Tag: UFC 172

Phil Davis vs. Anthony Johnson: What We Learned from UFC 172 Co-Main Event

Anthony “Rumble” Johnson made his much-hyped return to the UFC opposite No. 4-ranked Phil Davis…and it did not go as most expected.
Davis, a wrestler by trade, had many believing he would be able to physically dominate Johnson with little difficulty,…

Anthony “Rumble” Johnson made his much-hyped return to the UFC opposite No. 4-ranked Phil Davis…and it did not go as most expected.

Davis, a wrestler by trade, had many believing he would be able to physically dominate Johnson with little difficulty, setting up a handy decision victory or a submission. The former welterweight striker, though, shocked many by effortlessly stuffing Davis’ takedowns and lighting him up standing.

That resulted in a shockingly lopsided beatdown by Rumble that has thrown the light heavyweight division into disarray. So what did we learn from this?

 

Anthony Johnson Is Really, Really Good

Pretty straightforward here. Anthony Johnson just worked over a guy who was commonly ranked as a top-five light heavyweight. You aren’t doing that unless you’re something special.

He isn’t quite a contender…yet. There happens to be that pileup of Alexander Gustafsson, Daniel Cormier and Rashad Evans (oh, and I guess Dan Henderson) all ahead of him, and each of them is inarguably closer to the belt.

Johnson, though…man. It feels like the sky is the limit.

 

Phil Davis Is Not a Top Light Heavyweight

So I picked Davis to win this fight in lopsided fashion. I figured Davis would have the strength advantage and would be able to use that to plod out a clean decision win.

That did not happen, though. Johnson lit him up standing and had absolutely no regard for Davis’ takedowns. He had no fear of anything in Davis’ arsenal, and it showed from the start of the fight to the end.

The fight was so incredibly lopsided that it’s hard to really buy into him beating any top light heavyweights right now.

 

Rumble Is Now a Matchmaking Nightmare

Pretty easy to break this down. You pretty much have to rank Johnson at No. 5 or No. 6 after such a lopsided beating. That puts him behind Jon Jones, Alexander Gustafsson, Glover Teixeira, Rashad Evans, Daniel Cormier and (maybe) Dan Henderson.

All of them, with the exception of Teixeira (assuming he loses to Jones) are booked up right now. 

That means he is forced to take a fight with somebody ranked below him. Could it be Chael Sonnen? Jimi Manuwa? Ryan Bader? 

I don’t know…none of those matches is very appealing, though.

 

The Light Heavyweight Division Is Suddenly Exciting

The 205-pound division has been ugly for a long, long time. When Jon Jones ran through the entire top 10 within 18 months, he left it with no particularly interesting contenders and very few prospects.

But now Daniel Cormier is here. Alexander Gustafsson is a beast. Rashad Evans is (or at least was, before his knee injury) back in form. Glover Teixeira is around.

And now Rumble?

That’s a lot of compelling names, and that is something we haven’t been able to say about the light heavyweight division in a very long time.

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Davis vs. Johnson Results: Winner, Highlights and Analysis

In the co-main event of UFC 172, Anthony Johnson defeated former light heavyweight contender Phil Davis via unanimous decision in his first fight since re-signing with the UFC earlier this year.

After the win, “Rumble” thanked Dana White, per MMA…

In the co-main event of UFC 172, Anthony Johnson defeated former light heavyweight contender Phil Davis via unanimous decision in his first fight since re-signing with the UFC earlier this year.

After the win, “Rumble” thanked Dana White, per MMAFighting.com:

Any thoughts that it would be an easy day in the office for Davis were erased in the first round. With both fighters trading strikes, it was Rumble’s power that made the early impression. He dazed Davis with an uppercut and took the first round with his powerful striking, leaving “Mr. Wonderful” bloodied and discouraged.

Johnson continued to be the better-looking fighter in the second round as he stalked Davis down and consistently got the better of the exchanges. Whereas conditioning had been an issue for the former welterweight in the past, it was clear that this was a new version of the promising contender.

With the lead easily in hand, Johnson continued to be the more confident and controlling fighter throughout the third round.

The UFC signed Johnson to a deal in February, according to MMAJunkie Radio, and he made a splash in his first fight back in the Octagon. He was with the UFC from 2007 to 2012 but could never manage to gain much momentum in the title hunt with losses to stars like Vitor Belfort and Josh Koscheck.

After winning six fights in a row across various promotions—including a heavyweight bout against Andrei Arlovski—Dana White and UFC officials bet that Johnson had made strides as a fighter. With a victory over Davis in a marquee position on a pay-per-view card, he proved his worth.

As great as the victory is for Johnson, though, it is equally devastating for Davis.

After losing to Rashad Evans in a title eliminator in 2012 and fighting to a no-contest against Wagner Prado later that year, Davis beat Prado and added victories against Vinny Magalhaes and Lyoto Machida.

Davis was on the ascent before Saturday’s loss and now looks to be squandering his talent as a divisional gatekeeper.

As for what’s next for Johnson after the marquee victory, the perfect solution would be a battle against Daniel Cormier. If D.C. beats Dan Henderson at UFC 175, the potential in-ring masterpiece between Cormier and Johnson would make for a great title eliminator.

