UFC on FX 7 may not have been the exciting card that other Brazilian cards have been, but the fighters who were unable to secure victories can still be placed in some captivating bouts going forward. These contests are some suggestions that UFC matchmakers can consider in order to create future fights to fill their schedule:
Michael Bisping vs. Alan Belcher
Michael Bisping and Alan Belcher have been talking to each other for an extended period of time, but the UFC hasn’t pulled the trigger on placing these two in the cage against each other. Now that both fighters have lost one-sided contests, the company should assign them to face each other at some point in early 2013.
Bisping and Belcher would be a great style matchup with two combatants that like to exchange on the feet. Bisping uses a technical boxing attack, while Alan mixes his kicks and punches up more. While Belcher would have the advantage in the grappling department, Bisping has always been a very good defensive wrestler, which would make it difficult for Belcher to get the fight to the ground.
Belcher vs. Bisping could be used to fill a spot on any of the UFC’s platforms, but would work best as a main card bout for a Pay per View or a co-main event of a Fox card.
Daniel Sarafin vs. Nate Marquardt
Daniel Sarafin started off active against C.B. Dollaway; however, he couldn’t keep the pace for the entire bout, which led to his split decision loss. During the press conference he announced his intention to drop down to welterweight, which will be a very interesting weight class for him to compete in. Placing him in a matchup against the former Strikeforce champion would be a great way to welcome them both to the UFC’s welterweight division.
The question in this bout would be whether Nate would be able to contend with Daniel’s pacing, pushing Daniel to burn himself out again, and allowing the experienced Marquardt to take over. Their fighting styles would lend this bout to ending in highlight reel fashion, and that is something the UFC is always looking for.
Sarafin-Marquardt would work as an undercard bout for a Fox card, a preliminary card fight for a Pay per View, or a main card bout on Fuel or FX.
Ben Rothwell vs. loser of Mike Russow vs. Shawn Jordan
Rumor has it that Ben Rothwell had a “tough” training camp going into his bout with Gabriel Gonzaga. The submission defeat dropped him to 2-3 in the Octagon, but with the dearth of talent in the heavyweight division, he still has some value to the UFC.
Shawn Jordan and Mike Russow are facing off at UFC on Fox 6, and the loser of this bout should be used to in a fight against Rothwell at some point in this year. Ben was known as a heavy hitter before joining the UFC, but has only achieved one KO victory in the Octagon. While Jordan and Russow are not considered top talents within the UFC’s heavyweight division, this is the type of fight that would either welcome one of them to the upper-half of the weight class, or get Rothwell back on the winning track.
Rothwell vs. Russow or Jordan should be used for a card on either Fuel or FX in 2013.
Thiago Tavares vs. Melvin Guillard
Thiago Tavares is a very experienced lightweight that has been unable to stay on the winning track for an extended period of time since he started in the UFC. He’s been in the UFC since 2007, but has never won three fights in a row. A match against the struggling Melvin Guillard would create a good bout for both competitors.
Guillard’s power would pose a threat to Tavares, who could take advantage of “The Young Assassin” and his weakness in the grappling department. However, Tavares has been prone to entering into ill-advised striking battles, and doing so against Melvin would be a bad idea.
Guillard vs. Tavares could be placed on a Fuel or FX card during 2013.
Diego Nunes vs. the loser of Clay Guida vs. Hatsu Hioki
Diego Nunes has struggled since his defeat at the hands of Kenny Florian. Leaving Nova Uniao hasn’t seemed to help his career, as he is 1-2 since the defection. “Gun” needs a big win in order to get back to the contender status, and matching him with the loser of the upcoming Hatsu Hioki vs. Clay Guida fight would be a way to go.
Guida and Hioki are due to face each other on January 26th at UFC on Fox 6, and both individuals would pose interesting style matchups for Nunes. In Hioki, he would have to contend with a very technical striker who is a black belt in Jiu Jitsu. Guida, on the other hand, is a pressure wrestler who lacks in the technical department, but keeps moving forward to impose his will during his bouts.
Nunes should be matched against either Hioki or Guida in a fight that could take place on any of the Fox platforms.
Even though they were unable to get their hands raised at the end of the night, these fighters can still be placed in fights that can spark interest from hardcore and mainstream fans alike.
