UFC Fight Night Chicago Fallout

The UFC wrapped up a very busy July with it's return to Network TV. The Fox cards bring huge exposure for the company and the sport as a whole. The main event was a rematch more than a year in the making. Cards like this are a great chance to win over new fans. Make stars out of emerging and younger talent. So what it a good show? Who made there most of the big stage and who saw a key chance slip away?

In Ring Action- With the lion share of the fights being broadcast on the main Fox Network many fighters were in one of the largest audiences they had ever seen. The biggest highlight of the prelims was Tom Lawlor's KO of Gain Villante. To a point Lawlor has been more known his goofy outfits at weigh ins than his fights. This win in his return in after a long layoff was important to get him back in the UFC. The main card kicked off with Joe Lauzon easily beating Takanoria Gomi. Lauzon fought smart keeping his hands up not leaving himself open to a power shot from Gomi. While many expected Lauzon to go for a submission he instead finished the Japaneses Legend with ground and pound. While Lauzon has never gained a UFC title shot he has secured a place as a UFC lifer. He's always just good and exciting enough to keep around. He's stayed out of trouble outside of the cage.

Hurt early with his eye badly swelling it looked like Edison Barboza could be on his way to another loss. The Brazilian and Paul Felder put on an exciting fight that looked more like it belong in a karate point fighting tournament than a MMA show but still was exciting. Both men landed big shots and showed off with spinning techniques. In the end Barboza's speed in particular his quick and powerful switch kick proved to the difference. While Felder was frustrated at his first loss he surely earned another big fight based on his willingness to engage. Sometimes it's better to have an exciting loss over a boring win. Barboza no doubt will get another shot at ranked opponent. The semi main event saw Miesha Tate show some of the best striking of her career. Through out her career Tate's striking has usually be classified and wade forward and throw hard. Although she ate some hard shots early against Jessica Eye, Tate figured out the timing of Eye and hurt her.

Eye looked very good early on and seemed to be having her kind of fight. Still though she left herself open just enough to let Tate connect. After that one big shot Eye seemed to shut down. Than the main event. Everyone gave Dillishaw credit for what he did in the first fight but still question lingered. Did Barao take him to light? What if that one big punch in the first hadn't landed? Was that performance just once and a lifetime. Dillishaw answered all those questions. He again dominated Barao making use of his superior footwork and speed. He again seemed just better than Barao at everything. The former champion had his moments but never truly had control of the fight. Another key was Dillishaw's bringing in his wrestling. He forced Barao against the cage several times forcing him to burn energy. By the second round Barao was gassed. His punches and kicks came at half speed and it seemed like it was just a matter of time before Dillishaw finished him again.

Biggest Winners:

TJ Dillishaw- The closest comparisons to Dillishaw's win over Barao was Buster Douglas beating Mike Tyson. Douglas was a one hit wonder. Dillishaw seems to be showing the potential of a legendary career. Once again he showed amazing foot and speed. He's become one of the UFC's better strikers able to land hard punches and kicks with ease. Under coach Bang Ludwig Dillishaw has thrived. He also remains a great wrestler. While never getting a takedown against Barao his use of wrestling tired out the challenger. The threat of the takedown opened the door for more strikes. Barao and his Nove Uno teamed seemed almost dismissive of Dillishaw's ability. The insisted it was all thanks to that one lucky punch. Dillishaw though showed it was no fluke simply talent. The champions' best assist might just be his athleticism All three title fights have been late knockouts. He's still fresh why other fighters are running on E.

Miesha Tate- The former Takedown now Cupcake seems to be getting just what she wants a third shot at Ronda Rousey. While for a while Tate appeared to plaute as a fighter she's had two very impressive fights in a row. If Tate is going have any success against Rousey she is going to need to stay on the outside away from the clinch. She managed to keep Jessica Eye off her. While a loss would not have ended Tate title chances she's now back at number one contender. Still though the question is can she find the key to beating Rousey or will she revert back to bite down on the mouth piece style striking that failed her twice already.

Duane Bang Ludwig- Once again Bang showed his skills as a trainer. Although Danny Castio came out on the losing end to a close fight Last Call showed improved striking. The big key the main event where his prized student TJ Dillishaw again dominated a title fight. As Joe Rogan pointed out Bang himself didn't fight like the style he teaches but the style is effective. Once again Ludwig was shown giving good technical advice in big moments. Dillishaw was always a promising athlete but he the first to admit Ludwig is a big part of his success.

