The Morning After Drill: UFC 178

Contributor: Nolan Howell

• This card reminded me why I love(d) MMA. The preliminaries did no one any favors until the return of Dominick Cruz. Where everyone was expecting one disappointment (Cruz’s failure to maintain peak form) or another (Cruz’s often tedious fighting style), Cruz delivered an absolute shellacking of Takeya Mizugaki that no prognosticator could have even dreamed of. The main card came on and just about every fight delivered in both the emotional and physical realms. Emotional investments in the return Cat Zingano, either side of the Dustin Poirier vs. Conor McGregor fight, and the same scenario for Eddie Alvarez vs. Donald Cerrone were met equally by exciting fights with controversial figures and finishes. UFC 178 was a return to a place of genuine care for the product in one way or another for many, myself included.
• Demetrious Johnson suffers for his brilliance and it is a shame. While standing atop a pile of contenders left in his wake, the diminutive Mighty Mouse has not been able to capture the eye of the MMA public. It is a shame for both sides, as consistent improvement in dominance will not see the fighter garner any more interest and the fans will not see one of the most impressive UFC title reigns.
• Donald Cerrone and Eddie Alvarez delivered in an action-packed fight that really had no losers. Despite the commentary’s burial of Alvarez, he acquitted himself extremely well in loss and showed that he does belong in the elite of the UFC lightweights. As for Cerrone, he has shown remarkably consistency, something he lacked for a time. His efforts will hopefully soon pay off in the form of a contender fight or a title shot, both of which are well-earned for one of the most must-see fighters in the UFC.
• Conor McGregor inspires emotion and backs up his outlandish persona. Like, love, or hate it, it’s what the UFC needs right now. In a promotion where watered down cards have killed the love and excitement for many, McGregor draws interest. While by no means a truly established star, the tools are all there for the UFC and they are doing a surprisingly solid job in pushing him. While a contender fight may serve him best, a McGregor-headlined PPV or network television card is a very important litmus test that needs to happen soon.
• As far as Yoel Romero and Tim Kennedy goes, there is no incentive for MMA fighters not to cheat aside from a “code of honor.” With no punishment for constant rule breaking, as evidenced by ineptitude in both refereeing and athletic commissions, it’s harder to think of reasons why a fighter shouldn’t take advantage of such blatant incompetence. It would be silly not to. Romero’s performance was nevertheless impressive and finishing Kennedy is extremely difficult, but he got the job done. Romero is only a few fights away from deserving a shot at the middleweight strap and his path to it has been an impressive run to see unfold.
• Cat Zingano’s performance was extremely satisfying from an emotional perspective and a physical one. Zingano overcame a very game Amanda Nunes with some slick grappling to win her comeback. As if that wasn’t enough, her candid post-fight interview was nearly impossible not to love. While Ronda Rousey may not be able to be stopped, Cat Zingano is not going to be an easy payday.
• The prelims were wholly forgettable aside from the ridiculously impressive finish of Mizugaki by Cruz. Cruz looked sharp and showed a vicious ground and pound attack that we had rarely seen out of the former bantamweight kingpin. Welcome back, Dom, and his shot at Dillashaw will be a dandy.

-Nolan can be reached @ucsmolan or at [email protected]