Post-Fight Stock Report: UFC Fight Night 161

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The Ultimate Fighting Championship on Saturday set up shop at the Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida, with UFC Fight Night 161. Some stocks rose, and others took a tumble.

STOCK UP

Joanna Jedrzejczyk: In Jedrzejczyk’s return to the strawweight division, she reminded everyone why she once ruled the weight class with an iron fist, as she took a dominant decision from Michelle Waterson in a five-round main event where her world-class kickboxing skills shined. Save for twice having her back taken by Waterson, the match was not close, and after a brief stop at 125 pounds, Jedrzejczyk finds herself right back in the mix for a title shot against current strawweight champion Weili Zhang. The Polish muay Thai stylist suffered a foot injury midway through the fight, so her recovery will be worth monitoring. However, with Jedrzejczyk’s combination of fan familiarity and pedigree, she may be in prime position to leapfrog contenders like Tatiana Suarez in the 115-pound pecking order.

Niko Price: The 30-year-old Floridian became the first fighter in UFC welterweight history to earn two knockout wins off his back, this time victimizing James Vick with a brutal upkick that separated “The Texecutioner” from his senses before he slumped to the Octagon floor. Price proves time and time again that he has a knack for finishing fights regardless of the position, and despite trading wins and losses for the better part of two years, he finds himself in position for a name opponent in a division full of dynamite prospective dance partners. He called for a fight with Mike Perry before year’s end -- a match that would pit two of the welterweight division’s most exciting competitors against each other. Book it.

Marlon Vera: In what was “Chito” Vera’s fifth consecutive finish in the UFC bantamweight division, he likely earned himself the shot at Top 15 opposition that has been evading him for some time now. Vera has truly hit his stride and combines aggressive grappling with rare knockout power and cardio for the division. At only 26, his best years are likely still ahead of him. Vera’s excellent campaign sets up for a big 2020. As the Team Oyama representative continues to press forward, it will be interesting to see where the matchmaking takes him in the 135-pound landscape.

STOCK DOWN

Kron Gracie: Aside from the incredible toughness he displayed across three rounds, Gracie showed little else and proved that a UFC veteran of Cub Swanson’s stature was probably a case of too much too soon for the standout grappler. Over the duration of the fight, Gracie failed to initiate his grappling, came up short on his takedown attempts and instead opted to walk down his opponent and eat barrages of jabs and body shots. Gracie is still only six fights into his MMA career, and while the loss can certainly be considered a learning experience, the UFC should learn from its mistake and allow him to develop at a more reasonable rate. Gracie’s wrestling must improve if he wants to see success in modern-day MMA, but his grappling will always make him a dangerous out for anyone.

James Vick: His welterweight debut was short-lived, as he was on the receiving end of yet another highlight-reel knockout. Four consecutive losses put “The Texecutioner” in dangerous territory moving forward. It is almost impossible to believe that Vick was once one of the UFC’s most talented young prospects. After starting his career 9-1 with the promotion, he has gone winless for almost two years. The time has come for some soul-searching. The type of knockout losses Vick has endured have been nothing short of brutal, and it may be time for the Texas native to consider other options for the sake of his health. If he decides to continue fighting, he may have to do so outside the UFC, as his job figures to be in danger following a tough string of losses.

Mackenzie Dern: Returning just four months after giving birth, Dern took a gamble and lost, resulting in the first blemish on her resume -- a unanimous decision defeat to Amanda Ribas. The match was contested primarily on the feet, where Ribas was quicker to the punch, lit up Dern with accurate combinations and neutralized the Brazilian jiu-jitsu standout for the duration. Dern was ineffective on the feet. She failed to put together combinations, instead opting to span overhand rights and shoot for Hail Mary single-legs that she had no chance of completing. Dern will need to work diligently to improve her ancillary skills moving forward. She may be an excellent grappler, but that means nothing if she has no way to get the fight to the ground.