The welterweight division has long been one of the deepest collectives under the UFC's promotional banner. It is a weight class filled with established names who are all battling their way toward a championship opportunity, and this keeps the divisional title race rolling full throttle.

Carlos Condit and Demian Maia are both determined to get their hands on the welterweight strap.

The Jackson/Winkeljohn fighter is no stranger to world titles. Condit was the last man to hold the WEC welterweight crown, before transitioning over to the UFC in 2009, and held a brief stint as the interim champion before being defeated by Georges St-Pierre at UFC 154 in November of 2012.

In the four years since his loss in Montreal, Condit's pursuit of the welterweight title has been dogged and relentless. The Albuquerque native nearly claimed the top spot back in January, but was ultimately edged out on the judges' scorecards by Robbie Lawler at UFC 195.



Aug 27, 2016; Vancouver, BC, Canada; Demain Maia (red gloves) competes against Carlos Condit (blue gloves) during UFC Fight Night at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports

And while the battle between Condit and Lawler was universally praised as one of the best fights in the history of the welterweight division, it was also Condit's second loss in his past three outings.

If Condit wanted to keep his title ambitions alive he needed a victory over Maia at UFC on Fox 21 on Saturday night, and what unfolded could very well put a UFC championship out of reach for the foreseeable future.

Going into the tilt it was no secret Condit needed to keep the fight standing, and when Maia put him on his back within the first minute of the fight. Before the next minute could tick off the clock, Maia made Condit tap and had his hand raised in victory.

To put away a fighter with the resilience Condit possesses is a remarkable feat, and Maia once again proved his jiu-jitsu skills are on a different level. His six-fight winning streak won't be enough for him to leapfrog Stephen Thompson, but it will guarantee the next title shot after the next title shot has been handled.

Let's take a look at the good, bad and strange from UFC on Fox 21

The Good

Has there ever been a fighter as good at the special thing he does than Demian Maia?

In the current age of mixed martial arts where a well-rounded attack is a requirement for success, it seems crazy to think the Brazilian jiu-jitsu specialist can dominate in the fashion he does. Maia has been submitting his opposition inside the Octagon on a regular basis for the better part of the past decade, but the manner in which he's getting the job done on his current run is beyond impressive.

The 38-year-old Brazilian had claimed five-straight victims coming into his main event bout against Condit at UFC on Fox 21, on was in the midst of a run where he tapped and knocked off guys like Matt Brown and Neil Magny. Yet, where Maia's competition had been of the tough variety, he'd never faced a fighter with the elite-level experience that Condit possessed.



Aug 1, 2015; Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil; Demian Maia (red gloves) after defeating Neil Magny (blue gloves) by submission during UFC 190 at HSBC Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jason Silva-USA TODAY Sports

The bout was figured to be a stern challenge for Maia as he would need to figure out Condit's striking enough to get into takedown range without getting clipped on the way end. That was how it was figured at least, but Maia had much different plans.

The former middleweight title challenger walked Condit down before zipping right in on a single. A few moments later and Condit was on his back with Maia working from the top. A few more moments down the line and Maia had Condit's back, and a few moments after that came  the tap. Fight over. Maia is amazing once more.

Immediately following his victory over Condit, Maia told UFC commentator Brian Stann he will be waiting for Tyron Woodley to fight Stephen Thompson for the welterweight title. While there has been no official word as to a date or if the fight is even happening, UFC President Dana White says it is. Therefore, Maia will wait to face the winner, and get a chance to fulfill his dream of becoming a UFC champion.




Aug 27, 2016; Vancouver, BC, Canada; Anthony Pettis (red gloves) competes against Charles Oliveria (blue gloves) during UFC Fight Night at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports

There wasn't anything pretty about Anthony Pettis' successful featherweight debut on Saturday, but the former lightweight champion found a way to win in a bout he absolutely could not lose.

In fact, the only aspect that seemed to relate to Pettis' "Showtime" moniker was the slick guillotine he used to put Charles Oliveira in the third round of their co-main event tilt at UFC on Fox 21.

