UFC Fight Night 72 Results: 10 Burning Questions Heading into UFC on Fox 16
UFC Fight Night 72 is in the books. The results are as follows (courtesy of Bleacher Report's play-by-play man, Nathan McCarter):
- Michael Bisping defeats Thales Leites by split decision (47-48, 49-46, 48-47)
- Evan Dunham defeats Ross Pearson by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
- Joseph Duffy defeats Ivan Jorge via submission (triangle choke) at 3:05 of the first round
- Joanne Calderwood defeats Cortney Casey by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-27, 30-27)
- Leon Edwards defeats Pawel Pawlak by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Stevie Ray defeats Leonardo Mafra by TKO at 2:30 of the first round
- Patrick Holohan defeats Vaughn Lee by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Ilir Latifi defeats Hans Stringer by KO at 0:56 of the first round
- Mickael Lebout defeats Teemu Packalen (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
- Robert Whiteford defeats Paul Redmond by TKO at 3:04 of the first round
- Jimmie Rivera defeats Marcus Brimage by TKO at 1:29 of the first round
- Daniel Omielanczuk defeats Chris De La Rocha by TKO at 0:48 of the first round
Next up? UFC on Fox 16 on Saturday, July 25.
After multiple delays, the bantamweight title rematch between TJ Dillashaw and Renan Barao will finally happen...probably. Even if that falls through, there are more than a few interesting fights behind it including a potential women's bantamweight title eliminator between Jessica Eye and Miesha Tate, as well as a potential Fight of the Year candidate in Joe Lauzon vs. Takanori Gomi.
So what topics are worth discussing over the coming days? Read on!
Is This the End of the Four Horsewomen?
1 of 10
The Fight: Jessamyn Duke vs. Elizabeth Phillips
The Real Fight: The Four Horsewomen vs. Actually Being Good at Fighting
The Stakes
Jessamyn Duke's UFC career is likely winding down. With two lopsided losses in a row, a third dud would likely result in a pink slip and contract offer from Invicta FC.
The Question
Is this the end of the Four Horsewomen?
Analysis
"The Four Horsewomen" was one of the biggest MMA stories of 2014. How could it not be? MMA's top star, Ronda Rousey, leading four interesting talents toward MMA stardom? That's awesome!
Unfortunately, the non-Rousey horsewomen have flopped hard over the last 12 months. Shayna Baszler lost twice and released by the UFC. Marina Shafir is 1-2 in her pro career and is coming off back-to-back savage KO losses. Duke, similarly, has fallen on hard times of late.
If Duke loses and quickly washes out of relevance in the way her stablemates have, it will officially leave the Four Horsewomen as one of the greatest failures in MMA history.
Which Bantamweight Will Regain His Footing?
2 of 10
The Fight: Eddie Wineland vs. Bryan Caraway
The Real Fight: Eddie Wineland, Bryan Caraway vs. Top-Five Fighters' Injuries
The Stakes
This time last year, Eddie Wineland and Bryan Caraway were both top-10 bantamweights on the fringe of title contention. Now? Not so much. Both men are coming off rough losses and desperately need to win this fight in order to maintain some level of relevance in the bantamweight division.
The Question
Which bantamweight will regain his footing?
Analysis
Wineland and Caraway are both good fighters, but the bantamweight division is an utter mess right now. Renan Barao, Dominick Cruz and Raphael Assuncao all have legitimate claims to TJ Dillashaw's title, and that will keep the bantamweight belt locked away from outsiders for a year at least. The rest of the division needs to take a marathon approach to getting a title shot, and stumbling at the gun isn't a great way to begin.
Will Ben Saunders Continue His Climb Back Toward the Top?
3 of 10
The Fight: Kenny Robertson vs. Ben Saunders
The Real Fight: Ben Saunders vs. Being the New Matt Brown
The Stakes
Few were expecting much out of Ben Saunders when he returned to the UFC following a 10-fight run in Bellator, but that changed when he pulled off the first successful omoplata submission in UFC history. Now, with back-to-back first-round stoppage wins, he could be poised for a true career resurgence if he can get past Kenny Robertson.
