There were no title fights on the UFC Fight Night 40 card, which went down Saturday night from Cincinnati. No top-contender bouts, either, for that matter. But what this card did deliver was a deep slate of eager and finish-happy fighters trying to translate good fortune into a roll, a rolls into a trend or a trend into a habit.
Matt Brown has of late been knocking them down as fast as the UFC can set them up (and as his body will allow), yet still found himself Saturday in the underdog’s role. Erick Silva, once a presumed welterweight title challenger, has struggled to put it all together, belly-flopping into the nearest frigid pool any time he builds up any sign of heat.
In the co-main event, two middleweights continued their own quests for consistency. Costas Philippou reached elite status last year but was humbled twice on arrival. Lorenz Larkin, for all his talent, has not gained his footing since switching to the UFC from the now-defunct Strikeforce promotion.
Plenty of underdogs, up-and-comers and fan favorites were laced throughout this six-hour, 13-fight affair, and the opportunities were plenty.
Who took advantage? Who was beaten back to the drawing board? The final stat lines only reveal so much. Here are the real winners and losers on the evening, from Fight Pass to finale.