of his fight with Tim Boetsch.
In those two rounds he showed superior striking. He showed the greatest stand up display possibly of his career, in fact. He also dominated Boetsch on the ground in the second round. He came close to finishing the fight from ground and pound.
He was the on his way to an easy victory. But, Boetsch came out in the third looking tear Okami’s head off, knowing he had to finish the fight. He did just that, defeating Okami by TKO.
It is an unfortunate loss for Okami, his second in as many fights. However, he looked better than ever and is still a top ten, probably top eight middleweight. He should bounce back in his next fight and look to rise to the top of the division once again.
Tier 5
8. Ryan Bader (Light Heavyweight) B
Ryan Bader kicks off the next tier of fighters. These are all fighters who won big fights propelling them up their divisional rankings.
Bader has had a tough 2011. He was considered the top light heavyweight prospect, that is, until he ran into Jon Jones.
Then he was given a fading Tito Ortiz as a pick me up fight…well, Tito decided he was not ready for his career to come to a close and shocked Bader, along with the majority of the MMA community, with a stunning submission victory.
The loss plummeted Bader’s career and left many wondering if he would be cut with a third loss. However, Bader won his next fight against Jason Brilz by first-round KO. This earned him a chance against Rampage Jackson as the co-main event on one of the UFC’s biggest cards this year.
Bader dominated Rampage for three rounds last Saturday. He earned an easy decision. Rampage came in overweight and clearly did not look his best (he cited an injury, but whatever). Still, Bader’s striking looked very crisp.
He also took Rampage down with ease in both the second and third rounds, delivering some ground and pound to the former champion. It was a very well executed fight by Bader. It was a safe, smart win.
The only knock on his performance could be his inability to finish the fight. He really did not seem to go after it, either. He was content controlling Rampage and cruising to a decision.
Still, the win places Bader firmly in the conversation of being a top ten light heavyweight. He may even have a step on fighters like Alexander Gustafsson and Phil Davis, due to his victory over an elite opponent.
7. Tim Boetsch (Middleweight) B
Tim Boestch remains undefeated as a middleweight in the UFC, although it did not come easily. Dana White said it perfectly in the post-fight press conference, saying Boetsch did exactly what a fighter is suppose to do when down two rounds: tirelessly look to finish the fight.
Boetsch came out with reckless abandon, swinging for Okami’s head. He mercilessly attempted and landed uppercuts, eventually dropping his opponent and earning the stoppage.
That was the third round. The first two rounds consisted of Boetsch being batted by Okami’s excellent striking ability and then being dropped, mounted and pounded on. Okami showed there are holes in Boetsch’s game. He can be beat both standing and on the ground.
Okami even looked to be the stronger of the two, despite Boetsch’s history as a light heavyweight. The resilience of Boetsch was impressive; so was his chin and knockout power. It will be interesting to see what Boetsch can do while consistently facing top competition.
6. Hatsu Hioki (Featherweight) B
Hatsu Hioki had a lot to prove coming into his bout with Bart Palaszewski. Hioki was supposed to make a big splash in the UFC and challenge Jose Aldo for the featherweight title in short order.
However, Hioki was lackluster in his defeat of George Roop. That fight he won by split decision, and it was highly contested.
Hioki erased the memory of his UFC debut by dominating Palaszewski, winning a unanimous decision. He won the first and third rounds conclusively, while fighting equally with his opponent in the second. Hioki showed some good striking in this bout, something that seemed to be missing from his fight with Roop.
However, Hioki’s takedowns and suffocating top game was the most spectacular aspect of his game. He passed guard well and looked great in transition. He also avoided getting into submission trouble, despite facing a jiu-jitsu black belt.
Hioki looked exceptional in this bout. Based upon his performance, it is possible he could be the man to dethrone Jose Aldo. Hioki’s future may be dependent upon Frankie Edgar.
If Edgar chooses a rematch with Ben Henderson, then Hioki will likely receive a title shot with Aldo.
However, if Edgar moves down to featherweight, he will receive an immediate shot at Aldo’s title.
Hioki will then likely face the winner of the upcoming Dustin Poirier vs. Chan Sung Jung fight to decide the No. 1 contender.
Tier 6
5. Frankie Edgar (Lightweight) B+
At last, we come to the final five fighters. These five fighters put on the elite performances of UFC 144.
Frankie Edgar is the first fighter of the top tier. He is also the only top tier performer to lose his bout. Edgar lost his title to Ben Henderson by unanimous decision. Two judges scored the bout 49-46, the third scored it 48-47, but many, including Dana White, seemed to think the fight was much closer.
For the record: I scored the fight 49-46 for Henderson: Edgar winning the first, Henderson clearly winning the second and third and narrowly winning the fourth and fifth.
Edgar’s boxing was once again on display. His strikes were very clean. He landed a great number of strikes. However, Ben never seemed fazed by them. At the end of the 25 minute fight, Ben did not have a scratch on him.
Edgar also was able to score some takedowns, although Ben was able to get back to his feet each time without any issue or damage taken. Edgar once caught Ben in a guillotine, everyone does, but he, like everyone else, was unsuccessful in producing the tap.
Edgar showed some great submission defense himself. He fended off a very deep guillotine choke which Henderson locked in the fourth round.
Edgar also showed off his great chin once again, as he was rocked by Henderson a couple times but just kept coming.This was a very good fight for Edgar.
However, despite all his efforts, he was still beaten by the bigger and stronger Ben Henderson. Perhaps this fight finally proved that Edgar needs to move down to the featherweight division.
4. Mark Hunt (Heavyweight) B+
Mark Hunt is now 8-7 in his mixed martial arts career. He has also been a professional boxer and kick boxer. Hunt was not anyone special, due to his poor record, in the heavyweight division coming into this fight.
