Mixed martial arts is flying under the radar this weekend as the NCAA men’s basketball Final Four kicks off. But before fans get the opportunity to cheer on their favorite college athletes, they’ll get the chance to see MMA competitors step into the Octagon. UFC Fight Night 63 may not contain the biggest names in the industry, but it is still a compelling card in multiple ways.
The conversation has to start with the main event, which features the number one and four ranked UFC Featherweight Championship contenders in Chad Mendes and Ricardo Lamas. This is an interesting fight that features two men who are well versed in all of the aspects of MMA. The question to be answered in this bout is if Mendes is truly better in those areas, or if people are once again overlooking Lamas in a big fight. Even though both men have recently suffered defeats at the hands of Jose Aldo, this is a key fight to keep them relevant in what is quickly becoming one of the most entertaining divisions in the sport.
Al Iaquinta vs. Jorge Masvidal is perhaps one of the most difficult fights to pick at this point in 2015. Iaquinta is slowly emerging as a name to pay attention to within the lightweight division. Even though he still has a long way to go before truly garnering any accolades, this is the type of fight where he can showcase his skill set against an underrated veteran.
“Underrated” is putting it lightly when it comes to what Masvidal has been up to since moving over from Strikeforce. “Gamebred” continues to look good and has put together a strong resume within the UFC. He’s still well outside of the vicinity of title consideration, but he’s a dark horse within the 155-pound weight class.
Even beyond those two bouts at the top of the card, there are a number of other storylines that make UFC Fight Night 63 a great card to watch this Saturday afternoon.
Gray Maynard and Clay Guida are two men fighting to remain worthwhile names on the big stage of MMA. Another loss for either of them will likely result in a former contender getting his walking papers.
Dustin Poirier moves up to lightweight when he faces Carlos Diego Ferreira. It is rare to see a fighter take a step up in weight class to restart his or her career, especially seeing how close Poirier was to breaking through at 145 in the last few years. Ferreira is due to welcome him, but the focus is on “The Diamond” and whether or not he is truly as good as people expected him to become.
The women’s bantamweight division has two important fights lined up at a time when more contenders are needed. Lauren Murphy and Julianna Pena are slated to compete in fights where they are the favorites. Pena is coming off a serious knee injury which kept her away from the limelight after winning The Ultimate Fighter. Murphy flew under the radar when she moved over from Invicta, but with a full camp under her belt, it will be interesting to see what she brings to the cage this time around. Both of these women can do wonders for their careers if they look fantastic on Saturday.
2015 has been great to the UFC at this point. Many of the promotion’s cards have delivered quality shows that fans have enjoyed. UFC Fight Night 63 will kick off at an odd time due to the big sports weekend, but fight fans should do their best to catch the action because there are a multitude of stories to be told with fists, feet, and grappling.
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UFC Fight Night 63: Mendes vs. Lamas takes place on April 4, 2015 at Patriot Center in Fairfax, Virginia.
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