UFC 180 Results: Grades for Every Main Card Fighter
Mexico's introduction to the UFC was an exciting affair, with a UFC 180 main card rich in finishes and an interim title fight that saw Fabricio Werdum get crowned as the next man to fight Cain Velasquez for all the marbles.
Fans on location and around the world all got something to enjoy out of the event. When a card has stoppages from start to finish, it's hard to complain.
Here are the grades for the fighters who participated in the night's premier festivities.
Edgar Garcia
1 of 10
It was a tough night for Garcia, who was returning to the UFC for the first time in five years. Unfortunately, he only earned 3:38 of cage time before getting caught on a bad double leg and being choked out.
The less said about this showing, the better. He may get another shot in the promotion based on the hopes of growth in Mexico, so it may not be a total loss for him.
Grade: D
Hector Urbina
2 of 10
Urbina's UFC debut went swimmingly, as he finished Garcia with a vicious guillotine in short order. For a guy who is just entering his prime and with years punched on the regional circuit, you can't ask for much better than that.
He could be the first of a wave of fan favorites in Mexico based on his performance Saturday.
Grade: A
Chris Heatherly
3 of 10
Heatherly had a decent start against Augusto Montano, but he couldn't parlay it into prolonged success. When the fight opened up, he started to take more punishment than he could give, and before he knew it he was being stopped against the cage.
He's lost two straight in the UFC now and has struggled with UFC-level opponents at various points in his career, so there's reason to think he may be headed back to the regional promotions to round out his game.
Grade: D+
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Augusto Montano
4 of 10
It was quite a night for Montano, who put on an abbreviated brawl with Chris Heatherly before putting him away with abuse against the cage. Knee after knee was too much for Heatherly to withstand, and another hometown hero was successful in Mexico City.
It's hard to say what he is, as this was more about showcasing him to a broad audience and seeing how he holds up against a UFC-caliber opponent. It was definitely a nice win, though—one that will make him more than a colorful haircut in the eyes of fans.
Grade: A
Dennis Bermudez
5 of 10
Bermudez was streaking coming into UFC 180, dominating opposition to the tune of seven straight wins over an escalating level of competition. Unfortunately, he ran into the business end of a Ricardo Lamas jab, and before he could gain his senses, he was in a nasty choke.
It's a slight setback for Bermudez, who still stands as one of the more intriguing prospects at 145. He's tough and skilled, and this will be more of a learning experience than something that ruins his progress totally.
Grade: D+
Ricardo Lamas
6 of 10
It's probably safe to say he's not going anywhere.
In his second showing since losing to Jose Aldo and his first against a notable opponent, Lamas looked incredibly slick in choking out Dennis Bermudez. First, he dropped him with a jab, and then he polished him off with a crafty guillotine.
It's a serious win over a serious opponent—one that shows The Bully might have a little left to show the featherweight division yet.
Grade: A+
Jake Ellenberger
7 of 10
It was going pretty well for Ellenberger in the early going, as his fight with Kelvin Gastelum was the right blend of calculated violence to see him flourish. He landed some heavy shots and was counterstriking with efficiency up to the scramble that would be his demise.
He took Gastelum's back before losing it and having Gastelum take his, and Gastelum didn't give him a second chance. He snatched a rear-naked choke and clamped down hard, earning the tap and serving Ellenberger a devastating loss.
It's hard to see where he goes from here. This one is tough.
Grade: B-
Kelvin Gastelum
8 of 10
Gastelum's dominant streak continues, as does the trend of him winning fights that people didn't necessarily think he would win. He was the betting favorite going in, but to actually see him beat a known commodity like Ellenberger and do it convincingly was a whole other ballgame.
His movement, his finishing instinct and his capacity to execute in limited windows of opportunity—such as when he snatched Ellenberger's neck and choked him out—are the things that have people salivating at his potential.
He could be something special.
Grade: A-
Mark Hunt
9 of 10
Hunt came to Mexico on short notice and looked great in taking the first round from Fabricio Werdum, but he couldn't maintain the momentum in the second. A flying knee got through and he simply couldn't eat it, which saw his title hopes end in explosive fashion.
He's a beloved character in the UFC and has genuinely positioned himself as an elite heavyweight against all odds, and many will wonder what he would have done with a full camp to study his opponent and prepare physically. Saturday simply wasn't his night.
Either way he'll return to the cage and provide a great show next time out, which has become something of a signature in his rise to the top of the division.
Grade: B
Fabricio Werdum
10 of 10
Werdum did what many expected on Saturday, taking his place as interim champion in a win over a very game Hunt. No one would have said he'd do it by knockout, though, and that's what he did.
He handled an early onslaught from Hunt, held his own against the K-1 champ on the feet and actually scored the stoppage. It's hard to find much wrong with that.
Werdum will now go right back where he was when all of this started: to the front of the line at heavyweight. He was destined to have a date with Cain Velasquez at UFC 180, and though it never came to be, his win and interim title guarantee that it's an issue that's been delayed instead of eradicated.
You'd have to think he's happy about that.
Grade: A-
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