This evening’s UFC Fight Night from Brazil is only 10 fights long, but features several bouts of varying significance.
After the success of UFC 165, this event has largely flown under the radar, but it is worth your time to check out. The event is headlined by Demian Maia, ranked #4 by the UFC at welterweight, battling Jake Shields, and has another strong welterweight bout in the co-main event slot with Erick Silva vs. Dong Hyun Kim.
This is what’s at stake at UFC Fight Night 29:
Raphael Assuncao vs. TJ Dillashaw
Raphael Assuncao comes in ranked #5, and TJ Dillashaw is up to #9 in the latest official UFC rankings. That makes this fight one of the most important on the card, and it will open the main card of the show.
Unfortunately, there aren’t immediate title implications due to the muddled state of the title. Renan Barão just defended the interim championship, and Dominick Cruz is still sidelined with injury. No one knows exactly what comes next, but the winner here will move into a much better position heading into 2014.
The winner of this fight may be in line for a contender’s bout in the spring of 2014, and that is very important given the state of the division.
Rousimar Palhares vs. Mike Pierce
This welterweight bout will send the winner into a potential top 10 matchup. Pierce has been borderline top 10 for some time, and his only UFC losses are to Jon Fitch, Johny Hendricks, and Josh Koscheck.
Palhares is seeking to pull a Maia — drop to welterweight, make noise, and start being considered a contender. A win over Pierce will do just that.
This could be a statement fight for either man as they both hunt for a top 10 spot.
Thiago Silva has embarrassed himself yet again, this time by coming in overweight. Matt Hamill‘s return to action is questionable at best.
What’s at stake? Being even marginally relevant.
A top 10 ranking should be on the line in this fight. Silva is one of the hottest rising prospects in MMA, and Kim has been one of the most serviceable welterweights in the organization.
Kim is seeking his third straight win, and Silva is hoping to nab his second. The winner of this fight should assert himself as one of the best in the division and earn a marquee bout next time in the cage.
Shields is not ranked in the UFC Top 10, and recently nabbed a controversial split decision in his return to welterweight. However, when taking a step back, you realize that Shields has only lost twice in the last eight years, and those losses were to Georges St. Pierre and Jake Ellenberger.
Shields can put himself back in the discussion of the elites with a win. That is huge for his career.
Maia, on the other hand, is on the brink of a title shot. He has looked phenomenal since dropping to welterweight. The dangerous former middleweight title contender is 3-0 at 170 pounds, so he could be next for the winner of GSP vs. Hendricks. However, Maia must be impressive to make a claim for the next shot, and Shields has to look better than his previous outings to regain some of the hype that surrounded his early UFC tenure. This is a big fight for the future prospects of contending in the division.
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UFC Fight Night 29: Maia vs. Shields is due to take place on October 9, 2013 at the Ginasio Poliesportivo Jose Correa in Barueri, Brazil.
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