The UFC was only able to get three cards into the year before a controversial decision placed a black eye on the main event of the night. Still, on the heels of UFC on Fox 10, everyone must move forward, and these are fight suggestions for the competitors that were unable to get their hands raised at the end of the night:
It seems as if the majority of the people watching UFC on Fox 10 believed that Josh Thomson did enough to defeat Benson Henderson in Saturday’s main event matchup. The judges saw it differently, but “The Punk” was still successful in introducing himself to a mainstream audience that may have not recognized his name before. Thomson has hinted towards his retirement, but if he doesn’t step away from competition, a bout against Gray Maynard is be a step UFC matchmakers should take.
The 34-year-old Maynard has truly been on a downward spiral since his defeat to Frankie Edgar in 2011. In fact, some expected Maynard to walk away from competition after his second straight first-round TKO defeat, to Nate Diaz at the TUF 18 Finale. Thomson and Maynard may both train at the American Kickboxing Academy, but if neither objects to a teammate vs. teammate matchup, this pairing would help the winner stay relevant at this point in his career.
Maynard vs. Thomson would have the name appeal to assist the promotion of a UFC on Fox event that features a main event fight with a lesser-known champion.
Gabriel Gonzaga vs. Josh Barnett
Gabriel Gonzaga is an enigma within the heavyweight division. He’s shown the potential to be a contender in the past, but in recent years when he’s matched against fighters in the top tier of the division he falls flat. It’s clear that he will not be a contender again, so he should be used as a foil for those looking to stay relevant amongst the best at heavyweight.
Josh Barnett was close to getting “in the mix” for another shot at the heavyweight title if he had been able to defeat Travis Browne. While that didn’t occur, he’s still a character that the organization can place in important fights. Before they can, he would need to prove that he is worth the effort, and a victory over Gonzaga would help build that argument. Barnett’s and Gonzaga’s grappling abilities would make for a captivating style matchup and a change of pace for heavyweight fights.
Gonzaga vs. Barnett could be a main card fight for a UFC showcase on Fox.
Adriano Martins vs. Mark Bocek
Donald Cerrone put Martins out quickly in his second fight in the Octagon, but all is not lost for the 31-year-old Brazilian. With 32 professional fights, he has a wealth of experience that shouldn’t be thrown away due to a highlight reel knockout. Martins could be matched against Mark Bocek, if and when the Canadian grappler is ready to return.
Bocek has been a competent lightweight for an extended period of time in the UFC. If Martins is unable to turn the tide against Bocek, then his place on the roster could be in jeopardy. Matchmakers seemed high on Martins going into his fight on Saturday night, so he still has the opportunity to prove his worth to the organization with a win over a fighter such as Bocek.
Darren Elkins vs. Diego Brandao
Darren Elkins is a name that is often forgotten when mentioning the tougher members of the featherweight division. His loss to Jeremy Stephens is only the second time he’s been defeated at 145. However, if he’s to shed the gatekeeper status that he may be pinned into at this stage of his career, then he should be matched against Diego Brandao.
Elkins is known as a grinding wrestler that is skilled and durable enough to drag fighters into ugly contests. While that strategy has worked against most of his opponents, he struggles when facing the upper echelon of the division. Brandao is in the same position, as his last bout against Dustin Poirier didn’t end in his favor. In the aftermath of that fight, UFC President Dana White questioned his commitment to the sport, so winning in highlight reel fashion is exactly what the Brazilian native needs.
Darren Elkins vs. Diego Brandao would be best suited as a preliminary bout for an upcoming UFC card featured on Fox.
Sergio Pettis vs. Dustin Ortiz
Sergio Pettis had his momentum halted when he lost his first fight as a professional to “Bruce Leeroy” Alex Caceres. He was taking part in a very close battle, but his opponent was able to take advantage of his weaknesses on the mat to put the fight away in the third round. At 20 years of age, there is still a lot of growing that the Wisconsin native has to go through. The first step towards that growth should be his return to the flyweight division, where he can make a run in the still-developing weight class.
Dustin Ortiz had an interesting fight earlier in January against John Moraga, where he suffered a split decision loss in a fight that most people felt he won. Ortiz would be a very important fight for Pettis at flyweight, as a loss would indicate that he’s been pushed too fast by the UFC, and the promotion should take a slower, more deliberate track to develop the young prospect.
Ortiz vs. Pettis is best served as a preliminary bout for an upcoming UFC event during the second quarter of 2014.
The athletes that were unable to get wins at UFC on Fox 10 still have some fights that could be made to continue their careers within the Octagon. These suggestions would give each of them an opportunity to turn things around while it’s still early in 2014.
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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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