UFC Fight Night 73 Results: The Real Winners and Losers
UFC Fight Night 73 has come and gone and changed the fortunes of many along the way. It was an up-and-down card, featuring fleeting moments of legitimate top-level combat sports...and lots and lots of moments involving not-so-top-level combat sports.
The biggest winner of the night, and not by a little, was Glover Teixeira. The former contender has long been struggling with the unrealistic expectations hung on him by UFC commentators ahead of his ill-fated title fight, and his convincing loss to Phil Davis at UFC 179 had some predicting him to be nothing but a hype job.
While he still has a long way to go before becoming the destroyer he was pushed as, Teixeira fought like a true top-10 talent and scored a huge win over Ovince Saint Preux.
Similarly, the biggest loser of the night was co-main eventer Michael Johnson. Winning streaks are hard to come by at 155 pounds, especially when they come at the expense of top-notch competition. While the Blackzilian seemed to do everything necessary to add Beneil Dariush to his resume, judges threw a biting curveball in the form of a controversial split decision. That halts a blisteringly fast rise up the division's rankings and scuttles a potential 2016 title shot.
Who else won? Who else lost? Find out here!
Real Loser: Introductory Nonsense
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Result
Scott Holtzman def. Anthony Christodoulou, submission (Round 3, 2:40)
Real Loser
Introductory Nonsense. In a fight that brilliantly demonstrated how far the UFC talent pool has slipped over recent years, Scott Holtzman took on Anthony Christodoulou.
It was an ugly, sloppy, clinch-filled affair which, frankly, neither man won. Christodoulou posted such a lackluster performance that some were asking if he was the worst fighter in recent UFC history. Holtzman, on the other hand, needed 12 minutes to put him away.
Analysis
One of the silliest things the UFC does these days is try to find some way to make each fighter sound more special than he or she actually is. The greatest example of this phenomenon came here, with Christodoulou being announced as the "two-time National Greek Brazilian jiu-jitsu champion."
Sure, it sounds impressive to the completely uneducated observer. Any long-time fan, however, likely smirked a bit at that non-achievement being given the same kind of pomp as a major MMA title.
It isn't just Christodoulou, of course. Plenty of fighters have been announced as the 50-time Somesuch Champion of Somewhere. This, however, is the bottom of the barrel. Hopefully the UFC pulls the plug on these kinds of introductions and sets the resumes aside for all but former MMA champions.
Real Winner: Dustin Ortiz's Fighting Spirit
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Result
Dustin Ortiz def. Willie Gates, TKO (Round 3, 2:58)
Real Winner
Dustin Ortiz's Fighting Spirit. Willie Gates may have had the on-paper edge in the striking department, but there wasn't a moment where he had the freedom to work it. From start to finish, Dustin Ortiz was glued to Gates, dominating him in the clinch and on the ground before scoring a Round 3 TKO.
Analysis
This was a crucial win for Ortiz. While the 25-year-old has long been regarded as one of the best young fighters in the UFC, a squash match against Joseph Benavidez threatened to derail him in a big way. Thankfully, he managed to move past that loss, and now he looks better than ever.
Real Winner: The Good Version of Uriah Hall
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Result
Uriah Hall def. Oluwale Bamgbose, TKO (Round 1, 2:32)
Real Winner
The Good Version of Uriah Hall. TUF 17 sensation Uriah Hall fought Mr. Keyboard Smash (real name Oluwale Bamgbose) and, thankfully, it did not take too long to score the finish. After trying to initiate some ground combat, Hall crawled into Bamgbose's guard and from there, unleashed a series of devastating punches that led to a quick, decisive finish.
Analysis
What more can be said about Hall? Sometimes, the man is a tornado of punches and kicks. Sometimes, he is a gentle breeze that just carries on comfortably toward a boring loss.
Today, he was the former, and it quite possibly saved his job. Whether or not the killer version of Hall is here to stay, however, is anyone's guess.
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Real Winner: The Women's Bantamweight Division
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Result
Amanda Nunes def. Sara McMann, submission (Round 1, 2:53)
Real Winner
The Women's Bantamweight Division. Sara McMann has been a fixture of the women's bantamweight top 10 since entering the UFC...but those days may be over. Slow and methodical, the Olympic silver medalist threw a toothless spinning kick that resulted in a devastating counter right hand from Amanda Nunes. A couple of scrambles and a bunch of punches later, McMann succumbed to a fight-ending rear-naked choke.
Analysis
Nunes has long fluttered just outside the title picture. The tools have always been there. The same goes for the athleticism. The only thing missing was a winning streak.
Now riding back-to-back stoppage wins, however, she has earned her way onto the short list of "potential challengers for Ronda Rousey." If she can post another big win, it will be hard to argue against her receiving a title shot in early 2016.