The situation was make or break for Pettis as three-straight losses forced the former 155-pound king to change things up in hopes of getting a new start. The Milwaukee native chose to drop a weight class and try his hand in the 145-pound ranks, and anytime a fighter switches weight classes there will be an adjustment period.

Although Pettis landed some big punches and two booming body kicks in the opening round, his productivity significantly dipped in the second frame. Oliveira was able to pressure and put Pettis on the canvas at will. Going into the final stanza it was anyone's fight, and with Oliveira getting the takedown early, things seemed to be going his way.

Nevertheless, Pettis has a champion's mindset, and was able to catch the jiu-jitsu standout in a fight-ending guillotine. And while Pettis' victory came sans flash or dominance, it was a win he earned at the most crucial of moments.



Apr 18, 2015; Newark, NJ, USA; Paige VanZant (blue) walks to the ring for her fight against Felice Herrig (not pictured) during UFC Fight Night at Prudential Center. VanZant won via unanimous decision. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

Paige VanZant is back ladies and gentlemen.

Following her loss to Rose Namajunas last December, the hype surrounding the 22-year-old strawweight could have very well fizzled out and vanished. Yet, rather than disappear from public view, VanZant did the exact opposite, and it turned out to be a brilliant career move.

After an incredible run on "Dancing with the Stars," VanZant turned her sights back to the Octagon. She decided to turn down a role in the "Kickboxer" reboot in order to put all of her focus on preparing for Bec Rawlings at UFC on Fox 21.

Opportunities to transition to Hollywood are few and far between for athletes, but VanZant proved her decision was the correct one as she dispatched the Australian in highlight reel-worthy fashion.

The Team Alpha Male standout blasted Rawlings with a jumping switch kick that crumpled the The Ultimate Fighter alum to the canvas. VanZant dropped in a few more punches for good measure until the referee stepped in to stop the fight.

With the win, VanZant not only puts her fighting career back on track, but all the momentum she built away from the cage will only amplify in the months to come.



Aug 27, 2016; Vancouver, BC, Canada; Joe Lauzon (red gloves) reacts to fight against Jim Miller (blue gloves) during UFC Fight Night at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports

If their rematch on Saturday night was going to by anything like their first go, fans would be in for a treat when Jim Miller stepped in to face Joe Lauzon at UFC on Fox 21.

Right from the opening bell the seasoned lightweight staples picked up right where they left off back in 2012. Miller pinged Lauzon with high volume combinations, while the Massachusetts native pressed forward returning fire. Although Miller got the better of the exchanges on the feet, he made a tactical error that allowed Lauzon to gain top position for a large portion of the opening round.

The same scenario happened twice in the third round, and while Lauzon wasn't able to do much damage from the top, he was still in control of the action.

When Miller did return to his feet he landed punches aplenty, but Lauzon's work on the ground seemed to put him in the lead. When the judges' scorecards were read, two of the three saw the bout in favor of Miller, which immediately sparked controversy across social media.

With the win, Miller has now found success in back-to-back showings inside the Octagon, where Lauzon has now dropped two of his last three. Nevertheless, both men delivered the action in the same fashion they've spent a decade doing, and it would be hard to imagine either man's stock dropping after Saturday.



December 19, 2015; Orlando, FL, USA; Charles Oliveira before fighting against Myles Jury during UFC Fight Night at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports

Sam Alvey's rough patch is officially over. The Team Quest staple broke a two-fight skid in his last outing, and his drubbing of Kevin Casey on Saturday night in Vancouver will put a touch of momentum on Alvey's side.

While there wasn't much action to be found in the opening round, Alvey's power came into play in the second frame. Alvey dropped Casey with a big shot that forced the grappling ace into survival mode, but the Wisconsin native backed off and allowed Casey to get back to his feet.

Although Casey landed a few bombs of his own, Alvey's pressure sealed the deal. He put his fellow TUF alum back on the canvas with heavy punches and then proceeded to pound out the stoppage.

With the win, Alvey has now found success in consecutive outings, and should draw a solid name in his next showing. And while his post-fight interview left a bit to be desired, Alvey has proven once again he comes into the Octagon to perform.

