UFC 184 Results: 10 Burning Questions Heading into UFC 185

UFC 184 is in the books. The results are as follows:

UFC 184 Main Card

• Ronda Rousey def. Cat Zingano, submission (Round 1, 0:14)
• Holly Holm def. Raquel Pennington, split decision (29-28, 28-29, 30-27)
• Jake Ellenberger def. Josh Koscheck, submission (Round 2, 4:20)
• Alan Jouban def. Richard Walsh, knockout (Round 1, 2:19)
• Tony Ferguson def. Gleison Tibau, submission (Round 1, 2:37)

Prelims on Fox Sports 1

• Roan Carneiro def. Mark Munoz, submission (Round 1, 1:40)
• Roman Salazar vs. Norifumi “Kid” Yamamoto, no-contest
• Tim Means def. Dhiego Lima, TKO (Round 1, 2:17)
• Derrick Lewis def. Ruan Potts, TKO (Round 2, 3:18)

Prelims on UFC Fight Pass

• Valmir Lazaro def. James Krause, split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
• Masio Fullen def. Alexander Torres, split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)

Next up? UFC 185 on March 14.

In a rare turn (by today's standards, at least), the UFC is putting pay-per-views back-to-back. Unlike UFC 184, though, UFC 185 is absolutely stacked top to bottom. From budding talents trying to make a name like Henry Cejudo and Sergio Pettis, to established veterans like Alistair Overeem and Johny Hendricks staring at a crossroads, all the way up to the two title fights in Anthony Pettis vs. Rafael dos Anjos and Carla Esparza vs. Joanna Jedrzejczyk, there is a whole lot to be excited for on this card. 

So what are the burning questions therein? Find out here!

How Will Sergio Pettis Look in His UFC Flyweight Debut?

USA TODAY Sports

The Fight: Sergio Pettis vs. Ryan Benoit
The Real Fight: Sergio Pettis vs. Impressive Wins

The Stakes

Officially, Sergio Pettis is 3-1 in the UFC. While that is a record most fighters would kill for, there is no denying that the lightweight champ's younger brother's career has failed to meet the (unrealistically) high expectations placed on him thus far. Poised to return to the flyweight division where he made his name, however, he has the chance to instantly insert himself into the title picture with a big win over the unseasoned Ryan Benoit.

The Question

How will Sergio Pettis look in his UFC flyweight debut?

Analysis

Pettis has a well-rounded game that will allow him to stick around for a good, long while. That said, when a fighter comes in carrying multiple belts, a last name like "Pettis" and all sorts of hype and praise from in-the-know scouts, you don't expect him to simply scrape by. You expect him to be an elite-level fighter for a prolonged period of time.

The door to title contention hasn't closed on Pettis, who is still just 21 years old. A return to the flyweight division may be just what the doctor ordered for him. We'll see if he can start to truly assert himself as a contender against Benoit.

Can Elias Theodorou Keep on Keepin' On?

The Fight: Elias Theodorou vs. Roger Narvaez
The Real Fight: Elias Theodorou vs. A Sure Thing(?)

The Stakes

Elias Theodorou's male model looks belie serious MMA skills. However, while he is a great asset for the UFC from a promotional perspective, it remains to be seen where he stacks up in the relatively talent-rich middleweight division. Set to face the 1-1 Roger Narvaez, Theodorou has a solid opportunity to build up his brand.

The Question

Can Elias Theodorou keep on keepin' on?

Analysis

Narvaez's skill level is up for debate, but what isn't debatable is that he is one competent judge away from having a 0-2 record in the UFC against less-than-elite (not to be confused with bad) competition. On paper, this should be a relatively easy win for Theodorou. Still, charming as he is, he has not yet earned a reputation where victory can be assured. That could change here.

Which Lightweight Stalwart Will Be Worrying About His Job on Sunday?

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The Fight: Ross Pearson vs. Sam Stout
The Real Fight: Struggling Lightweight vs. Struggling Lightweight

The Stakes

Ross Pearson and Sam Stout have both been around for a long time and are well-respected for their ability to turn in entertaining performances. Unfortunately, those entertaining performances haven't necessarily been wins. Now, with both men coming off losses, we could see the beginning of the end of either man's UFC career.

The Question

Which lightweight stalwart will be worrying about his job on Sunday?

