10 Burning Questions Heading into UFC 200 Triple-Header
UFC Fight Night 89 is in the books. The results are as follows (h/t B/R's own Craig Amos):
Fight Night 89 Main Card
- Stephen Thompson def. Rory MacDonald, unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 48-47)
- Donald Cerrone def. Patrick Cote, TKO (Round 3, 2:35)
- Steve Bosse def. Sean O’Connell, unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-27)
- Olivier Aubin-Mercier def. Thibault Gouti, submission (Round 3, 2:28)
- Joanne Calderwood def. Valerie Letourneau, TKO (Round 3, 2:51)
Prelims on Fox Sports 2
- Jason Saggo def. Leandro Silva, split-decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
- Misha Cirkunov def. Ion Cutelaba, submission (Round 3, 1:22)
- Krzysztof Jotko def. Tamdan McCrory, knockout (Round 1, 0:59)
- Joe Soto def. Chris Beal, submission (Round 3, 3:39)
Prelims on UFC Fight Pass
- Elias Theodorou def. Sam Alvey, unanimous decision (29-28, 30-37, 30-27)
- Randa Markos def. Jocelyn Jones-Lybarger, unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
- Colby Covington def. Jonathan Meunier, submission (Round 3, 4:06)
- Ali Bagautinov def. Geane Herrera, unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Next up? The UFC 200 triple-header.
The UFC has claimed an entire weekend for itself and has plenty to offer fans.
Big debuts. Grudge matches. Long-awaited showdowns. Brock Lesnar. Oh, and five intriguing title fights.
There's plenty to talk about, so jump right in!
How Good Is Cain Velasquez at This Point?
1 of 10
Event: UFC 200
The Fight: Cain Velasquez vs. Travis Browne
The Real Fight: Cain Velasquez vs. His Own Injury History
The Stakes
Cain Velasquez seemed unstoppable when he destroyed Junior dos Santos at UFC 166 in 2013. Then he spent 18 months out due to a litany of injuries. The Velasquez who came back just wasn't the same, and he was forced to tap and hand over his heavyweight title by Fabricio Werdum at UFC 188.
Now, another year later, Velasquez needs to show he still has the tools to be a pound-for-pound great.
The Question
How Good Is Cain Velasquez at This Point?
Analysis
If this were 2013, Velasquez vs. Travis Browne is a slam dunk. Velasquez's relentless wrestling alongside his endless cardio would just be too much for a gatekeeper like Browne. Alas, this is not 2013.
In 2016, Velasquez is an unknown commodity. Is he still a potent wrestler? Maybe he is, but maybe all those shoulder and knee troubles have reduced his explosiveness. Is he still a cardio machine? Maybe, but maybe all those tweaks, strains and tears have added up.
This fight will go a long way toward proving how good Velasquez is in 2016. If he can't run through Browne...it will likely mark the end of his days as a top contender.
Can Doo Ho Choi Live Up to His Potential?
2 of 10
Event: The Ultimate Fighter 23 Finale
The Fight: Doo Ho Choi vs. Thiago Tavares
The Real Fight: Doo Ho Choi vs. Making the Most of His Opportunities
The Stakes
Korean prospect Doo Ho Choi is back in the cage after another long layoff and needs to make up for lost time. Despite the fact he has defeated his first two UFC opponents in under two minutes, the promotion is still trying to figure out whether it wants to let him make a splash in the rankings. He has the chance to gain some momentum and fans at the TUF23 Finale opposite the soft-chinned Thiago Tavares.
The Question
Can Doo Ho Choi Live Up to His Potential?
Analysis
Choi is an absolutely amazing talent. He is possibly the hardest puncher at 145 pounds (including Conor McGregor), and he has managed to maintain that success, even in disadvantageous matchups. He is a legitimate championship-caliber talent.
Unfortunately, talent means very little with the UFC these days, and he will need to start accumulating some fans before he even starts to get ranked opponents. He has a great stage to work on here and a perfect opponent in Tavares. He needs to make the most of that!
Who Will Win the UFC Featherweight Top Contender Title?