The Bad

Kevin Casey's time competing inside the Octagon may be coming to an end….again.

Casey battled his way back to the UFC after being released following his loss to Josh Samman at the season's Finale event, but his second run on the sport's biggest stage has been a rough one for Casey.

While Casey has made the walk on six occasions, the Californian has only managed to claim victory in one of those fights. Instead, Casey has dealt with a batch of "no contests" and a year-long suspension for a failed post-fight drug test.



December 19, 2015; Orlando, FL, USA; Charles Oliveira before fighting against Myles Jury during UFC Fight Night at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports

Casey came into his bout with Sam Alvey at UFC on Fox 21 in desperate need of a win, but that wasn't in the cards in Vancouver. The Gracie jiu-jitsu representative couldn't seem to get things rolling inside the cage, and once Alvey's heavy hands began to land it was the beginning of the end.

Alvey dropped Casey twice with crisp punches before pounding out the stoppage midway through the second round. Any way you look at the situation, it was a rough showing for a fighter who couldn't afford to look anything but strong on Saturday night.

The Strange

Fulfilling potential is a weird avenue in mixed martial arts and Charles Oliveira is a resident on that street.  In fact, "Do Bronx" has been in the neighborhood so long he's moved through several roles going from the new talented kid on the block, to the scary house with the unmowed lawn.

When Oliveira arrived to the UFC back in 2010 he did so with crazy hype and an impressive record to back it up. Oliveira further solidified the excitement surrounding him as he notched victories in his first two showings inside the Octagon.

Suddenly, Oliveira went from being the highly touted prospect to talk of getting a potential title shot. He would lose his third fight, and struggle through a patch where he only won two out of six bouts, but rather than fade out, Oliveira bounced back.

In the process of that roller coaster, Oliveira saw all sides of the potential fulfilled/unfulfilled argument. His jiu-jitsu skills are as legit as they come in the featherweight division, and he's defeated some tough customers, but his inability to find any type of consistency has been the story.



December 19, 2015; Orlando, FL, USA; Charles Oliveira before fighting against Myles Jury during UFC Fight Night at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports

The 26-year-old Brazilian had a huge opportunity to make strides toward the next level of his career when he faced Anthony Pettis at UFC on Fox 21.

The former lightweight champion came into the bout on the roughest skid of his career having lost three-straight bouts. That dip prompted Pettis to drop down into a lighter weight class, and Oliveira was the opponent he and his team requested.

For Oliveira, getting a victory over a former title holder and one with the type of visibility Pettis carries would be the biggest win of his career, but he couldn't get the job done in Vancouver.

Despite a rough start, Oliveira battled back and took control of the fight in the second round. He had momentum going into the final frame, but Pettis was able to capitalize on a Oliveira mistake, then forced him to tap out with a guillotine choke.

And while the loss won't cost him his place in the UFC, or extinguish his dreams of someday fighting for a title, it will further Oliveira's role as the fighter with the most unfulfilled potential in the featherweight division. That's just how things will stay until Oliveira finds a way to take his game to the next level, and with him being just 26 years old, there's plenty of time for that to happen.

If he he doesn't find the way to get that done, being a top 10 fighter in the UFC means he's been doing something right. But the fact Oliveira could be better, is another reason to keep our eyes on him.



December 19, 2015; Orlando, FL, USA; Charles Oliveira reacts following his victory by submission against Myles Jury during UFC Fight Night at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports

Outside of painting a picture that puts Charles Oliveira alongside Tom Hanks and Bruce Dern in "The Burbs" there was very little strange happening in British Columbia on Saturday night. Page VanZant kicked the face off Bec Rawlings and the decision on the Miller vs. Lauzon match left plenty of people with a bad taste in their mouths.

And even though anyone with a functional brain could imagine a scenario where Demian Maia found a way to submit Carlos Condit, the BJJ wizard doing it in that fashion and so quickly was something my brain couldn't fathom.

Yet, it sure as hell happened, and now he'll wait his turn and chill until the title fight comes his way. Maia, who once decided to try striking because people thought his ground game was boring, has built the strongest run of his career by doing what he's best at. Nothing strange about that!