UFC 201 Results: Matches to Make for the Winners and Losers
UFC 201 saw the crowning of yet another new champion.
Tyron Woodley ousted Robbie Lawler in the first round with his vicious right hand. The former Strikeforce standout claimed UFC gold and will now be looking for his next challenge.
In the co-main event, Karolina Kowalkiewicz defeated rising star Rose Namajunas by split decision. The victory puts Kowalkiewicz in prime position in the strawweight division, but the result also makes for an interesting next step for Namajunas.
11 fights in total happened in Atlanta on Saturday. There are 10 winners, 10 losers and 2 fighters coming off a draw. The UFC matchmakers, Joe Silva and Sean Shelby, now have to determine the next best steps for these athletes and the company as a whole.
We are here to help them along.
Here is your look at the matches to make, for both the winners and losers, following UFC 201's outstanding night of fights.
UFC Fight Pass Prelims
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Michael Graves and Bojan Velickovic fight to a majority draw (30-27, 28-28, 28-28)
This was an uneventful fight that ended in a draw. Please, UFC, do not run this back. Save us all from watching that mess again.
Velickovic probably should have lost the decision, to be frank. Alvaro Herrera is as good of a choice as any. He is coming off a loss, and the loser could be cut from the company.
Graves could face another mid-level fighter, but I would prefer he be matched up with fellow UFC 201 welterweight Matt Brown. Brown is coming off a few losses and shouldn't be fighting a top-tier opponent. Graves has the skills to test him, and it could be a matchup that forces Graves to realize his potential.
Damien Brown def. Cesar Arzamendia by KO at 2:27 of the first round
Arzamendia should be cut from the roster. He doesn't belong in the premiere MMA organization.
Brown showed good skills in his second UFC appearance. The lightweight division is talent-rich; the UFC has a bevy of options. Perhaps the best option would be the winner of the upcoming Josh Emmett vs. Jeremy Kennedy bout at UFC on Fox 21.
If not, any fighter coming off a single win should suffice.
Fox Sports 2 Prelims
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Nikita Krylov def. Ed Herman by KO at 0:40 of the second round
A picture-perfect head kick sent Herman down face-first into the canvas. After recovering from the KO, Herman could meet Sean O'Connell. O'Connell is also coming off a big knockout loss, and the UFC could use the bout to determine who to cut.
Krylov is quickly improving, and now it's time to send him back up the ladder. A September meeting between Ilir Latifi and Ryan Bader could see the winner fight Krylov in the winter. A Latifi vs. Krylov battle could be one of the most fun light heavyweight fights regardless of name recognition or ranking. Pure fun.
Jorge Masvidal def. Ross Pearson by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
Pearson took a second loss in just under a month. He lost to Will Brooks at The Ultimate Fighter Finale a day before UFC 200 and moved up to welterweight on short notice for the fight against Masvidal. He needs time away from the cage.
When Pearson returns, it is the lightweight division that needs him. Scott Holtzman would be a good selection after Pearson's back-to-back losses.
Masvidal is one of the best technical fighters in the UFC. It's a disservice not to book him against upper-level competition. Kelvin Gastelum is coming off a win over Johny Hendricks but is still outside of title contention. Masvidal is a wonderfully tough test for him, and a win for Masvidal shoots him up the rankings.
Anthony Hamilton def. Damian Grabowski by KO at 0:14 of the first round
Back-to-back knockout losses for Grabowski should earn him a one-way ticket out of the organization. He's not UFC material.
Hamilton looked great. He has good wrestling and a great camp, too. The UFC is likely searching for an appropriate opponent to stand opposite Francis Ngannou, and Hamilton could be that guy. He's good enough to test the prospect. It's a big opportunity for Hamilton to prove his doubters wrong, as well.
Wilson Reis def. Hector Sandoval via submission (rear-naked choke) at 1:49 of the first round
Sandoval threw some heavy shots, and Reis soon took him to the mat and finished him. Sandoval will earn a second UFC bout for coming in on late notice and for being exciting. Jon Delos Reyes would make for a fine opponent.
Reis was originally slated to challenge for the flyweight title, but Johnson dropped out with an injury. Johnson will now face the winner of The Ultimate Fighter this December. As such, Reis will have to take another fight. He called out Ian McCall in the post-fight interview with Joe Rogan (h/t ESPN.com's Brett Okamoto), and that's an appropriate fight. Book it.
Ryan Benoit vs. Fredy Serrano
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Ryan Benoit def. Fredy Serrano by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
The unlikely curtain jerker for the event delivered an entertaining bout. Benoit edged Serrano on the cards with a better striking attack.
Serrano scored with powerful takedowns but was unable to land ground-and-pound.
Neither Serrano nor Benoit are spring chickens. That makes the next move by the UFC less compelling. There's no need to foster their developments or search for important bouts. They aren't contenders or prospects at 125 pounds.
Serrano would be a good fit for Ben Nguyen. Nguyen is a talented and fun fighter, and Serrano is a good enough grappler to threaten Nguyen while not being good enough to beat him. It's a good way to rebuild one of the more fun fighters in the division.
