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.
Ricardo Lamas
In the main event of UFC Fight Night 63, Ricardo Lamas was brutally knocked out by Chad Mendes in the first round. Lamas worked so hard to get this fight with Mendes, but ultimately he showed he just can’t get over the hump at 145 pounds, and he’ll need to work his way back up the ladder now.
Another featherweight who was knocked out by Mendes in the past and who needs to get back on the winning track is Darren Elkins. A fight between him and Lamas would certainly be a grind, but it’s a winnable fight for both men and it would help the UFC determine who still has a future as a top-10 fighter at 145 lbs, and who is just a pretender on the outside looking in.
Fight to make: Ricardo Lamas vs. Darren Elkins
Jorge Masvidal
In the co-main event of the afternoon’s card, Jorge Masvidal lost a controversial split decision to Al Iaquinta. This was a very close fight that could have gone either way, but the judges favored Iaquinta’s workrate and ended up giving him the split nod on the scorecards.
Masvidal had his three-fight win streak snapped, but he’s still a top-15 lightweight, no doubt about it. Another highly-ranked lightweight who recently saw his win streak snapped was Bobby Green, and I think a fight between him and Masvidal – which was originally scheduled for this card before Green pulled out with an injury – makes a lot of sense, and I’d like to see it booked.
Fight to make: Jorge Masvidal vs. Bobby Green
Mitch Clarke
In a lightweight bout, Mitch Clarke showed heart and determination, but ultimately it was not enough, as he lost a clear-cut unanimous decision to Michael Chiesa. Clarke is now 2-3 in the UFC, and his two-fight win streak was snapped, but overall it wasn’t a terrible performance, so he should not be worried about his job just yet.
Another fighter coming off of a loss but who isn’t at risk of being cut just yet is Ramsey Nijem, and I think he and Clarke would put on a fun fight for the fans. Both men are very skilled grapplers, but both guys have underrated striking as well, and I think they would put on a very good fight for the viewers.
Fight to make: Mitch Clarke vs. Ramsey Nijem
Milana Dudieva
In a women’s bantamweight bout, Milana Dudieva dropped to 1-1 in the Octagon following a brutal TKO loss to Julianna Pena. Not many people expected Dudieva to win this fight, so it’s not surprising she lost, but she did not look good and really needs a win in her next fight to get back on track in her career.
Another fighter who needs a win badly is Leslie Smith, who is 1-2 in the UFC and who is coming off of a fight against Jessica Eye at UFC 180 where her ear literally split open. I think Smith vs. Dudieva would be a fun fight between two women desperate for a victory, and I’d like to see it booked for an upcoming card.
Fight to make: Milana Dudieva vs. Leslie Smith
Robbie Peralta
In a featherweight fight, Robbie Peralta showed once again he has awful takedown defence, as he was taken down in every round by Clay Guida en route to a unanimous decision loss. Peralta is a good striker, but his grappling leaves a lot to be desired, and his ceiling does not seem very high at this point.
Another striker who has had problems with grapplers in the UFC is Andre Fili, and I feel like he and Peralta would make for a fun standup fight. It would allow the UFC to determine who deserves to keep his spot on the roster and who needs to go, so I’m all for booking this “loser-leaves-the-Octagon” striking match.
Fight to make: Robbie Peralta vs. Andre Fili
Carlos Diego Ferreira
In the opening main card bout, Carlos Diego Ferreira dropped his second straight fight, as he was brutally knocked out by Dustin Poirier in the first round. It was the first stoppage loss of Ferreira’s career, and it surprised many people, but perhaps he’s not as good as we all originally thought – he’s certainly not a dark horse contender at 155 lbs, that’s for sure.
For his next fight, let’s have Ferreira fight Daron Cruickshank, who was submitted by Beneil Dariush at UFC 185. Both Ferreira and Cruickshank have recent losses to Dariush on their record, and with both men in similar places in the division at the moment, I feel like it makes sense to match these two up in a striker vs. grappler matchup and see who the best man is.
Fight to make: Carlos Diego Ferreira vs. Daron Cruickshank
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UFC Fight Night 63: Mendes vs. Lamas took place on April 4, 2015 at Patriot Center in Fairfax, Virginia.
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