UFC 163 was a wild night of fights, but there were several big names who were victorious that still need one more victory before they earn a title shot.
While Phil Davis and Ian McCall won their respective bouts, it wasn’t enough to warrant a title shot. Each must get right back to work and look to earn a chance at a championship with another victory.
Phil Davis
While Phil Davis earned the victory on paper Saturday, there are few fans and experts, via MMA Junkie, that watched that bout and honestly believe the American star deserved his unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) victory.
Challenger Lyoto Machida was the cleaner fighter all night, landing the more effective and powerful punches, kicks and knees. While Davis got two takedowns in the waning stages of rounds, the maneuvers came only after Machida stifled eight other shoot attempts, per FightMetric.com.
If Davis wants a shot at Jon Jones and his UFC Light Heavyweight Championship, he should fight Machida again and quiet the critics. The American won’t get a title shot after a controversial win, and with the hype around the bout still high, booking a rematch is a smart choice.
Not only would the UFC get a co-main event that has history and will be a draw on its own, but Davis will also be given the opportunity to prove he deserves a title fight against whoever is holding the belt at that time.
Ian McCall
Ian “Uncle Creepy” McCall is one of the most intriguing fighters in MMA. He has an immense following of fans, but has struggled since making the jump to the big leagues, going 0-2-1 in his first three fights in the UFC.
The start couldn’t have been worse, but after clearing up his life outside the Octagon, per Richard Hunter of CBS Radio, his slow rise back to the top of contention in the flyweight division has officially begun with his victory over Iliarde Santos on Saturday.
As great as the bout was—earned Fight of the Night honors—McCall will need another marquee win before being considered for a title chance.
If Uncle Creepy wants his chance at championship redemption, he’ll likely have to fight John Dodson or John Moraga to get to that level. That’s not an easy road back to glory.
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