UFC Fight Night 62 Results: Burning Questions Heading into Fight Night 63
UFC Fight Night 62 is in the books. The results are as follows:
UFC Fight Night 62 Main Card
- Demian Maia def. Ryan LaFlare, unanimous decision (48-46, 48-46, 48-46)
- Erick Silva def. Josh Koscheck, submission (Round 1, 4:21)
- Leonardo Santos def. Tony Martin, submission (Round 2, 2:29)
- Amanda Nunes def. Shayna Baszler, TKO (Round 1, 1:56)
- Gilbert Burns def. Alex Oliveira, submission (Round 3, 4:14)
- Godofredo Castro def. Andre Fili, submission (Round 1, 3:14)
Fox Sports 2 Prelims
- Francisco Trinaldo def. Akbarh Arreola, unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Kevin Souza def. Katsunori Kikuno, knockout (Round 1, 1:31)
- Leandro Silva def. Drew Dober, submission (Round 2, 2:45)
- Leonardo Mafra def. Cain Carrizosa, unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27, 30-27)
Fight Pass Prelims
- Christos Giagos def. Jorge de Oliveira, submission (Round 1, 3:12)
- Fredy Serrano def. Bentley Syler, knockout (Round 3, 1:34)
Next up? UFC Fight Night 63 on April 4.
The strongest top-to-bottom Fight Night in a long while, the card features a boatload of compelling talent. Headlined by the intriguing featherweight bout between Chad Mendes and Ricardo Lamas and backed up by compelling lightweight talents Al Iaquinta and Jorge Masvidal, alongside the likes of Lauren Murphy and Julianna Pena, there is a whole lot to look forward to on this card.
So what topics should you mull over in the coming days and weeks? Find out here!
Can Gray Maynard Eke out a Win?
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The Fight: Gray Maynard vs. Alexander Yakovlev
The Real Fight: Gray Maynard vs. Having a Porcelain Chin
The Stakes
Since coming a hair shy of the lightweight strap, Gray Maynard has been in a career tailspin. Since 2013, he has suffered three brutal knockout losses in a row and suffered injury after injury after injury. Why he is still fighting at all is something of a mystery, but with his body in shambles and his cranial lining softened from 10 years of MMA, it is unclear if he is capable of picking up a win over any UFC-caliber opponent.
The Question
Can Gray Maynard eke out a win?
Analysis
Maynard's decline has been sad to watch. An NCAA wrestler with technically solid boxing, The Bully still has the skills to succeed in the UFC today. It is unclear, however, if he has the body or chin to pull it off.
Five years ago, a fighter like Alexander Yakovlev would have been a slam-dunk win for Maynard. That, however, is no longer the case, as even the softest punch seems like more than enough to put him away. We'll see if Maynard can pick up his first win since 2012, or if the 0-2 Russian will punch The Bully's ticket out of the UFC.
Which Female Bantamweight Will Maintain Her Relevance?
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The Fight: Liz Carmouche vs. Lauren Murphy
The Real Fight: Middling Bantamweights vs. A Surprisingly Fast-Moving Division
The Stakes
Liz Carmouche and Lauren Murphy have both climbed quite high up the women's bantamweight mountain but find themselves getting stepped over by the next wave of contenders. In order to maintain their current place in the shifting hierarchy, they will need to pick up a win at Fight Night 63.
The Question
Which female bantamweight will maintain her relevance?
Analysis
Though she enjoys the residual fame from her 2013 bout with Ronda Rousey, Carmouche is still a humble 1-3 in the UFC at this point. Murphy, meanwhile, failed to establish herself as a serious contender in her ugly UFC debut opposite Sara McMann.
In a division that features Marion Reneau, Holly Holm, Jessica Eye, Miesha Tate and Bethe Correia all in the title hunt, that's not an ideal position to be in. Depending on how this fight pans out, one of these fighters could jump up into that lot...or both could fall even further behind them.
Will the Lightweight Version of Dustin Poirier Be Anything Special?
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The Fight: Dustin Poirier vs. Carlos Diego Ferreira
The Real Fight: Dustin Poirier vs. Cutting Weight
The Stakes
After years of dancing just outside featherweight contention, Dustin Poirier has opted to return to the lightweight division where he first began his Zuffa career. While he has a relatively safe draw for his 155-pound re-debut in 11-1 Brazilian Carlos Diego Ferreira, it is tough to determine why he wants to make the move at all.
The Question
Will the lightweight version of Dustin Poirier be anything special?
