UFC Fight Night 64 Results: Burning Questions Heading into UFC on Fox 15
UFC Fight Night 64 is in the books. The results are as follows:
- Mirko Cro Cop def. Gabriel Gonzaga, TKO (Round 3, 3:30)
- Jimi Manuwa def. Jan Blachowicz, unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
- Pawel Pawlak def. Sheldon Westcott, unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Maryna Moroz def. Joanne Calderwood, submission (Round 1, 1:30)
- Leon Edwards def. Seth Baczynski, knockout (Round 1, 0:08)
- Bartosz Fabinski def. Garreth McLellan, unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Sergio Moraes vs. Mickael Lebout, unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Yaotzin Meza def. Damian Stasiak, unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 39-28)
- Anthony Hamilton def. Daniel Omielanczuk, unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-27)
- Aleksandra Albu def. Izabela Badurek, submission (Round 2, 3:34)
- Stevie Ray def. Marcin Bandel, TKO (Round 2, 1:35)
- Taylor Lapilus def. Rocky Lee, unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Next up? UFC on Fox 15 on April 18.
Fans who are looking to get the bad taste of Fight Night 64 out of their mouths won't have to look far, as the promotion's next offering is one of the best free cards to date. With a compelling main event and a talent-rich preliminary card, there is a great deal to look forward to next week.
So what should fans be looking out for in the coming days? Find out here!
Is This the End of Diego Brandao?
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The Fight: Diego Brandao vs. Jimy Hettes
The Real Fight: Diego Brandao vs. Himself
The Stakes
Diego Brandao was one of the hottest names at 145 pounds not long ago. Now, he might just be fighting for his job. With back-to-back knockout losses, if Brandao extends his losing streak to three, there is very little reason for the UFC to keep him aboard.
The Question
Is this the end of Diego Brandao?
Analysis
Brandao won what was quite possibly the most talent-rich season of The Ultimate Fighter with one of the most impressive submissions we've seen in the history of the UFC. It was easy to buy into him from the get-go, but fans have seen more than a few promising talents fall prey to their inner demons over the years.
Brandao, it seems, is a part of that lot. If he can't overcome the ho-hum Hettes, a ticket to WSOF will likely be in his future.
Is Aljamain Sterling a Legitimate Top-10 Bantamweight Already?
2 of 9The Fight: Takeya Mizugaki vs. Aljamain Sterling
The Real Fight: Established Veteran vs. Uber-Prospect
The Stakes
Aljamain Sterling has been mentioned in essentially any series discussing bantamweight prospects, and to this point, he has made good on the praise. Those high expectations have earned him a shot against top-10 stalwart Takeya Mizugaki. If he can climb past the veteran, he could be ready to jump directly into title contention.
The Question
Is Aljamain Sterling a legitimate top-10 bantamweight already?
Analysis
Mizugaki is a formidable fighter, but he isn't an elite talent by any stretch. While he is a technically impressive striker, his lack of urgency and non-existent stopping power have resulted in several close fights against so-so competition.
That said, only two fighters have ever scored blowout wins over Mizugaki: Dominick Cruz and Urijah Faber. If Sterling joins that pair, he could be contending for the title by the end of 2015.
How Good Is Patrick Cummins?
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The Fight: Ovince Saint Preux vs. Patrick Cummins
The Real Fight: Patrick Cummins vs. His First True Test (With a Full Camp)
The Stakes
While Patrick Cummins entered the UFC as a joke, he has asserted himself as a dangerous light heavyweight. With a record of 3-0 since his debut loss to Daniel Cormier, Cummins has the chance to become a top-10 talent opposite Strikeforce veteran Ovince Saint Preux.
The Question
How good Is Patrick Cummins?
Analysis
There's a strong case to be made that Cummins already deserves a spot in the top 10. While that sounds bold, his underappreciated wrestling background (two-time NCAA Division I All-American out of Penn State, 2004 Division I championship runner-up, U.S. national team member) puts him on even footing with the various ground-and-pounders who make up most of the light heavyweight division's upper tier.
That said, Cummins has either been blown out of the water or faced weak competition to this point in his MMA career. It will be interesting to see how he fares against a well-rounded threat like OSP.
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Can Beneil Dariush Pull off the Upset over Jim Miller?
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The Fight: Jim Miller vs. Beneil Dariush
The Real Fight: Jim Miller vs. Prey(?)
The Stakes
Lightweight gatekeeper Jim Miller is back in a familiar position: gatekeeping. Set to face Beneil Dariush, the southpaw submission artist could have an easy paycheck in front of him.
The Question
Can Beneil Dariush pull off the upset over Jim Miller?
Analysis
Miller is not an elite-level talent, but he is a tough out for all but the best lightweights. With his solid wrestling, strong chain-grappling and southpaw striking, fighters need to be on point to contend with him.
