UFC Fight Night 45: Cerrone vs. Miller may have been one of the best cards presented by the UFC this year, but it wasn’t a great night for everyone. Now that the event is over, the fighters who were unable to get their hands raised are now forced to pick up the pieces. If they’re kept on the UFC roster, these fight suggestions should be the next steps for these competitors.
Jim Miller vs. Rustam Khabilov
Jim Miller has been a perennial “tough out” in the lightweight division for quite some time. The New Jersey native was finished for what should technically be the third time in his career, and is now at a crossroads within the division. Miller might not be able to break back into the top five of the weight class, but the status of “gatekeeper” will not stop him from being placed in valuable contests.
Rustam Khabilov is coming off of a loss, but the 27 year old is still a worthwhile prospect at 155 pounds. Miller would be an interesting test for Khabilov, offering a chance to show whether he is really ready to work his way back towards the deeper waters of the weight class.
Miller vs. Khabilov would work as a main card contest for a UFC event presented on Fox.
Evan Dunham vs. Charlie Brenneman
Evan Dunham has been given a tough slate of opponents in the lightweight division. He’s 1-4 in last five, but has dropped bouts to two fighters in the top five, and another who is in the top 15. While the UFC might be ready to cut him from the ranks, he could be given one last shot in the Octagon. Pairing him with Charlie Brenneman would create another one of the UFC’s frequent “loser leaves town”- style matchups.
Since Dunham and Brenneman are both on the chopping block, this fight should be placed on the preliminary card of a free event on Fox Sports.
Alptekin Ozkilic vs. Justin Scoggins
Both Scoggins and Ozkilic dropped highly-competitive contests this month, but likely earned themselves a bevy of fans in losing efforts. Neither man has lost much ground in the still-developing flyweight division. As the UFC works to build up this group of competitors, matching these two athletes against each other would be a move in the right direction.
Justin Scoggins vs. Alptekin Ozkilic should be booked as an opening main card fight for a UFC on Fox event.
Alex White was working into his groove against Lucas Martins until he was clipped by a brutal 1-2 combination that left him prone on the canvas. The 25-year-old fighter has some improvements to make, but he is still an interesting prospect in the featherweight division.
Mark Eddiva is developing his name at 145 pounds, but is also working to recover from a recent loss. Matching him against Alex White will help flesh out exactly where these two competitors deserve to be within the UFC. Eddiva vs. White would work as a preliminary fight for a UFC event on any of the Fox platforms.
UFC Fight Night 45 was an entertaining card from top to bottom. The UFC is doing a stellar job of using these platforms to develop their lesser-known fighters. Creating these fights for the athletes that were unable to get wins will present the promotion with continued opportunities to build up the names of the developing fighters, while maintaining the name recognition of the established ones.
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UFC Fight Night 45: Cerrone vs. Miller took place on July 16, 2014 at the Revel Casino Hotel in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
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I like the matchups for Miller & White but Dunham vs. Brenneman seems too non-competitive. I like Dunham/Varner. And I'd give both Oz & Scoggins lower randed FLWs since the division is so shallow. It would be a good fight but better if both were coming off wins.