However, he is now ascending the rankings following a first-round TKO victory over Cheick Kongo, who was streaking before losing at UFC 144. Hunt still needs to develop an all-around game. He may always have a puncher’s chance in fights, but it is unlikely he ever becomes a contender in the division.
3. Ben Henderson (Lightweight) A-
Ben Henderson has had a near-perfect run in the UFC. He has run through top contenders Clay Guida and Jim Miller. Now, he has captured the title from Frankie Edgar. His first 12 months in the UFC may be the best in UFC history.
Henderson may not have struck Edgar more in their bout, but his certainly did a lot more damage. Need evidence? Just examine each fighter following the fight.
Henderson showed a lot versatility in his striking. One knock on him though, may of been his propensity to throw body kicks which Edgar was able to catch. Edgar caught a large number of kicks (Joe Rogan did correctly point out that each catch came after the kick landed, thus the kick still caused damage).
Henderson did learn to counter this, though, as Edgar caught his kick, Ben would use this opportunity to shower Edgar with punches. Essentially, Henderson’s caught leg became a unique variation of the clinch and Henderson was able to use the close quarters to his advantage.
Henderson also showed to be the superior wrestler. Edgar was able to take him down, especially early in the fight, but each time Henderson quickly escaped back to his feet.
Conversely, when Henderson took the fight to the mat later on, he was able to control Frankie more effectively.
It would not have been a Ben Henderson fight if there was not an impressive submission escape.
Although, it was Frankie who escaped from a much tighter guillotine choke in the fourth round, spoiling Henderson’s attempt to finish the fight.
Henderson showed off a very good chin. Edgar scored many strikes on him and caught him on the chin a couple times, but Henderson did not seem effected at all, just shrugging them off.
Henderson’s composure was terrific throughout the fight, it is one of his greatest attributes. He is always calm and collected, calculating his next move and fights very mistake-free.
The biggest moment of the fight was Henderson’s perfectly executed up-kick while Edgar was trying to swarm him on the ground. Henderson was also able to reverse Edgar on the ground in impressive fashion, proving he has the ability to be flashy at times.
Overall, this was a near-perfect performance from Henderson. Once again, the only knock on him could be his inability to finish. Henderson could be the very best lightweight champion of all time before his reign is done.
There are many options available to Henderson. If Edgar remains in the lightweight division then he will receive a rematch. Anthony Pettis also would like a second bout with Henderson, but more on that in a few paragraphs.
Finally, the winner of the UFC on FOX 3 main event: Nate Diaz vs. Jim Miller will be worthy of a title shot. Although, it would be difficult to justify Miller receiving a title shot just a year after being demolished by Henderson and only winning two bouts since that loss.
Gray Maynard may also be an option if he picks up a victory sometime in the near future.
2. Issei Tamura (Featherweight) A-
Issei Tamura was a late replacement for Leonard Garcia. However, he was every bit as exciting. Tamura was in control the entire fight, pressuring Zhang and dominating in all areas.
Early in the second, Tamura landed a punch perfectly and put Zhang out. Tamura was fighting one of the very worst featherweights in the UFC. He will likely receive another low-ranked in his next UFC bout.
1. Anthony Pettis (Lightweight) A
Pettis may not have the lightweight belt, but he was the most impressive performer of the night.
Coming into his bout with Joe Lauzon, Anthony Pettis had gone 1-1 in the octagon. His only win came against Jeremy Stephens. So, Pettis came in looking to prove a lot in his fight with against fringe top ten lightweight, Lauzon.
It did not take long, as Pettis scored an early knockout with a perfectly landed high kick. Pettis showed that his strikes are not just flashy and glitzy, but they also pack a wallop and are capable of knocking guys out.
Pettis made no secret that he wanted to face Henderson and once again take his title again. However, Pettis is now only 2-1 in the UFC and lost his debut to Clay Guida, who Henderson defeated decisively. So, Pettis will likely be required to capture another victory before staking claim to title shot.
Some options are: Gray Maynard, Clay Guida (although both are coming off loses), Frankie Edgar (although unlikely) or the winner of Diaz/Miller (if Frankie is given a second shot at Henderson), perhaps even the Diaz/Miller loser would be a match for Pettis (if the winner of that fight were to receive a title shot).
That is my evaluation of the event that was, UFC 144, let me know what you think in the comments section. Please allow your discrepancies be heard. Let me know which grades and evaluations you agree with and which you think I am way off on, or even just a little off on.
Court McGee and Constantinos Philippou will launch the main card of tonight’s UFC on FX 2. The bout is a battle between two up-and-coming middleweights. Each of these fighters are looking to prove themselves worthy of a step up in competition in their …
Court McGee and Constantinos Philippou will launch the main card of tonight’s UFC on FX 2. The bout is a battle between two up-and-coming middleweights. Each of these fighters are looking to prove themselves worthy of a step up in competition in their next fight. A victory for McGee or Philippou will put them on the cusp of being a contender. However, despite his close proximity, Court McGee will never become a middleweight contender in the UFC.
Court McGee is 3-0 in his UFC career. This includes his win against Kris McCray to capture The Ultimate Fighter 11 crown. McGee won his first two fights in the octagon by submission. In preparation for his next assignment Court tore his ACL. This forced him to sit out for almost a whole year. He returned last September defeating Dongi Yang, who faded late in the fight due to inferior cardio, by decision. McGee now looks to capture his most significant victory. Philippou is on a two-fight win streak. He stands to gain as much as McGee with a win.
