UFC on Fox 19 Results: Matches to Make for the Winners and Losers
The UFC returned to Tampa, Florida, for UFC on Fox 19 on Saturday with a night full of fun and excitement.
In the main event, Glover Teixeira made quick work of former light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans. The fight lasted less than two minutes, and Evans' face was left on the canvas. The win puts Teixeira right back in the thick of things at 205 pounds.
The co-main event was a strawweight contender's dream rematch between Rose Namajunas and Tecia Torres. Namajunas evened the series between the two, and it likely won't be the last time we watch them compete against each other. The close decision victory could have Namajunas seeing gold soon.
Is that the fight to make? What about the other bouts on the card?
Bleacher Report is here to take you through the entire card and project which fights are on the horizon.
Here are the matches to make following UFC on Fox 19.
UFC Fight Pass Prelims
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Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos def. Omari Akhmedov by TKO at 3:03 of the third round
The curtain jerker was the Fight of the Night, earning each fighter an extra $50,000. There are worse ways to open a show.
Akhmedov has now lost two straight. A fighter in a similar position is Jonavin Webb. Pit them against each other with the loser getting cut.
Dos Santos would be a good opponent for Ben Saunders in the fall.
Cezar Ferreira def. Oluwale Bamgbose by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Ferreira survived a fight-round onslaught from Bamgbose and was then able to take the final two rounds. Bamgbose didn't have the gas tank to keep up his pace. It cost him.
Bamgbose is a raw talent. Also, he's fought all of his UFC bouts on short notice. The company should give him a UFC newcomer and a full camp for his next fight.
Ferreira could meet just about any non-ranked welterweight in the UFC. One of the better matchups available for a prelim in the fall is against Mike Pyle. These two are in roughly the same place, and they fit together on the matchmaking sheet.
John Dodson def. Manny Gamburyan by TKO at 0:37 of the first round
Wow. Welcome back to 135 pounds, Dodson. He blitzed Gamburyan in spectacular fashion.
Gamburyan vs. Leandro Issa would work. Bantamweight is not a great division with few compelling matchups between non-ranked fighters.
As for Dodson, give him the winner of John Lineker vs. Rob Font at UFC 198 in May. And let's all pray that it's Lineker. A Lineker vs. Dodson matchup at 135 pounds is one of the most salivating fights possible.
Fox Prelims
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Michael Graves def. Randy Brown via submission (rear-naked choke) at 2:31 of the second round
Randy Brown was another product of the web series Looking for a Fight, and he found one. Brown is a young fighter, and that showed. He didn't have the ground game to match Graves.
I don't even want to suggest a name for Brown because he shouldn't be fighting anyone already on the roster. The UFC needs to look on the regional circuit for fighters on his level and sign them.
Graves moves his record to 6-0, but the UFC won't throw him against the sharks of the division just yet. I say pit him against Alan Jouban. That would fit on any Fight Night card.
Santiago Ponzinibbio def. Court McGee by TKO at 4:15 of the first round
Santiago Ponzinibbio took it to Court McGee. Most were expecting a close, tough fight. That is not what happened. American Top Team welterweights took care of business in the first two Fox preliminary contests.
McGee is going to be a gatekeeper of sorts. Which prospect needs another test? Brandon Thatch.
Ponzinibbio is a little bit ahead of his teammate Graves and will get a little bigger opponent as a result. I would love to see the UFC pit Ponzinibbio against Siyar Bahadurzada. After what Ponzinibbio showcased on Saturday evening, this matchup is fire.
Raquel Pennington def. Bethe Correia by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
"Rocky" Pennington did enough to edge Bethe Correia, but it didn't come easy. Correia landed several hard shots in all three rounds. It wasn't the most technical affair you will ever see, but it was entertaining.
Correia vs. Lauren Murphy is a suitable fight for the division. Because of the overall lack of depth, it will remain a ranked contest, but don't expect either to jump into the title picture.
Pennington, on the other hand, is unexpectedly reaching that stage. It is mostly due to how she performed against Holly Holm in their 2015 meeting. Now with back-to-back wins, she is sitting just outside of contention.
The top end of the division is booked, aside from Holm and Ronda Rousey. Pennington won't get either of those fights. Most likely, the UFC will wait to see where the chips fall. Pennington could get the loser of the Miesha Tate vs. Amanda Nunes title fight or be possible replacement against Cat Zingano or Julianna Pena at UFC 200.
Michael Chiesa def. Beneil Dariush via submission (rear-naked choke) at 1:20 of the second round
What a great matchup, and what a stellar performance from Michael Chiesa.
