The smallest dogs in the fight took centre stage at UFC on FOX 6. Viewed by potentially millions of fresh eyeballs the 125-pound fighters didn’t disappoint as the lightning-fast 25 minute affair displayed why the pocket-sized fighters are every bit as exciting as their larger counterparts.
Demetrious Johnson set a pace that John Dodson couldn’t match for five rounds, plain and simple. The reigning flyweight kingpin had a brilliant performance against the TUF 14 winner who managed to wobble him on several occasions but the champ overcame the adversity to comfortably get home on most score cards.
Johnson wasn’t the only person to get their hand raised that night – Glover Teixeria, Anthony Pettis, Ricardo Lamas & Clay Guida were just some of the talented fighters to earn a win bonus that night so let’s play armchair matchmaker once again and find some appropriate match-ups.
Demtrious Johnson vs. Joseph Benavidez-Ian McCall winner
They say you’re not a champion until you defend your title, well I guess Johnson is officially a champion as he defended his throne in convincing fashion on Saturday night. While the recently deflowered division is interesting, it still lacks depth so the winner of Joseph Benavidez and Ian McCall’s UFC 156 clash next weekend is right at the top of the food chain despite both having dropped decisions to the pint-sized king.
John Dodson vs. Louis Gaudinot
Dodson didn’t get a 10-pound piece of hardware on Saturday night but he did earn a lot of repsect in what will no doubt be a huge learning experience for the charismatic and joyful Jackson-Winkeljohn fighter. Having gone the distance with the best in his field it’s clear that he’s worthy to tussle with the best in the 125-pound ranks, one of the most interesting up-and-comers is fellow TUF 14 cast-off Louis Gaudinot, the green-haired fighter is expected to return from an injury shortly and would be a fitting fighter to welcome Dodson back to the cage.
Glover Teixeria vs. Alexander Gutsafsson-Gegard Mousasi winner
He might not be flawless like Joe Rogan will tell you in pre-fight packages but he is pretty damn good. In the toughest task of his career Glover Teixeria passed with flying colours as he decisively took three rounds over former light-heavyweight king Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson. It’s clear he needs to fight the best in the division at this point, with Alexander Gustafsson and Gegard Mousasi fighting on April 6 I feel if you match them up with Teixeria you have a fine title-eliminator fight.
Anthony Pettis vs. Gilbert Melendez-Benson Henderson winner
UFC President Dana White told the world via his fire-breathing Twitter Machine on Saturday night that Anthony Pettis has won him over when he took out Donald Cerrone with a pair of liver kicks that would make Bas Rutten shed a tear of joy. The answer here is simple, Pettis needs to fight for the 155-pound crown against whoever holds it after the next expedition to the FOX platform on April 20.
Ricardo Lamas vs. Jose Aldo-Frankie Edgar winner
Once again everyone underestimated him and once again everyone was wrong. Ricardo Lamas dispatched of Erik Koch and did so in violent fashion with a barrage of elbows that forced a gash on the forehead of the top-ranked fighter. With that win coupled with his decision over former world-number-one Hatsu Hioki he has earned a shot at the championship that gets determined next weekend on pay-per-view.
Clay Guida vs. Chan Sung Jung
With a new weight-class comes a new moustache. Clay Guida threw his name in the hat of featherweight contenders with a controversial win over former divisional ruler Hatsu Hioki. The former top-ranked lightweight seems to have a second wind at 145-pounds and matching him up with the always exciting ‘Korean Zombie’ Chan Sung Jung can’t leave anyone disappointed.
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