UFC Fight Night 62 Results: The Real Winners and Losers

UFC Fight Night 62, like all UFC events, has a group of fighters coming off losses and another group officially on a career upswing. And, like all UFC events, people who never set foot in the cage can be touched by any given fight.

The biggest winners this time are the Brazilian UFC fans. Brazil is home to a great many passionate, patriotic UFC fans, and the promotion panders to that, stacking each card with fights featuring a Brazilian facing an overmatched foreigner. Brazilians went 9-1 on the night in these matches, and as you'd expect, the crowd ate it right up.

The biggest loser is a bit tougher to peg, since there was very little on the line from a title perspective and the UFC had very little rooting interest on the card. That said, the biggest losers would likely be the UFC welterweight Top 10.

The awkward pile-up of fighters near the top of the division is tough to sort past the champion, Robbie Lawler, and the top contender, Rory MacDonald, who face off at UFC 189. The on-paper next-in-lines (Hector Lombard, followed by Jake Shields) currently find themselves indisposed. Worse yet, fellow contenders Johny Hendricks and Tyron Woodley are in awkward positions where they need to either wait a year or more for a title shot or risk weakening their claims to the throne by taking on a dangerous opponent.

That's tough, right? Well, Demian Maia just jammed his foot into the door and made things even more complicated. While he isn't on the short list of contenders quite yet, another win will make him tough to brush off. 

Who else won the night? Who didn't? Read on and find out!

Real Loser: The Ultimate Fighter: Latin America's Credibility

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Result

Fredy Serrano defeats Bentley Syler by KO in Round 3.

Real Loser: The Ultimate Fighter: Latin America's Credibility

In a bout that resembled Frank Mir vs. Mirko Cro Cop, The Ultimate Fighter: Latin America alumni Fredy Serrano and Bentley Syler squared off in a hard-to-watch affair. After two rounds of whatever the opposite of action is, Serrano cleaned Syler's clock with a hellacious uppercut.

Analysis

Whenever somebody tells you CM Punk doesn't deserve to be in the UFC, just pull up this fight and ask "Do you really think he's isn't better than either one of these guys?" It was that bad.

These less-than-talented fighters' presence in the UFC, of course, stems from the international editions of The Ultimate Fighter. Nations like China, Australia and Mexico (and the other places on TUFLA), despite having strong potential as  markets, don't have the established pool of talent to legitimately contend with countries like the United States, Brazil and so on in straight-up MMA competition.

That, however, does not matter in today's UFC. These sorts of terrible fights will continue happening, and dang it, we're just going to have to live with it.

Real Loser: Non-Existent Hype

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Result 

Christos Giagos defeats Jorge de Oliveira by submission in Round 1.

Real Loser: Non-Existent Hype

The first "Brazilian vs. Foreigner" bout of UFC Fight Night 62 was Jorge de Oliveira (of Brazil) vs. Christos Giagos (of the good ol' U.S. of A.). Boy, was it a simple one. Not long after the opening bell, Giagos took down De Oliveira. He advanced position, got his back and got the tap due to a tight rear-naked choke.

Analysis

UFC commentator Jon Anik is great at his job...but his job can stink sometimes. Tasked with making a throwaway lightweight fight on the Fight Pass portion of a throwaway card seem more important, he told fans that De Oliveira was "hugely popular in his native Rio de Janeiro" as he walked into a mostly empty arena to a token level of cheering. 

You can't blame Anik, of course. A frank evaluation of the fight's importance would be downright awkward to listen to (and would probably get him in trouble with the folks in the broadcast truck). Still, it's funny to witness these kinds of reality checks.

Real Winner: 'Just Bleed' Fans

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Result

Leonardo Mafra defeats Cain Carrizosa by unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27, 30-27).

Real Winner: "Just Bleed" Fans

Mafra and Carrizosa came out swinging from the get-go, and while the pace wouldn't hold up, the bout generated plenty of excitement among the Rio fans. While Mafra didn't do enough to establish himself as a serious contender, he did more than enough to earn a decision win.

Analysis

This was one of the fights that the Budweiser-drinking kind of MMA fan likes best. Technique? Control? Actual skill?

