UFC Fight Night 59 was a strong event even though there wasn’t an established champion on the card. And at the conclusion of the main event, the UFC found itself with its most important title challenger in recent memory, Conor McGregor, perfectly establishing himself as the foil for Jose Aldo. With that fight in mind, these are some further suggestions for the winners from the night of action.
Conor McGregor cannot be denied. Even though he does not have a resume that includes names like Frankie Edgar or Cub Swanson, McGregor has placed himself in a position to face Jose Aldo at some point in 2015. His out of the cage antics have gotten droves of people excited about the fight, which has been planned for the Memorial Day holiday weekend.
Jose Aldo vs. Conor McGregor has the potential to be the biggest event that the UFC can offer in 2015. McGregor went on record to say that he believes they can produce more PPV buys than Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier did at UFC 182, which would be an epic accomplishment for the promotion as a whole. And with proper card booking and marketing, the organization could develop a show that could potentially break one million buys.
Conor McGregor vs. Jose Aldo will headline a PPV in May, which has the potential to be the biggest event of 2015.
Donald Cerrone vs. Khabib Nurmagomedov
After his defeat of Myles Jury at UFC 182, Donald Cerrone took a fight with less than two weeks to prepare. That fight would be against his friend, former WEC and UFC lightweight champion Benson Henderson. But after a competitive bout, the judges would render a decision that left everyone in the building perplexed. However, even if Cerrone didn’t feel confident in the victory he just earned, the record books will show that he took home a decision victory against Henderson for the first time in three tries. With seven straight wins, Cerrone is clearly a top three contender in the lightweight division. But before he can get another shot at Anthony Pettis, he will have to go through Khabib Nurmagomedov at some point this year.
Nurmagomedov is still waiting to return from the serious knee injury that has kept him out of action for nearly a year. The UFC has since moved past him in finding new contenders for Pettis, but a victory over Cerrone would immediately launch him back into the title conversation.
Donald Cerrone vs. Khabib Nurmagomedov would work as a main event for a UFC Fight Night on Fox Sports 1.
Gleison Tibau continues to quietly make history within the UFC. The leader among active fighters in UFC contests has won yet again. However, Tibau is a consummate example of a “gatekeeper,” as he has never fought for a title, been featured in a main event, or even competed in a co-main event bout. And after his third straight win, over Norman Parke on the UFC Fight Night 59 main card, Tibau should next be placed in another undercard bout, this time against Chris Wade.
Wade has looked very good in his two UFC bouts. At UFC Fight Night 59 he took his second win in less than six months with a decision victory over Zhang Lipeng. His grinding and wrestling-first style would be an interesting matchup for Tibau, who fights in much the same fashion. If Wade is to move into a prominent position as a lightweight, he will have to defeat men such as Tibau.
Gleison Tibau vs. Chris Wade would work as a preliminary card “main event” on Fox Sports 1, leading into a PPV.
Uriah Hall vs. Costas Philippou
Costas Philippou was the original opponent that Uriah Hall was expected to face in Boston. While injuries derailed that matchup, the UFC has another opportunity to create that fight. Philippou had pushed his way towards a high ranking within the middleweight division before two straight losses knocked him down. His last appearance in the Octagon was at UFC Fight Night 41 in May 2014, where he defeated Lorenz Larkin.
Hall vs. Philippou would place two striking-first competitors against each other in the exact type of style matchup that typically excites fans. It would make a solid main card opener for a UFC Fight Night event at some point in 2015.
Lorenz Larkin vs. Ryan LaFlare
Lorenz Larkin was on his way out of the UFC before putting away John Howard in highlight-reel fashion in their bout. Larkin looked amazing in his new weight class, as he landed crisp striking that had Howard back-pedaling from the very start of the fight. The finish reminded fans that he is a potent striker when given the opportunity to engage in exchanges. Surely he is thinking about the fact that he has a victory over current champion Robbie Lawler, as this drives him towards further competition at welterweight. Ryan LaFlare would be a good opponent for Larkin at this point in time.
LaFlare is an undefeated welterweight with four straight wins in the Octagon. He has a diverse skill set, which has allowed him to win in a variety of ways. That background will be important if he is to face a fighter such as Larkin.
Larkin vs. LaFlare would work as a main card opener for a UFC Fight Night event on Fox Sports 1.
UFC Fight Night 59 was a strong card from start to finish. New contenders and controversy are the talking points coming out of the event. These fights will help push these winners towards new developments within their careers, and unlock the appeal of new fighters for UFC fans to lock onto.
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UFC Fight Night 59: McGregor vs. Siver took place on January 18, 2015 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts.
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