With tonight’s (Sat., February 10, 2018) UFC 221 from the Perth Arena in Perth, Australia, being billed as one of the worst UFC pay-per-views of all-time, we thought it relevant to look back at the other terrible PPV events the promotion has put on through the years. Not every card can be a blockbuster, and every […]
With tonight’s (Sat., February 10, 2018) UFC 221 from the Perth Arena in Perth, Australia, being billed as one of the worst UFC pay-per-views of all-time, we thought it relevant to look back at the other terrible PPV events the promotion has put on through the years.
Not every card can be a blockbuster, and every now and then, the UFC offers up a supremely subpar pay-per-view, one where you feel like you wasted $60 (now $65, unfortunately) as well as your precious time.
While the UFC has gotten a bit better in stacking their cards and bracing for replacements, they’re still at the mercy of injuries and failed drug tests. Regardless, the UFC doesn’t help itself with so many watered-down cards, which lends them no time to promote each event, and lack of preparation in the event of a curveball.
And some are just downright bad. Let’s take a look at the 10 worst PPVs in UFC history.
Photo by Kyle Terada for USA TODAY Sports
10. UFC 177
TJ Dillashaw’s first run as bantamweight champion was marred by a weaker talent pool and injury replacements.
UFC 177 is a perfect example of that. Dillashaw took on the completely unheralded but surprisingly competent Joe Soto, who was filling in for an injured Renan Barao after the formerly dominant champion hit his head in the bathtub cutting weight.
Even worse, the card lost a rematch between Jon Jones and Alexander Gustafsson. So basically the entire card was gutted like a fish, ending up a fraction of what it could have been.
(We’re really, really, *really* missing that Xbox sponsorship right now. via Getty.)
By Sam Stilson
Aside from escaping a fire, it’s never a good thing when the audience starts leaving halfway through the main event of a card. It’s an even worse thing when you’ve already had to close off half the arena just to fill the building. No, UFC 186 was not a successful PPV for the world’s premier MMA organization, but despite its many, many failings, it wasn’t a half-bad display of mixed martial arts…for Bellator, or WSOF, of even a Fight Pass show.
Still the fights went on, winners were crowned and with this trainwreck behind us, we must now wonder where do they go from here?
(We’re really, really, *really* missing that Xbox sponsorship right now. via Getty.)
By Sam Stilson
Aside from escaping a fire, it’s never a good thing when the audience starts leaving halfway through the main event of a card. It’s an even worse thing when you’ve already had to close off half the arena just to fill the building. No, UFC 186 was not a successful PPV for the world’s premier MMA organization, but despite its many, many failings, it wasn’t a half-bad display of mixed martial arts…for Bellator, or WSOF, of even a Fight Pass show.
Still the fights went on, winners were crowned and with this trainwreck behind us, we must now wonder where do they go from here?
Johnson is unfortunately so good that until age catches up to him, this is how every one of his fights is going to go. He has maybe two matches left in the division before the inevitable move back to bantamweight. Dodson is the only flyweight to really give him a challenge and Makovsky is fresh meat, the winner of that bout in May should be DJ’s next opponent.
Horiguchi should take solace in that fact that he’s young and has plenty of time to build his way back up into contention. The first place he should start is with former title challenger and fellow also-ran Chris Cariaso. It’s a good rebound fight for Horiguchi that adds a solid name to his resume, and if Cariaso could pull off the upset it’d solidify his spot in the top 10.
A lot of people seem to be unfairly criticizing Rampage’s performance at UFC 186. No, he didn’t get the knockout, but who does against Maldonaldo? Jackson looked fit and focused and unleashed a varied Muay Thai attack we haven’t seen from him in years. He stated post-fight that he’s on a revenge/legends tour and what better place to start than with the winner of Shogun and Lil Nog? Pride never die.
Fabio Maldonaldo – Should fight: Jan Blachowicz
This is a winnable fight for both men, likely a stand-up affair and would fill up a prelims spot nicely.
