UFC 165 started off very slow and dragged along for much of the card, but the main event left everyone excited about what is next to come for the champion. These suggestions, for Jones and the other winners on the card, will give fans and media something to look forward to in the coming months.
Jon Jones vs. Alexander Gustafsson
This is an opportunity for the UFC to bank on an immediate rematch between Jones and Gustafsson. Their fight at UFC 165 was immediately considered one of the best of the year, and one of the top title fights of all time. Gustafsson walked out of the Octagon in defeat, but earned a wealth of fans that would support him in a rematch, while Jones showed that he has the heart to fight from behind.
The dialogue around the rematch would be based on the adjustments that Jones would have to make. Gustafsson gave him a world of trouble on the feet with his boxing, while Jones scored at will with kicks. Jones would have to work on that area of his game while shoring up his takedowns if he plans to implement that tactic as well.
The initial consensus was that Jones would walk through Gustafsson, but that was far from the case, and now the champion has to look at the Swedish fighter as his toughest challenge to date.
Renan Barao vs. the winner of Raphael Assuncao vs. T.J. Dillashaw
Renan Barao blew through Eddie Wineland to once again defend the interim bantamweight title. While the UFC has given Dominick Cruz an ultimatum about him defending his title, Barao should focus on the next contender, which should come from the October 9th matchup between Raphael Assuncao and T.J. Dillashaw.
Both Dillashaw and Assuncao are riding four-fight win streaks heading into their UFC Fight Night 29 bout. While many have tapped Assuncao as the next man for Barao to face, Dillashaw is just as worthy. Both fighters have proven they can finish, and both offer different styles of attack that could threaten the champion. Assuncao is a bigger bantamweight that could potentially push the champion around, while Dillashaw tends to rely on his speed.
Renan Barao versus the winner of Raphael Assuncao vs. T.J. Dillashaw should headline a Fox Sports 1 UFC card that is based in Brazil.
Francis Carmont vs. the winner of Tim Boetsch vs. C.B. Dollaway
Francis Carmont was on a five-fight win streak going into his bout with Costas Philippou, but fans and media alike were still down on the Canadian for his performances in his previous two. He tried to turn that idea around with his drubbing of Philippou for 15 minutes at UFC 165, yet he’s still very far from a top ten fighter in the middleweight division.
Carmont should try to fight once again this year and take on the winner between Tim Boetsch and C.B. Dollaway, who are due to meet at UFC 166. Boetsch was once considered a top-ranked 185-pounder until he suffered two defeats in a row. Dolloway is riding a two-fight win streak into this fight.
Carmont versus the winner of Boetsch vs. Dollaway should be used as a preliminary bout for a free card that is featured on Fox Sports 1.
Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Rafael dos Anjos
Khabib Nurmagomedov has placed the lightweight division on notice that he will be a tough out for anyone with his one-sided victory over Pat Healy. For 15 minutes he was able to control the bout on the feet and on the mat en route to his 21st straight victory as a mixed martial arts athlete. If he’s to be placed on the short list of title challengers in 2014, he should have to face Rafael dos Anjos in his next bout.
Dos Anjos is on a five-fight win streak that has left many impressed with the way he has rebuilt his career after early losses in the Octagon. He’s looking to be considered among the title challengers for the 155-pound strap in 2014, so a bout with “The Eagle” makes sense at this point. Dos Anjos has improved his wrestling in recent bouts, but he would have to be ready to deal with the constant pressure that Nurmagomedov brings. Fans shouldn’t expect an exciting bout, but instead a grinding style contest that would end in a decision.
Dos Anjos vs. Nurmagomedov should be featured on the main card of a Fox Sports 1 card in Brazil.
UFC 165 may not have been the most memorable card this year, but the main event gave fight fans all that they needed. Now the matchmakers behind the scenes have some opportunities to work in some good matchups to close out the year, or kick 2014 off to a fast start.
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UFC 165: Jones vs. Gustafsson took place on September 21, 2013 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
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