As with any Ultimate Fighting Championship event, for every fighter that leaves with another win on his or her ledger, another takes home a disappointing loss. If the fighters who fell short at UFC Fight Night 36 aren’t cut and sent to other promotions to continue fighting, these suggestions should be the next move for their respective fight careers:
Gegard Mousasi vs. Francis Carmont
Gegard Mousasi and Francis Carmont are two of the top athletes within the UFC’s middleweight division. Though neither of the two was able to get a win at UFC Fight Night 36, their stock shouldn’t plummet much within the promotion. Matching them against each other next would help keep one of their names near the top of the division while it pushes the other competitor lower down the rankings.
Both Mousasi and Carmont were defeated by fighters on the short list for middleweight title opportunities. Their styles play off each other well enough that Mousasi would be the aggressor against Carmont’s mostly defensive style. As a three-round fight, this contest may not have the built-in excitement of other fights, but the onus would be on them both to put on a better combined showing than they did individually in Brazil.
Mousasi vs. Carmont would work as a main card bout for a fight on Fox Sports 1 or UFC Fight Pass.
Viscardi Andrade vs. Hyun Gyu Lim
Viscardi Andrade was being built up as a Brazilian heavy hitter going into UFC Fight Night 36. He almost lived up to that description when he floored Nicholas Musoke in the first round. However, he wasn’t able to finish off his opponent, which led to him running out of steam and taking the decision loss. His next bout should come against a welterweight that’s willing to exchange with him to create an action-packed atmosphere.
Hyun Gyu Lim earned fans at UFC Fight Night 34, even though he took the decision loss. With two UFC knockouts under his belt and nine in his career, he’s proven that he has the ability to stop opponents in their tracks. These two will create the perfect matchup for mainstream fans who enjoy when two fighters stay in the pocket and exchange strikes.
Andrade vs. Lim would be a solid main card opener for an event in either Brazil or Asia.
Andy Ogle vs. Hacran Dias
Andy Ogle is an interesting featherweight, as he can be considered a tough challenge for anyone looking to solidify his place on the UFC roster. He hasn’t been able to defeat the upper echelon of the weight class, but his fighting style doesn’t allow him to ever be out of a fight. Even against Charles Oliveira he was looking much better in the second and third rounds before being caught in that triangle choke.
Ogle should be matched next against another Brazilian, but this time Nova Uniao member Hacran Dias should be his next opponent. Ogle could be a valuable commodity if built up in his native country, so the UFC should work to get this match featured on an event in the UK.
Ogle vs. Dias could be a preliminary bout for an event on UFC Fight Pass.
Cristiano Marcello vs. Colton Smith
Both Colton Smith and Cristiano Marcello are riding two-loss “streaks,” and both should be concerned about their places on the UFC’s roster. If neither is sent packing during the next round of UFC releases, matchmakers should have them face each other in a “loser leaves town bout.”
Smith and Marcello should be placed into a matchup against one another that would air during the UFC Fight Pass preliminaries of any UFC event during the later portion of this year’s second quarter.
Wilson Reis vs. Johnny Bedford
Wilson Reis and Iuri Alcantara put on a grappling clinic in the Octagon during their bantamweight fight on Saturday. With multiple sweeps, sweep attempts, and passes, they put on a fight that Brazilian Jiu Jitsu purists would love. Reis was on the bad side of the split decision, however, and his five-fight win streak was halted.
Johnny Bedford is another submission specialist that could match Reis’s ability to coax a tap out. He has eight submission wins on his resume to go along with seven stoppages via knockout. The Texas native is an experienced competitor who would create a style matchup that would captivate those fans that like the grappling aspects of MMA.
Wilson Reis vs. Johnny Bedford should be used as a UFC Fight Pass preliminary bout for any upcoming UFC event in the second quarter of 2014.
While these fighters weren’t able to get wins at UFC Fight Night 36, they still present some value to those with the power to make fights. These suggestions would represent steps in the right direction for those on this list.
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UFC Fight Night 36: Machida vs. Mousasi took place on February 15, 2014 at the Arena Jaragua in Jaragua do Sul, Santa Catarina, Brazil.
Click the stars to rate how good you think UFC Fight Night 36 was.