Much has been said about McGee’s past. The summary of which would impart that resilience is wired into his make-up. It is a characteristic which is shared in his fighting style. McGee likes to pressure his opponents, making them work. He has excellent cardio and has no trouble outlasting his opponents, exhibit A: his fight with Dongi Yang. McGee has some wrestling skills, although he has not faced the best wrestlers in the division yet. Despite only being a blue belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, McGee has a strong submission game. Seven of his 14 wins have come by way of submission, although two of those wins were submissions to punches. McGee only has one loss in his career and that loss was by decision. Court’s weaknesses are his lack of true knock out power, he has three TKO wins. He has never knocked someone out. Due to his blue belt in jiu-jitsu, it is questionable how well he could defend if he were tested by a submission artist. Another question mark in McGee’s game is his ability off his back; all of his submission wins have come while in a dominating position. He also has a shaky chin, as he has been knocked down his last couple fights.
McGee is well suited to defeat Philippou. Philippou is a one dimensional power striker. He also tends to fatigue in later rounds after he has presumably punched himself out. This style plays perfectly into McGee’s. McGee will just have to weather a storm of Philippou’s punches in the first round and a half. He will keep Phillipou working with constant pressure and would be served well by taking his opponent to the ground and wearing him out even faster. This will allow McGee’s superior cardio to take over, opening the door for a submission in the third round.
A win tonight will put McGee firmly amongst the top fifteen middleweights. He will be on the same tier as Rousimar Palheres, Alan Belcher, Chris Leben, Demian Maia and Tim Boetsch a week ago. McGee and all the fighters listed above, sans Boetsch, would still need a win or in some cases two, to become a contender. A contender can only be classified as such if he is a fight or two away from a title shot. Currently these fighters meet the criteria of a contender in the middleweight division: Chael Sonnen, Mark Munoz, Vitor Belfort, Michael Bisping and Tim Boetsch, due to his victory over top five middleweight, Yushin Okami. Chris Weidman and Brian Stann are the next closest to being contenders (or contenders again in the case of Stann and Okami). That is a number of fighters for McGee to surpass in order to threaten for a shot at the middleweight strap.
If McGee were to win tonight, he would next face a fighter such as: Okami, Weidman or Maia. It is arguable even a win against one of these three would not place him at the top of the middleweight division, he certainly would not surpass any of the “contenders” listed above. He would still need another victory.
McGee does not have the talent to win three more fights in a row and enter the category of contender. McGee is well-rounded, he provides pressure standing and peppers his opponents with strikes. He also has an underrated wrestling and submission game. However, he is only average at both aspects. Compared to any of the fighters above him he is weak in all areas of fighting. Okami is better standing and much better on the ground. Weidman is a better wrestler and may be better standing as well. Belcher is better on the ground and standing; the same goes for Palheres, etc. All of the middleweight contenders are even more superior in regards to their fighting skill. McGee’s greatest attribute is his resiliency and cardio, but even those will not be able withstand the talents of those above him. (McGee would match up well against Maia. His ability to pressure the Brazilian would lead him to a decision win. Although Maia could also be the first to submit McGee in a potential match up.)
Court McGee is a very solid fighter. He does well in all aspects of fighting. He will settle in as the perfect gatekeeper for the division. Since he is good in every aspect he will provide the perfect test for upcoming prospects. His diversity and resilience would show who was ready to start inching closer to contender-ship and who still needed to cultivate experience against weaker competition. There is no shame in becoming the UFC’s ideal middleweight division. Court McGee does not have the upside to become a contender himself. However, throughout his career, he could help to determine who amongst his peers is capable of attaining that level.
On May 5, 2012 Jim Miller and Nate Diaz will clash at UFC on Fox 3. The bout has massive implications in the lightweight division. They are so severe that the winner may be awarded a title shot against the winner of this weekend’s battle between …
On May 5, 2012 Jim Miller and Nate Diaz will clash at UFC on Fox 3. The bout has massive implications in the lightweight division. They are so severe that the winner may be awarded a title shot against the winner of this weekend’s battle between current champion, Frankie Edgar and challenger, Benson Henderson.
Regardless of whether or not a title shot is given, this fight will cement the winner’s place among the top five lightweights in the UFC. This fight should be highly competitive—two fiery combatants are facing off. It is almost a perfect fight. The only problem? It is the night’s main event.
The fight between Jim Miller and Nate Diaz is the wrong choice for a UFC on Fox main event. The fight will be great. It is an excellent match up against very like opponents. Both Miller and Diaz have won their fights by submission the majority of the time. Miller has submitted 12 of his opponents, winning 21 total; Diaz has submitted nine of his opponents, with 15 total victories. Combined, they have been finished by an opponent on one occasion (Diaz has been submitted).
So, it is highly probable this fight will go all five rounds. Also, both of these competitors constantly pressure their opponent, setting a fast pace and have impressive cardio. This fight could very well stay active, even into the fifth round. Still, this fight is underwhelming as Fox’s main event.
The “UFC on Fox” events are major events. There are only four every year. Rarity creates value. The events are also the only events presented on a big four network. The potential audience of a UFC on Fox event is greater than any other event. Also, having the event on a big four network allows new potential fans to view the fights easily, freely. Due to the rarity, accessibility and large platform, the UFC on Fox events are the most important events of the year. As such, they deserve the greatest main events.
The main event for the UFC on Fox should, at the very least, be on an equal level as a pay-per-view main event. For 2012 the pay-per-view main events have been and will be: Aldo/Mendes (a championship fight), Diaz/Condit (an interim championship fight), Edgar/Henderson (a championship fight), Jones/Evans (a championship fight). Overeem/Dos Santos (a championship fight), etc. Jim Miller versus Nick Diaz is not of this caliber and is certainly not a championship fight.
The future UFC on Fox 3 main event is comparable to past UFC on FX and Fuel main events. Last week’s UFC on Fuel event is a perfect example. Diego Sanchez fought Jake Ellenberger as two top ten welterweights fought in a title eliminator match. Miller and Diaz will also top ten in their division and are fighter in a title eliminator (not necessarily a number one contender bout). The comparisons continue as Sanchez and Diaz are both former The Ultimate Fighter champions. Miller versus Diaz is much more comparable to future fights on FX: Martin Kampman vs. Thiago Alves and Fuel: Alexander Gustafsson vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira than the previously listed main events of pay-per-views.
