UFC 143 Results: Questions Answered and Lessons Learned

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UFC 143 is in the history books. Carlos Condit has shockingly upset Nick Diaz, and Fabricio Werdum battered Roy "Big Country" Nelson.

There were other fights and happenings throughout the night that taught the MMA world crucial lessons and answered important, lingering questions posed by fans and pundits alike.

What were these fights and happenings, and what did they teach us? Read and find out!

Traditional Martial Arts Are Making a Comeback

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After the first few UFC events, traditional martial arts (specifically striking arts) were the laughing stock of the martial-arts world.

They were lauded as ineffective and terrible bases for MMA.

However, it seems that they're finally on the comeback trail.

First, we had Lyoto Machida, and now, fighters—like John Makdessi and Stephen Thompson, who had a spectacular KO victory over Dan Stittgen—with extensive experience in traditional martial arts are finally bringing their expertise into the Octagon and showing the world what their arts can do.

Matt Brown Is "Immortal" for a Reason

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Matt Brown's nickname is "The Immortal," which sounds strange for a fighter with a 13-11 record, but I think I've figured it out.

Brown is immortal because every time he's in a fight where his career is at stake, he finds a way to avert career death for another fight. His improvement as a martial artist also never dies; his record isn't the best, but he improves each fight.

There Needs to Be a Standard for Point Deduction

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Herb Dean's unprecedented two-point deduction in the Alex Caceres-Edwin Figueroa fight has taught the MMA community that standards are needed.

Jumping from a warning to a two-point deduction is too much. There should be a definite set of guidelines that all referees are forced to comply with, instead of randomly costing a fighter a win.

This issue reared its ugly head again in the Josh Koscheck-Mike Pierce fight. Koscheck was repeatedly warned for using an open hand (more prone to eye-pokes) against Pierce, yet a point was never taken away despite the warnings.

There has to be some consistent standard applied in all fights, rather than being aggressive in deducting points in one fight and conservative in another.

Max Holloway Didn't Belong in the Octagon with Dustin Poirier

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The only way to describe Dustin Poirier's submission victory over Max Holloway was complete domination.

Once the fight hit the ground, 20-year-old white belt Holloway had absolutely no chance; he didn't belong in the cage with Poirier.

Ed Herman Is a Serious Competitor

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Ed Herman may be viewed as a lower-level competitor, but that's wrong. 

Herman proved against Clifford Starks that he can overcome adversity and that sleeping on his considerable ground game is a huge mistake.

Herman is for real and is a tough fight for many fighters at middleweight.

Renan Barão Is the Real Deal

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The biggest question mark of the event was Brazilian prospect Renan Barão. His record heading into the fight—27-1 (1 NC)—was great, but he hadn't fought a truly top-flight competitor yet.

Scott Jorgensen was therefore Barão's most difficult test, and the Brazilian passed with relative ease, proving to be quicker and overall better than Jorgensen in earning a unanimous-decision victory.

Fans Still Can't Appreciate Wrestling

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The Josh Koscheck vs. Mike Pierce fight wasn't boring. If you feel it was, you can't appreciate wrestling nor a technical fight, as many of the fans at the Mandalay Bay couldn't.

MMA fans still have a long way to go; booing shouldn't be acceptable if fighters are legitimately trying (even if it's "boring" wrestling or a slower, more technical fight).

Fabricio Werdum Has Evolved, Roy Nelson Hasn't

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Fabricio Werdum showed that he is truly a mixed martial artist against Roy Nelson.

Werdum, who is famous for his BJJ accolades, showed amazingly improved Muay Thai and overall striking abilities; he significantly evolved his game.

Nelson, on the other hand, couldn't compete with Werdum and has fallen behind in the MMA world.

The Sponsors Are Still Growing

In the beginning, sponsors didn't want to touch the sordid UFC.

Now, the amount of mainstream sponsors is ever-growing. Did you see the numerous ads for the History Channel show Full Metal Jousting?

Judging Isn't Perfect

Cecil Peoples, MMA judging's finest.

Look at the uproar on the Internet over the Diaz-Condit fight (as well as the Pierce-Koscheck fight to a lesser extent), and you'll see what I'm talking about.

There is still a huge discrepancy amongst fans (and judges, too, it would seem) as to what constitutes truly "winning" an MMA fight.

Set criteria that can't be interpreted in dozens of different ways are likely needed for disputes like this to stop.

Diaz Isn't an Unstoppable Demigod and Condit Is a Smart, Skilled Fighter

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Nick Diaz's hype train was full speed ahead by the time UFC 143 came around.

Now, the train is naught but a spectacular wreck, all thanks to the brilliantly executed game plan of Carlos Condit.

Condit proved that Diaz's striking isn't the godlike Anderson Silva kind of striking; it can be planned for and defeated.

Condit beat Diaz with an array of kicks (specifically leg kicks) as well as superior angles and movement. In doing so, he proved Diaz mortal and himself a fighter worthy of headlining with UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre.

 

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