It may have turned into a bit of a slog by the end, but UFC Fight Night 47 was filled with some spectacular finishes and comebacks on the main card, and in many cases, the fighters who tasted defeat still have reason to hold their heads high. As such, these fighters should get back on the horse, and try to create new momentum for their respective careers. Here are some suggested matchups that do just that:
Lauren Murphy vs. Jessamyn Duke
Murphy was not outmatched by Sara McMann to any real degree, but she remained susceptible to McMann’s relentless takedowns. Many believe that she was active enough from the bottom to be awarded the win, and one judge agreed with that sentiment, but this split decision loss gives the former Invicta FC Bantamweight Champion an L in her UFC debut, and scuttles any possibility of a “champion vs. champion” matchup with Ronda Rousey. However, McMann is still an elite athlete who belongs at the top of the women’s bantamweight division, and there’s no shame in a close decision loss to her.
For Murphy’s next fight, she deserves a showcase. Jessamyn Duke has a bigger name in the UFC than her skills warrant, due to her modeling background, her time on The Ultimate Fighter, and her affiliation with the world champion through their “Four Horsewomen” clique. Murphy should be able to look good against the 1-2 UFC fighter, and continue along a course similar to Bethe Correa, as she attempts to take out Rousey’s friends en route to scoring herself a title shot. Furthermore, now that fans have turned a bit on Jessamyn, this could be positioned as a “style vs. substance” matchup, where the pretty one squares off with the gritty one, and the fans choose sides, typically along shallow grounds. Regardless of the promotional track the UFC takes, Murphy should continue to be spotlighted as she is groomed to be a potential challenger at 135 pounds.
Zach Makovsky vs. Brad Pickett
Makovsky suffered his first defeat at 125 pounds at the hands of Jussier “Formiga” da Silva, and while it definitely alters his championship trajectory, in a division as shallow as flyweight, he really isn’t that far off from getting a shot to upset Demetrious Johnson, especially with John Dodson out with an injury.
The biggest named flyweight who is coming off a loss is Brad “One Punch” Pickett, who saw his hype train derail at UFC Fight Night 46 against Ian McCall. Pickett would love to headline a card in the UK, but before he can get there, he needs to get back on the winning track. A matchup with Makovsky, preferably in Europe, would allow the winner to keep his name relevant in the “Next Fighter to Lose to Demetrious Johnson” sweepstakes.
Brad Tavares vs. the loser of Thales Leites vs. Francis Carmont
Tavares seemed to cruising to an easy victory against Tim Boetsch until Boetsch went into “Barbarian Mode” and ended his night, to the delight of the Bangor crowd. Now Tavares has to pick up the pieces with his five-fight winning streak a distant memory to MMA fans. He needs to start at square one, and start racking up wins again, especially given that, having only recorded one finish in his UFC tenure, he has failed to pick up a strong fan following.
Next week’s UFC Fight Night 49 card features a matchup between Thales Leites and Francis Carmont which is composed of two fighters who are similarly situated to Tavares, and while the winner will be back on the fringes of the contendership “mix,” the loser will have to take a few steps back. A few steps back is exactly where this fight would be, and though it won’t titillate violence-craving fans, it would still be a relevant bit of business in a middleweight division that continues to churn.
Gray Maynard vs. Jim Miller II
A lot of folks will be writing off Maynard after he suffered yet another knockout loss, his fourth in his last five fights. And it’s possible that in defeat to Ross Pearson, his UFC tenure has come to a close. However, if he is to be given one more fight, then perhaps it should be one with a little story behind it.
For the longest time, Jim Miller’s only career losses were to Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard, the latter his sole blemish in 15 fights. Although Miller has experienced ups and downs in his career recently, and is likely now viewed as little more than a high-level gatekeeper, his career isn’t in the dire straits that Maynard’s is. So perhaps it would be fitting that Miller get the chance to avenge his first UFC loss, ushering Maynard, the man who got the title fights that Miller could not achieve, out of the Octagon door. This fight couldn’t necessarily headline an FS1 card, but in the right venue, with the right storytelling behind it, it could be an emotional matchup which could be either the sendoff for Maynard, or his final high-profile triumph.
Ovince St. Preux vs. Jimi Manuwa
St. Preux was overmatched against Ryan Bader in the main event, but he showed heart, and remains a raw talent who is in need of seasoning. The light heavyweight division isn’t a very deep one, and with so many fighters at the downside of their careers, it would not be surprising if OSP racked up a couple of wins and found himself closer to a title shot than Bader, whose ceiling in the division has likely been reached.
“The Poster Boy” Jimi Manuwa was outmatched against Alexander Gustafsson in the main event of UFC Fight Night 37, but he remains a popular fighter in the UK. He too is limited, but with all his wins by stoppage, he brings the kind of “Fight of the Night” action that casual MMA fans love to see. A fight with OSP could be fun, and whichever fighter comes out on top would be poised for additional high-profile matchmaking. And if the UFC matchmakers decide to put the fight in the UK, the electricity could be amazing.
UFC Fight Night 47 was characterized by some exciting wins, but the flipside of that were the tough losses. The fighters who tasted defeat might have bitter tastes in their mouths now, but they still provided sweet moments for the fans, and they will have the opportunity to get their careers back on track in the coming months. The above fights would lay the groundwork for their respective resurgences
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UFC Fight Night 47: Bader vs. Saint Preux took place on August 16, 2014 at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor, Maine.
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