What’s Next? UFC: Boston Thoughts and Results
It was a highlight-night for young talent as Boston and the TD Garden hosted the UFC once again on a special Friday night event, where former middleweight champion Chris Weidman and Dominick Reyes met in the semi-anticipated main event. The night also saw the fiery rematch between Yair Rodriguez and Jeremy Stephens, the return of Greg Hardy, and the continued ascension of Maycee Barber. Here are the full results, some thoughts for the winners, and fights to make in the near-future.
RESULTS:
Dominick Reyes def. Chris Weidman via KO (left cross to ground and pound), Rd 1
Yair Rodriguez def. Jeremy Stephens via Unanimous Decision
Greg Hardy vs. Ben Sosoli ends in a No Contest
Joe Lauzon def. Jonathan Pearce via TKO (ground and pound), Rd 1
Maycee Barber def. Gillian Robertson via TKO (punches), Rd 1
Darren Stewart def. Deron Winn via Split Decision
Charles Rosa def. Manny Bermudez via Submission (armbar), Rd 1
Molly McCann def. Diana Belbita via Unanimous Decision
Sean Woodson def. Kyle Bochniak via Unanimous Decision
Randy Costa def. Boston Salmon via TKO (punches), Rd 1
Sean Brady def. Court McGee via Unanimous Decision
Brendan Allen def. Kevin Holland via Submission (rear-naked choke), Rd 2
Tanner Boser def. Daniel Spitz via Unanimous Decision
Dominick Reyes: Now 12-0 and 6-0 in the UFC, Dominick Reyes has looked more impressive each time out, save a controversial decision victory over Volkan Oezdemir. I didn’t love this headliner against Weidman when it was announced. I thought Reyes should have taken a step back after a lackluster performance and fought someone like Corey Anderson, but here we landed, shipped out to Boston against a former champion moving up a weight class. This was a hard test for Reyes, and he passed. Things went about how I, and most people, expected. Granted, Weidman is not who he used to be, and it was upsetting seeing him ended this way, but props to Reyes and his team. As much as people want to make the case for a fight against Jon Jones, the greatest MMA fighter of all time, I think that is still premature. Jon has been teasing a fight announcement, and I highly doubt at 205. Book Reyes against Anthony Smith early next year.
Yair Rodriguez: I loved seeing the forward aggression from Rodriguez, regardless of the personal beef that started it. If he can fill the holes in his takedown defense and fan the killer instinct in his submissions, Yair will be a bigger problem than he already is. Let’s see Rodriguez against the winner of Zabit and Calvin Kattar.
FIGHTS TO MAKE:
Jeremy Stephens // Mirsad Bektic
Greg Hardy // Todd Duffee
Ben Sosoli // Allen Crowder
Jonathan Pierce // Thiago Moises
Maycee Barber // Paige VanZant
Gillian Robertson // Montana De La Rosa
Darren Stewart // Makhmud Muradov
Deron Winn // Trevin Giles
Charles Rosa // Chas Skelly
Manny Bermudez // Alex Caceres
Molly McCann // Mara Romero Borella
Diana Belbita // Nadia Kassem
Sean Woodson // Daniel Teymur
Kyle Bochniak // Vince Murdock or debuting Featherweight
Randy Costa // Mario Bautista
Boston Salmon // Domingo Pilarte
Sean Brady // Zak Ottow
Court McGee // James Vick
Brendan Allen // Eryk Anders
Kevin Holland // Eric Spicely
Tanner Boser // Serghei Spivac
Daniel Spits // Juan Adams
