UFC Fight Night 74 featured a main event that excited both mainstream and hardcore MMA fan alike. Unfortunately, Charles Oliveira went down with a torn esophagus before the fight could really get underway, granting Max Holloway the victory. Looking forward, these fight suggestions will help move the winners up in the division to sort the contenders out from the fodder within each weight class:
Max Holloway vs. Frankie Edgar
Max Holloway took the victory in his first outing in the main event, and even though it came via injury, it doesn’t slow down Holloway’s momentum. Holloway’s defeat to Conor McGregor at UFC Fight Night 26 means he is slightly outside of the title picture, even though that was more than 2 years ago. Frankie Edgar knows what that feels like, having been in a similar position in the division, but putting them in a matchup against one another would allow the winner to emerge as the clear cut, number one contender going into 2016.
Edgar vs. Holloway would be an immediately intriguing fight. Holloway has the range advantage along with excellent takedown defense. However, Edgar is a high-paced fighter that has been able to wear down many opponents with his relentless assault. This would be an important fight for both men because there would be little reason to say that the winner doesn’t deserve the next shot at the belt once McGregor and Jose Aldo face off at UFC 194.
Max Holloway vs. Frankie Edgar should be used as a main event for a UFC Fight Nighr event on Fox Sports 1.
Neil Magny will not go away. A few weeks after being dominated by Demian Maia at UFC 190, he stepped into the Octagon on short notice to replace Rick Story against Erick Silva. In another example of Magny being Magny, he dispatched Silva via split decision to take his eighth win in nine fights. Magny may not have a signature win on his resume to date, but giving him a shot against Patrick Cote would be a move in the right direction.
Cote continues to build on his career since coming back to the UFC in 2012. With a 5-2 record during this most recent stint with the organization, he’s still a fighter that garners attention and fan reaction. A matchup against Magny is the correct fight for both men because Cote could prove that he’s still viable in the weight class and Magny would have the opportunity to add an important name to his ledger.
Neil Magny vs. Patrick Cote should be used as a main card bout for a UFC Fight Night event on Fight Pass before the close of 2015.
Olivier Aubin-Mercier vs. Jorge Masvidal
Olivier Aubin-Mercier is another spark in the always deep lightweight division. “The Quebec Kid” has steadily improved in his four fights within the UFC. He’s pulled together three straight wins in less than a year, but he’s still unranked within the division. To correct that situation, the UFC should put him against Jorge Masvidal to see if he’s ready to fight the best within the division.
Masvidal is an important name within the UFC 155-pound weight class. Even though his last win against Cezar Ferreira at The Ultimate Fighter 21 Finale was in the welterweight division, he’s still a fighter that can make a run towards the lightweight title at any moment. If Aubin-Mercier can pull off a big win against “Gamebred,” he would put himself in the position to garner much more attention within lightweight division.
Masvidal is slated to fight Dong Hyun Kim at UFC Fight Night 79, but if he were to step out of that bout and return to lightweight, this is the best move for his next bout. Aubin-Mercier vs. Masvidal would be best suited as a main card opener for a UFC PPV event.
Valerie Letourneau vs. Heather Clark
Valerie Letourneau and Maryna Moroz put on a fantastic spectacle as they battered each other to open up the main card of UFC Fight Night 74. This was a great fight for the still-developing women’s strawweight division. At 32 years old, Letourneau is peaking in her career at the right time. This is her third win within the UFC and opens the door for her to get some higher ranked opponents in the future. Heather Clark is such an individual.
Letourneau vs. Clark is a fight that should be used as a preliminary card “main event” for an upcoming UFC Fight Night event on Fox Sports 1.
The winners at UFC Fight Night 74 have much to look forward to after getting their hands raised in Canada. Looking ahead, these fight suggestions will keep these fighters active and pertinent within their divisions while they build their respective fanbases.
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UFC Fight Night 74: Holloway vs. Oliveira took place on August 23, 2015 at SaskTel Centre in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.
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