Fights To Make After UFC 138

By Raphael Garcia

From across the pond, UFC 138 gave us what may be considered the best MMA production on European soil to date. Even though the card was not stacked in the superstar category, the majority of the fights were interesting and action-packed. Now that the show is over, it’s time to look towards what comes next for the evening’s winners.

Mark Munoz vs. Vitor Belfort/Anthony Johnson winner
Mark Munoz moved himself up the middleweight ladder by becoming only the third man to stop Chris Leben by some form of knockout. He brutalized the former Ultimate Fighter competitor with elbows and punches before cutting him open on the feet. Munoz believes he should be next in line for a shot at current champion Anderson Silva, however his resume needs more work before he can jump to the top of the ladder.

The Vitor Belfort vs. Anthony Johnson fight contains two fighters who are also moving up the ranks, but need more high-profile wins before either can become the number one contender. Both Anthony Johnson and Vitor Belfort have striking-heavy styles that can be mixed in with some wrestling for either defensive or offensive purposes when needed. It would be smart to pair the winner of this fight with Munoz in 2012 to determine a clear contender for the middleweight title.

Renan Pegado vs. Joseph Benavidez
Renan “Barão” Pegado has put together a very impressive fight record; twenty-eight straight fights without a defeat is something unheard of in this sport. Question the competition that he faced all you want, but he still looked very good in his defeat of Brad Pickett. The 24-year old was able to outduel Pickett on the feet before getting the fight to the ground, and finishing with a rear naked choke. While he has placed himself on the short list of possible 135-pound contenders, he is still a key win away from a shot.

Joseph Benavidez finds himself in a tough place as he waits for the UFC to introduce the 125-pound weight class. With two defeats already to Dominick Cruz, there is no way he will get another shot at that crown. He could, however, serve as a tough measuring stick in Pegado’s next fight. As a part of Team Alpha Male, Benavidez’s wrestling abilities are well-documented. It would be interesting to see how well Pegado could fight off his back once the match ended up on the ground. Benavidez has also improved on his feet, but the question is: would he they able to stay there long enough before one of them gets put in a bad position?

Thiago Alves vs. Demian Maia
In crushing fashion, Thiago Alves was able to defeat UFC newcomer Papy Abedi, and give him a multitude of reasons to want to forget this event. Although his weight problems had resurfaced before the event, this may have been the best Alves we have seen in a long while.

In light of those same weight problems popping up again, it would be interesting to see Alves move up to the middleweight division. At welterweight he has already lost a title bout against Georges St. Pierre, and the UFC is looking for new contenders in the 170-pound division. This leaves Alves in a tough place, and a move to 185 could add a spark to his career. Demian Maia, who is in a similar position in the middleweight division, would be a stern first test for the Pitbull.

In the striking department, Alves would hold the upper hand, as he is known for leg kicks that quickly stop the forward progress of his opponents. While Maia has improved on his feet, he would not be able to stay in front of Alves for too long. Alves has shown strong defensive wrestling in the past, and he would need it to stop Maia from taking him to the ground. If Maia is able to get the fight there, his grappling abilities would quickly ensnare Alves. The outcome of this bout would hinge on which fighter can dictate where the fight takes place.

Terry Etim vs. Melvin Guillard
After being away from the Octagon for more than a year, Terry Etim made a successful return during UFC 138. Before going down to a series of injuries, he was positioning himself as a potential contender within the lightweight division. Now he has to climb back up that ladder, which has become much tougher during his time away from the cage. A bout against Melvin Guillard would be a tough step up in competition.

Guillard’s biggest weakness has always been facing opponents who can submit him. Etim is well known for his Jiu Jitsu abilities, and has the potential to submit Guillard, or nearly anyone else in the division. The question is whether or not Etim’s striking has improved enough to withstand the quick onslaught that Guillard has been known to apply on the feet. If Etim could weather that storm and get Guillard on the mat, he can place himself in a position to win this bout.

As with any other UFC card, UFC 138 helped the UFC create a new batch of winning fighters to push towards their next fights. In the coming year, let’s hope that some of these fights come to fruition.

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