A similar fight to the Nate Diaz vs. Jim Miller match is this weekend’s bout between Anthony Pettis and Joe Lauzon. The bouts are nearly identical. Both are title eliminators between top 10 lightweights. All four feature fan-friendly styles. They all push the pace of the fight. They all have similar levels of notoriety. Some may argue Diaz is the most famous, or infamous, due to his brother Nick and his winning stint on The Ultimate Fighter. However, Pettis is just as well known. He is the last WEC lightweight champion and became a viral sensation following his “showtime kick.” While the Miller/Diaz fight is slated for the main event of a Fox event, the identical Pettis/Lauzon fight will be just another main card bout on a pay-per-view. According to the UFC 144 poster, Rampage Jackson’s fight with Ryan Bader and Jake Shield’s fight with Yoshihiro Akiyama are more intriguing than the lightweight tilt. If the Diaz/Miller fight were to take place on a pay-per-view it would also not receive much promotion. How then can it be fit to headline a Fox card?
The UFC on Fox 3 main event should have been the light heavyweight title fight between bitter rivals: Jon Jones and Rashad Evans. That fight is taking place just two weeks prior. It would have been no problem at all to postpone it till the Fox event. That fight would have been perfect. It even would have offered continuity. Casual fans and prospective new fans would have seen Evans battle on the previous Fox card and been attracted to his name on the following one. There would have been an investment developed creating a desire for the next fight on Fox. Instead, this title fight was relegated to a pay-per-view and Fox was given a fight that would have merely been an also-ran on any pay-per-view.
This event deserves more. The fans deserve more. Even Fox deserves more. The UFC needs to treat UFC on Fox events like the biggest events of the year. Casual fans and prospective new fans will not tune in for just any main event. They will only be stirred away from their lives with a monumental fight worthy of their attention. That kind of event will have them wiping saliva from the corner of their lips and leave them yearning for more, willing to seek out more.
The fight between Jim Miller and Nate Diaz will be a great fight. It would be capable of winning the fight of the night award on any card. However, in relation to the event, this headliner…is underwhelming.
Tier 118. Vagner Rocha, Featherweight, F(+)Rocha found himself on the receiving end of a first-round knockout last Wednesday. Rocha attempted to bring Jonathan Brookins down, but it was Brookins who ended up on top. Rocha tried to tie his opponent in…
Tier 1
18. Vagner Rocha, Featherweight, F(+)
Rocha found himself on the receiving end of a first-round knockout last Wednesday. Rocha attempted to bring Jonathan Brookins down, but it was Brookins who ended up on top. Rocha tried to tie his opponent into a submission but was blasted out of consciousness with a few hard headshots first. Rocha needs to improve his stand-up, supplementing his excellent ground game. He will be given a chance against a low-ranked featherweight in his next fight.
17. Bernardo Magalhaes, Lightweight, D
Magalhaes came into his UFC debut slightly favored. Many believed he would use his superior jiu-jitsu to dominate his opponent, Tim Means, who was also making his debut. However, he was not able to take Means to the ground and impose his jiu-jitsu power on him.
Magalhaes was picked apart standing by Means, who was a much better technical striker. Magalhaes’ stand-up was dominated by his reliance on his overhand right. This offense quickly became predictable and Means was able to ward off Magalhaes’ takedowns. He faded in the later rounds, succumbing to Means’ repeated strikes. The effort was an impressive first fight for Magalhaes, especially coming against a fellow newcomer. He will have to prove his performance was merely a fluke in his next fight if he wants to keep his roster spot.
16. Walel Watson, Bantamweight, D+
Watson was dominated by T.J. Dillashaw for three rounds. He is now 1-2 in the UFC and his win came against since-released Joseph Sandoval. Watson was taken to the ground repeatedly by Dillashaw. Once there he was unable to get back to his feet or submit his opponent. Dillashaw, in fact, continuously advanced his position and often found himself either taking Watson’s back or mounting him.
Watson, despite being much longer, could not keep Dillashaw on the outside and use his considerable reach effectively. Still, Watson was able to fend off Dillashaw’s rear-naked choke attempts and covered himself up well enough to avoid being knocked out or causing a stoppage. In the third round he mounted some offense and came close to putting Dillashaw in danger.
Watson overall was considerably outclassed. He needs to work on his takedown defense and his technical striking to keep his opponent at a distance.
15. Anton Kuivanen, Lightweight, C-
Kuivanan lost his debut to Justin Salas by unanimous decision. He was never able to get comfortable; Salas consistently pressured him and was able to take him down. Kuivanen did, however, show an active guard and did not allow Salas to get many shots off of him on the ground until the final round.
Kuivanen will likely get another shot in the UFC. He would be best served keeping the fight standing; he was unsuccessful in doing so last Wednesday night.
Tier 2
14. Philip De Fries, Heavyweight, C-
De Fries is difficult to grade as he fired off a couple of good strikes early in the first round but was soon caught by a strike, and Stipe Miocic followed it up and the fight was soon stopped. De Fries’ greatest strength is his ground game. The fight obviously did not get there, though.
De Fries was previously undefeated in the UFC. This fight was to determine which heavyweight prospect was capable of taking that next step. As the loser, De Fries will have to regroup against a lower-end heavyweight.
13. John Albert, Bantamweight, C-
Albert came into his fight with Ivan Menjivar looking impressive. He was coming off a big TKO victory over Dustin Pague at The Ultimate Fighter season 12 finale. He also physically looked the part of a top UFC bantamweight.
