UFC Vegas: Fiziev vs. Gamrot – Fights to make

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• UFC Vegas 79: Fights to Make
  • Mateusz Gamrot
  • Rafael Fiziev
  • Bryce Mitchell
  • Marina Rodriguez
  • Bryan Battle
  • Charles Jourdain
  • Tim Means
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The latest UFC Vegas card didn’t necessarily feel like a dud on paper, but ended up being a real miss-able night for the world’s largest MMA promotion. Even with Bryce Mitchell and Dan Ige putting on a rock solid co-main event and Marina Rodriguez styling all over Michelle Waterson-Gomez, nothing could make up for the headliner between Rafael Fiziev and Mateusz Gamrot ending via second round injury. Throw a couple undercard stinkers in the mix and it wasn’t a great night of fights.

Still, can Gamrot get the kind of top 5 booking he’s looking for? Is Marina Rodriguez primed for a title eliminator? And can Bryce Mitchell overcome the forces of Satan before the Dark Lord covers the world in darkness?

To answer those questions—plus a couple more—I’ll be using the classic Silva/Shelby fight booking methodology from the UFC of years past. That means pitting winners against winners, losers against losers, and similarly tenured talent up against one another. Hopefully, by following that model, a few of these bout ideas will actually make it off the page and into the Octagon. Now, let’s get to the fights!

UFC Vegas 79: Fights to Make

MATEUSZ GAMROT

It really is too damn bad that Rafael Fiziev came up lame with that knee injury in the second round because his fight with Mateusz Gamrot was just starting to get interesting. Gamrot largely failed to get the fight to the mat in round 1, and found himself getting picked off at range. But round 2 opened with a big takedown from the ‘Gamer’ that seemed like it could spell the start of a long night for Fiziev. Basically, this fight went just long enough to give us all a taste of how good it could be.

After the bout Gamrot gave fans his future fight wish list. It’s a shame he didn’t think it out a little more thoroughly. First the Pole announced that his dream fight would be Islam Makhachev. Feeling he wouldn’t get that bout, however Gamrot then called out Charles Oliveira… who is currently set to face Islam Makhachev. Could Gamrot possibly face the loser of that title fight? Maybe. But that feels pretty unlikely too.

No McGregor for you! – Jessica Alcheh IMAGO/USA Today

Fortunately for ATT talent, there are plenty of other, more realistic options. Dan Hooker is coming off a rock solid win and always makes for a fun fight. Grant Dawson is facing Bobby Green in the coming weeks and win there would have him primed for bigger things. Beneil Dariush is a top 5 lightweight coming off a loss and in need of a bounce back, he could make for a solid option too.

Really, though, there’s one much more obvious choice. Sooner or later Michael Chandler needs to face facts, he’s not getting that Conor McGregor booking. If that’s the case, then Gamrot is a poor consolation for ‘Iron’ Mike, but a nice plan B for the fans. Mateusz Gamrot vs. Michael Chandler would be a terrific fight.

RAFAEL FIZIEV

Hopefully Rafael Fiziev won’t be sidelined too long after this injury. It’s always tough to say with knees. It could be six months, it could be two years. For the sake of this article, I’ll lean on optimism and the idea that Fiziev will be ready to go again in he next few months. If that’s the case, then there are two obvious fights right now out there waiting for Fiziev: Dan Hooker & Beneil Dariush. The Dariush fight seems like an especially awesome idea, so lets go Dariush vs. Fiziev, assuming the injury isn’t too bad (but is too bad to keep Fiziev from getting an instant rematch with Gamrot).

BRYCE MITCHELL

This was a very close run thing for Bryce Mitchell. Dan Ige started out strong, stuffing almost every takedown Mitchell tried. But ‘Thug Nasty’ kept trying and finding ways to drag Ige to the mat. By round 3 he had really turned the momentum firmly in his favor. The first two rounds may have been close, but that was all it took to get Mitchell the decision win. After the victory, Mitchell had a whole bunch more crazy nonsense to spout, but that doesn’t change the fact that he’s clearly a top 15 featherweight.

Just give it one more chance. – Justin Renfroe IMAGO/Zuma Wire

That should mean matchups with Movsar Evloev, Giga Chikadze, Calvin Kattar, or possibly Sodiq Yusuff (if Youssuf can grab a win in his next fight against Edson Barboza). Is it even a question, though? That Evloev fight was an absolute banger the first two times they tried to book it. Give it one more shot. Movsar Evloev vs. Bryce Mitchell is a fight that must happen someday.

MARINA RODRIGUEZ

A completely one-sided ass kicking from Marina Rodriguez. When Michelle Waterson-Gomez hit that first takedown it seemed like she might have a strong gameplan to get her into a fight she didn’t have many answers for last time around. That illusion all ended as soon as Rodriguez got back to her feet and kept the clinch. The Brazilian absolutely detonated Waterson-Gomez with knees to the head and body inside, had her badly cut, clearly injured, and there was a point in the first round where the ‘Karate Hottie’ essentially didn’t throw any offense for a full minute. Then it went on for several minutes more.

Will Suarez sit and wait? – Justin Renfroe IMAGO/Zuma Wire

After the bout, Rodriguez called out Tatiana Suarez. It’s not the most likely booking in the world, even with Weili Zhang likely to fight Yan Xiaonan for her next title defense, but it’s an idea worth pursuing if Suarez is willing to stay active instead of waiting for gold. If Jessica Andrade can beat Mackenzie Dern, I’d also love to see Andrade vs. Rodriguez. Or if Luana Pinheiro beats Amanda Ribas that’d be another great option too. But all those choices are chancy and based on bouts that haven’t happened yet, so why not aim high. Book Suarez vs. Rodriguez if Suarez is willing.

BRYAN BATTLE

It wasn’t as pretty as his KO over Gabe Green, but Bryan Battle did a great job to come back from adversity against AJ Fletcher and put the man away. The ‘Butcher’ has proved to be a shockingly opportunistic fighter in the welterweight division and his 77″ reach can make him a problem for all sorts of opposition. He’s still got problems letting his opponents dictate range and pace, and paid for it by eating a huge elbow inside early, but he’s proven to be a hell of a tough out and great at keeping his confidence.

He passed up on calling anyone out, seemingly suggesting that he should have a spot in the rankings after this win. Realistically, however, Battle has yet to pick up a victory over anyone not clinging to the bottom of the roster. Fights against Carlston Harris, Song Kenan, Mike Malott, Uros Medic, or Khaos Williams would all be reasonable steps forward. I really like what Medic has been showing lately, and it’d be interesting to see him face someone who wasn’t daunted by his length. Medic vs. Battle would be a great scrap.

CHARLES JOURDAIN

There was always a great chance that this fight was going to be violent. Every Charles Jourdain fight is going to be violent. But, the idea that Jourdain might beat Ricardo Ramos via submission, and do it in the opening round? I don’t think anyone saw that coming. An electrifying win for the 27-year-old that should have him creeping toward the top 15 at featherweight. (Although maybe not considering Nathaniel Wood still isn’t ranked).

I could fart around with a bunch of different options like Kyle Nelson, or Jourdain’s callout of Cub Swanson, or even Jack Shore or Jonathan Pierce. But Billy Quarantillo is coming off a win and isn’t booked right now and that’d be a stupidly good fight. Billy Quarantillo vs. Charles Jourdain has to happen.

TIM MEANS

A vintage performance inside the Octagon for Tim Means. Andre Fialho put the ‘Dirty Bird’ on the ropes a couple times, but Means was able to shake off Fialho’s offense and crack him repeatedly with heavy counters. When leading the action, Means did a whole bunch of work to the body—which felt like it really paid off in round 3, with Fialho clearly fading and Means pouring on the pressure. A high kick to a clinch knee and a barrage of punches put the stamp on the fight for a thrilling victory for the 39-year-old.

That kind of win should set Means up for another good action scrap, preferably something with a decently high profile to it, even if Means has always been willing to take on any opponent at any time. Fights with Randy Brown, Santiago Ponzinibbio, or even Uros Medic would all be solid options. This time around I’ll go winner/loser and pick the highest profile bout. Tim Means vs. Santiago Ponzinibbio feels like a great action fight we should see before both men retire.

Noche UFC: Grasso vs. Shevchenko 2 – Fights to make

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• Noche UFC: Fights to make
  • Alexa Grasso & Valentina Shevchenko
  • Jack Della Maddalena
  • Raul Rosas Jr.
  • Lupita Godinez
  • Roman Kopylov
  • Tracy Cortez
• Join the new Bloody Elbow

The UFC’s first title fight off PPV in a month of Sundays proved to be a great idea. Alexa Grasso and Valentina Shevchenko waged a pitched back and forth battle for the flyweight title that looked to be judged on the narrowest of margins. Well at least it should have been. A wild 10-8 scorecard ruined the mood a bit, but it was still a hell of a fun fight. Throw a solid welterweight scrap between Jack Della Maddalena and Kevin Holland in the mix and it ended up being a solid night of action.

So, is it time for for the Grasso/Shevchenko trilogy? Is Della Maddalena on his way to the top 10 at 170? And is Lupita Godinez a dark horse at 115 lbs?

To answer those questions—and maybe some other stuff too—I’ll be using the classic Silva/Shelby fight booking methodology from the UFC of years past. That means pitting winners against winners, losers against losers, and similarly tenured talent up against one another. Hopefully, by following that model, a few of these bout ideas will actually make it off the page and into the Octagon. Now, let’s get to the fights!

Noche UFC: Fights to make

ALEXA GRASSO & VALENTINA SHEVCHENKO

Honestly, while the draw sucks from a practical judging standpoint and from a fan satisfaction standpoint, it just might be the best result the UFC could hope for. Manon Fiorot struggled to take three rounds off a one-handed version of Rose Namajunas, Erin Blanchfield wall-n-stalled her way to victory past Taila Santos. These are not the kinds of performances that make for thrilling new title fight bookings.

