The biggest winners & losers from UFC on FOX 31

Milwaukee, Wi – Last night saw the end of a very important era in combat sports as UFC on FOX 31 will be the last event on the network.

Fair to say the UFC closed out the FOX era with a bang. Nearly every one of the 12 fights last night was a barn burner. The card was entertaining from top to bottom. Well done by the UFC for the omage to the network, I thought, was a classy move.

With so many amazing fights and individual performances to choose from it can be an arduous task determining which fighters stand the most to gain from such an amazing showing.

Don’t fret we have you covered. Here are the biggest winners and losers from the last UFC on FOX event.

Winners

Al Iaquinta

This one is a no-brainer. Who picked “Raging” Al to win this fight?

Iaquinta looked fantastic in his first fight since taking the lightweight champion the distance back in April. It wasn’t smooth sailing throughout, however, as Kevin Lee did have Iaquinta’s back for some time in the second round.

Perhaps most impressive about Al’s performance is the fight I.Q. he displayed. Everyone already knows how tough he is, but he was able to adapt on the fly in this fight ultimately leading to his hand being raised.

As for what’s next for the toughest real estate broker on the planet, he said if anyone deserves a rematch with Khabib Nurmagomedov it is him. He also said he believes Tony Ferguson is the guy if it is not the champ.

I’m still hoping for Iaquinta vs. Justin Gaethje!

Edson Barboza

Edson Barboza has never looked better then he did last night against a very dangerous Dan Hooker.

All fight week Barboza made a point to let the media know that he was back training at the American Top Team in Coconut Creek, Flordia. It looks as though the Brazilian is seeing instant results after moving back down to train with his former crew.

Hooker is super talented and he has been wrecking everyone across from him in the Octagon and Barboza thoroughly outclassed him in every manner.

We will have to wait and see what’s next for Edson but I wouldn’t mind seeing him throw down with a “Diamond”.

Joaquim Silva & Jared Gordon

Both Joaquim Silva and Jared Gordon banked an extra $50,000 for their ridiculous Fight Of The Night performance last evening. Well deserved for both.

What can one say? These two left it all in the Octagon. Gordon went on out his shield in his new adopted home of Milwaukee. It’s the second straight loss for Gordon but with efforts like that he need not worry about his roster spot. Same goes for Silva who is a real dark horse in the division.

Losers

Kevin Lee

Kevin Lee was extremely upset with himself following his loss to Al Iaquinta last night. He went so far to say this loss is harder to swallow than his loss to Tony Ferguson for the interim lightweight title.

Lee looked good for part of the fight, I actually had him winning round two and three. But in the end, “Raging” Al was much too much for the “Motown Phenom”.

He teased a move to welterweight during the post-fight scrum, however, I think Lee is a bit too small for 170 pounds. Perhaps the rumored 165-pound weight class would be ideal for Lee.

Jim Miller

Jim Miller didn’t look good last night. Perhaps its time this UFC legend calls it a career and takes his rightful place in the Hall of Fame.

Roufusport

The Wisconsin based team did not do well last night in the Fiserv Forum.

Roufusport as a team went 0-4 on the night (Gerald Meerschaert, Jared Gordon, Jordon Griffen, Sergio Pettis all lost).

One thing I do know, however, is that this Midwestern tough team will be back and better than ever. Every gym has bad nights, it just makes it a bitter pill when it’s in your own backyard.

This article first appeared on BJPENN.COM on 12/16/2018.