Love him or hate him you have to admire Bisping’s tenacity. At 36 and barely clinging to a top 10 ranking he still believes he can be champ. Why dash his dreams again so quickly Joe Silva? Pair him up with a ranked grappler like Thales Leites and see if he can build up another win streak.
C.B. Dollaway – Should fight: Tavares/Whittaker loser
I don’t think anyone truly believed C.B. was a top 10 fighter but at least he got his chance to fight the cream of the crop. A step back to the TUF alumni circle would do him well and the loser of Tavares/Whittaker would fit the bill nicely.
‘The Bull’ has always been an undersized lightweight, but he looked tiny against Shane Campbell . Sure he won, but against the behemoths that populate the upper ranks of lightweight, the size disparity will eventually become insurmountable. Featherweight is wide open and a win against someone like Diego Brandao or Darren Elkins would instantly make him a ranked fighter, something unlikely to ever happen at 155.
A vaunted kickboxer, Campbell looked good for the first few minutes of his bout against Makdessi, but eventually succumbed to his power. A good rebound fight would be against Tony Martin who also recently lost a main card bout. It’d be a fun grappler vs. striker battle and would give both men a chance to redeem their high-profile failures.
The hype is strong in this one. At just 23, Almeida is now 19-0 and a top 15 UFC bantamweight. While he looked incredible knocking out a solid veteran in Yves Jabouin, he shouldn’t be rushed too far up the ladder. Frankie Saenz who just upset Iuri Alcantara would make a great next dance partner. He’s ranked 13th, and his smothering, wrestling-based attack would either expose Almeida or allow him show another facet to his game.
Now 35 and with a 2-3 record in his past five fights, Jabouin’s chances at the top 15 appear to have come and gone. Rather than feed him to another young buck, he should face another fighter on a downward trend. Marcus Brimage has a bit of name value left, and this bout would make for an entertaining striking battle.
Not that you care right now, what with Jon Jones’ hit-and-run currently capturing your attention, but there was a UFC event over the weekend that on paper looked pretty crappy but in reality turned out to be pretty fun affair (and not just because I went 10-2 on my fight picks for the second time in the past three events).
UFC 186: Johnson vs. Horiguchi, it was called, and true to form, it was a card absolutely ravaged by injuries. Dillashaw, Barao, Rory Mac, Lombard, Trujillo — all were expected to fight on Saturday, but the MMA Gods had other plans. Instead, we were treated to the (underwhelming) return of Rampage Jackson thanks to a last-minute appeal of the injunction that originally forced him off the card, the arrival of Thomas Almeida, and the continued dominance of Mighty Mouse.
In the main event of the evening, Demetrious Johnson had his way with #7 ranked (and +1000 underdog) Kyoji Horiguchi for five straight rounds. It was very much a typical Johnson performance in many regards, in that it was damn near flawless, capped off by a late submission (the latest ever, actually), and all but ignored by the fans in the Belle Center. Little guys just don’t get no respect, nawmsayin?
Check out the highlights from the entire UFC 186 main card and a full list of results after the jump.
Not that you care right now, what with Jon Jones’ hit-and-run currently capturing your attention, but there was a UFC event over the weekend that on paper looked pretty crappy but in reality turned out to be pretty fun affair (and not just because I went 10-2 on my fight picks for the second time in the past three events).
UFC 186: Johnson vs. Horiguchi, it was called, and true to form, it was a card absolutely ravaged by injuries. Dillashaw, Barao, Rory Mac, Lombard, Trujillo — all were expected to fight on Saturday, but the MMA Gods had other plans. Instead, we were treated to the (underwhelming) return of Rampage Jackson thanks to a last-minute appeal of the injunction that originally forced him off the card, the arrival of Thomas Almeida, and the continued dominance of Mighty Mouse.
In the main event of the evening, Demetrious Johnson had his way with #7 ranked (and +1000 underdog) Kyoji Horiguchi for five straight rounds. It was very much a typical Johnson performance in many regards, in that it was damn near flawless, capped off by a late submission (the latest ever, actually), and all but ignored by the fans in the Belle Center. Little guys just don’t get no respect, nawmsayin?
Check out the highlights from the entire UFC 186 main card and a full list of results after the jump.
