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Biggest winners and losers from UFC 200

The UFC had one hell of a week. Three days, three events and 36 fights sounds like something that would keep the top MMA promotion in the world with their hands full. For a minute, it appeared that the weekend would go off without a hitch, as only one fighter scheduled for UFC 200 wasn't able to make it to the finish line (Derek Brunson).

However, when you lose your main event just three days before the biggest and most stacked card in UFC history, things can spiral out of control. Somehow, the UFC managed to steady the ship by bringing Anderson Silva in to face Daniel Cormier and put a Band-Aid on a glaring hole. But the show went on and was ripe with multiple narratives.

Lesnar and McGregor. Image: Getty
Lesnar and McGregor. Image: Getty

But, alas, the end is here and not everyone could come out a winner. Let's take a look at the biggest winners and losers from a huge week in MMA.

WINNERS

Brock Lesnar

$2.5 million guaranteed for one night of work? Sure, why not? After nearly five years away from competing, Lesnar essentially salvaged a UFC card that had been riddled with controversy from the beginning and, although most assumed he'd be knocked right back into the WWE by Mark Hunt, he managed to ground the 'Super Samoan' and win a unanimous decision.

He'll go back to the WWE for 'SummerSlam' in August, where he'll make a boatload of money for part-time work, and then decide whether or not he'll continue his MMA career. Despite bouncing between two promotions, Lesnar made it clear that the only person who will control his future is him and his options are wide open. That’s not a bad position to be in.

Amanda Nunes

They criticised Tate for facing Nunes instead of granting Holly Holm what many felt like a much-deserved rematch. And then Nunes was inserted in the main event of UFC 200 and annihilated Tate faster than Ronda Rousey did. Nobody will question that decision again.

Anderson Silva

The 'Spider' rolled off the couch to face Cormier the UFC light heavyweight champion on two days notice and didn't look half bad. Granted, Cormier denied the former pound-for-pound king the opportunity to knock his head off and dominated with a clean sweep on the scorecards. But this was certainly the redemption of a man who had been brutally knocked off his perch as the greatest fighter in MMA with a string of losses and a failed drug test. All of that was erased when Silva stepped up. If you don't believe me, listen to the crowd erupt for Silva and treat Cormier like he did something wrong.

Jose Aldo

There was concern about whether Aldo would bounce back after being flattened in 13 seconds by Conor McGregor last December. But the Brazilian looked magnificent against Frankie Edgar at UFC 200 and claimed the interim featherweight title with a unanimous decision victory. All the while, Conor McGregor heightened anticipation for a rematch with a stellar visual of the current champ standing from his seat and intently staring at Aldo throughout the entire fight. Whether that rematch materialises or not is anyone's guess. But Aldo certainly redeemed himself on the biggest stage of them all.

Conor McGregor

In a strange "I-told-you-so" kind of way, Conor McGregor ended up being a winner after all the turmoil leading up to UFC 200. Although he wasn't involved in any of the action inside of the Octagon, McGregor still commanded much of the spotlight. From his UFC 202 press conference to the intense manner that he watched Aldo vs. Edgar to see who he'd have to defend his featherweight title against next, "The Notorious One" proved that he's still the top draw amidst the turmoil of a shuffling card that has changed several times since its inception.

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But this could have all been solved if McGregor wasn't pulled from UFC 200 for missing a press conference. Nobody would have had to worry about scurrying on three days notice to replace a main event fighter who was yanked for failing his USADA test. Furthermore, McGregor can lay claim to UFC 202 being the "real UFC 200" as there will certainly be a significant buzz surrounding the rematch.

LOSERS

Jon Jones

How much more has to be said about Jon Jones? He's essentially became a cautionary tale and an early candidate for the next wave of ESPN "30 for 30" documentaries considering that the best fighter in the world cannot keep himself out of trouble outside of the cage. He dealt the UFC's biggest event a swift and mighty blow by testing positive for a banned substance three days before a highly anticipated rematch with bitter enemy Daniel Cormier.

If UFC 200 hadn't been so stacked with big fights, there's a chance that this could have gone the UFC 151 route and been cancelled. There is a distinct possibility that Jones will be suspended by USADA for two years for the failed test. He's only 28 years old (he turns 29 on July 19), but can the UFC take another chance with "Bones" after all that he has done to sabotage his career?

Daniel Cormier

Although no fault of his own, Cormier lost big time this weekend and everything that took place has become a microcosm of his career. Fans have served him nothing but jeers in his feud with Jon Jones despite doing just about everything right that he could. And then he had to watch his opportunity to prove that he’s the best light heavyweight in the world go up in smoke after Jon Jones failed a drug test three days before UFC 200. He ended up getting a fight with Anderson Silva, which was absolutely a no-win situation considering that Silva hadn't won a fight since 2012 and was brought in with little time to prepare.

It sounded good in theory but Cormier was relentlessly booed for not standing up with arguably the best striker in MMA history. Meanwhile, Brock Lesnar does essentially the same thing against Mark Hunt and doesn't receive a fraction of the audience's vitriol. Certainly a damned if you do, damned if you don't weekend for the UFC's light heavyweight champ.

Miesha Tate

Tate was riding high after scoring a scintillating submission victory over Holly Holm to claim the UFC bantamweight title. But perhaps she was looking too far ahead to a third fight with Ronda Rousey and overlooked the danger in Amanda Nunes at UFC 200. It would be a move that would lead to devastating consequences as Nunes showed up and ransacked Tate with a thorough beating that left Cupcake battered, bruised and without the title she worked so hard to get her hands on.

Rafael dos Anjos

Just a few months ago, dos Anjos was staring at a massive payday against Conor McGregor at UFC 196. But an injury resulted in the Brazilian having to watch Nate Diaz get thrust into the superstar spot and cash out with a stunning defeat of McGregor. A showdown with Eddie Alvarez was set to headline UFC Fight Night but dos Anjos spent a lot of time discussing other fights against hypothetical opponents Georges St-Pierre and Khabib Nurmagomedov. The Brazilian paid for it dearly when Alvarez starched the champion in one round to put a halt to RDA’s five fight winning streak and title reign.