Fight Fixin’ is a fantasy matchmaking article that comes out after every major event and features possible matchups for main card winners and/or losers from the previous event.
Jake Shields
Jake Shields surprised almost everyone by grinding out a hard-fought decision over Demian Maia in the main event of UFC Fight Night 29. It’s a huge win for Shields as not only does it put him in the top 10 of the welterweight division, but it also saves his job with the UFC.
For his next fight, the matchup that makes most sense for Shields is a fight against Dong Hyun Kim, who finished Erick Silva via KO in the co-main event. The fight makes a lot of sense for divisional ranking purposes, and stylistically, it’s very intriguing, so I’m hoping this is the way Joe Silva is leaning.
Fight to make: Jake Shields vs. Dong Hyun Kim
Thiago Silva
Thiago Silva beat up Matt Hamill over the course of three rounds, but the fight wasn’t fun to watch, as Silva was out of shape and unmotivated, and Hamill did his best impersonation of a punching bag.
I say Silva needs some motivation for his next matchup, so he should be given the winner of Shogun Rua vs. James Te Huna at UFC Fight Night 33. Silva vs. either Rua or Te Huna would be amazing, so I really hope the UFC goes this route with Silva rather than punish him for a lousy performance and missing weight.
Fight to make: Silva vs. winner of Shogun/Te Huna
Fabio Maldonado
In a light heavyweight bout, Fabio Maldonado won a close split decision over Joey Beltran to at least save his career in the Octagon for now, as he definitely seems to be on the decline after taking a vicious beating a year ago at the hands of Glover Teixeira at UFC 153.
For his next fight, Maldonado should face another striker: the winner of Ryan Jimmo vs. Jimi Manuwa at UFC Fight Night 30. Maldonado vs. either of these guys interests me, and with Maldonado now having three wins in the UFC, a fight against the winner of that matchup makes a lot of sense, and would help one of these guys jump “in the mix.”
Fight to make: Maldonado vs. winner of Jimmo/Manuwa
Rousimar Palhares
Rousimar Palhares made a statement in his 170-pound debut, as the strong Brazilian submitted Mike Pierce with a first-round ankle lock to snap his two-fight losing streak and jump into the top 15 of the UFC welterweight division.
Palhares may be suspended for holding the submission on for too long, but when he gets back, I want to see him get tested at 170 against one of the division’s gatekeepers, Thiago Alves, who is planning a return to the cage in the next few months.
I think a fight between Palhares and Alves would be dynamite stylistically, so throw it on a card in Brazil and have the winner jump into the top 10 of the division.
Fight to make: Palhares vs. Thiago Alves
Raphael Assuncao
In the opening main card bout, Raphael Assuncao was able to edge out TJ Dillashaw and earn a split decision win for his fifth-straight victory in the UFC bantamweight division.
Assuncao has earned a step up in his next fight, and I want him to fight the winner of Urijah Faber vs. Michael McDonald at UFC on FOX 9 to see who gets the title shot after Renan Barao and Dominick Cruz clash.
Even though Assuncao has lost to Faber before, that was in WEC years ago, and at a different weight class, so he’s earned his shot a rematch should Faber win. A fight with McDonald, should he prove to be victorious, would also be intriguing.
Fight to make: Assuncao vs. winner of Faber/McDonald
Chris Cariaso
On the UFC Fight Night 29 prelims, Chris Cariaso came back from being down big in round one to Iliarde Santos, storming back in round two for an upset knockout victory that puts him back in contention at 125 pounds.
Cariaso is ranked in the top 10, and another fighter who is ranked there is John Lineker, who takes on Phil Harris at UFC Fight Night 30. I’d like to see Cariaso matched up against the winner of that fight, but particularly if it’s Lineker, as I see a fight between Cariaso and him being ridiculously fun.
Fight to make: Cariaso vs. winner of Lineker/Harris
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UFC Fight Night 29: Maia vs. Shields took place on October 9, 2013 at the Ginasio Poliesportivo Jose Correa in Barueri, Brazil.
Click the stars to rate how good you think UFC Fight Night 29 was.
