UFC on Fox 7 Results: What's Next for the Losers

When the UFC moved into San Jose for UFC on Fox 7, it brought some top talent from Strikeforce along. Some stars flourished under the bright lights in their promotional debuts. Others didn't do so well.

In the main event, Strikeforce champion Gilbert Melendez lost a controversial split decision to champion Benson Henderson.  Meanwhile, other stars like Frank Mir, Nate Diaz and Jordan Mein came up short on the main card.

Not everybody can be a winner. The next step is important for every fighter who is lucky enough to keep a contract.

We'll take a look at all 12 of the fighters who came up short and break down where they are going and who they could be facing next. Enjoy, folks!

Clifford Starks and Lorenz Larkin

You can't be so disappointed with a fighter who only received one significant strike in his entire fight. That is, unless the one shot knocked him out cold.

That is exactly what happened to Clifford Starks in the night's opening fight when Yoel Romero landed a beautiful flying knee for the finish. 

Starks is an intimidating figure with a lot of power, but Saturday just wasn't his night.

Likewise, Strikeforce import Lorenz Larkin didn't fare so well when he came up short against Francis Carmont on the FX prelims.

Starks vs. Larkin is the kind of stylistic matchup that could go either way. With Larkin's muay thai prowess threatening on the feet, Starks would need to bring his A-game to make it out of that one with a win.

Roger Bowling and Ramsey Nijem

Former Strikeforce welterweight Roger Bowling came into the UFC on Fox 7 event looking absolutely enormous in his lightweight debut. Looking absolutely cut to shreds, the stocky boxer scored a power-double-leg takedown that briefly led me to believe that he was going to run away with his fight against Anthony Njokuani.

That wasn't meant to be, though. Njokuani knocked out Bowling with a single punch in the second round that put the kid into a deep slumber.

Bowling wasn't the only lightweight who succumbed to a power punch on Saturday night as Ultimate Fighter runner-up Ramsey Nijem was stopped by Myles Jury later in the evening.

Next up: Pit these two against one another and see what kind of spark they have. In the always competitive lightweight division, these guys both sit towards the bottom of the totem pole.

Hugo Viana

The Ultimate Fighter: Brasil's Hugo Viana knew he was in for a tough fight on Saturday night against original opponent Francisco Rivera. However, when Rivera was forced out due to injury, things got even tougher as Team Alpha Male's T.J. Dillashaw was tapped as his replacement.

There is no shame in being swarmed by Dillashaw, who is quickly climbing the bantamweight rankings by any means necessary. Viana will be able to rebound from this, as it is still just the first loss of his professional career.

Next up: Loss or not, Viana should be rebooked against Francisco Rivera. Both fighters are explosive and absolutely deadly with their power striking. 

Tim Means

Heading into Saturday's matchup with Jorge Masvidal, lightweight Tim Means had been on a roll. Undefeated in his last 11 fights, Means expected a fight with a one-time title contender to be just what he needed to truly announce himself in the ever-crowded division. 

Unfortunately for Means, he came up short and lost a unanimous decision.

Means needs to get back into the cage soon and try to build some momentum once again. 

Up next: Means should face Al Iaquinta, who was scheduled to fight at UFC 159 until an injury removed him from the card.

Darren Uyenoyama

The good thing about fighting Joseph Benavidez as a major underdog is that there is absolutely nothing to lose. If victorious, you just upset one of the highest regarded flyweights on the planet. If you come up short, you don't catch too much flak, because you were expected to lose anyway.

Darren Uyenoyama found himself in that situation on Saturday night when Benavidez finished him with a body shot late in the second round. Now, it's all about getting back into the cage and finding his way back into the win column.

Next up: Uyenoyama should fight John Dodson. "The Magician" has yet to announce a return fight after coming close to dethroning "Mighty Mouse" for the flyweight strap back in January. 

Darren Elkins

Sometimes, being offered a short-notice fight can be the best thing that ever happened to your career. Sometimes, it can find you crumbled up on the canvas like discarded loose-leaf paper.

Darren Elkins made a major move when he decided to step in on short notice for an injured Clay Guida to take on featherweight top contender Chad Mendes. Let's just say that it didn't exactly pay off for the once-surging wrestler, as he was stopped only 68 seconds into the bout.

The loss snaps a five-fight winning streak for Elkins, who will now look to rebuild his once-impressive momentum.

Next up: Elkins should take on Erik Koch, who is the No. 9 featherweight according to the official UFC rankings. It's a winnable bout for Elkins if he can wrestle his foe to the canvas. However, striking exchanges will not be in his favor.

Jordan Mein

Elkins wasn't the only surging star who agreed to step up on short notice on Saturday night. Fresh off of his victory against Dan Miller, Jordan Mein was eager to join the Fox card when offered a bout with Matt Brown.

Perhaps that eagerness is what cost him, as Brown bullied Mein in the opening matchup of the main card before collecting a second round TKO.

Mein still has some growing to do, as he did not fare well against a fighter who attacked with a relentless style.

Next up: Mein should face the winner of a UFC 159 scrap between James Head and Nick Catone.

Nate Diaz

Saturday night certainly didn't go as Nate Diaz planned. After all, fighting on April 20 seems like the stars were aligning perfectly for a Stockton victory.

Diaz was knocked out for the first time in his career after Josh Thomson scored some brutal head kicks in their two-round affair. This was the second decisive loss for Diaz in as many appearances. It will take some seriously impressive performances to get the younger brother of Stockton's most controversial star back on track.

Nate has mentioned that he would like to go back to the welterweight division for his next fight. However, that comment was based on his thoughts that there wouldn't be any more mountains left for him to climb at 155 pounds should he have defeated Thomson.

Next up: Nate Diaz should fight Joe Lauzon  as soon as they can get these two into the cage.

Lauzon and Diaz were both cast members on season five of The Ultimate Fighter, and since that time have become known as two of the most exciting lightweights on the planet. Not only will both men brawl at the drop of a hat, but each man has the submission skills to choke out any man on the planet.

Frank Mir

Frank Mir should probably just accept the fact that another world title is not in his future. The submission ace has dropped two straight, and in neither loss did he look particularly skilled inside the cage.

However, people have counted Mir out for longer than I care to discuss. You can beat the man, but you certainly can't stop him from going back to the gym and finding ways to come back stronger time and time again.

Next up:  Mir should face Alistair Overeem. Both fighters are coming off of big losses and have never met in their lengthy careers. Before last night's co-main event, Overeem was ranked No. 5 with Mir coming in at No. 6.

Gilbert Melendez

If you ask Chael Sonnen or Brian Stann, final Strikeforce champion Gilbert Melendez should be holding the UFC lightweight belt right now. After the decision was read, the UFC on Fox commentators and UFC stars both told the world that they felt Melendez won the first three rounds.

The decision was very close. I certainly didn't know whose name was going to be read when Bruce Buffer grabbed a microphone. However, there are very few people who would call Gilbert Melendez a loser last night.

A rematch with Henderson should have been in the cards, but Dana White has already confirmed that the victor of UFC 160's matchup between Gray Maynard and T.J. Grant gets the next crack at gold.

There is no question that Melendez is one of the best lightweights on the planet. Now it's time to win one big fight and earn the rematch that he deserves.

Next up: Melendez should face Donald Cerrone. The exciting standout was stopped by Anthony Pettis earlier this year but remains one of the biggest stars in the division.