Fight Fixin’ is a fantasy matchmaking article that comes out after every major event and features possible matchups for main card winners and/or losers from the previous event.
Ovince St-Preux
The main event of UFC Fight Night 56 saw a new contender emerge at 205 pounds, as Ovince St-Preux took out Mauricio “Shogun” Rua with a first-round knockout in what was by far the biggest win of his career to date. OSP looked like a big, strong dude – the “Destroyer” that he was sold as by the UFC prior to the fight – from the get go, and he didn’t even need a full round to finish Shogun, who looks like he’s about done.
OSP called out Fabio Maldonado and Anthony Perosh after the fight, and I think Maldonado makes more sense out of the two of them. Maldonado is ranked in the UFC’s internal Top 15 and has won four of his last five fights in the UFC, which is the same recent record as OSP. With no other options for both men at the moment, let’s have them square off and see who is deserving of a top 10 spot in the division.
Fight to make: Ovince St-Preux vs. Fabio Maldonado
Warlley Alves
In the co-main event, Warlley Alves was able to edge out a close unanimous decision over Alan Jouban. Alves landed the harder, more effective strikes in the contest, but Jouban made it close later, and with a superior gas tank, nearly stole one in Brazil. But the judges sided with Alves, the TUF Brazil 3 winner, and he’s now 2-0 in UFC competition.
Alves won, but he wasn’t very impressive in doing so as a huge favorite, outside of a flurry early in round one. Ultimately he won, and deserves a step up in competition, but I’m not ready to throw him to a top guy just yet. Instead, let’s have him square off with someone middle of the pack like Nico Musoke, who is 3-1 in the UFC. Although Alves is the more athletic talent, I think Musoke presents a great challenge to Alves in regards to toughness and cardio, but regardless, it’s a winnable and fair fight for both men, no doubt about it.
Fight to make: Warlley Alves vs. Nico Musoke
Claudio Silva
In a welterweight contest, Claudio Silva used his wrestling to grind out Leon Edwards en route to a gritty split decision win. Edwards was no doubt the better striker, but Silva’s chin held up, and he was able to get takedowns at the right times in the fight to win a close one on the judges’ scorecards.
For his next fight, let’s match Silva with someone who can wrestle, but who can also strike with power. That would be George Sullivan, who is 2-0 in the UFC. Silva is 2-0 himself, and based on the styles between these two 30-plus vets, this fight makes a lot of sense.
Fight to make: Claudio Silva vs. George Sullivan
Dhiego Lima
In yet another welterweight bout, Dhiego Lima was able to win a clear-cut decision over UFC newcomer Jorge de Oliveira. Lima beat the snot out of Oliveira from bell to bell, and the only reason he didn’t get the finish was because Oliveira is so tough. But Lima looked solid, and now at 1-1 in the UFC, the TUF 19 vet deserves a step up.
Lima was dominant, but wasn’t able to finish. The same can be said of Nordine Taleb, of TUF Nations fame, who is 2-0 in the UFC without being dominant. These are two TUF vets who could fight each other to determine who has potential to do something in the sport and who doesn’t.
Fight to make: Dhiego Lima vs. Nordine Taleb
Juliana Lima
In a women’s strawweight bout, Juliana Lima defeated Nina Ansaroff via unanimous decision. Lima was able to use her strength and size to bully Ansaroff around in the first, but despite being thwarted in her takedown attempts and being outstruck in the first round, she was able to snatch the unanimous decision win, and improve to 1-1 in the UFC.
The problem was, Lima was very boring, and even the fans in Brazil booed her. She is effective at what she does, but no one wants to watch her fight. And that limits her options of her next opponent. I’d personally just sign an up-and-comer out of Invicta who the UFC thinks has potential, and see if she can knock Lima off and prove she can beat a strong wrestler at 115 lbs. Although admittedly, that seems to be a difficult thing for any strawweight currently signed to the UFC to do right now.
Fight to make: Juliana Lima vs. a free agent
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UFC Fight Night 56: Shogun vs. St. Preux (formerly UFC Fight Night 56: Shogun vs. Manuwa) took place on November 8, 2014 at the Ginásio Municipal Tancredo Neves in Uberlândia, Brazil.
Click the stars to rate how good you think UFC Fight Night 56 was.