Albert ended up losing to rear-naked choke in the first round of his bout with Menjivar. Still, despite the loss, Albert came away from the first FUEL event impressing many. He seemed to be the better striker, and although he was easily taken to the ground, Albert nearly had Menjivar trapped in a couple of submissions. Finally, Albert’s back was taken. Immediately it was evident he would lose via choke, as he was not well adept to defend from that position.
Albert certainly has some things to improve upon (his wrestling and defense), but he has a very strong base from which to work from. Now 1-1 in the UFC, Albert could be looking to rise up the rankings in his next couple of fights.
12. Aaron Simpson, Middleweight, C
Simpson nudges out Albert due to his split-decision performance. Unlike the previous fighters on this list, Simpson actually won a round. Knocking Ronny Markes with an overhand right. Simpson swarmed him, but was unable to finish the fight. Markes then out-muscled Simpson the remainder of the fight. Simpson is getting old and likely moving to welterweight. He should serve as a strong test against rising prospects, though.
11. Dave Herman, Heavyweight, C
Herman, much like Simpson, took the first round from his opponent, Stefan Struve. However, Struve dominated the second round, eventually earning the stoppage after knocking Herman down and pounding on him. Herman was impressive in the first, though, showing some very good kickboxing and technical striking.
Despite the loss, Herman is still one to watch in his division. His loss did come to a borderline top-10 heavyweight, his first attempt against elite competition. He at least proved he can compete on this level.
Tier 3
10. Justin Salas, Lightweight, C
Salas is the first victor to make the list, not that it is an accomplishment. He battled against Anton Kuivanen, who, like himself, was making his UFC debut. Salas won via unanimous decision. The first round was highly contested. They traded strikes and Kuivanen’s might have been more powerful. Salas scored a couple takedowns but could do nothing with them. Salas won the second round by being more aggressive and winning the war in the clinch.
Finally, in the third, he put everything together. He was able to outstrike his now timid opponent and he could finally work some ground and pound. Salas was very impressive in his first fight and will now look to slowly ascend the lightweight ladder.
9. Ronny Markes, Middleweight, C+
Markes faced his stiffest test in the UFC. He passed, winning a split decision to Aaron Simpson. The win proved Markes is ready for some of the best middleweights in the UFC. The victory did not come easy. Markes was hit by a bomb late in the first, but was able to hang on and recoup. He came back even stronger in the following rounds, dominating Simpson both on the feet and on the ground, even pushed up against the cage.
Markes showed he is a big and strong middleweight and should be a tough opponent for anyone in his division.
8. Ivan Menjivar, Bantamweight, C+
Menjivar won his third straight in the UFC. He defeated a better than expected John Albert by rear-naked choke in the first round. Despite the win, Menjivar had his hands full with Albert. He was getting beat standing. So, Menjivar took Albert down. He had to ward off a few submission attempts, but finally took Albert’s back and once there quickly stitched up a victory by tap out.
Menjivar was outclassed in the stand-up, but he showed excellent defense and composure. He also was able to take advantage of the first opportunity he had to finish the fight. Menjivar secured himself a spot somewhere behind the top-10 bantamweights.
7. Diego Sanchez, Welterweight, B-
Sanchez earns the title of being the most impressive in defeat. He faced a top-five welterweight in Jake Ellenberger, losing by unanimous decision 29-28. Sanchez struggled through the first two rounds of the main event. Ellenberger proved to be the much better striker, tagging Sanchez repeatedly. Sanchez was even dominated on the ground in the second as Ellenberger took him down and pounded on him.
However, in the third, Sanchez capitalized on a mistake by his opponent. He took his back and began unloading, trying to open Ellenberger for the choke or a referee stoppage. Ellenberger defended well, surviving and winning the decision.
Facing the absolute best in the division, Sanchez held his own; the fight was never out of hand. Still, he looked a step slow and would be best served returning to the lightweight division.
6. Stefan Struve, Heavyweight, B-
Struve continues his rise in the heavyweight division, winning his bout with Dave Herman by TKO. Struve struggled in the first round, stunned by Herman’s diverse and dynamic striking. In the second, Struve’s strikes found their home, he eventually knocked Herman to the ground and collapsed his ginormous body over him. Struve laying over his opponent is an awkward sight. He is so much longer than even his fellow heavyweights.
Struve ground-and-pounded his way to victory. This was a big victory for Struve. However, he was far from dominant, despite the finish.
5. Tim Means, Lightweight, B
Means made his debut, defeating Bernardo Magalhaes with a unanimous decision. He looked great standing, during the broadcast he was likened to Carlos Condit. He showed good technical striking, though, picking Magalhaes apart, especially in the third round. Means also showed superb takedown defense. He prevented the jiu-jitsu black belt from bringing the fight to the ground for any significant time.
Means, like Salas, will look to slowly move forward in the lightweight division, but he was nothing but impressive in his first fight.
Tier 4
4. Jonathan Brookins, Featherweight, B+
Brookins finds himself amongst the four most impressive fighters from last Wednesday’s event. Performing on the event’s preliminary card, TUF winner made quick work of Vagner Rocha. The victory was his first since defeating Michael Johnson and capturing TUF title. Brookins did not receive much of a chance to showcase his stand-up. Rocha tried to bring Brookins to the ground soon after the bell rung. However, it was Brookins who managed to get on top and fire off some close punches as Rocha went for a submission. Rocha then went out cold.
It was good to see Brookins’ ability to reverse Rocha and do enough damage to put him out. However, it would have been far more impressive to see Brookins dominate over a length of time before putting his opponent out. Having seen little of him, it is tough to gauge if Brookins’ performance was merely a fluke or if he is a significantly better fighter than he was when he fought Koch. Those questions will have to wait until Brookins returns to the octagon looking to prove he is ready to join the top of the featherweight division.
