UFC 146 Results: Questions Answered and Lessons Learned

UFC 146 was the UFC's first attempt at promoting an all-heavyweight pay-per-view. In my opinion, it was a huge success as every fight on the main card delivered.

We saw Junior dos Santos retain his heavyweight title in a fantastic performance against a game Frank Mir. We also saw that Cain Velasquez is a monster on the mat as he caused Antonio Silva's head to leak blood like a faucet. 

While the focus is on the main card, there also were some major stories coming out of the undercard. As with every card, there will be questions answered and lessons learned. So let's take a look at what happened at UFC 146. 

Jason Miller Just Isn't UFC Material

If popularity was a way to measure a fighter's abilities in the cage, Mayhem would likely be one of the best middleweights in the world. Unfortunately for Miller, popularity has very little to do with how someone performs in the octagon. 

After being portrayed as a lovable coach on the 14th season of the Ultimate Fighter, Jason Miller has been a complete bust in the UFC. He was awful against Michael Bisping at the Finale and at UFC 146 against CB Dollaway, he couldn't stop a takedown. 

Yes, he did look to be in the best shape of his career. But that doesn't mean anything if he can't show that he belongs. He went on record prior to this fight saying that if he couldn't beat Dollaway, he would retire from MMA. I doubt that he actually retires, but with last night's news that he was cut from the UFC, it's likely we won't see him on the national stage again. 

Paul Sass Is a Triangle Machine

Jacob Volkmann is one of the best pure grapplers in the lightweight division. It's pretty obvious if you've ever seen him fight as he rarely looks to keep a fight standing. Knowing this, it was difficult to pick Sass against the smothering wrestler. 

Paul Sass proved that while he may not be strong on his feet, he's one of the best when fighting off his back. The way he set up the triangle was fantastic and that finish was even more impressive as Volkmann is one of the harder fighters to submit. 

I don't know how far Sass can go with just one strong tool but he showed he's able to defeat the mid-level fighters in the lightweight division. 

Dan Hardy Is Still a UFC Caliber Welterweight

UFC caliber has a whole bunch of meanings. It could mean a fighter who is at the top of their game competing at an elite level for an extended period of time. It could also mean a fighter who has a couple of fights in the UFC before fading away.

Dan Hardy was at risk of being just another "former UFC" fighter should he have lost to Duane Ludwig. If you've followed his career in the UFC, you're aware that Hardy was on an extended losing streak and UFC 146 was likely his last fight should he have been defeated. 

With his very impressive knockout victory over Ludwig, he lives to fight another day in the biggest MMA organization. 

Edson Barboza May Have Taken Jamie Varner Lightly

There's no doubt in my mind that Edson Barboza took Jamie Varner lightly.

Why? Because I took Jamie Varner lightly and I'd like to think I have a pretty good grasp on the current landscape of MMA. 

Barboza just didn't fight his fight last night and was blitzed by Varner early and often. I hope that a knockout loss like this doesn't cause him to fight "safe" since he's one of the most exciting fighters in the sport. 

Stefan Struve Shows He Still Has a Ton of Potential

I wrote Stefan Struve off and I am sorry. I just have a hard time buying into a fighter who has shown in the past that he has a terrible fight IQ. There's also the fact that he's taken a ton of damage in his UFC career at a young age which has made his chin extremely suspect. 

The Stefan Struve who fought last night showed that he, if nothing else, recognized that Lavar Johnson hits like a truck and it would be best to get the fight to the ground. Pulling guard was a very smart move and that was a nice transition immediately to the arm bar. 

If he keeps it up, maybe one day I'll feel comfortable picking him in a fight. 

Cain Velasquez Is an Absolute Monster on the Ground

Kanye West would say "that s*** cray" when talking about Cain Velasquez' performance against Antonio Silva at UFC 146. And seriously, it was cray cray. Within the first three seconds, Velasquez got the fight to the mat and was relentless in his output of ground and pound. 

I think what made it look even more impressive was the fact that Antonio Silva was literally shooting blood out from his skull. Yes, it was cray indeed. 

There Was No Bad Blood Between Frank Mir and Junior Dos Santos

Seriously, there was absolutely no bad blood between Frank Mir and Junior dos Santos. I get that sometimes a canned rivalry is good at selling fights but so is a competition between two elite level athletes. 

I commend dos Santos and Mir for sticking by their words and not letting the main event of UFC 146 turn into a circus. 

Junior Dos Santos Is the Baddest Man on the Planet

Was there any doubt? Junior dos Santos may not want to admit that he's the baddest man on the planet but he definitely proved last night that he's the best in the world (sorry, CM Punk). He did a nice job at keeping the fight standing and his hand speed was super impressive. 

Also coming out of the post-fight press conference, it seems like the UFC is planning for JDS/Cain Velasquez II which will be a great rematch. STOKED!