By contrast, Alexa Grasso vs. Valentina Shevchenko 2 was a great fight. It was highly competitive in nearly every round, had major momentum swings, and there were clear dangers that both women have yet to find a way to neatly navigate. Grasso still had no answer to Shevchenko’s wrestling game. And the ‘Bullet’ struggled hard with Grasso in a southpaw stance.

ONE. MORE. TIME. – Stephen R. Sylvanie IMAGO/USA Today

Book Shevchenko vs. Grasso 3 and book Fiorot vs. Blanchfield along side it. That way there’s a backup plan if the title fight falls through and hopefully we can exit those fights with a clear champion and a clear new number one contender. Otherwise, if we absolutely have to, I suppose I’m most interested in Blanchfield vs. Grasso, given the champ’s wrestling struggles.

JACK DELLA MADDALENA

It wasn’t exactly a definitive performance from Jack Della Maddalena, but I’d say Kevin Holland came in with a pretty reasonable gameplan to defeat the Aussie. The fact that it didn’t work is a testament to JDM’s skill and dedication as a pocket puncher. Holland threw out a ton of volume, looking to keep JDM at bay at the edge of range—where Holland’s reach meant he could land first and skate away from counters. It was on JDM to eat, slip, or catch those shots and fire back with his own offense and to make that offense count. He did that well enough to eek out the victory, even if it wasn’t decisive.

Luque looked good on the comeback. – Troy Taormina IMAGO/USA Today

With his spot in the rankings already secure, that’ll only bounce JDM further up the division. Fights with Ian Machado Garry, Vicente Luque, Sean Brady, or Geoff Neal would all be reasonable. My knee-jerk reaction is Garry vs. Della Maddalena, just because it’s such a solid prospect vs. prospect booking, but honestly I doubt Garry has any interest. Vicente Luque, however, looked surprisingly decent last time out, and has a great style to match JDM’s violence. Luque vs. Della Maddalena would be ‘can’t miss’ action.

RAUL ROSAS JR.

It wasn’t exactly a level of opposition that demands thoughtful matchmaking for Raul Rosas Jr. next time out, but the young man did exactly what he was supposed to do given an opponent that wasn’t really ready to compete at his level. Terrence Mitchell went after Rosas hard from the jump, traded a few wild swings, and then got dropped in a heap and put away.

If fan reactions on Twitter were anything to judge by, the win did a great job putting the Rosas hype-train back on the rails. People are excited to see this kid perform.

Even with a win it still feels like Rosas shouldn’t be taking any big steps up. Fights like Gaston Bolanos, Chad Anheliger, or Ronnie Lawrence all make sense. After getting absolutely sonned last time out by Daniel Argueta, Lawrence seems like he could most use a chance to prove himself. And his chain wrestling game should make for an interesting matchup. Lawrence vs. Rosas is a solid experience building contest for the 18-year-old.

LUPITA GODINEZ

These are the kind of performances that make Lupita Godinez look like a surefire future title contender. When her game is all clicking together she’s one of the most dynamic, dominating wrestlers that women’s strawweight has ever seen. Meshing that with her improving striking game, as she did here, has her looking like she needs a ranked opponent now. All told, Godinez made Elise Reed look like a rank amateur.

Battle of muscled up strawweights. – David Yeazell IMAGO/USA Today

It’s too bad her fight with Sam Hughes fell apart, because that would have been a much better test of her physicality. That could mean the UFC should re-book the Hughes fight, or possible a fight with Gillian Robertson or Loma Lookboonmee. But, Tabatha Ricci has shot into the rankings with a pretty thin game built on aggression and top-flight grappling. Feels like a great chance for Godinez to announce herself, or for Ricci to prove that she can handle a physical, well-rounded opponent. Godinez vs. Ricci is a rock solid strawweight bout.

ROMAN KOPYLOV

Despite a bunch of recent success, Roman Kopylov has still found himself stuck facing the bottom end of the middleweight division. That said, when matched up with these lower tier fighters he’s doing exactly what he should and stomping them. Fremd did well early to put out a lot of strikes and try to keep kicks on Kopylov at distance, but he couldn’t match the Russian for power or precision. The further the fight went, the more the damage started to stack up against him.

Kopylov really should get a tougher matchup off of this. That could be someone like Chris Curtis or Andre Muniz at the bottom end of the rankings, but I’d argue for fights against Jun Yong Park, Michal Oleksiejczuk, Andre Petroski, or Marc-Andre Barriault as one last stop before hitting the top 15. Jun Yong Park is a great top control fighter with a pretty deft, active jab, seems like someone who could give Kopylov some trouble. Jun Yong Park vs. Roman Kopylov is a fight I’d love to see.

TRACY CORTEZ

It wasn’t a clean fight from Tracy Cortez, but after so much time on the shelf just getting back in and getting a victory was the important part. Jasudavicius was out-gunned early, but battled her way back well behind persistent aggression and even a couple takedowns. It’s a testament to Cortez’s toughness that she was willing to sit in the pocket late and land the bigger shots to secure the win.

After the fight, Cortez claimed she’d be champion by the end of 2024. If that’s the goal, she has to be active. If she can get a quick turnaround against someone in the rankings, that should mean battles against Natalia Silva, Casey O’Neill, or Maycee Barber. Considering how competitive this fight felt, I’d say rocketing her up the division against Barber doesn’t feel right, so I’ll say book Cortez vs. Natalia Silva. The Brazilian’s speed and power should be a big problem.

UFC 293: Adesanya vs. Strickland – Fights to make

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• UFC 293: Fights to Make
  • Sean Strickland
  • Israel Adesanya
  • Alexander Volkov
  • Manel Kape
  • Justin Tafa
• Join the new Bloody Elbow

I dunno about this one, guys. UFC 293 was just one hell of a weird night. Israel Adesanya put on a miserable performance, leading what can only be thought of as one of the biggest upsets in UFC history. As a result, Sean Strickland is the middleweight champion. Alexander Volkov beat the brakes off Tai Tuivasa, and Manel Kape went life and death with Felipe dos Santos. The rest of the main card didn’t matter at all.

So, is the UFC really going to run Izzy right back into the rematch with Strickland off a fight like that? Is there anything for Volkov to do but keep treading water? And why the hell is Kape so damn angry all the time?

To answer those questions—and a lot more—I’ll be using the classic Silva/Shelby fight booking methodology from the UFC of years past. That means pitting winners against winners, losers against losers, and similarly tenured talent up against one another. Hopefully, by following that model, a few of these bout ideas will actually make it off the page and into the Octagon. Now, let’s get to the fights!

UFC 293: Fights to Make

SEAN STRICKLAND

Words I absolutely never thought I would type, but Sean Strickland is the UFC middleweight champion. It wasn’t some kind of fluke; no magic act or miracle moment. Israel Adesanya got absolutely outclassed by Strickland in a pure kickboxing bout. Credit to the Xtreme Couture talent, he brought his A-game, walking Adesanya down with relentless pressure, popping the jab and the front kicks, lining up the occasional big right hand. Strickland’s defense was on point as well, limiting Adesanya’s chances to low kicks and the rare surprise hook.

The fact that—to go along with Strickland fighting a rock solid fight—Israel Adesanya showed up with an incredibly miserable gameplan can’t be overlooked. With the possible exception of his bout against Romero, Adesanya has never looked worse. That doesn’t change a thing though. Strickland earned his title.

Just assuming he beats Paulo Costa. – Joe Camporeale IMAGO/USA Today

Personally, this would be the point where I’d say book Strickland vs. Du Plessis. Or, because I hadn’t even considered this idea until someone else brought it up, book Izzy vs. Du Plessis and book Strickland vs. the Costa/Chimaev winner. Dana White, however seems already sold on the idea of an immediate rematch. Which, I get it, Adesanya has been a title holder for a while now, he’s been active, and he avenged his last title defeat in incredible fashion. He’s also clearly the biggest draw in the division. Wasting that fact in his prime would be a little silly. Given the chance, I’d book Strickland vs. the Costa/Chimaev winner, but we’ll probably see Strickland vs. Adesanya 2.

ISRAEL ADESANYA

Well, I kind of already gave my point away here in the Sean Strickland write up, but I still feel like I should use this space to say something. First and foremost, what the hell dude!? Everyone and their dog knew that Israel Adesanya would start this fight on the back foot and Sean Strickland would fight it on the front foot. Once that dynamic was set, however, Adesanya seemed to have zero ideas of how to change it.

No reason we can’t still do this one. – Stephen R. Sylvanie IMAGO/USA Today

He threw looping shots when Strickland went straight down the pipe, ensuring that practically none of his punches landed, and zero landed clean. Every time he pushed forward, Strickland flailed and failed to counter. But, Adesanya could only make himself do it in short bursts, and rarely trusted himself to lead with meaningful offense. Abus Magomedov may have crumbled harder, but he also put a hell of a lot more offense on Strickland while he did it. Opportunities were there and Adesanya took none of them.

The fact that he’ll almost certainly get an immediate title rematch off of this doesn’t really sit well with me. Losing 4 of 5 rounds to the new champion shouldn’t be grounds to get right back in there and do it again. This wasn’t one big shot that KO’d Izzy or a crazy submission in a scramble. He got out-fought in his own A-game. If I had it my way, Adesanya would fight Dricus Du Plessis. Make that grudge match happen, put it on the same PPV as Strickland vs. Chimaev (assuming he bulldozes Costa), so that things can be switched up in case of injury. That just makes good sense to me.

ALEXANDER VOLKOV

This was always going to be a miserable matchup for Tai Tuivasa. Fighting a huge, rangy kickboxer with a style almost purely built to bang it out in the pocket? Not a winning combo. Given Volkov’s incredible durability as well, it just seemed like opportunities for Tuivasa to end things with a single bomb would be few and far between. Credit to the Aussie, he found some great success with his low kicks early in round 2. But it wasn’t enough to turn the tide, especially not when Volkov started picking them off to dump Tuivasa to the mat.

