UFC Fight Night 76 Results: 5 Burning Questions Heading into Fight Night 77
UFC Fight Night 76 is in the books. The results are as follows:
Main Card (UFC Fight Pass)
- Louis Smoka def. Patrick Holohan by submission via rear-naked choke at 4:09 of Round 2
- Norman Parke def. Reza Madadi by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Nicolas Dalby vs. Darren Till ends in a majority draw (29-28 Till, 28-28, 28-28)
- Neil Seery def. Jon Delos Reyes by submission via guillotine choke at 4:12 of Round 2
Preliminary Card (UFC Fight Pass)
- Stevie Ray def. Mickael LeBout by unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
- Krzysztof Jotko def. Scott Askham by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
- Aisling Daly def. Ericka Almeida by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-27, 29-28)
- Tom Breese def. Cathal Pendred by TKO via punches at 4:37 of Round 1
- Darren Elkins def. Rob Whiteford by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Garreth McLellan def. Bubba Bush by TKO via punches at 4:58 of Round 3
Next up? UFC Fight Night 77 on Saturday, November 7.
The card has a reasonably solid one-two up top in Vitor Belfort vs. Dan Henderson 3 and Patrick Cummins vs. Glover Teixeira, but past that are few recognizable names. Still there is some intrigue outside the fighters featured on the poster. So who should you keep an eye on in a couple of weeks? Find out here!
Is This Clay Guida's Last Stand?
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The Fight: Clay Guida vs. Thiago Tavares
The Real Fight: Clay Guida vs. The Current State of the UFC
The Stakes
Clay Guida has been alternating wins and losses since 2012, but that may not cut it in the UFC right now. With a 1-1 in his last two and his visibility at an all-time low, Guida may not be able to take a loss and keep his job with the UFC.
The Question
Is this Clay Guida's last stand?
Analysis
It feels like an eternity ago, but Guida used to be one of the most popular fighters in the UFC. Things just haven't been the same, however, since his infamous 2012 loss to Gray Maynard in terms of his star power and his actual in-cage success.
These days, Guida is no longer a fan favorite. It's likely he has little to no backup in the UFC boardroom. He is 3-4 over the last four years and could potentially advance to 3-5 at a time when the UFC is actively downsizing its roster.
That makes this fight with Thiago Tavares a high-stakes affair for The Carpenter. If he loses, he could be shown the door along with the likes of Marcus Brimage and Francisco Trevino.
Which Established Lightweight Will Keep His Job Safe?
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The Fight: Gleison Tibau vs. Abel Trujillo
The Real Fight: Abel Trujillo, Gleison Tibau vs. The Current State of the UFC
The Stakes
Much like Clay Guida, Gleison Tibau and Abel Trujillo blend into the middle tier of an oceanic division. Unlike Guida, however, they are both coming off losses. While the loser likely won't be cut, this is not a time when a fighter can casually cede job security.
The Question
Which established lightweight will keep his job safe?
Analysis
Tibau is an accomplished veteran, but his promotional and career ceilings remain quite low. Trujillo is an intriguing fighter, but his loss to Tony Ferguson back in 2014 was telling, and he has more than a little bit of baggage (Warning: NSFW language) attached to him outside the cage.
Again, they don't need to worry about ending up on the block following this fight. Whoever comes up short, however, may end up in a do-or-die bout in his next outing.
Which Lightweight Prospect Is Going to Keep on Truckin'?
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The Fight: Gilbert Burns vs. Rashid Magomedov
The Real Fight: Hot Prospect vs. Hot Prospect
The Stakes
Gilbert Burns and Rashid Magomedov are two of the most interesting new fighters in the UFC's lightweight division. But because the UFC has no idea how to do this whole "matchmaking" thing, they are set to face off in a throwaway midcard fight on a Fight Night event that nobody will watch. One will be lined up to break into the top 15. The other...not so much.
The Question
Which lightweight prospect is going to keep on truckin'?
Analysis
Burns is an accomplished Brazilian jiu-jitsu player, with two World Championship gold medals and a bronze from Abu Dhabi Combat Club to his name. Magomedov is the latest in a seemingly never-ending procession of Dagestani hotshots primed to make an impact. Both are 3-0 in their UFC careers and have a bright future ahead of them.
It's quite silly that the UFC is pitting them against each other at this point, but here we are.
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Can Glover Teixeira Continue His Comeback?
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The Fight: Glover Teixeira vs. Patrick Cummins
The Real Fight: Glover Teixeira vs. The Lingering Effects of Jon Jones
The Stakes
Hard times came down on Glover Teixeira when he suffered back-to-back losses in 2014. While he entered the UFC with a bang, he seemed poised to leave with a whisper. An impressive win over a surging Ovince Saint Preux has breathed new life into his UFC career, however, and he has the chance to begin a run back to the top at the expense of Patrick Cummins.
The Question
Can Glover Teixeira continue his comeback?
Analysis
Teixeira was hyped in a big way when he entered the UFC in 2012, and his controversial title shot in 2014 seemingly justified his massive push. When Jon Jones absolutely dominated him at UFC 172, however, the Kool-Aid drinkers had to swallow a big dose of reality. When Phil Davis soundly defeated at UFC 179, it seemed like the UFC had pulled off one of the greatest bait-and-switches in sports history.
Perception has since shifted back in his favor, courtesy of a big win over a surging Saint Preux. His heavy right hand? His solid wrestling? His underrated Brazilian jiu-jitsu? All present and accounted for after seemingly disappearing.
Now he just needs to use those skills to post a few more wins. We'll see how he does against an overmatched Cummins.
Will Either Main Eventer Look Any Good?
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The Fight: Vitor Belfort vs. Dan Henderson
The Real Fight: Ex-TRT User vs. Ex-TRT User
The Stakes
While TRT is a thing of the past, some of the fighters linked to the drug remain in the sport. That group includes headliners Vitor Belfort and Dan Henderson. Both men have struggled in the cage since the Nevada State Athletic Commission banned the controversial treatment, and it remains up for debate where the TRT-free version of either man stacks up in today's game.
The Question
Will either main eventer look any good?
Analysis
Henderson suffered brutal losses to both Gegard Mousasi and Daniel Cormier after he was ordered to fight clean. Belfort, meanwhile, underwent a radical body transformation between his 2013 win over Hendo and his 2015 loss to Chris Weidman, and former foe Luke Rockhold accurately labeled him as "deflated" (h/t MMA Mania) Oh, and a report from Deadspin surfaced that the UFC covered up a drug test ahead of Belfort's 2012 fight with Jon Jones. That's not good, either.
Despite all that, Belfort and Henderson remain premium names in the sport, but that status hinges on having at least some level of success in the cage. If Belfort once again looks weak, it could be the beginning of the end for him. If Henderson gets finished for the fourth time in six fights, it could be the actual end for him.
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