UFC 147: What's Next for the Winners and Losers?

Looking back on it, UFC 147 was a strange event.

There were moments of extreme excitement, but also times where fans struggled to stay awake. Overall, it was a good show considering everyone (including the UFC) buried the event and chose to focus on UFC 148.

In the main event, Rich Franklin survived an early scare to defeat Wanderlei Silva in a five-round affair.

The TUF: Brazil finals were also concluded, with Cezar "Mutante" Ferreira and Rony Jason crowned the victors. Fabricio Werdum used a bit of irony to defeat Mike Russow and Hacran Dias won a hard-fought decision victory.

As with any sporting event, there must be a winner and a loser.

The winners saw their hands raised and their UFC stock improve, while the losers will have to head back to the drawing board to figure out where to go from here. Lucky for both the winners and losers, BR MMA has it all figured out for them.

Rich Franklin

Rich Franklin did the UFC another favor by stepping in on late notice to replace an injured Vitor Belfort. Although Franklin was preparing himself for a three-round affair with Cung Le, anyone that has seen Franklin fight knew his conditioning wouldn't be a problem.

What fans were expecting to be a problem for him was the man standing across the Octagon, Wanderlei Silva. Many fans and analysts know Silva isn't the same fighter he was before, but fighting in his home country of Brazil is enough motivation for anyone.

Franklin was in serious trouble at one point, but was able to collect himself long enough to stave off another finishing attempt by Silva, just as in their first meeting.

The performance isn't going to make Franklin shoot up the middleweight rankings, and he's not going to be a champion at 185 pounds. But at the very least, Franklin is still a good fighter who can put on entertaining fights—something he accomplished once more at UFC 147.

Look for Franklin to be placed into a bout against another top name, as it seems those are the only fights “Ace” finds himself in these days. Perhaps a rematch with Belfort?

Cezar Ferreira

This bout looked like it should've been on the UFC on FX 4 event from the previous night.

Cezar “Mutante” Ferreira and Sergio Moraes didn't exactly go balls to the wall like some of their previous TUF competitors, but Ferreira did win the middleweight TUF: Brazil crown.

“Mutante” was touted as having a dangerous kicking game due to his background in capoeira, but fans weren't treated to a fancy showing of attacks. Instead, we witnessed a lot of inactivity and Ferreira was even close to being finished himself while on the feet.

Let's hope the UFC brings Ferreira along closely, as they usually do with their TUF winners, and doesn't throw him to the wolves, as he's clearly not ready.

I believe a bout against Daniel Sarafian to determine the true TUF: Brazil winner is a perfect idea.

Rony Jason

I don't think I've ever seen anyone cry on their way to the Octagon, but it's obvious emotions were weighing heavy for Rony Jason. Now he has something to distinguish himself from the hundreds of other fighters in the UFC.

Jason was the better overall fighter coming into the bout, and he proved that with his performance over Godofredo Pepey. It's hard for any fighter to mount any offense when the other guy is busy pulling guard, but Jason did his best to showcase his superior skills.

Like the middleweight winner, “Mutante,” the UFC should bring Jason along slowly in order to build him up into the formidable UFC-level fighter he could become.

Fabricio Werdum

Fabricio Werdum was in a no-win situation at UFC 147. Going up against Mike Russow isn't exactly a cake walk given Russow's durability and toughness, but Werdum did exactly what he needed to do.

A win over Russow doesn't give Werdum a win over a big name that he needed to move into a title contender slot, but a win is a win nonetheless. What helps Werdum's chances is that he finished Russow in impressive fashion and early in the fight.

Werdum has been adamant about getting a rematch with Junior dos Santos and expressed interest in coaching on the next season of TUF: Brazil. Depending who wins between JDS and Cain Velasquez, Werdum may get that chance at a rematch.

I still believe he needs one more victory over a top contender to truly warrant a title shot, but most of the top guys are booked at the moment. It will be a “wait and see” method for Werdum.

