UFC Fight Night 30 may not have featured many of the big names that fight fans are accustomed to seeing during cards, but the winners of the event’s bouts could be booked in meaningful fights for the promotion in the future. These suggestions for future fights for the losers, however, would help create similar value for the UFC:
Mark Munoz vs. Costas Philippou
Mark Munoz has been considered top ten talent at middleweight for some time. Unfortunately, he has not be able to put himself into position for a title shot. The defeat to Lyoto Machida will push him back down the rankings, and for him to restart his title run, a matchup against Costas Philippou would be a good move for him.
Philippou is coming off of a bout where he was outclassed by Francis Carmont back at UFC 165. Leading up to that fight he was on a five-fight winning streak that had surprised many competitors, experts, and fans. Pairing him with Munoz would keep the winner in the top ten of the division while pushing the loser far enough back to give space to other surging fighters.
Munoz vs. Philippou should be a main card bout on a UFC on Fox card.
Ryan Jimmo was unable to hold up to the offensive onslaught that Jimi Manuwa brought to the table, and the extent of his leg injury isn’t known at this point. However, since the UFC continues to create fights to build up foreign fighters in their home markets, when Jimmo recovers, he should be used in this fashion. Placing him into a matchup against Ilir Latifi could help increase the value of the popular Swedish fighter.
Latifi has not been seen in the Octagon since being defeated by Gegard Mousasi in April. The Swedish light heavyweight is far from world class, but he could be placed on the next card in England alongside his training partner Alexander Gustafsson, or be prominently placed on a card when the UFC returns to Sweden.
Rosi Sexton fought valiantly against a brutal one-sided onslaught in the lone women’s showcase. She was unable to offer any resistance to the still-developing Jessica Andrade, and walked out with a decision loss on her ledger. While the women’s division is still growing, Sexton is in danger of being cut due to taking a second loss. If kept on the roster, she should be matched against Sarah Kaufman.
Kaufman took a hard split decision loss to Jessica Eye at UFC 166 but should still be considered a top contender in the women’s 135-pound division. Matching her with Sexton would give Kaufman the opportunity to better showcase her skills, and give Sexton the opportunity to redeem herself and keep a highly-coveted roster spot.
Sexton-Kaufman would work as a Facebook fight for a future UFC on Fox card.
Phil Harris vs. Louis Gaudinot
Phil Harris took a body shot from John Lineker and crumpled to the mat in the first round of their fight on Saturday. Harris has alternated wins and losses thus far in the Octagon, and should be matched against Louis Gaudinot to create an exciting flyweight fight which should also determine which individual should keep a place on the UFC roster.
Gaudinot vs. Harris should be placed on the Facebook card for an upcoming UFC event.
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UFC Fight Night 30: Machida vs. Munoz took place on October 26, 2013 at Phones 4u Arena in Manchester, England.
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