UFC 193 Results: Matches to Make for the Winners and Losers
The UFC has a new women's bantamweight champion.
Ronda Rousey has ruled the roost for almost three years, finishing off her six challengers in just over 25 minutes. Holly Holm was having none of that.
The challenger, who closed as a 5-1 underdog, easily took the first round and then knocked the champion cold with a head kick in the second round to win the belt.
This was one of the biggest upsets in UFC history, and it capped off an excellent night of fights. The preliminary card wasn't packed with names, but it delivered solid action. Aside from one snoozer, the main card was likewise excellent, and fans who tuned in to see the champion received a solid product.
We'll take a look at what comes next for UFC 193's competitors in this edition of "Matches to Make."
UFC Fight Pass Prelims
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Ben Nguyen def. Ryan Benoit by submission at 2:35 of the first round
Nguyen came into the UFC with a mediocre 12-5 record, but two straight first-round finishes have him quickly climbing the ranks of the flyweight division. He's a dangerous and technically sound striker with big power in his hands and enough wrestling and grappling skill to be an all-around threat.
The South Dakota native could use one more fight before testing himself against the division's elite. Neil Seery would be both an action fight and an opportunity for both to move themselves up the ladder; alternatively, he could fight Sergio Pettis in a fantastic striking matchup.
This is probably the end of Benoit's UFC run. He's now 1-2 in the promotion, and aside from one monstrous left hook against Sergio Pettis—which he then marred by acting like a doofus—he's been unimpressive. If he sticks around, Geane Herrera would be a good fit.
James Moontasri def. Anton Zafir by TKO at 4:36 of the first round
Former taekwondo competitor James Moontasri looked solid in his first outing at 170 pounds, overcoming some strong early top control from the debuting Anton Zafir to finish the Australian with a slick spinning back kick/spinning back fist combination.
The American will probably never reach the top of the division—he's too inconsistent and takes too many risks—but he's a ridiculously fun fighter with a flashy striking arsenal. Sean Strickland would be an interesting and likely entertaining matchup, but Brandon Thatch would be hot fire.
It's hard to tell what to make of Zafir, who looked solid before gassing and only had a little time to prepare. A matchup with fellow Aussie Steve Kennedy or a debuting fighter would be the best bet.
Richard Walsh def. Steve Kennedy by unanimous decision
This was an up-and-down performance from the talented but still-improving Walsh, who dominated Kennedy on the feet with low kicks and punching combinations and yet managed to get himself into trouble on the mat. It was the rare fight that manages to be both competitive and completely one-sided simultaneously.
If the UFC wants to save Walsh for the Australian market, it'll probably build him slowly with someone like Claudio Henrique da Silva. Fellow UFC 193 competitor James Moontasri would be an entertaining matchup, while Alex Garcia would make for an intriguing fight between up-and-comers.
There's no real reason for Kennedy to stick around the UFC with convincing losses in his first two appearances. It might feed him to a prospect, but it's more likely he'll get his pink slip.
Daniel Kelly def. Steve Montgomery by unanimous decision
This turned out to be a fun, back-and-forth fight as the Australian judoka had a strong first round, got beaten up by Montgomery in the second and battled back for a gritty decision victory.
Kelly is 38 and won't be making a run at the top of the division, but the Australian crowd likes him, and he's been a fun fighter, for the most part, during his UFC run. Vitor Miranda would make for an interesting matchup of older fighters.
Montgomery is now 0-2 in the UFC, and it wouldn't be surprising if he received his walking papers. He's a fun and improving fighter, though, and there is value in keeping him around. Scott Askham would be an entertaining matchup for him, and Oluwale Bamgbose promises violence.
The Fox Sports 1 Prelims
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Danny Martinez def. Richie Vaculik by unanimous decision
This was one of the evening's less interesting fights, both on paper and in practice. The American Martinez looked better than he has in his three prior UFC appearances, making more effective use of his striking and wrestling and doing enough to take all three rounds. Vaculik, an Australian, failed to build on the promise he showed in his last outing and is clearly a limited fighter.
With that win under his belt, Martinez can settle in as a solid gatekeeper. Chris Kelades would be a good matchup, but there aren't a ton of options in the thin flyweight division.
Vaculik is now 1-3 in the promotion, and he'll probably be cut. If the promotion decides to keep him around for the next Australian card, he will likely get a debuting fighter.
Gian Villante def. Anthony Perosh by KO at 2:56 of the first round
Long Island's Villante planted a brutal punch on the aging Australian to put his lights out in the first round. The American's UFC career has been up and down, but he seems to be cementing himself as a fighter on the fringes of the Top 15 who delivers consistent action.