3. Stipe Miocic, Heavyweight, B+
Miocic faced the previously-unbeaten-in-the-UFC Phil De Fries. After being rattled by a couple of shots, Miocic recovered and knocked out De Fries in bonus winning fashion. Miocic’s decision debut left many wondering if Miocic had been overhyped. However, the decisive victory dismissed that delusion. Still, it would have been nice to see the fight go on long enough Miocic tested on the ground by a submission specialist. Miocic will be looking at a big step up in competition next.
2. T.J. Dillashaw, Bantamweight, B+
Dillashaw outperformed Brookins and Miocic despite not finishing his opponent. He did this by winning a decisive unanimous decision 30-25, 30-25, 30-26. Those scores are at least as impressive as a finish. Dillashaw completely dominated Walel Watson, as the scores indicate.
He did so by exhibiting a wrestling clinic. He consistently took Watson down, advancing position, seemingly at will. He only spent significant time in Watson’s guard in the third round. The remainder of the fight Dillashaw managed to work his way into dominating positions. The majority of the second round Dillashaw transitioned back and forth between mounting Watson and having his back. He did so effortlessly. Dillashaw’s stand up was not displayed much, but he seemed adequate there, setting up his takedowns when necessary.
The most impressive aspect of Dillashaw’s game was his composure. He was very poised throughout the bout. He was patient following a takedown, calculating each move and being sure to avoid mistakes against the submission practitioner. Dillashaw also showed good submission defense in third round while caught in Watson’s guard.
The only knock on Dillashaw was his inability to finish the fight. He worked his way into several dominating positions, but failed to capitalize. Dillashaw had the position to choke out Watson or finish him to strikes, but simply could not put his opponent away. Despite this, Dillashaw’s performance was vastly impressive. He will be looking to rise quickly through the bantamweight division.
1. Jake Ellenberger, Welterweight, A-
Surprise, surprise. Ellenberger wins the honor of having the greatest performance. He earned the title by defeating Diego Sanchez by unanimous decision.
Ellenberger continued to show an incredible ability to strike. He was very technical in this bout as well. He was able to pick Sanchez apart, tagging him even as Sanchez scurried away. Ellenberger even pulled out his wrestling. He took Sanchez to the ground and battered him from his guard. Ellenberger showed a great all-around game, dominating the majority of the fight.
Finally in the third round , Ellenberger tripped up in transition, allowing Sanchez to take his back. However, Ellenberger defended perfectly, not allowing Sanchez to flatten him out. He was never in danger of being choked out. It was great to see Ellenberger excel in all facets of the fight. He cemented his spot among the top five welterweights with the win.
Some Accolades
Best Individual Rounds:
1. T.J. Dillashaw’s second round: Dillashaw dominated Watson on the ground, moving seamlessly from Watson’s back to a mounted position.
2. Jake Ellenberger’s second round: He showed off his impressive wrestling and ground and pound. Apparently, beating Sanchez up just standing had begun to get stale.
3. Stipe Miocic’s first round: Pretty easy selection considering the big knockout.
Most Composed:
1. Jake Ellenberger: His striking was extremely crisp and he did a good job of mixing up his attack, taking Sanchez down. Once Sanchez had Ellenberger in trouble, he defended it perfectly—John Albert should have been taking notes.
2. T.J. Dillashaw: His patience was a huge asset and allowed him to dominate without getting himself into trouble.
Best Stand-Up Striker:
1. Jake Ellenberger: No shock here.
Runners-Up: Mocic, Means and Sanchez
Best Ground Work:
1. T.J. Dillashaw: Again, no surprises.
Runners-Up: Ellenberger, Sanchez, Salas, Brookins and Struve
Biggest Rise in Their Division
1. Ronny Markes: A win over a gatekeeper like Simpson should give Markes a big middleweight fight next. It could be Ed Herman, or someone similar.
Feel free to post your opinions on any or all of the fighters. Please share any problems or discrepancies you have with my list.
Saturday night at UFC 143, Carlos Condit defeated Nick Diaz to become the interim welterweight champion. The fight was likely not what many expected. However, now that the event is over, it is time to rank and assess the performances of every fighter, …
Saturday night at UFC 143, Carlos Condit defeated Nick Diaz to become the interim welterweight champion. The fight was likely not what many expected. However, now that the event is over, it is time to rank and assess the performances of every fighter, not just those two from the main event.
Here is the list.
Tier 6
22. Dan Stittgen (F)
Stittgen was knocked out in the first round of his bout with Stephen Thompson. Suffering the early knockout makes Stittgen an easy target as the least impressive of the night, especially since Stittgen could not get any offense or defense going.
21. Chris Cope (D-)
Cope actually saw the second round, before being knocked out by Matt “The Immortal” Brown. Cope’s improvement should be noted, considering he was knocked out in the first round in his last fight with Che Mills. Clearly Cope is inching himself along. At this pace, he will be UFC champ in the next millennium. Cope had some minor success in the first round, showing some takedown defense and clinch work.
20. Michael Kuiper (D)
Kuiper made his UFC debut, going the distance and losing a unanimous decision to Rafael Natal. Kuiper was controlled by Natal for the entirety of the first two rounds. However, Kuiper dropped Natal in the third and he jumped on him trying to finish the fight with hammer fists. Natal held on, eventually getting up and taking Kuiper down once again. Kuiper showed some resiliency, fighting through a choke late in the third to fend off the finish. Overall, though, he was controlled and taken down with ease five times in the first round. Kuiper has a lot to work on.
Tier 5
19. Henry Martinez (C-)
Martinez found himself up against Matt Riddle, a much larger opponent, in the premiere fight on FX. Still, Martinez found success, especially during the opening rounds. He eventually came up on the losing side of a split decision, seeming to wan as the fight continued, especially during the third round. Martinez was most successful in the stand-up exchanges. He was also successful due to aggressiveness out of the gate. It says a lot about this card that there were really only three (or four) one-sided fights. Martinez’s fight is the first of many close, potentially controversial fights from Saturday.
