The UFC continued to deliver with cards on the major Fox platform with UFC on Fox 15. Now that the show is over, MMA fans can look ahead to how the promotion will use the winners from the evening’s event. These fight suggestions are good ways to keep the victorious men and women busy:
Luke Rockhold vs. Chris Weidman
Luke Rockhold’s performance against Lyoto Machida should allow him to leapfrog “Jacare” Souza into the top contender’s spot in the middleweight division. He blew the doors off of a former champion and the last man to face Chris Weidman. That dominant win has fans clamoring for Rockhold to get an opportunity at the title.
Rockhold vs. Weidman is an intriguing matchup of styles: Weidman’s aggressive wrestling vs. Rockhold’s elusive striking. This fight would easily carry any future UFC event on pay-per-view.
Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza vs. Yoel Romero
There is a reason why the UFC has tried to get Romero and Souza in the cage two times (Souza bowed out of the fight at UFC 184, while Romero was pulled off of UFC on Fox 15.) Getting these two men in the cage together would create a top contender that could not be denied.
Romero has world class wrestling that would be pit against some of the best Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in MMA. That type of fight may not excite casual MMA fans, but the purists of the sport would love to see these two fighters paired with one another.
Souza vs. Romero is the type of fight that should be the co-main event of the card on which Chris Weidman defends his title against Luke Rockhold.
Paige VanZant vs. Claudia Gadelha
Paige VanZant is taking the MMA world by storm. Felice Herrig was supposed to be a rude awakening for the young woman, but instead, VanZant passed this test with flying colors. The UFC’s newest darling had better get used to the excitement that surrounds her performances, because that hype train is going to continue to storm forward.
Claudia Gadelha fought current women’s strawweight champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk to a close decision at UFC on Fox 13. Gadelha is looking to rebound with a victory to immediately get herself back into the top of the title picture. VanZant could be that answer. Both women are highly aggressive, but VanZant has shown the ability to keep that pace up in late moments, which would be key in this contest.
Paige VanZant vs. Claudia Gadelha would work as an opening main card bout for a UFC event on Fox.
Max Holloway vs. Charles Oliveira
Max Holloway has continued to look like a new man in the Octagon with each appearance. The 23-year-old fighter from Hawaii extended his streak to six straight wins, which includes five finishes. While his recent loss to Conor McGregor at UFC Fight Night 26 will keep him out of the title picture for some time, Holloway is no longer a fighter that can be overlooked.
Charles Oliveira is another young competitor that continues to improve in every outing in the cage. He and Nik Lentz are expected to have a rematch of their UFC on Versus 4 lightweight bout, and if the Brazilian can get another win, then Holloway should be in his future. Holloway and Oliveira both have similar styles in that they can mix up the contest on the feet and the mat. It would be interesting to see which man could take this important victory over the other.
Holloway vs. Oliveira is a bout that should be used as a main card contest for a UFC on Fox event.
Beneil Dariush vs. Al Iaquinta
Beneil Dariush took the fight to longtime UFC veteran Jim Miller. Even though he could not finish the New Jersey native, Dariush had Miller on his heels throughout much of the contest. This was an important win that should result in Dariush being ranked among the top 15 in the division. Al
Iaquinta would be a great welcoming party to see if he truly belongs.
Iaquinta is a tough competitor that still has a number of wrinkles to work out in his game. Even though he took a controversial victory from Jorge Masvidal at UFC 185, the New York native is continuing to develop with the Serra-Longo team. Both he and Dariush would benefit from this fight that would help secure tougher matchups in the future.
Dariush vs. Iaquinta should be used as a preliminary card “main event” on Fox Sports 1.
UFC on Fox 15 was a strong event that presented some new challengers to the MMA fan base. These men and women can continue to grow their careers with these fight suggestions.
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UFC on FOX 15: Machida vs. Rockhold took place on April 18, 2015 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.
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