UFC Fight Night 81 Results: 5 Burning Questions Heading into UFC on Fox 18
UFC Fight Night 81 is in the books. The results are as follows (c/o Bleacher Report play-by-play man Craig Amos):
Main Card on Fox Sports 1
- Dominick Cruz def. T.J. Dillashaw, split-decision (48-47, 46-49, 49-46)
- Eddie Alvarez def. Anthony Pettis, split-decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
- Travis Browne def. Matt Mitrione, TKO (Round 3, 4:09)
- Francisco Trinaldo def. Ross Pearson, unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 30-27)
Prelims on Fox Sports 1
- Patrick Cote def. Ben Saunders, TKO (Round 2, 1:14)
- Ed Herman def. Tim Boetsch, TKO (Round 2, 1:39)
- Chris Wade def. Mehdi Baghdad, submission (Round 1, 4:30)
- Luke Sanders def. Maximo Blanco, submission (Round 1, 3:38)
Prelims on UFC Fight Pass
- Paul Felder def. Daron Cruickshank, submission (Round 3, 3:56)
- Ilir Latifi def. Sean O’Connell, knockout (Round 1, 0:30)
- Charles Rosa def. Kyle Bochniak, unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
- Rob Font def. Joey Gomez, TKO (Round 2, 4:13)
- Francimar Barroso def. Elvis Mutapcic, unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 30-27)
Next up? UFC on Fox 18.
While the card hasn't been looked at too closely, UFC on Fox 18 offers fans a slew of interesting fights. Two unpredictable, title-critical bouts headline the event in Anthony Johnson vs. Ryan Bader and Josh Barnett vs. Ben Rothwell. The rest of the card is dotted with interesting prospects, including UFC favorites Olivier Aubin-Mercier and Sage Northcutt.
There are a lot of interesting names on this card, and it was tough to boil this down to just five questions. But which ones proved to be the hottest? Read on and find out!
Can Tarec Saffiedine Work His Way Back from Injury?
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The Fight: Tarec Saffiedine vs. Jake Ellenberger
The Real Fight: Tarec Saffiedine vs. Healthiness
The Stakes
Tarec Saffiedine is an intriguing talent, but his UFC career has been defined by injuries. With just two fights under his belt since Strikeforce's closure, he needs to win—and win big—if he wants to once again be regarded as a top-10 name.
The Question
Can Tarec Saffiedine work his way back from injury?
Analysis
When Saffiedine absolutely destroyed Nate Marquardt in Strikeforce's final event, he instantly became one of the promotion's most interesting imports. His ferocious striking set him apart in an at-the-time wrestler-heavy division, and the sky seemed to be the limit for him.
However, he spent a year out of the cage before making his UFC debut against Hyun-Gyu Lim. Then it was 10 more months until he fought Rory MacDonald. Then another year before he was scheduled for his next fight. Years of Saffiedine's athletic prime have already been shaved off, and now fight fans are left wondering what, if anything, remains of the last man to win in the Hexagon.
Jake Ellenberger is a tested veteran, but shouldn't be a tough out for a high-level welterweight. This fight will go a long way toward determining how good the Belgian is after all these setbacks.
Can Sage Northcutt Continue to Cruise?
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The Fight: Sage Northcutt vs. Andrew Holbrook
The Real Fight: The UFC vs. Promoting Fighters Based on Achievement
The Stakes
The UFC has put a lot of effort into promoting Sage Northcutt, and he has done a good job of living up to their hype. Set for another showcase bout, this time against Andrew Holbrook, it is worth tuning in just to see what Northcutt can offer.
The Question
Can Sage Northcutt continue to cruise?
Analysis
While the UFC is going a bit overboard when it comes to Northcutt, no one can deny that he is an intriguing prospect. However, the problem is that he is an intriguing prospect in an incredibly deep division. Despite being impressively athletic, there are just too many formidable lightweights to expect him to continue demolishing all comers.
Holbrook isn't necessarily a lethal opponent, but Northcutt's days of being undefeated are unquestionably numbered. In the short term, though, it's worth tuning in to see what he has to offer, and what new wrinkles he has added to his game.
What Will We See from Josh Barnett?
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The Fight: Ben Rothwell vs. Josh Barnett
The Real Fight: Josh Barnett vs. Age, Maybe?
The Stakes
Josh Barnett went on a lengthy hiatus after being viciously knocked out by Travis Browne at UFC 168. He returned against Roy Nelson in September and...was actually surprisingly good! Now set to face Ben Rothwell, he is poised to vault directly into the heavyweight top five with a win.
The Question
What will we see from Josh Barnett?
Analysis
Barnett didn't necessarily blow fans' minds when he beat Nelson back in September, but it was a deceptively strong performance from him. With almost 20 years of MMA experience at this point, the former champ knows every trick in the book. If he has five rounds of cardio in him, he becomes a dangerous opponent for anybody in the game.
That makes this fight a low-risk, high-reward affair for the artist formerly known as the Babyfaced Assassin. If Barnett can beat Rothwell, he suddenly becomes a legitimate title contender. If he loses, he's still a ranked heavyweight at a time where those are an incredibly precious commodity.
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Does Joe Silva Remember Who This Ben Rothwell Character Is?
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The Fight: Josh Barnett vs. Ben Rothwell
The Real Fight: Ben Rothwell vs. UFC's Promotional Plans
The Stakes
Ben Rothwell has a strong claim to a title shot, but he has been completely forgotten by both fans and UFC matchmakers. Facing off against the always-dangerous but oft-unheralded Josh Barnett, Rothwell has to either force the UFC's hand by scoring a win or be left behind completely.
The Question
Will Ben Rothwell be able to force his way into title contention?
Analysis
What an unenviable position for Rothwell. His 2014 win over Alistair Overeem makes him the on-paper top contender in the heavyweight division, but the UFC doesn't seem to care. A win over Barnett allows him to keep his spot, but a loss completely kills him as a contender.
This fight is risky business for Rothwell, and it's a shame he has been forced into this position.
Which Light Heavyweight Will Be Left in an Indefinite Holding Pattern?
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The Fight: Anthony Johnson vs. Ryan Bader
The Real Fight: Anthony Johnson, Ryan Bader vs. Daniel Cormier, Jon Jones
The Stakes
The UFC is almost certainly already committed to Daniel Cormier vs. Jon Jones 2, and that, unfortunately, leaves Anthony Johnson and Ryan Bader in limbo. The winner of this fight is all but guaranteed a title shot. When that time comes, however, is anyone's guess.
The Question
Which light heavyweight will be left in an indefinite holding pattern?
Analysis
A kind man would call this fight a "title eliminator." A more honest man would call this fight a "No. 2 contender bout." Jonny Bones is next in line at 205 pounds, and there isn't a thing that Bader or Johnson can do about it. Making matters worse, the UFC's sluggish scheduling in recent months has made it impossible to guess when we could see the finals of this miniature tournament.
It's entirely possible that DC vs. Jones 2 headlines UFC 198 in April. That could theoretically open the door for a light heavyweight title fight in late summer or early autumn.
Then again, it's also possible that the UFC sits on DC vs. Jones 2 until July's UFC 200, to ensure they have a big fight in the chamber should things go sideways for Conor McGregor or Holly Holm at UFC 197. That could easily leave Johnson or Bader waiting until early 2017.
While the UFC on Fox 18 main event is a high-stakes fight, there are too many moving parts here to get excited.
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