Hacran Dias

Originally believed to be a contestant on the first season of TUF: Brazil, Hacran Dias bypassed the show entirely by signing a multi-fight contract with the UFC. After going 20-1-1 to start his career, Dias wasn't given an easy fight in his UFC debut.

Yuri Alcantara is a very talented fighter and gave Dias everything he could handle over the course of three rounds. Dias proved he belonged in the UFC with a victory over Alcantara, and should be in line to face a mid-level fighter. He could also face a guy with a big name who's slid down the rankings.

UFC 147 Prelim Fighters

I won't dive into each preliminary fight, but I will say something about all the competitors: please give them another chance to fight on a UFC card.

The majority of them were entertaining. Only two went to a decision, and those were debatable, as they were a split-decision and a draw.

At least these guys know how to put on a show, and it was definitely nice to finally see some good fights after that disastrous end to UFC on FX 4.

Wanderlei Silva

Wanderlei Silva didn't have his hand raised at the end of the night, but it wasn't the terrible showing many fans were expecting. We know Silva's chin isn't exactly the best, but at least we didn't have to witness another ugly KO loss for the Brazilian.

There was even a moment where fans were treated to a glimpse of the old “Axe Murderer,” as Silva nearly finished Rich Franklin in the second round.

Silva shouldn't be fighting top guys anytime soon, and I hope the UFC doesn't use him as a name to build up some of their younger guys, as Silva is certainly above that line of work. Put him in some novelty fights that fans can enjoy watching one of their heroes compete in.

Sergio Moraes

Although Sergio Moraes didn't belong in the TUF: Brazil finals, he did the UFC a favor by stepping in on late notice. Moraes could've done himself a favor as well by looking like a guy who needed to prove something.

Cezar “Mutante” Ferreira was the favorite coming into the fight and did what he needed to do in order to win. Moraes, knowing he was an underdog, could've come out with a lot of fire and intensity in order to steal the show from “Mutante.”

Instead, both guys chose to play it safe and put on a rather lackluster showing.

He may have lost, but stepping in on late notice likely earned Moraes another trip to the Octagon.

Godofredo "Pepey"

Godofredo Pepey came into the fight receiving high praises from coaches Wanderlei Silva and Vitor Belfort. Anyone who watched TUF: Brazil should've known what Pepey would come out and try to do: haymakers and pulling guard.

It's one thing to throw a lot of power punches, but when you can count how many punches you actually land on one hand, it's time to switch up your strategy. And pulling guard isn't going to do him many favors when facing better fighters in the UFC.

It may count as a takedown, but judges tend to look at the guy on top as the one who's winning.

I believe Pepey needs to get back into the gym and work on his striking. He's obviously an offense-first kind of guy, but he really needs to work on his technique if he wants to keep fighting in the UFC.

Leonard Garcia is available for a fight right?

Mike Russow

It couldn't have gone any worse for Mike Russow at UFC 147.

Nobody was expecting a victory for Russow, but fans were expecting him to at least be durable enough to give Fabricio Werdum some opposition.

That didn't happen, as Russow was floored by an uppercut and finished in two and a half minutes.

Russow will need to figure out if he wants to make a serious run in MMA or if it's simply something to do on the side. It's clear he loves his job as a Chicago cop and he's definitely placed himself into the good graces of fans, but it's also clear he shouldn't be fighting top five guys like Werdum.

A bout against Lavar Johnson, who's also coming off a loss, would give Russow a fight against someone he can beat on the ground as well as an entertaining fight for fans.

Yuri Alcantara

Although he lost a decision, Yuri Alcantara shouldn't be too discouraged by the results.

The fight between he and Hacran Dias was a tough battle for all 15 minutes. Alcantara has also beaten a number of tough guys before, which should help him retain some of his confidence.

The loss was Alcantara's first in the UFC, but a bout with someone like Mark Hominick could be an important fight for both men. Hominick would be a big name to build off of for Alacantara, and it could either validate Hominick's place in the UFC or send him packing.