Rich Hansen's Take
HANSEN: UFC 172 thoughts and top fights to make after "Jones vs. Teixeira event
Apr 27, 2014 - 8:15:35 PM HANSEN: UFC 172 thoughts and top fights to make after "Jones vs. Teixeira event

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By: Rich Hansen, MMATorch Guest Columnist

UFC 172 delivered, as most UFV pay-per-view events tend to do. The main event wasn't competitive, but it was another chance to drop your jaw in awe of the greatest talent this sport has ever seen in Jon Jones. Jones' division just gained a legitimate contender in Anthony Johnson. There were four submissions on the card, which I believe, but don't quote me on this exactly, is more submissions than has happened in the entire UFC in the last fourteen months. Submissions, KOs, brilliance, surprises, let's look a little closer at what happened last night.

Jon Jones def. Glover Teixeira

Jon Jones is the best fighter of all-time. Last night only reinforced what became clear after he defeated Alexander Gustafsson in September 2013. He beat Teixeira at his own game, just as he did to Chael Sonnen when they fought one year ago. Not only did Jones choose to negate his reach advantage for most of the fight, but when he did get in the phone booth with Teixeira, he threw almost no right hands. Elbows and knees. Knees and elbows. The confidence, creativity, timing, chin, and athleticism Jones possesses are each better than anyone else in his division, and probably in the entire sport. The only thing that is even close to as astounding as Jones is the notion that anyone thought Glover could beat him. For the life of me, the only reasons I can think of to bet on Teixeira last night would be a total and complete hatred of money.

Moving forward, Jones' next fight will be against Alexander Gustafsson; Dana White reinforced that last night. White says they're looking at doing the show in a Swedish stadium, where the PPV portion of the card would start at 4 AM . In other news, There's no way in hell that happens, unless Zuffa guarantees Jones not just Anderson Silva money, but some of that Floyd Mayweather money.

As to Glover Teixeira, it's always impressive to fight regularly and not lose for nine years, but in that nine year streak he never faced anyone close to Jon Jones. Maybe had he been able to fight for the UFC seven or eight years ago he could have been a champion in that era. But not in this era, no no no

Teixeira could be looking at a fight with Phil Davis next time out. One gets the chance to rebuild, and the other gets sent out of the tip ten. A fight with Shogun Rua might happen next, or maybe Teixeira vs. Jimi Manuwa could be in the cards. Teixeira is an action fighter, so both of those fight would be entertaining.


Anthony "Rumble" Johnson def. Phil Davis


OK, so I didn't see Anthony Johnson dominating Phil Davis. I mean, I saw it in my hopes and in my dreams, but I figured Davis would sit on Johnson's chest for fifteen minutes, or maybe less if Johnson gassed and lost the energy to defend the submissions. The division is much scarier with Johnson “in the mix” than with Davis being there.

Johnson's almost definitely looking at the winner of the Daniel Cormier vs. Dan Henderson fight the next time out. Nothing else makes sense. He was given a consensus top-five fighter for his return fight, so it's not like he's going to be fighting Ryan Jimmo any time soon. Add to that the fact that Cormier or Henderson are going to need one more fight before Jon Jones or Alexander Gustafsson are done with each other (and if Gustafsson beats Jones, Jones will get a rematch), and it's the only fight that makes any sense. A fight with Rashad Evans would make sense, but they won't fight each other because they're friends, and it would hurt their feelings.

Phil Davis might wind up getting cut. Dana White rightfully hates the man. You should too. If the UFC can cut Jon Fitch, Jake Shields, and Yushin Okami, why would they keep Phil Davis? Davis has all of their bad stylistic attributes, none of the resume, and a big mouth that likes to write checks he can't cash. If he sticks around, he might see Glover Teixeira this summer. I suppose they could put him in with the loser of Cormier and Henderson, or even the loser of Chael Sonnen and Wanderlei Silva. Yes, that's a joke. They're both losers.


Luke Rockhold def. Tim Boetsch

Had Luke Rockhold done anything other than dominate and finish Tim Boetsch in the first round without breaking a sweat, the night would have been a disappointment. But not only did he submit Boetsch in the first round without breaking a sweat (he didn't even need a shower or cologne after the fight), he did it with some really nasty style points. I wasn't a Rockhold guy for the longest time, but I can't really put my finger on why. Clearly I was wrong about Rockhold, a fact which has cost him less than a nanosecond of sleep I'm sure. Rockhold might be the biggest threat to Chris Weidman's title reign. How's that for a 180 turn?

