Fight Fixin’ was once a
regular column at theScore.com, but has now been transplanted to
MMARatings.net. It will come out after each big UFC and Strikeforce
event and feature possible matchups for every main card winner from the
previous night.
CUNG LE
Cung Le earned possibly the upset win of the year when he
knocked out former UFC middleweight champion Rick Franklin with one punch. Le
is now 2-1 in the UFC with big wins over Franklin and Patrick Cote, and is on
the cusp of being “in the mix” in the UFC middleweight division.
knocked out former UFC middleweight champion Rick Franklin with one punch. Le
is now 2-1 in the UFC with big wins over Franklin and Patrick Cote, and is on
the cusp of being “in the mix” in the UFC middleweight division.
For his next bout, Le needs to fight someone high in the
185-pound pecking order. While some have said he should fight the winner of UFC155’s Alan Belcher vs. Yushin Okami, in my opinion both of those men are higher
in the divisional ranks. Instead, I would like to see Le fight the winner of
Rousimar Palhares vs. Hector Lombard, which takes place at UFC on FX 6 this
December. The thought of a Le vs. Lombard fight makes me salivate, while a
matchup with Palhares would be fun too, so both make sense.
185-pound pecking order. While some have said he should fight the winner of UFC155’s Alan Belcher vs. Yushin Okami, in my opinion both of those men are higher
in the divisional ranks. Instead, I would like to see Le fight the winner of
Rousimar Palhares vs. Hector Lombard, which takes place at UFC on FX 6 this
December. The thought of a Le vs. Lombard fight makes me salivate, while a
matchup with Palhares would be fun too, so both make sense.
Fight to make: Cung Le
vs. the winner of Hector Lombard vs. Rousimar Palhares
vs. the winner of Hector Lombard vs. Rousimar Palhares
THIAGO SILVA
Thiago Silva picked up his first win in over three years with a
third-round submission over the previously-undefeated Stanislav Nedkov. Silva,
who arguably lost the first two rounds, submitted Nedkov in the third round
with an arm-triangle choke, and made a statement that he’s still a player in
the UFC’s 205-pound division.
third-round submission over the previously-undefeated Stanislav Nedkov. Silva,
who arguably lost the first two rounds, submitted Nedkov in the third round
with an arm-triangle choke, and made a statement that he’s still a player in
the UFC’s 205-pound division.
For his next bout I would like to see Silva matched up with
Brandon Vera, who lost to Mauricio “Shogun” Rua at UFC on FOX 4 despite putting
on his best performance in the UFC. The two originally fought at UFC 125 and
Silva dominated Vera for three rounds, but it later came out that Silva had
used a banned substance before the bout and the win was overturned to a no
contest. With the bad blood between the two still there, and with both men
coming off good fights, they should be matched up now.
Brandon Vera, who lost to Mauricio “Shogun” Rua at UFC on FOX 4 despite putting
on his best performance in the UFC. The two originally fought at UFC 125 and
Silva dominated Vera for three rounds, but it later came out that Silva had
used a banned substance before the bout and the win was overturned to a no
contest. With the bad blood between the two still there, and with both men
coming off good fights, they should be matched up now.
Fight to make: Thiago
Silva vs. Brandon Vera
Silva vs. Brandon Vera
DONG HYUN KIM
Dong Hyun Kim picked up a dominant unanimous decision victory
over tough-as-nails Paulo Thiago, and showed that his last performance – a
one-minute TKO loss to Demian Maia at UFC 148 after suffering a fight-ending
muscle spasm – was a fluke. Kim says he
wants a rematch with Maia in Japan on March 3, 2013 (the next time the UFC is
scheduled to visit), but after Maia finished Rick Story at UFC 153 with a
gruesome neck-crank submission, he’s higher on the ladder than Kim now.
over tough-as-nails Paulo Thiago, and showed that his last performance – a
one-minute TKO loss to Demian Maia at UFC 148 after suffering a fight-ending
muscle spasm – was a fluke. Kim says he
wants a rematch with Maia in Japan on March 3, 2013 (the next time the UFC is
scheduled to visit), but after Maia finished Rick Story at UFC 153 with a
gruesome neck-crank submission, he’s higher on the ladder than Kim now.
For Kim’s next bout, he should fight another welterweight
contender, and that should be the underrated John Hathaway, who is currently
riding a three-fight win streak. Both men have very similar games, and although
the fight would likely go to decision, it would allow one man to make his
statement as a true contender at 170, while the other would fall out of
contention for the foreseeable future.
contender, and that should be the underrated John Hathaway, who is currently
riding a three-fight win streak. Both men have very similar games, and although
the fight would likely go to decision, it would allow one man to make his
statement as a true contender at 170, while the other would fall out of
contention for the foreseeable future.
