"Are you not entertained?"
Sanchez's question rang clear through the stadium after a split decision victory against Clay Guida in a blood-soaked brawl with Fight of the Year honors written all over it. This bout capped off a night filled with excitement for every fan.
Fighter stock rose and fell last night. With two new Ultimate Fighters crowned, lightweight contenders squaring off, and three fights given Fight of the Night honors, the UFC divisions are in for some changes.
Stock Rising
Diego Sanchez:
Diego Sanchez's split decision victory over Clay Guida has undeniably launched him into a title fight sometime before the end of 2009. Whether it be Kenny Florian or B.J. Penn who owns the belt after UFC 101, it would be hard to find a better qualified contender to try to take that belt away.
However, if the UFC does not deem Sanchez yet worthy of a shot at UFC lightweight gold, a match with Gray "The Bully" Maynard would seem a good fixture. Maynard is undefeated in the UFC and also worthy of a title shot in the eyes of many.
The most likely situation still would be a title shot for Sanchez against Penn/Florian, possibly at UFC 106 or 107.
Joe Stevenson:
Joe "Daddy" Stevenson entered his fight against Nate Diaz on Saturday night with a lot on the line. If he was to exit the octagon with a loss, a release from the UFC seemed a likely outcome. Stevenson came away with the win, however, and is now looking forward in the lightweight division.
For his next opponent, Stevenson will most certainly be matched against Sean Sherk, Frank Edgar's most recent victim. This bout would take place at UFC 104 or UFC 105 in all likelihood. If he is not matched with Sherk, Frank Edgar would be a likely fix.
Stevenson will also find himself back in the top ten of the UFC lightweight division after his recent victory.
Ross Pearson:
Ross Pearson was the first "Ultimate Fighter" winner to be crowned last night after a decision victory over Andre Winner, gaining the UFC contract. Pearson will dive head first into a stacked UFC lightweight division.
Though it is difficult to say who Pearson will fight next, a matchup with TUF 8 winner Efrain Escudero, or the TUF 8 star and house "bad boy" Junie Browning could very well come to pass.
James Wilks:
Wilks entered his welterweight belt against the heavily favored DaMarques Johnson with a UFC contract on his mind, and he got it. After the clinic Wilks put on Johnson, he will look to his future in the UFC welterweight division.
The welterweight "Ultimate Fighter" winner will possibly be matched up with Ben Saunders or Kyle Bradley. If the UFC was impressed enough by his performance, perhaps Chris Lytle will wind up as his next match up.
Perhaps Wilks' biggest victory on the night was his exposure to the fans. Everyone watching was fortunate enough to witness such a dominant display of mixed martial arts.
Stock Falling
Nate Diaz:
Diaz's loss to Joe Stevenson gives him his second straight loss in the UFC, the other being a defeat at the hands of Clay Guida. While those two are excellent fighters, Diaz is proving that he simply cannot compete with the UFC lightweight elite.
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