What’s Next For UFC 182’s Biggest Winners/Losers?
UFC 182 opened 2015 for MMA fans with a long-awaited PPV (Pay-Per-View) card that could’ve been the strongest of the year. Unfortunately it did not deliver to it’s full potential. Perhaps it was the half-year of hype that had surrounded the evening’s main event, or maybe the lack of finishes on the main card, either way it was a bit anti-climactic.
Nonetheless we saw Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier finally settle their feud, and there are some interesting points to ponder in the wake of such a high profile show…..
Jon Jones
The biggest winner from UFC 182 was undoubtedly Jon Jones, as the unbeaten light-heavyweight champion burst in to the GOAT argument in victory. The win would have obviously been boosted by a finish, but the level these guys are fighting at is just so high that even a close decision has to be appreciated.
As it turned out, it wasn’t close at all. It was somewhat surprising, even for avid “Bones” fans, that “DC” was unable to get any real momentum going. What’s next for JJ? The winner of Gustafsson vs Johnson, and then there really is no reason for Jones to stay at light-heavyweight if he wins that fight. It’s as simple as that.
Daniel Cormier
It was a tough night for the AKA (American Kickboxing Academy) product, as he left the MGM Grand Garden Arena as the biggest loser of the show. It’s a tough pill to swallow, but will make it all the more impressive if he is able to work his way back to the top. In a twist of fate, “DC” will probably get a bigger fight than the two he combined to originally get his title shot at 205 pounds.
That being said, the division is rather booked up at the top end. Unless he is willing to wait a rather long time, the best Cormier can hope for right now is the winner of Ryan Bader vs Phil Davis at UFC On FOX 14 on January 24th.
“Cowboy” did what he had to against Myles Jury at UFC 182, and you can’t blame him for that. He took the fight to where he knew Jury would be uncomfortable and made it a grinder over three rounds. Six on the bounce now for Cerrone, but where does he go next in the busy lightweight division? It has to be a number one contender fight, so perhaps the returning Khabib Nurmagomedov is the only legitimate option.
Myles Jury
Another 15-0 competitor heading in to UFC 182, and another who left with a one-sided loss. “Fury” should take a lesson from his loss to Cerrone, and use it to his advantage. At age 26, the path is still longer ahead of Jury than what is behind. Experience was the main factor in the Alliance MMA product’s loss, but he’ll have that on his side next time out. A fight with Bobby Green could be on the cards next.
Props to Paul Felder for the standout performance of the preliminary card, as he blasted Danny Castillo with a monstrous spinning back fist in the feature bout. Also recognition goes to Cody “No Love” Garbrandt, as he scored a record-breaking last 10 seconds TKO win over Marcus Brimage.