3 of 10
Event: UFC 200
The Fight: Jose Aldo vs. Frankie Edgar
The Real Fight: Jose Aldo, Frankie Edgar vs. Conor McGregor
The Stakes
Jose Aldo and Frankie Edgar are set to face off for the interim featherweight title at UFC 200. Does that mean anything? Well, that remains to be seen. Conor McGregor, the true featherweight champion, is currently on a quest to avenge his UFC 196 loss to Nate Diaz and may or may not ever return.
That makes this fight a rare blend of incredibly important...but utterly meaningless.
The Question
Who Will Win the UFC Featherweight Top Contender Title?
Analysis
All that needs to be said about this fight was said in the UFC 200 preview. Go check it out.
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Who Will Win the UFC's "Not Ronda Rousey" Title?
4 of 10
Event: UFC 200
The Fight: Miesha Tate vs. Amanda Nunes
The Real Fight: Miesha Tate, Amanda Nunes vs. UFC's Unwillingness to Quit Ronda Rousey
The Stakes
Miesha Tate shocked the world when she took the UFC women's bantamweight title off Holly Holm at UFC 196. She also shocked UFC decision-makers, and unfortunately, they have no real clue what to do with her now. They've put her into UFC 200 opposite the largely unknown Amanda Nunes in a fight that, much like Jose Aldo vs. Frankie Edgar, is defined by who isn't fighting for the title.
The Question
Who Will Win the UFC's "Not Ronda Rousey" Title?
Analysis
Seven months removed from UFC 193, the women's bantamweight division is still the Ronda Rousey show. It isn't right and it isn't fair to the women who are actually competing, but it's a fact. Every decision the UFC makes involving a member of the women's bantamweight division is first looked at through the lens of "what does this fight do for Rousey's comeback?"
Tate vs. Nunes is an interesting matchup for sure. Unfortunately, the UFC has been quite clear with fans that they don't need to worry about any female bantamweights...until Rousey comes back. And even then, they only have to care about Rousey.
Which Heavyweight Slugger Will Get His Wish?
5 of 10
Event: Fight Night 90
The Fight: Roy Nelson vs. Derrick Lewis
The Real Fight: Slugger vs. Slugger
The Stakes
Roy Nelson is nearing the end of his career and needs wins to extend it further. Derrick Lewis is looking to gain momentum for what could be a long, strong run in the UFC's heavyweight division. Those fighters and their conflicting interests meet head-on at UFC Fight Night 90 in a bout that will almost certainly end inside the distance.
The Question
Which Heavyweight Slugger Will Remain Relevant?
Analysis
There's not much else to say about it! Nelson remains a popular name due to his everyman appeal and knockout power. Lewis is actually one of the youngest heavyweights in the UFC today and would benefit greatly from a win over a seasoned veteran like Nelson.
Unfortunately, there's only one win to go around.
How Will Will Brooks' UFC Career Start?
6 of 10
Event: TUF23 Finale
The Fight: Ross Pearson vs. Will Brooks
The Real Fight: Will Brooks vs. Making a Strong First Impression
The Stakes
After a dominant run in Bellator, Will Brooks has finally put pen to paper with the UFC and will debut at the TUF23 Finale opposite lightweight veteran Ross Pearson. Needless to say, he needs to make a big splash in his debut, lest he be inundated with the dreaded "overrated" label.
The Question
How Will Will Brooks' UFC Career Start?
Analysis
Brooks is widely regarded as a Top 10 lightweight and currently sits at No. 5 on the Bleacher Report MMA Rankings. UFC homers, however, are always looking to chop down fighters in other promotions and have been anxiously awaiting a modern Bellator fighter to flop in the Octagon.
If Brooks can't post a dominant win over Pearson...well, it's easy to guess what will happen on social media.
What Will We See from Brock Lesnar?
7 of 10
Event: UFC 200
The Fight: Brock Lesnar vs. Mark Hunt
The Real Fight: Brock Lesnar vs. Expectations
The Stakes
After four years out of the sport, Brock Lesnar is set to return to the world of cage fighting opposite Mark Hunt. There's a lot to discuss therein, but there's one question that stands out above everything else...
The Question
What Will We See from Brock Lesnar?
Analysis
This seems like a generic question, but it's an important one, and it's one that has many possible answers.
While curmudgeonly fans like to dismiss Lesnar's first UFC run and focus on his soft chin, there's no denying Lesnar became champion for a reason. His athleticism is peerless, and his wrestling credentials are second to none in the heavyweight division, even today.
