Phil Davis vs. Ryan Bader: What We Learned from Light Heavyweight Tilt

Alexander Gustafsson and Anthony "Rumble" Johnson aren't the only light heavyweights on Saturday's UFC on Fox 14 card. Phil Davis and Ryan Bader also faced off to determine which longtime gatekeeper would make a run at the strap. Both men are known for their wrestling, but as we often see, that makes for a striking-heavy endeavor.

The fight was slow and methodical, with neither fighter establishing (or even attempting) a great deal of offense. In the end, Bader would get the better end of a split decision.

So what did we learn from this yawn-inducing fight? 

Neither of These Men Would Challenge Jon Jones

Davis and Bader entered the cage with, potentially, a title shot on the line. Such is the nature of shallow divisions with longtime champions. That said, any question regarding how either man would do against Jones was answered.

He would beat the heck out of either one of them and probably could beat them both at the same time.

That's mean, sure, but it's true. Neither man wowed in any given facet of his game. Wrestling? Striking? Grappling? "Meh" across the board. This was a huge opportunity for both men, and neither managed to take advantage.

That Doesn't Mean Ryan Bader Won't Challenge for the Belt in 2015

Despite the utter mediocrity Bader displayed, there is a good chance he will still contend for the belt sooner than later. While the winner of Gustafsson vs. Johnson will get first crack...who the heck else is there after that?

Rising contenders Patrick Cummins and Jan Blachowicz could hypothetically jump the line, but neither has enough name value to pull it off. An old favorite like Rashad Evans could technically do it, but where he goes from here is actually quite unclear. That pretty much means Bader by default.

That's not a great thing, guys.

Phil Davis' Lack of Progression Is Profound

Davis is big. He's is strong. He has good wrestling. He has somewhat decent striking. 

That was all true in 2009. It was as true then as it is now. And that's not a good thing. Davis stormed onto the scene in a big way when he beat Gustafsson, but the skills he showed back then won't necessarily take him far today. 

Davis is still a UFC-caliber light heavyweight, sure. He is still going to win the majority of his fights. But it doesn't feel as though he will ever make it to that next level.

Nobody Cares About Iffy Decisions if the Fight Stunk 

Bad MMA judging has come back under the spotlight in recent weeks. Cathal Pendred vs. Sean Spencer, on one hand, whipped up a furor on Twitter because of the perceived favoritism displayed toward the crowd's preferred fighter. Donald Cerrone vs. Benson Henderson 3 had many questioning how "Cowboy" could have come out the winner.

Ryan Bader vs. Phil Davis, though? Yawn.

"

I'm not mad about Bader win because that was karma evening up for Davis after Machida fight. Still though, this win doesn't do much.

— Duane Finley (@DuaneFinleyMMA) January 25, 2015"

I scored Davis vs. Bader in favor of Davis. Could it have gone the other way? Sure. 

Either way, the lack of outcry here is telling and says a lot when it comes to how fans approach judging on a fight-by-fight basis.