Who needs that? Mafra and Carrizosa fought like there was a parking spot outside of Walmart at stake. That's more than enough for most.

Real Loser: Leandro Silva

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Result

Leandro Silva defeats Drew Dober by submission in Round 2 (but not really).

Real Loser: Leandro Silva

Through one of the greatest referee mistakes in recent memory, Leandro Silva was flat-out gifted a win over Drew Dober. After Silva abandoned an all-in guillotine choke attempt, the referee abruptly waved off the fight for reasons that, frankly, are hard to determine. Dober, naturally, fumed, while Silva stomped around the cage acting like he had actually accomplished something.

Analysis

Bad calls by refs aren't unheard of, but fighters rarely attempt the sort of mental gymnastics to justify their wins that Silva did following the official decision. Speaking with Jon Anik in the cage after the bout, he claimed that the choke was tight (he had actually let it go) and that he felt Dober go limp (he was jockeying for position until well after the ref stopped the fight). While he gets points for degree of difficulty, he loses points on execution.

Those were embarrassing displays by both the referee and Silva. Man up, dude.

Real Loser: The Next Wave of Japanese Fighters

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Result

Kevin Souza defeats Katsunori Kikuno by KO in Round 1.

Real Loser: The Next Wave of Japanese Fighters

Japanese standout Katsunori Kikuno entered the UFC with a fair bit of hype but has struggled to live up to it. Facing Brazilian prospect Kevin Souza, Kikuno ducked into a straight right hand and lost his consciousness cleanly.

Analysis

Japanese fighters tend to come in waves to the UFC. There were the forerunners who popped up in 2000 and either washed out or went to Japanese promotions. Then there were the various Pride imports. Then came the aging legends who wanted one last crack at the big leagues.

Kikuno, alongside the likes of Rin Nakai and Naoyuki Kotani, make up the newest wave of Japanese fighters, defined by their former star status in smaller Japanese promotions like Pancrase, DEEP and Shooto. Much like all the other groups listed, they have been defined by their inability to compete with solid competition in Western promotions.

Granted, the straits of Japanese MMA are not as dire as they could be. Kiichi Kunimoto, Kyoji Horiguchi and Masanori Kanehara all show that there is still talent dotted around the Land of the Rising Sun. Japan, however, still just can't seem to find a true elite talent.

Real Loser: Akbarh Arreola's Pride

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Result

Francisco Trinaldo defeats Akbarh Arreola by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27).

Real Loser: Akbarh Arreola's Pride

Short of getting a stoppage, Francisco Trinaldo did pretty much whatever he darn well felt like to Akbarh Arreola. From bell to bell, Akhbarh's offensive output was reduced to nothing, while Trinaldo dominated all areas of the cage. The Brazilian scored a lopsided decision win, sending the Mexican fighter home with a lot to think about.

Analysis

Arreola has to be frustrated after that performance. Trinaldo manhandled him in a way you don't see all that often in the UFC, and while Arreola didn't get reduced to a bloody mess, this had to be a shot to the ego.

Real Winner: TUF Brazil 1's Credibility

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Result

Godofredo Castro defeats Andre Fili by submission in Round 1.

Real Winner: TUF: Brazil 1's Credibility

Godofredo Castro's resurgence continued at UFC Fight Night 62. Facing Andre Fili, the TUF: Brazil 1 veteran scored an early submission victory using his particularly formidable triangle choke. 

Analysis

While TUF: Latin America alumni made fools of themselves while curtain-jerking, Castro showed that while there have been some undeniably dreadful seasons of the long-running reality series, there is still talent to be had. Alongside fellow castmate Francisco Trinaldo, Castro showed that while TUF: Brazil 1 likely won't produce any title contenders, it isn't one to brush off, either.

Real Loser: Gilbert Burns' Hype Train

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Result

Gilbert Burns defeats Alex Oliveira by submission in Round 3.

Real Loser: Gilbert Burns' Hype Train 

Oliveira came just shy of pulling off the upset of the night. Facing uber-prospect Burns, the Blackzilian controlled the pace of the fight standing and used his reach advantage well. Burns, however, nailed a double-leg takedown early in the third round and took mount. From there, an exciting series of scrambles led to a slick, fight-stealing armbar for Burns.

