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.
Dennis Siver
The main event of UFC Fight Night 59 went as expected, with Conor McGregor knocking out Dennis Siver in impressive fashion. Siver managed to make it to the second round, but he took so much damage in the first that he was bound to fold eventually, and he did just that in the second.
Even with the loss, though, the UFC still considers Siver a top-15 featherweight, and he should fight someone of similar standing in his next fight. Jeremy Stephens is in a similar position in the division, and I think a matchup between these two veteran strikers would make for an exciting main card filler bout on an upcoming Fight Night card.
Fight to make: Dennis Siver vs. Jeremy Stephens
Benson Henderson
Although many people thought he won, ultimately Benson Henderson lost a unanimous decision to Donald Cerrone. This was a very competitive fight that took place in the center of the Octagon, and while both men landed some nice strikes on each other throughout 15 minutes, it appears the takedowns Cerrone landed were enough to give him the victory for his seventh-straight win.
This means that Henderson has now lost two in a row, but he’s still an elite lightweight fighter. Even though he’s on a bit of a skid right now, I don’t think Henderson’s competition level should fall too much. He should still be fighting top-10 guys and one that’s available is Myles Jury, who Cerrone also beat this month at UFC 182. A fight between Henderson and Jury would be exciting and makes sense as far as the rankings go, so the UFC should book it.
Fight to make: Benson Henderson vs. Myles Jury
Ronald Stallings
In a middleweight bout, Ronald Stallings showed some nice striking and good heart in his UFC debut against Uriah Hall but ultimately lost by TKO when the doctor stopped the fight due to a cut. Stallings, who took the fight on short notice, wanted to keep fighting, but the doctor stopped it, and Stallings is now on a two-fight losing streak.
Despite the loss, Stallings looked pretty good, and I think he deserves another fight in the UFC. And because he did the UFC a favor by taking this fight on short notice, they should give him an easier fight than Hall his next time out. I think someone like Luke Zachrich, who is 1-2 in the UFC, makes sense as Stallings’ next fight in the UFC. It’s a winnable fight against a TUF veteran and could be pretty exciting, so the UFC should book this.
Fight to make: Ronald Stallings vs. Luke Zachrich
Norman Parke
Norman Parke had his five-fight undefeated streak in the UFC snapped with a split decision loss to Gleison Tibau in the main card opener. It wasn’t a good fight and Parke didn’t look good, so he’ll have to take a step down in competition after such a boring fight.
For his next fight the UFC should match him up with another TUF veteran in Ramsey Nijem. I think this would be a pretty fair fight between two grappling-based fighters with some striking, and it would make sense as a prelim fight the next time the UFC goes to Ireland.
Fight to make: Norman Parke vs. Ramsey Nijem
Sean Spencer
The judges robbed Sean Spencer in his welterweight bout against Cathal Pendred, as most thought Spencer won at least two and possibly three rounds, and yet somehow the judges saw it the opposite way for Pendred. It was very, very bad judging, and now Spencer’s win streak has been snapped and he’ll have to start all over.
Another fighter that lost on the prelims is John Howard, who was knocked out by Lorenz Larkin. Howard is one a three-fight losing streak, but I think the UFC should keep the veteran around and give him one more shot A fight against Spencer would be a battle between two strikers, and I think it’d be an exciting prelim on any card.
Fight to make: Sean Spencer vs. John Howard
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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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