Who Burned the Bridge at UFC on FOX 18?

Last week I made mention of how the heavyweight division was wide open with the absence of former champion, Cain Velasquez. In that discussion, I made a brief mention of a bout between Josh Barnett and Ben Rothwell and how with a win they would be on the cusp of challenging for the heavyweight title. When the curtains closed on UFC on FOX 18 that is exactly what happened. In regards to said bout, it was an upset and Mr. Rothwell put his stock on the table and told the world he’s a legitimate threat to the title holder.

But it doesn’t stop there. The FOX card showcased how volatile mixed martial artist competition can be and just how underwhelming it can be on occasion. While, Bryan “Bam Bam” Barberena shocked the world by upsetting the rising star, Sage Northcutt, Anthony “Rumble” Johnson made easy and uneventful work of Ryan Bader within minutes of their bout. For the winners, it was a great night on broadcast television. However, for some, their loss was devastating, albeit, to different degrees.

Back to Rothwell’s victory…we all know how fickle the heavyweight division is, one day you’re the king, and the next, your face planting in the middle of the cage or ring. For that reason, though many believed Barnett would defeat Rothwell, you couldn’t sleep on the 34 year-old veteran. He would always be a punch away from defeating the former UFC heavyweight champion.

Nonetheless, never one to leave us without our jaws dropped, Rothwell shocked the MMA community by submitting the catch wrestling legend of our times, Josh Barnett. While, Rothwell gets to celebrate his victory, Barnett has to know this is somewhat of a huge setback at 38 years of age. This is not only Barnett’s first submission from an actual submission hold, it tosses him back down the ladder. He might not be too far down, but with Alistair Overeem, Stipe Miocic, Travis Brown, Ben Rothwell, and the winner of Mark Hunt vs. Frank Mir in front of him, his journey back up might take some time and time is something that really isn’t on his side.

Yet, at the same time, although it might seem paradoxical, the former champion is capable of challenging for title sooner rather than later. Again, it all has to do with how unpredictable the division is. Barnett is an intelligent fighter, he is gritty, and he is a well versed mixed martial artist. A win to rebound, followed by a win over one the above mentioned, and he is in the mix. And, let’s not forget how fast an injury to a fighter can move another up.

Moving on, as it turns out, Barnett’s loss isn’t as devastating as, let’s say, Ryan Bader’s, and if there is one even less devastating than Barnett’s it is Sage Northcutt’s. The young prospect has been impressive to say the least. He’s been in trouble before but he’s managed to break free and get the stoppage. However, that wasn’t the case this past weekend. Northcutt tired in the second and showed ineffective defense while his back was on the ground.

It’s a tough loss, his first in eight fights, but it’s one the 19 year-old will learn from. The problem for Northcutt, beside his illness, was this was his third fight in the span of four months. To top that, throw in the idea all the praise and expectations not only turned up the pressure, but maybe the young man grow a little over confident in what he is truly capable of. Northcutt now has the chance to step on the breaks, rest up, and re-evaluate. In addition to having too many fights in such a short period, the jump in weight class may have come too soon and I’m sure it played a role; especially, when Barberena was in top position.

Northcutt isn’t in a bad position like Barnett, and he is miles away from anywhere near Bader’s position. In fact, as you all know, Ryan Bader walked home with, to say it nicely, the pooped end of the stick. I was kind of speechless when I saw Bader lunge for a single from across the cage. I mean, I shouldn’t have been, but I took it as though he was terrified to engage Anthony Johnson. Then he proceeded to hold on to Johnson’s arm for dear life when the submission was nowhere close.

Bader is a solid light heavyweight, but he is nothing special and never will be in the division. He has some strong wrestling and decent stand up; however, he’s only proven to be a gatekeeper for the top five. His loss on Saturday only solidified the notion. Unless, there is some kind of catastrophe in the division, Bader will never challenge, let alone hold gold, in said division.

Either, Bader becomes content with his gatekeeper role, or he makes a move to the middleweight division. Can he hang with the likes of Chris Weidman and Luke Rockhold? I don’t know; but, what I do know is, he can’t hang with the light heavyweight elite. Saturday night’s loss sent Bader tumbling to a place in the division where he can’t climb out of. Because of that, Ryan Bader, you’re the biggest sob story out of UFC on FOX 18. Congratulations!