Analysis

Stout has, more or less, alternated wins and losses throughout his entire UFC career. Pearson has successfully run through plenty of vaguely recognizable names but has come up short against every noteworthy opponent he has faced (with the exception of the now-porcelain-chinned Gray Maynard). While neither man has ever truly had to bite his nails over his job security, the safety net will likely evaporate with another loss.

Will Henry Cejudo Make Good on His Uber-Prospect Status?

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The Fight: Chris Cariaso vs. Henry Cejudo
The Real Fight: Henry Cejudo vs. The Hump

The Stakes

Henry Cejudo's long-awaited UFC debut could not have gone any better. The Olympic gold medalist battered Dustin Kimura and picked up a handy decision win. Poised to return to the flyweight division and pitted against a former title contender in Chris Cariaso, Cejudo could be ready to vault directly into title contention.

The Question

Will Henry Cejudo make good on his uber-prospect status?

Analysis

Some may have joked about Cariaso's failed title bid, but he is a formidable fighter. He owns an accurate, low-risk striking game that makes him a tough out for anyone who lacks potent finishing skills. While Cejudo is the better overall fighter, Cariaso is a huge challenge for him in the stand-up and fight IQ departments.

If Cejudo approaches Cariaso the same way he did Kimura (that is, if he spends the entire match striking with him) and can actually win, it will show that he isn't just a hotshot prospect—he's already a top-tier flyweight.

What Will Happen Ahead of Cejudo vs. Cariaso?

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The Fight: Chris Cariaso vs. Henry Cejudo 
The Real Fight: Henry Cejudo vs. Himself

The Stakes

While Henry Cejudo is an amazing talent, he owns a reputation as one of MMA's flakiest fighters. With a history of wacky antics and questionable priorities, it is unclear whether he has his head screwed on tight enough to make a serious run in the UFC. While his debut was impressive, precedent suggests that this drop back down to 125 pounds probably won't go well.  

The Question

What will happen ahead of Cejudo vs. Cariaso?

Analysis

While Cejudo is spectacular in the cage, he is a train wreck out of it. While there has never been any doubt that he is capable of competing at an elite level in MMA, his propensity for missing weight, pulling out of fights at the last minute and handling himself in a less-than-professional manner had many wondering if he would ever get a shot in the UFC.

Where he is at psychologically remains unclear (check out CagePotato's summary, which breaks down all the wackiness therein). Where he is at physically, in particular with his weight, will be just as important as the fight's results when discussing his chances of a title shot.

Could This Be the Last We See of Roy Nelson in the UFC?

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The Fight: Roy Nelson vs. Alistair Overeem
The Real Fight: Roy Nelson vs. Losing Streaks

The Stakes

While Roy Nelson is beloved by fans, he has remained a safe distance from title contention since losing to Junior dos Santos back in 2010. Worse yet, he is 1-3 over his last four fights. Nelson's job could well be on the line here against Alistair Overeem.

The Question

Could this be the last we see of Roy Nelson in the UFC?

Analysis

Big Country is an easy man to get behind, unless you're the UFC president and have an odd fixation with making sure your fighters don't get too popular. That said, a 1-4 record over a five-fight stretch is never a good thing.

While Overeem has struggled lately, his kryptonite has exclusively been strikes down the middle (Ben Rothwell beat him with a straight left, Travis Browne knocked him out with a front kick, and Antonio Silva started his fight-stealing combination with uppercuts). That is bad for a fighter like Nelson, whose stand-up game consists of a potent overhand right and little else.

Granted, Nelson's popularity and the fact that Bellator would almost certainly love to scoop him up will buy him some leniency. Either way, this is a fight Nelson really needs to win...but it just doesn't feel like that is going to happen.

Is Alistair Overeem Really Making a Comeback?

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The Fight: Roy Nelson vs. Alistair Overeem
The Real Fight: Alistair Overeem vs. The Nature of MMA

The Stakes

While Alistair Overeem has been on the receiving end of a lot of criticism (most of it justified), he is still 3-3 in the UFC against fairly stiff competition. With the shallow nature of the division and a flat hierarchy past the division's two champions, however, the door remains wide open for an Overeem title run. In fact, with a win over Nelson and a little help from Fabricio Werdum, Overeem challenging for the belt by the end of 2015 is a realistic possibility.

