UFC on Fox 5 was promoted as the biggest and most important mixed martial arts card to be broadcast on free television, and first impressions are that it lived up to those standards. Benson Henderson established himself as a lightweight champion that has the potential to hold that title for an extended period of time. The rest of the card was filled with excellent bouts that kept the fans engaged throughout the event. And while every fighter couldn’t get his hand raised at the end of the night, those who did lose still have a number of options for good fights that can be created going forward.
Nate Diaz vs. the lightweight field
Nate is in a very precarious position after losing to Henderson in such a one-sided fashion. Moving back to welterweight isn’t an option, especially with his brother set to return to that weight class next year. And looking at his resume, one notices that he has already competed against a number of fighters who are ranked within the top fifteen of the division. Yet with the way the division is currently shaped up, and with the fights scheduled through the next couple of months, three names stand out as fighters Diaz hasn’t faced who would present interesting competition.
Joe Lauzon and Anthony Pettis are the first two individuals that would make for interesting opposition for Diaz. Pettis is due to face Donald Cerrone at UFC on Fox 6 in January, while Lauzon is fighting Jim Miller at UFC 155. If either competitor were to lose his bout, he would be a viable next opponent for Diaz. Pettis has the flair and the ability to talk to build the contest up beforehand, as well as the ability to match Diaz on the feet, but wouldn’t be as versed on the ground as the Cesar Gracie standout. Lauzon has very technical striking and a proficient ground game, but has never been much of a pre-fight talker. Either one of these men matched against Diaz in the opening bout of a PPV main card, or as a featured bout in a Fox or FX event, would make for a strong contest.
Another name that stands out is the undefeated Khabib Nurmagomedov who has looked impressive in his two UFC bouts. He’s fighting Thiago Tavares on January 19th at UFC on FX 7, and while the UFC doesn’t normally pair winners with losers, were he to win, this would be an interesting fight stylistically. The Diaz brothers are known for their abilities on the feet and the mat, but Khabib has a strong resume in both departments as well. Matching him against Diaz would give him the opportunity to show whether he’s ready to step into the deep waters of the 155-pound Shark Tank.
Mauricio Rua vs. the loser of Quinton Jackson vs. Glover Teixeira
After his bout against Alexander Gustafsson, it is apparent that even at the relatively young age of 31 years old, “Shogun” is no longer the same fighter who was seen stomping foes in Pride. The former champion hasn’t been able to put together back-to-back wins since he effectively retired Mark Coleman and Chuck Liddell back in 2009. Many fans will start calling for the end of his career after this bout, but if he chooses to continue competing in the Octagon, the loser of the Quinton Jackson vs. Glover Teixeira fight would be a suitable next opponent.
Shogun and Jackson were expected to fight earlier in the year before Jackson’s knee injury forced him out of the bout. Back then, Jackson had stated that he was done with the UFC and this would be his farewell bout. Well, if he were to lose to Teixeira at UFC on Fox 6, pairing him against Rua for a final fight for both competitors would be a great way to say farewell to two former champions that have established names for themselves within the sport.
Against Glover, however, Shogun would be fighting to avoid becoming a “stepping stone” for a competitor that many expect to quickly rise in the light heavyweight rankings in 2013. If he is defeated by Jackson in January, a bout against Rua could restore the hype that has been building for him since his UFC debut at UFC 146 earlier this year. This fight could be sold as a main card bout on a free televised event.
B.J. Penn vs. the Lightweight Division or Retirement
B.J. Penn is the only individual who knows what comes next for his career. Leading up to the bout with Rory MacDonald, he talked as if he was a rejuvenated competitor who was going to get back to the status of one of the top stars the sport has ever seen. However, the fact of the matter is that he’s 33 years old, and you have to wonder if he’s going to be able to compete at that level ever again.
Penn doesn’t belong in the welterweight division. His sustained success has been at lightweight, but it is questionable whether he will be able to consistently cut down to 155 pounds. However, if he’s going to close out his career on a high note and make one final run towards a title, it should occur in the lightweight division.
Looking at the group, a number of interesting battles exist for the “Prodigy.” He could be paired against the likes of Nate Diaz, Joe Lauzon, Gray Maynard, Donald Cerrone, or even Anthony Pettis. Penn is considered by many to be the greatest lightweight to ever grace the division, so perhaps one final run at 155 would be a good way to close out the career of B.J. Penn.
Mike Swick vs. Martin Kampmann
Mike Swick had the opportunity to cap his 2012 comeback with a win over the surging Matt Brown. However, he was stopped cold in the process. Hampered by injuries throughout most of his career, Swick is trying to play catch-up for the time he lost. It will be a very tough road if the AKA standout intends to make it back into the upper echelon of the welterweight division, but that doesn’t mean he can’t give fight fans bouts to look forward to. To rebound from this loss, matchmakers should match him with the recently-defeated Martin Kampmann.
Kampmann was stopped in highlight reel fashion by Johny Hendricks at UFC 154 after putting together an impressive run. Now, as he looks to rebuild his stature within the division, a bout with Swick would be an opportunity to showcase his striking abilities and give fans another rousing competition,
Kampmann vs. Swick would be a standup battle from start to finish. Two of the better strikers in the division, both Kampmann and Swick look to score with striking and put their opponents away. This is the exact type of fight that could be featured as the opener for the main card of either a Pay-Per-View or a Fox event.
UFC on Fox 5 gave us much to be excited about moving into the next event. While each of these individuals were unable to get the win, that doesn’t mean they cannot continue to be booked in compelling fights in the future.
