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.
Johny Hendricks
In the main event of UFC 167, Johny Hendricks lost an extremely controversial split decision to Georges St-Pierre that cost him a chance to become the new UFC welterweight champion. I scored the fight for Hendricks 48-47, as did almost every media member and fan, as well as UFC president Dana White, and yet somehow two of Nevada’s judges didn’t. Mind blowing.
What’s done is done, and officially Hendricks has an L on his record. But White has already said that Hendricks will get a rematch with GSP whenever the champion is ready to return. Although GSP said he wants to take time off for personal reasons, the UFC will likely strip him of the belt if he plans on taking over a year off. In that case, Hendricks can fight someone else for a vacant title.
But no one wants that. Everyone wants a rematch between Hendricks and GSP, so there’s no doubt about who the better man is. And hopefully this is what happens next year, maybe even for the UFC’s annual July card in Las Vegas – actually, better not do the rematch in Vegas, just in case the same judges are working again.
Fight to make: Johny Hendricks vs. Georges St-Pierre 2
Chael Sonnen
Chael Sonnen was in a unique situation because it didn’t even matter whether he won at UFC 167, since he already had a fight booked against Wanderlei Silva in 2014 after the two coach TUF Brazil 3. Barring an injury to either fighter, or Sonnen not feeling secure enough taping TUF in a country that despises him, this fight will take place next year, and it will be one of the most-anticipated matchups of 2014, whether it takes place at light heavyweight or middleweight.
Fight to make: Chael Sonnen vs. Wanderlei Silva
Rory MacDonald
Rory MacDonald was seen by many as the next welterweight title contender, but he just didn’t do enough to win against Robbie Lawler, and ended up losing a split decision to snap his five-fight win streak.
However, MacDonald is only 24 years old and still one of the top contenders in the division, so the loss to Lawler isn’t the end of the world. In fact, I say he still gets a top 10 opponent in his next outing. I’d like for that to be the loser of the upcoming fight between Carlos Condit and Matt Brown. I think MacDonald against either of these guys would make for an extremely violent and exciting fight, so it’s a no brainer the UFC goes this route. The UFC should also match up Lawler with the winner of the Condit/Brown fight.
Fight to make: Rory MacDonald vs. the loser of Carlos Condit/Matt Brown
Josh Koscheck
In a main card welterweight bout, Josh Koscheck was knocked out by Tyron Woodley, the second-straight fight where the TUF 1 veteran has been finished via strikes. In total, Koscheck has lost three in a row, and typically that would mean he’d be cut, but UFC president Dana White already said the UFC will keep him around for another fight. That is, if he doesn’t retire.
Another fighter who has lost a few in a row and who is a UFC favorite is Yoshihiro Akiyama. Akiyama has lost four straight fights, but because of his popularity in Asia, the UFC still has a spot for him on the roster. But at some point he will have to start winning, so match these two up, get a fun fight out of them, and then send the loser packing.
Fight to make: Josh Koscheck vs. Yoshihiro Akiyama
Tim Elliott
In the opening main card bout, Tim Elliott lost a hard-fought decision to Ali Bagautinov. The fight was pretty back-and-forth but Bagautinov landed the harder strikes, and I agreed with him getting the nod.
The loss sets Elliott back a bit, but flyweight is still shallow enough that he’s still a top 10 fighter. For Elliott’s next fight, I’d like to see him fight Jussier Formiga, who is also coming off a loss, and who is also ranked in the top 10. It’d be an interesting style matchup for both men, and I think an entertaining fight, so hopefully this is the direction UFC matchmaker Sean Shelby is leaning.
Fight to make: Tim Elliott vs. Jussier Formiga
Evan Dunham
In the main event of the preliminary card, Evan Dunham was stopped by Donald Cerrone via second-round submission, a very disappointing loss that will set Dunham far back in the division.
With losses in three of his last four fights, it’s sadly possible that Dunham may get released, even though his loss to Rafael dos Anjos earlier this year was considered a ripoff by many.
Hopefully he stays, though, because he’s an exciting fighter and always involved in good fights, and one of the matchups that intrigues me is a fight against Matt Wiman, one of my all-time favorite UFC lightweights. Wiman is certainly on the downside of his career and needs a win too, so it makes sense to match him up with Dunham and hopefully create a “Fight of the Night” candidate between two guys who look to be fading badly.
Fight to make: Evan Dunham vs. Matt Wiman
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UFC 167: St. Pierre vs. Hendricks took place on November 16, 2013 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Click the stars to rate how good you think UFC 167 was.
