MMA Gradebook: Rating Every Fight From UFC Vancouver

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. Wherever possible, the fights are described without spoiling the outcomes. Here's the MMA Gradebook for

Kyle Prepolec vs. Austin Hubbard

We kick off the card with Canada’s own Prepolec taking on Hubbard. Both men are looking to get their first UFC wins after dropping their debut fights earlier this year. The fight started off with a bang as both men stood in the center of the Octagon and traded a variety of strikes, but in the second and third rounds, the winner focused on his grappling and ground out a decision victory. [2.5]

Louis Smolka vs. Ryan MacDonald

12 fight UFC veteran Smolka returns to the Octagon to take on budding prospect MacDonald in this bantamweight bout. Great fight and the winner put on the best performance of his career, but the stoppage was a bit early. It’s a shame because it was a really fun fight and I would have loved to see it play out more. [3.5]

Chas Skelly vs. Jordan Griffin

Dana White's Contender Series alum Griffin steps inside the Octagon for the second time to take on 10-fight UFC veteran Skelly. Absolutely wild fight on the feet and on the ground. This fight was filled with strange moments and near finishes that kept me on the edge of my seat throughout but to my surprise, this wasn’t even the strangest fight of the night. [4.0]

Brad Katona vs. Hunter Azure

Earlier this year summer Azure was fighting for a UFC contract on the Contender Series and now, just two months later, he is taking on one of the best prospects at 135 in Katona. Mostly average throughout but the final few minutes of the third round earns this a slightly above average rating. There were some fun exchanges on the feet but most of the grappling was wall-and-stall until the third round. [2.5]

Cole Smith vs. Miles Johns

Some people really enjoyed the back-and-forth grappling in this one but overall there weren’t enough strikes landed for me to give this anything over an average rating. [2.0]

Marcin Tybura vs. Augusto Sakai

A quick fight that’s well worth the watch. [3.5]

Misha Cirkunov vs. Jim Crute

Another quick fight and one of the rarest of submissions earn this fight 3.5 stars.

Uriah Hall vs. Antonio Carlos Jr.

This was a sleeper fight of the night contender and although it didn’t receive those honors, it was still one of the best fights of the night. I wish the loser had grappled less and given us more exchanges in the pocket, but both men made the best of their moments on the feet. [3.5]

Michel Pereira vs. Tristan Connelly

This was one of the weirdest yet most entertaining fights I’ve ever seen. If you’re a mark for high-level technique, stay far, far away from Pereira, but if you enjoy the bizarre aspects of the sport this is a must-watch. I have no idea how this earned “Fight of the Night” honors. It was a fun fight with a bunch of memorable moments but it definitely wasn’t the best fight of the night. [3.0]

Todd Duffee vs. Jeff Hughes

Good fight until the disappointing eye poke that ended the fight in a no contest. [0.0]

Glover Teixeira vs. Nikita Krylov

The timeless Teixeira enters the Octagon for the third time this year to take on the enigmatic Krylov, who is 1-1 since returning to the UFC. This fight had its moments, but overall it was nothing special. The loser stalled a lot on the ground and circled away from most exchanges on the feet which gave us a very average fight. [2.0]

Donald Cerrone vs. Justin Gaethje

The legendary “Cowboy” Cerrone returns to the Octagon for the fourth time this year to take on former training partner Gaethje in a fight that is sure to end before the final bell. This was a great fight with a fantastic KO finish but I really wish we could have seen things play out more. Nonetheless a quick finish always gets a high grade in my book, but not as high as you may have thought. [3.5]