I have to admit that the UFC 146 all heavyweight card far exceeded my expectations. It was, without a doubt, one of the most fun cards to watch this year. Only THREE of the twelve fights on the card went the distance. There where 3 subs, 4 TKO’s and 2 KO’s.
One thing I thought was odd was that UFC president Dana White didn’t award a Fight of the Night bonus. Instead he opted to give out 2 KO of the Night awards (Nelson and Hardy) and 2 Sub of the Night awards (Struve and Sass). I can’t say that I know WHY he did this, but I think it was a mistake. I felt like Mike Brown and Daniel Pineda deserved the Fight of the Night award.
What’s next for some of the fighters that made headlines on the card? Let’s take a look at five “now what” scenarios.
Now What #1: Brown To Hang Around?
Mike Brown won a close fight, but now he’s talking retirement; at least that’s what I initially had heard and read. But then I heard he wasn’t. Really, at this point, does anyone care if he does or doesn’t? He’s a good fighter on the wrong side of his peak. He’s never going to challenge the top 5 in the division which means he’ll be nothing more than a gate-keeper going forward. Do we want or need that? I mean, we already have Kenny Florian. WHAT? He retired too? Huh.
Now What #2: So Long, Miller
Mayhem Miller’s fighting career has come to an end. Miller fans shouldn’t expect any Favre like comebacks either. He had this to say about calling it quits:
“Every fighter gives the same answer when they say they’re retired. Pretty much every fighter says ‘I’m retired until I need money.’ I’m a pretty smart dude, I have other avenues open to me.”
In the future I think we’ll see Miller doing commentary like he used to for HDNet. I also think he’ll be much more active over in the Japan MMA scene as well as continuing to host his show on MTV “Bully Beatdown”.
PS – CB Dollaway is BORING!
Now What #3: Mr. Improbable
Somebody forgot to tell Jamie Varner that he was supposed to lose. Varner took out one of the most promising prospects in the lightweight division in Edson Barboza and he made it look easy. If you watch HDNet fights at all then you know Varner has put in work in the regional promotions, trying to get back to the top. He was scheduled to fight at Legacy before the UFC came a callin’ for UFC 146. Now that Varner put away Barboza, it won’t get any easier.
Up next? My guess is a fight with somebody like Mark Bocek or the man he replaced to get this win, Evan Dunham.
Now What #4: Brock Back?
Brock Lesner might be coming back. YAWN! Wake me up when it’s over (I just hope it’s against Roy Nelson, who I think would have his way with Brock).
Now What #5: A Rematch?
Junior dos Santos dominated Frank Mir and Cain Velasquez destroyed Antonio Silva. NOW WHAT? Are we going to see dos Santos vs Velasquez 2? After their performances on this card, and given the lack of any real contender in the big boy division, I think we will. The only thing standing in the way of this rematch? A fight between dos Santos and Strikeforce’s Daniel Cormier.
BONUS – Now What #6: What To Do With Dan Hardy?
Dan Hardy looked great as he climbed back into the win column. He finished Duane Ludwig in the first round and looked very sharp. So now what? What do you do with a guy who was one more loss away from being out of the UFC? This is a tough one. I guess you have to see if he’s for real again, but your guess is as good as mine on who he should face next.