We gotta do this now while it still makes sense. – Stephen R. Sylvanie IMAGO/USA Today

That kind of dominating win should keep Volkov in the conversation for a top 5 opponent again. We’re probably going to see Aspinall fight Ciryl Gane and Pavlovich might just get the next title shot. But, Curtis Blaydes is about to face Jailton Almeida and the winner of that wouldn’t be a bad fit. Volkov already fought Blaydes, but I could stand having that one run back, and Almeida vs. Volkov would be a fascinating fight. Otherwise, the obvious option is the Derrick Lewis rematch. I guess, karmically, that last one makes too much sense to pass up. Derrick Lewis vs. Alexander Volkov 2. The first fight was too wild to never see it again.

MANEL KAPE

Obviously, with as many cancelled fights as Manel Kape has had lately, he had to take this one. But to that end, this was a dangerous as hell booking for him to agree to. All downside, no upside against a fighter like Felipe Dos Santos—who had nothing to lose as a 22-year-old coming in on short notice for his debut. And credit to the Brazilian, he may not have come close to winning, but he showed everyone his potential for every minute of 3 rounds and never let Kape take his foot off the gas for a moment. Kape threw everything but the kitchen sink at ‘Lipe Detona’, and the kid just would not stop going after him.

After the bout, ‘Starboy’ made it clear that there’s still only one thing on his mind: a bout against Kai Kara-France. The City Kickboxing talent was meant to meet the former RIZIN champ on this card, before a concussion forced him to withdraw. Kape has only seemed entirely furious with that turn of events and seems to want to make absolutely sure that ‘Don’t Blink’ doesn’t end up avoiding him. Kai Kara-France vs. Manel Kape is the fight to make, before Kape gets so mad he goes on another rant nobody wants to hear.

JUSTIN TAFA

An absolutely clubbing win for Justin Tafa. We almost got the horror show of another eye poke stoppage early on, fortunately Tafa recovered this time. He still struggled a little with Austen Lane’s size at times, but once he found his way past Lane’s reach, everything got a whole lot easier…

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UFC Paris: Gane vs. Spivac – Fights to make

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• UFC Paris: Fights to Make
  • Ciryl Gane
  • Sergey Spivac
  • Manon Fiorot
  • Benoit Saint-Denis
  • Volkan Oezdemir
  • Farid Basharat
• Join the new Bloody Elbow

UFC Paris wasn’t all that special an event when it came to actual in-cage performances. Ciryl Gane got an easy-breezy win in the main event; Manon Fiorot scraped by a one-handed Rose Namajunas; and Benoit Saint-Denis looked every part of a future top-10 lightweight against Thiago Moises. But what made it something more was an electric crowd with lots of home-grown talent to root for and the joys of a morning fight card for US fans.

So, is there any other fight out there other than Tom Aspinall for Gane? Is there a better argument for Manon Fiorot as a title challenger than Erin Blanchfield? And is Benoit Saint-Denis really going to get a ranked lightweight next time out?

To answer those questions—but not much else—I’ll be using the classic Silva/Shelby fight booking methodology from the UFC of years past. That means pitting winners against winners, losers against losers, and similarly tenured talent up against one another. Hopefully, by following that model, a few of these bout ideas will actually make it off the page and into the Octagon. Now, let’s get to the fights!

UFC Paris: Fights to Make

CIRYL GANE

Ciryl Gane delivered a great reminder on Saturday, that while his wrestling and grappling skills may not be at an elite level in comparison to the likes of Jon Jones, they’re still plenty good enough to stay ahead of most other heavyweights. Sergey Spivac likely waited too long and through too many low kicks before getting in on his first takedown, but he had some good chances to take Gane to the mat and couldn’t get anywhere close.

Otherwise, on the feet, Gane reasserted why he’s such a difficult task for many heavyweights to handle. Namely, he’s still one of the best fighters in the division at maintaining his range and at picking multiple targets to attack. Gane did well to chop the legs, and jab up top to stop Spivac from pressuring. The moment Spivac took to the back foot instead, Gane started crushing him to the body to force his hands away from his head. The end result was a thoroughly one-sided thrashing.

There may not be any clear path to a Jon Jones rematch as a result, but there’s also a lot of reason to wonder if Jones is even going to keep fighting long term. Gane is still very much primed as a top contender for some future version of the heavyweight title. And while he didn’t jump on the idea after his UFC Paris win, the most likely path to keeping that spot will be a fight with top rising newcomer Tom Aspinall.

A must-see striker vs. striker battle. – Scott Garfitt IMAGO/ZUMA Wire

Otherwise, I have to assume that Sergei Pavlovich is getting the next title shot, whether that’s for a vacant belt or against the Jones/Miocic winner. That leaves the upcoming bout between Curtis Blaydes & Jailton Almeida as the division’s other top fight. While that winner would unquestionably be an interesting test for ‘Bon Gamin’ no matter who wins, it’s not nearly as thrilling as the Aspinall matchup. Ciryl Gane vs. Tom Aspinall seems too easy a good fight to ignore.

SERGEY SPIVAC

I don’t know if it’s for better or worse that this was the fight I expected from Sergey Spivac against Ciryl Gane. On the one hand, he certainly didn’t exceed any expectations. But, I’d also argue he didn’t really fail many either. Spivac has never really, truly had a functional striking game, he’s never been one of the division’s most durable fighters, and he’s only rarely been a real lockdown wrestler. His great assets have been his top control grappling and his cardio. Once he could find an easy way to get Gane to the mat, things turned to one-way traffic in a hurry.

One of these two needs to show something extra. – Ron Chenoy IMAGO/USA Today

Fortunately for the ‘Polar Bear’ however, there are plenty of heavyweights out there still who don’t have the quickness or technique to stop Spivac from dragging them to the mats. There’s no reason he can’t keep being a competitive top-10 fighter. Bouts against Jairzinho Rozenstruik, Alexander Romanov, Marcos Rogerio de Lima, or even a rematch with Marcin Tybura would all be worthwhile bookings. If the UFC really believes that Spivac should be part of the top 5 they could put him in against the loser of Almeida vs. Blaydes.

I think the Romanov fight makes the most sense. Two men working one-dimensional games who need to find more tools if they’re ever going to make a title run. Romanov vs. Spivac is a strong wrestler/grappler battle.

MANON FIOROT

Beating Rose Namajunas is nothing to be sneezed at, but this fight could have been a much more definitive declaration of Manon Fiorot’s position as the no. 1 contender. It was pretty clear that ‘Thug’ Rose broke her finger on her right hand early on, and spent most of the fight working solely off her left. But even with that obvious handicap she managed to win the 3rd round with a tiring/coasting Fiorot. The Frenchwoman is mostly just lucky that Erin Blanchfield didn’t look any more dominant, herself, last time out—so neither woman is really the fighter to compete for gold next time out.

Champ’s gonna need a new contender soon. – Louis Grasse IMAGO/ZUMA Wire

Ideally it seems like the fight to make, then, would be Blanchfield vs. Fiorot. See if one of these women can’t make themselves look like one of the best in the world against the other. Realistically, however, with a title fight just around the corner, we’re going to need someone to fight for the belt in the next 6 months. My gut says Fiorot will get the chance. Manon Fiorot vs. the Shevchenko/Grasso 2 winner seems likely.

BENOIT SAINT-DENIS

Exactly the kind of fight Benoit Saint-Denis needed to take to an opponent like Thiago Moises. The Brazilian’s willingness to fight off the back foot and look for counters or to try and win out scrambles on the mat meant that Saint-Denis would always get a lot of chances to initiate his own game if he was willing to stay on aggressive and keep the offensive output high. That’s exactly what he did, with a nice steady diet of brawling punches and smothering wrestling, to sap Moises’ will and get the TKO.

After the fight he called for the loser (???) of Mateusz Gamrot vs. Rafael Fiziev, which is very practical—but also kind of lame. Why would a fighter want to set themselves up to take on someone riding a potentially crushing loss? Who knows what frame of fitness—mentally or physically—someone’s going to be in after a defeat. It especially seems nonsensical given how many top 15 lightweights there are out there right now, coming off wins, without a next fight booked.

Matchups with L’udovit Klein, Joel Alvarez, or even Grant Dawson, Renato Moicano, Matt Frevola, or Dan Hooker all seem more reasonable. Hell even Carlos Diego Ferreira has a ranking over Benoit Saint-Denis. That really needs to change. Carlos Diego Ferreira vs. Benoit Saint-Denis is a great fight to get a number next to the Frenchman’s name, and set him up for bigger fights.

VOLKAN OEZDEMIR

Something of a ‘must win’ spot for ‘No Time.’ Oezdemir had a seriously tough challenge in front of him with Azamat Murzakanov, but when Murzakanov had to step out due to injury, the 33-year-old got a pretty one-dimensional newcomer in Bogdan Guskov. Guskov looked dangerous for a minute or two trading punches, but once Oezdemir started throwing in some takedowns and getting the Uzbek fighter to think about more than just hands, the Kill Cliff talent started lighting him up everywhere. The finish wasn’t far behind.

That should put Oezdemir back in the path of a top 15 light heavyweight. And if that’s the case, then re-booking Murzakanov wouldn’t be the worst idea. But fights with Dustin Jacoby, Alonzo Menifield, Khalil Rountree, or even an Anthony Smith rematch wouldn’t be a bad idea. Part of me thinks that this would be a good opportunity for Jacoby, just because I can’t think of another great fight for the American, but the reality is that Oezdemir vs. Rountree is just a much much cooler fight. The UFC should make it happen.

FARID BASHARAT

An absolutely overwhelming performance from Farid Basharat. Kleydson Rodrigues has some serious speed and power, but he was far too willing to let Basharat in on his legs. The more time ‘Ferocious’ had to work there, the more likely he was going to drag the Brazilian into scrambles where his superior technique would win out. That arm triangle he hit to finish the fight was a real thing of beauty. Pure power and pressure with no time at all to fight it off.

