The UFC returned to the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada on Saturday to host their annual Fourth of July pay-per-view card and the two main fights of the evening showcased that two of the company’s champions are in it for the long haul.
In the co-main event, UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey didn’t even have to break a sweat to finish Alexis Davis.
In the featured bout of the night, middleweight titleholder Chris Weidman showed the heart and skill of a champion when he weathered a late storm from game challenger Lyoto Machida.
Plenty of other fighters on the card did not disappoint either, so check out the biggest winners and losers from UFC 175.
BIGGEST WINNER
Ronda Rousey – This one’s a no-brainer, as the “Rowdy” one needed a measly 16 seconds to put away Cesar Gracie Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt Alexis Davis.
While some touted Davis as Rousey’s toughest test to date on paper, she ended up being her easiest opponent in 10 professional fights.
Rousey again proved she’s a cut above the rest and it seems blatantly obvious the only opponent that could maker her work is Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos.
WINNER
Chris Weidman – Despite making Anderson Silva look human on back-to-back occasions, some pundits doubted the legitimacy of “The All-American’s” skills heading into his UFC 175 showdown with Lyoto Machida.
Weidman showed he’s for real, refusing to quit down the stretch when “The Dragon” went headhunting late in the matchup, hoping for a one-shot KO in the eleventh hour.
Few options make sense for the undefeated champion next aside from Vitor Belfort, but the question is can he get his fighter’s license from the Nevada State Athletic Commission?
WINNER
Uriah Hall – It’s extremely rare a fighter is able to continue after badly dislocating his toe in mid-fight, so one can only imagine the probability of that said fighter hanging on to win the fight.
However, that’s exactly what Uriah Hall did on Saturday night against Thiago Santos. If Hall is over the mental block that prevented him from unleashing his potential, he could quickly become a serious threat at 185 pounds.
WINNER
Urijah Faber – While Alex Caceres was a much more game opponent than what most anticipated, “The California Kid” once again proved he’s unstoppable in non-title fights.
Faber’s grappling was just overwhelming for “Bruce Leeroy,” who finally succumbed to a rear-naked choke late in the matchup. Faber remains a top contender despite being 0-6 in his past six championship bouts.
BIGGEST LOSER
Alexis Davis – There’s no shame in getting dominated by Ronda Rousey, but 16 seconds? Jeez.
There isn’t much else to say, Davis got outclassed on the feet and was probably out cold as soon as the fight hit the mat.
As crazy as it may sound, Davis is probably still a top 5 women’s bantamweight … problem is it looks like Rousey beats her 100 times out of 100.
LOSER
Lyoto Machida – It’s a shame to call “The Dragon” a loser after such a gritty, inspired performance against a seemingly unbreakable Chris Weidman.
Still, a loss is a loss and Machida just seemed like a half step behind the champ for the duration of the fight, despite some strong flurries in the fourth and fifth rounds. Machida could easily earn a rematch with just one or two decisive wins from here.
LOSER
George Roop – Always regarded as one of the most inconsistent bantamweights on the UFC roster, Roop got knocked out cold by Rob Font over the holiday weekend.
The journeyman fighter is now just 4-4 inside the Octagon and doesn’t look like he’s going to break out of his middle-of-road categorization any time soon.
LOSER
Chris Camozzi – After winning four fights in a row between January 2012 and March 2013, Camozzi has now dropped three consecutive bouts.
While his UFC 175 affair with Bruno Santos was a competitive one, it’s hard to imagine a scenario where the company gives him another chance to prove himself.