The light heavyweight division is exceptionally thin, and it's hard to find good matchups for Villante. If the UFC decides to build The Ultimate Fighter 19 winner slowly, Corey Anderson would be a distinct possibility; otherwise, the winner of the Sean O'Connell-Ilir Latifi fight in Boston fits the bill.
At 43 and 2-4 in his last six, with three of those losses by devastating knockout, it's probably time for Perosh to hang up his gloves. If he's determined to stick around, however, he should get a debuting fighter or Chris Dempsey.
Kyle Noke def. Peter Sobotta by TKO at 2:01 of the first round
Noke didn't look great in taking a split decision from Jonavin Webb last May, but he rebounded in a big way with a devastating first-round finish of Peter Sobotta, who had been slick and well-rounded in his last two UFC outings. The German couldn't get inside Noke's rangy kicks and ate one of the most devastating front kicks in MMA history, which audibly snapped Sobotta's rib and put him down for the count.
The Australian isn't going to be making a title run in the stacked welterweight division, but he's well-known in his home country and is something of a Down Under MMA pioneer. The winner of the Omari Akhmedov-Sergio Moraes fight would be a good fit, as would Yoshihiro Akiyama if he defeats Alberto Mina later this month.
Despite the improvements he made in his time away from the UFC, Sobotta still has a clear ceiling. He has value to the German market, so he should get a winnable fight—someone like Gasan Umalatov or a debuting fighter—on a future European card.
Jake Matthews def. Akbarh Arreola by TKO (doctor stoppage) at 5:00 of the second round
For the first few minutes of the fight, it seemed like Jake Matthews would be the evening's first victim of an enormous upset. Arreola planted a high kick on his head, attained dominant position on the mat and nearly finished him with a submission before the Aussie roared back with thunderous ground strikes that forced the doctor to stop the fight.
Matthews is only 21 and is a tremendous talent, but the first round showed some of his limitations, namely his rote striking repertoire and reliance on his physical gifts. His dad is his head coach, and while fighters such as Khabib Nurmagomedov and Stephen Thompson have had success with their fathers as coaches, they've also put in extensive work with big teams and elite trainers. Matthews needs to follow their lead.
If Matthews does that, the sky is the limit. For now, he should continue to be built slowly, and a matchup with Nick Hein or the winner of the Drew Dober-Erik Koch fight at UFC 195 would be the right kind of test for his skills.
Arreola is now 1-3 in the UFC and will probably be cut. If he's not, the UFC will put him up against a debuting fighter or a bottom-tier lightweight on one of its future events in Mexico.
Stefan Struve vs. Jared Rosholt
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Jared Rosholt def. Stefan Struve by unanimous decision
This was the worst fight on the main card and likely the worst of the entire event. The enormous Dutchman couldn't pull the trigger on his strikes at range, and Rosholt exploited that by repeatedly getting inside, finishing takedowns and working uneventful top control. Struve came on in the second round, but he couldn't sustain and carry his momentum into the third, and Rosholt took two rounds on the cards.
While he looked better against the ghost of Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira in his last outing, Struve reverted to the tentative form he has showed in the past here against Rosholt. While he's only 27, the Dutchman isn't a spring chicken in fight years: He's been a pro for more than a decade and has 34 fights under his belt, so barring a miracle he's more or less the best version of himself right now.
Rosholt isn't spectacular, but he's quite effective. The former Oklahoma State All-American is a suffocating grinder and has no real illusions about this, particularly after his brief experiment in striking ended in a knockout loss against Alexey Oleinik. He doesn't have much finishing ability, but he can take two rounds against practically any heavyweight.
If the UFC feels like it's time to test Rosholt against the elite, the winner of the Travis Browne-Matt Mitrione fight is the match to make.
For Struve, it's back to the drawing board once again. Viktor Pesta or Shawn Jordan would be a good gauge for where the Dutchman is really at in his career, or they might match him up with Antonio Silva to keep him around the Top 15.
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Robert Whittaker vs. Uriah Hall
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Robert Whittaker def. Uriah Hall by unanimous decision
Whittaker moves to 3-0 at 185 pounds following a gritty decision win over Uriah Hall that showcased the full extent of his considerable skills. The two 30-27 scorecards didn't accurately reflect how competitive and entertaining the fight was. For his part, Hall fought up to his potential, but he came up short against a talented fighter who just slightly outworked him.
Whittaker should enter the Top 10 at middleweight with this win, and he deserves an elite opponent. At only 24 he's the closest thing the division has to a youthful up-and-comer, and he's shown nothing but growth in his skills and intangibles since moving up.
