UFC Fight Night 86 Results: Matches to Make for the Winners and Losers
UFC Fight Night 86 in Zagreb, Croatia wasn't a jam-packed fight card that set the world on fire, but it did deliver on action and talking points.
The fight card was headlined by Junior dos Santos vs. Ben Rothwell, and the Brazilian picked Rothwell apart en route to a decision victory. It sets him back on a path towards UFC gold and is a huge setback for the American.
The other two top bouts on the card also took place in the heavyweight division. Derrick Lewis obliterated Gabriel Gonzaga's face, and Francis Ngannou shut Curtis Blaydes' eye after repeated punishment.
Also in action, Maryna Moroz got back in the win column against UFC newcomer Cristina Stanciu.
After all of the action, the question that comes first to mind is, "Who should everyone fight next?" It's a natural question to ask, and we are here to give the best possible answer for the entire card. Winners and losers alike, Bleacher Report takes a look at what could be on the horizon.
Here are the fights to make following UFC Fight Night 86.
UFC Fight Pass Prelims
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Bojan Velickovic def. Alessio Di Chirico by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
These two put on a decent opener for the Zagreb crowd. Each man got to shine a little.
Di Chirico will most likely see the inside of the Octagon again. The options are wide open with just about any non-ranked middleweight coming off a loss. Marcelo Guimaraes is one name that jumps off the page due to fighting recently, and he would be on a similar timetable.
Suggesting a suitable name for Velickovic could be difficult because he may drop to welterweight. That is his typical weight division, but nothing is set in stone after the victory. Should he stay at 185, Brad Scott would make for a fine opponent on a European fight card.
Jared Cannonier def. Cyril Asker by KO at 2:44 of the first round
Cannonier looked very good in his first-round destruction of Asker. In the post-fight interview, Cannonier mentioned he will be working to get down to 205 pounds. He came in at 241 pounds for this event so we'll keep booking him at heavyweight for the time being.
Asker can stand opposite Jarjis Danho on a future card. The loser will likely be served their walking papers.
As for Cannonier, the combination of his intent to drop to light heavyweight and how he performed should keep him out of the deep waters of the heavyweight division. Look for another sub-250-pound fighter to be placed in the cage against him. Damian Grabowski is a fighter that fits that bill and should be a favorable matchup for Cannonier.
Lucas Martins def. Robert Whiteford by split decision (29-28. 28-29. 30-27)
This was not the fight many expected, but the two still put on a competitive fight against one another. It just wasn't consistently exciting. Martins did enough to get back in the win column and avoid the dreaded three-fight losing streak.
Whiteford is now on a two-fight skid. A meeting with Noad Lahat is an addition to a preliminary card just waiting to happen.
The best possible fight for Martins would be Tatsuya Kawajiri. It's a recognizable opponent for many which will get him noticed, and a victory puts him in bigger fights with those on the precipice of the UFC's top 15. As for Kawajiri, it could be a decent rebound fight following his most recent defeat.
Fox Sports 1 Prelims
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Damian Stasiak def. Filip Pejic via submission (rear-naked choke) at 2:16 of the first round
Much to the chagrin of professional wrestling fans, Stasiak did not win via Heart Punch. Nevertheless, he got his first UFC win by upsetting the local favorite.
The bantamweight division is wafer-thin. It's best for the UFC to find another newcomer for Pejic's next outing. It'll help fill out the division.
Stasiak, by virtue of this being a shallow division, may get tossed into a fight he's not quite ready to take. Of the available options, Davey Grant may be the way to go for the UFC. It is one of the few options that makes sense.
Mairbek Taisumov def. Damir Hadzovic by TKO at 3:44 of the first round
There was not much surprising about this fight. It looked like a mismatch on paper, and it was a mismatch in the cage.
Hadzovic will likely find himself in a "loser leaves town" fight in his next bout. Who fits that bill? Probably Thibault Gouti. The lightweight division is too talent rich to be spending time on lower-level fighters who clearly aren't prepared for the UFC's depth at 155.
