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.
Demetrious Johnson
The main event of UFC 174 wasn’t the most exciting fight in the world, but Demetrious Johnson proved once again that he’s one of the top pound-for-pound fighters in the world with a unanimous decision win over Ali Bagautinov, his sixth win in a row at 125 pounds. Although Johnson already has a win over him, I do believe that John Dodson has earned his rematch with “Mighty Mouse,” and I do expect these two to square off sometime later this year, hopefully in a FOX main event. The first fight between these two was great, and I think the rematch will be even better, so I’m looking forward to it very much.
Fight to make: Demetrious Johnson vs. John Dodson 2
Rory MacDonald
In the co-main event of UFC 174, Rory MacDonald put on a tremendous performance for three rounds as he beat up Tyron Woodley with his striking to pick up the biggest win of his career. MacDonald looked great, and at this point he’s only behind the Matt Brown vs. Robbie Lawler winner in terms of who gets the next welterweight title shot.
At the post-fight press conference, MacDonald said he wanted to keep busy and take another fight instead of sitting out and waiting for a title shot. So I think it makes sense if he’s matched up against the winner of Hector Lombard vs. Dong Hyun Kim, and the winner of that fight will get the next title shot after the Brown-Lawler winner.
Fight to make: Rory MacDonald vs. the winner of Hector Lombard vs. Dong Hyun Kim
Andrei Arlovski
In a heavyweight bout that lacked excitement, Andrei Arlovski defeated Brendan Schaub via controversial split decision. It was a real stinker where neither fighter looked like he cared about winning at all, but Schaub at least threw some strikes in the fight, and he deserved to get the nod. But at the end of the day the judges gave it to Arlovski, and he moves on in the division.
For Arlovski’s next fight, I like the idea of him fighting the winner of Stefan Struve vs. Matt Mitrione, which takes place next month at UFC 175. All three guys are ranked in about the same spot in the division at the moment, and it makes sense to match the winners up to see who moves forward in the division and who takes a step back.
Fight to make: Andrei Arlovski vs. the winner of Stefan Struve vs. Matt Mitrione
Ryan Bader/Ovince St-Preux
Two light heavyweights proved victorious on the main card of UFC 174, with Ryan Bader beating up Rafael Cavalcante for three rounds en route to a unanimous decision victory and Ovince St-Preux defeating Ryan Jimmo via second-round verbal submission after the Canadian was injured in the fight.
At the post-fight press conference, OSP said he would like to fight Bader and Bader said he was down to fight OSP. So in my opinion, the UFC should just go ahead and book this fight. It makes a lot of sense as far as both the rankings and styles go, and I think it makes a great main card fight for an upcoming pay-per-view card.
Fight to make: Ryan Bader vs. Ovince St-Preux
Tae Hyun Bang
In the best fight of the entire card, Tae Hyun Bang picked up his first win in the UFC with a third-round KO over Kajan Johnson in a wild fight. It was a tremendous bout between two guys who no one expected much out of, and I’m looking forward to seeing Bang’s next outing after such a great and unexpected performance from him.
For his next fight, “The Korean Cowboy” should take on another Korean coming off a “Fight of the Night,” Yui Chul “The Korean Bulldozer” Nam. This would be an amazing fight between two exciting Korean fighters, and the UFC could put it on the next Asian card, UFC Fight Night 48, which takes place in China this August. I think it would be a barnburner, and I really hope UFC matchmaker Joe Silva books it.
Fight to make: Tae Hyun Bang vs. Yui Chul Nam
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UFC 174: Johnson vs. Bagautinov took place on June 14, 2014 at the Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
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