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.
In the main event of UFC Fight Night 67, Carlos Condit returned from a 14-month injury layoff to absolutely brutalize Thiago Alves via second-round TKO to earn one of the most devastating victories of his storied career. Condit showed some ring rust in the first round, but once he shook it off he looked like a championship-caliber fighter in the second round, beating Alves up so bad the doctor had to stop the fight.
For his next fight, Condit should take on the winner of UFC 189’s Matt Brown vs. Tim Means. Fans have been asking for Condit vs. Brown for years, and both fighters want this matchup too, so it makes sense for everyone involved if this is next. But if Means can upset Brown, a fight between him and Condit would be amazing as well. Either way, there are a lot of exciting matchups for Condit right now at 170 lbs, and it’s nice to have “The Natural Born Killer” back in the Octagon.
Fight to make: Carlos Condit vs. the winner of Matt Brown vs. Tim Means
In the co-main event, Charles Oliveira overcame a tough fight from Nik Lentz to storm back in the third round and win by submission. This was an absolutely fantastic fight that was extremely competitive, but Oliveira showed the world why he’s such a highly-touted prospect by taking out Lentz with one of his patented chokes in a fight that would have been close if it hit the judges’ scorecards.
The only guy who makes sense for Oliveira next is Max Holloway, who recently submitted Cub Swanson. I think Oliveira vs. Holloway would be an incredible fight between two of the best young fighters at 145 lbs in the world. Both guys are good on the ground and in the standup, and the fans would be treated to an incredible fight if the UFC were to match these two up.
Fight to make: Charles Oliveira vs. Max Holloway
In a welterweight bout, Alex Oliveira earned a first-round submission victory over veteran KJ Noons. Oliveira took this fight on extremely short notice, but it didn’t matter at all, as he showed an extremely dangerous ground game in this fight, becoming the first man to finish Noons by submission in nearly 15 years as he earned the biggest win of his career to date.
For his next fight, Oliveira is going to move back down to 155 lbs, and a good opponent for him is Jon Tuck, who recently submitted Tae Hyun Bang. These two prospects would put on a great show for the fans, and the winner of this fight would be deserving of getting a top-25 opponent for his next outing,
Fight to make: Alex Oliveira vs. Jon Tuck
In a light heavyweight matchup, Francimar Barroso defeated Ryan Jimmo via unanimous decision in a stinker of a fight. Neither guy really did anything in this fight, which made for a long 15 minutes, but Barroso had a little bit more cage control and earned the decision in his native Brazil.
Light heavyweight is a very weak division, so there aren’t many options for Barroso’s next opponent. They could pair him up with a UFC newcomer, but I think a fight against Sean O’Connell makes sense. Both men have two wins in the UFC apiece, so a fight between them would help determine who is ready to take the next step in the division and who simply just isn’t good enough.
Fight to make: Francimar Barroso vs. Sean O’Connell
In a lightweight bout, Francisco Trinaldo picked up an upset split decision victory over Norman Parke. Trinaldo showed improved standup in this fight, and while he was taken down a few times, he kept getting back up and deserved to get the nod in his native Brazil.
Trinaldo is an underrated gatekeeper, and would make a solid test for any upcoming 155-pounder. I think a fight against TUF Nations winner Chad Laprise makes sense. Laprise has looked great in the UFC so far, going 3-0, but he hasn’t really fought a veteran yet. So I say match him up against Trinaldo and see exactly where he fits in the division going forward.
Fight to make: Francisco Trinaldo vs. Chad Laprise
In the opening main card bout, UFC newcomer Darren Till picked up the biggest win of his young career as he TKO’d Wendell Oliveira in the first round with brutal elbows on the ground. Oliveira has a bad chin, but credit to Till for taking advantage of it and finishing him off.
For Till’s next fight, he should take on a veteran welterweight, and I think Kyle Noke makes sense. The Aussie recently picked up a win over Jonavin Webb – his first victory in three years – and getting another win over another prospect in Till would help him move up the ladder. Conversely, for Till, a win over Noke would show the UFC matchmakers this guy is someone to watch out for at 170 lbs.
Fight to make: Darren Till vs. Kyle Noke
**********
UFC Fight Night 67: Alves vs. Condit took place on May 30, 2015 at Goiania Arena in Goiania, Brazil.
Click the stars to rate how good you think UFC Fight Night 67 was.
