UFC 158 was a pretty solid card, up and down, and well worth the viewing I thought. Throw in Dana White announcing that season 18 of TUF would be the first to have female coaches, as well as eight female cast members, and tonight was an interesting night to say the least. Now it’s time to look towards the future and plot out Joe Silva’s next steps as fight-maker to the biggest MMA org in the world.
Winners
Georges St. Pierre vs. Johny Hendricks – It was made immediately after both fighters won and it makes sense. Hendricks has gone through a murderer’s row of fighters in the past 12 months: Jon Fitch, Martin Kampmann, Josh Koscheck and Carlos Condit. Three of the four fought for the world title and Kampmann got one fight away from a title shot. There’s no one that can argue that Hendricks hasn’t earned his title shot right now.
Jake Ellenberger vs. Robbie Lawler – Ellenberger is one fight away from being next in line. He’s already fought Condit and Kampmann, among others, and Lawler is coming off a big time KO of Koscheck. Was Lawler’s victory a fluke or has he finally put it all together and become the elite fighter he was supposed to be? Put him against Ellenberger, another heavy handed wrestler, and we’ll know for sure.
Mike Ricci vs. the winner of Ramsey Nijem vs. Miles Jury – Ricci won comfortably but the one thing I don’t think he showed was that he could be an elite, or even a very good, fighter in the UFC. I’m not sure he even looked like one who will spend more than a handful of fights in the company. He’s got the pedigree of a guy who should be around for a long time as he comes from a great camp and has been a guy to be on the watch for. Fletcher didn’t look all that impressive, despite being game, and Ricci didn’t look brilliant in victory either. Jury and Nijem share failed TUF runs, as well, and all three men are in the same spot right now as prospects looking to stay in the company.
Rick Story vs. Patrick Cote – Story was in a do or die moment in his UFC stint Saturday night and came through by doing. But he’s not going to be given anyone of note until he can win a couple of fights in a row. Cote got a gift decision in his hometown but looked like he belonged at welterweight at least. Cote/Story is an interesting striker/wrestler matchup.
Jordan Mein vs. the winner of Matt Brown vs. Dan Hardy – Mein looked spectacular, stopping a guy in Dan Miller who doesn’t get stopped usually. That counts for something … and Mein gets someone notable but not Top 10. The Hardy/Brown winner makes sense and will be a good crowd-pleasing scrap. Seth Baczynski would be another suitable matchup to; my guess is the UFC will keep him away from some of the wrestlers in the division for another fight or two.
Losers
Carlos Condit vs. Josh Koscheck – This was originally set up at UFC 143 and Condit is now going to be a ways back before he gets another shot at the top of the division again. Koscheck is in the same spot, as well, but both are still elite talents in the division. Condit and Koscheck are on losing streaks but draw enough that a third loss won’t cost them their job.
Nate Marquardt vs. Jake Shields (if he loses to Tyron Woodley) – Shields vs. Marquardt is a good matchup and I think the UFC makes it if Shields loses to the former Strikeforce welterweight title challenger. Marquardt looked pretty good against Ellenberger before getting stopped; he looked like a Top 10 welterweight who got thumped. Josh Koscheck would be another matchup for Marquardt as well as Mike Pierce. Marquardt’s going to get another guy in that Top 10-15 range.
Nick Diaz vs. Martin Kampmann – Diaz seemingly only wants GSP or nobody at all. My guess is he fights, and fights again, and is kept away from someone with a wrestling pedigree. Kampmann/Diaz in a three round, feature fight on a PPV would make for a fun fight.
Bobby Voelker vs. Pascal Krauss – Voelker looked like he belonged in the UFC and was hosed out of a win against Cote. Krauss has really developed under Duke Roufus, as well, and looks like he’s on the cusp of becoming a potential Top 10 fighter in 2-3 fights. Voelker isn’t that far off, either, and I think this would make sense as a solid undercard fight.
Nick Ring vs. Derek Brunson – Brunson looked fantastic for five minutes against Chris Leben before looking like he took it on short notice. Ring is a good test and Brunson deserves a proper one, full training camp and all.
