UFC Fight Night 96 Results: Matches to Make for the Winners and Losers
The UFC returned to Portland with a (sort of) bantamweight showcase that lived up to the hype.
John Lineker met John Dodson in a classic. The two flyweight-turned-bantamweight contenders stood toe-to-toe and hit each other with their best shots. It was an incredible sight to see. In the end, Lineker edged Dodson with a split decision.
The co-main event was a catchweight as well, but it was not as entertaining or forgiving. Alex Oliveira, who came in five pounds overweight, defeated Will Brooks by TKO in the third round. The weight and post-fight antics spoiled any goodwill he may have had.
With those and every other fight on the card the UFC crew has to be hard at work on figuring out what's next. That's where we come in.
Welcome, UFC matchmakers. Please, take a seat and gaze into the crystal ball to learn who comes next for the winners and losers of UFC Fight Night 96.
UFC Fight Pass Prelims
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Ketlen Vieira def. Kelly Faszholz by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Vieira has only been training a short time, but she looks like a legitimate prospect. Faszholz just failed to get started early, but she started to put together her game in the third. It was enough to save her UFC contract.
Elizabeth Phillips vs. Faszholz in a loser leaves UFC bout is the appropriate booking decision.
Vieira won, and in a shallow division that could mean she walks into the deep end of the pool quicker than expected. That would be unfortunate. Hopefully, Lina Lansberg is next. Lansberg lost to Cris Cyborg, but she showed her toughness. That's a fight that can send the winner to bigger and better things without crushing the loser.
Curtis Blaydes def. Cody East by TKO at 2:02 of the second round
Cut East. It was a sloppy fight and he's lost his two UFC bouts.
Blaydes showed some improvement in his second UFC contest. That's promising from a mildly athletic heavyweight. He still has a lot of work to do, but he's still developing. Bojan Mihajlovic is a likely choice. He may be coming off a loss, but the heavyweight division is thin. It still makes sense given Blaydes' progression and can help foster his growth as a fighter.
Ion Cutelaba def. Jonathan Wilson by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
I see no reason to give Wilson a fourth UFC fight. He's 1-2 with back-to-back losses. Perhaps if he were more competitive or exciting in Portland I'd feel differently, but he can always earn his way back through the regional scene.
Cutelaba throws bombs with every shot. You know who I'd like to see him throw leather against? The loser of UFC 204's Ovince Saint Preux vs. Jimi Manuwa fight. Yes, please.
Nate Marquardt def. Tamdan McCrory by KO at 4:44 of the second round
McCrory is a fun fighter to watch, but now he's lost two in a row by KO. Does his exciting past give him one more fight? Probably, but I say let him go. Just cut ties and let him drift back to Bellator.
As for Marquardt, I'm going to agree with Bloody Elbow's Mookie Alexander. Alexander tweeted that now is the time for the Marquardt vs. Anderson Silva rematch. It makes sense to pull the trigger on that fight. And it's a great main card bout for any fight card.
Fox Sports 2 Prelims
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Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos def. Keita Nakamura by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Nakamura meeting Luan Chagas is the best the UFC can do after Portland. He's not a notable name but deserves another go-around. It's a fine bout.
Zaleski dos Santos has back-to-back wins now, but in the deep waters of 170 that doesn't mean he gets a big fight. But he can get a good, solid matchup against Peter Sobotta. The fight would help the UFC in moving the winner up the ranks.
Shamil Abdurakhimov def. Walt Harris by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Let's not pretend this was a good fight. I say give Walt Harris a fight with Travis Browne. Browne has fallen on hard times and needs to fight someone outside of the top 10, and Harris gets an opportunity to right his ship against one of the more notable names.
Abdurakhimov has earned a fight against a ranked opponent. Daniel Omielanczuk meets Stefan Struve at UFC 204. The winner meeting Abdurakhimov meets all the standards necessary.
