UFC Fight Night 89 Results: Matches to Make for the Winners and Losers
UFC Fight Night 89 took place in Ottawa on Saturday evening, and the TD Place Arena was treated to a long night of high-quality MMA action.
In the main event, Stephen "Wonderboy" Thompson continued his ascent up the welterweight ladder by knocking off former title contender Rory MacDonald. How far will this move Thompson up the ranks, and how far will MacDonald fall? We will examine that.
Donald Cerrone stated his case to be a contender in the weight class too. Cerrone pelted Patrick Cote en route to a finish. This opens the door for a plethora of fun matchups at 170 pounds.
But the other 22 fighters' futures will also be addressed. Theorizing on their next outings is no easy task. The UFC's large roster will give them many options for their next bouts. Let's waste no time and get to cracking on filling out the next step for the winners and losers from Ottawa.
Here is what should be coming next for the winners and losers of UFC Fight Night 89.
UFC Fight Pass Prelims
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Elias Theodorou def. Sam Alvey by unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
Theodorou is one of the better middleweight prospects, and he got a much-needed victory. He still needs to grow to become a true threat. Bring in Kevin Casey for the Canadian. Casey has legitimate skills to make him a threat, but he is also a favorable matchup for the prospect.
Alvey remains one of the most fan-friendly fighters in the division. Let's not search high and low for his next opponent. Tamden McCrory also fought and lost in Ottawa, and it just makes good sense to book it.
Randa Markos def. Jocelyn Jones-Lybarger by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Jones-Lybarger has not had an easy go of it in her short UFC stint. It's time to lessen the level of competition just a touch. Book her against Juliana Lima to see who can get in the win column.
Markos has all the tools to be a title contender, but she hasn't found consistency to her game inside the Octagon. Thus, the UFC shouldn't rush her up the ranks too much. Michelle Waterson is the best opponent for her at this time. Waterson is ranked, but not too high. More importantly, she's a fantastic fighter who will push Markos. It's a great fight to make.
Colby Covington def. Jonathan Meunier via submission (rear-naked choke) at 0:54 of the third round
Covington is a solid prospect, and picking up the win in Ottawa was a step in the right direction. Nathan Coy would be an excellent selection for his next fight. There's no reason to rush Covington, and it would also benefit Coy as well. The UFC could learn a lot from how that fight plays out.
Meunier could pick up any lower-tiered welterweight, but Sultan Aliev is the fight the UFC should be eyeing. Aliev hasn't fought since January of 2015, and this would be a fantastic fight for his next outing.
Ali Bagautinov def. Geane Herrera by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Herrera is 1-2 in the UFC, but both losses have been to quality opposition. He should get an easier fight in the next go-round, but flyweight is a rather thin division. A meeting with Neil Seery could put the winner right back in the thick of things.
Bagautinov grabbed a much needed win. As a top-10 ranked flyweight, he should meet another fellow top-10 ranked fighter. Jussier Formiga fits the mold. The clash of styles may not be fan-pleasing, and as such it should find a home on a Fight Night prelim this fall.
Fox Sports 2 Prelims
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Jason Saggo def. Leandro Silva by split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
Silva took the loss, but was involved in a highly competitive bout. He shouldn't fall off the radar. Thibault Gouti is the route the UFC should take. It's a fight Silva should win going away.
Saggo's only UFC loss is a split decision to Paul Felder. That should add some perspective to where he sits in the division. He's a quality fighter who has earned another step forward in the division. Lining him up against Francisco Trinaldo would serve everyone right. It's not too big a jump for Saggo, and is a big test for Trinaldo and his win streak.
Misha Cirkunov def. Ion Cutelaba via submission (arm-triangle choke) at 1:22 of the third round
This was a tall order for Cutelaba's UFC debut. At just 22-years-old, the UFC shouldn't rush the kid. Put him on a prelim for an upcoming European card against a debuting fighter. Any UFC vet would be the wrong move. Let him grow.
Cirkunov, however, deserves a significant step up in competition. Gian Villante lost his last fight, but remains at No. 15 in the official UFC rankings. There's a certain New York City card coming up in August where the fight between Cirkunov and Villante would make a lot of sense.
Krzysztof Jotko def. Tamdan McCrory by KO at 0:59 of the first round
As previously mentioned, McCrory vs. Sam Alvey is the way to go. They match up nicely for a possible Fight of the Night bonus check.
Jotko made a statement with his fourth straight win. It will undoubtedly earn him a bigger fight. Thales Leites vs. Chris Camozzi takes place in August, and the winner of that bout should stand opposite Jotko. It could be a nice main card addition if it's Jotko vs. Leites.
Joe Soto def. Chris Beal via submission (rear-naked choke) at 3:39 of the third round
Beal is a fun fighter to watch at times, but he's lost three straight fights. He probably should be served his pink slip and sent to the regional circuit. The good news is that, due to his exciting style, he could easily be back in the UFC in 2017.