Analysis

Burns' Brazilian jiu-jitsu pedigree is top-notch, and he is a legitimate athlete with a perfect record. But darn, it is easy to forget how little that actually means in the cage.

While many (including me) bought into Burns based on his talent and grappling credentials alone, he showed that he is still green. He is still a fighter to watch closely, but Oliveira definitively showed that Burns is not quite "there" yet.

Real Loser: The Old Guard of Women's MMA

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Result

Amanda Nunes defeats Shayna Baszler by TKO in Round 1.

Real Loser: The Old Guard of Women's MMA

Amanda Nunes continues showing that she is a legitimate player at the top of the women's bantamweight division. Facing the veteran Shayna Baszler, Nunes landed devastating strike after devastating strike, rocking Baszler with punches before finishing her with leg kicks.

Analysis

Remember when Ken Shamrock had a heart attack because he was beating Kazuyuki Fujita too thoroughly? How about when Kazushi Sakuraba made Royce Gracie quit on the stool? Most of all, remember when Pedro Rizzo beat the heck out of Dan Severn with savage leg kicks?

That phenomenon is now happening in women's MMA. In the way the Gracies, Shamrocks and Severns gave way to the Rizzos, Barnetts and Hugheses, so too are the Baszlers, Kedzies and Fujiis giving way to the Rouseys, Correias and Aguilars.

It's sad to see sometimes, but such is the nature of the sport.

Real Winner: Can-Crushers

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Result

Leonardo Santos defeats Tony Martin by submission in Round 2.

Real Winner: Can-Crushers

TUF Brazil 2 winner Leonardo Santos did precisely what he was supposed to: He beat an overmatched opponent (Tony Martin, if you're looking for a name) with ease. After a solid opening round, Santos nailed a picture-perfect throw, quickly took his prey's back and sunk in the easiest rear-naked choke you'll ever see.

Analysis

While this card wasn't too bad, the UFC sets up loads of blatant, unrepentant squash matches in Brazil for its young talent. This match right here? This was one of those fights.

Credit goes to Santos for being as good as the UFC hoped, but shame on the UFC for playing favorites.

Real Loser: Old, Brittle Chins

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Result

Erick Silva defeats Josh Koscheck by submission in Round 1.

Real Loser: Old, Brittle Chins

The co-main event featured former contender Josh Koscheck taking on the UFC's very own Roman Reigns, Erick Silva. While Koscheck put on a decent performance in the first few minutes, the wear and tear on his body did him in. Silva rocked the veteran with a right hand along the cage. When Koscheck went for a desperation shot, Silva pounced on a guillotine choke that forced a tap.

Analysis

The UFC has been trying to give Silva the rub for a while now. Unfortunately for the promotion, all the talk about this bout has centered on how sad it was to see Koscheck, MMA's original villain, get lit up and finished so quickly. As with Baszler, this isn't surprising...but it's still a tough one to swallow.

We've almost certainly seen the end of Koscheck, who is now on a five-fight losing streak. If he plans on retiring, here's hoping he has the means to do whatever the heck he wants from here.

Real Winner: Demian Maia

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Result

Demian Maia defeats Ryan LaFlare by unanimous decision (48-46, 48-46, 48-46).

Real Winner: Demian Maia

It wasn't pretty, but veteran submission whiz Maia secured a winning streak. The first four rounds saw Maia take down the seemingly overmatched LaFlare and work his way to mount each time. While LaFlare would survive and actually mounted some offense in the fifth, Maia was able to sit on his lead en route to a unanimous-decision victory.

Analysis

In a fast-moving, Georges St-Pierre-less welterweight division where one big win can vault you into title contention, this was a big pickup for Maia. While this wasn't a career-making victory, Jake Shields' 2014 release, Hector Lombard's failed drug test and Johny Hendricks' recent mediocrity have created a vacuum near the top of the division. 

Beating LaFlare moves Maia into a position where he can reach title contention with relative ease. Even if it didn't resonate with fans, that makes him one of the biggest winners of the night.

Full Results

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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)