Jackson vs. Maldonado
In the co-main event of the evening, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson took on Fabio Maldonado in what was an equally parts surprising and routine scrap. I say surprising because it may have been the first fight in Jackson’s history that was highlighted by the former champions use of kicks and knees from the Thai clinch. Say what you want about Jackson, but his performance showcased that even an old dog can learn some new tricks.
Of course, the latter rounds were punctuated by Jackson’s trademark lack of killer instinct, as well as Maldonado’s lack of anything resembling urgency, which left the crowd restless heading into the main event. Why Maldonado did not once attempt to mix things up on the feet beyond plodding forward remains a mystery. Kind of like the current whereabouts of Jon Jones. HI-OH!!
Bisping vs. Dollaway
Speaking of raised expectations, the middleweight “meh”fest between Michael Bisping and CB Dollaway turned out to be one of the more thrilling fights of the night. Who woulda thunk? Those expecting a typical jab-and-jog performance from “The Count” (ie. most of us) were instead treated to a back-and-forth banger that saw Bisping dropped early before rallying in the latter rounds thanks to his world-renowned cardio. Dollaway was able to land with his check left hook seemingly at will, but simply couldn’t keep up with Bisping nor take him down long enough to secure the judge’s nod.
I’ll tell you a guy who knows a lot about raised expectations, and that’s Jon Jones. His last DUI-induced car wreck left fans and critics alike wondering how he could ever outshine himself behind the wheel of a two-ton death machine, so what’s he do? Hits *two* cars and while high as a kite, then flees the scene carrying handfuls of cash. Ever the innovator, that Bones.
Makdessi vs. Campbell
Shane Campbell may have been the more seasoned striker heading into his short notice fight with Makdessi on Saturday, but it was the Canadian “Bull” who put a beating on him early and often. After blistering Campbell with a right hand early, Makdessi chose his spots and continued to haul off on the UFC rookie until referee Philippe Chatrier was forced to wave the fight off with just 7 seconds left in the first round. The win marked Makdessi fourth in his past five fights and proved that he’s still got a ton of gas in the tank and is never to be taken lightly — come to think of it, he’s essentially the “Jon Jones behind the wheel” of the UFC’s lightweight division.
Jabouin vs. Almeida
WEC vet Yves Jabouin wasn’t being given much of a chance against the undefeated prospect, and to his credit, managed not to get overwhelmed right out of the gate. Almeida’s relentless pressure and diverse striking attack proved to be too much in time, however, resulting in a clean and decisive first round TKO that this absolutely horrible highlight managed to capture none of.
Check out the full results for UFC 186 below.
Main Card
Demetrious Johnson def. Kyoji Horiguchi by way of Submission (Armbar) 4:59 of Round 5
Quinton Jackson def. Fabio Maldonado by way of Unanimous Decision (29-28, 30-27, 29-28)
Michael Bisping def. CB Dollaway by way of Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
John Makdessi def. Shane Campbell by way of TKO (Strikes) 4:53 of Round 1
Thomas Almeida def. Yves Jabouin by way of TKO (Strikes) 4:18 of Round 1
Preliminary Card
Patrick Cote def. Joe Riggs by way of Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Alexis Davis def. Sarah Kaufman by way of Submission (Armbar) 1:52 of Round 2
Chad Laprise def. Bryan Barberena by way of Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
Olivier Aubin-Mercier def. David Michaud by way of Submission (Rear Naked Choke) 3:24 of Round 3
Preliminary Card
Nordine Taleb def. Chris Clements by way of Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Valerie Letourneau def. Jessica Rakoczy by way of Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
Randa Markos def. Aisling Daly by way of Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
On Saturday night, the UFC held a pay-per-view in Montreal that featured a main card with a championship fight and a couple notable names from MMA’s past and present. It was an unanticipated card that turned out to be a good one, much to the surprise o…
On Saturday night, the UFC held a pay-per-view in Montreal that featured a main card with a championship fight and a couple notable names from MMA‘s past and present. It was an unanticipated card that turned out to be a good one, much to the surprise of fans.
