UFC 142 Results: Questions Answered and Lessons Learned

The modern UFC's second foray into Rio de Janeiro is over. UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo knocked Chad "Money" Mendes into unconsciousness and Vitor Belfort managed to choke out the overweight Anthony Johnson.

There were many other fights throughout the fight card that answered questions and taught important lessons. 

What were they? Read and find out!

Ricardo Funch Didn't Belong in the UFC

Mike Pyle may not be Anderson Silva, but he's a tough fighter and a game competitor—he belongs in the world's greatest MMA promotion.

His opponent, Ricardo Funch, does not.

Funch washed out of the UFC before in two unimpressive losses, and tonight against Mike Pyle he showed that he simply can't beat above-average fighters. He doesn't belong in the UFC.

Yuri Alcantara Is a Serious Prospect, Michiro Omigawa Is Tough as Nails

Yuri Alacantra proved that he can be a lethal striker as well as a submission artist. He battered Judoka Michihiro Omigawa with strikes, nearly knocking him out several times, and almost submitted him with a nasty arm bar.

Still, his cardio could use some work as he looked depleted by the time the third round started.

During the fight, Omigawa proved his superlative toughness. He never quit despite being beaten badly and outmatched. 

Gabriel Gonzaga Is Back!

Gabriel Gonzaga put a beatdown on Edinaldo Oliveira by using his size, strength and, for the first time in a long time, his Brazilian jiu-jitsu.

Gonzaga looked a bit tentative in the beginning but eventually brought Oliveira—the training partner of UFC heavyweight champion Junior Dos Santos—to the mat and choked him out.

People were questioning Gonzaga's abilities, but he showed them that he's back in force.

Thiago Tavares Is No Longer Just a Grappler

Thiago Tavares outpointed the dangerous Canadian striker Sam Stout—and he did it mostly with his striking.

In the first round, Tavares controlled Stout with his grappling but in the second and third frames, Tavares was able to beat Stout to the punch and earn the decision victory. 

With this victory, Tavares showed that he's more than just a grappler now. He can strike with a striker.

Edson Barboza Can Do Amazing Things

Did you see that kick?

Wow.

Erick Silva Is an Animal, DQ Aside.

Erick Silva destroyed Carlo Prater in 29 seconds but was strangely disqualified for apparently hitting his opponent in the back of the head one too many times. 

Still, Silva is a man on a mission and is a dangerous welterweight.

Officiating Isn't Perfect

Mario Yamasaki, the referee of the Erick Silva vs. Carlo Prater fight, mandated that Silva be disqualified after Silva seemingly landed punches to the back of the head.

When he was interviewed by Joe Rogan after the decision, he seemed a bit unsure of the decision but then claimed that the punches were to the back of the head—even though it looked like very few, if any of them, did.

All it taught us was that MMA officiating still isn't perfect.

Joe Rogan Defends What He Believes in

Joe Rogan didn't agree with Mario Yamasaki's decision to disqualify Erick Silva and he let him know after the fight.

In doing that, Rogan showed that he legitimately cares about MMA fighters and fans; he wanted everyone to have the right outcome!

Mike Massenzio Had No Business Being in the Cage with Rousimar Palhares

Mike Massenzio was submitted via leglock by Rousimar Palhares almost the instant the fight went to the ground.

Palhares didn't show us anything new; we knew he was a leglock fiend. 

But what we learned is that UFC match maker Joe Silva made a grievous error if he really though the fight would be competitive.

Size Doesn't Matter (sometimes)

Anthony Johnson was clearly larger than Vitor Belfort, but his size advantage was all for naught.

He seemed to lose his edge very quickly and Belfort choked the behemoth out at the 4:49 mark in the very first round, proving that size doesn't always matter.

Jose Aldo Is Back to His Old Self

After two lackluster performances in the UFC, people were questioning whether or not UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo had lost his edge.

At UFC 142, Aldo showed fans this wasn't the case.

Aldo stuffed the numerous takedown attempts of Chad Mendes and punished him with leg kicks.

The Brazilian eventually earned a KO victory with a devastating knee and some follow up punches right before the end of the first round. 

Jose Aldo is back to the Jose Aldo from the WEC, the one who finished people in epic fashion.

Brazil Loves Their MMA

The Brazilian crowds loved their fighters—even if they were a bit xenophobic.

What summed it up the best was the heartfelt moment between the crowd and Jose Aldo when, after the champ defended his title, he ran into the stands and the crowd hugged him and hoisted him on their shoulders.

It was an amazing site to see and one that should be forever burned into the memories of every MMA fan who saw it happen.

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