UFC on ESPN+ 12 is in the books, and it’s time to take stock in the evening’s performances. MMA Junkie looks at who’s up, who’s down and who’s flat after a night of action at at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, S.C.
Stock up: Chang Sung Jung, Randy Brown, Andrea Lee, Dan Ige, Luis Pena, Jair Rozenstruik, Deron Winn
No change: Kevin Holland, Eric Spicely
Stock down: Renato Moicano, Bryan Barbarena, Matt Wiman, Allen Crowder
Stock up
Chan Sung Jung
There’s a reason “The Korean Zombie” keeps booking UFC headliners. Every time he steps into the octagon, you know something violent and spectacular is going to happen. Jung’s fifth main event might have been the most satisfying, though, because it followed the most random and heartbreaking loss of his career. You never know how someone is going to bounce back, especially when age and wear factors in. Jung (15-5 MMA, 5-2 UFC) shrugged off that reverse elbow and got back to brutal efficiency, and this is why he should never be less than a main card draw.
Randy Brown
Speaking of random knockouts, Randy Brown had his own mountain to climb in coming back at UFC on ESPN+ 12. To get knocked out by Niko Price’s hammerfists from the bottom had to have been a major test of Brown’s faith. And yet he was nothing but composed against Bryan Barberena, a fighter with a gift for dragging opponents into slugfests against their interests. Brown (11-3 MMA, 5-3 UFC) has the physical gifts to be a threat. If he uses them to their potential, there should be nothing holding him back in the welterweight division.
Andrea Lee
That “KGB” continues to thrive despite major personal tumult is a testament to her toughness and championship potential. Under the tutelage of UFC vet Tim Credeur, she’s a well-rounded threat that outclassed Montana De La Rosa on the feet on the feet and the canvas. Particularly impressive was her ability to keep the fight in the striking range that favored her, which will come in handy when Lee (11-2 MMA, 3-0 UFC) meets higher-ranked opponents whose specialty is grappling. Of course, she’s not ready for Valentina Shevchenko yet. But nobody is.
Dan Ige
Kevin Aguilar’s resume wasn’t particularly stellar when he met Ige. Still, it’s really freakin’ hard to go 17-1 in MMA, and Ige outmatched Aguilar in almost every aspect of their fight. Even when Aguilar managed to get to top position on the canvas, Ige was never in danger and soon reasserted control. Even better, he managed to turn up the tempo and beat Aguilar even more handily in the final round, when he should have been starved for energy. With four straight wins, Ige (12-2 MMA, 4-1 UFC) is slowly building momentum in a crowed featherweight division. Here’s hoping the UFC notices it sooner than later.
Luis Pena
It was a palm-to-forehead moment when Pena (7-1 MMA, 3-1 UFC) told the world he’d have no trouble fighting at 145 pounds and then missed weight on his first time out. A move up to lightweight was the logical thing to do for a 6-foot-3 beanstalk, and what a difference it made in the octagon. The physical advantage he had over hard-nosed vet Matt Wiman was stark; everywhere Wiman went, it seemed he was in reach of Pena’s hammers. When you’re diving for legs, Pena’s arms are dangerous tools, and he could put them to devastating use in the weight division he’s right for.
Jair Rozenstruik
It’s a little early to call Rozenstruik the next big thing at heavyweight. Junior Albini and Allen Crowder aren’t the measuring sticks for greatness in the notoriously shallow division. But we’re sure interested in seeing what Rozenstruik (8-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC) does next. If he can do what he’s done so far against a competitor with a better resume and well-rounded skillset, then we might have something on our hands.
Deron Winn
In his octagon debut, Winn really showed why he’s a smaller-statured Daniel Cormier. The heavyweight champ doesn’t cut the imposing figure of his taller counterparts, and he isn’t the prettiest technician. He is, however, a tank that physically imposes his will on opponents, which is exactly how Winn broke down a bigger and rangier Eric Spicely. It didn’t matter how many jabs, elbows and knees Spicely threw up – Winn walked through every one and didn’t get tired. The decorated collegiate wrestler embraces the grind just like his mentor, and we’re intrigued at the possibilities for Winn (6-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC) at 185 pounds.
No Change
Kevin Holland
Nothing will take you out of your game more than a mid-fight injury. Holland deserves a bonus just for the Jedi mind control he pulled on the officials who tried to treat him for an obvious shoulder injury against Alessio Di Chirico. Holland (16-4 MMA, 3-1 UFC) wasn’t quite himself for much of the fight, but he still managed to contain his opponent and prevail. With a three-fight win streak, he deserves a ranked opponent.
Eric Spicely
According to the stat keepers at ESPN, all of the strikes Spicely landed against Winn were significant. That’s a little bit of a stretch, but it underscores the firepower Spicely utilized against an opponent that simply wouldn’t back down. It had been 13 months since Spicely had stepped into the octagon after a third consecutive UFC loss led to his release. To step back in on short notice against a highly touted prospect and put on a performance that won special notice from the boss Dana White, that’s nothing to be ashamed of. Spicely (12-5 MMA, 2-5 UFC) will get another shot, and soon.
Stock Down
Renato Moicano
The combination that felled Moicano early was striking in the way it seemed to contradict all we’d previously seen from the Brazilian. This is a guy who avoided punches of some pretty heavy hitters in Jeremy Stephens and Cub Swanson, so a slip-and-counter from Jung hardly seemed like the combination that would put him away. Such is life in the fight game. Moicano (13-3-1 MMA, 5-3 UFC) appeared to be napping early against an opponent that’s dangerous until the final bell, and he paid the price.
Bryan Barberena
A 1-3 run is never a good thing for an octagon competitor, but the way in which Barberena (14-7 MMA, 5-5 UFC) lost to Randy Brown is concerning. As punishment rained down late in the fight, he appeared to be knocked silly and unable to defend himself, and he took several shots that rattled his brain. A brutal loss to Vicente Luque only happened four months ago. This may have been too much, too soon for a hard-nosed competitor against a taller and fresher opponent.
Matt Wiman
Wiman’s comeback after five years wasn’t like Royce Gracie putting over Matt Hughes at UFC 60. But the young Wiman who fought on that card and got knocked out by a crazy flying knee wasn’t the one who fought Luis Pena. He was just a step behind a guy 10 years his junior. And in modern MMA, it doesn’t take long for you to get lapped. Improvements in the sport happen more rapidly than ever and it’s harder to play catchup, particularly in your mid-30s. Wiman (16-8 MMA, 10-6 UFC) is still as tough as nails. He’s just fighting the toughest opponent in Father Time.
Allen Crowder
Crowder (10-4 MMA, 1-2 UFC) had some decent moments against Greg Hardy before he took the illegal knee that ended his night. That won him a return against Jair Rozenstruik. But after a second first-round knockout loss, it looks like he’s not equipped to handle the power that everyone in the big-man division brings.
For complete coverage of UFC on ESPN+ 12, visit the UFC Events section of the site.