Unless the UFC has bigger plans for Michael Bisping—Anderson Silva, maybe?— that's still the right fight to make for Whittaker. Vitor Belfort would also provide the name value necessary to get Whittaker over with the fans, but the Brazilian is unlikely to accept a fight against a relative unknown.
It's hard to say where Hall goes from here. He looked good, but he still has no real answer for an opponent who's willing and able to pressure him. His continued lack of urgency is also a problem, though a diminishing one.
After fighting five times in the last 10 months, Hall needs some time off. The loser of the C.B. Dollaway-Nate Marquardt fight would be a solid matchup, and if they decide to funnel him back into action, fighting the loser of the Tamdan McCrory-Josh Samman fight would work.
Mark Hunt vs. Antonio Silva
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Mark Hunt def. Antonio Silva by TKO at 3:41 of the first round
The rematch of one of the most epic heavyweight fights of all time didn't need the scheduled 15 minutes. Hunt was patient early, stalking Silva around the cage, and it only took a brief barrage of punches to put the giant Brazilian down. Neither man has looked the same since their first meeting, but time—not to mention a lack of needed testosterone-replacement therapy—has been much harder on Silva than "The Super Samoan."
Hunt has dropped more than 40 pounds since going vegan earlier this year, and he looked quite spry in the cage. He has obviously lost a step, but getting in better shape should give him more energy and cause less wear and tear on his body as he trains.
There's really only one potential matchup for Hunt, and that's a rematch with Josh Barnett. The American submitted him nearly a decade ago, and it's the right fit for two aging legends in a division where neither is likely to get a shot at the crown. At 41, he doesn't have many fights left, and he needs the right combination of name value and meaning.
While Silva looked lighter on his feet than he did in his losses to Andrei Arlovski and Frank Mir, his chin is just gone. Without TRT and unable to take the kinds of shots necessary to compete against the division's elite, he should probably call it quits. The sick thing, however, is that he's still more than skilled enough to beat the fighters at the bottom of the division, but not durable enough to hang with the elite.
Assuming he doesn't retire, Stefan Struve is probably the highest-ranked fighter the UFC would give him. Otherwise, Roy Nelson would be a viable matchup.
Joanna Jedrzejczyk vs. Valerie Letourneau
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Joanna Jedrzejczyk def. Valerie Letourneau by unanimous decision
The game, durable Letourneau managed to make a fight of it against strawweight champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk, but she came up short against an otherworldly striker in a competitive but not close fight. Jedrzejczyk doubled up Letourneau in significant strikes, landing a ridiculous 220 to the challenger's 103, despite suffering a probable broken right hand during the bout.
Letourneau looked like the best version of herself against Jedrzejczyk, planting quick and sharp counter rights on the champion and utilizing a consistent left kick, but she just didn't have the depth of skill to compete with that level of striker.
A matchup with Felice Herrig would get her back on track in an entertaining bout, but she needs some time off after the damage she took against the champion and a busy 2015 schedule.
Depending on the status of Jedrzejczyk's hand, which she initially hurt back in June, the champion might be out for a while. Either way, a rematch with Claudia Gadelha is the right fight to make. Their first meeting was razor-thin, and many thought the Brazilian won.
Gadelha-Jedrzejczyk II is the biggest and most competitive fight at 115 pounds, and it would make for a fantastic Fox headliner or second bout on a pay-per-view.
Ronda Rousey vs. Holly Holm
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Holly Holm def. Ronda Rousey by knockout at :59 of the second round
It's a stunning thing to watch a person become the best-possible version of herself at the biggest-possible moment.
That's exactly what Holly Holm did against Ronda Rousey. This wasn't a fluke; it was the Albuquerque native rising to the occasion with a game plan that she and her coaches had been working on for years, utilizing skills honed in New Mexico casinos against some of the world's best female boxers.
Where do the two fighters go from here?
To begin with, Rousey needs a near-total teardown of her training situation. Her game plan was limited and reliant on her physical gifts, she was unbelievably hittable and, most damning, she clearly hasn't made real improvements as a striker under Edmond Tarverdyan's tutelage.
The now-former champion has film engagements planned for the beginning of next year and likely won't be able to return until mid-summer. A rematch with Holm at UFC 200 looks like just the ticket for her on every level, and it's guaranteed box-office gold.
For Holm, she'd be smart to wait for the Rousey rematch. That's the money fight, and it's potentially a life-changing amount of cash for a fighter who's already in her mid-30s. If not, a fight with Miesha Tate would potentially add some sizzle to the Rousey rematch, but that's a risky proposition against a game and durable opponent.
Rousey is the goose who lays the golden eggs for the UFC, and doing anything other than putting Rousey and Holm together for the rematch would be akin to dousing bundles of Benjamins in gasoline and lighting them on fire.
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