The UFC usually likes to protect their TUF winners a bit, but with Brad Katona being in his second stint with the promotion now, I would love to see him take on someone like Basharat. Otherwise, if he wants a really big step up, there’s opponents like Mario Bautista and Kyler Phillips. I’ll stick with Katona vs. Basharat. A solid challenge for both men to see if they can capitalize on high expectations.

UFC Singapore: Max Holloway vs. Korean Zombie – Fights to make

• UFC Singapore: Fights to make
  • Max Holloway
  • Anthony Smith
  • Giga Chikadze
  • Erin Blanchfield
  • Michal Oleksiejczuk
  • JJ Aldrich
• Join the new Bloody Elbow

The UFC’s sole trip to Asia in 2023 provided a largely okay night of action, capped off by what ended up as a very definitive retirement fight for former featherweight title contender Chan Sung Jun. Max Holloway got the honor of sending the ‘Korean Zombie’ off into the sunset, with a brutal 3rd round KO. Otherwise, Anthony Smith got himself another W over Ryan Spann, and Giga Chikadze put a stop to Alex Caceres’ momentum.

So, what’s left for Max Holloway at 145 lbs? Is Anthony Smith lined up to take on another top contender? And is Erin Blanchfield set to challenge for the women’s flyweight title?

To answer those questions—and maybe a bit more—I’ll be using the classic Silva/Shelby fight booking methodology from the UFC of years past. That means pitting winners against winners, losers against losers, and similarly tenured talent up against one another. Hopefully, by following that model, a few of these bout ideas will actually make it off the page and into the Octagon. Now, let’s get to the fights!

UFC Singapore: Fights to make

MAX HOLLOWAY

This was always set up to be a pretty good night for Max Holloway. Even in their prime, the Hawaiian’s iron jaw and high volume style seemed poised to play hell with Chan Sung Jung’s increasingly counter-focused style. With Jung clearly missing a step lately, however, the table was set for Holloway to win in style.

It’s a credit, then, to the ‘Korean Zombie’ that he actually had a few big moments of success in this bout. His power clearly put a jolt into ‘Blessed’ especially early in round 1. But, with the fight slowly and surely slipping away from him, TKZ bit down in round 3 and decided that he needed to try and make something happen. He definitely succeeded, unfortunately it happened to him.

A massive KO of Holloway has the 31-year-old former champion still seemingly in elite form among the featherweight top 5, but with no real clear path back to the title. Having defeated a large portion of the divisional elite already, no doubt pressure will be mounting for him to make another move back to lightweight.

Given how his fight with Dustin Poirier went in 2019, however, it’s worth wondering how well Holloway would fair at 155. Bouts against the likes of Chandler, Fiziev, or Gaethje all seem like they’d put the Gracie Technics talent at a big power disadvantage, while fights against Makhachev, Gamrot, or Tsarukyan might just see Holloway get firmly out-wrestled by some real top-flight grapplers.

Dariush is always a thrill. – Paul Miller IMAGO/USA TODAY Network

There are two fights up in the lightweight elite that do feel like they could be fun, however. And that’s Charles Oliveira or Beneil Dariush. Oliveira is currently booked to fight the lightweight champ in October, but a loss there would still make for an exciting booking with Holloway. If Holloway wants to stay at 145, then a fight with Giga Chikadze would be solid, but I’ll say Holloway should move up, take a chance and fight Dariush. That seems like the most interesting available option right now, barring a potential move to 145 of Aljamain Sterling in the near future. Holloway vs. Dariush seems like a solid idea.

ANTHONY SMITH

Much like Holloway, Anthony Smith finds himself in position at light heavyweight as a long-tenured high ranking challenger in need of fresh tests. He may never have held the belt, but Smith has already faced five of the current top 15 inside the Octagon, to varying results. In Singapore, the UFC set him up with a deeply unnecessary rematch against Ryan Spann—which proved far more competitive than their first booking, but from which ‘Lionheart’ still walked away with the victory.

Who doesn’t love Polish Power? Stephen R. Sylvanie IMAGO/USA TODAY

I wouldn’t at all mind seeing Smith take on someone like Khalil Rountree or Azamat Murzakanov just as sort of a gatekeeper to the divisional elite, but something tells me he’ll probably be focused firmly on fighting up ahead of him in hopes of securing another title shot. That could mean getting a chance at revenge against Aleksandar Rakic (a fight I personally have no need to see again), or maybe a bout against Nikita Krylov.

As much as I’d be down for Smith/Krylov, I’d rather see Krylov take on someone like Rountree. With that in mind, I’ll say this is a great chance to give Smith exactly the kind of fight he’s looking for—a big test against former champion Jan Blachowicz. Smith’s name still seems to carry enough cache that it seems likely ‘Polish Power’ would sign on for the bout, and it’s the kind of fight either man could use to bounce into title contention once again, especially with a vacant belt that still needs filling. Blachowicz vs. Smith seems like just the right fight for both men.

GIGA CHIKADZE

It wasn’t exactly a special performance from Giga Chikadze, but he did well to remind Alex Caceres that the Georgian is a true force to be reckoned with in a range striking battle. Give Chikadze time and space to set up his counters and get creative and he’ll land with power all fight long.

Coming off that fight, the smart thing for the Kings MMA talent to do would likely be to chase after a fight with Max Holloway. At 35, time is only ticking faster for Chikadze to make any kind of title run and a win over the former champ is pretty much the best way to guarantee contender status. Simpler said than done, for sure—but MMA is a sport built on taking wild risks.

As I outlined above, however, I kinda feel like Holloway’s time as a featherweight is through. Sure he could fight guys like Topuria or Chikadze or Evloev… but why? He’s as much a title contender as any man could ever hope to be, but as long as Volk is champ, he’s almost certainly never fighting for that belt again.

All the spins. – Stephen R. Sylvanie IMAGO/USA TODAY

If Holloway goes off to take other risks of his own, I think the best option for Chikadze are bouts against Josh Emmett or Brian Ortega. The Emmett one is especially set up for the former kickboxer to shine, given Emmett’s own tendencies to stay out at long range. Unfortunately, both those men are coming off back to back losses and, in Ortega’s case, a serious injury. Which leaves Yair Rodriguez and Arnold Allen. If Rodriguez would take the fight, then Rodriguez vs. Chikadze would be a thriller, but I get the feeling Allen might be closer to what he ends up with.

ERIN BLANCHFIELD

This fight may very well serve as something of a wake-up call for Erin Blanchfield. She’s made a lot of waves in the UFC behind toughness, pressure, and determination. A lot of that didn’t work too well against Taila Santos, who lit her up with counters early, and effectively nullified a lot of Blanchfield’s work late. ‘Cold Blooded’ still ground her way to a win behind a whole lot of clinching, but it wasn’t pretty and it wasn’t definitive.

If it weren’t for the fact that Manon Fiorot is set to take on Rose Namajunas in Paris this week, I might argue that Blanchfield’s win could still be enough to get her at title shot, especially if Grasso wins her rematch against Valentina Shevchenko. But, more likely, the 24-year-old will need at least one more win. To that end, Maycee Barber is the only woman in spitting distance of her coming off a victory. Barber vs. Blanchfield would be a great fight to make a future contender.

MICHAL OLEKSIEJCZUK

Win or lose, Michal Oleksiejczuk is pretty much always a thrill. Chidi Njokuani started this fight like a house on fire, punishing ‘Hussar’ to the body with massive clinch knees over and over and over again. However, the Polish middleweight’s pressure and aggression have long been a difference maker in his fights, and proved so again here. He found Njokuani backing to the cage one too many times and started landing big overhands, which led to a takedown. The finish followed shortly after.

It’s exactly the bounce-back Oleksiejczuk needed to keep himself in the thick of things as a mid-card action talent, and should set him up nicely for another war next time around. That could mean fights with Jun Yong Park, Eryk Anders, Paul Craig, Brad Tavares, or Gregory Rodrigues. Just writing Michal Oleksiejczuk vs. Gregory Rodrigues feels dangerous, so I think that has to be his next fight.

JJ ALDRICH

This was pure must win territory for JJ Aldrich. Coming off back to back losses, she got something of a physical layup in Liang Na. A loss here could only have led to an obvious question: If you can’t beat this opponent in the UFC, who can you beat? Fortunately for her, that question got put to rest with a fiarly dominating two round performance on her way to a TKO victory.

With that done, it’s time to throw Aldrich in against another talent looking to make headway near the bottom end of the flyweight rankings. That could be someone like Karine or Natalia Silva, both of whom secured a top 15 spot in their last bout. Or veterans like Molly McCann, Maryna Moroz, and Montana De La Rosa, who have failed to find consistent success over time. I like the idea of the McCann fight, her power and aggression should provide some problems for Aldrich, while the Elevation talent has all the wrestling and grappling to give McCann fits. McCann vs. Aldrich seems like a solid battle of veterans at 125.

UFC Fight Night: Luque vs. Dos Anjos – Fights to make

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• UFC Fight Night: Luque vs. Dos Anjos – Fights to Make
  • Vicente Luque
  • Rafael dos Anjos
  • Cub Swanson
  • Khalil Rountree
  • Terrance McKinney
  • Isaac Dulgarian
  • Da’Mon Blackshear

The UFC very nearly had another ‘the cards you’re not excited for are the best ones’ kind of moment with UFC Fight Night: Luque vs. Dos Anjos this last weekend. The prelims were an action packed smorgasbord of highlights. But, a main card that didn’t wow fans on paper still largely fizzled. Vicente Luque scraped out a win over RDA; Cub Swanson got a gift against Hakeem Dawodu; and Khalil Rountree stopped Chris Daukaus’ LHW dreams dead in their tracks.

UFC Fight Night headliner Rafael dos Anjos. – Louis Grasse IMAGO/Zuma Wire

So, is Luque ready to get back into the welterweight mix? Is Rountree going to get that main event he wants? And can Terrance McKinney go two fights in the Octagon without a meltdown?

To answer those questions—but that’s it—I’ll be using the classic Silva/Shelby fight booking methodology from the UFC of years past. That means pitting winners against winners, losers against losers, and similarly tenured talent up against one another. Hopefully, by following that model, a few of these bout ideas will actually make it off the page and into the Octagon. Now, let’s get to the fights!

