UFC Fight Night: Boetsch vs. Henderson (UFC Fight Night 68) was live from the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana on June 6, 2015.
The original main event for UFC Fight Night 68 was a pivotal light heavyweight bout between the Louisiana native Daniel Cormier and Ryan Bader, but Cormier was removed from the card to take on Anthony Johnson for the vacant UFC Light Heavyweight Championship at UFC 187, which he won. The new main event was a 5-round middleweight bout between MMA legend Dan Henderson and the #13 ranked middleweight Tim Boetsch.
Just like at every UFC event, UFC Fight Night 68 saw many fighters take a step forward in their career, whereas others were not as successful and had to take a step back in their career. With that being said, check out who our biggest winners and losers from UFC Fight Night 68 are below.
Winners
Dan Henderson
For a long time now and certainly in the lead up to UFC Fight Night 68, many were questioning why Dan Henderson is still doing this. At UFC Fight Night 68, Henderson proved exactly why as he gave the MMA world another one of his legendary ‘H-Bomb’ knockouts as he finished Tim Boetsch in just 28-seconds. The 44-year-old proved all his doubters wrong once again as he was able to pull off the upset and get back into the win column for the first time in a little over a year. Henderson will surely continue to fight on, but for now everyone should not worry about what is next, but instead appreciate the legend that Dan Henderson is and what they just witnessed him do.
Dustin Poirier
It was a long time, but Louisiana’s own Dustin Poirier finally fought in the Bayou State for the first time in over five years at UFC Fight Night 68. Poirier took on Yancy Medeiros and ‘The Diamond’ proved once again why the move back up to lightweight was the right decision as he defeated Medeiros via TKO at 2:35 of Round 1. Poirier has long been among the best in whatever weight division he decides to fight in, but the move back up to lightweight certainly has seemed to rejuvenate his career. The 26-year-old is now 2-0 in a little over two months at lightweight and will take some time off before taken on what will likely be a ranked opponent.
Losers
Matt Mitrione
If there were one weakness to name about Matt Mitrione, it would be his ground game and that proved to be true once again at UFC Fight Night 68. Mitrione has knocked out his last three opponents and his last loss came to Brendan Schaub back in 2013 where he was submitted via D’Arce choke. Mitrione took on Ben Rothwell at UFC Fight Night 68 and was having success on the feet, but in a bizaree turn of events, ‘Meathead’ went in for a takedown and got caught in a front choke that would prove to be his wrongdoing as he tapped out at 1:54 of Round 1. This loss hurts all the more because a win would have likely made Mitrione only one more big win away from challenging for the UFC Heavyweight Championship, but for now he will have to take a backseat for some time.
Alex Caceres
At UFC Fight Night 68, Alex Caceres took on Francisco Rivera in what was a must win for Caceres as he was already on a two fight losing streak. Caceres was never really able to show what he had as he was knocked out in just 21-seconds. ‘Bruce Leeroy’ is now on a three fight losing streak and his UFC record is now 5-6-1 NC. Although he is rarely in boring fights, his UFC future may very well be in doubt.
