UFC 171 was a card that much of the fight world was looking forward to. Now that it has been deemed a success of sorts, there is an opportunity for even the losers from the night to be placed into interesting fights. These are some suggestions for how they should be booked next:
The UFC is dead set on finding a way to get Nick Diaz back into the Octagon and into a main event bout. Although he’s on a losing streak, his drawing power far outweighs that fact. With that in mind, placing him into a rematch against Robbie Lawler, who fell just a little bit short in the UFC 171 main event, would surely fit the bill.
Back at UFC 47, Diaz was able to stop Lawler via punches in the second round of their fight. Since then, they’ve both taken paths that have taken them outside of the Octagon, but now that Lawler is back, and since Diaz can jump back into the fray whenever he wants, this matchup could easily carry a UFC on Fox card. Lawler and Diaz bring out the best of each other when talking at the podium, and this point in their careers, would draw interest in the back and forth striking affair they would surely bring out of one another inside the cage.
Both Jake Shields and Rick Story are in a very tough position in the UFC’s welterweight division. They have the skill sets that make them capable of defeating any up-and-comer in the division, but they may never be capable of carrying the welterweight strap. Putting them against each other would create a fight in which the loser may end up jettisoned from the organization. Both guys are already on the cusp of being cut for different reasons, so this fight would make the decision that much easier to make.
Shields vs. Story should be used to headline a Fight Pass event with lesser known fighters.
Diego Sanchez vs. Melvin Guillard
Diego Sanchez was once a feared lightweight that posed a challenge to any contender or champion whenever he stepped in the cage. While he is still very intense from start to finish in a fight, it’s clear that the fight world has caught up to him. Myles Jury controlled every aspect of their contest, and presented the perfect game plan for defeating Sanchez. So perhaps it’s time for the original “Ultimate Fighter” to step away from the Octagon.
However, the UFC should give him the opportunity to leave the cage with a victory. Pairing him with Melvin Guillard would be the best option for that. Guillard, another Ultimate Fighter alum, has been on a difficult losing streak of his own. This fight would be for his roster spot in the promotion, and another loss would justify the UFC eliminating him from its ranks.
Sanchez vs. Guillard should be used as main card fight for a free UFC event.
Raquel Pennington
vs. Germaine De Randamie
Many believe that “Rocky” was on the wrong side of a split decision at UFC 171, so that may save her from getting dropped from the UFC’s roster. However, with a meager 4-4 record, she’s a name that could be found on the list of cut fighters before the end of 2014. If that doesn’t happen, the UFC should match her against Germaine De Randamie.
De Randamie, like Pennington, badly needs a win to continue her UFC career. If she is to remain a part of the UFC’s women’s bantamweight division, De Randamie needs to find a way to get a victory over Pennington, and vice versa. This fight would be best served as a preliminary bout for a UFC on Fox event.
UFC 171 was a very strong card, and the event was the bounce back that the UFC needed. With a new welterweight champion crowned in Johny Hendricks, and a slew of rising contenders now “in the mix,” the excitement for this division is at an all-time high. This is the perfect time for Hendricks to begin carving out his legacy. The losers from the event have a harder task ahead of them, however: that of rebuilding their respective careers. These matchups are merely the first steps.
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UFC 171: Hendricks vs. Lawler took place on March 15, 2014 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas.
Click the stars to rate how good you think UFC 171 was.
Interesting that you left out Krylov. I like your Shields/Story matchup. It's a big drop rankingswise for Shields but with both being veterans and Jake being a bad fight for most, this gives Story, who does hold a decision win over the champ, with a viable big redemption win. I had been hoping for the long awaited Story/Pierce grudge match but didn't know who to match Jake up with other than loaning him out to OneFC to face Askren. Good set of matchups. All with built-in storylines.
Lombard should get the title shot. He just clearly beat the guy who beat Woodley, Condit a long time ago, and subbed Lawler at MW. Plus he's 36 so it's now or never for him. I agree with Rory/Woodley for the next shot. This leaves Kim to face the winner of Ellenberger/Saffiedine.