HOBAUGH: Winners and Losers from UFC 156 "Aldo vs. Edgar"

By: Eric Hobaugh, MMATorch Contributor

UFC 156 had some good fights, some boring fights, and one really huge upset. It was one of the most important pay-per-views in terms of title implications in recent memory, and with that in mind tonight we'll take a look at the biggest winners and losers from Saturday night's event.

Losers:

Frankie Edgar: Frankie Edgar is in weird situation. He may be the best lightweight fighter in the world, and yet he is not the champ. He is one of the best featherweights in the world, but he will probably never be the champ there as long as Jose Aldo continues to fight at 145. I think he beat Henderson at UFC 150, so it will be interesting to see what his next move will be. I think he might even consider a drop to 135. Wherever he decides to fight next, he is still a hugely popular and well watched fighter. As long as he continues to fight, we all win, but he needs to figure out what's next after three straight losses.

Rashad Evans: If you think about it rationally, Nogueira did not have a huge chance of beating Rashad Evans. Someone forgot to mention this rational thought to Nogueira. I am convinced the UFC was thinking Evans would beat Nogueira, then they would put him in with Anderson Silva. Evans will now more than likely never be given the chance at the P4P king. I think Evans' best bet for a title shot will be after Silva either advocates the title or retires if he chooses to drop down. If Evans can regroup and refocus, he can absolutely be a champ again.

Ian McCall: Of all the fighters on this list, I feel the worst for McCall. He is a hugely talented fighter in a sea of equally talented competitors. He fought to a draw with Demetrious Johnson in their first meeting. He was one step behind in his rematch with Johnson this past June. He was about the same amount behind Benividez at 156. So close. Even though he lost his last two fights, he can win his next and be considered for a title shot in early 2014.

Jon Fitch: The last time Jon Fitch was out wrestled, it was by GSP back at UFC 87. Maia dominated him with what were really his own strengths. He was taken down at will and lost in devastating fashion. Fitch has been one of the best fighters over the past several years at 170, but as sad as this might be, his time may have come and gone. He needs to break his game down by discipline and reinvent himself. If he cannot win with his wrestling, maybe he can improve his striking game and become relevant again.

Alistair Overeem: Most of the people here at MMATorch picked Bigfoot Silva to lose to Overeem. I picked him to knock out Silva as well. While I was watching the fight, I was not surprised to see the disrespect Reem showed for the stand up of Silva. After all, at the weigh in you could see and hear the overconfidence in his voice when he told the world he would destroy Bigfoot Silva. So it was hard not to be satisfied when Silva knocked him out. Alistair Overeem had a year off from the sport because of a positive PED's test. Now, he has been knocked out by someone he was supposed to have easily dominated. He was to be next in line for the heavyweight title. He lost a title shot, millions of dollars, and the respect of many fans. He will need to win against two top ten fighters before he will be looked at again for a title shot.

Winners:

Tyron Woodley: Tyron Woodley proved he belongs in the UFC with his KO of Jay Hieron. He can become a contender at welterweight if he can continue to improve his wrestling and BJJ. I look for him to be given a top 10 fighter in his next fight.

Antonio Rogerio Nogueria: Admit it, you thought Nogueria was getting knocked out by Evans. So did I, and most of the smart money was bet that way. I am in no way saying Nogueria has enough left in his tank to challenge for the Light Heavyweight Title, but he still has many entertaining fights left in him. It was great to see him win one against an elite fighter again. This victory gives him a few more fights in the UFC.

Demian Maia: Do I think Demian Maia can beat GSP? Who cares, as long as he continues to fight the way he has fought since his drop to 170. He is the most underrated fighter today in the UFC. Since his drop to 170, he has been the most dominant fighter in the weight class. Most fighters at 35 are done or very close to the end of their career. Maia seems to be getting stronger each time he enters the Octagon. I think he will win his way to a title shot in 2014.

Jose Aldo: It is not just that Jose Also keeps winning. He is supposed to win. He is beating some of the best fighters in the game each and every time he defends his title. Now he is beating other fighters on the P4P top ten list. I think he will go up to 155 and win the belt in the not too distant future.

Antonio 'Bigfoot' Silva: How satisfying was it to see Silva knock out the super disrespectful Alistair Overeem? Even if you are a huge Reem fan, most people would have to admit he had it coming. In my opinion, Bigfoot is the largest winner from UFC 156. After he was destroyed by Daniel Cormier and Cain Valasquez, he could have easily lost his way and dropped out of the top ten. This win over Reem puts him solidly back in the mix at heavyweight. He not only extended his career at UFC 156, but he picked up a huge amount of fans. If no one tells him he does not have a chance to fight for the heavyweight title, he might just do it.

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Source: http://www.mmatorch.com/artman2/publish/Staff_Editorials_19/article_15826.shtml

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