Miller has only lost five times in his UFC career, and Dariush, quite frankly, does not seem to be on par with Ben Henderson, Donald Cerrone or any of the fighters who have beaten Miller over the years. It will be interesting to see if he has some hidden skills, or if this will be a return to form for Miller.
Is Paige VanZant at All Special?
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The Fight: Felice Herrig vs. Paige VanZant
The Real Fight: Pundits vs. Vague Differentiation Between Hype and Reality
The Stakes
The UFC is bullish when it comes to Paige VanZant. Incredibly bullish, in fact. Despite having a measly five professional fights to her name (only one of which was in the UFC), she has a deal with Reebok and is booked here over a slew of established veterans.
Now she needs to prove she deserves it. She faces TUF 20, Invicta and Bellator veteran Felice Herrig on the UFC on Fox 15 main card.
The Question
Is Paige VanZant at all special?
Analysis
One of the biggest mistakes MMA fans and pundits make is buying into fighters in the UFC's women's strawweight division. Make no mistake: The sheer amount of talent in the division is astounding. That said, it's easy to forget fighters like Tecia Torres and Rose Namajunas have five (or fewer) professional fights.
While many expected VanZant to wash out of the UFC following her lackluster 0-1 run in Invicta, she put in a surprisingly strong performance in her debut that sent the hype machine out of control. Now, it's time to start figuring out where the talk ends and the actual fighting begins. If she can demolish the well-established Herrig, she might just be deserving of her spot in the top-10 rankings.
How Good Is Max Holloway?
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The Fight: Cub Swanson vs. Max Holloway
The Real Fight: Max Holloway vs. High-Level Competition
The Stakes
While Max Holloway started his UFC career with an unimpressive 3-3 run, he boomed in 2014, scoring four wins in the calendar year. After extending that winning streak to five by defeating Cole Miller at UFC Fight Night 60, he was given a huge jump up in competition. Set to face Cub Swanson, Holloway has the chance to poke his head into the title picture with a win.
The Question
How good is Max Holloway?
Analysis
Holloway is one of the hottest fighters at 145 pounds right now, and we could be seeing a lot of the 23-year-old over the next few years. If he can defeat Swanson, he will leap into the top 10, and assuming Jose Aldo defeats Conor McGregor, Holloway could find himself contending for the UFC's featherweight strap by 2016.
Does Cub Swanson Have Any Kind of Takedown Defense?
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The Fight: Cub Swanson vs. Max Holloway
The Real Fight: Cub Swanson vs. Wrestling
The Stakes
Cub Swanson is a nigh-otherworldly striker. Every one of his punches and kicks can end a fight, and he can deliver them from any angle, at any range.
Unfortunately, he still seems unable to stay standing against solid wrestlers. Holloway's path to victory lies on the ground, and if Swanson can't resist takedowns, this could be a rough outing for him.
The Question
Does Cub Swanson have any kind of takedown defense?
Analysis
Swanson gained new life and almost earned a title shot with his six-fight winning streak. Then Frankie Edgar happened. Swanson, it seems, for all his flair and skills, couldn't stop a takedown to save his life. That begs the question of whether or not his steady diet of strikers kept him from ever getting challenged on the mat.
Holloway is a talented, young fighter with all-over-the-cage skills. If Swanson can't stay on his feet here, it will be hard to buy into him as a legitimate top-10 featherweight.
What Will Happen to Ronaldo 'Jacare' Souza?
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The Fight: Ronaldo Souza vs. Chris Camozzi
The Real Fight: Ronaldo Souza vs. Not Yoel Romero
The Stakes
In case you missed it, Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza's opponent, Yoel Romero, withdrew from their co-main event bout due to a ruined knee, according to Luke Thomas of MMA Fighting. While that's obviously a devastating blow for Romero, it's an absolutely brutal turn for Souza, who is struggling to remain at the front of the line for the title. He will now face old foe Chris Camozzi in a throwaway fight, according to MMA Fighting.
The Question
What will happen to Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza?
Analysis
Souza is ranked as the top contender at 185 pounds, but his low marketability leaves him looking for love, while Luke Rockhold smack-talks his way into title contention. Yes, the very same Rockhold who is fighting former light heavyweight champ Lyoto Machida in this card's main event. While Souza had the chance to potentially secure a fight with the winner of Chris Weidman vs. Vitor Belfort, that ship sank with Romero's physical health.
Now, the Brazilian is in a no-win situation and has to hope that Rockhold lays an egg in the main event.
How Will the Main Event Play Out?
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The Fight: Lyoto Machida vs. Luke Rockhold
The Real Fight: Two Handsome Dudes vs. Your Ego
The Stakes
Luke Rockhold is all but assured a title shot with a win over Lyoto Machida. Machida, on the other hand, looks to jump right back into contention at the expense of the former Strikeforce champ. This is an all-on-the-line fight between two of the top talents in the sport today.
The Question
How will the main event play out?
Analysis
Two great fighters are looking to claim a title shot. It's an exciting stylistic matchup and the main event of a very good card. Get excited, fans!
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