UFC 187 Results: Burning Questions Heading into Fight Night 67
UFC 187 is in the books. The results are as follows (c/o Bleacher Report's play-by-play king, Craig Amos):
UFC 187 Main Card
- Daniel Cormier def. Anthony Johnson, submission (Round 3, 2:39)
- Chris Weidman def. Vitor Belfort, TKO (Round 1, 2:53)
- Donald Cerrone def. John Makdessi, TKO (Round 2, 4:44)
- Andrei Arlovski def. Travis Browne, TKO (Round 1, 4:41)
- Joseph Benavidez def. John Moraga, unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Prelims on Fox Sports 1
- John Dodson def. Zach Makovsky, unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Dong Hyun Kim def. Josh Burkman, submission (Round 3, 2:13)
- Rafael Natal def. Uriah Hall, split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
- Rose Namajunas vs. Nina Ansaroff—CANCELLED
Prelims on UFC Fight Pass
- Colby Covington def. Mike Pyle, unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 30-27)
- Islam Makhachev def. Leo Kuntz, submission (Round 2, 2:38)
- Justin Scoggins def. Josh Sampo, unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Next up? UFC Fight Night 67.
Headlined by Carlos Condit and Thiago Alves, there is a lot to like about the UFC's latest outing to Brazil, including a big flyweight fight between Jussier da Silva and Wilson Reis, and a compelling featherweight bout between Charles Oliveira and Nik Lentz.
So what are the top talking points coming up over the next week? Find out right here!
Can Wilson Reis Cement His Place as a Top Flyweight?
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The Fight: Jussier da Silva vs. Wilson Reis
The Real Fight: Wilson Reis vs. The Radar
The Stakes
Wilson Reis has one of the strongest resumes in the flyweight division, but years of competing outside the UFC has left him desperately seeking respect. 2-0 since dropping to 125 pounds, he has a great opportunity to start getting his due with this fight against Bleacher Report's No. 5-ranked flyweight, Jussier da Silva.
The Question
Can Wilson Reis Cement His Place as a Top Flyweight?
Analysis
Reis is an interesting addition to the flyweight division, but where he stacks up remains to be seen. With mixed success against solid featherweight and bantamweight competition (he has defeated the likes of Bryan Caraway and Zach Makovsky but came up short against Eduardo Dantas and Patricio Freire), it is hard to gauge how he stacks up against the current crop of 125-pound talent. If he can defeat the highly ranked da Silva, it will mark the highest point in his eight-year career.
Will the Real Jussier Da Silva Please Stand Up?
2 of 8The Fight: Jussier da Silva vs. Wilson Reis
The Real Fight: Jussier da Silva vs. Consistency
The Stakes
Though Jussier da Silva entered the UFC as the most highly touted Brazilian flyweight, he certainly didn't look the part during his first 18 months in the UFC. Then he manhandled a surging Zach Makovsky at UFC Fight Night 47. That reopened discussion on where he stacks up in the 125-pound division and threw him into the thick of the title picture.
Now, set to face former EliteXC champion Wilson Reis, he needs to post another impressive win if he wants to continue his forward momentum. If he can post another big win, he might be lined up to fight for the title by year's end.
The Question
Will the Real Jussier Da Silva Please Stand Up?
Analysis
Da Silva was truly, utterly pedestrian in his first four UFC fights. He was blown away by current contenders Joseph Benavidez and John Dodson, and didn't look especially impressive in victory over Scott Jorgensen or Chris Cariaso.
The win over Makovsky, however, showed that there is most certainly something worth getting excited about in Formiga. Now he needs to start posting these performances regularly.
Can We Stop Pretending Flyweights Aren't Popular Because of Their Size?
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The Fight: N/A
The Real Fight: Flyweights vs. UFC's Disrespectful Booking
The Stakes
Jussier da Silva is the best pound-for-pound fighter on this card. His bout with Wilson Reis is one of just three pitting ranked fighter against ranked fighter. While in a true meritocracy, da Silva vs. Reis would be near the top of the bill, the fighters are left on the promotional treadmill that is the preliminary card of an overseas event.
All the while, UFC brass sits back and wonders what they can do to attract fans to the lower weight classes, not realizing the subtle indictment they're making about the divisions' best.
The Question
Can We Stop Pretending Flyweights Aren't Popular Because of Their Size?
Analysis
"Small dudes can't draw" is a widely held belief among the MMA fandom, and it's one that keeps getting proven wrong.
In 2004, welterweights were too small to carry a card, then Matt Hughes happened. In 2007 it was the lightweights, then BJ Penn happened. In 2012, people believed women couldn't draw, then Ronda Rousey happened. In 2013, people believed featherweights couldn't hack it, then Conor McGregor happened.
The problem here is that Hughes, Penn, Rousey and McGregor were given the limelight and made the most of that opportunity. Flyweights are not even being given that chance these days. There could be a 125-pound McGregor in the UFC right now...but it will be hard to find them when they're buried on Fight Pass until being fed to Demetrious Johnson.
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Can Rony Mariano Bezerra Crush His Can?
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The Fight: Rony Bezerra vs. Damon Jackson
The Real Fight: Sure Thing vs. Big Opportunity
The Stakes
The breakout star of The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil has hit a rough patch in his career...and the UFC wants to fix that. 1-2 over his last three, Rony Mariano Bezerra (better known as Rony Jason) is being given the on-paper easiest opponent the UFC can muster, the 0-1 Damon Jackson. This fight was made specifically for Bezerra to win, and that is just kind of a shame.
