UFC 129 Report Card: Grades for the 14 Most High-Profile Fighters

I know it is sad, but UFC 129 has come and gone.  

It was an awesome ride while it lasted, but before we look forward to UFC 130, let us take a look back at the performances of UFC 129.

Everyone came to fight their heart out and has reason to be proud, but not everyone makes the same grade.

I will be taking a look at the 14 most high-profile fighters, from SPIKE prelims and pay-per-view main card, and assigning them letter grades.

Grades are based on fighting effectiveness and perceived performance in a promotional-based context. 

Sean Pierson

Sean Pierson (knockout loss)

Grade: B-

Fighting in front of your home crowd and getting knocked out in the first round is never the sign of a great performance.

Pierson still gets a decent grade because he kept pressing the action despite getting hit with heavy shots early on.

It may not have been smart to trade punches with Jake Ellenberger, but at least he went out on his shield.

Jake Ellenberger

Jake Ellenberger (knockout victory)

Grade: A

With only 2:42 of fighting, I would have liked to see more from Ellenberger, but still, he looked flawless with what he was given.

I was slightly disappointed with his fight against Carlos Eduardo Rocha, but you cannot complain with a fight taken on short notice and ending in a near-perfect victory.

Nate Diaz

Nate Diaz (Decision loss)

Grade: B

Because Diaz got overwhelmed in the third round, people are acting like the first two rounds were not very close.

If you go back and watch the fights, I think Diaz's first two rounds against Rory MacDonald were closer than top 10-ranked Carlos Condit's.

Still, Diaz had no answer for MacDonald's well-roundedness and superior athleticism.

It is going to take time and commitment to a specific division for Diaz to rise back to contender status. 

Rory MacDonald

Rory MacDonald (decision victory)

Grade: A-

MacDonald looks like he is going to be the next Georges St. Pierre.

In his last bout MacDonald faded in the third round, but MacDonald quieted that criticism with a dominant third round against Nate Diaz.

The three slams against Diaz were thrilling and exemplified MacDonald's considerable physical strength.

Mark Bocek

Mark Bocek (decision loss)

Grade: B+

Bocek took a beating from Ben Henderson, but remained in his face for the full three rounds.

His striking was not as effective as Henderson's, but that was to be expected.

He is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu artist first and foremost, and he fought like a warrior against a more well-rounded fighter.

Good showing.

Ben Henderson

Ben Henderson (decision victory)

Grade: A-

Henderson came out for his UFC debut like he needed to prove he is one of the top fighters in the division. Mission accomplished.

Ben Henderson was not able to put away Mark Bocek, but it was not for a lack of trying.

He was fired up and aggressive, which is something I would not really say about his last performance.

Jason Brilz

Jason Brilz (knockout loss)

Grade: C-

Brilz is an amazing fighter who I want to give a higher score, but he simply did not perform.

He is a part-time fighter who showed some complacency in his last bout when he had Antonio Rogerio Nogueira hurt badly.

Coming out and and getting knocked out in 20 seconds shows that he is still trying to rely on natural talent and ability.

Vladimir Matyushenko

Vladimir Matyushenko (knockout victory)

Grade: A-

People want to write off the 40-year old Belarussian so badly, but he just keeps on winning.

He now has back to back first round TKO/KO victories.

He seems like a really cool dude, and he certainly can fight.

Try to write him off if you want, but "The Janitor" is a force in the stacked light heavyweight division. 

Randy Couture

Randy Couture (knockout loss)

Grade: B

To quote a legend, "not bad for an old man."

I was not sure Couture would have anything for Machida, but the first round was pretty close, with Couture even landing a really big shot on Machida.

You could see Couture getting figured out in the second round and, unfortunately for him, it ended in one of the sport's best knockouts.

Couture says he is retiring, and it is probably for real this time, but he can still beat up just about anybody. 

Lyoto Machida

Lyoto Machida (knockout victory)

Grade: A+

The highest grade of the event.

I do not really consider it a flawless victory, but Machida fought like a champion in his victory over Randy Couture.

In the first round, Machida absorbed a big blow without much of a problem, and was able to neutralize all of the Couture's famed clinching.

In the second round, Machida started landing major blows and finished with one of the craziest knockouts of the year, at any level of competition.

Mark Hominick

Mark Hominick (decision loss)

Grade: A

Mark Hominick gets credit not just for surviving.

In fact, he gets credit not just for being able to turn the tides on Jose Aldo and finish the fight with a major hematoma and dominating the fifth round.

Mark Hominick gets all that credit and more for being Jose Aldo's toughest test to date.

His shots were not as strong as the champion's, and his takedown defense needs a little work, but overall, Hominick threatened Aldo for every minute of the fight.

A career-defining performance on the world's biggest stage. Congratulations to Mark Hominick. 

Jose Aldo

Jose Aldo (decision victory)

Grade: A

Some, including UFC President Dana White, were a little confused by Jose Aldo's performance.

I, on the other hand, commend him for staying focused and aptly versatile in the face of a seemingly indestructible opponent.

Minus some minor mistakes and a lethargic fifth round, Jose Aldo showed why he is the No. 1 featherweight in the world by battering Mark Hominick.

Jake Shields

Jake Shields (decision loss)

Grade: B+

Shields was mostly ineffectual throughout five rounds, but many felt he did a great job, considering he was fighting a man argued by many as the best in the sport.

He fought through adversity, waiting for an opening for victory that never came.

His stand-up, although it appears awkward, is surprisingly decent, but it still could not compare to St. Pierre's.

Shields fought like a champion, but in the UFC, it is going to take something extra special to dethrone GSP.

Georges St. Pierre

Georges St. Pierre (decision victory)

Grade: A-

I did not really see anything technically wrong with St. Pierre's performance, but there did not seem to be much progression in his arsenal since reclaiming the title against Matt Serra three years ago.

Actually, the last time he finished a fight was against BJ Penn, and he has come under a little bit of heat for his tendency to earn decisions.

I personally do not hold that against him, considering the competition, but combining that with his injury complaints during the fight and we have a whole new can of worms under the microscope.