Benoit can jump back up the ranks to fight a ranked opponent. John Moraga is a talented fighter who is having a rough go. Benoit vs. Moraga is a decent enough fight to land on UFC Fight Pass in the winter.
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Francisco Rivera vs. Erik Perez
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Erik Perez def. Francisco Rivera by unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 29-28)
Rivera and Perez had a close first round, but Perez looked loose after the horn sounded. He made the necessary adjustments while Rivera failed to do so. Perez did almost lose it in the third when the two started the round by winging haymakers.
In the end, Perez got his hand raised.
Rivera is an exciting fighter. Another exciting bantamweight coming off a loss is Frankie Saenz. That would be a suitable fight sure to excite.
Perez is an interesting case. The win could move him into position to fight a ranked foe, but it's better to match him up against a fellow mid-tier bantamweight. He needs work before being tossed in the deep end of the pool.
Marco Beltran is on a three-fight win streak, and the matchup between Mexicans would be a good featured preliminary contest. It could also be featured on a main card in South America. The winner could then go on to fight at top-15 bantamweight, but currently they shouldn't be shoved that far up the rankings.
Matt Brown vs. Jake Ellenberger
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Jake Ellenberger def. Matt Brown by TKO at 1:46 of the first round
Ellenberger had his back against the wall, and he got off the wall with a liver kick heard around the world.
He rocked Brown right away with an overhand right, but Brown seemingly recovered. Brown started pressing the action in his typical way. Ellenberger answered with the aforementioned kick that put Brown down and out.
Brown is 1-4 in his last five fights, but, given the level of competition he has fought, he'll get another bout in the UFC. How far down the list of fighters will Silva go to locate his next opponent? Hopefully far enough away from the upper level. Brown needs to re-estabish himself before moving back into contention.
Fellow UFC 201 welterweight Graves makes sense in that role. He's not a top fighter, but he brings in a well-rounded skill set. That will be Brown's final chance: win, or get cut.
Ellenberger's scoring a huge win will get him a ranked opponent. Gunnar Nelson is a great stylistic matchup.
Ellenberger may be hesitant to utilize his wrestling, and Nelson would have to worry about Ellenberger's powerful stand-up. Both are good enough in the other areas to make the fight interesting no matter where the fight takes place.
Most importantly, the winner is elevated back into the thick of the division.
Rose Namajunas vs. Karolina Kowalkiewicz
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Karolina Kowalkiewicz def. Rose Namjunas by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
The thrilling three-round affair ended with Kowalkiewicz getting her hand raised. Namajunas' striking was on point in the first round, as Kowalkiewicz struggled to get inside to do damage. The course of the fight changed in the second round, as Kowalkiewicz scored with knees in the clinch.
In the third round, Kowalkiewicz was able to get top position for the final few minutes of the fight. It was enough to seal the deal.
Namajunas is still a developing, young fighter. She is being tossed into the deep end of the pool by virtue of her impressive abilities and winning ways, but truthfully she is still likely a step behind the elite. As such, the UFC needs to handle her next fight carefully.
Alexandra Albu is somewhere out there going unused by the UFC. She was exciting in her organizational debut in April 2015 but hasn't been seen since. Albu is a physically strong fighter who will challenge Namajunas' weaknesses, but Namajunas will have the edge overall. It's a great way to develop both women.
The matchmaking for Kowalkiewicz is much simpler. She will fight Joanna Jedrzejczyk for the strawweight championship, barring injury. The question about the fight will be where it is held. Poland is a logical choice, but most of the remaining 2015 dates are booked.
Kowalkiewicz vs. Jedrzejczyk is a phenomenal clash of Polish strikers with two of the most interesting fighters on the entire UFC roster.
Robbie Lawler vs. Tyron Woodley
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Tyron Woodley def. Robbie Lawler by KO at 2:12 of the first round
Lawler's reign as welterweight champion ended as violently as it began. Woodley blasted him with a right hand that saw a new champion crowned.
Where does the top of the division go from here?
The first question to answer is who should Woodley defend the title against? At the post-fight press conference (h/t Ariel Helwani of MMAFighting.com), Woodley said he wants "money fights" against Nick Diaz or Georges St-Pierre. That is probably not realistic. It's possible, but not probable.
That leaves top contender Stephen Thompson as the best choice, and that's the fight that should be made. It's the champion vs. the No. 1-ranked contender (per the UFC rankings). It is what the sport is all about.
So, what about Lawler?
A rematch against a returning Diaz is what should be at the top of the wish list for the UFC and fans alike. It's a great stylistic fight, and the winner could then challenge for the championship. Lawler vs. Diaz II would be a great addition to any top-tier fight card like UFC 205 in New York City.
Also keep an eye on Demian Maia and Carlos Condit, who meet at UFC on Fox 21, to put themselves in position to slip into a title fight, should injuries or scheduling conflicts come into play.
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