The Question
Can Rony Bezerra Crush His Can?
Analysis
A relatively prominent fighter in one of the most talent-rich divisions coming off a tough outing would typically result in a fight opposite somebody in a similar situation. Normally, Bezerra would be in line to face an opponent like Cole Miller, Darren Elkins or Hatsu Hioki.
But the UFC has invested a great deal of effort into promoting Bezerra...and they insist on getting a return.
It's not fair, of course. Not to Jackson who isn't being given a fair chance to develop and carve out a place in the division and not to all the other fighters like Max Holloway and Charles Oliveira who weren't extended that same courtesy. These are the kinds of moves a promotion like Bellator makes to build up fighters like Michael Page and Bobby Lashley. It's unbecoming for the "Super Bowl of MMA" where the cream is expected to rise to the top naturally.
Can Norman Parke Bounce Back?
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The Fight: Francisco Trinaldo vs. Norman Parke
The Real Fight: Former Can Opener vs. Legitimate Challenge
The Stakes
Norman Parke's 11-fight undefeated streak came to an end in January when he fell just shy of beating Gleison Tibau. The loss, however, did not hurt his stock too much, and an emphatic win over Francisco Trinaldo would put him back on track toward the top.
The Question
Can Norman Parke Bounce Back?
Analysis
Rony Mariano Bezerra isn't the only international TUF winner that has gotten spoon fed of late. Parke, winner of TUF: The Smashes, received similar treatment for a good long while but, once the training wheels came off, he proved he was a legitimate talent.
Trinaldo is no elite, but he has proven himself to be a legitimate challenge for the majority of lightweights. If Parke can return to form and score a decisive win, he might just be back in line for a run to the top.
Is Ryan Jimmo Going to Get an Interview?
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The Fight: Francimar Barroso vs. Ryan Jimmo
The Real Fight: Ryan Jimmo vs. the UFC
The Stakes
The talk of the MMA town has been the UFC's uniform deal with Reebok, and while some fighters had already been quite incendiary on the topic, light heavyweight Ryan Jimmo took it to the next level. Speaking with BloodyElbow.com, Jimmo ripped the UFC and flatly said he was looking into the process and benefits of starting a fighters' association...shortly before his fight with Francimar Barroso.
Now, we get to see the UFC in a position it has never been in before: dealing with an active fighter making moves against their business interests. Will they treat him like everyone else? Or will they subtly try to stifle his TV time?
The Question
Is Ryan Jimmo Going to Get an Interview?
Analysis
This whole battle over the Reebok deal is starting to get a bit crazy. More and more (and more and more) fighters are coming out, saying they are going to be taking five-or-six-figure losses per fight when the uniform policy is implemented in July. Dana White is desperately trying to attack anybody that speaks out against it as either "short-sighted" or less-then-honest.
Complaining on Twitter is one thing. Prepping to actually organize fighters to action, however, is another thing all together. If Jimmo actually moves forward with this, it will be incredibly interesting to see how the UFC handles him both in and out of the cage.
Can Charles Oliveira Keep Up in the Featherweight Division?
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The Fight: Nik Lentz vs. Charles Oliveira
The Real Fight: Charles Oliveira vs. The World
The Stakes
One hundred and forty five pounds is absolutely brimming with talent these days, and it's very easy for a talented fighter, like Charles Oliveira, to get forgotten with all these Chad Mendeses, Conor McGregors and Frankie Edgars. Well, it's time for the 25 year-old to remind everyone what he's capable of. Set to face Nik Lentz in the co-main event, he has the opportunity to pull off the same kind of coup Max Holloway did at UFC on Fox 15.
The Question
Can Charles Oliveira Keep Up in the Featherweight Division?
Analysis
The featherweight division is like an avalanche right now. One misstep and a man is buried and forgotten. Heck, look no further than Lentz, who went from being a consensus top-10 fighter to a complete afterthought following just one fight with Chad Mendes.
Oliveira has established himself as a serious talent already, but one loss can instantly wipe him from relevance. This is a do-or-die fight for the Brazilian, and if he can't win, it will be a setback that takes years to recover from.
Which Welterweight Veteran Will Keep the Dream Alive?
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The Fight: Carlos Condit vs. Thiago Alves
The Real Fight: Veteran in a Tough Spot vs. Veteran in a Tough Spot
The Stakes
The welterweight division is no less talent-rich than the featherweight division, and former contenders Carlos Condit and Thiago Alves are in a similar position to Charles Oliveira.
Alves returned to the UFC after a two-year, injury-filled absence and is in the midst of a surprising comeback with back-to-back wins over Seth Baczynski and Jordan Mein. Carlos Condit has long been in the title picture but has been out of the cage for a year due to a knee injury sustained during his bout with Tyron Woodley.
Only one of them will stick around as a main event fighter. Which will it be?
The Question
Which Welterweight Veteran Will Keep the Dream Alive?
Analysis
For the fans, this is a fun fight. For Condit and Alves, though, this fight could easily set their career trajectory for the next five years.
Alves is one of the most technically solid strikers in the division but has faded out of memory for most fans. A decisive loss in his return to the main event picture could lock him into the midcard for the rest of his career. Condit, largely through his fan-favorite status, remains just a win or two out of contention...but that won't be the case with another loss.
This is a big deal for these two veterans. Here's hoping there is some magical middle ground where this fight can work out for both of them.
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