UFC Fight Night 88 Results: 5 Burning Questions Heading into UFC 199
UFC Fight Night 88 is in the books. The results are as follows (c/o Bleacher Report's own Craig Amos):
Main Card on Fox Sports 1
- Cody Garbrandt def. Thomas Almeida, knockout (Round 1, 2:53)
- Jeremy Stephens def. Renan Barao, unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Rick Story def. Tarec Saffiedine, unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
- Chris Camozzi def. Vitor Miranda, unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Lorenz Larkin def. Jorge Masvidal, split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
- Paul Felder def. Joshua Burkman, unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Prelims on Fox Sports 1
- Sara McMann def. Jessica Eye, unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Abel Trujillo def. Jordan Rinaldi, unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Jake Collier def. Alberto Uda, TKO (Round 2, 1:06)
- Erik Koch def. Shane Campbell, submission (Round 2, 3:02)
Prelims on UFC Fight Pass
- Bryan Caraway def. Aljamain Sterling, split-decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
- Adam Milstead def. Chris de la Rocha, TKO (Round 2, 4:01)
Next up? UFC 199.
There's a lot to like about the UFC's next card. Two title fights! Exciting prospects! Legendary former champs!
So let's just jump in! What are the burning'est questions for this event? Read on and find out!
How Will Jessica Andrade Look as a Strawweight?
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The Fight: Jessica Penne vs. Jessica Andrade
The Real Fight: Jessica Andrade vs. Big Drops in Weight
The Stakes
After a 4-3 run at bantamweight, 24-year-old Jessica Andrade is going to try her luck at 115 pounds. She gets an interesting opponent in well-rounded, but undersized, former Invicta FC champion Jessica Penne. If she can win, she may jump directly into the top 10.
The Question
How will Jessica Andrade look as a strawweight?
Analysis
Despite being terribly undersized, Andrade was one of the scariest fighters in the women's bantamweight division. She posted one of the all-time most lopsided beatdowns in UFC history opposite Rosi Sexton in 2013 and once managed to take a split-decision win off fringe top-10 fighter Raquel Pennington.
Unfortunately, despite her successes, she had a very limited ceiling due to her size. Opponents like Liz Carmouche and Marion Reneau were able to out-range and outmuscle her en route to lopsided victories. While she likely could have stuck around for a prolonged period of time at 135 pounds, she would have spun her wheels as a Jeremy Stephens-like scrappy gatekeeper.
At 115 pounds, though? Her pure ferocity and pressure-based style could translate to the title picture. If she can defeat Penne, who last faced Joanna Jedrzejczyk for the UFC title, she probably won't be too far off from a shot at the belt.
Can Brian Ortega Continue His Rise Up the Ranks?
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The Fight: Brian Ortega vs. Clay Guida
The Real Fight: Brian Ortega vs. Hype!
The Stakes
Brian Ortega has been lights-out to this point in his UFC career and looks to keep that momentum at UFC 199 by defeating Clay Guida. If he can do so in impressive fashion, he may be able to jump straight into the top 10 and straight into a matchup with a big-name opponent.
The Question
Can Brian Ortega continue his rise up the ranks?
Analysis
Outside of the fact he tested positive for steroids in his UFC debut, Ortega's UFC career has gone about as well as can be expected. No, really!
With three stoppage wins in a row (more or less), Ortega has clearly caught the eye of both UFC decision- makers and savvy fans. A win over a big name like Guida, however, would accelerate his rise exponentially and could allow him to catch on with a new subset of fans that have yet to make his acquaintance.
Can Hector Lombard Get Back on Track?
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The Fight: Dan Henderson vs. Hector Lombard
The Real Fight: Hector Lombard vs. Ups and Downs
The Stakes
Hector Lombard returned from his drug-test suspension with an ugly, brutal loss to Neil Magny. His luck, however, might just turn around. Set to face respected veteran Dan Henderson in his return to 185 pounds, if Lombard can come back in impressive fashion, he could be poised for a run in the middleweight division.
The Question
Can Hector Lombard get back on track?
Analysis
Lombard's UFC career has been something of a disappointment thus far, but he's still a compelling fighter. As I broke down ahead of his fight with Magny:
"A walking enigma, Lombard combines elegant, efficient judo throws and trips with some of the most ferocious striking you'll see in the UFC. Despite a limited gas tank, his ability to spin an opponent upside down and knock him out with a single punch makes his fights incredibly suspenseful.
"
That hasn't changed and, despite his ugly fight at UFC Fight Night 85, there's reason to be excited about his return to 185 pounds. His power translates well to the middleweight division, and while he's never been a cardio machine, he will most likely get a boost to his longevity from the easier cut.
More importantly, his match with Henderson gives him a big chance to reestablish himself as a top-level fighter. While the 45-year-old is struggling mightily inside the cage, he remains a premiere name in the sport. A convincing win over the former Pride champ would help Lombard wash away the sour taste of his last fight.
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Does Urijah Faber Stand a Chance Here?
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The Fight: Dominick Cruz vs. Urijah Faber
The Real Fight: Urijah Faber vs. Age
The Stakes
Urijah Faber remains a perennial contender and a big name...but this is probably his last chance to take UFC gold. If he can't beat old foe Dominick Cruz at UFC 199, he probably won't get another opportunity to take the sport's top prize.
The Question
Does Urijah Faber stand a chance here?
Analysis
Faber is visibly slowing down at this point and lacks the pure power to artificially extend his career in the way Dan Henderson and Mark Hunt have. Sure, on his IQ and grappling chops alone he can still pick up wins at 135 pounds...but the list of easy outs is becoming shorter and shorter, as evidenced by the simple fact the unheralded Frankie Saenz managed to stay competitive with "The California Kid."
That isn't to say Faber is doomed here. It's going to be a few more fights before Cruz can really be regarded as a sure thing again. Honestly, though, this writer can't figure out a way for Faber to take this one.
Does Michael Bisping Stand a Chance Here?
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The Fight: Luke Rockhold vs. Michael Bisping
The Real Fight: Michael Bisping vs. Pretty Much Everything
The Stakes
Michael Bisping has finally gotten a title shot, but everything seems to be working against him. Set to face scary finisher Luke Rockhold on two week's notice after being pulled from the set of a movie, the Count seemingly needs a miracle to pull off the win here.
The Question
Does Michael Bisping stand a chance here?
Analysis
This isn't a good situation for Bisping.
He's under-prepared. He's basically untrained. His opponent is seemingly unstoppable. And all that is on top of the fact Rockhold smoked him when they faced off in 2014.
Bisping is saying this fight is his destiny...but boy, it doesn't feel like this will end well for him.
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