UFC Fight Night 42 featured a number of fighters on the upper rung of their respective divisional ladders. The fighters that were able to get their hands raised over the course of the event should have some interesting fights to look forward to in the future. Here are some of them:
Benson Henderson vs. Khabib Nurmagomedov
Love him or hate him, Benson Henderson is a dominating lightweight that will remain in the top three of the weight class for a long time to come. While he may be far off from a title shot at this time due to his two losses to Anthony Pettis, he knows that a fight with him provides the pathway for anyone looking to get to a shot at the lightweight crown. Khabib Nurmagomedov is one of those fighters, and this fight would be vital to the direction of the division.
Nurmagomedov has been on a tear in the UFC, and at 22-0, he’s put the entire division on notice. However, he needs one more big win before he is considered the number one contender to the lightweight title. A win over Henderson would be more than enough to get him a shot against Anthony Pettis.
Benson Henderson vs. Khabib Nurmagomedov should be booked as the main event of a UFC on Fox card at some point in the fourth quarter of 2014.
Diego Sanchez and his accomplices at the judges table may be wanted for robbery, but the fact remains that “The Nightmare” still walked out of the Octagon with another win on his ledger. While the win doesn’t place him any closer to the lightweight title, he’s still a draw that the UFC will continue to bank on. If they want to place him in agreeable style fights, then K.J. Noons would be an suitable next opponent.
Sanchez is best served by fighters who are willing to stand and exchange in the pocket. Noons has been known for favoring his boxing, and that would create the exact type of matchup that Sanchez can capitalize on. While Diego would not be the favorite in this fight, it’s still the type of brawl that the UFC tries to book in order to entice the mainstream fan.
Diego Sanchez vs. K.J. Noons would work as a main card opener for a UFC PPV event.
John Dodson vs. Joseph Benavidez
John Dodson may be a slow starter, but when he gets going there are few guys in the flyweight division that can hang with him. Demetrious Johnson used the late rounds of their championship fight at UFC on Fox 6 to defeat the Greg Jackson pupil, and it seems as if that’s the only way to defeat him. Dodson should be considered a top contender for the 125-pound title, and a win over Joseph Benavidez would solidify that position.
Benavidez is another flyweight who has felt the wrath of “Mighty Mouse,” and he’s felt it twice. In order to get another shot at the title, these two athletes will have to go through one another. Benavidez vs. Dodson would be a highly important fight in that regard.
John Dodson vs. Joseph Benavidez would work as the main event of a UFC on Fox event with a solid card underneath them.
Rafael Dos Anjos vs. Bobby Green
It’s almost hard to recognize the great work that Rafael Dos Anjos has been putting in during the last few years. With a 6-1 record in his last seven fights, RDA should be considered one of the best in the 155-pound division. However, he’s going to have to find a way to overcome the upper echelon of the division and keep his win streak going.
Bobby Green is a fighter that is looking to move up the ladder at 155, and he’s put together a decent streak up to this point. While he’s currently off the active roster due to injury, a welcome back fight against Dos Anjos would be a good test for both competitors.
Rafael Dos Anjos vs. Bobby Green would work as a Fox Sports 1 preliminary card main event before a PPV main card.
UFC Fight Night 42 was a solid card that featured some good fights. The event may not have contained the longest list of marquee fighters, but there was enough action to keep everyone excited. And now that these athletes have secured wins, these fight suggestions should help continue to move their careers in the right direction.
**********
UFC Fight Night 42: Henderson vs. Khabilov took place on June 7, 2014 at the Tingley Coliseum in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Click the stars to rate how good you think UFC Fight Night 42 was.
So do they now book Green vs. Nurmy? 😀 I think your 2 matchups were much more widely desired.