MMA Gradebook: Rating Every Fight From UFC Copenhagen

If you’re like us and watch an absurd amount of mixed martial arts each week, you probably wish there were some sort of rating system so you’re not forced to sit through a boring fight waiting for something to happen. In order to help, we rate the fights on major cards for your convenience. If you happen to miss an event, check back here for ratings so you can pick and choose which bouts to watch and which to skip.

Fights are ranked on the scale shown below, based on competitiveness, the skill and technique on display, excitement, and the story and drama of the contest. Here's the MMA Gradebook for UFC Fight Night 160: Hermansson vs. Cannonier.

Jack Shore vs. Nohelin Hernandez

An absolutely dominant performance from the Welshman Shore. He picked Hernandez apart on the feet for the first two rounds and then late in the third, finished him with a rear-naked choke. Wales hasn’t been well represented in the UFC until now, but may have just found its fighting pride and joy. Shore’s impressive showcase earns this 2 stars but it wasn’t the closest or most exciting fight.

Lando Vannata vs. Marc Diakiese

We kick off this midday (for North America) card with two dominant victories. Odds were close for this one but Diakiese picked Vannata apart on the feet and on the ground for all three rounds and won an easy 30-27 decision victory. [2.0]

Macy Chiasson vs. Lina Lansberg

Certainly not the fight anyone was expecting. Chiasson was the biggest favorite on the card but ended up putting on a very underwhelming performance. The two women spent most of the fight clinching against the cage with very little action, but some top time on the ground allowed Lansberg to sneak out a decision victory. Great performance from the underdog Lansberg but this was a very boring fight. [1.0]

Brandon Davis vs. Giga Chikadze

Decorated kickboxer and Andrey Koreshkov lookalike Chikadze gets a total showcase fight against Davis, who came into the fight 2-4 in the UFC and 10-7 overall, usually fights a weight class lower than this, and lost to Kyung Ho Kang just six weeks ago. Given a chance to shine, Chikadze did not disappoint, dominating the action not only on the feet -- as expected -- but on the ground as well. There was plenty of action here, but it was largely one-way traffic. The most memorable thing about this fight, years from now, will be the incorrect math that led to it being announced as a split draw. What hopefully doesn’t get lost in the wash is that the actual judges’ decision was almost as bad. [3.0]

Siyar Bahadurzada vs. Ismail Naurdiev

If you’re a fan of one-sided beatdowns that all go to decision, this is the perfect card for you. Unfortunately this card has had a slow start and we get yet another drudging decision. There were some fun exchanges on the feet but Naurdiev was never in trouble and ran away with an easy decision victory. [1.0]

Alessio Di Chirico vs. Makhmud Muradov

A fun striking bout with some clinch exchanges mixed in but overall both men were looking to stand and trade. Not the most technical fight: it was neck-and-neck for all three rounds and the continuous momentum shifts kept me intrigued throughout, but overall, this fight was nothing special. [2.5]

Alen Amedovski vs. John Phillips

A much needed quick finish earns this fight 4 stars.

Nicolas Dalby vs. Alex Oliveira

The lively crowd may have swayed my opinion but this was a great fight from bell to bell. The first two rounds mostly took place on the feet while the third served as a grappling bout. A late rally from Dalby allowed him to win a close unanimous decision but it could have been anybody’s fight. [3.0]

Ovince St. Preux vs. Michal Oleksiejczuk

Amazing comeback from St. Preux who hits his signature Von Flue choke for the submission victory. St. Preux was getting dominated on the feet but a takedown midway through the second round and a simple mistake from Oleksiejczuk allowed him to lock up his UFC-record fourth Von Flue. I am also starting a petition to officially change the Von Flue choke to the St. Preux. [4.0]

Ion Cutelaba vs. Khalil Rountree

Coming into today this was one of the most interesting fights on the card since I believe both men will be top-10 contenders in the future. Quick fight and a fantastic ground-and-pound finish for Cutelaba earns this 3.5 stars.

Gunnar Nelson vs. Gilbert Burns

Two of the best grapplers in the division ended up putting on a decent striking bout. Other than some scrambles, we didn’t get to see them work on the ground much which was disappointing but this was a decent fight nonetheless. [2.0]

Mark O. Madsen vs. Danilo Belluardo

Danish superstar Madsen makes his UFC debut against the also debuting Danilo Belluardo. Quick finish for Madsen but it was rather anticlimactic and I really wanted to see something more impressive from the three-time Olympian. [2.0]

Jack Hermansson vs. Jared Cannonier

We rarely get underwhelming knockouts but we ended up with two of them to top off the card. The fight started off close with both men matching each other on the feet and on the ground. But midway through the second round, Cannonier landed a counter uppercut that dropped Hermansson and finished him with ground and pound. Maybe I’m sour this afternoon after a lackluster day of fights but this fight was bland. We got a feeling-out process in the first round and we didn’t get to see much playout in the second round before the TKO. I don’t know about the rest of you, but in a big fight like this I really want to see both men’s skills put to the limit so the quick finish was a bit disappointing. [2.5]