This past weekend featured fights galore, as Saturday started and ended with mixed martial arts action that was worth making sure not to miss. Important fights in multiple divisions were held at UFC Fight Night 43 and UFC Fight Night 44, and the winners distinguished themselves. But the losers from these two events should also have fights to look forward to. Here are a few:
James Te Huna has been finished in the first round of his last three bouts. He might find himself among the ranks of the unemployed in short order, but if the UFC does decide to keep him on the roster, he will have to find a way to pull out a victory in his next fight. Mark Munoz has also struggled as of late, as he’s dropped three of his last four. Te Huna vs. Munoz would be a fight to stay off the UFC’s chopping block. While Munoz would be best served by using his wrestling to control the fight, this could turn into a striking battle that would fit Te Huna and his power.
Munoz vs. Te Huna would be a fight that is best suited for the main event of the Fox Sports 1 prelims of a UFC on Fox card.
Jeremy Stephens vs. Dennis Siver
Jeremy Stephens had looked revitalized at 145 before running into Cub Swanson. The former lightweight seemed to be on a path toward the title shot that had always evaded him in the UFC. This was a bad loss, but it wasn’t bad enough to knock him out of the top 15 in the division. Therefore, a fight against Dennis Siver would be the best move to make at this point.
Siver and Stephens both use an aggressive striking style. Siver looks to land with more technique, while Stephens scores with power. This pairing of strikers is the exact kind of style matchup that the UFC’s fans enjoy watching.
Siver vs. Stephens should be used as a preliminary card “main event” before a pay-per-view or UFC on Fox card.
Hatsu Hioki was once considered one of the best featherweight fighters in the world. When he was brought over to the UFC, he was expected to face Jose Aldo at some point. However, that fight has never materialized because Hioki hasn’t been able to consistently win fights in the Octagon. If he isn’t cut from the promotion he should be matched against Jim Hettes.
Hettes caught the eye of many with his performance against Nam Phan back at UFC 141. He’s struggled since then to look like the same fighter, who seemed to have the potential to make a run in the division. Matching him against Hioki would provide a stern test to both men, to see which competitor is going to show the potential we thought we’d see more consistently.
Hettes vs. Hioki would work as a main card matchup on a Fox UFC event.
Hacran Dias vs. Akira Corassani
Hacran Dias is part of the uber-successful Nova Uniao team; however, he didn’t find a way to pull off the victory against Ricardo Lamas. This defeat shows that Dias still has a long way to go before establishing himself as a force at featherweight the way his teammate, Jose Aldo, has done. A matchup against Akira Corassani, however is a good way to put his career back on track.
Corassani was on a good UFC run before being stopped by Dustin Poirier earlier this year. The Swedish fighter has to recover from an injury to his nose, but if he is able to come back at some point in the third quarter of 2014, this is a strong fight to welcome him back.
Dias vs. Corassani would best be used as a preliminary fight for a free Fox event.
Soa Palelei vs. the loser of Matt Mitrione vs. Stefan Struve
“The Hulk” had won three straight fights since returning to the UFC, but that momentum was stopped when he ran into a wrestler. However, Palelei still has some value to the UFC’s heavyweight division because he delivers fight-ending power behind every shot. Matching him against another heavy hitter in either Stefan Struve or Matt Mitrione will create an exciting. albeit short, battle.
Struve and Mitrione are due to square off at UFC 175, and the loser should be paired with Palelei. This fight wouldn’t have much value in determining who could become an eventual contender at heavyweight. Instead, this is the type of fight that should be used as the main card opener for a Fox card to get the crowd excited.
The UFC gave fight fans a load of action this past weekend. Twenty-one fights were held and 42 competitors entered the Octagon. Of the 21 fighters who were unable to get their hands raised, the five listed above should look to these matchups in order to progress their respective mixed martial arts careers.
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UFC Fight Night 43: Te Huna vs. Marquardt took place on June 28, 2014 at the Vector Arena in Auckland, New Zealand.
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UFC Fight Night 44: Swanson vs. Stephens took place on June 28, 2014 at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas.
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