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.
Lyoto Machida
In the main event of UFC Fight Night 58, Lyoto Machida made quick work of CB Dollaway, finishing him with a body kick in the first round of the fight. Machida improved to 3-1 as a UFC middleweight with the victory, and there is no doubt he is one of the very best in the weight class. With another win, he could get another crack at UFC Middleweight Champion Chris Weidman.
Another fighter who is nearing a title shot is Luke Rockhold, who tweeted at Machida right after the knockout saying he wants to fight him next. Both Rockhold and Machida seem to be keen on the idea, as is UFC President Dana White, as well as the fans on Twitter. It’s a fight that makes all the sense in the world stylistically and rankings-wise, and the winner of the bout would be very deserving of a title shot.
Fight to make: Lyoto Machida vs. Luke Rockhold
Renan Barao
In the co-main event, Renan Barao was able to outlast Mitch Gagnon, take the fight into the deep waters, and finish the Canadian off with a third-round arm-triangle choke for his first win since losing the UFC bantamweight title to TJ Dillashaw back in May. Barao didn’t look amazing in the fight, but he did get the win, and thus he maintains his ranking as one of the division’s top contenders.
With Dillashaw lined up to fight Dominick Cruz next (Editor’s note: Cruz just got injured again), Barao will have to take another fight before he gets a title shot, and a matchup against Raphael Assuncao makes sense. Assuncao has won seven in a row, and while he’s done everything in his power to earn a crack at the belt, Cruz is going to get it next, and it’s hard to argue against that. So the UFC should book Barao vs. Assuncao in a five-round main event for an upcoming Fight Night card in Brazil, and the winner should earn a title shot.
Fight to make: Renan Barao vs. Raphael Assuncao
Patrick Cummins
In a light heavyweight bout, Patrick Cummins outwrestled Antonio Carlos Junior for three rounds en route to a lopsided unanimous decision win. Cummins is now 3-1 in the UFC, and save for a quick KO loss to Daniel Cormier in his debut, he has looked fantastic in the Octagon.
Another 205-pounder who has looked impressive in the UFC is Marcos Rogerio de Lima, who knocked out Igor Pokrajac on the undercard to improve to 2-0 in the UFC himself. I think a fight between these two emerging light heavyweights makes a lot of sense, and I hope the UFC books it next, as it would help determine which one of these guys is ready for the next level of competition in the UFC.
Fight to make: Patrick Cummins vs. Marcos Rogerio de Lima
Rashid Magomedov
In a lightweight contest, Rashid Magomedov picked up the most impressive win of his UFC career to date as he finished Elias Silverio in the third round with a TKO. Magomedov is now 3-0 in the UFC and is quickly making a run up the ladder, although he desperately needs a name fighter on his resume if he’s to be seriously considered as a contender.
For his next fight, Magomedov should fight Michael Johnson, who is ranked in the top 10 for some reason, but who has been out with injury for the last nine months. A fight between Magomedov and Johnson makes all the sense in the world next, and it would determine who is truly deserving of a top 10 ranking and who is just a pretender.
Fight to make: Rashid Magomedov vs. Michael Johnson
Erick Silva
In a welterweight bout, Erick Silva submitted Mike Rhodes in the first round with an arm-triangle choke to bounce back after his brutal beatdown against Matt Brown earlier this year. Silva is now 5-4 in the UFC, and while it is true that he has battled inconsistency during his Octagon run, there’s no doubt he’s a supremely-talented fighter who deserves a step up in competition from Rhodes for his next fight.
For his next fight, Silva should fight the winner of UFC 183‘s Jordan Mein vs. Thiago Alves. Silva versus either of these fighters would be nothing but fireworks, and it would help determine which one of the trio is a legitimate top 15 fighter at welterweight. Whether it’s Mein or Alves, I think a fight against Silva makes all the sense in the world as a co-main event of a future Brazilian Fight Night show.
Fight to make: Erick Silva vs. the winner of Jordan Mein vs. Thiago Alves
Daniel Sarafian
In a middleweight matchup, Daniel Sarafian was awarded a second-round TKO victory over Antonio dos Santos Jr. after dos Santos Jr. dislocated his finger during the fight. The referee was forced to wave off the matchup, giving Sarafian the win and saving his job, as it stopped a two-fight slide for the Brazilian, who is now 2-3 overall in the UFC.
I still don’t think Sarafian is all that great, but he’s definitely popular in Brazil, and his next fight should take place on a Brazilian Fight Night card. I think a solid matchup for him is Marcelo Guimaraes, who is 2-1 in the UFC overall, with two lacklustre wins. This fight between two disappointing Brazilians makes sense, and I think the UFC would be wise to book it next.
Fight to make: Daniel Sarafian vs. Marcelo Guimaraes
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UFC Fight Night 58: Machida vs. Dollaway took place on December 20, 2014 at the Jose Correa Arena in Barueri, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
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