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.
Rafael Natal
In his first time headlining a card, Rafael Natal was KO’d with one punch by Tim Kennedy in the first round of the UFC Fight Night 31 main event. It’s a bad loss for sure, but keep in mind that Natal stepped up to fight Kennedy when no one else would, and he shouldn’t drop too far down the ladder for taking this short-notice fight to save the show.
For his next fight, Natal should be given a fight against Andrew Craig. This would be a rematch, as the two fought last year at UFC on FUEL TV 4, but anyone who has seen that fight knows it was one of the best of 2012, and it was a fight that Natal was clearly winning until a last-second head kick KO by Craig. I personally wouldn’t mind seeing it again now that both are coming off of losses.
Fight to make: Natal vs. Andrew Craig II
Liz Carmouche
In the co-main event, former women’s bantamweight title challenger Liz Carmouche was beaten down over the course of three rounds by Alexis Davis to drop to 1-2 in the UFC.
It was a poor performance, and it drops Carmouche way down the ladder. Another fighter who dropped down the ladder was Germaine De Randamie, who was stopped by Amanda Nunes in the first round of their preliminary card bout.
So I say match Carmouche up with De Randamie and see who has the better style – Carmouche’s ground game, or De Randamie’s striking. Because it’s clear from last night that both women have major holes in the areas of the game they aren’t strong in.
Fight to make: Carmouche vs. Germaine De Randamie
Ronny Markes
In a middleweight fight, Ronny Markes was having some early success against Yoel Romero, but it was all for naught when he started to tire and then was knocked out with one punch in the third round.
Despite the loss, I still think Markes has some potential. For his next fight, I would like the UFC to match him up with Tom Watson, who was last seen losing a decision to Thales Leites at UFC 163. This is a fair fight, and the winner would stay relevant while the loser would likely find himself at the bottom rungs of the UFC middleweight ladder.
Fight to make: Markes vs. Tom Watson
Jorge Masvidal
In a lightweight fight, Jorge Masvidal was outstruck and outgrappled over the course of three rounds by Dagestani fighter Rustam Khabilov, a loss that snapped Masvidal’s two-fight win streak in the UFC. I still think Masvidal is a solid fighter, but clearly he’s not as good as he thinks he is.
For his next fight, he should be matched with the loser of the upcoming lightweight bout between Gray Maynard and Nate Diaz, which takes place later this month at the TUF 18 Finale. Stylistically, both fights make sense for Masvidal, and since both he and the loser of that fight would be coming off losses, it makes even more sense.
Fight to make: Masvidal vs. loser of Gray Maynard vs. Nate Diaz
Colton Smith
In the lightweight bout that opened up the main card, Colton Smith and Michael Chiesa put on a terrific show for the fans with some incredible grappling exchanges over the course of nearly two rounds before Chiesa got a throw in on Smith in the second, and finished him off with his patented rear-naked choke.
For his next fight, let’s see Smith take on Ramsey Nijem. I think this would be an interesting grappling matchup, and it would determine who deserves to keep his spot on the UFC roster, and who doesn’t.
Fight to make: Smith vs. Ramsey Nijem
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UFC Fight Night 31: Fight for the Troops 3 took place on November 6, 2013 at Fort Campbell in Fort Campbell, Kentucky.
Click the stars to rate how good you think UFC Fight Night 31 was.
