MMA Gradebook: Rating Every Fight From UFC Fight Night 153

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 UFC Fight Night 153: Gustafsson vs. Smith.

Alexander Gustafsson vs. Anthony Smith

Two former title challengers battle it out in a fight that will possibly decide who gets to lose to Jon Jones again. Jokes aside, we continue our incredible run of highly rated main events despite the first two rounds serving as a feeling-out process for both men. The action picked up in the later rounds, and the surprising finish earns this fight an above average rating. [3.0]

Jimi Manuwa vs. Aleksandar Rakic

UFC veteran Manuwa steps inside the Octagon for the 12th time, taking on rising prospect Rakic in the co-main event. Manuwa is coming off three losses in a row while Rakic is an undefeated 3-0 in his short time with the UFC. Just watch this fight, is all I have to say. [5.0]

Makwan Amirkhani vs. Chris Fishgold

Amirkhani takes on Fishgold in a bout between two of the best prospects in the featherweight division. The first round was a bit of a feeling-out process but the action picked up in the second and the fight was topped off with one of the best performances of the night. [3.0]

Damir Hadzovic vs. Christos Giagos

Hadzovic returns to the Octagon for the second time this year to take on Giagos, who needs this win to keep his second run in the UFC alive. This was a decent but very one-sided fight early on, but both men then gassed and put on a horrible third round. [2.0]

Daniel Teymur vs. Sung Bin Jo

Daniel Teymur steps inside the Octagon for the fourth time but is still looking for his first UFC win over debuting South Korean prospect Jo. The fight started off with a bang but things slowed down considerably in the later rounds and ended up being a fairly average fight. [2.0]

Rostem Akman vs. Sergey Khandozhko

Both men are making their UFC debut in this prelims headliner but Akman comes in with a 5-0 record while Khandozhko has already amassed a 25-5 record at just 27 years old. This was a great back-and-forth fight with a high pace from both men and multiple near finishes. Great fight and impressive debuts from both men earn this 3.5 stars.

Tonya Evinger vs. Lina Lansberg

Women’s MMA pioneer Evinger returns to the Octagon to take on former muay Thai world champion Lansberg. Although both women are out of their athletic prime, they put on a good fight and the loser showed tremendous heart. I wish the fight was closer but it was still exciting from bell to bell. [2.5]

Stevie Ray vs. Leonardo Santos

Santos returns to the Octagon for the first time in nearly three years to take on rising contender Ray. Quick fight and one of the best finishes of the night earns this 4 stars.

Nick Hein vs. Frank Camacho

Both men step inside the Octagon desperate for a win after a bit of a cold streak, and a loss for either could mean getting cut by the UFC. With stakes like those, this was sure to be a banger and a banger it was. High output by both men and a fantastic finish earns this 3.5 stars.

Bea Malecki vs. Duda Santanna

The women’s bantamweight division gets some new blood as both women step inside the Octagon for the first time. Malecki comes in with a 2-0 career record while Santana boasts a 3-0 record so both women are very inexperienced but they have bright futures. The fight was sloppy as expected but the finish saved it and earned this an average rating. [2.0]

Darko Stosic vs. Devin Clark

Highly-touted Serbian prospect Stosic steps inside the Octagon for just the second time to take on fellow young prospect and UFC veteran Devin Clark. This wasn’t the most action-packed fight but both men were throwing every strike with fight-ending intentions which kept me engaged throughout. [2.5]

Joel Alvarez vs. Danilo Belluardo

Alvarez steps inside the Octagon for the second time this year hoping to get his first UFC win against promotional newcomer Belluardo who’s had an impressive career outside of the UFC. The fight was nothing special and even the finish was anti-climactic so the opening bout of the evening gets an average rating. [2.0]