UFC 202 Results: 5 Burning Questions Heading into UFC on Fox 21
UFC 202 is in the books. The results are as follows, per Bleacher Report's Craig Amos:
UFC 202 Main Card
- Conor McGregor def. Nate Diaz, majority decision (48-47, 47-47, 48-47)
- Anthony Johnson def. Glover Teixeira, knockout (Round 1, 0:13)
- Donald Cerrone def. Rick Story, TKO (Round 2, 2:02)
- Mike Perry def. Hyun Gyu Lim, TKO (Round 1, 3:38)
- Tim Means def. Sabah Homasi, TKO (Round 2, 2:56)
Prelims on Fox Sports 1
- Cody Garbrandt def. Takeya Mizugaki, TKO (Round 1, 0:48)
- Raquel Pennington def. Elizabeth Phillips, unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Artem Lobov def. Chris Avila, unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Cortney Casey def. Randa Markos, (Round 1, 4:34)
Prelims on UFC Fight Pass
- Lorenz Larkin def. Neil Magny, TKO (Round 1, 4:08)
- Colby Covington def. Max Griffin, TKO (Round 3, 2:18)
- Marvin Vettori def. Alberto Uda, submission (Round 1, 4:30)
Next up? UFC on Fox 21.
After a UFC 202 event defined by mainstream names, UFC on Fox 21 is a show for the hardcore fans, headlined by an excellent welterweight bout between Demian Maia and Carlos Condit.
So who else is on the card? And what should fans watch out for heading into the event? Read on and find out.
Can Joe Lauzon vs. Jim Miller 2 Live Up to the Original?
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The Fight: Jim Miller vs. Joe Lauzon
The Real Fight: Jim Miller, Joe Lauzon vs. Your Boredom
The Stakes
Jim Miller and Joe Lauzon are past the point in their careers where they are looking for title shots, and are instead just looking to collect bonuses. They have a good chance to do so at UFC on Fox 21, as they face off in a rematch of the 2012 Fight of the Year.
The Question
Can Joe Lauzon vs. Jim Miller 2 Live Up to the Original?
Analysis
There's not much else to say. Their first fight was an inspirational affair, as Lauzon showed a level of gutsiness that mere mortals can only dream of, and despite their recent struggles, both have as much tenacity as ever. Even though this fight lacks high stakes, it's basically guaranteed entertainment.
Has the UFC Run Another Potential Star into the Ground?
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The Fight: Paige VanZant vs. Bec Rawlings
The Real Fight: Paige VanZant vs. The UFC's Habitual Mistreating of Top Stars
The Stakes
Paige VanZant hasn't been seen in the Octagon in 2016, and a lot of that has to do with the fact that she was absolutely annihilated by Rose Namajunas in her last fight at UFC Fight Night 80. She needs to put some distance between herself and that beatdown, and the best way to do that is beating Bec Rawlings at UFC on Fox 21.
The Question
Has the UFC Run Another Potential Star into the Ground?
Analysis
It feels like it's been an eternity since VanZant has set foot in the cage...and there's good reason for that. Conor McGregor has fought three times, UFC 200 happened, seven UFC title changes have occurred and two new interim titles have been created (with one of them being dissolved, maybe).
VanZant has been keeping herself busy, too. On top of her high-profile run on Dancing With the Stars, the UFC has put VanZant front-and-center for every media opportunity they can get, making numerous other TV appearances and highlighting her at expos, conventions and anything else she's free to do. Just like Ronda Rousey before Holly Holm! And Conor McGregor before UFC 196! And Sage Northcutt before Bryan Barberena!
The UFC habitually runs its stars into the ground, and VanZant could easily be the latest example.
Even at her best, this fight wouldn't be an easy one for VanZant. While VanZant physically overwhelmed fighters like Kailin Curran and Alex Chambers, Rawlings won't be at an extreme athletic disadvantage and doesn't have cardio issues.
If VanZant has regressed over recent months, or if she just isn't in peak condition, this could be a long, difficult night for her.
Can Charles Oliveira Get Back on Track?
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The Fight: Anthony Pettis vs. Charles Oliveira
The Real Fight: Charles Oliveira vs. Being Forgotten
The Stakes
Charles Oliveira is an excellent fighter, but has largely been forgotten about in the hypercompetitive featherweight division. He has the chance to change that, however, by giving former lightweight champion Anthony Pettis a frosty welcome in his 145-pound debut.
The Question
Can Charles Oliveira Get Back on Track?
Analysis
The last three years have seen Oliveira go from being a solid youngster to one of the best submission artists in MMA. He is 5-1 during that stretch (with the sole loss coming via injury) and has forced legitimate talents like Hatsu Hioki, Myles Jury and Nik Lentz to tap. He very well could be a top-five fighter at 145 pounds—more or less. Still, he finds himself fighting for space under the spotlight in a division where Conor McGregor and Jose Aldo hold titles and fighters like Yair Rodriguez, Dooho Choi and Teruto Ishihara have become the faces of the youth movement.
That makes this fight with Pettis a key one for Oliveira. Pettis is one of just a few fighters with any name value at 145 pounds, and a win over the former lightweight champ would do wonders in terms of advancing Oliveira's position as a contender.
If he can pull it off and avoid any weight-cutting issues ahead of the fight, it will do big things for him.
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Does Anthony Pettis Have Anything Left in Him?
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The Fight: Anthony Pettis vs. Charles Oliveira
The Real Fight: Anthony Pettis vs. His Complete Collapse
The Stakes
Anthony Pettis is in the middle of one of the most complete collapses in MMA history and needs to shake things up in a big way. If he can't reverse course by beating Charles Oliveira, Showtime may officially be done.
The Question
Does Anthony Pettis Have Anything Left in Him?
Analysis
Pettis' recent career is an absolute train wreck and nobody knows why.
Since his electrifying win over Gilbert Melendez in 2014, Pettis is 0-3. While he wasn't finished during that stretch despite facing incredibly stiff competition, it's a shockingly sharp decline for a fighter that was once pegged as the UFC's next pound-for-pound great.
He's hoping to hit the reset button at 145 pounds, and a win over Oliveira would be a great way to instantly return to the title picture. A loss, however, could be a tipping point for his MMA career.
Will Carlos Condit Be Able to Pull This Off?
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The Fight: Demian Maia vs. Carlos Condit
The Real Fight: Carlos Condit vs. Strange Decision-Making
The Stakes
Carlos Condit went from the greatest fight of 2016 (sorry Diaz vs. McGregor 2 fans) to pondering retirement to fighting a nightmarishly difficult opponent in Demian Maia. Now the world gets to see if Condit is privy to something they're not, or if NBK just set himself up for serious disappointment.
The Question
Will Carlos Condit Be Able to Pull This Off?
Analysis
Condit is an excellent fighter. No question. No doubt about it. Maia just happens to be a terrible matchup for him.
Despite great success over the years, Condit has never been an especially formidable wrestler (either offensively or defensively). He makes up for it with an active guard that keeps most grapplers from maintaining top control for any length of time...but Maia is not "most grapplers." Maia is probably the best grappler in MMA today.
His ability to advance position is peerless right now, and he can spend minutes at a time in safe, inescapable positions. That's bad for Condit, and most are expecting that he either loses a lopsided decision or gets finished in the latter stages of the fight.
Condit's good at proving people wrong, though.
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