That said, Rockhold isn't getting Weidman next time out. He's fighting Lyoto Machida next, supposedly on July 5. That date seems optimistic, due to Weidman having had surgery on both knees a few weeks back. But if Weidman does fight and does beat Machida on July 5, Vitor Belfort is ostensibly the next contender, providing he can find an undetectable form of HGH he can get into his system in time. If Belfort can't get himself jacked up on steroids properly clean, then Weidman (or Machida) are going to be looking for a different opponent. Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza and Luke Rockhold are the entire short list of guys to fight for the title after Belfort.

Despite holding a victory over Jacare in Strikeforce, both Jacare and Rockhold really have an equal case for the shot after Machida and/or Belfort. So, Rockhold vs. Jacare on July 5, or main eventing in San Jose on July 26? SOLD! I cant think of anything else for Rockhold that makes any sense. That said, fights with Costa Philippou and Tim Boetsch didn't make a bit of sense, either.

Tim Boetsch will likely stay on the roster, because he's better than Jon Fitch, Jake Shields, and Yushin Okami. Not at, you know, fighting. But he's better at something. If he stays on board, fights with Brad Tavares, Chris Camozzi, or Derek Brunson might be appropriate for Boetsch. Or a rematch with Yushin Okami if he does get released.


Jim Miller def. Yancy Medeiros

Jim Miller wound up in an unenviable situation. His original opponent, Bobby Green, pulled out less than two weeks before UFC 172. Yancy Medeiros replaced Green, which put Miller in a lose-lose situation. But Jim Miller is such a stud that he turned this situation into a positive, absolutely thrashing the overmatched Medieros. If you live a less than virtuous life and wind up in hell for eternity, don't be surprised if your personal hell is to be caught in a Miller Brother guillotine for eternity. While watching Ultimate Fighter Seasons 8 through 18 on repeat.

After the fight, Miller told a supportive Baltimore audience that he next wants to fight a fighter ahead of him in the rankings, and then rattled off Khabib Nurmagomedov, Donald Cerrone, Rafael dos Anjos, T.J. Grant and Josh Thomson by name. He could be in the Atlantic City main event vs. Nurmagomedov. He could fight Josh Thomson either in Atlantic City or in San Jose. He could fight Cerrone anywhere. Grant's on the shelf, hopefully returning in time for the UFC's debut in Halifax on October 4. Rafael dos Anjos isn't getting a top-ten guy anytime for the rest of the decade.

Yancy Medeiros is a good young fighter, but he needs to be fighting guys at his level. Rustam Khabilov and Jim Miller are too much too soon for such a young fighter. A fight with his originally scheduled opponent Joe Ellenberger seems likely, as this loss shouldn't be held against him in the least.


Max Holloway def. Andre Fili

Yes, we live in an era where Max Holloway and Andre Fili are UFC PPV fighters. Just in case you agree with Dana White's assertion last week that this was the most loaded card in company history, just chew on that for a minute. Just because the show was the best of the year so far doesn't justify his statement as being, you know, true.

Holloway is years away from the top-ten, which is fine. Not every high-profile win needs to launch every single fighter into title contention. Give him Alex White next, and let's enjoy a good, exciting, fight that has very little at stake. Jim Alers makes sense, too. As does Mirsad Bektic. All of those guys should bring a fun fight.

Andre Fili and his ears could make a fun fight if paired with Jimy Hettes, Robert Whiteford, or Marcus Brimage.


Joseph Benavidez def. Tim Elliott

On the Preliminary card, Sisyphus beat Tim Elliott with the most beautiful guillotine choke you'll ever see. And it got him absolutely nowhere. He can't be given a contender, because he'll beat anyone but Demetrious Johnson, so he's going to do the same thing again and again. And again. And a few more times after that. Josh Sampo could be next. Sampo's talented, but totally out of contention. He might get Ali Bagautinov after he loses to Johnson in June. Maybe Dustin Ortiz. At least Ortiz is coming off of a win. That's the fight I would make. Ortiz deserves a higher profile fight.


Takanori Gomi def. Isaac Vallie-Flagg

Takanori Gomi barely defeated a journeyman on cable four fights into a ten fight card. How that isn't his own version of hell considering how good he was a decade ago is beyond me. That said, he's an action fighter (duh) and a good test for some up and coming guys to test their mettle against. Gomi vs. Bobby Green could be fireworks. Edson Barboza vs. Gomi would be great, if they're willing to go winner vs. loser. Danny Castillo would be great, too.


Danny Castillo def. Charlie Brenneman

Speaking of Castillo, that was the most perfect punch he's ever going to throw Castillo could be looking at Al Iaquinto next, if Iaquinta gets past Mitch Clarke next month. Fights with the winner of Diego Sanchez vs. Ross Pearson, or with Ramsey Nijem could be fun as well.