Taisumov now has four straight wins. It's time for a step-up in competition. I'd like to see him take on the winner of UFC Fight Night 88's contest between Carlos Diego Ferreira and Abel Trujillo.
Alejandro Perez def. Ian Entwistle via submission (punches) at 4:04 of the first round
Perez's victory was one of the first real surprises of the evening. Entwistle underperformed, and Perez was there to take advantage.
If the UFC values Entwistle then it will be likely he welcomes a newcomer to the Octagon, but I'd expect him to get lined up against a better fighter they can build back up off of Entwistle. Masanori Kanehara would be that kind of opponent.
Speaking of a fighter who the UFC needs to build back up following a loss, Iuri Alcantara is awaiting an opponent. A matchup against Perez could help reestablish him in the division and give Perez at another upset.
Zak Cummings def. Nicolas Dalby by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Dalby is undefeated no more. Cummings took every round on the judge's scorecards en route to the victory. The American was unable to finish, but won the fight thoroughly which was a shock against the undefeated opponent.
Dalby and Darren Till put on a fun fight in their draw last October. The UFC should run that one back to get a clear winner and another fun fight.
Cummings is 4-1 since joining the UFC. His loss? Gunnar Nelson. That's not shabby at all. He likely won't get a ranked fighter coming off a win, but he could potentially get one coming off a loss. And there are quite a few interesting 170-pound tilts coming up. I'd suggest Cummings get the loser of Demian Maia vs. Matt Brown. It'd be a compelling contest.
Maryna Moroz vs. Cristina Stanciu
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Maryna Moroz def. Cristina Stanciu by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Stanciu was an unknown commodity to most, but her hyper-aggressive style may have won her a few fans in a losing effort. Moroz simply fought a smarter fight and swept the scorecards. Stanciu had a few exciting moments in her organizational debut.
The win puts Moroz back on the right track as the organization's No. 9-ranked contender.
It's important to note both women are younger than 25 years old. They are still prospects with a lot of room for growth.
The best option for Stanciu would be for the UFC to sign another young fighter to stand opposite her. The current roster is not the best way to foster her development. However, should they decide to stick with what they already have—Emily Kagan is the best option. Kagan will test her grappling, but ultimately Stanciu's athleticism and power should net herself a win.
The real question following the bout is what's next for Moroz?
She is in the top 10 of the organizational rankings, and that should be where her next opponent comes from. Available for a scrap is Jessica Penne who ranks as B/R's No. 8-ranked strawweight. There are some other unranked fighters the UFC could pit her against, but if she is in the top 10 then she needs a ranked opponent.
Penne serves that role and offers up significant issues stylistically. It's a great fight that should be given a prime spot on a televised main card.
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Jan Blachowicz vs. Igor Pokrajac
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Jan Blachowicz def. Igor Pokrajac by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
When this fight was booked it looked like a way to get Blachowicz back in the win column, and while that did happen it did not come nearly as easily as expected.
Pokrajac gave Blachowicz everything and more. Several times in the bout the two men threw down. Pokrajac's chin allowed him to stick through until the end, and the solid showing should give him at least one more opportunity in the division.
Pokrajac's next fight shouldn't be anything of note. If anything, Alex Nicholson fits the mold for his next opponent. Stick that on a Fight Pass event.
Blachowicz got the win, but in doing so unimpressively it shouldn't net him another ranked opponent. Just outside of the rankings is Tom Lawlor. The American is coming off a loss to Corey Anderson, much like Blachowicz in this fight, and it would offer up another exciting matchup.
There aren't many options at 205 pounds, and these opponents satisfy the needs of the division.
Marcin Tybura vs. Timothy Johnson
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Timothy Johnson def. Marcin Tybura by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
The best mustache in the game today got it done in hostile territory. Johnson pulled off the mild upset in a forgettable affair.
Tybura didn't enthuse anyone with his performance. He only threatened Johnson late in the fight, but was unable to make anything of the chance. The Polish fighter will get one more chance from the benevolent gods of MMA, but it will be difficult for anyone to get excited for the fight.
As such, the UFC shouldn't even look far for his opponent. Just grab Gabriel Gonzaga from this fight card.
