5 Lessons Learned from UFC Fight Night 163

UFC Fight Night 163 on Saturday in Russia did not push the action-packed envelope -- five of the six main card fights went the distance -- but there were still plenty of talking points, especially with the co-main event and headliner. Here are five lessons we learned at the CSKA Arena in Moscow:

1. Zabit Magomedsharipov needs a five-round test before getting a title shot.

Magomedsharirpov moved to 6-0 in the Ultimate Fighting Championship with a unanimous decision over Calvin Kattar in the main event. However, it was not an easy fight by any stretch of the imagination. Kattar was a game opponent who notably troubled the Dagestan native in the third round. The general consensus was that the fight may have played out differently had it lasted two more rounds, and it is easy to see why. Magomedsharipov -- who cuts a lot of weight to make the featherweight limit -- has never fought in a five-round bout in the UFC and seems to slow towards the final stretch of his fights, as evidenced in his encounters with Kattar and Kyle Bochniak. He called for a title shot following his latest win, but to face someone with the skills and cardio of a Max Holloway without first competing in a five-round fight seems self-destructive. Why not book him opposite someone like Yair Rodriguez in a five-round title eliminator instead?

2. Kattar deserves to be ranked among the featherweight elite.

Kattar suffered his second loss with the promotion, but his performance did nothing to lower his stock. While Magomedsharipov was the betting favorite, many fans acknowledged Kattar was a tough opponent with high-level boxing. The 31-year-old hurt Magomedsharipov, and outside of a takedown in the third round, he managed to stuff the rest of his opponent’s attempts and escaped a number of clinch positions. Although he stayed on the outside a bit too much and had trouble with range at times, the result may have gone differently with a few adjustments. The Methuen, Massachusetts, native is currently ranked No. 11 in the UFC’s featherweight rankings, but based on his performances inside the Octagon so far, it would something of a surprise if he fails to creep toward the Top 5 at some point in the future.

3. Greg Hardy exceeded expectations but needs to aim lower.

Hardy faced his toughest task yet when he stepped in on short notice to face 37-fight veteran Alexander Volkov in the co-headliner. Many expected him to lose, so his winding up on the wrong side of a unanimous decision was not a surprise. However, there was also an anticipation that Hardy would get punished, gas and perhaps even get knocked out. Even though Volkov picked him apart later in the fight, the fact that the former NFL star reached the final bell still standing was a positive sign. Hardy had shown gradual improvement throughout the year but failed to display anything new to get fans excited about his potential or his chances against other ranked opponents. “I didn’t fight well enough, plain and simple,” he said. “That’s the hardest thing to tell yourself after you go to war. I didn’t earn it today.” Of course, Hardy did injure his right hand early in the fight, which took away his primary weapon. Having called for a step up in competition, he could run into serious problems when confronted by the heavier-handed individuals who populate the Top 15. For now, Hardy would be best served facing opponents of a similar experience level.

4. It was forgettable night for Russian fighters.

At the two previous UFC events in Russia, fighters from the host country went a combined 15-3. However, Russian fighters went 4-7 at UFC Fight Night 163, and the list of the fallen included Abubakar Nurmagomedov. The cousin of current lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov made his UFC debut on the prelims and was promptly submitted by David Zawada in their welterweight pairing. Outside of Magomedsharipov and Volkov, it was a largely forgettable night for those competing on home soil.

5. Shamil Gamzatov-Klidson Abreu decision exposed MMA’s subjective nature.

Abreu seemed to be the rightful winner after his light heavyweight showcase with Gamzatov went the distance. He advanced more, appeared to land the more powerful shots and also executed a big takedown in the second round. Abreu looked to have won two of the three rounds. However, the judges saw it differently, as they awarded Gamzatov the split decision. Gamzatov did connect with more significant strikes throughout the 15-minute battle, but it did not seem as though he had done enough to win the fight -- something he even admitted in his post-fight interview. Eight of the 13 media scorecards on MMADecisions.com gave Abreu the nod. Whether it was a case of hometown bias or not, the result was just more proof of the subjective nature of judging in MMA.