Heading into the weekend, UFC Fight Night 63 was an event that was flying under the radar and living in the shadow of the NCAA Final Four. But by the end of the event, a number of good bouts and interesting storylines were worth talking about. Now, the men and women who emerged victorious can expect some higher-profile matchups, and these suggestions would be a great fit for each of them:
Many individuals consider Chad Mendes to be the 1A fighter in the featherweight division. But unfortunately for him, he has suffered two defeats at the hands of the #1, champion Jose Aldo. As he remains stuck in the sad position of needing wins in order to stay relevant, he will have to continue fighting the best men in the division. Frankie Edgar is certainly one of those fighters.
If Edgar can get past Urijah Faber when they fight at UFC Fight Night 65 in Manila, this fight should be planned. Edgar is in a similar position as Mendes, as he has been defeated by Aldo as well. It would be an exciting fight that would pit Edgar’s technical boxing against Mendes’s power-based strikes. They both have great MMA wrestling, which would potentially cancel out. The winner would be in a key position, as he would be in the consideration for a featherweight shot, should a short-notice challenger be needed.
Chad Mendes vs. Frankie Edgar could be used as a main event for a UFC event featured on the Fox network.
Al Iaquinta vs. Dustin Poirier
Both Al Iaquinta and Dustin Poirier left Fairfax, Virginia with wins added to their ledgers, but while Poirier did so in dominating fashion, Iaquinta was forced to accept a controversial split decision win. Still, their performances were good enough to have people interested in what is next for both lightweights.
Poirier vs. Iaquinta would be a good bout for both men. Iaquinta would face a stiff challenge in what seems to be a revitalized Poirier, and Poirier would get the chance to secure the win that could land him in the top 15 of the weight class. Both men have very aggressive, striking-based styles, which would excite fans and media alike throughout this fight.
Poirier vs. Iaquinta should be used as a main card bout for a UFC event on the Fox network.
Michael Chiesa vs. Edson Barboza
Michael Chiesa pulled out an important win against Mitch Clarke on Saturday. He has pushed his record to 4-2 in the Octagon, which is substantial in the very deep lightweight division. Chiesa still has a ways to go before he is included within the weight class’s rankings, but a win over a competitor such as Edson Barboza will help push him in the right direction.
It would be interesting to see whether Chiesa can deal with Barboza’s striking skills. He would hold the advantage on the ground, but getting the fight there would be the true challenge. If he can, however, Chiesa would have an opportunity to get the most important win of his time under Zuffa employ.
Michael Chiesa vs. Edson Barboza could be used as a main card bout for a UFC event on Fox.
Juliana Pena vs. Marion Reneau
Juliana Pena made a successful return to the cage on Saturday after more than a year on the sidelines. While her victory was highly expected by MMA observers, it was great to watch her return from the scary knee injury that almost ended her career. Her next fight should be against Marion Reneau, another woman that continues to impress.
Pena and Reneau both use very aggressive fighting styles in which they try to smother their opponents. It would be interesting to see which individual could keep her pace going for the entire fight. Either way the fight turns out, a victory will go a long way in building the winner up as a potential contender in the bantamweight division.
Pena vs. Reneau should be booked for UFC 190, which features Ronda Rousey vs. Bethe Corriera.
UFC Fight Night 63 was a solid card from start to finish that featured a number of good bouts. But now that the event is over, these fights are the next steps that these individuals should take to move their careers forward.
**********
UFC Fight Night 63: Mendes vs. Lamas took place on April 4, 2015 at Patriot Center in Fairfax, Virginia.
Click the stars to rate how good you think UFC Fight Night 62 was.