UFC Fight Night: Luque vs. Dos Anjos – Fights to Make

VICENTE LUQUE

Not a thriller, but every bit the kind of performance Vicente Luque needed coming off two losses where he looked indecisive and slow on the trigger. Throw in a frightening brain injury, and seeing the Kill Cliff FC fighter go through five solid rounds of back-and-forth action felt like a good sign for his career moving forward, even if he didn’t add another KO to his highlight reel. He spent a lot of time pressuring RDA, won a whole bunch of clinch battles, and generally landed the fight’s harder strikes minute to minute.

At the very least, that should mean that another ranked fight will be in Luque’s near future. We know he won’t fight Gilbert Burns; if Shavkat Rakhmonov wants to stay on the September 16th card, Luque almost certainly won’t be ready for that; he could rematch Stephen Thompson, but fights with Sean Brady, the Magny/Garry winner, or Jack Della Maddalena seem more likely. I would say book Luque against Kevin Holland, but Holland just said he was moving back to middleweight. If Garry wins at UFC 292, that might be the best choice, but for now I’ll say Luque vs. JDM is the most fun and likely fight to make for the Brazilian right now.

Guaranteed banger. – Richard Wainright IMAGO/AAP

RAFAEL DOS ANJOS

Considering how well Vicente Luque fought, this wasn’t a bad performance for Rafael Dos Anjos. He’s never been at his best form in the welterweight division, but he did well here whenever he could get Luque moving backwards, to land solid strikes and stick him on the cage with takedown attempts. He couldn’t muscle Luque around the way he would fighters down at lightweight, but such is the way of things. For a 39-year-old in the twilight of his career, it wasn’t at all the work of a guy who can’t compete.

The ‘Leech’ always makes for a fun scrap. – Joe Camporeale IMAGO/USA TODAY

The question still becomes, however, what’s left for RDA? Does he go back down to lightweight, does he stay at welterweight, does he take on more ranked fighters, or just find other veterans hanging on to those last few moments before retirement? If he wants to stay at 170 and they want to treat him like a ranked former champ, I could potentially see him taking on someone like Sean Brady or Jack Della Maddalena. Or if the UFC wants to go with an un-ranked option, there’s Matt Brown or Li Jingliang or even someone like Max Griffin or Muslim Salikhov.

Down at lightweight, a ranked opponent seems like much more of a necessity. Guys like Dan Hooker, Matt Frevola, Jalin Turner or even Grant Dawson are all hanging around in the top 15 looking for fights and RDA left with his #9 ranking still in place. Given the Brazilian’s past statements, about not dropping back to 155 unless a superfight is on offer, however, I guess I’ll have to pick a welterweight matchup. From those options? Book RDA against Li Jingliang, a meaningful feature fight for the China Top Team product and a bout that the former champ could still win if he can get his wrestling working.

CUB SWANSON

Weird decision win for Cub Swanson here. I could have scored rounds 2 & 3 for him, but it would be a pretty thin, dubious read of the criteria. The big vote in Swanson’s favor in round 2 was that he rocked Dawodu right at the end of the round. For me, that was enough to take it. But he didn’t drop Dawodu and two judges didn’t even give him that.

Round 3, would have to give heavy weight to Swanson’s late takedowns without any meaningful damage or submission attempts. He had a couple nice transitions in there, but he also clearly got out-worked for the rest of the round. The idea of scoring round 1 for Swanson, though, just baffles the mind, and that’s what made the difference. Arguments aside, he got it, so he walks out with the win—and with a speech that very nearly made it sound like he was retiring without retiring.

All the action. – Christopher Hanewinckel IMAGO/USA TODAY Network

As such, let’s get Swanson back in a fight that can highlight his action-forward skills. It really sucks that Max Holloway is fighting Chan Sung Jung, because ‘Killer Cub’ vs. the ‘Korean Zombie’ is one of those ‘shoulda happened 10 years ago’ bouts. Billy Quarantillo just had a wild scrappy brawl of a fight, though. That’s the kind of competition I want to see Swanson in if he’s going to keep going. Billy Quarantillo vs. Cub Swanson would be a ton of fun.

KHALIL ROUNTREE

To his credit, Chris Daukaus still looked fast handed at light heavyweight. The problem was that Khalil Rountree was just as fast and could hit just as hard. After a couple minutes of equal exchanges, Daukaus started to get rocked. Unfortunately for him, there was no other way he knew to fight but to jump back into the pocket. Rountree was waiting with a left hand bomb that sent him crashing to the mat. It’s Rountree’s third straight win, he’s got a spot in the rankings already locked down, and will probably move up at least one spot after this. As a result, his big ask was a Fight Night main event.

So what kind of bout would get him that? If Nikita Krylov is willing to fight down the division, then Krylov vs. Rountree would be the kind of contest the UFC might headline a fight night card with. Or maybe he could meet Aleksandar Rakic in his return to the Octagon? Otherwise, Anthony Smith and Ryan Spann have a rematch coming up. The winner of that would be perfect for Rountree, but also probably would have both men’s eyes set on something more high profile if they won. If he can convince the man to take it, I’ll say that Khalil Rountree vs. Nikita Krylov is a rock solid booking and would be a solid small card main event.

TERRANCE MCKINNEY

The expected result for Terrance McKinney in a fight he’s going to win. As always, he started like a house on fire, blitzing Breeden with heavy shots out of the gate. Once Breeden started to get hurt, it was only a matter of time before McKinney landed enough to get the bout waved off. A badly needed bounceback for ‘T-Wrecks’, but one that doesn’t really answer any of the long term questions he needs to address. Can McKinney win a fight he doesn’t finish in the first round? Can he keep his aggression in check enough to not gas? Can he handle adversity without losing confidence? We still don’t know.

Bouts with Chase Hooper, Rafa Garcia, L’udovit Klein, Mike Davis, or Joel Alvarez would all be decent options that could force more of a fight than Breeden could. I’ll say the UFC should book McKinney against Davis. ‘Beast Boy”s combination of huge power and surprising toughness and durability seem like the challenge McKinney still needs to solve, while Davis’ lack of defense should leave him open to the kind of high octane offense the 28-year-old does so well. McKinney vs. Davis would be an action filled battle.

ISAAC DULGARIAN

I wasn’t all that ready to crown Isaac Dulgarian as a top prospect heading into this fight, just because of the absolute dearth of meaningful competition on his record to date. The fact that he’d done exactly what he should have against poor competition was great, but not necessarily meaningful. His UFC debut against Francis Marshall was a chance to show people that he was the real deal. He did that 100%.

Dulgarian went in and got a fantastic takedown early, fought his way to strong positions on the mat after, kept Marshall locked down, and then absolutely crushed him with ground-n-pound. If he can keep that momentum rolling, we might just be looking at a future featherweight contender one day.

For now, Dulgarian just needs a solid step forward. Someone who has the durability to test his cardio over multiple rounds. Someone like Melquizael Costa, David Onama, or Blake Bilder would all be good options. I like the idea of the Onama fight. He’s not a clean technician anywhere, but he is relentless in his aggression and amazingly durable. David Onama vs. Isaac Dulgarian is a strong step forward for the ‘Midwest Choppa.’

DA’MON BLACKSHEAR

At this point, for these smaller cards, I’ve taken to skipping matchups for most of the undercard fighters. If someone hasn’t already got 3-4 wins in the UFC, finding their next fight is more a case of just getting them in the cage with whoever happens to be free in a couple months time, rather than specific fantasy booking. But, I really loved what I’ve been seeing out of Da’Mon Blackshear lately, so I wanted to give him a little extra booking love after pulling off one of MMA’s rarest submission feats.

Now 2-1-1 in the Octagon, and at 29-years-old, Blackshear is likely just hitting his prime. Fights with Daniel Santos, John Castaneda, Heili Alateng, or Aimann Zahabi would all be solid ideas. Castaneda’s a whole hell of a lot of fun, and always good for a war. John Castaneda vs. Da’Mon Blackshear would be a great chance to see if Blackshear can start building real momentum.

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UFC London: Tom Aspinall vs. Marcin Tybura – Fights to make

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• TOM ASPINALL
• MARCIN TYBURA
• NATHANIEL WOOD
• PAUL CRAIG
• LERONE MURPHY
• JOEL ALVAREZ
• KETLEN VIEIRA
• Join the Bloody Elbow Substack!

The UFC’s latest trip to London was… okay not great. To the card’s credit, the last few fights were the best—with Tom Aspinall re-asserting his place among the heavyweight elite. Molly McCann’s fight was a fun disaster in front of a partisan crowd, and Nathaniel Wood put on a show with Andre Fili as his dance partner.

So, is Aspinall on his way to top contender status? Can Wood get a top fifteen opponent in the featherweight division? And is the UFC gonna throw Bo Nickal at Paul Craig?

To answer those questions—and a couple others—I’ll be using the classic Silva/Shelby fight booking methodology from the UFC of years past. That means pitting winners against winners, losers against losers, and similarly tenured talent up against one another. Hopefully, by following that model, a few of these bout ideas will actually make it off the page and into the Octagon. Now, let’s get to the fights!

Tom Aspinall drops Marcin Tybura. IMAGO/USA TODAY

TOM ASPINALL

Exactly the triumphant return to form that Tom Aspinall needed. He had his meteoric rise to the top of the heavyweight division stunted by a knee injury, but came back one year later looking leaner and meaner than ever. Demolishing Marcin Tybura like that is precisely the kind of performance an elite heavyweight should have to announce their status as a contender in the division. A show of elite speed and power that should give anyone among the top 5 pause before stepping into the cage against him.