Analysis
Poirier's return to lightweight, at least strategically speaking, makes no sense. His weaknesses (spotty wrestling, mediocre striking technique) will be amplified by moving up in weight, while his strengths (chain-grappling, solid power in both hands) will be far less profound. It's tough to tell what benefits he could find in a new weight class.
Either way, Ferreira will be a solid test for him. While nowhere near elite, the former Legacy champion is a solid fighter who is fairly similar to him stylistically. Watch this one closely.
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Is Clay Guida Fighting for His Job?
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The Fight: Clay Guida vs. Robbie Peralta
The Real Fight: Clay Guida vs. His Own Intense Averageness
The Stakes
Clay Guida is 2-4 since his victory over Anthony Pettis back in 2011. His losses have been emphatic, his wins unimpressive and his popularity ever-dwindling. Still firmly in the doghouse of fans and UFC brass alike, we may see the end of The Carpenter with another loss.
The Question
Is Clay Guida fighting for his job?
Analysis
A few years ago, Guida was everything a fan could want from a fighter. His endless gas tank allowed him to maintain an exciting pedal-to-the-metal pace, and his solid wrestling and striking made him a legitimate part of the lightweight division's top tier.
Then, he joined the Jackson-Winkeljohn fight camp. While the sweeping generalization that Jackson-Winkeljohn fighters are "boring" is inaccurate, it rings true in the case of Guida. What makes matters even worse, however, is that the boring, plodding grinder of today is no more successful than the gunslinger of yesteryear.
If Guida can't get through the super-average Robbie Peralta, it will be tough to rationalize his continued presence on the UFC roster.
How Will Julianna Pena Look After Major Knee Injury?
5 of 7The Fight: Julianna Pena vs. Milana Dudieva
The Real Fight: Julianna Pena vs. Ring Rust
The Stakes
Julianna Pena's impressive run through The Ultimate Fighter Season 18 established her as one of the most intriguing prospects in MMA. Unfortunately, a catastrophic knee injury has kept her from generating any momentum since taking the season's top prize. Finally set to return to the cage opposite Milana Dudieva, Pena could jump directly into the title picture with a big win.
The Question
How will Julianna Pena look after major knee injury?
Analysis
While Pena irked fans and housemates alike on TUF18, she proved that she was a genuinely impressive fighter over the course of the season. With all-over-the-cage skills and a drive similar to what we've seen out of Ronda Rousey and Jon Jones, it's easy to buy into her as a potential challenge for Rousey. Hopefully, those injuries didn't set her back too far, and we get to see her begin her climb to the top.
Which Rising Lightweight Will Earn a Crack at the Next Level?
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The Fight: Jorge Masvidal vs. Al Iaquinta
The Real Fight: Fast-Rising Lightweight vs. Fast-Rising Lightweight
The Stakes
Jorge Masvidal is a formidable lightweight who is riding a strong winning streak. Al Iaquinta is a formidable lightweight who is riding a strong winning streak. This is a high-stakes bout with the winner likely getting an opportunity to break into the Top 10 and the loser likely getting cemented into gatekeeper status for the foreseeable future.
The Question
Which rising lightweight will earn a crack at the next level?
Analysis
Straightforward stuff here, ladies and gents. Good fighters and lots on the line. Watch this fight.
Which Featherweight Will Keep His Spot Among the Division's Elite?
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The Fight: Chad Mendes vs. Ricardo Lamas
The Real Fight: Great Fighters That Can't Beat Jose Aldo vs. Irrelevance
The Stakes
In a bout to remain relevant in the title picture, former contenders Chad Mendes and Ricardo Lamas face off in Fight Night 63's main event. While this may seem like an awkward battle for second place in the division, this is actually a huge fight in a division that has reached a crossroad. With Jose Aldo possibly poised to move up to lightweight and/or Conor McGregor ready to take the belt, this fight could open some doors that are currently barred for either man.
The Question
Which featherweight will keep his spot among the division's elite?
Analysis
Mendes is in that awkward "two losses to the current champ" position. Lamas, meanwhile, is currently in that awkward "lost once to the current champ, but nobody really knows who he is" position.
That said, the featherweight division could be turned upside-down at UFC 189. McGregor, like him or hate him, is a seriously tough stylistic matchup for Aldo. Even if the champ overcomes that, there is no reason for him to stay at featherweight. That adds more intrigue to the idea of a lightweight title run for Aldo than ever before.
In either situation, whoever wins this bout may have a title shot fall on his lap.
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