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 Nate Marquardt — In the main event of UFC Fight Night 43, Nate Marquardt submitted James Te Huna in the first round with an armbar. Marquardt looks like a beast again at 185lbs and this win over Te Huna obviously saves his job with the promotion after a three-fight losing streak. For his next fight, I would like to see Marquardt fight the winner of Michael Bisping vs. Cung Le. Charles Oliveira — In a featherweight match, Charles Oliveira looked fantastic in submitting Hatsu Hioki in the second round with a modified guillotine choke. Hioki has never been tapped out before but Oliveira became the first man to do so with a “Submission of the Year” candidate. For his next outing, Oliveira called out Nik Lentz, and if the UFC wants to book that fight I’m totally okay with it as the two have unfinished business stemming from a No Contest a few years back. Vik Grujic — He is 37 years old but Vik Grujic looked like a teenager as he finished Chris Indich with a first-round knockout. Grujic looked fantastic in this fight and should get a decent opponent in his next matchup. I wouldn’t mind him fighting someone like Peter Sobotta his next time out. Disappointments James Te Huna — For the third-straight fight James Te Huna was finished by stoppage as he was submitted this time around in round one by Nate Marquardt. Not a good performance by Te Huna, who could be cut after this fight. However, I do think the UFC will keep him around and have him fight someone at the bottom of 185lbs like Andy Enz to get back on track. Soa Palelei — In a heavyweight bout, Soa Palelei had his 11-fight win streak snapped by Jared Rosholt as he lost a clear-cut unanimous decision. Palelei looked awful in this fight and at 37 he doesn’t look like he will contend for a spot in the top 15 ever again. Look for him to stay around and fight someone like Anthony Hamilton next. Mike Rhodes — In a welterweight bout, Mike Rhodes lost a spirited decision to Robert Whittaker to move to 0-2 in the UFC Octagon. He was a standout prospect coming out of RFA but he hasn’t looked good in the UFC and could possibly be cut. If he stays he should fight Court McGee next, but if he is cut it wouldn’t shock me one bit.
