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.
In the main event featherweight fight at UFC Fight Night 57, Frankie Edgar put on a performance for the ages, as he absolutely destroyed Cub Swanson for nearly the entire 25 minutes of allotted time before securing a submission stoppage with just four seconds left. It’s a win that puts Edgar firmly back into the featherweight title mix, and I can’t wait to see who the UFC matches him up with next.
For his next fight, based on merit alone, Edgar deserves a rematch with UFC Featherweight Champion Jose Aldo, who narrowly outpointed Edgar in his UFC 156 title defence. I actually scored the fight for Edgar 48-47, and stats show he did land more total strikes in the final three rounds of that fight, but obviously it was close enough that Aldo, the champion, retained his title. Either way you scored it then, I think Edgar has done enough to earn another crack at the title, although the UFC likely will go with Conor McGregor, as long as he takes out Dennis Siver at UFC Fight Night 59. But Edgar deserves it.
Fight to make: Frankie Edgar vs. Jose Aldo 2
In the lightweight bout that served as the co-main event, Edson Barboza lit up Bobby Green with power punches and leg kicks to easily outpoint him en route to a unanimous decision win. Barboza’s striking, when on point, is arguably the most efficient in the entire UFC, and for him to go out and beat a rising star like Green in such lopsided fashion was nothing short of impressive, and it’s a win that should earn Barboza another top-10 opponent.
For his next fight, Barboza could be matched up with anyone else in the top 10 coming off a win. I’m thinking the winner of UFC on FOX 13‘s Rafael dos Anjos vs. Nate Diaz makes sense. Those fighters are ranked (or should be ranked) higher than Barboza, but stylistically a fight against either makes sense, and I’d like to see it.
Fight to make: Edson Barboza vs. winner of Rafael dos Anjos vs. Nate Diaz
In a flyweight fight, Chico Camus used superior boxing and footwork to outland Brad Pickett over the course of 15 minutes and take home a close but fair split decision nod. Camus was making his 125-pound debut in this fight, and not many expected him to be so competitive with Pickett, a former top 10 bantamweight. However, Camus looked solid in this fight and will get another solid name his next time out.
Camus should fight a fighter coming off of a win for his next fight, and I think a fight against Louis Smolka, who recently defeated Richie Vaculik, makes sense. I think this would be a fun, fast-paced standup bout between two guys with solid striking technique, and it would be a Fight of the Night candidate on whatever fight card it landed on.
Fight to make: Chico Camus vs. Louis Smolka
In a heavyweight matchup, Oleksiy Oliynyk picked up his second-straight win in the Octagon with a shocking first-round KO over Jared Rosholt. Oliynyk had 40 career submissions going into the fight, but only four career knockouts, so for him to finish off a top prospect like Rosholt in devastating fashion was nothing short of impressive.
For his next fight, Oliynyk should fight the other heavyweight who picked up a win at UFC Fight Night 57, Ruslan Magomedov,who defeated Josh Copeland by decision. Both of these Russians are 2-0 in the UFC, and a fight between them would help determine who deserves to keep moving towards the title picture and who doesn’t.
Fight to make: Oleksiy Oliynyk vs. Ruslan Magomedov
In a flyweight fight, Joseph Benavidez outstruck Dustin Ortiz over the course of 15 minutes to easily win a unanimous decision. Benavidez looked great in this fight, and the only reason he didn’t get the finish is that Ortiz is so damn tough. Otherwise, he likely would have gotten a TKO stoppage in the very first round; he looked that good.
For his next fight, Benavidez should fight John Moraga, who is currently without an opponent after his matchup at UFC on FOX 13 fell through due to an injury to Jussier da Silva. Benavidez and Moraga are both in the top 10 of the flyweight division, and a fight between these two former title challengers would make sense as far as the flyweight rankings go.
Fight to make: Joseph Benavidez vs. John Moraga
In a lightweight bout, Matt Wiman took home a unanimous decision over Isaac Vallie-Flagg in what was a very entertaining contest between two gritty veterans. vallie-Flagg seemed to be the stronger of the two fighters in the clinch, but Wiman was easily the better grappler, who kept finding a way to get the fight to the mat and threaten with his rear-naked choke, even though he wasn’t able to lock it in. Still, he easily won his first fight in nearly two years, and it’s a win that puts him back in the outskirts of the division’s top 15.
For his next opponent, Wiman should be paired up with Joe Lauzon, another veteran of TUF 5 who is known for exciting fights. If the UFC matches these two up and they put on anything less than Fight of the Night, I would be shocked. This would be a fantastic bout with performance bonus money written all over it, and it’s a no-brainer for the UFC to book it.
Fight to make: Matt Wiman vs. Joe Lauzon
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UFC Fight Night 57: Edgar vs. Swanson took place on November 22, 2014 at the Frank Erwin Center in Austin, Texas.
Click the stars to rate how good you think UFC Fight Night 57 was.
