UFC on Fox 20 Results: 5 Burning Questions Heading into UFC 201
UFC on Fox 20 is in the books. The results are as follows (via Bleacher Report's own Nathan McCarter):
- Valentina Shevchenko defeats Holly Holm by unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 49-46)
- Edson Barboza defeats Gilbert Melendez by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
- Francis Ngannou defeats Bojan Mihajlovic by TKO at 1:34 of the first round
- Felice Herrig defeats Kailin Curran via submission (rear-naked choke) at 1:59 of the first round
- Eddie Wineland defeats Frankie Saenz by TKO at 1:54 of the third round
- Darren Elkins defeats Godofredo Pepey by unanimous decision (29-27, 29-27, 30-26)
- Kamaru Usman defeats Alexander Yakovlev by unanimous decision (30-25, 30-25, 30-25)
- Michel Prazeres defeats J.C. Cottrell by unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27, 30-27)
- Alex Oliveira defeats James Moontasri by unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-25)
- Jason Knight defeats Jim Alers by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
- Luis Henrique defeats Dmitrii Smoliakov via submission (rear-naked choke) at 3:58 of the second round
Next up? UFC 201.
Robbie Lawler is back in an odd matchup against Tyron Woodley but has a fair bit of backup. While the card is short on name value outside Lawler, hot, young names like Nikita Krylov, Karolina Kowalkiewicz, Rose Namajunas and Justin Scoggins keep things feeling fresh, while respected veterans Ross Pearson, Wilson Reis and Matt Brown are sure to deliver some entertainment.
So what is worth watching out for next week? And what questions will be answered? Read on and find out.
Will Nikita Krylov Continue to Cruise?
1 of 5
The Fight: Nikita Krylov vs. Ed Herman
The Real Fight: Nikita Krylov vs. Boredom
The Stakes
Young Ukranian Nikita Krylov has quietly become one of the most interesting fighters at 205 pounds and seems poised to extend his winning streak to five opposite inactive veteran Ed Herman.
The Question
Will Nikita Krylov Continue to Cruise?
Analysis
Krylov has officially become a can't-miss fighter at this point. He has stopping power in every area of the cage and seems to have found his groove since his 2014 loss to Ovince Saint Preux. Add to that the competitive legitimacy his four-fight winning streak has lent to his exciting style and it's hard not to look at this as the most interesting matchup of UFC 201.
Herman isn't an easy out, but his lackadaisical schedule and relatively low ceiling makes this feel like a very favorable matchup for Krylov. If he wins, he will be due a crack against a top-level competitor.
How Will Ian McCall Look in His Return?
2 of 5
The Fight: Ian McCall vs. Justin Scoggins
The Real Fight: Ian McCall vs. So, So Many Health Troubles
The Stakes
Ian McCall is back after an 18-month layoff and isn't getting any favors from the UFC in his return. Set to face hot youngster Justin Scoggins, Uncle Creepy won't have an easy path ahead of him on his way back to the top.
The Question
How Will Ian McCall Look in His Return?
Analysis
McCall was last seen in January 2015 coming out on the bad end of a fight with John Lineker. It was yet another speed bump for a fighter who has struggled to stay active and struggled to get wins but remained popular and remained among the flyweight elite in spite of those setbacks.
At his best, McCall can out-wrestle almost anyone in the division and knows how to close the distance to make that happen. How he fares against a formidable talent like Scoggins will be important for determining where he sits in the division after this lengthy hiatus.
Which Strawweight Will Maintain Their Momentum?
3 of 5
The Fight: Rose Namajunas vs. Karolina Kowalkiewicz
The Real Fight: UFC vs. Young Talent
The Stakes
Rose Namajunas looks like the kind of fighter that could anchor the UFC strawweight division for years; so, too, does Karolina Kowalkiewicz. With that in mind, the UFC is looking to shorten their careers and undermine their standing in the title picture by having them face off in an ill-advised co-main event of a B-level pay-per-view.
The Question
Which Strawweight Will Maintain Their Momentum?
Analysis
The pointlessness of this fight was touched upon in the UFC 201 Preview but is worth expanding on.
MMA is a sport filled with individuals whose bodies suddenly quit on them. Whether it's weight cutting, injuries or grueling fights, for one reason or another, folks like Josh Koscheck, Johny Hendricks and Jake Ellenberger can go from elite to washed up inside a year.
MMA fans like to believe that every fight matters, tout competitive matchmaking and wrongly believe that the best always fight the best. The fact of the matter is that the UFC's approach to matchmaking does little to advance the overall development of the competitors and, more often than not, shortens their careers for absolutely no payoff.
Max Holloway will most likely be physically used up before he hits 30, and there's a strong chance he never gets a crack at UFC gold before that time. At the rate they're going, Namajunas and Kowalkiewicz aren't far behind.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
How Good Is Tyron Woodley?
4 of 5
The Fight: Robbie Lawler vs. Tyron Woodley
The Real Fight: Tyron Woodley vs. Missed Opportunities
The Stakes
For the first time in recent memory, the UFC stayed true to its word about delivering a less-than-marketable fighter with a title shot, despite having more intriguing options available. Unfortunately, while Woodley most certainly has a claim for a title shot, the question is...
The Question
How Good Is Tyron Woodley?
Analysis
Woodley has been regarded as a top welterweight since knocking out Jay Hieron in his UFC debut back in 2013. At the time, it seemed as though he had finally put it all together, combining his pure physical power with his NCAA Division I All-American status. In reality, though, he has remained a work in progress right along.
His longest winning streak in the UFC stands at two. His biggest win, over Carlos Condit, came when Condit sustained a knee injury mid-fight. His next biggest win came via split decision when he beat Kelvin Gastelum, who had spent the prior night in the hospital. He sustained an ugly loss to Jake Shields in 2013 and was outright manhandled by Rory MacDonald in 2014. He earned his way to a title fight not with a win, but via Johny Hendricks withdrawing from their UFC 192 fight.
On the nature of his wins and his inactivity over the last 18 months, Woodley is still a mystery in many ways. His fight with Robbie Lawler will likely set the trajectory for the rest of his career.
Physically Speaking, in What Condition Is Robbie Lawler?
5 of 5
The Fight: Robbie Lawler vs. Tyron Woodley
The Real Fight: Robbie Lawler vs. The Lingering Effects of Johny Hendricks, Rory MacDonald and Carlos Condit
The Stakes
Robbie Lawler has had one of the most electrifying runs as champion in recent memory and it can't be good for his long-term health. After two years and six fights of physical calamity, one has to wonder if the welterweight champ can keep going on like this.
The Question
Physically Speaking, in What Condition Is Robbie Lawler?
Analysis
Ol Ruthless's run as champion has been everything fans love about sports. He's the best in the world, competing against the best in the world, giving it all and showing the kind of grit, determination and toughness that mere mortals couldn't hope to replicate.
Unfortunately, his run has also been the worst that sports has to offer. Over his last seven fights, he has spent 149 agonizing minutes in the Octagon, absorbed 679 significant strikes via FightMetric, and has made less than $2 million for all that (combining MMAJunkie.com's reports on disclosed payouts for Lawler's fights). A number of NFL place kickers will make more money in 2016 than Lawler has since his first fight against Rory MacDonald at UFC 167.
His body has gone through hell for pennies on the dollar, and it's difficult to imagine him going through all that and coming out physically intact afterward.
While Lawler's mind is clearly willing, his flesh has been punched, kicked and kneed a whole lot over the years. If he comes up short against Tyron Woodley, all that wear and tear will almost certainly be a factor.
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
