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.
Benson Henderson
In the main event of UFC on FOX 10, Benson Henderson won a controversial split decision over Josh Thomson. Not many people thought that Henderson deserved to get the win, but he did enough to satisfy the judges, and the official record books say he got the win, so he’ll continue to get big fights in the division.
Another win that Henderson had that was controversial was his title fight last year against Gilbert Melendez at UFC on FOX 7. I and many others thought Melendez won that fight, but Henderson got the judges’ decision there as well. I think it’s only right for these two to rematch and for prove who is truly the better fighter. And the winner of that fight would be right in the thick of the title shot mix.
Fight to make: Henderson vs. Gilbert Melendez 2
Stipe Miocic
In the co-main event, Stipe Miocic continued to move up the heavyweight ladder with a unanimous decision victory over veteran Gabriel Gonzaga. It would have been nice for Miocic to get a finish, but he still looked good enough to get the clear win, and he earned himself another big fight.
I’d like for Miocic to next take on the winner of next weekend’s UFC 169 heavyweight bout between Alistair Overeem and Frank Mir. The timing makes sense, and these fighters are all positioned similarly at the bottom of the heavyweight top 10, so I think it’s a perfect matchup next, assuming no one is injured.
Fight to make: Miocic vs. winner of Alistair Overeem vs. Frank Mir
Donald Cerrone
In a main card lightweight bout, Donald Cerrone showed once again why he’s one of the best 155-pounders on the planet with a blazing head kick KO of Adriano Martins in the first round of their fight. It’s Cerrone’s second-straight win, and he continues to be one of the most exciting strikers in the division.
Another guy who is a talented striker is Edson Barboza, who is coming off of a few wins himself. Both Cerrone and Barboza are excellent kickboxers who have a similar rank in the division, and I have a feeling the two would combine for an amazing fight against one another.
Fight to make: Cerrone vs. Edson Barboza
Jeremy Stephens
In a main card featherweight bout, Jeremy Stephens improved to 3-0 as a UFC featherweight and jumped into the division’s top 10 with a unanimous decision victory over the durable Darren Elkins. It’s a big win for Stephens, as he continues to climb the featherweight ladder, and he deserves a step up in his next fight.
Another featherweight who recently picked up a big win is Dustin Poirier. I believe that Stephens and Poirier match up extremely well with one another, and I think these two are destined to meet in a heck of a scrap that would put the winner one step closer towards a 145-pound title shot.
Fight to make: Stephens vs. Dustin Poirier
Alex Caceres
In the main event of the preliminary card, Alex Caceres and Sergio Pettis won “Fight of the Night” for their 14 minutes and 39 seconds of action, a fight that was destined to be a split decision on the judges’ scorecards before Caceres shockingly ended it with a rear-naked choke with just 21 seconds left in round three.
Caceres moved to 5-1 with 1 NC as a UFC bantamweight with the win, and he deserves a step up against someone in the top 10. I’d like for that step up to be against Takeya Mizugaki, who is also coming off of a string of victories. This is a terrific fight both stylistically and as far as the rankings go, and I hope the UFC books it.
Fight to make: Caceres vs. Takeya Mizugaki
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UFC on Fox 10: Henderson vs. Thomson took place on January 25, 2014 at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois.
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