UFC 206 Results: 5 Burning Questions Heading into UFC on Fox 22
UFC 206 is in the books. The results are as follows:
- Max Holloway def. Anthony Pettis by TKO at 4:50 of the third round
- Donald Cerrone def. Matt Brown by KO at 0:34 of the third round
- Cub Swanson def. Doo Ho Choi by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
- Kelvin Gastelum def. Tim Kennedy by TKO at 2:45 of the third round
- Emil Meek def. Jordan Mein by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Misha Cirkunov def. Nikita Krylov via submission (guillotine) at 4:38 of the first round
- Olivier Aubin-Mercier def. Drew Dober via submission (rear-naked choke) at 2:57 of the second round
- Viviane Pereira def. Valerie Letourneau by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
- Matthew Lopez def. Mitch Gagnon by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-27)
- Lando Vannata def. John Makdessi by KO at 1:40 of the first round
- Rustam Khabilov def. Jason Saggo by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Dustin Ortiz def. Zach Makovsky by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Next up? UFC on Fox 22.
With the NFL season in full swing, the UFC returning to network television with a solid card stacked with lighter-weight fighters. The top draw, of course, is Dancing with the Stars runner-up Paige VanZant, who faces former Invicta FC champion Michelle Waterson, in the main event. That said, she has some backup in Urijah Faber, Sage Northcutt and Mickey Gall.
So what questions are burning heading into Saturday's card? Read on and find out.
Which Bantamweight Veteran Will Keep His Job?
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The Fight: Eddie Wineland vs. Takeya Mizugaki
The Real Fight: Old Soldiers vs. Fading Away
The Stakes
Eddie Wineland is 32 years old, 34 fights deep into his career, and 2-3 in his last five. Takeya Mizugaki is 32 years old, 33 fights deep into his career, and 1-3 in his last four. Both men are (most likely) on the tail end of their careers, and need a win to buy themselves more time in the UFC.
The Question
Which Bantamweight Veteran Will Keep His Job?
Analysis
Wineland and Mizugaki are both very good fighters, there's no doubt about that. Wineland's unique striking style is still a treat to watch, and Mizugaki is one of the most well-rounded fighters in the UFC's lower weight classes.
Time, however, takes its toll on everyone, and a combined 67 professional MMA bouts? Well, that probably takes an even bigger toll.
Because of that, the UFC likely has no real attachment to either man, and with a glut of contenders working their way up the 135-pound rankings, there's no real value to them at this point. With that in mind, it's hard not to look at this as a "loser goes to Bellator" kind of fight.
How Will Irene Aldana Look in Her UFC Debut?
2 of 5The Fight: Leslie Smith vs. Irene Aldana
The Real Fight: Irene Aldana vs. First Impressions
The Stakes
The UFC has poached yet another interesting talent from Invicta FC; former women's bantamweight contender Irene Aldana. The 28-year-old looks to make a good first impression at UFC on Fox 22 in a matchup with Leslie Smith.
The Question
How Will Irene Aldana Look in Her UFC Debut?
Analysis
Here's a quick rundown of the facts surrounding Aldana:
- 28 years old
- 7-2 pro record, 4-1 in Invicta
- All wins via stoppage (5 TKO, 2 submissions)
- Sole loss in Invicta was to Tonya Evinger for bantamweight title (lost in 4th round via TKO)
- Born, raised and trains in Mexico, making her a valuable commodity for the promotion.
There's a whole lot to like for her, and she has a favorable matchup in the undersized Smith. There is a strong likelihood that she wins this fight inside the distance and, if she pulls it off, she could be thrown right into the thick of the top-10 from there.
How Will Urijah Faber Go Out?
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The Fight: Urijah Faber vs. Brad Pickett
The Real Fight: Brad Pickett vs. Urijah Faber's Legacy
The Stakes
Win or lose, Urijah Faber seems set to retire following UFC on Fox 22. The only question is whether or not he will end his career on a high note, a la Mark Munoz, or on a low one, a la Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. That will hinge on the results of his fight with Brad Pickett.
The Question
How Will Urijah Faber Go Out?
Analysis
Since the announcement that Faber's next fight would be his last, there has been a fair bit of discussion about the mixed legacy he leaves behind. On one hand, the most memorable part of his career was his seven-fight losing streak in title fights from 2008 to 2016. On the other hand, he is one of the most business-savvy fighters in MMA history, was the biggest star of the WEC and deserves commendation for his staying power near the top of the 145- and 135-pound divisions.
Ultimately, that legacy will be determined with time, but the fans of today have one last taste of the California Kid this Saturday. In front of his hometown crowd in Sacramento, he has the chance to give fans a happy memory heading into the last days of 2016, or pile on to an ugly, ugly year.
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Is Mickey Gall a Destroyer of Men?
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The Fight: Sage Northcutt vs. Mickey Gall
The Real Fight: Exaggerated Perceptions of MMA Fans vs. Reality
The Stakes
Mickey Gall has done everything right, but now he has a tall task in front of him; staying relevant post-CM Punk. He has a great chance to do so here, opposite the heavily pushed Sage Northcutt, but he needs to score a very decisive win if he wants to maintain all his momentum.
The Question
Is Mickey Gall a Destroyer of Men?
Analysis
As UFC 203 approached for MMA fans, the perception surrounding Gall was that he wasn't just a stalwart defender of the sanctity of professional cagefighting. He was an unstoppable killing machine.
It wasn't true, of course. Gall entered UFC 203 as nothing more than a 24-year-old with a 2-0 professional MMA record and exited as nothing more than a 24-year-old with a 3-0 pro record. He is still very much an unknown commodity both physically and developmentally, and while he managed to absolutely demolish CM Punk, that means very, very little when it comes to his standing in the whole of the UFC today.
That makes this fight against Northcutt an important one for him. While Northcutt isn't an elite fighter, he is someone that has held up against UFC competitors more often than not.
If Northcutt suffers the same fate as Punk, it shows that Mickey is, indeed, so fine. If he can't? Well, fans will need to pause on blowing their minds over him for a while.
Is Paige VanZant a Draw?
5 of 5
The Fight: Paige VanZant vs. Michelle Waterson
The Real Fight: The UFC vs. The Confines of a Legitimate Sports Organization
The Stakes
The UFC has sunk a great deal of time and effort into turning Paige VanZant into one of the faces of the company, and UFC on Fox 22 is where they find out what kind of return they get on that investment. Set to face Michelle Waterson in the main event, this event is key in determining whether or not the UFC's marketing machine is capable of turning any ol' fighter into a star, or whether that kind of popularity comes organically.
The Question
Is Paige VanZant a Draw?
Analysis
The UFC has put a great deal of effort into pushing PVZ. They have put her front-and-center in media events at the expense of other, actually talented fighters (see above). They have put her into main events over veterans and surefire contenders. They have given her opportunities that few other fighters could ever hope for.
All for this. UFC on Fox 22 is the first time one of the UFC's handpicked stars is being tasked with headlining a card on television, and the ratings will be critical in determining whether the UFC's attempts at creating celebrities can take hold.
If VanZant vs. Waterson proves to be a television bust, it will basically show that the UFC cannot simply tell everyone that a certain fighter has the "it" factor and have that translate into ratings. And if that proves to be the case? Well, WME-IMG will have a whole lot of work to do.
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