Dariush won the first round with brutal leg kicks and by rocking Chiesa with a hard punch. Dariush didn't look troubled with Chiesa's abilities, and that was when Chiesa became most dangerous. Chiesa got the takedown, quickly took the back and forced a tap with a strong squeeze.
Dariush still deserves top-level competition. Most fans would pay money to see him against Al Iaquinta, and that's the fight to make.
Chiesa needs more highly ranked opposition to enter the title picture. In the post-fight interview, he called out Tony Ferguson. Book it.
Cub Swanson vs. Hacran Dias
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Cub Swanson def. Hacran Dias by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Cub Swanson and Hacran Dias opened up the main card with a fun featherweight fight.
Dias took the first round, which was light on offensive output, but Swanson turned up the tempo in the final two frames. He earned a knockdown in each round, but somehow Dias was able to stay conscious. Swanson looked outstanding in the win.
It can be somewhat frustrating to watch Dias. He has all the tools of an elite fighter, but he has never been able to put it all together. His fighting style also can be frustrating to watch because he often sits back.
I'd love to see Dias square off against Dan Hooker. That fight ill tell us a lot about both men, and the winner could back into Top 15-level competition.
Swanson should be fighting to get back into the title talk for his next bout. Who's available who fits that criterion? Dennis Bermudez.
Bermudez vs. Swanson would feature two well-rounded, heavy-handed featherweights throwing leather and looking to re-enter the title picture. Toss that on any main card and you'll get some excited fans.
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Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Darrell Horcher
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Khabib Nurmagomedov def. Darrell Horcher by TKO at 3:38 of the second round
This fight went as expected. Nurmagomedov, an elite undefeated fighter, rolled right over the UFC newcomer who came in on short notice.
Horcher will get a second shot in the UFC, and it won't be against a ranked foe. Horcher didn't look overwhelmed by the bright lights, and that's a good sign. You can take your pick of any lower-level UFC lightweight who is coming off a loss to match him against. I'll go with Martin Svensson. It's the least the UFC could do for Horcher.
Nurmagomedov wants his title shot. Who am I to argue?
He's an elite undefeated lightweight with a dominant victory over the current champion. Give him the winner of Rafael Dos Anjos vs. Eddie Alvarez. He's earned it.
Rose Namajunas vs. Tecia Torres
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Rose Namajunas def. Tecia Torres by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Tecia Torres and Rose Namajunas met in 2013 under the Invicta FC banner, and it was Torres who walked away with a narrow decision. Fast-forward to UFC on Fox 19, and the script was flipped. Namajunas pulled off a narrow victory.
Styles make fights—and especially this one. It was arguably the best fight of the evening and certainly the most relevant in regard to the rankings. They were both ranked in the Top Five of the official UFC rankings.
There are options for Torres, but few are appealing. The best option is Justine Kish. It would be a decent matchup of former The Ultimate Fighter competitors. The matchup is favorable to Torres but comes with some danger.
Before UFC on Fox 19, I was starting to buy into the belief that Namajunas was prepared for a title shot. She has grown into a fantastic fighter, but after the fight with Torres, Thug Rose's team should hit the pause button on a title tilt.
The problem is her ranking. She is currently No. 3 in the division and just pulled off a win over a Top Five fighter. It looks like she is in line for the winner of Joanna Jedrzejczyk vs. Claudia Gadelha, but I'd rather see Namajunas meet Karolina Kowalkiewicz. Timing will play the biggest factor here, but if I had to place a bet, it would be on a Namajunas title shot in the winter.
Glover Teixeira vs. Rashad Evans
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Glover Teixeira def. Rashad Evans by KO at 1:48 of the first round
Teixeira was able to play his game against Evans, and it resulted in an early finish. Evans could not handle his power.
Evans did not get to employ his game plan at all. The former champion is winless since 2013, but what may be saving him more than anything is that the light heavyweight division is shallow. If he returns to the cage, Evans should still get a Top 15 opponent.
Evans is still a name that fans associate with the UFC. The organization should put him opposite Gian Villante on the debut show in New York City at Madison Square Garden. It could be a great way to kick off the main card or be the featured preliminary contest.
Teixeira, on the other hand, is back in the title discussion. He called out Anthony Johnson in the post-fight interview, and UFC President Dana White likes that fight. That is the most likely route, as the winner of Jon Jones vs. Ovince Saint Preux will face off against Daniel Cormier later this year.
Teixeira vs. Rumble is a fight of raw power and aggression.
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