Andre Fili def. Hacran Dias by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Dias missed weight and lost. He was nearly taken out in the first round. He's still a viable and threatening featherweight, and a fight against Renan Barao would be a stellar undercard scrap on a future Brazilian fight card. Sure, Dias is coming off a loss, but Barao wasn't impressive in his last outing. Let's take it slow.
Fili put in work. Dennis Bermudez is in the top 10 at featherweight, but he's nowhere near contention range. Fili could be the right choice, and stylistically we all could be in for a treat.
Luis Henrique da Silva def. Joachim Christensen via submission (armbar) at 4:43 of the second round
Christensen's UFC debut was spoiled. In a striker vs. grappler matchup, the grappler got submitted. That's not a good sign. Book Christensen against Ilir Latifi. Latifi needs a rebound fight, and if Christensen can prove he can at least hang with Latifi he'll get a third try in the UFC.
Da Silva remains undefeated and showed off his ground skills. OK, time for a step up.
Glover Teixeira was iced by Anthony Johnson, which means he needs to step outside of top-five level matchmaking. Da Silva has heavy hands and wants to trade. Teixeira will oblige. That's a fun matchup for fans while putting the winner in a position to move into contention in 2017.
Louis Smolka vs. Brandon Moreno
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Brandon Moreno def. Louis Smolka via submission (guillotine choke) at 2:23 of the first round
Smolka entered as the big favorite, talked a bit of trash (h/t MMA Mania's ) to his former opponent for dropping out and got promptly submitted.
Life lesson learned.
Moreno earned his UFC spot with the victory, and he should get the fight with Sergio Pettis as a reward.
Smolka hits the end of the breadline. Awaiting him there should be Fredy Serrano.
This is what happens when you underestimate an opponent in MMA. Anything can happen, and a quick guillotine ruined all of the hype Smolka had built around himself.
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Josh Burkman vs. Zak Ottow
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Zak Ottow def. Josh Burkman by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Given the depth of the welterweight division, and the lightweight division for that matter, the UFC should cut Burkman.
He's a crafty vet, but he's 1-4 since returning to the Octagon. That's not a record worthy of sticking around. He is aging and well past his prime. He'd be valuable outside of the UFC testing prospects on the regional circuit.
Ottow came in on short notice and performed well. In a smart, tactical fight against a veteran he was the better man.
Vicente Luque is coming off a recent victory, and the matchup with Ottow fits on a future Fight Night preliminary card just fine.
Will Brooks vs. Alex Oliveira
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Alex Oliveira def. Will Brooks by TKO at 3:30 of the third round
An unfortunate rib injury—which was caused by Oliveira—didn't give Brooks a chance to close out a fight he was winning. Instead, the fighter who came in drastically overweight got the W.
Brooks' time away from the cage is not known yet. Assuming he can jump back in within a reasonable amount of time, match him up with Dustin Poirier. We'll find out which lightweight can jump back into contention with that fight.
Oliveira will be moving up to welterweight, and given the weight issue and his post-fight taunting, he shouldn't get anything too high-profile.
How about Hector Lombard? He's a teammate of Will Brooks at American Top Team, and it offers a good storyline to go along with a fun matchup that'll produce fireworks.
John Lineker vs. John Dodson
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John Lineker def. John Dodson by split decision (48-47, 47-48, 48-47)
It's easy to say give Lineker the title shot. He's ranked as the No. 3 bantamweight contender, he's exciting and he's on a winning streak.
But you simply cannot reward him with a shot at the gold after coming in overweight. You just can't. Also, Dominick Cruz and Cody Garbrandt are on a collision course. That gives the UFC all the more reason to skip over Lineker.
We'll circle back to Lineker in a second. Who does Dodson get next?
He could have arguably gotten the nod. He shouldn't drop far. A meeting with newly ranked Rani Yahya is a good matchup for Dodson's next fight.
As for Lineker, give him T.J. Dillashaw. Garbrandt gets the title shot while Lineker and Dillashaw meet in a title eliminator on the same card. It makes life simple, and sometimes simplicity is golden.
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