UFC Fight Night 66 Results: 10 Burning Questions Heading into UFC 187
UFC Fight Night 66 is in the books. The results are as follows (h/t Bleacher Report's live blogger, Nathan McCarter):
- Frankie Edgar defeats Urijah Faber by unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 50-45)
- Gegard Mousasi defeats Costas Philippou by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Mark Munoz defeats Luke Barnatt by unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
- Neil Magny defeats Hyun Gyu Lim by TKO at 1:24 of the second round
- Phillipe Nover defeats Yui Chul Nam by split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
- Levan Makashvili defeats Mark Eddiva by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 30-27)
- Jon Tuck defeats Tae Hyun Bang via submission (rear-naked choke) at 3:56 of the first round
- Kajan Johnson defeats Zhang Lipeng by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
- Li Jingliang defeats Dhiego Lima by KO at 1:25 of the first round
- Ning Guangyou defeats Royston Wee by TKO at 4:59 of the second round
- Jon Delos Reyes defeats Roldan Sangcha-an via submission (rear-naked choke) at 3:13 of the second round
- Yao Zhikui defeats Nolan Ticman by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Next up? The super-stacked UFC 187 on May 23.
For the first time in a long time, there is a UFC card where every single fight is worth watching. Similarly, for the first time in a long time, yours truly had to pick and choose which questions to run.
With eight top-fivers on the card and a number of other fun, title-relevant or otherwise interesting fighters, there is plenty to talk about. So jump on in, MMA fans!
Can Rose Namajunas Recapture Her TUF Stardom?
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The Fight: Rose Namajunas vs. Nina Ansaroff
The Real Fight: Rose Namajunas vs. Herself(?)
The Stakes
Rose Namajunas was the breakout star of The Ultimate Fighter 20. She was young, amazingly talented and tearing through high-level fighters like Randa Markos and Joanne Calderwood, so it was easy to get excited about seeing her compete. Then she (and fans) got a tough reality check from Carla Esparza in the finale.
Now, she must remind everyone of the greatness they witnessed on The Ultimate Fighter and show that she is mentally ready for the big time.
The Question
Can Rose Namajunas recapture her TUF stardom?
Analysis
Namajunas, in terms of pure potential, is astounding. She has the physical tools, the stand-up and ground skills and ferocious mentality to go far in MMA. With time and the right coaches, she could become the next utterly dominant UFC champion...or she could wind up becoming the next Diego Brandao.
Nina Ansaroff feels like a cherry-picked opponent to help get Namajunas back in the win column, but the TUF runner-up needs to stay focused out of the cage—and on-point in it—if she hopes to keep up with the fast-moving strawweight division.
Will Uriah Hall Continue to Look Unstoppable?
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The Fight: Uriah Hall vs. Rafael Natal
The Real Fight: Uriah Hall vs. Spanish Tennis Stars
The Stakes
Eighteen months ago, Uriah Hall was being labeled the biggest bust in TUF history. UFC President Dana White was saying he isn't even a fighter. Today, Hall is riding a three-fight winning streak. It's a crazy turnaround for the TUF17 standout, who has been one of the most consistently devastating fighters in the Octagon of late.
If he can light up a solid Rafael Natal, it might just show that he is ready for a crack at a Top 10 opponent.
The Question
Will Uriah Hall continue to look unstoppable?
Analysis
Hall is one of the few true characters left in MMA today. With a killer cool inside the cage and a warm likability out of it, he is a compelling enigma in a landscape of inelegant jock-bros.
The UFC knows that Hall offers long-term value and has been giving him opponents who fit perfectly into his style. If he continues his in-cage dominance, however, it will show that he doesn't need training wheels anymore.
Which Welterweight Veteran Will Remain a Player?
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The Fight: Dong-Hyun Kim vs. Josh Burkman
The Real Fight: High-Upside Veteran vs. Aging Veteran
The Stakes
Dong-Hyun Kim and Josh Burkman have taken different paths in their careers but find themselves in the same position. After returning to the limelight with shocking stoppages, both men were cut down emphatically by ATT-trained title contenders. Now, they must knock off the other if they want to remain players near the top of the welterweight division.