While Demetrious Johnson and KyojiHoriguchi were the headliners for their championship status, it was names like “Rampage Jackson” and “Michael Bisping” that figured to be the biggest on the card. Those fights seemingly had the most attention, which was thought to bring in most of the views.
That said, the main card also featured a young Brazilian who is set to make waves in the bantamweight division. That man is Thomas Almeida, and he is just one of the many young bantamweights the UFC currently has who makes the division the one to watch in the future.
Almeida, just 23 years old, is undefeated at 19-0. He threw himself in the 135-pound fray with his performance Saturday night, as he knocked out respected WEC and UFC veteran Yves Jabouin in under a round.
That performance, coupled with the recent outings of many of the young UFC fighters, shows that the bantamweight division is the division of the future.
Right now, we have a young champion who is one of the most improved fighters in the UFC by the name of T.J. Dillashaw. He has another young counterpart who is a big rival right now in RenanBarao, the man Dillashaw took the title from and has a rematch against already.
In the wings of it all, old-timers like Dominick Cruz and Urijah Faber are still in the division and contenders in their own right. Most of the fighters in the top 10 are veterans of the division and represent the “old guard,” but the UFC has a ton of young guys who will make the division among the most competitive the company has.
Obviously, one of those guys is Almeida. He is young, powerful, exciting and aggressive—characteristics that will surely continue to get him the spotlight.
Then consider UFC on Fox 15, where prodigy Aljamain Sterling got his trademark win by choking out longtime contender TakeyaMizugaki in an incredible performance. Sterling is certainly a contender now, but he is still young and gaining experience as an undefeated prospect.
Also, Chris Holdsworth, a teammate of Dillashaw, has already pushed his stock up, though injuries have hampered some of his progress. He dominated The Ultimate Fighter 18, where he was the season champion, and he hasn’t looked back since.
We could go on all day about the numerous up-and-coming fighters, but there are almost too many to name. Some of the young and talented future contenders putting their names on the map are Cody Garbrandt, Frankie Saenz, Rob Font, Pedro Munhoz and Mitch Gagnon, among others.
Almeida‘s win on Saturday, coupled with Sterling’s win the weekend before, definitely signals things to come for the 135-pound division. There is a murderers’ row of fighters waiting in the helm to take over and make it a division the UFC can really get behind.
It’s certainly the most underrated division in the UFC and one that’s only growing with talent and prospects as we speak.
Montreal was treated to a great card Saturday night, as the UFC made its return to the MMA-crazy town with UFC 186. Headlined by a championship bout between Demetrious Johnson and Kyoji Horiguchi, the card was littered with familiar names from top to b…
Montreal was treated to a great card Saturday night, as the UFC made its return to the MMA-crazy town with UFC 186. Headlined by a championship bout between Demetrious Johnson and KyojiHoriguchi, the card was littered with familiar names from top to bottom.
Two of those familiar names were long-time veterans Patrick Cote and Joe Riggs. The two experienced fighters met in the headliner of the preliminary fights, with Cote besting Riggs with a balanced, overwhelming attack.
With that win, Cote is back up the ladder and looking to make a run toward the top end of the division. Here are three fights that Cote can take next.
YoshihiroAkiyama
When it comes to exciting fights and legendary chins, Cote and YoshihiroAkiyama are two guys that fit both of those descriptions. That’s why a fight between the two would be awesome.
Akiyama and Cote are veterans of the sport, yet they have not crossed paths. Both are former middleweights that ventured down to welterweight to some success thus far.
It’s a main-card scrap on any card you assemble. It also has Fight of the Night written all over it, meaning it’s a fight the UFC seriously needs to consider.
Kenny Robertson
One of the most underrated welterweights on the UFC’s roster, Kenny Robertson has slowly ascended up the rankings. He’s around the same spot in the division as Cote, making this matchup pretty logical.
Both Cote and Robertson are very well-rounded, though Cote is definitely a striker first and Robertson is a wrestler first. It would be a strategic chess match with high-stake achievements on the table.
With their styles, they have the ability to bring the best out in one another. That’s why this is a matchup that could be a must-make bout.