After the bout, Aspinall even called his shot, saying that he’d be cageside for an upcoming bout between Ciryl Gane and Sergey Spivak in Paris. It’s a sensible enough fight, all things considered, Gane is a former interim champ and two-time title contender. But it does rather depend on Gane getting the victory. If Spivak wins? We’ve seen that fight, Aspinall already dominated the man, no reason to run it back. Assuming Gane beats Spivak, then Aspinall vs. Gane is a great fight. But if the Parisian can’t win? Then Aspinall vs. Sergei Pavlovich is the kind of elite heavyweight title eliminator that we need to see.

He’s got a fight to win first. IMAGO/ZUMA Wire

MARCIN TYBURA

Commentator John Gooden may have been surprised to see Marcin Tybura get run over in just over a minute by Tom Aspinall, but unfortunately for the Polish big man, this has been pretty much the standard for his career. Fighters with a step of speed on him have almost always been able to put him in deep trouble early in fights. Sometimes he can climb out of that and battle back, but for a talent like Aspinall— who has shown a fantastic ability to stay composed while delivering power shots—it felt all but inevitable that Tybura would get put away in a hurry.

It’s not exactly a crushing setback for the 37-year-old’s potential title hopes, he’s regularly struggled to find his way into the top 5 of the division, but there are enough fighters below him that he likely can still beat that it seems almost assured that he’ll be hanging around the top 10 for quite a while longer. The immediate name in the top 15 that leaps to mind is Jairzinho Rozenstruik.

Can one of these men flip the script? IMAGO/USA TODAY Network

The Surinamese fighter’s combination of big power and terrible grappling seems like just the right opportunity for Tybura to prove that he can still fight through adversity to win. Or, for Rozenstruik to prove that he can’t stuff a shot and knock someone out. Rozenstruik vs. Tybura is the test both men need.

NATHANIEL WOOD

Not a clean win or pretty performance from Wood. Fili caused him big problems working behind his jab and landing kicks to all levels. But then Wood landed a bomb and seemed like he had Fili badly rattled heading into the second round. Fili rallied back, and hurt Wood, and at that point we really had a fight on our hands. Then round 3 came and both men kind of decided that they didn’t really need to risk getting nearly KO’d again. Not a bad way to end a great fight, but it definitely felt like Fili just drifted away from victory.

Would make for a banger. IMAGO/ZUMA Wire

That should leave Wood set up to face some top 15 competition, he’s somewhere right around the same level as Lerone Murphy. Honestly, Wood vs. Murphy wouldn’t even be a bad fight. But I never like matching guys up from the same fight cards, and there are plenty of other options out there. Edson Barboza, or Alex Caceres would both be obvious steps up. As would Sodiq Yusuff. Actually, that Yusuff fight sounds pretty cool. Why not book Nathaniel Wood vs. ‘Super’ Sodiq Yusuff for a true featherweight banger?

PAUL CRAIG

It didn’t begin on the best foot for Paul Craig, who found himself getting out-struck in an ugly kickboxing match for most of the first round against Andre Muniz. But by round 2, both men were much more sold on the idea that they needed to grapple. Muniz might have had the upper hand, but a head clash and following standup saw Craig seize the initiative, and once he got it he never let it go. A strong GnP win for the ‘Bear Jew’ and one that might even have him ranked in the middleweight division next week.

If that’s the case, then there are a whole ton of fights that the UFC should throw Craig right into. Brendan Allen, Jack Hermansson, Roman Dolidze? All those would be a ton of fun. If he can’t get a ranked fight, there’s also Park Jun-yong or Rodolfo Vieira. But Dolidze is a former LHW himself and a ton of fun as a grappler. Dolidze vs. Craig is just too obvious a booking not to make it. Of course, there’s also the fact that Craig called out Bo Nickal. I don’t really think it’s the best booking for either guy, but it does feel like a fight the UFC might jump on if Nickal is happy to take it.

LERONE MURPHY

This fight was a struggle early on for Lerone Murphy. Josh Culibao came out leaning heavy on low kicks and ready to pounce on the Brit for his tendency to make some wild mistakes. The further the bout went, however, the more Murphy’s physicality started to take over. After a skimming liver kick in round 3, Murphy really got dominant on his way to a unanimous decision win. That keeps Murphy undefeated and has him calling for a top 15 test next time around.

At 32 and with a perfect record, it seems like it’s absolutely time for Murphy to test himself at the next level. That could mean fights with Alex Caceres, Edson Barboza, or Dan Ige. All those fights would be awesome, but it’s hard for me not to see Barboza on that list and not instantly think he’s the best option. Barboza vs. Murphy would be a great chance for Murphy to take on a real high-level seasoned vet.

JOEL ALVAREZ

A controversial victory at the end of the day, but it may be one Joel Alvarez gets to keep if the international governing body doesn’t have a clear process to appeal the loss. After a strong start in round 1 for the Spaniard, Marc Diakiese did well to get a takedown to start the second. After some tough scrambling that saw Alvarez make it back to his feet, both men traded heavy shots. Unfortunately one of those shots was a head clash that seemingly left Diakiese wobbled. The ref didn’t see it and the submission followed shortly afterward.

That victory bumps Alvarez up to 5-2 in the Octagon and gets him back to his winning ways (as long as it stands). Even if the win does get overturned, I doubt the UFC runs the fight back. Fights with Mark O. Madsen, Claudio Puelles, Joe Solecki, or Alexander Hernandez would all be solid options for ‘El Fenomeno’ next time around. Hernandez looked good last time out against Jim Miller, picking up a high profile win. And his combo of power striking and wrestling should make for a perfect setup for Alvarez’s sub game. Alvarez vs. Hernandez would be a thrilling battle for as long as it lasts.

KETLEN VIEIRA

It wasn’t a pretty fight, but it was a win Vieira badly needed if she wanted to keep her spot in the contender’s circle in the women’s bantamweight division. After all, with Amanda Nunes now retired, the belt really is wide open for anyone that can climb up and grab a chance at gold. It’s too bad that Vieira already lost a split decision to Raquel Pennington recently, because that’s the kind of win she absolutely needs right now. Instead, she’ll have to fight all the way down to Macy Chiasson or Karol Rosa at the moment if she wants to get a fresh matchup.

I wouldn’t mind the Rosa booking, but coming off a recent terrible title fight loss, I think the real fight to make is a rematch against Irene Aldana. The Mexican got a dominant KO victory over Vieira back in 2019, one that really seemed to kill Vieira’s confidence for a while. If Vieira can get that win back, it’d go a long way to her title hopes. If she can’t, it’s just the kind of return Aldana needs. Vieira vs. Aldana 2 is a quality rematch to make.

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UFC Vegas 73: Mackenzie Dern vs. Angela Hill – Fights to make

• MACKENZIE DERN
• ANGELA HILL
• ANTHONY HERNANDEZ
• LUPITA GODINEZ
• JOAQUIN BUCKLEY
• CARLOS DIEGO FERREIRA
• VIACHESLAV BORSHCHEV
• KAROLINA KOWALKIEWICZ
• NATALIA SILVA
• UFC VEGAS 73 OTHER BOUTS

As far as modern UFC Fight Nights go, UFC Vegas 73 was about as good as fans could ask. Mackenzie Dern announced herself as a top strawweight contender with a five round thrashing of Angela Hill, Anthony Hernandez made it clear that he’s a middleweight on his way to the top with a dominating third round TKO of Edmen Shahbazyan, and Joaquin Buckley looked every bit the highlight machine he’s been at 185 down at 170 lbs.

So, is Dern ready to test herself against another true top-dog at 115 lbs? Is there any reason Hernandez shouldn’t get a ranked opponent next time he steps into the cage? And did Carlos Diego Ferreira just hook himself a KO of the year contender?

To answer those questions—and a couple other things—I’ll be using the classic Silva/Shelby fight booking methodology from the UFC of years past. That means pitting winners against winners, losers against losers, and similarly tenured talent up against one another. Hopefully, by following that model, a few of these bout ideas will actually make it off the page and into the Octagon. Now, let’s get to the fights!

MACKENZIE DERN

All things considered, this was a pretty masterful performance from Mackenzie Dern. Sure she still strikes like the wacky inflatable tube man outside a car dealership, but she put real proof to the idea that if opponents are going to sit down in front of her and try to trade punches, they’re going to find her power a massive problem.

Dern blitzed Angela Hill time and time again, and every time she landed clean it looked like Hill had been run over by a truck. Add a still nasty, dynamic, and controlling ground game to the mix—and a new, shocking five rounds worth of cardio—and Dern is a problem for anyone who can’t stay away from her or put her on her heels.

My biggest regret coming away from this fight, from a matchmaking perspective is that the UFC didn’t wait a few days to announce Tatiana Suarez’s next booking. Suarez vs. Dern seems like the next-level thrilling version of the likely very grinding fight that Suarez vs. Jandiroba will be. It’s one of the most interesting wrestler-grappler battles the UFC could book across any division. It’s the fight we should be getting.

Rose needs to fight someone, right? IMAGO / Scanpix

Fortunately there are any of a few good consolation prizes out there. Mackenzie Dern vs. Jessica Andrade, or possibly Carla Esparza. Or, even an idea that Dern herself proposed—a fight with Rose Namajunas. ‘Thug Rose’ would be a huge problem for Dern standing with her quality retreating footwork, and long, rangy striking.

Dern doesn’t have any of the power takedowns that marked Namajunas’ trouble with someone like Andrade either. But, if she could find a way to get to the mat, that’d make for one hell of a grappling battle between them. Realistically, I’d say Dern vs. Andrade was the more interesting fight to me right now—since I think Andrade would slug it out—but if Namajunas is willing, then Dern vs. Namajunas is a very sell-able fight and the UFC would be foolish to pass on it.

ANGELA HILL

For a moment, it almost looked like Angela Hill might steal away the momentum of this fight. Sure she lost the first round bad, but she made it through. Then she slowed Dern down in the second, kept the fight on the feet, and may have even won the frame.

Dern’s been known to gas hard, Hill’s been known to push a pace and be tough to finish. Maybe the tide was turning? Instead, what commenced was a thoroughly one-sided thrashing for three more rounds from the Brazilian. A likely end to any dreams Hill had of turning her reputation for being an action-first fighter into a run at being a title contender.

