UFC 207 Results: 5 Burning Questions Heading into 2017

UFC 207 is in the books. The results are as follows:

• Amanda Nunes def. Ronda Rousey by KO at 0:48 of the first round
• Cody Garbrandt def. Dominick Cruz by unanimous decision (48-46, 48-47, 48-46)
• T.J. Dillashaw def. John Lineker by unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-26)
• Dong Hyun Kim def. Tarec Saffiedine by split decision (29-28, 27-30, 29-28)
• Ray Borg def. Louis Smolka by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-26, 30-26)
• Neil Magny def. Johny Hendricks (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• Antonio Carlos Junior def. Marvin Vettori by unanimous decision (29-28,-29-28, 29-28)
• Alex Garcia def. Mike Pyle by KO at 3:34 of the first round
• Niko Price def. Brandon Thatch via submission (arm-triangle) at 4:30 of the first round
• Alex Oliveira vs. Tim Means is declared a no-contest

Next up is UFC Fight Night 103, but, rather than focusing in on a relatively shallow Fight Night event, it's worth taking a look at the bigger picture.

2016, despite being a generally terrible year for the public at large, was easily the best in the history of the UFC and arguably the biggest in MMA history. Robbie Lawler and Carlos Condit gave fans a special treat to start the year, and things never slowed down. Contenders were born, champions were unseated and new stars made their way to the spotlight.

Unfortunately, year-over-year consistency has long been a struggle for MMA. High highs are almost always followed by brutally low lows and with a strong 2015 being followed by a stronger 2016, it's difficult not to feel like the proverbial bubble will burst in the near future.

With that in mind, it's worth taking a look at the biggest outstanding questions facing MMA and analyzing what might come in the next 12 months.

How Much More Will the UFC Be Shaken Up by WME-IMG?

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Garry Cook

What Happened in 2016?

After owning the UFC for 15 years and growing it from an almost-dead brand to a legitimate sports juggernaut, Lorenzo and Frank Fertitta cashed in their chips and handed the promotion over to WME-IMG. Just five months removed from the finalization of the sale, the UFC is a very different company at every level. 

Massive layoffs to rank-and-file staffers alongside the firing of executives and closure of overseas offices have shaken things up for insiders and left the UFC's direction unclear. Longtime commentator Mike Goldberg is set to leave, which will radically change the sound of UFC broadcasts for anglophone fans. Joe Silva, who actually predates the Fertitta brothers and Dana White, is gone and may have taken the UFC's matchmaking style with him.

The company is changing very quickly and as the calendars turn, it's easy to wonder how different it will look in 12 months' time.

What Could Happen in 2017?

The UFC has needed a major overhaul for a long while now, and WME-IMG wasn't going to just drop $4 billion and leave everything as is. Wholesale changes should've been expected as soon as the sale was announced, and wholesale changes shouldn't be expected to stop anytime soon. 

It's difficult to guess specifics, but there are still plenty of UFC conventions that have outlived their expiration dates.

The UFC's presentation, in general, is subpar at this point. On television, its character is still largely defined by middle-aged men shouting at one another and an outdated nu metal soundtrack. UFC live events remain among the worst in sports today, as fans pay exorbitant prices to squint toward the Jumbotron and enjoy none of the the grandiosity of international promotions like KSW and Rizin FF. 

The executive structure of the company still has many holdovers from the Zuffa dynasty, including President Dana White and matchmaker Sean Shelby. On top of that, color commentator Joe Rogan's contract is set to expire in 2017 as Jim Rome could be joining the UFC broadcast team (possibly in July).

The frequency of events remains a controversial topic, and the cost of being a UFC fan continues to rise. The schedule is bloated to the point of being unsustainable with a roster that lacks star power. On top of that, the business of delivering media continues changing daily and leaves pay-per-view more anachronistic by the hour. 

Come Jan. 1, 2018, the UFC may look nothing like it does today, but only time will be able to tell whether that's a good thing.

Can UFC Fighters Actually Unite?

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Bjorn Rebney

What Happened in 2016?

The UFC's sale for over $4 billion functioned as a wake-up call for fighters. While they had long known they weren't getting their due, watching the owners that routinely flaunted their wealth take home nine- or 10-figure checks as they struggled to make ends meet (with at least some not succeeding) struck a painful nerve.

Because of that, 2016 has seen a massive increase in the number of fighters willing to vent their frustrations with the company, which has led to the first real discussion of fighters uniting as a workforce. 

But alas, while solidarity is a fundamental aspect of organized labor, a number of different groups have spawned in this vacuum and begun battling among themselves, leaving the UFC to snicker and continue raking in cash at the expense of the athletes.

What Could Happen in 2017?

Fighters need to organize as soon as possible. They need to.

Negotiations for the UFC's post-Fox television deal begin in November, per Sports Business Daily, and WME-IMG is looking to quadruple the revenue it currently takes in. NBA players have seen massive spikes in pay under relatively similar circumstances, and the UFC absolutely, positively will not give fighters a bigger slice of the pie willingly. The only hope fighters have to experience some windfall from that is to come together and start battling for it.

The first step in doing so is actually organizing under one banner. At this time, the Professional Fighters Association, MMA Fighters Association and MMA Athletes Association have all stepped forward, detailed their goals and begun angling for support. There is only room for one of those groups, though, and fighters need to figure out which best represents their collective interests and throw their full weight behind it.