The Question
Will Ben Saunders continue his climb back toward the top?
Analysis
Comebacks are all the rage these days. Matt Brown, Andrei Arlovski, Frank Mir...the list goes on. Saunders is looking to be part of that lot, and he is on pace to pull it off.
The Ultimate Fighter 6 alum has a lot of work ahead of him, sure, but he has the skills and savvy to make a run in the UFC's welterweight division. Even at 32 years old and 26 fights deep into his career, he is definitely one to watch.
What Will We See out of Tom Lawlor?
4 of 10
The Fight: Gian Villante vs. Tom Lawlor
The Real Fight: Tom Lawlor vs. Injuries
The Stakes
Tom Lawlor is still a fan favorite, but dang, he has been out for a long time. Two years removed from his last fight, a submission win over Michael Kuiper, the man known for his creative walkouts and weigh-in attire could use a big win to remind the general population that he's still Filthy.
The Question
What will we see out of Tom Lawlor?
Analysis
Lawlor is one of the few fighters who offer legitimate entertainment before, during and after the fight. From his traditionally awesome weigh-ins to his steady work on the FRB Show to the Cody McKenzie-like guillotine, he was a man to watch.
Is he today, though? Out of the cage, the UFC's uniform deal with Reebok is tailor-made to make fighters like Lawlor an anonymous commodity. In the cage? Two years without a fight could leave him a rusty mess or could have given him the time to heal and polish up his established skills. It will be interesting to see if the 32-year-old will return better, worse or about the same.
Which Former Lightweight Hopefuls Will Return to Form?
5 of 10
The Fight: Pretty Much Every Lightweight Fight on the Card
The Real Fight: Fun-but-Struggling Fighter vs. Other Fun-but-Struggling Fighter
The Stakes
From Ramsey Nijem all the way up to Edson Barboza, UFC on Fox 16 is jam-packed with fun, exciting fighters who have fallen on hard times. There is a lot of talent on the card, but only a few wins to go around. The middle of the division could be shaken up in a big, big way come next Sunday.
The Question
Which former lightweight hopefuls will return to form?
Analysis
So many fighters to talk about, so little space...
Jim Miller, of course, needs a win after back-to-back losses. The same goes for Danny Castillo. Beneil Dariush put hard times on flashy striker Daron Cruickshank, who could use a buffer to keep him safe from Titan FC. Oh, and Edson Barboza? He's in a lose-lose fight, as he needs to demolish Paul Felder if he wants to stay in place.
The list goes on, and there is far too much to talk about in this one slide. There are a lot of important bouts for a lot of compelling fighters.
Can Takanori Gomi vs. Joe Lauzon Possibly Live Up to Its Potential?
6 of 10
The Fight: Joe Lauzon vs. Takanori Gomi
The Real Fight: Potential vs. Living Up to It
The Stakes
Joe Lauzon and Takanori Gomi are in the same position as Jim Miller and Edson Barboza. The big difference? Neither of them is in a Fight of the Year-caliber matchup. Lauzon vs. Gomi is mouthwatering, and it is hard to imagine this fight being anything but thrilling.
The Question
Can Takanori Gomi vs. Joe Lauzon possibly live up to its potential?
Analysis
Lauzon is known for his never-give-up style and crafty submission skills. Gomi is known for his devastating punches. This, as Jeremy Botter would say, is a #NoPants kind of fight.
If it lives up to half its potential, it will be one worth remembering.
Is Jessica Eye the Second-Best Women's Bantamweight Fighter?
7 of 10
The Fight: Miesha Tate vs. Jessica Eye
The Real Fight: Jessica Eye vs. Tough Tests
The Stakes
While Jessica Eye may have a relatively humble 1-1 (1) UFC record, she is one of the most interesting talents in the division. Fresh off a demolition of Leslie Smith, if Eye cruises through Miesha Tate, she won't just be the second-best 135-pound female fighter.
