UFC 198 Results: Matches to Make for the Winners and Losers
And new.
That's what UFC announcer Bruce Buffer had the privilege of saying at the end of UFC 198 in Curitiba, Brazil. Stipe Miocic caught an oncoming Fabricio Werdum with a clean shot that would have floored King Kong himself. And now there is a new king on top of the heavyweight division's Empire State Building.
While the heavyweights brought it in the main event, there were plenty of other significant results coming out of Brazil this weekend.
The question now turns to what is next for the winners and losers of UFC 198's bouts. UFC matchmakers Joe Silva and Sean Shelby have plenty of options at their table. What will they choose? We attempt to help clear the waters and offer sound advice for what fights to make as 2016 rolls forward.
Let's look at what comes next with the matches to make following UFC 198.
UFC Fight Pass Prelims
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Renato Moicano def. Zubaira Tukhugov by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
The most difficult fights to make following a card are almost always for the curtain-jerkers. There are just so many options. Does the UFC simply find newcomers to pit them against, or are they better matched with someone already on the roster?
In Tukhugov's case, Jim Alers may make more sense than a UFC newcomer. They're both in a similar situation; the loser may be on the cut line.
Moicano is 2-0 in the UFC with two fun wins. How far up the ladder does he move? Not far. A fight against a debuting undefeated fighter or Alex White would suffice. He needs to clean up his game before going too deep into the 155-pound waters.
Sergio Moraes and Luan Chagas fought to a split draw (29-28, 28-29, 28-28)
Chagas took this fight on short notice and nearly walked away with a win. Moraes may have an unbeaten streak going, but his performances don't fool anyone into believing he's a contender.
The easiest path is to rebook this fight to get a clear winner.
Antonio Rogerio Nogueira def. Patrick Cummins by TKO at 4:52 of the first round
Cummins took too long of a beating thanks to a referee who wasn't concerned with his well-being. He should sit out for a long while to recuperate. When Cummins returns, someone like Steve Bosse should await. Bosse has a fight with Sean O'Connell coming up, but win or lose, he would make sense for Cummins.
Nogueira put himself back in a spot for a fight against a contender. The only name that strikes a chord under the circumstances is Ovince Saint Preux. OSP will be looking to re-establish himself following the loss to Jon Jones, and Nogueira is a fighter who can help him do that.
OSP vs. Nogueira slides in on a main card late this winter.
Fox Sports 1 Prelims
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John Lineker def. Rob Font by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 30-26)
Lineker's power striking makes him one of the most exciting fighters in MMA today, and his performance at UFC 198 will move him up the bantamweight ladder. However, the match to make is against another former flyweight. We wanted to see John Dodson vs. John Lineker at 125, but both have moved up and looked great. Let's see it at 135.
Font vs. Anthony Birchak seems like an appropriate fight following UFC 198. If it happens, it'll happen on UFC Fight Pass.
Francisco Trinaldo def. Yancy Medeiros by unanimous decision (29-26, 30-27, 30-26)
Medeiros is tough as nails, but he lost. Where does he go from here? Joe Proctor is also coming off a loss, and recently dropped out of a scheduled fight due to injury. By the time he's ready to return, Medeiros will be ready to go as well.
This is Trinaldo's sixth consecutive victory. He's deserving of a significant lightweight fight. Of the options on the table, Michael Johnson is the one most apt to be selected. Trinaldo isn't who we typically think of when talking about elite lightweights, but with six in a row he deserves the platform. Johnson offers that platform, and would be a seen as a quality fight for him coming off a loss to Nate Diaz.
Thiago Santos def. Nate Marquardt by KO at 3:39 of the first round
Marquardt was knocked out again. That's not good, but if he chooses to continue fighting, it will be inside the UFC. At least for one more fight.
Caio Magalhaes should be a candidate for Marquardt's next outing. It won't be a fight to write home about, but none of Marquardt's are these days.
With four straight wins and four quality showings, Santos' performance pushes him further up the middleweight ladder. He called out Michael Bisping, Derek Brunson and Robert Whittaker after the event. All of those are good fights, but I'm not sure if he gets them at this point. Know which ranked middleweight needs a fight? Tim Kennedy.
Kennedy vs. Santos would be significant for the division, and significant just to see the former Strikeforce title contender back in action.
Demian Maia def. Matt Brown by submission (rear-naked choke) at 4:31 of the third round
Maia is the rightful top contender for the welterweight belt, but it appears the UFC is tapping Tyron Woodley for the next shot. Maia should wait for the winner—or fight Nick Diaz. Those are the only options for him.
Brown had a small window of opportunity in the third, but he chased Maia to the ground. Mistake. Brown is still one of the better fighters in the division and a fan favorite. He'll remain a part of the upper echelon matchmaking at 170 pounds.
