UFC Fight Night 94 Results: 5 Burning Questions Heading into Fight Night 95
UFC Fight Night 94 is in the books. The results are as follows:
Main Card on Fox Sports 1
- Michael Johnson def. Dustin Poirier, knockout (Round 1, 1:35)
- Derek Brunson def. Uriah Hall, TKO (Round 1, 1:41)
- Evan Dunham def. Rick Glenn, unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Roan Carneiro def. Kenny Robertson, split decision (28-29, 30-27, 29-28)
- Islam Makhachev def. Chris Wade, unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Chas Skelly def. Maximo Blanco, submission (Round 1, 0:19)
Prelims on Fox Sports 1
- Gabriel Benitez def. Sam Sicilia, submission (Round 2, 1:20)
- Belal Muhammad def. Augusto Montano, TKO (Round 3, 4:19)
- Antonio Carlos Junior def. Leonardo Augusto Leleco, submission (Round 3, 4:46)
- Jose Alberto Quinonez def. Joey Gomez, unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
Prelims on UFC Fight Pass
- Randy Brown def. Erick Montano, submission (Round 3, 0:18)
- Alejandro Perez vs. Albert Morales scored a majority draw (27-29, 28-28, 28-28)
Next up? UFC Fight Night 95 from Brazil on Saturday.
While Fight Night 94 was an awful card, Fight Night 95 brings fans a lineup of interesting prospects, alongside some established fan favorites. Oh, and the main event features Cris Cyborg! That's just great.
So what questions demand answers? Read on and find out!
Can Erick Silva Bounce Back from His Failed Sucker Punch Incident?
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The Fight: Erick Silva vs. Luan Chagas
The Real Fight: Erick Silva vs. Some Guy
The Stakes
Erick Silva was catching a lot of heat entering UFC 196 for looking, as some would call it, s-a-w-f-t, and he didn't help matters for himself by giving MMA fans one of the all-time greatest "karma" moments. Now, with his in- and out-of-the-cage rep at an all-time low, Silva looks to get something going against Luan Chagas.
The Question
Can Erick Silva bounce back from his sucker punch incident?
Analysis
At UFC 196, Nordine Taleb was graciously letting a grounded Silva return to his feet. Seemingly as an acknowledgement of gratitude, Silva extended his hand for a fist bump. As Taleb reached out, Silva used the opportunity to sucker-punch Taleb and followed that up by taunting him.
That disrespect wouldn't go unavenged, however, as Taleb would score an honest-to-goodness face-plant knockout on Silva by catching a lazy front kick and following it with a right hand down the pipe.
To say that Silva handled the loss and the backlash over the sucker punch poorly would be an enormous understatement. He followed it with an Instagram post that began with a guest-on-Maury-style "you don't know me!" Judging from where Silva is on this card, the UFC didn't take his actions well, either.
Currently at his lowest point since joining the UFC, Silva needs to beat the unheralded Chagas. If he can't, there is a strong chance the company quietly releases him.
Why Is Jussier Da Silva on the Preliminary Card?
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The Fight: Jussier da Silva vs. Dustin Ortiz
The Real Fight: The Flyweight Division vs. the UFC's Constant Disrespect
The Stakes
Jussier da Silva is the pound-for-pound best man on the UFC Fight Night 95 card (he sits at No. 5 on Bleacher Report's flyweight rankings). He is the second-best pound-for-pound fighter overall, behind only main eventer Cris Cyborg. Since he's stuck in the middle of the prelims for an international Fight Night, however, it's hard not to wonder...
The Question
Why is Jussier Da Silva on the preliminary card?
Analysis
No, Da Silva isn't in one of those fake "important" slots like the "Fight Pass Prelim Main Event" or whatever they call the last fight on the televised prelims these days. No, he's not even curtain-jerking. Da Silva is just plain stuck in the middle of the card for no discernible reason...well, except for his size.
It's sad that this kind of stuff happens in the UFC, but if the company booked cards based on merit, it might actually be a sports organization...
Which Heavyweight Veteran Will Save His Job?
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The Fight: Roy Nelson vs. Antonio Silva
The Real Fight: Roy Nelson, Antonio Silva vs. Wear, Tear, Age
The Stakes
Roy Nelson is 40 years old and 2-6 in his last eight fights. Antonio Silva is 37 years old and 1-5 (1) in his last six. Both men are old and have largely expended their usefulness to the UFC at this point. This could be a "Loser Goes to Bellator" match.
The Question
Which heavyweight veteran will save his job?
Analysis
Nelson has run his course as a UFC fighter, facing nearly every member of the current Top 10. There are few fresh matchups for him, and his name value doesn't carry as far as it used to.
Silva has never been an attraction in the UFC but has been able to keep himself relevant with well-timed wins between ugly losses. Unlike Nelson, however, Silva has racked up losses to fighters outside the division's upper tier, and that makes him a veteran who doesn't fit into a gatekeeper role.
Neither man fits into the UFC anymore, and they'd both benefit from heading over to Bellator. Only the loser will get that opportunity, though.
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Is Renan Barao Done?
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The Fight: Renan Barao vs. Phillipe Nover
The Real Fight: Renan Barao vs. A Career Tailspin
The Stakes
At one point, Renan Barao was being touted as the top pound-for-pound fighter in MMA. Today, he is an unranked featherweight. In a sport where fighters such as Johny Hendricks, Gilbert Melendez and Vitor Belfort can go from contender to pushover in a heartbeat, it's worth asking...
The Question
Is Renan Barao done?
Analysis
At 29 years old, Barao isn't old per se, but with 11 years of professional MMA and 38 fights to his name, it's easy to wonder if his body might be starting to fall apart on him. He wouldn't be the first man with those statistics to experience that.
If he loses to or even struggles against Nover, a not-so-formidable opponent with a 1-4 UFC record (that should probably be 0-5), it's time to sell any stake in the former champ.
Can Lina Lansberg Make This Interesting?
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The Fight: Cris Cyborg vs. Lina Lansberg
The Real Fight: Lina Lansberg vs. Dying Young
The Stakes
Can any fan name whp Cris Cyborg is mugging up there? Probably not, and that's because fans have seen that exact sight in every single one of her fights. Lina Lansberg is set to be her next victim, and the question isn't whether Lansberg can pull off the upset. Of course she can't. The question is simply...
The Question
Can Lina Lansberg make this interesting?
Analysis
After watching most of the footage from Lansberg's career, this writer can say that there's nothing especially extraordinary about her.
She hasn't faced especially tough competition; her only notable opponent to date has been Pannie Kianzad, who she lost to in her pro debut. She doesn't have a remarkable skill set, owning a fairly straightforward clinch-and-strike style. She most certainly doesn't have Cyborg's level of athleticism, possessing neither her speed nor strength.
So long as Cyborg doesn't have a terribly bad weight cut, there's little reason to expect a competitive fight.
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