The Question
Is Jessica Eye the second-best women's bantamweight fighter?
Analysis
Eye's unremarkable UFC record is misleading. Her first two bouts came opposite stiff competition, with both coming down to narrow split decisions. Her most recent fight showed the kind of explosiveness and brutality that she demonstrated in Bellator.
Her ceiling is remarkably high, and her potential is huge. If she can convincingly defeat Tate, she may actually be a legitimate test for Ronda Rousey.
Does Miesha Tate Still Hold Up?
8 of 10
The Fight: Miesha Tate vs. Jessica Eye
The Real Fight: Miesha Tate vs. Modern Top-10 Bantamweights
The Stakes
Miesha Tate has a strong resume, with wins over numerous champions and veterans. Worth noting, however, are her struggles against the modern crop of women's bantamweight talent. Jessica Eye is one of the hottest up-and-coming fighters in women's MMA, and if Tate comes up short, she will be locked into gatekeeper status.
The Question
Does Miesha Tate still hold up?
Analysis
While the women's bantamweight division is painfully thin, it is still advancing on the whole. The Tara LaRosas and Vanessa Portos are, more or less, gone. They paved the way for the Miesha Tates and Sarah Kaufmans, but it's unclear if those Strikeforce-era holdovers' days at the top are officially done.
If Eye steps into the cage and wrecks Tate the way she did Leslie Smith, it could mark the beginning of a new generation of fighters—and the end for a sizable chunk of the women's bantamweight division.
Is Either Man as Good as He Seems?
9 of 10
The Fight: TJ Dillashaw vs. Renan Barao
The Real Fight: Perception vs. Reality
The Stakes
In theory, TJ Dillashaw and Renan Barao are perfect fighters, and they have both shown flashes of that in the cage. In practice, however, there is room for doubt with both men. This is the opportunity for both men to show their worth and assert themselves as pound-for-pound greats.
The Question
Is either man as good as he seems?
Analysis
Theoretically, Dillashaw is a 135-pound Fedor Emelianenko. He is one of the few fighters to achieve true MMA zen, blending wrestling and striking together into one seamless package.
Theoretically, Barao is the real-life version of the mythical beast known as "The Old Vitor Belfort," a merciless, explosive finisher with all-over-the-cage skills who can turn any opening into a win.
In reality? Dillashaw is a slow starter who was starched by John Dodson to lose The Ultimate Fighter 14 and was beaten by Raphael Assuncao not all that long ago. And Barao? He quite possibly broke Junior dos Santos' record for "most thorough beating of a UFC champion, ever."
One of them needs to win big here in order to show that he isn't just great in theory but every bit as good as he's billed to be.
Will Dillashaw vs. Barao 2 Go Any Differently?
10 of 10
The Fight: TJ Dillashaw vs. Renan Barao
The Real Fight: Precedent vs. The Present
The Stakes
Dillashaw and Barao are set to face off yet again, and fans can't seem to shrug hard enough about it. Their first fight, at UFC 173, was a brutally lopsided affair with Dillashaw battering Barao from bell to bell. With no obvious new wrinkles added to Barao's game and nothing to suggest Dillashaw has gotten worse in the last year, it's tough to see how this fight could go much differently.
The Question
Will Dillashaw vs. Barao 2 go any differently?
Analysis
The last 12 months have gone poorly for both Dillashaw and Barao. A slew of troubles have left both men, more or less, in an awkward holding pattern since their UFC 173 fight. Both men have scores of doubters, and neither has really had the opportunity to prove them wrong.
This fight is a huge opportunity for both men...and they need to take full advantage of it. If Barao gets beaten again, he will be locked out of contention for a long time. If Dillashaw drops the belt, he may be forced into taking a few fights before getting a rematch.
.jpg?w=600 "NFL star fakes injury at Savannah Bananas game")
.png?w=600 "Landing Spots For NBA Free Agents ✈️")