Fight to make: Dong Hyun
Kim vs. John Hathaway
Kim vs. John Hathaway
TAKANORI GOMI
Takanori Gomi didn’t look like the big puncher he used to be,
but he exhibited surprisingly solid wrestling in picking up a split decision win over veteran Mac Danzig. Gomi, who is now 3-3 in the UFC, is certainly on
the downside of his career, but as he showed against Danzig, he’s a crafty
veteran who knows how to pick up the win.
but he exhibited surprisingly solid wrestling in picking up a split decision win over veteran Mac Danzig. Gomi, who is now 3-3 in the UFC, is certainly on
the downside of his career, but as he showed against Danzig, he’s a crafty
veteran who knows how to pick up the win.
Gomi’s next fight should take place on the next Japan card, and
he should fight another lightweight coming off a win. I think the winner of
Ross Pearson vs. George Sotiropoulos makes sense. The two TUF: Smashes coaches
are fighting next month, and the winner will be in a similar spot in the
division as Gomi. Sotiropoulos was actually supposed to fight Gomi earlier this
year at UFC 144 until he got injured, and this fight still makes sense now,
while a bout with Pearson would be very fun.
he should fight another lightweight coming off a win. I think the winner of
Ross Pearson vs. George Sotiropoulos makes sense. The two TUF: Smashes coaches
are fighting next month, and the winner will be in a similar spot in the
division as Gomi. Sotiropoulos was actually supposed to fight Gomi earlier this
year at UFC 144 until he got injured, and this fight still makes sense now,
while a bout with Pearson would be very fun.
Fight to make: Takanori
Gomi vs. the winner of George Sotiropoulos vs. Ross Pearson
Gomi vs. the winner of George Sotiropoulos vs. Ross Pearson
JON TUCK
Jon Tuck had a wicked debut performance against Tiequan Zhang,
winning a hard-fought unanimous decision in what was a “Fight of the Night”
contender. Tuck, who lost to TUF 15 finalist Al Iaquinta in the elimination
rounds and therefore didn’t make it into the house, is nevertheless a solid
prospect in the 155-pound division with his mix of striking and submissions,
and has earned a step up in his second UFC bout.
winning a hard-fought unanimous decision in what was a “Fight of the Night”
contender. Tuck, who lost to TUF 15 finalist Al Iaquinta in the elimination
rounds and therefore didn’t make it into the house, is nevertheless a solid
prospect in the 155-pound division with his mix of striking and submissions,
and has earned a step up in his second UFC bout.
Although I would like to see Tuck try and make the cut to
featherweight, if he insists on staying at lightweight, I would like to see him
matched up with veteran Aaron Riley. Riley has been in the cage with the best
of them and would provide a solid test for Tuck, who lacks a notable win on his
resume, aside from ONE FC’s Eduard Folayang. Even though Riley isn’t who he
used to be, he’s still a game fighter and a solid gatekeeper, and makes sense as
the next step on Tuck’s journey through the UFC.
featherweight, if he insists on staying at lightweight, I would like to see him
matched up with veteran Aaron Riley. Riley has been in the cage with the best
of them and would provide a solid test for Tuck, who lacks a notable win on his
resume, aside from ONE FC’s Eduard Folayang. Even though Riley isn’t who he
used to be, he’s still a game fighter and a solid gatekeeper, and makes sense as
the next step on Tuck’s journey through the UFC.
Fight to make: Jon Tuck
vs. Aaron Riley
vs. Aaron Riley
TAKEYA MIZUGAKI
Bantamweight Takeya Mizugaki opened up the UFC on FUEL TV 6
card with a dominant decision over a tough Jeff Hougland, winning the fight
unanimously and even picking up a rare 30-25 scorecard in the process. For
Mizguaki – who is one of the most frustratingly inconsistent fighters in the
UFC, despite his obvious talents – it makes sense to have him fight on the next
Japan card, since the UFC can market him as a contender in the Asian markets.
card with a dominant decision over a tough Jeff Hougland, winning the fight
unanimously and even picking up a rare 30-25 scorecard in the process. For
Mizguaki – who is one of the most frustratingly inconsistent fighters in the
UFC, despite his obvious talents – it makes sense to have him fight on the next
Japan card, since the UFC can market him as a contender in the Asian markets.
For his next fight, I think a fair opponent would be Raphael Assuncao, who is on a two-fight winning streak himself, and is coming off a
knockout win over Issei Tamura. Assuncao and Mizguaki both fought in the WEC
before they came to the UFC, but they never fought because Assuncao used to be
a featherweight. Now that both guys – who were each submitted via rear-naked
choke by Urijah Faber when they fought him – are bantamweights, the time has
come for them to fight.
knockout win over Issei Tamura. Assuncao and Mizguaki both fought in the WEC
before they came to the UFC, but they never fought because Assuncao used to be
a featherweight. Now that both guys – who were each submitted via rear-naked
choke by Urijah Faber when they fought him – are bantamweights, the time has
come for them to fight.
Fight to make: Takeya
Mizugaki vs. Raphael Assuncao
Mizugaki vs. Raphael Assuncao