18. Clifford Starks (C-)
Starks was submitted in the second round of the main card’s premiere bout. Starks was previously unbeaten. Despite the finish, Starks was moderately impressive. Not many gave him a chance against Ed Herman, though you could argue he won the first round. Starks’ strength is wrestling, he was able to reverse Herman to get on top following a Herman takedown late in the first. However, Starks showed some good stand-up with a strong right hand. There are plenty of adjustments for Starks to make, but it was not a discouraging loss for the middleweight against a proven veteran.
17. Max Holloway (C-)
Holloway made his UFC debut at UFC 143, replacing Ricardo Lamas, who in turn was replacing Erik Koch, to face fast-rising featherweight Dustin Poirier. Holloway finds himself relatively high for a fighter who was finished in most impressive fashion in the first round. He was way out of his league facing Poirier in his UFC debut, and this match never would have been made had it not been for a pair of injuries.
Still, Holloway showed no hesitation in his debut. Showing good versatility in his stand-up. He was even winning the standing exchanges against the top-10 featherweight. Once the fight transitioned to the ground, Poirier took over, attempting a few submissions before rolling Holloway into a mounted triangle/armbar, getting the tap from the Hawaiian. Holloway fared well, particularly standing, against one of the division’s elite.
16. Edwin Figueroa (C-)
Figueroa finds himself below his opponent, Alex Caceres, despite being the fight’s actual winner. The win came by split decision and only after a two-point deduction was delivered to Caceres. This fight is difficult to analyze considering Figueroa received a nasty kick to the crotch in the first (and later received another). It is difficult to analyze this fight without wondering how differently Figueroa would have fought had the inadvertent kick never taken place. That is, how much was Figueroa hindered during the fight?
Figueroa was the more powerful fighter for sure. He did not deliver a higher volume of strikes, but his seemed to do more damage. Figueroa was outclassed on the ground by Caceres. Despite this, Figueroa showed some very good submission defense as Caceres attempted to finish the fight many times while on the ground. In the end, Figueroa was able to weather the storm and receive the win (I probably should be giving him more credit, considering the circumstances).
15. Scott Jorgensen (C)
Jorgensen lost a unanimous decision to fellow top bantamweight Renan Barao. Jorgensen is a very good wrestler, though he was unsuccessful in taking Barao down or controlling him from top position. Jorgensen pulled guard in the second round, a move that did not lead to any offense for him. Jorgensen did manage to keep up with the pace of Barao and kept the fight close throughout. In the end, Jorgensen was out-struck by his more dynamic opponent and could not manage to bring the fight to his level.
Tier Four
14. Matt Riddle (C)
Riddle won a split decision against Henry Martinez. Riddle struggled early in the bout. However, he took over in the later rounds as he became more aggressive. He took the fight to the mat in the third and dominated there. Despite struggling to find his range early, Riddle showed some good diversity, scoring on the feet and on the ground and winning a decision.
13. Matt Brown (C)
This may seem low for “The Immortal,” who knocked out Chris Cope in the second, but his victory came against Chris Cope. Brown was the better fighter in every aspect: striking, on the ground, aggression. However, he fought back-and-forth with Cope in the first before obtaining the finish.
12. Rafael Natal (C+)
Natal won a unanimous decision against newcomer Michael Kuiper. Natal dominated for three rounds, finding success taking Kuiper down repeatedly. Despite his wrestling accomplishments, Natal did not find much success standing. Natal found himself in a precarious position in the third round, as he was dropped by Kuiper, who looked for the finish. Natal fought through the flurry and stood back up. He then took his exhausted opponent to the ground again. He advanced to mount, attempting an arm triangle while time expired. Natal cruised to an easy win using his wrestling, but his stand-up leaves much to be desired and he showed to be one-dimensional.
11. Alex Caceres (C+)
Caceres lost a split decision to Edwin Figueroa due to a couple of low-blow leg kicks, which resulted in a two-point deduction. However, despite the loss, Caceres impressed, following up on the improvement he showed in his fight with Cole Escovedo. In his battle with Escovedo, Caceres showed improved strikin and a versatile attack.
Against Figueroa, Caceres continued to mix up his strikes. Most impressively, Caceres showed great grappling, repeatedly taking Figueroa’s back and transitioning from submission attempt to submission attempt. Caceres had multiple opportunities to finish this fight, ultimately failing to do so. The one negative for Caceres might be his lack of power in his strikes. He landed a couple big shots that hardly stunned Figueroa (well, except for those two foul leg kicks).
Caceres seems to have all the tools to develop into a dynamic fighter, both on the ground and standing; he just needs to hone some of those skills and develop an ability to finish when the opportunity presents itself.
10. Nick Diaz (C+)
Diaz lost a fight he believes he won. However, Diaz failed to impress in his quest to obtain the interim belt. He looked to fight as he always does, wanting to stand toe-to-toe with his opponent while outstriking, outworking and outlasting his opponent. Carlos Condit refused to engage in Diaz’s style of brawl, and Diaz failed to adapt. So, he lost.
Diaz began the fight as the aggressor, pushing forward, but as the fight went on he seemed to push less and less, even if he seemed to be moving forward. His dip in the later rounds could be explained by frustration with Condit’s movement, or perhaps Condit’s numerous leg kicks began to take a toll.
Diaz should receive some props for dragging Carlos to the ground in the fifth and taking his back, but he should of pushed for the finish more than he did. He seemed content holding Condit down for the duration of the fight. How strange is it that the greatest knock on Diaz’s performance was his lack of aggression? The next greatest knock? His inability to adapt.