Real Loser: Technique, Fight IQ, Etc.
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Result
Jared Rosholt def. Timothy Johnson, unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Real Loser
Technique, Fight IQ, Etc.. Imagine any given fight between unranked heavyweights. Jared Rosholt vs. Tim Johnson was that fight.
There were uncontested guard passes. There were wild haymakers. There were 30 glorious seconds of flailing hyper-violence. And at the end of the day, there was a boo-filled decision that broke in favor of Rosholt.
Analysis
Depending on your tastes, this fight was either amazing or awful. Regardless, it was an important win for Rosholt. Now 5-1 in his UFC career, he may be lined up for a jump up in competition.
While he lacks the cardio or raw strength of some of the top heavyweights, his wrestling chops make him a hard out in any three-round fight. Fights against Frank Mir, Antonio Silva and Stefan Struve should all be on the table.
Real Loser: The Sam Alvey Hype Train
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Result
Derek Brunson def. Sam Alvey, TKO (Round 1, 2:19)
Real Loser
The Sam Alvey Hype Train. While Sam Alvey has made a name for himself over recent months with his furious offense, it was Derek Brunson who wound up scoring the early finish. The wrestler charged out of the gate, worked Alvey to the cage and let loose a furious volley of punches. After just 2:19, the fight was waved to a close.
Analysis
Sam Alvey gets it. He knows the fight game. Unfortunately, he didn't quite know how to handle Brunson's wild offense, and that led to a rough knockout loss.
That's a bad break for him, but his name is out there now. If he can start racking up wins again, look for him to get right back into the middleweight rankings mix.
Real Loser: Michael Johnson
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Results
Beneil Dariush def. Michael Johnson, split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Real Loser
Michael Johnson. For two rounds, Michael Johnson did everything. He controlled the center of the cage, he landed punches, he stuffed takedowns and he was virtually untouched. His opponent, Beneil Dariush, found his groove with three minutes left, but when the final horn sounded, it seemed like too little, too late. Apparently, it wasn't.
To a chorus of boos, Dariush was announced the winner by split decision.
Analysis
The lightweight division is a tough place to be in. The competition is fierce, and winning streaks are hard to come by. That makes this loss to Dariush a particularly hard blow.
At one point in UFC history, this would be booked for an immediate rematch. Today? Johnson gets knocked back in the rankings because "LOLMMAMATH," and he has a potential title fight knocked far, far out of reach.
Real Winner: Glover Teixeira's Credibility
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Result
Glover Teixeira def. Ovince St-Preux, submission (Round 3, 3:10)
Real Winner
Glover Teixeira's Credibility. For a brief time, Ovince Saint Preux looked every bit the high-flying super-athlete Strikeforce was expecting him to be. Alas, that lasted for just a couple of minutes.
After weathering the early OSP storm, Glover Teixeira worked his underrated wrestling and quickly took control of the fight. After battering him with punches and elbows on the ground, Teixeira sunk in a deep rear-naked choke that put the hometown favorite to sleep.
Analysis
Teixeira losing to Jon Jones was a foregone conclusion. You can't hold that against him.
When he lost to Phil Davis in surprisingly lopsided fashion, however, it made it tough to peg where he stacked up in the division. While he isn't quite the phenom he was initially billed as, he demonstrated the all-over-the-cage skills that made him a compelling talent in the first place.
Will he return to title contention? Probably not. But today, he looked the part of a legitimate top-10 fighter.
Full Results
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Results c/o Bleacher Report play-by-play man, Craig Amos:
Main Card on Fox Sports 1
- Glover Teixeira def. Ovince St-Preux, submission (Round 3, 3:10)
- Beneil Dariush def. Michael Johnson, split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
- Derek Brunson def. Sam Alvey, TKO (Round 1, 2:19)
- Jared Rosholt def. Timothy Johnson, unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Amanda Nunes def. Sara McMann, submission (Round 1, 2:53)
- Ray Borg def. Geane Herrera, unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Prelims on Fox Sports 2
- Uriah Hall def. Oluwale Bamgbose, TKO (Round 1, 2:32)
- Chris Camozzi def. Tom Watson, unanimous decision (29-27, 30-26, 29-27)
- Dustin Ortiz def. Willie Gates, TKO (Round 3, 2:58)
- Frankie Saenz def. Sirwan Kakai, split decision (28-29, 30-27, 30-27)
Prelims on UFC Fight Pass
- Jonathan Wilson def. Chris Dempsey, knockout (Round 1, 0:50)
- Marlon Vera def. Roman Salazar, submission (Round 2, 2:15)
- Scott Holtzman def. Anthony Christodoulou, submission (Round 3, 2:40)
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