Four years, however, is a long layoff, and it's unclear what toll that may have taken from those grappling skills. The same goes for his explosive takedowns and sticky top game.
In the bigger picture, is he pouring as much effort into this fight as is necessary? Can he really get adequately prepared in just four months?
There is so much to unpack with this Lesnar fight and so many mysteries to be solved.
Can Eddie Alvarez Establish Himself as an All-Time Great?
8 of 10
Event: Fight Night 90
The Fight: Rafael Dos Anjos vs. Eddie Alvarez
The Real Fight: Eddie Alvarez vs. Mountain Climbing
The Stakes
Eddie Alvarez has traveled the world, winning titles and posting electrifying performances against some of the best in the world. The one thing he hasn't done is win the UFC title. Now, after more than a decade of fighting on the fringes, he has a bright spotlight and the opportunity to stake a claim as one of the all-time best at 155 pounds.
The Question
Can Eddie Alvarez Establish Himself as an All-Time Great?
Analysis
Alvarez is one of those fighters whom hardcores use as a litmus test to gauge how "real" another fan is.
New fans identify Alvarez as a boring wrestling type, as seen in his razor-thin decision wins over Gilbert Melendez and Anthony Pettis. "Real" fans, though? They remember Alvarez for his epic battles with Michael Chandler, Patricky Freire and Tatsuya Kawajiri. That makes this fight with Rafael Dos Anjos a special one for some fans and an uninteresting one for others.
Ultimately, Alvarez faces long odds against the dominant Dos Anjos. If he can win, though? It's yet another storybook title change in the UFC.
Will Joanna Jedrzejczyk Be Able to Continue Her Rise?
9 of 10
Event: TUF23 Finale
The Fight: Joanna Jedrzejczyk vs. Claudia Gadelha 2
The Real Fight: Joanna Jedrzejczyk vs. The Toughest Possible Challenger
The Stakes
Strawweight champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk is the only woman other than Ronda Rousey who has gotten some level of push from the promotion, but those efforts may be undone before the opportunity comes for a return on investment. Jedrzejczyk's next opponent is fearsome Brazilian Claudia Gadelha.
The Question
Will Joanna Jedrzejczyk Be Able to Continue Her Rise?
Analysis
Jedrzejczyk has pretty much everything one could want out of a fighter. Vicious in-cage style. Excellent on a microphone. Knows how to maximize her time in front of a camera. The UFC, to its credit, knows she's a special fighter and has tried to give her opportunities to shine.
Unfortunately, there's no faking its way around a talent like Gadelha.
Gadelha is, in all likelihood, the most well-rounded fighter at 115 pounds. She has above-average striking, wrestling, clinchwork, offensive grappling and defensive grappling. She used all those skills to take Jedrzejczyk to the brink of defeat back in 2014, and there's no reason to think she can't be just as competitive today.
The UFC has put a great deal of effort into building Jedrzejczyk, and there is a very real chance that gets undone here. If that happens, it means complete anarchy for the strawweight division.
How Will Jon Jones Look at UFC 200?
10 of 10
Event: UFC 200
The Fight: Daniel Cormier vs. Jon Jones 2
The Real Fight: Jon Jones vs. Becoming the Next Tiger Woods
The Stakes
Jon Jones is still trying to redesign, rebuild and reclaim the UFC light heavyweight title after his infamous hit-and-run incident in 2015. While it was once believed he would be able to do so with very little effort, an unimpressive performance against Ovince Saint Preux at UFC 197 has injected some doubt about the 2016 version of Jones.
If the lineal champ can't put things back together for his UFC 200 fight with Daniel Cormier, there is a very real chance Jones eats the first legitimate loss of his career.
The Question
How Will Jon Jones Look at UFC 200?
Analysis
Much ink was spilled about why Jones vs. Saint Preux panned out the way it did, with Jones winning decisively but not quite dominantly. Even more was spilled about what the fight meant for the inevitable rematch with Cormier. Two months removed from the event, answers to those questions remain elusive...and ultimately irrelevant.
Jones and Cormier will face off in one of the best grudge matches in UFC history. Maybe Jones is as good as ever and will retake his title with little difficulty. Then again...maybe not.
July 9 can't get here soon enough.
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