Jay Primetown gives his thoughts on each of the fighters who competed at UFC on Fox 31 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Jay gives his letter grades for each fighter on TheMMA-Analysis podcast which can be found on MMAOddsbreaker.com
Juan Adams vs. Chris De La Rocha
Adams: He controlled this bout throughout, but he conditioning was a concern and it required the referee to step in and stop the bout as opposed to earning a pure knockout. He has talent, but there are definitely holes in his game. Downgraded from D+ to D
De la Rocha: He struggled with the size of his opponent. He was picked apart by the jab and on the mat he was beat up by his opponent. De La Rocha was overmatched in this bout and is nearing the end of his career. This could be his last bout in the UFC. Grade remains F-
Adam Milstead vs. Mike Rodriguez
Milstead: He was at a physical disadvantage in this bout and was beat up by a better striker. Milstead retired after the bout. Final grade is D-
Rodriguez: His length for this weight class will cause a good amount of opponents’ problems. He’s a good striker with variety on the feet, but he will need to improve his grappling in order to move up in this division. Grade remains D
Jordan Griffin vs. Dan Ige
Griffin: He had his moments in the fight, but he ultimately couldn’t stop the takedown when he needed to. That’s what separated these two fighters. Downgraded from D+ to D
Ige: This was a battle of top position and Ige showed an ability to get Griffin to the mat and be able to hold position for significant portions of the fight. It wasn’t easy for him, but he took control in the third round and won a deserved decision. Grade remains D+
Zak Cummings vs. Trevor Smith
Cummings: This was a closer fight than it should have been, but Cummings turned it up in round three including dropping Smith with a punch behind the ear. Downgraded from C- to D+
Smith: He had his moments in this bout but just couldn’t put up enough volume on the feet to put his stamp on it to sneak out a victory in what was a rather competitive bout. Grade remains D+
Jack Hermansson vs. Gerald Meerschaert
Hermansson: He took his opponent down in the opening seconds of the fight and gave him a lesson in grappling in a dominant victory in which he was able to earn a submission in the opening round. Grade remains C
Meerschaert: He had opportunities to get back to his feet, but made the decision to try a high-risk submission attempt. It put him back on his back and it cost him a chance to see what Hermansson had to offer beyond the first round. Downgraded from C- to D+
Jared Gordon vs. Joaquim Silva
Gordon: He’s got a good motor and fights at a high pace, but he takes too many clean punches and his chin has become a concern. This is a fight he should have won, but became too hittable in the third round and it cost him. Downgraded from C to C-
Silva: In a tough back and forth fight, the Brazilian did well to land to the body to open opportunities for head strikes later in the bout to hurt Gordon and to find a late finish. Grade remains C-
Bobby Green vs. Drakkar Klose
Green: This was a typical Bobby Green fight where he lands some punches and his opponent lands some punches. Unfortunately for Green, he couldn’t match the power of his opponent and that was the difference with the fight in the balance in the third round. Grade remains C
Klose: This was a close fight on paper, but Klose edged it out by just being more active in the final round pressing the action. Grade remains C
Dwight Grant vs. Zak Ottow
Grant: Very disappointing debut from a fighter who came into the UFC with a lot of hype. He just wasn’t active enough and didn’t land any fight altering strikes. Debut grade is D
Ottow: He didn’t hurt his opponent, but he was the fighter on the front foot and as a veteran he knew how to do just enough to get his hand raised. Upgraded from D- to D
Jim Miller vs. Charles Oliveira
Miller: He was quickly taken to the mat and from there he didn’t have much of a chance against the fighter with the most submission victories in UFC history. Grade remains C
Oliveira: The submission man did what he does best. He gets fighters to the ground and then gives them a lesson in jiu jitsu. Grade remains B-
Rob Font vs. Sergio Pettis
Font: His jab was on point throughout this fight as he styled on Sergio Pettis to win a decision. Font continues to show he’s one of the better bantamweights in the world and deserves a ranked opponent in his next bout. Grade remains B-
Pettis: He’s a very good fighter at flyweight, but moving up to bantamweight he’s going to struggle due to a lack of size and power. He was out classed in this bout by a better bantamweight. Downgraded from C to C-
Edson Barboza vs. Dan Hooker
Barboza: He put on a striking showcase landing to the legs, body, and head. It took the referee stepping in to stop it, but ultimately it could have been stopped a round earlier and nobody would have complained. Grade remains B
Hooker: He tried to go toe to toe with Barboza, but he just didn’t have the weapons to hurt his opponent or to be able to slow him down. Ultimately, he was out classed. Grade remains C+
Al Iaquinta vs. Kevin Lee
Iaquinta: He had some struggles early, but turned it on late as Lee grew tired and put his stamp on the fight in the final round. It was the most dominant round of the entire fight. Iaquinta was a deserving winner and got the biggest win of his career. Upgraded from B to B+
Lee: Five rounds are a tough for muscular, grappling centric fighter like Kevin Lee. His opponent’s ability to keep the fight standing late made it difficult for him and he was exposed later in the bout. Lee is a clear top ten fighter, but needs to be able to add more elements in the striking attack if he’s going to have an opportunity to beat the division’s elite. Grade remains B+
