UFC on ESPN+ 9 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 Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, Ontario.
Stock up: Donald Cerrone, Derek Brunson, Shane Burgos, Walt Harris, Andrew Sanchez, Macy Chiasson, Cole Smith.
Stock down: Elias Theodorou, Cub Swanson, Brad Katona.
No change: Al Iaquinta, Marc-Andre Barriault, Arjan Bhullar.
* * * *
Stock Up
Donald Cerrone
There was a time when all Cerrone wanted was to fight as many times as he could. He was talented, devastating, and against all but the most important opponents, he won. The cash he made went right out the window, because all he had to do was pick up the phone and book another one. The Cerrone we see before us now feels a little different. Whether it’s a new camp, fatherhood, age, or a combination of the three, there’s a focus to “Cowboy” that’s new. He doesn’t have a lot of time left after so many wars, but by all indications, he’s going to make the most of it. He hung tough when Iaquinta came right back at him and stuck to the tools that have served him so well over the years. If another title shot is in his future, it won’t be a surprise. Finally getting over the golden hump might not be, either.
Derek Brunson
Credit is due to Brunson for taking a fight with one of the more frustrating opponents in the game and somehow managing not to lose his cool. That’s evolution for a guy whose instinct to finish fast has led to disaster as much as triumph. It wasn’t the prettiest win, but then again, nobody looks great against Theodorou. And it puts Brunson back on the right footing after he rushed Israel Adesanya and paid for it.
Shane Burgos
One of the most underrated prospects in the featherweight division might have finally broken through. Burgos has stood out from the start with his slick boxing and expert use of distance. Against Swanson, he used them to expert effect, chipping away at his hero over three rounds. There are wrestlers ahead for Burgos that will test his ceiling. But if he performs anything like he did against Swanson, it’s easy to see him fighting for a title down the road.
Walt Harris
There are times when Harris looks like a very beatable heavyweight. Saturday night was not one of those times. Sergey Spivak had no chance. He covered up for dear life and still couldn’t mute the impact of Harris’ fists and knees as they slammed home. It was all over in 50 seconds, and now, we’re wondering again what “The Big Ticket” can do against ranked competition. Harris has had plenty of disappointing setbacks against marquee opposition. This could be a sign his consistency issues are in the past, so why not roll the dice?
Andrew Sanchez
There isn’t a lot of flash in what “TUF 23” winner Sanchez does. You don’t win legions of fans for grinding out your opponents, and especially not if you’re taking on a hometown favorite like Barriault. But over three rounds, Sanchez did exactly what he needed to get the job done, winning positional battles and sticking a jab to keep distance. It’s hard to blame him for doing anything else against such a tough upstart, and the strategy paid off.
Macy Chiasson
There’s a ferocity to Chiasson that warrants notice in the bantamweight division. A short-notice fight and tough weight cut didn’t seem to slow down the “TUF 28” winner one bit. Sarah Moras took the smartest path to the upset when she won an early takedown. Even then, she couldn’t keep Chiasson grounded and got lit up when the tables were turned. Everywhere she fights, Chiassson is a dangerous fighter. And she deserves a big step up in competition.
Cole Smith
The MMA pride of Squamish, B.C., didn’t have an easy ask for his debut. Fellow Canadian Mitch Gagnon has a ton of high-level experience and is known for a smothering ground game. But Smith took the fight to the seasoned vet and beat him at his own game. He survived a hook that put him on skates in the third and nearly got his own tap before a scorecard win.
Stock Down
Elias Theodorou
It’s not easy to short circuit the frustratingly elusive Canadian. But Brunson proved again it could be done with solid wrestling chops and patient counters. Theodorou is an original in a sport full of cardboard cutouts. He makes his herky-jerky style work against opponents who look like they should clobber him. But if he wants to beat guys like Brunson, he’ll need to come up with a better strategy. Being eccentric will keep you around. But eventually you have to be effective.
Cub Swanson
As talented as he is, Swanson just can’t seem to get a break. He fought well against Burgos, his mirror image in crafty striking with the added benefit of youth. And according to one judge, he took home all three rounds. But another scored it the same the opposite direction, and the third saw what was probably the most reasonable assessment of 29-28 for Burgos, who came out ahead on volume. After 12 years under the Zuffa umbrella, it’s hard to see a clear path for Swanson to reclaim his place among the elite in the featherweight division.
Brad Katona
The look on Katona’s face said it all. After two rounds with Merab Dvalishvili, he needed a miracle to turn around what was mostly one-way traffic. Despite Katona’s strong start following his winning run on “TUF 27,” this matchup exposed some grappling deficiencies that will need to be shored up before he can realize his potential.
No Change
Al Iaquinta
We saw how tough “Raging Al” could be when he went the distance with Khabib Nurmagomedov on two days’ notice last year, so the fact that he managed to hang in there with Cerrone wasn’t exactly a shock. It was still as impressive as ever, though, as Iaquinta took Cerrone’s best shots – including a full-fledged front kick to the face – and kept coming back with his own. At no point did Iaquinta concede Cerrone had his number. And while his physical limitations proved too great an obstacle to perform, he showed us one of the attributes we love most about fighters: heart.
Marc-Andre Barriault
If the UFC is looking for star potential in Canada, “Power Bar” could be their answer. In case your volume was on mute, the crowd went nuts for the former TKO champ, who put it on Sanchez in close and appeared a punch or two away from a finish in the second round. Barriault is an imposing presence in the octagon, and he’s got a lot of room to grow in the middleweight division.
Arjan Bhullar
It’s hard to get a strong read on Bhullar’s future. Sure, he’s got Olympic-caliber wrestling credentials and the endorsement of American Kickboxing Academy, which has produced a few heavyweight standouts you might know. But after three rounds with Juan Adams, Bhullar looked more like a survivor than a dominant force. His standup is looking better as he finds his comfort zone, but he’ll need a lot more than a strong clinch game and a single leg to take out the division’s best.
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