Given how the division is shaping up, look for a fight between Brown and Neil Magny to take place. Magny is building a great resume, but there aren't a lot of matchups that would put him in the spotlight. A fight with Brown would do just that.
Warlley Alves vs. Bryan Barberena
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Bryan Barberena def. Warlley Alves by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Barberena continues to shut his critics up one win at a time. He was viewed as a stepping stone for Joe Ellenberger, Chad Laprise, Sage Northcutt and Alves. Only Laprise was able to sneak away with a victory.
Just how far the UFC wants to push him will determine the level of opponent Barberena gets next. They could throw him in against someone in the back half of the rankings, or try to build him against a lower-level opponent. I'd suggest a middle ground.
John Hathaway has been away with an injury since last summer and there's no immediate word on a return date, but Barberena doesn't need to jump back in the cage in three weeks. There's time to wait and make this fight. Hathaway is a fringe top-15-level opponent. It's a win-win for both fighters.
Alves will head back to the end of the line. He was rising quickly as one of Brazil's brightest prospects. He still is, but the showing against Barberena revealed numerous weaknesses he needs to address. He'll learn a lot from the loss and show it in a showcase bout in Brazil.
The Li Jingliang vs. Anton Zafir winner would fill that role quite well.
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Mauricio Rua vs. Corey Anderson
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Shogun Rua def. Corey Anderson by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Don't call it a comeback. No, seriously, don't. It wasn't a great showing for a once former No. 1-ranked light heavyweight.
This fight showed two things. First, Rua isn't ever going to reclaim his former glory. Second, Anderson isn't going to be the next light heavyweight prospect to ascend to greatness. What we have are two serviceable, middle-of-the-road light heavyweights.
There is no one in the upper echelon that Rua should fight, but of the ranked options available, a meeting with Nikita Krylov is intriguing. Krylov has gone on a four-fight winning streak that surprises most when they hear of it, and it's time for a step up. Rua will test him.
Anderson has to go back to the shallow end of the pool to find an opponent. Francimar Barroso recently lost to Krylov, and he would serve as a quality rebound fight for the developing fighter. If Anderson is going to prove the doubters wrong, it will start with fights like this.
Cristiane Justino vs. Leslie Smith
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Cris Cyborg def. Leslie Smith by TKO at 1:21 of the first round
Cyborg made weight for the 140-pound catchweight bout and did exactly what everyone expected.
Smith was out of her depth against Cyborg, and while the stoppage may have indeed been a bit quick, it would not have changed anything about the outcome. The referee merely saved her a beating.
The American is a game opponent, and fighting Cyborg should give her another fight under the bright lights. Stylistically, Marion Reneau would make for an exciting opponent. They'll throw down to please the fans.
Cyborg is a curious case. She isn't a bantamweight, and the UFC has no featherweight division. They could find her another catchweight opponent, but I don't think that will happen straight away. It is more likely Cyborg will defend her Invicta FC title before a UFC return.
Megan Anderson came away with a big win at Invicta FC 17 to make her the next logical challenger for Cyborg's belt. We'll see this featherweight tilt before the end of the year.
Ronaldo Souza vs. Vitor Belfort
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Jacare Souza def. Vitor Belfort by TKO at 4:38 of the first round
If Belfort was looking to make a case for another title shot, he failed to deliver. It wasn't just that he lost, but the manner in which he did. He seemingly gave up. It's not the mark of a champion.
Regardless, he's still going to be ranked in the top 10 and a recognizable name. It's the type of opponent rising star Robert Whittaker needs. That would be a blistering affair, and one that could move the 25-year-old into a starring role in the middleweight division.
Souza's performance should ensure him a title bid against the winner of Luke Rockhold and Chris Weidman.
Souza had a fantastic five-round battle with Rockhold in Strikeforce, and after making short work of Belfort it makes him the most viable and exciting contender. It's a rematch fans can get excited about. There's no reason, barring injury, we shouldn't see Souza challenge for gold later this year.
Fabricio Werdum vs. Stipe Miocic
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Stipe Miocic def. Fabricio Werdum by KO at 2:47 of the first round
And just like that we have a new heavyweight kingpin.
Werdum was uncharacteristically reckless when he charged forward with his hands down, and it cost him his championship. Miocic landed flush to send the Brazilian face first into the canvas.
Miocic's next opponent is simple enough to point out. It's Alistair Overeem. Where that fight takes place will be the struggle. It could head to Madison Square Garden, but there are plenty of New York natives and stars ready to headline that event.
The UFC should look into a winter date on the lake. Miocic vs. Overeem in Cleveland makes too much sense.
As for Werdum, Junior Dos Santos is the name that leaps off the page. JDS made his emphatic debut against Werdum, and the two have changed a lot since that date back in 2008. With Overeem likely getting the next shot, JDS needs another fight before getting a title shot. So does Werdum.
Bing, bang, boom. Settled.
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