UFC Fight Night 46 was a strong card that succeeded where it needed to. The UFC wanted to promote the fighters that were growing in popularity in that part of the world. At the end of the event, the men who had their hands raised in victory kept the momentum going in the right direction. Now, as matchmakers need to move forward, these fight suggestions are the best steps for the athletes looking for their next challengers:
Conor McGregor vs. Charles Oliveira
“The Notorious” Conor McGregor may not have the resume that matches his verbal skills, but he has snatched the attention of the MMA world. He’s succeeded against the level of competition that he’s been matched with up to this point, so it is time for him to face someone ranked in the top 15. Charles “Do Bronx” Oliveira is that man.
Oliveira has been a prospect worth watching in the featherweight division for a long time. His aggressive style and creative grappling attack make him a worthy competitor to test just how good McGregor is at this point in time. Oliveira may not have the verbal skills to hype up the fight like Conor can, but it’s still an interesting test for the Irishman.
Conor McGregor vs. Charles Oliveira should be booked as a co-main event for a UFC event on the Fox platform.
Gunnar Nelson is a fighter that has caught the attention of hardcore MMA fans. He’s flown under the radar to more casual ones, but after a four-fight run of wins since joining the UFC, UFC President Dana White made mention that he wouldn’t be opposed to Nelson fighting Rory MacDonald. If that fight doesn’t materialize, a fight against Rick Story would be a suitable alternative.
Story is a benchmark for the welterweight division. At one time he put together a winning streak that almost landed him a title shot. That, plus his status as one of only two fighters with a win over current welterweight champion Johny Hendricks, makes him a valuable name for any resume. Story could also use a big win, which is exactly what a win over the Icelandic prospect Gunnar would be, if he could pull out the victory.
Nelson vs. Story would work as a main card fight for a UFC event in a European country.
Despite Chris Cariaso being named as the next man to face Demetrious Johnson at UFC 177, the flyweight division is looking for a true contender to rise to the top of the weight class. John Lineker and Ian McCall used their respective opportunities to perform last week as examples of why they should be considered for the top spot after Cariaso. The best bet is to set these two athletes against each other, to determine who should be the next title challenger.
McCall has the experience of dealing with heavy hitters in fights past. What’s more important, though, is that he’s demonstrated the kind of speed that is important for success in this division. Lineker has spectacular power, but questions still linger about his ability to make weight and his effectiveness in long bouts.
Ian McCall vs. John Lineker is a good bout for a UFC PPV event.
Norman Parke vs. Diego Sanchez
Norman Parke looked very good in his lightweight tilt against Naoyuki Kotani. He did himself a favor by calling out Diego Sanchez in his post-fight interview. Parke has yet to suffer a defeat in his four-year UFC run. That momentum gives him a chance to become another fighter worth watching in the Irish MMA scene, and a matchup with Sanchez is a step in the right direction.
While Sanchez is often criticized due to his penchant for getting the benefit of a doubt on judges’ scorecards, he still puts on an exciting slugfest each time he is in the Octagon. Parke may be willing to join in on the fun, but he will have to put on a highly effective show to get another victory.
Parke vs. Sanchez would work as a main card opener for a UFC on Fox card.
UFC Fight Night 46 was a card built with one goal in mind – to promote the newest European stars that the company wants the world to watch. Now that the event is over and the UFC matchmakers were largely successful with their ambitions, it is time to start planning the next steps. These suggested bouts will continue building these fighters’ respective followings, and garner attention for them as they continue to climb the UFC ladder.
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UFC Fight Night 46: McGregor vs. Brandao (formerly UFC Fight Night 46: McGregor vs. Miller) took place on July 19, 2014 at The O2 in Dublin, Ireland.
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