The clock is ticking on this and if time runs out, every stakeholder outside the UFC's boardroom loses.

What Will We See from Bellator?

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Quinton "Rampage" Jackson (left) and Satoshi Ishii

What Happened in 2016?

At the start of 2016, Bellator was gearing up for Royce Gracie vs. Ken Shamrock 3 and Kimbo Slice vs. Dada 5000. By the end of 2016, it was regularly showcasing top-10-caliber talent and some of the sport's most interesting prospects. It was a wild but transformative year for the organization, and it will be interesting to see where it goes in 2017.

What Could Happen in 2017?

Whether it was by design or a reaction to the top-to-bottom disaster that was Bellator 149, Bellator underwent a major change in direction throughout 2016...and it's hard not to like what has happened as a result.

Phil Davis, Michael Chandler and Eduardo Dantas all cemented themselves as elite-level fighters in their divisions. Homegrown talents like AJ McKee, Ilima-Lei MacFarlane and Goiti Yamauchi began hitting their strides. Intriguing wrestling imports Joey Davis, Tyrell Fortune, Jarod Trice and Ed Ruth all debuted and went a combined 5-0 in the cage.

But, of course, while this made for a lot of quality action for purist fans, it didn't necessarily translate into ratings. Royce Gracie vs. Ken Shamrock 3 was the biggest card of the year by a significant margin despite featuring two boundary-challenging matches in headlining spots. In fact, other events that featured more "legitimate" fights frequently did less than one-third the ratings Bellator 149 did, per the MMA Report.

So what will become of Bellator? Will it take the easier money by putting on more matches that appeal to the "lowest common denominator" fans? Or is it moving in the direction of Strikeforce, a melting pot for high-profile free-agent signings, homegrown contenders and occasional oddities?

What Will Happen with the UFC's Top Stars?

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From left to right: Ronda Rousey, Conor McGregor, Jon Jones and Anderson Silva

What Happened in 2016

The UFC has amassed the strongest cast of characters in its history. Conor McGregor and Ronda Rousey have become mainstream names unlike anything seen in MMA. Old favorites like Brock Lesnar and Anderson Silva remain in the discussion as headliners for big events. Nate Diaz and Holly Holm have become legitimate needle-movers and, for better or worse, Paige VanZant and CM Punk made marked ratings splashes.

Unfortunately, few of them had a positive 2016 and, as a result, it's easy to dread what lies ahead in 2017. 

What Could Happen in 2017?

While the UFC has a longer list of stars than ever before, the ground has never been shakier for the company.

There is no clear timetable for Rousey's return after UFC 207. McGregor may or may not be out of the picture for a while. Lesnar's future in MMA is unclear after failing drug tests surrounding his UFC 200 fight. Nate Diaz is indicating that he is holding out for a rubber match with McGregor, while Nick Diaz's future is completely unknown. Then there are names like Georges St-Pierre, Jon Jones, Jose Aldo and Cris Cyborg who are all currently in limbo.

The next tier down is no less uncertain. CM Punk wants to return to the UFC, but there are serious questions about whether the company should take him up on that offer. VanZant was a draw at UFC on Fox 22, but it's easy to wonder if that will hold up after an ugly loss to Michelle Waterson.

Cain Velasquez, Alexander Gustafsson and Chris Weidman remain tragically injury prone. A long list of contenders including Max Holloway, Tony Ferguson and Khabib Nurmagomedov have all aired varying levels of frustration with the company that calls their immediate future into question.

Some of these fighters will return without incident. Many, however, are likely to spend most, or all, of the year away from the Octagon.

What Will Happen with Conor McGregor?

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What Happened in 2016?

What a year for Conor McGregor. Here's an abridged history of what happened:

• Entered 2016 as featherweight champion.
• Was poised to become the first fighter to hold two UFC titles at the same time at UFC 196 with title fight opposite Rafael Dos Anjos.
• Faced Nate Diaz after Dos Anjos withdrew from the fight. Despite losing by submission, the fight broke numerous UFC ratings and box-office records.
• A rematch with Diaz at UFC 200 was scrapped due to a dispute between the company and McGregor over media appearances. McGregor's fake retirement tweet currently has over 160,000 retweets.
• McGregor would eventually win the rematch via majority decision at UFC 202, breaking the UFC PPV record in the process. 
• McGregor would earn another chance to take a second UFC title at UFC 205. He made the most of it by dominating Eddie Alvarez in the UFC's first show in New York City.
• The UFC would unceremoniously strip McGregor of the featherweight championship just weeks later.

In the Octagon and at the box office, no fighter accomplished more in 2016 than the Irish karateka and now entering 2017, it's easy to wonder what comes next.

What Could Happen in 2017?

McGregor has become the most compelling figure in MMA history by consistently throwing the UFC playbook out the window and dragging the company wherever he wants it. While not everyone likes it, he hits home run after home run, delivering memorable performances and massive paydays every time he steps foot into the cage.

The UFC, for whatever reason, seems to be resisting McGregor's brand of success and has taken to chopping him down in any way possible. Still, McGregor's star continues to rise, his influence over the UFC continues to grow and the chips continue to fall in his favor.

With Rousey out of the picture for the foreseeable future, Brock Lesnar and Jon Jones shelved for most of the year and Georges St-Pierre currently at odds with the UFC, McGregor is the last draw standing for the UFC. He's more powerful than ever, and it will be fun to see what that leads to...and what ill-conceived response that yields from UFC brass.