The Question

Is Alistair Overeem really making a comeback?

Analysis

Isn't this just so "MMA"?

Overeem, possibly the best pure striker in the entire heavyweight division, goes .500 over a two-year span (more or less), and he is done, overrated, has always been awful and the biggest disappointment in UFC history. A couple of fights later, he's possibly in line for a title shot. 

As discussed on the last slide, this is a fight Overeem should win without any trouble. Granted, that also described his bouts with Ben Rothwell and Antonio Silva, but at least those opponents had the proper arsenals to tag him. We'll see if Overeem can finally put together a UFC winning streak. If he can, expect a big jump up in competition for him.

Is Johny Hendricks over His Weight-Cutting Troubles?

Associated Press

The Fight: Johny Hendricks vs. Matt Brown
The Real Fight: Johny Hendricks vs. Baconators

The Stakes

Johny Hendricks' title reign lasted eight months and zero fights, as he dropped a quick rematch to Robbie Lawler at UFC 181. While the decision was somewhat questionable, something that was beyond dispute was that the Bigg Rigg of 2014 just plain wasn't as good as the Bigg Rigg of 2013. Hendricks will need to show that he is back in old form in order to justify an immediate crack at the belt.

The Question

Is Johny Hendricks over his weight-cutting troubles?

Analysis

Brown is a fighter the Bigg Rigg of 2013 would not have struggled against. The 2014 model, though? That's a tougher call. The 2015 model? We'll see.

Hendricks has had two bad weight cuts in a row. That's not a good sign for somebody who needs to be checking in at 170 pounds on a consistent basis if he plans on being champion. Those struggles at the scale have been doubly troublesome in the cage and were directly responsible for two weak performances against Lawler.

This is an important fight for Hendricks, and if he can't comfortably continue at 170 pounds, we may see him move up to middleweight by year's end.

Does Joanna Jedrzejczyk Stand a Chance Against Carla Esparza?

Jeff Chiu/Associated Press

The Fight: Carla Esparza vs. Joanna Jedrzejczyk
The Real Fight: American Wrestler vs. European Striker

The Stakes

In the second women's strawweight title fight in UFC history, Carla Esparza defends her strap from Joanna Jedrzejczyk. While Jedrzejczyk may be an interesting contender and owns serious skills, this is a fight we have seen many times over, with a red-blooded American with a wrestling base taking on a fancy-pants European striker. Historically, that matchup favors the stars and stripes, and with Esparza's trophy mantel already donning the heads of numerous boxers and kickboxers, the odds are stacked against the Pole in a big way.

The Question

Does Joanna Jedrzejczyk stand a chance against Carla Esparza?

Analysis

This is fairly straightforward. Jedrzejczyk hasn't faced a wrestler of Esparza's caliber, and that likely spells doom for her title hopes. Unless Jedrzejczyk secretly has off-the-charts takedown defense, she likely doesn't have the tools to win this fight on points. If she hasn't packed more dynamite into her hands than what she showed against Claudia Gadelha, she probably won't be able to score a finish, either.

Can Rafael Dos Anjos Pull off the Upset?

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The Fight: Anthony Pettis vs. Rafael dos Anjos
The Real Fight: Talent vs. Smarts

The Stakes

The stars have aligned, and Rafael dos Anjos, after almost seven years in the UFC, finally gets a shot at gold. In the way? The one, the only Anthony "Showtime" Pettis.

Pettis is a supremely talented fighter, but his high-risk, high-reward approach is a stark contrast from the methodical, smart Dos Anjos. This is a compelling battle of styles and a deceptively winnable fight for the Evolve MMA product...but could he actually pull it off? 

The Question

Can Rafael dos Anjos pull off the upset?

Analysis

Pettis silenced many of his doubters by finishing Gilbert Melendez at UFC 181, but sharp as his swords may be, they are still double-edged. As I discussed back in November, Pettis can be handled by fighters with a methodical, wrestling-focused game plan, and a wily veteran of the sport like Dos Anjos is certainly capable of taking that approach. Sure, you shouldn't run out and bet your car on the Brazilian, but Pettis' style involves a great deal of dice-rolling. Dos Anjos is somebody who will be able to capitalize on a potential "snake eyes."