No matter how amazing, the UFC’s follow up event to the Holloway vs. Pettis card would always be seen as a downgrade. It was always just a question of degree. Instead it turned out to be a question of kind.
In place of elite fighters clawing their way near the kings of their respective hills, last night’s UFC on Fox card showcased paper tigers near the bottom of their respective swills. That’s not to say there weren’t heroes present and accounted for. Just that the main card was one heavyweight fight away from being a YAMMA spectacle.
Title holders weren’t watching the card to investigate the opposition, but if they tuned in, at least they got to inhale a handful of good performances, and a touching tribute to Urijah Faber.