One of the interesting things from last night was that for a way to launch a version of “The Ultimate Fighter” it certainly wasn’t the worst way to do it. Luke Rockhold showed he should still be considered a contender, Team Alpha Male notched another dominant win and Yoel Romero may or may not have voided his bowels during his three round battle with Derek Brunson. Now it’s time to play Joe Silva and figure out where the most intriguing winners (and losers) from Wednesday night’s card go next.
Winners
Luke Rockhold vs. Michael Bisping – Rockhold looked like the elite fighter we thought he was coming into the UFC, the one that was supposed to beat the brakes off of Vitor Belfort in his debut. He disposed of Philippou fairly perfunctory, in much better fashion than he did Keith Jardine, and looked like he’s a win away from a title shot. With the middleweight division fairly open now he’ll get it, too, with a win. The UFC badly wants either Rockhold or Bisping to get a shot because they’re poster guys with insane marketing appeal potentially. If you want to keep him busy then whoever looks less impressive between Machida/Mousasi and Carmont/Souza vs. Rockhold (with a title shot coming from that fight) makes sense too. Rockhold is one win away from a title shot … he just needs another contender to defeat.
T.J Dillashaw vs. the winner of Yves Jabouin/Eddie Wineland – Dillashaw should be a win away from a title shot, especially with how incredibly impressive he looked against Mike Easton. Easton’s no slouch and Dillashaw dominated him in a profound manner. The winner of Jabouin/Wineland is a good matchup and would make a nice fight for T.J to get a title shot off of. The interesting thing will be the result of Barao/Faber. Faber and Dillashaw are teammates, long time ones at that, but the understanding has been through the rumor mill that they’ll fight each other for a UFC title if it comes to that. Dillashaw is legitimately one win away from a title shot and this’ll get him there.
Yoel Romero vs. Thales Leites – Romero looked like he wants to win spectacularly first, even if it means having to really, as opposed to putting his talents to use early and dominating. There’s really no good reason Derek Brunson should’ve been in that fight with him from the get go, much less take him down repeatedly, but Romero would rather win in impressive fashion above everything else. Leites is on a hot streak after fighting his way back into the company, as well.
Cole Miller vs. Conor McGregor – He talked trash about Donald Cerrone but the “Cowboy” has a hard time making 155, much less getting down to 145. He won’t go down, my guess, and Miller’s done enough to at least be considered a fringe Top 10 guy in the division. He and McGregor have had words and this would make a nice fight in Ireland between the two. It all depends on how long Miller’s out with his broken hand.
Brad Tavares vs. Tim Kennedy – Tavares is on an impressive streak and deserves a Top 10 opponent. Kennedy wants Michael Bisping in a bad way but I’m not sure if the UFC brass will give him that fight right away. Tavares and Kennedy would be a good fight between two guys who aren’t brilliant at anything but are tough, tough bastards with massive gas tanks.
Losers
Costas Philippou vs. Mark Munoz – Munoz and Philippou are Top 10 guys but both are sinking because they’ve lost to contenders because they have a glaring deficiency that prevents them from being in the title picture. Munoz’s lack of a tough chin against Philippou’s inability to get up off his back would be something special, I think, and the winner gets right back to being the gatekeeper to the elite of the division.
Mike Easton vs. the loser of Hatsu Hioki/Ivan Menjivar – Easton is never a dull fight but he’s not an elite fighter. I think his ceiling has been reached, that of the Top 10 guy who will never get over that hump to being a title contender (even a fringe one) but he has a ton of value remaining. Easton could be cut after this loss but I think because he’s never dull he gets one more shot inside the UFC. The loser of Hioki/Menjivar will be in that same losing streak/excitement place and it makes sense for this fight to be a loser leaves town type of matchup.
Sam Sicilia vs. Diego Brandao – Brandao had possibly the worst thing happen to him against Dustin Poirier. He talked a TON of trash, missed weight in epic fashion and then got the doors beaten off him in similarly epic fashion. For a guy many people think has title potential it’s not the best impression to make, especially when you won perhaps the toughest season of “The Ultimate Fighter” and have as many tools as Brandao does. Sicilia’s ceiling is pretty much set at this point; he’s a featherweight Stephan Bonnar, a blood and guts brawler who can light up most guys but will never be good enough to get into the elite (or even the Top 10). Brandao needs a rebound fight to make weight and look good against and Sicilia would be a fun, fun brawl.
Charlie Brenneman vs. Joe Ellenberger – Brenneman fought long and hard to make his way back into the UFC and got lit up like a Christmas tree in his return. Considering he took the fight on short notice I think he gets another shot at redemption but he won’t get anyone of note. Joe Ellenberger is a tough out and about to debut in the UFC, as well, and Brenneman would make for a nice test. Brenneman’s only going to get someone new or on their way out, as well, as getting starched in your return isn’t a good thing. If he had a full training camp he’d have been given his walking papers … but short notice usually gets you one more chance.
