The Bottom Line: The Importance of Stakes

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UFC 235 on Saturday in Las Vegas was not the most thrilling of cards as far as pure action in the cage goes. The top two fights were one-sided 25-minute affairs, and no Ultimate Fighting Championship card this year has had more decisions. In spite of that, the event was generally lauded as an engaging and memorable night of competition. There’s good reason for that. In an era in which MMA is constantly available, having exciting fights only goes so far. There are action-packed events every other weekend that are largely forgotten by the middle of the week. What distinguished UFC 235 and gave it added energy and gravitas is something that’s all too often missing: stakes from very early on all the way to the main event.

This dynamic was most clear when it came to the co-headliner. Kamaru Usman’s fight with Tyron Woodley did not have much in the way of minute-to-minute drama. It became obvious early on which way the fight was going, and Usman remained in control throughout. Still, the bout was far from dull because of the consequence of what was taking place. An extended grinding down isn’t thrilling to watch in a vacuum, but with the right meaning, it can become Randy Couture-Tim Sylvia.

For over two years, Woodley reigned over the welterweight division. He was dominant enough that Joe Rogan wasn’t ashamed to suggest openly that he might be greater than Georges St. Pierre. He was coming off of a complete wipeout of Darren Till. Yet Usman dismissed Woodley so summarily that it’s not hard to imagine that “The Chosen One” will never fight for that title again. Usman has the look of a fighter who could dominate for some time to come, and his touching post-fight interview gave fans reason to invest in his success.

Of course, the co-feature on a pay-per-view is supposed to be consequential. What’s so often missing is depth, the feeling that early on in the show you’re not just watching random fighters but rising stars working their way towards championships. When you have that, the fights grow bigger and the events in turn become more exciting. That was the strength of UFC 235; there was a strong pay-per-view card supported by some interesting television bouts and even some points of interest on UFC Fight Pass.

Zabit Magomedsharipov didn’t turn in his best performance. He showcased some of his flashy techniques early but faded later in the bout, and Jeremy Stephens took the third round. That isn’t particularly notable except that it was Magomedsharipov. He is someone many think of as a potential championship-level fighter, and this fight exposed a potential vulnerability he will have to address in future bouts. Without that added significance, the fight wouldn’t have stood out at all.

Likewise, Weil Zhang’s win over Tecia Torres was compelling, not because of the way it was fought but because of what we learned about Zhang. The UFC clearly has high hopes for her given how she has looked in recent fights and the importance of the Chinese market. UFC 235 was a test of how she compares to other contenders. The results would not have been intriguing if it was two random fighters, but they were in learning about a fighter of potential consequence.

The best-case scenario is not when an average fight is elevated by its relevance to the fighters involved but when a fight marries exciting action with compelling stakes. That was the case multiple times on UFC 235. Mickey Gall-Diego Sanchez was a battle between a rising prospect with name recognition and a long-tenured star. It was a crucial fight for both men, as Gall sought to establish himself as a future contender and Sanchez wanted to show he was still relevant at a high level. When Sanchez weathered early danger and came back to stop Gall, it was exciting, not just in isolation but because of what it meant, good and bad, for the two combatants.

Johnny Walker’s quick flying knee knockout of Misha Cirkunov was exciting no matter who was involved. The specific fighters elevated it even further. Walker has a real star quality, but the big question is how he will do against tougher competition. Cirkunov was the biggest test of his career, and Walker ran through him. That’s the sort of thing great fighters do on their way up. Walker may or may not prove himself to be truly great, but if he does, the Cirkunov fight will be an important step on that path.

Cody Garbrandt-Pedro Munhoz, like Walker-Cirkunov, was a thrilling fight with an explosive finish under any circumstances. The way it sadly fits into Garbrandt’s career will make that finish remembered in a way that the electric conclusion to Dwight Grant-Carlo Pedersoli Jr. will not. As great a fighter as Garbrandt is, the Munhoz fight will likely solidify the perception that he could have been so much more if he focused more on protecting his chin in exchanges.

Ben Askren’s encounter with Robbie Lawler had everything you could want from a fight: a near knockout, a big comeback, an unusual submission attempt and controversy at the end. That it involved Askren finally making his UFC debut after all these years and looking to break into the welterweight title mix against a former champion raised it even higher.

Given the volume of events that the UFC is obliged to put on as part of its television deal, it’s impossible to consistently put on cards with the depth and significance of UFC 235. However, the event demonstrates the good that can come when those positives come together and the way it enhances everything about the show. The more often those sorts of events come together, the healthier and more resonant the sport will be.

Todd Martin has written about mixed martial arts since 2002 for a variety of outlets, including CBSSports.com, SI.com, ESPN.com, the Los Angeles Times, MMApayout.com, Fight Magazine and Fighting Spirit Magazine. He has appeared on a number of radio stations, including ESPN affiliates in New York and Washington, D.C., and HDNet’s “Inside MMA” television show. In addition to his work at Sherdog.com, he does a weekly podcast with Wade Keller at PWTorch.com and blogs regularly at LaTimes.com. Todd received his BA from Vassar College in 2003 and JD from UCLA School of Law in 2007 and is a licensed attorney. He has covered UFC, Pride, Bellator, Affliction, IFL, WFA, Strikeforce, WEC and K-1 live events. He believes deeply in the power of MMA to heal the world and bring happiness to all of its people.