Unfortunately for Hill, having seemingly already fought just about every single person in her division already, it’s tough to say just what makes the most sense as a next bout. She hasn’t faced Marina Rodriguez, but getting an even higher ranked fighter off a loss doesn’t seem like a probable move. More likely, a big step back is going to be in order.

Someone like Cheyanne Vlismas or Piera Rodriguez seems more the right speed. Rodriguez got thoroughly out-classed by Gillian Robertson’s grappling last time around. A more striking-friendly fight is likely just what she needs. Hill vs. Rodriguez is a great way to put Hill back in her role as an action-gatekeeper to the elite.

ANTHONY HERNANDEZ

The dynamics of this fight were so set in stone, they could have been scripted. Edmen Shahbazyan was going to come out hard early, put serious hands on Hernandez, and if he couldn’t get the finish in that moment, he was going to get swallowed up in a constant maelstrom of grappling scrambles. He didn’t get the KO, and by the start of round 3 he was basically dead on his feet. One more takedown and an endless onslaught of ground-and-pound later and the referee had to step in and call it off. Even if Shahbazyan wasn’t about to get knocked out, he was done.

It’s another dominant win for Hernandez, who should be looking at a number next to his name in the not-too-distant future. Unfortunately for him, the bottom end of the top 15 is pretty booked up. I would love to see Hernandez face someone like the winner of Imavov/Craig, or Allen/Silva. A fight with Caio Borralho is right there though, and that seems like a real fun booking. Borralho vs. Hernandez would be a grappling thriller.

LUPITA GODINEZ

Especially considering this was a short notice fight for Loopy Godinez, this was a pretty excellent performance from her here. That’s two bouts in a row now, where she’s been largely stuck in a boxing-only fight and has managed her output and her gas tank excellently. For Emily Ducote, unfortunately, it also marks the second time where an opponent has given her exactly the kind of fight she wants and where she couldn’t meet the necessary pace to win it. Ducote did manage to match tempo in round 2 and won that round from two judges, but then round 3 came around and she was well behind once again.

That should have Godinez into a top 15 bout once again. Luana Pinheiro needs a fight, it’d be a great chance for Godinez to prove that her game is ready for the elite. If that can’t happen, then there’s always bouts with Karolina Kowalkiewicz, or Cory McKenna, or Sam Hughes. Pinheiro vs. Godinez is the kind of tough test Godinez deserves.

JOAQUIN BUCKLEY

Whether it’s at middleweight or welterweight, Joaquin Buckley is a thrill to watch. ‘New Mansa’ has cemented his reputation for being an absolutely crushing finisher with big power and a willingness to throw with creativity at any moment. For a moment it looked like Andre Fialho had started to figure out Buckley’s timing and was landing a few of his own big shots. But the persistence (and maybe a bit of help from a foul that Fialho waved off) kept ‘New Mansa’ dangerous and set up the huge head kick that knocked the Portuguese fighter cold.

After the bout, Buckley called out Logan Paul for not getting him a Prime sponsorship. In terms of Octagon talent, however, he needs to get in there with another power striker stat. Alex Morono, Trevin Giles, Khaos Williams, and Jeremiah Wells would all work. It’s really hard not to gravitate instantly to Khaos Williams vs. Joaquin Buckley. So yeah, let’s go with that. All violence all the time.

CARLOS DIEGO FERREIRA

For the bulk of this bout, it felt like a fight Diego Ferreira shouldn’t be having. He tried a few takedowns here and there, but they were easily defended. For the most part the Brazilian was stuck having a range kickboxing contest against Michael Johnson, where he was the slower, less polished striker. Sometimes that just doesn’t matter, however. And after 6+ minutes of getting chewed up by body shots and counter hooks, Ferreira launched an overhand right that put Johnson 100% out cold.

A brutal highlight KO for the Fortis MMA product. Will it get him back in the conversation with the top 15 at lightweight? Most likely it’ll get him in against another experienced veteran stuck treading water just like he’s been. Names like Drakkar Klose, Matt Frevola,

VIACHESLAV BORSHCHEV

Fighting in the UFC hasn’t been easy or kind for Viacheslav Borshchev. The man best known as ‘Slava Clause’ has been a ton of fun to watch inside the Octagon, but more well-rounded fighters have been able to take him out of his element repeatedly and slow him down. That wasn’t the case against Hayisaer Maheshate, however, and it made for an absolutely brutal thriller and a seriously powerful KO.

After the bout Borshchev revealed that he had actually completed his current contract with the UFC, I’d expect a new deal will be forthcoming quickly however, so I don’t see any reason not to put together a next fight at lightweight for him. Fights against Uros Medic, Ignacio Bahamondes, Rafa Garcia, or Nazim Sadykhov would all be fun. If those are the options, though, the choice seems pretty obvious. Ignacio Bahmondes vs. Viacheslav Borshchev would be an absolute banger.

KAROLINA KOWALKIEWICZ

An absolutely vintage performance from Karolina Kowalkiewicz. For years now, she’s seemed like she had a wicked case of the yips. For a fighter whose game was always based on walking through fire to create continuous striking and clinch exchanges, when her confidence to take shots went away, her game stopped working the way it needed to. Against Vanessa Demopoulos, however, she looked determined and focused, staying in the face of her opponent for three continuous rounds of hard paced striking.

The result is a rock solid decision win that should give her another crack at the edges of the top 15. That could mean a rematch against Michelle Waterson or a bout against rising contender Luana Pinheiro. Bouts with Loma Lookboonmee and Cory McKenna would also be solid. I think the Lookboonmee bout seems like an especially fun idea. The ground game may be a huge advantage for Kowalkiewicz, but if she’s going to have the kind of striking battle that she had here again, then Lookboonmee should make for a good challenge. Loma Lookboonmee vs. Karolina Kowalkiewicz would be a scrap.

NATALIA SILVA

As expected, this was an absolute walkover fight for Natalia Silva. She started out going punch for punch with Victoria Leonardo, but the speed and power on her strikes quickly made that a more costly proposition for her opponent than for the Brazilian top prospect. After dropping Leonardo on a 3-punch combo, the end was only a matter of time. A couple heavy hooks and kicks later, and the ref mercifully intervened.

That sets Silva up for something more meaningful, hopefully nearer to the top-15 of the division. That could mean fights with Maryna Moroz, Tracy Cortez, Andrea Lee, Casey O’Neill or Antonina Shevchenko. I know she’s coming off a loss, but I like the kind of challenge that Moroz’s boxing and wrestling games can offer a fighter on the rise. Seems like the kind of double threat that Silva needs to prove herself against. Silva vs. Moroz is a great last stop for Silva before making a run at the top 15.

UFC VEGAS 73 OTHER BOUTS

Edmen Shahbazyan vs. Michal Oleksiejczuk, Emily Ducote vs. Ariane Carnelossi, Andre Fialho vs. Song Kenan, Michael Johnson vs. Ricky Glenn, Hayisaer Maheshate vs. Trey Ogden, Vanessa Demopoulos vs. Jaqueline Amorim, Orion Cosce vs. Yusaku Kinoshita, Gilbert Urbina vs. Trey Waters, Ilir Latifi vs. Blagoy Ivanov 2, Rodrigo Nascimento vs. Martin Buday, Chase Hooper vs. Claudio Puelles, Nick Fiore vs. Genaro Valdez, Victoria Leonardo vs. Hannah Goldy, Themba Gorimbo vs. Preston Parsons, Takashi Sato vs. Yohan Lainesse

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UFC on ABC 4: Rozenstruik vs. Almeida – Fights to make

Jump to

• JAILTON ALMEIDA
• JAIRZINHO ROZENSTRUIK
• JOHNNY WALKER
• IAN GARRY
• CARLOS ULBERG
• Join the new Bloody Elbow

UFC on ABC 4 was fine, not great. A solid Fight Night offering that just happened to be on big TV. Most of the main card delivered well, with Jailton Almeida continuing to prove that he’s not your grandma’s brand of heavyweight. While Johnny Walker put together reasonable, round winning performance in the co-main. Probably the biggest takeaway from the whole night is that Ian Garry is pretty damn legit.

So, is Almeida ready for an elite heavyweight matchup? Does Walker have a path to title contention at light heavyweight? And did it make any sense for Garry to call out Neil Magny?

To answer those questions—and a bit more—I’ll be using the classic Silva/Shelby fight booking methodology from the UFC of years past. That means pitting winners against winners, losers against losers, and similarly tenured talent up against one another. Hopefully, by following that model, a few of these bout ideas will actually make it off the page and into the Octagon. Now, let’s get to the fights!

JAILTON ALMEIDA

For a large portion of the UFC heavyweight division Jailton Almeida is a real big problem. The Brazilian is fast, confident in his offense, and can shoot the kinds of takedowns that most heavyweights never have to worry about. Things like low single legs, and swiping, knee level double legs, with lots of leg drive and a knack for landing in advantageous positions the moment he hits the mats.

265 is not in any way a grappler’s division and the level of ground work from most of the men there is simply bad. There may be a few fights at the very highest level that will remind Almeida that he’s really a light heavyweight playing in the big-man division, but until I see it happen I’m not that confident I know who would really cause ‘Malhadinho’ problems.

Can Almeida succeed where Werdum failed?

After this win he called out Tai Tuivasa. It’s a smart pick. Tuivasa’s ground game and takedown defense are both poor. But with ‘Bam Bam’ riding back to back KO losses, it’s also not a fight that really thrills me at the moment. Instead, I’ll say that Almeida should take on Alexander Volkov. The Russian has always been hard to hold down and has the kind of cardio that could cause real problems if he can extend the fight. A true step up challenge where a win would line the Brazilian up for a top-5 booking. Volkov vs. Almeida would be rock solid.

JAIRZINHO ROZENSTRUIK

Everybody and their dog knew that this was going to be a brutal matchup for Jairzinho Rozenstruik. His penchant for planting his feet and looking for heavy counters with legs locked firmly in place was always going to leave him perfectly exposed for the kinds of takedowns that Jailton Almeida loves to hit. Credit to ‘Bigi Boy’, he stuffed the first one. But he didn’t stuff the second. As Aljamain Sterling would say, “That’s a wrap wrap.”

