UFC 216 Results: Matches to Make for the Winners and Losers
UFC 216 was Demetrious Johnson's night.
It doesn't matter he co-main-evented with an interim lightweight bout ahead of him, UFC 216 was all about "Mighty Mouse." And he capped it off with one of the greatest submissions in MMA history. Tossing Ray Borg and catching him in an armbar midair...astonishing.
Oh, that main event? Tony Ferguson submitted Kevin Lee to get the interim lightweight belt. Now he stands in line waiting for Conor McGregor's next move.
After all the action in Las Vegas, what comes next? What are the matches the UFC should book?
As always, we are here to answer that question. We'll take a look at every fight on the card and determine the correct path the UFC should take in each of the 22 athletes' careers. Here are the matches to make following UFC 216.
Preliminary Fights Quick Hits
1 of 6
Brad Tavares def. Thales Leites by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-26, 30-26)
- Brad Tavares vs. David Branch
- Thales Leites vs. Krzysztof Jotko
John Moraga def. Magomed Bibulatov by KO at 1:38 of the first round
- John Moraga vs. Wilson Reis
- Magomed Bibulatov vs. Marco Beltran
Matt Schnell def. Marco Beltran by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 30-27)
- Matt Schnell vs. Alexandre Pantoja
- Marco Beltran vs. Magomed Bibulatov
Poliana Botelho def. Pearl Gonzalez by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Poliana Botelho vs. The Ultimate Fighter runner-up
- Pearl Gonzalez should be cut from the roster.
Lando Vannata and Bobby Green fought to a split draw (29-27, 27-29, 28-28)
- Lando Vannata vs. Beneil Dariush
- Bobby Green vs. Evan Dunham
Cody Stamann def. Tom Duquesnoy by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 30-27)
- Cody Stamann vs. winner of Rob Font vs. Pedro Munhoz (October 28)
- Tom Duquesnoy vs. loser of Damian Stasiak vs. Brian Kelleher (October 21)
Beneil Dariush vs. Evan Dunham
2 of 6
If you checked out the preliminary fights quick hits, then you already know the matchups suggested for these two men.
A lot of times after an exciting contest that ends in a draw, there will be a call to run it back. While both draws at UFC 216 were fun, rematches don't serve much purpose. And considering we haven't seen alternate matchups between the four—let's mix it up.
Let's see crafty veterans in Green and Dunham mix it up while rising stars Dariush and Vannata tussle inside the Octagon.
The lightweight division is jam-packed full of talent, and the draws at UFC 216 didn't move anyone closer to title contention. Likewise, it didn't hurt anyone, either. Thus, just mix up the four participants and book new fights. It's really simple.
Bonus? The new matchups are just as enticing as their fights we saw on Saturday.
Mara Romero Borella vs. Kalindra Faria
3 of 6
Mara Romero Borella looked outstanding in an upset over Kalindra Faria.
Faria had only lost to notable names prior to the UFC 216 defeat. Does that mean Borella will soon become notable herself? Her next fight should help answer that question.
Andrea Lee was originally supposed to fight at UFC 216 against Faria, but a past diuretic suspension meant she'd need to wait under USADA rules, per MMA Fighting's Guilherme Cruz. Well, when she is ready to return, then Borella should be waiting.
Faria should get a shot at redemption, but it's difficult to project her opponent with the inaugural flyweight title still being decided on a TV show airing episodes. I'd suggest the UFC give her a fight on the finale card against one of the preliminary losers.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
Fabricio Werdum vs. Walt Harris
4 of 6
Exit Derrick Lewis, enter Walt Harris. Even if it was only for 65 seconds.
A one-sided fight where neither man took damage was the best outcome, and that's what happened. Fabricio Werdum took Harris down and submitted him without resistance.
Harris was originally scheduled to fight Mark Godbeer. Since he didn't take any damage, the UFC should just re-book that fight for a card in the near future. Harris shouldn't be under any sort of lengthy suspension.
Should the UFC re-book Werdum against Lewis? Yes. But not because that's the one fight everyone is clamoring for, but simply because there aren't many other options at heavyweight.
Alistair Overeem just recently defeated Werdum and is fighting Francis Ngannou in a de facto title eliminator. Cain Velasquez and Werdum could meet, but no one is certain when Velasquez is returning. We've seen him against Mark Hunt already too.
Lewis is the only name that really makes sense for Werdum after getting back in the win column.
Demetrious Johnson vs. Ray Borg
5 of 6
Demetrious Johnson is the greatest fighter we have ever known. No one else has done what he is still currently doing, and UFC 216's fabulous submission victory only highlighted that point.
Johnson's Submission of the Year—just go ahead and give him that award—put him into a class of his own.
But let's start with Ray Borg.
Borg showed heart and promise in the fight. That's a good sign and gives him a nice stock boost. He'll need a few more wins before contending again, and there is one name that stands out where he should start. Dustin Ortiz.
Borg met Ortiz in 2014. And lost. What better motivator for Borg than to have a chance to erase that loss from his mind while getting back in the win column? That's the fight the UFC should book next for Borg.
We may have already seen fights with Joseph Benavidez and Henry Cejudo, but those rematches are what should be next for Johnson. Unfortunately, Benavidez is still injured and Cejudo is fighting Sergio Pettis later this year. Should "Mighty Mouse" go up to 135? Only if the money is right.
No one should force an undersized Johnson to take on a bantamweight. He competed well at 135 before the UFC opened his division, but this is the very reason we have weight classes. It doesn't harm his legacy, and fights against Cejudo and Benavidez are exceptional matchups.
The winner of Cejudo vs. Pettis seems like the logical choice given Benavidez's medical status.
Tony Ferguson vs. Kevin Lee
6 of 6
Tony Ferguson weathered an early storm from Kevin Lee and now holds the interim lightweight gold.
Lee shouldn't hit the back of the bread line, but he will need to get a couple more wins.
Michael Chiesa still hasn't fought since the loss to Lee, which had a strange ending where Chiesa fought a deep rear-naked choke with seemingly no way of escaping. So, run that fight back to get a truly definitive ending. There is some intrigue there, and Lee will need time before another headlining act. Don't overthink it.
Pretty Tony should fight McGregor to unify the belts, right?
No. Sorry.
That is the sporting matchup to make, but this is entertainment. As such, we want to see Nate Diaz vs. McGregor for the third time. The UFC needs to make that fight. Also, it allows the UFC to maximize the entertainment for fans.
Ferguson should meet the winner of Justin Gaethje vs. Eddie Alvarez. This four-man tournament gives the fans an extra fight they will love instead of just Ferguson vs. McGregor. The UFC should even consider putting the fights on the same card.
Belts do mean something, but the two bouts of McGregor vs. Diaz and Ferguson vs. Alvarez/Gaethje do not diminish the standing of the lightweight division. If anything, it helps clear it out for what comes next. We get two great title fights instead of one with a unification bout for the ages readymade at the end of the rainbow.
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