Biggest Losers

Renan Barao- It was a bad rerun for Barao. Once again he looked second class to Dillishaw. Once again he took several hard shots over a long fight before getting knocked out. Once again he wasn't able to do any real damage. Barao can't blame a bad weight cut as he weighed in easily. He can't blame one lucky punch that landed early. Unless Barao a huge fool he can't say took Dillishaw lightly. But once again he lost. To be fair to Barao it could be Dillishaw's is just a bad match up for him. Everyone has that guy. Others might try to duplicate Dishabille’s game plan but not everyone will do it as well as Dillishaw. Still though Barao is pretty much out of the title picture. Unlike Tate there a quite a few options open for Dillishaw's next few challengers. Barao though needs a change. He's lost two to Dillishaw and had an underwhelming win against Mitch Gagnon. Barao's really not that far removed from someone onto of every pound for pound list but in some ways its like he's a million miles away.

Nova Uno- It wasn't all that long ago that the team was on top of the lighter weight classes with two champion. Now Barao is 0-2 vs. Dillishaw and some believe Aldo backed out of a title fight out of fear. Leading up to the rematch head coach Andrew Pedrnearis declared Dillishaw had Barbie Hands well those Barbie Hands did damage. It didn't help that going into the fourth round the corner simply told Barao “Go win.” Not offering him any advice in how to win.

Jessamyn Duke- Once again Duke entered the cage only to lose. Duke had taken some extended time off and begun working with Josh Barnett. Matched up with Elizabeth Phillips a fighter she had beat as an amateur Duke took another loss. Duke is a tall fighter but doesn't fight like it. She's shows good potential but in this fight she made mistakes notable on a gulliteen choke that she didn't lock in enough and wound up on her back. Duke had a strong third round but by that point it was to late. Had she been able to steal an earlier round or finish the arm bar she went for a few times she could have won but she didn't. Duke has potential but there is added attention on her due to her friendship with Ronda Rousey. With three losses in a row Duke might find herself being cut.

What Comes Next: For TJ Dillishaw two fights make sense for him. One is Dominick Cruz. The stories that could be hyped for that fight are plentiful. Cruz never lost his title being force to surrender his title due to injury. Cruz has a long standing rivalry with Team Alpha Male, and of course the two fighters are very similar with both men using footwork and angles. The problem of course is Cruz cant' stay healthy he's had three ACL tears in his career. Cruz also won't be ready until 2016. While Dillishaw wants the Cruz fight the UFC might want him back in the cage sooner to keep building his name and to add to cards in the fall and winter. Raphael Assuncao the last fighter to beat Dillishaw is also an option the first fight was close and Dillishaw felt he should have won. But like Cruz, Assuncao hasn't been able stay healthy. But those are the two that make the most sense.

I know the UFC has already said Tate gets the winner Rousey and Corriea but I don't think a dead lock. First if Correia some how wins (Hey remember no one thought Dillishaw would win) or makes it a close fight the UFC could do a rematch. Also if Cyborg finally does the right thing and drops to bantamweight all bets are off. Also no matter how much Tate or her supporter try to spin or bring up that one good punch here or there or the fact Tate lasted longer the fact remains Rousey has dominated her. So for Tate I have two options in mind. A rematch with Cat Zingano. The two had a very exciting fight a while back. Cat wound up winning via TKO or a fight with Holly Holm. Holm a fighter many think could be the answer to Rousey. A win over either would be strong ones for Tate plus another camp would give her more time to work on getting ready for a fight with Rousey.

Renan Barao is in a real tough spot. Dana White has already suggested he should move up to Featherweight which would be a good idea given he's not likely to get another shot against Dillishaw and with the IV ban coming he might need the extra ten pounds. If he stays at Bantamweight the best option might be Assuncao. Again that depends on if Assuncao can stay healthy. If not Assucaco another option might be Aljamain Sterling who is coming off some strong win. He's also a top ten fighter Barao hasn't beat yet. A fight like this with him beating a potential contender could help to rebuild his confidence. Another fighter against a lower ranked fighter like Gaganon won't do that.

The good news is for Jessica Eye is with the current state of the Women's Bantamweight division a title shot isn't really that far off. Given Rousey has dominated so many fresh contenders are short. A great option for Eye would be former TUF winner Juliana Pena. Pena just returned from a long layoff. Many have stated Pena has potential to be a title challenger but she's yet to face a truly tough fight. Eye's striking and pressure would be a wonderful first true test for Pena.