On the morning of May 7, the biggest winners and losers from UFC 301 in Rio de Janeiro saw their official rankings impacted by the promotion.
Seven of the fighters in action in Brazil saw a move up, down, or into the official UFC rankings.
The Biggest Winners
Jose Aldo
Jose Aldo went from retired and out of the men’s bantamweight rankings to No. 8 and being mentioned as the next potential challenger to Sean O’Malley for the 135-pound crown.
Aldo outclassed Jonathan Martinez in the co-main event, proving to everyone that he still has what it takes to compete with the top 135-pounders in the world. It would be wrong to leapfrog Aldo over Merab Dvalishvili for a title shot, but there is no doubt that O’Malley-Aldo would be a bigger fight in the Las Vegas Sphere in September.
Still, I’m hoping the UFC resists the urge and gives Dvalishvili his well-earned shot at O’Malley.
Caio Borralho
Caio Borralho jumped two spots in the rankings at 185 pounds from 14th to 12th following his second-round KO win over Paul Craig. If you count the Contender Series, Borralho has won eight fights in a row and 15 straight overall.
With only one loss in his career, back in 2015, Borralho, at 31 years old, is on the cusp of a potential title challenge in the 185-pound category.
If he maintains his current level of performance, it’s not far-fetched to imagine him vying for the title within the next two years. In his post-fight interview, he boldly called out No. 4-ranked Jared Cannonier, but the possibility of a match with No. 5-ranked Marvin Vettori is also generating buzz.
Michel Pereira
Also in the middleweight division, fellow Brazilian Michel Pereira cracked the Top 15, landing at No. 13 after his first-round demolition of Ihor Potieria. The always-exciting Pereira dropped Potieria with a power jab before executing a back flip that nearly landed illegally and finally submitting his opponent with a standing guillotine.
There is no questioning Pereira’s overall game, but there are questions as to whether his wild style will play well against the division’s elite. Based on his current ranking, he seems primed for a test.
A fight with No. 9 Jack Hermansson seems like a fitting next test for Pereira.
Iasmin Lucindo
Another Brazilian, Iasmin Lucindo, shined as she picked veteran Karolina Kowalkiewicz apart en route to a lopsided unanimous decision win. Lucindo looked sharper with her strikes and more poised overall.
At just 22 years old, Lucindo could be a future championship contender at strawweight. She has a ways to go, but her win landed her in the Top 15 at No. 13.
The Biggest Losers
Karolina Kowalkiewicz
Kowalkiewicz looked terribly slow and completely overmatched in her unanimous-decision loss to Lucindo. The veteran is simply a gatekeeper at this stage of her career, and she has been the recipient of some one-sided losses where she’s taken a lot of damage.
At 38 years old, it’s time to consider calling it a career. Kowalkiewicz was never the fastest striker, but she has had a successful career because of her toughness and technical striking ability. At this point, it doesn’t appear she’ll be able to compete against any of the top fighters in her division.
The loss to Lucindo dropped her two spots to No. 15.
Paul Craig
Craig looked even more like a one-trick pony in his loss to Borralho. He repeatedly tried to pull guard against the Brazilian, who wouldn’t allow Craig to lure him into a grappling match.
Ultimately, Borralho’s striking and the lack thereof from Craig was the difference. Craig’s loss dropped him from No. 13 out of the Top 15.
There is no shame in losing to a legend like Jose Aldo, but if Jonathan Martinez is ready to move into the Top 5 and become a serious challenger for the title at 135 pounds, he has to win those fights. As it is, Aldo dominated Martinez with his speed and striking accuracy, nearly stopping Martinez in the third round before securing the unanimous decision win.
The loss dropped him from No. 12 to No. 14.
Steve Erceg
Steve Erceg pushed Alexandre Pantoja to the brink in the UFC 301 main event, and had he not gone for and missed a takedown attempt in the fifth round, we might be talking about a new champion.
However, Erceg did shoot for that ill-advised takedown in what proved to be the decisive final round–a round he was likely winning with superior striking–and it probably cost him the title.
To add insult to injury, Erceg came into the fight ranked No. 10 at men’s flyweight. Despite his strong showing, he only saw his ranking rise one spot to No. 9. Talk about not receiving much payoff for his efforts.
That’s a tough pill to swallow. To see all of the updated rankings, click here.
