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 40. Surprises Costas Philippou — In a middleweight bout that served as the co-main event of the evening, Costas Philippou showed he’s not to be underestimated as he knocked out Lorenz Larkin cold with a brutal knockout punch. Now snapping a two-fight losing skid and getting back in the win column, look for Philippou to fight someone like Thales Leites his next time out. Daron Cruickshank — Not many people were giving him a chance but Daron Cruickshank improved to 5-2 overall in the UFC with a head kick knockout win over Erik Koch. It was a massive upset and Cruickshank proved with the win he belongs in the top 20 or so of the UFC lightweight division. For his next fight, I’d love for him to take on someone with solid striking skills like Jorge Masvidal. Johnny Eduardo — He was a massive underdog but Johnny Eduardo proved everyone wrong with a ridiculous knockout of top-ranked Eddie Wineland. It was a massive win for Eduardo, who is now ranked in the top 10. Look for the UFC to push him up the ladder quickly since he’s 35 years old, and I think a fight against Urijah Faber would be pretty awesome. Disappointments Lorenz Larkin — While his opponent Costas Philippou was a surprise, Lorenz Larkin was an utter disappointment. Despite being a heavy favorite for the second-straight fight, Larkin failed to show up once again and lost in convincing fashion. He’s still young but the UFC needs to rebuild him. A fight against another middleweight who lost on the card, Rafael Natal, could make sense next. Eddie Wineland — Eddie Wineland was a 10-to-1 favorite but he got knocked out cold in the first round and it’s pretty clear he was the disappointment of the night. The UFC gave him a fight against a fighter coming off a two-year layoff and Wineland still managed to blow it. He’s still a great fighter but man, I don’t know what to say. Despite the loss, though, look for him to fight someone in the top 10 like Michael McDonald his next time out. Yan Cabral — In a welterweight contest, Yan Cabral had a nice early start but faded late to lose a unanimous decision to Zak Cummings. Cabral was a heavy favorite so to see him lose in this fashion was very disappointing, and it drops his stock considerably. Look for him to fight another welterweight coming off a loss in his next fight, someone like Chris Clements down in Brazil.
