The UFC’s second outing on Fox Sports 1 kept the momentum going with a number of strong bouts. At the top we saw Carlos Condit get revenge against Martin Kampmann by stopping him in the fourth round. The winners of the fights on the card will go on to bigger an better things. But for fighters like Kampmann who tasted defeat, UFC matchmakers will have to keep these fighters active to work them back into positions of value within the promotion. These suggested matchups would be a start to that process:
Martin Kampmann looked like he was going to be able to have his way with Carlos Condit in the grappling department during the first five minutes of their main event bout. Yet “The Hitman” could not keep up with “The Natural Born Killer,” and found himself finished off in the fourth round. This is Kampmann’s second straight defeat to a top five welterweight, and he should be matched against an individual that creates a style matchup that would be worth watching. Enter Mike Pyle.
Mike Pyle is the type of fighter that is willing to mix things up on the feet, and he has the grappling chops to hang with Kampmann on the floor. This is the type of bout that would be exciting for fans to watch, because both athletes are very active in every position. A win for either fighter could keep that fighter within the ranks of the top ten or fifteen fighters at 170.
Martin Kampmann vs. Mike Pyle could open up a televised event or pay-per-view card sometime before the end of 2013 or in early 2014.
Donald Cerrone was the favorite of many going into his bout against Rafael dos Anjos. However, the Brazilian grappling specialist wouldn’t have any of that, as he was able to deliver more offensive output than Cerrone for the majority of their fight. In the aftermath of this loss, Cerrone looks to be in a bad spot, with legal issues mounting and a two-fight losing streak hanging over him. However, a fight of gatekeepers between him and Jim Miller would provide an opportunity to see exactly where “Cowboy” belongs in the lightweight division.
Miller was once a mainstay in the top ten of the division and is consistently a tough opponent no matter who he is facing. Over the course of his career, he’s shown a willingness to both exchange on the feet and get into grappling matches. Both of these styles complement Cerrsone, and would create an enticing matchup.
Cerrone vs. Miller would be a preliminary fight that could be featured on free television.
Robert Whittaker vs. Nick Catone
Robert Whittaker may have an argument that he won his fight against Court McGee, but the fact of the matter is that he was still unable to get his hand raised. He has shown an ability to land crisp strikes and shake off takedowns when needed. His gas tank was the main factor that caused him to slow down enough for McGee to take control, so Whittaker’s next bout should be against Nick Catone, to see if he is worth a second look in the Octagon.
Whittaker was very efficient with his striking, and he could continue to do so against Nick Catone. Catone has a very solid wrestling game that allows him to control where the fight is contested. If he could score takedowns constistently, then he could be an interesting test for Whittaker. However, Robert Whittaker has the ability to land a large volume of strikes on the feet, which would be a dangerous place for Catone to remain for this fight.
Nick Catone vs. Robert Whittaker could be a Facebook preliminary bout for any upcoming UFC card.
Erik Perez was the “Great Mexican Hope” that the UFC was counting on pushing south of the border. Unfortunately, Perez was unable to deal with the experience of Takeya Mizugaki, who was able to earn the decision victory in their bout. A fight against Mike Easton would give Perez the opportunity to bounce back against a mid-range bantamweight in a fight that could showcase his striking abilities.
The question surrounding Perez is whether or not he can continue to fight effectively outside of the first round. Easton has only been finished once in his career, so Perez would have to overcome that in order to earn the valuable knockout win. Easton also brings a strong enough wrestling game to get the fight to the ground when he needs to, but Perez showed the ability to get back to his feet when needed.
Perez vs. Easton would be a solid preliminary bout on UFC on Fox Sports 2.
While these fighters were unable to get their hands raised at the end of the night, that doesn’t mean that intriguing fights will not show up in their futures. These suggestions would give matchmakers the opportunity to build these athletes back up in the Octagon.
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UFC Fight Night 27: Kampmann vs. Condit II took place on August 28, 2013 at the Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana.
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