Soto saved his UFC career with the win. He had lost three in a row prior to taking this fight on short notice. A fighter that was in a similar position, and now makes sense for Soto's next fight, is Ulka Sasaki. Don't overthink this fight.
Valerie Letourneau vs. Joanne Calderwood
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Joanne Calderwood def. Valerie Letourneau by TKO at 2:51 of the third round
The special flyweight encounter of two ranked strawweights ended with Calderwood looking better than ever. When she moves back down to 115 pounds, will that take away from what we saw in Ottawa? It's difficult to say, but something to certainly watch for in her next fight.
Letourneau told MMAJunkie.com's Mike Bohn that she was "done with 115." That makes her next fight very interesting. There is no 125-pound division. If she is done at 115 then she has to move to 135 where she will be undersized. The UFC could do another flyweight scrap, but it's unlikely they go out of their way to appease her.
At 135, the UFC should book Letourneau against Milana Dudieva. She announced on Twitter she was taking time off due to pregnancy last August. She should be nearing a return.
Calderwood is in a much better spot. She just toppled the No. 5-ranked contender, and No. 4 is sitting there without a fight. Tecia Torres is coming off a loss, but the number beside her name will still ensure she gets an upper echelon fighter like Calderwood.
That's an exciting matchup with big implications. Best to book it now instead of waiting. Keep them active.
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Olivier Aubin-Mercier vs. Thibault Gouti
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Olivier Aubin-Mercier def. Thibault Gouti via submission (rear-naked choke) at 2:28 of the third round
This fight was booked as a squash match, and it had the desired finish. Does Gouti deserve another UFC tilt? Maybe. Leandro Silva is the right choice if they give Gouti one more chance. But let's focus on Aubin-Mercier.
It's clear with this matchup that the UFC wanted him back in the win column, and there's nothing wrong with that. They are developing a prospect.
Aubin-Mercier should face Drew Dober. It's a mild step up, and would help send him in the right direction with another win. Dober has the tools to test Aubin-Mercier in each round. It's the kind of fight that helps prospects grow.
Steve Bosse vs. Sean O'Connell
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Steve Bosse def. Sean O'Connell by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-27)
Hello, violence!
These two put on a show. You have to give credit where credit is due.
O'Connell came out on the losing end, but he should earn another slot on a TV undercard. Tom Lawlor is a name that jumps off the page. It's a stylistic matchup made for excitement on the big screen. There is little to no divisional implications, but it's not necessary for where they are at in the division. Just have fun.
Bosse is in a similar situation, but he won. So, he gets a fighter coming off a win.
Jimi Manuwa would have no problem slinging leather with Bosse, and in the shallow waters of light heavyweight it may be one of the few solid options at hand. The fight likely would last less than five minutes and earn someone a bonus check.
Patrick Cote vs. Donald Cerrone
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Donald Cerrone def. Patrick Cote by TKO at 2:35 of the third round
What a performance by "Cowboy"! He looks sensational at welterweight, but there's still a long way to go before anointing him as a contender.
Cote's role as a gatekeeper is almost assuredly confirmed now. There is next to no hope he becomes a contender. If we are looking for someone to break through, it should be Albert Tumenov. He failed to get by Gunnar Nelson, but Cote is a much better stylistic matchup for Tumenov.
Cote will push him, and that's what he needs. It would be a excellent preliminary card addition.
Cerrone is going to seek a bigger fighter and a bigger payday. He is not pleased with the current situation (h/t Tristen Critchfield of Sherdog). Once they figure out the business end, expect Cerrone to return in a leading Fight Night role.
The suggested fight would be Carlos Condit. However, he likely won't be back until 2017, and even then it doesn't appear that he would accept a fight with Cerrone. He's all about Robbie Lawler or Nick Diaz, according to Damon Martin of Fox Sports. Regardless, that's the fight to make. With an extended timetable the UFC has the chance to get this done for early 2017.
Back up the Brinks.
Rory MacDonald vs. Stephen Thompson
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Stephen Thompson def. Rory MacDonald by unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 48-47)
Poor Demian Maia.
The Brazilian has done everything in power to make a claim for a title shot, and here comes an exciting striker to usurp him.
Thompson, following his win over MacDonald, is the next title contender at 170 pounds. Period. There is just no other choice. He will get the winner of Robbie Lawler and Tyron Woodley.
The bigger question looming after the fight is what's next for MacDonald? He is still clearly an elite welterweight, but after another loss he has to be pushed down the totem pole. First, though, he'll require surgery on his nose, per Damon Martin of Fox Sports.
Upon his return, expect a fight against someone such as Rick Story, a fringe contender in the back half of the rankings. Given that surgery is likely, it is too difficult to pinpoint an exact opponent due to how much the division will shift in his absence, but Story is the right direction.
MacDonald is headed to the shelf, and Thompson is headed to a welterweight title shot. Oh how times have changed.
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