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 were the three biggest surprises and the three biggest disappointments from UFC 180.
Surprises
Ricardo Lamas — Ricardo Lamas is one of the top-five featherweights in the sport but somehow the hype behind Dennis Bermudez saw Lamas enter the fight as an underdog. But Lamas showed he should have been the favorite all along as he dropped Bermudez with a jab and then choked him out with a guillotine. Lamas proved with the win he’s one of the best out there and is certainly going to get a big fight his next time out.
Hector Urbina — Hector Urbina couldn’t make it through the TUF house but he actually looked good in his UFC debut, submitting Edgar Garcia in the first round by submission. He’s now 1-0 officially in the Octagon and training at ATT, he could win a few fights in the big show.
Henry Briones — Things were looking bad for Henry Briones early in his fight against Guido Cannetti, as he was hurt to the body several times in the first round, but out of nowhere he landed a brutal uppercut in the second and put his opponent away for the victory. Briones is now 1-0 in the UFC with a brutal knockout, and while he does have flaws in his game, he looks like an exciting fighter to keep your eye out on his next time out.
Disappointments
Jake Ellenberger — Much was expected of Jake Ellenberger following his back-to-back losses to Robbie Lawler an Rory MacDonald, but he looked worse than ever in suffering a first-round submission loss to Kelvin Gastelum. Ellenberger has now lost three-straight fights and could easily be cut. I hope the UFC gives him one more shot, but he looks like he’s done as a top welterweight.
Jose Quinonez — Jose Quinonez was the favorite heading into his TUF Finale against Alejandro Perez, but he didn’t look like the same guy who had two previous wins over said opponent as he was outworked en route to losing the TUF title. Not only that, but when he finally had a chance to win late in the third he threw a headbutt that cost him two points. Now 0-1 in the UFC, he doesn’t look like someone to be trusted with your money going forward.
Leslie Smith — Leslie Smith was expected to at least hang with Jessica Eye on the feet, but she was absolutely brutalized in the standup and eventually put away when the doctor forced a stop to the fight due to a torn ear. Smith is now 1-2 in the UFC and while she is exciting to watch, she just eats way too many punches. She’ll get another fight because she’s tough and brings it, but she’ll be in a must-win situation her next time out.