Surprises and Disappointments is a column featured on MMAOddsbreaker.com after every UFC event, highlighting three fighters who had surprising performances and three fighters who disappointed. Here are the three surprises and the three disappointments from UFC Fight Night 44. Surprises Nico Musoke — He may have lost a clear 29-28 decision to Kelvin Gastelum in the co-main event. but I was still very impressed with Nico Musoke, who managed to win the first round against Gastelum before showing off incredible toughness and heart in surviving rounds two and three against the TUF winner. Musoke is now 2-1 in the UFC but at only 28 still has time to grow. For his next fight, the UFC should book him against veteran Seth Bacyznski. Cezar Mutante — There were a lot of question marks surrounding Cezar Mutante after his knockout loss to CB Dollaway, but he looked great in dispatching Andrew Craig via unanimous decision. Mutante is a solid prospect and as long as his chin doesn’t get clipped he can beat the majority of 185ers in the UFC. For his next fight, the UFC will likely feed a middle-of-the-pack middleweight to him on a Brazil fight card. Cody Gibson — It was controversial, but underdog Cody Gibson got things done with a first-round TKO of Johnny Bedford. Some thought the referee was too early with the stoppage and that may be the case, but regardless Gibson picked up his first UFC win and moves forward in the division with a nice scalp on his record in Bedford. Disappointments Clint Hester — He got the win, but not many who watched thought that Clint Hester deserved to beat Antonio Braga Neto. Hester was taken down at numerous points throughout the fight and mounted yet the judges somehow found a way to award the decision to him. It was a poor showing and while he does have four-straight wins now, he shouldn’t get a big-name opponent based on this outing. Colton Smith — After winning TUF 16 after taking out Mike Ricci via decision, Colton Smith has now lost three-straight fights in the UFC, his latest coming to Carlos Diego Ferreira at UFC Fight Night 44. Smith will likely be cut by the UFC after such a poor showing, but he may be back one day Andy Enz — In a middleweight match that was less than exciting, Andy Enz showed very poor striking defence as Marcelo Guimaraes picked him apart for three rounds en route to a split decision victory. No clue how one judge saw it 30-27 for Enz, but at least two other ones got the decision right and gave it to Guimaraes. For Enz’ next fight, the UFC might as well sacrifice this tough fighter to James Te Huna on a future New Zealand/Australia fight card and see what happens