The Question
Which welterweight veteran will remain a player?
Analysis
Kim has long been a Top 10 welterweight but fell victim to the Just Bleed fans and UFC executives...and Tyron Woodley. That loss functionally ended what could have been a dark-horse title run for the Korean star, and now, set to face a fellow veteran grappler, he is looking at a high-risk, low-reward bout.
Burkman is no slouch, but years of fighting outside of the Octagon have made him an unknown commodity for most fans, and his rough UFC 182 outing has him locked in the middle of a sizable welterweight pack. This is a no-win fight for Kim and a decent—but not especially big—opportunity for Burkman.
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Will John Dodson Remain in Line for a Title Shot?
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The Fight: John Dodson vs. Zach Makovsky
The Real Fight: John Dodson vs. Long Layoffs
The Stakes
John Dodson is, on paper, the next in line for a flyweight title fight. Now he just needs to maintain that spot. Set to face former Bellator champion Zach Makovsky, if Dodson can post anything resembling a convincing win, he will almost certainly get a second crack at Demetrious Johnson.
The Question
Will John Dodson remain in line for a title shot?
Analysis
Dodson would have faced Johnson at UFC 186 (or maybe sooner) if he hadn't suffered a knee injury last year. Lucky for him, John Lineker's inability to make weight and Joseph Benavidez's matchmaking limbo have left the UFC anxiously awaiting his return.
Makovsky is a tough opponent, but Dodson's wrestling and heavy hands make him the clear favorite. Unless Makovsky pulls off a huge upset or this fight ends up being an absolute snoozer, expect Dodson to get a shot at the belt before year's end.
Does John Moraga Have Anything for Joseph Benavidez?
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The Fight: Joseph Benavidez vs. John Moraga
The Real Fight: Apex Predator vs. Secondary Consumer
The Stakes
Joseph Benavidez is in matchmaking no-man's land; he is an elite talent who owns two losses to the current champ. Still, the man has fights left on his contract, and the UFC needs to find somebody to take him on. Enter John Moraga.
While Moraga is a Top 10-level fighter, he finds himself at a clear, undeniable disadvantage against Benavidez. If he doesn't pull out some new tricks here, he will wind up as another notch on Benavidez's proverbial pommel.
The Question
Does John Moraga have anything for Joseph Benavidez?
Analysis
Moraga is good. Benavidez is beyond great. It's that simple.
Except for Johnson and Dodson, Benavidez should be favored over any given opponent, and Moraga is no exception. Unless Moraga has found a hidden well of striking potency, look for Benavidez to cruise to victory.
Andrei Arlovski Couldn't Possibly Be Poised for a Title Run...Could He?
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The Fight: Travis Browne vs. Andrei Arlovski
The Real Fight: Andrei Arlovski vs. Traditional Career Progression
The Stakes
Andrei Arlovski returning to the UFC drew a number of jeers, and when he put on a snoozer of a fight in his return opposite Brendan Schaub, it seemed as though his return to the UFC would be forgettable. Then, he knocked out Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva and saw every matchmaking star align in his favor. If he beats Travis Browne, we could see the Pitbull get a crack at UFC gold more than nine years removed from his previous title reign.
The Question
Andrei Arlovski couldn't possibly be Poised for a title run...could he?
Analysis
People who weren't hardcore MMA fans may have missed this, but four years ago, it was genuinely scary to watch Andrei Arlovski fight. Not in the "oh, he is a scary dude" way. In a Gerald McClellan way.
Arlovski suffered three brutal knockout losses at the hands of Fedor Emelianenko, Brett Rogers and Sergei Kharitonov in Affliction and Strikeforce. It was so difficult to watch that it got to the point where there was open discussion about how promotions and athletic commissions could force him to retire. His fighting at a high level four years later is a surprise. His being in the UFC title picture is a small miracle.
Browne is still the clear favorite here, but Arlovski has always been a serious knockout threat. If the Belarusian can pull this off, it will quite possibly rank as the greatest comeback story in MMA history.