Ben Saunders
Ben Saunders and Cote have something in common, which is a big reason for a potential showdown. They are both exciting, hard-nosed fighters that leave everything in the cage.
Saunders is a big welterweight with the type of striking style that matches up well with Cote. Both are strong in the clinch, and both can throw from the outside as well.
A striking match between the two, given they stood up for most of the bout, would be awesome for the fans. Otherwise, it could be an interesting grappling match as well, which is why this fight should and could be next.
A UFC 186 card put through the ringer in terms of card construction leading up to the event wound up as one of the most memorable events of the year.
Rampage Jackson returned to the Octagon in dominant form, Demetrious Johnson once again proved he’s th…
A UFC 186 card put through the ringer in terms of card construction leading up to the event wound up as one of the most memorable events of the year.
Rampage Jackson returned to the Octagon in dominant form, Demetrious Johnson once again proved he’s the best flyweight on the planet and young guns such as KyojiHoriguchi and Thomas Almeidabroadcasted loud and clear the future of the promotion is in good hands.
On a night of many memorable moments, UFC president Dana White issued several awards, each worth a grand total of $50,000 in bonuses on top of each fighter’s salary, per Matt Erickson of MMAJunkie.com.
Below, let’s take a look at the full results and the bonus winners.
UFC 186 Results
Top Performers and Bonus Recipients
Performance of the Night: Demetrious Johnson
Johnson, perhaps the most dominant champion in a division this side of Ronda Rousey, of course took home a major bonus for his performance against Horiguchi.
An unorthodox style helped the budding superstar to hang tough with the champion for quite a while, but the disparity in talent grew as the fight wore on to its epic conclusion.
There, Johnson put on a showcase of technical skill which the globe rarely sees, as Sherdog’s Jordan Breen explains:
Thanks to the stunning last-second finish, literally, Johnson now sits alone in UFC history, per ESPN Stats & Info:
Johnson took to Twitter to thank everyone after the epic showing:
There’s a chance Johnson would have won the award without the epic finish, though. According to UFC.com, he landed 149 strikes on 72 percent accuracy to Horiguchi‘s 61 on 48 percent. He also scored 14 takedowns to just one by Horiguchi.
A little extra change for Johnson’s efforts doesn’t hurt, although remaining the king of a competitive division seems the best prize of all.
Performance of the Night: Thomas Almeida
Almeida is proof enough of UFC’s sound future.
The 23-year-old star ran his record to 19-0 Saturday night thanks to a ho-hum triumph in the first round against Yves Jabouin. By way of 31 significant strikes, Almeida picked up the technical knockout despite absorbing 20 significant strikes of his own.
White took to Twitter to celebrate Almeida‘s success:
Part of what makes Almeida‘s performance so impressive is the fact it came against a 35-year-old veteran such as Jabouin, who enjoys standing in, trading blows and taking things to the mat when necessary.
As the finish, continued hype and bonus show, Almeida is one name to keep an eye on as he looks to take the next step up the bantamweight ladder.
Fight of the Night: Chad Laprise vs. Bryan Barberena
It was only right to expect fireworks between Chad Laprise and Bryan Barberena.
The two heavy-hitting strikers with unpredictable offenses put on a show, with Laprise dominating the opening frame with ease. Barberena proved game and battled back, though, making the fight much more entertaining than the opening salvo suggested it would be.
Barberena forced Laprise from his technical comfort zone in the second round, forcing him backwards and on the defensive. The eventual winner rediscovered his mix of body and head kicks dispersed with straight shots to take the win on the scorecards.
Per UFC.com, Barberena landed 10 more significant strikes, but he did it with less accuracy on more attempts. It was enough to rattle Laprise, at least, as MMA Report’s John Pollack illustrates:
A war of wills coming down to the wire preceded by a bit of a chess match will win Fight of the Night most times out.
It did Saturday and both men are better for it, both in their pockets and in division standing.
Stats and info via UFC.com, unless otherwise specified.
On Saturday night, the UFC held a pay-per-view in Montreal that featured a main card with a championship fight and a couple notable names from 