UFC Fight Night 61 was a night of upsets that left sports books hurting. But fight fans got an exciting night of action from Porto Alegre, Brazil. A number of underdogs had their hands raised in victory, and looking down the line, these fights should be next in their careers, to either move them up the rankings or place them into valuable “money” fights.
Frank Mir vs. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira
Frank Mir blew the doors off of Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva in the first round of their main event contest. During the post-event press conference he mentioned WWE Superstar Brock Lesnar, but a third fight with the former UFC Heavyweight Champion is out of the cards right now. He also talked about former PRIDE champion Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and facing the Brazilian legend in a retirement-style fight. That is the bout that the promotion should make at this time.
Mir is 2-0 against “Minotauro,” and his brutal win over Nogueira at UFC 140 stands out as one of the nastiest submissions in MMA history. Neither fighter has been the same since that night, but this is the type of fight that would have value on a Brazilian card. A win by Mir might help set him up to face Lesnar at the end of 2015 if he does in fact make the leap back to the UFC.
Mir vs. Nogueira would best be suited as the co-main event for a UFC Fight Night card in Brazil.
Michael Johnson vs. Benson Henderson
Michael Johnson has steadily improved since his time on The Ultimate Fighter. His win over Edson Barboza in the co-main event was perhaps his most impressive win to date. After the fight, he called out former UFC and WEC Lightweight Champion Benson Henderson, who is coming off of his own shocking win against Brandon Thatch at UFC Fight Night 60. This is the right bout to make for both men.
Johnson needs to defeat a big name in order to be recognized as the contender he claims to be. Henderson needs a solid win at lightweight to justify his staying at 155. Since both of their schedules are clear, this is the right time to put them together.
Henderson vs. Johnson would work as a main card bout for a UFC PPV event in the second quarter of 2015.
Adriano Martins vs. Bobby Green
Adriano Martins has rebounded nicely from that highlight-reel knockout that he suffered via Donald Cerrone at UFC on Fox 10. After his second win in a row, he should look to face some top 15 talent in the lightweight division. Bobby Green is such an individual.
Bobby Green has been laying low since his defeat by Edson Barboza at UFC Fight Night 57. His eight-fight win streak was halted on that night. Matching him against Adriano Martins would either provide an opportunity for Martins to emerge as a name to watch in the division or give Green the win he needs to get back on the track to becoming a contender at lightweight.
Martins vs. Green would work as a main card opener for a UFC Fight Night event on either UFC Fight Pass or Fox Sports 1.
Marion Reneau vs. the winner of Amanda Nunes vs. Shayna Baszler
Marion Reneau shocked everyone watching when she was able to triangle choke Jessica Andrade into submission. The 37-year-old fighter pushed her UFC win streak to two and her overall run to five. During the post-fight press conference she made mention of moving up the bantamweight rankings, and she should be given the opportunity to face another top 15 talent in Amanda Nunes or Shayna Baszler.
Bazler and Nunes are due to face each other in March at UFC Fight Night 62. Both are looking to recover from recent losses, and either woman has the kind of name value that will allow Reneau to bolster her UFC resume.
Marion Reneau vs. either Shayna Baszler or Amanda Nunes should be booked as a preliminary bout for a UFC event in Brazil.
UFC Fight Night 61 was a solid event from start to finish. Now that these fighters have had the time to start planning their next steps, these fights will help keep them relevant when it matters most.
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UFC Fight Night 61: Mir vs. Bigfoot (formerly UFC Fight Night 61: Evans vs. Teixeira) took place on February 22, 2015 at Gigantinho Gymnasium in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
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