Tier Three
9. Mike Pierce (C+)
Pierce showed he was a good fighter once again on Saturday, just not elite. After suffering close decision losses to Johny Hendricks and Jon Fitch, Pierce succumbed to the same fate against Josh Koscheck. Pierce kept up a good pace, consistently making Koscheck uncomfortable. He even managed to bring the All-American wrestler to the ground for a moment. Pierce also showed some good ground defense, as he managed to avoid much ground-and-pound damage from Koscheck on the occasions he brought the fight to the mat. Still, Koscheck was a little better in every aspect of the fight.
8. Roy Nelson (C+)
Nelson found himself on the losing end of a decision in the co-main event of UFC 143, losing to Fabricio Werdum in his return to the promotion. Despite the definitive decision, Nelson did a good job of hanging around despite receiving plenty of punishment throughout the bout. Nelson even managed to land a couple of big shots himself. Most impressively, Nelson defended the excellent grappling ability of Werdum well. He also showed off an impressive chin in a fight that was rewarded “Fight of the Night” honors. Nelson’s loss had less to do with deficiencies in his skills and more to do with the vastly improved striking of Werdum.
7. Josh Koscheck (C+)
Koscheck found himself in a difficult situation on Saturday. Kos did not have much to gain from a victory against Mike Pierce, but a loss would have been catastrophic. Furthermore, stylistically, all signs hinted that this bout could be one of the more “boring” fights of the evening. Still, Kos and Pierce put on a technical war, with Koscheck earning the split-decision victory. Koscheck outstruck and outwrestled his opponent, even if just barely.
It was good to see Koscheck rely on his wrestling for once as his takedowns probably delivered him his victory. Had Herb Dean not pressured him to “keep working” he probably could have done a better job of controlling Pierce and eventually laid more significant shots from top position. Still, a victory is a victory for Koscheck, even if it does not ignite fans.
Tier Two
6. Ed Herman (B-)
Herman defeated previously undefeated Clifford Starks by second-round submission. He showed off his excellent grappling ability both in the clinch and in his submission game. It did seem, however, that Starks was able to get the best of Herman in the stand-up game and to some extent in the wrestling department, evidenced by Starks’ reversal late in the first round. Herman did show a good chin, taking some big right hand shots from Starks. Overall, it was a solid victory for Herman, although he was clearly the more veteran fighter.
5. Stephen Thompson (B-)
Thompson knocked out his opponent in the first with a brutal head kick, receiving “Knockout of the Night” honors. Some could argue Thompson deserves much more praise than he will receive here. Although Thompson’s night ending as well as it could have, he still was not that impressive in his victory. Thompson seemed to be one-dimensional in his attack, implementing a variety of ways to strike with his feet, but nothing more than that. It will be interesting to see how Thompson fares when someone tries to take him to the ground or press him up against a cage.
4. Carlos Condit (B)
Condit may not have enjoyed the most thrilling victory of his career, he did manage to walk away with the belt and a fairly decisive unanimous decision (for the record, I would have scored the bout 49-46 Condit). Condit did a great job of staying on the outside and landing a variety of kicks and combinations.
Many are arguing that Condit was “running” from Nate Diaz and should not have been rewarded for the win. However, Condit was not running. It is unreasonable to demand Condit to stand in front of Diaz and fight his opponent’s fight—it would be foolhardy, although entertaining. Condit implemented the perfect game plan to face Diaz with. He aimed to stay outside, while keeping busy using the plethora of strikes at his disposal, when Diaz did get inside and begin delivering his flurry of strikes, Condit would slip him and circle around; it is a fair strategy.
Condit also looked to attack the mobility of Diaz, using many leg kicks. As the fight continued, Condit became more comfortable and began opening his attack more, loosening up. Despite landing many effective strikes, none seemed to put Diaz in enough danger for Condit to look for the finish and he seemed content to take the fight to a decision. Condit fought a good, safe fight against an extremely tough opponent. It would be tough to take much away from him for that.
3. Renan Barao (B)
Barao fought a very solid match against top bantamweight Scott Jorgensen. Even though Barao was unable to secure the finish, he still dominated his fight, winning the exchanges both on the ground and in the stand-up. Barao also showed good strength and takedown defense, outgrappling the wrestler, Jorgensen and maintaining the dominant position when the two locked up. This fight was not as flashy as many of Barao’s victories, but it does bring him one step closer to a title fight.
2. Dustin Poirier (B+)
Poirier faced newcomer and previously unbeaten Max Holloway. Holloway seemed to have the better stand-up through the beginning portion of the first round, though Poirier dominated once he took the fight to the ground. There Poirier showed off his excellent grappling ability, transitioning to a mounted triangle armbar, winning him the bout and the “Submission of the Night” bonus. Despite the dominant victory, Poirier needs to show improved stand-up.
It was encouraging to hear Poirier in the post-fight press conference as he told reporters (who asked him about returning to the Octagon immediately, perhaps at UFC 145) that he would like to take a couple months off to develop his skills further in training so he can become a more complete fighter.
1. Fabricio Werdum (A-)
Werdum was the single most impressive fighter at UFC 143, He dominated top 10 heavyweight Roy Nelson for three rounds, showing off an immensely improved and diverse stand-up game. Werdum found the most success with his Muay Thai, opening up a big cut on Nelson’s forehead in the first with a knee. Werdum has always been one of the best BJJ practitioners in the sport, and he is an even bigger threat now that he some legitimate striking ability as well. With the victory Saturday, Werdum moves himself to the top of the heavyweight class, and he may only be a single fight away from a title shot.
Overall, UFC 143 featured many close fights, many going to a decision. Some fighter’s were more impressive than others, both in victory and in defeat. If you disagree with any of the evaluations above, let your opinion be heard in the comments section below. Or even if you do agree with a particular fighter’s evaluation but want to offer further evidence, that will be welcome as well.
Friday, The Ultimate Fighter will return for a 15th season.