UFC 186 Results: 4 Stars from the Prelims
UFC 186 hit Montreal on Saturday, but before the five-fight main card unfolded, seven bouts got the night started.
The prelims offered a good mix of veterans and prospects in competitive matches. The matchmakers know what they are doing, and we saw several quality performances that set things up well for the future. Of the seven bouts, four stars stood out from the pack.
We saw a potential title contender come out of the prelims and a veteran shine with one of his most complete performances to date.
The undercard started the night off with fun fights.
Here are four stars from the preliminary action at UFC 186.
Randa Markos
1 of 4
Randa Markos showed off her impressive submission skills on The Ultimate Fighter and then was involved in a fun fight against Jessica Penne. Her performances led the media to rank her No. 6 in the division coming into this fight.
She validated that ranking.
Aisling Daly is a quality veteran, and Markos looked far superior to the Irish fighter. Markos was faster and the better athlete. When Daly would attempt to take her down, Markos would fall into mount.
Markos is still a work in progress, but you can see the obvious talent she has. With more seasoning she could well be a true contender in this division. The future is bright for Markos, and she may get a chance to take on someone in the Top Five given her high ranking.
It is just a shame this fight was buried on UFC Fight Pass.
Valerie Letourneau
2 of 4
Valerie Letourneau looked better than ever in her win against Jessica Rakoczy at UFC 186.
Letourneau busted up Rakoczy standing. Rakoczy was having trouble seeing out of her right eye by the end of the second round. But it was not just a quality striking performance from Letourneau. She showed off improved ground work as well.
The American Top Team fighter threatened with a few submissions. She didn't showcase pristine technique, but she displayed her obvious improvements on the ground.
Letourneau came out of UFC 186 with a solid bump to her place in the division. She is not a contender yet, but she will be a fighter to watch. And she is at the right camp to develop her game. We will continue to see dramatic jumps in Letourneau's game while she is at ATT.
Hopefully, the UFC does not feed her to the top of the division in the meantime.
Olivier Aubin-Mercier
3 of 4
Hometown kid Olivier Aubin-Mercier got the crowd on its feet with a victory by rear-naked choke.
He trains out of the Tristar gym in Montreal, and his improvements were evident. The world-class gym has served him well. He still has flaws in his striking game, though. He was backing up in a straight line, and against the top end of this division that will get him flattened.
But he's not going to be fighting the top end...yet. He's a prospect.
Aubin-Mercier benefited from good matchmaking. Now he has to go back and continue to improve. He looked good at UFC 186, and fans will be excited to see him return to the cage. He has a bright future.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
Patrick Cote
4 of 4
This was not the best Patrick Cote performance we have ever seen, but it was one of the more complete performances from The Predator.
Joe Riggs is a true veteran of the sport and well-rounded. Cote was able to score on the feet, take him down and win scrambles too. Cote was primarily a boxer for years, but recent he has developed his all-around skills.
Cote remains a fan favorite, and the crowd appreciated his win in Montreal.
The Predator has failed to stop a fight at 170 pounds, but if he can continue to be a threat on the ground and on the feet, then stoppages will come over time. Cote is still a viable fighter for the UFC. His performance on Saturday proved that.
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
