The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) was in Lincoln, NE this past Saturday night for the first time in promotional history with UFC Fight Night 135: Gaethje vs. Vick. It was a solid night of fights that saw nine of 13 scraps end inside the distance, and with the action now in our rear view, let’s take a look at which of the evening’s competitors we may no longer see going to work inside the Octagon…
ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK
Tim Williams Williams is now 0-2 in the UFC following a third round knockout loss to Eryk Anders. He won the first round and started losing the fight when he began gassing in the second, which could be due to the fact that he is only a part time fighter, while Anders is doing it full time. The was the first camp Williams had where he took a full month off from work. I think if he was a full time fighter, he could have easily won this fight. He slowed down after the first round and just could not keep up with Sanders. Skill and technique no longer mattered. I would not be surprised to see the UFC cut him here, but I think it would be a bad move. Williams deserves another fight in the UFC after the showing he put in Nebraska.
George Sullivan Sullivan is now on a three fight losing streak and is 1-4 in his last five. He came up short against Mickey Gall, tapping to a rear naked choke at just a minute into the very first round of action. I think it is fair to say that we have seen the last of this 37 year old in the UFC.
Kalindra Faria The Brazilian is now 0-3 inside the Octagon and faces receiving a pink slip from the promotion. That would be sad for her, as she has gotten herself a UFC tattoo. Leaving the promotion without ever getting a win would really suck. She might have to think about laser removal. She was coming off a first round rear naked choke submission loss to Mara Romero Borella and a split decision loss to Jessica Eye heading into this past Saturday night’s bout against Joanne Calderwood, which she was in control of until getting caught in a triangle choke in the final minute and tapping to the choke in the final seconds of the opening round. I think it is more than likely that we have seen the last of this Brazilian inside the octagon.
Luke Sanders Sanders was coming off a win before this fight, but this first round heel hook submission loss now makes him 1-3 inside the Octagon, with all three defeats coming by way of finish. Since the fight prior to this was a win, I normally would not include him on this list. However, due to the nature of the loss, I believe he does belong here. He has not appeared to improved his leg lock defense at all since his loss to Alcantara. A fighter who shows no growth (when there is PLENTY of room for it,) in my opinion does not belong on the UFC roster. I don’t think the UFC is going to let him go just yet, but I would not be at all surprised to see it happen.