While Cormier looks like a man on a mission in the light heavyweight division, Johnson proved against Davis that he will not go down without a fight.

 

*Stats and information via UFC.com.

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Tim Boetsch vs. Luke Rockhold: What We Learned from Middleweight Tilt

Luke Rockhold stepped into the cage as the No. 5-ranked middleweight, and he exits by throwing his name into the title discussion.
Tim Boetsch, ranked No. 13, is no slouch. He is a tough veteran who has given many in the division their toughest fight….

Luke Rockhold stepped into the cage as the No. 5-ranked middleweight, and he exits by throwing his name into the title discussion.

Tim Boetsch, ranked No. 13, is no slouch. He is a tough veteran who has given many in the division their toughest fight. That was not the case at UFC 172. Rockhold needed only two minutes, eight seconds to dispatch Boetsch.

It was a quick night, but this is what we learned from the middleweight bout.

 

What We’ll Remember About the Fight

Rockhold’s grappling acumen was on full display, and his ground work was very memorable.

The former Strikeforce middleweight titleholder got an inverted triangle choke in a scramble, and he controlled that position. As Boetsch defended the triangle, Rockhold sought out other submissions. He grabbed a kimura.

Boetsch was all tied up and had no way of defending the kimura. Rockhold finished for the swift and impressive victory.

 

What We Learned About Boetsch

Nothing.

It was not because of anything he did in the cage, but because Rockhold ousted him so quickly we didn’t have the chance to see what “The Barbarian” has been working on. That was a little disappointing as Boetsch is one of the more underrated performers in the UFC.

Hopefully we will get to see more from him in his next time out.

 

What We Learned About Rockhold

We learned that his grappling is some of the best in the division.

His jiu-jitsu may not be as technically sound as Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza’s, but his versatility inside the cage makes him one of the top grapplers. We don’t often see a reverse triangle attempt, let alone one from a 185-pound fighter.

He quickly dominated Boetsch on the mat, and the performance makes certain that future opponents will have to game-plan for any mat work.

 

What’s Next for Boetsch

He has lost three of his last four, and he’d be on a four-fight losing streak if not for some questionable judging against C.B. Dollaway.

Dollaway is coming off a win over Cezar Ferreira at UFC Fight Night 38, and he may want to avenge the loss against The Barbarian. The fight makes sense as neither is close to contention.

The rematch would settle that grudge once and for all, and the winner would earn another Top 15-level fight.

 

What’s Next for Rockhold

Rockhold called out both Vitor Belfort and Michael Bisping after the fight. The Bisping fight makes no sense following the Brit’s loss to Tim Kennedy, and Belfort should have the next crack at the middleweight title.

The fight that makes the most sense would be a fall date with a returning Souza.

Jacare is ranked No. 4 in the division, and it would essentially be a title eliminator.

The two met in Strikeforce with the belt on the line in 2011. Rockhold got the decision nod, and this rematch would help make the middleweight title picture a bit clearer moving into 2015. It would make sense for the co-main event slot when Belfort gets his shot at the winner of Chris Weidman vs. Lyoto Machida.

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UFC 172: Jon Jones vs. Glover Teixeira Round-by-Round Recap and Analysis

All eyes were on Jon Jones in the main event of UFC 172 when he defended his light heavyweight title for a seventh consecutive time against Glover Teixeira.
Perhaps the only question Jones faced on Saturday night was whether his confidence had been sha…

All eyes were on Jon Jones in the main event of UFC 172 when he defended his light heavyweight title for a seventh consecutive time against Glover Teixeira.

Perhaps the only question Jones faced on Saturday night was whether his confidence had been shaken, following his five-round war with Alexander Gustafsson last September.

The 26-year-old phenom had effortlessly breezed through contenders before meeting Gustafsson in a bout many are calling the greatest title fight in UFC history. While wading through the fires of endless criticism, Jones had remained virtually flawless in his professional career up until that point.

Some believed the close call with Gustafsson awakened a sleeping giant. Others thought Jones’ slight brush up with mortality would make him more tentative and subsequently lead to his downfall against Teixeira.

Devastating results are a natural occurrence whenever Teixeira puts knuckle to chin. The Brazilian slugger torched 20 straight foes on his way to a UFC title shot. There wasn’t any doubt he’d come out swinging in hopes of adding the most important head yet to his ever-growing mantle.

But Jon Jones wouldn’t be denied on Saturday night, earning a 50-45 unanimous decision over the challenger.

The reigning UFC champ defeated Teixeira and ended the 20 fight win streak to prove once more why he is a worthy successor to Anderson Silva’s pound-for-pound throne.

Here is the round-by-round recap of the UFC 172 main event.

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Jim Miller vs. Yancy Medeiros: What We Learned from Lightweight Tilt

A short-notice fight between Jim Miller and Yancy Medeiros went pretty much exactly as expected Saturday night in Baltimore.
Miller has been alternating wins and losses since getting roughed up by Benson Henderson, but he has remained a steady presence…

A short-notice fight between Jim Miller and Yancy Medeiros went pretty much exactly as expected Saturday night in Baltimore.

