After another doubleheader Fight Night Weekend, the exhilaration of exciting action and thrilling finishes had to be tempered by the fatigue of 12 hours of watching fights. Hardcore MMA fans on the east coast awoke at 6:30 AM to begin watching the first UFC Fight Night 48 preliminary bout, and stuck around past midnight to see Rafael dos Anjos hand Benson Henderson a knockout loss in the main event of UFC Fight Night 49. It was certainly an eventful day, and the winners of the 21 fights are ready for the next steps in their respective UFC careers. These are but a few suggestions:
Michael Bisping vs. Luke Rockhold
Michael Bisping put a one-sided beating on Cung Le in the main event of UFC Fight Night 48, sending the former Strikeforce middleweight champion into likely retirement. Having returned to winning ways in the UFC, “The Count” is now ready for bigger and better fights.
The best option in this regard is Luke Rockhold, who has been calling out Bisping since he got to the UFC. Like Le, Rockhold is also a former Strikeforce middleweight champion, and although he seems to have all the traits necessary for stardom, he has not yet made an impression on the UFC fanbase. But a feud with and high-profile matchup against Bisping would represent the best opportunity for that situation to change. If he can be a worthy foil for the Brit and cultivate that rivalry across the various media platforms the UFC employs to promote fights, the company will have a star on their hands. And matchup-wise, this pairing of diverse strikers stands to be a stylistically-pleasing affair for casual fans. That’s why this bout should be either the co-main event or main event of a UFC on Fox network television show.
Rafael dos Anjos vs. Bobby Green
The most shocking outcome of the weekend was undoubtedly the first-round knockout of the former UFC Lightweight Champion by dos Anjos, and though his recent defeat to Khabib Nurmagomedov makes it hard to say that he deserves the next shot at the belt, he’s definitely in the proverbial “mix” at 155 pounds. That said, another big win would only strengthen his case, and Bobby Green certainly qualifies.
Green was to match up with Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone at UFC 178, but the signing of Eddie Alvarez necessitated a late switch. With his original opponent Jorge Masvidal already booked to face someone else, Green now waits for the right opponent. Enter Rafael dos Anjos, who is a native of Rio de Janeiro, which is the site of UFC 179. Assuming that dos Anjos took minimal damage in his win, the reward for a quick turnaround fight against “The King” in his hometown would be massive. The crowd response would likely be similarly massive, and if he can defeat Green, a request for title fight with the accompaniment of deafening cheers could potentially push dos Anjos to the front of the title queue.
As for Green, the outspoken fighter has already played hometown spoiler once in his UFC on Fox 12 matchup with Josh Thomson. If he embraces the role yet again, a win in hostile territory would push him to the forefront of title discussions, especially as an opponent that could sell a fight with his personality in and out of the cage. This co-main event for UFC 179 practically books itself.
Maia was to face Mike Pyle at UFC Fight Night 49 before a late injury scratched him from the card. Halfway across the world at UFC Fight Night 48, Woodley was putting Dong Hyun Kim‘s title aspirations to bed as he put the Korean fighter to sleep. Now Woodley, who is part of the growing ATT contendership logjam at welterweight, needs a big fight as he waits for another chance at a title eliminator.
On the ground, this breaks down to “wrestling vs. BJJ,” and Maia might have a slight advantage, particularly later in the fight, where Woodley tends to fade. However, on the feet, Maia’s striking is improving, and although he can’t stand up to the power of “T-Wood,” he may be able to outpoint him. This wouldn’t be the sexiest matchup, but it would definitely be Top 10 relevant.
If this matchup sounds familiar, it’s because that was the original booking for UFC Fight Night 49. And after Mein melted Mike Pyle in the first round of their contest, that just makes fans want to see these two square off all the more. The young Canadian could use another scalp as he climbs the ladder, and Alves could use a big win to remain relevant at welterweight, and join that ATT contendership logjam in the weight class.
Thales Leites vs. Nate Marquardt 2
When these two men fought before, way back at UFC 85, the fight was marred by controversy. Marquardt had the win on the scorecards, but two point deductions turned that win into a loss. Now, nearly 100 UFC events later, the two could pair up again for a matchup to settle the score.
“Nate the Great” returned to middleweight at UFC Fight Night 43 with a first round submission on James Te Huna, and hopes to erase the memories of a regrettable stint at welterweight with a sustained run of success in the weight class where he made his name in the UFC. Leites has achieved something similar thus far in his return to the UFC, so with a win, Marquardt would not only steal his shine, but avenge a loss that Marquardt believes never should have been. This could headline a UFC Fight Night event on Fight Pass, or hold down a co-main event spot on an Fox Sports 1 event.
Ben Saunders vs. Brandon Thatch
Saunders made his return to the UFC count, stopping Chris Heatherly in the first with a rare omoplata submission. An exciting fighter who always brings it, Saunders is a valuable addition to the welterweight division. Brandon Thatch has thrilled fans in his first two Octagon appearances, and was due to appear on the UFC Fight Night 49 card until an injury sidelined him, but when he returns, “Killer B” should welcome him back. This pairing would represent a serious action fight, and could result in one or both of these men scoring a Fight of the Night bonus award.
Last weekend’s top performers should be praised for their ability to engage a weary fanbase, and leave an impression amid hours upon hours of fighting. But their careers press on, and bigger fights are their reward. Some of these suggestions represent the next steps towards title opportunities, while some are just intriguing contests, but regardless, they key is making sure that these fighters are still being talked about amidst the deluge of upcoming fights. Their performances at UFC Fight Night 48 and 49 definitely warrant it.
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UFC Fight Night 48: Le vs. Bisping took place on August 23, 2014 at The Venetian Macao’s CotaiArena in Macau, China.
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UFC Fight Night 49: Henderson vs. Dos Anjos took place on August 23, 2014 at the BOK Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
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