UFC Ottawa is all said and done. Some fighters win. Some lose. But their careers move on. What’s next for the winners and losers?
The UFC has made its triumphant return to Canada with this past weekend’s card at UFC Ottawa. The card boasted some of Canada’s finest young talent as well as some staple fighters. So what’s next for some of the fighters? Let’s have a look!
Cub Swanson’s Efforts Close But No Cigar Against Shane Burgos
Shane Burgos has been a hot prospect in the featherweight division for some time. Going 4-1 in the UFC before the Swanson fight, it was time to test himself. Burgos showed up big time in this fight, taking on a big time veteran and a top 10 fighter in Cub Swanson. The fight went to a split decision, and Burgos showed that even under pressure he can perform.
Cub Swanson is on the longest skid of his career. Dropping four straight, not all is lost for the Fight of the Night machine. The fights he’s lost were to Brian Ortega, Frankie Edgar, Renato Moicano, and now Burgos. This company bodes well for Burgos. As for Swanson, he needs a rebound ASAP to get some momentum going before Father Time catches up to him.
Next Opponent for Shane Burgos: Josh Emmett, Jeremy Stephens
Next Opponent for Cub Swanson: Darren Elkins, Andre Fili
Derek Brunson Gets the Job Done
Derek Brunson came into this fight on a two-fight skid to two of the best middleweights in the world. He showed great improvement in his striking displaying more patience and a more calculating approach. Brunson, for the most part, neutralized Elias Theodorou’s unorthodox striking, aside from not being able to wrestle like he wanted past the first round.
While he was in his backyard, Elias was not the crowd favorite at UFC Ottawa. While his style is unorthodox, it’s either exciting or it’s not. This night, it wasn’t. Elias struggled to land anything of significance on Brunson and was on the wrong side of the crowd’s cheers.
Next Opponent for Derek Brunson: Chris Weidman, Brad Tavares
Next Opponent for Elias Theorodoru: Krzysztof Jotko
Cowboy Wrangles Al Iaquinta
Donald Cerrone has a lot of records in the UFC. I won’t name them because we would run out of time. He added on to those records this weekend. His win over fourth-ranked Al Iaquinta was a master class. Iaquinta has phenomenal hands and he showed that on the fight, but, Cerrone’s size and striking was just too much. Cowboy chopped away at the leg and battered Iaquinta’s face for five rounds getting the two the Fight of the Night award.
Iaquinta showed just how tough he is at UFC Ottawa. He took knees, teeps to the face that would put down any other mortal. Luckily his stock will not fall from the loss to the bigger Cowboy Cerrone. He’s sure to rebound with a great fight.
Next Opponent for Donald Cerrone: Conor McGregor, Tony Ferguson
Next Opponent for Al Iaquinta: Edson Barboza, Paul Felder