Miller has been alternating wins and losses since getting roughed up by Benson Henderson, but he has remained a steady presence near the top of the lightweight division. Medeiros has shown flashes of being a good fighter, but he was overmatched badly on paper.

What went down in the cage proved that to be the case, as Miller landed strikes with little difficulty before locking up a lightning-quick guillotine that left Medeiros unconscious. So what did we learn?

 

Jim Miller Still Has Skillz, Capable of Paying Bills

If Miller had lost this fight, it could have very well been his last in the Octagon. I mean, the UFC cut Jake Shields for owning wins over its title contender of choice…nobody with legitimate go-to grappling skills is safe.

But man, he didn’t even have a hint of trouble here. That was the kind of performance he needed, and the fact that he ended it with a sexy guillotine choke was the cherry on the big win sundae. 

He might not win a post-fight bonus, but his job is safe for now. That is a big deal, no matter how you slice it.

 

Jim Miller Is Still Probably a Gatekeeper

So yeah, it’s a big win, but the fact it was between a top-10 lightweight and a top-50-ish loomed large. Yes, I know that it was on short notice (he was originally supposed to face off with Bobby Green) and it was the best the UFC could put together on short notice, but there’s no ignoring it.

Still, Miller has a long history of looking fearsome against people you haven’t heard of and floundering against people you have. Just like Mike Pyle or Gabriel Gonzaga or Takeya Mizugaki. 

He called for a fight against Khabib Nurmagomedov, Donald Cerrone or anybody ranked above him. Unless he gets a fight against one of them and can win it, though, it’s hard to really feel like he’s making another title run.

 

Yancy Medeiros Isn’t There Yet

Pretty obvious, but worth reiterating.

Medeiros has some weapons in his arsenal, and it showed when he demolished Yves Edwards. That said, this was just his third UFC fight, and he owned an official 0-1 (1) record…before fighting a top-10 guy in one of the UFC’s deepest divisions.

He’s 26, so there’s still plenty of time for him to get sharper. Now isn’t his time, though.

 

It’s a Night of Great Finishes!

Seriously! So many awesome finishes Saturday night.

Chris Beal’s flying knee. Max Holloway’s awesome choke. Danny Castillo’s massive knockout. Joseph Benavidez’s “joa constrictor.”

Awesome finishes everywhere!

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Andre Fili vs. Max Holloway: What We Learned From Featherweight Tilt

Max Holloway and Andre Fili opened the UFC 172 pay-per-view, and the fight delivered more than expected.
Fili looked to have taken the first round, and Holloway rebounded in the second frame. It all came down to the third. It …

Max Holloway and Andre Fili opened the UFC 172 pay-per-view, and the fight delivered more than expected.

Fili looked to have taken the first round, and Holloway rebounded in the second frame. It all came down to the third. It was a close round until Holloway began to tag Fili on the feet. He secured a guillotine choke and finished the fight.

This was a big win for Holloway. After the first PPV bout of the night, this is what we learned.

 

What We’ll Remember About the Fight

Holloway’s fight-ending guillotine was certainly the most memorable portion of the fight.

He set it up on the feet. His boxing has been a bright spot since his UFC debut. He can throw hands with the best in the division, and Fili was on the receiving end of quite a bit of punishment.

Holloway was able to finish the choke from top position as Fili grimaced during the tap.

 

What We Learned About Fili

Despite the hype, Fili still has a long way to go. We learned that he is still just a young prospect.

The 23-year-old has all the promise, but now it is down to him and his coaching staff to mold his skills into becoming a top-tier fighter. He is at Team Alpha Male. That is an elite camp where we should see him hone his skills moving forward.

 

What We Learned About Holloway

We learned that Holloway’s bouts against quality competition have paid off.

He made his UFC debut against Dustin Poirier. Since that fight, he has also taken on Leonard Garcia, Dennis Bermudez and Conor McGregor. He has been battled-tested. This trial by fire has sharpened his skills.

His second straight victory was an impressive one, and it could mean bigger things on the horizon for one of the UFC’s most consistently exciting fighters.

 

What’s Next for Fili

Fili will hit the back of the bread line, and that is a good thing.

He is a young prospect with raw talent. The UFC should bring him along slowly. Chas Skelly would make for a nice opponent in his next UFC outing.

Skelly entered the UFC undefeated but lost at UFC on Fox 11 against Mirsad Bektic.

The bout against Skelly would be a low-pressure fight, likely on UFC Fight Pass. It would allow both men to enter the cage without too much of the spotlight and focus on honing their craft.

 

What’s Next for Holloway

The featherweight division is packed with quality talent, and Holloway adds his name to that list with a second consecutive win.

He is not quite ready for Top 15-level competition, but he is close. That is why Rony Jason makes for a good opponent.

Jason is coming off a win against Steven Siler at UFC Fight Night 38. He loves to go out and put on a show. A bout against Holloway would give the fans a fight they could stand and cheer for while placing the winner near the back end of the Top 15 rankings.

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