Will John Makdessi Spoil Donald Cerrone's Title Chances?
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The Fight: Donald Cerrone vs. John Makdessi
The Real Fight: Donald Cerrone vs. Not Khabib Nurmagomedov
The Stakes
Donald Cerrone has a clear path to the UFC lightweight strap. The only obstacle in his way? A terribly overmatched John Makdessi. If all goes according to plan, Cerrone will finally, at long last, get his chance at the UFC lightweight belt.
The Question
Will John Makdessi spoil Donald Cerrone's title chances?
Analysis
Cerrone is a fighter the UFC has wanted to take the belt for a long, long while. He is popular with fans, exciting in the cage and a through-and-through company man. If the UFC was a pro wrestling organization, Cerrone would have gotten the belt a long time ago.
If he can beat Makdessi, which he almost certainly will, look for his rematch with Rafael dos Anjos to headline a card in the fall.
Will Vitor Belfort Finally Stop Being Vitor Belfort?
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The Fight: Chris Weidman vs. Vitor Belfort
The Real Fight: Vitor Belfort vs. Being Vitor Belfort
The Stakes
It took a while, but Vitor Belfort is finally getting his shot at Chris Weidman's belt. Unfortunately, it feels unlikely that he'll be able to take advantage of the opportunity. With a long history of struggling in title fights and Weidman's stylistic advantage, Belfort has little more than a puncher's chance against the man who ended the Anderson Silva era.
The Question
Will Vitor Belfort finally stop being Vitor Belfort?
Analysis
Nineteen years deep into his MMA career, fans have plenty of tape to pore over with Belfort. Throughout his career, two trends have emerged: an inability to contend with well-rounded wrestlers and an unmistakable tentativeness in title fights. Needless to say, both of those work against him with Weidman.
While Belfort can't be completely dismissed in this fight—he still has a ridiculous amount of stopping power—all signs point to a Weidman win. Check out the full breakdown of the fight here.
Who Will Walk out the New UFC Light Heavyweight Champ?
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The Fight: Anthony Johnson vs. Daniel Cormier
The Real Fight: Anthony Johnson vs. Not Jon Jones
The Stakes
With Jon Jones suspended indefinitely, Anthony Johnson and Daniel Cormier face off to fill the vacant light heavyweight title. The stakes are obvious, and the ramifications are profound. This should be an exciting fight between two legitimate talents, and while neither man is Jones, it will install a legitimate champion into one of the UFC's money divisions.
The Question
Who will walk out the new UFC light heavyweight champ?
Analysis
This fight is a tough one to call, and there are a number of ways it could go. Johnson is one of the hardest hitters in the division and certainly looks to have polished takedown defense, judging from his bout with Phil Davis. That said, Cormier is an all-around excellent fighter, and Johnson historically doesn't always get goin' when the goin' gets tough.
Feel free to make your picks in the comments section!
How Large and How Long Will Jon Jones' Shadow Loom?
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The Fight: Anthony Johnson vs. Daniel Cormier
The Real Fight: Jon Jones vs. Inner Demons
The Stakes
While Anthony Johnson vs. Daniel Cormier is an intriguing fight between two legitimate talents, there is no denying that Jones' presence is still being felt in the light heavyweight division. Both men have been dominant in the UFC thus far, but it is going to take a long, long while to take the "undisputed" tag seriously. Whoever wins will need to look beastly here if he wants to start getting champion-like respect.
The Question
How large will Jon Jones' shadow loom?
Analysis
That may sound harsh, but in the immortal words of Ric Flair, "to be the man, you've gotta beat the man, and I'm sayin' 'Woo, right here.' Woo!" It's something UFC fighters and promoters alike have had trouble dealing with, and Jones' absence could prove to be even more problematic than previous cases with Georges St-Pierre, Dominick Cruz, Fedor Emelianenko and Randy Couture.
It's something, unfortunately, that Johnson and Cormier have no control over. All they can do is get in the cage, fight their heart out and hope for the best.
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