Five Biggest Takeaways From UFC 213
Another PPV in the books, and another night of fights to analyze.
UFC 213 had it all, thrilling victories, crushing defeats, and all without a real main event. While Amanda Nunes pulled out of her title defense the day of UFC 213, the show must go on, and go on it surely did.
Let’s take a look at the five biggest takeaways from UFC 213.
5. Travis Browne Loses Fourth Fight In A Row
Years ago, “Hapa” seemed to be destined to become heavyweight champion. His massive 6’6 frame and athleticism was simply unparalleled at the time.
Browne had a few setbacks, sure. A draw with Cheick Kongo, a TKO loss to Bigfoot following a mid-fight injury, but then “Hapa” really came into his own.
He dispatched Gonzaga and Josh Barnett with his patented hellbows in a minute flat, and overcame adversity to knockout Alistair Overeem during a spirited run just a few years back.
And then, something changed. Browne decided to join his paramour Ronda Rousey at Glendale Fighting Club, and he hasn’t looked the same since.
He honestly looked like he didn’t want to be there while headlining the preliminary portion of UFC 213 on FS1.
Olyneik, a submission specialist, dropped Hapa in the second round and submitted him, but Browne looked done well before the finish.
Now with just two wins in his past eight fights, the book appears to have closed on Hapa’s UFC career, to the point where Dana White said Browne ought to retire at the post-fight press conference.
What a dramatic downfall for a once-promising contender. 
4. Overeem Wins Questionable Decision
The real takeaway here concerns Nevada State Athletic Commission’s unwillingness to adopt the new scoring system.
Overeem and Werdum tangled for the third time on Saturday night, and the decision left many fans and pundits scratching their heads in confusion.
What constitutes a 10-9 anymore? What about a 10-8 round? Werdum clearly won the third round, in a round where more damage was done than the first two rounds combined.
But for whatever reason, that wasn’t enough to seal the decision victory. In spite of Werdum dropping Overeem and ground-and-pounding him until the final bell rang, the judges still awarded Overeem with the win.
NSAC needs to reevaluate their scoring system before more of these decisions ruin the integrity and consistency of the sport.
3. Pettis Victorious In Return To Lightweight
What a rollercoaster it is to be a “Showtime” fan. Pettis has had a tough couple of years, and a failed drop to featherweight yielded very little momentum which quickly developed into a lack of purpose.
Back at the weigh class he was once champion in, Pettis delivered a workmanlike beat down on Jim Miller, who had his moments in the bout as well.
Being that his opponent was Jim Miller, it did go to decision, but “Showtime” did more than enough damage to win.
A much needed victory for Pettis here. Perhaps a fight with Justin Gaethje would work…
2. Nunes Drops Out Day Of The Fight
What an incredible letdown. To lose the main event on the day of the fight was just too much, especially for a card that once promised Cody Garbrandt vs TJ Dillashaw and “Cowboy” vs Robbie Lawler.
Whittaker and Romero saved the show, but still, what a letdown!
1. Whittaker Wins Interim Middleweight Belt
This was the kind of fight that just gives you butterflies before that first bell rings. Two proven finishers, each in their own respective prime, duking it out.
And they certainly delivered. Romero and Whittaker went five hard rounds together, with Whittaker taking the decision win in spite of an leg injury sustained in the first round.
Whittaker gutted it out, even throwing the injured leg at times, full force into Romero’s body, legs, and head.
He weathered the storm, and what a storm it was to wheather. Romero had violently dispatched everyone else he’s fought in the UFC, but Whittaker was simply too much.
So now, after a spirited post-fight exchange, Bisping has his dance partner. The two will unify the middleweight belt at a later undetermined date.
