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.
Yoel Romero
In the main event of UFC Fight Night 70, Yoel Romero picked up the biggest win of his career to date when he knocked out future Hall of Famer Lyoto Machida in the third round with elbows on the ground. Romero was able to solve the Machida puzzle on the feet and then take him down and finish him in by far his most complete performance inside the Octagon. This victory pushes him into the elite of the UFC middleweight division.
Romero is deserving of a title shot, but champion Chris Weidman is already tied up with Luke Rockhold. That means Romero needs to take on the other top contender, Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza. Romero is 6-0 in the UFC, Souza is 5-0, and both guys need to keep busy while they wait for the title fight to happen. So let’s see these two elite middleweights go at it, and give the winner the next title shot. Better yet, book the two fights on the same card to make the timing perfect.
Fight to make: Yoel Romero vs. Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza
Lorenz Larkin
In the co-main event, Lorenz Larkin earned his second-straight first-round knockout since dropping to the welterweight division, this time knocking out Santiago Ponzinibbio in brutal fashion in UFC Fight Night 70’s “Fight of the Night.” Larkin has looked amazing since dropping down to 170 lbs and is a darkhorse in the division. Now it’s time for a step up.
In a few weeks at the TUF 21 Finale, Stephen Thompson takes on Jake Ellenberger in a pivotal welterweight bout, and I think Larkin should fight the winner of that fight. I think Larkin against either of those two fighters would be absolute fireworks, and it would help thin out the pack of top 15 fighters in the welterweight division.
Fight to make: Lorenz Larkin vs. winner of Stephen Thompson vs. Jake Ellenberger
Antonio Carlos Junior
In a battle of TUF winners, Antonio Carlos Junior outclassed Eddie Gordon en route to a late third-round submission victory. Carlos Junior looked huge for the weight class, his wrestling was solid, and he showed killer instinct by coaxing out the submission with just seconds left in the fight. Overall, a very impressive performance, although beating Gordon at this point isn’t a win that pushes Carlos Junior anywhere near the title, despite what commentator Kenny Florian suggested.
For his next fight, Carlos Junior shouldn’t be rushed up the ladder. He should fight someone with a similar record who is tough and who would put up a good fight. I’m thinking Jake Collier makes sense. Carlos Junior is 2-1 in the UFC while Collier is 1-1 and both guys have some common opponents. I say match them up, and throw this fight on a Fight Night card in Brazil.
Fight to make: Antonio Carlos Junior vs. Jake Collier
Thiago Santos
In a middleweight bout, Thiago Santos earned his third first-round knockout in his last four fights with a brutal head kick knockout of Steve Bosse. Santos has looked absolutely fantastic in his last few fights and is no longer someone to sleep on, as he clearly has fight-ending power that can finish most fighters in the division.
For his next fight, Santos needs a step up, and I think he should fight the winner of the upcoming bout between Josh Samman and Caio Magalhaes. All three guys are in the same position in the middleweight division, so let’s match the winners up and see which of the three is ready to take the next step against a top-15 opponent.
Fight to make: Thiago Santos vs. winner of Josh Samman vs. Caio Magalhaes
Hacran Dias
In the opening main card bout, Hacran Dias was able to grind out a close split decision victory over Levan Makashvili. This was a very competitive fight that saw both men have their moments on the ground and in the clinch, but ultimately the judges felt like Dias had a higher workrate and went to him.
Dias is a top 15 featherweight, but I’m not buying him as a contender. I’d rather he be used in a gatekeeper role, and I’d like to see him fight a young guy coming up the ranks like Brian Ortega, who recently knocked out Thiago Tavares at UFC Fight Night 68. I think this is a good test for Ortega, but also a winnable fight for Dias, so I hope the UFC books it.
Fight to make: Hacran Dias vs. Brian Ortega
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UFC Fight Night 70: Machida vs. Romero takes place on June 27, 2015 at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida.
Click the stars to rate how good you think UFC Fight Night 70 was.