One of these KO artists has to find a win.

That loss will likely drop Rozenstruik firmly out of the heavyweight top 10. In fact, a quick glance shows that the only current UFC heavyweight Rozenstruik has a win over is Andrei Arlovski. A resume that once looked fairly solid suddenly seems a bit like a flash in the pan. Clearly the best way to solve this is a fight with Derrick Lewis. It’s either that or Blagoy Ivanov, and I know which fight I’d rather watch. Lewis vs. Rozenstruik is the obvious fight to make.

JOHNNY WALKER

I’m not sure that I actually trust the new, calmer Johnny Walker at all—but this performance was a decent sign for fans wondering if he’d ever turn a corner. When Walker first came to the UFC he did so as an absolute wildcard. A kill-or-be-killed talent capable of amazing violence and of getting knocked into next week just as fast. Unfortunately, the knocks he took back then seemed to break a lot of the violent offense that defined his success. Contests against Thiago Santos and Jamahal Hill were notable for their tentativeness and lack of urgency. That makes this fight against Anthony Smith a solid step forward, if only perhaps a small one.

Surely he’ll be ready to fight soon.

At the very least, Walker’s use of low kicks and and jabs showed a consistency of output and functional offense from round-to-round that his game has never had before. It only really led to fight changing damage when Smith stepped in on wild shots and got countered, but in the meantime it won Walker rounds and got him his first decision win in 5 years (and only the second decision win of his entire career).

After the bout, Walker jumped out of the cage and went to have a really rather pleasant chat with Jamahal Hill, essentially to announce his intention of making a run to the title. No idea if he can actually give life to that dream, but a fight against Aleksandar Rakic—when Rakic is recovered from injury—seems like the best way to find out. Or, possibly, a bout against Azamat Murzakanov. I’ll say Rakic vs. Walker is the way to go, just for the sheer size of these men.

IAN GARRY

A stellar performance from Ian Garry. He kept his strikes long, he kept his jab active, and he walked Daniel Rodriguez on to big counters. Once Rodriguez gave him the time and space to set up his own strikes, Garry delivered a perfectly placed head kick that knocked ‘D-Rod’ silly. A few followup punches and that’s all the ref needed to see. Five UFC fights for Garry, five wins.

After the bout, Garry had a callout all ready to deliver. He asked for perennial gatekeeper to the stars, Neil Magny. It’s a bold ask to make. Win or lose, Magny is rarely a fighter people look good against and he’s beat a lot of very very solid competition. Seems like an effort from Garry to really prove doubters wrong.

Winner gets all the bragging rights.

Unfortunately for him, however, Magny already has a fight booked against Philip Rowe. Michael Chiesa is the only fighter ranked between 15-10 right now that doesn’t have a next booking already. He’s also coming off two-straight losses. Garry could take on the winner of Brady vs. Maddalena, but how about a fight with Kevin Holland instead. He’s not ranked, but he’s got a lot of fan cache. Garry vs. Holland would be a thriller.

CARLOS ULBERG

Early on it looked like Ihor Potieria was giving Carlos Ulberg a little trouble. The Ukranian fighter was finding some low kicks, and a couple heavy overhands and getting to do a lot of pressuring. But that success was very short-lived. One reaching overhand right too many and Ulberg landed a huge counter left hook behind the ear that sent his opponent sprawling. A few followup shots and Ulberg felt he could walk away without any danger. Given that Poteiria didn’t have the wherewithal to follow him to his feet, it seems Ulberg was right…

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UFC Vegas 71: Sergei Pavlovich vs. Curtis Blaydes — Fights to make

Jump to

• SERGEI PAVLOVICH
• CURTIS BLAYDES
• BRUNO SILVA
• KING & JARED GORDON

The UFC Vegas 71 fight card is all done and dusted and, while it wasn’t a spectacular affair, it had some notable highlights. Most importantly, we learned that Sergei Pavlovich is absolutely ‘for real.’ The Russian heavyweight put it on Curtis Blaydes for the first round finish and should be looking at a chance for gold sometime soon. Otherwise Montel Jackson looked like a man on the rise, and Jeremiah Wells kept his welterweight win streak alive.

So, is Jon Jones going to stick around long enough to fight Sergei Pavlovich? Is Bruno Silva back on track as a feature action-fighter? Do we need to see King vs. Jared Gordon again?

To answer those questions—but not much else—I’ll be using the classic Silva/Shelby fight booking methodology from the UFC of years past. That means pitting winners against winners, losers against losers, and similarly tenured talent up against one another. Hopefully, by following that model, a few of these post-UFC 287 bout ideas will actually make it off the page and into the Octagon. Now, let’s get to the fights!

SERGEI PAVLOVICH

At more or less every turn of the page for Sergei Pavlovich, I’ve doubted that he would put it all together and make it to title contention. I don’t know if it was the Alistair Overeem loss in 2018, or the fact that all of his wins just seemed like he was catching each opponent by surprise, but none of it seemed terribly sustainable.

Add to it that practically every name on his hit list looked ripe for the picking in hindsight, and every time Sergei Pavlovich stepped up to the plate in his last three bouts, I’ve thought “This will be the time he strikes out.” Now, instead, I have to reckon with the idea of Sergei Pavlovich as a title contender.

Curtis Blaydes has been doing a lot of kickboxing lately inside the Octagon. Performances against Chris Daukaus and Derrick Lewis were noted for his complete willingness to stand and trade for extended periods of time. Apparently that was also the game plan against Sergei Pavlovich, since Blaydes waded in and elected to trade hands with the Russian for a solid couple minutes before deciding to shoot his first takedown. Unfortunately, by that time he was already in desperation mode, and Sergei Pavlovich was more than ready for the reaching shot. A couple more exchanges and that was all she wrote for ‘Razor’ Blaydes.

The only questions left now are: Does Jon Jones fight Stipe Miocic? And, if he wins that fight, does he stick around to defend his title again? If he does—and assuming Dana White is serious when he says he won’t work with Francis Ngannou again—then Sergei Pavlovich vs. Jon Jones is absolutely a fight I’d love to see. Likewise if Miocic wins and doesn’t retire. That’s a great fight too. Sergei Pavlovich vs. the Jones/Miocic winner is the obvious fight to make, I just wish I could be more sure it’ll happen.

CURTIS BLAYDES

First and foremost, I feel bad for Curtis Blaydes. The man has unbeaten heavyweight UFC runs of six fights, four fights, and three fights. In a division as starving for talent as this one, that could easily have been enough to warrant at least one shot at UFC gold. Six was enough to get Ciryl Gane his first shot at an interim title. It was enough to get Francis Ngannou his first shot at Stipe Miocic. Blaydes is only 32-years-old so there’s nothing to say he won’t get there some day. But for as long as it takes heavyweight champions to defend their belts, he’ll be out of contendership for at lest another year, possibly two.

On the flip side, that means we get a potential Sergei Pavlovich title fight instead of a Curtis Blaydes one and I can’t pretend I’m not 100% more excited about that proposition. Even his best boxing performances—like his finish over Daukaus—don’t carry the same thrill of raw violence that his Russian counterpart can deliver.

Let’s give it another try. IMAGO / NurPhoto

All of that isn’t to say that Blaydes should be out of the running for big fights. Realistically, if we’re looking at the top of the division as it stands right this moment, a fight against Ciryl Gane makes fairly perfect sense. The other option, depending on what his return schedule looks like, would be a rematch against Tom Aspinall, whose knee exploded just 15-seconds into their fight last July.

If Aspinall is going to be back soon, it feels like he’d deserve another crack at Blaydes. Other, less tantalizing, options would include Tai Tuivasa, or Sergei Spivac. Since Aspinall’s been training hard lately and seems ready for a comeback, I’ll say Blaydes vs. Aspinall 2 is a rematch worth booking.

BRUNO SILVA

Brad Tavares looked pretty sharp for a couple minutes. Stepping in on hard 1-2s, keeping the pace and output on Bruno Silva, slipping hard shots and countering in the pocket. Then he overstepped himself on one combination and walked into a massive right hand counter. From that point, the fight was all in Silva’s court. The Brazilian just hits so damn hard. If an opponent lets him land one bomb, lots more bombs are going to follow.

Don’t be Joe Pyfer, fight Joe Pyfer. IMAGO / ZUMA Wire

Tavares protested the finish a bit, and I can commiserate with him there, the ref definitely stepped in a little soon. But the chances that the 35-year-old Xtreme Couture talent was about to rally and not just take more damage felt pretty damn slim.

As a result, that puts ‘Blindado’ back in the saddle in the middleweight division, in search of his next action fight. I was going to say he should face someone like Jun Yong Park (just because I love that guy), but then I realized that there’s only one perfect booking: Burno Silva against Joe Pyfer. Pyfer is fresh off a win over Gerald Meerschaert, who schooled Silva back when they met August of last year. Pyfer vs. Silva would be a singularly violent event.

KING & JARED GORDON

This isn’t a fight I would have ever thought needed to be run twice (and I can still see arguments to just have both men move on), but the 1st round no-contest via head clash felt exactly like the least satisfying version of this bout we could have gotten. Doubly so considering that Jared Gordon was really doing a good job adjusting to King’s [Bobby Green’s] game.

He was digging to the body well, countering in combination, and keeping up with King’s pace. Even standing through the first few minutes, this fight was close. Then King stepped in on a wild 1-2, met Gordon’s temple with his forehead, and sent him crashing to the mat.

One more time. IMAGO / ZUMA Wire

Unfortunately, he then got to drop five or six shots on Gordon that knocked ‘Flash’ all the way cold, so the Kill Cliff FC fighter might need some time to recover. If that’s the case, then book King for a rematch with Drakkar Klose and get Gordon in against Vinc Pichel. But really, a rematch between these two is probably the best option here.

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