Johnson is a tough, gritty fighter. Unfortunately, he doesn't bring in an exciting style that would truly elevate him to the next plateau of the UFC. Regardless, he's done enough to earn a better opponent.
Frank Mir is the best name available for Johnson's next fight. Mir has fallen on hard times, and it's a fight he should win. For Johnson, it's an opportunity to build his name off of a former champion. It's a win-win scenario for the UFC. That is, of course, if he is cleared of his potential USADA doping violation.
Francis Ngannou vs. Curtis Blaydes
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Francis Ngannou def. Curtis Blaydes by TKO (doctor stoppage) in between the second and third rounds
What's this now? Two, count them two, heavyweight prospects? It's a dream come true.
Blaydes' eye was closed shut from Ngannou's hard-hitting punches, and the doctor called a stop to the fight between Rounds 2 and 3. He wanted to continue, but sometimes fighters need saving from themselves.
The real story of this fight is the rapid progression of Ngannou. His takedown defense and ability to get back to his feet was much improved from his December fight in Orlando. That's the trademark of a legitimate prospect.
Blaydes has a good wrestling background, and this experience will give him a lot to build from. Chris De La Rocha and Adam Milstead fight in May, and the loser of that fight would be a good opponent for Blaydes.
If Ngannou continues to develop at this rate we will have a contender on ours hands. It's a touch too early to put that on him just yet, but with the possibility there the UFC needs to give him another stylistically challenging opponent.
Oleksiy Oliynyk is just the type of fighter to test Ngannou against later in 2016.
Derrick Lewis vs. Gabriel Gonzaga
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Derrick Lewis def. Gabriel Gonzaga by KO at 4:48 of the first round
Wow. That's just about all you can say about Lewis' vicious power. Wow.
Gonzaga was doing well to avoid the big lunchbox of a fist, and even got a takedown. However, he wasn't able to keep Lewis down. Was it more telling of Gonzaga or Lewis? The former. Lewis didn't do anything special to stand back up.
Gonzaga is on his last legs. As previously mentioned, Marcin Tybura is good enough for his next outing.
Lewis' penchant for violence makes him a fan-friendly fighter. There could be a variety of options, but there seems to be mutual interest between him and Roy Nelson. What do we say to that? Sign us up. Quickly. That is a fan's fight.
It makes too much sense not to book.
Ben Rothwell vs. Junior dos Santos
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Junior dos Santos def. Ben Rothwell by unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 50-45)
Is JDS back? Maybe. He looked outstanding against Rothwell in Zagreb, but it was a matchup tailor-made for the Brazilian.
Rothwell loves to exchange, but dos Santos' boxing style is the perfect way to avoid the awkwardness of Rothwell. JDS was able to land jabs and straight rights all evening long to the body and the head. And when Rothwell would try to trap him, JDS was able to circle away. Rothwell didn't have the lateral quickness to execute his game plan.
The loss is damaging to Rothwell's title hopes. In spite of a stellar four-fight, four-finish win streak he was only able to rise to No. 4 in the organizational rankings. That is one spot behind one of the men he defeated in that run. And when they booked him against JDS, the Brazilian was coming off a knockout loss to that man—Alistair Overeem.
The UFC clearly doesn't have faith in him as a possible title contender, and this loss means he'll need another long win streak to get back into the mix. A rematch against the loser of Overeem vs. Andrei Arlovski should start that rebuilding process.
JDS isn't back in title talk either, but the win was massively important. He fought smart and looked physically fit. Who's next? Honestly, it's too early to tell.
The UFC's upcoming slate of heavyweight fights makes it very difficult to pick. It won't be Cain Velasquez. But maybe Travis Browne if he upsets Velasquez at UFC 200? Or the loser of the title tilt at UFC 199? Maybe a rematch with Mark Hunt?
Until those results come down, JDS is playing a waiting game. It will be a marquee fight, and it will put the victor back into title contention. That much is certain. It just comes down to the "who" of the matter. If forced to chose, I'll say he gets the loser of UFC 199's title match. A rematch against Fabricio Werdum or Stipe Miocic.
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